CPC F24D 19/1009 (2013.01) [G05B 15/02 (2013.01); G05D 23/1905 (2013.01); G05D 23/1917 (2013.01); F24D 2220/003 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2614 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2642 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A method comprising:
obtaining an outside temperature forecast for an area outside of a structure, wherein the outside temperature forecast includes a period of time following a present time;
determining a sequence of boiler set points for a boiler using a model predictive control (MPC) model for the structure using inverse modeling, wherein the MPC model comprises:
unknown parameters of elements of a dynamic heat loss model,
wherein the unknown parameters are constrained within a predetermined expected range of the elements of the dynamic heat loss model, and
wherein gas consumption data from a gas meter for the boiler is used to estimate the unknown parameters,
a first control algorithm that accepts the outside temperature forecast as an input and generates a sequence of heat load set points over a first prediction horizon as an output, each heat load set point of the sequence of heat load set points representing a target heat load to be delivered by the boiler to a hydronic circuit at a time associated with the respective heat load set point; and
a second control algorithm that accepts the sequence of heat load set points and a return water temperature, the return water temperature determined for heated water circulated via a series of pipes, as inputs and generates the sequence of boiler set points over a second prediction horizon as an output based on a determined efficiency for a respective heat load set point of the sequence of heat load set points, each boiler set point of the sequence of boiler set points representing a target parameter of the boiler at a time associated with the respective boiler set point, wherein the second prediction horizon is shorter than the first prediction horizon, the determined efficiency corresponding to a fuel cost for the respective heat load set point of the sequence of heat load set points determined as a function of the respective heat load set point and the return water temperature; and
controlling, based on the MPC model including the sequence of heat load set points and the sequence of boiler set points, the boiler to heat the structure.
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