SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HYDRONIC SYSTEMS HAVING MULTIPLE SOURCES AND MULTIPLE LOADS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hydronic system, comprising:
- a plurality of sources, selected from the group consisting of an on-demand source, a semi-on-demand source, and an intermittent source;
a plurality of source sensors that are positioned to measure properties of the plurality of sources;
a plurality of loads that are fluidly or thermally coupled to the plurality of sources;
a plurality of load sensors that are positioned to measure properties of the plurality of loads; and
a controller that communicates with the plurality of sources, the plurality of source sensors, the plurality of loads and the plurality of load sensors, the controller comprising;
a sensor interface that communicates with the plurality of source sensors and the plurality of load sensors to receive source sensor data and load sensor data;
a monitoring module that monitors the sensor data in substantially real-time;
an alert module that generates an alert signal if the sensor data is different from predefined sensor threshold values;
a ranking module that ranks the sources and the loads;
a temperature setpoint module that contains preselected values for at least one of the plurality of loads;
a trigger module that generates a trigger signal if the preselected values from the temperature setpoint module are different from the measured properties received from the corresponding load; and
an actuator module that communicates with the alert module, the ranking module and the trigger module and generates a control signal to fluidly or thermally couple selected ones of the plurality of sources to selected ones of the plurality of loads, or to fluidly or thermally decouple the plurality of sources and loads.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided to control hydronic systems having a plurality of sources, including at least one of an on-demand source, a semi-on-demand source, and an intermittent source that are fluidly or thermally coupled to a plurality of load zones. The hydronic system device obtains performance measurements for system components to provide system metrics, including failure diagnostics, energy capture, and usage optimization. The hydronic system device may also calculate British Thermal Units produced and used by the plurality of sources and loads to calculate incentives, including renewable energy credits.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A hydronic system, comprising:
-
a plurality of sources, selected from the group consisting of an on-demand source, a semi-on-demand source, and an intermittent source; a plurality of source sensors that are positioned to measure properties of the plurality of sources; a plurality of loads that are fluidly or thermally coupled to the plurality of sources; a plurality of load sensors that are positioned to measure properties of the plurality of loads; and a controller that communicates with the plurality of sources, the plurality of source sensors, the plurality of loads and the plurality of load sensors, the controller comprising; a sensor interface that communicates with the plurality of source sensors and the plurality of load sensors to receive source sensor data and load sensor data; a monitoring module that monitors the sensor data in substantially real-time; an alert module that generates an alert signal if the sensor data is different from predefined sensor threshold values; a ranking module that ranks the sources and the loads; a temperature setpoint module that contains preselected values for at least one of the plurality of loads; a trigger module that generates a trigger signal if the preselected values from the temperature setpoint module are different from the measured properties received from the corresponding load; and an actuator module that communicates with the alert module, the ranking module and the trigger module and generates a control signal to fluidly or thermally couple selected ones of the plurality of sources to selected ones of the plurality of loads, or to fluidly or thermally decouple the plurality of sources and loads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A controller for a hydronic system that communicates with a plurality of sources, selected from the group consisting of an on-demand source, a semi-on-demand source, and an intermittent source, a plurality of source sensors that are positioned to measure properties of the plurality of sources, a plurality of loads that are fluidly or thermally coupled to the plurality of sources, a plurality of load sensors that are positioned to measure properties of the plurality of loads, the controller comprising:
-
a sensor interface that communicates with the plurality of source sensors and the plurality of load sensors to receive source sensor data and load sensor data; a monitoring module that monitors the sensor data in substantially real-time; an alert module that generates an alert signal if the sensor data is different from predefined sensor threshold values; a ranking module that ranks the sources and the loads; a temperature setpoint module that contains preselected values regarding at least one of the plurality of loads; a trigger module that generates a trigger signal if the preselected values from the temperature setpoint module is different from the measured properties received from the corresponding load; and an actuator module that communicates with the alert module, the ranking module and the trigger module and generates a control signal to fluidly or thermally couple selected ones of the plurality of sources to selected ones of the plurality of loads or to fluidly or thermally decouple the plurality of sources and loads. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of managing a hydronic system, comprising:
-
providing a plurality of sources, selected from the group consisting of an on-demand source, a semi-on-demand source, and an intermittent source; providing a plurality of sensors that are positioned to measure properties of the plurality of sources; providing a plurality of loads that are fluidly or thermally coupled to the plurality of sources; providing a plurality of load sensors that are positioned to measure properties of the plurality of loads; and providing a controller that communicates with the plurality of sources, the plurality of source sensors, the plurality of loads and the plurality of load sensors, the controller performing the steps of; communicating with the plurality of source sensors and the plurality of load sensors to receive source sensor data and load sensor data; monitoring the sensor data in substantially real-time; generating an alert signal if the sensor data is different from predefined sensor threshold values; ranking the sources and the loads; receiving preselected values from at least one of the plurality of loads; generating a trigger signal if the preselected values received from at least one of the plurality of loads is different from the measured properties received from the corresponding load; and generating a control signal to fluidly or thermally couple selected ones of the plurality of sources to selected ones of the plurality of loads, or to fluidly or thermally decouple the plurality of sources and loads based on the alert signal, the trigger signal, the source and load ranking, and a set of rules maintained by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification