FR2776399A1 - Programmable temperature regulation controller for industrial, commercial and residential buildings - Google Patents

Abstract

The temperature controller has detectors (H, I) measuring temperature inside and outside the building. A microprocessor (B) cooperates with a time clock (E) set to operate at the normal arrival and departure time of occupants of the building and with a data memory (D) and a program (C) to automate the variation of the heating start and finish time in response to climatic conditions

Description

"Programmable temperature control device" The invention

  concerns a programmable temperature regulation device with 2 temperature thresholds selected by a clock making it possible to adapt and reduce the heating as a function of the presence and absence times

  of users in industrial, commercial or residential premises.

  Programmable regulation devices are already known which make it possible to reduce the heating in a room as a function of the times of presence and absence of users. These traditional devices include a clock incorporated or separate from the regulating device and programmed by the user. The clock controls the switching of the frost protection temperature to the desired temperature in the room while the room is occupied. To obtain the temperature chosen when users arrive, the scheduled time must take into account the space's heating time. This time depends on the volume of the room, the quality of its insulation and the outside temperature. To optimize energy consumption, i.e. reduce heating while being sure to obtain a chosen and selected temperature upon arrival in the room, it is therefore necessary to vary the time of

  heating start depending on weather conditions.

  Traditional programmable temperature control devices must therefore be pre-programmed by the user and cannot in any case automate the variation of the start time according to the

weather conditions.

  In order to achieve such an aim, the present invention relates to a programmable temperature regulation device making it possible to adapt and reduce the heating as a function of the times of presence and absence of users in industrial, commercial or business premises. house, a programmed clock for controlling the space heating function as a function of a reference temperature corresponding to the time of absence of the user and a temperature to be reached corresponding to the time of presence of the user and function of the date and time o the premises must be heated, device characterized in that it includes sensors for detecting temperatures inside and outside the room, a microprocessor cooperating with a clock and data and program memories to automate the variation of the heating start time depending on

climatic conditions.

  o According to another characteristic of the invention, the device includes a control keyboard allowing the programming of the clock, as well as the programming of the frost-free threshold temperature and the temperature at

  reach premises occupied by the user.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the microprocessor automatically calculates the variable heating time of the premises to reach the temperature during the occupation phase of the premises as a function of climatic conditions by exploiting and comparing the measurements of temperatures outside the premises and the 2 selected temperature thresholds as well as the actual interior temperature of the room, these temperatures being stored from

  permanently and periodically in appropriate memories.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the data and program memory is organized in a table to record the temperature rise time of the premises as a function of the difference in outside temperature and the preselected temperature to be reached during the occupancy phase of the rooms.

local.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises a

  display device controlled by the microprocessor.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the device is connected to the

  space heating controlled by the microprocessor.

  The invention will be better understood using an embodiment of the programmable temperature control device according to the attached figures in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the temperature control device

programmable temperature.

  Figures 2a, 2b and 2c are schematic representations of the flow diagram of the functions of the programmable temperature control device. According to FIG. 1, the programmable temperature regulation device (A) is managed by a microprocessor (B). This microprocessor can be constituted by a microcontroller. The device (A) comprises a program memory (C) and a data memory (D). This set of memories can be powered by a battery or can be constituted by a non-volatile memory

  for storing usage parameters and operating data.

  This set of memories (C) (D) is interactive with the microprocessor (B).

  The device (A) further comprises a clock (E) which is either incorporated in the

  microprocessor (B), is made up of a separate device.

  The device (A) furthermore comprises a keypad with keys (F) allowing the user to program the days and time ranges of occupation of the premises, the temperature desired during this period and the temperature of

frost protection.

  The device (A) is furthermore provided with a display (G) making it possible to verify the entry of the parameters and indicating the state of the device during operation. The device (A) is finally provided with 2 temperature probes, an outdoor probe (H) for detecting the temperature outside the room and a

  indoor probe (I) for detecting the indoor temperature in the room.

  In the description which follows, the frost-keeping temperature is called

  T1, the temperature during the occupation of the room is called T2, the outside temperature being designated by T. The device (A) is connected to the heating (J) of the room. It implements probes

  exterior (H) and interior (I).

  The interior sensor (I) located inside the room works in a conventional manner and controls the regulation of the heating. The outdoor probe at

  local (H) informs the device (A) about the climatic conditions.

  The memory (D) is organized in a table recording the temperature rise time of the room as a function of the temperature difference between the outside temperature T and the temperature T2 to be reached during occupation

of the room by the user.

  When the device (A) is put into service for the first time, the user indicates to the device (A) an estimate of the time necessary to go from the temperature T1 to keep the frost free to the temperature T2 which is to be reached when the room is occupied by the user. From these initial data, the device (A) will self-learn the thermal response of the room. When the room is occupied, it controls the heating according to the measurement of the interior temperature given by the interior sensor (I) and s of the predetermined temperature T2 intended to be reached during

occupancy of the premises by the user.

  the clock (E) puts the device (A) in frost protection mode and regulates the temperature to the value T1. The first passage from the frost-free temperature T1 to the temperature to be reached T2 when the room is occupied is carried out at the scheduled time advanced by the time estimated by the user to go from T1 to T2,

  this data being entered into the device (A) by the user.

  The device (A) then records the temperature outside the room and, when by starting the heating the inside temperature of the room reaches T2 value predetermined by the user, the time taken for this rise in

  temperature is saved in the memory organized in a table.

  During the frost protection phases, it is expected that the device (A) periodically interrogates the outside temperature and calculates the difference between the temperature T2 to be reached when the room is occupied, subtracted from

  the outside temperature T (T2 - T).

  The device (A) searches the table for the heating time corresponding to this difference. If this data is not recorded, it will be extrapolated from

closest values.

  The heating time obtained will be deducted from the time of the next occupancy phase and according to the current time. The device (A) decides on the possible transition to the set temperature T2 corresponding to the phase of occupation of the premises by the user. The real rise time at T2 is recorded and the memory organized in a table is updated. According to another embodiment in accordance with the invention it is possible to provide a third intermediate temperature threshold during the night

reducing heating.

  According to Figures 2a, 2b and 2c, there is shown by way of example the different

  o functions of the device (A) shown in Figure 1 above.

  When the device (A) is powered up, it leads to a start phase.

  During phase 1, the device (A) checks whether the user presses a key on the keyboard to modify a system operating parameter. If there is not

  action, the device (A) goes to phase 8.

  In phase 2, the device (A) checks whether the user wishes to modify the time

  current. In a negative hypothesis, we go to the next phase (4).

  In the case of a positive response, we go to phase 3 of modification of

time and day.

  In phase 3, the user, using the keyboard (1), programs the new time or

  date, then the function returns to the start phase.

  In phase 4, the device (A) checks whether the user wishes to modify the set temperatures. In the event of a negative response, the function goes to phase 6. In the event of a positive response, the function goes to

phase 5.

  Phase 5 corresponds, for the user, to the entry of new regulation temperatures corresponding either to the presence time or to the time

  of absence. Then phase 5 returns to the beginning phase.

  In phase 6, the device (A) checks whether the user wishes to modify the regulation program. In the event of a negative response, the device goes to phase 8. In

  in the event of a positive response, the function goes to phase 7.

  In phase 7, the user modifies the hours or days of presence or absence.

  From this function we return to the start phase.

  In phase 8, the device (A) reads the date and

the current time.

  In phase 9, the device (A) reads the programmed state (presence or absence) from the memory as a function of the current date and time. In phase 10, the device (A) automatically goes into phase 15 corresponding to a period of absence. In the presence phase, the o device (A) goes to phase 11 according to which the device measures the

interior temperature of the room.

  In phase 12, the device (A) performs the temperature comparison

  interior measured with the programmed presence temperature.

  The device (A) is connected in phase 14 if the measured temperature is lower than the programmed temperature. If the temperature is equal to or higher than the programmed temperature, the device (A) goes to phase 13

  corresponding to the stop of the heating of the appliance returns to the start phase.

  In phase 14, the device (A) controls the start of the heating then

the device returns to the start phase.

  In phase 15, the device (A) reads the programmed presence temperature from the memory.

  In phase 16, the device (A) measures the outside temperature.

  In phase 17 the device (A) calculates the difference between the temperature

  desired at the time of arrival of the occupants and the outside temperature.

  In phase 18, the device (A) measures the actual temperature inside the room.

  In phase 19, the device (A) calculates the temperature difference to be compensated before

the arrival of users.

  In phase 20, the device searches the data memory for the time necessary to raise the interior temperature of the room to the temperature programmed during the occupation of the room according to the calculated difference. In phase 21, if this data exists, the device goes to phase 24. In a negative hypothesis, the device goes to phase 22. In phase 22, the device (A) searches the data memory for the difference

  closest previously recorded.

  In phase 23, the device (A) estimates the heating time. The closest data in the memory is divided by the corresponding difference multiplied by a

o new gap.

  In phase 24, the device (A) reads the time present in the clock.

  In phase 25, the device (A) adds the heating time and the present time. In phase 26, the device (A) reads in the program memory the next

time of attendance.

  In phase 27, the device (A) removes from the next hour of presence, the

  sum of the present hour to which the heating time is added.

  If the result is equal to or less than this sum, the device (A) controls the required rise in occupancy temperature and proceeds to phase 32. If the result is greater than this sum, there is maintenance at the temperature d 'absence

  and the device (A) goes to phase 28.

  In phase 28, the device (A) measures the interior temperature of the room.

  In phase 29, the device (A) compares the interior temperature measured with

  the programmed absence temperature (frost-free temperature).

  The device (A) goes to phase 31 if the measured temperature is below

the programmed temperature.

  The device (A) goes to phase 30 if the measured temperature is equal or

  higher than the programmed temperature.

  In phase 30, the device (A) controls the stopping of the heating. Then this one

returns to the start phase.

  In phase 31, the device (A) controls the heating and then returns to the start phase. In phase 32, the device (A) measures the interior temperature of the room. In phase 33, the device (A) compares the interior temperature measured with

  the programmed presence temperature.

  The device (A) goes to phase 36 if the measured temperature is below

the programmed temperature.

  l0 The device (A) goes from phase 33 to phase 34, if the measured temperature

  is equal to or greater than the programmed temperature.

  In phase 34, the device (A) controls the stopping of the heating.

  In phase 35, the device (A) records the time in the data memory

  then the device returns to the start phase.

  Finally, in phase 36, the device (A) controls the start of the heating then

returns to the start phase.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS R E V E N D I C A T I O N S   1) Programmable temperature regulation device making it possible to adapt and reduce the heating as a function of the times of presence and absence of users in industrial, commercial or residential premises, a programmed clock making it possible to control the function of space heating according to a reference temperature corresponding to the time of absence of the user and a temperature to be reached corresponding to the time of presence of the user and according to the date and time o the rooms must be o heated, device characterized in that it includes sensors for detecting the temperatures inside (I) and outside (H) in the room, a microprocessor (B) cooperating with a clock (E) and data memories ( D) and programs (C) to automate the time variation of   heating start depending on weather conditions.   2) Programmable temperature control device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a control keyboard (F) allowing the programming of the clock (E), as well as the programming of the frost-free threshold temperature ( T1) and the temperature (T2) to be reached within   premises occupied by the user.   3) Regulation device. programmable temperature according to   preceding claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the microprocessor (B)   automatically calculates the variable space heating time to reach the temperature (T2) during the occupancy phase of the premises as a function of climatic conditions, by using and comparing the measurements of outside temperature to the premises and the 2 selected temperature thresholds as well as the actual interior temperature of the room, these temperatures being   permanently and periodically stored in appropriate memories.   4) Programmable temperature control device according to claim 1 characterized in that the data memory (D) is organized in a table to record the time of temperature rise in the premises as a function of the difference in outside temperature and the temperature   preselected to be reached during the occupancy phase of the premises.    ) Programmable temperature control device according to claims 1 and 4 above characterized in that it comprises a device   display (G) controlled by a microprocessor (B).   6) Programmable temperature control device conforming to   Claims 1 and 5 above, characterized in that it is connected to the heating   (J) premises controlled by the microprocessor (B).   7) Programmable temperature control device conforming to   o Claims 1 to 5 above, characterized in that it comprises one or   several intermediate setpoint temperatures.