A method for controlling the pressure of heat transfer fluid in a heating system including a thermo-sanitary appliance, in particular a gas boiler, the method including the following steps. Extrapolating minimum values of the fluid pressure from the original minimum values, within a time observation window corresponding to a given number of previous days. Identifying one or more ramps of the minimum values of the pressure of the fluid, within the time observation window. Calculating a plurality of characteristics relating to the trend of the pressure of the fluid on the basis of said one or more ramps of the minimum values. Providing the calculated characteristics to a machine learning classification model, adapted to produce a three-class classification, each of which is representative of the more or less high probability that in a future time window the thermo-sanitary appliance will block due to an excessively low value of fluid pressure.

A method for controlling the pressure of heat transfer fluid in a heating system including a thermo-sanitary appliance, in particular a gas boiler, the method including the following steps. Extrapolating minimum values of the fluid pressure from the original minimum values, within a time observation window corresponding to a given number of previous days. Identifying one or more ramps of the minimum values of the pressure of the fluid, within the time observation window. Calculating a plurality of characteristics relating to the trend of the pressure of the fluid on the basis of said one or more ramps of the minimum values. Providing the calculated characteristics to a machine learning classification model, adapted to produce a three-class classification, each of which is representative of the more or less high probability that in a future time window the thermo-sanitary appliance will block due to an excessively low value of fluid pressure.

In accordance with the principals of the present invention, a furnace unit adapted to be installed in-line with a fuel source of a furnace modulates natural gas or propane to reduce fuel consumption, minimize temperature overshoot, and reduce furnace short cycling. A modulator is contained with the furnace unit. The modulator is in gaseous communication with the in-line gas fuel source. A furnace sensor senses furnace criteria related to the operation of the furnace. A microcontroller receives from the furnace sensor furnace criteria and controls the modulator based on the furnace criteria. In a further aspect of the invention, an environmental sensor can be provided to sense environmental criteria related to the operation of the furnace. In a further aspect of the invention, a base unit in electrical communication with the furnace unit can be provided, the base unit determining energy consumption usage and savings. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

In accordance with the principals of the present invention, a furnace unit adapted to be installed in-line with a fuel source of a furnace modulates natural gas or propane to reduce fuel consumption, minimize temperature overshoot, and reduce furnace short cycling. A modulator is contained with the furnace unit. The modulator is in gaseous communication with the in-line gas fuel source. A furnace sensor senses furnace criteria related to the operation of the furnace. A microcontroller receives from the furnace sensor furnace criteria and controls the modulator based on the furnace criteria. In a further aspect of the invention, an environmental sensor can be provided to sense environmental criteria related to the operation of the furnace. In a further aspect of the invention, a base unit in electrical communication with the furnace unit can be provided, the base unit determining energy consumption usage and savings. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

To detect an abnormality without a limit switch, a space and water heating apparatus includes external and internal circulation channels, including a shared portion, to respectively circulate a heating medium through space heating equipment (20) and a water-heating heat exchanger (28), a first temperature sensor (25) that detects a temperature of the heating medium heated in the shared portion, and a second temperature sensor (35) that detects a temperature of hot water produced with the heat exchanger. A switch controller (40) controls a circulation switcher (29) to switch between the circulation channels. A storage (40a) prestores, in association with a mode of the circulation switcher, a detection value from the second temperature sensor expected when the circulation switcher operates normally. An abnormality detector (40) detects an abnormality in the circulation switcher in response to the actual detection value being different from the expected detection value associated with the instructed mode.

To detect an abnormality without a limit switch, a space and water heating apparatus includes external and internal circulation channels, including a shared portion, to respectively circulate a heating medium through space heating equipment (20) and a water-heating heat exchanger (28), a first temperature sensor (25) that detects a temperature of the heating medium heated in the shared portion, and a second temperature sensor (35) that detects a temperature of hot water produced with the heat exchanger. A switch controller (40) controls a circulation switcher (29) to switch between the circulation channels. A storage (40a) prestores, in association with a mode of the circulation switcher, a detection value from the second temperature sensor expected when the circulation switcher operates normally. An abnormality detector (40) detects an abnormality in the circulation switcher in response to the actual detection value being different from the expected detection value associated with the instructed mode.

A system includes a heater bundle having at least one heater assembly with a plurality of heater units. At least one of the heater units defines at least one independently controlled heating zone, and a plurality of power conductors are electrically connected to the heater units. A power supply device includes a controller configured to modulate power to the at least one independently controlled heating zone through the power conductors, and the controller is configured to calculate temperature within the at least one heater unit based on a predefined model and at least one input, and the controller modulates power to the at least one heater unit based on the calculated temperature.

A system includes a heater bundle having at least one heater assembly with a plurality of heater units. At least one of the heater units defines at least one independently controlled heating zone, and a plurality of power conductors are electrically connected to the heater units. A power supply device includes a controller configured to modulate power to the at least one independently controlled heating zone through the power conductors, and the controller is configured to calculate temperature within the at least one heater unit based on a predefined model and at least one input, and the controller modulates power to the at least one heater unit based on the calculated temperature.

A method of controlling an electric tank-style water heater having at least an upper heating element and a lower heating element is provided. Operating electricity is denied to at least the lower heating element at an initial scheduled shutdown time according to an initial control protocol. Then, supply of the operating electricity to at least the lower heating element is resumed at an initial scheduled restart time according to the initial control protocol. Recovery activation time of the water heater following the resumption of the supply of the operating electricity is monitored. Responsive to a function of the recovery activation time of the water heater exceeding an upper threshold, the initial control protocol is adjusted to obtain a first adjusted control protocol to reduce the recovery activation time. An electric tank-style water heater and a control module therefor are also described.

A method of controlling an electric tank-style water heater having at least an upper heating element and a lower heating element is provided. Operating electricity is denied to at least the lower heating element at an initial scheduled shutdown time according to an initial control protocol. Then, supply of the operating electricity to at least the lower heating element is resumed at an initial scheduled restart time according to the initial control protocol. Recovery activation time of the water heater following the resumption of the supply of the operating electricity is monitored. Responsive to a function of the recovery activation time of the water heater exceeding an upper threshold, the initial control protocol is adjusted to obtain a first adjusted control protocol to reduce the recovery activation time. An electric tank-style water heater and a control module therefor are also described.