Heating installation, method and system

Abstract

A heating system for a premises includes: an air source heat pump; premises heating facilities coupled to receive heated fluid from the air source heat pump; and a controller coupled to the air source heat pump and the premises heating facilities. The controller receives data on the defrost cycles of other air source heat pumps in the vicinity of the premises and / or receives analysis results of the defrost cycles of other air source heat pumps in the vicinity of the premises via a remote processor, and triggers the defrost cycle of the air source heat pump based on the received data and the condition of the heat pump.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates in many ways to methods and apparatus suitable for facilities including hot water supply systems within buildings, in order to support the reduction of energy and water consumption. Background Technology

[0002] Globally, there is a shortage of drinking water. Water shortages are now reported worldwide, and while one might think such problems only affect “hot” countries and continents, this is no longer the case. A report by the European Environment Agency states that water shortages or water stress affect millions of people globally, including over 100 million in Europe alone. Approximately 88.2% of freshwater use in Europe (including drinking and other uses) comes from rivers and groundwater, with the remainder coming from reservoirs (10.3%) and lakes (1.5%). This makes these water sources highly vulnerable to overexploitation, pollution, and climate change.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need to reduce water consumption in daily life. In Europe, the average person is supplied with 144 liters of fresh water per day for household use, but most of this water is wasted due to carelessness and improper selection of faucets, showers, and appliances.

[0004] Related to the need to reduce water consumption is the need to reduce energy consumption for domestic use, especially given that (at least in Europe) approximately 75% of heating and cooling is still generated from fossil fuels while only 22% is generated from renewable energy sources.

[0005] According to Directive 2012 / 27 / EU, buildings account for 40% of the EU's final energy consumption and 36% of its CO2 emissions. The European Commission's 2016 report, "Mapping and analyses of the current and future (2020-2030) heating / cooling fuel deployment (fossil / renewables)," concluded that heating and hot water alone account for 79% (192.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent) of total final energy consumption in EU households. The Commission also reported that, according to Eurostat data from 2019, approximately 75% of heating and cooling is still generated by fossil fuels, while only 22% is generated by renewable energy. To achieve the EU's climate and energy targets, the heating and cooling sector must significantly reduce its energy consumption and fossil fuel use. Heat pumps (which utilize energy extracted from the air, land, or water) have been identified as a potentially important approach to addressing this issue.

[0006] In many countries, there are policies and pressures to reduce carbon footprints. For example, in the UK, the government published a white paper on future housing standards in 2020, proposing to reduce carbon emissions from new homes by 75% to 80% from current levels by 2025. Furthermore, in early 2019, it was announced that gas boilers would be banned in new homes from 2025. As of the time of this invention's submission, it has been reported that in the UK, 78% of total energy consumption for building heating comes from natural gas, while 12% comes from electricity.

[0007] In the UK, there is a large number of small properties (two to three bedrooms or less) with gas-fired central heating, and most of these properties use so-called modular boilers, which function as both instantaneous water heaters and central heating boilers. Modular boilers are popular because of their compact size, ability to provide virtually unlimited hot water (output power from 20kW to 35kW), and the elimination of the need for hot water storage. These boilers can be purchased from reputable manufacturers at relatively low prices. Their compact size and ability to operate without a hot water storage tank mean that even small apartments or homes can typically accommodate such boilers – often wall-mounted in the kitchen – and installation of a new boiler requires only a day's work for one person. Therefore, a new modular gas boiler can be acquired at a low cost. With the impending ban on new gas boilers, alternative heat sources are needed to replace modular gas boilers. Furthermore, previously installed modular boilers will eventually need to be replaced with some alternatives.

[0008] Hot water is needed 24 / 7, 365 days a year, in both commercial and residential settings. Undoubtedly, providing hot water requires clean water and a heat source. To provide hot water, centralized water supply systems typically include heating systems to heat the water to a preset temperature, such as a temperature set by the user. The heat source is usually one or more electric heating elements or the combustion of natural gas. Generally, during peak energy (such as gas or electricity) demand periods, utility providers implement peak rates, increasing the unit cost of energy, partly to cover the additional costs of purchasing more energy to supply customers, and partly to curb unnecessary energy consumption. During off-peak energy demand periods, utility providers implement off-peak rates, reducing the unit cost of energy to encourage customers to use energy during these off-peak times rather than peak times, thus achieving a more balanced energy consumption in the long run. However, these strategies are only effective if customers are always aware of rate changes and consciously strive to change their energy consumption habits.

[0009] Clean water is currently receiving significant attention as a public utility. As clean water becomes increasingly scarce, considerable efforts have been made to educate the public about water conservation and to develop systems and devices to reduce water consumption, such as aerated showers and faucets to reduce water flow, and showers and faucets equipped with motion sensors to stop water flow when no movement is detected. However, these systems and devices are limited to single, specific uses and have limited impact on problematic water usage habits.

[0010] With increasing concern about the environmental impact of energy consumption, there has been growing interest in using heat pump technology for providing domestic hot water. A heat pump is a device that transfers heat energy from a heat source to a heat reservoir. Although heat pumps require electricity to perform this task, they are generally more efficient than resistance heaters (electric heating elements) because their coefficient of performance (COP) is typically at least 3 or 4. This means that, for the same amount of electricity, a heat pump can provide three or four times more heat to a user than a resistance heater.

[0011] The heat transfer medium that carries heat energy is called a refrigerant. Heat energy from the air (such as outdoor air or air from a heated room inside a house) or from a ground source (such as a ground loop or a water-filled borehole) is absorbed by a receiving heat exchanger and transferred to the refrigerant it contains. The refrigerant, now possessing higher energy, is compressed, causing its temperature to rise significantly. This heated refrigerant then transfers its heat energy to the heating water loop through the heat exchanger. In the context of providing hot water, the heat absorbed by the heat pump can be transferred to water in an insulated tank that acts as a heat energy storage device, and the heated water can be used later when needed. The heated water can be directed to one or more water outlets as needed, such as faucets, showers, and radiators. However, compared to resistance heaters, heat pumps typically take longer to heat water to the desired temperature, partly because heat pumps generally have a slow start-up time.

[0012] A heat pump may include an outdoor unit with heat exchanger coils that absorb heat from the outside air or the ground and transfer the absorbed heat to an indoor unit, either directly to the building interior for heating or to a thermal storage medium for later use. The process of absorbing heat from the outside air cools the heat exchanger coils in the outdoor unit, and moisture in the air condenses on the cooled outdoor coils. In cold outdoor conditions, such as when the outside air is 5°C, the outdoor coils may cool below freezing and frost may form on them. As frost accumulates on the outdoor coils, the heat pump efficiency decreases, requiring a greater temperature difference with the outside air to output the same power compared to a frost-free coil. Therefore, it is desirable to run the heat pump's defrost cycle periodically and during frost formation to remove frost from the heat exchanger coils in the outdoor unit.

[0013] Many factors influence when a heat pump needs a defrost cycle, such as outdoor temperature and humidity, the heat pump's power output, and the condition of the heat pump (for example, older systems may be less efficient and require more frequent defrosting). Typically, a heat pump runs a defrost cycle whenever the outdoor heat exchanger coils are frosted over.

[0014] During the defrost cycle, the heat pump operates in reverse, sending warm refrigerant to the outdoor unit to thaw the heat exchanger coils. The heat pump can run the defrost cycle until, for example, the coils reach approximately 15°C. Once the heat exchanger coils have thawed, the heat pump resumes its normal heating cycle. Obviously, while the heat pump is running the defrost cycle, it will be unable to perform its normal function of transferring heat to the indoor unit (e.g., into the thermal energy storage 150) until the defrost cycle is complete. Therefore, it may be necessary to prepare the building before the heat pump defrost cycle begins.

[0015] Therefore, there is a need to provide improved methods and systems for controlling heating facilities to provide hot water. Summary of the Invention

[0016] According to the first aspect, a method for controlling a heating system for a premise as defined in claim 1 is provided, the method having optional features as defined in the dependent claims.

[0017] According to the second aspect, a heating system for a place as defined in claim 17 is provided.

[0018] According to a third aspect, a computer-readable medium as defined in claim 18 is provided.

[0019] The following describes some additional optional features.

[0020] Preferably, the controller is configured to increase the energy input to the heating system based on a predicted decrease in the temperature of the air from which the air source heat pump absorbs energy.

[0021] Preferably, the controller is configured to determine the start time and duration of the defrost cycle of the air source heat pump based on the predicted likelihood of activating, using, or needing the premises heating system during a forecasted cooling period. Optionally, the controller is configured to predict this likelihood based on the past behavior of the households in the premises and / or a comparison of the past behavior of other households.

[0022] Optionally, the controller can be configured to take into account the occupancy rate of the site or the predicted occupancy rate when predicting the likelihood.

[0023] Optionally, the controller is configured to take into account the planned activities of the site occupants when predicting this probability.

[0024] Optionally, the controller is configured to override the settings of the heating system.

[0025] Optionally, the determined start time and duration are adjusted based on the sensed usage of the heating system. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Embodiments of various aspects of this disclosure will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 An overview of the heating system is shown schematically; Figure 2 Roughly corresponding to Figure 1 But it includes more details; Figure 3 It schematically shows that it can be Figure 2 The system provides details of the hot water used in the system; Figure 4 The details of a system according to one aspect of the invention are schematically illustrated; and Figure 5 An exemplary data processing method for initiating a heat pump defrost cycle is illustrated schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0027] In heating systems, cold and hot water are supplied through a centralized water supply system to multiple outlets in buildings suitable for residential or commercial environments. These outlets include faucets, showers, heaters, etc. Figure 1An exemplary water supply system is illustrated. In this illustrative system, water supply system 100 includes a control module 110, which may include one or more machine learning algorithms 120. Control module 110 is communicatively coupled to various elements of the water supply system and configured to control these elements, including: a flow controller 130 arranged to control the flow rate of water inside and outside the system, for example in the form of one or more valves; a (ground-source or air-source) heat pump 140 configured to extract heat from the surrounding environment and store the extracted heat in a thermal energy storage unit 150 for heating water; and one or more electric heating elements 160 configured to directly heat cold water to a desired temperature by controlling the energy supplied to the electric heating elements 160. The heated water—whether heated by the thermal energy storage unit 150 or by the electric heating elements 160—is directed to one or more outlets as needed. In this embodiment, the heat pump 140 extracts heat from the surrounding environment into a heat storage medium within the heat storage tank 150. The heat storage medium can also be heated by other heat sources. The heat storage medium is heated to the desired operating temperature, and then, for example, cold water from the main water pipe can be heated to the desired temperature through the heat storage medium. The heated water can then be supplied to various outlets in the system.

[0028] In this illustrative system, the control module 110 is configured to receive inputs from a plurality of sensing elements 170-1, 170-2, 170-3, ..., 170-n. The plurality of sensing elements 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 located indoors and / or outdoors, and may also include other sensing elements not directly associated with the water supply system 100, such as a GPS signal receiver, a calendar, a weather forecast application, for example, on a smartphone carried by a user and communicating with the control module via a communication channel. In this 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 unit 150 or the electric heating element 160 to heat the water. The dashed line 180 schematically shows the package, in which all of the above components, except for the sensing elements 170-1, 170-2, 170-3, ..., 170-n, can be located.

[0029] Although heat pumps are generally more energy efficient at heating water than resistance heaters, they require time to start up. This is because heat pumps need various checks and cycles to reach normal operating conditions, and they also need time to transfer sufficient heat energy to the storage medium to reach the required operating temperature. On the other hand, resistance heaters typically provide heat more instantly. Therefore, compared to resistance heaters, heat pumps may take longer to heat the same amount of water to the same temperature.

[0030] Figure 2 A more detailed schematic diagram of a hot water supply facility 200 within a building is shown, comprising: multiple controllable water outlets (individual faucets and showers, described in detail below); a hot water supply unit 205 including at least one outlet with a controllable water temperature; and at least one flow measurement device 210 and at least one flow regulator 215 located in the water flow path between the water supply unit 205 and the multiple controllable water outlets, and at least one first temperature sensing element 243 for detecting the water temperature. A processor 240 is operatively connected to at least one flow measurement device 210 and at least one flow regulator 215. The illustrated water supply facility represents a residence including a master bathroom 221, a first ensuite shower room 222, a second ensuite shower room 223, a washroom 224, and a kitchen 225. The master bathroom 221 and the first ensuite shower room 222 may be located on the same floor of the residence, while the washroom 224, the second ensuite shower room 223, and the kitchen 225 may be located on another floor of the residence. In this case, as shown in the figure, it may be convenient to set up two independent loops 230 and 231 to supply water to each outlet. These two loops 230 and 231 can be supplied with water from different outlets, the temperature of the two outlets can be adjusted independently, and each outlet has its own associated temperature sensing element 243. The water temperature at the outlet can be adjusted by mixing cold water with hot water from a fixed or variable temperature source, or by controlling the energy input to the heat source such as an electric heating element or even a gas heater. Later, we will describe hot water systems that include thermal energy storage devices typically used in conjunction with heat pumps, and in such systems, the hot water supply temperature can typically be adjusted by mixing different proportions of cold water from a cold water supply unit. Sometimes, such systems may include an instantaneous heat source (such as an electric heating element) located downstream of the thermal energy storage device and controlled by the system's processor, and in such devices, the control of the hot water supply temperature may involve controlling the energy supplied to the instantaneous water heater, or it may involve mixing different proportions of cold water from a cold water supply unit.

[0031] The main bathroom 221 is shown as including a shower outlet 235, a bathtub faucet or tap 236, and a sink faucet 237. Ensuite shower rooms 222 and 223 also include a shower outlet 235 and a sink faucet 237. Conversely, the washroom 224 contains only a toilet (not shown) and a sink with a tap 238. Finally, the kitchen 235 has a sink with a tap 239.

[0032] The processor or system controller 240 and its associated memory 241 are coupled to at least one flow measurement device 210 and at least one flow regulator 215. It is understood that each of the two loops 230 and 231 is provided with a corresponding flow measurement device 210 and flow regulator 215. The processor may also be selectively connected to one or more temperature sensing elements 243, with each loop in 230 and 231 connected to one temperature sensing element. The processor may be associated with an energy storage device.

[0033] The processor can also be coupled to an RF transceiver 242, which includes at least one RF transmitter and at least one RF receiver, and is used for bidirectional communication via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or similar means. Preferably, it is also connected to the Internet 244 for connection to a server or central station 245, and optionally to a cellular wireless network (e.g., LTE, UMTS, 4G, 5G, etc.). Through the RF transceiver 242 and / or the Internet connection, the processor 240 can communicate with a mobile device 250, such as a smartphone or tablet, for installation engineers to configure (and optionally plan) water supply facilities within a building. The mobile device 250 includes software, such as a specific application, that works in conjunction with corresponding software in the system controller 240 and possibly in the server 245 to facilitate configuration (and optional planning) methods according to embodiments of the invention, particularly synchronizing operations performed by the engineer with the clocks of the system controller 240 / server 245. The memory 241 contains code that enables the processor to execute methods for configuring (and optionally planning) water supply facilities within a building, such as during the commissioning of a new facility.

[0034] During commissioning, to configure the hot water supply facility 200, engineers may need to install temperature sensors directly below specific hot water outlets, such as specific faucets or shower outlets, and fully open those outlets at specific times. The system processor is configured to measure flow rate, the difference between the outlet water temperature and the set temperature, time delay, and the preferred outdoor temperature (data provided by external temperature sensors). This allows algorithms (such as machine learning algorithms) to calculate, by allocating system heat losses, the distance between the outlet (faucet or shower outlet) and the hot water source, and ultimately precisely adjust the outlet water temperature to achieve the appropriate water temperature at the relevant controllable outlet (e.g., the faucet). For example, if there are children in the household, the maximum hot water temperature for all outlets other than the kitchen sink can be limited to 40 or 41 degrees Celsius, while if there is an infant in the household, the maximum temperature can be limited to 37 degrees Celsius. Even without children, the maximum temperature for all outlets other than the kitchen sink can be set to 43 degrees Celsius, and the maximum temperature for the shower outlet can be set to 41 degrees Celsius.

[0035] The system can also be configured to limit the hot water flow of certain types of water outlets, such as washbasins and sinks, and possibly showers, setting different maximum flow rates for each type of outlet, and / or setting a specific maximum flow rate for a particular outlet, for example, a lower flow rate for children's toilets and washrooms. The determination of maximum temperature and flow rate can be based on rules provided by the system supplier. We will discuss later hot water supply systems using heat pumps and thermal storage units, which can significantly improve efficiency by implementing temperature and flow control, as heat pumps designed for the heating needs of small to medium-sized homes with one to three bedrooms often cannot meet the instantaneous hot water demand of a household without a large-capacity hot water storage tank. By managing hot water flow and temperature, the need for hot water storage can be eliminated, while minimizing the energy gap that needs to be compensated for otherwise. If the facility includes thermal storage units and heat pumps, the system supplier will typically pre-program appropriate temperature and flow rates to the processor based on the type of water outlet and the composition of the household.

[0036] Based on the water outlet type and family composition, the system controller can also access and regularly update a database of temperature and selectable flow rates via the internet. The system controller's user interface provides residents and / or maintenance engineers with a way to adjust various settings according to changes in family members; for example, allowing users to set lower maximum temperatures and / or flow rates when guests with infants, children, or elderly / infirm individuals arrive.

[0037] Figure 3 A heating system 300 is schematically shown, illustrating a system that can be used similarly to the reference system. Figure 1 and Figure 2The system described includes some components and flow paths between them. As shown, the heating system 300 includes a main cold water inlet 302 and a domestic hot water outlet 304, as well as a domestic hot water heating device 310, such as a radiator, and the domestic hot water outlet 304, such as a faucet or shower outlet. The system 300 also includes a heat pump 306, a heat exchanger 308, and a heat storage device 342, the heat pump 306 typically having a heating capacity of 3kW to 12kW, and the heat storage device 342, for example, a small water tank with a volume of approximately 15 liters. These components are connected via water flow pipes, and the pipes are equipped with flow sensors, temperature sensors, and valves that control the water flow, the specific control methods of which will be described below. The flow sensors and temperature sensors are connected via signal lines to provide signals to a system controller 340, which controls the valves to operate the system in one of several operating modes, as described below. One, some, or all of the flow sensors may be replaced by pressure sensors used to determine the fluid pressure, thereby enabling the determination of the flow rate.

[0038] A first flow path 312, extending from the main cold water inlet 302, leads to the first inlet HX1 of the heat exchanger 308. Temperature sensor TT01 and flow sensor FT01 measure the temperature and flow rate of the cold water at the main cold water inlet 302. Temperature sensor TT02 and flow sensor FT03 measure the temperature and flow rate at the first inlet HX1 leading to the heat exchanger 308. A second flow path 314, located near the main cold water inlet 302, extends from the first flow path 312 to the domestic hot water outlet 304. A first actuator valve MV01 is positioned on the second flow path 314 to regulate the water flow rate within it. Flow sensor FT02 measures the flow rate of cold water passing through the first actuator valve MV01. This cold water selectively mixes with water exiting from the electric three-way valve MV03, as described below, and flows towards the domestic hot water outlet 304. Near the domestic hot water outlet 304, temperature sensor TT07 measures the temperature of the water flowing towards it.

[0039] The first portion 316a of the third flow path 316 exits from the first flow path 312 at a location closer to the heat exchanger 308 than the second flow path 314. A second motorized valve MV02 is positioned on the first portion 316a of the third flow path 316 to regulate the water flow rate in the first portion 316a of the third flow path 316 leading to the lower part of the heat storage device 342. Temperature sensor TT11 measures the temperature of the water in the lower part of the heat storage device 342, and another temperature sensor TT10 measures the temperature of the water in the upper part of the heat storage device 342. The second portion 316b of the third flow path 316 exits from the upper part of the heat storage device 342 and leads to the second inlet B of the electrically operated three-way valve MV03, and temperature sensor TT05 measures the temperature of the water in the second portion 316b of the third flow path 316. A return flow path 318 is provided so that water from the outlet of the motor valve MV02 in the first part 316a of the third flow path 316 returns to the inlet of the motor valve MV02 via the circulation pump 320 and the check valve 322.

[0040] Heat exchanger 308 has a first outlet HX2, which is connected to receive water entering the heat exchanger via a first inlet HX1. A fourth flow path 324 is connected from the first outlet HX2 of the heat exchanger via an electric heater 326 to the first inlet A of an electric three-way valve MV03. Temperature sensor TT03 measures the temperature of the water leaving the first outlet HX2 of the heat exchanger 308, and temperature sensor TT04 measures the temperature of the water leaving the electric heater 326 and entering the first inlet A of the electric three-way valve MV03. A fifth flow path 328 extends from the outlet AB of the electric three-way valve MV03 to the domestic hot water outlet 304, and merges with the first flow path 314 before reaching the domestic hot water outlet 304. Temperature sensor TT06 measures the temperature of the water leaving the outlet AB of the electric three-way valve MV03 before mixing with the water from the second flow path 314, and temperature sensor TT07 measures the temperature of the water after mixing with the water from the second flow path 314 and entering the domestic hot water outlet 304.

[0041] On the other side of heat exchanger 308, opposite the first inlet HX1 and the first outlet HX2 are the second inlet HX3 and the second outlet HX4. The second inlet HX3 is supplied by a sixth flow path 330, which leads from the outlet of heat pump 306 and passes through an electrically operated three-way valve MV04, and a temperature sensor TT08 measures the temperature of the water at the second inlet HX3 of heat exchanger 308. A seventh flow path 332 is coupled between the second outlet HX4 of heat exchanger 308 and the inlet of heat pump 306. As shown, heat pump 306 includes a heat exchanger 334 and a circulation pump 336 to heat the water received from the inlet and output heated water. A temperature sensor TT09 measures the temperature of the water leaving heat exchanger 308 and entering the inlet of heat pump 306. Therefore, the electrically operated three-way valve MV04 has a first inlet A and an outlet AB, the first inlet A being coupled to the outlet of heat pump 306 and the outlet AB being coupled to the second inlet HX3 of heat exchanger 308. The second outlet B of the electric three-way valve MV04 is connected to the inlet of the domestic hot water heating device 310, and the outlet of the hot water heating device 310 is connected to the seventh flow path 332.

[0042] The dashed line marked 344 indicates all components in the system that can be contained within a housing, the size and shape of which may be similar to that of a modular boiler for substitution. However, those skilled in the art will understand that in some cases these components may be arranged otherwise inside or outside such a housing, or in some cases such a housing may not be necessary at all. In particular, for example, temperature sensor TT09 may be located inside housing 344 and near heat exchanger 308, or outside housing 344 and near domestic hot water heating equipment 310. Other temperature and flow sensors, such as flow sensor FT01 and / or temperature sensor TT01, may also be similarly arranged inside or outside the housing as needed.

[0043] The heating system 300 can operate in several modes, which will now be briefly described. While there are many different operating modes, some modes can be interconnected and can be used in combination or individually. These modes are: The heat exchanger charging mode, wherein the heat exchanger 308 is used to heat water, and the heated water is used to fill (or charge) the heat storage device 342; The electric heater charging mode, wherein the electric heater 326 is used to heat water, and the heated water is used to charge the heat storage device 342; The initial hot water mode, wherein the hot water supplied to the domestic hot water outlet 304 is provided by the heat storage device 342 when the heat storage device has been charged with hot water, or by the electric heater 326, or by a combination of both as needed; The mixed water mode mixes the water in mode 3 with cold water from the municipal cold water inlet 302 to reduce the water temperature supplied to the domestic hot water outlet 304. In steady-state mode, heat pump 306 is used to heat cold water from main cold water inlet 302 at heat exchanger and provide heated water, which is optionally further heated by electric heater 326 and mixed with cold water from main cold water inlet 302 to reduce the water temperature delivered to domestic hot water outlet 304. The combined mode is a combination of the initial hot water mode and the steady-state mode. Heat pump defrosting mode; House heating modes; and The overall mode is a combination of the combined mode and the house heating mode.

[0044] In heat pump charging mode, the heat storage device 342 is charged by hot water supplied by the heat exchanger 308. In this operating mode, the second actuator valve MV02 is closed, while the circulation pump 320 in the return flow path 318 is turned on, so water is pumped from the heat storage device 342 through the circulation pump 320, check valve 322, and first flow path 312 to the first inlet HX1 of the heat exchanger 308. Since the water is pumped from the first portion 316a of the third flow path 316 into the first flow path 312, water from the domestic cold water inlet 302 does not affect the water flow. The water is heated in the heat exchanger 308 and then flows from the first outlet HX2 through the fourth flow path 324 via the electric heater 326—which is turned off in this mode—to the actuator valve MV03, which is controlled to direct the water from port A to port B, returning the water to the heat storage device 342. Obviously, if necessary, the water can be circulated multiple times until the water in the heat storage device 342 reaches a predetermined temperature, which is measured by temperature sensor TT10 or temperature sensor TT04. To supply hot water from the heat pump to the heat exchanger 308, the actuator valve MV04 is controlled to allow water from the sixth flow path 330 of the heat pump 306 to flow through port A to port AB of the actuator valve MV04, and thus to the second inlet HX3 of the heat exchanger 308. The water then returns to the heat pump 306 from the second outlet HX4 of the heat exchanger 308.

[0045] In this mode, the power of the heat pump is modulated to transfer heat to the circulating hot water loop, thereby energizing the heat storage device 342, such as a 15-liter tank, while the circulating pump 320 on the hot water side continues to operate. For example, if the circulating pump 320 operates at a flow rate of 6 liters per minute, and the heat pump 306 is adjusted to heat the water in the hot water loop to 55°C at the heat exchanger 308, the circulating pump 320 will run for approximately 6 minutes to energize the water in the heat storage device 342 and bring the water therein to 55°C after passing through the loop twice.

[0046] In the electric heater charging mode, the heat storage device 342 is charged with hot water heated by the electric heater 326. Similar to the first mode, in this mode, the second actuator valve MV02 is closed, while the circulation pump 320 in the return flow path 318 is activated, causing water to be pumped from the heat storage device through the circulation pump 320, check valve 322, and first flow path 312 to the first inlet HX1 of the heat exchanger 308. In this mode, the heat pump does not supply heat to the heat exchanger, so water flows from the first outlet HX2 of the heat exchanger through the fourth flow path 324 to the electric heater 326, which is actively controlled to heat the water in this mode. The hot water then flows to the actuator valve MV03, which is controlled to allow water to flow from port A to port B, thus returning the hot water to the heat storage device 342. Clearly, the water can be circulated multiple times if necessary until the water in the heat storage device 342 reaches a predetermined temperature measured by temperature sensor TT10 or temperature sensor TT04.

[0047] In this mode, the power of the electric heater is modulated to heat the circulating water on the hot water side to the desired temperature. For example, if the circulation pump 320 operates at 5 liters / minute and the electric heater 326 is modulated to heat the water in the hot water loop to 55°C as measured by the temperature sensor TT04, the circulation pump 320 will run for 6 minutes to charge the water in the thermal energy storage device 342 to 55°C through two passes.

[0048] Therefore, the controller can select which charging mode to use to charge the thermal energy storage device. This may depend on whether the heat pump is available and started. If the heat pump is started and there is available hot fluid at the heat exchanger, the heat pump charging mode can be selected. If the heat pump is started, but the actuator valve MV04 does not allow hot fluid to pass through the heat exchanger, the heat pump charging mode can still be selected, and the actuator valve MV04 can be controlled as described above, so that the hot fluid flows from port A to port AB and from there to the second inlet HX3 of the heat exchanger. On the other hand, if the heat pump is not started, and considering that the heat pump needs time to start generating hot fluid as described above, the controller can select the electric heater charging mode, thereby using an electric heater to heat the water to charge the thermal energy storage device.

[0049] In the initial hot water mode, if the thermal energy storage device 342 is charged with hot water, the hot water is supplied to the domestic hot water outlet 304 through the thermal energy storage device 342; or the hot water is heated by the electric heater 326; or a combination of the above. If the thermal energy storage device 342 is full of hot water, the hot water can be used preferentially instead of using the electric heater 326 to heat the water. To use the hot water from the thermal energy storage device 342, the actuator valve MV02 is opened, thereby using the third flow path 316 to obtain cold water from the main cold water inlet 302, thereby replacing the hot water from the thermal energy storage device 342. The hot water from the thermal energy storage device 342 flows from port B to port AB through the actuator valve MV03. As the temperature of the water from the thermal energy storage device 342 decreases (because it mixes with the cold water from the main cold water inlet 302), the actuator valve MV03 is controlled to gradually open the channel from port A to port AB while gradually closing the channel from port B to port AB. The flow rates from port A to port AB are configured to be inversely proportional to the flow rates from port B to port AB, ensuring a constant flow rate of water exiting port AB into the fifth flow path 328 leading to the domestic hot water outlet 304. This is adjusted based on the temperature sensed by temperature sensor TT06 and whether the sensed temperature is lower than the desired temperature at temperature sensor TT06. Therefore, if the temperature at temperature sensor TT06 is lower than the desired temperature, the proportion of valve port B allowing fluid flow to port AB can be reduced from 100% to allow flow through port A while reducing flow from port B. Thus, the reduced flow from port B mixes with the flow from port A. Water from port A via the actuator valve MV03 originates from the fourth flow path 324 and passes through the electric heater 326, where it is heated as needed to provide hot water at port AB at the desired temperature sensed by temperature sensor TT06. Water in the fourth flow path 324 originates from the heat exchanger 308, which is reached from the main cold water inlet 302 via the first flow path 312. This operating mode relies on the thermal energy storage device 342 being pre-charged, for example, through the first operating mode or the second operating mode.

[0050] Typically, the water in the thermal energy storage device 342 is charged to 1.25 times the desired temperature sensed at temperature sensor TT07, and measured based on the temperatures at temperature sensors TT11 and TT10. When a secondary hot water flow demand is measured at flow sensor FT01, water flows through a third flow path 316 and into the thermal energy storage device 342. The thermal energy storage device 342 can be a 15-liter tiered tank, where 15 liters of water entering at the temperature measured by temperature sensor TT01 will replace 15 liters of preheated water. Tank consumption is measured by reading the temperatures from temperature sensors TT10 and TT11 and by understanding the amount of water that has passed through the tank. V=t*(Q@FT01-Q@FT03-Q@FT02) Where V is the consumption of the tank; t is time; Q@FT01 is the flow rate measured at the flow sensor FT01; Q@FT02 is the flow rate measured at the flow sensor FT02; and Q@FT03 is the flow rate measured at the flow sensor FT03.

[0051] When water flows out of the tank and into port B of the motor valve MV03, if the temperature at temperature sensor TT05 is lower than the desired temperature at TT07 for any reason, then an electric heater 326 can be used to supplement the temperature of the water passing through the fourth flow path 324, wherein the motor valve MV03 is controlled to at least partially open port A, thereby allowing at least a portion of the flow measured at flow sensor FT01 to reach the electric heater 326 through the fourth flow path 324, wherein, by controlling the electric heater 326, the portion of the flow bypassed at flow sensor FT03 can be heated from the temperature at temperature sensor TT03 to the temperature at temperature sensor TT04.

[0052] This mode is useful in the following situation: when the heat pump 306 is not yet running or not yet fully running, the heat pump 306 has not yet supplied hot fluid to the heat exchanger 308. Of course, as the heat pump heats, the fluid will begin to heat up and can be supplied to the heat exchanger 308, causing the temperature of the water passing through the heat exchanger 308, as measured by the temperature sensor TT03, to begin to rise. This allows the heating provided by the electric heater 326 to be controlled to produce the appropriate desired temperature.

[0053] In mixed water mode, the temperature of hot water from thermal energy storage device 342 and / or the temperature of hot water from electric heater 326 (provided according to the initial hot water operation mode described above) or the temperature of hot water from heat exchanger 308 (if the heat exchanger 308 is producing hot water in steady-state mode) are mixed with cold water from main cold water inlet 302 to reduce the temperature of the water supplied to domestic hot water outlet 304. In this mixed water mode, regardless of whether the hot water leaving port AB of electric three-way valve MV03 is supplied via heat exchanger 308 through fourth flow path 324 (regardless of whether the water is heated by electric heater 326) or from thermal storage device 342, the temperature of the hot water leaving port AB of electric three-way valve MV03 is measured using temperature sensor TT06. The temperature is transmitted as a signal to system controller 340. Figures 4 to 1 (Not shown in 2). Then, the controller 340 determines whether the temperature at temperature sensor TT06 is higher than the desired temperature of the hot water available at the domestic hot water outlet 304. If it is higher, cold water is allowed to flow from the main cold water inlet 302 through the second flow path 314 to the fifth flow path 328 by opening the motorized valve MV01, mixing the cold water from the second flow path 314 with the hot water exiting from port AB of the electric three-way valve MV03 into the fifth flow path 328. The amount by which the motorized valve MV01 is opened will depend on the temperature of the cold water from the main inlet 302 measured by temperature sensor TT01 and the flow rate of the cold water from the main inlet 302 measured by flow sensor FT01, thereby generating the desired flow rate measured by flow sensor FT02 in the second flow path 314 leading to the fifth flow path 328, so that the cold water from the second flow path 314 mixes with the hot water in the fifth flow path 328 to produce the desired temperature of the water available at the domestic hot water outlet 304, as measured by temperature sensor TT07. The appropriate control program executed by the controller will modulate this mixing during normal operation to prevent the temperature from exceeding the desired temperature at the domestic hot water outlet 304.

[0054] This serves primarily as a safety measure to prevent scalding of users in their homes, especially from faucets or faucets without temperature safety valves. Secondly, the mixing allows the heat storage device 342 to be charged to a temperature higher than the desired outlet temperature. Therefore, when the system operates in the mode where the heat storage device 342 provides hot water for use by the domestic hot water outlet 304, the higher-temperature water mixes with the cold water from the main cold water inlet, thus cooling the system. This slows down the drainage of the heat storage device 342 and correspondingly increases its effective capacity.

[0055] After the initial hot water operation mode, in which hot water is initially provided by the thermal energy storage device 342 or by the electric heater 326 (or a combination of both), a steady-state operation mode can be implemented when the heat pump reaches full operation and supplies hot fluid to the heat exchanger 308. In this steady-state mode, the actuator valve MV02 is closed, so that no flow passes through the third flow path 316 and the thermal energy storage device 342. The electric heater 326 is activated and can be controlled by the controller. The aforementioned hybrid control for the fourth mode is also activated. Therefore, the actuator valve MV04 is controlled to allow water to flow from port A to port AB. In this mode, the heat pump 306 actively provides heated fluid via the sixth flow path 330, and the actuator valve MV04 is set to travel the fluid from port A to port AB to the heat exchanger 308 at a temperature determined by the measured flow rate of the secondary hot water demand, and the actuator valve MV04 is set to the hot water temperature measured by the temperature sensor TT07. The water flow passing through heat exchanger 308 is heated by the heat exchanger to the temperature measured by temperature sensor TT03. Therefore, the flow rate measured by flow sensor FT03, the temperature measured by temperature sensor TT02, and the temperature measured by temperature sensor TT03 can be used to determine the energy supplied by the heat pump, and then feedback is provided to the heat pump to adjust the power output. If the temperature measured by temperature sensor TT03 is determined to be lower than the desired temperature at temperature sensor TT07, the electric heater 326 is controlled to heat the water to supplement the water temperature to the desired temperature measured at temperature sensor TT04. It will be appreciated that since the water passes through the actuator valve MV03 from port A to port AB, the temperature measured by temperature sensor TT04 is the same as the temperature at temperature sensor TT06. If the temperature measured by temperature sensor TT06 is higher than the desired temperature at temperature sensor TT07, cold water can be mixed with hot water as described for the fourth operating mode, wherein the temperature of the hot water is mixed with the cold water from the main cold water inlet 302, thereby lowering the temperature of the water supplied to the domestic hot water outlet 304.

[0056] The combined operation mode is essentially a combination of the initial hot water mode and the steady-state mode. Hot water is supplied by heat exchanger 308 or by heat storage device 342. If the water temperature measured at temperature sensor TT06 is lower than the desired water temperature measured at temperature sensor TT07, electric heater 326 can be used to supplement the water temperature from heat exchanger 308. On the other hand, if the water temperature measured at temperature sensor TT06 is higher than the desired water temperature measured at temperature sensor TT07, cold water from main cold water inlet 302 via second flow path 314 can be mixed into the hot water to lower the hot water temperature to the desired temperature.

[0057] As mentioned above, heat pumps sometimes face the risk of freezing, especially in severe weather. In such cases, whether to defrost a frozen heat pump or to prevent freezing when temperatures are predicted to drop below freezing, the controller can control the system to activate a heat pump defrost mode. In this defrost mode, the second actuator valve MV02 is closed, and the circulation pump 320 in the return path 318 is activated, allowing water to be pumped from the heat storage unit 342 via the circulation pump 320, check valve 322, and first flow path 312 to the first inlet HX1 of the heat exchanger 308. Since water is pumped from the first portion 316a of the third flow path 316 into the first flow path 312, water from the domestic cold water inlet 302 does not affect the flow rate. Water from the first outlet HX2 reaches the actuator valve MV03 via the fourth flow path 324 and the electric heater 326. This actuator valve MV03 is controlled to direct water from port A to port B, allowing the water to return to the heat storage unit 342 and be recirculated. The water entering at the first inlet HX1 of the heat exchanger 308 is controlled to be hot. This water may be water from a heat storage device or more likely water heated by an electric heater 326 or a combination of both, depending on the degree to which the heat storage medium is energized by the hot water.

[0058] In this heat pump defrosting mode, the electric heater can be activated and modulated to transfer heat to the circulating hot water loop, which passes through the thermal energy storage device 342. The actuator valve MV04 is controlled so that water from the heat pump 306 in the sixth flow path 330 passes through port A of the actuator valve MV04 to port AB, and then to the second inlet HX3 of the heat exchanger 308. The water then returns to the heat pump 306 from the second outlet HX4 of the heat exchanger 308. As the water travels from the second inlet HX3 to the second outlet HX4 of the heat exchanger 308, it is heated by the heat exchanger with hot water that enters through the first inlet HX1 and reaches the first outlet HX1 of the heat exchanger 308, as described above. The heated water returning to the heat pump 306 can then provide heat to the refrigerant loop at the heat pump 306, where the refrigerant is circulated via the heat pump's compressor. The hot refrigerant can then defrost the evaporator coils.

[0059] The house heating mode assumes that domestic hot water outlet 304 (or other hot water outlet) does not require hot water. Therefore, this house heating mode focuses on providing a heat fluid, which can be water, for heating a residence or other building by using radiators or a hot water floor heating system. In this house heating mode, the heat pump actively generates hot water, which is then controlled by a computer via a motorized valve MV04 to travel from port A to port B, thereby directing the hot water to the domestic hot water heating unit 310. The outlet of the domestic hot water heating unit 310 returns to the heat pump 306.

[0060] The overall mode is a combination of the combined mode and the house heating mode, thus a combination of the initial hot water mode, the steady-state mode, and the eighth house heating mode, allowing all the aforementioned different modes to be combined as needed. In this case, the electric heater 326 is activated and modulated, and all four motorized valves MV01, MV02, MV03, and MV04 are activated and modulated. In this overall mode, the heat pump 306 can provide heating (according to the house heating mode described above) and also provide thermal energy to heat or preheat the hot water at the heat exchanger 308. As described above regarding the combined mode, hot water is provided by the heat exchanger 308 or by the heat storage device 342. If the water temperature measured at temperature sensor TT06 is lower than the desired water temperature at temperature sensor TT07, the electric heater 326 can be used to supplement the water temperature from the heat exchanger 308. On the other hand, if the water temperature measured at temperature sensor TT06 is higher than the desired water temperature at temperature sensor TT07, cold water from the main cold water inlet 302 via the second flow path 314 can be mixed into the hot water to lower the temperature of the hot water to the desired temperature.

[0061] As described above, most components of the system (except for the heat pump 306, domestic hot water outlet 304, and domestic hot water heating equipment 310) are typically included within a container (or shell) 344, which may be manufactured in a size and shape similar to that of a modular boiler, as an alternative to the modular boiler. The container 344 may include insulation material to reduce heat loss, and it is understood that different operating modes may be used in combination or individually, depending on the controller's expectations and control.

[0062] Figure 4 An overview of a similar system 400 according to one aspect of the invention is schematically shown. System 400 includes a controller 402 having a memory 416, coupled to an air-source heat pump 409, a local heating facility 406, and a local weather sensor 408. The controller 402 is configured to receive weather forecast data from an external source 410 (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection 414) and to receive local weather condition information from the local weather sensor 408. The system may also optionally include an energy storage unit 412 coupled to the air-source heat pump 404, the controller 402, and the local heating facility 406. The external source 410 for weather forecast data may be coupled to the Internet 418 or other cloud-based processing systems, which may include a central station 420 for analyzing data and providing information to the controller 402. Figure 4The diagram also shows multiple other location heating facilities 426 with an associated air source heat pump 429, located in the vicinity of system 400 but not part of system 400. These other location heating facilities 426 with an associated air source heat pump 429 could, for example, be location heating facilities 426 in adjacent properties with an associated air source heat pump 429. Similar to system 400, the location heating facilities 426 are connected to the Internet 418 via a wired or wireless connection.

[0063] The vicinity of system 400—that is, the vicinity of the local heat pump 409 controlled by controller 402—can be defined based on geography, topography, or any other convenient method. For example, other location heating facilities could be those located within a certain distance of system 400. This distance can be set based on the number of other locations within that distance, e.g., neither too many nor too few, to provide a reasonable statistical sample. Alternatively or additionally, the vicinity can be defined based on the topographical features of the location of local system 400. For example, if system 400 is located at the bottom of a valley, other systems that are nearby but located on the top of an adjacent hill might not be suitable, while another system located in the valley might be a more suitable comparison. In cases where the local system is located in a densely populated area (e.g., an apartment building), it may be appropriate to limit other systems to those only located within that apartment building.

[0064] The controller 402 is configured to set a control algorithm 403 for triggering the defrost cycle of the air source heat pump 409 based on information and / or predictions about the defrost cycles of other air source heat pumps 429 and their associated local heating facilities 426. The control algorithm of the controller 402 may also use weather forecast data and local weather condition information, and may also use information and / or predictions about the status of the air source heat pump 409, energy usage of the local heating facilities, energy supply information, and / or other information that may affect when and for how long the defrost cycle of the air source heat pump 409 is triggered.

[0065] Information or predictions regarding the defrost cycles of peer air-source heat pumps in the vicinity of the site are analyzed by a remote processor (e.g., a remote processor in central station 420), and the analysis results are provided to controller 402. The results provided by central station 420 may include information about the frequency and / or duration of defrost cycles of peer air-source heat pumps based on, for example, statistical analysis. Predictions may also be made by central station 420, and information about these predictions may be provided to controller 402.

[0066] The controller 402 can also monitor the status of the heat pump and use the monitored heat pump parameters to determine potential defrosting needs when determining when to trigger a defrost cycle. The status of the heat pump can be based on data inferred from energy supply information. For example, a metric for energy availability can be determined based on applicable energy tariffs.

[0067] Other data that controller 402 can receive includes local weather information from local weather sensing device 408. This local weather information can be used to adjust any forecasts regarding when to trigger a defrost cycle based on local variations. Controller 402 can also receive forecasts of potential heat demand from the local heating system, which can be used to influence the determination of when to trigger a defrost cycle, preventing it from being triggered when potential demand is high. Knowledge of the availability of residual energy in the local heating system can also be used, as this knowledge can be utilized during the defrost cycle. The received data is based on signals received from the controller of a peer air source heat pump.

[0068] Therefore, the triggering can be based on logic in controller 402 that determines an independent trigger for the heat pump, and this logic can modify the triggering decision based on received data. This logic can be configured to proactively determine the defrosting time prior to a mandatory defrosting requirement, and this logic can be configured to adjust the proactively determined time based on the actual defrosting activity of other air-source heat pumps in the vicinity of the site.

[0069] The triggering of the defrost cycle of an air source heat pump can be coordinated with the triggering of defrost cycles of other air source heat pumps in the vicinity of the site to balance supply fluctuations or energy demand. This coordination can be inferred by controller 402 based on information about the defrost cycles of peer air source heat pumps in the vicinity of the site. This coordination can be centrally controlled by a remote processor in a central station and is used by controller 402 to trigger the defrost cycle of its heat pump 409.

[0070] Furthermore, the central station 420 can be used to perform further analysis of the air source heat pump. For example, by storing the number and / or frequency of defrost cycles of the air source heat pump, the central station 420 can compare the stored values ​​with the number and / or frequency of defrost cycles of other air source heat pumps of the same class in the vicinity of the site. If it is found that the number and / or frequency of defrost cycles of air source heat pump 409 differs from the number and / or frequency of defrost cycles of other air source heat pumps of the same class, exceeding or falling below a threshold number, the central station 420 can infer that air source heat pump 409 may be faulty, or that control algorithm 403 may be faulty. In this case, the central station 420 can signal, for example, a potential error or fault condition to controller 402 or an appropriate interface at the central station 420, or to both the appropriate interfaces at controller 402 and the central station 420.

[0071] Therefore, it can be seen that data on the behavior of other heat pumps in local adjacent areas can enhance the standard intrinsic prediction of the defrost cycle required by air source heat pumps.

[0072] If necessary, controller 402 can adjust control algorithm 403 based on local weather condition information from local weather sensing device 408. Control algorithm 403 operates to utilize currently available energy or energy predicted to become available before local weather changes—which are forecast to reduce the energy available from air source heat pump 409. For example, if a decrease in local air temperature and / or relative humidity is predicted, the control algorithm can be used to extract energy and supply it to premises heating facilities and / or thermal energy storage, with the extracted energy expected to be used subsequently. Forecasts of air temperature may make it more likely that premises occupants will begin using heating facilities and / or increase the temperature settings of heating facilities to offset the effects of the predicted decrease in air temperature. Therefore, controller 402 can be configured to control energy supply based on the predicted likelihood of activating / using / requiring premises heating facilities during the predicted period of cooling. Controller 402 can be configured to predict this likelihood based on past behavior of households in the premises and / or a comparison of past household behavior. Controller 402 can be configured to learn occupant behavior from the site heating system, particularly its setup and operation, using machine learning algorithms. The controller can also provide data on the behavior of a control household, which can be provided during system installation / initial configuration or, for example, provided or updated from a vendor's or operator's server in the cloud.

[0073] The controller 402 is also preferably configured to consider or predict the occupancy rate of the premises when predicting the likelihood. To this end, the controller 402 may be configured to consider the planned activities of the premises occupants when predicting the likelihood—the controller 402 may optionally have access to the occupants' schedules, calendars, and / or appointment details, and the controller 402 may operate in a "smart home" mode. The controller 402 may also be supplied with information from presence detectors (e.g., motion sensors, such as PIR sensors) and / or door sensors, which may be configured as part of a security monitoring system, and / or the controller 402 may also be supplied with information from the premises' electrical system, which may provide activation information, such as lighting circuits in the premises.

[0074] Using a local weather sensor 408 enables more accurate prediction and detection of weather events affecting a site, improving the ability to achieve energy savings during system operation. The controller 402 can be configured to run a machine learning algorithm that learns the differences between the weather experienced at the site as detected by the local weather sensor and received weather forecast data, such as differences in time delay and, optionally, severity. Using such a machine learning algorithm, the controller 102 can better predict when it may be beneficial to increase the energy supply from green energy to local energy tanks and / or energy storage units.

[0075] Local weather sensing device 408 is preferably configured to sense air temperature, air humidity, and atmospheric pressure. Device 408 may include individual sensing elements for detecting each of these variables, but preferably device 408 is based on an integrated weather sensing device, such as a weather sensing chip. The Bosch Sensortec BME280 integrated ambient unit is available as such a chip, providing high-precision humidity sensing elements for measuring relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and ambient temperature: the humidity sensing element has an accuracy of ±3% relative humidity, the pressure sensing element has an accuracy of ±0.25%, and the temperature sensing element has an accuracy of ±1°C in the range of 0°C–65°C. The BME280 has a weather monitoring mode that provides pressure, temperature, and humidity readings once per minute, which is frequent enough for our purposes. Furthermore, local weather sensing device 108 may include a wind speed sensing element and a wind direction detector, as wind direction and speed can be very useful indicators of current and impending weather conditions—for example, indicating the possible arrival, passage, and departure of a cold front.

[0076] While the above description considers determining when to trigger the defrost cycle of an air source heat pump, it is clear that other types of conditions and condition changes can be similarly determined and triggered. For example, one condition type might be maintenance. Just as a controller, with input from a central station, determines when it is best to trigger the defrost cycle of an air source heat pump, it can similarly determine when it is best to take the air source heat pump out of service for other purposes, such as allowing maintenance. Obviously, other criteria could also be used, such as time of day or day of week, but other criteria (e.g., weather, potential usage, etc.) remain relevant in making this determination. The determination that many systems in the vicinity with similar usage patterns may be scheduled for maintenance can provide an indication, when appropriately analyzed by the central station, that a specific local system may also require maintenance.

[0077] Therefore, the status of other systems in the vicinity can be considered and analyzed by the central station, which can then send information to the local systems to instruct or guide them to update or change their status in a manner similar to that of some, most, or all of the other local systems. As mentioned above, this status change could be triggering a defrost cycle, causing the air source heat pump to stop operating, whether for maintenance or because some abnormal fault or activity, such as a power surge, has been observed in other systems. Other status changes could include shutting down the entire system for any of the reasons mentioned above or otherwise.

[0078] In some implementations, the thermal energy storage device may include a phase change material (PCM), whose phase change is used to store energy as latent heat. A suitable PCM is paraffin wax, which exhibits a solid-liquid phase change at temperatures suitable for domestic hot water supply and use in conjunction with heat pumps. Of particular interest are paraffin waxes that melt in the temperature range of 40°C to 60°C, and waxes that melt at different temperatures within this range can be found to suit specific applications. Typical latent heat capacities are between approximately 180 kJ / kg and 230 kJ / kg, and the specific heat capacity in the liquid phase may be 2.27 J / g. -1 K -1 The specific heat capacity in the solid phase is 2.1 J / g. -1 K -1 It can be seen that a very large amount of energy can be stored using latent heat of fusion. Even more energy can be stored by heating the phase change liquid above its melting point. For example, when electricity costs are relatively low and the need for hot water is foreseeable soon (when electricity may be or is known to be more expensive), it makes sense to operate the heat pump at a temperature higher than normal to “superheat” the thermal energy storage device.

[0079] A suitable wax choice would be one with a melting point around 48 degrees Celsius, such as n-trisane C. 23 , or paraffin C 20 -C 33 Applying a standard 3K temperature difference to the heat exchanger (between the liquid supplied by the heat pump and the phase change material in the heat exchanger) yields a heat pump liquid temperature of approximately 51 degrees Celsius. Similarly, on the output side, allowing a 3K temperature drop, we get a water temperature of 45 degrees Celsius, which is satisfactory for typical household hot water—hot enough for a kitchen faucet but perhaps a bit too high for a shower / bathroom faucet—but obviously, cold water can always be added to the flow to lower the temperature. Of course, if the household tolerates lower hot water temperatures, or if other reasons allow for lower hot water temperatures, then a phase change material with a lower melting point can be considered, but generally, a phase change temperature in the range of 45 to 50 degrees Celsius is likely a good choice. Obviously, we need to consider the Legionnaires' risk associated with storing water at this temperature, and the previously described disinfection techniques offer a way to manage this risk.

[0080] Heat pumps (such as ground-source or air-source heat pumps) can operate at temperatures up to 60 degrees Celsius (although up to 72 degrees Celsius when using propane as a refrigerant), but they are often much more efficient when operating in the 45-50 degree Celsius range. Therefore, the 51 degrees Celsius we derive from the phase change temperature of 48 degrees Celsius is likely satisfactory.

[0081] The temperature performance of the heat pump also needs to be considered. Typically, the maximum... T (the difference between the input and output temperatures of the fluid heated by the heat pump) is preferably maintained within the range of 5 to 7 degrees Celsius, although Temperatures can reach up to 10 degrees Celsius.

[0082] While paraffin is a preferred material for energy storage media, it is not the only suitable material. Salt hydrates are also suitable for latent heat energy storage systems such as those described in this invention. In this case, the salt hydrate is a mixture of inorganic salt and water, whose phase transition involves the loss of all or most of its water. During the phase transition, the hydrate crystals decompose into anhydrous (or less water) salt and water. Salt hydrates have the advantage of having much higher thermal conductivity than paraffin (2 to 5 times higher) and much smaller volume changes during the phase transition. The salt hydrate suitable for this application is Na₂S₂O₃·5H₂O, with a melting point of around 48 to 49 degrees Celsius and a latent heat of 200 / 220 kJ / kg.

[0083] In terms of energy storage, PCMs with phase transition temperatures significantly higher than 40 to 50 degrees Celsius could also be considered. For example, paraffin waxes and other waxes with various melting points: n-O-dodecane C 24 It has a melting point of approximately 40 degrees Celsius; n-Docosane C 21 It has a melting point of approximately 44.5 degrees Celsius; n-Tetradecane C 23 It has a melting point of approximately 52 degrees Celsius; n-Pedecane C 25 It has a melting point of approximately 54 degrees Celsius; n-Hexadecane C 26 It has a melting point of approximately 56.5 degrees Celsius; heptadecane C 27 It has a melting point of approximately 59 degrees Celsius; octacosane C 28 It has a melting point of approximately 64.5 degrees Celsius; nonacontane C 29 It has a melting point of approximately 65 degrees Celsius; n-Trisane C 30It has a melting point of approximately 66 degrees Celsius; n-Trinane C 31 It has a melting point of approximately 67 degrees Celsius; n-Tredodecane C 32 It has a melting point of approximately 69 degrees Celsius; n-Tris(C) 33 It has a melting point of approximately 71 degrees Celsius; Paraffin C 22 -C 45 It has a melting point of approximately 58 to 60 degrees Celsius; Paraffin C 21 -C 50 It has a melting point of approximately 66 to 68 degrees Celsius; RT 70 HC, melting point approximately 69 to 71 degrees Celsius.

[0084] Alternatively, brine hydrates such as CH3COONa·3H2O are used, which have a melting point of about 58 degrees Celsius and a latent heat of 226 / 265 kJ / kg.

[0085] Figure 5 An implementation of a machine learning algorithm 6200 is illustrated schematically, which performs processing on a set of input data on a control module (e.g., controller 402) to predict the next defrost cycle of a heat pump (e.g., heat pump 409).

[0086] The MLA 6200 receives house-specific input data from multiple inputs via a control module. These inputs include one or more sensors located around the house, one or more user interfaces (e.g., a control panel around the house, a smart device, a personal computer, etc., communicating with the control module), one or more software programs, and one or more public and private databases. During the training phase, the MLA 6200 can be trained, for example, based on weather forecasts, current weather conditions, indoor temperature, and data collected from one or more previous defrost cycles, to utilize heat pump performance knowledge (e.g., the heat pump's average thermal output, heat pump efficiency or coefficient of performance, and any other information or quantities related to heat pump performance) to identify when a defrost cycle is needed and to establish the timescale and average energy demand for operating the heat pump during a defrost cycle.

[0087] In this embodiment, the MLA 6200 receives the following inputs: a weather forecast 6101, for example, obtained from a weather application on a smart device registered on the control module; current weather conditions 6102, such as temperature and humidity, for example, obtained from a public area or from one or more sensors located around the house; indoor temperature 6103, for example, obtained from one or more temperature sensors located inside the house; and data regarding the most recent one or more defrost cycles 6104 when the heat pump was last defrosted. The MLA 6200 also receives information about the defrost cycles of peer air-source heat pumps in the nearby area. Based on peer defrost cycles, weather forecasts, current weather conditions, and indoor temperatures, the MLA 6200 can predict the expected time 6301 of the next defrost cycle, for example, when prolonged periods of low temperature and high humidity may require an earlier defrost cycle, and can estimate the length of time required to defrost the heat pump. The information about peer defrost cycles provides information for enhancing predictions by utilizing knowledge of when peer air-source heat pumps need defrosting and how long defrosting takes. Furthermore, using the established practical model 2300 and occupancy prediction 3300, the MLA6200 can estimate the expected energy and hot water demand during the predicted defrost cycle period and can prepare the water supply system based on expectations regarding the predicted defrost cycle 6302, such as by storing additional heat energy in the thermal energy storage unit (in the form of sensible heat in addition to storing latent heat in the PCM), heating the house to a temperature higher than the preset temperature, etc.

[0088] Additionally or alternatively, the MLA 6200 can also anticipate (e.g., for faucets, showers, and / or central heating) when energy and hot water demand is low and determine the appropriate time to defrost the heat pump, for example, when there is minimal disruption to the supply of hot water to occupants. Using these inputs, the MLA 6200 can determine periods of low water and energy demand (e.g., nighttime) and / or periods of low occupancy (e.g., school and work hours) and adjust the anticipated start time of the next defrost cycle to the determined low demand and / or low occupancy times. The MLA 6200 can then instruct the control module to operate the heat pump to initiate the defrost cycle 6301 at the adjusted start time. For example, if the MLA 6200 predicts a defrost cycle may be needed in the evening when energy and hot water demand is expected to be high, the MLA 6200 can pre-charge the heat storage medium by operating the heat pump to store more heat—for example, by raising the temperature of the heat storage medium to a higher operating temperature—and transfer some heat into the building before the predicted defrost cycle, and / or the MLA 6200 can adjust the start time of the defrost cycle to the late night when demand is expected to be low. In another example, if a defrost cycle is expected to occur during the day, the MLA 6200 can determine that the next defrost cycle will occur during a period of low energy and hot water demand (e.g., when occupancy is expected to be low or zero) based on occupancy forecasts and / or usage patterns, and determine that no preparation or adjustment is needed.

[0089] By predicting the next defrost cycle of the heat pump based on factors such as heat pump performance, other defrost cycles, weather forecasts, current weather conditions, current indoor temperature, expected occupancy rate, and hot water demand, and by proactively preparing the water supply system before the defrost cycle begins, this embodiment allows the necessary heat pump defrost cycles to be performed in a manner that minimizes disruption to the hot water supply, thereby enabling the heat pump to be used as an efficient means of providing hot water. Similarly, by predicting other changes in conditions based on changes in the condition of peer systems and other data, changes in conditions can be performed in a manner that minimizes disruption or in extreme cases, which can protect the system or its components from damage.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a heating system for a location, the heating system comprising: The controller, and the following coupled to the controller: An air source heat pump, wherein the air source heat pump has at least an active operation mode and a defrost operation mode; as well as A site heating system, the site heating system being coupled to receive heated fluid from the air source heat pump when the air source heat pump is in the active operating mode; The method includes using the controller to: Receive data, which includes the results of analysis of the status of multiple other heating systems via a remote processor, including air-source heat pumps in the vicinity of the site; The status of the heating system is changed based on the received data and the status of the heating system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The changes in the conditions that trigger the heating system include the changes in the conditions that trigger the air source heat pump.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The change in condition that triggers the air source heat pump is to trigger the defrost cycle of the air source heat pump.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, The defrost cycle of the air source heat pump is also triggered based on the possible defrost requirements determined according to the heat pump parameters.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein, The defrosting cycle of the air source heat pump is also triggered based on data inferred from the heat pump status according to energy supply information.

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The received data may also include one or more of the following: Measurement of local weather conditions; Forecasting of potential heat demand for site heating facilities; and The availability of surplus energy in the local heating system.

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The triggering is based on logic that determines an independent trigger for the heating system, wherein the logic is configured to modify the triggering decision based on the received data.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, The logic is configured to proactively determine the time for changing the condition prior to a mandatory requirement to do so, and wherein the logic is configured to adjust the proactively determined time based on the actual activity of other heating systems in the vicinity of the site.

9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The received data is received from a central station including the remote processor, which collects data from the controllers of the other heating systems.

10. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The triggering of condition changes is coordinated with the triggering of condition changes in other heating systems in the vicinity of the site to balance supply fluctuations or energy demand.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The coordination is centrally controlled by a remote processor that instructs one or more controllers of one or more of the other heating systems.

12. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The controller uses a machine learning algorithm (MLA) to determine the start time of triggering a change in the condition.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, The machine learning algorithm is used to predict the optimal start time and duration of the change in the situation.

14. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The data also includes one or more of the following: Weather forecast data from external sources; and Local weather condition information from local weather sensing devices, And the triggering is adjusted based on the local weather information.

15. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The nearby area is defined based on one or more of the following: The number of other heating systems; Geographical distance; Topographic features.

16. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The remote processor stores the number and / or frequency of changes in the status of the heating system and compares the number and / or frequency of changes in the status of the heating system with the number and / or frequency of changes in the status of other heating systems in the vicinity of the site. If the difference between the number and / or frequency of changes in the status of the heating system and the number and / or frequency of changes in the status of other heating systems in the vicinity of the site exceeds a threshold, a potential error or malfunction signal is issued.

17. A heating system for a premises, the heating system comprising: An air source heat pump, wherein the air source heat pump has at least an active operation mode and a defrost operation mode; A site heating system, the site heating system being coupled to receive heated fluid from the air source heat pump when the air source heat pump is in the active operating mode; as well as A controller coupled to the air source heat pump and the site heating system, wherein the controller is configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

18. The heating system for a venue according to claim 17, further comprising a central station including the remote processor, the central station being configured to collect data from controllers of other heating systems in a nearby area of ​​the venue, to analyze the data, and to send the analysis results to the controllers of the heating systems.

19. The heating system for a venue according to claim 18, wherein, The remote processor is also configured to perform the method according to claim 16.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions, wherein, When executed by one or more processors of a controller for a heating system for a site, the computer-readable instructions cause the one or more processors to cause the controller to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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