WO2015159216A2 - System for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment - Google Patents

System for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015159216A2
WO2015159216A2 PCT/IB2015/052709 IB2015052709W WO2015159216A2 WO 2015159216 A2 WO2015159216 A2 WO 2015159216A2 IB 2015052709 W IB2015052709 W IB 2015052709W WO 2015159216 A2 WO2015159216 A2 WO 2015159216A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
environment
temperature
heating
detected
bpi
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2015/052709
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2015159216A3 (en
Inventor
Tiziano MILANI
Saverio ANTONINI
Original Assignee
Milani Tiziano
Antonini Saverio
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Milani Tiziano, Antonini Saverio filed Critical Milani Tiziano
Publication of WO2015159216A2 publication Critical patent/WO2015159216A2/en
Publication of WO2015159216A3 publication Critical patent/WO2015159216A3/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
    • G05D23/00—Control of temperature
    • G05D23/19—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
    • G05D23/1902—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means characterised by the use of a variable reference value
    • G05D23/1904—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means characterised by the use of a variable reference value variable in time
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/62—Control or safety arrangements characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
    • F24F11/63—Electronic processing
    • F24F11/65—Electronic processing for selecting an operating mode
    • F24F11/67—Switching between heating and cooling modes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/50—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication
    • F24F11/52—Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
    • F24F11/523—Indication arrangements, e.g. displays for displaying temperature data
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
    • G05D23/00—Control of temperature
    • G05D23/19—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
    • G05D23/1927—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means using a plurality of sensors
    • G05D23/193—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means using a plurality of sensors sensing the temperaure in different places in thermal relationship with one or more spaces
    • G05D23/1932—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means using a plurality of sensors sensing the temperaure in different places in thermal relationship with one or more spaces to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces
    • G05D23/1934—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means using a plurality of sensors sensing the temperaure in different places in thermal relationship with one or more spaces to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces each space being provided with one sensor acting on one or more control means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/50—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication
    • F24F11/54—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/62—Control or safety arrangements characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
    • F24F11/63—Electronic processing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
    • F24F2110/10—Temperature
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
    • F24F2110/20—Humidity
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
    • F24F2110/50—Air quality properties
    • F24F2110/65—Concentration of specific substances or contaminants
    • F24F2110/70—Carbon dioxide
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
    • Y02B30/70—Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment, for example one or more rooms of a home.
  • the present invention also concerns a method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in such an environment.
  • the activation of the heating/cooling means takes place when the temperature t° detected in an environment is greater or lower a pre-set temperature T.
  • the temperature T in the technical jargon also called “set point”, is pre-set, for example by the user, also taking into account a certain tolerance ⁇ around the "set point", in the technical jargon also called “differential”.
  • the heating/cooling means are used to heat an environment, they are activated when the temperature in the environment t° is lower than or equal to ⁇ -( ⁇ /2) and they are deactivated when the temperature detected in the environment t° is greater than or equal to ⁇ +( ⁇ /2).
  • the thermal inertia of a system tends to inevitably increase the real differential (ATREAL) of the system, so that the heating/cooling means stay activated longer and thus the environment temperature oscillates remarkably.
  • the heating/cooling means of conventional systems are thus subjected to unsuitable operating modes if compared with the temperature variations t° detected in the environment to be heated/cooled. This operation of conventional systems results in an unnecessary increase in power consumption for heating/cooling.
  • US5192020A relates to an air-conditioning system that exploits the air as heat transfer fluid
  • US5314004A concerns the use of heat pumps actuated by endothermal motors, to which a respective method is applied with the purpose of modulating the power supplied as a function of the thermal load applied thereto.
  • main object of the present invention is to improve the state of the art in the field of heating/cooling systems for environments, particularly environments for residential, commercial, office use, etc.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment, which keeps the temperature oscillations around a desired value and within a narrower range with respect to that which can be obtained with conventional control and adjustment systems.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment, which allows a reduction in consumption with respect to conventional control and adjustment systems.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment that is simple to make and has competitive costs.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment that keeps the temperature oscillations around a desired value and within a range narrower than that obtainable with conventional control and adjustment systems.
  • the last but not least object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment that allows the consumption associated with it to be optimised.
  • a method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment according to claim 1 is provided.
  • a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment according to claim 21 is provided.
  • figure 1 is a block diagram of the main components of the system for controlling and adjusting temperature according to the present invention
  • figure 2 illustrates a detail of the main components of the programmed control unit of the system of figure 1 ;
  • figure 3 shows a first preferred embodiment of the control and adjustment system according to the present invention
  • figure 4 is a second preferred embodiment of the control and adjustment system according to the present invention.
  • figure 5 illustrates a flow chart of the main steps of the method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment according to the present invention
  • figure 6 illustrates in greater detail the sub-steps of a main step of figure
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively illustrate a table of the activation/deactivation times of the heating/cooling means as a function of the measured room temperature t° according to the method of the present invention and a graph of the change in temperature in an environment controlled through the control and adjustment method according to the present invention.
  • proportional band in the present description and in the following claims we mean a range of temperatures comprised between a minimum limit value (BPMIN) and a maximum limit value (BP AX), which is a function of a desired temperature value T for an environment to be controlled and adjusted and of a tolerance X.
  • BPMIN minimum limit value
  • BP AX maximum limit value
  • a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment is generally indicated with reference numeral 1 and comprises heating/cooling means 2 for such an environment, for example one or more radiators, one or more heating mesh or membrane systems able to be installed in a floor for heating such an environment, heat pumps and/or combinations thereof.
  • the controlling and adjusting system 1 also comprises detecting means 3 for detecting the temperature t° in such an environment, of any suitable type commonly used in the field.
  • the system according to the present invention comprises at least one central processing unit or CPU 4 which is operatively connected both to the heating/cooling means 2 and to the detecting means 3 for detecting the temperature t° and is intended, during use, to receive/send suitable control signals from/to them.
  • CPU 4 central processing unit
  • the selecting means 6 for selecting the proportional band BPi are operatively connected to the detection means for detecting the time 5.
  • the central processing unit 4 also comprises comparing means 7 of any suitable type intended, in use, to carry out a comparison between the temperature t° detected at a certain moment in the environment to be controlled and adjusted and a range of temperatures of the proportional band (BPi) and to emit an index correlated to the outcome of such a comparison in output.
  • comparing means 7 of any suitable type intended, in use, to carry out a comparison between the temperature t° detected at a certain moment in the environment to be controlled and adjusted and a range of temperatures of the proportional band (BPi) and to emit an index correlated to the outcome of such a comparison in output.
  • the central processing unit 4 also comprises generator means 8 for generating a first and a second control and adjustment signal, si OUT and S2OUT respectively, in response to the emission of the index in output from the comparing means 7.
  • the central processing unit 4 further comprises counting means 9, operatively connected to the comparing means 7 and intended, in use, to activate the comparing means 7, at predetermined time intervals indicated with the term "tcicLo".
  • the detecting means 3 for detecting said temperature in the environment to be controlled and adjusted can comprise sensor means 3 a, intended to detect the temperature at the ground or floor Tp or sensor means 3b of the temperature TA situated in another point of the environment to be controlled.
  • the system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment optionally comprises detecting means 10, intended for detecting the external temperature TE to said environment.
  • controlling and adjusting system can also comprise detecting means 1 1 , of any suitably type, intended to detect the amount of humidity and/or C0 2 in the environment to be controlled.
  • Both the detecting means 10 for detecting the external temperature TE and the detecting means 1 1 for detecting the amount of humidity and/or C0 2 are operatively connected to the programmed control unit 4 and intended, in use, to send thereto the thus detected temperature, humidity and/or C0 2 values, as well as to receive suitable control signals from it.
  • the controlling and adjusting system comprises input-output means (I/O), indicated with reference numeral 12 in the Figures, also operatively connected to the programmed control unit 4.
  • I/O input-output means
  • Such input-output means are intended, in use, for sending/receiving suitable control signals to/from the programmed control unit 4, so that it is possible, for an operator, to monitor the progress in the control and adjustment carried out by the system as well as to store particular operating settings of the system itself in the programmed control unit 4.
  • Such input/output means 12 comprise a "touch screen” display.
  • the controlling and adjusting system comprises transceiver means 13 operatively connected to the programmed control unit 4 and intended, in use, to send/receive control and adjustment signals to/from a remote control unit (not shown in the drawings). Therefore, it is possible to remotely activate and control the system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment according to the present invention.
  • control unit 4 and more specifically the comparing means 7 and/or the selecting means or means for selecting 6 thereof are intended to carry out a proportional, integral and derivative control or with proportional, integral and derivative action.
  • control system described above can be implemented, as a function of the needs, according to more complex configurations.
  • figure 4 relating to a second embodiment, it can be seen how a certain number of systems according to the present invention can easily be connected together and used to control and adjust the temperature in a plurality of environments.
  • this embodiment therefore, it is foreseen for there to be a system provided with heating/cooling means 21 , 22 and means for detecting the temperature 3b 1 , 3b2) in each of such environments.
  • the system also foresees at least one programmed control unit or CPU 41 , 42 in each room, which is connected, as above described, to the respective heating/cooling means 21 , 22 and to the detecting means for detecting the temperature 3b 1 , 3b2.
  • the system further comprises a programmed control unit 14, to which each programmed control unit 41 , 42 is operatively connected in any suitable way, for example through an electrical network or via radio, so that the central control unit 14 can manage the operation of the entire system by sending/receiving suitable temperature control and adjustment signals to/from the programmed control unit/s 41 , 42 in each room.
  • such a complex system comprises detecting means for detecting the floor temperature 3al , 3a2 each operatively connected to the respective programmed control unit 41 , 42 and/or detecting means 10 for detecting the external temperature operatively connected to the central programmed control unit 14.
  • each programmed control unit 41 , 42 can be operatively connected to respective input/output means 121 , 122.
  • control units 41 , 42 and/or the central programmed control unit 14 is/are intended to carry out a proportional, integral and derivative control or with proportional, integral and derivative action.
  • a proportional band BPi
  • the user will store the desired temperature value T in the programmed control unit 4 through the input-output means 12.
  • the programmed control unit 4 will then, in an obvious way for the skilled in the art, take care of determining the corresponding BPi value.
  • the values of the proportional band range BPi are preferably a function of the time h.
  • different proportional band ranges BPi be stored in the programmed control unit 4, according to whether the temperature control and adjustment are carried out in the daytime or at night.
  • the proportional band can alsa vary according to the environment to be controlled and adjusted (whether it is the bathroom, the kitchen, the bedroom, etc.) and/or according to the season (summer/winter) and/or the type of detection means 3 used to detect the environment temperature, be it a floor sensor means 3a or other sensor means 3b.
  • the corresponding proportional band (BPi) in the case, for example, in which the temperature of the environment is detected through the floor sensor means 3 a, in the method according to the present invention it is foreseen for the corresponding proportional band (BPi) to be just one and independent from the thus detected time, for example equal to 19 ⁇ 0.5 °C.
  • the temperature in the environment to be controlled and adjusted is detected by detection means not arranged in the floor
  • the proportional band (BPi) is assigned, based on the time starting from a plurality of ranges and depends, indeed, on the time thus detected (whether it is day or night, or whether the time falls within another predetermined time band, for example from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. or from 17 p.m. to 19 p.m., etc.).
  • control and adjustment method after the step of selecting the proportional band, foresees a step 200 of detecting the temperature t°, in a known way to the skilled in the art by using detection means 3 and a subsequent comparing step (step 300), between the thus detected temperature t° and the range of temperature values of the selected proportional band BPi.
  • Such a comparing step 300 foresees, more specifically, verifying whether the temperature t° detected by the detection means 3 is lower or higher than the limit values (BPi iN, BPI AX) of the proportional band selected BPi and, based on the outcome of such a comparison, imparting a first control and adjustment signal (si OUT) to the heating/cooling means of the environment (steps 600 and 700 of figure 5) or starting an actual control and adjustment step of the temperature by emitting the second control signal S2OUT (step 400).
  • step 400 the method foresees, as will be discussed more clearly hereafter with reference to step 400, to impart a second control and adjustment signal (S2OUT) to the heating/cooling means of the environment (step 400), which makes it possible to adjust and maintain the temperature of the environment t° around the desired value T and avoid undesired fluctuations of the temperature itself.
  • S2OUT second control and adjustment signal
  • the control and adjustment method according to the present invention also foresees, in step 800, that a certain predetermined time period (tciCLo) be waited before the system goes back to step 200 of detecting the temperature t° of the environment and proceeds with the comparison of the temperature t° with the proportional band BPi.
  • a waiting time period is determined by the counting means 9 operatively connected, as described above, to the comparing means 7 of the programmed control unit 4.
  • the waiting time tcicLO in the technical jargon also called “duty cycle”, depends upon the proportional band BPi selected and upon the interval between one detection and another of the temperature of the environment.
  • the temperature values t° thus detected can be used for statistical purposes or be sent to the input-output means 12 to display, in real time, the environment temperature.
  • the first control and adjustment signal si OUT generated by the signal generator means 8, in response to the index emitted in output from the comparing means themselves, is an activation signal of the heating cooling means, if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to heat the environment and the temperature t° detected is lower than the lower limit value ( ⁇ ) of the proportional band BPi (step 700).
  • the first control and adjustment signal si OUT is a deactivation signal of heating cooling means, if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to heat the environment and if the temperature t° detected is above the upper limit value BPIMAX of said proportional band BPi (step 600).
  • the first control and adjustment signal si OUT is an activation signal of heating/cooling means, if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to cool the environment and if the temperature t° detected is above the upper limit value BPIMAX of the proportional band BPi (step 700).
  • the first control and adjustment signal si OUT is a deactivation signal of the heating/cooling means, if such heating/cooling means are foreseen to cool the environment and if the temperature t° detected is below the lower limit value BPIMIN of the proportional band BPi (step 600).
  • the method for controlling and adjusting the temperature advantageously foresees that the second control and adjustment signal S2OUT to the heating/cooling means of the environment comprises the activation and deactivation of the heating/cooling means, for predetermined time periods, respectively indicated as TON and TOFF, the duration of which is correlated to the temperature t° detected at that moment in the environment.
  • step 401 the method according to the present invention compares the environment temperature t° detected with the desired temperature value T or "set point" for the environment and, if (step 402) the temperature t° is above T, the duration of the activation period of the heating means is less than the duration of the period in which they are deactivated (step 403). Vice- versa, if the temperature t° is less than T, the duration of the activation period of the heating means is longer than the duration of the period in which they are deactivated (step 406). If the temperature detected t° is substantially equal to the "set point" T (step 404) then the durations of the activation and deactivation periods TON and TOFF of the heating means will be substantially the same (step 405).
  • the method according to the present invention also foresees that the sum of the duration of said activation and deactivation time periods TON and TOFF of the heating cooling means is substantially equal to the predetermined waiting time period tcicLO and depends on the thus selected proportional band BPi and on the detection frequency of the temperature t°.
  • the duration of the activation time period TON of the heating/cooling means is longer than the duration of the corresponding deactivation period TOFF of the same means, if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to heat the environment and the value of the temperature t° detected is below the desired temperature value Ti, or if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to cool the environment and the value of the temperature t° detected in such an environment is above the desired temperature value Ti.
  • the method according to the present invention foresees that the duration of the activation time period TON of the heating/cooling means is shorter than the duration of the deactivation time period TOFF of the same means, if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to heat the environment and the value of the temperature t° detected in the environment is above the desired temperature value Ti, or if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to cool the environment and the value of the temperature (t°) detected is below the desired temperature value (Ti).
  • the control and adjustment method according to the present invention foresees that the duration of the activation and deactivation time periods TON and TOFF is, respectively, inversely and directly proportional to the value of the temperature detected t° in said environment, when the heating/cooling means are used to heat the environment.
  • the duration of the activation and deactivation time periods TON and TOFF is, respectively, directly and inversely proportional to the value of the temperature detected t° in the environment.
  • the control method according to the present invention foresees that the second control and adjustment signal S2OUT emitted by the signal generator means 8 is correlated to the temperature value detected outside the environment itself, when such detection means 10 are foreseen in the system.
  • the signal S2OUT depends proportionally on the values of a characteristic curve determined for the environment to be heated/cooled (for example a function of the heat dispersion of the walls delimiting the environment, as well as of other factors) and on the type of heating/cooling means foreseen in such an environment.
  • control method according to the present invention optionally foresees that the second control and adjustment signal S2OUT emitted by the signal generator means 8 is correlated to the amount of humidity and/or to the CO2 level detected in the environment, when such detection means 11 are foreseen in the system.
  • the signal S2OUT depends proportionally on the values of a characteristic curve determined for the environment to be heated/cooled (for example a function of the heat dispersion of the walls delimiting the environment, as a function of the type of use of the environment itself - whether it is a kitchen, a bathroom, etc. - as well as of other factors) and on the amount of humidity and/or CO2 detected in the environment, indicative of the number of people present in such an environment at that time.
  • a characteristic curve determined for the environment to be heated/cooled for example a function of the heat dispersion of the walls delimiting the environment, as a function of the type of use of the environment itself - whether it is a kitchen, a bathroom, etc. - as well as of other factors
  • Figure 8 illustrates the progress in temperature t° that can be obtained in a controlled and adjusted environment through the system and the method according to the present invention.
  • the oscillations of the temperature t° around the desired temperature value T are very narrow.
  • the comparing step 300 is carried out by performing a proportional, integral and derivative control or rather with proportional, integral and derivative action.
  • the invention according to the present patent application relates to a method and to a system capable of adapting dynamically to the environment to be controlled and adjusted, so as to modify its intervention parameters (proportional action, integral action, derivative action and duty cycle) as a function of the temperature measured by suitable probes and of the predetermined operation times in different set point configurations, for example different room temperature settings.
  • intervention parameters proportional action, integral action, derivative action and duty cycle
  • the present invention it is also possible to modulate the switching on and off cycles within almost infinite values, also up to the third significative digits after the comma.
  • the adjustment is carried out substantially continuously, as soon as the temperature detected differs by a value just above or below the thousandth of a degree centigrade from the desired value.
  • the proportional action, the integral action, the derivative action and the resulting duty cycle will, in this way, always be adjusted to values coherent with the inertia of the parameters to be adjusted, ensuring extremely low drift, in other words variations with respect to the desired values. Consequently, during the change of the set point at a certain time, the system will always be in the optimal situation to be able to deal with the new request in very short time periods and take back to the desired values, since the drift or variation produced will be extremely small.
  • system and the method according to the present invention adapt to the inertia of the environment in question with the intention of reducing the adjustment drifts to the values as smallest as possible.
  • the method of Dl is aimed at avoiding on and off cycles that are closed together at changes in set point, when the thermal inertia of the system is relatively low. Therefore, such a method does not carry out any control on the duty cycle to be applied to the generator with the purpose of adjusting the temperature, but makes the duty cycle itself vary, by turning on or off sooner or later, or by varying the set point with respect to that set to protect the components of the system.

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment provided with heating/cooling means, comprising operative steps of selecting a proportional band (BPi) delimiting a range of temperatures comprised between a minimum limit value (BPIMIN) and a maximum limit value (BPIMAX) around a desired temperature value Ti (step 100); detecting the temperature (t°) of the environment the temperature of which is to be controlled and adjusted (step 200) at predetermined time intervals (tcicLo); if the temperature (t°) thus detected is comprised in said proportional band (BPi), imparting a second control and adjustment signal (S2OUT) to such heating/cooling means of such an environment (step 400). The second control signal is a signal comprising the activation and deactivation of such heating/cooling means for predetermined time periods (TON and TOFF), the duration of which is correlated to the temperature (t°) detected in such an environment at that time.

Description

Description of a Patent for an Industrial invention having the title:
"SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AND ADJUSTING THE TEMPERATURE
IN AN ENVIRONMENT"
Designated Inventors: Tiziano Milani, Saverio Antonini
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment, for example one or more rooms of a home. The present invention also concerns a method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in such an environment.
STATE OF THE ART
As known, in conventional heating/cooling systems, like for example home heating/cooling systems, the activation of the heating/cooling means takes place when the temperature t° detected in an environment is greater or lower a pre-set temperature T. The temperature T, in the technical jargon also called "set point", is pre-set, for example by the user, also taking into account a certain tolerance ΔΤ around the "set point", in the technical jargon also called "differential". In the practical case in which the heating/cooling means are used to heat an environment, they are activated when the temperature in the environment t° is lower than or equal to Τ-(ΔΤ/2) and they are deactivated when the temperature detected in the environment t° is greater than or equal to Τ+(ΔΤ/2).
The thermal inertia of a system, however, tends to inevitably increase the real differential (ATREAL) of the system, so that the heating/cooling means stay activated longer and thus the environment temperature oscillates remarkably. The heating/cooling means of conventional systems are thus subjected to unsuitable operating modes if compared with the temperature variations t° detected in the environment to be heated/cooled. This operation of conventional systems results in an unnecessary increase in power consumption for heating/cooling.
US5192020A, US53 14004A and US20081 51458A 1 teach solutions according to the state of the art.
More specifically, US5192020A relates to an air-conditioning system that exploits the air as heat transfer fluid, whereas US5314004A concerns the use of heat pumps actuated by endothermal motors, to which a respective method is applied with the purpose of modulating the power supplied as a function of the thermal load applied thereto.
Then as far as US2008151458A1 is concerned, it relates to an electronic controller with thermostat functions.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, main object of the present invention is to improve the state of the art in the field of heating/cooling systems for environments, particularly environments for residential, commercial, office use, etc.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment, which keeps the temperature oscillations around a desired value and within a narrower range with respect to that which can be obtained with conventional control and adjustment systems.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment, which allows a reduction in consumption with respect to conventional control and adjustment systems.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment that is simple to make and has competitive costs.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment that keeps the temperature oscillations around a desired value and within a range narrower than that obtainable with conventional control and adjustment systems.
The last but not least object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment that allows the consumption associated with it to be optimised.
According to a first aspect of the present invention a method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment according to claim 1 is provided.
According to a further aspect of the present invention a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment according to claim 21 is provided.
The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive embodiment of a system and method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment, illustrated as a non-limiting example in the enclosed tables of drawings, in which:
figure 1 is a block diagram of the main components of the system for controlling and adjusting temperature according to the present invention;
figure 2 illustrates a detail of the main components of the programmed control unit of the system of figure 1 ;
figure 3 shows a first preferred embodiment of the control and adjustment system according to the present invention;
figure 4 is a second preferred embodiment of the control and adjustment system according to the present invention;
figure 5 illustrates a flow chart of the main steps of the method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment according to the present invention;
figure 6 illustrates in greater detail the sub-steps of a main step of figure
4;
figures 7 and 8 respectively illustrate a table of the activation/deactivation times of the heating/cooling means as a function of the measured room temperature t° according to the method of the present invention and a graph of the change in temperature in an environment controlled through the control and adjustment method according to the present invention.
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
By the term "proportional band" in the present description and in the following claims we mean a range of temperatures comprised between a minimum limit value (BPMIN) and a maximum limit value (BP AX), which is a function of a desired temperature value T for an environment to be controlled and adjusted and of a tolerance X. In practice, an i-th "proportional band" BPi, in a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature of an environment according to the present invention is given by:
BPi= Ti±Xi [°C]; BPIMIN= Ti-Xi [°C]; and BPIMAX= Ti+Xi [°C] with i=l , N.
With reference first to the attached figures 1 to 3, relating to a first embodiment of the present invention, it can be seen how a system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment is generally indicated with reference numeral 1 and comprises heating/cooling means 2 for such an environment, for example one or more radiators, one or more heating mesh or membrane systems able to be installed in a floor for heating such an environment, heat pumps and/or combinations thereof.
The controlling and adjusting system 1 according to the present invention also comprises detecting means 3 for detecting the temperature t° in such an environment, of any suitable type commonly used in the field.
The system according to the present invention comprises at least one central processing unit or CPU 4 which is operatively connected both to the heating/cooling means 2 and to the detecting means 3 for detecting the temperature t° and is intended, during use, to receive/send suitable control signals from/to them.
With particular reference to the central processing unit or CPU 4 of the controlling and adjusting system according to the present invention, referring in particular to figure 2, it comprises, amongst other things, detection means for detecting the time 5, intended in use to detect the time and selecting means 6 for selecting a proportional band BPi among a plurality of proportional band values BPi i=(l , N) previously stored in it. The selecting means 6 for selecting the proportional band BPi are operatively connected to the detection means for detecting the time 5.
The central processing unit 4 also comprises comparing means 7 of any suitable type intended, in use, to carry out a comparison between the temperature t° detected at a certain moment in the environment to be controlled and adjusted and a range of temperatures of the proportional band (BPi) and to emit an index correlated to the outcome of such a comparison in output.
The central processing unit 4 also comprises generator means 8 for generating a first and a second control and adjustment signal, si OUT and S2OUT respectively, in response to the emission of the index in output from the comparing means 7.
The central processing unit 4 further comprises counting means 9, operatively connected to the comparing means 7 and intended, in use, to activate the comparing means 7, at predetermined time intervals indicated with the term "tcicLo".
Advantageously, the detecting means 3 for detecting said temperature in the environment to be controlled and adjusted can comprise sensor means 3 a, intended to detect the temperature at the ground or floor Tp or sensor means 3b of the temperature TA situated in another point of the environment to be controlled.
The system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment according to the present invention optionally comprises detecting means 10, intended for detecting the external temperature TE to said environment.
Optionally, the controlling and adjusting system according to the present invention can also comprise detecting means 1 1 , of any suitably type, intended to detect the amount of humidity and/or C02 in the environment to be controlled.
Both the detecting means 10 for detecting the external temperature TE and the detecting means 1 1 for detecting the amount of humidity and/or C02 are operatively connected to the programmed control unit 4 and intended, in use, to send thereto the thus detected temperature, humidity and/or C02 values, as well as to receive suitable control signals from it.
Advantageously, the controlling and adjusting system according to the present invention comprises input-output means (I/O), indicated with reference numeral 12 in the Figures, also operatively connected to the programmed control unit 4. Such input-output means are intended, in use, for sending/receiving suitable control signals to/from the programmed control unit 4, so that it is possible, for an operator, to monitor the progress in the control and adjustment carried out by the system as well as to store particular operating settings of the system itself in the programmed control unit 4.
Advantageously, such input/output means 12 comprise a "touch screen" display.
Optionally but advantageously, the controlling and adjusting system according to the present invention comprises transceiver means 13 operatively connected to the programmed control unit 4 and intended, in use, to send/receive control and adjustment signals to/from a remote control unit (not shown in the drawings). Therefore, it is possible to remotely activate and control the system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment according to the present invention.
Advantageously, the control unit 4 and more specifically the comparing means 7 and/or the selecting means or means for selecting 6 thereof are intended to carry out a proportional, integral and derivative control or with proportional, integral and derivative action.
The control system described above can be implemented, as a function of the needs, according to more complex configurations. With particular reference to figure 4, relating to a second embodiment, it can be seen how a certain number of systems according to the present invention can easily be connected together and used to control and adjust the temperature in a plurality of environments. According to this embodiment, therefore, it is foreseen for there to be a system provided with heating/cooling means 21 , 22 and means for detecting the temperature 3b 1 , 3b2) in each of such environments. The system also foresees at least one programmed control unit or CPU 41 , 42 in each room, which is connected, as above described, to the respective heating/cooling means 21 , 22 and to the detecting means for detecting the temperature 3b 1 , 3b2.
The system further comprises a programmed control unit 14, to which each programmed control unit 41 , 42 is operatively connected in any suitable way, for example through an electrical network or via radio, so that the central control unit 14 can manage the operation of the entire system by sending/receiving suitable temperature control and adjustment signals to/from the programmed control unit/s 41 , 42 in each room.
Optionally, but advantageously, such a complex system comprises detecting means for detecting the floor temperature 3al , 3a2 each operatively connected to the respective programmed control unit 41 , 42 and/or detecting means 10 for detecting the external temperature operatively connected to the central programmed control unit 14. Thus again, each programmed control unit 41 , 42 can be operatively connected to respective input/output means 121 , 122.
In this case, the control units 41 , 42 and/or the central programmed control unit 14 is/are intended to carry out a proportional, integral and derivative control or with proportional, integral and derivative action.
The person skilled in the art will easily understand how it is possible to make combinations of systems for controlling and adjusting the temperature in a plurality of environments according to various configurations. Such control systems can, for example, be connected together either in series or in parallel and/or according to combinations thereof. The operating method of the system for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment according to the present invention is very simple and reliable and schematically illustrated, at least in its main steps, in Figures 5 to 9.
With particular reference to figure 5, it can be seen how such a method foresees, in an initial step 100, the selection of a proportional band (BPi), as a function of a desired temperature T and of a tolerance X. The proportional band BPi can be selected among a plurality of proportional bands BPi (i=l , ..., N), previously stored in the programmed control unit 4, or selected by the user. In this last case, the user will store the desired temperature value T in the programmed control unit 4 through the input-output means 12. The programmed control unit 4 will then, in an obvious way for the skilled in the art, take care of determining the corresponding BPi value.
The values of the proportional band range BPi are preferably a function of the time h. As an example it can be foreseen that different proportional band ranges BPi be stored in the programmed control unit 4, according to whether the temperature control and adjustment are carried out in the daytime or at night. The proportional band can alsa vary according to the environment to be controlled and adjusted (whether it is the bathroom, the kitchen, the bedroom, etc.) and/or according to the season (summer/winter) and/or the type of detection means 3 used to detect the environment temperature, be it a floor sensor means 3a or other sensor means 3b. In the case, for example, in which the temperature of the environment is detected through the floor sensor means 3 a, in the method according to the present invention it is foreseen for the corresponding proportional band (BPi) to be just one and independent from the thus detected time, for example equal to 19 ± 0.5 °C.
In the opposite case, for example, in which the temperature in the environment to be controlled and adjusted is detected by detection means not arranged in the floor, it is foreseen for the proportional band (BPi) to be assigned, based on the time starting from a plurality of ranges and depends, indeed, on the time thus detected (whether it is day or night, or whether the time falls within another predetermined time band, for example from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. or from 17 p.m. to 19 p.m., etc.).
The control and adjustment method according to the present invention, after the step of selecting the proportional band, foresees a step 200 of detecting the temperature t°, in a known way to the skilled in the art by using detection means 3 and a subsequent comparing step (step 300), between the thus detected temperature t° and the range of temperature values of the selected proportional band BPi.
Such a comparing step 300 foresees, more specifically, verifying whether the temperature t° detected by the detection means 3 is lower or higher than the limit values (BPi iN, BPI AX) of the proportional band selected BPi and, based on the outcome of such a comparison, imparting a first control and adjustment signal (si OUT) to the heating/cooling means of the environment (steps 600 and 700 of figure 5) or starting an actual control and adjustment step of the temperature by emitting the second control signal S2OUT (step 400).
If, indeed, the temperature t° detected is comprised in the proportional band BPi, then the method foresees, as will be discussed more clearly hereafter with reference to step 400, to impart a second control and adjustment signal (S2OUT) to the heating/cooling means of the environment (step 400), which makes it possible to adjust and maintain the temperature of the environment t° around the desired value T and avoid undesired fluctuations of the temperature itself.
The control and adjustment method according to the present invention also foresees, in step 800, that a certain predetermined time period (tciCLo) be waited before the system goes back to step 200 of detecting the temperature t° of the environment and proceeds with the comparison of the temperature t° with the proportional band BPi. Such a waiting time period is determined by the counting means 9 operatively connected, as described above, to the comparing means 7 of the programmed control unit 4. The waiting time tcicLO, in the technical jargon also called "duty cycle", depends upon the proportional band BPi selected and upon the interval between one detection and another of the temperature of the environment. Clearly, the skilled in the art will easily understand how it is possible to detect the temperature t° of the environment in narrower intervals with respect to the waiting time tcicLO. The temperature values t° thus detected can be used for statistical purposes or be sent to the input-output means 12 to display, in real time, the environment temperature.
Referring back to the comparison carried out by the comparing means 7 in step 300, in the case in which the temperature t° measured in the environment is lower or higher than the limit values (BPIMIN, BPIMAX) of the proportional band BPi, the first control and adjustment signal si OUT, generated by the signal generator means 8, in response to the index emitted in output from the comparing means themselves, is an activation signal of the heating cooling means, if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to heat the environment and the temperature t° detected is lower than the lower limit value (ΒΡΪΜΓΝ) of the proportional band BPi (step 700). The first control and adjustment signal si OUT, on the other hand, is a deactivation signal of heating cooling means, if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to heat the environment and if the temperature t° detected is above the upper limit value BPIMAX of said proportional band BPi (step 600).
Similarly, the first control and adjustment signal si OUT, emitted by the signal generator means 8, is an activation signal of heating/cooling means, if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to cool the environment and if the temperature t° detected is above the upper limit value BPIMAX of the proportional band BPi (step 700). Finally, the first control and adjustment signal si OUT is a deactivation signal of the heating/cooling means, if such heating/cooling means are foreseen to cool the environment and if the temperature t° detected is below the lower limit value BPIMIN of the proportional band BPi (step 600). Considering then in greater detail the actual step of adjusting the temperature of the environment (step 400), the method for controlling and adjusting the temperature according to the present invention advantageously foresees that the second control and adjustment signal S2OUT to the heating/cooling means of the environment comprises the activation and deactivation of the heating/cooling means, for predetermined time periods, respectively indicated as TON and TOFF, the duration of which is correlated to the temperature t° detected at that moment in the environment.
Purely as an example and with particular reference to Fig. 6, let us hypothesise that the heating/cooling means are used for heating the environment. In step 401 the method according to the present invention compares the environment temperature t° detected with the desired temperature value T or "set point" for the environment and, if (step 402) the temperature t° is above T, the duration of the activation period of the heating means is less than the duration of the period in which they are deactivated (step 403). Vice- versa, if the temperature t° is less than T, the duration of the activation period of the heating means is longer than the duration of the period in which they are deactivated (step 406). If the temperature detected t° is substantially equal to the "set point" T (step 404) then the durations of the activation and deactivation periods TON and TOFF of the heating means will be substantially the same (step 405).
The method according to the present invention also foresees that the sum of the duration of said activation and deactivation time periods TON and TOFF of the heating cooling means is substantially equal to the predetermined waiting time period tcicLO and depends on the thus selected proportional band BPi and on the detection frequency of the temperature t°.
As a general consideration, therefore, the duration of the activation time period TON of the heating/cooling means is longer than the duration of the corresponding deactivation period TOFF of the same means, if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to heat the environment and the value of the temperature t° detected is below the desired temperature value Ti, or if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to cool the environment and the value of the temperature t° detected in such an environment is above the desired temperature value Ti.
Similarly, the method according to the present invention foresees that the duration of the activation time period TON of the heating/cooling means is shorter than the duration of the deactivation time period TOFF of the same means, if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to heat the environment and the value of the temperature t° detected in the environment is above the desired temperature value Ti, or if the heating/cooling means are foreseen to cool the environment and the value of the temperature (t°) detected is below the desired temperature value (Ti).
More specifically, the control and adjustment method according to the present invention foresees that the duration of the activation and deactivation time periods TON and TOFF is, respectively, inversely and directly proportional to the value of the temperature detected t° in said environment, when the heating/cooling means are used to heat the environment. When, on the other hand, the heating/cooling means are used to cool the environment, the duration of the activation and deactivation time periods TON and TOFF is, respectively, directly and inversely proportional to the value of the temperature detected t° in the environment.
With particular reference to figure 7, it should be noted how in a preferred version of the method for controlling and adjusting the temperature of an environment according to the present invention the proportionality of the durations of the activation times TON and TOFF, direct or inverse, is of the linear type.
Clearly, the skilled in the art will understand how other non-linear relationships of proportionality are possible.
Optionally, the control method according to the present invention foresees that the second control and adjustment signal S2OUT emitted by the signal generator means 8 is correlated to the temperature value detected outside the environment itself, when such detection means 10 are foreseen in the system. In this case the signal S2OUT depends proportionally on the values of a characteristic curve determined for the environment to be heated/cooled (for example a function of the heat dispersion of the walls delimiting the environment, as well as of other factors) and on the type of heating/cooling means foreseen in such an environment.
Similarly, the control method according to the present invention optionally foresees that the second control and adjustment signal S2OUT emitted by the signal generator means 8 is correlated to the amount of humidity and/or to the CO2 level detected in the environment, when such detection means 11 are foreseen in the system.
In this case the signal S2OUT depends proportionally on the values of a characteristic curve determined for the environment to be heated/cooled (for example a function of the heat dispersion of the walls delimiting the environment, as a function of the type of use of the environment itself - whether it is a kitchen, a bathroom, etc. - as well as of other factors) and on the amount of humidity and/or CO2 detected in the environment, indicative of the number of people present in such an environment at that time.
Figure 8 illustrates the progress in temperature t° that can be obtained in a controlled and adjusted environment through the system and the method according to the present invention. As can be seen, after an initial transitory step, required to bring the temperature t° within the preselected proportional band (BP=19±0,5°C), the oscillations of the temperature t° around the desired temperature value T are very narrow.
Advantageously, in a method according to the present invention the comparing step 300 is carried out by performing a proportional, integral and derivative control or rather with proportional, integral and derivative action.
The thus proposed system and the method make it possible to optimise the consumption linked to the heating/cooling of an environment with a consequent reduction of the costs associated with it.
Therefore, the invention according to the present patent application relates to a method and to a system capable of adapting dynamically to the environment to be controlled and adjusted, so as to modify its intervention parameters (proportional action, integral action, derivative action and duty cycle) as a function of the temperature measured by suitable probes and of the predetermined operation times in different set point configurations, for example different room temperature settings.
According to the present invention it is also possible to modulate the switching on and off cycles within almost infinite values, also up to the third significative digits after the comma. The adjustment is carried out substantially continuously, as soon as the temperature detected differs by a value just above or below the thousandth of a degree centigrade from the desired value.
Moreover, the proportional action, the integral action, the derivative action and the resulting duty cycle will, in this way, always be adjusted to values coherent with the inertia of the parameters to be adjusted, ensuring extremely low drift, in other words variations with respect to the desired values. Consequently, during the change of the set point at a certain time, the system will always be in the optimal situation to be able to deal with the new request in very short time periods and take back to the desired values, since the drift or variation produced will be extremely small.
Moreover, the system and the method according to the present invention adapt to the inertia of the environment in question with the intention of reducing the adjustment drifts to the values as smallest as possible.
With reference to the above-mentioned prior patent documents, and more specifically to US5192020A, it teaches an air-conditioning system in which only the temperature is controlled.
Moreover, the method of Dl is aimed at avoiding on and off cycles that are closed together at changes in set point, when the thermal inertia of the system is relatively low. Therefore, such a method does not carry out any control on the duty cycle to be applied to the generator with the purpose of adjusting the temperature, but makes the duty cycle itself vary, by turning on or off sooner or later, or by varying the set point with respect to that set to protect the components of the system.
It should therefore be understood how such a document is not at all relevant for the system and the method according to the present invention.
The invention thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants within the scope defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Method for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment provided with heating cooling means, comprising the following operation steps:
- selecting a proportional band (BPi) delimiting a temperature range comprised between a minimum limit value (BPIMIN) and a maximum limit value (BPI AX) around a desired temperature value Ti (step 100);
- detecting the temperature (t°) of the environment the temperature of which is to be controlled and adjusted (step 200) at predetermined time intervals (tcicLo);
- if the thus detected temperature (t°) is comprised in said proportional band (BPi), applying a second control and adjustment signal (S2OUT) to said heating/cooling means of said environment (step 400);
characterised in that
said second control and adjustment signal of said heating/cooling means of said environment is a signal comprising the activation and deactivation of said heating/cooling means for predetermined time intervals (TON and TOFF), the duration of which is correlated to the temperature (t°) detected at that time in said environment.
2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said proportional band (BPi) is a function of a desired temperature value (Ti) and a tolerance (X).
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein if the thus detected temperature (t°) is below or above said limit values (BPIMIN, BPIMAX) of said proportional band, it is foreseen to apply a first control and adjustment signal (si OUT) to said heating/cooling means of said environment (step 600, 700).
4. Method according to claim 3, wherein said first control and adjustment signal is an activation signal of heating/cooling means, if said heating/cooling means are foreseen to heat said environment and if said temperature (t°) thus detected is below the lower limit value (BPIMIN) of said proportional band (BPi).
5. Method according to claim 3, wherein said first control and adjustment signal is a deactivation signal of heating/cooling means, if said heating/cooling means are foreseen to heat said environment and if said temperature (t°) thus detected is above the upper limit value (BPIMAX) of said proportional band (BPi).
6. Method according to claim 3, wherein said first control and adjustment signal is an activation signal of heating/cooling means, if said heating/cooling means are foreseen to cool said environment and if said temperature (t°) thus detected is above the upper limit value (BPIMAX) of said proportional band (BPi).
7. Method according to claim 3, wherein said first control and adjustment signal is a deactivation signal of said heating/cooling means, if said heating/cooling means are foreseen to cool said environment and if said temperature (t°) thus detected is below the lower limit value (BPiMIN) of said proportional band (BPi).
8. Method according to any claim 1 to 7, wherein the duration of the predetermined activation time interval (TON) of said heating/cooling means is longer than the duration of the corresponding predetermined deactivation time interval (TOFF) thereof, if said means are foreseen for heating said environment and the value of said temperature (t°) detected in said environment is below said desired temperature value (Ti), or if said means are foreseen for cooling said environment and the value of said temperature (t°) detected in said environment is above said desired temperature value (Ti).
9. Method according to any claim 1 to 7, wherein the duration of the predetermined activation time interval (TON) of said heating/cooling means is shorter than the duration of the corresponding predetermined deactivation time interval (TOFF) thereof, if said means are foreseen for heating said environment and the value of said temperature (t°) detected in said environment is above said desired temperature value (Ti), or if said means are foreseen for cooling said environment and the value of said temperature (t°) detected in said environment is below said desired temperature value (Ti).
10. Method according to any claim 1 to 9, when said heating cooling means are foreseen for heating said environment, wherein the duration of said predetermined activation and deactivation time intervals (TON, TOFF) is, respectively, inversely and directly proportional to the value of said detected temperature (t°) in said environment.
1 1. Method according to any claim 1 to 9, when said heating/cooling means are foreseen for cooling said environment, wherein the duration of said predetermined activation and deactivation time intervals (TON, TOFF) is, respectively, directly and inversely proportional to the value of said detected temperature (t°) in said environment.
12. Method according to any claim 1 to 1 1 , wherein said duration of said predetermined activation and deactivation time intervals (TON, TOFF) is linearly inversely or directly proportional, depending on the case, to the value of said detected temperature (t°) in said environment.
13. Method according to any claim 1 to 12, wherein the sum of the duration of said predetermined activation and deactivation time intervals (TON, TOFF) of said heating/cooling means is substantially equal to a predetermined time interval (tcicLo) and depends on said proportional band (BPi) thus selected and on the detection frequency of said temperature (t°).
14. Method according to any claim 1 to 13, wherein said step of selecting a proportional band (BPi) comprises the sub-steps of:
- detecting the time (h);
- assigning, to the thus detected time, the corresponding proportional band value (BPi) comprised between one or more proportional band values (BPi) previously set.
15. Method according to claim 14, wherein said sub-step of assigning, for said time (h) thus detected, a respective proportional band (BPi) depends on the detection position of said temperature (t°) in said environment.
16. Method according to claim 15, wherein, if said temperature is detected at ground level, then said proportional band (BPi) is one, predetermined and independent from said time thus detected.
17. Method according to claim 15, wherein, if said temperature is detected at a position other than ground level, then said proportional band (BPi) is selected among a plurality of ranges and dependent on said time thus detected.
18. Method according to any claim 1 to 17, wherein said control and adjustment signal to said heating/cooling means of said environment is correlated to the temperature value detected outside the environment itself.
19. Method according to any claim 1 to 18, wherein said second control and adjustment signal to said heating/cooling means of said environment is correlated to the amount of humidity and/or C02 detected in said environment.
20. A method according to any previous claim, wherein said comparing step (300) is carried out by performing a proportional, integral and derivative control or rather with proportional, integral and derivative action.
21. System for controlling and adjusting the temperature in an environment, comprising:
- heating/cooling means (2) for said environment;
- detecting means (3) for detecting said temperature in said environment
(t°);
- at least one programmed control unit (4) operatively connected to said heating/cooling means (2) and to said detecting means (3) of said temperature (t°) in said environment;
characterised in that
said programmed control unit (4) comprises:
- detection means (5) for detecting the time (h);
- selecting means (6) for selecting a proportional band (BPi) delimiting a temperature range comprised between a minimum limit value (BPI IN) and a maximum limit value (BPI AX) as a function of the time (h) thus detected;
- comparing means (7), designed, in use, to compare said detected temperature (t°) with said temperature range of said proportional band (BPi) thus selected, and to emit an index correlated to the outcome of said comparison in output;
- generator means (8) of a first and a second control and adjustment signal (SI OUT, S2OUT) to said heating/cooling means (3) of said environment, said first and second control and adjustment signal being correlated to said index in output from said comparing means (7);
- counting means (9) operatively connected to said comparing means (7) and intended, in use, to activate said comparing means (7) at predetermined time intervals (tcicLo).
22. System according to claim 21 , wherein said detecting means (3) of said temperature (t°) in said environment comprise sensor means of the temperature at ground level (3a, 3al , 3a2) and/or at other locations of said environment (3b, 3bl , 3b2).
23. System according to claim 21 or 22, comprising detecting means (10) for detecting the temperature (TE) outside said environment.
24. System according to any claim 21 to 23, also comprising detecting means (1 1 ) for detecting the amount of humidity and/or C02 in said environment.
25. System according to any claim 21 to 24, further comprising input- output means (12) operatively connected to said programmed control unit (4) and comprising a display screen of the "touch screen" type for the insertion and storage in said programmed control unit (4) of data relating to said control and adjustment of said temperature and for displaying at least said temperature detected in said environment.
26. System according to any claim 21 to 25, comprising transceiver means (13) intended to send/receive control and adjustment signals to/from a remote control unit.
27. System for adjusting the temperature of a plurality of environments, each environment being provided with: respective heating/cooling means (21 , 22) for said environment; detecting means (3al , 3a2) of said temperature (t°) in said environment; and at least one programmed control unit (41 , 42) operatively connected to said heating/cooling means (21 , 22) and to said detecting means of said temperature in said environment (3al , 3a2)
characterised in that
said programmed control unit (4) of each environment is operatively connected to a central programmed control unit (14) to/from which it is intended to send/receive suitable signals relating to the control and adjustment of the temperature in the respective environment.
28. System according to claim 27, comprising detecting means (10) for detecting the temperature (TE) outside said environments, which detecting means are operatively connected to said central programmed control unit (14).
29. System according to claim 27 or 28, wherein each programmed control unit of each environment (41 , 42) is operatively connected to respective input- output means (121 , 122).
30. System according to any claim 21 to 29, wherein said control unit (4) is intended to carry out a proportional, integral and derivative control or with proportional, integral and derivative action.
31. System according to claim 30, wherein said comparing means (7) and/or said selecting means (6) are intended to carry out a proportional, integral and derivative control or with proportional, integral and derivative action.
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