Environmental control system retrofittable with multiple types of boiler-based heating systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing boiler-based heating systems in European countries face inefficiencies due to the bifurcation of control functions between programmers and thermostats, leading to wasted energy and complex high-voltage wiring connections, which are difficult to manage and require manual adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A flexible control system comprising a thermostat device with a user interface, processor, temperature sensor, and radios for communication, paired with a boiler control device that includes power conversion circuitry and signal decoding circuitry, allowing for coded control signals to be sent and received, enabling advanced scheduling and energy management without the need for manual programmer adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a bimetallic strip thermostat is used to control boiler-based heating systems, then the thermostat does not require electrical power to operate and wiring connections are simple, but the control functions are divided between programmers and thermostats leading to energy waste and the system lacks advanced scheduling capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the programmer and thermostat functions into a single integrated control device. This merging eliminates the need for separate programmer and thermostat units, reducing wiring complexity while maintaining advanced scheduling capabilities and energy management functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device is designed to perform multiple functions including temperature sensing, scheduling, and system control within a single unit. This multi-functionality replaces the traditional separate programmer and thermostat, providing advanced capabilities without increasing wiring complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate programmers and thermostats are used to control boiler-based heating systems, then advanced scheduling capabilities are provided, but the bifurcation of control functions leads to energy waste and complex high-voltage wiring connections
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the programmer and thermostat into one integrated device, the system eliminates energy waste associated with separate control units. The unified design allows for optimized control logic that prevents unnecessary heating cycles while maintaining advanced scheduling capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated control device incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor temperature, scheduling requirements, and system status in real-time. This feedback enables the device to make intelligent decisions about when to activate heating, reducing energy waste while maintaining advanced scheduling functionality.
3Reliability
If wired control signals are used between thermostat and boiler control device, then reliable control is achieved, but complex high-voltage wiring connections are required that are difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/wired control system with a wireless communication system. The thermostat and boiler control device communicate control signals wirelessly, eliminating the need for complex high-voltage wiring while maintaining reliable control through encoded communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The control signals are transformed from high-voltage wired signals to low-voltage wireless encoded signals. This parameter change in the control signal format reduces installation complexity and safety requirements while maintaining the reliability of control signal transmission through error-correcting encoding schemes.
4Ease of operation
If wireless communication is implemented between thermostat and boiler control device, then installation is simplified and coding control signals are enabled, but power consumption of the thermostat increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication between thermostat and boiler control device operates periodically rather than continuously. The thermostat transmits control signals at scheduled intervals and enters low-power states between transmissions, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining installation simplicity benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous temperature monitoring and control functionality while using intermittent wireless communication. The thermostat remains actively monitoring temperature but only activates wireless transmission when control actions are needed, ensuring continuous useful action with minimized power consumption from wireless operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system allows for efficient energy management, reduces energy wastage, and simplifies installation by enabling wireless communication and coded control signals, thereby improving the control of boiler-based heating systems without the need for complex wiring or manual programmer adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
power conversion circuitry for converting a relatively large AC voltage received from the first wiring terminals to a relatively low DC voltage
Implementation Method 2
a radio that is compatible with a radio of a thermostat device, where the radio communicates with the radio of the thermostat device in a paired connection
Implementation Method 3
signal decoding circuitry coupled to the second wiring terminals for sensing coded control signals delivered from the thermostat device to the boiler control device, if available
Data Source
AI summary
A control system may include a thermostat device and boiler control device. The thermostat device may be configured to receive electrical power from second wiring terminals and provide control signals to boiler control device using a second radio when wires are not present in first wiring terminals. The thermostat device may also be configured to receive electrical power from the first wiring terminals and provide the coded control signals to the boiler control device through the first wiring terminals when wires are present in the first wiring terminals. The boiler control device may be configured to receive the control signals from the thermostat device using a third radio and selectively couple the third wiring terminals to fifth wiring terminals to selectively control activation of the boiler-based heating system when wires are not present in fourth wiring terminals.