Method and system for controlling energy transfer of a thermal energy exchanger

A control system for controlling energy transfer of a thermal energy exchanger of an HVAC system, the control system comprising at least one processor configured to:

• obtain from a flow sensor, a measured flow of fluid through the thermal energy exchanger;
• obtain from a first temperature sensor, a supply temperature of the fluid in a supply pipe connected to an entry of the thermal energy exchanger;
• obtain from a second temperature sensor, a return temperature of the fluid in a return pipe connected to an exit of the thermal energy exchanger;
• determine flow-dependent model parameters for modelling performance of the thermal energy exchanger, using one or more measurement data sets, each measurement data set including for a respective measurement time a value of the measured flow of fluid, a value of the measured supply temperature of the fluid, and a value of the measured return temperature of the fluid, wherein determining the flow-dependent model parameters comprises the control system determining a delay time in the supply pipe for the fluid to move from the first temperature sensor to the thermal energy exchanger, and determining a delay time in the return pipe for the fluid to move from the thermal energy exchanger to the second temperature sensor;
• calculate an estimated energy transfer of the thermal energy exchanger, using the flow-dependent model parameters;
• and
• control the energy transfer of the thermal energy exchanger by regulating the flow of fluid through the thermal energy exchanger, using the estimated energy transfer.

A control system for controlling energy transfer of a thermal energy exchanger of an HVAC system, the control system comprising at least one processor configured to:

• obtain from a flow sensor, a measured flow of fluid through the thermal energy exchanger;
• obtain from a first temperature sensor, a supply temperature of the fluid in a supply pipe connected to an entry of the thermal energy exchanger;
• obtain from a second temperature sensor, a return temperature of the fluid in a return pipe connected to an exit of the thermal energy exchanger;
• determine flow-dependent model parameters for modelling performance of the thermal energy exchanger, using one or more measurement data sets, each measurement data set including for a respective measurement time a value of the measured flow of fluid, a value of the measured supply temperature of the fluid, and a value of the measured return temperature of the fluid, and determining with the flow-dependent model parameters an exchange time for the fluid to replace a total fluid content of the thermal energy exchanger;
• calculate an estimated energy transfer of the thermal energy exchanger, using the flow-dependent model parameters;
• and
• control the energy transfer of the thermal energy exchanger by regulating the flow of fluid through the thermal energy exchanger, using the estimated energy transfer.