System and method for controlling a fluid vector temperature in order to heat a building
Solution Overview
Problem
Current heating systems for buildings face challenges in efficiently adapting to changes in thermal loads due to high thermal inertia and environmental factors, leading to increased energy consumption and reduced robustness.
Innovation Solution
A heating system with a control unit that uses a three-way valve and temperature sensors to generate periodic perturbations in the carrier fluid, allowing for quick adaptation to thermal changes by estimating target temperatures based on external conditions and minimizing heat transfer, thereby optimizing energy use and response speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional temperature control systems are used in buildings with high thermal inertia, then the system structure is simple, but the response speed to thermal load changes is slow and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic perturbation signals to the heating system to actively probe and identify thermal parameters. By introducing controlled periodic variations in heating input and measuring the resulting temperature responses, the system can dynamically estimate thermal inertia and heat transfer coefficients, enabling faster adaptation to thermal load changes without excessive energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring temperature responses to perturbations and using this information to update system parameter estimates. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to adapt to changing thermal conditions in real-time, improving response speed while maintaining energy efficiency through informed control decisions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional control systems are used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to environmental changes and thermal load variations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs self-identification of thermal parameters by autonomously generating perturbation signals and processing the resulting temperature measurements. This self-service capability enables the system to automatically adapt to changing thermal conditions without requiring external calibration or complex pre-programming, achieving high adaptability with moderate control system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes control parameters based on identified thermal characteristics. By adjusting heating inputs according to estimated thermal inertia and heat transfer coefficients, the system optimizes its response to different thermal load scenarios, enhancing adaptability while keeping the control architecture relatively simple.
3Manufacturing precision
If standard heating control is applied, then the system is easy to operate, but the precision in reaching optimal temperature quickly is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of thermal parameters before executing the main heating control task. By first characterizing the thermal properties of the building through perturbation experiments, the control system can then apply optimized heating strategies that reach target temperatures more quickly and precisely, reducing both time and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thermal vibrations through periodic perturbation signals to excite the thermal system and elicit measurable responses. This vibration-based approach enables precise estimation of thermal parameters, which in turn allows for more accurate and faster temperature control, improving both precision and reducing time to reach optimal conditions.
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 efficiently adjusts temperatures to minimize energy consumption and quickly reach optimal operating conditions, even in buildings with high thermal inertia, ensuring robustness and rapid response to changes.
Implementation Method 1
a three-way valve arranged along the delivery conduit and connected to the return conduit, the three-way valve being operable to mix the carrier fluid in the delivery conduit to the carrier fluid in the return conduit
Implementation Method 2
a heat generator adapted to heat a carrier fluid
Implementation Method 3
at least one radiating element suitable for transferring heat to a thermal load included in a building
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a system (20) for heating a building. The system comprises a heat generator (23) adapted to heat a carrier fluid, at least one radiating element (21) suitable for transferring heat to a thermal load included in a building (1), a delivery conduit (251) for transferring the carrier fluid from the heat generator (23) to the radiating element (21), a return conduit (253) for transferring the carrier fluid from the radiating element (21) to the heat generator (23), a three-way valve (50) arranged along the delivery conduit (251) and connected to the return conduit (253), the three-way valve (50) being operable to mix the carrier fluid in the delivery conduit (251) to the carrier fluid in the return conduit (253), a plurality of temperature sensors (90, 95) arranged to measure the temperature of the carrier fluid and a temperature of the environment outside the building (1), and a control unit (80) operatively connected to the heat generator (23), to the three-way valve (50) and to the temperature sensors (90, 95). Advantageously, the control unit (80) is configured for: a) acquiring a temperature (Tw) of the carrier fluid in the delivery conduit (251) downstream of the three-way valve (50) with respect to the direction of the flow of the carrier fluid in the delivery conduit (251), b) acquiring a temperature (Tc) of the carrier fluid in the return conduit (253) upstream of the three-way valve (50) with respect to the direction of the flow of the carrier fluid in the return conduit (253), c) acquiring a temperature (TE) of the environment outside the building (1), d) estimating a first target temperature (Tw1) of the carrier fluid in the delivery conduit (251) downstream of the three-way valve, based on a simplified model of the plant calculated as a function of the temperature (TE) of the external environment, e) actuating at least one among the heat generator (23) and the three-way valve (50) to generate a periodic perturbation in the temperature (Tw) of the carrier fluid downstream of the three-way valve (50), f) determining a second target temperature (Tw2) of the carrier fluid in the delivery conduit (251) downstream of the three-way valve (50) based on a temperature difference (ΔΤ) between the temperature (Tw) of the carrier fluid in the delivery conduit (251) and the temperature (Tc) of the carrier fluid in the return conduit (253) based on said perturbation, g) combining the first target temperature (Tw1) and the second target temperature (Tw2) to obtain a total target temperature (TWT), h) actuating at least one among the heat generator (23) and the three-way valve (50) based on said combination, and i) reiterating steps e) to h) until a target temperature difference (ΔΤΟΡΤ) is reached between the temperature (Tw) of the carrier fluid in the delivery conduit (251) and the temperature (Tc) of the carrier fluid in the return conduit (253).