A system, apparatus, and method for a differential temperature managed integral, free standing, hydronic heating appliance uses a high-mass heat source coupled to a single, highly-efficient, variable speed, Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM)-driven Delta-T stand-alone system circulator which feeds one or more zone valves governing flow to one or more hydronic zones. Components are integrated into simplified, compact, assemblies. Zone valve packaging of a compact header improves hydronic performance (head pressure reduction and increased flow), complementing zone valve performance and reducing zone valve wiring labor and material content. Returns have full port valves and the boiler includes isolation valves. All manually activated valves are full port. This can include full port boiler isolation valves, circulator isolation valves and return valves. Paralleled, ganged, alignment of state-indicating-lamped zone valves provides rapid, functional indication of component and system performance while the need for a zone valve panel commonly found on hydronic heating systems is negated.

A system, apparatus, and method for a differential temperature managed integral, free standing, hydronic heating appliance uses a high-mass heat source coupled to a single, highly-efficient, variable speed, Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM)-driven Delta-T stand-alone system circulator which feeds one or more zone valves governing flow to one or more hydronic zones. Components are integrated into simplified, compact, assemblies. Zone valve packaging of a compact header improves hydronic performance (head pressure reduction and increased flow), complementing zone valve performance and reducing zone valve wiring labor and material content. Returns have full port valves and the boiler includes isolation valves. All manually activated valves are full port. This can include full port boiler isolation valves, circulator isolation valves and return valves. Paralleled, ganged, alignment of state-indicating-lamped zone valves provides rapid, functional indication of component and system performance while the need for a zone valve panel commonly found on hydronic heating systems is negated.

Apparatus and method for heating/cooling buildings and other facilities. An elongate pipe filled with water or other fluid medium forms a thermal gradient header having temperature zones that are progressively warmer towards one end and cooler towards the other. Multiple heating/cooling systems are connected to the header so as to draw fluid from zones that are closest in temperature to the optimal intake temperature of each system, and to discharge fluid back to the header at zones that are closest to the temperature to the optimal output temperature of each system, allowing each heating/cooling system to take advantage of the thermal output of other systems. The pipe forming the thermal gradient header may be routed back and forth in the facility to define a series of legs containing the different temperature zones. A boiler or other source may supply makeup heat to the thermal gradient header, and excess heat may be sent from the header to a ground field or other thermal reservoir for later use.

Apparatus and method for heating/cooling buildings and other facilities. An elongate pipe filled with water or other fluid medium forms a thermal gradient header having temperature zones that are progressively warmer towards one end and cooler towards the other. Multiple heating/cooling systems are connected to the header so as to draw fluid from zones that are closest in temperature to the optimal intake temperature of each system, and to discharge fluid back to the header at zones that are closest to the temperature to the optimal output temperature of each system, allowing each heating/cooling system to take advantage of the thermal output of other systems. The pipe forming the thermal gradient header may be routed back and forth in the facility to define a series of legs containing the different temperature zones. A boiler or other source may supply makeup heat to the thermal gradient header, and excess heat may be sent from the header to a ground field or other thermal reservoir for later use.

A temperature control apparatus for a building, the apparatus comprising: an electricity generator, operable to contribute to an electrical power supply for consumer appliances at the building; a heat transfer circuit adapted to circulate heat transfer fluid to cool the electricity generator; a heating system comprising a heat source for providing heat energy to a space heater for heating at least one zone of the building and to a hot water tank arranged to store a supply of hot water for the building, and a heat exchanger adapted to supplement the heat energy from the heat source with heat energy obtained from the heat transfer circuit; a user interface adapted to enable a user to select at least one of (a) a desired temperature for the at least one zone of the building, and a first time period during which the desired temperature is to be maintained; and (b) a second time period for the supply of hot water from the hot water tank; and the apparatus further comprising: a controller configured to determine when to operate the electricity generator based on at least one of: (i) the thermal capacity of the hot water tank; and (ii) the first time period, the desired temperature and the current temperature of the at least one zone of the building.

A temperature control apparatus for a building, the apparatus comprising: an electricity generator, operable to contribute to an electrical power supply for consumer appliances at the building; a heat transfer circuit adapted to circulate heat transfer fluid to cool the electricity generator; a heating system comprising a heat source for providing heat energy to a space heater for heating at least one zone of the building and to a hot water tank arranged to store a supply of hot water for the building, and a heat exchanger adapted to supplement the heat energy from the heat source with heat energy obtained from the heat transfer circuit; a user interface adapted to enable a user to select at least one of (a) a desired temperature for the at least one zone of the building, and a first time period during which the desired temperature is to be maintained; and (b) a second time period for the supply of hot water from the hot water tank; and the apparatus further comprising: a controller configured to determine when to operate the electricity generator based on at least one of: (i) the thermal capacity of the hot water tank; and (ii) the first time period, the desired temperature and the current temperature of the at least one zone of the building.

A demand based control for a hydronic heating system varies the heat response based on an actual demand of the conditioned space, rather than an estimated thermal loss. Differences between supply and return of a heat transfer medium, such as forced hot water, are measured for the conditioned space, as well as the flow rate of the forced water to determine an actual thermal transfer to the conditioned space. A required heat generation is computed based on the measured transfer and resultant temperature change of the conditioned space, and heat generation parameters such as boiler firing rate and circulator pump speed varied to control the heat transfer to the conditioned space and avoid overshoot or excessive heat generation beyond that needed for the measured demand.

A demand based control for a hydronic heating system varies the heat response based on an actual demand of the conditioned space, rather than an estimated thermal loss. Differences between supply and return of a heat transfer medium, such as forced hot water, are measured for the conditioned space, as well as the flow rate of the forced water to determine an actual thermal transfer to the conditioned space. A required heat generation is computed based on the measured transfer and resultant temperature change of the conditioned space, and heat generation parameters such as boiler firing rate and circulator pump speed varied to control the heat transfer to the conditioned space and avoid overshoot or excessive heat generation beyond that needed for the measured demand.

Some embodiments are directed to an apparatus for monitoring at least one thermal control device, the device including a power supply input terminal suitable for being connected to an electric power source. The monitoring apparatus includes an electronic console that stores control instructions from the or each thermal control device. The control instructions include, for each thermal control device, at least one temperature setpoint and one energy consumption setpoint; at least one temperature sensor suitable for providing temperature data measurements, the temperature and energy consumption setpoints being determined based on parameters comprising at least said temperature data measurements; and at least one device for controlling the electric power supply of the or one of the thermal control devices, connected to the power supply input terminal of said device and suitable for controlling the electric power supply of the device based on at least the temperature and energy consumption setpoints.

Some embodiments are directed to an apparatus for monitoring at least one thermal control device, the device including a power supply input terminal suitable for being connected to an electric power source. The monitoring apparatus includes an electronic console that stores control instructions from the or each thermal control device. The control instructions include, for each thermal control device, at least one temperature setpoint and one energy consumption setpoint; at least one temperature sensor suitable for providing temperature data measurements, the temperature and energy consumption setpoints being determined based on parameters comprising at least said temperature data measurements; and at least one device for controlling the electric power supply of the or one of the thermal control devices, connected to the power supply input terminal of said device and suitable for controlling the electric power supply of the device based on at least the temperature and energy consumption setpoints.