GB2545628A - Improvements in or relating to heating or cooling systems - Google Patents

Improvements in or relating to heating or cooling systems Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2545628A
GB2545628A GB1518710.7A GB201518710A GB2545628A GB 2545628 A GB2545628 A GB 2545628A GB 201518710 A GB201518710 A GB 201518710A GB 2545628 A GB2545628 A GB 2545628A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
heating
cooling
cooling apparatus
duty cycle
control device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB1518710.7A
Other versions
GB2545628A9 (en
GB201518710D0 (en
GB2545628B (en
Inventor
William Wallis Glen
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TECHNIK2 Ltd
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TECHNIK2 Ltd
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Priority to GB1518710.7A priority Critical patent/GB2545628B/en
Publication of GB201518710D0 publication Critical patent/GB201518710D0/en
Publication of GB2545628A publication Critical patent/GB2545628A/en
Publication of GB2545628A9 publication Critical patent/GB2545628A9/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2545628B publication Critical patent/GB2545628B/en
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D19/00—Details
    • F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
    • F24D19/1051—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for domestic hot water
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F24F11/46—Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D19/00—Details
    • F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
    • F24D19/1009—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for central heating
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D19/00—Details
    • F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
    • F24D19/1066—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for the combination of central heating and domestic hot water
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/62—Control or safety arrangements characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D29/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
    • G05D23/00—Control of temperature
    • G05D23/19—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
    • G05D23/1919—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means characterised by the type of controller
    • G05D23/1923—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means characterised by the type of controller using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J3/00—Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
    • H02J3/12—Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
    • H02J3/14—Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
    • F24F2110/10—Temperature
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B2219/00—Program-control systems
    • G05B2219/20—Pc systems
    • G05B2219/26—Pc applications
    • G05B2219/2614—HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J2310/00—The network for supplying or distributing electric power characterised by its spatial reach or by the load
    • H02J2310/50—The network for supplying or distributing electric power characterised by its spatial reach or by the load for selectively controlling the operation of the loads
    • H02J2310/54—The network for supplying or distributing electric power characterised by its spatial reach or by the load for selectively controlling the operation of the loads according to a pre-established time schedule
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J2310/00—The network for supplying or distributing electric power characterised by its spatial reach or by the load
    • H02J2310/50—The network for supplying or distributing electric power characterised by its spatial reach or by the load for selectively controlling the operation of the loads
    • H02J2310/56—The network for supplying or distributing electric power characterised by its spatial reach or by the load for selectively controlling the operation of the loads characterised by the condition upon which the selective controlling is based
    • H02J2310/62—The condition being non-electrical, e.g. temperature
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
    • Y02B30/70—Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B70/00—Technologies for an efficient end-user side electric power management and consumption
    • Y02B70/30—Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B70/00—Technologies for an efficient end-user side electric power management and consumption
    • Y02B70/30—Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
    • Y02B70/3225—Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y04—INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TECHNOLOGY AREAS
    • Y04S—SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS
    • Y04S20/00—Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
    • Y04S20/20—End-user application control systems
    • Y04S20/222—Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y04—INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TECHNOLOGY AREAS
    • Y04S—SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS
    • Y04S20/00—Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
    • Y04S20/20—End-user application control systems
    • Y04S20/242—Home appliances
    • Y04S20/244—Home appliances the home appliances being or involving heating ventilating and air conditioning [HVAC] units

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Fuzzy Systems (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
  • Control Of Temperature (AREA)

Abstract

Energy saving means in the form of a control device 1 comprises a CPU 2 which is programmed with system information from heating and/or cooling apparatus. The system information comprises duty cycle, temperature, or current information and is used by the CPU 2 to determine a time span that the heating and/or cooling apparatus is activated during a peak rate time period. The CPU 2 may calculate an off time period of the heating and/or cooling apparatus based on the duty cycle, temperature, or current information. The heating and/or cooling apparatus may be switched by relays 14, 15. The control device 1 may comprise a memory to store historical duty cycle data over different periods so that a service engineer may view the efficiency of the system.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO HEATING OR COOLING SYSTEMS
This invention relates to improvements in or relating to heating or cooling systems and is more particularly but not exclusively concerned with apparatus for saving energy or enabling a heating/cooling system to run more efficiently while meeting required needs.
At present, both domestic and commercial heating/cooling systems (and other cooling apparatus such as chilled vending machines, chilled shop cabinets, fridges and freezers, etc) may run off energy ( mains electricity) which may cost considerably more during peak load periods (peak rate) than during off peak load periods (off peak or standard rate); energy may cost more at a peak rate period e.g between 5.00pm and 7.00 pm each day, when there is an increased demand for energy supply. A standard time clock could be used to regulate and switch the system off during peak rate periods but this tends to be disadvantageous as this would not take into account how the cooling / heating apparatus is being used at the time before the clock switches the system off. Some cooling/heating equipment may be running at full capacity (or near full capacity) just prior to entering a peak rate period and should not be turned off. It is believed in current heating/cooling systems that, disadvantageous^, energy tends to be wasted out of working hours. Furthermore, it tends to be disadvantageous that valuable information regarding the working history of the heating/cooling system is not readily available to a service engineer.
It is an object of the present invention to at least alleviate one or more of the aforementioned, or other, disadvantages associated with heating/cooling apparatus, or to provide energy saving means and or a heating/cooling apparatus which is improved in at least some respect.
According to the present invention there is provided energy saving means in the form of a control device for a heating and/or cooling apparatus, said device comprising a central processing unit (CPU) programmed or programmable with system information regarding the heating and/or cooling apparatus, said system information being the duty cycle and/or temperature information and/or current information connected with the apparatus, said CPU being arranged, in use, to allow the heating and/or cooling apparatus to be switched on or activated during a peak rate time period for a time span determined by the CPU according to said system information.
Further according to die present invention there is provided heating and/or cooling apparatus having an energy saving means in accordance with the immediately preceding paragraph.
Thus, said control device may reduce energy wastage at out of working hour periods of the heating and/or cooling apparatus.
Advantageously, embodiments of the control device may use an algorithm within the CPU chip to calculate seemingly the best possible off time period for the heating/cooling apparatus, by using the duty cycle and/or temperature information and/or current information.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the given calculation is arranged to vary the energy saving off time period in proportion to the given duty cycle and/or temperature and/or current.. A first relay or electronic switch may be provided in said control device for switching the heating and/or cooling apparatus on or off. Preferably, a second relay or electronic switch is provided to switch on or activate the heating and/or cooling apparatus on for a time period before a peak energy cost period, if the duty cycle levels indicate this is required.
Thus, advantageously, the control device may be installed on many different types of heating / cooling systems.
Preferably, die control device has a memory in which can be stored the historical duty cycle of the heating and/or cooling system over different time periods, to enable a service engineer to view the system efficiency over e.g. the last hour, 24 hours, 30 days or so since installation of the control device in the heating and/or cooling apparatus.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided energy saving means in the form of a control device for a heating and/or cooling apparatus, the control device having a memory in which can be stored the historical duty cycle of the heating and/or cooling system over different time periods, to enable a service engineer to view the system efficiency of said apparatus.
Further according to the present invention there is provided heating/cooling apparatus having a control device in accordance with the immediately preceding paragraph.
Many advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings.
Embodiments of energy saving means in the form of a control device for a heating and/or cooling apparatus and heating and/or cooling apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic or schematic drawings in which:- FIGURE 1 shows a schematic overview a first embodiment a control device in accordance with the present invention, FIGURE 2 shows an example graph of a heating/cooling control device duty cycle, and FIGURE 3 shows an example of a duty cycle for a cellar cooling system at 50%, 75% and 100% duty cycles with a peak energy cost period. FIGURE 1 shows a schematic overview of energy saving means in the form of a control device 1 having a CPU 2, in use programmed with system information regarding the heating and/or cooling apparatus (not shown). The control device 1 is effectively an energy saving automatic heating/cooling lockout device.
In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, system information regarding the duty cycle of the heating and/or cooling apparatus can be input to the CPU 2 as shown at block 3 and temperature information can be input to the CPU via the temperature sensor at block 4. Settings and menu buttons for the CPU 2 are provided at block 5 and LED display status buttons for the CPU 2 are shown at 6a, 6b and 6c.
Information regarding heating or cooling contact is input to the CPU 2 via block 7; the duty cycle is input via block 7 with the call for heating/cooling contact, and/or current information is input via the current sensor at block 13, and/or temperature information is input via the temperature sensor at block 4. The CPU 2 can be input with the current time via block 8.
In this embodiment, the CPU can be used to store duty cycle history as shown at block 9 accessible (viewable) via the LCD display 11 (see also block 12 for setting pages of the LCD 11) on input of a passcode (see block 10) by a service engineer.
The CPU 2 is arranged to control a first relay 14 (this could be an electronic switch) to switch off or de-activate the heating and/or cooling system (e.g. to stop heating or an outside condenser from working as the case may be). The CPU 2 will calculate if the off times need to be reduced or bypassed from the duty cycle history and/or temperature sensor information from sensor 4. A second relay 15 (this could be an electronic switch) may be provided as an option, for supplying a heating/cooling boost if this is required before a peak energy cost period. Relay 15 can activate or force the heating/cooling system on for a time period before the peak energy cost period and this may be set or automatically triggered by a high duty cycle or read from temperature sensor 4.
An Example of how the control device 1 could be used is discussed below: - 1. A Cooling system in a cellar used to store beer etc.
Such known cooling systems have a inside evaporator with fan to blow the cooled air round the cellar and have an outdoor condenser unit to cool the refrigerant before returning it back to the inside evaporator. The control device 1 could be installed either on the outside condenser or on the indoor evaporator unit. On installation, the required peak rate times and working hours energy saving off times could be set in the program for the CPU 2 and the method of control could be selected. The control device 1 would be connected via a relay contact 14 (or electronic switch) in-between the call for cooling control signal and the outside condenser unit so when the contact is closed the cooling would operate as normal and when the contact is open the cooling would be prevented from coming on. The call for cooling signal from the evaporator would also provide the data to calculate the real time duty cycle of the cooling system. This may be calculated by measuring the time within the last hour the signal was on, if the signal on times added up to 30 minutes in the last 60 minutes (hour) then the real time duty cycle would be 50% per hour; this would indicate to the device 1 that the cooling system is working efficiently and could be turned off for the full period e.g. between 5.00pm and 7.00pm or for the frill out of hours off times. On a warm day the cooling system would be working harder say a duty cycle of 80% so the device 1 would be arranged to proportionally reduce the energy saving off time periods accordingly. An optional temperature sensor 4 could monitor the room temperature or working medium and automatically cancel the off period at ant time the temperature drops or increases passed a safety set point. FIGURE 2 shows a graph of how the data could be used to vary the energy saving off times.
As should be apparent from FIGURE 2, heating and/or cooling apparatus could be set to turn off at peak energy cost periods of e.g. 2 hours and working at a duty of around 50% would turn the apparatus off for the full 2 hours. A system working at 75% would reduce the off period to 1 hour. This graph is a standard straight line graph that represents the particular algorithm utilised in the CPU 2 and which can readily be set up by any PIC engineer. FIGURE 3 shows an example of a cellar cooling system at 50%, 75% and 100% duty cycle with a peak energy cost period. As the duty cycle increases the off period is automatically reduced. The systems duty cycle will vary each day, each hour due to the outside weather and the current conditions of the cellar, for example if cellar doors are left open or beer delivery has just been delivered into the cellar. A second example of how the control the device 1 could be used is given below:-2, Air conditioning for heating or cooling in a public house, club, school, office etc.
Known air-conditioning systems work in a generally similar manner to that as discussed in example 1 with said system cooling rooms or processes. If the air-conditioning system is set to cool a room to 21 °C on a warm day the device 1 would log the duty cycle and again the algorithm would look at the duty cycle over the last hour to calculate if the outside condenser can be turned off at the peak energy period times. If the air-conditioning system is left on out of working hours the device 1 would check the working hour times as set up on installation and automatically turn off the outside condenser. A further example of how the control device 1 could be used is given below. 2, A hot water tank heated by mains electricity.
The control device 1 would look at the heater duty cycle to make the calculation to turn the heating off for the full peak energy period or just a proportion of the peak period. The second temperature sensor would look at the working medium (hot water) to confirm it is holding the correct set temperature, and if the temperature suddenly drops the off period would be automatically be cancelled.
Yet a further example of how the control device 1 could be used is in a drink or food chilled vending machine. The control device 1 could be set up to save energy within the peak periods and out of working hours.
Advantageously, benefits of using embodiments of the control device in accordance with the present invention may be as follows :-1 .Energy savings within the peak energy cost periods. 2. Energy savings to prevent cooling / heating systems running out of working hours. 3. Variation of the cooling / heating off times by using a calculation from the system duty cycle, current and or a temperature sensor. 4. Less wear and tear on cooling / heating equipment. 5. The control device may be engineer set and the settings locked via a pass code so staff could not override the settings. 6.Service engineers may be able to view the duty cycle history to see if the system efficiency has reduced or increased since last service. 7. The device data may be used to trial different equipment in system, cellars etc. to achieve seemingly the best possible duty cycles.
Advantageously, embodiments of the control device in accordance with the present invention may provide :- 1, A device designed to reduce energy costs at peak energy cost periods and out of working hours. 2, A device designed to reduce energy costs at peak energy cost periods and out of working hours and that uses the systems duty cycle collected from the call for heating or cooling signal or using a temperature sensor of the systems feed or return temperature; alternatively or additionally data could be controlled from a current sensor or using a temperature sensor of the system’s room, air, medium, feed or return temperature. 3, A device designed to reduce energy costs at peak energy cost periods and out of working hours and that can automatically vary the off times by using the duty cycle or temperature data. 4, A device designed to reduce energy costs at peak energy cost periods and out of working hours and that can prevent the off period from happening if the cooling / heating system is working hard at full or near full capacity. 5, A device designed to reduce energy costs at peak energy cost periods and out of working hours and that can force a system to cool or heat for a time period before the peak energy cost off period starts. 6, A device designed to reduce energy costs at peak energy cost periods and out of working hours and/or that has a display or connection to a hand held device, tablet or computer etc with display to read out the cooling / heating system duty cycle for servicing data etc.
It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not to be unduly limited by the particular choice of terminology and that a specific term may be replaced or supplemented by an equivalent or generic term. The term ‘heating/cooling system’ is not meant to be unduly limiting and may cover any heating/cooling device or arrangement, apparatus or machine. Further it is to be understood that individual features, method or functions relating to the energy saving means or heating and/or cooling apparatus might be individually patentably inventive. The singular may include the plural and vice versa. Additionally, any range mentioned herein for any parameter or variable shall be taken to include a disclosure of any derivable sub-range within that range or of any particular value of the variable or parameter arranged within, or at an end of, the range or sub-range.
Therefore, still further according to the present invention there is provided energy saving means in the form of a control device for a heating and/or cooling apparatus, said device being arranged, in use, to utilise system information regarding the heating and/or cooling apparatus to allow the heating and/or cooling apparatus to be switched on or activated during a peak rate time period for a time span determined by the control device according to said system information, said system information being the duty cycle and/or temperature information and/or current information connected with the apparatus.
Still further according to the present invention there is provided a method of saving energy in heating and/or cooling apparatus by utilising system information about the heating and/or cooling apparatus to switch on or activate the heating and/or cooling apparatus during a peak rate time period for a time span determined according to said system information, said system information being the duty cycle and/or temperature information and/or current information connected with the apparatus.
Still further according to the present invention there is provided heating/cooling apparatus in which the heating/cooling off times are variable in use using a calculation from the system duty cycle and/or temperature information and/or current information or there is provided a control device for varying said heating/cooling off times of such a heating/cooling system. It is believed such a control device and/or heating/cooling apparatus is advantageous since the off times are not simply controlled by a timer, as previously explained earlier in this specification.
It is possible that the system information may additionally or alternatively comprise information from a different variable parameter (other than duty cycle, temperature, current) indicative of the state of the heating/cooling apparatus.

Claims (16)

1. Energy saving means in the form of a control device for a heating and/or cooling apparatus, said device comprising a central processing unit (CPU) programmed or programmable with system information regarding the heating and/or cooling apparatus, said system information being the duty cycle and/or temperature information and/or current information connected with the apparatus, said CPU being arranged, in use, to allow the heating and/or cooling apparatus to be switched on or activated during a peak rate time period for a time span determined by the CPU according to said system information.
2. Means as claimed in Claiml having an algorithm within the CPU to calculate seemingly the best possible off time period for the heating/cooling apparatus, by using the duty cycle and/or temperature information and/or current information.
3. Means as claimed in Claim 2 in which the calculation is arranged to vary the energy saving off time period in proportion to the given duty cycle and/or temperature and/or current.
4. Means as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in which a first relay or I electronic switch is provided in said control device for switching the heating and/or cooling apparatus on or off.
5. Means as claimed in Claim 4 in which a second relay or electronic switch is provided to switch on or activate the heating and/or cooling apparatus for a time period before a peak energy cost period, if the duty cycle levels indicate this is required.
6. Means as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims having a memory in which can be stored the historical duty cycle of the heating and/or cooling system over different time periods.
7. Energy saving means in the form of a control device substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURE 1 of the accompanying drawings.
8. Means as claimed in Claim 7 having the heating/cooling control duty cycle substantially as shown in FIGURE 2 of the accompanying drawings.
9. Means as claimed in claim 7 having any one of the duty cycles substantially as shown in FIGURE 3 of the accompanying drawings.
10. Energy saving means in the form of a control device for a heating and/or cooling apparatus, the control device having a memory in which can be stored the historical duty cycle of the heating and/or cooling system over different time periods, to enable a service engineer to view the system efficiency of said apparatus.
11. Heating/cooling apparatus having energy saving means in accordance with tp6 any one of the preceding Claims.
12. Energy saving means in the form of a control device for a heating and/or cooling apparatus, said device being arranged, in use, to utilise system information regarding the heating and/or cooling apparatus to allow the heating and/or cooling apparatus to be switched on or activated during a peak rate time period for a time span determined by the control device according to said system information, said system information being the duty cycle and/or temperature information and/or current information connected with the apparatus.
13. A method of saving energy in heating and/or cooling apparatus by utilising system information about the heating and/or cooling apparatus to switch on or activate the heating and/or cooling apparatus during a peak rate time period for a time span determined according to said system information, said system information being the duty cycle and/or temperature information and/or current information connected with the apparatus.
14. A method as claimed in Claim 14 and substantially as herein described.
15. Heating/cooling apparatus in which the heating/cooling off times are variable in use using a calculation from the system duty cycle and/or temperature information and/or current information.
16. A control device for varying said heating/cooling off times of the heating/'cooling system as claimed in Claim 15.
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Citations (6)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1396868A (en) * 1972-04-06 1975-06-11 Gkn Building Supplies Services Heating systems
GB2225097A (en) * 1988-11-17 1990-05-23 Imi Range Ltd Water heating apparatus
US4940079A (en) * 1988-08-11 1990-07-10 Phenix Heat Pump Systems, Inc. Optimal control system for refrigeration-coupled thermal energy storage
US20030178408A1 (en) * 2002-03-22 2003-09-25 Ghent Bobby A. Demand side management of water heater systems
US20050005621A1 (en) * 2003-07-10 2005-01-13 Jayadev Tumkur S. Strategic-response control system for regulating air conditioners for economic operation
US20100004790A1 (en) * 2008-07-01 2010-01-07 Carina Technology, Inc. Water Heater Demand Side Management System

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US20120016524A1 (en) * 2010-07-16 2012-01-19 General Electric Company Thermal time constraints for demand response applications

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1396868A (en) * 1972-04-06 1975-06-11 Gkn Building Supplies Services Heating systems
US4940079A (en) * 1988-08-11 1990-07-10 Phenix Heat Pump Systems, Inc. Optimal control system for refrigeration-coupled thermal energy storage
GB2225097A (en) * 1988-11-17 1990-05-23 Imi Range Ltd Water heating apparatus
US20030178408A1 (en) * 2002-03-22 2003-09-25 Ghent Bobby A. Demand side management of water heater systems
US20050005621A1 (en) * 2003-07-10 2005-01-13 Jayadev Tumkur S. Strategic-response control system for regulating air conditioners for economic operation
US20100004790A1 (en) * 2008-07-01 2010-01-07 Carina Technology, Inc. Water Heater Demand Side Management System

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