초록 ▼

The present invention is directed at methods and apparatus for controlling multi-source heating systems. The multi-source heating systems of the present invention may include two or more heat sources such as a heat pump, a furnace, an electric heating strip, or any other suitable heat source. An ill

The present invention is directed at methods and apparatus for controlling multi-source heating systems. The multi-source heating systems of the present invention may include two or more heat sources such as a heat pump, a furnace, an electric heating strip, or any other suitable heat source. An illustrative system includes a multi-zone, multi-source heating system. The illustrative system may determine which of the multiple sources to use depending on a number of factors. Some illustrative factors include information about zones calling for heat, external environment information, and information about the heat sources. One of the heat sources may be, for example, a heat pump, and a determination of whether to activate the heat pump may include determining the current heating capacity of the heat pump and comparing the heating capacity to the amount of heat needed to satisfy the current heat calls. Methods for determining which of at least two heat sources to use are also provided. Additional embodiments include methods for controlling multiple-source heating systems, and systems for providing heat with multiple sources.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for heating an enclosure, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of zones serviced by a ventilation system that is configured to individually control the air supply to each zone, the ventilation system being supplied by a heat pump source and an auxiliary heat source, the method comp

1. A method for heating an enclosure, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of zones serviced by a ventilation system that is configured to individually control the air supply to each zone, the ventilation system being supplied by a heat pump source and an auxiliary heat source, the method comprising the steps of:determining if one or more of the zones require additional heat; if there is at least one zone requiring additional heat: determining whether the heat pump source can provide sufficient heat for the one or more zones that require additional heat; if the heat pump source can provide sufficient heat, using the heat pump source to individually provide the required additional heat to the one or more zones requiring additional heat; and if the heat pump source cannot provide sufficient heat, using the auxiliary heat source to provide at least part of the required additional heat. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:estimating the heating load for the zones that require additional heat; estimating the heating capacity of the heat pump source; and comparing the estimated heating load with the estimated heating capacity. 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of sensing the outdoor air temperature, and using the sensed outdoor air temperature to estimate the heating load of each of the zones that require additional heat.4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of sensing the outdoor air temperature and using the sensed outdoor air temperature to estimate the current heating capacity of the heat pump source.5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of sensing the outdoor humidity and using the sensed outdoor humidity to estimate the current heating capacity of the heat pump source.6. A method for heating an enclosure, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of zones serviced by a ventilation system that is configured to individually control the air supply to each zone, the ventilation system being supplied by a first heat source and a second heat source, the method comprising the steps of:identifying which of the zones are calling for additional heat; determining if the first heat source has adequate heating capacity to provide the additional heat to the calling zones; providing the additional heat individually to the calling zones with the first heat source if the first heat source has adequate heating capacity; and providing at least some of the additional heat individually to the calling zones with the second heat source if the first heat source does not have adequate heating capacity. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the determining step includes the steps of:determining an outside temperature; determining the heating capacity for the first heat source using the outside temperature; determining a heat load value for the individual zones that are calling for additional heat using the outside temperature; and comparing the heating capacity of the first heat source to the heat load value. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the heating load value is related to the amount of heat required to effect a predetermined temperature change in each of the zones calling for additional heat.9. A method of heating an enclosure, the method comprising:providing a first heat source; providing a second heat source; providing a third heat source; defining a number of zones for heating; providing a ventilation system adapted for supplying air to the number of zones; providing environmental sensors for each zone; capturing information with the environmental sensors; determining whether any zones require additional heat; and, if any zones require additional heat; determining whether the first heat source alone can provide sufficient heat to the zones that require additional heat and, if the first heat source alone can provide sufficient heat, activating only the first heat source to provide the additional heat; and if not, determining whether the first heat source in combination with the second heat source can provide sufficient heat to the zones that require additional heat and, if the first heat source in combination with the second heat source can provide sufficient heat, using the first heat source in combination with the second heat source to provide the additional heat, and if not, using the third heat source alone or in combination with the second heat source and/or first heat source to provide the additional heat to the zones that require additional heat. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first heat source is a heat pump.11. The method of claim 10 wherein the second heat source is a fossil fuel heat source.12. The method of claim 10 wherein the heat pump includes two or more stages, and the first heat source is a first stage of the heat pump and the second heat source is a second stage of the heat pump.13. The method of claim 12 wherein the third heat source is a third stage of the heat pump.14. The method of claim 10 wherein the heat pump includes two or more stages, and the first heat source is a first stage of the heat pump, the second heat source is a second stage of the heat pump, and the third heat source is a fossil fuel heat source.15. The method of claim 10 wherein the second heat source is an electric strip heat source.16. The method of claim 15 wherein the third heat source is an electric strip heat source having a higher heating capacity than the second heat source electric strip heat source.17. The method of claim 15 wherein the third heat source is a fossil fuel heat source.18. The method of claim 9 wherein the first heat source is provided downstream of the second heat source in the ventilation system, the method further comprising providing a temperature sensor in the air stream of the ventilation system between the second heat source and the first heat source.19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:monitoring the output of the temperature sensor; and modulating the second heat source whenever the second heat source is used along with the first heat source in response to the temperature sensor output to protect the first heat source. 20. The method of claim 9 wherein the first heat source is provided upstream of the second heat source in the ventilation system, the method further comprising:providing a temperature sensor downstream of the second heat source in the ventilation system; monitoring the output of the temperature sensor to determine if air passing through the ventilation system after the first and second heat sources is sufficiently heated; and modulating the second heat source in response to the output of the temperature sensor. 21. A method of heating a space using multiple heating sources, the method comprising:providing a first heat source and a second heat source; determining whether additional heat is needed to warm the space; predicting an amount of additional heat needed to warm the space; determining whether the first heat source has sufficient capacity to provide the amount of additional heat; if the first heat source has sufficient capacity, using the first heat source to warm the space; and if the first heat source does not have sufficient capacity, using the second heat source alone or in combination with the first heat source to warm the space. 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the space includes two or more zones, each zone selectively calling for additional heat, the amount of additional heat needed to warm the space being dependent on which of the zones are currently calling for heat.23. A method of heating an enclosure having a plurality of heat sources, the method comprising:receiving a call for heat; predicting a heat load for the enclosure; determining which of the plurality of heat sources will meet the predicted heat load; and activating the selected heat sources. 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the predicting step is performed before the activating step.25. A method for heating an enclosure serviced by a ventilation system, the ventilation system being supplied by a heat pump source and an auxiliary heat source, the method comprising the steps of:receiving a call for heat; observing an outdoor condition; determining the heat pump capacity using the outdoor condition, wherein the heat pump capacity has a first value under a first set of conditions, a second value under a second set of conditions, and a third value under a third set of conditions, the third set of conditions indicating that the heat pump should not be used at all; predicting a heat load for the enclosure; and comparing the predicted heat load to the predicted heat capacity to determine whether: to operate the heat pump alone; to operate the heat pump in conjunction with the auxiliary source; or to not operate the heat pump and use the auxiliary source to provide heat. 26. A method for heating an enclosure, wherein the enclosure includes a plurality of zones serviced by a ventilation system that is configured to individually control the air supply to each zone, the ventilation system being supplied by a heat pump source and an auxiliary heat source, the method comprising the steps of:receiving a call for heat from one or more zones; predicting a heat load for the enclosure based on which zones call for heat; using the predicted heat load to determine which of the heat source, the auxiliary source, or both the heat source and the auxiliary source, can supply the heat load.