Method and system for regulating energy usage

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method for regulating energy consumption of a water supply system, the water supply system comprising a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from an ambient environment to a thermal energy storage medium and a control module configured to control the operation of the water supply system, the water supply system being configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to a water outlet, the method being executed by the control module and comprising: setting a first temperature of hot water provided to the water outlet; setting a second temperature of hot water provided to the water outlet, the second temperature being different from the first temperature; and when it is determined that the water outlet is open, alternating the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet between the first temperature and the second temperature.

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for managing utility consumption. In particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for actively regulating energy consumption in domestic environments as well as commercial, public and other environments having water and / or energy provision. Background Art

[0002] Whether in commercial or domestic settings, hot water is required all day, all year round. It goes without saying that providing hot water requires both clean water and a heat source. To provide hot water, a heating system is provided to a water supply system, which is usually centralized, to heat the water to a predetermined temperature, such as set by the user, and the heat source used is usually the combustion of one or more electric heating elements or natural gas. Typically, during periods of high energy (such as natural gas or electricity) demand, utility providers will implement peak tariffs, which increase the unit cost of energy, partly to cover the additional cost of having to purchase more energy to supply to customers, and partly to discourage unnecessary energy use. Then, during periods of low energy demand, utility providers will implement off-peak tariffs, which reduce the unit cost of energy to incentivize customers to use energy during these off-peak hours rather than during peak hours, thereby achieving an overall more balanced energy consumption over time. However, such a strategy will only be effective if customers are always aware of changes in tariffs and make a conscious effort to change their energy consumption habits.

[0003] Clean water as a utility is currently receiving a lot of attention. As clean water becomes increasingly scarce, efforts have been made to educate the public to conserve clean water and to develop systems and devices that reduce water use, such as aerated showers and faucets that reduce water flow, showers and faucets equipped with motion sensors that stop water flow when no motion is detected, etc. However, these systems and devices are limited to a single specific use and have only a limited impact on problematic water use habits.

[0004] With growing concerns about the impact of energy consumption on the environment, there has been a recent increase in interest in using heat pump technology as a way to provide domestic hot water. A heat pump is a device that transfers thermal energy from a heat source to a heat reservoir. Although a heat pump requires electricity to do the job of transferring heat energy from a heat source to a heat reservoir, it is generally more efficient than a resistance heater (electric heating element) because it typically has a coefficient of performance of at least 3 or 4. This means that for the same amount of electricity, a heat pump can deliver 3 or 4 times more heat to the user than a resistance heater.

[0005] The heat transfer medium that carries the thermal energy is called a refrigerant. Thermal energy from the air (e.g., outside air or air from a hot room in a house) or a ground source (e.g., a ground loop or a water-filled borehole) is extracted by a receiving heat exchanger and transferred to the contained refrigerant. The now more energetic refrigerant is compressed, causing its temperature to rise significantly, wherein this now hot refrigerant exchanges thermal energy with a heating water loop via a heat exchanger. In the case of providing hot water, the heat extracted by the heat pump can be transferred to water in an insulated water tank that acts as a thermal energy storage, and the hot water can be used later when needed. The hot water can be transferred to one or more water outlets, such as taps, showers, radiators, as required. However, heat pumps generally require more time to heat the water to the desired temperature than electric resistance heaters.

[0006] Since different homes, workplaces, and commercial spaces have different requirements and preferences for hot water use, new ways of providing hot water are needed to make heat pumps a practical alternative to electric heaters. In addition, in order to save energy and water, it may be necessary to regulate energy and clean water consumption; however, regulating utility consumption cannot be just a blanket restriction on usage.

[0007] Therefore, it is desirable to provide improved methods and systems for regulating energy consumption. Summary of the invention

[0008] In view of the above, one aspect of the technology of the present invention provides a computer-implemented method for regulating the energy consumption of a water supply system, the water supply system comprising a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the surrounding environment to a thermal energy storage medium and a control module configured to control the operation of the water supply system, the water supply system being configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to a water outlet, the method being executed by the control module and comprising: setting a first temperature of hot water provided to the water outlet; setting a second temperature of hot water provided to the water outlet, the second temperature being different from the first temperature; and when it is determined that the water outlet is open, alternating the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet between the first temperature and the second temperature, wherein the first temperature and / or the second temperature is determined based on an energy consumption target.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present technology, when a water outlet (e.g., a shower) is turned on, the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet alternates between a first temperature and a second temperature. By adjusting the temperature of the water provided to the water outlet between a warmer temperature and a colder temperature, the energy consumed by heating water for supply to the water outlet can be reduced compared to when the water temperature is maintained at the warmer temperature throughout the duration. The first temperature and / or the second temperature are determined based on an energy consumption target that can be set by a human operator or based on energy efficiency considerations specific to the water supply system, so that the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet is alternated between the first temperature and the second temperature to adjust the energy consumption of the water supply system to a level at or below the energy consumption target. In doing so, it is possible to avoid the user manually setting any temperature that may not achieve the desired energy saving level. This embodiment is particularly relevant when the water is heated by a thermal energy storage that stores heat transferred from the surroundings by a heat pump, because by reducing the energy demand for each use of hot water, the same amount of energy stored in the thermal energy storage can be made to last longer or supply hot water to more water outlets. In doing so, the water supply system may reduce its reliance on other less energy efficient ways of heating water, such as using electrical heating elements, thereby making the water supply system more energy efficient overall.

[0010] In some embodiments, the control module may include a timer, and the method may further include initializing the timer to zero to record a first elapsed time when the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet is alternately the first temperature.

[0011] In some embodiments, the method may further include: when it is determined that the first elapsed time exceeds a first time threshold, alternating the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet to the second temperature.

[0012] In some embodiments, the control module may include a timer, and the method may further include initializing the timer to zero to record a second elapsed time when the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet is alternately the second temperature.

[0013] In some embodiments, the method may further include: when it is determined that the second elapsed time exceeds a second time threshold, alternating the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet to the first temperature.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first time threshold and / or the second time threshold may be set by a user.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first time threshold and / or the second time threshold may be a multiple of one minute.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first temperature may be higher than the second temperature, and the first time threshold may be higher than the third time threshold.

[0017] In some embodiments, the method may further include receiving input of the first temperature from a user.

[0018] In some embodiments, the method may further include receiving input of the second temperature from a user.

[0019] The first temperature and the second temperature may be predetermined based on factory settings of the control module, for example based on energy consumption considerations and / or health considerations.

[0020] In some embodiments, the temperature of hot water provided to the water outlet may be alternated from the first temperature to the second temperature only once during a single use of the water outlet.

[0021] In some embodiments, the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet may alternate between the first temperature and the second temperature multiple times during a single use of the water outlet.

[0022] In some embodiments, the first temperature and the second temperature may be in the range of 35°C to 44°C.

[0023] Different users may have different preferences for water temperature.In some embodiments, the method may further include storing a plurality of user profiles, each profile corresponding to one of the plurality of users of the water outlet and including a corresponding first temperature.

[0024] In some embodiments, each configuration file may include a corresponding second temperature.

[0025] Another aspect of the present technology is a control module for controlling the operation of a water supply system, the water supply system comprising a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the surrounding environment to a thermal energy storage medium and a control module configured to control the operation of the water supply system, the water supply system being configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to a water outlet, and the control module being configured to implement the method as described above.

[0026] Another aspect of the present technology provides a water supply system for providing hot water to a water outlet, comprising: a thermal energy storage device configured to store thermal energy; a heat exchanger arranged near the thermal energy storage device, the heat exchanger configured to use the thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage device to heat water to be provided by the water supply system; a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the surrounding environment to the thermal energy storage device; and a control module configured to control the operation of the water supply system, the control module configured to: set a first temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet; set a second temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet, the second temperature being different from the first temperature; and when it is determined that the water outlet is open, causing the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet to alternate between the first temperature and the second temperature, wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are determined based on an energy consumption target, so that the alternation of the hot water provided to the water outlet between the first temperature and the second temperature adjusts the energy consumption of the water supply system to a level at or below the energy consumption target.

[0027] In some embodiments, the water supply system may further include one or more electrical heating elements configured to heat water to be provided by the water supply system.

[0028] In some embodiments, the water outlet may be a shower.

[0029] The invention also provides a computer program according to claim 21 .

[0030] The implementation methods of the present invention technology each have at least one of the above-mentioned purposes and / or aspects, but not necessarily all of these purposes and / or aspects. It should be understood that some aspects of the present invention technology generated by attempting to achieve the above-mentioned purpose may not meet this purpose and / or may meet other purposes not specifically stated herein.

[0031] Additional and / or alternative features, aspects, and advantages of embodiments of the present technology will become apparent from the following description, drawings, and appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic system overview of an exemplary water supply system;

[0034] Figure 2 The adjustment according to the first embodiment is Figure 1 A flowchart of an exemplary method for determining energy consumed by a water supply system; and

[0035] Figure 3The adjustment according to the second embodiment is Figure 1 A flow chart of an exemplary method of measuring energy consumed by a water supply system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In view of the foregoing, the present disclosure provides various methods for providing hot water using or assisted by heat pumps, and in some cases various methods for regulating the use of utilities including water and energy to reduce water and energy waste.

[0037] Water supply system

[0038] In an embodiment of the present technology, for a building in a home or commercial environment, cold and hot water is provided by a centralized water supply system to multiple water outlets, including faucets, showers, radiators, etc. The exemplary water supply system 100 is provided in Figure 1 Shown in.

[0039] In this embodiment, the water supply system 100 includes a control module 110. The control module 110 is communicatively coupled to and configured to control various elements of the water supply system, including: a flow controller 130, for example in the form of one or more valves arranged to control the flow of water inside and outside the system; a (ground source or air source) heat pump 140, configured to extract heat from the surroundings and deposit the extracted heat in a thermal energy storage 150 for heating water; and one or more electric heating elements 160, configured to heat cold water directly to a desired temperature by controlling the amount of energy provided to the electric heating element 160. The hot water, whether heated by the thermal energy storage 150 or by the electric heating element 160, is then directed to one or more water outlets and / or a central heating system when needed. In an embodiment, the heat pump 140 extracts ambient heat into a thermal energy storage medium within the thermal energy storage 150 until the thermal energy storage medium reaches an operating temperature, and then cold water, for example from a water main, can be heated to a desired temperature by the thermal energy storage medium. The hot water can then be provided to the various water outlets in the system.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the control module 110 is configured to receive inputs from a plurality of sensors 170-1, 170-2, 170-3, ..., 170-n. The plurality of sensors 170-1, 170-2, 170-3, ..., 170-n may include, for example, one or more air temperature sensors, one or more water temperature sensors, one or more water pressure sensors, one or more timers, one or more motion sensors disposed indoors and / or outdoors, and may include other sensors that are not directly linked to the water supply system 100, such as, for example, a GPS signal receiver, a calendar, a weather forecast application on a smartphone carried by an occupant and communicating with the control module via a communication channel. In the present embodiment, the control module 110 is configured to use the received inputs to perform various control functions, such as controlling the flow of water through the flow controller 130 to the thermal energy storage 150 or the electric heating element 160 to heat the water.

[0041] Optionally, one or more machine learning algorithms (MLAs) 120 may be executed on the control module 110, such as on a processor (not shown) of the control module 110 or on a server remote from the control module 110, and communicate with the processor in the control module 110 via a communication channel. For example, the MLA 120 may be trained using input sensor data received by the control module 110 to establish baseline water and energy usage patterns, such as based on time of day, day of the week, date (e.g., seasonal changes, public holidays), occupancy, etc. The learned usage patterns may then be used to determine and in some cases improve various control functions performed by the control module 110 and / or generate reports that, for example, enable users to analyze their utility usage and / or provide recommendations for more efficient utility usage.

[0042] Although heat pumps are generally more energy efficient for heating water than electrical resistance heaters, heat pumps require time to transfer a sufficient amount of thermal energy to the thermal energy storage medium to bring it to the desired operating temperature before the heat from the thermal energy storage medium can be used to heat the water; therefore, heat pumps generally require longer time to heat the same amount of water to the same temperature than electrical resistance heaters. In some embodiments, the heat pump 140 may, for example, use a phase change material (PCM) as a thermal energy storage medium, which changes from a solid to a liquid when heated. In this case, if the PCM has been allowed to solidify, additional time may be required to change it from a solid to a liquid before the thermal energy extracted by the heat pump can be used to increase the temperature of the thermal storage medium. Although this method of heating water may be slower, the total energy consumed to heat the water is less than that consumed by heating the water with an electric heating element, thereby saving energy and reducing the cost of providing hot water overall.

[0043] Phase change materials

[0044] In this embodiment, the phase change material can be used as a heat storage medium for the heat pump. A suitable phase change material is paraffin wax, which has a solid-liquid phase change at temperatures of interest for domestic hot water provision and use in combination with a heat pump. Of particular interest are paraffin waxes that melt in the temperature range of 40 to 60 degrees Celsius (°C), and within this range waxes can be found melting at different temperatures to suit specific applications. Typical latent heat capacities are between about 180 kJ / kg and 230 kJ / kg, and the specific heat capacity in the liquid phase may be 2.27 Jg -1 K -1 , the specific heat capacity in the solid phase is 2.1 Jg -1 K -1 As can be seen, considerable energy can be stored using the latent heat of fusion. Even more energy can also be stored by heating the phase change liquid above its flame point. For example, when electricity costs are relatively low during off-peak hours, a heat pump can be run to "charge" the thermal energy store to a higher temperature than normal, thereby "superheating" the thermal energy store.

[0045] A suitable wax choice may be a wax having a flame point of about 48°C, such as n-trimethylsiloxane C 23 or paraffin C 20 -C 33 , it requires the heat pump to operate at a temperature of about 51°C and be able to heat water to general domestic hot water of about 45°C, sufficient for use in, for example, kitchen / bathroom taps, showers, etc. If necessary, cold water can be added to the water flow to lower the water temperature. The temperature performance of the heat pump is taken into account. Generally, the maximum difference between the input temperature and the output temperature of the fluid heated by the heat pump is preferably kept in the range of 5°C to 7°C, although it may be as high as 10°C.

[0046] Although paraffin is a preferred material for use as a thermal energy storage medium, other suitable materials may also be used. For example, salt hydrates are also suitable for latent heat energy storage systems, such as the system of the present invention. In this case, the salt hydrate is a mixture of an inorganic salt and water, wherein the phase change involves the loss of all or most of its water. During the phase change, the hydrate crystals are separated into anhydrous (or less hydrated) salt and water. The advantage of salt hydrates is that they have a much higher thermal conductivity than paraffin (2–5 times higher) and a much smaller volume change with the phase change. A salt hydrate suitable for the current application is Na2S2O3·5H2O, which has a melting point of about 48°C to 49°C and a latent heat of 200 kJ / kg to 220 kJ / kg.

[0047] Energy regulation

[0048] Numerous studies have found that the optimal water temperature for shower or bath water for skin health is no more than a few degrees above body temperature, i.e., between 37°C and 41°C. However, many people are accustomed to showering or bathing at higher water temperatures. This not only affects skin health, but also energy consumption, as more energy is used to heat the water than necessary. Therefore, the present technology provides a method and system for regulating the water temperature of shower and bath water and thereby regulating energy consumption.

[0049] The present technology recognizes that for most users, a sudden change in shower or bath water temperature, especially when accustomed to much higher water temperatures, will cause a lot of discomfort, which may result in a reduced likelihood of users adapting to the new water temperature. Therefore, the present technology provides two methods for adjusting shower water temperature. In the first method, the shower water temperature is gradually reduced from the user's preferred water temperature to a selected optimal water temperature (e.g., 41°C). If necessary, this method can be implemented to adjust the bath water temperature. In the second method, the shower water temperature is adjusted between a higher water temperature and a lower water temperature (e.g., between 37°C and 41°C) during a single shower.

[0050] Gradually cool down

[0051] Figure 2 A computer-implemented method for adjusting shower water temperature according to a first embodiment is shown.

[0052] In the first embodiment, hot water is provided to the shower by the water supply system 100 described above. The control module 110 is configured to implement a gradual cooling program 200 to gradually reduce the shower water temperature to a target temperature over a period of time. The control module 110 is provided with a timer (not shown). In the setting stage, the user's preferred water temperature T1 is input into the program 200 at S201, and the target water temperature T3 is input into the program 200 at S202. The user's preferred water temperature T1 indicates the temperature of the shower water that the user usually sets before implementing the program 200, which may be 45°C, for example. The target water temperature T3 indicates the shower water temperature that the user wishes to adapt to, such as 38°C, or an optimal water temperature predetermined by a factory setting, such as 41°C, for example based on energy consumption targets and / or health benefits.

[0053] When the program 200 is first implemented, the control module 110 starts the timer to record the elapsed time (initial time) from the first implementation of the program 200. Then, when the shower is detected to be turned on at S203, the control module 110 determines at S204 whether the elapsed time t recorded by the timer since the program 200 was implemented has exceeded a predetermined first time threshold t1 for lowering the water temperature. The first time threshold t1 may be predetermined by factory settings or may be set by the user, and may be, for example, one day, multiple days, one week, etc.

[0054] If it is determined in S204 that the elapsed time t is less than the first time threshold t1, then in S205, the control module 110 sets the shower water temperature to the first temperature T1, i.e. the user's preferred water temperature. The method then returns to S203 at the end of the shower until the control module 110 detects that the shower is turned on again next time.

[0055] If it is determined in S204 that the elapsed time t exceeds the first time threshold t1, the control module 110 then determines in S206 whether the elapsed time t has exceeded a predetermined second time threshold t2. The second time threshold t2 may also be predetermined by factory settings or may be set by a user, and may, for example, be a multiple of the first time threshold t1 (e.g., t1 may be one week, and t2 may be two weeks), or the second time threshold t2 may be set independently of the first time threshold t1 (e.g., t1 may be one week, and t2 may be twenty days).

[0056] If it is determined in S206 that the elapsed time t is less than the second time threshold t2 (but exceeds the first time threshold t1), the control module 110 sets the shower water temperature to the second temperature T2 in S207. The second temperature T2 is a temperature lower than the first temperature T1 but higher than the optimal temperature T3, and can be set by the user or calculated based on the user's preferred temperature T1 and the target temperature T3, for example, T2 can be an intermediate temperature between T1 and T3 (for example, if T1 is 45°C and T3 is 41°C, T2 can be 43°C). The method then returns to S203 at the end of the shower until the control module 110 detects that the shower is turned on again next time.

[0057] If it is determined in S206 that the elapsed time t exceeds the second time threshold t2, then in S208, the control module 110 sets the shower water temperature to a third temperature T3, ie, a target water temperature.

[0058] For the sake of simplicity, Figure 2 One intermediate water temperature T2 is shown. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that more than one intermediate stage with multiple intermediate water temperatures at corresponding intermediate time thresholds is possible and may sometimes be desirable, such as when there is a large difference between the user preferred temperature T1 and the final optimal temperature T3. In the above example where T1 is 45°C and T3 is 41°C, the control module 110 implementing the procedure 200 may set the shower water temperature to 44°C after one week, then to 43°C after two weeks, to 42°C after three weeks, and finally to 41°C after four weeks. Alternatively, the intermediate steps may be omitted entirely.

[0059] According to this embodiment, the energy consumed by heating shower water can be gradually reduced, and the user's skin health can be potentially improved. This embodiment is particularly relevant when the shower water is heated by the thermal energy storage 150, which stores heat transferred from the surrounding by the heat pump 140, because by reducing the energy demand of the shower, the energy stored in the thermal energy storage 150 can be diverted for other uses, such as providing hot water to kitchen faucets and bathroom faucets. In doing so, the water supply system 100 can rely less on the less energy-efficient electric heating element 160, making the water supply system 100 more energy-efficient overall.

[0060] Alternating temperature regulation

[0061] Figure 3 A method for adjusting shower water temperature according to a second embodiment is shown.

[0062] Similar to the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, hot water is provided to the shower by the water supply system 100 described above. The control module 110 is configured to implement a temperature adjustment program 300 to adjust the shower water temperature by alternating between a higher water temperature and a lower water temperature during a shower (this is likely to be multiple switches back and forth, but may be a change during a single shower). The control module 110 is provided with a timer (not shown). In the setting stage, the maximum water temperature T4 is input to the program 300 at S301, and the minimum water temperature T5 is input to the program 300 at S302. The maximum water temperature T4 and the minimum water temperature T5 are the water temperatures between which the control module 110 will alternate during a shower, for example, 41°C and 38°C, respectively, and they can be manually set by the user or predetermined by factory settings, for example based on energy consumption considerations and / or health benefit considerations. For example, this is variable, but it may be 1 minute high and 1 minute low in 6 minutes. This is variable and can be analyzed for a specific user, and can also be optimized by MLA and tariff costs. In some embodiments, temperature T4 may be manually set at a user preferred temperature, and temperature T5 may be set at a temperature a predetermined number of degrees lower than T4, the predetermined number of degrees being set manually by the user or automatically by the control module 110 to achieve a predetermined energy consumption (energy saving) target; alternatively, the user may set a lower temperature T5, and the control module may determine a higher temperature T4 based on the predetermined energy consumption target. In other embodiments, the control module 110 may be configured to set both temperatures T4 and T5 to achieve a predetermined energy consumption target guided by user preferences (e.g., determined using MLA). The predetermined energy consumption target may be set specifically for shower use, it may be different for different users, e.g., based on a user profile, it may be different for different times of the day and / or different seasons, or it may be set automatically by the control module 110 based on energy tariffs (usually or when the shower is in use) to keep energy consumption below a specified expense target or reduce the cost of energy consumption by a specified amount. At least one or both of the maximum water temperature T4 and the minimum water temperature T5 are set based on the energy consumption target, thereby enabling the water supply system 100 to achieve the desired energy consumption saving level by avoiding manual input from a human operator who may set any temperature that does not meet the desired energy consumption target.

[0063] When the program 300 is implemented, when it is detected that the shower is turned on in S303 , the control module 110 sets the water temperature of the shower to the maximum water temperature T4 in S304 , and sets the time t on the timer to 0.

[0064] Then, the control module 110 continuously monitors the timer and determines whether the time t has reached the fourth time threshold t4 at S305. If the time t has not reached the fourth time threshold t4, the control module 110 maintains the shower water temperature at T4 and continues to monitor the timer.

[0065] If the control module 110 determines at S305 that the time t has reached the fourth time threshold t4, the control module 110 controls the water supply system 100 at S306 to change the shower water temperature from the highest water temperature T4 to the lowest water temperature T5, for example, by reducing the proportion of hot water in the water provided to the shower. At the same time, the control module 110 resets the time t on the timer to 0.

[0066] The control module 110 continuously monitors the timer again and determines whether the time t has reached the fifth time threshold t5 at S307. If the time t has not reached the fifth time threshold t5, the control module 110 maintains the shower water temperature at T5 and continues to monitor the timer.

[0067] If the control module 110 determines at S307 that the time t has reached the fifth time threshold t5, the control module 110 controls the water supply system 100 at S304 to return the shower water temperature from the lowest water temperature T5 to the highest water temperature T4 again, for example, by restoring the proportion of hot water in the water provided to the shower to the initial level. Similarly, the control module 110 resets the time t on the timer to 0 and continues to monitor the timer.

[0068] In this embodiment, the control module 110 adjusts the shower water temperature by periodically alternating the shower water temperature between a maximum water temperature T4 and a minimum water temperature T5 during a single shower. The frequency at which the water temperature changes occur (i.e., t4 and t5) can be manually set by the user or predetermined by factory settings. For example, t4 and t5 can be the same, such as one minute, or t4 and t5 can be different, such as t4 equals five minutes and t5 equals one minute, so that the shower is at a warmer setting for five minutes and then changes to a cooler setting for one minute. In addition, another adjustment method can be 1 minute T4, 1 minute T5, 1 minute T4, and 1 minute T5. A sinusoidal temperature curve is generated, in which the average temperature will be lower than T4. The user can explore and implement a variety of combinations. These are just examples, which are variable and can be analyzed for specific users and can also be optimized through MLA and tariff costs.

[0069] In an alternative embodiment, upon detecting that the shower is turned on, the control module 110 may first set the shower water temperature to the lowest water temperature T5 when the shower is initially turned on. After the fourth time threshold t4, the control module 110 may alternate the shower water temperature to the highest water temperature T4, then alternate the shower water temperature back to the lowest water temperature T5 after the fifth time threshold t5, and then alternate back and forth between water temperatures T4 and T5 until the shower is turned off.

[0070] In another alternative embodiment, when it is detected that the shower is turned on, the control module 110 may first set the shower water temperature to the highest water temperature T4 (or the lowest water temperature T5), and then after a period of time, the shower water temperature may alternately be the lowest water temperature T5 (or the highest water temperature T4), and maintain the shower water temperature at T5 (or T4) until the shower is turned off.

[0071] According to this embodiment, by adjusting the shower water temperature between a higher temperature and a lower temperature, the energy consumed by heating the shower water can be reduced compared to when the shower water temperature is maintained at a higher temperature throughout the duration. This embodiment is particularly relevant when the shower water is heated by the thermal energy storage 150, because similar to the first embodiment, by reducing the energy demand of the shower, the energy stored in the thermal energy storage 150 can be diverted for other uses, such as providing hot water to other water outlets. In doing so, the water supply system 100 can rely less on the less energy-efficient electric heating element 160, thereby making the water supply system 100 more energy-efficient overall.

[0072] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented independently or in combination. The embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented using one or more machine learning algorithms, such as the MLA 120 of the control module 110. For example, during the learning phase, the MLA 120 may establish a preferred shower water temperature for the user, and may further establish a change in shower water temperature that is acceptable to the user, such as based on any change in the shower water temperature set by the user over a period of time. Thus, for example, the MLA 120 may then be deployed to set a gradually decreasing shower water temperature for the user over a period of time based on the starting water temperature, the optimal water temperature, and the established acceptable change. In addition, the MLA 120 may set a maximum shower water temperature and a minimum shower water temperature, for example, based on the user's preferred water temperature, and alternate during a single shower based on the acceptable change. In addition, the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented such that the procedures 200 and / or 300 are implemented differently for each of a plurality of users. For example, the control module 110 can be configured to enable multiple user profiles so that each user can set different preferences for temperatures T1, T2, T3, T4 and / or T5 and different time thresholds t1, t2, t4 and / or t5.

[0073] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the technology of the present invention can be implemented as a system, method or computer program product.Therefore, the technology of the present invention can take the form of a complete hardware embodiment, a complete software embodiment or a combination of software and hardware.

[0074] In addition, the technology of the present invention can take the form of a computer program product, which is implemented in a computer-readable medium having a computer-readable program code implemented thereon. The computer-readable medium can be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable medium can be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared or semiconductor system, device or apparatus, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0075] Computer program code for carrying out operations of the present technology may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object oriented programming languages ​​and conventional procedural programming languages.

[0076] For example, program code for performing operations of the present technology may include source code, object code, or executable code in a conventional programming language (interpreted or compiled) such as C, or assembly code, code for setting up or controlling an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or code in a hardware description language such as Verilog™ or Very High Speed ​​Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language (VHDL).

[0077] The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter case, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer by any type of network. Code components may be implemented as procedures, methods, etc., and may include subcomponents that may take the form of instructions or sequences of instructions at any level of abstraction, from direct machine instructions of a native instruction set to high-level compiled or interpreted language constructs.

[0078] It will also be clear to those skilled in the art that all or part of the logic method according to the preferred embodiment of the present technology can be appropriately implemented in a logic device including logic elements for performing the steps of the method, and such logic elements can include components such as logic gates in a programmable logic array or an application-specific integrated circuit. Such a logic arrangement can further be implemented to implement elements capable of temporarily or permanently establishing a logic structure in such an array or circuit using, for example, a virtual hardware descriptor language, which can be stored and transmitted using a fixed or transmittable carrier medium.

[0079] The examples and conditional language described herein are intended to help readers understand the principles of the present invention, rather than limiting its scope to such specifically stated examples and conditions. It should be understood that a person skilled in the art may design various arrangements, which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, still implement the principles of the present invention and are included within the scope defined by the appended claims.

[0080] In addition, as an aid to understanding, the above description may describe a relatively simplified implementation of the present invention technology. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various implementations of the present invention technology may have greater complexity.

[0081] In some cases, useful examples that are considered to be modifications to the technology of the present invention may also be described. This is done only to aid understanding, and is not intended to limit the scope of the technology of the present invention or to define the limits of the technology of the present invention. These modifications are not an exhaustive list, and those skilled in the art may make other modifications while still remaining within the scope of the technology of the present invention. In addition, in the case of an example of a modification not described, it should not be interpreted as being impossible to make any modification and / or that what is described is the only way to implement the element of the technology of the present invention.

[0082] In addition, all statements of the principles, aspects and implementations of the technology of the present invention and its specific examples set forth herein are intended to cover both structural equivalents and functional equivalents thereof, whether they are currently known or developed in the future. Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagram herein represents a conceptual view of an illustrative circuit that implements the principles of the technology of the present invention. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow chart, flow diagram, state transition diagram, pseudocode, etc., represent various processes that can be substantially represented in a computer-readable medium and executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such a computer or processor is explicitly shown.

[0083] The functions of the various elements shown in the figure, including any functional blocks marked as "processors", can be provided by using dedicated hardware and hardware capable of executing software associated with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functions can be provided by a single dedicated processor, a single shared processor, or multiple separate processors, some of which can be shared. In addition, the explicit use of the term "processor" or "controller" should not be interpreted as referring only to hardware capable of executing software, and may implicitly include, but is not limited to, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, network processors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), and non-volatile memories for storing software. Other conventional and / or customized hardware may also be included.

[0084] Software modules, or simply modules implied as software, may be represented herein as any combination of flow chart elements or other elements indicating the execution of process steps and / or textual descriptions. Such modules may be executed by hardware shown explicitly or implicitly.

[0085] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many improvements and modifications may be made to the foregoing exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present technology.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of regulating energy consumption of a water supply system, the water supply system comprising a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from an ambient environment to a thermal energy storage medium and a control module configured to control the operation of the water supply system, the control module including receiving inputs from a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors including a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and a timer, the water supply system being configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to a water outlet, the method being performed by the control module and comprising: setting a first temperature of hot water provided to the water outlet; setting a second temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet, the second temperature being different from the first temperature; as well as When it is determined that the water outlet is open, the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet is alternated between the first temperature and the second temperature, wherein the control module executes a machine learning algorithm (MLA) that is trained using data from a plurality of sensors to establish a learned water and energy usage pattern, wherein the control module sets the first temperature and / or the second temperature to achieve a predetermined energy consumption target guided by the learned water and energy usage pattern determined by the MLA.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The control module includes a timer, and the method further includes initializing the timer to zero to record a first elapsed time when the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet is alternately the first temperature.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: When it is determined that the first elapsed time exceeds a first time threshold, the temperature of the hot water supplied to the water outlet is alternately changed to the second temperature.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The control module includes a timer, and the method further includes initializing the timer to zero to record a second elapsed time when the temperature of the hot water supplied to the water outlet is alternately the second temperature.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising: When it is determined that the second elapsed time exceeds a second time threshold, the temperature of the hot water supplied to the water outlet is alternately changed to the first temperature.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The first time threshold and / or the second time threshold are set by a user.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The first time threshold and / or the second time threshold is a multiple of one minute.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The first temperature is higher than the second temperature, and the first time threshold is higher than the second time threshold.

9. The method of any preceding claim 1 to 8, further comprising receiving input of the first temperature from a user.

10. The method of any preceding claim 1 to 8, further comprising receiving input of the second temperature from a user.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein: The temperature of hot water provided to the water outlet alternates from the first temperature to the second temperature only once during a single use of the water outlet.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein: The temperature of hot water provided to the water outlet alternates between the first temperature and the second temperature a plurality of times during a single use of the water outlet.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein: The first temperature and the second temperature are in the range of 35°C to 44°C.

14. The method of any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, further comprising storing a plurality of user profiles, each profile corresponding to one of a plurality of users of the water outlet and comprising a corresponding first temperature.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: Each configuration file includes a corresponding second temperature.

16. A control module for controlling the operation of a water supply system, the water supply system comprising a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the surrounding environment to a thermal energy storage medium and a control module configured to control the operation of the water supply system, the water supply system being configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to a water outlet, the control module being configured to implement the method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 15.

17. A water supply system for providing hot water to a water outlet, comprising: a thermal energy storage device configured to store thermal energy; a heat exchanger disposed proximate to the thermal energy storage, the heat exchanger being configured to use thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage to heat water to be provided by the water supply system; a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the surrounding environment to the thermal energy storage; as well as A control module configured to control the operation of the water supply system, the control module including receiving inputs from a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors including a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor and a timer, the control module being configured to: setting a first temperature of hot water provided to the water outlet; setting a second temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet, the second temperature being different from the first temperature; as well as When it is determined that the water outlet is open, the temperature of the hot water provided to the water outlet is alternated between the first temperature and the second temperature, wherein the control module executes a machine learning algorithm (MLA) that is trained using data from a plurality of sensors to establish a learned water and energy usage pattern, wherein the control module sets the first temperature and / or the second temperature to achieve a predetermined energy consumption target guided by the learned water and energy usage pattern determined by the MLA.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein: The water supply system also includes one or more electrical heating elements configured to heat water to be provided by the water supply system.

19. The water supply system according to claim 17 or 18, wherein: The water outlet is a shower.

20. A computer program stored on a computer-readable storage medium, which, when executed on a computer system, is used to instruct the computer system to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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