Flow rate controller, coupling piece and heating surface water installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow rate regulators in heating service water systems risk contaminating service water due to unwanted heat transfer from the heating water circuit, especially when no service water is requested, which can lead to microbial contamination and inefficient heating.
Innovation Solution
A flow rate regulator design featuring thermally decoupled control valve devices on the service and heating water circuits, utilizing a coupling part with reduced thermal conductivity and specific material choices, such as polyoxymethylene (POM) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), to minimize heat transfer and prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control valve devices are thermally coupled (conventional design), then the structure is simpler and heat transfer occurs, but service water contamination risk increases due to unwanted heating
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two separate parts: a first housing part for the service water circuit and a second housing part for the heating water circuit. These housing parts are thermally decoupled to prevent heat transfer from the heating circuit to the service water circuit, thereby maintaining service water hygiene while controlling heating water flow.
Solution Approach 2:
A thermal barrier or insulating structure is introduced between the first housing part and second housing part to act as an intermediary that blocks heat transfer. This allows the two control valve devices to remain functionally connected while preventing unwanted thermal coupling.
2Reliability
If thermal decoupling is implemented, then service water contamination is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into two separately manufacturable parts that can be produced independently using standard manufacturing processes. The first housing part contains the service water control valve device, while the second housing part contains the heating water control valve device. These parts are then assembled together with thermal barrier elements to achieve thermal decoupling while maintaining ease of manufacture.
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
Significantly reduces heat transfer between the circuits, minimizing the risk of contamination and improving the efficiency of the heating service water system by maintaining the hygiene of service water while ensuring effective heating control.
Implementation Method 1
the two control valve devices are thermally decoupled from one another... utilizing a coupling part with reduced thermal conductivity... made of polyoxymethylene (POM)
Implementation Method 2
specific material choices, such as polyoxymethylene (POM) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), to minimize heat transfer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
In order to reduce the risk of contamination in heating/service water systems, the invention proposes a flow rate controller for controlling fluid volume flows of a heating/service water system comprising a first control valve device on the service water circuit side with a first housing part of the flow rate controller and comprising a further control valve device on the heating water circuit side with a further one Housing part of the flow rate regulator, in which the first control valve device and the further control valve device are operatively connected to one another by means of an actuating element for actuating control pistons of the flow rate regulator, the two control valve devices being thermally decoupled from one another.