EP4053461A1 - Method for operating a heating assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The proposed method for operating a heating system includes the following method steps: a) generate a random variable, b) define a new start time including the random variable, c) put at least one component of the heating system into operation at the start time defined in step b). The steps a) to c) can be carried out at least once in a given order. However, steps a) and b) can only be carried out once and the heating system can then always be operated with the new start time. The proposed method can avoid instabilities in a power grid by synchronously starting up heating systems at a programmed time. The involvement of a user and structural changes to heating systems according to the state of the art are not necessary.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a heating system, a computer program, a control device, a heater and a use of a heater.

In order to optimize the energy requirements of heating systems, these are usually switched on and off using a time program. As a rule, the heating systems are shut down in the evening or at night and restarted in the morning to heat up the thermal zones and provide hot water.

The heaters are usually equipped with a standard time program at the factory, which, regardless of manufacturer, usually shuts down the heater at 10 p.m. and starts it up again at 6 a.m. These factory-installed time programs are retained by a relevant proportion of users, possibly because it meets their needs, or because the expense of new programming is avoided.

The heater clocks are usually synchronized by an external signal, such as a DCF radio signal, which eliminates the need for user adjustment. As a result, a possibly considerable number of heaters are started up at exactly the same time because their clocks are synchronized and a factory-installed time program is followed.

In particular in the case of a heat pump and/or electrical heating devices, this leads to a peak load in the required electricity supply. It was recognized that this leads to a voltage drop, noticeable for example by flickering Lighting equipment can lead to repercussions at nodes of the electricity network. It was also recognized that the cause of this is in particular the high starting currents of the compressors of heat pumps. The problems described are expected to increase due to the increasing spread of heating systems with heat pumps. In addition, when the time program is reprogrammed by the user, "round" points in time are often selected, such as on the full hour, half hour or quarter hour. As a result, the problems mentioned can also occur at other times. In addition, the peak loads that users can perceive through flickering lighting equipment are often the subject of customer complaints to the manufacturer, since a malfunction in the heating system is suspected to be the reason.

Proceeding from this, it is the object of the invention to provide a method for operating a heating system that at least partially overcomes the problems of the prior art described and in particular avoids peak loads. Furthermore, a computer program, a control unit, a heating device and a use of a heating device are to be specified for the solution.

In addition, the proposed method should be able to be carried out as independently as possible of the involvement of the user in order to ensure safe operation.

These objects are solved by the features of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous refinements of the solution proposed here are specified in the independent patent claims. It is pointed out that the features listed in the dependent patent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically meaningful manner and define further refinements of the invention. In addition, the features specified in the patent claims are specified and explained in more detail in the description, with further preferred configurations of the invention being presented.

1. a) Generieren einer Zufallsvariable,
2. b) Festlegen eines neuen Startzeitpunktes eines Betriebes der Heizungsanlage unter Einbeziehung der Zufallsvariable,
3. c) Inbetriebnehmen mindestens einer Komponente der Heizungsanlage oder der gesamten Heizungsanlage zu dem in Schritt b) festgelegten Startzeitpunkt.

A method for operating a heating system that includes the following method steps contributes to this:

1. a) generating a random variable,
2. b) determining a new start time for operation of the heating system, including the random variable,
3. c) commissioning of at least one component of the heating system or the entire heating system at the start time specified in step b).

Steps a) to c) can be carried out at least once in a predetermined order. However, steps a) and b) can only be carried out once and the heating system can then be operated with the new start time permanently or as long as the heating system is not reconfigured (e.g. due to a modification of the installed components).

In particular, the method relates to the operation of a heating system (also used here as a generic term for a heating system or a heater) of a building or a floor of a building, a building complex or a system with several buildings that have a single or common energy source to the heating system to operate. The heating system can include electrically operated components or components that require electricity, such as heaters, fans, air conditioners, heat pumps, circulating pumps, auxiliary heaters, e.g. B. in the form of (electrical) resistance heating rods etc. In particular, the components of the heating system can be categorized with regard to their power requirements, with "high-load components" being able to be defined, which have a particularly high energy requirement when switched on, compared to other "low-load components" of the heating system .

In a step a), a random variable is generated. In a simple embodiment, this can be done using a random number generator. Step a) can, for example, after installation of a new heating system in the building and/or after the installation of new components in an already installed heating system. If necessary, a classification step can be carried out before step a), in which the components of the heating system are categorized with regard to their power requirement, with "high-load components" and "low-load components" of the heating system being specified. If several heating systems in a building, a building complex or a building system use the same energy source, step a) can also carry out a comparison of the generated random variable with those of the other heating system(s) and step a) (immediately) repeat if the random variables are the same be determined.

In a step b), a new start time of operation of the heating system is defined, including the random variable from step a). The start time means in particular the time at which the heating system is "woken up" from a sleep or night state. The start time can be a regular or daily event. A time offset for the program start time can be derived from the random variable, it being possible for a new start time to result by adding the offset and the old start time. An old or programmed starting time can be a starting point (time) stored (permanently) in a regulation and control unit of the component of the heating system or in a control unit of the entire heating system. The determined time offset can be positive or negative.

It goes without saying that the new start time should only be slightly offset in time from the old program start time in order to avoid restricting the functionality for the user. A meaningful offset of the starting time could be in the range of a few tenths of a second to minutes.

In a step c), at least one component of the heating system or the entire heating system is started up. The commissioning includes especially the use of electrical energy. It is therefore possible to set up the offset of the starting point for (only) one or more ("high-load") components of a heating system or to assign a different offset to components on a floor or building or building system. The ("high-load") component can in particular be a component with a high starting current, for example a compressor of a heat pump or a heater of the heating system ("high-load" component). Advantageously, the method is not or hardly perceptible to the user because the phenomena associated with the commissioning of the heating system, such as a starting noise and/or a change in a display, continue to take place exactly at the programmed time.

For example, a simple computational model can consist of generating a random variable between 0 and 1 or between -1 and 1 and multiplying it by a maximum offset to be defined. In this way, a time offset for the start time can be determined, which is to be added to the old start time to determine a new start time.

In step a), the random variable can be generated using a device-specific code. A device-specific new start time is thus defined for each heating system and the probability of load peaks is further reduced. In particular, it is proposed to use a device-specific code that is already available to a device carrying out the method, such as a control unit of a heating system. It is possible to select the key figure depending on a classification step of the components (devices).

In this context, it is noted that the wording “random variable” does not have to be understood in the mathematical sense here, but in particular designates a variable that enables a scattering of the starting times.

The device-specific code can be determined using a serial number of a component of the heating system. In particular, the random variable could be part of the serial number of a component of the heating system, for example the last two digits of the same. A targeted scattering of the newly determined starting times by including a serial number is seen as an advantage of this embodiment.

In step b), the defined new start time can be stored in a time program of the heating system, so that the new start time replaces the old time according to the program.

According to a further aspect, a computer program is also proposed which is set up to (at least partially) carry out a method presented here. In other words, this relates in particular to a computer program (product), comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the latter to execute a method described here.

According to a further aspect, a machine-readable storage medium is also proposed, on which the computer program is stored.

The machine-readable storage medium is usually a computer-readable data carrier.

According to a further aspect, a control unit for a heater is also proposed, set up to carry out a method presented here. For this purpose, the control unit can have a processor, for example, or have it at its disposal. In this context, the processor can, for example, execute the method stored in a memory (of the control unit).

According to a further aspect, a heater with a control unit presented here is also proposed. The heating device is in particular a heating device having a heat pump or a comparable "high-load" component for generating heat.

According to a further aspect, the use of a heating device to determine a point in time for starting up the heating device or at least one of its components is proposed.

A method for operating a heating system, a computer program, a control device and a heater as well as a use of a heater are thus specified here, which at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art.

The method proposed here, the computer program, the control unit and the heating system can advantageously contribute to avoiding instabilities in an energy network by synchronously starting up a large number of heating systems. In addition, the method can be carried out without the involvement of a user, which means that a high level of safety in carrying out the method can be achieved, since human error is ruled out. The fact that the method can be carried out on heating systems according to the prior art without structural changes is regarded as a further advantage.

The invention will now be explained in detail with reference to a figure. 1 shows, by way of example and schematically, a sequence of a method proposed here 1 the method steps a) to c), which are represented by blocks 110 to 130.

The method allows a heating system to be put into operation without affecting the stability of the energy network in a local area.

In block 110, according to step a), a random variable is generated. This can be a random number between 0 and +1, for example. In a preferred embodiment, the random variable can be determined using the last two digits of a serial number of a component of the heating system. To derive a random number between 0 and +1 from these two digits, a division by 100 could be performed.

In step 120, according to step b), a new start time is established or defined, including the random variable from block 110. This step can be carried out, for example, by determining a time offset value. This time offset value can define a new start time by adding it to the old start time. The old start time can be a factory-programmed start time, for example.

According to step b), a time offset value can be determined, for example, by multiplying a random variable between 0 and +1 or -1 and +1 by a defined maximum time offset. The maximum time offset defines a period of time, with load peaks and the associated effects on the power grid being able to be avoided in the event of a scattering of switch-on times in this period. For example, the maximum time offset could be a period of one minute.

In block 130, according to step c), at least one component of the heating system or the heating system is put into operation at the start time defined in block 120 (step b)). A commissioning of heating systems or components thereof, especially with high starting currents, after carrying out the here The proposed method would be statistically spread using the random variable in the period defined by the maximum time offset.

Reference List

110

step a)

120

step b)

130

step c)

Claims (9)

Method for operating a heating system, comprising at least the following steps: a) generating a random variable, b) determining a new start time for operation of the heating system, including the random variable, c) commissioning of at least one component of the heating system or the entire heating system at the start time specified in step b). Method according to claim 1, wherein in step c) a component with a high starting current is put into operation. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the high inrush current component is a compressor of a heat pump. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in step a) the random variable is generated using a device-specific code of the heating system. Method according to claim 4, wherein the device-specific code is determined using a serial number of a component of the heating system. Computer program which is set up to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. Machine-readable storage medium on which the computer program according to claim 6 is stored. Control device for a heater set up to carry out a method according to one of Claims 1 to 5. Heating device, having a control device according to Claim 8.

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