Method for determining a circulating flow rate conveyed by a heating circulation pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aging processes and contamination in the heat transfer medium can reduce the measurement accuracy of flow sensors in heating systems, leading to incorrect regulation of heat generators and potential system failure if the flow sensor fails.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves repeatedly recording calculated and reference values for the circulating volume flow, creating a set of points, performing regression analysis to determine a correction function, and using this function to correct the calculated value, thereby ensuring accurate regulation of the heating system without relying on flow sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a flow sensor is used to measure circulating volume flow, then measurement accuracy is initially good, but measurement precision deteriorates over time due to aging and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flow measurement function from the physical flow sensor and implements it through a software-based calculation method using pump operating parameters (power consumption, rotational speed). This eliminates the physical sensor that degrades over time while maintaining measurement capability through mathematical relationships between pump parameters and flow rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electronic flow sensor system with a computational system that calculates flow rate from electrical and operational parameters of the circulation pump. This substitution uses software algorithms and regression analysis to determine flow without physical contact with the fluid, avoiding contamination and aging issues.
2Measurement precision
If a flow sensor is installed in the heating system, then circulating volume flow can be measured, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the circulation pump perform multiple functions: it not only transports the heat transfer fluid but also serves as a measurement device by monitoring its own operating parameters (power, speed). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate flow measurement equipment, reducing system complexity while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the pump's own operational data (power consumption, rotational speed) to determine the circulating volume flow. The pump essentially measures its own performance through self-monitoring of electrical and mechanical parameters, eliminating the need for external measurement devices and simplifying the overall system architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for determining the circulating volume flow rate delivered by a heating circulation pump (42) in a heating system (1) comprising at least one heat generator (11) is proposed. The method comprises at least the following steps: a) simultaneous and repeated acquisition of a calculated value of the circulating volume flow rate, determined based on operating parameters of the heating circulation pump (42), and a determined reference value of the circulating volume flow rate during operation of the heating system (1); b) creation of a set of points Pn(Xn;Yn), where Xn is a parameter characterizing the operating state of the heating circulation pump (42) and Yn corresponds to the difference between the calculated value and the reference value of the circulating volume flow rate; c) performance of a regression analysis of the set of points Pn and determination of a correction function fk(X); d) correction of the calculated value of the circulating volume flow rate using the correction function fk(X).The correction function fk(x) can now be used to correct the calculated value of the circulation flow rate determined from the operating parameters of the heating circulation pump (42). The corrected calculated value has sufficient accuracy and can be used for controlling the heating system 1.