Fluid circulation system
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional hot water heating units, switching from hot water accumulating to indoor-heating operations can result in high-temperature water damaging indoor-heating devices and undesired room temperature increases due to the direct flow of high-temperature fluid into radiators or other devices during mode changes.
Innovation Solution
A fluid circulation system with a heat storage tank, a heat accumulating circuit, an indoor-heating circuit, a switching valve, and a controller that only switches from the heat accumulating circuit to the indoor-heating circuit when the outflow temperature from the fluid heater is below a reference value, preventing high-temperature fluid from causing damage or increasing room temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flow passage switching valve switches from heat accumulating circuit to indoor-heating circuit, then the indoor-heating operation can be performed, but high-temperature water damages the indoor-heating device
Solution Approach 1:
The controller checks the water temperature before switching the flow passage switching valve from the heat accumulating circuit to the indoor-heating circuit. By performing this temperature verification in advance, the system prevents high-temperature water from entering the indoor-heating device, thereby avoiding damage while enabling safe mode transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a temperature sensor to continuously monitor the water temperature in the heat accumulating circuit and provides feedback to the controller. Based on this feedback, the controller determines whether the temperature is below the predetermined threshold before allowing the switching valve to transition to the indoor-heating circuit, thus preventing damage from high-temperature water.
2Ease of operation
If the flow passage switching valve switches to indoor-heating circuit, then indoor-heating operation is enabled, but room temperature increases undesirably
Solution Approach 1:
The controller verifies the water temperature before enabling the indoor-heating circuit by switching the flow passage switching valve. This preliminary temperature check ensures that only water below the predetermined temperature threshold is directed to the indoor-heating device, preventing undesired room temperature increases while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor provides continuous feedback on water temperature to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to make an informed decision about whether to switch the flow passage switching valve to the indoor-heating circuit, ensuring that temperature control requirements are met while enabling heating operations.
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
Effectively prevents damage to indoor-heating devices and unwanted room temperature increases by ensuring that only low-temperature fluid is directed to indoor-heating devices during the transition from hot water accumulating to indoor-heating operations.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid heater for heating a fluid
Implementation Method 2
a heat storage tank for storing the fluid
Implementation Method 3
an outflow temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the fluid flowing out of the fluid heater
Implementation Method 4
a circulation pump for causing the fluid to circulate in the heat accumulating circuit and the indoor-heating circuit
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A fluid circulation system with which situations in which inflowing high-temperature fluid causes damage to an indoor-heating device or an increase in room temperature that is not desired by a user can be reliably prevented is provided. A fluid circulation system includes: a heat accumulating circuit in which a fluid circulates between a fluid heater and a heat storage tank; an indoor-heating circuit in which the fluid circulates between the fluid heater and an indoor-heating installation; a valve for switching between the heat accumulating circuit and the indoor-heating circuit; an outflow temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the fluid flowing out of the fluid heater; and a controller for controlling switching between the heat accumulating circuit and the indoor-heating circuit. The controller is configured to switch, when a request to switch from the heat accumulating circuit to the indoor-heating circuit is issued during a heat accumulating operation in which the heat accumulating circuit is operated, from the heat accumulating circuit to the indoor-heating circuit on condition that the temperature of the fluid flowing out of the fluid heater is lower than a reference value.