Heat Source Load Control Using Apparatus COP Maps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat source systems require manual adjustment of number-of-units control devices when installing additional heat source apparatuses, which is inefficient and time-consuming, as they need pre-existing relationships between coefficient of performance (COP) and load factor for each apparatus.
Innovation Solution
Heat source apparatuses possess unique COP information indicating their operating status, load factor relationships, and send appropriate operating regions to the number-of-units control device, allowing it to perform control and load allocation without prior knowledge of the apparatuses' COP information, thus eliminating manual adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual input of COP information is required in the number-of-units control device when installing additional heat source apparatuses, then the control device can perform number-of-units control, but the installation work becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The heat source apparatus automatically transmits its own COP information to the number-of-units control device without requiring manual input. The apparatus serves itself by providing the necessary operational data (COP versus load factor relationships) that the control device needs to perform optimal number-of-units control, thereby eliminating manual adjustment work and reducing installation time
Solution Approach 2:
The COP information is pre-stored in the heat source apparatus before installation. When the apparatus is installed, this information is automatically transmitted to the control device, eliminating the need for post-installation manual configuration. The preliminary preparation of COP data within the apparatus itself resolves the contradiction by making the control system ready-to-use immediately upon installation
2Extent of automation
If COP information is stored in the number-of-units control device, then number-of-units control can be performed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the COP information storage function between the heat source apparatus and the number-of-units control device. Each heat source apparatus stores its own COP information locally, while the control device only needs to receive and process this information for control decisions. This segmentation reduces the complexity burden on the control device while maintaining full automation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The heat source apparatus acts as an intermediary that provides COP information to the control device. Instead of the control device needing to store and manage all COP data for multiple apparatuses, each apparatus independently provides its own data, simplifying the control device's information management requirements while enabling automated control
Data Source
AI summary
Upon newly installing a system or installing an additional heat source apparatuses, manual adjustment of a number-of-units control device should be eliminated. Provided is a heat source system including a plurality of heat source apparatuses connected in parallel; and a number-of-units control device that controls on and off of the plurality of the heat source apparatuses and allocates a load to an active heat source apparatus according to a load demand, wherein the heat source apparatuses each possess COP map unique to the respective heat source apparatuses that indicates a relationship among operating status, coefficient of performance, and load factor, each of the heat source apparatuses sets the appropriate operating region in correspondence to the operating status from the COP map and sends it to the number-of-units control device, and the number-of-units control device performs number-of-units control of the heat source apparatus and load allocation on the basis of the appropriate operating region that is sent from each of the heat source apparatuses.