METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ENERGY ENGINEERING PLANT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating an energy-related plant according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] A method for operating an energy system of the type mentioned above is generally known, so no special written documentation is required in this regard. This method for operating an energy system, in particular a heating system, works in such a way that heat is supplied to an energy carrier medium located in a storage tank and removed from it at the same time. The problem with such a method is that defects can occur that prevent heat from being removed from the storage tank (or even supplied) via the energy carrier medium. Such defects are often only noticed by the user of the energy system after a long time and lead to reduced efficiency of the system in the meantime.

[0003] Document EP 2 088 379 A2 relates to the control of a heating appliance with a measuring device for detecting the heating water temperature in the flow line in a connected heating water circuit and at least one pump in at least one heating water circuit, wherein the heating water temperature gradient is monitored as part of a test function. The test function also includes suspending pump operation in order to briefly generate a rising temperature gradient in the normal state. This triggers an error message or, optionally, a fault shutdown if the heating water temperature does not change within a specified time and the temperature gradient is lower than a specified threshold.

[0004] Document DE 10 2011 009750 A1 relates to a heating device in which a fluid medium is heated as needed using a burner. A temperature sensor detects the temperature of the fluid medium and creates a temperature gradient from a temporal change in temperature. The burner is operated at different power levels, and the corresponding temperature gradients are compared with different power-dependent limit values.

[0005] Document DE 10 2011 011022 A1 concerns the status determination of a thermal buffer storage tank. The temperature in the buffer storage tank is continuously measured and a continuous storage temperature profile is determined from this. Based on the continuous storage temperature profile, the currently usable energy content and storage capacity of the buffer storage tank are calculated.

[0006] The document DE 196 47 216 A1 relates to the monitoring of the function and efficiency of solar systems operated with a closed solar circuit and a closed domestic hot water or domestic hot water circuit, whereby the collector temperature, storage temperature and monitoring temperature are measured and fed into a control device, whereby an efficiency fault message is issued if, with a constant collector temperature (e.g. above 50°C), a given storage temperature (e.g. 30°C) is not reached after a predetermined monitoring period (e.g. 60 min).

[0007] The invention is based on the object of improving a method for operating an energy system of the type mentioned above. In particular, a method is to be created in which a prevented heat dissipation from the energy carrier medium in the storage tank (or heat supply to the energy carrier medium in the storage tank) is detected.

[0008] This task is to be solved by a method for operating an energy-technical installation of the type mentioned above by the

[0009] The features listed in patent claim 1 are solved.

[0010] According to the invention, it is therefore provided that a temperature gradient of the energy carrier medium in the storage container is monitored within a specified monitoring period and information is generated if the amount of the temperature gradient does not reach a specified limit within the monitoring period.

[0011] Particularly preferably, it is provided that a falling temperature of the energy carrier medium in the storage container is monitored within the specified monitoring period and information is generated if the amount of a temperature gradient of the falling temperature does not exceed a specified amount or remains below a specified amount within the monitoring period.

[0012] In other words, the method according to the invention for operating an energy system, in particular a heating system, is characterized in particular by the fact that a reduction in the temperature in the storage tank per unit of time above a certain value is interpreted as a functioning heat discharge of the storage tank and a lack of such a temperature gradient, in turn, is interpreted as a disturbance in the heat dissipation from the storage tank.

[0013] Other advantageous developments of the method according to the invention for operating an energy-technical plant emerge from the dependent patent claims.

[0014] For the sake of completeness, reference is also made to document DE 10 2004 035 167 A1. In this solution, temperature values ​​are recorded and evaluated as soon as the measured temperature rises above a certain value. What is not disclosed is the inventive requirement that information is generated if a certain temperature is not reached.

[0015] The method according to the invention for operating an energy-technical plant, including its advantageous developments according to the dependent patent claims, is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings of two exemplary embodiments.

[0016] It shows schematically Figure 1 shows a heating system consisting of a CHP module and a peak-load boiler with a storage tank designed as a buffer storage; and Figure 2 shows a heating system also consisting of a CHP module and a peak-load boiler with a storage tank designed as a combination storage.

[0017] In the method according to the invention for operating an energy-technical system, in particular a heating system, which can be used, for example, with the Figures 1 and 2 illustrated heating systems, firstly, in a manner known per se, heat is supplied to an energy carrier medium (or heat transfer medium) located in a storage tank 1 on the one hand and removed from it on the other hand.

[0018] In the solution according to Figure 1The storage tank 1 is preferably designed as a buffer tank, i.e., the heat transfer medium should not or cannot be used as drinking water in this case. Instead, the heat transfer medium is discharged from the buffer tank via connection 1.1, heated by a CHP module 3 (to be explained later), and finally fed back to the buffer tank via connection 1.2, i.e., the heat is ultimately supplied to the heat transfer medium in the storage tank 1 by convection.

[0019] In the solution according to Figure 2 The storage tank 1 is preferably designed as a hot water tank, i.e., the heat transfer medium also serves as drinking water in this case. A heat exchanger 10 is provided in the storage tank 1, which is connected via connections 1.1 and 1.2 to a CHP module 3 (to be explained later), i.e., the heat contained in the storage tank 1 is supplied to the heat transfer medium via heat conduction.

[0020] With regard to the already mentioned CHP module 3, which may comprise, for example, a fuel cell or a Stirling engine, it is further preferably provided that the heat generated thereby is optionally supplied, as already mentioned, to the storage tank 1 and / or a heating circuit 4. In the solution according to Figure 1 the generated heat is fed exclusively to the storage tank 1, in the solution according to Figure 2 The heat generated by the CHP module 3 can be fed to the storage tank 1 and / or the heating circuit 4 as required.

[0021] As can be seen, the heating systems have the following Figures 1 and 2each preferably also via a so-called peak load boiler 2, i.e., a heat source that is switched on when the amount of heat supplied by the CHP module 3 intended to cover the base load is insufficient. It is further preferably provided that the heat generated by the peak load boiler 2 is optionally supplied to the storage tank 1 and / or a heating circuit 4.

[0022] It is now very important for the method according to the invention, and this applies to all possible embodiments, that within a specified monitoring period a temperature gradient of the energy carrier medium or the heat transfer medium in the storage container 1 is monitored and information, preferably an information signal, is generated if the amount of the temperature gradient does not reach a specified limit within the monitoring period.

[0023] Looking at it in more detail, it is particularly preferred in the illustrated embodiments that a falling temperature of the energy carrier medium in the storage container is monitored within the specified monitoring period and that information is generated if the amount of a temperature gradient of the falling temperature does not exceed a specified amount within the monitoring period.

[0024] If, for whatever reason, the heat stored in the storage tank 1, particularly provided by the CHP module 3, is not dissipated in such a system, this can be detected using the method according to the invention. In other words, the reduced efficiency of the heating system can be detected early on.

[0025] It is particularly preferred that 0.0225 K / s (or 13.5 K in 10 minutes) is used as the fixed value for the magnitude of the temperature gradient.

[0026] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the information is communicated to an operator of the heating system, preferably displayed on the peak load boiler 2.

[0027] Furthermore, it is particularly preferred that several intermediate periods are defined within the monitoring period and that the information is only generated if the magnitude of the temperature gradient within all individual intermediate periods does not exceed the specified value or remains below the specified value.

[0028] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that a monitoring period is started (only) when the temperature of the heat transfer medium in the storage tank 1 reaches a predetermined temperature value, preferably a desired maximum temperature of the heat transfer medium in the storage tank 1.

[0029] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the monitoring takes place continuously within the monitoring period and that information is only generated when the magnitude of the temperature gradient of the heat transfer medium does not exceed the specified value for more than a specified period of time, preferably 5 to 15 minutes, particularly preferably 10 minutes.

[0030] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that a tolerance period, preferably several days, particularly preferably 7 days, is specified and the information is only communicated to an operator of the heating system after the temperature gradient has been continuously undercut within the tolerance period.

[0031] Furthermore, it is pointed out that the Figures 1 and 2 The systems shown in the known manner still have a cold water connection 5. The water fed in there is discharged after heating via the hot water connection 6, whereby in the solution according to Figure 1, which also has a so-called charging system 9 known per se, this water is temporarily stored in a hot water tank 7. Pumps 8 are provided to transport the liquid media in the heating system. Valves 11 control the flow paths, and heat exchangers 10 finally serve to transfer heat from one liquid medium to another in the heating system. List of reference symbols

[0032] 1Storage tank 1.1Connection 1.2Connection 2Peak load boiler 3CHP module 4Heating circuit 5Cold water connection 6Hot water connection 7Hot water tank 8Pump 9Charging system 10Heat exchanger 11Valve

Claims

1. A method for operating an energy plant, wherein heat is supplied on the one hand to an energy carrier medium located in a storage container (1) and, on the other hand, is discharged therefrom, characterised in that a temperature gradient of the energy carrier medium in the storage container (1) is monitored within a defined monitoring period and information is generated if the amount of the temperature gradient does not reach a specified limit value within the monitoring period.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that a falling temperature of the energy carrier medium in the storage container (1) is monitored within the defined monitoring period and information is generated if the absolute value of a temperature gradient of the falling temperature does not exceed a specified value within the monitoring period.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a plurality of intermediate periods are defined within the monitoring period and that the information is generated only when the absolute value of the temperature gradient does not exceed the specified value within all the individual intermediate periods.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a monitoring period is started when the temperature of the heat transfer medium in the storage container (1) reaches a predetermined temperature value.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the monitoring takes place continuously within the monitoring period and information is generated only when the absolute value of the temperature gradient of the heat transfer medium does not exceed the specified value for more than a defined period of time, preferably 5 to 15 minutes, particularly preferably 10 minutes.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that that a tolerance time is defined and the information is communicated to an operator of the heating system only after continuously remaining below the absolute value of the temperature gradient within the tolerance time.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the information is communicated to an operator of the heating system, preferably displayed on a peak load boiler (2).

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the storage container (1) is designed as a buffer tank.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the storage container (1) is designed as a hot water storage tank.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the heat generated by a CHP module (3) is optionally supplied to the storage container (1) and / or to a heating circuit (4).

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that heat generated by a peak load boiler (2) is optionally supplied to the storage container (1) and / or to a heating circuit (4).