Methods and systems for regulating energy use

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method of regulating energy consumption by a water supply system installed in a building. The water supply system includes a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from outside the building to a thermal energy storage medium inside the building, and a control module configured to control operation of the water supply system. The water supply system is configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to one or more water outlets and is further configured to supply heated water to a central heating system configured to increase an indoor temperature of the building. The method, performed by the control module, includes determining a level of energy demand for a geographical area comprising the building, and upon determining that the level of energy demand is low, operating the heat pump to store thermal energy in the thermal energy storage medium and operating the water supply system to supply heated water to the central heating system using the thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage medium.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to methods and systems for managing utility consumption. In particular, this disclosure relates to methods and systems for actively regulating water and / or energy consumption in household environments, as well as in commercial, public, and other environments, involving water and / or energy supply. [Background technology]

[0002] Whether water and / or energy consumption is in a commercial or residential environment, heated water is needed 24 / 7, 365 days a year. Needless to say, the supply of heated water requires both clean water and a heat source. To provide heated water, heating systems are often provided in central water supply systems to heat water to a predetermined temperature set by the user, for example, and the heat source used is conventionally one or more electric heating elements or the combustion of natural gas. Generally, during periods of high energy (e.g., gas or electricity) demand, utility providers implement peak surcharges that increase the unit cost of energy, partly to cover the additional costs of having to purchase more energy to supply customers, and partly to discourage unnecessary energy use. Then, during periods of low energy demand, utility providers implement off-peak surcharges that decrease the unit cost of energy, encouraging customers to switch to off-peak energy use instead of peak use, in order to achieve a more balanced energy consumption over time overall. However, such measures are only effective if customers are always aware of price changes and, in addition, make conscious efforts to modify their energy consumption habits.

[0003] Clean water as a utility is currently receiving a great deal of attention. When clean water becomes scarce, there are many efforts to educate the public about conserving it, and furthermore, there is the development of systems and devices to reduce water consumption, such as showers and faucets that incorporate air to reduce water flow, and showers and faucets equipped with motion sensors that stop the water flow when no motion is detected. However, these systems and devices are limited to a single specific use and have only a limited impact on the problematic water consumption habits.

[0004] With growing concerns about the environmental impact of energy consumption, interest in using heat pump technology as a way to provide heated water for homes has recently increased. A heat pump is a device that transfers thermal energy from a heat source to a heat storage unit. While a heat pump requires electricity to accomplish the task of transferring thermal energy from the heat source to the heat storage unit, heat pumps are generally more efficient than electric resistance heaters (electric heating elements) because they typically have a coefficient of performance of at least 3 or 4. This means that, compared to an electric resistance heater, three or four times the amount of heat can be delivered to the user through a heat pump under the same amount of power usage.

[0005] A heat transfer medium that carries thermal energy is known as a refrigerant. Thermal energy from air (e.g., outside air or air from a hot room in a house) or a geothermal heat source (e.g., a ground loop or a water-filled borehole) is extracted by a receiving heat exchanger and transferred to the contained refrigerant. Here, a higher-energy refrigerant is compressed, causing a significant temperature increase in the same-energy refrigerant, where this high-temperature refrigerant exchanges thermal energy with a heated water loop via the heat exchanger. In the context of heated water supply, the heat extracted by the heat pump can be transferred to water in an insulated tank that acts as a thermal energy storage, and the heated water can be used later if needed. The heated water can be diverted to one or more water outlets as needed, e.g., a faucet, shower, or radiator. However, heat pumps generally require more time to bring water to the desired temperature compared to electric resistance heaters. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] Because various households, workplaces, and commercial spaces have diverse requirements and preferences regarding the use of heated water, new methods of supplying heated water are desirable to enable heat pumps to become a practical alternative to electric heaters. Furthermore, while it may be desirable to regulate the consumption of energy and clean water in order to conserve energy and water, regulating utility consumption cannot be a blanket cap in usage.

[0007] Therefore, it is desirable to provide improved methods and systems for regulating energy consumption. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] Taking the above into consideration, an aspect of the present technology provides a computer implementation method for adjusting energy consumption by a water supply system installed in a building, wherein the water supply system comprises a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the outside of the building to a thermal energy storage medium inside the building, and a control module configured to control the operation of the water supply system, wherein the water supply system is configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to one or more water outlets, and further configured to supply the heated water to a central heating system configured to raise the indoor temperature of the building, and the method is performed by the control module to determine the level of energy demand in the geographical area comprising the building, and if it is determined that the level of energy demand is low, to operate the heat pump to store thermal energy in the thermal energy storage medium, and to operate the water supply system to supply heated water to the central heating system using the thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage medium, the computer implementation method provides.

[0009] Embodiments of this technology enable the storage of energy during periods of low energy demand in the form of heat stored in a thermal energy storage facility by a heat pump. The stored thermal energy can then be extracted at a later time, for example, during periods of high energy demand, to provide heated water or heating to the building, if needed. In doing so, it is possible to shift at least a portion of the energy demand for heating water from periods of high energy demand to periods of low energy demand, thereby improving the balance of energy demands between different periods. Furthermore, by preheating the thermal energy storage facility during periods of low energy demand, it is possible to improve the efficiency and usefulness of the heat pump as a practical method of supplying heated water. Moreover, when the thermal energy storage facility has reached its maximum operating temperature, it may be undesirable to further increase the temperature of the thermal energy storage facility. By diverting a portion of the energy transferred to the thermal energy storage facility by the heat pump to heat water for a central heating system and using the building structure as additional energy storage, it is possible to maintain the thermal energy storage facility below its maximum operating temperature.

[0010] In some embodiments, the heat pump may operate until the thermal energy storage reaches a predetermined operating temperature. In doing so, the thermal energy storage is available for operation when a demand for heated water arises.

[0011] In some embodiments, the heat pump may operate until the thermal energy storage reaches a temperature higher than a predetermined operating temperature. By "superheating" the thermal energy storage, it is possible to store more energy during periods of low energy demand. If the water temperature of the water heated by the thermal energy storage is higher than desired when the thermal energy storage is superheated, it is possible to add cold water to adjust the water temperature.

[0012] The predetermined operating temperature may be the optimal operating temperature determined by the thermal properties of the medium used in thermal energy storage, and / or the desired water temperature of the water heated by the thermal energy storage. In some embodiments, the predetermined operating temperature may be in the range between 47°C and 49°C.

[0013] In some embodiments, the method may further include monitoring the level of energy demand in a geographical area.

[0014] In some embodiments, the method may further include stopping the operation of the heat pump when it is determined that the level of energy demand has changed from low to high.

[0015] While it may be desirable to use building structures to store energy for later use during periods of low energy demand, it may not be desirable to raise the indoor temperature of the building beyond a comfortable temperature for the building's occupants. Therefore, in some embodiments, a water supply system may operate to supply heated water to a central heating system using the thermal energy stored in a thermal energy storage medium until the indoor temperature reaches a predetermined indoor temperature.

[0016] If the heat stored in the thermal energy storage is insufficient to provide heated water, for example, if the demand for heated water is high, it may be desirable to provide an additional heat source to the water supply system. In some embodiments, the water supply system may include at least one electric heating element configured to heat the water supplied by the water supply system.

[0017] In some embodiments, the method may further include, upon determining that the level of energy demand is low, operating at least one electric heating element to supply heated water to a central heating system.

[0018] In some embodiments, the method may further include extracting thermal energy stored in a building as a result of raising the indoor temperature of the building in response to determining that the level of energy demand is high.

[0019] In some embodiments, the level of energy demand may be determined based on tariff data obtained from an energy provider.

[0020] In some embodiments, the level of energy demand may be determined to be low when the tariff data indicates an off-peak tariff.

[0021] Another aspect of the present technology provides a control module for controlling the operation of a water supply system installed in a building, the water supply system comprising a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy to a thermal energy storage medium, the water supply system being configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to one or more water outlets, the control module being configured to determine the level of energy demand in a geographical area comprising the building and, upon determining that the level of energy demand is low, operate the heat pump to store thermal energy in the thermal energy storage medium.

[0022] A further aspect of the technology is a water supply system that supplies heated water to a central heating system configured to supply water to one or more water outlets disposed within a building to raise the indoor temperature of the building, the water supply system comprising a thermal energy storage disposed inside the building and configured to store thermal energy, a heat exchanger disposed near the thermal energy storage and configured to use the thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage to heat the water supplied by the water supply system, a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from outside the building to the thermal energy storage, and a control module configured to control the operation of the water supply system, wherein the control module is configured to determine the level of energy demand in the geographical area comprising the building and, upon determining that the level of energy demand is low, operate the heat pump to store thermal energy in the thermal energy storage medium and operate the water supply system to supply heated water to the central heating system using the thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage medium.

[0023] The invention also provides a computer program stored on a computer-readable storage medium, which, when executed on a computer system, instructs the computer system to perform the method as described above.

[0024] Implementations of the technology each have at least one of the above-mentioned objectives and / or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of the above-mentioned objectives and / or aspects. It should be understood that some aspects of the technology resulting from attempts to achieve the above-mentioned objectives may not meet this objective and / or may meet other objectives not specifically described herein.

[0025] Additional and / or alternative features, aspects and advantages of implementations of the technology will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] Herein, embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of an exemplary water supply system. [Figure 2] Figure 2 illustrates an example of adjusting utility usage based on charges. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an exemplary method for regulating water flow and temperature. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an exemplary method for adjusting the heating output. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0027] In consideration of the foregoing, the present disclosure provides various methods for adjusting the use of utilities, including water and energy, to reduce water consumption and energy consumption in some cases by using a heat pump or supplying heated water assisted by a heat pump.

[0028] Water supply system In embodiments of this technology, chilled and heated water are supplied by a central water supply system to multiple water outlets, including faucets, showers, and radiators, for buildings in residential or commercial environments. An exemplary water supply system 100 is shown in Figure 1.

[0029] In this embodiment, the water supply system 100 includes a control module 110. The control module 110 is configured to be communicatively connected to various elements of the water supply system and to control various elements, so that the water supply system includes, for example, a flow control 130 in the form of one or more valves arranged to control the water flow inside and outside the system; a heat pump 140 (geothermal or air source) configured to extract heat from the surroundings and store the extracted heat in a thermal energy storage 150 for use in heating water; and one or more electric heating elements 160 configured to directly heat cold water to a desired temperature by controlling the amount of energy supplied to the electric heating elements 160. The heated water is then directed to one or more water outlets and / or a central heating system if necessary, whether heated by the thermal energy storage 150 or by the electric heating elements 160. In one embodiment, the heat pump 140 extracts heat from the surroundings into the thermal energy storage medium in the thermal energy storage 150 until the thermal energy storage medium reaches its operating temperature, after which, for example, cold water from the main pipe can be heated to a desired temperature by the thermal energy storage medium. The heated water can then be supplied to various water outlets in the system.

[0030] In this embodiment, the control module 110 is configured to receive inputs from a plurality of sensors 170-1, 170-2, 170-3, ..., 170-n. The plurality of sensors 170-1, 170-2, 170-3, ..., 170-n may include, for example, one or more air temperature sensors located indoors and / or outdoors, one or more water temperature sensors, one or more water pressure sensors, one or more timers, one or more motion sensors, and may also include other sensors that communicate with the control module via a communication channel not directly connected to the water supply system 100, such as a GPS signal receiver, a calendar, or a weather forecast app on a smartphone carried by the occupant. In this embodiment, the control module 110 is configured to use the received inputs to perform various control functions, for example, to control the flow of water to a thermal energy storage 150 or an electric heating element 160 that heats the water, through a flow control 130.

[0031] Optionally, one or more machine learning algorithms (MLAs) 120 may run on the control module 110, for example, on the processor of the control module 110 (not shown), or on a server located away from the control module 110 and communicate with the processor of the control module 110 over a communication channel. For example, an MLA 120 may be trained using input sensor data received by the control module 110 to establish baseline water and energy usage patterns based on, for example, time of day, day of the week, date (e.g., seasonal changes, public holidays), occupation period, etc. The learned usage patterns may then be used to determine and, in some cases, improve various control functions performed by the control module 110, and / or to generate reports that allow, for example, the user to analyze their utility usage, and / or to provide suggestions for more efficient utility usage.

[0032] While heat pumps are generally more energy-efficient for heating water compared to electric resistance heaters, they require time to transfer a sufficient amount of thermal energy to the thermal energy storage medium so that it reaches a desired operating temperature before the heat from the thermal energy storage medium can be used to heat the water. Therefore, heat pumps generally require a longer time to heat the same amount of water to the same temperature compared to electric resistance heaters. In some embodiments, the heat pump 140 may use, for example, a phase change material (PCM) that changes from solid to liquid when heated as the thermal energy storage medium. In this case, additional time may be required to change the PCM from solid to liquid if the PCM was capable of solidifying before the thermal energy extracted by the heat pump can be used to raise the temperature of the thermal energy storage medium. Although this method of heating water may be slower compared to heating water using an electric heating element, the overall amount of energy consumed to heat the water is less, so overall energy is saved and the cost of supplying heated water is reduced.

[0033] Phase change materials In this embodiment, the phase change material can be used as a heat storage medium for a heat pump. One preferred type of phase change material is paraffin wax, which has a solid-liquid phase change at important temperatures for use in household hot water supply and in combination with a heat pump. Paraffin wax that melts at temperatures in the range of 40°C to 60°C is particularly important, and within this range, waxes may be found to melt at various temperatures to suit specific applications. Typical latent heat capacity is between approximately 180 kJ / kg and 230 kJ / kg, and in some cases, the specific heat capacity is 2.27 Jg in the liquid phase. -1 K -1 The solid phase yielded 2.1 Jg. -1 K -1It can be seen that a very large amount of energy can be stored by utilizing the latent heat of fusion. Even more energy can be stored by heating a phase-change liquid above its melting point. For example, when electricity costs are relatively low during off-peak periods, a heat pump may operate to "charge" its thermal energy storage to a higher temperature than usual in order to "superheat" the thermal energy storage.

[0034] A suitable wax choice is n-tricosan C, which requires the heat pump to operate at a temperature of approximately 51°C and can heat water to a sufficient temperature of approximately 45°C for general household hot water, such as for kitchen / bathroom faucets and showers. 23 or paraffin C 20 -C 33 These may have a melting point of approximately 48°C. Cold water may be added to the flow to reduce the water temperature if necessary. The temperature performance of the heat pump is taken into consideration. Generally, the maximum difference between the input and output temperatures of the fluid heated by the heat pump is preferably maintained in the range of 5°C to 7°C, but can be as high as 10°C.

[0035] While paraffin wax is a preferred material for use as a thermal energy storage medium, other suitable materials may also be used. For example, salt hydrates are also suitable for latent heat energy storage systems such as this system. In this context, salt hydrate is a mixture of inorganic salt and water, and the phase transition involves the loss of all or much of the water in the mixture. In the phase transition, the hydrated crystal separates into anhydrous (or containing small amounts of water) salt and water. The advantages of salt hydrates are that they have a much higher thermal conductivity (between 2 and 5 times) than paraffin wax and the volume change associated with the phase transition is much smaller. A preferred salt hydrate for current applications is Na2S2O3·5H2O, which has a melting point of about 48°C to 49°C and a latent heat of 200 kJ / kg to 220 kJ / kg.

[0036] Utility adjustment Since energy and clean water are essential, it is desirable to regulate their use. This method provides a method and system for actively regulating energy use incorporated into a heated water supply system suitable for residential, commercial, or public use. This method is particularly relevant when a heat pump is used for heated water supply. By actively regulating energy consumption based on current energy demand, it becomes possible to operate the heat pump to store heat in thermal energy storage when energy demand in the national power grid is low (e.g., during off-peak hours), and the stored energy can be later extracted to provide heated water and / or central heating when energy demand is high (e.g., during peak hours). This then reduces energy demand during peak periods, enabling an improved balance of energy demand between peak and off-peak periods, thereby improving the usefulness of the heat pump as a form of heated water supply and central heating.

[0037] Figure 2 illustrates a method for adjusting energy consumption based on current energy rates according to an embodiment. Energy rates are obtained, for example, from an energy supplier and reflect national or regional energy demand over a given period; therefore, in this embodiment, energy rates are used as an indicator for implementing energy adjustments. The method may be implemented, for example, by a control module (e.g., control module 110) of a water supply system (e.g., water supply system 100) that provides heated water to a household in a residential environment.

[0038] The process begins when the control module determines the current energy rate (S201) using data received directly from, for example, the energy supplier and / or based on data obtained from the public domain (e.g., from the energy supplier's website).

[0039] The control module determines whether the current energy charge is a peak charge (high unit cost of energy) indicating high energy demand or an off-peak charge (low unit cost of energy) indicating low energy demand (S202). If the control module determines that the current energy charge is an off-peak charge (S202), the control module implements one or more off-peak measures (S203). For example, a heat pump (e.g., heat pump 140) may operate to store energy in a thermal energy storage (e.g., thermal energy storage 150) (S204), and as a result, at a later time, for example during a peak period, the stored energy can be extracted to heat water. For example, the control module may increase the amount and / or temperature of heated water supplied to the central heating system by the water supply system to increase the heating output of the central heating system (S205), and the water supply system may use the building structure installed as a heat storage medium. These examples are not exhaustive and will be described in more detail below, and other measures may be implemented additionally or alternatively.

[0040] If the control module determines that the current energy charge is the peak charge (S202), the control module may, for example, instruct the water supply system to actively switch to a lower-cost energy source for heating water by operating the heat pump to continue transferring heat to the thermal energy storage, prioritizing the use of thermal energy already stored in the thermal energy storage and / or operating the electric heating element.

[0041] In addition, or alternatively, the control module may implement one or more utility consumption reduction measures to adjust utility consumption (S208). The control module may be programmed with one or more different reduction measures and select one or more such measures to be implemented during peak periods. A non-exhaustive list of exemplary measures is given herein. The control module may adjust the flow rate (or pressure) and / or temperature of the heated water supplied to the water outlet by the water supply system based on the heated water budget (S209). For example, the flow rate of heated water to the water outlet may be reduced compared to a level set by the user in order to stay within the heated water budget, and / or the temperature of the heated water supplied to the water outlet may be lowered compared to a temperature set by the user in order to stay within the heated water budget. The control module may adjust the amount (flow rate, pressure) and / or temperature of the heated water supplied to the central heating system according to one or more heating targets, for example (S210). For example, the control module may instruct the water supply system to reduce the amount and / or temperature of the heated water supplied to the central heating system in order to meet an energy output target. These measures will be described in more detail below. The target may be a specific temperature, pressure, and flow rate for heated water that is lower than the normal temperature, pressure, and flow rate, and this target may be set to reduce energy consumption when rates are high.

[0042] Off-peak measures During off-peak periods, the control module may implement one or more off-peak measures to optimize periods of low energy demand (S203).

[0043] In one embodiment, the control module is configured to operate the heat pump 140 to store energy in the thermal energy storage 150 during off-peak periods when energy demand is low (S204). The stored energy can be extracted later, for example, during peak periods, by the water supply system to heat water supplied to one or more water outlets and / or a central heating system. The heat pump 140 may operate to transfer heat from the ambient to the thermal energy storage 150 in order to raise the temperature of the thermal energy storage 150 or to charge the thermal energy storage 150 to a predetermined operating temperature (e.g., 48°C). Alternatively, the heat pump 140 may operate to charge the thermal energy storage 150 to a temperature higher than the predetermined operating temperature in order to "superheat" the thermal energy storage 150, resulting in more energy being stored in the thermal energy storage 150 that can be used during peak periods. In this case, the water is heated by the heat energy storage 150 to a higher temperature than when the heat energy storage 150 is charged to a lower predetermined operating temperature, but the water temperature can be easily adjusted to a desired temperature by adding cold water to adjust the ratio of cold water to heated water.

[0044] In an embodiment, during off-peak periods, the control module is configured to increase the amount and / or temperature of the heated water supplied to the central heating system by the water supply system in order to increase the heating output of the central heating system (S205). More specifically, during off-peak periods when energy demand is low and energy costs are low, the control module may operate the heat pump 140 to preheat the thermal energy storage 150 to a predetermined operating temperature, and may control the water supply system to use the energy stored in the thermal energy storage 150 to heat water and circulate the heated water to the central heating system to heat the building structure on which the water supply system is installed. Additionally or alternatively, the control module may operate an electric heating element 160 to heat water, which is then circulated to the central heating system by the water supply system. Additionally or alternatively, the control module may operate one or more electric spatial heating devices (e.g., electric radiators, infrared heaters, fan heaters, etc.) connected to the control module to heat the building structure. Therefore, in this method, the building structure itself is used as a thermal energy buffer, either in addition to or as an alternative to the thermal energy storage 150. The amount of thermal energy that can be stored in the building structure and the rate at which the building structure loses heat to the surroundings depend on the heat capacity of the structure, the outdoor temperature, how well the building is insulated, etc. The control module may then control the water supply system to stop supplying heated water to the central heating system during peak periods, allowing the building structure to slowly release the stored thermal energy as a form of passive heating. Additionally, or alternatively, an indoor heat pump may be supplied to the water supply system and controlled by the control module 110 to extract heat from within the building and transfer the heat to, for example, the thermal energy storage 150. The control module may then operate the indoor heat pump to extract excess thermal energy stored in the building structure and transfer the extracted energy to the thermal energy storage 150 used to heat the water.

[0045] Peak time strategies As shown in Figure 2, during peak periods, the control module may implement one or more peak-time measures to reduce energy demand in the national power grid and thereby reduce energy costs for users (S206). One such measure includes switching to a lower-cost, i.e., low-energy-demand energy source (S207). In an embodiment involving a water supply system 100 comprising an electric heating element 160 and a heat pump 140 (thermal energy storage 150), the control module 110 is configured to implement this measure by switching to the use of the heat pump 140, prioritizing the use of the electric heating element 160 for heating water.

[0046] Optionally, the control module 110 may operate the heat pump 140 during off-peak periods (or periods of low energy demand) to charge the thermal energy storage 150 to a predetermined operating temperature or higher. The stored energy can then be used during peak periods (or periods of high energy demand) to heat water.

[0047] Optionally, the control module 110 may be configured to learn the user's water usage patterns of the water supply system, for example, by the MLA 120, thereby enabling the control module to predict when heated water may be needed. In this case, regardless of whether the thermal energy storage 150 is pre-charged during off-peak periods, the control module can still implement this peak-time strategy by using the prediction made possible by the water usage patterns to operate the heat pump 140 before the predicted demand for heated water, thereby preparing the thermal energy storage 150 for the supply of heated water, instead of relying on more expensive electric heating elements.

[0048] In addition to switching to a lower-cost energy source, the control module may optionally be programmed to implement one or more utility consumption reduction measures during peak hours (S208). Utility consumption reduction measures may include, for example, adjusting the flow rate and / or temperature of heated water supplied by the water supply system (S209), and / or adjusting the heated water supplied to the central heating by the water supply system based on one or more heating targets (S210).

[0049] Figure 3 shows a method according to an embodiment for adjusting the flow rate and / or temperature of heated water based on the heated water budget. The method begins with the control module implementing the water flow control policy (S209).

[0050] The water outlet connected to the water supply system and supplied by the water supply system is opened (S301). The water outlet may be, for example, a water tap or shower. The water outlet may be opened by the user, for example by setting the water temperature with temperature control, or for example by setting the flow rate with water pressure control.

[0051] When the control module detects that a water outlet has been opened, it begins monitoring the elapsed time T (S302). For example, the control module may have or be connected to a timer that records the elapsed time T since the water outlet was opened. The control module may have or be connected to multiple timers to allow the control module to determine multiple elapsed times when multiple water outlets are opened simultaneously. The elapsed time T, along with the water temperature and pressure (flow rate), provides an indication of the amount of energy used.

[0052] According to this embodiment, the elapsed time threshold T1 may be set based on a predetermined heating water budget that sets a limit on the amount of heating water to be used when utility consumption reduction measures are implemented (e.g., during peak hours), or based on the amount of energy used to heat the water. Accordingly, the control module determines whether the elapsed time T has exceeded the threshold T1 (S303). If the control module determines that the elapsed time T has not exceeded the threshold T1, the control module continues to monitor the water outlet (S304). If the water outlet is still open, the control module continues to monitor the elapsed time T. If the water outlet is no longer open, the control module stops monitoring the water outlet and the process ends.

[0053] If the control module determines that the elapsed time T exceeds the threshold T1 (S303), the control module controls the water supply system to reduce the flow rate of heated water supplied to the water outlet (S305). In doing so, it is possible to reduce the total amount of heated water used, thereby reducing both the amount of clean water consumed and the amount of energy required to heat the water. Alternatively, or additionally, the control module may control the water supply system to reduce the temperature of the heated water supplied to the water outlet (S305). In doing so, it is possible to reduce the total amount of energy consumed to heat the water.

[0054] Optionally, the control module may continue to monitor the elapsed time T since the water outlet was opened and, for example, further reduce the flow rate if the elapsed time T again exceeds a threshold T1.

[0055] Figure 4 shows a method for adjusting the heated water supplied to the central heating system based on a predetermined heating target from a set of heating targets, according to an embodiment. The method begins when the control module implements the heating target (S210).

[0056] The control module determines whether the central heating system is turned on (S401). For example, the central heating system may be set to turn on at a specified time and / or when the indoor temperature reaches a specified temperature, and / or may be manually turned on by the user. If it is determined that the central heating system is not turned on, the process ends.

[0057] If it is determined that the central heating system is turned on (S401), the control module proceeds to monitor the energy output E of the central heating system by, for example, monitoring the temperature and amount of the heating water circulated through the central heating system and / or by monitoring the indoor temperature change. out to monitor.

[0058] The control module determines the energy output E of the central heating system out (S402), and then the control module determines whether the energy output E out meets a predetermined heating target (S403). The heating target may be set, for example, in terms of the amount of energy consumed and / or from the perspective of the maximum cost of the energy spent to heat the water supplied to the central heating system, e.g., by setting a predetermined maximum energy output for the central heating system.

[0059] If the control module determines (S403) that the energy output E of the central heating system out meets the heating target, e.g., that E out is less than the predetermined maximum energy output, the control module continues to monitor whether the central heating system is still on (S404). If the central heating system is still on, the control module continues to monitor the energy output E of the central heating system; otherwise, the process ends. out to continue monitoring, and if not, the process ends.

[0060] Energy output E of the central heating system out The heating target is not met, for example, E out If the control module determines that the output exceeds a predetermined maximum energy output (S403), the control module reduces the energy output of the central heating system, for example, by reducing the temperature and / or amount of heated water supplied to the central heating system by the water supply system (for example, by reducing the flow and / or by supplying heated water intermittently) (S405). The control module then continues to monitor the energy output of the central heating system and may optionally make further adjustments if the heating target is not met.

[0061] By implementing one or more utility consumption reduction measures, the control module can control and adjust the use of heated water to keep energy expenditures (optionally, water consumption) within budget. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the measures described above can be implemented independently or in any combination as needed.

[0062] This method allows for the improvement of the efficiency and usefulness of heat pumps as a practical and low-cost method of supplying heated water by implementing measures to store thermal energy in one or more thermal energy storage devices (including the building itself) during periods of low energy demand, and then using the stored thermal energy to heat water during periods of high energy demand. Furthermore, it is possible to improve the balance of energy demands across different periods by shifting at least a portion of the energy demand for heating water from peak periods to off-peak periods.

[0063] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the technology can be embodied as a system, method, or computer program product. Accordingly, the technology can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or a combination of software and hardware embodiments.

[0064] Furthermore, the technology may take the form of a computer program product embodied in a computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium having computer-readable program code embodied on the computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable medium may be, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any preferred combination thereof.

[0065] The computer program code that performs the operation of this technology can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​and conventional procedural programming languages.

[0066] For example, the program code that executes the operation of this technology may include source, object, or executable code in conventional programming languages ​​such as C (which are interpreted or compiled), or assembly code, code that configures or controls an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) or FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or code in a hardware description language such as Verilog® or VHDL (Very High-Speed ​​Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language).

[0067] The program code may be fully executable on the user's computer, partially executable on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or fully executable on a remote computer or a server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network. Code components may be embodied as procedures or methods, and may include subcomponents that can take the form of instructions or sequences of instructions at either a high level of abstraction from direct machine instructions of a native instruction set to high-level compilation or to interpreted language constructs.

[0068] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that all or part of the logic methods according to preferred embodiments of the present technology can be suitably embodied in a logic device comprising logic elements for performing the steps of the method, and that such logic elements may comprise components such as logic gates in, for example, a programmable logic array or an application-specific integrated circuit. Such logic configurations may further be embodied by enabling the elements to temporarily or permanently establish a logic structure in the array or circuit using, for example, a virtual hardware description language, which may be stored and transmitted using a fixed or transmittable carrier medium.

[0069] The examples and conditional language described herein are intended to help the reader understand the principles of the Art and are not intended to limit the scope of the Art to such specifically described examples and conditions. Those skilled in the art will understand that various configurations not expressly described or shown herein may still be conceived to embody the principles of the Art and fall within the scope of the Art as defined by the appended claims.

[0070] Furthermore, for the sake of understanding, the above description may represent a relatively simplified implementation of the technology. As those skilled in the art will understand, various implementations of the technology can be more complex.

[0071] In some cases, useful examples of modifications to the Art may be included. This is done solely for the purpose of aiding understanding and, again, not to limit the scope or describe the limitations of the Art. Such modifications are not an exhaustive list, and those skilled in the art may make other modifications while remaining within the scope of the Art. Furthermore, the absence of examples of modifications should not be interpreted as meaning that modifications are not possible, and / or that what is described is the only way to implement that element of the Art.

[0072] Furthermore, all descriptions in this specification, including those relating to the principles, aspects, and implementations of the technology, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents, regardless of whether such equivalents are currently known or will be developed in the future. Therefore, for example, any block diagram in this specification will be understood by those skilled in the art to represent a conceptual diagram of an exemplary circuit embodying the principles of the art. Similarly, any flowcharts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudocodes, etc., represent various processes, and since these processes are substantially represented in a computer-readable medium, they will be understood to be executable by a computer or processor, whether such computer or processor is explicitly indicated or not.

[0073] The functionality of the various elements illustrated, including any functional block called a “processor,” may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware, and, in conjunction with appropriate software, software-executable hardware. When provided by a processor, functionality may be provided by a single dedicated processor, a single shared processor, or by multiple individual processors, some of which may be shared. Furthermore, the explicit use of the terms “processor” or “controller” should not be interpreted as referring only to software-executable hardware, but may implicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, network processors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), read-only memory (ROM) for storing software, random-access memory (RAM), and non-volatile storage. Other hardware, conventional and / or custom, may also be included.

[0074] A software module, or merely a module that is suggested to be software, may be represented herein as any combination of flowchart elements or other elements indicating the execution of process steps and / or text descriptions. Such a module may be executed by hardware, either explicitly or implicitly indicated.

[0075] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous improvements and modifications can be made to the above exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of this technology.

Claims

1. A computer implementation method for adjusting energy consumption using a water supply system installed in a building structure, The aforementioned water supply system is A heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the outside of the building structure to a thermal energy storage medium inside the building structure, A control module configured to control the operation of the water supply system, Includes, The water supply system is configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to one or more water outlets, and is further configured to supply the heated water to a central heating system configured to raise the indoor temperature of the building structure. The above method is performed by the control module, To determine the level of energy demand in the geographical area where the aforementioned building structure is located, Upon determining that the level of energy demand is low, the heat pump is operated to store thermal energy in the thermal energy storage medium, and the water supply system is operated to supply heated water to the central heating system using the thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage medium to heat the building structure, and the building structure is used as a thermal energy buffer, either in addition to or as a substitute for the thermal energy storage medium. When it is determined that the level of energy demand is high, the thermal energy stored in the building structure is extracted as a result of raising the indoor temperature of the building structure. Having, A computer implementation method characterized by the following.

2. The heat pump operates until the thermal energy storage medium reaches a predetermined operating temperature. The computer implementation method according to claim 1.

3. The heat pump operates until the thermal energy storage medium reaches a temperature higher than a predetermined operating temperature. The computer implementation method according to claim 1.

4. The predetermined operating temperature is within the range of 47°C to 49°C. The computer implementation method according to claim 2 or 3.

5. To continue monitoring the level of energy demand in the aforementioned geographical area, Having, The computer implementation method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. When it is determined that the level of energy demand has changed from low to high, the operation of the heat pump is stopped. Having, The computer implementation method according to claim 5.

7. The water supply system operates to supply heated water to the central heating system using the thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage medium until the indoor temperature reaches a predetermined indoor temperature. The computer implementation method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. The aforementioned water supply system is At least one electric heating element configured to heat the water supplied by the water supply system, including, The computer implementation method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. When it is determined that the level of energy demand is low, at least one of the electric heating elements is operated to supply heated water to the central heating system. Having, The computer implementation method according to claim 8.

10. The aforementioned energy demand level is determined based on rate data obtained from energy suppliers. The computer implementation method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

11. The level of energy demand is determined such that it is lower when the rate data shows off-peak rates. The computer implementation method according to claim 10.

12. A control module configured to control the operation of a water supply system installed in a building structure, The aforementioned water supply system is Thermal energy storage medium, A heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy to the thermal energy storage medium, Equipped with, The water supply system is configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to one or more water outlets. The control module is configured to perform the method described in any one of claims 1 to 3. A control module characterized by the following features.

13. A water supply system that supplies heated water to a central heating system configured to raise the indoor temperature of a building structure by supplying water to one or more water outlets located within the building structure, A thermal energy storage medium, configured to store thermal energy, is placed inside the building structure, A heat exchanger located near the thermal energy storage medium is configured to heat the water supplied by the water supply system using the thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage medium, A heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the outside of the building structure to the thermal energy storage medium, A control module configured to control the operation of the water supply system, comprising the control module described in claim 12, Having, A water supply system characterized by the following features.

14. A computer program stored on a computer-readable storage medium, which, when executed on a computer system, instructs the computer system to perform the method described in any one of claims 1 to 3. A computer program characterized by the following features.

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