Method and apparatus for controlling a multi-source heating system
First Claim
1. A method for heating an enclosure, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of zones serviced by a ventilation system that is configured to individually control the air supply to each zone, the ventilation system being supplied by a heat pump source and an auxiliary heat source, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining if one or more of the zones require additional heat;
if there is at least one zone requiring additional heat;
determining whether the heat pump source can provide sufficient heat for the one or more zones that require additional heat;
if the heat pump source can provide sufficient heat, using the heat pump source to individually provide the required additional heat to the one or more zones requiring additional heat; and
if the heat pump source cannot provide sufficient heat, using the auxiliary heat source to provide at least part of the required additional heat.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed at methods and apparatus for controlling multi-source heating systems. The multi-source heating systems of the present invention may include two or more heat sources such as a heat pump, a furnace, an electric heating strip, or any other suitable heat source. An illustrative system includes a multi-zone, multi-source heating system. The illustrative system may determine which of the multiple sources to use depending on a number of factors. Some illustrative factors include information about zones calling for heat, external environment information, and information about the heat sources. One of the heat sources may be, for example, a heat pump, and a determination of whether to activate the heat pump may include determining the current heating capacity of the heat pump and comparing the heating capacity to the amount of heat needed to satisfy the current heat calls. Methods for determining which of at least two heat sources to use are also provided. Additional embodiments include methods for controlling multiple-source heating systems, and systems for providing heat with multiple sources.
128 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A method for heating an enclosure, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of zones serviced by a ventilation system that is configured to individually control the air supply to each zone, the ventilation system being supplied by a heat pump source and an auxiliary heat source, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining if one or more of the zones require additional heat;
if there is at least one zone requiring additional heat;
determining whether the heat pump source can provide sufficient heat for the one or more zones that require additional heat;
if the heat pump source can provide sufficient heat, using the heat pump source to individually provide the required additional heat to the one or more zones requiring additional heat; and
if the heat pump source cannot provide sufficient heat, using the auxiliary heat source to provide at least part of the required additional heat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method for heating an enclosure, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of zones serviced by a ventilation system that is configured to individually control the air supply to each zone, the ventilation system being supplied by a first heat source and a second heat source, the method comprising the steps of:
-
identifying which of the zones are calling for additional heat;
determining if the first heat source has adequate heating capacity to provide the additional heat to the calling zones;
providing the additional heat individually to the calling zones with the first heat source if the first heat source has adequate heating capacity; and
providing at least some of the additional heat individually to the calling zones with the second heat source if the first heat source does not have adequate heating capacity. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of heating an enclosure, the method comprising:
-
providing a first heat source;
providing a second heat source;
providing a third heat source;
defining a number of zones for heating;
providing a ventilation system adapted for supplying air to the number of zones;
providing environmental sensors for each zone;
capturing information with the environmental sensors;
determining whether any zones require additional heat; and
, if any zones require additional heat;
determining whether the first heat source alone can provide sufficient heat to the zones that require additional heat and, if the first heat source alone can provide sufficient heat, activating only the first heat source to provide the additional heat; and
if not,determining whether the first heat source in combination with the second heat source can provide sufficient heat to the zones that require additional heat and, if the first heat source in combination with the second heat source can provide sufficient heat, using the first heat source in combination with the second heat source to provide the additional heat, and if not, using the third heat source alone or in combination with the second heat source and/or first heat source to provide the additional heat to the zones that require additional heat. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method of heating a space using multiple heating sources, the method comprising:
-
providing a first heat source and a second heat source;
determining whether additional heat is needed to warm the space;
predicting an amount of additional heat needed to warm the space;
determining whether the first heat source has sufficient capacity to provide the amount of additional heat;
if the first heat source has sufficient capacity, using the first heat source to warm the space; and
if the first heat source does not have sufficient capacity, using the second heat source alone or in combination with the first heat source to warm the space. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
-
23. A method of heating an enclosure having a plurality of heat sources, the method comprising:
-
receiving a call for heat;
predicting a heat load for the enclosure;
determining which of the plurality of heat sources will meet the predicted heat load; and
activating the selected heat sources. - View Dependent Claims (24)
-
-
25. A method for heating an enclosure serviced by a ventilation system, the ventilation system being supplied by a heat pump source and an auxiliary heat source, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a call for heat;
observing an outdoor condition;
determining the heat pump capacity using the outdoor condition, wherein the heat pump capacity has a first value under a first set of conditions, a second value under a second set of conditions, and a third value under a third set of conditions, the third set of conditions indicating that the heat pump should not be used at all;
predicting a heat load for the enclosure; and
comparing the predicted heat load to the predicted heat capacity to determine whether;
to operate the heat pump alone;
to operate the heat pump in conjunction with the auxiliary source;
orto not operate the heat pump and use the auxiliary source to provide heat.
-
-
26. A method for heating an enclosure, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of zones serviced by a ventilation system that is configured to individually control the air supply to each zone, the ventilation system being supplied by a heat pump source and an auxiliary heat source, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a call for heat from one or more zones;
predicting a heat load for the enclosure based on which zones call for heat;
using the predicted heat load to determine which of the heat source, the auxiliary source, or both the heat source and the auxiliary source, can supply the heat load.
-
Specification