DE102011088913A1 - Hot water tank with standby temperature setting based on flow information - Google Patents

Abstract

A hot water tank (100) is provided for providing hot water with a device (150) for setting a standby temperature of the hot water and with a flow detection device (160) for providing flow information, wherein the device (150) is configured for setting the standby temperature Evaluate flow information and consequently set the standby temperature.

Description

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to a hot water tank according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and further a method for controlling the standby temperature of a hot water tank.

State of the art

Various concepts for the regulation of hot water storage tanks, e.g. to supply households with hot water, known. To provide the warm water, for example, as a warm service or heating water, warm water is kept in a hot water tank. The hot water storage may e.g. a boiler or a boiler. The size of the hot water tank is determined by the respective need for hot water, for individual households are common sizes, e.g. at about 120-150l.

The standby temperature of the water in the hot water tank is regulated to a mostly adjustable value, which may be, for example, 60 ° C. To heat the water often heat exchangers are used, which are heated on the primary side by a gas or oil burner, district heating, o. Ä. The standby temperature is then maintained, possibly with a hysteresis of a few ° C, in the water reservoir. Removed warm water is then replaced by trailing cold water, which is then reheated accordingly.

From the prior art, for example, the DE 103 00 041 A1 known, which discloses a boiler for heating heating water and / or service water with a heated room, a burner, a control unit, a temperature sensor for heating water and / or a temperature sensor for process water, which are each connected to the control unit. The control unit generates after dropping the temperature of the heating water under a stored in the control unit first switch-on or after dropping the temperature of the service water under a stored in the control unit second switch-on, each a switch-on to turn on the burner.

document DE 44 44 987 C1 discloses a method for controlling the heating of domestic water in a heating system. In the heating system with a boiler and a Speicherbrauchwasserwärmer the shutdown of the burner is not only when the target hot water temperature, but already at a lower shutdown temperature. This is so much lower than the hot water temperature that the latter is achieved during the usual follow-up time of the storage loading pump by further energy transfer from the boiler water to the hot water. Overheating of the process water is thereby avoided and at the same time the high boiler temperature is reduced by the further dhw charge.

It is disadvantageous in known systems that energy is constantly lost due to the provision of warm water in the hot water storage tank since the hot water storage tanks can not be readily isolated. In other words, the warm water in a hot water tank also cools without removal, so that energy must be tracked to maintain the standby temperature.

The problem underlying the invention

The invention has for its object to provide an improved hot water tank, which has an efficient control of the standby temperature and also can be operated cost-effectively.

Inventive solution

The solution of the problem is achieved by a hot water tank and a method having the features of the independent claims.

The hot water storage according to the invention has a device for setting a standby temperature of the hot water and a flow detection device for providing flow information. The device for setting the standby temperature is designed to evaluate flow information and as a result to set the standby temperature. Consequently, the user behavior can be observed on the basis of the water extraction characteristic during operation of the hot water tank. The water extraction characteristic can be determined based on flow information. The flow information includes the value of the water flow in the inlet and / or outlet of the hot water tank. Thus, it can always or continuously be detected when a user draws hot water or taps so that consequently the user behavior can be taken into account in the control of the hot water tank.

Further, a method for controlling a standby temperature of a hot water storage is provided. The method includes setting a standby temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank, detecting a removal operation from the hot water storage based on flow information; and lowering the standby temperature when no removal operation is detected in a predetermined time interval. The time interval is determined between two water sampling operations, based on flow information in the hot water storage water pipes.

Accordingly, energy savings can be made possible with simple structural and cost-effective means, since the standby temperature of a hot water storage tank can be adapted to a user behavior and thus longer phases of non-removal and maintenance of a high standby temperature can be avoided. The phases of non-sampling are determined by flow information in the hot water storage water pipes.

Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be used individually or in combination with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims. The reference numerals in the claims have no limiting effect but are merely intended to improve their readability.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

It is preferred that the device for setting a standby temperature has a time module. Thus, the time interval between two removal operations can be determined. The time module may detect the time between two sampling operations, and this value may be compared, for example, with a predetermined threshold.

To provide flow information, the flow detection device has a plurality of flow sensors that can be arranged in the inlet and / or outlet of the hot water tank. Thus, it can be determined at which time a removal process took place or takes place.

The control of the hot water temperature of conventional hot water tanks is independent of a user behavior. Conventional systems regulate the water temperature in a hot water tank independent of a withdrawal characteristic, i. regardless of those based on flow information collected removal operations. This leads to the fact that the temperature of the hot water tank is also kept high, if no withdrawals take place. Exemplary embodiments are based, for example, on the knowledge that a standby temperature of a hot water storage tank can be lowered if no removal has taken place over a certain period of time. For example, if a household person goes on vacation, it makes little sense to maintain the readiness of the hot water storage over the period of their absence. For this reason, embodiments may provide that the standby temperature of a hot water tank is lowered when no hot water withdrawal has taken place over a certain period of time.

The device for adjustment is adapted to take into account in the setting of the standby temperature, a removal characteristic of hot water from the hot water tank such that the standby temperature of the hot water in a time interval in which no removal was detected, is lowered and raised after a subsequent removal again , In other words, embodiments consider the extraction characteristic, i. the user behavior, on a hot water tank at the standby temperature control.

Embodiments can thus enable automatic, energy-saving, usage-dependent and efficient operation of a hot water storage tank. This is achieved by lowering the standby temperature of the DHW cylinder in certain modes of operation. If, for example, no hot water extraction is detected over a certain period of time, the energy that would be necessary to maintain the standby temperature can be saved. For this purpose, the user behavior is recorded on the hot water tank and taken into account when setting the standby temperature.

In one embodiment, the standby temperature of the hot water storage is lowered by at least 10 ° when no withdrawals were detected over a time interval of at least 24h. In other words, embodiments can thus provide the advantage that a standby temperature is lowered automatically, so that an energy saving is achieved when withdrawals over a longer period fail. For example, in a holiday phase, an energy saving can be achieved during the absence. In further embodiments, the means for adjustment may be adapted to raise the standby temperature at regular time intervals to a minimum temperature. In other words, embodiments may provide that to prevent the formation of bacteria or Legionella, the water in the hot water tank at regular intervals to a minimum temperature, such as 60 °, is brought. In such embodiments, the standby temperature of the water can be lowered, wherein the lowering then by the above-mentioned regular intervals, during which a killing of germs or Legionella is made is interrupted.

In addition, the adjustment means may be adapted in embodiments to lower the standby temperature of the hot water storage to a minimum standby temperature when no withdrawals have been detected over a time interval of, for example, at least 72 hours. This embodiment is directed, for example, to the holiday scenario described above. If no removal is detected over a time interval, for example 72 hours, the means for adjustment may be adapted to then adjust the temperature to a minimum temperature, i. to lower a minimum possible temperature. This has the advantage that no energy is lost at this point during absence. The device for adjustment can moreover be adapted, in order subsequently, upon detection of a removal, to first approach the minimum temperature in order to kill bacteria and germs as already described above.

In embodiments, the means for adjustment may be further adapted not to lower the standby temperature below a minimum frost protection temperature. This offers the advantage that no damage caused by frost, etc. In other words, the means for adjustment in embodiments may provide a lower temperature limit which will not be undershot. Embodiments also provide a hot water tank with one of the above devices.

Further advantageous embodiments will be described in more detail below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, to which the invention is not limited.

Brief description of the drawing

They show schematically:

1 an embodiment of a hot water tank with a device for controlling a standby temperature of the hot water tank.

In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, like reference characters designate like or similar components.

Detailed description based on an embodiment

1 shows an embodiment of a device 150 for controlling a standby temperature of a hot water tank 100 , In addition, the shows 1 an embodiment of the hot water tank 100 that the device 10 includes. The hot water tank 100 also includes a kettle 110 in which the warm water is stored. About a hot water drain 120 warm water can be taken from the boiler. For refilling cold water includes the hot water tank 100 also a cold water inlet 130 ,

The device 150 is located in the 1 in the middle of the kettle for easier viewing 110 within the housing (not shown) of the hot water tank 100 , In other embodiments, the device 150 also elsewhere or distributed, ie be formed with locally separate components.

According to the 1 the device comprises a device 150 for setting a standby temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank 100 , The device 150 for adjustment is adapted to a withdrawal characteristic of hot water from the hot water tank when setting the standby temperature 100 to take into account. The extraction characteristic is determined by flow information of the incoming and / or outgoing water. For this purpose, flow sensors DFS can be provided which detect the flow of water and the information in the form of electrical signals to the device for adjustment 150 pass the standby temperature. In this embodiment, the flow sensor DFS is arranged in the water inlet, so that in the boiler 110 inflowing water or cold water can be detected. This would be a removal process of hot water or service water on the drain 120 correspond to the hot water tank.

Thus, this removal operation would be from the device to the scheme 150 the standby temperature are detected and accordingly control the heater (not shown) of the hot water tank.

The standby temperature of the hot water is lowered in a time interval in which no removal was detected, and raised after a subsequent removal again. There is now the possibility of the hot water tank 100 depending on user behavior. As 1 shows, the flow sensor DFS is used to determine the cold water inflow in the inlet 130 that with the device for adjustment 150 the standby temperature is coupled. Thus, the means for adjusting continuously receives flow information, so that an accurate control or regulation of the standby temperature can be carried out.

The device for regulation 150 the standby temperature further comprises a time module (not shown) arranged to detect and discard the time between possible picking operations. The time module can detect the time between two possible picking operations and thus determine a time interval. This time interval can be used for example as a threshold to decide whether the hot water tank is to be controlled in a frost protection mode, ie the temperature can be controlled to a low, minimum value, which can lead to energy savings. Upon renewed detection of a removal process based on the flow signals from the flow sensor DFS, the hot water tank 100 be regulated in the normal mode, so that the user can get the desired hot water temperature.

According to one embodiment of the present invention is a method for controlling the temperature of the hot water tank 100 disclosed. First, the method includes setting a standby temperature (BT) of the hot water in the hot water tank 100 ,

In the manner described above then closes detecting a discharge characteristic from the hot water tank 100 at. The extraction characteristic is determined on the basis of flow information obtained by means of the flow detection device 160 or their sensors DFS is provided.

If no removal is detected in a time interval, the standby temperature is lowered. The time interval can be compared, for example, with a time threshold which can be preset by a user. After a subsequent removal, the standby temperature can be raised. This may correspond to a raise to the original value.

In embodiments, the device 150 adjusted to adjust to lower the standby temperature of the hot water storage linear to a minimum standby temperature, as long as no removal is detected. If the standby temperature is initially set to T _{0, soll} , then a current standby temperature T _soll results _, for example T _soll = T _{0, soll} - a × Et, where a represents the linearity coefficient that decides how fast the standby temperature should be lowered. The standby temperature T _{soll of} the hot water tank 100 For example, it can be lowered by at least 10 ° C if no withdrawals have been detected over a time interval of at least 24 hours. So it is possible the hot water tank 100 to be put into energy-saving mode after a long period of non-use, after a defined time the setpoint value of the storage tank temperature (standby temperature) is lowered, eg by 10 ° C per day.

The embodiment of 1 also has a frost protection limit to prevent any damage. The device 150 for adjustment is adjusted so that the standby temperature T _should not lower below a minimum antifreeze temperature T _min . Consequently, it is T _soll = max (T _min , T _{0, soll} - a × Et).

In the present embodiment, the device is 150 adjusted for adjustment to the standby temperature of the hot water tank 100 to decrease to the minimum standby temperature T _min , if no withdrawal was detected over a time interval of at least 72 hours. This corresponds to the holiday circuit already described above, which, for example, after 3 days of non-use in the antifreeze mode.

In addition, the device is 150 adapted for setting to the standby temperature T _to raise at regular time intervals to a minimum temperature to prevent the formation of such bacteria, germs, etc. Legionella.

The described method is in the embodiment e.g. implemented by means of a microcontroller, a microprocessor or the like. As such, the embodiment also includes a computer program for performing any of the above methods when the computer program is run on a programmable hardware component, such as a computer. a computer or a processor.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims and the drawings may be of importance both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various forms.

The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. It will be understood that modifications and variations of the arrangements and details described herein will be apparent to others of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by the specific details set forth in the description and explanation of the claims Embodiments have been presented herein is limited.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

 Hot water storage

110

 boiler

120

 Hot water drain or hot water tap

130

 Cold water supply

140

 Signal connection between DFS and device for regulation

150

 Device for regulating the standby temperature

150a

 time module

160

 Flow detector

DFS

 Flow Sensors

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10300041 A1 [0004]
• DE 4444987 C1 [0005]

Claims (11)

Hot water storage tank ( 100 ) for providing hot water with a device ( 150 ) for setting a standby temperature of the hot water and with a flow detection device ( 160 ) for providing flow information, characterized in that the device ( 150 ) is configured to adjust the standby temperature so as to evaluate flow information and consequently set the standby temperature. Hot water storage tank ( 100 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device ( 150 ) is configured to adjust the standby temperature to detect a removal operation of hot water based on flow information. Hot water storage tank ( 100 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device ( 150 ) for setting a standby temperature a time module ( 150a ) having. Hot water storage tank ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow detection device ( 160 ) has at least one flow sensor (DFS). Hot water storage tank ( 100 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one flow sensor (DFS) in a water inlet ( 130 ) and / or water drain ( 120 ) of the hot water tank is arranged. Hot water storage tank ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the device ( 150 ) is adapted to the setting to the standby temperature of the hot water tank ( 100 ) to lower by at least 10 ° C, if no withdrawal process has been recorded over a time interval of at least 24 hours. Hot water storage tank ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the device ( 150 ) is adapted to the setting to the standby temperature of the hot water tank ( 100 ) to a minimum standby temperature if no removal operation has been detected over a time interval of at least 72 hours. Hot water storage tank ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the device ( 150 ) is configured for adjustment so as not to lower the standby temperature below a minimum predetermined frost protection temperature. Method for controlling a standby temperature of a hot water storage tank ( 100 ) comprising: - setting a readiness temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage ( 100 ); - Detecting a removal process from the hot water tank ( 100 ) based on flow information; and lowering the standby temperature when no picking operation is detected in a predetermined time interval. The method of claim 9, further comprising: - raising the standby temperature after a detected removal process. A method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the flow information from a flow detection device ( 160 ) of the hot water storage tank ( 100 ) Will be received.

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