U.S. patent application number 12/922709 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-20 for heating installation and method for controlling the heating installation.
This patent application is currently assigned to DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.. Invention is credited to Bart Aspeslagh, Hidehiko Kataoka, Hiroki Ochi.
Application Number | 20110011943 12/922709 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39714013 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110011943 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aspeslagh; Bart ; et
al. |
January 20, 2011 |
HEATING INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE HEATING
INSTALLATION
Abstract
A heating installation includes a heat pump, heating fluid
piping passing through a condenser of the heat pump to exchange
heat between refrigerant and heating fluid, first and second
objects heated by the heating fluid to first and second set
temperatures, a valve switchable between first and second positions
to supply heating fluid to the first and second objects, sensors
detecting first and second actual temperatures at the first and
second objects, and a control. The heat pump also has an
evaporator, a compressor and an expansion device. The control in a
demand dependent mode, is configured to determine a first demand
based on the first set and actual temperatures and a second demand
based on the second set and actual temperatures, and is configured
to switch the valve to the first and second positions based on
comparison of the first and second demands. A method for
controlling a heating installation heats the first or second object
based on such a comparison.
Inventors: |
Aspeslagh; Bart; (Deinze,
BE) ; Ochi; Hiroki; (Osaka, JP) ; Kataoka;
Hidehiko; (Shiga, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GLOBAL IP COUNSELORS, LLP
1233 20TH STREET, NW, SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-2680
US
|
Assignee: |
DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Osaka-shi, Osaka
JP
DAIKIN EUROPE N.V.
Oostende
BE
|
Family ID: |
39714013 |
Appl. No.: |
12/922709 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
March 19, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2009/001234 |
371 Date: |
September 15, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
237/2B ;
237/81 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24D 3/18 20130101; F24D
19/1072 20130101; Y02B 30/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
237/2.B ;
237/81 |
International
Class: |
F24D 15/04 20060101
F24D015/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 20, 2008 |
EP |
08005301.0 |
Claims
1. A heating installation comprising: a heat pump having an
evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an expansion device
connected by a refrigerant piping in a cycle; a heating fluid
piping passing through the condenser to exchange heat between a
refrigerant and a heating fluid; a first and second objects
arranged to be heated by the heating fluid to first and second set
temperatures, respectively, a valve switchable between at least a
first position in which the heating fluid is supplied to heat the
first object and a second position in which the heating fluid is
supplied to heat the second object; at least two sensors arranged
and configured to detect first and second actual temperatures at
the first and second objects, respectively, and a control, in a
demand dependent mode, configured to determine a first demand based
on at least the first set temperature and the first actual
temperature and a second demand based on at least the second set
temperature and the second actual temperature, and configured to
switch the valve to the first position and the second position
based on a comparison of the first and second demand.
2. The heating installation as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
control is further configured to switch the valve to the first
position if the first demand is higher than second demand and to
switch the valve to the second position if the second demand is
higher than first demand.
3. The heating installation as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
first object includes at least one heat emitter arranged in a room
to be heated, the heat emitter having an upstream side thereof
connected to the heating fluid piping via the valve.
4. The heating installation as set forth in claim 3, wherein the
heat emitter includes floor heating loops.
5. The heating installation as set forth in claim 3, wherein the
first actual temperature is an actual flow temperature to the heat
emitter and the first set temperature is a desired flow temperature
to the heat emitter.
6. The heating installation as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
second object includes water contained in a hot water container,
and a portion of a pipe is connected to a heat exchanger configured
and arranged to transfer the heat to the water or forms the heat
exchanger passing through the interior of the hot water container,
the portion of the pipe having an upstream side connected to the
heating fluid piping via the valve.
7. The heating installation as set forth in claim 6, wherein the
second actual temperature is an actual water temperature of the
water contained in the hot water container, and the second set
temperature is an desired temperature of the water.
8. The heating installation as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
control has an input device arranged and configured to select
between the demand dependent mode and a priority mode in which a
priority is manually set with respect to the first object or the
second object.
9. A method for controlling a heating installation, which includes:
a heat pump having an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an
expansion device connected by a refrigerant piping in a cycle; a
heating fluid piping passing through the condenser to exchange heat
between a refrigerant and a heating fluid; first and second objects
arranged to be heated by heat of the heating fluid to first and
second set temperatures, respectively, the method comprising:
detecting first and second actual temperatures of the first and
second objects, respectively; calculating a first demand based on
at least the first set temperature and the first actual temperature
and a second demand based on at least the second set temperature
and the second actual temperature; comparing the first and second
demands; and heating either the first object or the second object
based on the comparison.
10. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first object is
heated when the first demand is higher than second demand, and the
second object is heated when the second demand is higher than first
demand.
11. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the first object
includes a heat emitter arranged in a room to be heated, and the
first actual temperature is an actual flow temperature to the heat
emitter in the room and the first set temperature is a desired flow
temperature to the heat emitter.
12. The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second object
includes water contained in a hot water container, and the second
actual temperature is an actual water temperature of the water
contained in the hot water container, and to be heated and the
second set temperature is a desired temperature of the water.
13. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first object
includes a heat emitter arranged in a room to be heated, and the
first actual temperature is an actual flow temperature to the heat
emitter in the room and the first set temperature is a desired flow
temperature to the heat emitter.
14. The method as set forth in any one of claims 10, wherein the
second object includes water contained in a hot water container,
and the second actual temperature is an actual water temperature of
the water contained in the hot water container, and the second set
temperature is a desired temperature of the water.
15. The method as set forth in any one of claims 11, wherein the
second object includes water contained in a hot water container,
and the second actual temperature is an actual water temperature of
the water contained in the hot water container, and the second set
temperature is a desired temperature of the water.
16. The heating installation as set forth in claim 2, wherein the
first object includes at least one heat emitter arranged in a room
to be heated, the heat emitter having an upstream side thereof
connected to the heating fluid piping via the valve.
17. The heating installation as set forth in claim 2, wherein the
second object includes water contained in a hot water container,
and a portion of a pipe is connected to a heat exchanger configured
and arranged to transfer the heat to the water or forms the heat
exchanger passing through the interior of the hot water container,
the portion of the pipe having an upstream side connected to the
heating fluid piping via the valve.
18. The heating installation as set forth in claim 2, wherein the
control has an input device arranged and configured to select
between the demand dependent mode and a priority mode in which a
priority is manually set with respect to the first object or the
second object.
19. The heating installation as set forth in claim 3, wherein the
second object includes water contained in a hot water container,
and a portion of a pipe is connected to a heat exchanger configured
and arranged to transfer the heat to the water or forms the heat
exchanger passing through the interior of the hot water container,
the portion of the pipe having an upstream side connected to the
heating fluid piping via the valve.
20. The heating installation as set forth in claim 3, wherein the
control has an input device arranged and configured to select
between the demand dependent mode and a priority mode in which a
priority is manually set with respect to the first object or the
second object.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This U.S. National stage application claims priority under
35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) to European Patent Application No.
08005301.0, filed in Europe on Mar. 20, 2008, the entire contents
of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a heating installation and
a method for controlling the heating installation. It is, however,
to be understood that the present invention may also be
incorporated in combined heating and cooling installations and is
then implemented for controlling the installation in the heating
mode. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heating
installation comprising a heat pump, particularly an air-source
heat pump, having an outdoor evaporator, a compressor, a condenser
and an expansion means connected by a refrigerant piping in a
cycle; a heating fluid piping passing through the condenser for
exchanging a heat between the refrigerant and the heating fluid and
at least a first and a second object to be heated by the heating
fluid to a first set temperature and a second set temperature.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] In existing systems such a heating installation is
controlled based on a set priority. That is, a user manually inputs
which of the first and second object is to be served first, if both
the first and the second object have a heat demand, i.e. require
supply of heating fluid. Hence and independently from the amount of
heat which is demanded by the priority object, the priority object
is served, whereas the other object is set on hold until the demand
of the priority object has been statisfled.
[0004] In case the priority is set to the domestic hot water
production, there is a possibility that the indoor temperature is
dropping below the level of comfort. In case the priority is set to
the space room heating, there may occur discomfort in the domestic
hot water production if an insufficient hot water production takes
place.
SUMMARY
[0005] Hence, it is the object of the present invention to provide
a heating installation and a method for controlling a heating
installation as described in the introductory part which enables
both to prevent severe temperature drops in e.g. rooms to be heated
and provide sufficient heating to e.g. hot water in a hot water
container at the same time being as efficient as possible.
[0006] This object is solved by a heating installation as defined
in claim 1 and a method for controlling the heating installation as
defined in claim 9.
[0007] Aspects of the present invention are named in the dependent
claims.
[0008] The principle idea of the present invention is to provide
the heating installation with an adaptive control which controls
the supply of heating fluid to a first and second object to be
heated based on a comparison of the heating demand of the first and
second object. Hence, the present invention considers both heating
demands of the objects to be heated compares the demands and based
on the comparison decides which of the first and second object is
to be served first, i.e. supplied with heating fluid.
[0009] The heating installation of the present invention comprises
a heat pump having an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and a
expansion means connected by a refrigerant piping in a cycle. It is
to be understood that the heat pump in a combined heating and
cooling installation may also be operated in a cooling mode, that
is reversed compared to the heating mode. In the cooling mode, the
evaporator will then serve the condenser and the condenser will
serve as the evaporator of the heat pump. Furthermore, the heating
installation of the present invention comprises a heating fluid
piping passing through the condenser for exchanging heat between
the refrigerant and the heating fluid as well as at least a first
and a second object to be heated by the heating fluid to a fist set
temperature and a second set temperature, respectively. In
addition, in order to selectively supply heating fluid to heat the
first object or the second object, the heating installation of the
present invention comprises a valve which is at least switchable
between a first position for supplying heating fluid to heat the
first object and a second position for supplying heating fluid to
heat the second object. In addition, at least two sensors are
provided for detecting the first and the second actual temperature
at the first and the second object, respectively. The control of
the heating installation of the present invention is configured to,
in a demand dependent mode, determine a first demand based on at
least the first set temperature and the first actual temperature
and a second demand based on at least the second set temperature
and the second actual temperature and based on the first and second
demand switches the valve to the first and the second position to
either serve the first object or the second object, hence,
satisfying the first or the second demand (heating demand). It is
to be understood that the first demand is determined based on at
least the first set temperature and the first actual temperature
but other parameters may also be considered in determining the
demands, such as time and temperature concurrent. If these
parameters other than the said temperatures are sufficiently
significant, the demand may also be determined based on these
parameters only. Further, the first demand and the second demand
may be determined based on at least the difference between the set
temperature and the actual temperature.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the control is configured to
switch the valve to the first position if the first demand is
higher than the second demand and to switch the valve to the second
position if the second demand is higher than the first demand.
Self-evident the control is configured to switch the valve to the
first position, if there is no second demand and to switch the
valve into the second position, if there is no first demand.
Nevertheless, even if there are a first demand and a second demand
and according to this preferred embodiment, the control switches
the valve so as to serve the higher demand.
[0011] As previously indicated, it is considered preferred that the
first object is at least one heat emitter which is arranged in a
room to be heated, wherein the heat emitter on an upstream side
thereof is connected to the heating fluid piping via said valve.
According to one preferred embodiment, the heat emitter comprises a
floor heating loops or may entirely consist of a floor heating
loops. However, also a combination of radiators and floor heating
loops may form the heat emitter of the present invention.
[0012] In this embodiment it is preferred that the first actual
temperature is the actual flow temperature to the heat emitter,
i.e. the flow temperature of the heating fluid to the heat emitter
and the first set temperature is the desired flow temperature to
the heat emitter, which may be required to obtain the desired room
temperature.
[0013] Moreover and as also previously indicated, the second object
is water contained in a hot water container. According to one
embodiment a portion of a pipe, the upstream side of which being
connected to the heating fluid piping via said valve, is connected
to a heat exchanger for transferring the heat from the heating
fluid to the water. According to another embodiment, the portion of
the pipe forms the heat exchanger and passes, e.g. in form of a
coil, through the interior of the hot water container, thereby
transferring the heat from the heating fluid to the water.
[0014] In this embodiment, it is preferred that the second actual
temperature is the actual water temperature of the water contained
in the hot water container and to be heated and the second set
temperature is the desired temperature of said water.
[0015] Further and to in order to enable the user to select between
the preferred demand dependent mode and a priority mode the control
has an input device for selecting the mode, wherein in the priority
mode a priority is manually set with respect to the first or the
second object. The input device may also comprise an input element,
such as a bottom, for selecting a boosting mode, in which an
additional heater in the hot water container is manually activated
to quickly heat up the water in the container if required.
[0016] Furthermore and as previously mentioned, the present
invention also provides a method for controlling a heating
installation as described above. The control method comprises the
steps of calculating a first demand based on at least the first set
temperature and the first actual temperature and a second demand
based on at least the second set temperature and the second actual
temperature, comparing the first and second demand and heating
either the first object or the second object based on the
comparison, that is to either supply heating fluid to the first,
object or to the second object.
[0017] The embodiments of the method of the present invention
correspond to the preferred embodiments of the heating installation
described above so that in order to avoid repetitions reference is
made to the dependent claims and the above description only.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] Additional features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the detailed description of a preferred
embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a room heating and cooling
installation in which the present invention may be implemented;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a system diagram for schematically explaining the
components of the installation shown in FIG. 1;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)
[0021] The present application will be described in the following
as being implemented in an installation which is capable of heating
and cooling a predetermined space (room) and heating water in a hot
water container, the water via piping 50 being used for sanitary
purposes like the tabs 52, the shower 51, etc. (see FIG. 1). Yet it
is to be understood that the present invention may also be
implemented in other installation than the one shown in FIGS. 1 and
2, where appropriate.
[0022] The installation shown in FIG. 1 consists of three major
components, an outdoor unit 10, an indoor unit 20 and a hot water
container 30. The outdoor unit 10 is connected to a piping 11, 12
which connects the outdoor unit 10 to the indoor unit 20. The
outdoor unit 10 comprises an inlet/outlet 12 and an outlet/inlet 11
for a refrigerant piping. The indoor unit 20 comprises an
inlet/outlet 24 and an outlet/inlet 23 for the refrigerant piping.
In addition, the indoor unit has an outlet 21 and an inlet 22 for
the fluid to be circulated in the fluid circuit (depending on the
mode the fluid is heating or cooling fluid). The fluid may be water
or a brine solution. The piping downstream of the outlet 21 is
connected via a valve 32 to a piping 31 and a piping 35. The piping
31 passes through the interior of the hot water container 30 in
form of a coil (see FIG. 1) and leaves the hot water container 30
via a piping 34 connected to a piping 36 leading to the inlet 22.
The piping 35 downstream of the valve 32 leads to a heat emitter 41
and/or underfloor heating loops 40 and then is refed to the indoor
unit via the piping 36 and the inlet 22.
[0023] As will be appreciated, the connections 11, 12 to the
outdoor unit 10 and the connections 23, 24 to the indoor unit may
respectively be reversed depending on the mode in which the system
is operated, i.e. the heating mode or the cooling mode.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2 the outdoor unit comprises an evaporator
and/or condenser 14, a four-way valve 16, a compressor 15 and an
expansion device 13, which is may be an electric valve or a
capillary. The indoor unit 20 inter alia comprises a
condenser/evaporator 25. These components form a heat pump. Hence,
the evaporator/condenser 14, the compressor 15, the
condenser/evaporator 25 and the expansion device (means) 13 are
connected in this order in a cycle or loop by means of a
refrigerant piping 17, 18. A refrigerant is circulated by means of
the compressor 15 in the refrigerant piping 17, 18. In the heating
mode the refrigerant circulates clockwise in FIG. 2. Hence, the
refrigerant leaving the condenser 25 and having a first temperature
Ti upstream of the expansion device (means) 13 passes the expansion
device (means) 13, the pressure being reduced. Afterwards, the
refrigerant passes the evaporator 14 and is evaporated having a
second temperature T2 downstream of the evaporator 14 higher than
the first temperature. After leaving the evaporator 14, the
refrigerant passes through the compressor, the pressure being
increased. Finally, the refrigerant is again condensed to the first
temperature Ti in the condenser 25, wherein the heat from the
refrigerant is transferred to the water or brine solution (fluid)
in the piping connected to the indoor unit via the connections
(inlet 22 and outlet 21.
[0025] In the cooling mode, this process is reversed, wherein the
component 14 then serves as condenser and the component 25 as
evaporator. The refrigerant then circulates counter-clockwise in
FIG. 2.
[0026] The indoor unit 20 further comprises a pump 27 and a backup
heater 26. The pump serves for circulating the fluid (heating or
cooling fluid) in the fluid circuit (21, 31, 34, 35, 36, 22). The
purpose of the backup heater 26 is to cope with situations in which
the heat pump described above is not capable to satisfy the entire
heating demand (at very low temperatures, e.g. below -10 degrees
Celsius). This backup heater 26 in some cases may also be
omitted.
[0027] In the heating mode the fluid (heating fluid) enters the
indoor unit 20 through the inlet 22, passes the condenser 25,
wherein heat is transferred from the refrigerant to the fluid, then
flows through the backup heater 26 in which the fluid may be
additionally heated if necessary and subsequently passes the pump
27 which circulates the fluid in the fluid circuit. Afterwards and
by controlling the valve 32 the fluid is either supplied to the
floor heating loops 40 and the heat emitter 41 (see FIG. 1) or
alternatively to the hot water container piping (31, 34). In the
latter case, the fluid may enter the hot water container 30 by
means of the piping 31 passing the heating coil inside the hot
water container 30 thereby transferring the heat from the fluid to
the water contained in the hot water container 30 and subsequently
being reefed to the circuit by the pipings 34 and 36 finally being
reintroduced into the indoor unit via the inlet 22. Similar, the
fluid may also be supplied to the floor heating loops 40 as a heat
emitter or the radiator 41 shown in FIG. 1 and subsequently be
reintroduced in to the indoor unit via the inlet 22. In case the
temperature of the fluid is not sufficient to heat the hot water in
the hot water container an additional (booster) heater 33 may be
provided in the hot water container.
[0028] As previously mentioned, the circulation of the fluid in the
cooling mode is the same but the cycle of the heat pump (flow
direction of the refrigerant) is reversed.
[0029] Moreover, the system comprises a temperature sensor 60 which
detects the temperature of the heating fluid leaving the indoor
unit which, in the following, is considered as the actual flow
temperature of the heating fluid. An additional temperature sensor
63 is provided to detect the temperature of the hot water in the
hot water container 30.
[0030] In the following, the control of the embodiment of the
present invention is explained.
[0031] An input device (not shown) which in general will be
arranged in or on the indoor unit is used to input a desired flow
temperature (first set temperature) of the heating fluid to the
heat emitters 40, 41 and the desired water temperature in the hot
water container 30 (second set temperature).
[0032] Alternatively, the flow temperature may also be adapted
automatically based on the outdoor temperature (ambient
temperature) and/or the room temperature in the room to be heated.
That is, if the outdoor temperature decreases the flow temperature
is increased and vice versa and/or if the low temperature is too
high for the room to be heated resulting in a high cycling rate
between supply and nonsupply of heating fluid to the heat emitter
the flow temperature is decreased and vice versa.
[0033] In operation, the control via the sensors 60, 63 detects the
flow temperature of the heating fluid leaving the indoor unit
[0034] as a first actual temperature and the temperature of the hot
water in the hot water container 30 as a second actual
temperature.
[0035] Based on the first set and second set temperature and the
first and second actual temperature the control determines a first
demand of the heat emitters 40, 41 and a second demand of the hot
water container 30. This calculation or determination may include
the difference between the first set and the first actual
temperature and the difference between the second set and actual
temperature. Also other parameters such as may influence the result
of the first and the second demand. These parameters may be
selected from the group of field settings which can be selected by
the installer.
[0036] If only the heat emitters 40, 41 or the hot water container
30 demand heat, i.e. that the heating fluid is supplied to either
the heat emitters 40, 41 or the hot water container 30, this demand
is satisfied. If both the heat emitters 40, 41 and the hot water
container 30 demand heat, the control compares the first and the
second demand and depending on which demand is higher serves the
heat emitters 40, 41 or the hot water container 30. I.e. if the
first demand is higher, the valve 32 switches to the first position
supplying heating fluid to the heat emitters 40, 41 via the piping
35. In case the second demand is higher than the first demand, the
valve 32 switches to the second position supplying heating fluid
via the piping 31 to the hot water container 30 passing the heating
coil inside the hot water container 30 being refed via the piping
32 and 36 to the indoor unit, whereby the hot water in the hot
water container 30 is heated by transfer of heat from the heating
fluid flowing through the heating coil to the water in the
container.
[0037] If a user selects a priority mode via the input device (not
shown) of the described heating installation, the control changes
from the above described demand dependent mode to a priority mode,
wherein the user has to set a priority, either for heating the
rooms, i.e. supplying heating fluid to the heat emitters 40, 41 or
the hot water in the hot water container 30, i.e. supplying heating
fluid to the hot water container 30. In addition, the system may
comprise a button to select a "boosting mode" which enables to
activate the additional heater 33 in the hot water container 30 to
quickly heat up the water in the hot water container to quickly
obtain the desired temperature (second set temperature). This
additional heater 33 may also be activated by means of the control
in the demand dependent mode if the first demand is higher than the
second demand and the heating fluid is supplied to the heat
emitters 40, 41 rather than to the hot water container 30 so as to
concurrently obtain the desired water temperature in the hot water
container 30 if the actual temperature measured by the sensor 63
drops below a predetermined value lower than the desired
temperature of the hot water in the container (second set
temperature).
[0038] Although the present invention has been described with
respect to a combined heating and cooling installation, the present
invention may also be applied to a heating installation without the
cooling capability. In addition, the present invention has been
described with respect to heat emitters 40, 41 and a hot water
container 30 as first and second object. It is, however, to be
understood that the present invention may also be implemented to
heat other objects than the above described.
* * * * *