DE10115129A1 - Controller for circulation pump using statistical techniques, has computer that switches pump on before statistically usual tapping times to make hot water available before tap is operated - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a sensor (3) for detecting hot water tapping (flow monitor, temperature sensor, tap switch contacts, motion sensor on was basins, etc.) connected to a computer (7) that notes tapping events in a memory with the associated times and uses statistical methods to draw conclusions regarding consumption habits. The computer switches the pump (2) on before the usual tapping times to make hot water available before the tap is operated.

Description

To the problem of circulation pump control for hot water systems too there are a variety of solutions. The principle is that a sensor detects a hot water requirement and then the circulation pump turns. The disadvantage here, however, is that due to the relatively small Circulating pumps and often long pipelines first heat the water reaches the tap after several minutes (until then cold water flows Tap water). Therefore none of the systems found a broad one Application.

Therefore, a timer is still used that corresponds to the The circulation pump switches on during main periods of use. This system can not changing the habits of the residents (shift changes, Vacation, days off, etc.) or the like.

One system has dead times of up to 5 in a single-family home Minutes until hot water flows from the tap, the other stubbornly delivers hot water available at certain times - this requires considerable Loss of water when tapping outside the set switching times.

This invention takes advantage of the fact that most hot water requirements occur at specific times that correspond to the rhythm of life of the house residents. It is also noted that these consumption habits are also subject to change. (as mentioned above shift changes, vacation, days off with children etc.). Shortly before a probable dispensing time, the circulation pump (item 2 in FIG. 1) is now switched on and hot water is immediately available at the probable dispensing time.

The basic idea of the method is that each day of the week is divided into time segments (5-15 minutes) and for each of the segments the probability that hot water is required is determined by statistical methods. If this probability lies above an adjustable limit value, the pump ( 2 ) is switched on approx. 5 minutes before this point in time and hot water is thus available at the probable time of the water withdrawal.

If the sensor ( 3 ) reports to the microcomputer ( 7 ) that after the planned provision of warm water, hot water was actually used, the computer increases the weighting of the probability for the relevant time period of the respective day of the week, so that the next time is at the same time Week the pump is turned on again.

On the other hand, if no water is consumed several times at the stated time, it is used the pump is no longer switched on before the relevant time. The The calculator has adapted to the new consumption habits.

Current tapping times are more important than that older tap times recorded.  

If the computer recognizes that no water has been drawn off within a day, the system goes into vacation mode. That said, it only happens once a day the circulation pump is switched on to prevent the pump from rusting and to avoid legionella formation. Detected switching times are in not changed in this mode.

In the case of an unusual tap time, the dead time mentioned above will not apply the warm water provided.

The computer recognizes by looking at larger periods of time Every day an accumulation of "unusual" tapping times so the pump switched on once before this period. For example, if almost everyone When hot water is drawn at night between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. at 2.00 h the pump is switched on, so that 3.00 h is still warm water the line stands.

It makes sense to use a temperature sensor Cooling times for warm water in the pipes for the definition of the Period of time is used, which is covered by switching on the pump once - so the warm water is available.

Legend

1

heat exchangers

2

circulating pump

3

Sensor for detecting hot water cones

4

.

5

Hot water taps

6

pipeline

7

microcomputer

Claims (1)

Device consisting of a sensor for detecting hot water cones ( 3 ) (flow monitors, temperature sensors, switching contacts on taps, motion detectors on sinks, etc.) which are connected to a computer ( 7 ), characterized in that the computer recognizes cones of warm water this is recorded in its memory in chronological order, so that the computer can use statistical methods to deduce the consumption habits of the residents and, before the usual tapping times, the pump ( 2 ) switches on and provides us with warm water before the taps are activated.