Heating System Boiler and Pump Control for Multi-Zone Demand Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heating systems lack efficient control mechanisms to adjust heat production and distribution according to the actual needs of multiple heating zones, leading to unnecessary heat production and increased energy costs.
Innovation Solution
A control unit is introduced to determine the maximum heating power required across multiple zones, adjusting the boiler and pump to provide only the necessary heat, with heat emitting controls set to their maximum possible power to match the largest desired heating power, and flow rates adjusted accordingly to optimize energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single pipe circuit supplies heated liquid to multiple heating zones with individual heat emitting controls, then the design of the pipe circuit is simplified, but the boiler cannot be adjusted to match the actual heat demand of individual zones
Solution Approach 1:
A control unit is introduced as an intermediary between the heat emitting controls and the boiler. The control unit receives desired heating power signals from heat emitting controls, determines the largest desired heating power, and adjusts the boiler's heating power accordingly. This mediator enables the boiler to adapt to actual zone demands while maintaining the simple single-pipe-circuit design.
2Reliability
If the boiler produces heat for all heating zones simultaneously, then all zones can be heated, but unnecessary heat is produced when only some zones require heating
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring the desired heating power from heat emitting controls and adjusting the boiler's heating power in response. When the largest desired heating power decreases (indicating reduced demand in any zone), the control unit reduces the boiler's heating power accordingly, preventing unnecessary heat production and energy waste.
3Ease of operation
If heat emitting controls are set to maximum possible heating power, then each zone can achieve its desired heating level, but the overall heat production exceeds actual needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows heat emitting controls to be set to maximum possible heating power for operational simplicity, while the control unit applies partial action by determining the largest desired heating power among all zones and adjusting the boiler's heating power to match only that maximum requirement. This prevents excessive overall heat production while maintaining ease of operation at the zone level.
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 reduces overall heating costs by avoiding excessive heat production and distribution, allowing for precise control of heating powers across zones, thereby optimizing energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a boiler or another heater configured to heat a liquid
Implementation Method 2
a pump connected with the pipe circuit for pumping liquid (in particular the liquid heated by the boiler) through the first pipe circuit
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of heat radiators, wherein each heat radiator corresponds to one of a plurality of heating zones
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A method for controlling a heating system (1), comprising: a boiler (3) configured to heat a liquid, a plurality of heat radiators (15, 35)corresponding to a plurality of heating zones (11, 21, 31, 41, 51) and comprising a heat emitting control (12, 22, 32, 42, 52) configured to set a heating power of the respective heat radiator (15, 35), at least a first pipe circuit (61, 62) fluidly connecting the boiler (3) with heat radiators (15, 35), a pump connected with the at least first pipe circuit (61, 62), and a control unit (5) configured to control at least one of: the boiler (3) and the pump, thus affecting the maximum possible heating powers that can be set at the heat emitting controls (12, 22, 32, 42, 52). The control unit (5) is further configured to receive desired heating powers for the heating zones (11, 21, 31, 41, 51). The method comprises the steps of pumping liquid through the at least first pipe circuit (61, 62), determining which of the desired heating powers is the largest desired heating power, setting the heat emitting control (22) corresponding to the heating zone with the largest desired heating power (21) to its maximum possible heating power, and controlling the boiler (3) or a flow rate of the liquid through the first pipe circuit (61, 62) such that the maximum possible heating power set for the heating zone with the largest desired heating power (21) is equal to the largest desired heating power. A corresponding heating control system is also disclosed.