METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ENERGY TRANSFER OF A THERMAL ENERGY EXCHANGER

Abstract

For controlling energy transfer (Q) of a thermal energy exchanger of an HVAC system, a control system determines flow-dependent model parameters (M) for modelling performance of the thermal energy exchanger, using a plurality of measurement data sets, each measurement data set including for a respective measurement time a value of a measured flow of fluid (act), a value of a measured supply temperature (Tsup) of the fluid, and a value of the measured return temperature (Tret) of the fluid. The control system calculates an estimated energy transfer (Qest) of the thermal energy exchanger, using the flow-dependent model parameters (M), and controls (S4) the energy transfer (Q) of the thermal energy exchanger by regulating (S5) the flow of fluid () through the thermal energy exchanger, using the estimated energy transfer (Qest).

Claims

1. A method of controlling energy transfer (Q) of a thermal energy exchanger of an HVAC system, the method comprising: measuring (S11), by a flow sensor (203), a measured flow of fluid (act) through the thermal energy exchanger; measuring (S12), by a first temperature sensor, a measured supply temperature (Tsup) of the fluid in a supply pipe connected to an entry of the thermal energy exchanger; measuring (S13), by a second temperature sensor, a measured return temperature (Tret) of the fluid in a return pipe connected to an exit of the thermal energy exchanger; determining (S2), by a control system, flow-dependent model parameters (M) for modelling performance of the thermal energy exchanger, using one or more measurement data sets, each measurement data set including for a respective measurement time a value of the measured flow of fluid (act), a value of the measured supply temperature (Tsup) of the fluid, and a value of the measured return temperature (Tret) of the fluid; calculating (S3), by the control system, an estimated energy transfer (Qest) of the thermal energy exchanger, using the flow-dependent model parameters (M); and controlling (S4), by the control system, the energy transfer (Q) of the thermal energy exchanger by regulating (S5) the flow of fluid () through the thermal energy exchanger, using the estimated energy transfer (Qest).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining (S2) the flow-dependent model parameters (M) comprises the control system determining a delay time (tsup_delay) in the supply pipe for the fluid to move from the first temperature sensor to the thermal energy exchanger, and determining a delay time (tret_delay) in the return pipe for the fluid to move from the thermal energy exchanger to the second temperature sensor.

3. The method of one of claims 1, wherein determining (S2) the flow-dependent model parameters (M) comprises the control system determining an energy transfer coefficient (Ctrans) for the thermal energy exchanger.

4. The method of one of claims 1, wherein determining (S2) the flow-dependent model parameters (M) comprises the control system determining a secondary temperature (Tsecondary) associated with a secondary side of the thermal energy exchanger.

5. The method of one of claims 1, wherein determining (S2) the flow-dependent model parameters (M) comprises the control system determining an exchange time (texchange) for the fluid to replace a total fluid content of the thermal energy exchanger.

6. The method of one of claims 1, wherein determining (S2) the flow-dependent model parameters (M) comprises the control system-(40) determining an estimated return temperature (Tret_estimated) of the fluid in the return pipe, and setting the flow-dependent model parameters (M) such as to minimize a difference between the estimated return temperature (Tret_estimated) and the measured return temperature (Tret).

7. The method of one of claims 1, wherein calculating (S3) the estimated energy transfer (Qest) comprises the control system determining an estimated energy transport (Qtransport) extracted in the thermal energy exchanger from the fluid, determining an energy content (Qcontent) stored in the thermal energy exchanger, and calculating the estimated energy transfer (Qest) as a difference from the energy transport (Qtransport) and the energy content (Qcontent).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the estimated energy transport (Qtransport) comprises the control system determining an input temperature (Tin) of the thermal energy exchanger, using the measured supply temperature (Tsup) and a delay time (tsup_delay) in the supply pipe for the fluid to move from the first temperature sensor to the thermal energy exchanger, determining an output temperature (Tout) of the thermal energy exchanger, using the measured return temperature (Tret) and a delay time (tret_delay) in the return pipe for the fluid to move from the thermal energy exchanger to the second temperature sensor, and calculating the estimated energy transport (Qtransport) from the measured flow of fluid (act), the input temperature (Tin) of the thermal energy exchanger, and the output temperature (Tout) of the thermal energy exchanger.

9. The method of one of claims 1, wherein the method further comprises the control system receiving a target energy transfer (Qref), and controlling (S4) the energy transfer (Q) by regulating the flow of fluid () through the thermal energy exchanger based on a comparison of the target energy transfer (Qref) and the estimated energy transfer (Qest).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein regulating the flow of fluid () through the thermal energy exchanger comprises the control system determining a target flow (ref) based on the comparison of the target energy transfer (Qref) and the estimated energy transfer (Qest), and regulating the flow of fluid () through the thermal energy exchanger based on a comparison of the target flow (ref) and the measured flow of fluid (act).

11. A control system for controlling energy transfer (Q) of a thermal energy exchanger of an HVAC system, the control system comprising at least one processor configured to: obtain from a flow sensor (203), a measured flow of fluid (act) through the thermal energy exchanger; obtain from a first temperature sensor, a supply temperature (Tsup) of the fluid in a supply pipe connected to an entry of the thermal energy exchanger; obtain from a second temperature sensor, a return temperature (Tret) of the fluid in a return pipe connected to an exit of the thermal energy exchanger; determine (S2) flow-dependent model parameters (M) for modelling performance of the thermal energy exchanger, using one or more measurement data sets, each measurement data set including for a respective measurement time a value of the measured flow of fluid (act), a value of the measured supply temperature (Tsup) of the fluid, and a value of the measured return temperature (Tret) of the fluid; calculate (S3) an estimated energy transfer (Qest) of the thermal energy exchanger, using the flow-dependent model parameters (M); and control (S4) the energy transfer (Q) of the thermal energy exchanger by regulating the flow of fluid () through the thermal energy exchanger, using the estimated energy transfer (Qest).

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to determine (S2) with the flow-dependent model parameters (M) a delay time (tsup_delay) in the supply pipe for the fluid to move from the first temperature sensor to the thermal energy exchanger, and determining a delay time (tret_delay) in the return pipe for the fluid to move from the thermal energy exchanger to the second temperature sensor.

13. The control system of one of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to determine (S2) with the flow-dependent model parameters (M) an energy transfer coefficient (Ctrans) for the thermal energy exchanger.

14. The control system of one of claims 11, wherein the processor is further configured to determine (S2) with the flow-dependent model parameters (M) a secondary temperature (Tsecondary) associated with a secondary side of the thermal energy exchanger.

15. The control system of one of claims 11, wherein the processor is further configured to determine (S2) with the flow-dependent model parameters (M) an exchange time (texchange) for the fluid to replace a total fluid content of the thermal energy exchanger.

16. The control system of one of claims 11, wherein the processor is further configured to determine (S2) the flow-dependent model parameters (M) by determining an estimated return temperature (Tret_estimated) of the fluid in the return pipe, and setting the flow-dependent model parameters (M) such as to minimize a difference between the estimated return temperature (Tret_estimated) and the measured return temperature (Tret).

17. The control system of one of claims 11, wherein the processor is further configured to calculate (S3) the estimated energy transfer (Qest) by determining an estimated energy transport (Qtransport), extracted in the thermal energy exchanger from the fluid, determining an energy content (Qcontent) stored in the thermal energy exchanger, and calculating the estimated energy transfer (Qest) as a difference from the energy transport (Qtransport) and the energy content (Qcontent).

18. The control system to claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the estimated energy transport (Qtransport) by determining an input temperature (Tin) of the thermal energy exchanger, using the measured supply temperature (Tsup) and a delay time (tsup_delay) in the supply pipe for the fluid to move from the first temperature sensor to the thermal energy exchanger, determining an output temperature (Tout) of the thermal energy exchanger, using the measured return temperature (Tret) and a delay time (tret_delay) in the return pipe for the fluid to move from the thermal energy exchanger to the second temperature sensor, and calculating the estimated energy transport (Qtransport) from the measured flow of fluid (act), the input temperature (Tin) of the thermal energy exchanger, and the output temperature (Tout) of the thermal energy exchanger.

19. The control system of one of claims 11, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a target energy transfer (Qref), and control (S4) the energy transfer (Q) by regulating the flow of fluid () through the thermal energy exchanger based on a comparison of the target energy transfer (Qref) and the estimated energy transfer (Qest).

20. The control system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to regulate the flow of fluid () through the thermal energy exchanger by determining a target flow (1 ref) based on the comparison of the target energy transfer (Qref) and the estimated energy transfer (Qest), and regulate the flow of fluid () through the thermal energy exchanger based on a comparison of the target flow (ref) and the measured flow of fluid (act).

21. A computer program product comprising a non-transient computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer program code configured to control a processor of a control system for controlling energy transfer (Q) of a thermal energy exchanger of an HVAC system, the computer program code configured to control the processor such that the processor performs the following steps: obtaining from a flow sensor, a measured flow of fluid (act) through the thermal energy exchanger; obtaining from a first temperature sensor, a supply temperature (Tsup) of the fluid in a supply pipe connected to an entry of the thermal energy exchanger; obtaining from a second temperature sensor, a return temperature (Tsup) of the fluid in a return pipe connected to an exit of the thermal energy exchanger; determining (S2) flow-dependent model parameters (M) for modelling performance of the thermal energy exchanger, using one or more measurement data sets, each measurement data set including for a respective measurement time a value of the measured flow of fluid (act), a value of the measured supply temperature (Tsup) of the fluid, and a value of the measured return temperature (Tret) of the fluid; calculating (S3) an estimated energy transfer (Qest) of the thermal energy exchanger, using the flow-dependent model parameters (M); and controlling (S4) the energy transfer (Q) of the thermal energy exchanger by regulating the flow of fluid () through the thermal energy exchanger, using the estimated energy transfer (Qest).

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the computer program code is further configured to control the processor such that the processor performs steps of the method of one of claims 2 to 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The present invention will be explained in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which:

[0033] FIG. 1: shows a block diagram illustrating schematically an HVAC system, comprising a thermal energy exchanger and a thermal transfer fluid transport system with a flow regulator system.

[0034] FIG. 2: shows a block diagram illustrating schematically an HVAC system connected via a communication network to a remote computer system.

[0035] FIG. 3: shows a block diagram illustrating schematically an HVAC system comprising a controller that is connected via a communication network to a local computer system.

[0036] FIG. 4: shows a block diagram illustrating schematically an HVAC system comprising a computer system with a controller.

[0037] FIG. 5: shows a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary sequence of steps for controlling energy transfer of a thermal energy exchanger 1n an HVAC system.

[0038] FIG. 6: shows a combined flow and block diagram illustrating an exemplary sequence of steps for controlling energy transfer of a thermal energy exchanger 1n an HVAC system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] In FIGS. 1-4 and 6, reference numeral 10 refers to an HVAC system (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning). As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, the HVAC system 10 comprises a thermal energy exchanger 1, e.g. a heat exchanger for heating or a cooling device for cooling. As further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, the HVAC system 10 comprises a fluid transport system 2 for moving a (thermal transfer) fluid, for example a liquid, e.g. water and/or a refrigerant, or a gas, e.g. air, through the thermal energy exchanger 1. As indicated schematically in FIG. 1, the fluid transport system 2 comprises fluid transport lines (pipes or is ducts), for conducting a flow of fluid through the thermal energy exchanger 1, a flow regulator system 20 and a pump 25 or fan, respectively, for driving and controlling the flow of the fluid through the thermal energy exchanger 1. As indicated schematically in FIG. 1, the fluid transport system 2 is connected to an energy source 26, e.g. a heating device (furnace, heat pump) or a cooling device (chiller). Specifically, the fluid transport lines comprise a supply pipe 21 (or duct), for feeding the fluid from the flow regulator system 20 to the thermal energy exchanger 1, and a return pipe 22 (or duct), for returning the fluid from the thermal energy exchanger 1 to the flow regulator system 20. As is further illustrated in FIG. 1, the flow regulator system 20 comprises a (motorized) valve 204 or stutter, respectively, with an actuator 205, a controller 200, and a flow sensor 203. The HVAC system 10 further comprises a first temperature sensor 201, arranged in the supply pipe 21, for determining the temperature T.sub.sup of the fluid supplied to the thermal energy exchanger 1, and a second temperature sensor 202, arranged in the return pipe 22, for determining the temperature T.sub.ret of the fluid returning from the thermal energy exchanger 1. The sensors further comprise a communication module configured for wireless and/or wired data communication (including analog signaling) with the computer system 4 and/or the controller 200.

[0040] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the HVAC system 10 comprises or is at least connected via a communication network 5 to a computer system 4. Depending on the embodiment, the computer system 4 comprises one or more operational computers with one or more programmable processors and a data storage system connected to the processor(s). As indicated schematically in FIGS. 1 and 4 by reference numeral 40, the computer system 4 and the controller 200 constitute a control system, particularly a computerized HVAC control system. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the HVAC system 10 and one or more of its controllers 200 are connected via communication network 5 to a remote computer system 4, e.g. a cloud-based computer system connected to the HVAC system 10 via the Internet. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the computer system 4 is a part of the HVAC system 10 and is connected via a communication network 5, such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), to one or more controllers 200 of the HVAC system 10. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the computer system 4 is a part of the HVAC system 10 and the controller 200 is part of the computer system 4 or the controller 200 constitutes the computer system 4, respectively. The controller 200 includes an electronic circuit, e.g. a programmable processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or another logic unit. The controller 200 further comprises a communication module configured for wireless and/or wired data communication with the computer system 4, the temperature sensors 201, 202, the flow sensor 203, and the valve 204 or its actuator, respectively, to control the flow of fluid. The controller 200 and the computer system 4 are configured (programmed) to perform various functions described later in more detail. Depending on the embodiment the communication network 5 includes fixed communication networks or busses and/or mobile communication networks, e.g. WLAN, GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System), or other mobile radio networks.

[0041] The controller 200 is configured to control the opening of the valve 204 in response to a setpoint received from a building control system or a user terminal, for example, a setpoint Q.sub.ref for thermal energy (or power) to be transferred to a secondary side 3 of the thermal energy exchanger 1, specifically to a fluid oi the secondary side, e.g. to the air that is moved into a room. For the purpose of controlling the energy transfer Q, the controller 200 generates a control signal for the valve 204 or its actuator 24, respectively, based and depending on the received setpoint Q.sub.ref, as will be described below in more detail.

[0042] In the following paragraphs, described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 are possible sequences of steps performed by the control system 40, the computer system 4, and/or controller 200, respectively, for controlling the energy transfer Q of the thermal energy exchanger 1 by adjusting the opening (i.e. the orifice) of the valve 204 to regulate the flow of the fluid through the thermal energy exchanger 1, responsive to the received setpoint Q.sub.ref for thermal energy transfer.

[0043] As indicated schematically in FIG. 6 by step S0, the control system 40, i.e. the computer system 4 or the controller 200, receives setpoints or respective commands on an ongoing basis, as submitted by a building control system, a controller or a user terminal; specifically setpoints Q.sub.ref or respective commands for thermal energy (or power) to be transferred by the thermal energy exchanger 1. One skilled in the art will understand that as an alternative to controlling the energy transfer, the respective power transfer can be controlled correspondingly, without deviating from the scope of the invention.

[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 5, in step S1 the control system 40, i.e. the computer system 4 or the controller 200, respectively, records one or more measurement data sets. Each measurement data set includes for a particular point in time, the measurement time, measurement values of operating parameters related to the thermal energy exchanger 1, specifically a value of the measured flow of fluid .sub.act through the thermal energy exchanger 1, a value of the supply temperature T.sub.sup of the fluid, measured in the supply pipe 21 to the thermal energy exchanger 1, and a value of the return temperature T.sub.ret of the fluid, measured in the return pipe 22 from the thermal energy exchanger 1. Depending on the configuration and/or mode of operation, a plurality of measurement data sets is recorded and used for off-line batch processing and modelling of the thermal energy exchanger 1, a plurality of measurement data sets are recorded sequentially in an on-line calibration phase following a set measurement protocol with defined system settings for corresponding processing and modelling of the thermal energy exchanger 1, or measurement data sets are recorded on an ongoing basis, on-line during regular operation without a set measurement protocol for continuous processing and modelling of the thermal energy exchanger 1.

[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 5, in step S11, the flow of fluid .sub.act is measured; in step S12, the supply temperature T.sub.sup is measured; and in step S13, the return temperature T.sub.ret is measured. Depending on the embodiment or configuration, the measurement values of the operating parameters are determined for the measurement data sets by the computer system 4 or the controller 200 reading them from sensors, e.g. from temperature sensor 201, temperature sensor 202, and flow sensor 203, or by the sensors reporting them to the computer system 4 or the controller 200. Alternatively, the measurement values of the operating parameters are collected by the controller 200 and later reported to the computer system 4.

[0046] In step S2, the control system 40, i.e. the computer system 4 or the controller 200, respectively, determines flow-dependent model parameters M for modelling the thermal energy exchanger 1, specifically, for modelling the performance of the thermal energy exchanger 1. The flow-dependent model parameters M are determined based on the recorded measurement data sets. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the flow-dependent model parameters M include a delay time t.sub.sup_delay associated with the supply pipe 21 and indicating the duration of time it takes for the fluid to move from the first temperature sensor 201 to the entry 11 of the thermal energy exchanger 1; a delay time t.sub.ret_delay associated with the return pipe 22 and indicating the duration of time it takes for the fluid to move from the exit 12 of the thermal energy exchanger 1 to the second temperature sensor 202; an energy transfer coefficient C.sub.trans for the thermal energy exchanger 1; a secondary temperature T.sub.secondary associated with the secondary side 3 of the thermal energy exchanger 1; an exchange time t.sub.exchange of the thermal energy exchanger 1 which indicates the duration of time for the thermal energy exchanger 1 to replace its total volume V content of fluid at a particular flow (t.sub.exchange=V/.sub.act). It is pointed out that this exchange time t.sub.exchange=V/.sub.act is an approximate value for a thermal time constant of the thermal energy exchanger 1 which indicates the duration of time for the thermal energy exchanger 1 to replace its heat content at a particular flow . Once determined, the flow-dependent model parameters M comprise or define for different values of flow respective values for the delay time t.sub.sup_delay associated with the supply pipe 21, for the delay time t.sub.ret_delay associated with the return pipe 22, for the energy transfer coefficient C.sub.trans of the thermal energy exchanger 1; for the secondary temperature T.sub.secondary associated with the secondary side 3 of the thermal energy exchanger 1; and for the exchange time t.sub.exchange of the thermal energy exchanger 1. In an embodiment, the flow-dependent model parameters M are stored in a (lookup) table assigned to respective flow values, which makes it possible to retrieve the values of the model parameters M depending on the current flow of fluid .sub.act.

[0047] In an embodiment where the diameter D.sub.1 of the supply pipe 21 or at least the distance d.sub.1 between the first temperature sensor 201 aid the entry 11 of the thermal energy exchanger 1 are known, an initial value for the delay time t.sub.sup_delay associated with the supply pipe 21 is defined based on said distance d.sub.1 and diameter D.sub.1. Likewise, in an embodiment where the diameter D.sub.2 of the return pipe 22 or at least the distance d.sub.2 between the exit 12 of the thermal energy exchanger 1 and the second temperature sensor 202 are known, an initial value for the delay time t.sub.ret_delay associated with the return pipe 22 is defined based on said distance d.sub.2 and diameter D.sub.2. Vice versa, the distances d.sub.1 and d.sub.2, between the first temperature sensor 201 and the entry 11 of the thermal energy exchanger 1 or between the exit 12 of the thermal energy exchanger 1 and the second temperature sensor 202, respectively, can be estimated from derived values of the delay time t.sub.sup_delay associated with the supply pipe 21 or the delay time t.sub.ret_delay associated with the return pipe 22, respectively, if the diameter D.sub.1 of the supply pipe 21 and/or the diameter D.sub.2 of the return pipe 22 (or a corresponding size of the valve 204) is/are known.

[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 1, modelling the thermal energy exchanger 1, or its performance, respectively, takes into consideration that from the energy transport Q.sub.transport, which represents the energy extracted in the thermal energy exchanger 1 from the fluid flowing through the thermal energy exchanger 1, e portion is stored as an energy content Q.sub.content in the thermal energy exchanger 1. Accordingly, the actual energy transfer Q (Q.sub.est) from the thermal energy exchanger 1 to its secondary side 3 is calculated as the difference of the energy transport Q.sub.transport and the energy content Q.sub.content:

Q=Q.sub.transportQ.sub.content (1)

[0049] The energy transport Q.sub.transport extracted in the thermal energy exchanger 1 from the fluid depends on the actual flow .sub.act, the input temperature T.sub.in at the entry 11 of the thermal energy exchanger 1, and the exit temperature T.sub.out at the exit 12 of the thermal energy exchanger 1, c.sub.p being a specific heat constant of the fluid and p being a density of the fluid:

Q.sub.transport=.sub.act.Math.T=.sub.act.Math.c.sub.p.Math.p.Math.(T.sub.inT.sub.out) (2)

[0050] The input temperature T.sub.in is defined by the supply temperature T.sub.sup measured in the supply pipe 21 and the delay time t.sub.sup_delay for the fluid to move from the first temperature sensor 201 to the entry 11 of the thermal energy exchanger 1, whereby the value of T.sub.in corresponds to the value of the supply temperature T.sub.sup measured previously with a delay of delay time t.sub.sup_delay:

T.sub.in=f(T.sub.sup, t.sub.sup_delay). (2.1)

[0051] The output temperature T.sub.out is defined by the return temperature T.sub.ret measured in the return pipe 22 and the delay time t.sub.ret_delay for the fluid to move from the exit 12 of the thermal energy exchanger 1 to the second temperature sensor 202, whereby the measured value of the return3 temperature T.sub.ret corresponds to the preceding value of the output temperature T.sub.out at the time t=tt.sub.ret_delay in the past:

T.sub.out=f(T.sub.ret, t.sub.ret_delay). (2.2)

[0052] The energy content Q.sub.content stored in the thermal energy exchanger 1 is defined by a volume V (content) of the thermal energy exchanger 1 and a primary temperature T.sub.primary of the thermal energy exchanger 1, c.sub.p being the specific heat constant of the fluid and p being the density of the fluid:

Q.sub.content=V.Math.c.sub.p.Math.p.Math.T.sub.primary. (3)

[0053] The primary temperature T.sub.primary of the thermal energy exchanger 1 is calculated as an average value from the input temperature T.sub.in and the exit temperature T.sub.out of the thermal energy exchanger 1:

T.sub.primary=1/2(T.sub.in+T.sub.out). (2.1)

[0054] The volume V (content) of the thermal energy exchanger 1 is defined by the exchange time t.sub.exchange of the thermal energy exchanger land the actual flow .sub.act:

V=t.sub.exchange.Math..sub.act (3.2)

[0055] The energy transfer Q (Qest) from the thermal energy exchanger 1 to its secondary side 3 is defined by the primary temperature T.sub.primary of the thermal energy exchanger 1, the secondary temperature T.sub.secondary of the thermal energy exchanger 1, and the energy transfer coefficient C.sub.trans for the thermal energy exchanger 1:

Q=C.sub.trans.Math.(T.sub.primaryT.sub.secondary) (4)

[0056] Using relations (1)-(4), the control system 40, i.e. the computer system 4 or the controller zoo, respectively, determines the flow-dependent model parameters M, including supply delay time t.sub.sup_delay, return delay time t.sub.ret_delay, energy transfer coefficient C.sub.trans, secondary temperature T.sub.secondary, and exchange time t.sub.exchange, from the recorded data sets with the measured operating parameters, including flow .sub.act, supply temperature T.sub.sup, and return temperature T.sub.ret. Using a plurality of data sets with the measured operating parameters, the control system 40, i.e. the computer system 4 or the controller 200, respectively, defines a set of equations for the relations (1)-(4) for determining the flow-dependent model parameters M. Specifically, the control system 40, i.e. the computer system 4 or the controller 200, respectively, uses initial estimated values for the flow-dependent model parameters M to determine an estimated value for the return temperature T.sub.ret_estimated and iteratively improves the flow-dependent model parameters M by applying an optimization function to minimize the error (e.g. mean squared error, MSE) or difference (e.g. mean square difference, MSD) between the estimated return temperature T.sub.ret_estimated and the actually measured return temperature T.sub.ret.

[0057] In accordance with the configuration and/or mode for recording the measurement data sets and determining the model parameters M in off-line batch processing, on-line calibration phase, and/or on an ongoing basis, in step S3, the control system 40, i.e. the computer system 4 or the controller 200, respectively, uses the (current) model parameters M to calculate an estimated value of the energy transfer Q.sub.est.

[0058] In step S4, the controller zoo determines a target flow .sub.ref based on a comparison of the setpoint Q.sub.ref for thermal energy (or power) to be transferred and the currently estimated value of the energy transfer Q.sub.est.

[0059] In step S5, the controller zoo controls the flow through thermal energy exchanger 1 by adjusting the opening (i.e. the orifice) of the valve 204 to regulate the flow of the fluid through the thermal energy exchanger 1 based on a comparison of the determined target flow .sub.ref and the currently measured actual flow .sub.act.

[0060] As indicated schematically, in step S6, the control system 40, i.e. the computer system 4 or the controller 200, respectively, continues processing in step S1 or step S3, respectively. As depicted by step S6, in the on-line mode of operation with continuous recording of measurement data sets, processing is continued in step S1 by performing the steps S1 and S2 of block B.sub.1 for determining the model parameters M; whereas in the off-line batch processing or on-line calibration phase modes, processing continues in step S3 by performing steps S3 and S4 of block B.sub.2 for controlling the energy transfer. One skilled in the art will understand that block B.sub.1 for determining the model parameters M may be executed periodically, on request, and/or depending on defined system criteria.

[0061] It should be noted that, in the description, the sequence of the steps has been presented in a specific order, one skilled in the art will understand, however, that the order of at least some of the steps could be altered, without deviating from the scope of the invention.