Combi Boiler Start-Stop Control to Reduce Chimney Heat Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current combi boilers operate with a continuous water circulating pump, leading to excessive heat loss as they maintain water temperatures significantly higher than the environment, even in summer, resulting in unnecessary energy consumption and increased heat loss through chimneys.

Innovation Solution

The development of a main card with enhanced software that measures atmospheric temperature to control the combi boiler's heating function, starting and stopping the water pump based on external temperature, thereby reducing heat loss and optimizing energy usage by only generating heat when required.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the combi boiler operates continuously with the water circulating pump running, then the heating system maintains stable temperature, but excessive heat loss occurs through chimneys and installations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidheat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic operation of the combi boiler and water circulating pump based on atmospheric temperature measurements. The system alternates between active heating periods and idle periods, using a start-stop control mechanism that activates the boiler only when external temperature falls below a predetermined threshold, thereby eliminating continuous operation and reducing thermal losses through chimneys and installation pipes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs atmospheric temperature sensors that continuously monitor external conditions and provide feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically adjust its operation state (on/off) based on real-time temperature data, ensuring the boiler operates only when heating is actually required, thus preventing energy waste while maintaining temperature stability when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Temperature

If the combi boiler heats water to high temperatures (40-50 degrees or above), then the heating system can effectively warm the environment, but heat loss in chimneys increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater temperatureVSAvoidchimney heat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic temperature control by adjusting the boiler's operating temperature based on atmospheric conditions. Rather than maintaining a fixed high temperature, the system dynamically modulates water temperature and operation duration according to external temperature measurements, heating water to the minimum necessary temperature and for the minimum necessary time, thereby reducing thermal losses in chimneys while still achieving effective environmental warming

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the water circulating pump operates continuously, then heat is continuously distributed through radiators, but heat is absorbed by installations and external column lines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat distributionVSAvoidheat absorption by installations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic operation to the water circulating pump, synchronizing its operation with the boiler's heating cycles. The pump runs only during active heating periods when the boiler is operating, and remains stopped during idle periods, thereby eliminating continuous circulation that causes heat absorption by installations and external column lines, while still ensuring adequate heat distribution during heating phases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous useful action during heating phases by maintaining synchronized operation of the boiler and water circulating pump. When the boiler is active, the pump continuously circulates heated water through the radiators, ensuring uninterrupted heat distribution. This coordinated continuous operation during active phases maximizes heating efficiency while minimizing losses during idle phases when both systems are stopped

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 significantly reduces heat loss and energy consumption by operating the combi boiler in a start-stop mode, minimizing chimney heat loss and enhancing efficiency, especially during climatic transition phases, by calculating the necessary thermal energy based on external temperatures and adjusting the operation accordingly.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor measuring the atmospheric temperature (3); the operation system of software in the main card (2) continuously measures the atmospheric temperature with the sensor (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 2

the combi boiler heats the water within the system... the combi boiler fulfills its heating function by taking its electricity... and heats the water up to the measuring range

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

continuous water circulating pump motor (carrying modulation feature on water pump combi, working principle is the same) makes the water in radiators pass over the combi boiler

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid circulation: Pump

Implementation Method 4

makes the water in radiators pass over the combi boiler by absorbing it... the heat is absorbed much better by the return water in the combustion chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 5

the energy in the hot water heated by the combi boiler is absorbed by the block and transmitted to the exterior surface of the building and to the atmosphere

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3278035B1Improved operation combi boiler and an associated combi boiler operational efficiency device
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 MEMUR HAMIT
  • EP3278035B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3278035B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3278035B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This invention relates to the innovation made in operation system of main card software of combi boilers used in houses, workplaces and everywhere heated centrally and the main card containing this innovation and the combi boiler saving device developed for the combi equipment and the current combi boilers used by users and containing our main card software and its feature is that it consists of fuse (fuse of electrical installation) (1), main card (main card, combi boiler saving device containing main card software) (2), sensor measuring the atmospheric temperature (3), water flow sensor (4), digital indicator (5), setting knobs (6), on-off button (7), start/stop button (8), T1 button (9), T2 button (10), combi boiler connecting cable.