Heating device with two heating units and differentiated control of the heating units

Abstract

A heating device (1) for heating a zone of a building comprising: - an outer casing (2) including a front face (3) and a rear face (4); - a heat exchanger (7) of a heat pump (5) disposed in the outer casing (2); - a first heating unit (11) including a fan (10) configured to allow forced air insufflation through the heat exchanger (7) to heat the air and to supply the heated air into said zone of the building; characterized in that it includes a second heating unit (15) mounted on or in the outer casing (2) and including at least one heating element (22, 23) for heating said zone of the building by radiation and / or convection, a control unit (20) configured to control the switching on and off of the first heating unit (11) and the second heating unit (15) according to predetermined conditions.

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of heating a zone within a building. In particular, the invention relates to a heating device and a method for controlling such a device. Technological background

[0002] To heat a specific area of ​​a building, using a heat pump generally provides significant energy efficiency. In some installations, particularly when a reversible system is required, heat is supplied to the building area by forcing warm air into the system. This air is heated as it passes through a heat exchanger in the heat pump.

[0003] Such a forced insufflation of hot air is nevertheless noisy enough to disturb the hearing comfort of someone present in the area to be heated. This forced ventilation can also cause discomfort for a user positioned in the airflow.

[0004] Documents WO2005 / 031217, US2015 / 090803, EP3367006 and EP2363649 describe multi-energy systems for heating a dwelling.

[0005] There is a need for an energy-efficient heating system that offers improved user comfort. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention addresses this need by providing a heating device for heating an area of ​​a building comprising: an outer envelope comprising a front facade and a rear facade intended to face a wall; a heat exchanger of a heat pump disposed in the outer envelope; a first heating unit comprising said heat pump and a fan configured to allow forced air insufflation through the heat exchanger to heat the air and to blow the heated air into said area of ​​the building; a control unit; characterized in that it includes a second heating unit mounted on or in the outer envelope, the second heating unit comprising at least one heating element configured to heat said area of ​​the building at least by radiation and / or convection, and in that the control unit is configured to control the activation and deactivation of the first heating unit and the second heating unit according to predetermined conditions.

[0007] The invention provides a heating system that allows for differentiated control between a first heating unit using heat from a heat pump and a second heating unit using radiation and / or convection. More specifically, depending on predetermined conditions, it is possible to prioritize either energy efficiency with the first heating unit or comfort with the second heating unit. The first and second heating units are thus controlled in coordination to synergistically achieve an optimal balance between comfort and efficiency.

[0008] Heating the area via the second heating unit makes it possible to limit, for example by reducing the heating power of the first heating unit, or to avoid, by switching off the first heating unit, the disadvantages related to the operation of the first heating unit.

[0009] Predetermined conditions may include a condition on a temperature in the area to be heated, a condition on the presence or absence of a person in the area to be heated and / or a condition related to a program made by a user.

[0010] In a particular embodiment, these predetermined conditions can be hierarchized so as to prioritize certain operating configurations of the device.

[0011] The control unit can be configured, according to these predetermined conditions, to put the device into at least three configurations including: a first configuration in which the first heating unit is activated and the second heating unit is deactivated; a second configuration in which the first heating unit is deactivated and the second heating unit is activated; a third configuration in which the first heating unit is activated and the second heating unit is activated.

[0012] In the second configuration, heat is preferably supplied to the area to be heated without forced air injection. The second heating unit is preferably fanless.

[0013] The control unit can be configured to put the device in the second configuration when a person is present in the area to be heated, and to put the device in the first configuration when no person is present in the area to be heated.

[0014] "Deactivation" refers to the heating unit being switched off or placed in a low-power mode. For example, deactivating the first heating unit might involve stopping the fan or reducing its rotation speed. A reduced or zero rotation speed ensures a comfortable noise level for anyone in the area.

[0015] The presence or absence of a person in the area to be heated can be determined by the status of a presence sensor and / or a programmed presence. "Programmed presence" refers to the fact that information about presence or absence is stored in the control unit's memory. This presence or absence information can be entered into the memory during the device's manufacturing process and / or subsequently by a user via the control unit's interface. This information can correspond to one or more time periods of presence or absence.

[0016] Information about presence or absence can therefore be based on a presumed presence or absence. This information is determined, for example, based on temporal information, such as a date and / or a time range, and / or information about the nature of the area to be heated. For instance, a room might be considered occupied during a nighttime period and unoccupied during a daytime period.

[0017] The device may include at least one sensor providing information on the area of ​​the building to be heated, the control unit being further configured to control the activation and deactivation of the first heating unit and the second unit based on the information provided by said at least one sensor.

[0018] This at least one sensor can be a temperature sensor.

[0019] The control unit can also be configured to put the device into the third condition when the temperature measured by the sensor is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold. Preferably, this condition takes priority over the condition regarding the presence or absence of a person in the area to be heated.

[0020] Said at least one sensor may be a presence sensor for a person in said area of ​​the building.

[0021] The control unit can also be configured to control the activation and deactivation of the first and second heating units based on information about the nature of the area to be heated. This allows the control unit to determine the most suitable heating configuration for the specific area. This determination is preferably combined with other parameters, such as one or more of the predetermined conditions mentioned above.

[0022] The nature of the area to be heated is, for example, one of the following: a living room, a bedroom, a lounge, a dining room, a technical room, etc.

[0023] At least some of the predetermined conditions can be determined by user programming.

[0024] The outer casing corresponds to the housing of the heating device. The outer casing is placed in the building to be heated, preferably in the area to be heated.

[0025] The heat pump of the first heating unit can be monobloc or divided (called "split").

[0026] In the case of a monobloc heat pump, a second heat exchanger and a compressor belonging to the heat pump are located within the outer casing and connected by a refrigerant circuit. The outer casing thus forms a single housing for both the first and second heating units. The entire heating system is located within the building.

[0027] In the case of a split heat pump, the second heat exchanger can be located outside the outer casing and outside the area to be heated. The outer casing then forms a housing for the second heating unit entirely, and only for a portion of the first heating unit. The outer casing is therefore connected to an outdoor unit via the refrigerant circuit.

[0028] The second heating unit can be placed on the front facade of the outer envelope.

[0029] The second heating unit can be electric.

[0030] The invention further relates, in combination with the above, to a method of controlling a heating device as defined above for heating an area of ​​a building, the method comprising activating or deactivating the first heating unit and activating or deactivating the second heating unit according to predetermined conditions.

[0031] Predetermined conditions may include a condition on a temperature in the area to be heated, a condition on the presence or absence of a person in the area to be heated and / or a condition related to a program performed by a user.

[0032] The control unit can be configured to implement a heating sequence. This heating sequence can include a preheating phase and a setpoint attainment phase. Preferably, the preheating phase is carried out by applying the first heating configuration to preheat the area to be heated. The setpoint attainment phase is then carried out by applying the second heating configuration.

[0033] The preheating phase is preferably implemented in advance in a room where a user is expected to be present within a predetermined time interval. The control unit is preferably configured to determine the preheating and setpoint attainment phases based on this predetermined time interval.

[0034] A setpoint maintenance phase can also be implemented by the control unit by applying the second configuration.

[0035] The invention also relates to a heating system comprising at least two heating devices as described above. The heating system may include an overall control unit configured to control the control unit of each of the heating devices.

[0036] Heating devices can be placed in separate areas to be heated, including areas of a different nature.

[0037] The overall control unit is preferably configured to apply a different heating setting to each heating device. For example, one heating device can be placed in the first heating setting and the other in the second heating setting. This differentiation is preferably based on the presence or absence of a user, detected or assumed, in these areas. Brief description of the figures

[0038] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will clearly explain what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. In the attached figure: [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 illustrates a device according to the invention.

[0039] [ Fig. 2 ] There figure 2 illustrates a table showing an example of the operation of a control unit of the device of the figure 1 . Description of method(s) of implementation

[0040] In the following description, identical elements or elements with identical functions bear the same reference sign.

[0041] In the figure, the actual proportions have not always been respected, for the sake of clarity.

[0042] We illustrated on the figure 1 an example of a heating device 1 for an area of ​​a building according to the invention.

[0043] Device 1 includes an outer envelope 2 comprising a front facade 3 and a rear facade 4 intended to be opposite a wall.

[0044] Inside the outer envelope 2, the device 1 includes a heat pump 5, called monobloc, consisting in particular of a compressor 6, a heat exchanger 7, a second heat exchanger 8 connected together by a refrigerant circuit 9.

[0045] A fan 10 is also arranged inside the outer casing 2 and forms, together with the heat pump 5, a first heating unit 11.

[0046] The first heating unit 11 can be symbolized by a dotted area visible on the figure 1 .

[0047] The fan 10 allows air to circulate inside the outer casing 2 between an air inlet 12 and an air outlet 13 by passing through the heat exchanger 7 in order to heat the air.

[0048] Device 1 also includes a second heating unit 15 arranged in this example on the front facade 3 of the outer envelope 2.

[0049] The second heating unit 15 is preferably electric. The second heating unit 15 comprises at least one heating element. This heating element may include a radiant film 23 for heating the building area by thermal radiation and / or a heating element 22 for heating the building area by convection. The heating element 22 may be of the electric backup type.

[0050] Device 1 also includes a control unit 20, configured to control the activation and deactivation of the first heating unit and the second heating unit according to predetermined conditions.

[0051] Predetermined conditions include, for example, a condition on a temperature in the area to be heated, a condition on the presence or absence of a person in the area to be heated and / or a condition related to a program made by a user, as will be detailed later.

[0052] Device 1 may include one or more sensors 21 in data communication with the control unit 20, for example a temperature sensor and a sensor for the presence of a person in the area of ​​the building to be heated.

[0053] An example of a method for controlling device 1 is described below.

[0054] At the start of the process, no one is present in the area to be heated. This information is given to the control unit either by programming (hypothetical absence of presence) or by the presence sensor.

[0055] In this case, device 1 is set by the control unit 20 to an initial configuration in which the first heating unit 11 is activated and the second heating unit 15 is deactivated. This configuration allows for minimal electricity consumption but generates noise due to the noise produced by the fan 10 and the heat pump 5. However, this noise is not a problem at this stage, as no one is present in the room.

[0056] Next, a person is present in the area to be heated. This information is given to the control unit 20 either by programming (hypothetical presence) or by the presence sensor (detected presence).

[0057] In this case, device 1 is put by the control unit 20 into a second configuration in which the first heating unit 11 is deactivated and the second heating unit 15 is activated. This configuration provides good thermal and acoustic comfort but with higher electricity consumption than the first operating configuration.

[0058] Next, the temperature of the area to be heated, as measured by the temperature sensor, falls below a predetermined threshold, for example, 15°C. At this point, regardless of occupancy, the control unit 20 switches the device 1 to a third configuration in which the first heating unit 11 and the second heating unit 15 are activated. This configuration allows for a rapid temperature increase but with significant electricity consumption. The third configuration therefore takes priority over the first and second configurations.

[0059] With reference to the figure 2 An example of the operation of heating device 1 is presented in tabular form. This example of operation includes, for example, pre-programming of the control unit 20 according to this table.

[0060] We consider here an installation comprising at least two heating devices 1 controlled by a control unit 20. A first heating device 1 is located in a first room, here a living room, and a second heating device 1 is located in a second room, here a bedroom.

[0061] In this example, a typical day is divided into six time phases.

[0062] The table shows the operating configuration of the heating devices 1 by the control unit 20 in each of these time phases. In this example, the first column shows the operating configuration in the living room and the second column shows the operating configuration in a bedroom.

[0063] A first phase, 30, corresponds to a time period preceding a user's waking. A user is assumed to be present in the bedroom, while a user is assumed to be absent from the living room. The first heating device, 1, is controlled in the first configuration (called "Thermo"). The second heating device, 1, is controlled in the second configuration (called "Elec"). The objective here is to improve comfort for the user who may be present in the bedroom.

[0064] A second phase 32 corresponds to a user waking up. User presence in the bedroom and / or living room is assumed. The first and second heating devices 1 are controlled in the second configuration (called "Elec"). The objective here is to improve comfort for the user who may be present in the bedroom and / or living room during this time period.

[0065] A third phase 34 corresponds to a time period following the user's wake-up time. The setpoint temperature in these rooms is generally stabilized at a value lower than in the second phase 32. The first and second heating devices 1 are controlled in the first configuration (called "Thermo"). The user's absence is assumed so that an operating configuration prioritizing energy efficiency can be used.

[0066] A fourth phase 36 corresponds to a period of time preceding the user's return home. The setpoint temperature generally increases gradually to a higher temperature. The first and second heating devices 1 are controlled in the first configuration (called "Thermo"). The user's absence is assumed so that an operating configuration prioritizing energy efficiency can be used.

[0067] A fifth phase, 38, corresponds to the user being home in the evening. User presence in the bedroom and / or living room is assumed. The first and second heating devices 1 are controlled in the second configuration (called "Elec"). The objective here is to improve comfort for the user who may be present in the bedroom and / or living room during this time period.

[0068] A sixth phase, 40, corresponds to a nighttime period. A user presence is assumed in the bedroom, while a user absence is assumed in the living room. The first heating device, 1, is controlled in the first configuration (called "Thermo"). The second heating device, 1, is controlled in the second configuration (called "Elec"). The objective here is to improve comfort for the user who may be present in the bedroom.

Claims

1. Heating device (1) for heating a zone of a building comprising: - an outer casing (2) including a front face (3) and a rear face (4) intended to be opposite a wall; - a heat exchanger (7) of a heat pump (5) disposed in the outer casing (2); - a first heating unit (11) including said heat pump (5) and a fan (10) configured to allow forced air supply through the heat exchanger (7) to heat the air and to supply the heated air into said zone of the building; - a control unit (20); characterized in that it includes a second heating unit (15) mounted on or within the outer casing (2), the second heating unit (15) comprising at least one heating element (22, 23) configured to heat said area of ​​the building at least by radiation and / or convection, and in thatThe control unit (20) is configured to control the activation and deactivation of the first heating unit (11) and the second heating unit (15) according to predetermined conditions.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The predetermined conditions include a condition on a temperature in the area to be heated, a condition on the presence or absence of a person in the area to be heated and / or a condition related to a program made by a user.

3. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in thatThe control unit (20) is configured, according to the said predetermined conditions, to put the device (1) into at least three configurations comprising: - a first configuration in which the first heating unit (11) is activated and the second heating unit (15) is deactivated; - a second configuration in which the first heating unit (11) is deactivated and the second heating unit (15) is activated; - a third configuration in which the first heating unit (11) is activated and the second heating unit (15) is activated.

4. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The control unit (20) is configured to put the device (1) in the second configuration when a person is present in the area to be heated, and to put the device (1) in the first configuration when no person is present in the area to be heated.

5. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes at least one sensor (21) of information on the area of ​​the building to be heated, the control unit (20) being further configured to control the activation and deactivation of the first heating unit (11) and the second heating unit (15) according to the information provided by said at least one sensor (21).

6. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one sensor (21) is a temperature sensor.

7. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in combination with claim 3, characterized in that the control unit (20) is further configured to put the device (1) into the third condition when the temperature measured by the sensor (21) is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

8. Device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in thatsaid at least one sensor (21) is a person presence sensor in said area of ​​the building.

9. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the predetermined conditions are determined by user programming.

10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat pump (5) includes a second heat exchanger (8) and a compressor (6), the heat exchanger (7), the second heat exchanger (8) and the compressor (6) being arranged in the outer casing (2) and are connected to each other by a refrigerant circuit (9).

11. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second heating unit (15) is arranged on the front facade (3) of the outer envelope (2).

12. Method of controlling a heating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims for heating an area of ​​a building, the method comprising activating or deactivating the first heating unit (11) and activating or deactivating the second heating unit (15) according to predetermined conditions.

13. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the predetermined conditions include a condition on a temperature in the area to be heated, a condition on the presence or absence of a person in the area to be heated and / or a condition related to programming carried out by a user.

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