System and method for regulating a bathing pool, such as a swimming pool or a spa

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. non-provisional application claiming the benefit of French Patent Application No. 24 01552 filed on Feb. 16, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for regulating a bathing pool, such as a swimming pool or a spa. Same also relates to a method for regulating a bathing pool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To heat the water of a bathing pool, in particular an individual one, it is increasingly common to use a heat pump, typically a so-called air-to-water heat pump that allows the water of the bathing pool to be heated directly by transferring heat thereto from the air. In practice, the heat pump is electrically connected to a collective network from which same draws the electrical power the pump consumes during the operation thereof, in particular for heating water. The heat pump is usually regulated according to the current temperature of the water in the bathing pool: for example, as soon as the current temperature is below a setpoint temperature, the heat pump is activated to heat the water, and as soon as the current temperature rises above the setpoint temperature, the heat pump is deactivated to stop heating the water. Such approach is satisfactory for the thermal comfort of the user of the bathing pool but induces substantial energy consumption from the collective grid and hence high operating costs, as well as a significant carbon footprint since the electricity of the collective grid is not low-carbon.

To improve such situation, it is now proposed on the market to combine the heat pump with an individual renewable electricity generator, typically solar panels, e.g. installed on the roof of a pool house adjacent to the bathing pool or installed on the ground near the bathing pool. The user can then carry out self-consumption of electricity, i.e. make the heat pump consume the power produced by the generator, replacing at least partially, or even totally, the power drawn from the collective network. Such solution has a real advantage in terms of cost and carbon footprint, but remains subject to certain constraints, in particular fluctuations or even intermittent electricity production by the generator, e.g. in connection with sunlight, which is of course intermittent due to the alternation of day/night, but also fluctuating due to changing weather conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The goal of the present invention is to propose a new system and a new method for regulating a bathing pool, which reconcile low-carbon energy and economic performance with thermal comfort for the user of the bathing pool.

To this end, the subject matter of the invention is a regulation system of a bathing pool, which system comprises:

• • a temperature sensor which measures a current temperature corresponding to the temperature of the water contained in a bathing pool,
  • an individual generator, which is suitable for producing renewable electricity,
  • a first electrical measuring device, which is suitable for determining a first power corresponding to the electrical power produced by the generator,
  • pool equipment, including a heat pump, which has adjustable electric power and is suitable for heating water,
  • a second electrical measuring device, which is suitable for determining a second power corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the heat pump,
  • in the case where the pool equipment includes one equipment item or equipment, other than the heat pump, a third electrical measuring apparatus which is suitable for determining a third power corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the equipment item or equipment, the third power being considered zero in the case where the pool equipment includes only the heat pump, and
  • a control system, which is suitable for regulating the power consumed by the heat pump when the heat pump heats the water, as well as for operating the pool equipment selectively:
    • in a hybrid mode, wherein the control system supplies the pool equipment jointly by a collective network and by the generator, by making the pool equipment consume the entire power produced by the generator, and
    • in a renewable mode, wherein the control system causes the pool equipment to be supplied by the generator without the pool equipment being supplied by the collective grid, by sending to a domestic grid any excess between the power produced by the generator and the power consumed by the pool equipment,
      and wherein the control system is configured to repeatedly control, at successive instants during a steady operating state of the control system, the pool equipment at each of said instants from the current temperature and the first, second and third powers, each of said current temperature and the first, second and third powers being either measured at the instant considered or averaged over a predetermined time interval ending at the instant considered, so that:
  • when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and less than or equal to the sum of the second and third power and (ii) the current temperature is less than a predetermined minimum temperature, the control system operates the pool equipment in hybrid mode and controls the heat pump to heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a maximum rated value, as long as the current temperature does not exceed the minimum temperature,
  • when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and less than or equal to the sum of the powers and (ii) the current temperature is greater than the minimum temperature, the control system operates the pool equipment in renewable mode and controls the heat pump to selectively:
    • heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a first value determined by the control system, which is less than or equal to the difference between the first power and the third power, and
    • not heat the water,
  • when (i) the first power is greater than the sum of the second and third power and (ii) the current temperature is greater than a predetermined maximum temperature, which is greater than the minimum temperature, the control system operates the pool equipment in renewable mode and controls the heat pump not to heat the water, and
  • when (i) the first power is greater than the sum of the second and third power and (ii) the current temperature is less than the maximum temperature, the control system operates the pool equipment in renewable mode and controls the heat pump to heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a second value determined by the control system, which is less than or equal to the difference between the first power and the third power.

A further subject matter of the invention is a method of regulating a bathing pool, wherein are arranged:

• • a temperature sensor which measures a current temperature corresponding to the temperature of a water contained in a bathing pool,
  • an individual generator, which is suitable for producing renewable electricity,
  • a first electrical measuring device, which is suitable for determining a first power corresponding to the electrical power produced by the generator,
  • pool equipment, including a heat pump, which has adjustable electric power and is suitable for heating water,
  • a second electrical measuring device, which is suitable for determining a second power corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the heat pump, and
  • in the case where the pool equipment includes one equipment item or equipment, other than the heat pump, a third electrical measuring apparatus which is suitable for determining a third power corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the equipment item or equipment, the third power being considered zero in the case where the pool equipment includes only the heat pump, and
    wherein pool equipment is operated selectively:
  • in a hybrid mode, wherein the pool equipment is supplied jointly by a collective network and by the generator, making the pool equipment consume all the power produced by the generator, and
  • in a renewable mode, wherein the pool equipment is supplied by the generator without the pool equipment being supplied by the collective network, by sending to a domestic network any excess between the power produced by the generator and the power consumed by the pool equipment,
    and wherein, repeatedly at successive times during a steady operating state, the pool equipment is controlled at each of said times from the current temperature and the first, second and third powers, each of said current temperature and said first, second and third powers being either measured at the instant in question or averaged over a predetermined time interval ending at the instant in question, so that:
  • when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and less than or equal to the sum of the second and third power and (ii) the current temperature is less than a predetermined minimum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in hybrid mode and the heat pump is controlled to heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a maximum rated value, as long as the current temperature does not exceed the minimum temperature,
  • when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and less than or equal to the sum of the powers and (ii) the current temperature is greater than the minimum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in the renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled to selectively:
    • heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a first value that is less than or equal to the difference between the first power and the third power, and
    • not heat the water,
  • when (i) the first power is greater than the sum of the second and third power and (ii) the current temperature is greater than a predetermined maximum temperature, which is greater than the minimum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in the renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled so as not to heat the water, and
  • when (i) the first power is greater than the sum of the second and third power and (ii) the current temperature is less than the maximum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in the renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled to heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a second value which is less than or equal to the difference between the first power and the third power.

One of the ideas underlying the invention is to combine, for the purpose of regulating a bathing pool, an individual generator of renewable electricity, in particular a solar and/or wind generator, and pool equipment including a heat pump which has a variable electric power. Such a heat pump is commonly referred to in the field as an “inverter” heat pump, as explained in greater detail thereafter. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the power consumed by the heat pump can be modulated, in order to regulate in real time, i.e. with a predetermined operating frequency of a few seconds or minutes, the operation of the pool equipment depending not only upon the current temperature of the water in the bathing pool, but also of instantaneous and/or averaged measurements of a plurality of electrical powers, namely the power produced by the generator and the power consumed by the heat pump, and, when the pool equipment includes one or a plurality of equipment items others than the heat pump, the power consumed by the equipment item(s). Thereby, as explained in greater detail thereafter, when the power produced by the generator is “low”, in particular with respect to the needs of the bathing equipment, and when the current temperature of the water is “too low”, in particular with respect to the level of comfort desired by the user, the pool equipment operates in a hybrid mode, where the pool equipment is supplied jointly by the collective network and the generator, consuming all the power, zero where appropriate, produced by the generator, and the heat pump is controlled to heat the water by bringing to the “maximum” the consumed power thereof, and in that the current temperature of the water rises sufficiently, typically to a level of comfort acceptable for the user. Conversely, and as also explained in more detail thereafter, when the power produced by the generator is “high”, in particular compared to the needs of the pool equipment, the pool equipment operates in a renewable mode, where the pool equipment is supplied by the generator without being supplied by the collective network, and the heat pump is controlled so as, according to the current temperature of the water, to either to heat the water, by modifying the power consumed by the heat pump to what is actually available, or not heating the water, while providing, in any cases, that any surplus between the power produced by the generator and power consumed by the pool equipment is sent to a domestic network, typically an individual electrical network of the household of the user of the bathing pool, in particular to supply electrical appliances forming loads of the domestic network. It is thereby possible to “superheat” the water without consuming power drawn from the collective grid, which amounts to using the water of the bathing pool as a means of storing heat, the heat thereby stored serving thereafter, despite a subsequent gradual cooling of the water, e.g. due to the reduction or even the stopping of the electricity production by the generator, to maintain the water of the bathing pool at a level of comfort acceptable to the user. Moreover, when the power produced by the generator is “low” but the current temperature of the water is not “too low”, the pool equipment also operates in renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled to either heat the water or not heat the water, in particular according to the current temperature and depending on whether the pool equipment includes an equipment items or equipment other than the heat pump, as discussed in detail thereafter.

In all cases, the system and the method according to the invention make it possible to take maximum advantage of the power produced by the renewable electricity generator, by providing, in the renewable mode, to modulate in time the power consumed by the heat pump, in order to adapt in real time to the actual production of the generator and to the current temperature of the water. The system and the method according to the invention thereby make it possible to maximize a low-carbon self-consumption, while guaranteeing the control of the thermal comfort of the user of the bathing pool.

According to advantageous additional features of the system and/or of the method according to the invention, taken individually or according to all technically possible combinations:

• • Said first value and/or said second value are equal to the difference between the first power and the third power.
  • The control system is configured to further control, at each of said instants, the pool equipment so that:
    • when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and equal to the sum of the second and third power and (ii) the current temperature is both greater than the minimum temperature and less than the maximum temperature, the control system controls the heat pump to heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to said first value, and
    • when (i) the first power is both higher than the third power and equal to the sum of the second and third power and (ii) the current temperature is higher than the maximum temperature, the control system controls the heat pump so as not to heat the water.
  • The control system is configured to further control, at each of said instants, the pool equipment so that:
    • when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and equal to the sum of the second and third power and (ii) the current temperature is both greater than the minimum temperature and less than a predetermined intermediate temperature, which is comprised between the minimum temperature and the maximum temperature, the control system controls the heat pump to heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to said first value, and
    • when (i) the first power is both greater than the third power and less than the sum of the second and third power and (ii) the current temperature is greater than the intermediate temperature, the control system controls the heat pump to selectively:
      • heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to said first value, and
      • not heat the water.
  • The maximum and minimum temperature are calculated by the control system from a setpoint temperature, which is entered in the control system and which is comprised between the maximum and minimum temperature.
  • The intermediate temperature is equal to the setpoint temperature.
  • The pool equipment includes only the heat pump.
  • The pool equipment includes, as equipment other than the heat pump, a filtration pump and/or a water treatment device.
  • The control system is configured to further control, at least some of said instants, the pool equipment, on the basis of a weather forecast.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given only as an example and making reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a first embodiment of a regulation system of a bathing pool;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of regulation implemented by the regulation system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating a second embodiment of a regulation system of the bathing pool; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating a flowchart of a regulation method implemented by the regulation system shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a bathing installation comprising an individual or collective bathing pool 1, e.g. an individual swimming pool. The bathing pool 1 contains water 2 wherein one or more users of the bathing pool 1 can bathe. The specific features of the bathing pool 1 are not limiting, e.g. the bathing pool may be buried, semi-buried or above ground.

In the example considered in FIG. 1, the bathing installation further comprises a filtration pump 3, which makes it possible to suck the water 2 from the bathing pool 1 and to pass same through a filter integrated into the filtration pump 3 before returning the water to the bathing pool 1. The bathing installation shown in FIG. 1 further comprises a water treatment device 4, which makes it possible to automatically control and correct the quality of the water 2, typically by electrolysis and/or mixing with chemical agents and/or etc. The filtration pump 3 and the water treatment device 4 are herein installed in a pool house 5 adjoining the bathing pool 1. The specificities of the filtration pump 3 and of the water treatment device 4 are not limiting, such equipment being well known in the field.

In all cases, the bathing installation of FIG. 1 comprises a regulation system 100 making it possible to control and regulate at least one physical quantity relating to the bathing pool 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the regulation system 100 thereby serves to control and regulate the temperature of the water 2, as explained in detail hereinafter.

The regulation system 100 comprises pool equipment 110 which, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, consists of a heat pump 111 apt to heat the water 2. The heat pump 111 is e.g. a so-called air-water heat pump which is suitable for heating the water 2 by transferring heat from the air to the latter. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the water entering the heat pump 111 to be heated by the latter comes from the filtration pump 3, which sucks the water 2 directly from the bathing pool 1, and the water leaving the heat pump 111 is sent to the bathing pool 1 via the water treatment device 4. Other arrangements are conceivable.

In all cases, the electrical power of the heat pump 111 can be modulated. The heat pump 111 can also be considered as “modulating” or “speed-regulated”. In the field, such a heat pump with electrical power that can be modulated, is commonly referred to by the English term “inverter”. Specifically, the electrical power consumed by the heat pump 111 for the purposes of the operation thereof is designed to be adjustable by varying in a controlled manner at least one operating parameter of one or a plurality of components of the heat pump 111. For example, the heat pump 111 includes a compressor, the operating speed of which is variable in a controlled manner, and/or a fan, the operating speed of which is variable in a controlled manner, and/or an expansion valve, the pitch of which is variable in a controlled manner. Of course, depending on the specific nature of the heat pump 111, one component or components of the latter, other than same just mentioned hereinabove, can be controlled to vary at least one of the operating parameters thereof, so as to make the power consumed by the heat pump 111 apt to be modulated, in other words variable.

Whatever the embodiment of the heat pump 111, it should be understood that the heat pump 111 is thereby selectively controllable to heat the water 2, in which case the heat pump 111 consumes a power adjustable to a value that can be set, and to not heat the water 2, in which case the heat pump 111 consumes a minimum power, which may be considered as zero but which, in practice, is not zero while being low, because of the need to maintain a power supply to certain components, in particular electronic, of the heat pump 111, even when the latter is not activated to heat the water 2.

In order to control the power consumed by the heat pump 111, the regulation system 100 comprises a control system 120 which is designed to regulate the power consumed by the heat pump 111 when the latter heats the water 2. The control system 120 thereby controls the heat pump 111 to selectively heat the water, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 111 to a value controlled by the control system 120, and not to heat the water 2. To this end, the control system 120 communicates with the heat pump 111, in particular in order to transmit control instructions to the component(s) of the latter, the power consumed of which can be modulated. In practice, as discussed again thereafter, such exchange of data is carried out indifferently in a wired or wireless manner, via an ad hoc communication module of the heat pump 111.

The control system 120 also makes it possible to control what electrically supplies the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, for the purpose of operating the pool equipment 110. More precisely, the control system 120 is suitable for operating the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, selectively in a hybrid mode and in a renewable mode.

In the hybrid mode, the control system 120 makes the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, be supplied jointly by a collective grid 6, which includes a collective electricity source and which is typically a low-voltage distribution grid, and by an individual generator 130, which belongs to the regulation system 100 and which, in service, produces renewable electricity, such as solar electricity and/or wind electricity. As an example, the generator 130 includes one or a plurality of photovoltaic panels and thereby forms a photovoltaic generator, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 1. Alternatively or additionally, the generator 130 includes one or a plurality of wind turbines and thereby forms a wind generator. Regardless of the embodiment of the collective network 6 and of the generator 130, the control system 120 is designed, in hybrid mode, to make the pool equipment 110 consume all the power produced by the generator 130, in order to minimize the power drawn from the collective network 6, with the proviso that the instantaneous power produced by the generator 130 is potentially zero because of the conditions under which the generator 130 operates, more particularly depending upon the weather conditions.

In the renewable mode, the control system 120 makes the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, to be supplied by the generator 130 without the pool equipment being supplied by the collective network 6. In addition, the control system 120 is designed to send, in the renewable mode, any excess power between the power produced by the generator 130 and the power consumed by the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, to an individual domestic network 7. The domestic network 7 is typically the network of a building adjoining the bathing pool 1, e.g. the electrical network of a household of the user of the bathing pool 1. The domestic network 7, the embodiment of which is not limiting, typically includes loads including e.g. domestic appliances, such as lighting, household appliances, etc. The loads of the domestic network 7 advantageously include the filtration pump 3 and/or the water treatment device 4. Of course, in practice, in order for the domestic network 7 to be supplied with electricity in all circumstances, the collective network 6 is connected to the domestic network 7 directly, i.e. independently of the regulation system 100, the connection not being shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of simplification.

In order to operate the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, selectively in hybrid mode and in renewable mode, the control system 120 comprises an electrical connection unit 121 by which the generator 130, the collective network 6 and the domestic network 7, as well as the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, are electrically connected to each other. To this end, the electrical connection unit 121 comprises e.g. a connection terminal block and/or relays, advantageously associated with appropriate electrical protections. The embodiment of the electrical connection unit 121 is not limiting as long as same ensures a flow of current suitable for the hybrid or renewable mode, wherein the control system 120 operates the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, more particularly for making the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, be supplied by the generator 130 and/or the collective network 6 depending on whether the pool equipment 110 is to be operated selectively in the hybrid mode and in the renewable mode.

To control the operation and supply of the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, the control system 120 is configured to take into account a plurality of physical quantities within the regulation system 100, namely the temperature of the water 2, the electrical power produced by the generator 130 and the electrical power consumed by the heat pump 111, in other words, herein, the electrical power consumed by the pool equipment 110. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 1, the regulation system 100 includes:

• • a temperature sensor 140, which measures a current temperature, denoted subsequently by Tc, corresponding to the water temperature 2, and which transmits the current temperature Tc thereby measured, to the control system 120,
  • a wattmeter 141 which measures a power, denoted P1 thereafter, corresponding to the electric power produced by the generator 130, and which transmits the power P1 thereby measured to the control system 120, and
  • a wattmeter 142, which measures a power, denoted P2 thereafter, corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the heat pump 111, and which transmits the power P2 thereby measured to the control system 120.

The specificities of the temperature sensor 140 and the wattmeters 141 and 142 are not limiting, each of the components belonging a technology known per se. More particularly, the transmission of the measurements from the temperature sensor 140 and the wattmeters 141 and 142 to the control system 120 is carried out indifferently in a wired or wireless manner. As a practical example, but not limited to, the sensor 140 is integrated into the heat pump 111 and the measurements thereof are transmitted to the control system 120 via the communication module of the heat pump, whereas the power meters 141 and 142 are integrated into the electrical connection unit 121 while being in wired communication, typically via a bus, with the communication module of the heat pump 111 for transmission to the control system 120.

Regardless of the embodiment of the temperature sensor 140 and the wattmeters 141 and 142, it should be noted that the measurements made by such components and the transmission thereof to the control system 120 are carried out in real time, i.e. with a sufficiently high operating frequency to inform the control system 120 with the values Tc, P1 and P2 which, at the moment when the control system receives the values, are representative, within usual tolerances, of the effective temperature of the water 2, of the power actually produced by the generator 130 and of the power actually consumed by the heat pump 111.

Also to control the operation and the supply of the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, the control system 120 is suitable for taking into account predetermined temperature values, which are e.g. defined by the user of the bathing pool, namely a maximum temperature, which is denoted by Tmax, a minimum temperature, which is denoted by Tmin and which is lower than the maximum temperature Tmax, and which is denoted by Tset and which is comprised between the maximum temperature Tmax and the minimum temperature Tmin and which may be equal to one or the other of the latter. According to a preferential implementation, the user defines the setpoint temperature Tset and the control system 120 deduces therefrom the maximum temperature Tmax and the minimum temperature Tmin by calculation: for example, the maximum temperature Tmax is calculated by adding to the setpoint temperature Tset a predetermined or user-defined higher deviation, and the minimum temperature Tmin is calculated by subtracting from the setpoint temperature Tset a predetermined or user-defined lower deviation, with the proviso that the lower deviation can be equally well equal or different from the upper deviation. As a numerical example, but not limited to, the user can thereby define the setpoint temperature Tset as being equal to 28° C., the upper deviation as being equal to 2° C., and the lower deviation as being equal to 1° C.: in such case, the maximum temperature Tmax is calculated by the control system 120 as being equal to 30° C. and the minimum temperature Tmin is calculated by the control system 120 as being equal to 27° C. Alternatively, the setpoint temperature Tset, the maximum temperature Tmax and minimum temperature Tmin are each defined independently of each other. In any case, the control system 120 advantageously comprises an interface 122 enabling the user to enter into the control system 120 the information necessary for defining the setpoint temperature Tset, the maximum temperature Tmax and the minimum temperature Tmin. As an example, in FIG. 1, the interface 122 is provided by a smartphone, in wireless communication with the rest of the control system 120; alternatively, not shown, the interface 122 is integrated into the heat pump 111 and connected to the rest of the control system 120 via the communication module of the heat pump 111.

Taking into account the foregoing, it will be understood that the control system 120 includes a local hardware part, including in particular the electrical connection unit 121 and the interface 122. The processing, by the control system 120, of the measurement signals coming from the temperature sensor 140 and from the wattmeters 141 and 142, as well as the generation of control signals, by the control system 120, to control the operation and the supply of the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, are performed by a computer part of the control system 120, which, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, is at least partly implemented as a software application which is implemented on a remote computer means 123, such as a server, in particular a remote computer, such as a mobile computer-based on a computer or a computer-cloud-based means, such as a server, in particular dematerialized in a cloud, or mobile, such as a smartphone or a tablet; the computer means 123 being in wireless communication with the local equipment part of the control system 120. In a variant, the data processing part of the control system 120 is produced, in part or even in full, by electronic components integrated into the local equipment part of the control system 120, e.g. arranged in the electrical connection unit 121.

In any case, the control system 120 is configured to implement a method of regulation of the bathing pool 1 shown in FIG. 1. Steps of the regulation method are illustrated in FIG. 2.

The regulation method thereby includes an initial step 150 during which the regulation system 100 is started. During the initial step 150, the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, as well as the generator 130, more particularly, are started, in other words activated. The practical specificities of the initial step 150 are not limiting as long as the initial step 150 lasts long enough for the regulation system 100 to reach an operating state that is stable, in other words a steady operating state. The duration of the initial step 150 is e.g. several tens of seconds. The initial step 150 ends at the end of said duration, the latter being able to be preset and thereby counted down by the control system 120 or else considered to have been reached at the moment when the control system 120 receives a signal representative of the aforementioned steady state.

In any cases, at the end of the initial step 150, the regulation method passes from the initial step 150 to an acquisition and processing step 151 during which the control system 120 acquires the current temperature Tc and the powers P1 and P2, as measured by the temperature sensor 140 and the wattmeters 141 and 142, respectively, at the instant in question, and processes the current temperature Tc and the powers P1 and P2 to deduce therefrom a step by which the regulation method continues, chosen from a plurality of possible steps 152.1 to 152.8.

Before discussing in detail each of the steps 152.1 to 152.8 of the regulation method, it should be noted that each of the steps 152.1 to 152.8 loops to the acquisition and processing step 151 via a time-delay step 153 during which the control system 120 counts down a predetermined duration, maintaining unchanged the operating state of the pool equipment 110, as obtained at the end of the step considered among the steps 152.1 to 152.8. The time-delay step 153 thereby serves to add in a time interval between two successive repeated occurrences of the acquisition and processing step 151 and thus, during the aforementioned steady operating state, to repeat the acquisition and processing step 151 at successive instants which are separated from one another by the duration of the time-delay step 153. In practice, the duration of the time-delay step 153 is pre-programmed in the control system 120, being modifiable, where appropriate if need be, or even adjustable, if need be. Such duration may be constant whatever the step 152.1 to 152.8 which precedes the counting down of the duration at the time-delay step 153, or it may be different depending on the step, among the steps 152.1 to 152.3, which precedes the counting down of the duration at the time-delay step 153.

Considerations relating to steps 152.1 to 152.8, respectively, will now be described in detail hereinafter.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, within a tolerance, e.g. 10% or 5%, that the power P1 is greater than the power P2 and that the current temperature Tc is greater than the maximum temperature Tmax, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.1, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 153. In step 152.1, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, in the renewable mode and to control the heat pump 111 so as not to heat the water 2: in this way, the heat pump 111 is not used to heat the water 2 of the bathing pool 1 further, since the water 2 is considered to be already hot enough, and a maximum of the power produced by the generator 130 is sent to the domestic network 7 to maximize self-consumption by the domestic network 7, more particularly for supplying the pump 3 and the water treatment device 4 without needing, if possible, to draw from the collective network 6.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is greater than the power P2 and that the current temperature Tc is less than the maximum temperature Tmax, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152. 2, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 153. In step 152.2, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, in the renewable mode and to control the heat pump 111 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 111 to a value which is determined by the control system 120 to be equal to the power P1: in this way, the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated upwards to correspond substantially to the entire power produced by the generator 130. Self-consumption is thereby maximized for heating the water 2 and, as soon as the current temperature Tc is higher than the setpoint temperature Tset, the water 2 thereby “overheated” with respect to the setpoint temperature Tc, is used as a means of storing heat.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is equal to the power P2 and that the current temperature Tc is greater than the maximum temperature Tmax, the method moves from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.3, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 153. In step 152.3, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 111 not to heat the water 2: the considerations relating to the step 152.3 being similar to same for step 152.1.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is equal to the power P2 and that the current temperature Tc is both greater than the minimum temperature Tmin and less than the maximum temperature Tmax, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.4, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 153. In step 152.4, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, in the renewable mode and to control the heat pump 111 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 111 to a value which is determined by the control system 120 to be equal to the power P1: in this way, the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated in stabilization to correspond to substantially all the power produced by the generator 130. The effects of the step 152.4 are similar to the effects of step 152.2.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is equal to the power P2 and that the current temperature Tc is lower than the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.5. In step 152.5, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, in the hybrid mode and to control the heat pump 111 to heat the water 2, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 111 to a maximum nominal value which is independent of the power P1: in this way, the electrical consumption of the heat pump 111 is not restricted or limited, but is increased to the nominal maximum to heat the water 2 as intensely as possible, so that the temperature 2 increases as rapidly as possible. Step 152.5 thereby serves to provide the thermal comfort of the user of the bathing pool 1, by calling on the collective network 6 in order to heat the water 2 by the heat pump 111 as soon as the current temperature Tc becomes too cold. Also in step 152.5, the current temperature Tc, as measured by the temperature sensor 140, is, at regular intervals, acquired and processed by the control system 120 so that, as long as the current temperature Tc does not become greater than the minimum temperature Tmin, step 152.5 loops on itself, whereas, as soon as the current temperature Tc returns above the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method moves without delay from step 152.5 to the time-delay step 153: in this way, as soon as the thermal comfort is reinstated, the regulation method reconsiders to cease calling upon the collective network 6.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is less than the power P2 and that the current temperature Tc is greater than the setpoint temperature Tset, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152. 6, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 153. In step 152.6, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 111 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 111 to a value which is determined by the control system 120 to be equal to the power P1: in this way, the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated downwards to correspond to substantially all the power produced by the generator 130. Self-consumption is thereby maximized for heating the water 2 and, despite the relative weakness of the power produced by the generator, it is sought to maintain the thermal comfort of the user without calling upon the collective network 6.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is lower than the power P2 and that the current temperature Tc is both lower than the setpoint temperature Tset and higher than the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152.7, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 153. In step 152.7, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 111 to heat the water, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 111 to a value that is determined by the control system 120 to be equal to the power P1: thereby, the considerations relating to step 152.7 are similar to same relating to step 152.6.

Finally, when, during the acquisition and processing step 151, the control system 120 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is less than the power P2 and that the current temperature Tc is less than the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 151 to step 152. 8. In step 152.8, the control system 120 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, in the hybrid mode and to control the heat pump 111 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to the aforementioned maximum nominal value: the considerations relating to step 152.8 are thereby similar to same relating to step 152.5. Also in a similar manner to step 152.5, step 152.8 loops on itself as long as the current temperature Tc does not become higher than the minimum temperature Tmin, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 153 when the current temperature Tc rises above the minimum temperature Tmin.

Thereby, under a steady operating state, the regulation method illustrated in FIG. 2 takes into account in real time both the current temperature Tc and the powers P1 and P2 in order to determine, between the hybrid mode and the renewable mode, the mode in which to operate the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, and to control the power consumed by the heat pump 111. As a result, it is possible to take maximum advantage of the power produced by the generator 130, while maintaining the level of thermal comfort for the user of the bathing pool 1.

In order to understand the advantages of the regulation method, two examples of situations of common use are envisaged hereinbelow, considered while the regulation system 100 is in a steady state.

According to a first example, at a given instant of the steady state, there is full sunshine so that the power P1 is high, e.g. equal to 1500 W, the heat pump 111 consumes 1000 W and the water 2 of the bathing pool 1 has a temperature comprised between the minimum temperature Tmin and the maximum temperature Tmax:

• • the method then implements what is provided for in step 152.2, namely that the pool equipment 100, herein the heat pump 111, operates in the renewable mode (i.e. that if the pool equipment 100 was, just before the instant in question, already in the renewable mode, same remains therein while if the pool equipment 100 was, just before the instant in question, in the hybrid mode, same switches to the renewable mode) and the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated upwards to reach 1500 W so as to heat more the water 2;
  • at the next instant, i.e. at the end of the duration of the time-delay step 153, and considering that the current temperature Tc is still comprised between the minimum temperature Tmin and the maximum temperature Tmax and that the sunshine has not changed, the regulation method then implements what is provided for in step 152.4, namely that the pool equipment 110 continues to operate in the renewable mode and the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated in stabilization to stay at 1500 W so as to continue to heat the water 2;
  • at each of the following instants and as long as the sunshine does not change, the regulation method continues to implement what is provided for in step 152.4, as long as the current temperature remains between the minimum temperature Tmin and the maximum temperature Tmax;
  • if, at the next instant, the current temperature Tc is greater than the maximum temperature Tmax while the sunshine is unchanged, the regulation method implements what is provided for in step 152.3 so that the heat pump 111 stops heating the water 2 and all the power produced by the generator 130 is sent to the domestic network 7.

According to a second example, at a given instant of the steady state, the sunshine conditions are poor so that the power P1 is low, e.g. equal to 750 W, the PAC 111 consumes 1000 W and the current water temperature 2 is comprised between the minimum temperature Tmin and the setpoint temperature Tset:

• • the method then implements what is provided for in step 152.7, namely that the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, operates in the renewable mode and the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated downwards to reach 750 W so as to continue heating the water 2 but less intensely than at the preceding instant;
  • at the next instant, and considering that the current temperature is still between the minimum temperature Tmin and the setpoint temperature Tset and that the sunshine conditions have not changed, the method implements what is provided for in step 152.4, namely that the pool equipment 110 continues to operate in the renewable mode and the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated in stabilization to remain at 750 W so as to continue heating, a little, the water 2;
  • at each of the following instants and as long as the sunshine conditions are the same, the regulation method continues to implement what is provided for in step 152.4, as long as the current temperature remains comprised between the minimum temperature Tmin and the setpoint temperature Tset;
  • if, at the next instant, the current temperature Tc is lower than the minimum temperature Tmin while the sunshine conditions are unchanged, the regulation method implements what is provided for in step 152.5 so that the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, switches to hybrid mode and the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated to the nominal maximum thereof, e.g. 2500 W, so as to heat the water 2 intensely.

According to a variant of the regulation method illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the respective values of the current temperature Tc and of the powers P1 and P2, which are considered at each occurrence of the acquisition and processing step 151, may not be the instantaneous value corresponding to the instant considered, but a value averaged over a predetermined time interval ending at the instant considered. In practice, such time interval preferentially corresponds to the duration of the time-delay step 153. Such an averaged value is particularly advantageous for the power P1, in order to smooth out the potential instantaneous variations linked to the conditions under which the generator 130 operates, more particularly depending upon the meteorological conditions.

According to another variant of the regulation method illustrated in FIG. 2, potentially cumulative with the preceding variant, it is provided that, in step 152.2 and/or in step 152.4 and/or in step 152.6 and/or in step 152.7, the value at which the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated by the control system 120 is not equal to the power P1, but is less than the power P1. It should be understood that the implementation of each of the steps 152.2, 152.4, 152.6 and 152.7 according to such variant leads to only a part of the power produced by the generator 130 being consumed by the heat pump 111 for the purpose of heating the water 2, the rest of the power produced by the generator 130 being sent to the domestic network 7 since the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, then operates in the renewable mode. Such variant thus makes it possible to distribute the power produced by the generator 130 between the heating of the water 2 by the heat pump 111 and the electrical consumption by the loads of the domestic network 7.

The variant described just above may in particular be of interest when the control system 120 takes into account at least one parameter other than the current temperature Tc and the powers P1 and P2 to control the pool equipment 110. More particularly, according to an advantageous option, the control system 120 is configured so as, at least at certain instants of the aforementioned steady state, to control the pool equipment 110, herein the heat pump 111, on the basis of data representative of a weather forecast. As a result, it is possible to adapt the operation of the pool equipment 110 to the upcoming weather. As a first example, if the weather forecast is that strong sunshine is expected during the next six hours, a possibility of programming the control system 120 is, during the next two hours starting from the present instant, to set at less than the power P1 the value at which the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated by the control system 120 during steps 152.2, 152.4, 152.6 and 152.7, while providing that, from the third hour on starting from the present instant, the aforementioned value will be brought to the power P1 so that, if need be, the water 2 is sufficiently heated by the heat pump 111 during the steps 52.2, 152.4, 152.6 and 152.7 due to the entire power then produced by the generator 130. As a second example, if the weather forecast is that strong sunshine is expected only for the next three hours, a possibility of programming the control system 120 is, during the next three hours starting from the present instant, to set at the power P1 the value at which the power consumed by the heat pump 111 is modulated by the control system 120 during steps 152.2, 152.4, 152.6 and 152.7, in order to heat the water 2 as much and quickly as possible by means of all the power then produced by the generator 130.

FIG. 3 shows a bathing installation including the bathing pool 1 and a regulating system 200 according to an alternative embodiment to the regulation system 100.

The regulation system 200 includes a generator 230, a temperature sensor 240 and a wattmeter 241, which are functionally or even structurally similar to the generator 130, the temperature sensor 140 and the wattmeter 141, respectively.

The control system 200 also includes a pool equipment 210, including a heat pump 211 which is functionally or structurally similar to the heat pump 111, as well as a power meter 242 associated with the heat pump 211, which is functionally or structurally similar to the power meter 142.

Unlike the pool equipment 110 which includes only the heat pump 111, the pool equipment 210 includes, in addition to the heat pump 211, one or a plurality of other equipment items, namely, herein, a filtration pump 212 and a water treatment device 213. Considered in isolation, the filtration pump 212 is functionally, or even structurally, similar to the filtration pump 3 of the installation shown in FIG. 1. Similarly, considered in isolation, the water treatment device 213 is functionally, or even structurally, similar to the water treatment device 4 of the installation shown in FIG. 1. The filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213 are e.g. arranged in the pool house 5. However, in the installation shown in FIG. 3, the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213 are designed to operate selectively in the hybrid mode and in the renewable mode, defined hereinabove in connection with the collective network 6 and the domestic network 7.

To this end, following considerations similar to same described hereinabove for the control system 120, a control system 220 of the regulation system 200 makes it possible to operate, selectively in the hybrid mode and in the renewable mode, the pool equipment 220, in other words, herein, the heat pump 211, the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213. Functionally, the control system 220 makes it possible to control the pool equipment 210 not only on the basis of the current temperature Tc and of the powers P1 and P2, but also from the power consumed by the equipment of the pool equipment 210, other than the heat pump 211, in other words, herein, consumed by both the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213. To this end, the regulation system 200 includes a wattmeter 243 which measures a power, denoted P3 thereafter, corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the equipment of the pool equipment 210, other than the heat pump 211, and which transmits the power P3 thereby measured to the control system 220. In practice, technical considerations similar to same discussed hereinabove in relation with the wattmeters 141 and 142 apply to the wattmeter 243. Structurally, the control system 220 is advantageously similar to the control system 120: as an example illustrated in FIG. 3, the control system 220 comprises a local material part, including an electrical connection unit 221 and an interface 222, which are similar to the electrical connection unit 121 and to the interface 122, respectively, and a computer part, typically a software application, implemented on a remote computer means 223, such as a dematerialized server, the computer part being similar to the aforementioned computer part of the control system 120.

The control system 220 is configured to implement a method of regulation of the bathing pool 1 shown in FIG. 3. Steps of the regulation method are illustrated in FIG. 4.

The regulation method includes an initial step 250 which is similar to the initial step 150.

At the end of the initial step 250, the regulation method passes from the initial step 250 to an acquisition and processing step 251 during which the control system 220 acquires the current temperature Tc and the powers P1, P2 and P3, as measured by the temperature sensor 240 and the wattmeters 241, 242 and 243, respectively, at the instant in question, and processes the current temperature Tc and the powers P1, P2 and P3 to deduce therefrom a step by which the regulation method continues, chosen from a plurality of possible steps 252.1 to 252.8. Before describing each of the steps 252.1 to 252.8, it should be noted that each of the latter loops to the acquisition and processing step 251 via a time-delay step 253 which is similar to the time-delay step 153.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, within a tolerance, e.g. 10% or 5%, that the power P1 is greater than the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Tc is greater than the maximum temperature Tmax, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252. 1, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 253. In step 252.1, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210 in the renewable mode and to control the heat pump 211 so as not to heat the water 2: in this way, the heat pump 211 is not used to further heat the water 2 of the bathing pool 1, since the water 2 is considered to be already hot enough, and the production by the generator 230 maintains the electrical supply of the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213, any surplus of the production being sent to the domestic network 7 in order to maximize the self-consumption by the domestic network 7.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is greater than the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Tc is less than the maximum temperature Tmax, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252. 2, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 253. In step 252.2, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210 in the renewable mode and to control the heat pump 211 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 211 to a value which is determined by the control system 220 to be equal to the difference between the power P1 and the power P3: in this way, the power consumed by the heat pump 211 is modulated upwards to correspond to substantially all the power produced by the generator 230, minus the power consumed by the power consumed by the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213. Self-consumption is thereby maximized for heating the water 2 and, as soon as the current temperature Tc is higher than the setpoint temperature Tset, the water 2 thereby “overheated” with respect to the setpoint temperature Tc, is used as a means of storing heat.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is equal to the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Tc is greater than the maximum temperature Tmax, the method moves from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.3, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 253. In step 252.3, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210, herein the heat pump 211, in renewable mode and to control the heat pump 211 not to heat the water 2: the considerations relating to the step 252.3 are similar to same for step 252.1.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is equal to the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Tc is both greater than the minimum temperature Tmin and less than the maximum temperature Tmax, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.4, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 253. In step 252.4, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210 in the renewable mode and to control the heat pump 211 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 211 to a value which is determined by the control system 220 to be equal to the difference between the power P1 and the power P3: in this way, the power consumed by the heat pump 211 is modulated under stabilization to correspond to substantially all the power produced by the generator 230, minus the power consumed by the power consumed by the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213. The effects of the step 252.4 are similar to the effects of step 252.2.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is equal to the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Tc is lower than the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.5. In step 252.5, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210, in the hybrid mode and to control the heat pump 211 to heat the water 2, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 211 to a maximum nominal value which is independent of the powers P1 and P3: in this way, the electrical consumption of the heat pump 211 is not restricted or limited, but is increased to the nominal maximum to heat the water 2 as intensely as possible, so that the temperature 2 increases as rapidly as possible. Step 252.5 thereby serves to provide the thermal comfort of the user of the bathing pool 1, by calling on the collective network 6 in order to heat the water 2 by the heat pump 211 as soon as the current temperature Tc becomes too cold. Also in step 252.5, the current temperature Tc, as measured by the temperature sensor 240, is, at regular intervals, acquired and processed by the control system 220 so that, as long as the current temperature Tc does not become greater than the minimum temperature Tmin, step 252.5 loops on itself, whereas, as soon as the current temperature Tc returns above the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method moves without delay from step 252.5 to the time-delay step 253: in this way, as soon as the thermal comfort is reinstated, the regulation method reconsiders to cease calling upon the collective network 6.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is both greater than the power P3 and less than the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Tc is greater than the setpoint temperature Tset, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.6, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 253. In step 252.6, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210 in the renewable mode and to control the heat pump 211 so as not to heat the water 2: in this way, the heat pump 211 is not used to heat further the water 2 of the bathing pool 1, since the water 2 is considered to be already sufficiently hot with respect to the setpoint temperature, and a maximum of the power produced by the generator 230 is, despite the relative weakness of the latter, sent into the domestic network 7 to maximize the self-consumption by the domestic network 7, while favoring the aptitude to maintain the electrical power supply to the filtration pump 212 and to the water treatment device 213 by the generator 230.

When, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is both greater than the power P3 and less than the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Tc is both less than the setpoint temperature Tset and greater than the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.7, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 253. In step 252.7, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210 in the renewable mode and to control the heat pump 211 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump 211 to a value which is determined by the control system 220 to be equal to the difference between the power P1 and the power P3: in this way, the power consumed by the heat pump 211 is modulated downwards to correspond to substantially all the power produced by the generator 230, minus the power consumed by the power consumed by the filtration pump 212 and the water treatment device 213. Self-consumption is thereby maximized both in order to maintain the electrical power supply of the filtration pump 212 and of the water treatment device 213 by the generator 230 and in order to heat the water 2 and, despite the relative weakness of the power produced by the generator, it is sought to maintain the thermal comfort of the user without calling upon the collective network 6.

Finally, when, during the acquisition and processing step 251, the control system 220 determines, to within the aforementioned tolerance, that the power P1 is both greater than the power P3 and less than the sum of the second and third powers P2 and P3 and that the current temperature Tc is lower than the minimum temperature Tmin, the regulation method moves from the acquisition and processing step 251 to step 252.8. In step 252.8, the control system 220 is programmed to operate the pool equipment 210, herein the heat pump 211, in the hybrid mode and to control the heat pump 211 to heat the water 2, by adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to the aforementioned maximum nominal value: the considerations relating step 252.8 are thereby similar to same relating to step 252.4. Also in a similar manner to step 252.4, step 252.8 loops on itself as long as the current temperature Tc does not become higher than the minimum temperature Tmin, before moving without delay to the time-delay step 253 when the current temperature Tc rises above the minimum temperature Tmin.

Thereby, under a steady operating state, the regulation method illustrated in FIG. 4 takes into account in real time both the current temperature Tc and the powers P1, P2 and P3 in order to determine, between the hybrid mode and the renewable mode, the mode in which to operate the pool equipment 210, in other words herein both the heat pump 211, the filtration pump 211, while making it possible to maintain the electrical power supply of the filtration pump 212 and of the water treatment device 213 by the generator 230. As a result, it is possible to take maximum advantage of the power produced by the generator 230, while maintaining the level of thermal comfort for the user of the bathing pool 1.

In practice, the activation/deactivation of the filtration pump 212 can be controlled either by a control means distinct from the control system 220, e.g. a manual control means or an automatic control means independent of the control system 220, or by the control system 220. The same applies to the activation/deactivation of the water treatment device 213. In the case where the activation/deactivation of the filtration pump 212 and/or of the water treatment device 213 is controlled by the control system 220, the regulation performed makes it possible to control and regulate, in addition to the temperature of the water 2, the quality of the water 2 according to at least one physical quantity relating to the quality; moreover, the activation/deactivation can also be integrated into steps 252.1 to 252. 8, as well as being implemented by one or distinct steps which are programmed in the control system 220. In any case, it will be understood that the regulation method advantageously provides, when the power P1 is lower than the power P3, for the pool equipment 210 to operate in the hybrid mode in order to guarantee in all circumstances a sufficient electrical power supply to the filtration pump 212 and to the water treatment device 213.

Furthermore, the two variants which have been envisaged hereinabove with regard to the regulation method illustrated in FIG. 2 are obviously applicable to the regulation method illustrated in FIG. 4.

Thereby, according to such a first variant, each of the respective values of the current temperature Tc and of the powers P1, P2 and P3, which are considered at each occurrence of the acquisition and processing step 251, may not be the instantaneous value corresponding to the instant considered, but a value averaged over a predetermined time interval, typically the duration of the time-delay step 253, ending at the instant considered.

According to such a second variant, provision is made that, in step 252.2 and/or in step 252.4 and/or in step 252.6 and/or in step 252.7, the value at which the power consumed by the heat pump 211 is modulated by the control system 220 is not equal to the difference between the powers P1 and P3, but is less than the difference between the powers P1 and P3. As explained hereinabove, such variant may be of particular interest when the control system 220 takes into account, in addition to the current temperature Tc and the powers P1, P2 and P3, at least one other parameter, more particularly data representative of a weather forecast.

It should be noted that the regulation systems 100 and 200 may be defined in identical terms provided that the regulation system is defined as including, in the case where the pool equipment includes one equipment item or equipment other than the heat pump, a wattmeter, such as the wattmeter 243, i.e. a wattmeter which measures a power corresponding to the electrical power consumed by the equipment item or the equipment, the power measured by the wattmeter being considered as zero in the case where the pool equipment includes only the heat pump, as for the pool equipment 110. Furthermore, taking into account and generalizing the foregoing regarding the control methods illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, a control method for the bathing pool 1 of the installations shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 can be defined as providing that:

• • pool equipment, such as pool equipment 110 and 210, is selectively operated, in particular through a control system such as control systems 120 and 220:
    • in a hybrid mode, wherein the pool equipment is supplied jointly by a collective grid, such as the collective grid 6, and by a renewable electricity generator, such as the generators 130 and 230, making the pool equipment consume all the power produced by the generator, and
    • in a renewable mode, wherein the pool equipment is supplied by the generator without the pool equipment being supplied by the collective network, by sending to a domestic network, such as the domestic network 7, any excess between the power produced by the generator and the power consumed by the pool equipment; and
  • repeatedly at successive instants during a steady operating regime, the pool equipment is controlled, in particular by means of the aforementioned control system, at each of said instants from the current temperature Tc and the powers P1, P2 and P3, each of said current temperature Tc and of the powers P1, P2 and P3 being either measured at the instant considered or averaged over a predetermined time interval ending at the instant considered, so that:
    • when (i) the power P1 is both greater than the power P3 and less than or equal to the sum of the powers P2 and P3 and (ii) the current temperature Tc is less than a predetermined minimum temperature, such as the minimum temperature Tmin, the pool equipment is operated in hybrid mode and the heat pump, such as the heat pumps 111 and 211, is controlled to heat the water 2, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a maximum nominal value, as long as the current temperature Tc does become higher than the minimum temperature,
    • when (i) the power P1 is both greater than the power P3 and less than the sum of the powers P2 and P3 and (ii) the current temperature Tc is greater than the minimum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in the renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled to selectively:
      • heat the water 2, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a value that is less than or equal to the difference between the powers P1 and P3, and in particular:
        • when the power P1 is both higher than the power P3 and equal to the sum of the powers P2 and P3 and the current temperature Tc is both higher than the minimum temperature and lower than a maximum temperature, such as the maximum temperature Tmax,
        • or when the power P1 is both higher than the power P3 and lower than the sum of the power P2 and P3 and the current temperature Tc is both higher than the minimum temperature and lower than a predestined intermediate temperature, which is comprised between the minimum and maximum temperatures,
        • or else when the power P1 is both higher than the power P3 and lower than the sum of the powers P2 and P3 and the current temperature Tc is higher than the intermediate temperature, more particularly in the case where the pool equipment includes only the heat pump,
        • do not heat water 2, and in particular:
        • when the power P1 is both higher than the power P3 and equal to the sum of the powers P2 and P3 and the current temperature Tc is higher than the maximum temperature,
        • or when the power P1 is both higher than the power P3 and lower than the sum of the powers P2 and P3 and the current temperature is higher than the intermediate temperature, more particularly in the case where the pool equipment includes at least one equipment other than the heat pump,
    • When (i) the power P1 is greater than the sum of the powers P2 and P3 and (ii) the current temperature Tc is greater than the maximum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in the renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled so as not to heat the water, and
    • when (i) the power P1 is greater than the sum of the powers P2 and P3 and (ii) the current temperature Tc is less than the maximum temperature, the pool equipment is operated in the renewable mode and the heat pump is controlled to heat the water 2, adjusting the power consumed by the heat pump to a value that is less than or equal to the difference between the powers P1 and P3.

Finally, various layouts and variants of the regulation systems and regulation methods, which were described hitherto; are further conceivable. Examples include:

• • in addition to receiving control instruction data from the control system 120 or 220, the heat pump 111 or 211 advantageously communicates with the control system by sending thereto regularly the operating parameters thereof, which enables the control system 120 or 220 to control, in other words monitor the operation of the heat pump 111 or 211; in this way, the control system 120 or 220 is apt to take into account the actual state of the heat pump 111 or 211 in order to control the best possible the component or components the consumed power of which can be modulated;
  • in addition to or as a replacement for the filtration pump 212 and/or the water treatment device 213, the pool equipment 210 may include, in addition to the heat pump 211, one equipment item or other equipment; and/or
  • each of the powers P1 and P2, as well as, where appropriate, the power P3 can be determined by various types of electrical measuring apparatus; thereby, each of the powers can be measured by a wattmeter, such as the wattmeters 141, 142, 241, 242 and 243 envisaged in the embodiments illustrated, but also by a voltmeter and an ammeter, the respective measurements of which serve to calculate the power, or else by only an ammeter considering that the voltage is preset e.g. at 230 volts.