Page 311 - Advanced Course

KNX ADVANCED COURSE

As in most cases no direct KNX interface is available, KNX is mostly integrated via
gateways.
The goal is the integration of a transparent, visual representation of the energy or heat
production. The user on the one hand has the possibility to see and to evaluate his
production and on the other hand can take appropriate measures. Thanks to the logging
and displaying of production, it is possible to forecast operating efficiency. Furthermore it
is possible to control maintenance intervals and observe drops in performance of the
panels, if needed then countered with appropriate measures. In case of high production,
as subsequent action, the load management system could increase the temperature in
the rooms in order to store the energy in the building in the form of heat or by switching
on household appliances like for instance dryer or washing machine. In the latter case,
the best possible energy saving is achieved when laundry is washed with water pre-
heated with renewable energy and that machine is energized or the additional heating of
the water realized thanks to power generated by solar panels.

6.1 Solar thermal energy, combined heat and power

First of all, there is the possibility just like in heating engineering, that the manufacturer of
the heating system at the same time delivers the control system for the solar thermal
energy and/or combined heat and power system. This means that only a gateway, as
described in chapter HVAC, has to be installed. The communication of the boiler, water
reservoir and the solar thermal energy collector / combined heat and power system is
realized directly by the manufacturer and the KNX integrator only has to take care of
connecting to it.

Picture 20: Connexion of solar thermal energy via KNX Gateway

Another option is the installation of a solar thermal energy system that works
independently from the boiler. Either the solar control has a communication interface to
ensure connection via gateway or it is integrated into KNX by means of analogue
temperature sensors and analog actuators or similar.
The two options allow displaying the measured values like supply and return temperature,
collector and water reservoir temperature on a visualisation.
Home and Building Management Systems KNX Association
KNX and Smart Metering KNX and Smart Metering_E1212b.doc 20/25