Heating System Flow Temperature Control for Heat Generator Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heat generators in heating systems face inefficiencies due to the relationship between flow and return temperatures, where lowering flow temperatures to increase efficiency often results in rising return temperatures, leading to a deterioration in energy efficiency, and existing methods struggle to effectively manage these temperatures to maximize utilization regardless of temperature changes.

Innovation Solution

A method involving measuring and adjusting flow and return temperatures within predefined ranges, with incremental changes and waiting periods to assess effects, allowing for continuous optimization of flow temperatures to maintain thermal comfort and enhance heat generator efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the flow temperature is lowered to increase heat generator efficiency, then energy consumption is reduced, but the return temperature rises leading to deterioration in energy efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device continuously monitors both flow temperature and return temperature, using feedback from return temperature measurements to adjust flow temperature settings. This closed-loop control prevents the return temperature rise that normally occurs when flow temperature is lowered, thereby maintaining energy efficiency while reducing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the flow temperature parameter based on measured return temperature values. When return temperature rises above a threshold, the control device modifies the flow temperature parameter to compensate, ensuring the heat generator operates within optimal efficiency parameters while still achieving energy reduction goals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the flow temperature is lowered to improve heat generator utilization, then final energy use is reduced, but return temperature increases causing deterioration in utilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefinal energy useVSAvoiddegree of utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device uses feedback from return temperature measurements to dynamically adjust flow temperature settings. This ensures that when flow temperature is lowered to reduce final energy use, the return temperature is simultaneously monitored and controlled to prevent utilization deterioration, achieving both energy reduction and maintained utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static flow temperature settings to dynamic adjustment based on real-time return temperature measurements. This dynamic control allows the flow temperature to be optimized for energy reduction while automatically adapting to maintain optimal utilization conditions, resolving the contradiction between energy use and utilization degree.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of energy

If flow temperature is reduced to increase heat generator efficiency, then energy efficiency improves, but return temperature rises leading to efficiency deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidreturn temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The control device changes the flow temperature parameter in response to measured return temperature values. When return temperature rises above optimal levels, the system adjusts the flow temperature parameter to compensate, maintaining energy efficiency by preventing return temperature increase while still achieving the benefits of reduced flow temperature operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control by continuously measuring return temperature and using this information to adjust flow temperature settings. This feedback mechanism directly addresses the return temperature rise issue by automatically modifying operating parameters to maintain efficient heat generator operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 effectively increases the degree of utilization of heat generators by optimizing temperature settings, ensuring efficient energy use while maintaining thermal comfort, even when flow temperature changes lead to varying return temperature reactions.

Implementation Method 1

The heat generator generates heat from or by means of final energy, which is transferred to a pipe circuit in which a heat transfer medium circulates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal energy transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The heat generator can be a burner operated, for example, with gas or oil as the final energy used

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

Another example of an electrically operated heat generator can also be a heat pump, which extracts heat from a medium via a thermodynamic cycle and feeds it to another medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 4

The pipe circuit can in particular consist of a flow and return of the heating system, in which a heat transfer medium circulates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3220066B1Method and controller for incresing the degree of utilisation of a heat generator within a heating system
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 TECHEM ENERGY SERVICES
  • EP3220066B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3220066B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3220066B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method and a control device for increasing the degree of utilization of a heat generator (2) in a heating system (1) are described, in which the following method steps are carried out: (a) measuring the flow temperature (ϑV) and the return temperature (ϑR) of the heat transfer medium in the heating system (1); (b) determining a supply status value (GVZ) and checking whether the supply status value (GVZ) lies within a predefined value range; (c) lowering the flow temperature (ϑV) by a predetermined flow temperature decrement (ΔϑV,dec) and waiting for a change period of time; (d) measuring the return temperature (ϑR) and determining the return temperature change (ΔϑR) after the change in the flow temperature (ϑV); (e) determining a supply status value (GVZ) after the change in flow temperature (ϑV); (f) Check whether the return temperature change (ΔϑR) is less than zero.