A method and a server for verifying a physical connection of an unverified thermal device to a specific combined district heating and cooling system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current combined district heating and cooling systems face inefficiencies in system maintenance and control due to the lack of a reliable method to verify the physical connection of thermal devices to the specific systems, leading to potential errors and increased man-hours and costs in troubleshooting.
Innovation Solution
A method and server system that verify the physical connection of thermal devices to a combined district heating and cooling system by comparing sensor-measured data from verified devices with unverified devices, using criteria such as fluid pressure, temperature, and geographic location to determine accurate connections, thereby reducing local measurements and enhancing control efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual verification methods are used to confirm thermal device connections, then connection accuracy can be ensured, but time consumption and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual verification methods with an automated electronic verification system that uses sensors to measure physical characteristics (temperature, pressure, flow rate) and compares them against reference data from the specific combined district heating and cooling system, thereby eliminating time-consuming manual verification while maintaining connection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The verification system enables thermal devices to automatically verify their own connections by having them send test data about their connected system's physical characteristics to the central control function, which then autonomously compares this data with reference data to determine connection accuracy without requiring external manual verification
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple combined district heating and cooling systems operate in the same geographical area, then system coverage and service area expand, but the risk of control errors and misattribution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where thermal devices send test data about the physical characteristics of their connected system back to the central control function, which then compares this feedback data with reference data specific to each combined district heating and cooling system to automatically verify correct connection and prevent misattribution control errors
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary verification by comparing test data from thermal devices with pre-stored reference data about physical characteristics of each combined district heating and cooling system before control operations begin, ensuring correct system attribution and preventing control errors from the outset
3Measurement precision
If extensive local measurements and verifications are performed, then connection accuracy is ensured, but operational complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex verification process from the local level and centralizes it at the control function, where the central system collects test data from thermal devices and performs all comparison operations with reference data, thereby simplifying the local device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through centralized processing
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a method for verifying a physical connection of an unverified thermal device (202) to a specific combined district heating and cooling system (100). The method comprising: receiving (402), from a verified thermal device (106a-e, 112) already verified as physically connected to the specific combined district heating and cooling system (100), reference data pertaining to a physical characteristic associated to the specific combined district heating and cooling system (100); receiving (404), from the unverified thermal device (202), test data pertaining to a physical characteristic of a combined district heating and cooling system (100) the unverified thermal device (202) is connected to; determining (406) a comparison criterion based on the reference data; and comparing (408) the test data and the comparison criterion. Upon the comparison fulfills (410) the comparison criterion, verifying (412) that the unverified thermal device (202) is physically connected to the specific combined district heating and cooling system (100). Also a server configured to verify a physical connection of an unverified thermal device (202) to a specific combined district heating and cooling system (100) is disclosed.