Method for controlling a hydronic heating system in multiple rooms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydronic heating systems in Europe often experience instability and discomfort due to water temperature control methods that prioritize rooms with the fastest responsiveness, leading to frequent changes in water temperature and thermal comfort issues across multiple rooms with different heat emitters.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling hydronic heating systems by setting the water temperature based on the thermostat of the room with the indoor unit having the slowest responsiveness, using PI control to adjust the operation frequency of heat pumps and circulation pumps, and calculating a standard water temperature to maintain thermal comfort and stability across all rooms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If water temperature is determined based on a representative room with the largest difference between set temperature and indoor temperature, then the representative room can be heated up quickly, but the water temperature and temperature of other rooms are frequently changed which impairs thermal comfort and system stability
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of controlling water temperature based on the room with the fastest responsiveness (largest temperature difference), the patent inverts the approach by selecting the room with the slowest responsiveness (smallest temperature difference). This inversion ensures that water temperature adjustments are driven by the most conservative requirement, preventing frequent temperature changes and maintaining thermal comfort across all rooms.
2Productivity
If the thermostat in the room with the fastest responding indoor unit is used for control, then the system responds quickly to temperature changes, but temperature fluctuations occur frequently leading to discomfort in other rooms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary selection criterion that identifies the slowest-responding indoor unit as the control basis. This intermediary approach mediates between the conflicting requirements of fast response and thermal comfort by using the most conservative unit's characteristics to determine water temperature, thereby preventing excessive temperature fluctuations that would cause discomfort in other rooms.
3Productivity
If water temperature is adjusted frequently to meet the heating demand of the fastest responding unit, then that unit's heating demand is met quickly, but the thermal comfort and stability of the heating system deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameter selection criterion from 'fastest responding unit' to 'slowest responding unit'. This parameter change fundamentally alters the system's behavior by using the slowest unit's temperature characteristics as the basis for water temperature control, thereby reducing the frequency of temperature adjustments and improving overall system stability and reliability.
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 improves thermal comfort and stability by ensuring that the water temperature is controlled according to the slowest responding unit, reducing temperature fluctuations and enhancing heating system performance.
Implementation Method 1
adapting an operation frequency of a heat pump heating or cooling the heat transport medium
Implementation Method 2
adapting an operation frequency of a circulation pump pumping the heat transport medium through the heat transport medium cycle
Implementation Method 3
the surface temperature and the heat emitted to the room increase rapidly if the indoor unit has a fast responsiveness
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for controlling a hydronic heating system, the hydronic heating system having at least two indoor units which are installed in different rooms, a thermostat being installed in each of the different rooms, wherein a temperature of a heat transport medium of the hydronic heating system is controlled based on a temperature measured by the thermostat installed in that room of the different rooms, in which the indoor unit of the at least two indoor units having the slowest responsiveness is installed.