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DE-202026001278-U1 - Communication and parameterization module for price-based influencing of existing control systems via fieldbus or data network

DE202026001278U1DE 202026001278 U1DE202026001278 U1DE 202026001278U1DE-202026001278-U1

Abstract

Device for influencing at least one operating parameter of an existing control and/or regulating device (11) of a technical system, in particular a refrigeration, air conditioning or HVAC system, characterized by (i) Means (2, 3) for determining an external control variable (in particular electricity price/cost time series, CO2 intensity, grid signal or flexibility signal) and for determining a price/cost index and/or control variable derived therefrom (setpoint offset and/or demand limit); (ii) a communication interface (4) for writing at least one operating parameter, in particular a setpoint, operating mode and/or a power/demand limit, to an existing control/regulation device (11) via a fieldbus or data network-based connection, including but not limited to BACnet, Modbus, KNX, OPC UA, MQTT, HTTP/REST, WebSocket, Ethernet/IP, M-Bus or CAN; (iii) a failsafe mechanism (9) which automatically resets to a predefined safe operating state in the absence of valid control variables and/or in the event of communication/software errors, in particular by reverting set values, holding a last valid value for a maximum hold time and/or setting conservative default parameters.

Assignees

  • BRAUNGART STEFAN

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20260321
Priority Date
20260321

Claims (15)

  1. Device for influencing at least one operating parameter of an existing control and/or regulating device (11) of a technical system, in particular a refrigeration, air conditioning or HVAC system, characterized by (i) means (2, 3) for determining an external reference variable (in particular an electricity price/cost time series, CO2 intensity, grid signal or flexibility signal) and for determining a price/cost index derived therefrom and/or a manipulated variable (setpoint offset and/or demand limit); (ii) a communication interface (4) for writing at least one operating parameter, in particular a setpoint, an operating mode and/or a power/demand limit, a existing control/regulation device (11) via a fieldbus or data network-based connection, including but not limited to BACnet, Modbus, KNX, OPC UA, MQTT, HTTP/REST, WebSocket, Ethernet/IP, M-Bus or CAN; (iii) a failsafe mechanism (9) which automatically resets to a predefined safe operating state in the absence of valid control variables and/or in the event of communication/software errors, in particular by reverting set values, holding a last valid value for a maximum hold time and/or setting conservative default parameters.
  2. Device according to Claim 1 , characterized by the fact that in BACnet an Analog Value (AV), Binary Value (BV) or Multistate Value (MSV) is written at a defined priority level and a retraction is performed via Relinquish Default; furthermore, an OUT_OF_SERVICE flag and/or a diagnostic object is set for error identification.
  3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a demand limit and/or setpoint offset register is written to via Modbus, wherein each write operation is logged with a timestamp and checksum and is reset to a safe register value in case of timeout.
  4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in OPC UA a node of an address space can be writable with a quality/status flag, and/or that standardized topics/endpoints for setpoint/mode/demand limit are served via MQTT/HTTP/REST/WebSocket.
  5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that parameterization means (8) are provided for thresholds/hysteresis, minimum on/off times, blocking/release windows (calendar) and maximum holding times.
  6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a whitelist of permissible target objects/registers with value ranges is stored and no write operations are permitted outside the defined ranges.
  7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that fault signaling means (10) are provided for bus- or network-side identification of a fault condition, in particular by OUT_OF_SERVICE, status/fault codes or dedicated diagnostic objects.
  8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an override input (6) and/or a watchdog monitoring (7) is provided, which allow a local priority circuit and decouple the control/regulation device (11) from interference in the event of a malfunction of the module.
  9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that audit-proof logs with timestamps are kept (audit trail) which contain at least control variables, written values, priorities and error events.
  10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor/feedback interface exists for reading an actual switching/operating state and/or a relevant measured variable and is used for plausibility checks and/or limit value monitoring.
  11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a real-time clock (RTC) and a local memory/cache are provided for autonomous operation without a cloud connection.
  12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is designed as a retrofit module for control cabinet mounting with multi-range supply (e.g. 24 V DC / 230 V AC).
  13. Arrangement for price-based influencing of operational parameters of an existing control/regulating device (11) of a technical plant, characterized by the combination of a device according to one of the Claims 1 - 12 and the existing control/regulation device (11), wherein the module influences at least one setpoint, one operating mode and/or one power/demand limit via the fieldbus or data network-based connection.
  14. order according Claim 13 , characterized in that the technical system is a refrigeration system of a food retail location and/or a refrigeration system of a logistics cold storage facility, wherein at least one temperature limit is monitored as a hard constraint and failsafe is triggered when approached.
  15. Device or arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by This indicates that an interface to an energy service provider and/or metering point operator is provided for receiving price/flex signals and/or transmitting status/consumption data.

Description

Technical field The invention relates to the price- or cost-driven influencing of operational parameters in existing control systems of technical plants, in particular in the field of refrigeration/HVAC and building automation. State of the art Flexible loads are increasingly operated using external control variables (electricity prices, CO2 intensity, grid signals). Existing buildings often have controllers and fieldbus/network interfaces; however, retrofit-compatible, reliable modules that reliably translate control variables into bus-side control variables (setpoint/mode/demand limit) and integrate parameterization, safety limits, and failsafe functionality are lacking. Task The aim is to provide an easily retrofittable communication and parameterization module that directly intervenes in existing controllers via common fieldbus/data protocols, takes hysteresis/time-based constraints into account, handles fault cases safely and is auditable - without changing the controller. Solution The problem is solved by the device according to claim 1 and the arrangement according to claim 13. Key elements are: (i) determination of a price/cost index or a control variable; (ii) write access to setpoints/modes/demand limits via fieldbus or data network (including BACnet/Modbus/KNX/OPC UA/MQTT/HTTP/REST/WebSocket/Ethernet/IP/M-Bus/CAN); (iii) failsafe with timeout/reset/hold; (iv) parameterization (thresholds, hysteresis, minimum times, calendar); (v) whitelist/diagnostics/logging; (vi) RTC/cache for stand-alone operation. Examples of implementation • BACnet example: The module periodically writes a cooling setpoint offset as an analog value to priority 8 and reverts it via relinkush default on timeout. In case of a communication error, it sets OUT_OF_SERVICE of a diagnostic object.• Modbus example: A demand limit register (kW) is set depending on a normalized index; each change is logged with a timestamp/CRC; if no valid data is received, the limit is reset to a conservative value.• HTTP/MQTT/OPC UA: A “/setpoint-offset” endpoint is served via REST; a topic “site/xyz/demand-limit” via MQTT; a node “DemandLimit” including quality is set via OPC UA. Advantages • No need to change controllers, compatible with common GA/refrigeration systems.• Operational stability through hysteresis, minimum times, defined failsafe strategies.• Security/compliance via whitelist, diagnostics and audit logs.• Standalone operation without permanent cloud dependency. Reference symbol list (1) Module; (2) Processing unit; (3) Memory/Cache; (4) Communication interface; (5) Network connection; (6) Override input; (7) Watchdog/Relay; (8) Parameterization device; (9) Failsafe; (10) Diagnostics/Status; (11) Control/Regulation device; (12) System/Actuator. Summary A retrofit communication and parameterization module influences existing control devices via fieldbus/data protocols (including BACnet/Modbus/KNX/OPC UA/MQTT/HTTP/REST/WebSocket) based on a price/cost index or setpoint determined from external control variables. It writes setpoints/modes/demand limits, offers parameterization, failsafe (timeout/reset/hold), diagnostics and audit logs, operates autonomously thanks to RTC/cache, and is particularly suitable for refrigeration/HVAC systems.