wy UK Patent Application GB 24382016 wA
`
`
`
`(43) Date of A Publication 09.05.2007
`
`(21) Application No:
`
`0522544.6
`
`04.11.2005
`(22) Date of Filing:
`
`(71) Applicant(s):
`De Montfort University
`(Incorporated in the United Kingdom)
`The Innovation Centre, Oxford Street,
`LEICESTER,LE1 5XY, United Kingdom
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor(s):
`Peter Boait
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(56)
`
`INT CL:
`G05D 23/19 (2006.01)
`
`G05B 13/04 (2006.01)
`
`UK CL (Edition X ):
`G3N NGLA N262 N373 N374.N387
`U1S 81978
`
`Documents Cited:
`GB 2408592 A
`EP 0736826 A2
`JP 2005283028 A
`US 4217646 A
`
`GB 2218540 A
`EP 0444308 A1
`US 5790437 A
`US 20030050737 A
`
`(74) Agent and/or Address for Service:
`Serjeants
`25 The Crescent, King Street, LEICESTER,
`LE1 6RX, United Kingdom
`
`
`Field of Search:
`UK CL (Edition X ) G3N
`INT CL GO5B, GO5D
`Other:
`
`(54) Abstract Title: electronic control units for central heating systems.
`
`(57) An automatic electronic control unit for
`controlling the operation of a central heating
`system where the time settings are determined
`automatically from a detection of the user’s
`activity andlifestyle habits. An apparatus
`includes an electrical load sensor 22 for
`
`measuring the electrical load of one or more
`electrical appliances within the building and
`providing an output signal indicative of the
`electrical load of the one of more electrical
`
`appliances, and anelectronic control unit that
`uses the output signal from the electrical load
`sensorto control an operation of the central
`heating system.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Figure 3
`
`V910ctVedD
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`Original Printed on Recycled Paper
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`1/7
`
`Occupant
`identified as
`absentor
`dormant hence
`alow
`temperature
`setpoint applies
`
`Occupant
`identified as
`present and
`active hence
`requires
`heating to
`normal room
`
`
`ONstate - system\
`seeks to maintain
`normal room
`temperature
`
`ee
`
`
`
`temperature
`
`
`FF state - system
`seeksto avoid air
`
`temperature below an
`appropriate low
`
`value.
`
`
`
`
`
`Figure |
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`
`LLf :[assarete|ey 12455.5kWh
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`‘
`
` TEMP t
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`4
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`10
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`Figure 2
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`14
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`Figure 3
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`10
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`24
`
`Figure 4
`
`Electrical
`load kW
`
`0.00
`
`400
`
`8 00
`
`12:00
`
`16 00
`
`20:00
`
`24:00
`
`Time of day
`
`Figure 5
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`4/7
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`—_—
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`ee
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`—
`ainnbe
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`settin
`seme
`Time.
`“T
`| dateday of
`week
`oT
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`L
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`
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`New prior
`probabilities
`from Figure 8
`
`Prior
`probability
`tables
`~~
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`~
`
`a
`-
`Lookup ofprior
`probability from table
`forlifestyle
`.
`Prior
`probability
`of heating
`need
`oo
`New
`—— oe
`(Electrical\
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`load sensor ———-—9_hketihoodsApply Bayes’ “=
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`theorum to determine
`Likelihood {_,
`from Figure 8
`a
`post probability of
`tables
`\
`en
`heating need
`rn
`( Activity
`_-
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`\Sensor eu
`Nee
`
`
`
`Post
`probability
`of heating
`need
`
`eee
`Comfort or
`Economy
`
`setting 14
`
`Testif post
`probability exceeds
`threshold determined
`by C/E
`
`
`
`Real time change of
`state in heating
`need identified to
`Figure 10
`
`Figure 6
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`
`000
`
`4:00
`
`8:00
`
`12:00
`
`16 00
`
`20:00
`
`24:00
`
`Time of day
`
`Figure 7
`
`1.0
`
`0.8
`
`0.6
`0.4
`
`02
`
`Prior
`probability
`
`220
`
`21.8
`
`21.6
`
`21.4
`
`Setpoint
`C
`
`21.2
`
`210
`
`20.8
`
`Dotted line indicates the effect
`of raising the setpoint manually
`at 8 pm by one “click” of
`temperature switch 10
`
`
`
`000
`
`4.00
`
`8:00
`
`12:00
`
`16°00
`
`20:00
`
`24 00
`
`Time of day
`
`Figure 9
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`
`
`
`
`Lifestyle
`Adjust setpoint profile
`
`
`setting12.
`table dependent on On/
`
`Off button usage, C/E
`
`Time,
`setting, Q,L
`date,day of
`
`
`week
`ee 5 a _ {—
`
`
`/Electrical “f
`| load sensor
`[ Setpoint
`
`
`
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`29 24
`profile table
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`sensor data, user
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`inputs, inference
`—
`results, Q, L
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`
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`SN
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`ee
`
`
`Q, L using historic
`
`
`ee
`sensordata
`
`
`
`Economy
`
`—
`
`
`
`On/Off buttons
`6,8
`a evening stop from load and
`-———-
`activity sensor records
`‘External alr
`temperature
`sensor 16
`
`- Tere
`
`Heating ON
`time window
`start or stop to
`Figure 10
`
`New prior
`probabilities to
`Figure 6
`
`Calculate adjustments to
`prior probabilities from
`predictions
`
` Predict morning start and
`
`
` Predict daytime stop
`
`Calculate actual
`intervals from load and
`heating start time
`
`activity sensor and on/off
`using Q,
`L. Te Ts
`
`gM , records
`
`
`
`
`
`New
`Calculate adjustments to
`likelihoods to
`Fique6@ 9 likelihoods from sensor and
`9g
`prediction records
`|
`
`Figure 8
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`Real time change of
`state in heating
`need identified from
`threshold test in
`Figure 6
`
`Heating ON
`t
`d
`ime window
`start or stop
`
`a
`On/Off buttons
`6,8
`——.
`
`-
`
`Change system state
`
`
`
`
`
`Temperature
`switch 10
`——
`
`temperature
`profile from
`user Input
`
`J pe
`
`Setpoint
`profile table
`
`
`Select operating
`setpoint Ts from Te,
`time, and profile table
`for current state. If ON
`button used, make
`Ts>Trif necessary
`
`from Figure 8
`between ON and OFF Shape
`
`
`
`
`
`Time, date
`
`
`
`
`
`
`temperature
`sensor 16
`
`Room
`
`temperature
`sensor 18
`
`Tr
`
`Ts
`
`< IsTr<Ts?
`_—
`“4
`
`N\Ne
`
`No
`
`Yes
`
`Call for heat from boiler
`
`Cease heat from boiler
`
`Figure 10
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`2432016
`
`TITLE
`
`Electronic control units for central heating systems
`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`Technical Field
`
`The present invention relates to electronic control units for central heating systems,
`and in particular to electronic control units that can use real-time and predictive
`inference processes to control the central heating systems.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`Background Art
`Electronic control units for central heating systems are known andtypically require a
`
`user to set the times when they want the system to provide heating. To allow for
`periods whenthe user is not at home, and for changes in routine between weekdays
`and weekends,it is often necessary to enter a numberoftime settings on a physically
`small control box with a poor man-machine interface. Manyusers find entering time
`settings quite difficult and an incorrect selection will often result in the inefficient
`operation of the central heating system with heat being provided whenit is not needed
`
`and vice versa.
`
`20
`
`There is therefore a need for an automatic electronic control unit where the time
`
`settings are determined automatically from a detection of the user's activity and
`lifestyle habits. There is also a need for an electronic control that can make the
`central heating system operate in a most cost-effective manner.
`
`25
`
`30
`
`Summaryof the Invention
`In a first aspect,
`the present invention provides an apparatus for controlling the
`operation of a central heating system for heating and/or cooling a building,
`the
`apparatus including an electrical load sensor for measuring the electrical load of one
`or more electrical appliances within the building and providing an output signal
`indicative of the electrical
`load of the one of more electrical appliances, and an
`
`electronic control unit that uses the output signal from the electrical load sensor to
`
`contro] an operation of the central heating system.
`
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`For the purposes of the following description, the term "building" will be taken to
`include any domestic, commercial or industrial building including (but notlimited to)
`a private house, flat, apartment or bungalow, a shop, warehouse, office building or
`factory. Similarly, the term "electrical appliance" is to be interpreted broadly to
`include any item or object that is electrically powered and which preferably operates
`on a non-continuous basis. Typical examples might include kitchen appliances such
`as electric cookers, microwaves, washing machines, tumble driers, dishwashers and
`kettles (but not necessarily refrigeration appliances like fridges and freezers which
`operate continuously and therefore give no indication of whether the occupant of the
`building is active and has a need for heating), entertainment appliances such as
`televisions, videos and games machines,
`lighting appliances, hairdryers,
`irons and
`commercial and industrial appliances such as computers and computer peripherals,
`
`checkouts, electrical machinery andthe like.
`
`In the case of a domestic building, monitoring the electrical load of one or more
`appliances within the building provides a robust day-by-day indication of when the
`occupantor occupantsofthe building get up in the morning(electrical load increases)
`and go to bed at night(electrical load falls). By correlating these times with the days
`of the week the routine behaviour of the occupant or occupants can be determined.
`
`The same is also true for commercial and industrial buildings where monitoring the
`
`electrical load provides an indication of when the building is occupied (electrical load
`increases) and whenit is empty (electrical load falls).
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`The electrical load sensor can be configured to measure the aggregate electrical load
`
`ofthe building or the electrical load of one or more particular electrical appliances by
`identifying an appliance through pattern recognition of their load variations, for
`example. The appliances will usually be supplied with electricity from the mains
`supply but they may also be supplied from an auxiliary source such as a stand-alone
`
`30
`
`generator.
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`-3-
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`The electronic control unit can be used with any suitable central heating system for
`
`In its broadest aspect the central heating system
`heating and/or cooling a building.
`can include a heating and/or cooling device for supplying heating and/or cooling fluid
`
`and a network for distributing the heating and/or cooling fluid to at least one output
`device that uses the heating and/or cooling fluid to heat and/or cool the interior of the
`building. For example,
`the central heating system can be a conventional "water
`based" system with a gas or oil-fired central heating boiler that supplies hot water
`through a network ofpipesto a series of radiators or underfloor heating piping. Cold
`water can also be supplied from a heat-exchange unit through the same ora parallel
`network of pipes to the series of radiators or under floor heating piping. The central
`heating system can also be a conventional "air based" system (generally favoured in
`commercial and industrial buildings) where hotorcoldair is distributed via ducting to
`
`a series of air vents located in the roomsof the building.
`
`The control of an operation of the central heating system by the electronic contro] unit
`can be as straightforward as simply turning the central heating system on when the
`electrical
`load exceeds a predetermined threshold and turning the central heating
`system off whentheelectrical load falls below a predeterminedthreshold.
`
`is generally preferred that the central heating system is capable of
`it
`However,
`operating in a first state and a secondstate so that the electronic contro] unit can use
`the output signal from theelectrical load sensor to switch the central heating system
`between the first and second states.
`It will be readily appreciated that the central
`
`heating system canoperate in more than two states and can be switched between these
`plural states under the automatic control and direction ofthe electronic control unit.
`The states will be a simplified representation of the condition of the occupant or
`occupants ofthe building. For example, the central heating system may operate in a
`first state where it can provide heating to keep the temperature in the building (or a
`
`room orpart of the building) above a low temperature of about 5°C whenthe building
`is empty (such as when the occupant or occupants are out at work or on holiday), a
`second state where it can provide heating to keep the temperature in the building (or a
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`room orpart of the building) aboveaslightly higher temperature of about 12°C when
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`the occupantor occupants are asleep,a third state whereit can provide heating to keep
`the building (or a room orpart of the building) at a predetermined room temperature
`of about 20°C when the occupant or occupants are present in the building and active.
`
`The apparatus preferably further comprises an activity sensor for measuring activity
`within the building and providing an output signal indicative of activity within the
`building. The activity sensor can be positioned at any suitable location within the
`building and can use any knowntechnology such as microwave,infra-red or acoustic.
`
`10
`
`The electronic control] unit can use a first inference process to determine when to
`
`switch the central heating system between the first and second states. The first
`inference process preferably operates in real
`time and uses a range of inputs to
`determine when heating is and is not needed.
`Inputs to the first inference process can
`include the output signal from the electrical load sensor, the output signal from an
`activity sensor and a time-varying prior probability. The prior probability can in turn
`be based onalifestyle setting and a comfort mode and economy modesetting
`
`15
`
`described in more detail below.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`The apparatus preferably further comprises a first manual switching device that can be
`manually activated by an operator to switch the central heating system from thefirst
`state to the second state for a predetermined period of time. The first manual
`switching device can be manually activated by the operator a numberof times and the
`predetermined period of time can then be determined by the numberoftimesthefirst
`manual setting device is activated.
`
`The apparatus preferably also further comprises a second manual switching device
`that can be manually activated by an operator to switch the central heating system
`from the secondstate to the first state for a predetermined period of time. The second
`manual switching device can be manually activated by the operator a numberof times
`and the predetermined period of time can then be determined by the number oftimes
`the second manualsetting device is activated.
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`-5-
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`The electronic control unit may also use the output signal from the electrical load
`
`sensor to derive a first time for switching the central heating system from thefirst
`
`state to the second state and a second time for switching the central heating system
`
`from the secondstate to the first state. The electronic control unit preferably uses a
`
`second inference processto derive a first time for switching the central heating system
`
`from the first state to the second state and the second time for switching the central
`
`In both cases, the electronic
`heating system from the secondstate to the first state.
`control unit can switch the central heating system between the first and second states
`
`whenthe actual time determined by somesort of timer is equal to the first and second
`
`10
`
`times.
`
`load and activity sensors, and information
`The output signal from the electrical
`relating to when the central heating system is switched between thefirst and second
`states (including switches determined bythefirst inference process and by the manual
`
`15
`
`activation of the first and second manual switching devices) can be stored in a
`
`memory of the electronic control unit. At least a part of this stored information can
`then be used by the second inference processto derive the first and second times.
`
`The electronic control unit preferably controls the central heating system to heat
`
`20
`
`and/or cool the building during the period of time between the first time and the
`
`secondtime.
`
`for
`temperature sensor
`The apparatus preferably further comprises an internal
`measuring the temperature inside the building and providing an output signal
`
`25
`
`indicative of the temperature inside the building. The sensor can be ofany suitable
`
`from the internal
`The electronic control unit can use the output signal
`type.
`temperature sensor to control
`the central heating system to heat and/or cool
`the
`building when the temperature inside the building measured by the internal
`
`temperature sensor deviates from a temperature setpoint.
`
`30
`
`temperature
`The temperature setpoint can be determined with reference to a first
`profile when the central heating system is operating in the first state and with
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`reference to a second temperature profile when the central heating system is operating
`
`in the second state. For example, when the central heating system is operating in the
`
`first state where it might be trying to provide heating to keep the temperature in the
`
`building above a predetermined low temperature (say between 5 and 12°C) thenthis
`
`predetermined low temperature can be determined with reference to a first
`temperature profile. Similarly, when the central heating system is operating in the
`
`second state where it might be trying to provide heating to keep the temperature of the
`
`building at a predetermined room temperature (say around 20°C)
`
`then this
`
`predetermined room temperature can be determined with reference to a second
`
`10
`
`temperature profile.
`
`It is generally preferred that at least one of the first and second
`
`temperature profiles varies with time.
`
`The apparatus preferably further
`
`includes an external
`
`temperature sensor
`
`for
`
`measuring the air temperature outside the building and providing an output signal
`
`15
`
`indicative of the air temperature outside the building. The sensor can be of any
`
`suitable type. The electronic control unit can use the output signal from the external
`
`temperature sensor to modify at least one ofthe first and second temperature profiles.
`
`It is also preferred that the apparatus includes a manual temperature setting device
`
`that can be manually activated by an operator to modify at least one of the first and
`
`20
`
`second temperature profiles. The temperature profile that is modified will depend on
`
`whether the central heating system is operating in the first state or the secondstate at
`
`the time when the manual temperature setting device is activated. For example,if the
`
`manual temperature setting device is activated when the central heating system is
`
`operating in the first state then the first temperature profile will be modified but if the
`
`25
`
`manual temperature setting device is activated when the central heating system is
`
`It
`operating in the second state then the second temperature profile will be modified.
`will be recalled that the central heating system can be manually switched between the
`
`first and secondstates using the first and second manual switching devices.
`
`30
`
`The present invention further provides a method of controlling the operation of a
`central heating system for heating or cooling a building, the method including the
`steps of measuring the electrical load of one or more electrical appliances within the
`
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`-7-
`
`building, and using the measurementofthe electrical load to control an operation of
`
`the central heating system.
`
`The remaining method steps correspond generally to the features of the apparatus
`
`described above and areset out in the claims.
`
`In a second aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for controlling the
`
`operation of a central heating system for heating and/or cooling a building,
`
`the
`
`apparatus including an internal temperature sensor for measuring the temperature
`
`10
`
`inside the building and providing an output signal indicative of the temperature inside
`
`the building, and an electronic control unit that uses the output signal from the
`
`internal temperature sensor to control the central heating system to heat and/or cool
`
`the building when the temperature inside the building measured by the internal
`
`temperature sensor deviates from a temperature setpoint determined with reference to
`
`15
`
`a time-varying temperature profile.
`
`The present invention further provides a method ofcontrolling the operation of a
`
`central heating system for heating or cooling a building, the method including the
`
`steps of measuring the temperature inside the building, and using the measurement of
`
`20
`
`the temperature inside the building to automatically control the central heating system
`
`to heat and/or cool the building when the measured temperature inside the building
`
`deviates from a temperature setpoint determined with reference to a time-varying
`
`temperatureprofile.
`
`25
`
`The remaining features of the second aspect of the present
`
`invention correspond
`
`generally to the features ofthe first aspect described above.
`
`Drawings
`
`Figure 1
`
`is a diagram showing the two states (ON state and OFF state) for the
`
`30
`
`operation of a central heating system controlled by an electronic control unit
`
`according to the present invention;
`
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`-8-
`
`Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an electronic control unit according to the present
`
`invention;
`
`Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing howtheelectronic control unit of Figure 2
`
`can receive input signals indicative ofelectrical load from an electricity meter;
`Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing howtheelectronic control unit of Figure 2
`can receive input signals indicative ofelectrical load from an induction sensor,
`
`Figure 5 is a graph showing typical variation in domestic electrical load during a 24
`
`hour period;
`Figure 6 is a schematic flow diagram showing the operation ofa real-time inference
`
`10
`
`process used by the electronic control unit of Figure 2;
`Figure 7 is a graph showing a typicalprior probability during a 24 hourperiod;
`Figure 8 is a schematic flow diagram showing the operation of a predictive inference
`
`process used by the electronic control unit of Figure 2;
`Figure 9 is a graph showing a typical time-varying temperature profile during a 24
`
`hour period; and
`Figure 10 is a schematic flow diagram showing the operation of a temperature control
`
`process used bythe electronic control unit of Figure 2.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`A central heating system (not shown, but for the purposes of this description
`
`consisting ofa central heating boiler for supplying hot water to one or more radiators
`through a network of pipes) for a domestic house is controlled by an electronic control
`unit. For simplicity, the following description assumes that the house only has a
`
`single occupantbutit will be readily appreciated that the house can have two or more
`occupants.
`Any reference to "the occupant" of the house should therefore be
`interpreted as being a reference to "any occupant" or "all occupants" as applicable.
`Similarly, it will be readily appreciated that the electronic control unit can be used to
`
`control a central heating system in any other domestic, commercial or industrial
`
`building.
`
`30
`
`With reference to Figure 1, the central heating system operates in two differentstates,
`
`namely an ON state and an OFFstate. For the purposes of the following description,
`
`the central heating system is said to be turned on or operating in an ON state whenit
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`-9.
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`operates to maintain the temperature inside the house at a desired room temperature.
`
`The desired room temperature is sometimesreferred to below as the room temperature
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`setpoint and is typically somewhere in the region of about 20°C. The central heating
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`system is most likely to be operating in the ON state during the daytime when the
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`occupantis present in the house. The central heating system is said to be turnedoff or
`operating in the OFF state when it operates to keep the temperature inside the house
`above a desired anti-frost or overnight
`temperature (which for reasons that will
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`becomeclear is also sometimes referred to below as the low temperature setpoint and
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`is typically between 5°C and 12°C). The central heating system is switched between
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`these two states (in other words experiences ON/OFFcontrol) under the direction of
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`the electronic control unit.
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`It will be readily appreciated that the term "desired
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`overnight
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`temperature" has been chosen for convenience to denote the lower
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`temperature above which the house should be kept when the occupant
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`is asleep.
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`However, the electronic control unit can be used in situations where the occupant is
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`15
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`active during the night and asleep during the day.
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`With reference to Figures 2 to 4, the electronic contro! unit includes a control box 2
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`that might be installed in a hallway of the house, for example. The control box 2
`incorporates a central processor unit (not shown) and has a display panel 4 that
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`20
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`displays the current time,
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`the temperature setpoint in °C and an indication of the
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`current lifestyle and comfort mode or economy modesettings. The central processor
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`unit includes a timer so that it can record the precise time and date when external
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`signals are received by the electronic control unit, when any operating processes or
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`mathematical routines are carried out by the central processor unit, and when any
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`25
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`ON/OFF control of the central heating system is carried out. The time and date
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`information supplied by the timer can be used to point to various look-up tables and
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`can also be used as an input to the operating processes and mathematical routines
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`themselves.
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`30
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`The electronic contro] unit normally operates in an automatic mode whereit uses real-
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`time and predictive inference processes (described in more detail below)to contro] the
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`ON/OFF operation of the central heating system. However,
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`the control box 2
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`includes an ON button 6 and an OFF button 8 that can be manually activated by the
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`occupant of the house to override the automatic mode and turn the central heating
`system onor off for a set period of time such as | hour. Ifthe ON button 6 and OFF
`button 8 are pressed more than oncethen the central heating system will be turned on
`or off for multiples of the set period of time. For example, if the ON button 6 is
`pressed three times then the central heating system will be turned on for 3 hours. The
`current time in the display panel 4 can be replaced with the time when the central
`heating system will revert to its automatic mode and a marker can appearin the space
`between the time and the temperature setpoint
`to inform the occupant
`that
`the
`electronic control unit is operating in a manual mode.
`If the ON button 6 has been
`pressed and the electronic control unit is still operating in a manual mode then the
`electronic control unit can be made to revert back to its automatic mode early by
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`pressing the OFF button 8.
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`A temperature switch 10 can be manually activated by the occupant of the house to
`raise and Jower the temperature setpoint by a small predetermined amount such as
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`0.1°C for each depression of the switch. When the central heating system is in the
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`ONstate, the activation of the temperature switch 10 adjusts the room temperature
`setpoint. However, whenthe central heating system is in the OFFstate, the activation
`of the temperature switch 10 adjusts the low temperature setpoint.
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`The occupantof the house can also use a switch 12 on the control box 2 to select one
`of a predetermined numberofdifferent lifestyle settings that best fits the occupant's
`typical pattern of behaviour. A list of possible settings mightinclude:
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`20
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`e The occupant is in the house mostofthe time.
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`e The occupant is out at work from Monday to Friday and in the house on
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`Saturday and Sunday.
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`e The occupant is out of the house at different times depending on his or her
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`shift pattern at work.
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`e The occupantis in and out of the house on an irregularbasis.
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`The control box 2 also includes a switch 14 that allows the occupant of the house to
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`select if the electronic contro] unit should operate in a comfort mode or an economy
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`mode. This is a binary setting and makessure that the electronic control unit can be
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`used safely by houses with an elderly, infirm or infant occupant.
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`If the occupant
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`selects the comfort mode thenthe electronic control unit will bias its decision making
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`processes in favour of providing or maintaining the supply of heat. However, if the
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`occupant selects the economy mode then the electronic control unit will bias its
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`decision making processes in favour of delaying or ending the supply of heat so that
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`the central heating system is operated in a more cost-effective and environmentally-
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`friendly manner.
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`The control box 2 is connected to an external temperature sensor 16 mounted outside
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`the house for measuring the air
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`temperature outside the house.
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`An_
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`internal
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`15
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`temperature sensor 18 for measuring the air temperature inside the house 1s provided
`directly on the control box 2 but it could also be independently mounted as a stand-
`alone unit. For example, the internal temperature sensor might be mounted in the
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`living room or main living space of the house and connected to the control box 2 in
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`the hallway byan electrical cable or any suitable wireless means.
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`20
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`The contro] box 2 also includes an activity sensor 20 for monitoring movementinside
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`the house.
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`It can also be independently mounted as a stand-alone unit and positioned
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`such that it can detect movement of the occupantin a particular room, or through the
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`front or back door of the house, for example. The activity sensor 20 can use any
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`known technology such as microwave, infra-red or acoustic and if mounted as a
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`25
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`stand-alone unit can be connected to the control box by an electrical cable or any
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`suitable wireless means.
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`Anelectrical load sensor forms part of the electronic control unit and is used to
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`measure the aggregate electrical load of the house. If the electricity meter 22 installed
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`30
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`in the house is sufficiently sophisticated then this can be used as the electrical load
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`sensor as shown in Figure 2. The control box 2 is powered directly from the mains
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`supply and the signals from the electricity meter 22 can be transmitted to the control
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`box using one of the established techniques for mains supply signalling such as
`LONWORKS. Alternatively, an independent induction sensor 24 is clamped around
`the mains supply as shown in Figure 3. The induction sensor 24 can receive power
`directly from the mains supply to operate the measurementelectronics. The signals
`from the induction sensor 24 can be transmitted to the control box 2 using an
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`electrical cable or a wireless module 26 like a low-power radio frequency ZIGBEE
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`module. The signals from the electricity meter 22 or the induction sensor 24 provide
`a robust
`indication of when the occupant of the house gets up in the morning
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`load falls). By
`load increases) and goes to bed at night (electrical
`(electrical
`correlating the signals with the day of the week and the time when they are received
`then the routine behaviour of the occupant can be determined. The measurement of
`electrical load is equally effective when the house has a number of occupants because
`it reflects the total or combined behaviour of all the occupants. An example of a
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`signal indicative ofelectrical load that might be output from the induction sensor24 is
`shown in Figure 5.
`It can be seen that during the early hours of the morning, the
`electrical load is low and reflects the continuous operation of refrigeration appliances,
`for example. Theelectrical load then rises sharply at about 8.00 am,typically due to
`the occupant getting up and using electrical appliances such as an electric kettle,
`electric shower, hairdryer or entertainment appliances. The amountofelectrical load
`
`falls back during the day when the occupant is out at work but rises again once the
`occupant returns home in the evening and starts to use cooking and entertainment
`appliances.
`It eventually drops sharply as the electrical appliances are turned off
`when the occupantretires for the night.
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`The electronic control unit uses three different operating processes to independently
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`control the ON/OFFoperation of the central heating system.
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`The first process is a real-time inference process where control decisions are made
`based on current sensor measurements, the selected lifestyle mode and the selected
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`30
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`comfort or economy mode.
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`Thereal-time inference process uses a mathematical
`
`routine to determine when the house needs to be heated to the desired room
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`temperature and also to determine whenthatlevel of heating is no longer required.
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