Method and system for controlling efficiency of heating system

Abstract

A method and system is provided for controlling efficiency of a heating system which is a combination hot water and space heating system that can modulate energy transfer. The heating system includes a heat exchanger for transferring and modulating heat between a primary fluid system having a hot water supply and a secondary fluid system for space heating. The primary fluid system includes a storage container, temperature sensors, a heating element connected to the heating assembly within the storage container for increasing the temperature of the storage fluid therein, a heating assembly, and a storage pump for delivering storage fluid from the storage container to the heat exchanger. The secondary fluid system includes a heating supply structure for containing a heating supply fluid, temperature sensors, and a heating supply pump in connection with the heating supply structure for circulating the heating supply fluid.

1 . A combination hot water supply and space heating system, comprising:
 a heat exchanger for transferring heat between a primary fluid system for hot water supply and a secondary fluid system for space heating;   the primary fluid system in connection with the heat exchanger, comprising:
 a storage container for holding storage fluid having an inlet and outlet for storage fluid, 
 an upper temperature sensor and a lower temperature sensor attached to the storage container, 
 a heating assembly for providing a heat source, 
 a heating element connected to the heating assembly and substantially positioned within the storage container for increasing a temperature of the storage fluid, 
 a storage pump for delivering storage fluid from the storage container to the heat exchanger, 
 a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the storage fluid returning from the heat exchanger to the storage container; and 
   the secondary fluid system in connection with the heat exchanger, comprising:
 a heating supply structure for containing a heating supply fluid, 
 a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the heating supply fluid from the heat exchanger, 
 a heating supply pump in connection with the heating supply structure for circulating the heating supply fluid. 
   
     
     
         2 . The combination heating system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a solar energy collector;   a solar energy sensor;   a pump for circulating a solar energy fluid from the solar connecter to a solar input member; and   a vertex sensor.   
     
     
         3 . A combination hot water supply and space heating system, comprising:
 a heat exchanger for transferring heat from a primary fluid system providing a heating supply fluid for space heating to a secondary fluid system having a storage fluid for domestic usage;   the primary fluid system in connection with the heat exchanger, comprising:
 a container for storing heating supply fluid having an upper temperature sensor and a lower temperature sensor, 
 a heating assembly for providing a heat source, 
 a heating element connected to the heating assembly and substantially positioned within the storage for increasing a temperature of the heating supply fluid, 
 a heating supply structure connected to the container for storing fluid, 
 a fluid supply pump connected to the heating supply structure and the container for delivering heating supply fluid to the heating supply structure, 
 a fluid circulating pump connected to the heating supply structure used for circulating heating supply fluid through the heating supply structure and back to the container, 
 a temperature sensor connected to the heating supply structure for measuring the temperature of the heating supply fluid within the heating supply structure, 
 a heat exchange pump for delivering heating supply fluid from the container to the heat exchanger, 
 a temperature sensor connected between the heat exchanger and the container to measure the temperature of the heating supply fluid; and 
   the secondary fluid system in connection with the heat exchanger, comprising:
 an inlet for storage fluid connected to the heat exchanger; 
 a temperature sensor connected between the inlet and the heat exchanger to measure the temperature of the storage fluid entering through the inlet; 
 a flow sensor for measuring the flow of storage fluid exiting the heat exchanger; 
 a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the storage fluid exiting the heat exchanger; 
 an outlet for storage fluid connected to the heat exchanger. 
   
     
     
         4 . A method for controlling efficiency of a heating system, comprising:
 providing a heating system;   setting temperature of storage fluid of heating system, comprising:
 adjusting internal temperature of storage fluid lower if external temperature is above warm weather shutdown temperature; and 
 adjusting internal temperature of storage fluid higher if external temperature is below warm weather shutdown temperature; and 
   controlling temperature of radiant supply fluid of heating system, comprising:
 measuring temperature of radiant supply fluid and storage fluid; 
 comparing temperature of radiant supply fluid with temperature of storage fluid; 
 increasing temperature of radiant supply fluid to a radiant supply temperature set point by increasing flow rate of storage fluid having a higher temperature to a heat exchanger; and 
 increasing temperature of storage fluid if storage fluid temperature is below the radiant supply temperature. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 measuring temperature of solar energy fluid and storage fluid;   comparing temperature of solar energy fluid and storage fluid; and   increasing temperature of storage fluid to a storage fluid set point by increasing flow rate of solar energy fluid having a higher temperature.