Circulation Pump Parameter Sensing for Bypass Valve State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home and industrial water distribution systems often fail to provide hot water at the desired location when needed, leading to the use of cold or tepid water, water waste, and increased time waiting for hot water to reach the fixture.
Innovation Solution
A circulation pump with a pump controller that cycles between on-phases and off-phases, tracking operation parameters such as electrical power consumption to determine when the bypass valve is closed, allowing for efficient operation without communication with the bypass valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the circulation pump operates continuously to maintain hot water availability, then hot water is always available at the fixture, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump controller monitors the operational state of the bypass valve (open/closed) and uses this feedback to control pump operation. When the bypass valve closes (indicating hot water has reached the fixture), the controller stops the pump, avoiding continuous operation and reducing energy consumption while maintaining hot water availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively circulates hot water through the distribution pipes before the user actually needs it at the fixture. The pump operates in advance to push hot water toward the fixture, and the bypass valve closure signals when this preliminary action has succeeded, allowing the pump to stop before continuous operation would begin.
2Productivity
If the pump controller communicates with the bypass valve to coordinate operation, then pump operation is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass valve is designed to be self-indicating through its operational state (open/closed position). The pump controller reads this state without requiring complex communication protocols or additional sensors on the valve. The valve essentially serves itself by providing passive feedback through its position, which the controller interprets to manage pump operation efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the bypass valve's operational state as an intermediary signal between the thermal condition of the water and the pump control decision. Rather than directly sensing water temperature or using complex communication, the valve's position acts as a simple mediator that translates thermal conditions into a binary signal the controller can act upon.
3Loss of time
If the pump operates at full power to quickly deliver hot water, then hot water reaches the fixture faster, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously or at constant power. It runs at full power in intervals to quickly deliver hot water when needed (reducing waiting time), then stops when the bypass valve closes. This periodic operation pattern achieves fast hot water delivery while avoiding sustained high energy consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures that hot water is readily available at the desired location by optimizing the operation of the circulation pump based on the state of the bypass valve, reducing water waste and saving time.
Implementation Method 1
the pump controller being configured to track at least one operation parameter of the circulation pump
Implementation Method 2
A circulation pump with a pump controller configured for controlling a pump motor such that the pump motor cycles between on-phases and off-phases
Implementation Method 3
supplying hot water to a hot water inlet of a temperature-controlled bypass valve
Data Source
AI summary
A circulation pump for supplying hot water to a hot water inlet of a temperature-controlled bypass valve for domestic hot-water recirculation, the circulation pump including a pump controller configured for controlling a pump motor such that the pump motor cycles between on-phases and off-phases, the circulation pump further including a sensor for measuring at least one operation parameter of the circulation pump; the pump controller being configured such that an on-phase is terminated and an off-phase is initiated when an output signal of the sensor indicates that said at least one operation parameter reaches a termination threshold value or range.