Flow control module and method for controlling the flow in a hydronic system

Abstract

A flow control module ( 39 ) controls one or more pumps in a hydronic system that includes a primary side ( 3 ) with first and second ports ( 21, 27 ), a source element ( 7 ) and a flow actuator ( 9 ), and a secondary side ( 5 ) with third and fourth ports ( 31, 35 ), a load element ( 11 ), and a flow actuator. An intermediary transfer element ( 17 ) between the primary side and the secondary side. The flow control module is configured to calibrate a measurement of a first temperature differential (ΔT c ) between the first port and the third port in a first situation when a primary side flow (q 1 ) exceeds the secondary side flow (q 2 ), and to calibrate a measurement of a second temperature differential (ΔT h ) between a temperature at the fourth port and a temperature at the second port in a second situation when the secondary side flow exceeds the primary side flow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flow control module for controlling the flow in a hydronic system, wherein the hydronic system comprises a primary side with a first port in fluid connection with an output of at least one source element, a second port in fluid connection with an input of the at least one source element, and at least one controllable primary side flow actuator for providing a primary side flow, a secondary side with a third port in fluid connection with an input of at least one load element, a fourth port in fluid connection with an output of the at least one load element, and at least one controllable secondary side flow actuator for providing a secondary side flow, and an intermediary transfer element between the primary side and the secondary side, wherein the intermediary transfer element is in fluid connection with the first port, the second port, the third port and the fourth port, wherein the flow control module is configured:
 to calibrate a measurement of a first temperature differential between a temperature at the first port and a temperature at the third port in a first situation when the primary side flow exceeds the secondary side flow; and   to calibrate a measurement of a second temperature differential between a temperature at the fourth port and a temperature at the second port in a second situation when the secondary side flow exceeds the primary side flow.   
     
     
         2 . The flow control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow control module is configured to force the hydronic system, for calibration purposes, into the first situation and/or second situation by controlling the primary side flow actuator and/or the secondary side flow actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The flow control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow control module is configured to identify the first situation and/or the second situation by comparing the first temperature differential with the second temperature differential. 
     
     
         4 . The flow control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow control module is configured to identify the first situation and/or the second situation when a certain pre-defined threshold of an absolute value of a signed deviation value, between the first temperature differential and the second temperature differential, is exceeded. 
     
     
         5 . The flow control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow control module is configured to adapt the thermal power transfer of the intermediary transfer element by controlling the primary side flow by means of the at least one controllable primary side flow actuator and/or the secondary side flow by means of the at least one controllable secondary side flow actuator in a continuously or closed-loop regularly based on minimizing a signed deviation value being correlated with the thermal power transfer of the intermediary transfer element. 
     
     
         6 . The flow control module according to  claim 5 , wherein the flow control module is configured to maintain a current primary side flow if the signed deviation value is between a negative reference value and a positive reference value. 
     
     
         7 . The flow control module according to  claim 5 , wherein the flow control module is configured to increase the primary side flow if the signed deviation value is below a negative reference value. 
     
     
         8 . The flow control module according to  claim 5 , wherein the flow control module is configured to maintain the primary side flow if the signed deviation value is below a negative reference value and the primary side flow is at or above a predetermined maximum threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The flow control module according to  claim 5 , wherein the flow control module is configured to decrease the secondary side flow if the signed deviation value is below a negative reference value and the primary side flow cannot be increased. 
     
     
         10 . The flow control module according to  claim 5 , wherein the flow control module is configured to decrease the primary side flow if the signed deviation value is above a positive reference value. 
     
     
         11 . The flow control module according to  claim 5 , wherein the flow control module is configured to maintain a current primary side flow if the signed deviation value is above a positive reference value and the primary side flow is at or below a predetermined minimum threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The flow control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow control module is integrated in one of the at least one controllable primary side flow actuator and/or one of the at least one controllable secondary side flow actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The flow control module according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow control module is integrated in a cloud-based computer system and/or a building management system. 
     
     
         14 . A method for controlling the flow in a hydronic system, wherein the hydronic system comprises a primary side with a first port in fluid connection with an output of at least one source element, a second port in fluid connection with an input of the at least one source element, and at least one controllable primary side flow actuator for providing a primary side flow, a secondary side with a third port in fluid connection with an input of at least one load element, a fourth port in fluid connection with an output of the at least one load element, and at least one controllable secondary side flow actuator for providing a secondary side flow, and an intermediary transfer element between the primary side and the secondary side, wherein the intermediary transfer element is in fluid connection with the first port, the second port, the third port and the fourth port, the method comprising:
 calibrating a measurement of a first temperature differential between a temperature at the first port and a temperature at the third port in a first situation when the primary side flow exceeds the secondary side flow; and   calibrating a measurement of a second temperature differential between a temperature at the fourth port and a temperature at the second port in a second situation when the secondary side flow exceeds the primary side flow.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising a step of forcing the hydronic system into the first situation and/or second situation by controlling the primary side flow actuator and/or the secondary side flow actuator prior to the calibrating steps. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising a step of identifying the first situation and/or the second situation by comparing the first temperature differential with the second temperature differential. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first situation and/or the second situation is identified when a certain pre-defined threshold on the absolute value of a signed deviation value between the first temperature differential and the second temperature differential is exceeded. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising a step of adapting the thermal power transfer of the intermediary transfer element by controlling the primary side flow by means of the at least one controllable primary side flow actuator and/or the secondary side flow by means of the at least one controllable secondary side flow actuator unit in a continuously or closed-loop regularly, based on minimizing a signed deviation value being correlated with the thermal power transfer of the intermediary transfer element. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein a current primary side flow is maintained if the signed deviation value is between a negative reference value and a positive reference value. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the primary side flow is increased if the signed deviation value is below a negative reference value. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the primary side flow is maintained if the signed deviation value is below a negative reference value and the primary side flow is at or above a predetermined maximum threshold. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the secondary side flow is decreased if the signed deviation value is below a negative reference value and the primary side flow cannot be increased. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the primary side flow is decreased if the signed deviation value is above a positive reference value. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein a current primary side flow is maintained if the signed deviation value is above a positive reference value and the primary side flow is at or below a predetermined minimum threshold.