A heating system is configured to optimize the speed and accuracy of the system in achieving various ambient air temperature setpoints, by modulating the heated water supply water setpoint to optimize the slope of the system's response curve. Optimized response curves are automatically determined by analyzing differences between ambient air temperatures over time in response to modulated supply water temperatures as they are reset upward or downward to achieve response times prioritized for improved occupant comfort. The controller of the heating system calculates a temperature slope, and adjusts the supply water setpoint to increase/decrease the speed of ambient temperature rise to achieve a desired slope.

A water heating system can include a water heater having a tank, and a first temperature sensor disposed toward a top end of the tank to measure a first temperature and a second temperature sensor disposed toward a bottom end of the tank to measure a second temperature. The water heating system can further include a controller communicably coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, where the controller determines an amount of heated water in the tank based on a plurality of algorithms and measurements made by the first and second temperature sensors. The plurality of algorithms solves for at least one calculated temperature for at least one point between a first location of the first temperature sensor and a second location of the second temperature sensor, where the at least one calculated temperature is used to determine the amount of heated water in the tank.

In a control device, an instruction acquirer acquires an instruction to suppress in a specified period supplying of generated power generated by power generator installed in a power-consuming area to a commercial electrical power system. Upon the instruction acquirer acquiring the instruction, a water heater controller commands a water heater installed in the power-consuming area to perform a water heat-up operation when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the specified period.

A heat exchanger includes a burner configured to burn a combustible gas to produce heat, a heat exchanger configured to receive the heat from the burner, a flow sensor configured to measure a flow rate of a coolant passing through the heat exchanger; and a controller comprising processing circuitry. The processing circuitry receives flow data from the flow sensor and controls a firing rate of the burner based on a predetermined relationship between a differential temperature of coolant flowing through the heat exchanger and the coolant's flow rate.

A central plant includes a plurality of subplants including a chiller configured to output supply water at a supply water temperature, a sensor configured obtain a measurement of the supply water temperature, and a control system. The control system is configured to calculate an additional load factor based on the measurement of the supply water temperature and a supply water temperature setpoint, obtain an actual load for the chiller, calculate an effective load based on the additional load factor and the actual load, generate load allocations for the plurality of subplants based on the effective load, and control the plurality of subplants to operate in accordance with the load allocations.

An electronic converter unit for retrofitting to an external part of a housing of a pump unit is described. The housing comprises a light source for emitting light to display an operating status of the pump unit. The electronic converter unit comprises: a photo detector for measuring light emitted from the light source of the pump unit, a converter unit for converting optical signals to electrical signals, and transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting the electrical signals to an external communication unit.

A zone controller works with a modulating unit comprising memory storing an instruction set and data related to thermostats, a plurality of duty cycles for a plurality of zones, a plurality of time periods for the plurality of zones, and a maximum zone load. A processor is operative to provide a modulating signal to the modulating unit based on the maximum zone load. The modulating signal determines operation of the modulating boiler and the maximum zone load based on the plurality of duty cycles, time periods, and data related to thermostats. The zone controller may be further operative to: calculate a first duty cycle for the first zone based on a first time period; calculate a second duty cycle for the second zone based on a second time period; and determine a maximum zone load, which is a greater of the first duty cycle and the second duty cycle.

A control system may be configured to learn a heating schedule at a first location according to an automated schedule learning algorithm that processes inputs including user inputs and occupancy sensing inputs and derives schedule-affecting parameters therefrom that are processed to compute the control schedule. The control system may also be configured to determine whether a thermostat has been moved to a new location, and if it is determined that the thermostat has been moved to the new location, then determine one or more parameters associated with the new location and establish a new control schedule for the new location, where zero or more of the schedule-affecting parameters are re-used based on the one or more parameters associated with the new location.

A central plant includes a plurality of subplants including a chiller configured to output supply water at a supply water temperature, a sensor configured obtain a measurement of the supply water temperature, and a control system. The control system is configured to calculate an additional load factor based on the measurement of the supply water temperature and a supply water temperature setpoint, obtain an actual load for the chiller, calculate an effective load based on the additional load factor and the actual load, generate load allocations for the plurality of subplants based on the effective load, and control the plurality of subplants to operate in accordance with the load allocations.

A system and method for climate control of an environment in a building are provided. The system includes a first loop and second loop for circulating a heating medium. The system also includes a boiler, an energy optimizer and a controller. The method involves circulating a heating medium, providing heat to the heating medium, and controlling the boiler based on various inputs.