Heating System Hydraulic Balancing Using Valve Gradient Ratios
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic balancing methods for heating systems are complex, costly, and require numerous sensors and additional components, making them inefficient and difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
An automated hydraulic balancing method using controllable heating valves with magnetic actuators or electric motors to adjust flow rates, determining heating gradients and valve positions based on target room temperatures, and comparing ratios to optimize heat distribution without additional electronic connections between valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual hydraulic balancing methods are used with additional sensors and components, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating valves autonomously determine their own heating gradients by measuring temperature changes in their respective rooms and calculating the ratio of heating gradient to mean relative valve position. Each valve independently compares its ratio with others and automatically limits its maximum valve position accordingly, eliminating the need for complex external measurement systems and centralized control infrastructure.
2Measurement precision
If numerous additional sensors and components are installed, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the existing temperature sensors already present in the heating control units and rooms. Each heating valve independently performs measurements, calculations, and self-adjustment without requiring manual intervention for system configuration, sensor installation, or balancing operations, making the system as easy to operate as conventional systems.
3Ease of operation
If electronic valves connected to control units are used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic balancing function is segmented and distributed to individual heating valves rather than being centralized in a control unit. Each valve independently performs temperature measurement, heating gradient determination, ratio calculation, and self-adjustment, eliminating the need for complex electronic connections between valves and centralized control infrastructure while maintaining automated operation.
4Manufacturing precision
If complex computationally intensive methods are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines heating gradients by measuring temperature changes over a predetermined time period and calculates the ratio of heating gradient to mean relative valve position in advance. This preliminary calculation allows for precise hydraulic balancing while maintaining computational efficiency, as the calculations are performed once during the balancing process rather than requiring continuous complex computations.
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
Achieves cost-effective, automated, and efficient heat distribution in heating systems by optimizing valve positions and flow rates, ensuring optimal heat delivery to all heat exchangers.
Implementation Method 1
the valve position is changed by means of a magnetic actuator or an electrically driven motor
Implementation Method 2
the valve position is changed by means of a magnetic actuator or an electrically driven motor
Implementation Method 3
The heat exchanger is specifically designed as a heat transfer unit. It transfers the heat transported by the heat transfer medium to the surroundings
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method (100) for performing a hydraulic balancing of a heating system (10) with at least one heat generator (12), at least two heat exchangers (22, 24, 26) and at least two controllable heating valves (28, 30, 32), wherein, depending on the valve position (V) of a heating valve (28, 30, 32), the flow of a heat transfer medium through at least one heat exchanger (22, 24, 26) connected to this heating valve (28, 30, 32) is controllable, comprising the steps of: • Receiving (110) an increase in a setpoint room temperature value for a room to which at least one of the heating valves (28, 30, 32) and a heat exchanger (22, 24, 26) is assigned, • Determining (120) the heating time (tN) required to achieve a to achieve a delta temperature increase (ΔT) in the room, • Determine (130) the heating gradient (∇N) from the delta temperature increase (ΔT) and the heating time (tN),• Determine (140) the mean relative valve position (Vmit_N) of the heating valve (28, 30, 32) over the heating time (tN), • Determine (150) the ratio (merm_N) of the heating gradient (∇N) to the mean relative valve position (Vmit_N), • Compare (160) the determined ratio (merm_N) with at least one of the already determined ratios (mbek) of at least one of the other heating valves (28, 30, 32), • Limit (170) the maximum valve position (Vmax) of a heating valve (28, 30, 32) depending on the result of the comparison (160).