System and method for regulating a swimming pool, such as a swimming pool or a spa

Abstract

System and method for regulating a swimming pool, such as a swimming pool or a spa The regulation system comprises a temperature sensor (140) which measures a current temperature (Tc) of the water (2), a generator (130) of renewable electricity, pool equipment (110) including a heat pump (111) with adjustable electrical power, electrical measuring devices (141, 142) which determine powers (P1, P2) corresponding respectively to the power produced by the generator and to the power consumed by the heat pump, and a control system (120) adapted to adjust the power consumed by the heat pump and to operate the pool equipment selectively in a hybrid mode, where a collective network (6) and the generator supply power, and in a renewable mode, where the generator supplies power without the pool equipment being supplied by the collective network, by sending any surplus to a domestic network (7).The control system is configured to control the pool equipment based on the current temperature and power. Figure for abstract: 1.

Description

Title of the invention: System and method for regulating a swimming pool, such as a swimming pool or a spa

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for regulating a swimming pool, such as a swimming pool or a spa. It also relates to a method for regulating a swimming pool.

[0002] To heat the water in a swimming pool, particularly an individual swimming pool, it is becoming increasingly common to use a heat pump, typically an air-water heat pump which heats the water in the swimming pool directly by transferring heat from the air to it. In practice, the heat pump is electrically connected to a collective network from which it draws the electrical power it consumes during its operation, particularly to heat the water. The heat pump is usually regulated according to the current temperature of the water in the swimming pool: for example, as soon as this current temperature is below a set temperature, the heat pump is activated in order to heat the water, and as soon as the current temperature rises above the set temperature, the heat pump is deactivated in order to no longer heat the water.This approach is satisfactory for the thermal comfort of the swimming pool user, but induces substantial energy consumption from the collective network and therefore high operating costs, as well as a significant carbon footprint since the electricity from the collective network is not decarbonized.

[0003] To improve this situation, it is now proposed on the market to combine the heat pump with an individual generator of renewable electricity, typically solar panels, for example installed on the roof of a pool house adjoining the swimming pool or installed on the ground near the swimming pool. The user can then practice self-consumption of electricity, that is to say have the heat pump consume the power produced by this generator, replacing at least part, or even all, of the power drawn from the collective network.This solution presents a real advantage in terms of cost and carbon footprint, but remains subject to certain constraints, in particular the fluctuations or even intermittency of the production of electricity by the generator, for example in relation to sunshine, which is of course intermittent due to the alternation of day / night, but also fluctuates due to changing weather conditions.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is to propose a new system and a new method for regulating a swimming pool, which reconcile low-carbon economic and energy performance with thermal comfort for the user of the pool. swimming pool.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a system for regulating a swimming pool, which system comprises:

[0006] - a temperature sensor, which measures a current temperature corresponding to the temperature of water contained in a swimming pool,

[0007] - an individual generator, which is adapted to produce renewable electricity,

[0008] - a first electrical measuring device, which is adapted to determine a first power corresponding to the electrical power produced by the generator,

[0009] - a pool equipment, including a heat pump, which is at power modular electric which is suitable for heating water,

[0010] - a second electrical measuring device, which is adapted to determine a second power corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the heat pump,

[0011] - in the case where the pool equipment includes one or more materials, other than the heat pump, a third electrical measuring device which is adapted to determine a third power corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the equipment(s), this third power being considered zero in the case where the pool equipment includes only the heat pump, and

[0012] - a control system, which is adapted to regulate the power consumed by the heat pump when the heat pump heats the water, as well as to operate the pool equipment selectively:

[0013] - in a hybrid mode, in which the control system powers the pool equipment jointly by a collective network and by the generator, by having the pool equipment consume all of the power produced by the generator, and

[0014] - in a renewable mode, in which the control system supplies power the pool equipment by the generator without the pool equipment being powered by the collective network, by sending to a domestic network any excess between the power produced by the generator and the power consumed by the pool equipment,

[0015] and wherein the control system is configured to, repeatedly at successive times during an established operating regime of the control system, control the pool equipment at each of said times from the current temperature and the first, second and third powers, each of this current temperature and these first, second and third powers being either measured at the time in question or averaged over a predetermined time interval ending at the time in question, so that:

[0016] - when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and less than or equal to the sum of the second and third powers and (ii) the current temperature is lower than a predetermined minimum temperature, the control system operates the pool equipment in hybrid mode and controls the heat pump to heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a maximum nominal value, as long as the current temperature does not become higher than the minimum temperature,

[0017] - when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and less than or equal to the sum of the powers and (ii) the current temperature is higher than the minimum temperature, the control system operates the pool equipment in renewable mode and controls the heat pump to selectively:

[0018] - heat the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a first value determined by the control system, which is equal to or less than the difference between the first power and the third power, and

[0019] - do not heat the water,

[0020] - when (i) the first power is greater than the sum of the second and third powers and (ii) the current temperature is above a predetermined maximum temperature, which is above the minimum temperature, the control system operates the pool equipment in renewable mode and controls the heat pump not to heat the water, and

[0021] - when (i) the first power is greater than the sum of the second and third powers and (ii) the current temperature is lower than the maximum temperature, the control system operates the pool equipment in renewable mode and controls the heat pump to heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a second value determined by the control system, which is equal to or lower than the difference between the first power and the third power.

[0022] The invention also relates to a method for regulating a swimming pool, in which there is provided:

[0023] - a temperature sensor, which measures a current temperature corresponding to the temperature of water contained in a swimming pool,

[0024] - of an individual generator, which is adapted to produce electricity re new,

[0025] - a first electrical measuring device, which is adapted to determine a first power corresponding to the electrical power produced by the generator,

[0026] - of a pool equipment, including a heat pump, which is at power modular electric which is suitable for heating water,

[0027] - a second electrical measuring device, which is adapted to determine a second power corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the heat pump, and

[0028] - in the case where the pool equipment includes one or more materials, other than the heat pump, of a third electrical measuring device which is adapted to determine a third power corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the equipment(s), this third power being considered zero in the case where the pool equipment includes only the heat pump,

[0029] in which the pond equipment is operated selectively:

[0030] - in a hybrid mode, in which the pool equipment is powered jointly by a collective network and by the generator, by having the pool equipment consume all of the power produced by the generator, and

[0031] - in a renewable mode, in which the pool equipment is powered by the generator without the pool equipment being powered by the collective network, by sending to a domestic network any excess between the power produced by the generator and the power consumed by the pool equipment,

[0032] and in which, repeatedly at successive times during an established operating regime, the pool equipment is controlled at each of said times from the current temperature and the first, second and third powers, each of this current temperature and these first, second and third powers being either measured at the time in question, or averaged over a predetermined time interval ending at the time in question, so that:

[0033] - when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and less than or equal to the sum of the second and third powers and (ii) the current temperature is lower than a predetermined minimum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in hybrid mode and the heat pump is controlled to heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a maximum nominal value, as long as the current temperature does not become higher than the minimum temperature,

[0034] - when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and less than or equal to the sum of the powers and (ii) the current temperature is higher than the minimum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled to selectively:

[0035] - heat the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a first value which is equal to or less than the difference between the first power and the third power, and

[0036] - do not heat the water,

[0037] - when (i) the first power is greater than the sum of the second and third powers and (ii) the current temperature is greater than a temperature predetermined maximum temperature, which is higher than the minimum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled so as not to heat the water, and

[0038] - when (i) the first power is greater than the sum of the second and third powers and (ii) the current temperature is lower than the maximum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled to heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a second value which is equal to or lower than the difference between the first power and the third power.

[0039] One of the ideas underlying the invention is to combine, for the purposes of regulating a swimming pool, an individual generator of renewable electricity, in particular a solar and / or wind generator, and pool equipment including a heat pump which has adjustable electrical power. Such a heat pump is commonly referred to in the field as an "inverter" heat pump, as explained in more detail below.The invention takes advantage of the fact that the power consumed by this heat pump is adjustable, to regulate in real time, that is to say with a predetermined operating frequency of a few seconds or minutes, the operation of the pool equipment as a function, not only of the current temperature of the water in the swimming pool, but also of instantaneous and / or averaged measurements of several electrical powers, namely the power produced by the generator and the power consumed by the heat pump, as well as, when the pool equipment includes one or more equipment other than the heat pump, the power consumed by this or these equipments.Thus, as explained in more detail below, when the power produced by the generator is “low”, in particular with respect to the needs of the swimming equipment, and the current water temperature is “too low”, in particular with respect to the comfort level desired by the user, the pool equipment operates in a hybrid mode, where the pool equipment is powered jointly by the collective network and the generator, consuming all of the power, if any, produced by the generator, and the heat pump is controlled to heat the water by bringing its consumed power “to maximum”, and this until the current water temperature rises sufficiently, typically to a comfort level acceptable to the user.Conversely, and as also explained in more detail below, when the power produced by the generator is “high”, in particular compared to the needs of the pool equipment, the pool equipment operates in a renewable mode, where the pool equipment is powered by the generator without being powered by the collective network, and the heat pump is controlled to, depending on the current water temperature, either heat the water, . by modifying the power consumed by the heat pump to what is actually available, or not heating the water, while providing, in all cases, that any excess between the power produced by the generator and the power consumed by the pool equipment is sent to a domestic network, typically an individual electrical network of the home of the user of the swimming pool, in particular to supply electrical appliances constituting loads of this domestic network.It is thus possible to "overheat" the water without consuming power drawn from the collective network, which amounts to using the water in the swimming pool as a means of storing heat, this heat thus stored subsequently making it possible, despite a subsequent progressive cooling of the water, for example due to the drop or even the cessation of electricity production by the generator, to maintain the water in the swimming pool "for a long time" at a level of comfort acceptable to the user. Furthermore, when the power produced by the generator is "low" but the current water temperature is not "too low", the pool equipment also operates in renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled to either heat the water or not heat the water, in particular depending on the current temperature and whether the pool equipment includes one or more equipment other than the heat pump, as detailed below.

[0040] In all cases, the system and method according to the invention make it possible to make maximum use of the power produced by the renewable electricity generator, by providing, in the renewable mode, to modulate over time the power consumed by the heat pump, to adapt in real time to the actual production of the generator and to the current temperature of the water. The system and method according to the invention thus make it possible to maximize decarbonized self-consumption, while guaranteeing control of the thermal comfort of the user of the swimming pool.

[0041] According to additional advantageous characteristics of the system and / or method in accordance with the invention, taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations:

[0042] - Said first value and / or said second value are equal to the difference between the first power and the third power.

[0043] - The control system is configured to, at each of said instants, control the pond equipment also so that:

[0044] - when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and equal to the sum of the second and third powers and (ii) the current temperature is both higher than the minimum temperature and lower than the maximum temperature, the control system controls the heat pump to heat the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to said first value, and

[0045] - when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and equal to the sum of the second and third powers and (ii) the current temperature is higher than the maximum temperature, the control system commands the heat pump not to heat the water.

[0046] - The control system is configured to, at each of said instants, control the pond equipment also so that:

[0047] - when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and less than the sum of the second and third powers and (ii) the current temperature is both greater than the minimum temperature and less than a predetermined intermediate temperature, which is between the minimum temperature and the maximum temperature, the control system controls the heat pump to heat the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to said first value, and

[0048] - when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and less than the sum of the second and third powers and (ii) the current temperature is greater than the intermediate temperature, the control system controls the heat pump to selectively:

[0049] - heating the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to said first value, and

[0050] - do not heat the water.

[0051] - The maximum temperature and the minimum temperature are calculated by the system control from a set temperature, which is entered in the control system and which is between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature.

[0052] - The intermediate temperature is equal to the set temperature.

[0053] - The pool equipment includes only the heat pump.

[0054] - The pool equipment includes, as equipment other than the heat pump, a filtration pump and / or a water treatment device.

[0055] - The control system is configured to, at least some of said times, order pond equipment also from a weather forecast.

[0056] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the drawings in which: - [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a diagram of a first embodiment of a system for regulating a swimming pool; - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a flowchart of a regulation process implemented by the regulation system of [Fig.l]; - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a view similar to [Fig.l], illustrating a second mode of realization of a system for regulating the swimming pool; and - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a view similar to [Fig.2], illustrating a flowchart of a regulation process implemented by the regulation system of [Fig.3].

[0057] In [Fig. 1] is shown a bathing installation comprising a bathing pool 1, individual or collective, for example an individual swimming pool. The bathing pool 1 contains water 2 in which one or more users of the bathing pool 1 can bathe. The specificities of the bathing pool 1 are not limiting, this bathing pool being able for example to be buried, semi-buried or above ground.

[0058] In the example considered in [Fig.l], the swimming installation also comprises a filtration pump 3, which makes it possible to suck the water 2 from the swimming pool 1 and to pass it through a filter integrated into the filtration pump 3 before returning this water to the swimming pool 1. The swimming installation of [Fig.l] also comprises a water treatment device 4, which makes it possible to automatically control and correct the quality of the water 2, typically by electrolysis and / or mixing with chemical agents and / or etc. The filtration pump 3 and the water treatment device 4 are here installed in a pool house 5 adjoining the swimming pool 1. The specificities of the filtration pump 3 and the water treatment device 4 are not limiting, such equipment being well known in the field.

[0059] In all cases, the bathing installation of [Fig.l] comprises a regulation system 100 making it possible to control and regulate at least one physical quantity relating to the bathing pool 1. In the embodiment of [Fig.l], the regulation system 100 thus makes it possible to control and regulate the temperature of the water 2, as explained below in detail.

[0060] The control system 100 comprises a pool equipment 110 which, in the embodiment of [Fig.l], consists of a heat pump 111 capable of heating the water 2. The heat pump 111 is for example a so-called “air-water” heat pump which is adapted to heat the water 2 by transferring heat from the air to the latter. In the example illustrated in [Fig.l], the water entering the heat pump 111 to be heated by the latter comes from the filtration pump 3, which draws the water 2 directly from the swimming pool 1, and the water leaving the heat pump 111 is sent to the swimming pool 1 via the water treatment device 4. Other arrangements are conceivable.

[0061] In all cases, the heat pump 111 has adjustable electrical power. The heat pump 111 can also be described as “modulating” or "speed-regulated". In the field, such a heat pump with adjustable electric power is commonly referred to by the English term "inverter". Concretely, the electrical power consumed by the heat pump 111 for the needs of its operation is intended to be adjustable by varying in a controlled manner at least one operating parameter of one or more components of the heat pump 111. For example, the heat pump 111 comprises a compressor, the operating speed of which is variable in a controlled manner, and / or a fan, the operating speed of which is variable in a controlled manner, and / or an expansion valve, the pitch of which is variable in a controlled manner. Of course, depending on the specific nature of the heat pump 111, one or more components of the latter, other than those mentioned just above, are controllable to vary at least one of their operating parameters, so as to make the power consumed by the heat pump 111 adjustable, in other words variable.

[0062] Whatever the embodiment of the heat pump 111, it is understood that the heat pump 111 is thus selectively controllable to heat the water 2, in which case the heat pump 111 consumes a power adjustable to an adjustable value, and not to heat the water 2, in which case the heat pump 111 consumes a minimum power, which can be considered as zero but which, in practice, is non-zero while being low, due to the need to maintain a power supply to certain components, in particular electronic components, of the heat pump 111 even when the latter is not activated to heat the water 2.

[0063] In order to control the power consumed by the heat pump 111, the regulation system 100 comprises a control system 120 which is designed to adjust the power consumed by the heat pump 111 when the latter heats the water 2. The control system 120 thus makes it possible to control the heat pump 111 to selectively heat the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 111 to a value controlled by the control system 120, and not to heat the water 2. For this purpose, the control system 120 communicates with the heat pump 111, in particular in order to transmit control instructions to the component(s) of the latter, the power consumed of which is adjustable. In practice, as mentioned again later, this data exchange is carried out indifferently in a wired or wireless manner, via an ad hoc communication module of the heat pump 111.

[0064] The control system 120 also makes it possible to control what electrically powers the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, for the purposes of operating the pool equipment 110. More specifically, the control system 120 is adapted to operate the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, selectively in a hybrid mode and in a renewable mode.

[0065] In the hybrid mode, the control system 120 powers the equipment of pool 110, here the heat pump 111, jointly by a collective network 6, which includes a collective source of electricity and which is typically a low-voltage distribution network, and by an individual generator 130, which belongs to the regulation system 100 and which, in service, produces renewable electricity, such as solar electricity and / or wind electricity. By way of example, the generator 130 comprises one or more photovoltaic panels and thus forms a photovoltaic generator, as illustrated schematically in [Fig.l]. Alternatively or additionally, the generator 130 comprises one or more wind turbines and thus forms a wind generator.Whatever the embodiment of the collective network 6 and the generator 130, the control system 120 is designed to, in the hybrid mode, cause the pool equipment 110 to consume all of the power produced by the generator 130, in order to minimize the power drawn from the collective network 6, it being understood that the instantaneous power produced by the generator 130 is potentially zero due to the conditions in which the generator 130 operates, in particular depending on the weather conditions.

[0066] In the renewable mode, the control system 120 powers the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, by the generator 130 without the pool equipment being powered by the collective network 6. In addition, the control system 120 is designed to, in the renewable mode, send any excess power between the power produced by the generator 130 and the power consumed by the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, to an individual domestic network 7. The domestic network 7 is typically that of a building adjoining the swimming pool 1, for example the electrical network of a home of the user of the swimming pool 1. The domestic network 7, the embodiment of which is not limiting, typically comprises loads including for example domestic appliances, such as lighting, household appliances, etc.The loads of the domestic network 7 advantageously include the filtration pump 3 and / or the water treatment device 4. Of course, in practice, so that the domestic network 7 is supplied with electricity in all circumstances, the collective network 6 is connected to the domestic network 7 directly, that is to say independently of the regulation system 100, this connection not being shown in [Fig.l] for the sake of simplification.

[0067] In order to operate the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, selectively in hybrid mode and in renewable mode, the control system 120 comprises an electrical connection unit 121 by which the generator 130, the collective network 6 and the domestic network 7, as well as the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, are electrically connected to each other. For this purpose, the electrical connection unit 121 comprises for example a connection terminal block and / or relays, advantageously associated with appropriate electrical protections. The embodiment of the electrical connection unit 121 is not limiting as long as it ensures a circulation of current adapted to the mode, hybrid or renewable, in which the control system 120 operates the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, in particular to supply the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, by the generator 130 and / or the collective network 6 depending on whether the pool equipment 110 is to be operated selectively in the hybrid mode and in the renewable mode.

[0068] To control the operation and power supply of the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, the control system 120 is configured to take into account several physical quantities within the regulation system 100, namely the temperature of the water 2, the electrical power produced by the generator 130 and the electrical power consumed by the heat pump 111, in other words, here, the electrical power consumed by the pool equipment 110. For this purpose, as illustrated in [Fig.l], the regulation system 100 comprises:

[0069] - a temperature sensor 140, which measures a current temperature, denoted Te by the sequence, corresponding to the temperature of the water 2, and which transmits the current temperature Te thus measured to the control system 120,

[0070] - a wattmeter 141, which measures a power, noted PI hereinafter, corresponding to the electrical power produced by the generator 130, and which transmits the power PI thus measured to the control system 120, and

[0071] - a wattmeter 142, which measures a power, noted P2 hereinafter, corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the heat pump 111, and which transmits the power P2 thus measured to the control system 120.

[0072] The specific features of the temperature sensor 140 and the wattmeters 141 and 142 are not limiting, each of these components being based on a technology known per se. In particular, the transmission of the measurements from the temperature sensor 140 and the wattmeters 141 and 142 to the control system 120 is carried out indifferently in a wired or non-wired manner. As a practical and non-limiting example, the sensor 140 is integrated into the heat pump 111 and its measurements are transmitted to the control system 120 via the communication module of the heat pump, while the wattmeters 141 and 142 are integrated into the electrical connection unit 121 while being in wired communication, typically via a bus, with the communication module of the heat pump 111 for transmission to the control system 120.

[0073] Whatever the embodiment of the temperature sensor 140 and the wattmeters 141 and 142, it will be noted that the measurements made by these components and their transmission to the control system 120 are carried out in real time, that is to say with an operating frequency high enough to inform the control system 120 with the values ​​Te, PI and P2 which, at the time when the control system receives these values, are representative, to within usual tolerances, of the effective temperature of the water 2, of the power actually produced by the generator 130 and of the power actually consumed by the heat pump 111.

[0074] Also to control the operation and power supply of the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, the control system 120 is adapted to take into account predetermined temperature values, which are for example defined by the user of the swimming pool, namely a maximum temperature, which is noted Tmax, a minimum temperature, which is noted Tmin and which is lower than the maximum temperature Tmax, and a set temperature, which is noted Tset and which is between the maximum temperature Tmax and the minimum temperature Tmin and can be equal to one or the other of the latter.According to a preferred implementation, the user defines the setpoint temperature Tset and the control system 120 deduces the maximum temperature Tmax and the minimum temperature Tmin by calculation: for example, the maximum temperature Tmax is calculated by adding to the setpoint temperature Tset an upper deviation, predetermined or defined by the user, and the minimum temperature Tmin is calculated by subtracting from the setpoint temperature Tset a lower deviation, predetermined or defined by the user, it being understood that the lower deviation can be equal to or different from the upper deviation.As a non-limiting numerical example, the user can thus define the setpoint temperature Tset as being equal to 28°C, the upper deviation as being equal to 2°C, and the lower deviation as being equal to 1°C: in this case, the maximum temperature Tmax is calculated by the control system 120 as being equal to 30°C and the minimum temperature Tmin is calculated by the control system 120 as being equal to 27°C. Alternatively, the setpoint temperature Tset, the maximum temperature Tmax and the minimum temperature Tmin are each defined by the user independently of each other. In all cases, the control system 120 advantageously comprises an interface 122 allowing the user to enter into the control system 120 the information necessary for defining the setpoint temperature Tset, the maximum temperature Tmax and the minimum temperature Tmin. As an example, in [Fig.l], this interface 122 is provided by a smartphone, in wireless communication with the rest of the control system 120; as an alternative not shown, the interface 122 is integrated into the heat pump 111 and connected to the rest of the control system 120 via the communication module of the heat pump 111.

[0075] Taking into account the above, it is understood that the control system 120 includes a local hardware part, including in particular the connection unit electrical 121 and the interface 122. The processing, by the control system 120, of the measurement signals coming from the temperature sensor 140 and the wattmeters 141 and 142, as well as the generation of control signals, by the control system 120, to control the operation and the power supply of the pool equipment 110, here of the heat pump 111, are operated by a computer part of the control system 120, which, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, is at least partly implemented as a software application which is implemented on a remote computer means 123, such as a server, in particular dematerialized in a cloud, or mobile, such as a smartphone or a tablet, this computer means 123 being in wireless communication with the local hardware part of the control system 120.Alternatively, the computer part of the control system 120 is produced, in part or even in full, by electronic components integrated into the local hardware part of the control system 120, for example arranged in the electrical connection unit 121.

[0076] In all cases, the control system 120 is configured to implement a method for regulating the swimming pool 1 of [Fig. 1]. Steps of this regulation method are illustrated in [Fig. 2].

[0077] This regulation method thus comprises an initial step 150 during which the regulation system 100 is started. During this initial step 150, the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, and the generator 130 are in particular started, in other words activated. The practical specificities of the initial step 150 are not limiting as long as this initial step 150 lasts long enough for the regulation system 100 to reach an operating regime that is stable, in other words a set operating regime. The duration of the initial step 150 is for example several tens of seconds. The initial step 150 ends at the end of this duration, the latter being able to be pre-set and thus counted by the control system 120 or considered as reached at the moment when the control system 120 receives a signal representative of the aforementioned set operating regime.

[0078] In all cases, at the end of the initial step 150, the regulation method passes from the initial step 150 to an acquisition and processing step 151 during which the control system 120 acquires the current temperature Te and the powers PI and P2, as respectively measured by the temperature sensor 140 and the wattmeters 141 and 142 at the instant considered, and processes the current temperature Te and the powers PI and P2 to deduce therefrom a step by which the regulation method continues, chosen from several possible steps 152.1 to 152.8.

[0079] Before detailing each of the steps 152.1 to 152.8 of the regulation method, it will be noted that each of these steps 152.1 to 152.8 loops back to the acquisition and processing 151 via a timing step 153 during which the control system 120 counts down a predetermined duration, while maintaining unchanged the operating state of the pool equipment 110, as obtained at the end of the step considered among steps 152.1 to 152.8. The timing step 153 thus makes it possible to introduce a time interval between two successive repeated occurrences of the acquisition and processing step 151 and therefore, during the aforementioned established operating regime, to repeat the acquisition and processing step 151 at successive times which are separated from each other by the duration of the timing step 153. In practice, the duration of the timing step 153 is preprogrammed in the control system 120, being where appropriate modifiable if necessary, or even adjustable. This duration can also be constant regardless of step 152.1 to 152.8 which precedes the counting of this duration at the timing step 153, which may be different depending on the step, among steps 152.1 to 152.3, which precedes the counting of this duration at the timing step 153. .

[0080] Considerations relating respectively to steps 152.1 to 152.8 are now detailed below.

[0081] When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, to within a tolerance, for example 10% or 5%, that the power PI is greater than the power P2 and that the current temperature Te is greater than the maximum temperature Tmax, the regulation method passes from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.1, before passing without delay to the timing step 153. In step 152.1, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 111 not to heat the water 2: in this way, the heat pump 111 is not used to further heat the water 2 of the swimming pool 1, since this water 2 is considered to be already sufficiently hot, and a maximum of the power produced by the generator 130 is sent into the domestic network 7 to maximize self-consumption by this domestic network 7, in particular to power the filtration pump 3 and the water treatment device 4 without needing, if possible, to draw on the collective network 6.

[0082] When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is greater than the power P2 and that the current temperature Te is lower than the maximum temperature Tmax, the regulation method passes from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.2, before passing without delay to the timing step 153. In step 152.2, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 111 to heat the water 2, in adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 111 to a value which is determined by the control system 120 as being equal to the power PI: in this way, the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated upwards to correspond to substantially all the power produced by the generator 130. Self-consumption is thus maximized to heat the water 2 and, since the current temperature Te is higher than the set temperature Tset, it is understood that the water 2 thus “overheated” compared to the set temperature Te is in some way used as a means of storing heat.

[0083] When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is equal to the power P2 and that the current temperature Te is greater than the maximum temperature Tmax, the method passes from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.3, before passing without delay to the timing step 153. In step 152.3, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 111 so as not to heat the water 2: the considerations relating to this step 152.3 are similar to those relating to step 152.1.

[0084] When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is equal to the power P2 and that the current temperature Te is both greater than the minimum temperature Tmin and less than the maximum temperature Tmax, the regulation method passes from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.4, before passing without delay to the timing step 153. In step 152.4, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 111 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 111 to a value which is determined by the control system 120 as being equal to the power PI: in this way, the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated in stabilization to correspond to substantially all the power produced by the generator 130. The effects of this step 152.4 are similar to those of step 152.2.

[0085] When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is equal to the power P2 and that the current temperature Te is lower than the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.5. In step 152.5, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, in hybrid mode and to control the heat pump 111 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 111 to a maximum nominal value which is independent of the power PI: in this way, the electrical consumption of the heat pump 111 is not restricted or limited, but is brought to its nominal maximum to heat the water 2 as intensely as possible, so that the temperature of the water 2 increases as quickly as possible. Step 152.5 thus makes it possible to guarantee the thermal comfort of the user of the swimming pool 1, by requesting the collective network 6 in order to heat the water 2 by the heat pump 111 as soon as the current temperature Te becomes too cold. Also in step 152.5, the current temperature Te, as measured by the temperature sensor 140, is, at regular intervals, acquired and processed by the control system 120 so that, as long as the current temperature Te does not become higher than the minimum temperature Tmin, step 152.5 loops on itself, while, as soon as the current temperature Te returns above the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation process passes without delay from step 152.5 to the time delay step 153: in this way, as soon as thermal comfort for the user is restored, the regulation process reconsiders ceasing to request the collective network 6. .

[0086] When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is less than the power P2 and that the current temperature Te is greater than the set temperature Tset, the regulation method passes from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.6, before passing without delay to the timing step 153. In step 152.6, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 111 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 111 to a value which is determined by the control system 120 as being equal to the power PI: in this way, the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated downwards to correspond to substantially all the power produced by generator 130.We thus maximize T self-consumption to heat the water 2 and, despite the relative weakness of the power produced by the generator, we seek to maintain the thermal comfort of the user without calling on the collective network 6. .

[0087] When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is lower than the power P2 and that the current temperature Te is both lower than the set temperature Tset and higher than the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.7, before moving without delay to the timing step 153. In step 152.7, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 111 to heat the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 111 to a value which is determined by the control system 120 as being equal to the power PI: thus, the considerations relating to step 152.7 are similar to those relating to step 152.6.

[0088] Finally, when, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is lower than the power P2 and that the current temperature Te is lower than the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.8. In step 152.8, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, in hybrid mode and to control the heat pump 111 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to the aforementioned maximum nominal value: the considerations relating to step 152.8 are thus similar to those relating to step 152.5. Also similarly to step 152.5, step 152.8 loops on itself as long as the current temperature Te does not become higher than the minimum temperature Tmin, before moving without delay to the timing step 153 when the current temperature Te rises above the minimum temperature Tmin.

[0089] Thus, in established operating mode, the regulation method illustrated in [Fig.2] takes into account in real time both the current temperature Te and the powers PI and P2 to determine, between the hybrid mode and the renewable mode, the mode in which to operate the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, and to control the power consumed by the heat pump 111. This makes it possible to take maximum advantage of the power produced by the generator 130, while maintaining the level of thermal comfort for the user of the swimming pool 1.

[0090] To better understand the advantages of this regulation method, two examples of current usage situations are considered below, considered while the regulation system 100 is in steady state.

[0091] According to a first example, at a given instant of the established regime, the sun is shining brightly so that the power PI is high, for example equal to 1500 W, the heat pump 111 consumes 1000 W and the water 2 of the swimming pool 1 has a temperature between the minimum temperature Tmin and the maximum temperature Tmax:

[0092] - the method then implements what is provided in step 152.2, namely that the pool equipment 100, here the heat pump 111, operates in renewable mode (that is to say that if the pool equipment 100 was, just before the instant considered, already in the renewable mode, it remains there while if the pool equipment 100 was, just before the instant considered, in the hybrid mode, it switches to renewable mode) and the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated upwards to reach 1500 W so as to heat the water 2 more;

[0093] - at the following instant, that is to say at the end of the duration of the timing step 153, and considering that the current temperature Te is still between the minimum temperature Tmin and the maximum temperature Tmax and that the sunshine has not changed, the regulation method then implements what is provided for in step 152.4, namely that the pool equipment 110 continues to operate in renewable mode and the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated in stabilization to remain at 1500 W so as to continue to heat the water 2;

[0094] - at each of the following instants and as long as the sunshine does not change, the process regulation continues to implement what is provided for in step 152.4, and this as long as the current temperature remains between the minimum temperature Tmin and the maximum temperature Tmax;

[0095] - if, at the next instant, the current temperature Te is higher than the temperature maximum Tmax while the sunshine is unchanged, the regulation method implements what is provided for in step 152.3 so that the heat pump 111 stops heating the water 2 and all the power produced by the generator 130 is sent to the domestic network 7.

[0096] According to a second example, at a given instant of the established regime, the sunshine conditions are poor so that the power PI is low, for example equal to 750 W, the heat pump 111 consumes 1000 W and the current temperature of the water 2 is between the minimum temperature Tmin and the set temperature Tset:

[0097] - the method then implements what is provided for in step 152.7, namely that the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, operates in renewable mode and the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated downwards to reach 750 W so as to continue to heat the water 2 but less intensely than at the previous instant;

[0098] - at the next instant, and considering that the current temperature is still between the minimum temperature Tmin and the set temperature Tset and that the sunshine conditions have not changed, the method implements what is provided for in step 152.4, namely that the pool equipment 110 continues to operate in renewable mode and the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated in stabilization to remain at 750 W so as to continue to heat the water 2 a little;

[0099] - at each of the following times and as long as the sunshine conditions are the same, the regulation method continues to implement what is provided for in step 152.4, and this as long as the current temperature remains between the minimum temperature Tmin and the set temperature Tset;

[0100] - if, at the next instant, the current temperature Te is lower than the temperature minimum Tmin while the sunshine conditions are unchanged, the regulation method implements what is provided for in step 152.5 so that the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, switches to hybrid mode and the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated to its nominal maximum, for example 2500 W, so as to intensely heat the water 2.

[0101] According to a variant of the regulation method illustrated in [Fig.2], each of the respective values ​​of the current temperature Te and the powers PI and P2, which are considered at each occurrence of the acquisition and processing step 151 may not be the instantaneous value corresponding to the instant considered, but a value averaged over a predetermined time interval ending at the instant considered. In practice, this time interval preferably corresponds to the duration of the timing step 153. Such an averaged value is particularly interesting for the power PI, in order to smooth out the potential instantaneous variations linked to the conditions in which the generator 130 operates, in particular depending on the weather conditions.

[0102] According to another variant of the regulation method illustrated in [Fig.2], potentially cumulative with the previous variant, it is provided that, in step 152.2 and / or in step 152.4 and / or in step 152.6 and / or in step 152.7, the value to which the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated by the control system 120 is not equal to the power PI, but is less than the power PI. It is understood that the implementation of each of these steps 152.2, 152.4, 152.6 and 152.7 according to this variant leads to only part of the power produced by the generator 130 being consumed by the heat pump 111 for the purpose of heating the water 2, the remainder of the power produced by the generator 130 being sent to the domestic network 7 since the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, then operates in renewable mode.This variant therefore makes it possible to distribute the power produced by the generator 130 between the heating of the water 2 by the heat pump 111 and the electrical consumption by the loads of the domestic network 7.

[0103] The variant described just above may in particular be of interest when the control system 120 takes into account at least one parameter other than the current temperature Te and the powers PI and P2 to control the pool equipment 110. In particular, according to an advantageous option, the control system 120 is configured to, at least certain times of the aforementioned established regime, control the pool equipment 110, here the heat pump 111, from data representative of a weather forecast. This makes it possible to adapt the control of the operation of the pool equipment 110 to the upcoming weather. As a first example, if the weather forecast is that strong sunshine is expected over the next six next hours, a programming possibility of the control system 120 is, during the next two hours from the present moment, to set at less than the power PI the value to which the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated by the control system 120 during the steps 152.2, 152.4, 152.6 and 152.7, while providing that, from the third hour from the present moment, the aforementioned value will be brought to the power PI so that, if necessary, the water 2 is sufficiently heated by the heat pump 111 during the steps 152.2, 152.4, 152.6 and 152.7 thanks to the totality of the power then produced by the generator 130.As a second example, if the weather forecast is that strong sunshine is expected only for the next three hours, one programming possibility of the control system 120 is, during the next three hours from the present moment, to set the power PI to the value to which the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated by the control system 120 during the steps 152.2, 152.4, 152.6 and 152.7, in order to heat the water 2 as strongly and quickly as possible thanks to the entire power then produced by the generator 130.

[0104] In [Fig.3] is shown a bathing installation comprising the pool of bathing 1 and a regulation system 200 according to an alternative embodiment to the regulation system 100.

[0105] The regulation system 200 comprises a generator 230, a temperature sensor 240 and a wattmeter 241, which are respectively functionally, or even structurally, similar to the generator 130, the temperature sensor 140 and the wattmeter 141.

[0106] The control system 200 also comprises pool equipment 210, including a heat pump 211 which is functionally, or even structurally, similar to the heat pump 111, as well as a wattmeter 242 associated with the heat pump 211, which is functionally, or even structurally similar to the wattmeter 142.

[0107] Unlike the pool equipment 110 which only includes the heat pump 111, the pool equipment 210 includes, in addition to the heat pump 211, one or more other pieces of equipment, namely, here, a filtration pump 212 and a water treatment device 213. Considered in isolation, the filtration pump 212 is functionally, or even structurally, similar to the filtration pump 3 of the installation of [Fig. 1]. Likewise, considered in isolation, the water treatment device 213 is functionally, or even structurally similar to the water treatment device 4 of the installation of [Fig. 1]. The filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213 are, for example, here arranged in the pool house 5. However, in the installation of [Fig.3], the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213 are designed to operate selectively in the hybrid mode and in the renewable mode, defined above in connection with the collective network 6 and the domestic network. 7.

[0108] To this end, following considerations similar to those described above for the control system 120, a control system 220 of the regulation system 200 makes it possible to operate, selectively in the hybrid mode and in the renewable mode, the pool equipment 220, in other words, here, the heat pump 211, the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213. Functionally, the control system 220 makes it possible to control the pool equipment 210 not only from the current temperature Te and the powers PI and P2, but also from the power consumed by the equipment of the pool equipment 210, other than the heat pump 211, in other words, here, consumed by both the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213.To this end, the regulation system 200 comprises a wattmeter 243, which measures a power, denoted P3 hereinafter, corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the materials of the pool equipment 210, other than the heat pump 211, and which transmits the power P3 thus measured to the control system 220. In practice, technical considerations, similar to those developed above regarding the wattmeters 141 and 142, apply to the wattmeter 243. Structurally, the control system 220 is advantageously similar to the control system 120: as an example illustrated in [Fig.3], the control system 220 comprises a local hardware part, including an electrical connection unit 221 and an interface 222, which are respectively similar to the electrical connection unit 121 and the interface 122, and a computer part, typically a software application, implemented on a remote computer means 223, such as a dematerialized server, this computer part being similar to the aforementioned computer part of the control system 120.

[0109] The control system 220 is configured to implement a method for regulating the swimming pool 1 of [Fig. 3]. Steps of this regulation method are illustrated in [Fig. 4].

[0110] This regulation method comprises an initial step 250 which is similar to the initial step 150.

[0111] At the end of the initial step 250, the regulation method passes from the initial step 250 to an acquisition and processing step 251 during which the control system 220 acquires the current temperature Te and the powers PI, P2 and P3, as respectively measured by the temperature sensor 240 and the wattmeters 241, 242 and 243 at the instant in question, and processes the current temperature Te and the powers PI, P2 and P3 to deduce therefrom a step by which the regulation method continues, chosen from several possible steps 252.1 to 252.8. Before detailing each of the steps 252.1 to 252.8, it will be noted that each of the latter loops on the acquisition and processing step 251 via a timing step 253 which is similar to timing step 153.

[0112] When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within a tolerance, for example 10% or 5%, that the power PI is greater than the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Te is greater than the maximum temperature Tmax, the regulation method passes from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.1, before passing without delay to the timing step 253. In step 252.1, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210 in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 211 not to heat the water 2: in this way, the heat pump 211 is not used to further heat the water 2 of the swimming pool 1, since this water 2 is considered already sufficiently hot, and the production by the generator 230 maintains the power supply to the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213, any surplus of this production being sent to the domestic network 7 to maximize self-consumption by this domestic network 7.

[0113] When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is greater than the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Te is lower than the maximum temperature Tmax, the regulation method passes from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.2, before passing without delay to the timing step 253. In step 252.2, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210 in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 211 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 211 to a value which is determined by the control system 220 as being equal to the difference between the power PI and the power P3: in this way, the power consumed by the heat pump 211 is modulated upwards to correspond to substantially all the power produced by the generator 230, reduced by the power consumed by the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213. This maximizes T self-consumption to heat the water 2 and, since the current temperature Te is higher than the set temperature Tset, it is understood that the water 2 thus “overheated” relative to the set temperature Te is in some way used as a means of heat storage.

[0114] When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is equal to the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Te is greater than the maximum temperature Tmax, the method moves from the acquisition step and processing 251 in step 252.3, before proceeding without delay to the timing step 253. In step 252.3, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210, here the heat pump 211, in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 211 so as not to heat the water 2: the considerations relating to this step 252.3 are similar to those relating to step 252.1.

[0115] When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is equal to the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Te is both greater than the minimum temperature Tmin and less than the maximum temperature Tmax, the regulation method passes from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.4, before passing without delay to the timing step 253. In step 252.4, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210 in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 211 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 211 to a value which is determined by the control system 220 to be equal to the difference between the power PI and the power P3: in this way, the power consumed by the heat pump 211 is modulated in stabilization to correspond to substantially all the power produced by the generator 230, reduced by the power consumed by the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213. The effects of this step 252.4 are similar to those of step 252.2. .

[0116] When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is equal to the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Te is lower than the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method passes from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.5. In step 252.5, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210 in hybrid mode and to control the heat pump 211 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 211 to a maximum nominal value which is independent of the powers PI and P3: in this way, the electrical consumption of the heat pump 211 is not restricted or limited, but is brought to its nominal maximum to heat the water 2 as intensely as possible, so that the temperature of the water 2 increases as quickly as possible. Step 252.5 thus makes it possible to guarantee the thermal comfort of the user of the swimming pool 1, by requesting the collective network 6 in order to heat the water 2 by the heat pump 211 as soon as the current temperature Te becomes too cold. Also in step 252.5, the current temperature Te, as measured by the temperature sensor. temperature 240, is, at regular intervals, acquired and processed by the control system 220 so that, as long as the current temperature Te does not become higher than the minimum temperature Tmin, step 252.5 loops back on itself, while, as soon as the current temperature Te returns above the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method passes without delay from step 252.5 to the timing step 253: in this way, as soon as thermal comfort for the user is restored, the regulation method reconsiders ceasing to request the collective network 6.

[0117] When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is both greater than the power P3 and less than the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Te is greater than the setpoint temperature Tset, the regulation method passes from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.6, before passing without delay to the timing step 253. In step 252.6, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210 in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 211 so as not to heat the water 2: in this way, the heat pump 211 is not used to further heat the water 2 of the swimming pool 1, since this water 2 is considered to be already sufficiently hot with respect to the set temperature, and a maximum of the power produced by the generator 230 is, despite the relative weakness of the latter, sent into the domestic network 7 to maximize T self-consumption by this domestic network 7, while favoring being able to maintain the electrical power supply of the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213 by the generator 230.

[0118] When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is both greater than the power P3 and less than the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Te is both less than the setpoint temperature Tset and greater than the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method passes from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.7, before passing without delay to the timing step 253. In step 252.7, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210 in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 211 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 211 to a value which is determined by the control system 220 as being equal to the difference between the power PI and the power P3: in this way, the power consumed by the heat pump 211 is modulated downwards to correspond to substantially all the power produced by the generator 230, less the power consumed by the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213. This maximizes T self-consumption at the same time. to enable the electricity supply to be maintained to the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213 by the generator 230 and to heat the water 2 and, despite the relative weakness of the power produced by the generator, it is sought to maintain the thermal comfort of the user without requiring the collective network 6.

[0119] Finally, when, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power PI is both greater than the power P3 and less than the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Te is less than the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.8. In step 252.8, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210, here the heat pump 211, in hybrid mode and to control the heat pump 211 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to the aforementioned maximum nominal value: the considerations relating to step 252.8 are thus similar to those relating to step 252.4. Also similarly to step 252.4, step 252.8 loops on itself as long as the current temperature Te does not become higher than the minimum temperature Tmin, before moving without delay to the timing step 253 when the current temperature Te rises above the minimum temperature Tmin.

[0120] Thus, in established operating mode, the regulation method illustrated in [Fig. 4] takes into account in real time both the current temperature Te and the powers PI P2 and P3 to determine, between the hybrid mode and the renewable mode, the mode in which to operate the pool equipment 210, in other words here both the heat pump 211, the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213, and to control the power consumed by the heat pump 211, while making it possible to maintain the electrical supply of the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213 by the generator 230. This makes it possible to take maximum advantage of the power produced by the generator 230, while maintaining the level of thermal comfort for the user of the swimming pool 1.

[0121] In practice, the activation / deactivation of the filtration pump 212 can be controlled either by a control means separate from the control system 220, for example a manual control means or an automatic control means independent of the control system 220, or by the control system 220. The same applies to the activation / deactivation of the water treatment device 213. In the case where the activation / deactivation of the filtration pump 212 and / or the water treatment device 213 is controlled by the control system 220, the regulation carried out makes it possible to control and regulate, in addition to the temperature of the water 2, the quality of water 2 as a function of at least one physical quantity relating to this quality; moreover, this activation / deactivation can be integrated into steps 252.1 to 252.8, or be implemented by one or more separate steps which are programmed in the control system 220. In all cases, it is understood that the regulation method advantageously provides, when the power PI is lower than the power P3, to operate the pool equipment 210 in hybrid mode in order to guarantee in all circumstances a sufficient electrical supply to the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213.

[0122] Furthermore, the two variants which were considered above with regard to the regulation method illustrated in [Fig.2] are obviously applicable to the regulation method illustrated in [Fig.4].

[0123] Thus, according to such a first variant, each of the respective values ​​of the current temperature Te and of the powers PI, P2 and P3, which are considered at each occurrence of the acquisition and processing step 251, may not be the instantaneous value corresponding to the instant considered, but a value averaged over a predetermined time interval, typically the duration of the timing step 253, ending at the instant considered.

[0124] According to such a second variant, it is provided that, in step 252.2 and / or in step 252.4 and / or in step 252.6 and / or in step 252.7, the value to which the power consumed by the heat pump 211 is modulated by the control system 220 is not equal to the difference between the powers PI and P3, but is less than this difference between the powers PI and P3. As explained above, this variant may in particular be of interest when the control system 220 takes into account, in addition to the current temperature Te and the powers PI, P2 and P3, at least one other parameter, in particular data representative of a weather forecast.

[0125] It will be noted that the regulation systems 100 and 200 can be defined in identical terms since the regulation system is defined as comprising, in the case where the pool equipment includes one or more pieces of equipment other than the heat pump, a wattmeter, such as the wattmeter 243, that is to say a wattmeter which measures a power corresponding to the electrical power consumed by this or these pieces of equipment, this power measured by this wattmeter being considered as zero in the case where the pool equipment includes only the heat pump, as for the pool equipment 110. Furthermore, taking into account and generalizing all of the above concerning the regulation methods illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, a method for regulating the swimming pool 1 of the installations of Figures 1 and 3 can be defined as providing that:

[0126] - it is operated, in particular by means of a control system such as that the 120 and 220 control systems, pool equipment, such as pool equipment 110 and 210, selectively:

[0127] - in a hybrid mode, in which the pool equipment is powered jointly by a collective network, such as the collective network 6, and by a renewable electricity generator, such as generators 130 and 230, by having the pool equipment consume all of the power produced by this generator, and

[0128] - in a renewable mode, in which the pool equipment is powered by the generator without the pool equipment being powered by the collective network, by sending to a domestic network, such as the domestic network 7, any excess between the power produced by the generator and the power consumed by the pool equipment; and

[0129] - repeatedly at successive times during an operating regime established, the pool equipment is controlled, in particular via the aforementioned control system, at each of said times from the current temperature Te and the powers PI, P2 and P3, each of this current temperature Te and these powers PI, P2 and P3 being either measured at the time in question, or averaged over a predetermined time interval ending at the time in question, so that:

[0130] - when (i) the power PI is both greater than the power P3 and less than or equal to the sum of powers P2 and P3 and (ii) the current temperature Te is lower than a predetermined minimum temperature, such as the minimum temperature Tmin, the pool equipment is operated in hybrid mode and the heat pump, such as heat pumps 111 and 211, is controlled to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a maximum nominal value, as long as the current temperature Te does not become higher than the minimum temperature,

[0131] - when (i) the power PI is both greater than the power P3 and less than the sum of powers P2 and P3 and (ii) the current temperature Te is higher than the minimum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled to selectively:

[0132] - heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a value which is equal to or less than the difference between the powers PI and P3, and in particular:

[0133] - when the power PI is both greater than the power P3 and equal to the sum of the powers P2 and P3 and the current temperature Te is both greater than the minimum temperature and less than a maximum temperature, such as the maximum temperature Tmax,

[0134] - or when the power PI is both greater than the power P3 and in less than the sum of the powers P2 and P3 and the current temperature Te is both above the minimum temperature and below a predestined intermediate temperature, which is between the minimum and maximum temperatures,

[0135] - or even when the power PI is both greater than the power P3 and lower than the sum of powers P2 and P3 and the current temperature Te is higher than the intermediate temperature, in particular in the case where the pool equipment only includes the heat pump,

[0136] - do not heat water 2, and in particular:

[0137] - when the power PI is both greater than the power P3 and equal to the sum of powers P2 and P3 and the current temperature Te is greater than the maximum temperature,

[0138] - or when the power PI is both greater than the power P3 and in lower than the sum of powers P2 and P3 and the current temperature is higher than the intermediate temperature, in particular in the case where the pool equipment includes at least one piece of equipment other than the heat pump,

[0139] - when (i) the power PI is greater than the sum of the powers P2 and P3 and (ii) the current temperature Te is higher than the maximum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled so as not to heat the water, and

[0140] - when (i) the power PI is greater than the sum of the powers P2 and P3 and (ii) the current temperature Te is lower than the maximum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled to heat the water 2, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a value which is equal to or lower than the difference between the powers PI and P3.

[0141] Finally, various arrangements and variants to the regulation systems and regulation methods described so far are also conceivable. For example:

[0142] - in addition to receiving, from the control system 120 or 220, data of control instructions, the heat pump 111 or 211 advantageously communicates with the control system by regularly sending it its operating parameters, which allows the control system 120 or 220 to control, in other words monitor the operation of the heat pump 111 or 211; in this way, the control system 120 or 220 is able to take into account the actual state of the heat pump 111 or 211 in order to best control the component(s) whose consumed power is adjustable;

[0143] - in addition to or as a replacement for the filtration pump 212 and / or the water treatment device 213, the pool equipment 210 may include, in addition to the heat pump 211, one or more other equipment; and / or

[0144] - each of the powers PI and P2, as well as, where appropriate, the power P3 can be determined by various types of electrical measuring devices; thus, each of these powers can be measured by a wattmeter, such as the wattmeters 141, 142, 241, 242 and 243 envisaged in the illustrated embodiments, but also by a voltmeter and an ammeter, the respective measurements of which make it possible to calculate the power, or even by only an ammeter considering that the voltage is prefixed, for example at 230 volts.

[0145]

Claims

Claims

1. Regulation system (100; 200) of a swimming pool (1), comprising: - a temperature sensor (140; 240), which measures a current temperature (Te) corresponding to the temperature of water (2) contained in a swimming pool (1), - an individual generator (130; 230), which is adapted to produce renewable electricity, - a first electrical measuring device (141; 241), which is adapted to determine a first power (PI) corresponding to the electrical power produced by the generator, - pool equipment (110; 210), including a heat pump (111; 211), which has adjustable electrical power and which is suitable for heating the water (2), - a second electrical measuring device (142; 242), which is adapted to determine a second power (P2) corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the heat pump, - in the case where the pool equipment (210) includes one or more materials (212, 213), other than the heat pump (211), a third electrical measuring device (243) which is adapted to determine a third power (P3) corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the material(s), this third power being considered zero in the case where the pool equipment (110) includes only the heat pump (111), and - a control system (120; 220), which is adapted to adjust the power consumed by the heat pump (111; 211) when the heat pump heats the water (2), as well as to operate the pool equipment (110; 210) selectively: - in a hybrid mode, in which the control system supplies the pool equipment jointly by a collective network (6) and by the generator (130; 230), by making the pool equipment consume all of the power produced by the generator, and - in a renewable mode, in which the control system powers the pool equipment from the generator without the pool equipment being powered by the collective network, by sending to a domestic network (7) any excess between the power produced by the generator and the power consumed by the pool equipment, and wherein the control system (120; 220) is configured to, repeatedly at successive times during an established operating regime of the control system (100; 200), control the pool equipment (110; 210) at each of said times from the current temperature (Te) and the first, second and third powers (PI, P2, P3), each of this current temperature and of these first, second and third powers being either measured at the time in question, or averaged over a predetermined time interval ending at the time in question, so that: - when (i) the first power (PI) is both greater than the third power (P3) and less than or equal to the sum of the second and third powers (P2, P3) and (ii) the current temperature (Te) is less than a predetermined minimum temperature (Tmin), the control system operates the pool equipment in hybrid mode and controls the heat pump (111; 211) to heat the water (2), by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a maximum nominal value, as long as the current temperature does not become greater than the minimum temperature, - when (i) the first power (PI) is both greater than the third power (P3) and less than or equal to the sum of the powers (P2, P3) and (ii) the current temperature (Te) is greater than the minimum temperature (Tmin), the control system operates the pool equipment in renewable mode and controls the heat pump to selectively: - heating the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a first value determined by the control system, which is equal to or less than the difference between the first power and the third power, and - do not heat the water, - when (i) the first power (PI) is greater than the sum of the second and third powers (P2, P3) and (ii) the current temperature (Te) is greater than a predetermined maximum temperature (Tmax), which is greater than the minimum temperature (Tmin), the control system operates the pool equipment in renewable mode and controls the heat pump not to heat the water, and - when (i) the first power (PI) is greater than the sum of the second and third powers (P2, P3) and (ii) the current temperature (Te) is lower than the maximum temperature (Tmax), the control system operates the pool equipment in renewable mode and controls the heat pump to heat the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a second value determined by the control system, which is equal to or lower than the difference between the first power and the third power.

2. A control system according to claim 1, wherein said first value and / or said second value are equal to the difference between the first power (PI) and the third power (P3).

3. A control system according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the control system (120; 220) is configured to, at each of said instants, control the pool equipment (110; 210) also such that: - when (i) the first power (PI) is both greater than the third power (P3) and equal to the sum of the second and third powers (P2, P3) and (ii) the current temperature (Te) is both greater than the minimum temperature (Tmin) and less than the maximum temperature (Tmax), the control system controls the heat pump (111;211) to heat the water (2), by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to said first value, and - when (i) the first power (PI) is both greater than the third power (P3) and equal to the sum of the second and third powers (P2, P3) and (ii) the current temperature (Te) is greater than the maximum temperature (Tmax), the control system controls the heat pump not to heat the water.;

4. A control system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control system (120; 220) is configured to, at each of said instants, control the pool equipment (110; 210) also such that: - when (i) the first power (PI) is both greater than the third power (P3) and less than the sum of the second and third powers (P2, P3) and (ii) the current temperature (Te) is both greater than the minimum temperature (Tmin) and less than a predetermined intermediate temperature, which is between the minimum temperature (Tmin) and the maximum temperature (Tmax), the control system controls the heat pump (111; 211) to heat the water (2), by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to said first value, and - when (i) the first power (PI) is both greater than the third power (P3) and less than the sum of the second and third powers (P2, P3) and (ii) the current temperature (Te) is greater than the intermediate temperature, the control system controls the heat pump to selectively: - heat the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to said first value, and - not heat the water.

5. Control system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the maximum temperature (Tmax) and the minimum temperature (Tmin) are calculated by the control system (120; 220) from a set temperature (Tset), which is entered in the control system and which is between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature.

6. Control system according to claims 4 and 5 taken together, in which the intermediate temperature is equal to the set temperature (Tset).

7. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the pool equipment (110) includes only the heat pump (111).

8. A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pond equipment (210) includes, as equipment other than the heat pump (211), a filtration pump (212) and / or a water treatment device (213).

9. A control system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control system (120; 220) is configured to, at least some of said times, control the pool equipment (110; 210) also from a weather forecast.

10. Method for regulating a swimming pool (1), in which there is provided: - a temperature sensor (140; 240), which measures a current temperature (Te) corresponding to the temperature of water (2) contained in a swimming pool (1), - an individual generator (130; 230), which is adapted to produce renewable electricity, - a first electrical measuring device (141; 241), which is adapted to determine a first power (PI) corresponding to the electrical power produced by the generator, - pool equipment (110; 210), including a heat pump (111; 211), which has adjustable electrical power and which is suitable for heating the water (2), - a second electrical measuring device (142; 242), which is adapted to determine a second power (P2) corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the heat pump, and - in the case where the pool equipment (210) includes one or more materials (212, 213), other than the heat pump (211), a third electrical measuring device (243) which is adapted to determine a third power (P3) corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the material(s), this third power being considered zero in the case where the pool equipment (110) includes only the heat pump (111), in which the pool equipment (110; 210) is operated selectively: - in a hybrid mode, in which the pool equipment is powered jointly by a collective network (6) and by the generator (130; 230), making the pool equipment consume all of the power produced by the generator, and - in a renewable mode, in which the pool equipment is powered by the generator without the pool equipment being powered by the collective network, by sending to a domestic network (7) any excess between the power produced by the generator and the power consumed by the pool equipment, and in which, repeatedly at successive times during an established operating regime, the pool equipment (110; 210) is controlled at each of said times from the current temperature (Te) and the first, second and third powers (PI, P2, P3), each of this current temperature and of these first, second and third powers being either measured at the time in question, or averaged over a predetermined time interval ending at the time in question, so that: - when (i) the first power (PI) is both greater than the third power (P3) and less than or equal to the sum of the second and third powers (P2, P3) and (ii) the current temperature (Te) is lower than a predetermined minimum temperature (Tmin), the pool equipment is operated in hybrid mode and the heat pump (111; 211) is controlled to heat the water (2), adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a maximum nominal value, as long as the current temperature does not become higher than the minimum temperature, - when (i) the first power (PI) is both greater than the third power (P3) and less than or equal to the sum of the powers (P2, P3) and (ii) the current temperature (Te) is greater than the minimum temperature (Tmin), the pool equipment is operated in renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled to selectively: - heat the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a first value which is equal to or less than the difference between the first power and the third power, and - do not heat the water, - when (i) the first power (PI) is greater than the sum of the second and third powers (P2, P3) and (ii) the current temperature (Te) is greater than a predetermined maximum temperature (Tmax), which is greater than the minimum temperature (Tmin), the pool equipment is operated in renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled so as not to heat the water, and - when (i) the first power (PI) is greater than the sum of the second and third powers (P2, P3) and (ii) the current temperature (Te) is lower than the maximum temperature (Tmax), the pool equipment is operated in renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled to heat the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a second value which is equal to or lower than the difference between the first power and the third power.

Images