Method for degassing a heating circuit, computer program, regulating and control device and air-conditioning device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for degassing heating circuits are either manual and time-consuming or complex, unsuitable for automated processes, and often require maintaining negative pressure, which is difficult to manage, especially in building heating systems.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the detection of specific signals from sensors in the heating circuit, such as pressure loss, permittivity, density, thermal conductivity, and flow velocity, to analyze the presence of gases, followed by automated degassing through varying the circulation pump speed and opening a valve to collect and remove gas bubbles, promoting turbulent flows for efficient outgassing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual degassing by opening degassing valves on radiators is used, then gas removal is achieved, but the process is very time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects gas presence using sensors and triggers the circulation pump and degassing valve without human intervention. The control unit monitors sensor signals and autonomously executes the degassing sequence, making the system self-serving and eliminating manual operation time.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors continuously monitor the liquid flow for gas presence and feed this information back to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit decides when to activate the circulation pump and open the degassing valve, creating a closed-loop automatic control system that eliminates manual timing.
2Extent of automation
If automated degassing valves are used as proposed in DE 198387U and DE 10 2004 003697 B3, then degassing is partially automated, but it is difficult to determine a time for automated degassing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/time-based degassing triggers with sensor-based detection. Instead of using mechanical valves that require manual timing or complex automated timing mechanisms, the system uses sensors to detect gas presence and triggers electronic control, substituting mechanical timing complexity with direct sensory detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor acts as an intermediary between the gas presence and the degassing action. Rather than directly timing the degassing process, the sensor mediates by detecting gas and signaling the control unit, which then triggers the appropriate response, simplifying the automation logic.
3Reliability
If vacuum degassing devices are used as described in EP 3 275 524 A1, then gas removal is effective, but the provision and introduction of liquid into a degassing room combined with vacuum creation is complex and unsuitable for building heating systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential degassing function from complex vacuum systems. Instead of using a vacuum chamber and vacuum pump, it extracts the gas removal capability by using a circulation pump to create flow and a simple valve to release gas, separating the degassing function from the complex vacuum infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters from vacuum (negative pressure) to positive pressure circulation. Instead of creating a vacuum environment, the system uses the circulation pump to create controlled flow conditions that promote gas separation, and the valve to release gas at normal system pressure, making it suitable for building heating systems.
4Measurement precision
If negative pressure is maintained in measuring cells as described in EP 2 700 940 A1, then gas content measurement is possible, but maintaining negative pressure is complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical vacuum system with sensor-based detection in the normal flow system. Instead of maintaining negative pressure in a separate measuring cell, sensors detect gas presence directly in the circulating liquid flow, replacing complex pressure maintenance with simpler sensory detection.
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 enables a simple, safe, and cost-effective automated degassing process that can be performed regularly or triggered by events, ensuring efficient removal of gases like air or refrigerant, improving heat transport and reducing noise, while being suitable for building heating systems.
Implementation Method 1
By varying the speed of the circulation pump (5), turbulent flows can be promoted or generated, with the resulting negative pressure areas promoting outgassing of substances
Implementation Method 2
a pressure loss in the liquid flow of the heating circuit
Implementation Method 3
an electrical or magnetic permittivity of the liquid flow in the heating circuit
Implementation Method 4
a density of the liquid flow in the heating circuit
Implementation Method 5
a thermal conductivity of the liquid flow in the heating circuit
Implementation Method 6
a recorded flow velocity of the liquid flow in the heating circuit
Implementation Method 7
The gas collected in the degassing area (6) can escape through a valve (7) arranged in the geodetically highest point of the degassing area
Implementation Method 8
the resulting negative pressure areas promoting outgassing of substances
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for degassing a heating circuit (2) of an air conditioning unit (1) is proposed, comprising at least the following steps: a) capturing at least one signal from at least one device for detecting gas (12) in a liquid stream;b) Analyzing the signal detected in step a), c) Degassing the heating circuit (2) if the analysis of the signal in step b) indicates the presence of gas in the heating circuit (2), wherein the signal detected in step a) is characteristic of at least one of the following parameters that characterize the fluid flow in the heating circuit (2): a pressure drop in the fluid flow of the heating circuit, an electrical or magnetic permittivity of the fluid flow in the heating circuit (2), a density of the fluid flow in the heating circuit (2), a thermal conductivity of the fluid flow in the heating circuit (2), a viscosity of the fluid flow in the heating circuit (2), a flow rate of the fluid flow in the heating circuit (2), an operating state of a circulating pump of the heating circuit (2).