# US 2014/0190680 A1 · Method and system for buffering thermal energy and thermal energy buffer system

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- Number: US 2014/0190680 A1
- Document ID: US20140190680A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/122,420
- Filed: 2012-06-04
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-03
- Assignees: Vlalamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek (Vito)
- Applicants: Vlalamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek (Vito)
- Inventors: Koen Vanthournout; Johan Van Bael; Bert Claessens; Reinhilde D'hulst
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190680A1

## CPC

- F24H 9/2014: {using electrical energy supply}
- F24D 19/1063: {counting of energy consumption}
- F24H 9/2021: {Storage heaters}
- F24H 15/144: Measuring or calculating energy consumption
- F24H 15/225: at different heights of the tank
- F24H 15/45: remotely accessible
- F28D 20/0039: {with stratification of the heat storage material}
- F28F 27/00: Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus (control arrangements in general G05)
- G01K 17/00: Measuring quantity of heat (measuring temperature by calorimetry G01K3/00 - G01K11/00; specially adapted for measuring thermal properties of materials, e.g. specific heat, heat of combustion G01N)
- G01K 17/06: Measuring quantity of heat conveyed by flowing media, e.g. in heating systems (G01K17/02, G01K17/04 take precedence){e.g. the quantity of heat in a transporting medium, delivered to or consumed in an expenditure device}
- G05D 23/1923: {using thermal energy, the cost of which varies in function of time}
- G05D 23/1931: {to control the temperature of one space}
- F24D 2240/26: Vertically distributed at fixed positions, e.g. multiple sensors distributed over the height of a tank, or a vertical inlet distribution pipe having a plurality of orifices
- F24H 15/281: Input from user
- F24H 15/395: Information to users, e.g. alarms
- F28D 2020/0078: {Heat exchanger arrangements}
- Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage
- F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22)
- F24D: DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR (using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plants for heating purposes F01K17/02)
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00)
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method for buffering thermal energy comprises a thermal buffering medium contained by a thermal energy buffer. The volume of the thermal buffering medium is subdivided in one or more parts such that the different parts of the volume of the thermal buffering medium together form the total thermal buffering medium. The thermal energy buffer comprises a temperature sensor for each part. A controller has at least one signal representing at least one thermal energy value related to the thermal energy buffer. The thermal energy values comprise a predetermined minimum amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer. The controller controls a heater such that the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer is higher than or equals the predetermined minimum amount of energy present in the thermal energy buffer.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-53. (canceled)

### Claim 54

A method for buffering thermal energy in a thermal buffering medium wherein contained within a thermal energy buffer wherein having a controller wherein, wherein
at least one signal representing thermal energy values related to the thermal energy buffer is provided to the controller wherein, the thermal energy values comprising a maximal amount of heating energy, a predetermined minimum amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer and an amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer, wherein the controller wherein controls a heater wherein of the thermal buffer wherein, and wherein the controller wherein calculates a value representing the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer, wherein the thermal energy values comprise a minimal amount of heating energy representing the amount of energy required to, using the heater wherein, heat all the thermal buffering medium wherein to a predetermined minimum temperature starting from the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer wherein, and the thermal energy values also comprise a maximal amount of heating energy representing the amount of
energy required to heat all the thermal buffering medium wherein to the predetermined maximum temperature, using the heater wherein, starting from the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer wherein, wherein the volume of the thermal buffering medium wherein is subdivided in one or more different parts wherein such that the different parts wherein of the volume of the thermal buffering medium wherein together form the total thermal buffering medium wherein present in the thermal energy buffer wherein; and the thermal energy buffer wherein comprises a respective temperature sensor wherein for each part wherein for sensing a temperature of the thermal buffering medium wherein contained in the part wherein, the controller wherein calculates a value representing the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer by multiplying the temperature measured by the one or more sensors wherein sensing the temperature of the one or more different parts wherein of the thermal buffering medium wherein with the volume of the part of thermal buffering medium wherein such as to obtain at least one value representing the partial thermal energy contained in the at least one part by the thermal buffering medium wherein and adding the resulting at least one partial thermal energy value to each other, wherein the controller wherein calculates the minimal amount of heating energy by multiplying the difference of the predetermined minimum temperature and the temperature measured by the one or more temperature sensors of the one or more parts wherein containing thermal buffering medium having a temperature measured by their respective sensors wherein which is lower than the predetermined minimum temperature with the respective volumes of the parts wherein containing thermal buffering medium wherein and adding the resulting values to each other, and wherein the controller wherein calculates the maximal amount of heating energy by at least multiplying the difference of the predetermined maximum temperature and the temperature measured by the one or more temperature sensors wherein with the respective volume of the part wherein corresponding to the temperature sensor wherein and adding the resulting values to each other.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The method for buffering thermal energy according to claim 54, wherein the thermal energy buffer wherein is a water heating unit wherein of a domestic hot water system.

### Claim 56 (depends on 54)

The method for buffering thermal energy according to claim 54, wherein the thermal buffering medium wherein is water.

### Claim 57 (depends on 54)

The method for buffering thermal energy according to claim 54, wherein the controller wherein further calculates a state of charge by dividing the value representing the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer with the value representing the maximum amount of thermal energy stored in the thermal energy buffer or the controller calculates the state of charge by dividing the value representing the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer with the total volume of the thermal buffering medium multiplied with the difference between the predetermined minimum and maximum temperature.

### Claim 58 (depends on 21)

The method for buffering thermal energy according to claim 21, wherein the controller wherein uses the temperature measured by the one or more temperature sensors wherein with respect to the predetermined minimum temperature.

### Claim 59 (depends on 54)

The method for buffering thermal energy according to claim 54, wherein the controller wherein further calculates the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer wherein by only using the parts wherein containing thermal buffering medium wherein having a temperature measured by their respective sensor which is higher than or equal to the predetermined minimum temperature.

### Claim 60 (depends on 54)

The method for buffering thermal energy according to claim 54, wherein the one or more different parts wherein subdividing the volume of the thermal energy medium are provided on top of each other along an upright direction forming a stack of parts wherein.

### Claim 61 (depends on 54)

The method for buffering thermal energy according to claim 54, wherein the heater wherein is positioned below the lowest temperature sensor wherein.

### Claim 62 (depends on 54)

The method for buffering thermal energy according to claim 54, wherein wires wherein interconnecting the different temperature sensors wherein to the controller wherein are guided to the outside of the thermal energy buffer wherein at substantially the respective locations of the temperature sensors wherein.

### Claim 63

A thermal energy buffering system having a thermal buffering medium wherein contained within a thermal energy buffer wherein having a controller wherein, comprising
Means for providing at least one signal representing thermal energy values related to the thermal energy buffer to the controller wherein, the thermal energy values comprising a maximal amount of heating energy, a predetermined minimum amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer and an amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer, wherein the controller wherein is adapted to control a heater wherein of the thermal buffer wherein, and
wherein the controller wherein is adapted to calculate a value representing the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer, wherein the controller wherein is adapted to calculate the thermal energy values including:
a minimal amount of heating energy representing the amount of energy required to, using the heater wherein, heat all the thermal buffering medium wherein to a predetermined minimum temperature starting from the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer wherein, and
a maximal amount of heating energy representing the amount of energy required to heat all the thermal buffering medium wherein to a predetermined maximum temperature, using the heater wherein, starting from the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer wherein, wherein the volume of the thermal buffering medium wherein is subdivided in one or more different parts wherein such that the different parts wherein of the volume of the thermal buffering medium wherein together form the total thermal buffering medium wherein present in the thermal energy buffer wherein; and
he thermal energy buffer wherein comprises a respective temperature sensor wherein for each part wherein for sensing a temperature of the thermal buffering medium wherein contained in the part wherein, the controller wherein is adapted to calculate a value representing the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer by multiplying the temperature measured by the one or more sensors wherein sensing the temperature of the one or more different parts wherein of the thermal buffering medium wherein with the volume of the part of thermal buffering medium wherein such as to obtain at least one value representing the partial thermal energy contained in the at least one part by the thermal buffering medium wherein and adding the resulting at least one partial thermal energy value to each other, wherein the controller wherein is adapted to calculate the minimal amount of heating energy by multiplying the difference of the predetermined minimum temperature and the temperature measured by the one or more temperature sensors of the one or more parts wherein containing thermal buffering medium having a temperature measured by their respective sensors wherein which is lower than the predetermined minimum temperature with the respective volumes of the parts wherein containing thermal buffering medium wherein having a temperature measured by their respective sensors wherein which is lower than the predetermined minimum temperature and adding the resulting values to each other, and the controller wherein is adapted to calculate the maximal amount of heating energy by at least multiplying the difference of the predetermined maximum temperature and the temperature measured by the one or more temperature sensors wherein with the respective volume of the part wherein corresponding to the temperature sensor wherein and adding the resulting values to each other.

### Claim 64 (depends on 63)

The system according to claim 63, wherein the thermal energy buffer wherein is a water heating unit wherein of a domestic hot water system.

### Claim 65 (depends on 63)

The system according to claim 63, wherein the thermal buffering medium wherein is water.

### Claim 66 (depends on 63)

The system according to claim 63, wherein the controller wherein is adapted to further calculate the state of charge by dividing the value representing the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer with the value representing the maximum amount of thermal energy stored in the thermal energy buffer or the controller calculates the state of charge by dividing the value representing the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer with the total volume of the thermal buffering medium multiplied with the difference between the predetermined minimum and maximum temperature.

### Claim 67 (depends on 63)

The system according to claim 63, wherein the controller wherein is adapted to use the temperature measured by the one or more temperature sensors wherein with respect to the predetermined minimum temperature.

### Claim 68 (depends on 63)

The system according to claim 63, wherein the controller wherein is adapted to further calculate the amount of thermal energy present in the thermal energy buffer wherein by only using the parts wherein containing thermal buffering medium wherein having a temperature measured by their respective sensor which is higher than or equal to the predetermined minimum temperature.

### Claim 69 (depends on 63)

The system according to claim 63, wherein the one or more different parts wherein subdividing the volume of the thermal energy medium are provided on top of each other along an upright direction forming a stack of parts wherein.

### Claim 70 (depends on 63)

The system according to claim 63, wherein the heater wherein is positioned below the lowest temperature sensor wherein.

### Claim 71 (depends on 63)

The system according to claim 63, wherein wires wherein interconnecting the different temperature sensors wherein to the controller wherein are guided to the outside of the thermal energy buffer wherein at substantially the respective locations of the temperature sensors wherein.

### Claim 72 (depends on 54)

A computer program product having code segments which when executed on a processing engine execute the method according to claim 54.

### Claim 73 (depends on 62)

A non-transient signal storage medium storing the computer program product of claim 62.