METHOD FOR OPERATING STATE MONITORING OF A HEATING SYSTEM, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A HEATING SYSTEM, AND A HEATING SYSTEM

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for operating state monitoring of a heating system, a method for controlling a heating system, and a heating system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The operation of heating systems for heating rooms of a building depends at times on outside temperatures of an environment of the building, which not only determine the necessity of heating per se, but also the associated energy consumption.

Thus, in warm summer months with comparatively high outside temperatures, generally no heating of the rooms by the heating system will be necessary, whereas in cold winter months the opposite applies. A possibly unnecessary operation of the heating system in said summer months leads to an unnecessary energy consumption and thus to avoidable energy costs.

Especially in transition regions between periods in which heating would be necessary due to low outside temperatures and those in which no heating would be necessary due to higher outside temperatures, a switching of the heating system from a heating to a non-heating operation, or vice versa, usually takes place too late and results in unnecessary energy costs, which is at times promoted by the usually manual switching of the operating state by an operator of the heating system.

For this purpose, heating systems are known from the prior art whose operating states are monitored to the effect that a respectively advantageous operating state is determined taking into account a detected outside temperature.

As an example, EP 1 988 348 A1 discloses a heating system with a heat pump whose operating state (heating or non-heating) is defined as a function of an outside temperature detected by an outside temperature sensor.

The requirements for such a procedure based on the outside temperature are comparatively high, since due to the volatility of the climate not only strong fluctuations of the outside temperature over the year, but also already strong fluctuations over a single day must be expected, as a result of which often incorrect decisions are made about a switching of the operating state of the heating system.

As a result of such incorrect decisions, increasing energy costs and a loss of comfort perceived negatively by inhabitants of the building occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a more efficient option for determining an optimum operating state of a heating system in comparison with the prior art.

To achieve this object, a method for operating state monitoring of a heating system according to claim 1, a method for controlling a heating system according to claim 14, and a heating system according to claim 15 are provided.

The respective dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments, which can respectively be provided by themselves or in combination.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a method for operating state monitoring of a heating system of a building is provided, which comprises at least one heating circuit for heating at least one room of the building, wherein the heating circuit can be switched at least between an operating state heating the room and an operating state not heating the room. At it, the method comprises detecting an outside temperature of the building, determining a consumption prediction value as a function of the detected outside temperature, which describes an expected energy consumption of the heating system for heating the at least one room, determining a setpoint value for an operating state parameter of the heating system on the basis of the determined consumption prediction value, wherein the operating state parameter determines an operating state of the heating circuit, and outputting a setpoint value signal corresponding to the determined setpoint value, in particular for further use by the heating system.

In this way, a setpoint value for the operating state parameter based on an estimated energy consumption is provided in the form of the output setpoint value signal, based on which numerous further actions, in particular of the heating system, can be carried out, which can comprise displaying the setpoint value on a display unit of a user interface device or also control actions to be carried out by a control device of the heating system depending on the setpoint value.

The determination of the setpoint value includes an expected energy consumption associated with the heating operation, based on which it can be indicated, inter alia, whether a high energy consumption or a comparatively low energy consumption is to be expected during heating. For example, in combination with an actual value of the operating state parameter, this results in a statement as to whether it would be useful to maintain the operating state or to switch it.

Thus, by using the consumption prediction value, the highly volatile character of the outside temperature is attenuated, in that it is reduced to an energy consumption prediction and thus preferably uses the energy consumption to be used for the day as a decision criterion for an optimum operating state of the heating circuit.

Herein, the consumption prediction value is to be understood as any indication or description of an energy consumption of the heating system and can be indicated as an energy indication, for example in kWh, as a time-period-specific energy indication, for example in kWh/day, and the like, but also as energy costs, for example in €, €/day, etc. In a particularly simple form, the consumption prediction value can also only indicate whether the energy consumption is high or low, wherein this assessment is carried out by comparison with a fixed energy consumption threshold value. In the same way, a division into high, medium or low can also be carried out on the basis of two energy consumption threshold values.

On that account, the outside temperature can be detected, for example, by an outside temperature sensor or on the basis of a retrieval of weather data from a weather service or the like.

In addition, the setpoint value of the operating state parameter only relates to the heating functionality of the heating circuit or circuits and does not include any other functionalities of the heating system, such as, for example, a service water heating.

Herein, the setpoint value signal is to be understood as any electronic or electromagnetic signal which is suitable for data transmission between a transmitter and a receiver and which can be transmitted in a wired and/or wireless manner.

Preferably, the method is carried out continuously over time at predetermined time intervals in order thus to ensure a continuous operating state monitoring of the heating system.

In a preferred embodiment, the operating state parameter can be represented at least as a first value and a second value, wherein the first value corresponds to the heating operating state and the second value corresponds to the non-heating operating state, for example the values “on” and “off” or “0” and “1” etc., wherein the determination of the setpoint value for the operating state parameter is carried out in such a way that the setpoint value corresponds to the first value if the determined consumption prediction value is greater than a predetermined first threshold value, and the setpoint value corresponds to the second value if the determined consumption prediction value is less than a predetermined second threshold value.

In this way, an assignment is provided which can be implemented in a comparatively simple manner and on the basis of which the setpoint value can be determined from the determined consumption prediction value.

Preferably, the second threshold value is less than the first threshold value, so that a brief undershooting of the first threshold value following an overshoot does not immediately lead to a switchover of the setpoint value again. The same applies to the second threshold value.

In this way, a particularly robust and disturbance-insensitive procedure is provided which reduces the risk of a rapidly successive change of the setpoint value.

In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises providing a consumption prediction function, which describes the expected energy consumption of the heating system for heating the at least one room at least as a function of the outside temperature of the building, and wherein determining the consumption prediction value is carried out on the basis of the provided consumption prediction function and the detected outside temperature.

Herein, the consumption prediction function is to be understood as any type of mathematical assignment, by means of which a target value from a target quantity is assigned to a value of an input variable, or a combination of values of a plurality of input variables. Examples herein comprise, and not limitedly, graphical assignments via characteristic maps, assignment tables, but also equation-based assignments.

In this way, the method is extended by a function-based description of the expected energy consumption as a function of the detected outside temperature, which allows a comparatively fast, robust and reproducible evaluation of the consumption prediction value.

In addition, the consumption prediction function can be adapted in a comparatively simple manner to specific characteristics of the heating system or can also be updated in a simple manner using the detected outside temperatures themselves, for example by adapting coefficients in the case of an equation-based assignment.

In a preferred embodiment, a target set of the consumption prediction functions further comprises at least a first value, which describes an expected energy consumption that is equal to or greater than a defined energy consumption limit value, and a second value, which describes an expected energy consumption that is less than the defined energy consumption limit value.

In this way, the statement of the consumption prediction limit value is reduced to the two cases of a low and a high expected energy consumption, wherein the two ranges “low” and “high” are separated by said energy consumption limit value and the consumption prediction value assigns the energy consumption to one of these two ranges.

In the case of an expected low energy consumption, it can be assumed that no heating by the heating circuit would be necessary, as a result of which the setpoint value is set to the second value, whereas for an expected high energy consumption heating by the heating circuit would be necessary, as a result of which the setpoint value is set to the first value.

Preferably, the defined energy consumption limit value is between 0.1 and 5 kWh per day, preferably between 0.5 and 2.5 kWh per day and particularly preferably this is 1 kWh per day.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the consumption prediction function describes a probability that the expected energy consumption of the heating system is equal to or greater than a defined energy consumption limit value, wherein a target set of the consumption prediction functions comprises a plurality of continuously distributed probability values for this purpose, in particular in the value range between 0 and 1.

As described previously, this procedure allows a classification of a low or a high expected energy consumption, wherein, in contrast to the discrete case of the previous embodiment, a statement is made about a probability.

This allows a more precise estimation of the expected energy consumption, wherein ultimately no statement is made about the actual level of the expected energy consumption, but a statement is made about how probable it is that the energy consumption is greater than the energy consumption limit value. Such a procedure allows, inter alia, the simple definition of transition regions for switching the setpoint value.

Thus, for example, the setpoint value can be set to the first value if a probability described by the consumption prediction function is 20% or less, whereas the setpoint value can be set to the second value if the probability described by the consumption prediction function is 60% or more. The intermediate range of 20 to 60% serves as a transition region in which, starting from the respective previous probability, no change of the setpoint value takes place.

Herein, the indication of the probability is yet not limited to the case outlined above. Thus, the probability indicated by the consumption prediction function can also indicate how probable it is that the expected energy consumption of the heating system is less than the defined energy consumption limit value.

In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises detecting a plurality of additional outside temperatures, which are detected at time intervals from one another, and wherein determining the consumption prediction value further comprises determining an average outside temperature from a set of values, comprising the detected outside temperature and the detected plurality of additional outside temperatures, and determining a minimum outside temperature from the set of values, wherein the provided consumption prediction function describes the expected energy consumption as input variables as a function of an average outside temperature and a minimum outside temperature, and wherein determining the consumption prediction value is carried out on the basis of the provided consumption prediction function and the determined average outside temperature and the determined minimum outside temperature as input variables of the consumption prediction function.

In this way, not only fluctuations of the outside temperature are compensated by the averaging, but also an additional evaluation is carried out on the basis of the minimum outside temperature. Thus, not only an average outside temperature is used for estimating the energy consumption, but also a minimum outside temperature. This is advantageous in particular for scenarios in which, although a comparatively high average outside temperature is present, due to strong cooling in the morning and/or evening hours of a day, also very low outside temperatures are reached, which would necessitate heating by the heating circuit, but would possibly not take place without taking into account the minimum outside temperature.

By said procedure, in the course of determining the consumption prediction value, thus also a fluctuation around the average outside temperature is taken into account, which proves to be advantageous in particular for the case of cool morning and/or evening hours described above by way of example.

In a preferred embodiment, the detection of the plurality of additional outside temperatures is carried out over N days, where N≥1, wherein a plurality of outside temperatures are respectively detected for each of the N days, wherein determining the average outside temperature in turn comprises determining respective daily averages of the outside temperatures for each of the N days, determining a first average value from the determined daily averages of the N days and outputting the determined first average value as the average outside temperature, and wherein determining the minimum outside temperature in turn comprises determining respective daily minima of the outside temperature for each of the N days, determining a second average value from the determined daily minima of the N days and outputting the determined second average value as the minimum outside temperature.

In this way, not only is the robustness of the method further increased, since fluctuations of the outside temperature are further attenuated by the averaging, but also a tendency of the last days can be taken into account, so that, for example, a short-term heating period does not immediately lead to the switching off of the heating circuit. Herein, preferably, the number N of days is 2 to 14, or 3 to 7 and particularly preferably N=7.

In an additional preferred embodiment, providing the consumption prediction function further comprises providing a plurality of heating systems, which are respectively assigned to a building and respectively comprise at least one heating circuit for heating at least one room of the respective building, setting the energy consumption limit value, detecting operating data and environmental data of the provided plurality of heating systems, which in turn comprises, for each heating system of the plurality of heating systems, detecting a plurality of outside temperatures of the respective building, which are respectively detected at predetermined points in time over a predetermined period of time, and detecting a plurality of energy consumption values, which respectively describe the energy consumption of the heating system for heating the at least one room of the respective building and are detected at the predetermined points in time, as well as determining the consumption prediction function on the basis of the outside temperatures detected during the detection of operating data and environmental data and energy consumption values as well as the defined energy consumption limit value.

In this way, the consumption prediction function can be provided on the basis of a plurality of data of a wide variety of heating systems, which allows a particularly reliable statement about an expected energy consumption as a function of the outside temperature.

Further, preferably, the consumption prediction function is determined on the basis of the detected operating data and environmental data by means of a method for machine learning (machine learning), for example, using a regression method, a decision tree or an artificial neural network.

In particular, during the determination of the consumption prediction function, a model function is set with one or more function parameters still to be determined, the values of which are determined on the basis of the machine learning. Herein, it is attempted, by selecting the function parameters, to map the determined values for the desired input variables as accurately as possible onto the associated determined values of the output variable of the consumption prediction function to be mapped thereon.

At it, preferably, only a differentiation of the cases with an energy consumption greater or less than the defined energy consumption limit value is carried out for the output variable, which allows a relatively simple machine learning to be carried out rapidly and ultimately leads to the consumption prediction function already described above, which only differentiates between a low and a high energy consumption (either discretely or via a probability, depending on the model function set).

In a preferred embodiment, detecting the outside temperature further comprises measuring an outside temperature via an outside temperature sensor of the heating system.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the method also comprises retrieving weather data for a region of the building, wherein detecting the outside temperature comprises outputting a temperature measurement value contained in the retrieved weather data as the detected outside temperature. The region herein can be (not limitedly) understood as a region in a perimeter of the building of 0 to 250 km, preferably of 0 to 100 km and particularly preferably of 0 to 25 km.

In this way, the heating system is not dependent on its own outside temperature sensor, but can resort to external data sources for detecting the outside temperature in the course of the method.

Further, preferably, determining the consumption prediction value can additionally be carried out as a function of the retrieved weather data, in particular as a function of temperature prediction data contained in the weather data for one or more days to come.

For this purpose, for example, the detected outside temperature functioning as input variables of the consumption prediction function can be subjected to a correction factor dependent on the temperature prediction data, or the consumption prediction function itself can be configured in such a way that it uses temperature values of the temperature prediction data as additional input variables for determining the consumption prediction value.

In this way, an outside temperature to be expected in the future can be included in determining the consumption prediction value, as a result of which the energy consumption can be estimated more reliably and accurately.

As described above, said weather data can contain both one or more temperature measurement values of a weather station, in particular of a nearby weather station in the region of the building, and/or temperature prediction data for one or more days to come, in particular for the region of the building.

Preferably, detecting the outside temperature (for the case that both the retrieved weather data and a measured sensor value of the outside temperature sensor from the measurement of an outside temperature are available) further comprises calculating an output value on the basis of the sensor value and the temperature measurement value contained in the retrieved weather data and outputting the output value as the detected outside temperature.

Specifically, the calculation can be carried out in such a way that, for example, a weighted or an unweighted average value of the sensor value and the temperature measurement value is calculated.

In this way, not only the detected outside temperatures are included, but also prediction data provided by external data sources for an outside temperature to be expected in the future, as a result of which the reliability in determining the consumption prediction value is further increased.

In addition, in a further preferred embodiment, the method also comprises detecting an actual value of the operating state parameter of the heating circuit and outputting an actual value signal corresponding to the detected actual value, in particular for further use by the heating system.

In this way, information about a current operating state of the heating circuit and about an optimum operating state indicated by the setpoint value is now available to the heating system. In particular, further actions for operating state monitoring can be initiated on the basis thereof if the actual value and the setpoint value are different.

Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the method comprises transmitting the setpoint value signal and/or the actual value signal to a user interface device and displaying the actual value and/or setpoint value for the operating state parameter respectively transmitted with the signals on a display unit of the user interface device.

In this way, a display option for operating state monitoring is provided for an operator of the heating system, usually an inhabitant of the building, so that said operator can perceive, at a glance, a possibly disadvantageous operating state which expresses itself, for example, in unequal actual values and setpoint values.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises outputting a notification signal based on the actual value signal and the setpoint value signal, wherein the notification signal is output when the actual value corresponding to the actual value signal is not equal to the setpoint value corresponding to the setpoint value signal, and transmitting the notification signal to a user interface device, wherein the notification signal causes the user interface device to display a notification on a display unit of the user interface device that (or the content thereof) recommends switching of the operating state of the heating circuit.

Herein. a switching of the operating state is to be understood in a simplified manner as the change of the operating state from the heating to the non-heating operation or vice versa, depending on which operating state currently prevails at the point in time of the switching.

In this way, the method is extended by a recommendation function, which informs the operator of the heating system in the form of the notification that the heating system or the first heating circuit is operated in a non-optimal operating state and a switching from “heating” to “non-heating” or vice versa would be meaningful.

The above-described embodiment of the method for operating state monitoring can in this case particularly advantageously serve as a basis for a method for controlling the heating system.

For such a method, the user interface device preferably comprises an input unit for user inputs, wherein the method for controlling additionally comprises detecting a user input made in response to the displayed notification, outputting a control signal based on the user input by the user interface device, transmitting the control signal to a control device of the heating system and controlling the heating system by means of the control device depending on the transmitted control signal, wherein the controlling in particular comprises switching of the operating state of the heating circuit depending on the control signal by setting the operating state parameter to the setpoint value.

In this way, the operator of the heating system can perform the switching of the operating state recommended via the notification directly at the user interface device as a reaction to the displayed notification, as a result of which a corresponding control signal is transmitted to the control device.

The operator interaction necessary herein prevents a switching of the operating state perceived as uncomfortable under certain circumstances performed by the heating system, so that the operator can still delay a switching or even reject a switching, if he is satisfied with the prevailing operating state.

If an output of a control signal switching the operating state is made on the basis of the user input, the above-described method for controlling the heating system preferably further comprises displaying an additional notification via the display unit of the user interface device at a later point in time, for example 3 days later, which requests an additional user input via the input unit, via which the operator can input whether he is satisfied with the switching of the operating state recommended in the previous notification or not.

In contrast, if the operator is not satisfied, an output of an additional control signal by the user interface device, a transmission of the additional control signal to the control device of the heating system and a controlling of the heating system by means of the control device depending on the transmitted additional control signal are made based on the corresponding additional user input, wherein the additional control signal causes a new switching of the operating state by the control device, by which the heating circuit changes back into its operating state prevailing before the first notification.

In a preferred embodiment, the user interface device is an operating console of the heating system and/or a mobile terminal and/or a building control system coupled to the heating system and/or a cloud-based control platform for the heating system.

In this case, the user interface device can be part of the heating system or can be provided separately therefrom, for example in the form of the mobile terminal.

In this way, numerous display options are provided, which inform an operator of the heating system in a wide variety of ways about the operating state or a recommended switching of the operating state.

The mobile terminal herein can be understood, for example, as a smartphone, a notebook computer or a tablet computer, via which an operator of the heating system can be particularly reliably notified.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for controlling a heating system of a building is provided, which comprises a heating circuit for heating at least one room of the building, wherein the heating circuit can be switched at least between an operating state heating the room and an operating state not heating the room. In this case, the method comprises monitoring an operating state of the heating system according to a method for operating state monitoring according to the first aspect of the invention, transmitting the setpoint value signal output in the course of monitoring the operating state to a control device of the heating system, and controlling the heating system by means of the control device depending on the setpoint value for the operating state parameter of the heating circuit transmitted with the setpoint value signal.

In this way, an option is provided which performs an automatic adaptation of the operating state of the heating circuit by the heating system itself, without a necessary action by an operator. In addition, energy-disadvantageous states are avoided precisely in transition periods, as a result of which energy costs can be saved and a perception of comfort of the inhabitants of the building can be increased.

Preferably, the method further comprises detecting an actual value of the operating state parameter of the heating circuit and outputting an actual value signal corresponding to the detected actual value, in particular for further use by the heating system.

On the basis thereof, the method preferably comprises transmitting the actual value signal to a control device of the heating system, wherein the heating system is controlled by means of the control device additionally depending on the actual value for the operating state parameter of the heating circuit transmitted with the actual value signal, and in particular comprises switching of the operating state of the heating circuit if the actual value and the setpoint value are not equal, in particular by setting the operating state parameter to the setpoint value.

In addition, according to a third aspect of the invention, a heating system for use in a building is provided, which comprises at least one control device, which is configured to control the heating system, a heating circuit, which is configured to heat at least one room of the building and can be switched via the control device at least between an operating state heating the room and an operating state not heating the room, a monitoring device for operating state monitoring of the heating system, and a temperature detection device coupled to the monitoring device, which is configured to detect an outside temperature of the building. At it, the monitoring device is configured to determine, as a function of an outside temperature detected by the temperature detection device, a consumption prediction value, which describes an expected energy consumption of the heating system for heating the at least one room, to determine, on the basis of the determined consumption prediction value, a setpoint value for an operating state parameter, which determines an operating state of the heating circuit, and to output a setpoint value signal corresponding to the determined setpoint value, in particular for further use by the heating system.

In this way, a heating system is provided, which brings with it the advantages of the above-described method for operating state monitoring, which will not be discussed again below.

For this purpose, the monitoring device comprises in particular an electronic memory unit and a processor-based calculation unit, which can be used in the course of determining the consumption prediction value and the setpoint value.

Preferably, the operating state parameter can be represented at least as a first value and a second value, wherein the first value corresponds to the heating operating state and the second value corresponds to the non-heating operating state, for example the values “on” and “off” or “0” and “1” etc., wherein the monitoring device is configured to determine the setpoint value for the operating state parameter in such a way that the setpoint value corresponds to the first value if the determined consumption prediction value is greater than a predetermined first threshold value, and the setpoint value corresponds to the second value if the determined consumption prediction value is less than a predetermined second threshold value.

Moreover, preferably, the monitoring device comprises a memory unit, in which a consumption prediction function is stored and provided for use by the monitoring device, which describes the expected energy consumption of the heating system for heating the at least one room at least as a function of the outside temperature of the building, and wherein the monitoring device is configured to determine the consumption prediction value on the basis of the provided consumption prediction function and the detected outside temperature. In this case, the consumption prediction function can be implemented according to any one of the embodiments described above in the course of the method for operating state monitoring.

Preferably, the temperature detection device for detecting the outside temperature comprises an (own) outside temperature sensor and/or a weather data device, which can be coupled to a data system of a weather service, and is configured to retrieve weather data available there, in particular for a region of the building.

In this case, said weather data can contain both current temperature measurement values of a weather station, in particular of a nearby weather station in the region of the building, and temperature prediction data for one or more days to come, in particular for the region of the building.

The weather data device is further preferably configured to output a temperature measurement value from the retrieved weather data as the detected outside temperature.

If the temperature detection device has both the outside temperature sensor and the weather data device, then the temperature detection device is preferably configured to output a detected sensor value of the outside temperature sensor, the temperature measurement value from the retrieved weather data or a combination of sensor value and temperature measurement value as the detected outside temperature.

In this case, said combination can be, for example, a weighted or an unweighted average value of the two values.

In the event that the retrieved weather data contain temperature prediction data, the weather data device can be likewise configured to provide said data to the monitoring device, wherein said data can in turn be configured to determine the consumption prediction additionally as a function of the temperature prediction data.

Moreover, preferably, the temperature detection device is configured to detect a plurality of additional outside temperatures at time intervals from one another and to transmit them to the monitoring device, which is in turn configured to determine an average outside temperature from a set of values, comprising the detected outside temperature and the detected plurality of additional outside temperatures, and a minimum outside temperature from the set of values, wherein the provided consumption prediction function describes the expected energy consumption as input variables as a function of an average outside temperature and a minimum outside temperature, and the monitoring device is configured to determine the consumption prediction value on the basis of the provided consumption prediction function and the determined average outside temperature and the determined minimum outside temperature as input variables of the consumption prediction function.

In addition, preferably, the monitoring device is configured to detect an actual value of the operating state parameter of the heating circuit and to output an actual value signal corresponding to the detected actual value, in particular for further use by the heating system.

Preferably, the heating system further comprises a user interface device having a display unit and/or can be coupled to a user interface device having a display unit, wherein the monitoring device is configured to transmit the setpoint value signal and/or the actual value signal to the user interface device, wherein said user interface device is in turn configured to display the actual value and/or setpoint value for the operating state parameter transmitted with the signals on the display unit.

Likewise preferably, the monitoring device is configured to output a notification signal based on the actual value signal and the setpoint value signal, wherein the notification signal is output when the actual value corresponding to the actual value signal is not equal to the setpoint value corresponding to the setpoint value signal, wherein the monitoring device is further configured to transmit the notification signal to the user interface device, wherein the notification signal causes the user interface device to display a notification on the display unit of the user interface device that recommends switching of the operating state of the heating circuit.

Preferably, in this case, the user interface device further comprises an input unit for user inputs, wherein the user interface device is configured to detect a user input made in response to the displayed notification and to generate a control signal based thereon and to transmit said control signal to the control device, wherein the control device is configured to control the heating system depending on the transmitted control signal, and in this case is in particular configured to switch the operating state of the heating circuit depending on the control signal.

In addition, preferably, the monitoring device is configured to transmit the setpoint value signal to the control device, which is in turn configured to control the heating system depending on the setpoint value for the operating state parameter of the heating circuit transmitted with the setpoint value signal, in particular additionally depending on an actual value transmitted with the actual value signal to the control device.

Further aspects and the advantages thereof as well as more specific exemplary embodiments of the aforementioned aspects and features are described below with reference to the drawings shown in the enclosed figures.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show flow diagrams of two exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention for operating state monitoring of a heating system.

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for controlling a heating system.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show exemplary time profiles of operating data and environmental data of a heating system in the course of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for operating state monitoring.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the heating system according to the invention.

It is emphasized that the present invention is in no way limited to the exemplary embodiments described below and the exemplary features thereof. The invention further comprises modifications of said exemplary embodiments, in particular those which result from modifications and/or combinations of individual or a plurality of features of the described exemplary embodiments within the scope of protection of the independent claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for operating state monitoring of a heating system of a building, wherein the heating system comprises at least one heating circuit for heating at least one room of the building and the heating circuit can be switched at least between an operating state heating the room and an operating state not heating the room.

In step S1, a plurality of outside temperatures (corresponding to the detected outside temperature+the detected plurality of additional outside temperatures) of the building are detected, which are detected at time intervals from one another.

In step S2, a consumption prediction value is determined as a function of the detected plurality of outside temperatures, wherein the consumption prediction value describes an expected energy consumption of the heating system for heating the at least one room, in turn comprising the sub-steps S2.1 to S2.4.

In the present case, it applies (not limitedly) that the higher the consumption prediction value, the higher the expected energy consumption of the heating system.

In sub-step S2.1, a consumption prediction function is provided, which describes the expected energy consumption as input variables as a function of an average outside temperature and a minimum outside temperature.

In sub-step S2.2, an average outside temperature is determined from the plurality of outside temperatures detected in step S1.

In sub-step S2.3, a minimum outside temperature is determined from the plurality of outside temperatures detected in step S1.

In sub-step S2.4, the consumption prediction value is determined on the basis of the consumption prediction function provided in sub-step S2.1 and the determined average outside temperature and the determined minimum outside temperature from the sub-steps S2.2 and S2.3 as input variables of the consumption prediction function.

In step S3, a setpoint value for an operating state parameter of the heating system, which determines an operating state of the heating circuit, is determined as a function of the consumption prediction value determined in step S2.

In sub-step S3.1, the determined consumption prediction value is compared with a predetermined threshold value. Herein, if the latter is less than the predetermined threshold value, sub-step S3.2a is performed, otherwise sub-step S3.2b is performed.

Alternatively, in sub-step S3.1, a comparison can also be carried out with a plurality of threshold values, between which in particular a transition region is present.

In sub-step S3.2a, a value assignment is performed, in which a second value is assigned to the setpoint value, whereas in sub-step S3.2b, a value assignment is performed, in which a first value is assigned to the setpoint value, wherein the first value denotes the heating operating state and the second value denotes the non-heating operating state of the heating circuit.

In step S4, a setpoint value signal corresponding to the determined setpoint value is output.

FIG. 1B shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for operating state monitoring of a heating system of a building, which is based on the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 1A, to the effect that steps S1 to S4 are identical to those from the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 1A.

Starting from step S4, an actual value of the operating state parameter of the heating circuit is detected in step S5.

In step S6, an actual value signal corresponding to the detected actual value is output.

In step S7, a notification signal is output based on the actual value signal and the setpoint value signal from steps S6 and S4, wherein the notification signal is output when the actual value corresponding to the actual value signal is not equal to the setpoint value corresponding to the setpoint value signal.

In step S8, the notification signal is transmitted to a user interface device.

In step S9, a notification is displayed on a display unit of the user interface device as a reaction to the transmitted notification signal from step S8, wherein the notification or the content thereof recommends switching of the operating state of the heating circuit.

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for controlling a heating system.

The starting point of the method is the exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for operating state monitoring illustrated in FIG. 1A, with identically implemented steps S1 to S4. In order to distinguish from FIG. 1B, further a star notation of the steps is selected here.

Starting from step S4, the setpoint value signal is transmitted to a control device of the heating system in step S5*.

In step S6*, the heating system is controlled by means of the control device depending on the setpoint value for the operating state parameter of the heating circuit transmitted with the setpoint value signal, which in particular comprises switching of the operating state of the heating circuit depending on the setpoint value.

According to an advantageous further development of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, this further comprises the steps (not illustrated here) of detecting an actual value of the operating state parameter of the heating circuit, outputting an actual value signal corresponding to the detected actual value, transmitting the actual value signal to the control device of the heating system, wherein the heating system is controlled by means of the control device additionally depending on the actual value transmitted with the actual value signal. In particular, the operating state of the heating circuit is switched if the actual value and the setpoint value are not equal, by setting the operating state parameter to the setpoint value.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show exemplary time profiles of operating data and environmental data of a heating system in the course of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for operating state monitoring.

AT it, both time profiles shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B relate to the same heating system, for which the operating data and environmental data are indicated over a period of time of 10 months.

FIG. 3A shows the temperature profiles of the outside temperature of the building in which the heating system is used, wherein the day-related minimum outside temperatures (lower curve) and the day-related maximum outside temperatures (upper curve) are respectively plotted over time.

The time profiles shown show the highly volatile character of the outside temperature in the period of time considered, in the course of which, for example, a temperature dip at the end of May 2021, followed by a sharp temperature rise, can be observed, which makes it more difficult to set an optimum operating state for a heating circuit of the heating system.

According to the invention, in the course of determining the setpoint value for the operating state parameter determining the operating state of the heating circuit of the heating system, therefore, the consumption prediction value is used, the time profile of which is shown in FIG. 3B.

The consumption prediction value used in this example herein describes the probability, in values between 0 and 100, that an expected energy consumption of the heating system for heating a room with the aid of the heating circuit is less than a defined energy consumption limit value, which corresponds to 1 kWh/day in the present example (not limitedly). This scenario is exemplarily referred to as “heating not necessary”.

In contrast, the higher the probability, the more probable the case is that an energy consumption of less than 1 kWh/day is to be expected. The consumption prediction value indicating the probability herein depends on the outside temperature of the building, wherein the profile shown in FIG. 3B is exemplarily based on an average value of the day-related minimum outside temperatures and an average value of day-related average outside temperatures from the temperature profiles of the preceding 7 days. Accordingly, the average outside temperature is determined in the present example from the maximum outside temperature and the minimum outside temperature of a day.

According to the illustrated profile, it can be seen that in particular in the summer months from the beginning of June to the end of August a low energy consumption was expected, i.e. a high probability that the consumption is less than 1 kWh/day, whereas in the remaining months a higher energy consumption was expected.

The determination of the setpoint value (dotted line) for the operating state parameter determining the operating state of the heating circuit is carried out by threshold value considerations of the consumption prediction value. Thus, the two threshold values G1 and G2 are defined, which respectively describe an 80% and a 50% probability that an energy consumption of less than 1 kWh/day is to be expected.

The determined setpoint value on the basis of the consumption prediction value herein can exemplarily be represented as the two values “0” and “1”, which respectively denote the non-heating and heating operating state of the heating circuit.

If the consumption prediction value exceeds the first threshold value G1, the setpoint value is set to “0”, whereas as a result of undershooting below the second threshold value G2, the setpoint value is set to “1”. The intermediate transition region serves for introducing a certain robustness into the method, as a result of which an undesirably frequent change of the setpoint value due to only local fluctuations of the consumption prediction value, caused by fluctuations of the outside temperature, is avoided. Thus, for example, the brief heating period at the beginning of May does not lead to a switchover of the setpoint value.

As a result, the method described above leads to a robust and reliable determination of a setpoint value for the operating state parameter, with which an efficient switchover of the heating circuit between a heating winter operation and a non-heating summer operation is made possible.

Thus, as a result, the setpoint value is set to a new value only twice in the shown 10-month period of time: at the end of May, the change to the non-heating (summer) operation is proposed by the setpoint value and the change to the heating (winter) operation is performed in the middle/end of August.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic exemplary embodiment of the heating system 1 according to the invention of a building 100, which exemplarily comprises a first room 101 and a second room 102.

The heating system 1 comprises a heat generator 2 for controlling the temperature of one or more energy transport media, a monitoring device 3 for monitoring an operating state of the heating system 1, a control device 4 for controlling the heating system 1, a temperature detection device, which comprises an outside temperature sensor 5 for detecting an outside temperature of the building 100, a heating circuit 6 for heating the first room and an operating console 8a located in the first room.

The heat generator 2 comprises a heating unit 21, via which the heating circuit 6 is supplied with a temperature-controlled energy transport medium in order to heat the first room 101 of the building 100. The heating circuit 6 in addition, comprises the floor heating 61 indicated in a loop-shaped manner, which serves as a heat exchanger between the first room 101 and the energy transport medium temperature-controlled by the heating unit 21.

The heating circuit 6 can be switched via the heating unit 21 between an operation heating the first room 101 and an operation not heating the first room 101. This switching is brought about in a simplified manner by switching the heating unit 21 on or off.

Furthermore, the heat generator comprises a service water unit 22, which is configured to heat service water that is supplied to consumers located in the building, such as, for example, a shower 102a. The monitoring device 3 is coupled to the control device 4, the outside temperature sensor 5 and to the operating console 8a and a mobile terminal 8b, in this case a smartphone of a resident of the building 100, wherein the monitoring device 3 comprises a communication unit 33 for the two latter devices for wired and wireless data transmission.

The monitoring device 3 further comprises an electronic memory unit 31 and a processor-based evaluation unit 32.

Stored in the memory unit 31 is a consumption prediction function, which is provided for use by the monitoring device 3 or by the evaluation unit 32 and which describes the expected energy consumption of the heating system 1 for heating the first room 101 at least as a function of the outside temperature of the building 100. At it, the monitoring device 3 is configured, in the course of an operating state monitoring of the heating system 1, to determine a consumption prediction value, which describes an expected energy consumption of the heating system 1 for heating the first room 101, on the basis of the provided consumption prediction function and an outside temperature detected by the outside temperature sensor 5.

Furthermore, the monitoring device 3 or the evaluation unit 32 is configured to determine, on the basis of the determined consumption prediction value, a setpoint value for an operating state parameter, which can be used in particular by the heating system 1 or by the control device 4 and which determines an operating state of the heating circuit 6 (see also FIGS. 3A and 3B) and to output a setpoint value signal corresponding to the determined setpoint value.

Moreover, the monitoring device 3 is configured to detect an actual value of the operating state parameter of the heating circuit 6, wherein for this purpose, in the present example, said monitoring device accesses an actual value of the operating state parameter stored in the control device 4 and outputs a corresponding actual value signal.

The monitoring device 3 or the evaluation unit 32 thereof is further configured to output a notification signal based on the actual value signal and the setpoint value signal, wherein the notification signal is output when the actual value corresponding to the actual value signal is not equal to the setpoint value corresponding to the setpoint value signal.

The monitoring device 3 herein is configured to transmit the notification signal via the communication unit 33 to the operating console 8a and to the smartphone 8b, which function as user interface devices.

At it, the notification signal causes the operating console 8a and the smartphone to display a notification 81a on a respective display unit (only shown as a touchscreen 81 in the case of the smartphone 8b), wherein the notification or the content thereof recommends switching of the operating state of the heating circuit 6.

Based thereon, an operator of the heating system 1 can switch the operating state of the heating circuit 6, for example, on the operating console 8a or else on the smartphone 8b, as a result of which, for example, the heating unit 21 is switched off or on.

The determination of the setpoint value is further carried out from energy consumption-specific aspects and identifies an optimum operating state of the heating circuit 6, via which, for example, an energy-disadvantageous heating during warm summer months can be prevented, as a result of which, inter alia, energy costs can be saved.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, which is not shown here, the temperature detection device of the heating system can comprise, additionally or alternatively to the outside temperature sensor 5, a weather data device, which can be coupled to a data system of a weather service, and is configured to retrieve weather data available there, in particular for a region of the building 100. Herein, the region can be understood as a region in a perimeter of 0 to 250 km, preferably of 0 to 100 km and particularly preferably of 0 to 25 km.

In this case, said weather data can contain both current temperature measurement values of a weather station, in particular of a nearby weather station in the region of the building 100, and temperature prediction data for one or more days to come, in particular for the region of the building.

For the first-mentioned case, the weather data device is configured to output a current temperature measurement value from the retrieved weather data as the detected outside temperature.

In addition, if the temperature detection device additionally comprises an outside temperature sensor, then the temperature detection device can be also configured to output a detected sensor value of the outside temperature sensor, the temperature measurement value from the retrieved weather data or a combination of sensor value and temperature measurement value as the detected outside temperature.

In this case, said combination can be, for example, a weighted or an unweighted average value of the two values.

In the foregoing, exemplary embodiments of the present invention as well as the advantages thereof have been described in detail with reference to the enclosed figures.

On that account, it is again emphasized that the present invention is in no way limited to the exemplary embodiments described above and the exemplary features thereof. In addition, the invention further comprises modifications of said exemplary embodiments, in particular those which result from modifications and/or combinations of individual or a plurality of features of the described exemplary embodiments within the scope of protection of the independent claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

• • 1 Heating System
  • 2 Heat Generator
  • 3 Monitoring Device
  • 4 Control Device
  • 5 Outside Temperature Sensor
  • 6 Heating Circuit
  • 8a Operating Console
  • 8b Smartphone
  • 21 Heating Unit
  • 22 Service Water Unit
  • 31 Memory Unit
  • 32 Evaluation Unit
  • 33 Communication Unit
  • 61 Floor Heating
  • 81 Touchscreen
  • 81a Notification
  • 100 building
  • 101 first room
  • 102 second room
  • 102a shower