Predictika · Heat pump cascades

An AI sales agent's heat pump cascade order, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares an order for a cascade of air-to-water heat pumps from a public cascade planner: the heat pump series, size and number of units, the supply phase, the control components, a buffer tank and, optionally, a gas boiler for a hybrid system. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the planner and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: Nimbus NET R32 heat pump cascades: series, size, number of units, supply phase, required controls and sensors, system water content, stated power and the hybrid boiler ratio. See everything this validator covers

This validator models cascade orders for the Nimbus NET R32 heat pump range as set out in the public cascade planner, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Cascade packages — the planner lists packages of 2 units for size 80, 2 to 3 units for size 120 and 2 to 5 units for size 150, for the Nimbus S split, Nimbus M monobloc and Nimbus M Pocket monobloc series (the split series only in size 80); sizes 120 and 150 are listed as three-phase only. Only heat pumps of the same size and type can be combined.
  • Controls and sensors — each cascade lists a cascade manager, a SENSYS HD system interface, a T10 system delivery sensor, a universal buffer tank sensor (not supplied with the package but mandatory) and an outdoor temperature sensor; an order missing any of them is rejected.
  • Water content and power — the planner requires at least 5 litres of system water for every kW of rated power, which the buffer tank (197, 298, 403 or 473 litres) and any other system water must cover; the total power the agent states must equal the sum of the listed unit sizes (8, 12 or 15 kW each). A hybrid heat pump to boiler power ratio outside the 25 to 50 percent range the planner calls balanced goes to a person to confirm.

Any cascade order for these heat pumps that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (the planner lists none, so this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), other Ariston products and boiler models, domestic hot water cylinders, hydraulic design, pipe and refrigerant line sizing, optional gateways, and electrical or local-code compliance. Assumptions: the units a cascade needs are chosen by the order, and the stated total power is the sum of the listed unit sizes.

The AI sales agentBuilds the heat pump cascade order from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
Click to expand
    
Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Only heat pumps of the same size and type in one cascadeOnly with care
The order is a list of lines, so a rule has to compare each line with the others; it works, but it is easy to miss when a line is added later.		Series, size and any extra units travel in one request and are compared on every call.
A unit count that is limited by the heat pump sizeOnly with care
A separate limit for each size and series, kept in step with the planner when it changes.		The size sets the minimum and maximum number of units and the total is checked against it on every call.
Water content that depends on the total power and the tankOnly with workarounds
The needed litres come from the power of all units and the available litres from a tank choice and other water, so it needs a cross-line calculation that interacts with the unit rules.		Power, tank and other water are in one request and the 5 litres per kW rule is checked with the rest.
A stated total power that disagrees with the unitsOnly with workarounds
The figure the agent states is a free field, so it takes an extra rule that compares it with the sum of the unit sizes.		The stated figure is part of the request and is compared with the computed power on every call.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the order is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
Click to expand
    
Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The cascade has 3 heat pumps; the listed cascade packages for this size have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 2 heat pumps.
2The cascade has 1 heat pump; the listed cascade packages for this size have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 heat pumps.
3The cascade has 4 heat pumps; the listed cascade packages for this size have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 heat pumps.
4The cascade has 6 heat pumps; the listed cascade packages for this size have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 heat pumps.
5The cascade has 1 heat pump; the listed cascade packages for this size have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 heat pumps.
6The Nimbus S split heat pump cascade packages are listed only in size 80; the planner has no Nimbus S cascade package in the selected size.
7The size 120 and size 150 cascade packages are listed only as three-phase, and a single-phase supply is selected.
8The cascade mixes heat pumps of different sizes or types; the Ariston cascade planner states that only heat pumps of the same size and type can be combined.
9The cascade has no cascade manager; one is listed among the components of each cascade.
10The cascade has no SENSYS HD system interface; one is listed among the components of each cascade.
11The cascade has no T10 system delivery sensor; one is listed among the components of each cascade.
12The cascade has no universal buffer tank sensor; the planner notes that it is not supplied with the package but is mandatory for creating the system.
13The cascade has no outdoor temperature sensor; one is listed among the components of each cascade.
14The system holds 224 litres of water; the planner requires at least 5 litres for every kW of rated power, which is 225 litres for this cascade of 45 kW.
15The system holds 197 litres of water; the planner requires at least 5 litres for every kW of rated power, which is 225 litres for this cascade of 45 kW.
16The system holds 298 litres of water; the planner requires at least 5 litres for every kW of rated power, which is 375 litres for this cascade of 75 kW.
17The order states a total heating power of 40 kW; the listed heat pump sizes give 45 kW.
18The order states a total heating power of 60 kW; the listed heat pump sizes give 45 kW.
19The heat pump cascade is 45 kW beside a 181 kW Genus Premium Evo HP boiler; the planner describes a heat pump to boiler power ratio of 25 to 50 percent as balanced, so a person should confirm this ratio.
20The heat pump cascade is 45 kW beside an 89 kW Genus Premium Evo HP boiler; the planner describes a heat pump to boiler power ratio of 25 to 50 percent as balanced, so a person should confirm this ratio.
21The cascade has 5 heat pumps; the listed cascade packages for this size have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 heat pumps.
22The system holds 197 litres of water; the planner requires at least 5 litres for every kW of rated power, which is 280 litres for this cascade of 56 kW.
23The order states a total heating power of 50 kW; the listed heat pump sizes give 56 kW.
24The heat pump cascade is 56 kW beside a 300 kW Genus Premium Evo HP boiler; the planner describes a heat pump to boiler power ratio of 25 to 50 percent as balanced, so a person should confirm this ratio.
25The heat pump cascade is 30 kW beside a 40 kW Genus Premium Evo HP boiler; the planner describes a heat pump to boiler power ratio of 25 to 50 percent as balanced, so a person should confirm this ratio.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
Click to expand
    
The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Size, phase and sensors: Four size 120 heat pumps on a single-phase supply

    
The agent's request. Please quote a cascade of 4 Nimbus M monobloc size 120 heat pumps on a single-phase supply, with a CKZ H 300 (298 litres) buffer tank, a cascade manager, a SENSYS HD system interface, a T10 system delivery sensor and an outdoor temperature sensor. The order states a total heating power of 48 kW. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Single phase is not listed for this size. The size 120 and size 150 cascade packages are listed only as three-phase, and a single-phase supply is selected.
    • 
      
  • Number of heat pumps outside the listed packages. The cascade has 4 heat pumps; the listed cascade packages for this size have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 heat pumps.
    • 
      
  • Universal buffer sensor missing. The cascade has no universal buffer tank sensor; the planner notes that it is not supplied with the package but is mandatory for creating the system.
    • 
    

    
2. Size, phase and sensors: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a cascade of 3 Nimbus M monobloc size 120 heat pumps on a single-phase supply, with a CKZ H 300 (298 litres) buffer tank, a cascade manager, a SENSYS HD system interface, a T10 system delivery sensor, a universal buffer tank sensor and an outdoor temperature sensor. The order states a total heating power of 36 kW. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Single phase is not listed for this size. The size 120 and size 150 cascade packages are listed only as three-phase, and a single-phase supply is selected.
    • 
    

    
3. Size, phase and sensors: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a cascade of 3 Nimbus M monobloc size 120 heat pumps on a three-phase supply, with a CKZ H 300 (298 litres) buffer tank, a cascade manager, a SENSYS HD system interface, a T10 system delivery sensor, a universal buffer tank sensor and an outdoor temperature sensor. The order states a total heating power of 36 kW. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Cascade summary. 3 heat pumps, 36 kW in total; system water 298 litres against a minimum of 180 litres.
    • 
    

    
4. Mixed sizes and system water: Two size 150 and one size 120 heat pump with a 197-litre buffer tank

    
The agent's request. Please quote a cascade of 2 Nimbus M Pocket monobloc size 150 heat pumps on a three-phase supply, plus 1 Nimbus M monobloc size 120 heat pump, with a CKZ H 200 (197 litres) buffer tank, a cascade manager, a SENSYS HD system interface, a T10 system delivery sensor, a universal buffer tank sensor and an outdoor temperature sensor. The order states a total heating power of 45 kW. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Different sizes or types in one cascade. The cascade mixes heat pumps of different sizes or types; the Ariston cascade planner states that only heat pumps of the same size and type can be combined.
    • 
      
  • System water content too low. The system holds 197 litres of water; the planner requires at least 5 litres for every kW of rated power, which is 210 litres for this cascade of 42 kW.
    • 
      
  • Stated total power does not match. The order states a total heating power of 45 kW; the listed heat pump sizes give 42 kW.
    • 
    

    
5. Mixed sizes and system water: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a cascade of 3 Nimbus M Pocket monobloc size 150 heat pumps on a three-phase supply, with a CKZ H 300 (298 litres) buffer tank, a cascade manager, a SENSYS HD system interface, a T10 system delivery sensor, a universal buffer tank sensor and an outdoor temperature sensor. The order states a total heating power of 45 kW. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Cascade summary. 3 heat pumps, 45 kW in total; system water 298 litres against a minimum of 225 litres.
    • 
    

    
6. Water content and hybrid boiler: Five size 150 heat pumps with a 298-litre tank beside a 100 kW boiler

    
The agent's request. Please quote a cascade of 5 Nimbus M monobloc size 150 heat pumps on a three-phase supply, with a CKZ H 300 (298 litres) buffer tank, a cascade manager, a SENSYS HD system interface, a T10 system delivery sensor, a universal buffer tank sensor and an outdoor temperature sensor, as a hybrid system beside a 100 kW Genus Premium Evo HP boiler. The order states a total heating power of 75 kW. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • System water content too low. The system holds 298 litres of water; the planner requires at least 5 litres for every kW of rated power, which is 375 litres for this cascade of 75 kW.
    • 
      
  • Hybrid power ratio outside the balanced range. The heat pump cascade is 75 kW beside a 100 kW Genus Premium Evo HP boiler; the planner describes a heat pump to boiler power ratio of 25 to 50 percent as balanced, so a person should confirm this ratio.
    • 
    

    
7. Water content and hybrid boiler: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a cascade of 5 Nimbus M monobloc size 150 heat pumps on a three-phase supply, with a CKZ H 500 (473 litres) buffer tank, a cascade manager, a SENSYS HD system interface, a T10 system delivery sensor, a universal buffer tank sensor and an outdoor temperature sensor, as a hybrid system beside a 200 kW Genus Premium Evo HP boiler. The order states a total heating power of 75 kW. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Cascade summary. 5 heat pumps, 75 kW in total; system water 473 litres against a minimum of 375 litres.
    • 
    

  

  

    
Narration transcript
Click to expand
    
The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares an order for a cascade of air-to-water heat pumps from a public cascade planner: the heat pump series, size and number of units, the supply phase, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the planner and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote a cascade of 4 Nimbus M monobloc size 120 heat pumps on a single-phase supply, with a CKZ H 300 (298 litres) buffer tank. The order states a total heating power of 48 kW. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with three findings, all in one answer. The size 120 and size 150 cascade packages are listed only as three-phase, and a single-phase supply is selected. The cascade has 4 heat pumps; the listed cascade packages for this size have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 heat pumps. The cascade has no universal buffer tank sensor; the planner notes that it is not supplied with the package but is mandatory for creating the system.
    6. 
      
  6. The validator returned three blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
    7. 
      
  7. What this shows: for only heat pumps of the same size and type in one cascade, a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
    8. 
      
  8. Now the agent resubmits.
    9. 
      
  9. The corrected request. It changes the heat pumps to 3, the universal buffer sensors to 1 and the stated total heating power to 36 kW.
    10. 
      
  10. It calls the validator again.
    11. 
      
  11. Still blocked, with one finding, all in one answer. The size 120 and size 150 cascade packages are listed only as three-phase, and a single-phase supply is selected.
    12. 
      
  12. Two findings cleared; still blocked on single phase is not listed for this size.
    13. 
      
  13. The agent resubmits once more.
    14. 
      
  14. The revised request. It changes the supply phase to three phase.
    15. 
      
  15. It calls the validator once more.
    16. 
      
  16. This time the validator clears it.
    17. 
      
  17. The earlier finding is cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
    18. 
      
  18. Three problems caught in one call, fixed in two passes, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer.
    19.