Adjusting unit of terminal device in liquid circulation heating system and heating system

Abstract

An adjusting unit (7) of a terminal of a liquid-circulation heating system includes a liquid-circulation main line (8) and an electronically controllable valve (9) in the liquid-circulation main line (8). The valve (9) is controllable based on the temperature of a heatable space. The adjusting unit (7) further comprises a liquid-circulation branch (12), which bypasses the electrically-controllable valve (9) of the liquid-circulation main line (8), and a connector (15) for connecting the liquid-circulation main line (8) to a liquid-circulation line (6) of the heating system such that the adjusting unit (7) is transferrable and connectable to a temporarily installable liquid-circulation heating system.

Description

Background of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to heating systems and particularly to temporarily installable liquid-circulation heating systems.

[0002] Heating systems should be able to heat a heatable space sufficiently but, on the other hand, it is not sensible to construct the heating system to be too effective. Each room of a building that comprises several rooms should be heated in a manner fulfilling certain criteria. In a liquid-circulation heating system, the temperature of the return flow should remain at least reasonably within desired limits. Temporarily installable heating systems are used e.g. at building sites and equivalent sites. At such sites, characteristics of the heatable space vary. The consideration of the variation of the characteristics of the heatable space and the variation of environmental conditions in connection with temporarily installable heating systems is quite challenging.Brief description of the invention

[0003] The object of the invention is thus to develop a novel kind of an adjusting unit of a terminal device of a liquid-circulation heating system and a heating system. The solution according to the invention is characterised by what is disclosed in the independent claims. Some embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0004] In this connection, an adjusting unit of a terminal of a liquid-circulation heating system is introduced. The adjusting unit comprises a liquid-circulation main line and an electrically-controllable valve in the liquid-circulation main line, whereby the valve is controllable based on the temperature of the heatable space. The adjusting unit further comprises a liquid-circulation branch, which bypasses the electrically-controllable valve of the liquid-circulation main line, and a connector for connecting the liquid-circulation main line to the liquid-circulation line of the heating system such that the adjusting unit is transferrable and connectable to the temporarily installable liquid-circulation heating system.

[0005] Such an adjusting unit can, in versatile and reliable but still simple way, control the operation of terminals of temporarily installed liquid-circulation heating systems. By means of the electrically-controllable valve in the main line, it is possible to adjust the heat release power of the terminal in accordance with the heating requirement of the heatable space. Due to the flow in the branch, the temperature of return water can be kept as preferred, whereby leaks in the hoses are prevented and the heating supply can be kept sufficiently high, whereby an increase of heating requirement can be addressed quickly. On the other hand, the temperature of liquid in the return line can be kept sufficiently low in order to avoid e.g. problems in a district heating network. All in all, the working conditions at e.g. a building site can be kept pleasant, that is, not too cold or not too warm despite the varying conditions, and heating energy is saved. In addition, decreasing the temperature e.g. for the night or weekend is easy and simple by controlling the electrically-controllable valve. Due to the controllers, it is possible to install into the heatable spaces devices which have so high heat release power that the heating power is always sufficient even though the external factors and / or e.g. the stages at the building site changed.

[0006] According to an embodiment, the adjusting unit includes a connector for connecting the adjusting unit to the terminal of the temporarily installable liquid-circulation heating system. Such an adjusting unit is thus separate from the terminal and it can be also be fitted into connection with a terminal currently in use, whereby it is easily possible to make an existing system exactly and accurately adjustable by means of the adjusting units. Furthermore, the fact that the adjusting unit is separate from the terminal enables, if wanted, the controlling of several terminals that heat the same space by one adjusting unit.

[0007] According to an embodiment, the adjusting unit comprises a housing for protecting the devices of the adjusting unit and, into connection with the wall of which housing, said connectors are arranged. In this case, the adjusting unit is reliably protected also in hard and challenging work site conditions. The adjusting unit is also easy and simple to arrange as a part of the temporarily installable liquid-circulation heating system.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the housing includes a handle or some other carrying element. Then, the adjusting unit is easily transferrable and handleable in work site conditions.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the housing contains a lockable door, whereby the housing protects the devices of the adjusting unit that can be used, if needed, through the door. The locking of the door ensures that unauthorised persons cannot easily access the devices of the adjusting unit. Therefore, there is no easy way to e.g. set the valves into incorrect positions. Via the door, it is still possible to appropriately handle the devices.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the adjusting unit includes a connector for a room thermostat, whereby the room thermostat is connectable via the connectors to control the electrically controllable valve of the main line. Thus, the connection of the room thermostat is easy, simple and reliable. The control of the valve of the adjusting unit operates then reliably and accurately.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the adjusting unit also includes a second controllable valve in the main line. This valve enables the adjustment of pressure loss in the flow of the main line and the balancing of flows in installations that contain several heating terminals.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the adjusting unit also includes a controllable valve in the branch. Therefore, the temperature of return water can be easily and reliably adjusted appropriate case-specifically in order to prevent the hoses from leaking and, at the same time, keep the heating supply sufficiently warm.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the adjusting unit includes a thermometer. By utilising the thermometer, it is easy and simple to adjust the temperature of returning liquid at the preferred level.Brief description of the drawings

[0014] The invention will now be described in more detail in connection with preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 schematically shows a heating system of a building; Figure 2 schematically shows a connection diagram of an adjusting unit; and Figure 3 shows a schematical oblique top view of the adjusting unit. Detailed description of the invention

[0015] Figure 1 shows a building 1, wherein there are heatable spaces which are rooms 2. The building 1 can be in progress, whereby the building 1 constitutes a construction site. Furthermore, Figure 1 shows a heating system which is a temporarily installable liquid-circulation heating system.

[0016] Figure 1 shows an energy distribution centre by designation 3. The energy distribution centre 3 can be transferrable. On the other hand, the energy distribution centre 3 can also be a fixed energy distribution centre which will serve the building 1 after its completion even though the other part of the heating system were temporarily installable. The energy distribution centre 3 can be supplied from a local temporary energy source or the energy distribution centre 3 can be connected e.g. to a district heating network. In Figure 1, the energy distribution centre 3 is connected to a district heating network which is shown in Fig-ure 1 by designation 4.

[0017] The heating system includes transferrable terminals 5. It is possible to arrange one or more transferrable terminal 5 to each heatable space. The terminal 5 of the heating system can be e.g. a water-circulation fan heater. In this case, the terminal can include means where heat-transfer medium, such as warm water, passes and e.g. an electric fan. Then, the fan blows air heated by the heat-transfer medium to the heatable space.

[0018] The terminals 5 are connected to the energy distribution centre 3 by means of liquid-circulation lines 6 of the heating system. The liquid-circulation lines 6 of the heating system can be formed of transferrable hoses, whereby the installation, transfer and removal after temporary use of the liquid-circulation lines 6 is easy to implement. For reasons of clarity, Figure 1 shows the liquid-circulation line 6 of the heating system in each of the rooms 2. However, the supply lines and / or return lines of the liquid-circulation line 6 can be combined in a manner known per se.

[0019] The terminals 5 can also require a power supply. The terminals 5 can be connectable by plugs. If there is no fixed electric power network available, the power supply can be implemented by using a transferrable temporarily installable power system. Such a power system can include a transferrable and / or fixed main distribution board which is connected to the power supply. The power supply can be an electric power network or a local power generator. From the main distribution board, the power can be supplied e.g. by temporarily installable transferrable cables to the terminals 5. Or, the power can be supplied by temporarily installable transferrable cables to a transferrable auxiliary distribution board or boards and, from there, e.g. by temporarily installable transferrable cables to the terminals 5.

[0020] Each heatable space is equipped with an adjusting unit 7. The adjusting unit 7 then controls the operation of one or more terminals 5. The construction and operation of the adjusting unit 7 will be described later.

[0021] A solution is known from prior art where there is no adjusting unit in connection with temporarily installable transferrable liquid-circulation heating devices. The heating power is aimed to be arranged suitable by installing transferrable water-circulation terminals of the correct size of their nominal power to the heatable spaces.

[0022] However, the heat release power of a water-circulation terminal is very dependent on the mass flow rate of water flowing through it, the temperature of water as well as the mass flow rate of air flowing through the fan heater and the temperature of inlet air. Most installations utilise more than one transferrable fan heaters. These fan heaters are in the installation away at the ends of hoses of different lengths from the pumping of circulation water, whereby the pressure loss caused by the looping of hoses of each fan heater is different. Furthermore, the internal pressure loss caused by each different fan heater to the water flow is different. Without sufficient control, water flows by the highest mass flow rate from the loop where the pressure loss is the smallest, and by the lowest mass flow rate from where the pressure loss is the greatest. All of the above causes that the power of the heater can be very different from its nominal power and, then, the heating power is different from the preferred one. Additionally, water is able to flow at least part of the heating devices without sufficient cooling and the temperature of water returning to the district heating system increases, which causes problems in the district heating network.

[0023] The heating requirement in work site conditions also changes considerably much depending on the stage of construction, on if there are work done at the site or not, and the temperature difference of indoor and outside air. Without sufficient control, the transferrable water-circulation fan heater can be either too powerful or powerless in respect to the heatable space. If the construction is in such a stage that air cannot be replaced unnecessarily much, the space can be heated by lower power and the internal temperature still remains at preferred level. If the construction site is in such a stage that air is replaced a lot, the building must be heated with high power in order to keep the internal temperature as preferred.

[0024] Devices installed with current defective installation can thus increase the internal temperature unnecessarily high and, on the other hand, when the requirement of heating power is high, the internal temperature can decrease too low. If the internal temperature rises too high, the working conditions are poor and unnecessarily much of heating energy is spent. If the temperature decreases too low, the working conditions are poor and the risk of damage to the devices increases. In some cases, the internal temperature at construction sites are tried to adjust downward by increases ventilation. It is also possible that the passage of air through the terminal is limited, whereby the temperature of return water of the fan heater increases. In some cases, the temperature of inlet water is increased unnecessarily high in order to obtain as high as possible heating power from devices of low nominal power.

[0025] Water circulation cannot be stopped totally at the terminal because hoses cannot cool down too much. In most installations of transferrable fan heaters, the connections of hoses are implemented by cam follower connectors. If the hoses cool down close to the temperature of the environment, they will start to leak of their connections based on experience. In addition, it is good that hot water flows as quickly as possible to the terminals when the requirement for heating power increases.

[0026] However, the solution presented in Figure 1 utilises control units 7 the connection chart of which is shown in Figure 2. The control unit 7 includes a main line 8 of liquid circulation. The main line 8 of liquid circulation contains an electrically controllable valve 9. The electronically controllable valve 9 can be e.g. a magnetic valve.

[0027] It is possible to control the electronically controllable valve 9 based on the temperature in the heatable space. The electronically controllable valve 9 can be configured to operated controlled by a room thermostat 10. The room thermostat 10 can control the magnetic valve, which can then control the liquid circulation of liquid along the liquid-circulation main line 8. If the room thermostat 10 is closed, the mass flow rate through the terminal 5 is high, whereby the heat release power of the terminal 5 increases. If the room thermostat is open, the liquid only flows along the branch 12 of liquid circulation. Then, the heat release power of the transferrable terminal 5 decreases. The adjusting unit 7 thus includes an electronically controllable valve 9 that controls the flow based on requirement, such as a magnetic valve, which can be controlled by a thermostat.

[0028] The adjusting unit 7 can include a connector 11 for the room thermostat 10. Via the connector 11, the room thermostat 10 can be provided with cables and connected to control the electronically controllable valve 9 of the main line 8.

[0029] The electronically controllable valve 9 can contain means for receiving a control command wirelessly and / or wiredly. In this case, the electronically controllable valve 9 can receive the control command in a wireless or wired manner from the room thermostat 10 or the control system.

[0030] At the same time as the electronically controllable valve 9 of the main line 8 is being controlled, it is possible to control e.g. the fan of the terminal 5. For example, when the electronically controllable valve 9 decreased or totally cuts off the flow along the main line 8, it is simultaneously possible to decrease the rotational speed of the fan of the terminal 5.

[0031] In connection with the terminal 5, there can be means for receiving a control command wirelessly and / or wiredly. It is possible to control a control command to the terminal 5 e.g. from the electronically controllable valve 9, directly from the room thermostat 10 or the control system. Therefore, the adjusting unit 7 can include means for sending a control command e.g. transmitted from the room thermostat 10 or from the electronically controllable valve 9 to the terminal 5 in order to control the rotational speed of the fan of the terminal 5.

[0032] The adjusting unit 7 thus also includes a liquid-circulation branch 12. The liquid-circulation branch 12 bypasses the electronically controllable valve 9 of the liquid-circulation main line 8. The liquid-circulation branch 12 can contain a controllable valve 13. The controllable valve 13 of the liquid-circulation branch 12 can be e.g. a manually or electronically controllable The valve 13 can be remotely controlled, if necessary.

[0033] When the liquid flows along the liquid-circulation branch 12, the temperature of return liquid can be controlled by the valve 13 to be suitable in order to prevent leaks. At the same time, it is possible to keep the heating supply sufficiently warm, whereby being able to react quickly when the requirement for heating power increases. The bypass channel, that is, the liquid-circulation branch 12 thus enables maintaining of basic heat in the heating return circulation line.

[0034] In addition to the electronically controllable valve 9, the adjusting unit includes in the liquid-circulation main line 8 also a second controllable valve 14. The second controllable valve 14 of the liquid-circulation main line 8 can be e.g. a manually or electronically controllable control valve. The valve 14 can be remotely controlled, if necessary.

[0035] The second controllable valve 14 of the liquid-circulation main line 8 helps to balance the pressure losses of the system. Then, the liquid mass flow rate is correct irrespective of where in the system the terminal is located. The second controllable valve 14 of the liquid-circulation main line 8 can thus be a controller of flow pressure loss for balancing the flows in the installation of several heating terminals 5.

[0036] The temperature of the heatable spaces remains within the hysteresis of the room thermostat if the maximal heating power of the terminal is sufficient for the space, the temperature of the return liquid remains at a sufficient level to keep the hoses tight, still such that the temperature of the return water of district heating is sufficiently low in order to avoid problems in the district heating network. In addition to the above, the working conditions remain pleasantly warm irrespective of conditions and heating energy is saved. If wanting to decrease the temperature in the spaces, e.g. for the night or weekend, it is possible by selecting the correct control of the thermostat or by remote controlling the electronically controllable valve 9 of the liquid-circulation main line 8. When the presented adjusting units are utilised in controlling the temporary installable liquid-circulation heating, it is possible to install to the spaces terminals 5 of so high heat release power that the heating power is always sufficient even though external factors and / or stages in the building site changed.

[0037] The adjusting unit 7 includes a connector 15 for connecting the liquid-circulation main line 8 to the liquid-circulation line 6 of the heating system. The connector 15 is such that the adjusting unit 7 is transferrable and connectable to the temporarily installable liquid-circulation heating system. The adjusting unit 7 can be integrated as a part of the transferrable terminal 5.

[0038] On the other hand, the adjusting unit 7 can also include a connector 16 for connecting the adjusting unit 7 to the terminal 5 of the temporarily installable liquid-circulation heating system. In this case, the adjusting unit 7 is separate from the terminal 5. The adjusting unit 7 separate from the terminals 5 can be utilised with currently used transferrable terminals 5. Additionally, being separate enables that one adjusting unit 7 can control several terminals 5 that heat the same space, if the connection is preferred to implement such. The adjusting unit 7 can thus be connected to the liquid-circulation line 6 and / or the terminal 5 of the heating system by cam lever connector or other connectors.

[0039] The adjusting unit 7 can comprise a housing 17. In Figure 2, the housing 17 is schematically illustrated by a dot-and-dash line. The housing 17 protects the devices of the adjusting unit 7. The connectors 15 and 16 of the adjusting unit 7 can be arranged into connection with the wall of the housing 17.

[0040] Electricity required by the valves can be conveyed to them by a cable 18 provided with a plug. For the cable 18, the wall of the housing 17 can include a cable clamp 19.

[0041] The adjusting unit 7 can include a thermometer 20 in connection with the main line 8. At its simplest, the thermometer 20 can only be a gauge showing the temperature, whereby the temperature data will not be conveyed further automatically. On the other hand, the thermometer can also be such that wiredly or wirelessly sends its measurement data forward.

[0042] The thermometer 20 can measure the temperature of the return flow. The temperature data can be used for adjusting the system.

[0043] The adjusting unit 7 can include a measurement device 21 measuring energy consumption. Then, energy consumption can be measured accurately even for the part of each heatable space.

[0044] The cover of the housing 17 of the adjusting unit 7 can include a handle 22. In addition to or instead of the handle, the housing can include a ring or rings or some other suitable carrying element.

[0045] The housing 17 can include a door 23. Preferably, the door 23 is a lockable door. The locking of the door 23 can be implemented by a key or a tool, whereby the door 23 is not too easily openable. Therefore, unauthorised persons are not easily able to open the door. Via the door 23, the devices of the adjusting unit are reasonably easily available for use.

[0046] The housing 17 can include legs, whereby the adjusting unit 7 is easily temporarily installable in place. The walls of the housing 17 can extend below the bottom of the housing 17 and they can be folded to form the legs 24 in a way illustrated in Figure 3.

[0047] The housing 17 can further include an opening 25. Via the opening 25, it is possible to look inside the housing 17. The opening 25 can reveal e.g. the thermometer 20 showing the temperature. The opening can be provided with a plate consisting of glass or transparent plastic, such as acryl or polycarbonate or some other suitable transparent material.

[0048] Those skilled in the art will find it obvious that, as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An adjusting unit of a terminal of a liquid-circulation heating system, wherein the adjusting unit (7) includes a liquid-circulation main line (8), an electronically controllable valve (9) in the liquid-circulation main line (8), whereby the valve (9) is controllable based on the temperature of a heatable space, and a liquid-circulation branch (12) which bypasses the electronically controllable valve (9) of the liquid-circulation main line (8), characterized in that the adjusting unit includes a connector (15) for connecting the liquid-circulation main line (8) to a liquid-circulation line (6) of the heating system such that the adjusting unit (7) is transferrable and connectable to a temporarily installable liquid-circulation heating system and a connector (16) for connecting the adjusting unit (7) to a terminal (5) of the temporarily installable liquid-circulation heating system and which adjusting unit (7) comprises a housing (17) for protecting the devices of the adjusting unit (7) and, into connection with the wall of which housing (17), said connectors (15, 16) are arranged, and which housing (17) includes a handle (22) or some other carrying element.

2. An adjusting unit according to claim 1, wherein the housing (17) includes a lockable door (23), whereby the housing (17) protects the devices of the adjusting unit (7) which are available for use via the door (23), if required.

3. An adjusting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting unit (7) includes a connector (11) for a room thermostat (10), whereby the room thermostat (10) is connectable via the connector (11) to control the electronically controllable valve (9) of the main line (8).

4. An adjusting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting unit (7) also includes a second controllable valve (14) in the main line (8).

5. An adjusting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting unit (7) also includes a controllable valve (13) in a branch (12).

6. An adjusting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting unit (7) includes a thermometer (20) in connection with the main line (8).

7. An adjusting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting unit (7) includes a measurement device (21) measuring energy consumption.

8. An adjusting unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting unit (7) includes means for sending a control command to the terminal (5) for adjusting the rotational speed of a fan of the terminal (5).

9. A heating system, which is a temporarily installable liquid-circulation heating system, which contains transferrable terminals (5), a temporary heating-system liquid circulation line (6) for supplying a heating medium to terminals (5) and an adjusting unit (7) according to any one of claims 1-8 in connection with at least some of the terminals (5).

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