System for air conditioning

Abstract

A system for air conditioning is provided which comprises a HVAC system suitable to air condition a space. The HVAC system has a heating mode, a cooling mode, and a fan mode. The system further comprises a building space to be air conditioned by the HVAC system, at least two air temperature sensors situated in different locations in the building space, at least one occupancy sensor for detecting the presence of at least one person in the building space and a controller for controlling an operation of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. The controller is configured to make a selection between the heating mode, cooling mode and fan mode based on signals of the at least two air temperature sensors. The system allows the provision of a thermal comfort in the building space of the system at a reduced overall energy consumption and reduced carbon footprint.

1 . A system for air-conditioning, comprising
 a) a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system suitable to air condition a building space, wherein the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system has a heating mode in which heating of the building space is effected, a cooling mode in which cooling of the building space is effected, and a fan mode in which no heating and no cooling of the building space is effected and air is circulated within the building space;   b) a building space to be air conditioned by the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system;   c) at least two air temperature sensors situated in different locations in the building space;   d) at least one occupancy sensor for detecting the presence of at least one person in the building space;   e) a controller for controlling an operation of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system;   wherein the controller is configured to make a selection between the heating mode, cooling mode and fan mode based on signals of the at least two air temperature sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system further has
 i) an active mode in which the heating mode, cooling mode and fan mode are selectable and in which power consumption is allowed to be maximal; and/or   ii) an active preconditioning mode in which the heating mode, cooling mode and fan mode are selectable and in which power consumption is only allowed to be lower than maximal;   wherein the controller is configured to make a selection between the active mode and active preconditioning mode based on signals of the occupancy sensor,   wherein the controller is preferably configured to   i) select the active preconditioning mode at a predetermined time period before at least one person enters the building space, wherein the predetermined time period is more preferably determined based on statistical data analysis regarding an occupation of the building space depending on time; and/or   ii) select the active mode if at least one person is detected to be present in the building space by the at least one occupancy sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least two air temperature sensors are situated in locations in the building space which are spaced apart at least 30%, preferably at least 40%, more preferably at least 50%, even more preferably at least 60%, especially at least 70%, optionally at least 80%, of a maximum spatial expansion of the building space. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one occupancy sensor is selected from the group consisting of an image sensor, a video camera, a motion sensor, a time of flight sensor, a milli-meter wave sensor, and combinations thereof, wherein the image sensor and/or video camera are optionally suitable to detect electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the visible spectrum and/or infrared spectrum of light, preferably electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength range in the range of 400 to 800 nm and/or a wavelength in the range of 5 to 25 μm. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the building space comprises
 a) an air exchange device, which is suitable for exchanging air between the building space and outdoors, wherein the air exchange device comprises an actor, preferably a motor, that is suitable for opening and closing the air exchange device, wherein the air exchange device is preferably a vent or window; and 
 b) at least one air exchange device status sensor for detecting an opening degree of the air exchange device; 
 wherein the controller is configured to 
 i) receive signals from the air exchange device status sensor; and/or 
 ii) control the actor of the air exchange device to adjust its opening degree based on signals of the at least two air temperature sensors and of the at least one occupancy sensor, preferably also based on signals of at least one air humidity sensor of the building space and/or also based on signals of at least one air velocity sensor of the building space. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the building space comprises at least one air humidity sensor, wherein the controller is configured to
 i) control the operation of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system based on signals of the air humidity sensor; and/or   ii) control an opening degree of an air exchange device for opening and closing an air passage between the building space and outdoors of the building space based on signals of the at least one air humidity sensor.   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the building space comprises at least one air velocity sensor, wherein the at least one air velocity sensor is optionally located at an indoors side of the building space or located at an outdoors side of the building space, wherein the controller is configured to
 i) control the operation of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system based on signals of the at least one air velocity sensor; and/or   ii) control an opening degree of an air exchange device for opening and closing an air passage between the building space and outdoors of the building space based on signals of the at least one air velocity sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive weather data and is configured to control
 i) the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system based on received weather data; and/or   ii) an actor of an air exchange device of the system, which is suitable for exchanging air between the building space and outdoors, to adjust an opening degree of the air exchange device based on received weather data;   wherein the weather data preferably includes data selected from the group consisting of outdoors air temperature, outdoors air humidity, outdoors air velocity, forecast outdoors air temperature, forecast outdoors air humidity, forecast outdoors air velocity, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive data regarding a thermal comfort temperature range from at least one person in the building space and is configured to control
 i) the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system based on the received data regarding a thermal comfort temperature range; and/or   ii) an actor of an air exchange device of the system, which is suitable for exchanging air between the building space and outdoors, to adjust an opening degree of the air exchange device based on the received data regarding a thermal comfort temperature range;   wherein the control unit is preferably configured to determine a thermal comfort temperature range from at least one person in the building space from the received data based on a thermal comfort prediction model, optionally a predicted mean vote model and/or an adaptive comfort model.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to set
 a) a single temperature setpoint for heating to define a heating mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system; and   b) a single temperature setpoint for cooling to define a cooling mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system;   wherein the controller is more preferably configured to set the   i) single temperature setpoint for heating to a lower value than the single temperature setpoint for cooling; and/or   ii) single temperature setpoint for cooling to a lower value in an active mode than in an active preconditioning mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system; and/or   iii) single temperature setpoint for heating to a higher value in an active mode than in an active preconditioning mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system; and/or   iv) single temperature setpoints to a different value if a thermal comfort temperature range from at least one person in the building space, which is preferably determined by the controller based on a thermal comfort prediction model, optionally a predicted mean vote model and/or an adaptive comfort model, has changed.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to set
 a) a lower limit temperature setpoint for heating and an upper limit temperature setpoint for heating to define a heating mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system; and   b) a lower limit temperature setpoint for cooling and an upper limit temperature setpoint for cooling to define a cooling mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system;   wherein the controller is more preferably configured to set the   i) temperature setpoints for cooling lower in an active mode than in an active preconditioning mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system; and/or   ii) temperature setpoints for heating higher in an active mode than in an active preconditioning mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system; and/or   iii) temperature setpoints to a different value if a thermal comfort temperature range from at least one person in the building space, which is preferably determined by the controller based on a thermal comfort prediction model, optionally a predicted mean vote model and/or an adaptive comfort model, has changed.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to perform a comparison of each of the set temperature setpoints for heating and each of the set temperature setpoints for cooling with a first temperature obtained from a first of the at least two air temperature sensors of the system and with a second temperature obtained from a second of the at least two air temperature sensors of the system, and wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system based on said comparison, wherein the controller is preferably configured to, based on said comparison, activate or deactivate a heating mode, cooling mode and fan mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system or to switch off the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to activate
 i) a heating mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system and close an air exchange device of the building space, which is suitable for exchanging air between the building space and outdoors, if a minimum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is below the lower limit temperature setpoint for heating; and/or   ii) a cooling mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system and close an air exchange device of the building space, which is suitable for exchanging air between the building space and outdoors, if a maximum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is above the upper limit temperature setpoint for cooling.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to deactivate a heating mode and a cooling mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, to close an air exchange device of the building space, which is suitable for exchanging air between the building space and outdoors, and to activate a fan mode of the of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, if
 i) a minimum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is identical to or above the lower limit temperature setpoint for heating and is identical to or below the upper limit temperature setpoint for heating, and if a maximum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is above the upper limit temperature setpoint for heating; and/or   ii) a maximum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is identical to or below the upper limit temperature setpoint for cooling and is identical to or above the lower limit temperature setpoint for cooling, and if a minimum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is below the lower limit temperature setpoint for cooling.   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to switch off the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system and to close an air exchange device of the building space, which is suitable for exchanging air between the building space and outdoors, if
 i) a minimum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is identical to or above the lower limit temperature setpoint for heating and is identical to or below the upper limit temperature setpoint for heating, and if a maximum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is identical to or below the upper limit temperature setpoint for heating; and/or   ii) a maximum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is identical to or lower than the upper limit temperature setpoint for cooling and is identical to or above the lower limit temperature setpoint for cooling, and if a minimum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is identical or above the lower limit temperature setpoint for cooling.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to switch off the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system and to open an air exchange device of the building space, which is suitable for exchanging air between the building space and outdoors, if
 i) a minimum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is above the upper limit temperature setpoint for heating, and if a maximum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is above an outdoors temperature; and/or   ii) a maximum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is below the lower limit temperature setpoint for cooling, and if a minimum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is below an outdoors temperature.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to set the temperature setpoints to new temperature setpoints if
 i) a minimum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is above the upper limit temperature setpoint for heating, and if a maximum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is identical to or below an outdoors temperature, and if a thermal comfort temperature range from at least one person in the building space, which is preferably determined by the controller based on a thermal comfort prediction model, optionally a predicted mean vote model and/or an adaptive comfort model, has changed; and/or   ii) a maximum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is below the lower limit temperature setpoint for cooling, and if a minimum building space temperature obtained from the at least two air temperature sensors is identical to or above an outdoors temperature, and if a thermal comfort temperature range from at least one person in the building space, which is preferably determined by the controller based on a thermal comfort prediction model, optionally a predicted mean vote model and/or an adaptive comfort model, has changed;   wherein the controller is preferably configured to perform a comparison of each of the new temperature setpoints for heating and each of the new temperature setpoints for cooling with a first temperature obtained from a first of the at least two air temperature sensors of the system and with a second temperature obtained from a second of the at least two air temperature sensors of the system, and control the operation of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system based on said comparison, wherein the controller is preferably configured to, based on said comparison, activate or deactivate a heating mode, cooling mode and fan mode of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system or to deactivate the whole heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is
 i) a local controller of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system;   ii) a remote controller that has a communicative connection, optionally by cable or wireless, to a local controller of the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, wherein the remote controller is preferably a cloud controller.