Heating Power Reserve Control for Demand-Driven Heat Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current hot water heating systems lack efficient means to adjust heating output to actual requirements, often resulting in energetically pointless and expensive oversupply of heat, due to the need for complex measurement efforts and knowledge of radiator valve positions or temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that determine a radiator power reserve for each controllable radiator in a heating circuit, using easily measurable temperature data to adjust the heating power reserve, allowing for demand-driven heat provision by controlling the flow temperature and mass flow, thereby optimizing heating output and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If demand-driven adjustment of flow temperature or mass flow is implemented using known methods, then heating output is adapted to actual requirements, but knowledge of valve stroke positions or radiator temperatures with characteristic curves is required which increases measurement effort and system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedemand-driven heat adjustmentVSAvoidmeasurement effort and system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential control function from complex measurement systems by using only the heat cost allocator data that is already present in the system. Instead of requiring additional sensors for valve positions or multiple temperature sensors, the solution takes out and utilizes the existing temperature measurements from the heat cost allocator to calculate the heating power reserve, thereby reducing measurement effort while maintaining demand-driven adjustment capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual model of radiator performance by calculating the heating power reserve from existing heat cost allocator data. This virtual representation copies the essential information needed for control without requiring physical duplication of sensors or measurement devices, allowing demand-driven adjustment using readily available data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If characteristic curves are determined for radiator temperatures to enable demand-based adjustment, then flow temperature or mass flow can be adjusted, but high measurement effort on radiator test benches is required and curves only apply to specific heat cost allocator positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedemand-based adjustment capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement effort and position dependency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the system self-sufficient by using the heat cost allocator's existing temperature measurements to calculate the heating power reserve. The system serves itself by utilizing data already collected for billing purposes, eliminating the need for separate measurement campaigns or test bench procedures to determine characteristic curves

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the heat cost allocator data serve multiple functions: it continues to provide billing information while simultaneously enabling demand-driven control adjustments. The same temperature measurements used for heat cost calculation are also used to determine the heating power reserve, eliminating the need for position-specific characteristic curves

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If central heating circulation pump operates at constant speed or fixed differential pressure, then system operation is simple, but heating output is not adjusted to actual requirements leading to energy wastage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operation simplicityVSAvoidenergy wastage from oversupply
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces feedback by continuously calculating the heating power reserve based on actual heat cost allocator measurements and using this information to adjust the flow temperature or mass flow. The system monitors the actual heating demand through the heat cost allocator data and feeds this information back to the control system, enabling dynamic adjustment that prevents energy wastage while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the static constant-speed pump operation into a dynamic system where the flow temperature or mass flow is continuously adjusted based on the calculated heating power reserve. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to changing heating demands in real-time, reducing energy wastage while maintaining ease of operation through automated control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This approach enables efficient, demand-driven heat provision by optimizing heating power reserves in heating circuits, reducing energy wastage and enhancing heating comfort by adjusting heat output based on actual demands, rather than fixed settings.

Implementation Method 1

the heating output transferred to the building heating system or the individual heating circuits

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the mass flow of the heating medium through the radiator itself

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2009536B1Method and device for setting the heating reserve
Publication Date: 2010.07.28 TECHEM ENERGY SERVICES
  • EP2009536B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2009536B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2009536B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The method involves determining a heating body-heating power reserve for heating bodies (2.1-2.n) of a heating circuit of a heating system (1). Heating circuit-heating power reserves (HLR, BLV) are determined as variable parameters from the heating body-heating power reserve. A reference-heating power reserve is preset as reference value of the reserves (HLR, BLV). A reference or correction parameter (DX) for influencing on the circuit is determined from a deviation of the variable parameter heating circuit-heating power reserves from the reference value reference-heating power reserve. An independent claim is also included for a device for adjusting a heating power reserve in a heating circuit of a heating system.