CONTROLLED HYDRONIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

• US 20160054009A1
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belimo Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Optimum Energy LLC
• Inventors: Dempster, Ian, Rothman, Nathan F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,810,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/029 for pumps operating in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1012 by regulating the speed of a pump
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1015 using a valve or valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/36 to leakage of heat-exchange fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/02 for circulating liquids, e.g. brine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump

Abstract

A hydronic distribution system includes self-regulating valves networked together and operable to share valve temperature and valve position information with a microprocessor or other type of controller. The microprocessor runs one or more algorithms that process the temperatures and positions of the valves and then computes a desired speed for one or more variable speed pumps within the system. Controlling the pumps to operate at the desired speed and still maintain the correct amount of process fluid flow needed by the system reduces the overall energy use of the hydronic distribution system, saves on the operational lives of the pumps, and increases system efficiency.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium on which are stored instructions that, when executed by a microprocessor, enable the microprocessor to perform a method of controlling a hydronic distribution system, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining in real time, from one or more of a plurality of self-regulating valves arranged in a network, valve information characterizing the respective position of the one or more self-regulating valves and respective exit temperature of fluid passing through the one or more self-regulating valves;

determining from at least a portion of the valve information whether the position of one or more of the self-regulating valves is increasing;

if the position of one or more of the self-regulating valves is determined to be increasing, providing a signal to one or more pumps to increase the speed of the one or more pumps by an amount corresponding to the amount of increase of the position of the one or more self-regulating valves;

if the position of one or more of the self-regulating valves is determined to be not increasing, determining whether the position of the one or more valves is decreasing;

if the position of the one or more valves is decreasing, providing a signal to the one or more pumps to decrease the speed of the one or more pumps of a set of pumps by an amount corresponding to the amount of decrease of the position of the one or more self-regulating valves;

obtaining pump information from the one or more pumps;

(a) determining from at least a portion of the pump information whether it is more efficient to decrease a process set-point temperature;

(b) if it is determined to be more efficient to decrease a process set-point temperature, providing a signal to the system to decrease the process set-point temperature;

(c) if it is determined to be not more efficient to decrease a process set-point temperature, determining whether it is more efficient to increase the process set-point temperature;

(d) if it is determined to be more efficient to increase the process set-point temperature, providing a signal to the system to increase the process set-point temperature;

(e) if it is determined to be more efficient to increase the process set-point temperature, then repeating steps (a)-(d);

determining from the valve information and pump information whether a subset of pumps of the set of pumps should be brought online to increase the efficiency of the system;

if it is determined that a subset of pumps of the set of pumps should be brought online to increase the efficiency of the system, bringing the subset of pumps online;

determining from the valve information and pump information whether a subset of pumps of the set of pumps should be taken offline to increase the efficiency of the system; and

if it is determined that a subset of pumps of the set of pumps should be taken offline to increase the efficiency of the system, bringing the subset of pumps offline.

2. The medium of claim 1, wherein the pump information comprises at least one of speed and power draw.

3. The medium of claim 1, wherein the steps of providing a signal to the one or more pumps to decrease the speed of the one or more pumps of a set of pumps by an amount corresponding to the amount of decrease of the position of the one or more self-regulating valves and obtaining pump information from the one or more pumps are performed contemporaneously.

4. A system for controlling a hydronic distribution system, the system comprising the steps of:

a first module configured to obtain in real time, from one or more of a plurality of self-regulating valves arranged in a network, valve information characterizing the respective position of the one or more self-regulating valves and respective exit temperature of fluid passing through the one or more self-regulating valves, determine from at least a portion of the valve information whether the position of one or more of the self-regulating valves is increasing, provide a signal, if the position of one or more of the self-regulating valves is determined to be increasing, to one or more pumps to increase the speed of the one or more pumps by an amount corresponding to the amount of increase of the position of the one or more self-regulating valves, determine, if the position of one or more of the self-regulating valves is determined to be not increasing, whether the position of the one or more valves is decreasing, and provide, if the position of the one or more valves is decreasing, a signal to the one or more pumps to decrease the speed of the one or more pumps of a set of pumps by an amount corresponding to the amount of decrease of the position of the one or more self-regulating valves;

a second module configured to obtain pump information from the one or more pumps,

(a) determine from at least a portion of the pump information whether it is more efficient to decrease a process set-point temperature,

(b) if it is determined to be more efficient to decrease a process set-point temperature, provide a signal to the system to decrease the process set-point temperature,

(c) if it is determined to be not more efficient to decrease a process set-point temperature, determine whether it is more efficient to increase the process set-point temperature,

(d) if it is determined to be more efficient to increase the process set-point temperature, provide a signal to the system to increase the process set-point temperature,

(e) if it is determined to be more efficient to increase the process set-point temperature, then repeat steps (a)-(d); and

a third module configured to determine from the valve information and pump information whether a subset of pumps of the set of pumps should be brought online to increase the efficiency of the system, bring the subset of pumps online if it is determined that a subset of pumps of the set of pumps should be brought online to increase the efficiency of the system, determine from the valve information and pump information whether a subset of pumps of the set of pumps should be taken offline to increase the efficiency of the system, and bring the subset of pumps offline if it is determined that a subset of pumps of the set of pumps should be taken offline to increase the efficiency of the system.