Method for operating and/or monitoring an HVAC system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9958883-B2
Application number	US-201214232759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 25, 2012
Priority date	Sep 5, 2011
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating and/or monitoring an HVAC system ( 10 ), in which medium circulating in a primary circuit ( 26 ) flows through at least one energy consumer ( 11, 12, 13 ), the medium entering with a volume flow (φ) through a supply line ( 14 ) into the energy consumer ( 11, 12, 13 ) at a supply temperature (T V ) and leaving the energy consumer ( 11, 12, 13 ) at a return temperature (T R ) via a return line ( 15 ), and transferring heat or cooling energy to the energy consumer ( 11, 12, 13 ) in an energy flow (E). A considerable improvement in the operating behavior of the system is achieved by empirically determining the dependence of the energy flow (E) and/or the temperature difference (AT) between supply temperature (T V ) and return temperature (T R ) on the volume flow (φ) for the energy consumers ( 11, 12, 13 ) in a first step, and by operating and/or monitoring the HVAC system ( 10 ) according to the determined dependency or dependencies in a second step.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for adaptively operating and/or monitoring a Heating Ventilation Air-conditioning (HVAC) system ( 10 ) under control of a controller ( 21 , 22 ), the method comprising:
circulating a medium in a primary circuit ( 26 ), such that the medium flows through at least one energy consumer ( 11 , 12 , 13 ), the medium entering at a volumetric rate of flow (φ) into an energy consumer ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) through a supply line ( 14 ) at a supply temperature (T V ) and leaving the energy consumer ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) at a return temperature (T R ) by way of a return line ( 15 ) and, in so doing, releases heat energy or cold energy to the energy consumer ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) in a flow of energy (E),
empirically determining a dependence of the flow of energy (E) and/or a temperature differential ΔT between the supply temperature (T V ) and the return temperature (T R ) on the volumetric flow rate (φ) for the respective energy consumer ( 11 , 12 , 13 ),
adaptively changing operation of the HVAC system ( 10 ) in accordance with the determined dependence and/or dependences,
wherein the dependence of the flow of energy (E) on the volumetric flow rate (φ) is repeatedly determined empirically at varying time intervals by the controller,
whereby the volumetric flow rate (φ) and the temperature differential ΔT between the supply temperature (T v ) and the return temperature (T R ) are measured simultaneously at different points in time and, if desired, the associated flow of energy (E) is determined for each of the points in time from associated measurement values and assigned to a respective volumetric rate of flow (φ) in order to determine empirically the dependence of the flow of energy (E) on the volumetric flow rate (φ), while the system is running, over a sufficiently long period of time,
wherein, on the basis of the determined dependence, an upper limit value (E max ) of the flow of energy (E) is established, and said upper limit value is not exceeded while the HVAC system ( 10 ) is running,
wherein a control valve ( 19 ) with characteristic curves and being controlled by the controller ( 21 ) is used for open and/or closed loop control of the volumetric rate of flow (φ) in the primary circuit ( 26 ), and
wherein a pressure differential (Δp) occurring at the control valve ( 19 ) is determined by the controller ( 21 ) from the measured volumetric flow rate (φ) in accordance with the characteristic curves of the control valve ( 19 ) and the valve position, and, if required, is used for controlling and/or monitoring purposes.

2. The method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the dependence of the flow of energy (E) on the volumetric flow rate (φ) is determined empirically at a start of the operation in a newly installed HVAC system ( 10 ), and
the HVAC system ( 10 ) or more specifically the individual components are changed or replaced, when the empirically determined dependences make it necessary.

3. The method, as claimed in claim 1 , wherein temperature sensors ( 16 , 17 ) for determining the temperature differential ΔT between the supply temperature (T v ) and the return temperature (T R ) as well as the at least one flow sensor ( 18 ) for determining the volumetric flow rate (φ) are provided in the HVAC system ( 10 ) for carrying out the operation, and
wherein the temperature and flow sensors ( 16 , 17 and/or 18 ) are used for empirically determining the dependence of the flow of energy (E) on the volumetric flow rate (φ).

4. A method for adaptively operating and/or monitoring a Heating Ventilation Air-conditioning (HVAC) system ( 10 ) under control of a controller ( 21 , 22 ), the method comprising:
circulating a medium in a primary circuit ( 26 ), such that the medium flows through at least one energy consumer ( 11 , 12 , 13 ), the medium entering at a volumetric rate of flow (φ) into an energy consumer ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) through a supply line ( 14 ) at a supply temperature (T v ) and leaving the energy consumer ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) at a return temperature (T R ) by way of a return line ( 15 ) and, in so doing, releases heat energy or cold energy to the energy consumer ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) in a flow of energy (E),
empirically determining a dependence of a temperature differential ΔT between the supply temperature (T v ) and the return temperature (T R ) on the volumetric flow rate (φ) for the respective energy consumer ( 11 , 12 , 13 ),
adaptively changing operation of the HVAC system ( 10 ) in accordance with the determined dependence and/or dependences,
wherein the dependence of the temperature differential ΔT between the supply temperature (T v ) and the return temperature (T R ) on the volumetric flow rate (φ) is repeatedly determined empirically at varying time intervals by the controller,
whereby the volumetric flow rate (φ) and the temperature differential ΔT between the supply temperature (T v ) and the return temperature (T R ) are measured simultaneously at different points in time and, if desired, the associated flow of energy (E) is determined for each of the points in time from associated measurement values and assigned to a respective volumetric rate of flow (φ) in order to determine empirically the dependence of the temperature differential ΔT between the supply temperature (T v ) and the return temperature (T R ) on the volumetric flow rate (φ), while the system is running, over a sufficiently long period to time,
wherein, on the basis of the determined dependence, a lower limit value (ΔT min ) of the temperature differential ΔT between the supply temperature (T v ) and the return temperature (T R ) is established,
wherein said lower limit value is not undershot while the HVAC system ( 10 ) is running,
wherein a control valve ( 19 ) with characteristic curves and being controlled by the controller ( 21 ) is used for open and/or closed loop control of the volumetric rate of flow (φ) in the primary circuit ( 26 ), and
wherein a pressure differential (Δp) occurring at the control valve ( 19 ) is determined by the controller ( 21 ) from the measured volumetric flow rate (φ) in accordance with the characteristic curves of the control valve ( 19 ) and the valve position, and, if required, is used for controlling and/or monitoring purposes.

5. The method, as claimed in claim 4 , wherein
the dependence of the temperature differential ΔT between the supply temperature (T v ) and the return temperature (T R ) on the volumetric flow rate (φ) is determined empirically at a start of the operation in a newly installed HVAC system ( 10 ), and
the HVAC system ( 10 ) or more specifically the individual components are changed or replaced, when the empirically determined dependences make it necessary.

6. The method, as claimed in claim 4 , wherein temperature sensors ( 16 , 17 ) for determining the temperature differential ΔT between the supply temperature (T v ) and the return temperature (T R ) as well as at least one flow sensor ( 18 ) for determining the volumetric flow rate (φ) are provided in the HVAC system ( 10 ) for carrying out the operation, and
wherein the temperature and flow sensors ( 16 , 17 and/or 18 ) are used for empirically determining the dependence of the temperature differential ΔT between the supply temperature (T v ) and the return temperature (T R ) on the volumetric flow rate (φ).

7. A method for adaptively operating and/or monitoring a Heating Ventilation Air-conditioning (HVAC) system ( 10 ) under control of a controller ( 21 , 22 ), the method comprising:
circulating a medium in a primary circuit ( 26 ), such that the medium flows through at least one energy consumer ( 11 , 12 , 13 ), the medium entering at a volumetric rate of flow (φ) into an energy consumer ( 11 , 12 , 13 ) through a supply line

Assignees

• Dsilva Vinod
• Nightlinger Mark
• Thuillard Marc
• Aeberhard Ronald
• Belimo Holding Ag

Inventors

• D'Silva Vinod
• Nightlinger Mark
• Thuillard Marc
• Aeberhard Ronald

Classifications

• G05D23/1917 Primary

  using digital means · CPC title

• G01K17/10

  between an inlet and an outlet point, combined with measurement of rate of flow of the medium {if such, by integration during a certain time-interval} · CPC title

• F24F2140/20

  Heat-exchange fluid temperature · CPC title

• G01K2201/00

  Application of thermometers in air-conditioning systems · CPC title

• G05D23/1931

  to control the temperature of one space · CPC title