Heating System Dynamic Hydraulic Balancing for Energy Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heating systems face inefficiencies due to independent operation of components, leading to excessive heat losses and comfort issues, as they lack real-time local information about heat gains and hydraulic balancing, resulting in incorrect flow temperatures and pressure settings, especially in systems with unknown pipe network structures.
Innovation Solution
A control unit adjusts pump performance and flow temperature based on detected valve lifts and temperature differences, allowing for continuous automatic adjustment of hydraulic balancing and valve positions, even in systems with unknown pipe network structures, using motor drives and temperature sensors to maintain target temperatures and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static hydraulic balancing is performed with presettings on thermostatic valves, then hydraulic balancing is achieved under design conditions, but the flow cross sections are reduced creating risk of blockages and user comfort is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static hydraulic balancing with dynamic hydraulic balancing, where the control unit continuously adjusts pump performance and flow temperature based on real-time data from temperature sensors and valve position sensors. This allows the system to adapt to changing conditions without requiring reduced flow cross-sections, thereby maintaining user comfort while achieving hydraulic balancing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops using temperature sensors in rooms and valve position sensors on thermostatic valves. The control unit receives this feedback data and continuously adjusts pump performance and boiler flow temperature to maintain optimal heating conditions, eliminating the need for static presettings that compromise comfort.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the boiler and pump continue to work without local information about heat gains, then they maintain their operation, but flow temperature and pressure jump become higher than necessary causing energy waste and comfort issues
Solution Approach 1:
Temperature sensors in each room provide feedback information about actual heating needs and heat gains to the control unit. The control unit uses this information to dynamically adjust pump performance and boiler flow temperature, ensuring the system operates efficiently without excessive energy consumption while maintaining continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system performs self-adjustment through the control unit that automatically modifies pump performance and flow temperature based on real-time temperature measurements from sensors, eliminating the need for external intervention or manual balancing while optimizing energy efficiency.
3Loss of energy
If the flow temperature is reduced to match actual heating needs, then heat losses are reduced, but the heating system requires real-time information about heat gains and hydraulic conditions which is not available in conventional systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heating system into decentralized control units, with temperature sensors in individual rooms and valve position sensors on individual thermostatic valves. This segmentation allows local information about heat gains and hydraulic conditions to be collected and used for optimizing flow temperature and pump performance, reducing heat losses while compensating for the lack of central information.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that collects information from distributed temperature sensors and valve position sensors, processes this data, and coordinates adjustments of pump performance and boiler flow temperature. This intermediary function enables the system to reduce heat losses by using locally available sensor information without requiring complex central knowledge of all hydraulic conditions.
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a heating system, wherein radiator drives (2a) are used instead of conventional thermostatic heads, wherein a control unit (ZRE), the radiator drives (2a), a central heat generator (WE), and a central pump (3) communicate with each other by means of cables or wirelessly, and the hydraulic balance, the pump output, and the control of the supply temperature (VL) are continually adapted in accordance with the respective limiting conditions.