Method for operating a circulation system, and circulation system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circulation systems for cold and hot water networks often fail to maintain water temperatures within legal and operational requirements, leading to inefficiencies and potential microbial growth due to temperature fluctuations and heat exchange issues.
Innovation Solution
A method that calculates and adjusts temperature changes in a circulation system using a model of axial temperature change, determining optimal volume flows and temperature settings at various sections to ensure water temperatures remain below desired limits, utilizing a cooling or heating device and circulation pump adjustments without the need for additional sensors, thereby maintaining temperature consistency across the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If forced flushing is used to meet temperature requirements during stagnation phases, then microbial growth is prevented, but energy consumption increases and system stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameter from binary on/off flushing to continuous modulation of pump power and circulation flow rate. The control unit adjusts these parameters dynamically based on temperature measurements, allowing the system to maintain temperature requirements while minimizing energy consumption by operating at lower powers when possible.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control where the circulation pump's power and flow rate are continuously adjusted based on real-time temperature measurements. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to respond to changing thermal conditions without requiring constant high-energy flushing, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining reliability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are added to monitor temperature at all sections, then temperature control precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service control approach where the single sensor's data is used by the control unit to calculate and determine the state of the entire circulation system. The control unit autonomously processes the temperature information and adjusts pump operations without requiring additional sensors at each section, thus maintaining measurement effectiveness while avoiding the complexity of multiple sensing points.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that processes temperature data from a single sensor and uses it to infer and control the thermal state of the entire system. This intermediary processing allows the system to achieve comprehensive temperature management without the need for direct measurement at every section, reducing device complexity while maintaining control precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If circulation pump power is increased to maintain temperature, then temperature consistency improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control where the circulation pump's power is continuously adjusted based on real-time temperature measurements and system state. Rather than operating at constant high power, the pump dynamically adapts its power level to maintain temperature consistency only when and where needed, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while preserving temperature stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pump operation parameter from fixed power to variable power modulation. The control unit adjusts the pump power level based on the difference between measured and target temperatures, allowing the system to maintain temperature consistency during critical periods while operating at lower energy levels during stable periods, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and 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 approach effectively maintains water temperatures within legal limits, reduces energy consumption, and enhances operational efficiency by minimizing the need for additional measuring points and reducing system susceptibility to vibrations, while ensuring compliance with temperature regulations.
Implementation Method 1
with a cooling device 12 with an input port 12a and an output port 12b for cooling water
Implementation Method 2
a circulation pump 10b, with which a desired volume flow can be set
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a circulation system (10) comprising a cooling device (12, 14) with an input port (12a, 14a) and an output port (12b, 14b) for cooling water. Said method comprises the following steps; determining, in particular calculating, a change in the temperature of the water between the initial region and the end region according to a model of the axial change in temperature for the first partial section adjacent to the output port (12b, 14b), starting from a temperature start value TMA TMA* < Tsoll, and a volume flow start value Vz*, determining, in particular calculating, a change in the temperature of the water between the initial region and the end region for each further partial section according to the model of the temperature change, under the constraint that the water temperature in the initial region of the partial section is equal to the water temperature in the end region of the partial section, to which the given partial section is adjacent, and selecting the value Ta of the water temperature and the value Vz of the volume flow at the output port (12b, 14b) in such a way that in the end region of each partial section the water temperature is TME TME < Tsoll and at the inlet port (12a, 14b) the water temperature Tb < Tsoll with Tsoll - Tb < Θ is set, wherein θ>0 is a predetermined value. The invention also relates to a circulation system for implementing said method.