Hot Water Bypass Control for Stable Heating and Supply Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating and hot water supply apparatuses lack an effective method to control the distribution ratio of a heat transfer medium between heating and hot water supply paths, leading to instability in hot water supply temperature, particularly during simultaneous operations.
Innovation Solution
A heating and hot water supply apparatus with a distribution control device and a bypass control device, utilizing temperature detectors to regulate the distribution ratio and bypass ratio, ensuring stable hot water supply temperature by adjusting the flow rates through the heating and hot water supply paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a distribution device for distributing a medium between heating and hot water supply is deployed, then simultaneous operation of heating and hot water supply can be performed, but the stability of hot water supply temperature becomes lower when the distribution ratio cannot be controlled in reflecting changes in the hot water supply load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by detecting the bypass ratio (which reflects hot water supply load changes) and using this information to dynamically adjust the distribution ratio of the heat transfer medium. The bypass ratio detector provides real-time feedback about hot water demand, and the distribution ratio controller responds by adjusting the heat transfer medium distribution to maintain stable hot water supply temperature during simultaneous heating and hot water supply operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the bypass ratio detection mechanism to automatically determine the appropriate distribution ratio without external intervention. The control system self-regulates the heat transfer medium distribution based on the detected bypass ratio, enabling the system to automatically adapt to changing hot water supply loads and maintain temperature stability.
2Ease of operation
If the distribution ratio of heat transfer medium is controlled according to heating load and hot water supply load, then the balance between heating and hot water supply can be managed, but quantitative determination of hot water supply load and heating load magnitudes is required which increases control complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the bypass ratio as an intermediary parameter that indirectly reflects the hot water supply load. Instead of directly measuring or calculating the hot water supply load and heating load magnitudes, the system uses the bypass ratio (determined by the bypass flow relative to total water flow) as a proxy indicator. This intermediary approach simplifies the control system by avoiding complex load determination while still enabling effective distribution ratio control.
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
The apparatus stabilizes hot water supply temperature by dynamically controlling the distribution ratio based on detected temperatures, prioritizing hot water supply when the bypass ratio is low and heating when it's high, ensuring efficient operation during simultaneous heating and hot water supply.
Implementation Method 1
The heat exchanger for hot water supply includes a primary-side path and a secondary-side path for heat exchange
Implementation Method 2
a heating device configured to heat a heat transfer medium
Data Source
AI summary
A distribution valve controls a distribution ratio of a heat transfer medium between a hot water supply path including a heat exchanger for hot water supply and a beating circulation path through which the heat transfer medium is supplied to a heating terminal. A bypass flow rate control valve controls a bypass ratio which is a ratio of a flow rate of low temperature water introduced into a bypass pipe that bypasses the heat exchanger for hot water supply to a flow rate of low temperature water introduced into a water inlet pipe. The bypass ratio is regulated so that a hot water temperature detected by a temperature sensor reaches a hot water target temperature. During a simultaneous operation of hot water supply and heating, the distribution valve is controlled so that, when a bypass ratio is low, a distribution ratio is higher than when a bypass ratio is high.