METHOD AND PLANT FOR CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE IN AN ENVIRONMENT

Description

The present invention relates to a method for controlling the temperature in an environment.

The present invention also relates to an environmental control plant for the environment.

The term environment refers to a generic enclosed space, used to host a user.

For example, by environment can be understood one room or more rooms of a hotel or residential/housing/office complex such as, for example, a complex of accommodations/housing units or offices (which include, in fact, at least one room) located at a distance from one another in which there is a reception from which the accommodations/housing units/offices can be reached by moving on foot or by means of transport (e.g. golf car). In other words, the present invention finds application, without limitation, in the sector of heating or cooling rooms for large hotels.

Therefore, the present invention finds application in the regulation of air conditioning within individual rooms of a hotel that can have a large number of rooms, for example three or five hundred rooms, or rooms defined by the housing units of a residential complex or of offices located at a distance from one another.

As is known, a customer upon entering a room of a hotel, of a housing unit and/or of an office expects to find it at an ideal temperature to be considered comfortable by the user.

However, the hotel or the complex of accommodations and/or offices cannot afford to always maintain a certain temperature in all rooms/housing units/offices, both from an economic and emissions point of view.

If an attempt were made to air condition the room during the period in which the customer is travelling along the path from the hotel lobby to the room itself or from the reception to the housing unit and/or offices, there would be no guarantee that the temperature control plant is able to take the room to the correct temperature or to do so in an economical and sustainable way.

In addition, since the hotel or the residential and/or office complex have a large number of rooms, not all rooms can be reached at the same time and it is therefore difficult to correctly balance the air conditioning for each room.

The technical task of the present invention is thus to provide a control method and a control plant which are able to overcome the prior-art drawbacks which have emerged.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a control method and a control plant that allow the rooms or housing units/offices to be maintained at a predetermined temperature when the room or housing unit/office is not occupied by a user in order to take it to an ideal temperature in the fraction of time in which a user (i.e. a customer) is checking in at the lobby and will arrive at the room.

A further object of the present invention is therefore to provide a control method and a control plant that are able to maintain the room or housing unit/offices at the predetermined temperature and to condition it effectively, economically and sustainably.

The specified technical task and objects are substantially achieved by a control method and a control plant comprising the technical characteristics as set out in one or more of the accompanying claims. The dependent claims correspond to possible embodiments of the invention.

In particular, the stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by a method for controlling the temperature inside an environment, in particular of rooms of a hotel or of housing units/offices inside a complex, comprising the steps of:

• • dynamically defining an average time of travel of a path, travelled by a user, defined from an entrance of the hotel to a specific room;
  • dynamically detecting an environmental condition outside the room;
  • defining a target temperature corresponding to a temperature of the room when a user stays in the room and;
  • adjusting an environmental control plant of the room so as to maintain the room at a setback temperature corresponding to a temperature in which the room itself is not occupied by a user and taking the room from the setback temperature to the target temperature during the average time of travel of the user from the entrance to the room.

The setback temperature is defined in function of a plurality of variables including the average time of travel, the external environmental condition, the target temperature and the efficiency of the air conditioning/heating system.

The specified technical task and the specified purposes are further achieved by an environmental control plant for an environment, in particular a room of a hotel, comprising devices for reading the temperature of a room and devices for adjusting the temperature of the room.

The control plant further comprises a processing unit 10, connected or connectable to the reading devices and the temperature adjusting devices, configured to perform one or more of the steps of the method subject-matter of the present invention.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative and thus non-limiting description of an embodiment of a control method and control plant.

Such a description will be set out below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided solely for illustrative and therefore non-limiting purposes, in which:

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are schematic representations of different steps of the method subject-matter of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C are representative views of different environmental conditions;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the method for controlling the temperature according to the present invention.

With reference to the accompanying figures, a method for controlling the temperature inside a room is now described.

By the term environment, it is intended a generic enclosed space, used to host a user “U”, that is, a person who intends to occupy the environment.

With reference to the accompanying figures, by environment it is intended a room “S” in a hotel “A”.

By the term hotel “A” it is meant a large building capable, for example, of accommodating from 300 to 500 rooms.

Therefore, the method subject-matter of the present invention is to be understood as a method for controlling the temperature in each room “S” present in the hotel “A”.

However, as mentioned above, the present invention is also to be intended as directed to complexes of housing units or offices, not falling within the definition of hotel “A”, and defining a residential complex of temporary or permanent accommodations “S” or of offices that may be adjacent to one another or located at a distance from one another.

Nevertheless, in the following reference will be mainly made to the rooms “S” of a hotel “A” as a preferred, but not exclusive, case to simplify the description.

The method provides for defining an average time “T” of travel of a path “C”, travelled by the user “U”. The path “C”, as depicted for example in FIG. 2, is defined by an entrance “H” of the hotel “A” to a specific room “S”.

The term entrance “H” can be understood as a lobby or a reception of the hotel “A”.

With reference to the present description, the term user “U”, customer and guest are to be understood as equivalent and interchangeable.

The average time “T” can be defined as the average time calculated in function of different times of travel.

For example, if the user “U” booked the room of the hotel “A” for several nights, it is possible to define the average time “T” he/she requires to reach the room “S” during his/her stay, in order to improve the definition of the average time.

Alternatively, if the user “U” is a regular of the hotel “A” and often requests the same room “S”, it is possible to evaluate the average time “T” in light of the different times of travel of his/her different visits.

Preferably, the step of defining the average time of travel “T” is carried out by calculating an average of times of travel of a plurality of users “U” who have travelled the path “C” towards the specific room “S”.

Therefore, it is possible to measure the time required by different users “U” to reach the room “S” in order to obtain an average time “T” that is based on a sample of several users “U”, thus being more precise.

For example, a first user “U” can require 5 minutes to reach the room “S”, a second user “U” can require 4 minutes and a third user “U” can require 6 minutes to reach the same room “S”, therefore the average time “T” will be measured (i.e. defined) in function of the different sample times obtained. In light of the above, it is pointed out that for different rooms “S” there will be different average times of travel “T”. A room “S” on the first floors of the hotel “A” will require less time to be reached than a room “S” on the top floors of the hotel “A”. Therefore, the method provides for defining the average time “T” for each room “S” of the hotel “A”.

For example, a room “S” that is very close to the entrance “H” may require an average time of travel “T” of 3 minutes for a user “U”, while a room “S” that is very far from the entrance “H” (for example on the top floors of the hotel “A”) may require a time of travel of 10 to 15 minutes.

The method also provides for detecting an environmental condition outside the room “S”.

Preferably, the step of detecting an environmental condition outside the room “S” is carried out by detecting a temperature variation along the path “C”. For example, at the entrance “H” there will be a temperature, while in the corridor there will be another temperature, as depicted (purely by way of example) in FIG. 2.

Preferably, the step of detecting an environmental condition outside the room “S” is carried out by detecting weather conditions outside the hotel “A”.

Environmental conditions can be understood as the climatic conditions outside the hotel “A”, such as, for example, exposure of the room “S”, i.e. hotel “A” to the sun. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B depict two different exposures of the hotel “A” to the sun.

In addition, detecting environmental conditions can be understood as identifying weather conditions such as the presence of rain, whether the weather is good or whether it is cloudy. For example, FIG. 3C depicts an environmental condition of bad weather, in which it is raining outside the hotel “A”.

In other words, the method provides for detecting the time of the day and the weather outside the hotel “A”.

The method also provides for defining a target temperature corresponding to a temperature of the room “S” when a user “U” stays in the room itself.

Preferably, the step of defining the target temperature is carried out a priori.

For example, this step can be carried out by taking into account an average temperature considered as pleasant or requested by different customers and usually predefined by the hotel “A” itself.

Preferably, the target temperature can be defined to 22° C.

Preferably, the step of defining the target temperature in function of a request from the user “U”.

By request of the user “U” can be understood the action of adjusting the temperature inside the room by the user “U” him-/herself. In other words, the step of defining the target temperature can be defined by a user “U” who can self-adjust the temperature after a first visit to the room “S”.

The method also provides for adjusting an environmental control plant of the room “S”.

This adjustment is carried out so as to maintain the room at a setback temperature corresponding to a temperature in which the room itself is not occupied by a user “U”. In other words, the setback temperature is an ideal temperature at which the room “S” is intended to be maintained in order to avoid energy and economic waste.

Therefore, the setback temperature is defined according to the average time of travel “T”, of the external environmental condition and of the target temperature.

Depending on whether it is cold or hot outside, depending on the time of day, depending on how long the user “U” requires to travel the path “C” or the temperature in the different areas outside the room “S” and the target temperature preset or adjusted by the user “U” inside the room, the method is able to select the ideal setback temperature that allows to avoid waste by saving energy so as to reduce the economic costs and the environmental impact of the environmental control plant (i.e. of the hotel “A” in general).

Advantageously, identifying the setback temperature in the light of all the parameters discussed above allows to reduce waste, conditioning each room “S” not yet occupied so as to reduce costs and environmental impact.

The adjustment step is also carried out so as to take the room “S” from the setback temperature to the target temperature during the average time of travel “T” of the user “U” from the entrance “H” of the hotel “A” to the room “S”.

Preferably, the step of adjusting the environmental control plant is carried out in function of an efficiency of the control plant itself.

For example, the adjustment step (i.e. the definition of the setback temperature) is carried out by evaluating the speed with which the environmental control plant is able to cool or heat a room “S” if outside it is a sunny day or if it is raining/snowing.

For example, a room “S” that is close to the entrance “H” of the hotel “A” (in which 3 minutes are required as the average time of travel “T”) could require a setback temperature of 27° C. in order to reach the temperature of 22° C. in the required time, while a room “S” that is far from the entrance “H” (e.g.: 10/15 minutes of average time of travel “T”) could be maintained at a setback temperature of 30° C. or more.

These setback temperatures will obviously be higher or lower depending on a temperature outside the room “S” (or the hotel “A”) or whether it is a cold, sunny, hot, cloudy day outside or what other weather conditions are present that may affect the efficiency of the environmental control plant.

Preferably, the method comprises a step of defining a database containing data for each room “S” of the hotel “A”. The database contains one or more setback temperatures for each room “S” that are defined according to the average time of travel “T”, the external environmental condition and the target temperature. In other words, the database can be searched for in order to make it possible to speed up the step of adjusting the environmental control plant, so as to analyse all the parameters involved to immediately obtain the best setback temperature to be maintained in the room “S” when it is not occupied.

Preferably, but not necessarily, there could be a database for each room “S”.

Advantageously, the above method is able to overcome the drawbacks that have emerged from the prior art, by setting a setback temperature that is suitable for adequately acclimating the room in the average time “T” that a user “U” requires to reach the specific room “S”.

The present invention also relates to an environmental control plant comprising devices for reading the temperature of a room “S” and devices for adjusting the temperature of the room.

The control plant can also be connected or connectable to a weather control unit, to obtain information about the conditions outside the hotel “A”.

Preferably, the control plant also comprises devices for reading a temperature outside the room “S” and/or a temperature outside the hotel “A” and/or devices for detecting environmental conditions outside the hotel “A”.

The control plant further comprises a processing unit 10, connected or connectable to the reading devices and the temperature adjusting devices, configured to perform one or more of the steps of the method as described above.

Preferably, the processing unit 10 is connected or connectable to devices for reading a temperature outside the room “S” and/or a temperature outside the hotel “A” and/or devices for detecting environmental conditions outside the hotel “A”.

Preferably, the processing unit 10 is presented as divided into distinct functional modules (memory modules or operating modules) for the sole purpose of describing the functions thereof in a clear and complete manner.

In reality, the processing unit 10 can consist of a single electronic device, suitably programmed to perform the functions described, and the various modules can correspond to hardware entities and/or routine software belonging to the programmed device.

Alternatively, or additionally, such functions can be performed by a plurality of electronic devices over which the aforesaid functional modules can be distributed.

The processing unit 10 can further rely on one or more processors for the execution of the instructions contained in the memory modules.

The present invention also relates to a computer program including instructions on performing the steps of the method subject-matter of the present invention.

In one embodiment the computer program is stored at least in the processing unit 10.

In one embodiment, the computer program is stored remotely. In this embodiment, the program is a “SAAS (Software As A Service)” computer program, that is, configured to be implemented only in the presence of an internet connection.

For example, the computer program may be executed by artificial intelligence or by cloud.

The present invention is able to overcome the drawbacks which have emerged in the prior art.

Advantageously, the present invention is able to adjust the setback temperature in each room by carefully analysing all the process parameters that can slow down and/or accelerate the temperature change required in order to obtain the target temperature with which the user is most comfortable inside the room “S”.

Advantageously, the present invention allows to obtain savings from an economic and energy point of view, reducing energy costs and reducing the environmental impact.

Advantageously, the present invention is able to set a correct setback temperature so as to have the time to take the room “S” to the target temperature in the fraction of time in which a user “U” is checking in at the entrance “H” and will arrive at the room “S” itself.

Advantageously, the present invention is able to set this setback temperature for each room “S” of the hotel “A”.