Determination of hydronic valve opening point

A method for controlling water flowing through a hydronic emitter of a heating/cooling system, the method comprising:

• during a calibration phase:
• incrementally advancing a valve via a movement actuator, wherein the valve controls the water flowing through the hydronic emitter;
• in response to the incrementally advancing the valve, obtaining sensor information from at least one sensor;
• detecting, based on the sensor information, an actuator position of the movement actuator resulting in an essentially minimum water flow through the hydronic emitter;
• storing the actuator position where the essentially minimum water flow occurs;
• receiving a first sound signal from a sound sensor as the valve is advanced through the movement actuator;
• detecting, from the first sound signal, when a first rushing water sound occurs;
• obtaining a first actuator position of the movement actuator when the first rushing water sound is detected;
• and
• setting the stored actuator position based on the first actuator position;
• and
• during an operational phase:
• adjusting, through the movement actuator, the valve to have an adjusted flow rate within a full range of flow rate, wherein the full range of flow rate is between the essentially minimum water flow and a maximum water flow and wherein the adjusted flow rate provides a desired power output obtained from the hydronic emitter for an environmental entity and wherein the maximum water flow occurs when the valve is fully opened.

A heating/cooling system comprising:

• at least one controller assembly controlling the system, the at least one controller assembly including:
• a movement actuator configured to connect to a valve in order to control water flow through a hydronic emitter;
• a control interface configured to obtain a control signal from a thermostat, the control signal indicative of a measured temperature of an environmental entity;
• a sensor interface configured to interface to a sound sensor;
• and
• a computer device comprising:
• a processor;
• a first memory device;
• a second memory device;
• and
• the first memory device storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the at least one controller assembly to perform:
• during a calibration phase:
• obtaining a sound signal from the sound sensor through the sensor interface;
• detecting, from the sound signal, when a rushing sound of water occurs at an actuator position of the movement actuator, wherein a minimum water flow occurs through the valve;
• and
• storing, at the second memory device, the actuator position of the movement actuator where the minimum water flow occurs;
• during an operational phase:
• when the measured temperature, as provided by the thermostat, is not within a desired temperature range,
• retrieving the stored actuator position from the second memory device;
• and
• controlling an adjustable water flow through the hydronic emitter over a full range of flow rate, wherein the full range spans from the minimum water flow to a maximum water flow and wherein the stored actuator position of the movement actuator corresponds to the minimum water flow and wherein the maximum water flow occurs when the valve is fully opened;
• and
• when the measured temperature, as provided by the thermostat, is within the desired temperature range, terminating the adjustable water flow.