Energy technology device

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy-related device (1) for providing thermal energy and / or electrical energy for a residential and / or commercial property (2), wherein at least five sensors (3) measuring the same physical quantity are arranged on the energy-related device (1), and wherein at least one evaluation unit (4) is connected to the at least five sensors (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy-related device for providing thermal energy and / or electrical energy for a residential and / or commercial property. An energy-related device of this type is well known, so no written documentation is required.

[0002] A residential and / or commercial property can be, for example, a single-family home, a semi-detached house, a terraced house, an apartment building or a commercial building such as a bakery, a butcher's shop or even a hall which is used, for example, for the production of industrial goods.

[0003] A residential property can also be a single apartment in an apartment building. A commercial property can also be an office building or an administrative building.

[0004] Energy-related devices can, for example, provide thermal energy in the form of heat for the aforementioned residential and / or commercial properties. Alternatively, energy-related devices can also be designed to cool a residential and / or commercial property, i.e., to extract thermal energy. Furthermore or alternatively, energy-related devices can also provide or store electrical energy for residential and / or commercial properties. For example, an energy-related device can be a heating device; alternatively or additionally, the energy-related device can also be or comprise a device for generating and / or storing electricity.

[0005] With conventional energy-related devices, the problem is how to operate them as efficiently as possible to avoid unnecessarily high energy costs. This means that to reduce energy costs, it is necessary to avoid unnecessarily high loads when operating the energy-related device.

[0006] It is therefore the object of the invention to operate an energy-related device with the highest possible efficiency so that the lowest possible energy losses occur.

[0007] According to the invention, the problem is solved by the features mentioned in patent claim 1. The evaluation unit is therefore an integral component of the energy-related device and enables continuous monitoring of the energy-related device throughout its entire service life.

[0008] Thus, by utilizing the invention, it is possible to record operating parameters of the energy-related device with particular precision and to optimally adapt the control and / or regulation of the energy-related device, i.e., to provide only as much energy as is actually needed for a required heating and / or power output. Thus, the invention makes it possible to reduce energy costs.

[0009] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out below, but are not to be understood as limiting.

[0010] The evaluation unit is advantageously designed to capture, store, and further process data from the sensors. For this purpose, the evaluation unit is connected to the sensors either wired or wirelessly.

[0011] The invention thus enables very precise detection of potential fault patterns in the power system, which could arise, for example, due to wear and tear. This is especially true because the evaluation unit is an integral component of the power device and records, stores, and further processes sensor data throughout its entire service life. This enables early detection of faults or defects, enabling preventive maintenance of the power device and thus preventing failure of the power device. This preventive maintenance is also called predictive maintenance.

[0012] The evaluation unit can save the sensor data in a database, whereby the database can be saved, for example, in the evaluation unit itself. Additionally or alternatively, the database can also be saved from the evaluation unit to an external storage device, such as a server or cloud via an internet connection. Storing the data on a server or cloud is particularly advantageous for further use of the data in the database, for example in an application (app) for a specialist partner, an installer, a manufacturer of the energy-related device and / or an end customer, such as a homeowner. The installer's application can therefore display instructions if a preventative maintenance measure is required based on the data.Or the homeowner's application can indicate measures to be taken if, based on the recorded data, a change in the operating parameters of the energy-related device is possible to save energy while maintaining the same or similar living comfort.

[0013] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the evaluation unit is designed to be connected to a control and / or regulating unit, wherein the control and / or regulating unit is designed to receive input variables for controlling and / or regulating the energy device from the evaluation unit, to further process the input variables in a method, and to output output variables resulting from the method for controlling and / or regulating the energy device. The output variables are then preferably passed to a control and / or regulating unit, which is designed to be connected to the evaluation unit in the form of wireless or wired data communication. The output variables are used by the control and / or regulating unit, which is preferably also an integral part of the energy device, in a known manner as control and / or regulating input variables for the energy device.

[0014] According to a further development of the invention, the sensors are arranged together on a flexible carrier substrate. Advantageously, the carrier substrate also contains an electronic circuit for the sensors in addition to the sensors. Thus, the sensors can be mounted together at a suitable location on the power device in a particularly cost-effective manner, for example, by gluing or magnetically attaching the flexible carrier substrate.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensors are arranged on the carrier substrate in a one-dimensional line or two-dimensionally in a dot matrix. For this purpose, it is advantageous if, in addition to the recorded data from the sensors, the database also contains information about the position of the respective sensor on the energy device. This allows the recorded data to be assigned to a precise position.

[0016] By arranging the sensors on a common flexible carrier substrate, the sensors on the carrier substrate are advantageously arranged on a common surface of a component of the energy device.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least seven, preferably at least ten, and particularly preferably at least twelve sensors are arranged on the energy-related device. Thus, according to the invention, it is possible to arrange at least five, at least seven, at least ten, or at least twelve sensors on a carrier substrate, wherein the carrier substrate is attached to a component of the energy-related device. However, according to the invention, it is also possible to attach multiple carrier substrates with at least five sensors to different components of the energy-related device in order to thus acquire data from different components.

[0018] Within the scope of the invention, the energy-related device can comprise a heat pump and / or a gas and / or oil heating system and / or a heat storage device, such as a buffer storage or drinking water storage system, and / or a photovoltaic system and / or an electrochemical storage device and / or a fuel cell and / or a solar thermal collector and / or a solar-air absorber and / or an ice energy storage device and / or a central or decentralized ventilation system and / or a combined heat and power system, wherein the carrier substrate with the sensors is attached to at least one of the aforementioned components. Furthermore, the carrier substrate can also be attached to a unit for heating and / or cooling a room, for example to a heater or radiator.

[0019] Particularly preferably, the sensors are designed as temperature sensors and / or ultrasonic sensors and / or as vibration sensors and / or as sensors for measuring a gas concentration.

[0020] It has proven beneficial that a component of the energy device, wherein the sensors are arranged on an outer circumference of the component, is designed as a water tank and / or a heat exchanger and / or an electrochemical storage device and / or a fuel cell and / or an inverter and / or a heating line and / or a domestic water line if the sensors are designed as temperature sensors, or that the sensors are arranged on an outer circumference of a refrigerant line in order to detect a gas bubble concentration in the refrigerant and / or cracking of the refrigerant line, or that the sensors are arranged on an outer circumference of a pipe of a secondary circuit if the sensors are designed as ultrasonic sensors, or that the sensors are arranged on and / or in spatial proximity to a compressor and / or a fan if the sensors are designed as vibration sensors,or that the sensors are arranged on a lower side of an inner circumference of a housing of a heat pump - in a designated installation type - if the sensors are designed to measure a gas concentration.

[0021] To further explain the invention, the following two figures are discussed, in which Figure 1 schematically a residential property with an energy-related device, and Figure 2 show a schematic diagram of an energy-related device.

[0022] Figure 1shows a residential and / or commercial property 2 known in the prior art, specifically a residential building or single-family home, on the roof of which a solar thermal collector 8 is arranged, which is connected to the energy-related device 1, which contains a heat pump 10, by means of hydraulic supply and return lines. The hydraulic supply and return lines are also connected to an ice energy storage device 9, which is arranged in the ground next to the residential building. A heat transfer medium circulates in the hydraulic supply and return lines, which can be, for example, water or a water-glycol mixture or a water-salt mixture (brine). For the circulating of the heat transfer medium, the hydraulic supply and return lines are connected to a circulation pump, which can also be arranged outside the energy-related device 1, which is located in the basement in Figure 1.In addition, the hydraulic supply and return lines have at least one actuator in a known manner in order to circulate the heat transfer medium in a targeted manner from the solar thermal collector 8 to the ice energy storage device 9 and / or from the solar thermal collector 8 to the energy device 1 and / or in the opposite direction.

[0023] The energy-related device 1 comprises, in a known manner, a heat pump 10, which is designed to utilize ambient heat, for example, from the solar thermal collector 8 and / or the ice energy storage unit 9, and to use the ambient heat to heat a second heat transfer medium, usually water, in a water storage unit. This is done using a widely known refrigerant circuit. The water storage unit can further comprise heat exchangers that transfer the heat present in the water storage unit to heating and / or domestic water.

[0024] The energy-technical device 1 according to Figure 1is further connected to at least one heating line 11 and to at least one domestic water line 12, wherein the heating line 12 is connected to several components 6 through which heating water flows, which in the present example are shown as radiators for room heating. Alternatively, the components 6 through which heating water flows can also be designed, for example, as an underfloor heating system (not shown). The domestic water line 12 is connected in the present example to a domestic water-discharging component 7, which in Figure 1 is shown as a shower, but it is also known to design a tap or similar as a domestic water-dispensing component 7 connected to the energy-technical device 1.

[0025] Figure 2schematically shows an energy-related device 1 according to the invention, which has an evaluation unit 4 and a control and / or regulating unit 5. The evaluation unit 4 and the control and / or regulating unit 5 can also be formed together in a combined evaluation and regulating unit.

[0026] On a lower side of the energy-related device 1, a plurality of sensors 3 are schematically shown, which are arranged horizontally next to one another on the energy-related device 1. This can be the case, for example, if the sensors 3 are designed to detect a gas concentration. Here, the sensors 3 can be designed, for example, as optical sensors that can detect radiation absorption and / or transmission in the infrared range (IR range) or in the near-infrared range (NIR range) or in the ultraviolet and visible range (UV / Vis range). For this purpose, it is particularly beneficial to also provide a radiation transmitter that emits electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range detected by the sensors 3 and that this electromagnetic radiation is geometrically directed in the direction of the sensors 3.

[0027] If the energy-related device 1 is a heat pump and the sensors 3 are arranged, as shown, in a lower region of the heat pump, preferably on an inner wall of the heat pump housing, and refrigerant, for example propane, escapes through a leak in a refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant sinks to the bottom of the heat pump housing due to its higher specific density compared to air. Thus, the sensors 3 can detect a change in the transmission of relevant wavenumbers of the electromagnetic spectrum, for example in the IR range, in particular in the wavenumber range from 400 cm -1< to 4000 cm -1< (corresponding to a wavelength of 2.5 µm to 25 pm), in particular wavelengths or wavenumbers characteristic of the refrigerant. If a calibration function or a similar means for calibration is stored in the evaluation unit 4, a gas concentration of the refrigerant can be inferred from the intensity of an absorbed wavenumber.Suitable wavenumbers for detection are determined by the refrigerant; relevant bands for CC stretching and bending vibrations and for CH stretching and bending vibrations are well known in the literature.

[0028] Alternatively and / or additionally, the plurality of sensors 3 on the energy device 1 can also be provided at a different location and in a different arrangement (not separately shown), for example on an outer surface of a heat storage device, e.g. a drinking water or heating water storage tank, in a vertical arrangement, so that a vertical temperature distribution in the heat storage device can be recorded using the plurality of sensors 3. For this purpose, it is advantageous to arrange at least five sensors 3, particularly preferably even more sensors 3, vertically on the heat storage device. The more sensors 3 are used, the better the resolution of the temperature distribution in the heat storage device can be recorded. It is particularly advantageous to have seven sensors 3 arranged vertically one above the other on the heat storage device, and very particularly preferably ten sensors 3.The arrangement of a plurality of sensors 3 on the heat storage device enables spatially resolved detection of the temperatures in vertically superimposed layers of the heat storage device, which enables energy-saving regulation or control of the energy-technical system.

[0029] Furthermore, the invention enables a plurality of sensors 3 in the form of temperature sensors to be attached to an electrochemical storage device, a fuel cell, and / or an inverter using the carrier substrate. The arrangement of the sensors 3 on an electrochemical storage device, a fuel cell, and / or an inverter makes it possible to detect excessively high operating temperatures of these electrical or electronic components at an early stage and to adjust the regulation and / or control of the energy-related device accordingly.

[0030] Furthermore, the invention makes it possible to arrange the sensors 3 on a heat exchanger of a refrigerant circuit of the heat pump 10. This can be, for example, a finned heat exchanger (evaporator) of an outdoor unit of an air-to-water heat pump, such as those manufactured and sold by the applicant, among others. Thus, at least five, preferably at least ten, particularly advantageously at least 20 sensors 3 can be provided in a two-dimensional grid on the flexible carrier substrate, wherein the sensors 3 are attached by means of the carrier substrate, for example, to the finned heat exchanger in such a way that a two-dimensional temperature profile can be recorded directly on the finned heat exchanger. This is particularly interesting in order to be able to geometrically predict and / or track a frost condition on the finned heat exchanger.

[0031] Alternatively, the heat exchanger can also be a condenser, e.g., in the form of a plate heat exchanger or a heat pump. For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous to arrange the sensors 3 two-dimensionally on an outer surface of the plate heat exchanger; however, it is also possible to arrange the sensors 3 on an inner surface of the plate heat exchanger, even on an internal plate. This makes it possible, for example, to detect that individual channels between plates of the plate heat exchanger may be blocked if there is an uneven temperature distribution across the plate heat exchanger. Maintenance measures may also be required here.

[0032] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is possible to attach the sensors 3 to the heating line 11 and / or the domestic water line 12. Thus, sensors 3 arranged linearly along the heating line 11 or the domestic water line 12 in the form of temperature sensors can provide information about whether a temperature change, in particular a temperature drop, is occurring along the respective line, which could indicate inadequate insulation or a leak in the heating line 11 or the domestic water line 12. This also allows maintenance measures to be initiated. On the other hand, an effective flow and / or return temperature can also be determined, which in turn can be used as an input variable for the control and / or regulation of the energy-related device.Furthermore, a carrier substrate with the sensors 3 can be arranged on the heating line 11 and / or the domestic water line 12, wherein the sensors 3 are designed as ultrasonic sensors. This allows, for example, (emerging) cracks in the respective lines to be detected early, advantageously before a leak of heating water and / or domestic water occurs, and a maintenance measure can be initiated in the sense of predictive maintenance. Advantages

[0033] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensors 3 are arranged on an outer circumference of a refrigerant line to detect a gas bubble concentration in the refrigerant and / or crack formation in the refrigerant line when the sensors 3 are designed as ultrasonic sensors. The refrigerant line is an integral component of the refrigerant circuit of a heat pump and / or an air conditioning system. Such a method for determining gas bubbles in the refrigerant is known, for example, from EP 3 376 139 B1.

[0034] For example, at a suitable position in the refrigerant line, it can be determined whether the refrigerant has completely condensed, such as after a condenser or condenser in the refrigerant circuit. The condenser in a heat pump is usually designed as a plate heat exchanger, but can also be a finned heat exchanger in a reversing refrigerant circuit. This allows the heat pump's control system to be specifically adjusted so that condensation is just completed, thus achieving an optimal energy balance for the compressor without unnecessarily consuming excessive electrical energy.

[0035] It is also possible to detect a leak in the refrigerant line, which can be detected by air bubbles entering.

[0036] If sensors 3 are configured as temperature sensors, a vertical temperature profile can also be determined on a refrigerant line to detect an operating state of the heat pump, such as a maximum load controlled by a maximum temperature at various positions. This makes it conceivable to initiate a targeted wet steam injection.

[0037] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensors 3 are arranged on and / or in spatial proximity to a compressor and / or a fan if the sensors 3 are designed as vibration sensors.

[0038] Because a plurality of sensors 3 detect vibration at multiple locations on a surface, bearing damage can be specifically predicted; alternatively, a so-called liquid hammer can be detected, which occurs when the refrigerant has not been completely liquefied.

[0039] In a further embodiment of the invention, the sensors 3 can be designed as vibration sensors for detecting ice on a fan blade and can send data via telemetry, for example. If the blade ices over, the natural vibration behavior of a fan rotor changes due to the ice buildup caused by additional weight. This reduces the frequency of an oscillation of the fan rotor. In this way, the onset of icing can be detected and a defrosting process can be started. Of course, other possibilities for detecting changes in vibration patterns are conceivable, which can be monitored for predictive maintenance, i.e., any necessary maintenance. List of reference symbols

[0040] 1Energy-related device 2Residential and / or commercial property 3Sensor 4Evaluation unit 5Control and / or regulation unit 6Component through which heating water flows 7Component that supplies domestic hot water 8Solar thermal collector 9Ice energy storage unit 10Heat pump 11Heating pipe 12Domestic hot water pipe

Claims

1. An energy device (1) for providing thermal energy and / or electrical energy for a residential and / or commercial property (2), wherein at least five sensors (3) measuring the same physical quantity are arranged on the energy device (1), and wherein at least one evaluation unit (4) is connected to the at least five sensors (3), wherein the sensors (3) are configured as temperature sensors and / or ultrasonic sensors and / or vibration sensors and / or sensors for measuring a gas concentration, wherein - a component of the energy device (1), wherein the sensors (3) are arranged on an outer circumference of the component, is configured as a heat exchanger and / or a fuel cell and / or an inverter and / or a heating line (11) and / or a domestic water line (12), if the sensors (3) are configured as temperature sensors,or - the sensors (3) are arranged on an outer circumference of a refrigerant line in order to detect a gas bubble concentration in the refrigerant, or - the sensors (3) are arranged on an outer circumference of a pipe of a secondary circuit if the sensors (3) are designed as ultrasonic sensors, or - the sensors (3) are arranged on and / or in the spatial vicinity of a fan if the sensors (3) are designed as vibration sensors, or - the sensors (3) are arranged on a lower side of an inner circumference of a housing of a heat pump (10) - in a designated installation type - if the sensors (3) are designed to measure a gas concentration.

2. Energy-technical device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the evaluation unit (4) is designed to record, store and further process data from the sensors (3).

3. Energy-technical device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the evaluation unit (4) is designed to be connected to a control and / or regulating unit (5), wherein the control and / or regulating unit (5) is designed to receive input variables for a control and / or regulating of the energy-technical device from the evaluation unit (4), to further process the input variables in a method and to output output variables resulting from the method for a control and / or regulating of the energy-technical device (1).

4. Energy-technical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sensors (3) are arranged together on a flexible carrier substrate.

5. Energy-technical device (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the carrier substrate is designed to have, in addition to the sensors (3), an electronic circuit of the sensors (3).

6. Energy-technical device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the sensors (3) are arranged on the carrier substrate one-dimensionally in a line or two-dimensionally in a dot matrix.

7. Energy-technical device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by that the sensors (3) are arranged on the carrier substrate on a common surface of a component of the energy device (1).

8. Energy-technical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least seven, preferably at least ten, particularly preferably at least twelve sensors (3) are arranged on the energy device (1).

9. Energy-technical device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by thatthe energy-technical device (1) comprises a heat pump (10) and / or a gas and / or oil heating system and / or a heat storage device and / or a photovoltaic system and / or an electrochemical storage device and / or a fuel cell and / or a solar thermal collector (8) and / or a solar-air absorber and / or an ice energy storage device (9) and / or a central or decentralized ventilation system and / or a combined heat and power system.

10. Energy-technical device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by - that a component of the energy device (1), wherein the sensors (3) are arranged on an outer circumference of the component, is designed as a water tank and / or an electrochemical storage device if the sensors (3) are designed as temperature sensors, or - that the sensors (3) are arranged on an outer circumference of a refrigerant line to detect cracking of the refrigerant line, or - thatthe sensors (3) are arranged on and / or in spatial proximity to a compressor if the sensors (3) are designed as vibration sensors.

Images