Automated temperature control of heating radiators

Embodiments are disclosed of a radiator temperature control apparatus for controlling the heat output of a radiator. The radiator temperature control apparatus may include an airtight enclosure around the air outlet of the radiator air vent, an adjustable opening in the airtight enclosure controlled by an actuator, and a controller connected to the actuator. In operation, the controller can be configured to open the adjustable opening in the airtight enclosure allowing air in the radiator to be expelled through the adjustable opening, thereby allowing steam to enter the radiator, and heat the room. The controller can be configured to close the adjustable opening, stopping air from being expelled from the radiator, thereby stopping additional steam from entering the radiator.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to the automation, monitoring, and control of pre-existing heating systems. As is known in the art, control systems for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems have been evolving—from simple mechanical thermostats to wirelessly controlled “smart” devices. This evolution has allowed for home owners, landlords, and tenants to have greater control of their energy usage and better customize and control the comfort of their spaces.

These new “smart” devices typically replace an older iteration of a similar product (ex. a “smart” thermostat replaces a mechanical thermostat). These new devices are also typically hard wired or plumbed into existing HVAC systems, and in many cases, require advanced skill (ex. trained electrician/licensed plumber) to install the technology properly. However, the technology is advancing at each iteration of these products to allow for easier installation and more ubiquitous adoption.

Modern central heating systems, in general, typically fall into three categories: forced hot air, hot water, and steam. Typically, forced hot air systems rely on a central furnace and a system of ducts to heat and deliver the warmed air. Typically, hot water systems rely on a central boiler and a system of pipes and radiators and/or convectors to deliver hot water; that hot water emits heat warming the space. Typically, steam systems also rely on a central boiler and a system of pipes and radiators and/or convectors to deliver steam; that steam emits heat warming the space.

Steam systems have two typical configurations: two pipe, and one pipe.

In a two-pipe system, steam is delivered to the radiators through pipes. Each radiator has two pipes connected to it. One pipe delivers the hot steam from the boiler. As the heat in the steam is transferred to the room, the water vapor condenses. That condensed water flows through the second pipe connected to the radiator and flows back to the boiler.

In a one-pipe system, steam is delivered to the radiators through pipes. Each radiator has only one pipe connected to it. As the heat in the steam is transferred to the room, the water vapor condenses. That condensed water flows through the same pipe system back to the boiler.

Air is present within a one-pipe steam system. As steam is created in the boiler and flows to the radiators, the air in the system is pushed out through a series of vents. The vents are calibrated to allow the release of air, but trap the steam within the radiator. These vents allow the expulsion of the air in the system, which is required to allow the steam to flow and fill the radiator.

The vents are located on each radiator and also on locations throughout the main pipe system. If the vent is forced closed or blocked, the steam will not flow, and the radiator will not heat the room.

One pipe steam systems are typically controlled by one thermostat or a series of thermostats (central thermostat control). In some configurations when a series of thermostats is used in different rooms and/or on different floors, the thermostats may deliver the average temperature of the building to the boiler control. The thermostat(s) control the production of steam in the boiler. When steam is produced in the boiler, it flows freely through the pipe system to the radiators.

Over- and under-heating is common in one pipe steam systems. The thermostat delivers only one area's temperature to the boiler, which becomes the only area influencing the activation of the boiler and the flow of steam. Multiple factors throughout a building, such as doors and windows or occupants and use, cause the temperature in a building vary greatly from one room/floor to another, making a singular thermostat or a series of thermostats imprecise at controlling the heating of a building.

For example, a room with many energy inefficient windows which also contains the one thermostat for the building may activate the boiler more frequently because the inefficient windows cause the temperature in the space to be lower. In the same building, a second room, with energy efficient windows, will have its radiator release heat based on the frequent activation of the thermostat in the first room, causing overheating.

Proper balancing of a system may mitigate some of the temperature disparities throughout the building. This balancing calibrates the system taking into account the differences among rooms/floors to deliver steam heat in a more balanced way. While this may address some of the inefficiencies in the distribution of the heat, the environmental factors within a building often change (such as an open window). Each change would require a new balancing exercise. Additionally, steam systems are extremely prevalent in large pre-war multifamily buildings. The balancing of these buildings can be easily disrupted by one tenant opening a window, or another tenant using the oven, rendering the system balancing ineffective.

Multifamily landlords are typically required by law to deliver a minimum level of heating to their tenants. In order to deliver the minimum level of heating to all tenants, the landlord will often deliver an excess of heat to the overall system in order to meet the minimum level of heating in the coldest unit (ex. a unit on the bottom floor with many inefficient windows and a drafty front door). This causes an overheating of the other units because the system is calibrated to deliver heat based on the coldest unit. Many tenants in the overheated units will open windows to regulate the temperature of their units causing a significant waste of the heat.

Control devices which provide localized control of each radiator exist. Specifically, these devices are Thermostatic Radiator Values (TRV). These TRVs use room temperature to actuate the radiator vent. The actuation of the vent allows for control of the release of air, thus limiting the flow of steam and thus controlling the heat of the room. These TRVs require the replacement of the existing radiator vent. Modifying a radiator may be intimidating to the average home owner or tenant, and further many tenants would be prohibited from making these modifications to a rental unit.

Therefore, a need exists for a control system and mechanism which allows for control of individual radiators without modification or replacement to components of the existing heating system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an apparatus that allows users to remotely and/or programmatically control heating radiators. The apparatus comprises an airtight enclosure around the air outlet of a radiator air vent, an adjustable opening in said airtight enclosure, an actuator configured to open and close said adjustable opening, and a controller coupled to the actuator.

The apparatus encloses the radiator air vent such that the air outlet of the radiator air vent is sealed within the airtight enclosure of the apparatus. The controller controls the actuator coupled to the adjustable opening in the airtight enclosure. The adjustable opening regulates the flow of air out the airtight enclosure. For the radiator to fill with steam and heat a space, the existing air within the radiator must be expelled through the radiator air vent. The present invention fully encloses the air outlet of the radiator air vent and thus controls the air being expelled from the radiator. To allow steam to enter the radiator and heat the room, the controller, using the actuator, opens the adjustable opening. To stop steam from entering the radiator, the controller, using the actuator, closes the adjustable opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments are disclosed herein of novel apparatus and methods for controlling the heat output of a radiator. Some but not all embodiments are disclosed in the text of this section and the accompanying drawings. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the present invention and should not be viewed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Various additional embodiments not described herein may include different configurations, materials, and/or combinations of the described embodiments and fall within the scope of the present invention. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy legal requirements.

The present invention is an apparatus which allows for the remote and/or programmatic regulation of the flow of air out of an air outlet of a radiator air vent, thus regulating the flow of steam into a radiator, and therefore controlling the heating of a room. The apparatus encloses the air outlet of a radiator air vent and does not replace the radiator air vent, thus eliminating the need for modifications to the heating system.

FIG. 1is a diagrammatic example of a radiator temperature control apparatus104used to control the heat in room100emitted from a radiator102. In embodiments, a one-pipe steam radiator102has an air vent108, and the air vent has an air outlet130. In embodiments, the radiator temperature control apparatus104contains an airtight enclosure106around the air outlet130the air vent108, an actuator114, a controller116, and adjustable opening118. The actuator114may be coupled to the adjustable opening118. The controller116may be coupled to the actuator114.

In embodiments, an actuator114within the radiator temperature control apparatus104is provided. The actuator114controls the adjustable opening118regulating the release of air within the airtight enclosure106. In embodiments, the adjustable opening118maintains the airtight seal of the airtight enclosure106around the air outlet130when closed, and when open, the airtight seal of the airtight enclosure106is broken and the air within the airtight enclosure106can escape through the adjustable opening118.

In embodiments, the radiator temperature control apparatus includes a controller116to handle the logic required to control the actuator114. Additionally, the controller may handle scheduling and to run calculations and/or algorithms used to better customize and control the regulation of heat within the room.

In some embodiments, the airtight enclosure106may enclose part or all of the radiator air vent108. In some embodiments, the airtight enclosure106may enclose only the air outlet130. In some embodiments, the airtight enclosure106is created using closed cell foam to provide an airtight seal around the air outlet130and/or air vent108. In some embodiments, an elastic sleeve is rolled over the air vent108to create the airtight enclosure106around the air outlet130.

For radiator102to fill with steam and release heat, the air contained in the radiator needs to be expelled through the air outlet130of air vent108. If the air outlet130of the air vent108is enclosed by an airtight enclosure106, the air in the radiator102cannot be expelled, and steam will not flow into the radiator102, and the radiator will not heat the room100. If the actuator114opens the adjustable opening118, the airtight seal is broken. When the adjustable opening118is open, air in the radiator102can be expelled through the air outlet130and then flow through the adjustable opening118; this allows steam to flow into the radiator102, thus heating the room100.

In some embodiments, the present invention may include one or more wireless communication interfaces128. Various embodiments of wireless communication interfaces may be provided including but not limited to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low energy, Z-wave, and/or Zigbee. The radiator temperature control apparatus104can also receive control information from remote servers and/or devices through a wireless communication channel150and/or through the internet152. The wireless communication may allow for remote and/or scheduled control of the radiator temperature control apparatus104.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication interface128allows for remote calculations and/or algorithms to be performed based on information sent from the radiator temperature control apparatus104to a remote server and/or device connected to the internet152. These remote algorithms and/or calculation are performed to better customize and control the regulation of heat within the room100. These remote algorithms and/or calculations may directly control the radiator temperature control apparatus104and/or may update the configuration and/or control logic on the controller116.

In some embodiments, the radiator temperature control apparatus104may include one or more environmental sensors110and/or112. Environmental sensors110are outside of the airtight enclosure and measure the ambient environment; environmental sensors112are within and/or are configured to measure the environment within the airtight enclosure106. These sensors may include temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and/or air flow sensors. The environmental sensors may be coupled with the controller118via communication channel. In some embodiments, the environmental sensors may be connected to the internet152and/or remote devices and/or servers using the wireless communication interface128via a wireless communication channel150.

In some embodiments, environmental sensors112include air flow sensors. The air flow sensors are coupled to the air outlet130of the air vent108and/or airtight enclosure106to determine if air is flowing from the air outlet130.

In some embodiments, environmental sensors112include pressure sensors. The pressure sensors may be located within enclosure106. In operation, with the adjustable opening118closed, as air flows from the air outlet130of the air vent108, the pressure inside enclosure106will change; this pressure change will be detected by the pressure sensor112.

In some embodiments, environmental sensors110and/or112include temperature sensors. Temperature sensors110are used to determine the ambient temperature of the room100and temperature sensors112are used to determine the temperature within the airtight enclosure106.

In some embodiments, in operation, if the environmental sensors110indicate that the room100has a temperature below a given set point, the controller116will open the adjustable opening118by controlling the actuator114. When the adjustable opening118is open, air can flow from the radiator102out of the air outlet130of the air vent108, allowing steam to fill the radiator102.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication interface128allows the radiator temperature control apparatus104to send information from sensors110and/or112and the status of actuator114to remote servers and/or devices connected to the internet152and/or through a wireless communication channel150.

In some embodiments, the radiator temperature control apparatus104provides a local user interface130. This may include buttons for input to alter set points and/or other configurations on the controller116. Additionally, this may include a display to show information on the current configuration as well as information from the environmental sensors.

In some embodiments, the radiator temperature control apparatus104with a wireless communication interface128can connect to remote servers and/or devices through the internet152and/or via wireless communication channel150. This connectivity allows the radiator temperature control apparatus to be controlled by websites, web applications, and mobile applications.

In some embodiments, a remote sensing and control unit120is provided. In some embodiments, the remote sensing and control unit120contains a temperature sensor124to relay the ambient room temperature to the remote sensing and control unit controller126, the radiator temperature control apparatus controller116, and/or a remote server and/or device connected to the internet152and/or via a wireless communication channel150. In some embodiments, the remote sensing and control unit120contains a wireless communication interface128. In some embodiments, the remote sensing and control unit120contains a controller126to handle scheduling and to run calculations and/or algorithms used to better customize and control the regulation of heat within the room100.

In some embodiments, the remote sensing and control unit120acts as a bridge between the internet152and the radiator temperature control apparatus104. The remote sensing and control unit may have multiple wireless communication interfaces128. In some embodiments, one wireless communication interface128connects to the internet152and another wireless communication interface128connects to the radiator temperature control apparatus104. The controller126of the remote sensing and control unit120may relay the information between the two wireless communication interfaces128.

In some embodiments, the remote sensing and control unit120provides for a local user interface122. This may include buttons for input to alter set points and other configurations in the controller126and/or controller116. Additionally, this may include a display to show information on the current configuration as well as information from the environmental sensors from the radiator temperature control apparatus104and/or the remote sensing and control unit120.

FIG. 2is a diagram illustrating an existing one pipe steam radiator200. The one pipe steam radiator200has a radiator valve202, a steam inlet204, and an air vent206. In some embodiments, the radiator temperature control apparatus can control the heat released from radiator200.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating an existing one pipe steam radiator300with a radiator temperature control apparatus306. In some embodiments, radiator temperature control apparatus306is affixed around the radiator air vent206.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the radiator temperature control apparatus402. In some embodiments, the airtight enclosure414is formed by sealing the portion of the radiator air vent404which contains the air outlet416. In some embodiments the seal418may be created with closed cell foam. In some embodiments, there may be environmental sensors408within the airtight enclosure414configured to measure temperature, pressure, and/or air flow. In some embodiments, there may be environmental sensors406outside of the airtight enclosure414configured to measure the ambient environment. In some embodiments, the airtight enclosure414is extended to connect to the adjustable opening412. The adjustable opening412is controlled by the actuator410.

FIG. 5is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the radiator temperature control apparatus502. In some embodiments, the airtight enclosure is created by sealing the neck514of the air vent504. In some embodiments the seal508may be created with closed cell foam. The space within the radiator temperature control apparatus502becomes the airtight enclosure518. In some embodiments there may be environmental sensors506within the airtight enclosure518configured to measure temperature, pressure, and/or air flow. In some embodiments, there may be environmental sensors516outside of the airtight enclosure configured to measure the ambient environment. In some embodiments, the adjustable opening520is controlled by the actuator510.

FIG. 6is a flow diagram illustrating an example of operating a radiator temperature control apparatus. At602a controller measures ambient temperature of a room. At604, the controller compares a desired set point to the measured ambient temperature. In some embodiments, the desired set point is preconfigured on the controller. In other embodiments, the user can program a desired set point in the controller.

If the ambient temperature is below the desired set point, at604the radiator temperature control apparatus can open the adjustable opening in the airtight enclosure around the air outlet of radiator air vent606, such that during a heating cycle, the radiator will expel air and fill with steam. At610, the controller can wait for the next sample period and then proceed to602.

If the ambient temperature is not below the desired set point, at604the radiator temperature control apparatus can close the adjustable opening in the enclosure around the radiator air vent608, such that during a heating cycle, the radiator will not expel air and will not fill with steam. At610, the controller can wait for the next sample period and then proceed to602.

FIG. 7is a flow diagram illustrating an example of operating a radiator temperature control apparatus. In this example, the operating of a radiator temperature control apparatus checks to see if heat is being produced before acting on the adjustable opening. At702a controller measures ambient temperature of a room. At704a controller determines if heat is being produced. In some embodiments, the air flow and/or pressure sensors are used to detect if air is trying to and/or is flowing from the air outlet of the radiator air vent. If heat is not being produced, the controller can wait for the next sample period710and then proceed to702. If heat is being produced, at706the controller compares a desired set point to the measured ambient temperature. In some embodiments, the desired set point is preconfigured on the controller. In other embodiments, the user can program a desired set point in the controller.

If the ambient temperature is below the desired set point, at706the radiator temperature control apparatus can open the adjustable opening in the airtight enclosure around the air outlet of the radiator air vent708, such that during a heating cycle, the radiator will expel air and fill with steam. At710, the controller can wait for the next sample period and then proceed to702.

If the ambient temperature is not below the desired set point, at706the radiator temperature control apparatus can close the adjustable opening in the airtight enclosure around the air outlet of the radiator air vent712, such that during a heating cycle, the radiator will not expel air and will not fill with steam. At710, the controller can wait for the next sample period and then proceed to702.

FIG. 8is a flow diagram illustrating an example of operating a radiator temperature control apparatus. At802the controller checks its configuration to see if the configuration is instructing the adjustable opening to open or close. At804, if the controller is instructing the adjustable opening to open, the radiator temperature control apparatus can open the adjustable opening in the airtight enclosure around the air outlet of the radiator air vent806, such that during a heating cycle, the radiator will expel air and fill with steam. At810, the controller can wait for the next sample period and then proceed to802. At804, if the controller is instructing the adjustable opening to close, the radiator temperature control apparatus can close the adjustable opening in the airtight enclosure around the air outlet of the radiator air vent808, such that during a heating cycle, the radiator will not expel air and will not fill with steam. At810, the controller can wait for the next sample period and then proceed to802. In some embodiments, the controller configuration is set by a user, for example, on a programmable schedule. In alternate embodiments, the controller's configuration is set by a remote server and/or device. That remote server and/or device may use various environmental sensors to determine what settings to include in the controller's configuration, for example using external temperature and/or a remote ambient temperature sensor.

In some embodiments, additional steps can be added toFIG. 6, 7, 8to check to see if the adjustable opening is already open or closed before proceeding to open or close the adjustable opening. If the adjustable opening is determined to already be in the desired state, the system will not take action on the actuator and wait for the next sample period.

Although the foregoing specification has described specific examples and embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may exist without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Said other embodiments and examples are contemplated and intended to be covered by the following claims.