METHOD FOR MONITORING A HEATING SYSTEM, COMPUTER PROGRAM, CONTROL AND REGULATION DEVICE, HEATING SYSTEM AND USE OF HEATING SYSTEM OPERATING DATA

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for monitoring a heating system, in particular for predicting a time of critical pressure in a heat transfer fluid circuit of a heating system, a computer program, a storage medium, a control unit, a computer and a use.

[0002] A common reason for a heating system's safety shutdown is insufficient pressure in the heat transfer fluid circuit. This shutdown results in a loss of heating and hot water supply to the affected building and necessitates an emergency call-out from a service company. Such emergency call-outs, however, complicate the scheduling of service appointments and are also costly for the heating system operator.

[0003] To address this, monitoring processes for heating systems are known that evaluate sensor data locally or via remote transmission and, if necessary, automatically report a safety shutdown of the heating system, for example, to a service company. The current reaching of a pressure threshold in the heat transfer fluid circuit can also be reported remotely. However, it has been shown that safety shutdowns of heating systems still frequently occur, and even using the pressure threshold in the heat transfer fluid circuit does not allow for a sufficiently accurate prediction of the time of failure.

[0004] US Patent 2018 / 0245801 A1 proposes a hydronic heating system and a method for monitoring it. This system records a time series of operating data, determines a pressure loss rate, and outputs the time at which a critical pressure is reached. The recorded pressure can be correlated with the system's operating states. However, the heating system and method are limited in that they only allow for a prediction of the next occurrence of a critical pressure; a long-term assessment of the loss rate is not possible.

[0005] GB 2 405 702 A discloses a monitoring device for a central heating system comprising means for pressure sensing, a valve, and a control unit. The control unit detects a pressure drop and can open the valve to compensate, thus supplying heating water to the heating system. If a continuous pressure loss is detected, the heating system can be shut down. A disadvantage of this solution is its inaccuracy, as a detected pressure drop cannot be solely attributed to a leak.

[0006] EP 3 620 723 A1 also relates to a refilling device for a hydronic heating system, in which a pressure signal from the heating system is detected and, if necessary, a valve is opened to refill the heat transfer fluid. The quantity and frequency of refilling can also be recorded, and the valve can be closed if a limit value is exceeded. A disadvantage of this refilling device is that it can only determine the condition of the heating circuit very imprecisely.

[0007] GB 2 551 192 A also describes a refilling device that can be used, for example, on a heating system. The refilling device comprises two valves, and a test procedure is proposed to detect a malfunction of one valve and thus prevent associated damage to the heating system.

[0008] WO 89 / 01112 A1 proposes an arrangement for preventing damage from tap water, in which a valve and a pressure sensor are provided downstream of the valve, and a control device detects the pressure and records the pressure curve, comparing it with predefined threshold values ​​to distinguish normal water withdrawal from a leak. This method cannot be used to determine the condition of a heating circuit.

[0009] Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a method for predicting the point in time of a critical pressure in a heat transfer fluid circuit of a heating system, which at least partially overcomes the problems of the prior art described above and, in particular, reduces the occurrence of safety shutdowns due to insufficient pressure in the heat transfer fluid circuit. Furthermore, a computer program, a control unit, a heating system, a computer, and an application for solving these problems are to be specified.

[0010] Furthermore, the proposed method should not increase the complexity of a heating system, for example through additional sensors, or only to a minimal extent.

[0011] These problems are solved by the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the solution proposed here are specified in the independent claims. It should be noted that the features listed in the dependent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically meaningful way and define further embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the features specified in the claims are further specified and explained in the description, which also presents further preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0012] The proposed method for monitoring a heating system with a heat transfer fluid circuit, in particular for predicting a time of critical pressure in a heat transfer fluid circuit of a heating system, comprises at least the following steps: a) Acquiring at least one time series of operating data of the heating system, comprising pressure in the heat transfer circuit (2) and operating states of a pumping device of the heat transfer circuit (2), b) Identifying times of refilling processes of the heat transfer circuit from the at least one time series of operating data acquired in step a), c) Determining a pressure loss rate in the heat transfer circuit by including the at least one time series of operating data acquired in step a) and the times of refilling processes identified in step b), d) Determining a time for reaching a critical pressure in the heat transfer circuit of the heating system, e) Issuing a notification about the time of reaching the critical pressure in the heat transfer circuit as determined in step d).

[0013] Steps a) - e) are performed at least once in the specified order during normal operation. Preferably, step a), i.e., the recording of the time series, can be performed continuously. Steps b) to e) can also preferably be performed continuously or at regular intervals.

[0014] Preferably, step e) can be performed once after each process step has been carried out, and the detection of error states, implausible data, or missing data can trigger a notification. Preferably, performing step a) multiple times may also be advantageous to increase the data basis for executing the subsequent steps. In particular, performing step a) multiple times may be useful for the initial execution of steps b) and c).

[0015] The invention can be used, in particular, for the automated prediction of the time at which a critical pressure is reached in the heat transfer fluid circuit of the heating system; in other words, for the automated prediction of a heating system failure time due to insufficient pressure in the heat transfer fluid circuit. Furthermore, the proposed method can also be used to detect other fault conditions, such as component failures, for example, of sensors, in the heating system.

[0016] In principle, the process can be carried out with any heating system that has a heat transfer fluid circuit. Water is typically used as the heat transfer fluid in the circuit, although the proposed process can be implemented with any heat transfer fluid.

[0017] Step a) includes, in particular, the sensor-based acquisition of operating data. Separate sensors may be used to acquire sensor readings, and / or control units of operating parameters of heating system components may provide characteristic measured values ​​that can form the basis for the operating data. For example, specific operating data or information derived from it can be used, if necessary by comparison with reference events, to identify when or if a refilling process is taking place in the heat transfer fluid circuit (see step b)). Based on the intermediate results from step a) and / or b), a pressure loss rate in the heat transfer fluid circuit can then be determined (estimated, calculated, and / or selected from a model) according to step c).Based on this, it can be further determined when (in the future) the pressure is expected to drop to a critical threshold (forecast - step d)). This result is then transmitted in step e) in the form of a notification – possibly embedded in or supplemented by at least one error or warning message – to a control unit and / or a heating system operator.

[0018] According to step a), at least one time series of operating data from the heating system can be recorded. This operating data can include recordable sensor data, operating parameters, system state data, and / or error messages, such as those stored in an error log. Examples of operating data include the flow and return temperatures of the heat transfer fluid circuit, stored error messages related to the heating system or its components (e.g., the heat generator), system parameters and information about the heating system, operating states of the heating system and the heat generator, and / or times of heating system failures due to insufficient pressure in the heat transfer fluid circuit.Preferably, operational data provided by a state-of-the-art heating system is recorded, so that no additional sensors or other equipment are required for the proposed procedure. A time series can be understood as a data set of regularly recorded operational data from the heating system or the heat transfer fluid circuit.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the procedure, the at least one time series of operational data recorded in step a) can be checked for gaps in the time series and / or implausible values. A check for implausible values ​​can be performed, for example, based on statistical evaluations of value ranges, variances, comparison with data from similar heating systems, and / or other data. If gaps in the time series and / or implausible values ​​are detected, step e) can be carried out and a corresponding notification issued.

[0020] According to step b), the times of refilling processes in the heat transfer fluid circuit can be identified from the at least one time series of operating data recorded in step a). The identification of these refilling times can be achieved, for example, by observing a sudden increase in pressure within the circuit. Since the pressure changes resulting from a refilling process are outside the range of normal fluctuations (caused, for example, by heating of the heat transfer fluid and / or statistical variations), refilling processes can be identified with a high degree of certainty.

[0021] Advantageously, the time series of operational data recorded in step a) allows for the highly accurate and reliable determination of refill processes. For example, data from automatic refilling devices is often not accessible to the heat generator and therefore cannot be readily accessed or obtained by a control unit of the heating system. Refill process detection is also known to occur when the customer or a service company manually enters this data into dedicated software, such as a mobile app. However, data collected in this way is also subject to considerable uncertainties due to the manual input.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, during step b), the identification of frequent, closely spaced refilling cycles of the heat transfer fluid circuit could indicate problems with the heating system, such as a leak in the heat transfer fluid circuit. In this case, step e) could also trigger a notification indicating excessively frequent refilling cycles of the heat transfer fluid circuit.

[0023] According to step c), a pressure loss rate in the heat transfer fluid circuit can be determined by including the at least one time series of operating data recorded in step a) and the times of refilling processes in the heat transfer fluid circuit identified in step b). Determining the loss rate can be achieved, in particular, by analyzing the pressure behavior in the heat transfer fluid circuit, including the relationships between pressure in the heat transfer fluid circuit, supply and return temperatures at various operating states of the heat generator and the heat transfer fluid circuit's pumping system, and / or their development over a period of time. For example, this can be done by correcting the time series of operating data recorded in step a) with the times of refilling processes identified in step b) (cleaning the time series of the (identified) refilling processes to obtain a loss rate without or without the refilling processes).(independent of the filling processes) and subsequently used in a time series algorithm to determine the pressure loss rate. The time series algorithm can consider various measured or calculated influencing factors, such as thermal expansion and / or operating conditions of the heat pump. Based on the time series algorithm, a prediction of the future pressure profile in the heat transfer fluid circuit can be advantageously made.

[0024] In a preferred configuration, both a current loss rate can be determined by analyzing recent operational data, and an average loss rate can be determined by examining operational data from a longer period. The trend of the loss rate over a longer period can also be determined. If critical conditions or fault states are identified from the determination of the loss rate or its trend, step e), issuing a notification, can also be carried out at that time.

[0025] According to step d), in particular, the loss rate determined in step c) can be used to estimate or predict a time when a critical pressure will be reached in the heat transfer fluid circuit of the heating system.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, data from comparable heating systems can be included in steps c) and d), for example, by averaging. For instance, parameters of statistical models describing or characterizing the pressure behavior in the heat transfer fluid circuit can be derived from available data of comparable heating systems. These parameters could be, for example, statistical ranges of variation for measured values ​​and / or limit values ​​for reaching a fault condition. Alternatively or cumulatively, (hyper)parameters of machine learning algorithms can also be derived from the analysis of data from comparable heating devices, which can (likewise) be incorporated into the determination of the loss rate according to step c).

[0027] According to step e), a notification can be issued about the period until a critical pressure is reached in the heat transfer fluid circuit of the heating system and / or about critical conditions of the heating system or error messages of the heating system.

[0028] A notification can be issued in any form. In a very simple configuration, a visual and / or audible warning signal can be issued. Alternatively or in combination, the notification can also be displayed on a screen.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the output of a notification in step e) can be carried out via a network. The network can, in particular, be the internet. Particularly preferably, the output of a notification can also consist of providing, via an interface, a status of the heating system determined within the framework of the method and / or a forecast of a time when a critical pressure will be reached in the heat transfer fluid circuit of the heating system.

[0030] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the notification as described in step c) can be sent via a network to an entity responsible for maintaining the heating system. This entity could be, for example, a contractual partner and / or a service company responsible for maintenance. By providing advance information about the time remaining until a critical pressure is reached in the heat transfer fluid circuit, a corresponding maintenance appointment can be scheduled, thus preventing a safety shutdown of the heating system.Alternatively or cumulatively, a notification can also be sent to an operator of the heating system, for example to a mobile device, whereby the mobile device can also be connected via an interface to a process-executing device, such as a computer or a control unit, and the operator has permanent access via a corresponding application on a computer or mobile device to the determined period until a critical pressure is reached in the heat transfer fluid circuit of the heating system or also possible error messages.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the method can be carried out in parallel for several heating systems, particularly preferably for several comparable heating systems or heating systems of a similar or identical type. Advantageously, the time series recorded in step a) and the determined loss rates and / or the determined period until a critical pressure is reached in the heat transfer fluid circuit can be compared, thus enabling a more accurate forecast.

[0032] Another aspect is the proposal for a computer program designed to (at least partially) execute the procedure presented here. In other words, this specifically concerns a computer program (product) comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause it to carry out the procedure described here.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment, the computer program is configured to run on a computer that is physically separate from the heating system. For this purpose, the computer program can receive the at least one time series of operating data according to step a) via a network, in particular the internet, or retrieve data from a programming interface of a heating system (in particular a control unit of a heating system) or from network storage. Furthermore, the computer program can be configured to output a notification according to step e) via a network or to make this notification available via a programming interface (application interface). The computer program can also be configured to retrieve or receive the operating data of multiple heating systems.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, the computer program can be configured to perform the procedure as part of an incremental processing of the data stream of the time series of operational data recorded in step a) and / or as regular batch processing.

[0035] Another aspect that is also proposed is a machine-readable storage medium on which the computer program is stored.

[0036] The machine-readable storage medium is usually a computer-readable data carrier.

[0037] According to a further aspect of the invention, a control unit for a heating system is also proposed, configured to carry out a method proposed herein. For this purpose, the control unit can, for example, include or be equipped with a processor. In this context, the processor can, for example, execute the method stored in a memory (of the control unit).

[0038] Another aspect relates to a heating device, having a suitably configured control and regulating unit.

[0039] Another aspect relates to a computer set up to carry out the procedure proposed here. Specifically, the computer is set up to perform the acquisition of operational data according to step a) and the output of a notification according to step e) of the procedure proposed here via a network, or to provide or retrieve this data via a programming interface.

[0040] Furthermore, the computer is preferably configured to execute the procedure proposed here for several heating systems in parallel.

[0041] Another aspect of the invention relates to the use of operating data from a heating system to estimate the time until a critical pressure is reached in the heat transfer fluid circuit of the heating system.

[0042] This document describes a method for predicting the time of failure of a heating system due to insufficient pressure in the heat transfer fluid circuit, a computer program, a control unit, and a computer for carrying out the method, as well as its application, which at least partially solves the problems described with reference to the state of the art. In particular, it contributes to reducing safety shutdowns of heating systems due to insufficient pressure in the heat transfer fluid circuit and ensures the predictability of maintenance interventions, especially for refilling the heat transfer fluid in the circuit. This leads to increased comfort and cost savings for users of the heating systems.

[0043] Furthermore, the method can be carried out using sensors and measuring technology that are regularly present in heating systems, so that the complexity of a heating system with a heating device or control and regulating device according to the invention is not increased compared to the prior art.

[0044] The invention and its technical context are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. It should be noted that the invention is not intended to be limited by the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is also possible to extract partial aspects of the situations described in the figures and combine them with other components and findings from the present description. It should be emphasized that the figures, and especially the depicted dimensions, are only schematic. They show: Fig. 1: a sequence of a procedure proposed here and Fig. 2: a system for carrying out the procedure.

[0045] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an exemplary and schematic representation of the sequence of a procedure proposed here. This procedure serves to predict the point of failure of a heating system 1 due to insufficient pressure in a heat transfer fluid circuit 2 of the heating system 1. The sequence of steps a), b), c), d), and e), represented by blocks 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150, can occur in a regular procedure flow. Under certain circumstances, step e) can also be performed after each of steps a), b), c), and d).

[0046] Fig. 2Figure 1 shows a system for carrying out a proposed method comprising a heating system 1, which includes a control unit 3, sensors 4, a heat generator 5, and a heating circuit 2. The heating system 1 can be connected to a communication device 6 to enable data exchange. In a preferred embodiment, the communication device 6 can also be an integral part of the heating system 1, in particular of the control unit 3. The system can also include a computer 10, which may include a storage unit and a processor. The computer 10 and the communication device 6 can be connected to a network 9, which may in particular be the Internet, thereby enabling data exchange. Furthermore, a communication device of a user 7 and a communication device of a service company 8 can be connected to the network 9.

[0047] In block 110, according to step a), at least one time series of operating data from the heating system 1 is recorded. The operating data can be, for example, data from a sensor 4, operating parameters of a heat generator 4 and / or operating parameters of a conveying device of the heat circuit 2.

[0048] As part of step a), the at least one time series of operating data can also be checked for gaps in the time series and / or implausible values. A gap in the time series could, for example, indicate a defect or failure of at least part of the sensor system 4 or another component of the heating system 1. A check for implausible values ​​can be carried out based on statistical evaluations of the value ranges and variances of the recorded operating data and a comparison with data from similar heating systems. If gaps in the time series or implausible values ​​are detected, step e) can be carried out and a corresponding notification can be sent via network 9 to computer 10 and / or the communication device of user 7 or the service company 8.

[0049] In block 120 according to step b), the times of refilling processes of the heat transfer fluid circuit 2 of the heating system 1 can be determined based on the time series of operating data recorded in step a), for example based on a pressure in the heat transfer fluid circuit 2 recorded in step a), whereby a sudden increase could indicate a refilling process.

[0050] As part of step b), the determined times of the refilling processes could also be checked for anomalies, whereby short intervals between refilling processes, for example, could indicate a leak in the heat transfer fluid circuit 2. If anomalies are found in the times of the refilling processes, step e) could be carried out and a corresponding notification could be sent via network 9 to computer 10 and / or the communication device of user 7 and / or the service company 8.

[0051] In block 130 according to step c), a pressure loss rate in the heat transfer fluid circuit 2 can be calculated, in particular based on the filling times determined in step b). Further operating data from the at least one time series recorded in step a) can also be used for the calculation. As part of step c), a check for a critical condition of the heating system 1 can also be carried out, and if necessary, a corresponding notification can be sent via network 9 to computer 10 and / or the communication device of user 7 or the service company 8.

[0052] In block 140, according to step d), a prediction of the time at which a critical pressure will be reached in the heat transfer fluid circuit 2 of the heating system 1 can be generated. A refilling process should therefore take place by the predicted time to avoid a safety shutdown of the heating system 1.

[0053] In block 150 according to step e), a notification can now be output about the time of reaching a critical pressure in the heat transfer fluid circuit 2 of the heating system 1.

[0054] Preferably, the method can be carried out using an incremental analysis of the time series of operating data recorded in step a). Preferably, the determined time for reaching a critical pressure in the heat transfer fluid circuit 2 can be made permanently available for retrieval by a communication device of user 7 and / or service operation 8 via an interface of the communication device 6 or the computer 10 and continuously adjusted during an incremental analysis of the time series recorded in step a).

[0055] The procedure can be carried out on the control unit 6 or, preferably, on the computer 10. When carried out on the computer 10, a data stream containing the time series of operating data recorded in step a) can be continuously transmitted to the computer 10 via the communication device 6 and the network 9.

[0056] The computer 10 can also be configured to carry out the procedure simultaneously for several heating systems 1, preferably of the same or similar type. Advantageously, the operating data, pressure loss rates of the heat transfer fluid circuits 2, etc., are then available to the computer 10 and can be included in the execution of the procedure. Reference symbol list

[0057] 1 Heating system 2 Heat transfer fluid circuit 3 Control and monitoring unit 4 Sensors 5 Heat generator 6 Communication system 7 Users 8 Service department 9 Network 10 Computer

Claims

1. Method for monitoring a heating system (1) with a heat transfer circuit (2), comprising at least the following method steps: a) Recording at least one time series of operating data from the heating system (1) b) Identifying the times of refilling processes of a heat transfer circuit (2) of the heating system (1) from the time series of operating data recorded in step a), d) Determining a point in time for reaching a critical pressure in the heat transfer circuit (2) of the heating system (1), e) Issuing a notification about the time determined in step d) when the critical pressure is reached in the heat transfer circuit (2) of the heating system (1) characterised in that in step a), the time series of operating data comprise a pressure in the heat transfer circuit (2) and operating states of a conveyor device of the heat transfer circuit (2), and in step c), a determination of a pressure loss rate in the heat transfer circuit (2) of the heating system (1) is carried out, taking into account at least the at least one time series of operating data recorded in step a) and the times of refilling processes identified in step b).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one time series of operating data recorded in step a) comprises a flow temperature of the heat transfer circuit (2), a return temperature of the heat transfer circuit (2), stored error messages, system parameters and information on the heating system (1), operating states of the heat generator of the heating system (1), operating data recorded by a sensor system (4) and / or times of failures of the heating system (1) due to insufficient pressure in the heat transfer circuit (2).

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one time series of operating data recorded in step a) is checked at least with regard to gaps in the time series or implausible values.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the refill processes identified in step b) are checked for plausibility and critical conditions.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein data from comparable heating systems (1) are included in steps c) and / or d).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the issuing of a notification in step c) is performed via a network (9).

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method is performed in parallel for multiple heating systems (1).

8. Computer programme configured to perform a method according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Computer programme according to claim 8, wherein the notifications according to step e) are made available for retrieval via an interface.

10. Machine-readable storage medium on which a computer program according to one of claims 8 or 9 is stored.

11. Control and regulation device (3) for a heating system (1), designed to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

12. Heating appliance comprising a control and regulation device (3) according to claim 12.

13. Computer (10) designed to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the computer (10) receives the operating data recorded in step a) via a network (9).