Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing demand response are described herein.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for determining costs associated with an HVAC system are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to identify a number of parameters associated with a zone of an HVAC system, to input the identified parameters into a first model, estimate, using the first model, an unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone based on the input parameters, to input actions associated with an adjustment of a temperature set point of the zone, based on the estimated unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone and the adjustment of the temperature set point of the zone, into a second model, and determine, using the second model, a cost associated with the adjustment of a temperature set point of the zone based on the estimated unmeasured heat gain occurring in the zone.

Abstract: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system controllers are described herein. One HVAC controller includes a user interface configured to receive an indication of whether there is a positive or negative relationship between each of a number of controlled variables of an HVAC system and each of a number of manipulated variables of the HVAC system, a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to determine operating parameters for each of the number of manipulated variables, wherein the determined operating parameters are determined based, at least in part, on whether there is a positive or negative relationship between each respective controlled variable and each respective manipulated variable, and the determined operating parameters are not based on system dynamics and disturbances associated with the HVAC system. The determined operating parameters may be optimal with respect to the current condition of the HVAC system.

Abstract: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controllers are described herein. One method includes receiving an approximate relationship between each of a number of controlled and manipulated variables of an HVAC system, designating one of the number of controlled variables as a primary controlled variable, determining operating parameters for each of the number of manipulated variables that maintain the primary controlled variable based, at least in part, on the approximate relationship between the primary controlled variable and each respective manipulated variable, and determining operating parameters for each of the number of manipulated variables that maintain each of the other controlled variables based, at least in part, on the approximate relationship between each respective other controlled variable and each respective manipulated variable and the determined operating parameters for each of the number of manipulated variables that maintain the primary controlled variable.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for assigning spaces in a building based on comfort models are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive occupant feedback for a number of occupants of a building, receive a number of variables associated with the building, generate a comfort model for each respective occupant of the building using the occupant feedback and the number of variables associated with the building, and assign each respective occupant to a space in the building based on the comfort model generated for each respective occupant and the number of variables associated with the building.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for building comfort control are described herein. One system includes computing device for building comfort control, comprising: a memory, and a processor configured to execute instructions to: receive feedback from a plurality of users on a comfort level for an area of a building, generate a comfort model for each of the plurality of users based on the feedback, and adjust a number of settings of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit for the area based on the comfort model for users among the plurality of users who are currently in the area.

Abstract: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system boiler controllers are described herein. One controller includes a memory and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to determine a change to a set point of the boiler that would lower a cost of operating the boiler, determine whether the change to the set point of the boiler is possible for the boiler, and make the change to the set point of the boiler upon determining the change is possible.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic resonance (MR) compatible transducer for magnetic resonance elastography applications having a cantilevered drive element (54) a free end of which is arranged in use to move reciprocally, and a flexible non-conductive connection rod (62) slidably disposed within a flexible non-conductive sleeve (60). The connection rod is affixed at a proximal end to the cantilevered drive element via a proximal flexible connection piece (64) that in use accommodates the slight rotational movement of the cantilevered drive element as it reciprocates about its secured end, whilst translating the rotational reciprocation of the cantilevered drive element into a pure translational reciprocation of the connection rod within the sleeve. The distal end of the connection rod is affixed against a protrusion connected to another cantilevered driven element (56), upon which is mounted a piston element (58) that in use contacts the subject.

Abstract: A method includes pairing manipulated variables and controlled variables in an HVAC system, perturbing a variable, controlling the HVAC system to maintain controlled variables in a comfort range, determining a state of the system, and deriving a model from the state of the system.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for energy consumption modeling are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to assign energy consumption data to an on state and an off state of a device, generate a model configured to predict a future state of the device and a duration of the future state based on a duration of a current state of the device, a duration of a previous state of the device, and operating conditions of the device, and predict a future energy consumption of the device using the assigned energy consumption data and the generated model.

Abstract: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controllers are described herein. One method includes receiving an approximate relationship between each of a number of controlled and manipulated variables of an HVAC system, designating one of the number of controlled variables as a primary controlled variable, determining operating parameters for each of the number of manipulated variables that maintain the primary controlled variable based, at least in part, on the approximate relationship between the primary controlled variable and each respective manipulated variable, and determining operating parameters for each of the number of manipulated variables that maintain each of the other controlled variables based, at least in part, on the approximate relationship between each respective other controlled variable and each respective manipulated variable and the determined operating parameters for each of the number of manipulated variables that maintain the primary controlled variable.

Abstract: Methods and devices for scheduling operation of residential energy consumption devices are described herein. One device includes a memory and a processor. The processor can be configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to form a number of chains of residential energy consumption devices, wherein each of the number of chains includes different devices, determine which of the number of chains has a largest total energy consumption over a particular period of time, and determine, for the devices in the chain having the largest total energy consumption over the particular period of timed of time, an operational schedule having a lowest possible cost.

Abstract: Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system boiler controllers are described herein. One controller includes a memory and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to determine a change to a set point of the boiler that would lower a cost of operating the boiler, determine whether the change to the set point of the boiler is possible for the boiler, and make the change to the set point of the boiler upon determining the change is possible.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for energy consumption modeling are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to assign energy consumption data to an on state and an off state of a device, generate a model configured to predict a future state of the device and a duration of the future state based on a duration of a current state of the device, a duration of a previous state of the device, and operating conditions of the device, and predict a future energy consumption of the device using the assigned energy consumption data and the generated model.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for matching a building automation algorithm to a building automation system are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to select a building automation algorithm from a pre-defined library of building automation algorithms, determine whether the selected building automation algorithm matches a building information model associated with the building automation system, and output, upon the selected building automation algorithm matching the building information model, the selected algorithm.

Abstract: A sun blinds system for light conditions control in a room or space. The space or room with one or more windows may have a set of sun blinds that have a position to cover the whole or part of the window to prevent to an extent, as desired by an occupant or occupants, sunlight from entering the space. Parameters such as space light level, glare, weather conditions, time of year and day, cloud cover, space temperature and occupancy may be entered in a database. A learning supervisor may determine the position of the sun blinds in view of the parameters and previous manual sun blinds' settings by occupants, and provide the position to a sun blinds controller.

Abstract: A fuel sub-metering mechanism for appliances that consume fuel. Each appliance may have a firing rate indicator. An individual fuel line may be connected to each appliance. A main fuel line may be connected to individual fuel lines. A meter may be connected to the main fuel line. A processor may be connected to the firing rate indicators and to the meter. The meter may measure total fuel consumption by the appliances. The processor may provide a sub-meter estimate of fuel consumed by each appliance. The sub-meter estimate may be based at least in part on a firing rate of the respective appliance and the total fuel consumption as indicated by the meter.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for fault propagation in a building automation system are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive an input associated with a fault occurring in the building automation system, execute a fault propagation of the fault using fault rules for the building automation system and causality relationships in a building information model associated with the building automation system, and generate, using the fault propagation of the fault, a fault output with respect to the building automation system.

Abstract: Identifying models of dynamic systems is described herein. One method for identifying a model of a dynamic system includes estimating a number of parameters for each of a number of models of the dynamic system, predicting an output using the estimated number of parameters for each of the number of models, calculating a rate of error of the predicted output for each of the number of models compared to an observed output, and identifying a best model among the number of models of the dynamic system based on the calculated rate of errors.

Abstract: Various embodiments herein include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and methods for distributed HVAC system cost optimization. Such embodiments are generally implemented within a controller of HVAC system component, such as within boiler, cooler, air handling unit, and rooftop unit controllers. In some embodiments, multiple controllers exchange data to control various components of an HVAC system. One of the controllers, such as a primary plant of the system for heating or cooling, is designated as a master controller and the other component controllers are designated as slave controllers. Each controller, both master and slave controllers, includes at least one model that models variable settings of the component or components for which the respective controller is responsible. The model is utilized by the respective controller to both adjust the modeled variable component settings and to determine a cost-variable of operation.