Thermal battery control system and method

A method for controlling a heating system to meet a heating demand, the heating system comprising more than one thermal battery, each of the more than one thermal battery comprises a cumulative measure of usage, a storage container for holding a thermal energy storage material, a heat exchange tubing having a first end and a second end within which a fluid is configured to be disposed from the first end to the second end to be heated by the thermal energy storage material, a control valve interposed on the first end of the heat exchange tubing and a controller functionally connected to the control valve, said method comprising, using the controller for comparing a number of units of the more than one thermal battery required to meet the heating demand to a number of units of the more than one thermal battery having the control valve disposed in an open state,

• wherein if said number of units of the more than one thermal battery required to meet the heating demand is lower than said number of units of the more than one thermal battery having the control valve disposed in an open state, disposing the control valve of the thermal battery having a highest cumulative measure of usage of the more than one thermal battery having the control valve disposed in an open state, in a closed state;
• and if said number of units of the more than one thermal battery required to meet the heating demand is higher than said number of units of the more than one thermal battery having the control valve disposed in an open state, disposing the control valve of the thermal battery having a lowest cumulative measure of usage of the more than one thermal battery having the control valve disposed in a closed state, in an open state.

A method for controlling a heating system to meet a heating demand, the heating system comprising more than one thermal battery, each of the more than one thermal battery comprises a cumulative measure of usage, the more than one thermal battery comprises a storage container for holding a thermal energy storage material, a heat exchange tubing having a first end and a second end within which a fluid is configured to be disposed from the first end to the second end to be heated by the thermal energy storage material, a control valve interposed on the first end of the heat exchange tubing and a controller functionally connected to the control valve, said method comprising, using the controller for:

• (a) comparing a state of charge (SOC) of one of the more than one thermal battery to a low thermal storage threshold, wherein if said SOC is lower than said low thermal storage threshold, disposing the control valve of the one of the more than one thermal battery in a closed state;
• (b) comparing said SOC of one of the more than one thermal battery to a high thermal storage threshold, wherein if said SOC is greater than said high thermal storage threshold, disposing the control valve of the one of the more than one thermal battery in an open state;
• and
• (c) comparing a number of units of the more than one thermal battery required to meet the heating demand to a number of units of the more than one thermal battery having the control valve disposed in an open state, wherein if said number of units of the more than one thermal battery required to meet the heating demand is lower than said number of units of the more than one thermal battery having the control valve disposed in an open state, disposing the control valve of the thermal battery having a highest cumulative measure of usage of the more than one thermal battery having the control valve disposed in an open state, in a closed state;
• and if said number of units of the more than one thermal battery required to meet the heating demand is higher than said number of units of the more than one thermal battery having the control valve disposed in an open state, disposing the control valve of the thermal battery having a lowest cumulative measure of usage of the more than one thermal battery having the control valve disposed in a closed state, in an open state.