GB2185131A

GB2185131A - Control means

Info

Publication number: GB2185131A
Application number: GB08600142A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry James Bruder; Peter Denman Williams
Original assignee: Peter Albert Jones
Current assignee: Peter Albert Jones
Priority date: 1986-01-04
Filing date: 1986-01-04
Publication date: 1987-07-08
Also published as: GB8600142D0

Abstract

A control system for an energy consuming system such as an industrial or domestic central heating system comprises an energy consuming device such as a boiler (40), a boiler control (46) and control panel (47), an energy distribution unit, such as a "radiator" (50) is provided with a thermostatic valve (51) provided with heating means, such as resistive heating elements which may be energised from the control panel (47). An attenuated output of the radiator (50) may therefore be selected from the control panel (47). The system may further incorporate means to detect the output of heat from the energy consuming device (40) and the return of energy so as to automatically attenuate output from the or each energy distribution unit (50). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Control means The present invention relates to control means for an energy consuming system such as a heating system, a cooling system or air conditioning system.

The control means of the present invention is intended primarilyforthe control of an energyconsuming system in a domestic residence, an hotel, factory, offices or like building.

It is an object of the present invention to provide new or improved control means for an energy consuming system.

According to one aspect ofthe present invention, we provide a control system for an energy consuming system, said control system comprising: (a) a control panel having switch means; (b) a plurality of detecting means each adapted to detect the temperature in the vicinity of a respective energy distribution unit; (c) a plurality of attenuating means each adapted to attenuate the output of a respective energy distribution unit and wherein said switch means are operative to select or deselect an attenuated output for each said energy distribution unit.

When the control unit the subject of the present invention isto be used with a central heating system having a hot water circulation system, the energy distribution units may comprise radiators and the attenuating means may comprise valve means adapted to restrict the flow of hot waterthrough a respective radiator.

The valve means may comprise thermostatic valve means which incorporate detecting means to detect thetemperatureofthesurroundingairand,toclose or partly close the valve as the temperature of the surrounding air reaches a predetermined temperature.

Preferably, where such a valve is used means are provided to cause the valve to operate by supplying information to the detecting means to cause itto operate prematurely and as if said predetermined temperature had been reached.

Such means, mayfor examplecomprise a small electrical heater connected to or in proximity to temperature sensing means on thevalvewhich will raise the temperature ofthe air immediately adjacent to the sensing means to cause the valve to act as though the predetermined "high" airtemperature had been reached.

Such an electrical heater may be energised or deenergised as desired from the switch means on the control panel.

It is usual forthermostaticvalve means used in domestic and industrial central heating systems to have the detecting means located in the upper part of the valve which comprises a chamber containing a substance which will expand or otherwise change state as the temperature rises, the expansion or changing of state of the substance being operative to close the valve permitting water supply to the radiator.

Preferably, where the means for causing the valve to operate prematurely comprises an electrical hea ter,the electrical heater may be in theform of a small resistor and conveniently,to ensure accurate operation of the device, said electrical heater maycom- prise two or more heaters so as to substantiallysur- round the detecting means.

Conveniently, three resistors may be provided equally spaced around the detecting means.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro vide a new or improved control means in orforan energy consuming system to prevent or minimise energy consumed by the system.

According to the second aspect of the invention, we provide an energy consuming system comprising an energy consuming device and one or more energy distribution unit, wherein energy is supplied to the or each energy distribution units from said energy consuming device and a portion of said energy is returned from the or each distribution unit to said energy consuming device and wherein detecting means are provided and operative to provide information concerning the returned energy, and wherein means are provided to utilise said information to assist in the efficient operation of said energy consuming device.

Conveniently, further detecting means may be provided whereby the amount of energy supplied to said distribution units from said energy consuming unit is also monitored.

The sensing of the energy outpytfrom the energy consuming unit and energy returned may cause op eration ofthe energy consuming device to be altered in a manner of different ways.

It is envisaged that the information concerning the energy output and energy return may be used to operate the control system as aforediescribed to cause automatic operation of said switching means to select or de-select an attenuated outputforthe or each energy distribution unit.

It is further envisaged that information concerning the energy output and energy return when used in a central heating installation, for example, may cause one or more of the following to be altered: (a) an increase or reduction ofthe energy input to the energy consuming unit; (b) an alteration ofthe cycling time of the energy consuming unit (a change in the ratio 'off' to 'on' periods); (c) where the energy transfer is by means of water; (i) a difference in the temperature of the water circulated around the system; (ii) a change in the speed of the water being circulated around the system; (d) any otherfactorwhich may assist in the efficient operation ofthe energy consuming device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means to enable said energy consuming device to operate in a mannerto use fuel efficiently.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, we provide in or for an energy consuming device of the type adapted to use gas, oil or other combustible fuel, sensing means adapted to provide an output to cause operation ofsaidenergyconsuming unitor non-operation of said unit and delay means operativy when operation of said energy consuming device is initiated by said switching means to delayenergis ation for a predetermined period oftime.

Said delay means, which may comprise a timer unit, is operative to minimise the cycling of the energy consuming device, that is the number oftimes the energy consuming unit is switched on and off thereby minimising wasted fuel and an efficient burning of fuel that occurs when the device is energised.

Preferably, said delay means may be incorporated in control means as aforedescribed and used in conjunction with means sensing the energy sent to said energy distribution units and the energy returned thereby.

It is further envisaged that said control means may incorporate an electronic circuit and/or a microprocessor receiving input signals from an area to be heated or cooled etc., and on the basis of information received alterthe operation of the energy consuming unitto operate in an efficient manner, at the same time producing a desired temperature or otherwise controlled environmental condition.

One example of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa diagrammatic view of a control panel for use with the control means ofthe present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a thermostatic radiatorvalve and attenuating means; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a control system according to another aspect ofthe invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 1 shows a control panel 10 which may be suitable for a domestic central heating system, the control panel 10 having a pair of timers 11 apd 12, each timer having a plurality of variable switchesto enable,for example the central heating boiler, to be turned 'on' and 'off' for a plurality ofvariably adjustable periods.

The control panel 10 has a timer 11 adapted to control the heating in the upstairs of a house, for ex ample, andthetimer 12 forcontrolling the heating in the downstairs of a house.

The upstairs of a house may, for example, have four rooms or areas adapted to be heated by a respective energy distribution unit and each energy distribution unit may have a thermostatic valve, such asthevalve illustrated at 15 in Figure 2.

Each thermostatic valve will be provided with an electrical heater, shown schematically at 16, and which in practive would comprise three separate el ectrical resistances surrounding the temperature sensing device ofthe thermostatic valve 15 and the heaterwill be energised for each of the four areas in the upstairs by switches 17 to 20 respectively. Each ofthe switches 17 to 20, which may for example indicate a high and low position, depending on the position of the switch, may have designation means 21 to 24 respectively indicating the area to which the switch applies.

It is envisaged that in two bedrooms, for example those controlled by switches 17 and 18, which may be in use when it is desired to havethetemperature ata high value, then switches 17 and 18 may beoff thereby not energising the attenuating heater 1 thus allowing the thermostatic valve 15 to operate only when the room has reached the predetermined high temperature.

In the other two bedrooms, controlled by switches 19 and 20 which may not be in use, it may be preferred to keep the temperature low and the switches 19 and 20 are therefore switched on, energising the heater 16 and thus giving a "false" reading to the thermostat valve 15 which will close the water supplytothe radiator 26 prematurely. The switches 19 and 20 will therefore indicate a low temperature position.

Whereas the heater 16 is shown having a pair of wires, which obviously will be connected via the switches on the control panel 10toasourceof supply, it is envisaged that the pipes ofthe heating system may be used as one conductor (an earth) and a single additional wire will suffice, each wire passing through a respective switch to a source of relatively low voltage.

A similar control system may be operated forthe downstairs to the house and once again the control panel 10 is capable of dealing with four heated areas or four energy distribution units each controlled by a respective switch 30 to 33, each area being designated respectively at 34 to 37.

Whereas the control system may control separately, for example the upstairs or downstairs of a house, and also control separately, to a certain degree, each area or energy distribution unit in the upstairs or downstairs, a single energy consuming unit may be used and the upstairs and downstairs systems may be separated by a valve system, for example a motorised valve, operation of which may be caused by information from the timers 11 and 12 depending on whether it is the time for heating the re spectivearea and whether othertemperature sen- sing means, for example thermostats provided in the areas, call for heat.

The attenuated thermostatic radiator valve ofthe present invention and the control system to control the attenuation thus permits of three levels of heat from a heat distribution unit, i.e. a high level, a low or attenuated level and an off level. Since thethermostatic valve also provides a variable control itself the combination of the attenuating device and the thermostatic radiator valve permits of a very careful control ofthe heat output of a respective distribution unit.

Whereas the above control panel has been described with particular reference to a domestic residence, it will be appreciated that it is equally applicable for use in industrial premises, hotels and the like in which case there may be a considerable number of separate heat distribution units each provided with an attenuating thermostatic valve.

Referring now to Figure 3, a schematic diagram is shown of a more complex control system comprising an energy consuming unit, for example a domestic central heating boiler 40 which has a fuel input pipe 41, a fuel control and regulating valve 42, a heat output pipe 43 and heat return pipe 44, which pipes 43 and 44 may have hot water circulating therein, the water being circulated buy a pump 45.

The boiler is switched on and off by a solenoid valve 46 the operation of which is controlled from a control panel 47 which may well include the features as shown on control panel 10 and which it is envisaged will also incorporate a microprocessor and a plurality of further input signals from temperature sensing means and other devices to provide adequate feedback of the temperature being attained in the areas to be heated.

The control system illustrated also includes a heat sensing device 48to detect the temperature ofthe water in the output pipe 43, or possibly the flow rate in addition tothetemperatureto give a more accurate figure of the heat output of the energy consuming unit 40. similar device 49 is provided in the return pipe to enable a calculation ofthe heatdissipated in energy consuming units, one which is shown as a radiator at 50.

The radiator 50 may have an attenuating thermostatic valve 51 similar two that described at 15 with reference to Figure 2.

Additionally, but not shown, room thermostats operativeto give a signal when a predetermined air temperature has been reached may be provided and, input signals from such room thermostats, heat sen- sing device 48 and heat sensing device 49 may be fed to a control circuit, for example a microprocessor, in the control panel 47 which, depending on the information received, will send out control signalstocontrol the operation ofthe boilerto control thetimethat it is 'on', the time that it is 'off', the fuel supplied to the boiler and the rate of distribution of the water or whatever heat transfer medium is being used, by controlling, for example, the rate of activity ofthe pump 45, the effect of which is to maximise efficient use ofthe energy consuming unit.

It is further envisaged that the boiler control 46 may incorporate a delay device as aforedescribed to minimise cycling ofthe energy consuming unit.

Whereas the control system schematically described with reference to Figure 3 has once again been described with reference to a domestic central heating system, it is envisaged that it may be used on any heating, air conditioning or other environmental condition creating system eitherfordomesticorin- dustrial use.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or i n terms of a meansforper- forming the disclosed function, or a method or pro cess for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverseformsthereof.

Claims

1. A control system for an energy consuming system having a plurality of energy distribution units, said control system comprising: (a) a control panel having switch means; (b) a plurality of detecting means each adapted to detect the temperature in the vicinity of a respective energy distribution unit; (c) a plurality of attenuating means each adapted to attenuate the output of 9 respective energy distribution unit and wherein said switch means are operative to select or deselect an attenuated output for each of said energy distribution units.

2. Acontrol system according to Claim 1 wherein said energy consuming unit is a central heating system.

3. Acontrol system according to Claim 2wherein said central heating system comprises a flow path for hot fluid.

4. A control system according to Claim 3 wherein the energy distribution unit comprise "radiators".

5. Acontrol system according to Claim 3 or Claim 4wherein said attenuating means comprises valve means adapted to restrict the flow of fluid through a respective "radiator".

6. A control system according to Claim 5 wherein said valve means comprise thermostatic valve means incorporating detecting means to detectthe temperature of the surrounding airand,tocloseor partly close the valve as the temperature ofthe surrounding air reaches a predetermined temperature.

7. Acontrol system according to Claim 6wherein said switch means are operative to supply information to said detecting means to cause it to operate prematurely and as if said predetermined temperature had been reached.

8. A control system according to Claim 7 wherein said valve means comprise an electrically energised heater operative on energisation to raise thetem- perature of the air adjacent to the sensing means of said valve means.

9. A control system according to Claim 8wherein said electrically energised heater may be energised or de-energised from said switch means on the control panel.

10. A control system according to Claim 6 wherein said thermostatic valve means comprises a detecting means having a chamber containing a substance adapted to expand or otherwise change state as the temperature rises, the expansion or changing of state of such substance being operative to close the valve permitting flow of fluid to the "radiator".

11. Acontrol system according to Claim 10 wherein said valve further comprises an electrically energised heater adapted to be energised via said switch means on said control panel.

12. A control system according to Claim 11 wherein said heating means comprisesthree electrical resistors equally spaced around said detecting means.

13. An energy consuming system comprising an energy consuming device and one or more energy distribution unit, wherein energy is supplied to the or each energy distribution unit from said energy consuming device and a portion of said energy is returned from the or each distribution unit to said energy consuming device and wherein detecting means are provided and operative to provide information concerning the returned energy, and wherein means are provided to utilise said information to assist in the efficient operation of said energy consuming device.

14. An energy consuming system accordingto Claim 13 comprising further detecting means whereby the amount of energy supplied to said distribution units from said energy consuming unit is monitored.

15. An energy consuming system accordingto Claim 14wherein the sensing of the energy output from said energy consuming device and energy returned thereto is monitored and the information therefrom utilised to cause operation of said energy consuming device to be altered.

16. An energy consuming system incorporating a control system as claimed in anyone of Claims 1 to 12 and wherein information concerning the energy output and energy return from said energy consuming device is used to cause switching operations to take place to select or de-select an attenuated output for the or each energy distribution unit.

17. An energyconsumingsystem according to Claim 15 wherein the information concerning the energy output from and energy return to said energy consuming device is adapted to cause an increase or reduction ofthe energy input to the energy consuming device.

18. An energy consuming system according to Claim 15 wherein the information concerning the energy output from and energy return to said energy consuming device is adapted to cause an alteration of the cycling time ofthe energy consuming device.

19. An energy consuming system according to Claim 15 wherein the information concerning the energy output from and energy return to said energy consuming device is adapted to cause a difference in the temperature ofthe fluid circulated around a hot fluid transfer system or a change in the speed ofthe fluid being circulated around said system.

20. In orfor an energy consuming device of the type adapted to use gas, oil or other combustible fuel, sensing means adapted to provide an output to cause operation of said energy consuming device or non-operation of said device and delay means oper alive when operation of said energy consuming device is initiated by said sensing means to delay en ergisation for a predetermined period of time.

21. In orforan energyconsuming devicedeiay means according to Claim 20 comprising a timer unit operative to minimise the cycling of the energy consuming device.

22. Delay means according to Claim 20 or Claim 21 in combination with a control system according to any one of Claims 1 to 12.

23. Delay means according to Claim 20 or Claim 21 in or for an energy consuming system according to anyone of Claims 13to 19.

24. A control system substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

25. An energy consuming system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

26. Delay means for an energy consuming device substantially as hereinbefore described with referenceto and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

27. A control system including any novel feature of novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

28. An energy consuming system including any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

29. Delay means for an energy consuming device including any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.