PUMP CONTROL

Abstract: A heating system (10) has a pump control unit (11) incorporating a timer (12), a microprocessor (13) and RAM storage (14), so that pump (6) is off when there is no call for burner operation without any need to monitor the water temperature in system (10); in this way, the overall power used is reduced. In order to achieve these features, pump control (11) measures the length of time during which the burner unit is in an off/low ignition mode for the first occasion after turn-on of the system; when the burner unit is next in an off/low ignition mode, pump control unit (11) maintains the pump off for that amount of time and also notes the time between the subsequent turn-on pump (6) and of the burner unit (3), thereby to modify the next turn-off period of pump (6).

Description: PUMP CONTROL The present invention relates to apparatus for and a method of controlling a pump, and more especially for one in a heating system with a boiler. In a conventional heating system with modulating boiler, when the boiler is in operation but there is no immediate need for additional space heating, the burner unit of the boiler is put into a low fire/off mode, but the pump continues to operate in order to ensure satisfactory measurement of the water temperature under control of the boiler. The present invention provides apparatus for control of a pump for a heating system with a boiler having a burner unit for actuation by a signal calling for operation and a pump for circulation of fluid around a heating system, the apparatus characterised by: means to determine the time interval between (i) the beginning of a period during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit, and (ii) the beginning of the subsequent call for operation of the burner unit; and means to turn the pump off, at the beginning of the next period during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit, for a time period in dependence on the output of the determining means. In this way, the invention allows the pump to be turned off when the burner unit is in an off/low ignition mode while not providing risk from lack of control from the boiler, and thereby provides significantly reduced energy consumption. In prior art heating systems, any energy savings benefiting from modulation of the burner ignition, while considered worthwhile obtaining, are often outweighed by the extra energy consumption and hence monetary cost of keeping the pump operating. Preferred, advantageous features of the invention include any one or more of the following:- means to modify the time period during which the pump is next off, in dependence on the delay between the most recent turn-on of the pump and the following call for operation of the burner; the means to turn the pump off operates for a duration corresponding to the time interval; the means to turn off the pump is not operable for the first period of no call for the burner unit; the delay measurement means measures the delay between (i) re-activation of the pump at the end of one period, and (ii) the next call for operation of the boiler, and also modification means to modify the time for which the pump is off in the next sequence in accordance with output from the delay-measurement means; means to effect correction of the pump-off time for each sequence beginning with a new signal BO; means to effect correction of the pump-off time repeatedly until the delay is at a predetermined percentage value of the time interval. A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides apparatus for control of a pump for a heating system with a boiler having a burner unit for actuation by a signal calling for operation and a pump for circulation of fluid around a heating system, the apparatus characterised by: means to determine the time interval between (i) the beginning of a first period, after each start-up of the boiler, during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit, and (ii) the beginning of the subsequent call for operation of the burner unit, during which time interval the pump operates; means to turn the pump off at the beginning of the second period after each start-up of the boiler, during which period there is no call, and for a length of time corresponding to the output of the determining means; means to measure the delay between (i) re-activation of the pump at the end of said second period, and (ii) the next call for operation of the boiler; means to turn the pump off at the beginning of the third period after each start-up of the boiler and for a length of time corresponding to that effected during said second period modified, as appropriate, by the measured delay at the end of said second period. The present invention also provides a method of control of a pump for a heating system with a boiler having a burner unit for actuation by a signal calling for operation and a pump for circulation of fluid around a heating system, the method characterised by: determining the time interval between (i) the beginning of a period during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit, and (ii) the beginning of the subsequent call for operation of the burner unit; and turning the pump off, at the beginning of the next period during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit, and for a time period in dependence on the output of the determining step The present invention also provides a method of control of a pump for a heating system with a boiler having a burner unit for actuation by a signal calling for operation and a pump for circulation of fluid around a heating system, the method characterised by: determining the time interval between (i) the beginning of a first period, after each start-up of the boiler, during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit, and (ii) the beginning of the subsequent call for operation of the burner unit, during which time interval the pump operates; turning the pump off at the beginning of the second period after each start-up of the boiler, during which period there is no call, and for a length of time corresponding to the output of the determining means; measuring the delay between (i) re-activation of the pump at the end of said second period, and (ii) the next call for operation of the boiler; turning the pump off at the beginning of the third period after each start-up of the boiler; and for a length of time corresponding to that effected during said second period modified, as appropriate, by the measured delay at the end of said second period. The present invention also provides a control unit comprising means to determine the time interval between (i) the beginning of a period during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit, and (ii) the beginning of the subsequent call for operation of the burner unit, and means to turn the pump off, at the beginning of the next period during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit, for a time period in dependence on the output of the determining means. The present invention also provides a control unit comprising means to determine the time interval between (i) the beginning of a first period, after each start¬ up of the boiler, during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit, and (ii) the beginning of the subsequent call for operation of the burner unit, during which time interval the pump operates; means to turn the pump off at the beginning of the second period after each start-up of the boiler, during which period there is no call, and for a length of time corresponding to the output of the determining means; means to measure the delay between (i) re-activation of the pump at the end of said second period, and (ii) the next call for operation of the boiler; means to turn the pump off at the beginning of the third period after each start-up of the boiler and for a length of time corresponding to that effected during said second period modified, as appropriate, by the measured delay at the end of said second period. Any of the control units may also comprise flame control means with features described in the specific description, and/or room temperature control means with features described in the specific descritption. The present invention also provides a program for control of a pump, the program stored on a storage medium, the program characterised by a method of the present invention. The present invention also provides electronic distribution of such program, and the present invention also provides a system resultant from such distribution. The present invention is particularly suited to a heating system utilising a modulating boiler (whether in capacity control or water-temperature control), but is also applicable to a boiler without modulating control; also the invention is applicable to heating systems incorporating the provision of domestic hot water as well as space heating. In order that the invention may more readily be understood, a description is now given, by way of exampl only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a prior art arrangement; Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of a heating system embodying the present invention; Figure 3 is a graphic representation of the operations of the boiler and pump of the system of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a static machine diagram of the embodiment of Figure 2 in operation. The conventional heating system 1 of Figure 1 incorporates a boiler 2 with a burner unit 4, the ignition and operation of which is achieved by flame control unit 4 subject to any signals from room temperature controller 5 calling for heat and instructing the burner to provide a specified water temperature, T s , at the output of the boiler 2. A pump 6 ensures circulation of water through boiler 2, around the pipes of system 1 and hence through radiators 7 in a number of rooms, one of which contains controller 5. When flame control unit 4 senses a temperature below its setting of T s , it sends a "BURNER-ON" signal BO to burner unit 4 instructing ignition of the burners to a level to provide the water temperature T s at the boiler output. Flame control unit 4 controls and modulates the output of the burner unit 3 in accordance with the difference between the actual water temperature and T s until the difference is zero, whereupon flame control unit 4 sends a "BURNER-OFF" signal BF to burner unit 3. Boiler 2 is turned on and off under the control of a time switch 8 which likewise activates or de-activates pump 6 which must be running all the time boiler 2 is on (even when there is no call for heat) in order to ensure that the heating system 1 is under control by monitoring of the boiler output water temperature. Figure 2 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention being a heating system 10 with many elements of the conventional heating system 1 (wherein Figure 2 uses the same reference numerals as Figure 1 where appropriate to indicate equivalent elements), a major distinction being in the provision of a pump control unit 11 incorporating a timer 12, a microprocessor 13 and RAM storage 14; in this way pump 6 is able to be off when there is no call for burner operation without any need to monitor the water temperature in system 10, and hence the overall power used is reduced. In order to achieve these features, pump control 11 operates as follows:- When boiler 2 is turned on by time switch 8 (or alternatively by manual override), pump 6 is likewise actuated. Assuming that the ambient temperature in the room containing controller 5 is below its setting T si , whic is the temperature achieved when the boiler output water temperature is T s , controller 5 sends a call for heat signal to flame control unit 4 specifying an appropriate water temperature output, T s , and so burner unit 3 is activated, causing heated water to be circulated around system 10 (this being the situation at time t, of Figure 3). At t 2 , the water temperature at the output of boiler 2 has risen sufficiently to reach T s and so flame control unit 4 sends signal BF (i) to turn off the burner unit 3 and (ii) to pump control unit 11 so that microprocessor 13 starts timer 12 and sends data on t for storage in RAM store 14; pump 6 remains on and so continues to pump water (not now being heated) around system 10. At t 3 , the water temperature sensed by flame control unit 4 has fallen again to a level such that the difference between the water temperature and T s causes flame control unit 4 to send signal BO (i) to ignite the burner unit 3 and operate it at an appropriate burner rate, and (ii) to stop timer 12 which sends, under direction of microprocessor 13, data on t 3 for storage in RAM store 14. At t 4 , flame control unit 4 once again sends signal BF (i) to turn off burner unit 3 and (ii) to pump control unit 11, but now microprocessor 12, using the data in RAM store 14, operates to turn off pump 6 for a length of time t a being in length the difference between t 3 and t . At t 5 , i.e. when pump 6 has been off for time t a , pump control unit 11 starts up pump 6, and timer 12 starts timing how long it takes before flame control unit 4 sends another signal BO (i.e. at t 6 ) calling for heat; microprocessor 13 uses the measured time, t m , to make a correction to t a for use when pump 6 is next turned off (but, of course, while boiler 6 is still on). Thus, for example, if burner unit 3 is activated substantially immediately (e.g. t m = 1 minute or less), the next off-period for pump 6 (i.e. t 8 - t 7 ) is reduced by 1 minute , so that t b = t a - 1 minute. If burner unit 3 is activated within a relatively short period (e.g. t m is between 1 and 3 minutes ), the next off-period t b remains the same as t a . If burner unit 3 is activated a long time after t s (e.g. t m is greater than 3 mintues), then the next off-period is increased, for example by t m , so that t b = t β + t m . At t 10 (not shown in Figure 3), when flame control unit 4 next sends signal BO, pump 6 is maintained off for a length of time based on t b after any correction deemed appropriate due to the size of t π and calculated in like manner to the size of t b as indicated above. This correction routine is repeated for each sequence beginning with flame control unit 4 sending a signal BO. In a modification, the correction routine is repeated until the delay between pump 6 being turned on and burner unit 4 being turned on (e.g. t m , t n ) is between 100% and 105% of the pump-off period in two successive sequences, whereupon the correction routine is not repeated for a predetermined number (e.g. 20) of sequences. In a modification to the embodiment as illustrated, pump control unit 11 and its functions can be incorporated within the room temperature controller 5 or the flame control unit 4 or elsewhere in the boiler 2 and utilise any microprocessor, timer and RAM store therein. To explain the method of operation of system 10 in terms of the pump control state machine as illustrated in Figure 4:- When the boiler 2 is first switched on, pump 6 is switched on and the state machine remains in the "Initialisation" state until the burner unit 4 switches on. When the flame switches back on the state machine changes to "Boiler on" and the measured time is stored as the "Off Time". The next time that burner unit 4 switches off, pump 6 is switched off immediately and the state machine changes to "Pump_off ' where it remains until a time equal to "Off Time" has passed. Once the "Off-Time" is complete, the pump is switched back on and the time until burner unit 4 switches on is measured. If the burner unit 4 switches on immediately, the "Off Time" is reduced: if burner unit 4 does not switch on immediately, but does switch on within a short time, then "Off time" remains unchanged. If burner unit 4 takes longer to switch on, then "Off Time" is increased. When burner unit 4 switches back on and the "Off Time" has been checked, the state machine returns to "Boiler on" and the cycle begins again. If, while burner unit 4 is on, boiler 6 begins modulating, then the state machine returns to Modulation and a new measurement of "Off Time" will be made when burner unit 4 next switches off.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for control of a pump (6) for a heating system (10) with a boiler (2) having a burner unit (3) for actuation by a signal (BO) calling for operation and a pump (6) for circulation of fluid around a heating system (10), the apparatus characterised by: means (11) to determine the time interval between (i) the beginning of a period during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit (3), and (ii) the beginning of the subsequent call for operation of the burner unit (3); and means (11) to turn the pump off, at the beginning of the next period during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit (3), for a time period in dependence on the output of the determining means (11). 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 characterised by means (11) to modify the time period during which the pump (6) is next off, in dependence on the delay between the most recent turn-on of the pump (6) and the following call for operation of the burner unit (3). 3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the means (11) to turn the pump (6) off operates for a duration corresponding to the time interval. 4. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, characterised in that the means (11) to turn off the pump (6) is not operable for the first period of no call for the burner unit (3) after each start-up of the apparatus. 5. Apparatus for control of a pump (6) for a heating system with a boiler having a burner unit (3) for actuation by a signal (BO) calling for operation and a pump (5) for circulation of fluid around a heating system (10), the apparatus characterised by: means (11) to determine the time interval between (i) the beginning of a first period, after each start-up of the boiler (6), during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit (3), and (ii) the beginning of the subsequent call for operation of the burner unit (3), during which time interval the pump operates; means (11) to turn the pump (6) off at the beginning of the second period after each start-up of the boiler, during which period there is no call, and for a length of time corresponding to the output of the determining means (11); means (11) to measure the delay between (i) re-activation of the pump (6) at the end of said second period, and (ii) the next call for operation of the boiler; means (11) to turn the pump (6) off at the beginning of the third period after each start-up of the boiler (2) and for a length of time corresponding to that effected during said second period modified, as appropriate, by the measured delay at the end of said second period. 6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterised in that the delay measurement means (11) measures the delay between (i) re-activation of the pump at the end of one period, and (ii) the next call for operation of the boiler, and characterised by modification means (11) to modify the time for which the pump (2) is off in the next sequence in accordance with output from the delay-measurement means (11). 7. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim characterised by means (11) to effect correction of the pump-off time for each sequence beginning with a new signal BO. 8. Apparatus according to any preceding Claims characterised by means to effect correction of the pump-off time repeatedly until the delay is at a predetermined percentage value of the time interval. 9. A heating system (10) incorporating apparatus for control of a pump (6), the apparatus being according to any of Claims 1 to 8. 10. A method of control of a pump (6) for a heating system (10) with a boiler (2) having a burner unit (3) for actuation by a signal (BO) calling for operation and a pump (6) for circulation of fluid around a heating system (10), the method characterised by: determining the time interval between (i) the beginning of a period during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit (3), and (ii) the beginning of the subsequent call for operation of the burner unit 3; and turning the pump (6) off, at the beginning of the next period during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit (3), for a time period in dependence on the output of the determining step. 11. A method according to Claim 10, characterised by modifying the time period, during which the pump (6) is next off, in dependence on the delay between the most recent turn-on of the pump (6) and the following call for operation of the burner unit (3). 12. A method according to Claim 10 or 11, characterised by turning the pump (6) off for a duration corresponding to the time interval. 13. A method according to any of Claims 10 to 12 characterised by maintaining the pump (6) operable for the first time period of no call for the burner unit (3) after each start-up of the apparatus. 14. A method of control of a pump (6) for a heating system (10) with a boiler (2) having a burner unit (3) for actuation by a signal calling for operation and a pump (6) for circulation of fluid around a heating system (10), the method characterised by: determining the time interval between (i) the beginning of a first period, after each start-up of the boiler (2), during which there is no call for operation of the burner unit (3), and (ii) the beginning of the subsequent call for operation of the burner unit (3), during which time interval the pump (6) operates; turning the pump (6) off at the beginning of the second period after each start-up of the boiler (2), during which period there is no call, and for a length of time corresponding to the output of the determining means; measuring the delay between (i) re-activation of the pump (6) at the end of said second period, and (ii) the next call for operation of the boiler (2); turning the pump (6) off at the beginning of the third period after each start-up of the boiler (2); and for a length of time corresponding to that effected during said second period modified, as appropriate, by the measured delay at the end of said second period. 15. A method according to Claim 14 characterised by measuring the delay between (i) re-activation of the pump (6) at the end of one period, and (ii) the next call for operation of the boiler (2), and modifying the time for which the pump (6) is off in the next sequence in accordance with output from the delay-measurement stage. 16. A method according to any of Claims 10 to 15 characterised by effecting correction of the pump-off time for each sequence beginning with a new signal BO. 17. A method according to any of Claims 10 to 15 characterised by repeating correction of the pump-off time until the delay is at a predetermined percentage value of the time interval. 18. A program for control of a pump, the program stored on a storage medium, the program characterised by a method according to any of Claims 10 to 17. 19. Electronic distribution of program according to Claim 18. 20. A system resultant from the distribution according to Claim 19

Inventors: FERGUSON COLIN THOMAS, FERGUSON, COLIN, THOMAS
Applicants: FERGUSON COLIN THOMAS, HONEYWELL CONTROL SYST, FERGUSON, COLIN, THOMAS, HONEYWELL CONTROL SYSTEMS LIMITED
Application year: 1998
Main classification: F24D19
IPC codes: F24D19