CONTROL AND SWITCHING APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC HEATING

Abstract: Control and switching apparatus for electric heating, comprising a micro-processor-based operation control unit (2) provided with control switches, and a regulating circuitry unit (5) associated with said control unit and comprising a plurality of regulating circuits. At least some of the regulating circuits are connectable to electronic sensors (8), whereby the combined effect of measuring messages given by said sensors, control data from the operation control unit (2) as well as set values (6) selected by the regulators provides the basis on which the regulating circuits (5) are adapted to control the ON/OFF-switches of electric loads, said switches being triac-switches (9a). One regulating circuit can be modified to operate as a regulating circuit suitable for controlling an electric sauna stove, said circuit being connectable, by means of a selector device, in power transposition with one or several other regulating circuits.

Description: Control and switching apparatus for electric heating In electrically ' heated houses, the heating control is normally effected with thermostats, one in each room. An object of the invention is to provide a micropro¬ cessor-based apparatus suitable for the roomwise heating control and regulation of electrically heated houses in a manner that the heating of each room can be controlled and regulated in a centralized manner with a single apparatus. A further object of the invention is to develop an apparatus which allows the addition of new functions to the heating control at minor extra costs. Another object of the invention is to develop an appa¬ ratus whose functions can be designed variable for taking the requirements of various applications better into consideration. A still further object of the invention is to provide a control apparatus that can be placed in the instru¬ ment space of an electricity centre or immediately nearby, the electric heating system of a house thus providing a simple unit. For achieving these objects, the invention relates to an electric heating control and switching apparatus, comprising a microprocessor-based operation control unit, provided with control., switches, and a regulat¬ ing circuit unit, associated with said control unit and comprising a plurality of regulating circuits, each of said regulating circuits controlling direct¬ ly the heating elements of a room. An apparatus of the invention is characterized in that at- least, some of the regulating circuits can be connected to electronic sensors, whereby the com¬ bined effect of measuring.messages given by said "sensors, control data from the operation control unit as well as set values selected by the regulat¬ ors provides the.basis on which the regulating cir¬ cuits are adapted to control the ON/OFF-switches of electric loads, which are conventional prior known triac-switches. Each regulating circuit thus re¬ ceives the necessary control and regulation data— from roomwise temperature sensors, set value select¬ ion switches and an operation control processor. This three-way control of regulating circuits makes it possible to achieve the aims and objectives of the invention. The use of triac-switches at control outputs offers the following advantages: - possibility for zero-point connection thus mini¬ mization of mains interruptions, - improved control precision by virtue of shorter operating cycles, - prolonged service life compared to relays. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the regulating circuits of said regulating circuitry is preselected to be modified by means of a connect¬ ion associated with the apparatus as a regulating circuit suitable for controlling an electric sauna stove and the apparatus comprises a selector device for switching said regulating circuit in power trans¬ position optionally with one or several other regul¬ ating circuits. An apparatus of the invention is preferably designed so as to comprise, at.-least 10, preferably approximat¬ ely 15 regulating circuits, just some of said circuits including their own thermometry, set value, selection and control output while the rest of said, regulating circuits include their own thermometry and control output, but their set value selections are common with the first-mentioned group of regulating circuits. In practical design, this is preferably embodied in a manner that the operating panel only includes tem¬ perature set value rotating switches for some of the regulating circuits and that a regulating circuits cross-switching means, included in the apparatus,- the rest of said regulating circuits are freely selectable to follow the set value of a desired rotating switch. The apparatus can be readily designed so that some of the regulating circuits can be used for lighting con¬ trol. In that case, at least one of the electronic sensors used will be a dimmer switch, whereby the re¬ gulating circuit associated therewith is connectable • to lighting control. Other embodiments, details and features of the invent¬ ion will be further described in the following specifi¬ cation with reference made to the accompanying drawings and enclosures. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows an.operating block diagram for a control apparatus and fig. 2 is an elevation of a mechanical embodiment of said control apparatus. Encl. 1 shows an operating panel and functions of the switches included therein. Encl. 2 illustrates-applicationwise programming of the apparatus by means of peak strips in the front panel. - Encl. 3 illustrates switching of temperature sensors and actuator—interface as well as contact data interface in the line terminal of the low-voltage section of this apparatus. Encl. 4 illustrates the connection of heaters to the power supply terminals of this apparatus, the triac-switches controlled by regulating circuits being fitted between the pairwise arranged input and output connections of said terminals. In the block diagram shown in fig. 1, all blocks in¬ cluded in a central unit 1 are fitted in a single as¬ sembly that can be fitted in standard electricty cen¬ tres or encapsulated in its own housing. Reference numeral 2 designates a microprocessor-based operation control unit, based e.g. on the use of a single- capsule processor Motorola MCI46805 E2. The use of a single-capsule processor provides for a simple em¬ bodiment of the digital ' section and a small number of components. Digital electronics can be mounted on a single card which also includes control switches and a fault-indicator light, which are .part of the operat¬ ing panel (enclosure 1) . The control unit 2 is pro¬ vided with a parameter memory unit 3 that can..be used to modify the properties of control unit 2 as requi¬ red by various applications. The operation control unit is associated via a contact interface 4 with operating panel control switches (see fig. 2 and enclosure 1) "heating ON/OFF", "temper¬ ature drop -5/0/-2°C", "regulation control switch ON/ OFF" and electric sauna stove control switch (S1 , en¬ closure 2) . The control unit 2 is connected to a regulating circuit unit 5, including e.g. 15 regulating circuits for room temperatures. Each regulating circuit controls a triac- switch 9a fitted in a control output unit 9, electric power being supplied through said triac-switch direct¬ ly to heating elements. Thus, the control output unit 9 is provided with 15 inputs and 15 outputs, said triac- switches 9a being fitted therebetween. These inputs and outputs are shown in fig. 1 and enclosure 4 as mains voltage line terminals L1 , L2 and L3. Room temperature sensors 8 can be linked via a measur¬ ing interface 7 (see enclosure 3.) to the regulating circuits of regulating circuit unit 5. Set value selections for regulating circuits can be made by means of rotating switches included in unit 6 and shown on the operating panel of enclosure 1 with re¬ ferences 1-8. Thus, there are fewer set value switch¬ es than regulating- circuits. For this reason, some of the regulating circuits are adapted by means of a special regulating circuits cross-switching means (enclosure 2) to follow_ as a slave circuit the set value of a desired, freely selectable rotating switch. The operation control unit 2 is associated with an actuator interface 10, whereby said operation control unit 2 can be in serial data transmission contact with an external actuator 11. By way of interface 10, said control device 2 can supply data of measuring results, set values, states of controls and possible malfunc¬ tions e,g. at 4 sec intervals.. On the other hand, operation of the entire apparatus and operation of the regulating circuits, in regulating circuitry unit 5 can be remote-controlled by way of control device 2 by using commands issued by actuator 11 through interface 10. By virtue of a ready interf ce 10, the expansion of functions of this apparatus is pos¬ sible without modifications to the control and switch¬ ing apparatus. The question can be about an intelli¬ gent actuator, including a timer and capability of producing time programs. The actuator can, by way of interface 10, positively or forcibly control the oper¬ ation of a control and switching apparatus and moni¬ tor and control temperatures in a house. For example, thermistor-type of sensors can be select¬ ed for temperature Sensors 8. An advantage offered by thermistors is high sensitivity which is one of the factors leading to simple amplifier electronics. In designing the regulating circuits of regulating circuitry unit 5 it is readily possible to consider eventual use for other purposes as well, e.g. for controlling outdoor lights on the basis of a lighting sensor or dusk-::switch. " A control and switching apparatus of the invention must include a backup function that can be switched on to control heating instead of a processor control, e.g, at the time of maintenance or malfunction. Therefore, , the central unit is provided with a backup thermostat 13 that can be switched on operation by means of a regulation control switch associated with a contact interface 4 (see also enclosure 1). In the OFF-posit- ion of a regulation control switch, said backup thermos¬ tat 13 controls all triac-switches 9a .that are under the control of control output unit 9. The fixed set value of backup thermostat 13 is e.g. 21 °C and to said thermostat is connected a temperature sensor 8 for some room measuring. The operation of operation control unit 2 proceeds as control cycles of fixed duration (e.g. 4 sec) . Functions included in a control cycle are e.g. a read-out program for the control switches associated with contact inter¬ face 4, a read-out program for the set values issued by the rotating switches included in a set value select¬ ion unit 6, a measuring program for the temperature data issued by temperature sensors 8, a temperature regulation program on the basis of such data as well as a serial communications activation program (transmiss¬ ion) . The regulation function file further includes a monitoring program to be run once every control cycle. The control apparatus runs tests on itself and checks on the intelligence of the operation. If a fault is found in the operation., it is reported to a user by switching on a fault-indicator light 12. In some cases it may be necessary to control a greater power than possible with triac-switches (e * .g. over 1400 ) . In this case, use is made of "a selection 1" peak strip shown in fig. 2 and enclosure 2. By fitting the peak strip at a desired regulating circuit (1-15) a short-circuit bit, a relay operation is provided on the corresponding regulating circuit. By means of "a selection 2" peak strip (fig. 2 and enclosure 2), a regulating circuit "1" can be modified for sauna stove control by fitting a short-circuit bit between the peaks associated with regulating circuit 1. The "selection 2" peak strip can be used to connect one or several regulating circuits 2 -.15 to power transposition with regulating circuit 1 modified for sauna control by fϊttTng " the short-circuit bits between the peaks associated with regulating circuits chosen for power transposition. Enclosure 2 illustrates a circuit diagram for connecting an electric sauna stove with the control of a control and switching appa¬ ratus of the invention. Thus, the central unit of the apparatus is provided with a separate sauna sensor and the control is effected by way of a contactor. The power and connecting electronics of central unit 1 of this control and switching apparatus for temperature measurements, contact inputs, a separate actuator and control outputs is mounted on a second card of the apparatus, said card including also a power source (e.g. +5 V) required by electronics. The triac-switch¬ es serving as power switches are mounted on a cooling panel (fig. 1, part.4). The card for control circuits and the card for power circuits are positioned in a - manner that their connecting terminals will be posit¬ ioned on opposite sides of said cooling panel fitted with cooling ribs, as shown in fig. 2. ENCLOSURE 1 (page 1/3) OPERATING PANEL 1-8 ROTATING SWITCHES 9 HEATING CONTROL SWITCH ON/OFF 10 TEMPERATURE DROP SWITCH -5/0/-2"C 11 REGULATION CONTROL SWITCH ON/OFF 12 FAULT-DETECTOR LIGHT ROTATING SWITCHES Rotating switches provide roomwise regulating circuits with desired set values of 14 to 25"C. ROTATING SWITCHES MATCHING REGULATING CIRCUITS HEATING CONTROL SWITCH In ON-position, a micro-computer controls roomwise regulating circuits according to set temperature values. In OFF-position, a micro-computer is not operating, nor is heating on. Heating can also be switched off by means of the closing time contact of a tariff timer o one week program control as follows: ENCLOSURE 1 (page 2/3) Heating control switch has no effect on the operation of sauna control. TEMPERATURE DROP: A tristable drop switch achieves temperature drop on all regulating circuits simultaneously, either -2 or -5°C down from set values. However, temperature does not drop below 13°C, i.e. if set value is 15°C and drop is -5°C, result is 13 * C (not 10°C) . The 'drop can * also be achieved by means of external contact control as follows: In ON-position, the micro-computer of control appa¬ ratus is in normal operation. In OFF-position, heating is controlled by the backup thermostat of apparatus, whose fixed set value is 21 °C. Connected to thermostat is a temperature sensor of room ' measuring 2. In backup heating operation, all control outputs are controlled simultaneously USE: - ambient temperature is too low for micro-computer operation - in malfunctions 1 1 ENCLOSURE 1 (page 3/3) FAULT-INDICATOR LIGHT: Controller runs tests on itself and checks on operation intelligence and if a fault -is found in operation, it is reported to user by switching on fault-indicator light. FAULT-indicator light switches on if: - if any of the measuring inputs is short-circuited - if any of the measuring inputs is open (sensor cable broken) - if any of the rotating switches for temperature set values has stopped in intermediate position - if regulating circuits cross-switching means is off or incorrectly connected In this case, a corresponding control output is also automatically switched off. • ENCLOSURE 2 (page 1/2) APPLICATIONWISE PROGRAMMING REGULATING CIRCUITS CROSS-SWITCHING MEANS temperature set value on operating panel regulating cir¬ cuits (4,5,9,10,13,14,15) follow. " If one of the freely selectable regulating circuits re¬ mains unused, -it must be chained under a rotating switch in cross-switching means. Otherwise, the situation is interpreted as a fault and fault-indicator light comes on. ~ ' . 1 The alternative relay operation of control outputs is programmed with a short-circuit bit by placing it on a regulating circuit in question. Short-circuit "1 " = On regulating circuit 1 Relay operation Short-circuit "2" = On regulating circuit 2 Relay operation Short-circuit "15"= On regulating circuit 15 Relay operation USE: If the power of room space heaters exceeds 1400 W, a con¬ tactor control is used. Thus , the regulating in question is programmed in relay operation and contactor is circuited as follows E.g. In ENCLOSURE 2 (page 2/2) SELECTION 2 (Sauna control and power transposition) For regulating circuit 1 , the peak strip SELECTION 2 can be used to define the control of an electric sauna stove. SELECTION 2 S13 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9101112T3H15 ■ Regulating circuits Short-circuit "1" = On regulating circuit 1 Sauna control Short-circuit "2" = On regulating circuit 2 Power transposition Short-circuit "15" - On regulating circuit 15 Power transposition ___EX_TRIC SAUNA IS CONNECTED TO TERMOSET AS FOLLOWS: stove control switch stove control contactor Sauna stove switches off automatically, 4 h later restart with switch S1. As sauna stove switches on, the regulating circuits chosen for power transposition switch off. ENCLOSURE 3 CIRCUITRY FOR TEMPERATURE SENSORS: Note ! In unused measuring spaces , it is necessary that resistance R = 47 kΩ be switched on unless sensor is on . Otherwise processor will interpret the state as a fault. When switching on, it should be noted that the controller s supply for regulating circuits 1 - 5 must be in the same ph

Claims: Claims. 1. A control and switching apparatus for electric heating, comprising a microprocessor-based operation control unit with associated control switches, a re¬ gulation circuitry unit, associated with said control unit and provided with a plurality of regulating cir¬ cuits, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least some of the regulating circuits are connectable to electronic sensors, whereby the combined effect of measuring messages given by said sensors, control data from the operation control unit as well as set values selected by the regulators provides the basis on which the regulating circuits are adapted to con¬ trol the ON/OFF-switches of electric loads, which are conventional prior known triac-switches. 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that one of the regulating cir¬ cuits of said regulating circuitry unit is preselect¬ ed to be modified by- means of a connection (select¬ ion 2) associated with the apparatus as a regulating circuit suitable for controlling an electric sauna stove and the apparatus comprises a selector device (selection 2) for switching said regulating circuit in power transposition optionally with one or several other regulating circuits. 3. An apparatus as set ~ forth in claim 1 or 2, --- c h a r a c t e r i z e d by comprising at least 10, preferably circa 15 regulating circuits, only some of said circuits including their own thermometry, set value selection and control output while the rest of said regulating circuits include their own thermometry and control output, but their set value selections are common with the first-mentioned group of regulating circuits. 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the operating panel includes temperature set vlaue rotating switches only for some of the regulating circuits and that by means of a regulating circuits cross-switching means, included in tha apparatus, the rest of said regulating circuits are freely selectable to follow the set value of a desired rotating switch. 5. An apparatus as set forth in any of claims 1 - 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, said regulating cir¬ cuits are connected to a selector device (selection 1), wherein a relay operation can be programmed on a άe- sired regulating circuit by means of short-circuit bits. 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that at least one electronic sensor comprises a dusk switch or lighting sensor, the regulating circuit associated therewith being connectable to lighting control. 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, c h- a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the triac-switches serving as power switches are mounted on a cooling panel (fig. 1:4) and that control circuits and power cir¬ cuits are on different cards, whose connecting ter¬ minals are mounted on opposite sides of said cooling panel provided with cooling ribs. 8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that one of the regulating cir- cuits is adapted, in case of a processor damage or by means of selection control, to effect automatic¬ ally-the control of all those control output circuits (triac-switches) in-said-control and- switching appa¬ ratus that are presently in controlled, operation. 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that it is separately arranged as to which control -output circuits (triac-switches) operate under the control of any given regulating circuit. 10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d b an actuator interface (J 5:1-6) , by way of which an external actuator transmitting control data in serial form can be " connected to the operation control unit. ' 11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the control switches as¬ sociated with said operation control unit include: a) a heating control switch, in whose O -position a micro-computer controls roomwise regulating circuits according to set temperature values and in whose OFF- position said micro-computer is not in operation, nor is heating on, b) a temperature drop switch, capable of controlling two temperature drop levels simultaneously on all regulating circuits, and c) a regulation control"switch, in whose ON-position a micro-computer is in normal operation and in whose OFF-position heating is controlled by the backup thermostat of the apparatus, having a fixed set value (e.g. 21 "C) and having connected therewith a temper¬ ature sensor for one of the room measurings.

Inventors: KIVELAE ERKKI, KIVELAE, ERKKI
Applicants: KIVELAE ERKKI, KIVELAE, ERKKI
Application year: 1986
Main classification: H05B1
IPC codes: G05D23