Flush mounted heat pump control device and arrangement with a heat pump and method of start-up of such an arrangement

Abstract

A flush-mounted heat pump control device UP is presented for installation in an installation box D, comprising a housing G and further comprising at least one connection means to a power supply L, at least one connection means to a control unit SE and at least two connection means for heat pump control lines WP1, WP2, wherein the heat pump control lines WP1, WP2 are connected to a heat pump WP, wherein the control of the operating state of the heat pump WP depends on the signals which the flush-mounted heat pump control device UP sends to the heat pump control lines WP1, WP2.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a flush-mounted heat pump control device for installation in an installation box, comprising a housing and further comprising at least one connection means to a power supply, at least one connection means to a control unit and at least two connection means for heat pump control lines, wherein the heat pump control lines are connected to a heat pump, wherein the control of the operating state of the heat pump depends on the signals which the flush-mounted heat pump control device sends to the heat pump control lines.

[0002] The invention also relates to an arrangement comprising a flush-mounted heat pump control device and a heat pump.

[0003] The invention further relates to a method for commissioning such an arrangement.

[0004] Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular, particularly due to their low running costs and their good CO2 balance (compared to oil and gas heating systems), especially when used in conjunction with a PV system.

[0005] Recently, aspects such as grid serviceability and load management in connection with the operation of the heat pump have become increasingly relevant, especially in order to increase self-consumption in conjunction with a PV system.

[0006] However, the problem with state-of-the-art heat pump control solutions is that heat pumps are often controlled via complex logic units, particularly those implemented via a building's space-consuming load management systems, which also require a central interface to the grid supplier. This is relatively complex, space-consuming, and costly to install.

[0007] Based on this discussed prior art, the object of the invention is to create a solution that minimizes installation effort and installation space and enables the control of a heat pump in a particularly simple manner, in particular without complex logic units and load management systems of a building.

[0008] This object is achieved by a flush-mounted heat pump control device for installation in an installation box comprising a housing and further comprising at least one connection means to a power supply, at least one connection means to a control unit and at least two connection means for heat pump control lines, wherein the heat pump control lines are connected to a heat pump, wherein the control of the operating state of the heat pump depends on the signals which the flush-mounted heat pump control device sends to the heat pump control lines.

[0009] In contrast to existing load management systems, a flush-mounted heat pump control unit is unusually proposed to enable installation in an installation box. This advantageously saves installation space and enables a virtually invisible installation, since the invention involves a flush-mounted installation in an installation box. However, the advantage of the flush-mounted heat pump control unit according to the invention goes far beyond the installation space requirements and the lack of visibility: Rather, the flush-mounted heat pump control unit according to the invention does not require any complex logic units and / or load management systems of a building, but in the simplest case, requires only one connection to a power supply, one connection to a control unit, and two connections for heat pump control lines.Preferably, only four cables need to be connected to the inventive flush-mounted heat pump control unit, for example, via screw terminals. This substantially reduces installation hurdles and costs.

[0010] According to an exceptionally preferred development of the inventive flush-mounted heat pump control device, the control unit is connected to a KNX system. This offers the enormous advantage that an existing KNX system in the building can be used to control the heat pump. This applies both to data traffic via the control lines via KNX and to the flush-mounted installation via KNX lines already running in the wall. This effectively avoids the need for a connection to a load management system that is usually non-standardized and often not even present. The KNX user interface can also be used to visualize the operating status of the heat pump, thus avoiding the need for another separate interface / app.This provides the user of the KNX system with the decisive advantage of being able to manage the heat pump's operating mode in a convenient and uniform manner via their familiar KNX user interface, without having to set up a multitude of additional user interfaces / apps or load management systems with complex logic.

[0011] According to an alternative development of the flush-mounted heat pump control device according to the invention, the control unit is connected to a ZigBee or Matter network.

[0012] In a further preferred embodiment of the inventive flush-mounted heat pump control device, the control unit is connected to a building installation switching device, in particular a switch or push-button, with an actuating element. This enables on-site operation to influence the heat pump—in contrast to remote operation via an app—which is not only particularly simple and intuitive, but also functions even in the event of an internet outage or requires no internet connection at all between the heat pump and a terminal device.

[0013] According to a further development of the concealed heat pump control device according to the invention, the control unit is connected (only magnetically) to a switching device of the building installation technology, in particular a switch or push-button, in such a way that the actuating element has a magnet that changes its position upon local actuation, so that a magnetic field sensor arranged in the concealed heat pump control device detects the change in the magnetic field and transmits it as a signal to the heat pump control lines. This minimizes the installation effort of the concealed heat pump control device, since no cabling is required between the concealed heat pump control device and the switching device, yet reliable and simple local actuation of the heat pump is still possible. For this purpose, the actuating element can be provided with a magnet, for example, glued to the back.

[0014] In the embodiments described above, wherein the heat pump is operated via a switching device (electrical or magnetic), this preferably has a display unit for the set operating mode, for example a display or a lighting unit.

[0015] According to a further development of the inventive flush-mounted heat pump control unit, the flush-mounted heat pump control unit has an interface via which an inverter can be connected. This allows, for example, the solar yield of a PV system to be incorporated into the control of the heat pump. Preferably, the current direction at the inverter is detected inductively using (particularly cost-effective) inductive current direction detection elements, whereby the current direction is used as an indicator of whether feed-in is taking place, i.e., whether there is a PV surplus.

[0016] In a further development of the concealed heat pump control device according to the invention, the housing of the concealed heat pump control device has a volume of less than 100 cm3.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention relates to an arrangement comprising an adapter and a flush-mounted heat pump control unit according to the invention, wherein the adapter is designed to enable the flush-mounted heat pump control unit to be installed as a series-mounted device. This allows for a series-mounted device solution to be implemented, for example, if a flush-mounted installation is not possible due to concrete walls in the basement.

[0018] Furthermore, the invention relates to an arrangement comprising a concealed heat pump control device according to the invention and a heat pump connected to the concealed heat pump control device via the heat pump control lines. This achieves the same advantages as the concealed heat pump control device according to the invention.

[0019] According to a preferred development of the arrangement according to the invention, the operating states of the heat pump initiated by the flush-mounted heat pump control device comprise four operating states, wherein a first operating state corresponds to the temporarily partially switched off state of the heat pump, a second operating state corresponds to the normal operation of the heat pump, a third operating state corresponds to the recommended, increased operation of the heat pump and a fourth operating state corresponds to the switched on state of the heat pump, in particular also with a higher target temperature and / or heating element use.

[0020] The invention is described below with reference to various exemplary embodiments and the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1:a schematic representation of an arrangement according to the invention, comprising a switching device having an actuating element, a flush-mounted heat pump control device, an installation box and a heat pump, wherein the heat pump is controlled via the actuation of the switching device, Fig. 2: a schematic representation of an arrangement according to the invention, comprising a flush-mounted heat pump control device covered by a blanking plate and installed in an installation box, and a heat pump, wherein the heat pump is controlled via KNX, Fig. 3: a schematic representation of an arrangement according to the invention, comprising a switching device having an actuating element with a magnet, a flush-mounted heat pump control device, an installation box and a heat pump, wherein the control of the heat pump is carried out via the actuation of the switching device, which is magnetically detected, and Fig. 4:a schematic representation of an arrangement according to the invention, comprising an adapter and a flush-mounted heat pump control device, wherein the adapter is designed such that it makes the flush-mounted heat pump control device installable as a series-mounted device.

[0021] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols and are therefore usually named or mentioned only once.

[0022] The Figure 1The schematically illustrated arrangement according to the invention comprises a switching device S having an actuating element B, a flush-mounted heat pump control device UP, an installation box D and a heat pump WP, wherein the control of the heat pump WP takes place via the actuation of the switching device S. For this purpose, the flush-mounted heat pump control device UP for installation in the installation box D comprises a housing G and furthermore at least one connection means to a power supply L, at least one connection means to a control unit SE and at least two connection means for heat pump control lines WP1, WP2, wherein the heat pump control lines are connected to a heat pump WP, wherein the control of the operating state of the heat pump WP depends on the signals which the flush-mounted heat pump control device UP sends to the heat pump control lines.The connection means for the heat pump control lines WP1, WP2 can preferably be designed as an SG-Ready interface SG. Such an arrangement according to the invention creates a simple solution for influencing the operating state of the heat pump WP by means of on-site operation, without the user having to install unsightly, space-consuming, and complex load management systems with their own logic units. In this respect, the hurdle to influencing the operating state of the heat pump WP is advantageously significantly reduced in terms of infrastructure, aesthetics, cost, and the time required by the user (no logging into an app on a device is required).

[0023] The Figure 2The schematically illustrated arrangement according to the invention comprises a flush-mounted heat pump control unit UP, covered by a blanking plate BP and installed in an installation box D, and a heat pump WP, wherein the heat pump WP is controlled via KNX. For this purpose, the control unit SE is connected to a KNX system KNX. This offers the enormous advantage that an existing KNX system in the building can be used to control the heat pump WP. This applies both to data traffic via the control lines via KNX and to the flush-mounted installation via KNX lines that already run in the wall. A connection to a load management system, which is usually not standardized, is thus effectively avoided. The KNX user interface can also be used to visualize the operating status of the heat pump WP, thus avoiding the need for a further separate interface / app.This provides users of the KNX system with the decisive advantage of being able to manage the operating mode of the heat pump in a convenient and consistent manner using their familiar, existing KNX user interface, without having to configure a multitude of additional user interfaces / apps. A combination of the different versions is possible. Figure 1 and Figure 2 expressly not excluded, so that both on-site operation of the switching device with actuating element B and operation via the KNX system KNX to influence the operating states of the heat pump WP is possible.

[0024] The Figure 3The schematically illustrated arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that in the case of the flush-mounted heat pump control device UP, the control unit SE is connected to a switching device of the building installation technology, in particular a switch or button, in such a way that the actuating element B has a magnet M which changes its position when actuated, so that a magnetic field sensor H arranged in the flush-mounted heat pump control device UP as part of the control unit SE detects the change in the magnetic field and sends it as a signal to the heat pump control lines WP1, WP2.

[0025] The Figure 4The schematically illustrated arrangement according to the invention comprises an adapter A and a flush-mounted heat pump control device UP, wherein the adapter A is designed in such a way that it makes the flush-mounted heat pump control device UP also installable as a series-mounted device in a meter cabinet Z, for example if installation in a concrete cellar is desired and no masonry wall is available. List of reference symbols

[0026] AAdapter BBactuator BPBlanking plate DInstallation box GGhousing HSensor KNXKNX system LPower supply MMagnet SSwitching device SEControl unit SGSG-Ready interface WP1, WP2Heat pump control cable WPHeat pump UPConcealed heat pump control unit ZMeter cabinet

Claims

1. Flush-mounted heat pump control device (UP) for installation in an installation box (D), comprising a housing (G) and further comprising at least one connection means to a power supply (L), at least one connection means to a control unit (SE) and at least two connection means for heat pump control lines (WP1, WP2), wherein the heat pump control lines (WP1, WP2) are connected to a heat pump (WP), wherein the control of the operating state of the heat pump (WP) depends on the signals which the flush-mounted heat pump control device (UP) sends to the heat pump control lines (WP1, WP2).

2. Flush-mounted heat pump control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (SE) is connected to a KNX system.

3. Flush-mounted heat pump control device according to claim 1 to 2, characterized in thatthe control unit (SE) is connected to a switching device (S) of the building installation technology, in particular a switch or push-button, with an actuating element (B).

4. Flush-mounted heat pump control device according to claim 1 to 2, characterized in that the control unit (SE) is connected to a switching device (S) of the building installation technology, in particular a switch or button, in such a way that the actuating element (B) has a magnet (M) which changes its position when actuated, so that a magnetic field sensor (H) arranged in the flush-mounted heat pump control device (UP) as part of the control unit (SE) detects the change in the magnetic field and sends it as a signal to the heat pump control lines (WP1, WP2).

5. Flush-mounted heat pump control device according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the housing (G) of the flush-mounted heat pump control unit (UP) has a volume of less than 100 cm 3 has.

6. Flush-mounted heat pump control device according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the flush-mounted heat pump control unit (UP) has an interface via which an inverter can be connected.

7. Flush-mounted heat pump control device according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the flush-mounted heat pump control unit (UP) has screw terminals.

8. Arrangement comprising an adapter (A) and a flush-mounted heat pump control device (UP) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the adapter (A) is designed in such a way that it enables the flush-mounted heat pump control unit (UP) to be installed as a series-mounted device.

9. Arrangement comprising a flush-mounted heat pump control device (UP) according to one of claims 1 to 7 and a heat pump (WP) connected to the flush-mounted heat pump control device (UP) via the heat pump control lines (WP1, WP2).

10. Arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in thatthe operating states of the heat pump (WP) initiated by the flush-mounted heat pump control device (UP) comprise four operating states, wherein a first operating state corresponds to the temporarily partially switched off state of the heat pump (WP), a second operating state corresponds to the normal operation of the heat pump (WP), a third operating state corresponds to the recommended, increased operation of the heat pump (WP) and a fourth operating state corresponds to the switched on state of the heat pump (WP), in particular also with a higher target temperature and / or heating element use.

11. Method for commissioning an arrangement according to one of claims 8 to 10, comprising the steps of: - connecting the flush-mounted heat pump control device (UP) to the energy supply (L), - connecting the flush-mounted heat pump control device (UP) to a control unit (SE), - connecting the flush-mounted heat pump control device (UP) to the heat pump control lines (WP1, WP2) connected to the heat pump (WP).

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