US 12,169,072 B2
Predictive control for domestic heating system
Jiri Rehor, Cernosice (CZ)
Assigned to Ademco Inc., Golden Valley, MN (US)
Filed by Ademco Inc., Golden Valley, MN (US)
Filed on Jun. 26, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/632,923.
Prior Publication US 2018/0372341 A1, Dec. 27, 2018
Int. Cl. G05D 23/19 (2006.01); F24D 19/10 (2006.01); G05B 15/02 (2006.01)
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
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.