Multiple zone control system and method of operation

Abstract

A multiple heating/cooling zone control system is disclosed. A heating/cooling system control device continuously monitors heating/cooling zone demand and matches the heating/cooling device output capacity to the total space or heat input required. Within the calculated heating/cooling device output capacity the heating/cooling device is modulated based on zone temperature setpoint to further adjust heating/cooling device output. As heat/cooling loss is increased heating/cooling device capacity and modulation are increased. Should heat/cooling loss decrease heating/cooling device capacity and modulation are decreased. Since heat/cooling output is adjusted based on the heat loss(gain) the heating/cooling device can be immediately adjusted to the proper or matching heating/cooling rate even before water/air temperature based adjustments can be made. Hence, the overall effect of the control device is a reduction in cycles of the heating/cooling device and the life of the heating/cooling device is extended and subsequent energy is saved.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a multiple zoned heating/cooling system, the method comprising:
 establishing a heating/cooling demand for multiple individual zones;   communicating to a controller active zones which require heating/cooling;   summing the total heating/cooling demand required by the active zones;   establishing a maximum heating/cooling rate based on the total heating/cooling demand required by the active zones;   establishing the type of heating/cooling radiation type associated with heating/cooling demand;   communicating to the controller active heating/cooling radiation type;   establishing a target temperature setpoint based on active heating/cooling radiation type;   setting a heating/cooling rate based on measured temperature, target temperature setpoint and a maximum heating/cooling rate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 adjusting the maximum heating/cooling rate based on the requirements of the active zones as the active zones vary. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 adjusting the heating/cooling rate based on the output of a heating/cooling device and the total heating/cooling demand required by the active zones. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 establishing a maximum zone run time for each individual zone; 
 determining if a demand time for any active zone exceeds the maximum zone run time; 
 adjusting a heating/cooling device capacity for the total heating/cooling demand for all zones if the demand time for any active zone exceeds the maximum zone run time. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 monitoring home status, including time of day or occupancy; 
 adjusting the target temperature setpoint equal to the temperature setpoint for the radiation type for the active zones based on the home status. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 monitoring outside temperature; 
 adjusting the target setpoint equal to the temperature setpoint for the radiation type for the active zone based on the outdoor temperature. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 establishing a set period of time in which a respective zone must become active; 
 establishing a minimum fixed temperature; 
 monitoring outside temperature; 
 causing warm water to flow through pipes of the respective zone of the heating system if the respective zone has not become active in a set time period and the outdoor temperature is below minimum fixed temperature. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying diagnostic information regarding the heating/cooling system. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying information regarding individual zone status, individual zone total cycles and/or system performance. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling a multiple zoned boiler heating system, the method comprising:
 establishing a heating demand required for an amount of hot water flowing or for multiple individual zones;   establishing a maximum firing rate based on the total heating demand required;   setting the firing rate based on measured temperature, the target water temperature setpoint and the maximum firing rate.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 adjusting the maximum firing rate of a boiler based on the active heat demand as the active heat demand varies. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 adjusting the firing rate of the boiler based on a heat output of the boiler and the total heating demand required. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 establishing a reduced firing rate maximum run time for maximum firing rate reduced below boiler capacity; 
 determining if the run time exceeds the reduced firing rate maximum run time; 
 adjusting the maximum firing rate to boiler capacity if the demand time exceeds the reduced firing rate maximum run time. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 monitoring home status, including time of day or occupancy; 
 adjusting the target water temperature setpoint of the boiler based on the building status. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 monitoring outside temperature; 
 adjusting the target water setpoint temperature of the boiler based on the outdoor temperature. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 displaying diagnostic information regarding the heating system. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 displaying information regarding total heat demand or system performance. 
 
     
     
         18 . A boiler control system comprising:
 at least one zone panel with thermostats connected thereto, individual thermostats monitoring individual zones;   a boiler controller, the boiler controller communicates with a boiler to control the operation of the boiler;   a communication bus extending between the at least one zone panel and the boiler controller;   the boiler controller receives information from at least one zone panel, the boiler controller sums the total heating demand required by the individual zones which require heat and sets the water temperature setpoint for the boiler and the firing rate for the boiler based upon the total heating demand from the individual zones which require heat.   
     
     
         19 . The boiler control system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the communication bus is an ethernet cable which allows two way communication between the at least one zone panel and the boiler controller.