Multi-Room Radiator Control Using Ambient-Proximal Temperature Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating systems for buildings are imprecise in regulating temperature across multiple rooms due to sensors detecting proximal temperatures near radiators, leading to inefficient energy use and premature wear, as they are influenced by radiator temperatures rather than actual room conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that calculate a corrective value by correlating ambient and proximal temperature measurements, allowing for precise temperature regulation across multiple rooms through a central data transmission system, enabling each heat-regulating device to adjust its operation based on accurate ambient temperature measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sensors are mounted in actuators near radiators to detect temperature, then the temperature detection is simple and direct, but the detected temperature is proximal to the radiator rather than the actual room temperature, leading to imprecise regulation
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensing function is extracted from the actuator and relocated to a dedicated thermostat unit positioned in the room. This separation allows the sensor to measure actual room temperature rather than proximal temperature near the radiator, resolving the measurement precision issue while maintaining operational simplicity through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
A wireless communication system acts as an intermediary between the thermostat (sensing unit) and the actuator (control unit). The thermostat measures room temperature and transmits data wirelessly to the actuator, which then adjusts the heating element. This intermediary approach enables accurate remote sensing while maintaining simple local actuation.
2Device complexity
If heat-regulating devices use proximal temperature sensors near radiators, then the device structure is simple, but the temperature regulation becomes imprecise and intermittent, causing premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback loop where the thermostat continuously monitors room temperature and wirelessly communicates with the actuator to adjust heating output. This closed-loop feedback ensures stable and precise temperature regulation, preventing the intermittent operation that causes premature wear, while the wireless communication maintains device structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating control system is segmented into two independent functional units: a thermostat for temperature sensing and a wireless actuator for control execution. This segmentation allows the sensing function to be optimally positioned in the room for accurate measurement, while the actuator remains simple and localized at the heating element, improving overall reliability without increasing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple rooms are regulated independently with individual sensors, then each room achieves precise temperature control, but the system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat unit is designed as a universal multi-functional device that can serve multiple rooms. It integrates temperature sensing, processing, and wireless communication capabilities to control multiple actuators across different rooms. This universality enables precise temperature control in each room while avoiding the complexity of having separate dedicated systems for each room.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the sensing and control functions into a centralized thermostat unit that wirelessly communicates with distributed actuators. By combining the intelligence and sensing in one unit while keeping the actuators simple and distributed, the system achieves multi-room precision control without the complexity of replicated intelligent units in each room.
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 solution ensures precise and rapid temperature regulation in all rooms, optimizing energy consumption, extending component lifespan, and enhancing user comfort while being flexible and economical.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor destined to detect a value of the ambient temperature in the room
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
A method for regulating a temperature in a plurality of rooms (3) of a building, comprising steps of detecting a first ambient temperature measurement (TaI) in a first room (3a) with use of a thermostat (5) destined to command functioning of a first heat-regulating device (8a) mounted on a first radiator (4a) arranged in the first room (3 a), in a correlated way with the first ambient temperature measurement (TaI) and with a first set value (Tsetl) of a desired temperature in the first room (3 a), detecting a first proximal temperature (Tprl) by means of a first sensor (9a) arranged in proximity of the first radiator (4a), detecting a second ambient proximal temperature measurement (Tpr2) in a second room (3b) by means of a second sensor (9b) arranged in proximity of a second radiator (4b), correlating the measurement of the second proximal temperature (Tpr2) with a second set value (Ofs2) for a second heat-regulating device (8b) and also at least with the first proximal temperature measurement (Tprl) in order to obtain a second command value for the second radiator (4b), and commanding functioning of the second heat-regulating device (8b) mounted on the second radiator (4b) in a correlated way with the second command value.