Heating System Pump Modulation for Rapid Undersupply Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating systems face challenges in efficiently detecting undersupply or oversupply conditions without requiring a lengthy learning phase, often resulting in energy wastage and noise due to unsaturated thermostatic valves in hydraulically unbalanced systems.
Innovation Solution
A method that induces a periodic pressure fluctuation in the heating system by modulating the circulating pump's delivery head, allowing evaluation of thermostatic valve responses to determine saturation levels through volume flow integrals, enabling rapid detection of undersupply or oversupply without a learning phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing detection methods are used to identify undersupply or oversupply, then system characteristic curves can be determined, but a lengthy learning phase of several hours is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by superimposing a periodic fluctuation (sinusoidal modulation) on the circulation pump's delivery head. This periodic excitation causes the thermostatic valves to oscillate, and by evaluating the amplitude and phase of these oscillations, the system can rapidly determine saturation status without requiring a lengthy learning phase. The periodic action transforms the detection process from a slow, continuous learning approach to a fast, oscillation-based measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the response of thermostatic valves to the periodic excitation and using this information to detect saturation conditions. The feedback mechanism evaluates the amplitude ratio and phase shift between the excitation signal and the valve response, providing real-time detection of undersupply or oversupply conditions without requiring a pre-learning phase.
2Adaptability or versatility
If minimum pipe network parabola methods are used to detect undersupply, then pump control can be adapted, but the method assumes hydraulic balance which is often not the case
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mechanical vibration principles by inducing oscillations in the hydraulic system through periodic modulation of the circulation pump. The thermostatic valves respond to these vibrations, and their response characteristics (amplitude and phase) reveal saturation status. This vibration-based approach works regardless of whether the system is hydraulically balanced, eliminating the need for the minimum pipe network parabola assumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the circulation pump by superimposing a periodic fluctuation on the delivery head. This parameter change creates observable responses in the thermostatic valves that indicate saturation status. The method evaluates amplitude ratios and phase shifts resulting from this parameter change, providing detection capability that does not depend on hydraulic balance conditions.
3Quantity of substance
If circulating pump generates high differential pressure to ensure sufficient flow, then volume flow through consumers is maintained, but energy loss increases due to pressure loss in thermostatic valves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the heating system to self-diagnose its saturation status by using the thermostatic valves' natural response to periodic excitation. The system automatically detects whether valves are saturated (fully open) or have headroom to open further, providing self-service information that can be used to optimize pump operation and reduce unnecessary energy consumption from pressure losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by monitoring the response amplitude and phase of thermostatic valves to periodic excitation. This feedback information indicates whether the system is saturated or has capacity for increased flow, enabling dynamic adjustment of pump operation to minimize energy loss while maintaining required volume flow through consumers.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for detecting under- or oversupply of consumers (R1, R2) in a heating system with at least one circulation pump (2) that delivers a heat transfer medium to the consumers (R1, R2), and thermostatic valves (V1, V2) that each regulate the flow rate through one of the consumers (R1, R2). The method provides that the circulation pump (2) generates a periodically fluctuating delivery head (H), and the resulting volume flow rate (Q) of the circulation pump (2) is determined. A saturation signal (Q1,sat, Qn,sat) is then calculated and evaluated from this saturation signal. Under- or oversupply is inferred if the value of the saturation signal (Q1,sat, Qn,sat) exceeds a limit value (G).