Solar Heat Energy Demonstrator

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To Do:

• Review designs and calculate loads
• Produce schematic of proposed design
• Detailed design of pipework and equipment

Aims

The aim of the project is two-fold.

• Provide better heating for the building using low carbon heat, bringing the building up to a suitable level of heating to be passed on to the next occupants.
• Conduct detailed tests to work out the best practices and installation choices, to maximise in-use efficiency of CO2 heat pump technology, and work out it's place in the renewables landscape for the future.

Requirements

Following initial site meetings the following requirements have been set:

• Installation of CO2 air source heat pump(s)
• Low use domestic hot water
• Central heating to 10 office spaces
• Office spaces to be fitted with a selection of heat emitter types
• System to be flexible enough to allow different heating strategies to be tested
• System must be of a standard to be handed over to the next building occupants
• System must allow for the optional use of fan convectors as final stage to heat the main area and lower return temperatures
• System to be provide real-time operational data and allow details adjustment of settings and controls logic

Documents

Design Points

The following points have been considered.

• 

  QAVH connection to buffer store. This arrangement is used to draw heat from the cold part of the buffer for defrost protection.

• 

  Setting 121 decides secondary control is enabled. We do not need secondary control so it can be left in default setting (off).

• 

  Trace heating (electrical tape) is used to prevent pipework from freezing as a matter of last resort if the circulation pump should fail for defrosting. We will tie control over this into system.

• 

  Because of the need for (1) the heat pump defrost circuit to go through the store, and (2) the stability of the output from the heat pump is unknown and could do with some buffering via the top of the buffer store, it will be prudent to fit buffer stores with internal diffuser plates to create chambers to contain turbulence, and maintain stratification. NOTE: When only 1 buffer is to be used, top and bottom plates in same store

• 

  This table shows water quality requirements for the heat pump, and also for a secondary side (not used in SHED). It is important that regular tests are made to ensure this is met. It is also advisable to install water filtration equipment that can maintain these parameters with as little maintenance as possible. Remote monitoring on each of these would be nice.

System Schematic

• Double-click in the diagram background in order to add a new node there.
• Add ports to a selected node by clicking the above buttons or by using the context menu.
• Draw links between ports by dragging between ports.
• Right-click on a port to bring up menu.

heatweb_shed_schematic_2.json Latest Schematic
heatweb_shed_schematic.json Schematic (pump on return)
QmTSUmCjqYSsy73DgFxVtmrCyJyq4fX6EZkRQi42NzhcDc.json Schematic 1
QmYXYDAwtSVXj7WPxWeNRWmrVHV2tFJwUW25RWcrxkXdWQ With Zip Heater
QmP3uCFyRfZoa3qtWYfdCMNb8ithYRkoyU5G6MFe821Hjs Central Heating Wiring

Controls Strategy

Heat Pump Control

• Control of the CO2 heat pump is based on recovery of the associated 500 litre buffer store.
• Temperature sensors in the buffer store at different positions provide signals to the heat pump controls.
• The heat pump will start reheating the buffer when there is a set volume of water ready to reheat and continue until the buffer is fully heated
• The temperature the heat pump heats water to is set using an external control signal, and will be driven by required temperatures to deliver hot water and central heating, between 60C and 85C.
• Temperature requirements will be calculated from external air temperatures.
• The power output of the heat pump may also be externally controlled.
• In order to minimise the number of firing cycles per day, the power will be modulated in order to achieve a steady state where possible, reverting to batch loading where loads are lower than minimum heat pump output.
• The COP off the heat pump will be calculated from measuring both the electrical input and the heat output.
• Operational strategies may be adjusted based on feedback from COP calculations.

Domestic Hot Water (DHW)

• Domestic hot water is provided by a 90 litre unvented hot water cylinder.
• The hot water cylinder is located as near to outlets as possible to minimise tap delay.
• The hot water cylinder is fitted with multiple temperature sensors.
• DHW is heated by the use of a plate heat exchanger assembly (an HIU), with cold water pumped from the base of the cylinder through the plate heat exchanger where it is heated to target temperatures and fed into the top of the cylinder, heating variable quantities from the top down.
• The plate heat exchanger if fed with hot primary water from the buffer store, heated by the heat pump.
• The volumes of hot water heated may be adjusted based on DHW requirements (occupancy levels).
• The rate that water is heated may be adjusted by altering the pump speed.
• The rate of reheat will be accelerated as the hot water cylinder empties, reverting to instantaneous DHW generation when the cylinder is almost exhausted.
• The hot water cylinder is fitted with two immersion heaters. One at the bottom to allow heating of the entire cylinder, and one located at the top allowing for rapid reheating of small quantities.
• Use of the upper heating element in partnership with the plate heat exchanger pump allows variable quantities of water to also be heated by the upper electric element alone.

Central Heating

• Central heating is driven by pumping heated water from the buffer store to heat emitters. when there is a demand for heat.
• The central heating pump is switched off when there is no load requirements for either DHW or central heating.
• The flow rate through each heat emitter (radiator or fan convector or panel) is varied in order to achieve required room temperatures.
• Flow rates through heat emitters is controlled by a 0-10v actuator fitted on the return pipe from the emitters, located on a manifold into which all zones return independently.
• In order to eliminate excessive start-up temperatures, heating start times will be adjusted in order to achieve target temperatures by set times. The start times will be calculated based on external air temperatures and system feed-back (optimum start).

Heat Pump Selection

Mitsubishi Electric QAVG 40kW CO2 Air Source Heat Pump

Selection

The selected heat pump is a Mitsubishi Electric QAVG 40kW CO2 Air Source Heat Pump.

Specifically designed for commercial sanitary hot water application, where gas boilers, combined heat and power systems (CHP) or electric water heating have been traditionally utilised, the QAHV provides a low carbon solution for hospitals, hotels, leisure centres and student accommodation. Utilising the natural and stable refrigerant CO2 (R744), the environmentally clean solution enables compliance to strict local planning laws and boosts BREEAM points. Compounded by the increasing decarbonisation of the electrical grid and the UK’s commitment to Net Zero 2050, the QAHV provides a high efficiency, low carbon hot water delivery solution with leaving water temperature up to 90°C.

Documentation

QAHV_6PP_AW_v2
QAHV-N560YA-HPB_Service_Manual
QAHV-N560YA-HPB_Install_Manual
QAHV-N560YA-HPB-PI-SHEET

Domestic Hot Water

Hot water to be provided using a SLIM HIU from Thermal Integration in partnership with a 90 litre unvented cylinder.

• Fully electronic solution with anti-legionella cycle & PC connectivity for set-up and commissioning
• Calibrated sensors for fast DHW temperature control
• Eco / Comfort DHW modes for continuous or intelligent pre-heat
• Compact design - 240mm (W) x 420mm (H) x 90mm (D)
• Fully insulated compartmentalised casing
• Stainless steel pipework
• Open control options
• RS485 interface
• Optional primary pump kit Optional 24V
• DC version
• Optional security case with integral heat meter, landlord security valve and anti-fraud sealing kit.
• From the same family of HIUs as the DATA - has the industries best BESA VWART figures of all time

See http://heatweb.co.uk/w/index.php?title=The_SLIM_HIU

Central Heating

Room Controllers

Sontay Smart Room Thermostats with Temperature, CO2, Relative Humidity, PIR and ModBus

Initial requirement is for:

• temperature, humidity and CO2 sensing.
• hard wired
• preferable Modbus RTU / TCP, or BACNET
• existing units that use 0-10v and resistance can be worked with Sontay GS-CO2-S

Suggest SC-S-403000 with:

• temperature, humidity and CO2 sensing.
• PIR sensing
• Modbus RTU or BACnet
• 24v dc

Sc-x-download.pdf
Modbus Registers
SC-S Smart Sensor

Radiator Outputs

https://www.stelrad.com/radiators/standard-steel-radiators/classic-compact/

The following outputs are based on a 33C delta T.

This comes from a 75/30C profile, with an average temperature of 52.5C, giving a 33C difference to room temperatures.

The heat pump envelope allows loads to be increased 40% over these values if ever needed.

Range	Height	Length	Type	Output dt33
	mm	mm		Watts	Btu/hr
COMPACT	300	500	K1	147	502
COMPACT	300	1000	K1	294	1,002
COMPACT	300	1500	K1	441	1,505
COMPACT	300	2000	K1	587	2,005
COMPACT	300	2500	K1	735	2,507
COMPACT	300	3000	K1	881	3,007
COMPACT	450	400	K1	174	595
COMPACT	450	500	K1	218	744
COMPACT	450	600	K1	262	894
COMPACT	450	700	K1	305	1,042
COMPACT	450	800	K1	349	1,191
COMPACT	450	900	K1	392	1,339
COMPACT	450	1000	K1	436	1,489
COMPACT	450	1100	K1	480	1,638
COMPACT	450	1200	K1	523	1,786
COMPACT	450	1400	K1	610	2,084
COMPACT	450	1600	K1	698	2,383
COMPACT	450	1800	K1	785	2,680
COMPACT	450	2000	K1	872	2,978
COMPACT	450	2200	K1	960	3,275
COMPACT	450	2400	K1	1,047	3,572
COMPACT	450	2600	K1	1,134	3,872
COMPACT	450	2800	K1	1,222	4,169
COMPACT	450	3000	K1	1,309	4,466
COMPACT	600	400	K1	226	772
COMPACT	600	500	K1	283	965
COMPACT	600	600	K1	339	1,158
COMPACT	600	700	K1	396	1,351
COMPACT	600	800	K1	452	1,544
COMPACT	600	900	K1	509	1,737
COMPACT	600	1000	K1	565	1,930
COMPACT	600	1100	K1	622	2,123
COMPACT	600	1200	K1	679	2,316
COMPACT	600	1400	K1	792	2,702
COMPACT	600	1600	K1	905	3,088
COMPACT	600	1800	K1	1,018	3,474
COMPACT	600	2000	K1	1,131	3,860
COMPACT	600	2200	K1	1,244	4,246
COMPACT	600	2400	K1	1,357	4,632
COMPACT	600	2600	K1	1,470	5,018
COMPACT	600	2800	K1	1,583	5,404
COMPACT	600	3000	K1	1,696	5,790
COMPACT	700	400	K1	258	880
COMPACT	700	500	K1	323	1,101
COMPACT	700	600	K1	387	1,319
COMPACT	700	700	K1	451	1,540
COMPACT	700	800	K1	516	1,761
COMPACT	700	900	K1	580	1,979
COMPACT	700	1000	K1	645	2,200
COMPACT	700	1100	K1	709	2,420
COMPACT	700	1200	K1	773	2,639
COMPACT	700	1400	K1	902	3,080
COMPACT	700	1600	K1	1,031	3,519
COMPACT	700	1800	K1	1,160	3,960
COMPACT	700	2000	K1	1,289	4,399
COMPACT	700	2200	K1	1,418	4,839
COMPACT	700	2400	K1	1,547	5,280
COMPACT	700	2600	K1	1,676	5,719
COMPACT	700	2800	K1	1,805	6,160
COMPACT	700	3000	K1	1,934	6,599
COMPACT	300	500	P+	215	735
COMPACT	300	1000	P+	430	1,467
COMPACT	300	1500	P+	645	2,202
COMPACT	300	2000	P+	860	2,934
COMPACT	300	2500	P+	1,075	3,669
COMPACT	300	3000	P+	1,290	4,401
COMPACT	450	400	P+	243	831
COMPACT	450	500	P+	305	1,040
COMPACT	450	600	P+	365	1,247
COMPACT	450	700	P+	426	1,455
COMPACT	450	800	P+	487	1,662
COMPACT	450	900	P+	548	1,871
COMPACT	450	1000	P+	609	2,078
COMPACT	450	1100	P+	670	2,286
COMPACT	450	1200	P+	730	2,493
COMPACT	450	1400	P+	852	2,909
COMPACT	450	1600	P+	974	3,324
COMPACT	450	1800	P+	1,096	3,740
COMPACT	450	2000	P+	1,217	4,155
COMPACT	450	2200	P+	1,339	4,571
COMPACT	450	2400	P+	1,461	4,986
COMPACT	450	2600	P+	1,583	5,402
COMPACT	450	2800	P+	1,704	5,817
COMPACT	450	3000	P+	1,826	6,233
COMPACT	600	400	P+	310	1,059
COMPACT	600	500	P+	388	1,325
COMPACT	600	600	P+	466	1,589
COMPACT	600	700	P+	544	1,855
COMPACT	600	800	P+	621	2,119
COMPACT	600	900	P+	699	2,385
COMPACT	600	1000	P+	776	2,649
COMPACT	600	1100	P+	854	2,915
COMPACT	600	1200	P+	931	3,178
COMPACT	600	1400	P+	1,086	3,708
COMPACT	600	1600	P+	1,242	4,238
COMPACT	600	1800	P+	1,397	4,768
COMPACT	600	2000	P+	1,552	5,297
COMPACT	600	2200	P+	1,707	5,827
COMPACT	600	2400	P+	1,863	6,357
COMPACT	600	2600	P+	2,018	6,887
COMPACT	600	2800	P+	2,173	7,416
COMPACT	600	3000	P+	2,328	7,946
COMPACT	700	400	P+	353	1,205
COMPACT	700	500	P+	441	1,507
COMPACT	700	600	P+	530	1,808
COMPACT	700	700	P+	618	2,109
COMPACT	700	800	P+	706	2,410
COMPACT	700	900	P+	795	2,712
COMPACT	700	1000	P+	883	3,013
COMPACT	700	1100	P+	971	3,314
COMPACT	700	1200	P+	1,059	3,616
COMPACT	700	1400	P+	1,236	4,218
COMPACT	700	1600	P+	1,412	4,821
COMPACT	700	1800	P+	1,589	5,423
COMPACT	700	2000	P+	1,766	6,026
COMPACT	700	2200	P+	1,942	6,629
COMPACT	700	2400	P+	2,119	7,231
COMPACT	700	2600	P+	2,295	7,834
COMPACT	700	2800	P+	2,472	8,436
COMPACT	700	3000	P+	2,648	9,039
COMPACT	300	500	K2	283	967
COMPACT	300	1000	K2	567	1,934
COMPACT	300	1500	K2	850	2,901
COMPACT	300	2000	K2	1,133	3,868
COMPACT	300	2500	K2	1,417	4,835
COMPACT	300	3000	K2	1,700	5,802
COMPACT	450	400	K2	316	1,079
COMPACT	450	500	K2	396	1,351
COMPACT	450	600	K2	475	1,621
COMPACT	450	700	K2	554	1,891
COMPACT	450	800	K2	633	2,160
COMPACT	450	900	K2	712	2,430
COMPACT	450	1000	K2	791	2,700
COMPACT	450	1100	K2	870	2,970
COMPACT	450	1200	K2	949	3,240
COMPACT	450	1400	K2	1,107	3,779
COMPACT	450	1600	K2	1,266	4,321
COMPACT	450	1800	K2	1,424	4,860
COMPACT	450	2000	K2	1,582	5,400
COMPACT	450	2200	K2	1,740	5,939
COMPACT	450	2400	K2	1,898	6,479
COMPACT	450	2600	K2	2,057	7,021
COMPACT	450	2800	K2	2,215	7,560
COMPACT	450	3000	K2	2,373	8,100
COMPACT	600	400	K2	400	1,365
COMPACT	600	500	K2	500	1,705
COMPACT	600	600	K2	600	2,046
COMPACT	600	700	K2	699	2,387
COMPACT	600	800	K2	800	2,729
COMPACT	600	900	K2	900	3,070
COMPACT	600	1000	K2	999	3,411
COMPACT	600	1100	K2	1,099	3,752
COMPACT	600	1200	K2	1,199	4,092
COMPACT	600	1400	K2	1,399	4,776
COMPACT	600	1600	K2	1,599	5,457
COMPACT	600	1800	K2	1,799	6,140
COMPACT	600	2000	K2	1,999	6,822
COMPACT	600	2200	K2	2,198	7,503
COMPACT	600	2400	K2	2,399	8,186
COMPACT	600	2600	K2	2,598	8,868
COMPACT	600	2800	K2	2,798	9,551
COMPACT	600	3000	K2	2,998	10,232
COMPACT	700	400	K2	452	1,544
COMPACT	700	500	K2	566	1,932
COMPACT	700	600	K2	679	2,318
COMPACT	700	700	K2	792	2,704
COMPACT	700	800	K2	905	3,090
COMPACT	700	900	K2	1,018	3,476
COMPACT	700	1000	K2	1,131	3,862
COMPACT	700	1100	K2	1,245	4,248
COMPACT	700	1200	K2	1,358	4,634
COMPACT	700	1400	K2	1,584	5,406
COMPACT	700	1600	K2	1,811	6,180
COMPACT	700	1800	K2	2,037	6,952
COMPACT	700	2000	K2	2,263	7,724
COMPACT	700	2200	K2	2,489	8,496
COMPACT	700	2400	K2	2,715	9,268
COMPACT	700	2600	K2	2,942	10,041
COMPACT	700	2800	K2	3,168	10,813
COMPACT	700	3000	K2	3,394	11,585

COMPACT K3	300	1000	K3	778	2,656
COMPACT K3	300	2000	K3	1,557	5,312
COMPACT K3	500	600	K3	712	2,429
COMPACT K3	500	700	K3	830	2,833
COMPACT K3	500	800	K3	949	3,239
COMPACT K3	500	900	K3	1,067	3,642
COMPACT K3	500	1000	K3	1,186	4,048
COMPACT K3	500	1100	K3	1,305	4,453
COMPACT K3	500	1200	K3	1,423	4,857
COMPACT K3	500	1400	K3	1,661	5,666
COMPACT K3	500	1600	K3	1,898	6,477
COMPACT K3	500	1800	K3	2,135	7,286
COMPACT K3	500	2000	K3	2,373	8,095
COMPACT K3	500	2400	K3	2,847	9,714
COMPACT K3	600	400	K3	552	1,882
COMPACT K3	600	500	K3	690	2,353
COMPACT K3	600	600	K3	827	2,821
COMPACT K3	600	700	K3	965	3,292
COMPACT K3	600	800	K3	1,103	3,762
COMPACT K3	600	900	K3	1,241	4,233
COMPACT K3	600	1000	K3	1,378	4,703
COMPACT K3	600	1100	K3	1,516	5,174
COMPACT K3	600	1200	K3	1,654	5,644
COMPACT K3	600	1400	K3	1,930	6,585
COMPACT K3	600	1600	K3	2,205	7,524
COMPACT K3	600	1800	K3	2,481	8,466
COMPACT K3	600	2000	K3	2,757	9,407
COMPACT K3	600	2400	K3	3,309	11,289
COMPACT K3	700	500	K3	782	2,670
COMPACT K3	700	600	K3	939	3,203
COMPACT K3	700	700	K3	1,095	3,737
COMPACT K3	700	800	K3	1,252	4,272
COMPACT K3	700	900	K3	1,408	4,806
COMPACT K3	700	1000	K3	1,565	5,339
COMPACT K3	700	1100	K3	1,721	5,873
COMPACT K3	700	1200	K3	1,878	6,406
COMPACT K3	700	1400	K3	2,191	7,475
COMPACT K3	700	1600	K3	2,504	8,542
COMPACT K3	700	1800	K3	2,817	9,611
COMPACT K3	700	2000	K3	3,130	10,678

Convector Outputs

These are existing units to me made use of.

Pump Selection

Magna3 25-120

https://product-selection.grundfos.com/uk/products/magna/magna3/magna3-25-120-97924248?tab=variant-curves&pumpsystemid=1603040362

Parts List

The following parts are key to operation of the system.

Parts List

Item	Quantity	Notes
CO2 Air Source Heat Pump & Accessories	1
500 litre Buffer Store	1
100 litre Direct Unvented Cylinder	1
Plate Heat Exchanger Recovery Unit (inc pump)	1
Magna 3 Pump 25-120	1
CIM200 Modbus Card for Magna3	1	Covered under project
12 Port Manifold complete with 0-10v Actuators	2	Covered under project
NTC Temperature Sensors (pipe & immersion)	40	Covered under project
Static Pressure Sensors	5	Covered under project
Magnaclean Air & Dirt Separator	1	Basic model
Primary Expansion Vessel 50 litres	1
Sealed System Kit	1
Heat Meters (Zenner C5 with M-Bus)	3	Covered under project
DPCV (Differential Pressure Control Valve 22mm)	1
Radiators
Panel Heaters
Fan Convectors
Three Port Control Valve, Modulating 0-10v, 22mm	1	Covered under project
Room Controllers, Sontay, Modbus, with Temp, Humidity, CO2 & Setpoint	18	Covered under project
BEMS System including: Control panel GSM Modem / Router Ethernet Switch PLC Controllers to manage all inputs and outputs 24" Touch Screen Control Interface Power Supplies Modbus Interfaces M-Bus Meter Interfaces MQTT Server Https Certificates Licence free for life Software and Commissioning	1	Covered under project
Pipework and Insulation
Trace heating for external heat pump pipework

The following parts are optional, to achieve higher standards more suited to heat networks than single client systems.

Optional Parts List

Item	Quantity	Notes
Pressurisation Set	1

System Benefits

The installation of a CO2 Heat Pump is not as simple as using basic electric heaters and an electric unvented cylinder, however the CO2 system offers a COP performance of 3+, translating to a 67% saving in electrical consumption and running costs.

The following points should be considered in the choice of whether to use CO2 heat pumps in the SHED or to go the easier route.

• COP of 3+ provides a 67% saving in both electrical consumption, costs and CO2 emissions. For every unit of electricity used, a further two units will be generated for 'free'.
• The system offers the ability to deliver outputs far in excess of the calculated peak loads, and will be able to deliver services on the coldest of days.
• Reduced peak electrical loads / supplies.
• The ability to time heat generation with cheap rate electrical tariffs (e.g. Economy 10/2000) - up to capacity of storage.
• Centrally driven, with the possibility to add in additional heat sources in future, including solar thermal or biomass . The system is future proofed for any eventuality.
• While the SHED is a single building, the layout and loads are comparable to a heat network consisting of up to 20 properties (depending on size). CO2 heat pumps have never been used on a heat network because of the historic temperature profiles, however recent advances in heat network management (central heating control) have allowed us to achieve compatible temperatures and the technology is ready for field trials. It is expected that the SHED will demonstrate that it is not only possible to heat properties and generate hot water, but also to reduce the costs per property to under £3000, which would be a game changer for the switch to zero carbon, and would come in under the current government grants of £5000 per property.
• If the SHED project were not to go ahead using CO2 technology, there would be at least another year lost - for the whole planet - in the race to offer better lower cost solutions to the current housing stock connected to central boiler plants. While the cost of this cannot be put into £, it is important to understand that with energy costs rising rapidly, a solution that can save up to 60% of energy consumption (compared to direct electric) and 50%+ of installation costs (compared to individual heat pumps) will be massive.
• This time next year the Welsh Government may have a working solution that can be applied worldwide. If the SHED project were not to go ahead, this time next year we will be no further ahead.
• The planned tests on the various heat emitters in the SHED will be of significant importance to all future heat networks, with clear and documented practices and performances.
• The majority of material costs are covered by the project, offering the client (the Welsh Government) the best value for money of any Heat Pump scheme ever run.
• The project is receiving free design consultancy of a type that would normally cost tens of thousands of £.

Sizing

Bivalent Systems for Heat Networks

The following designs show the impact of a single 40kW heat pump on various numbers of properties. This is unrelated to the SHED, however is shown in order to give the reader a feel for the impact of even a single heat pump on real-world loads.

Each property is 2 bedroom 3 person, and 4kW heating load.

Topping up boilers are included to achieve peak loads.

Caption text

Properties	% Heat Pump	Design Link
20 x 2B3P	99.9%	https://hw7.ddns.net/ui/hndesign?loadCID=QmNg4trTmoxkD35qj4eBWd1exKwKfbVpP3jRNgEQwZn4qB
30 x 2B3P	94.6%	https://hw7.ddns.net/ui/hndesign?loadCID=QmXz5H1sdV5F1juQrQc71PLjdWCPWkHhqHkitGbC8o8B9z
40 x 2B3P	83.6%	https://hw7.ddns.net/ui/hndesign?loadCID=QmPgBB6jSXehwP2ZYp7LcZNQeEyXggQM4FPgcgdQWQgZVc

Bivalent40kw

This graph shows how the vast majority of load (for 2021) is driven by heat pumps (blue & orange), with boilers (green) used to top up.

Operational Data Policy

This section manages any policies, requirements and plans on data storage, user access, and MQTT permissions.

• Operational data to be logged in real-time
• Recent data points stored in controller memory
• Options to write data logs to hard drive
• Options to write data logs to IPFS file system (encryption policy to discuss)
• Use of both crude and fine grained security settings by user, network, device, data type and key (MQTT ACL file functionality)
• This Wiki project page will detail performance data for as long as SHED is in 'public' mode
• A Private Wiki will run on the LAN with levels of user access control. This will act as:
  • the primary user interface,
  • storage space for logs locally,
  • documentation repository.
  • backups of controller software (so new controllers can be cloned)
• VPN access to system
• SSL https certificates on any exposed portals, and on MQTT services.
• None of these core functions to require any licences or software costs (just add internet)