Method for carrying out a hydraulic adjustment of a heating system for a building and heating system designed for this purpose
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic balancing methods for heating systems, particularly those using thermoelectric two-point actuators, struggle to adapt to varying room demands and user preferences, leading to inconsistent energy distribution and comfort issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a learning phase to determine room-specific correction values, using a control unit to adjust valve actuation via pulse width modulation, ensuring optimal energy supply by reducing flow rates in oversupplied rooms and increasing supply to undersupplied rooms, utilizing PI controllers for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hydraulic adjustment is carried out manually by opening individual flow control elements, then the heating system can be adjusted, but the process requires extensive time and manual effort for each individual element
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulic principles by using a hydraulic actuator that responds to pressure changes in the hydraulic fluid to automatically adjust the flow control elements. The control unit manipulates hydraulic pressure to open or close valves, replacing manual mechanical adjustment with hydraulic actuation, thereby reducing time and effort required for system balancing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service adjustment through automatic control based on temperature sensor feedback. The control unit automatically determines which valves need adjustment and controls the hydraulic actuator accordingly, eliminating the need for manual intervention and allowing the system to self-optimize its performance.
2Extent of automation
If temperature sensors are installed at every evaluation point to enable automated control, then automated balancing becomes possible, but the system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional control unit that integrates temperature measurement, evaluation logic, and hydraulic control functions in a single device. This control unit can operate with limited temperature sensors by using its evaluation algorithms to infer system state, thereby achieving automation without requiring sensors at every single evaluation point, thus reducing overall system complexity.
3Loss of energy
If existing temperature sensors are utilized instead of installing new sensors, then system cost is reduced, but the sensors must be capable of communicating with the control unit
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed to accept temperature data in various communication formats and protocols. It can adapt to different sensor types (digital, analog, wireless) by adjusting its data reception parameters, thereby enabling compatibility with existing sensors without requiring uniform sensor technology across all installation points.
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
Enhances comfort and reduces energy consumption by dynamically adjusting energy distribution based on actual room demands, overcoming limitations of traditional hydraulic balancing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic actuator (40) which responds to pressure changes in a hydraulic fluid (30)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for performing a hydraulic balancing of a heating system (1) for a building, which comprises a temperature control element (10) heating a temperature control medium, several heat exchangers (5, 5', 5", 5'") connected to the temperature control element (10), wherein each heat exchanger (5, 5', 5", 5'") is associated with a valve (6, 6', 6", 6'') with actuator for regulating the flow of the temperature control medium through the heat exchanger (5, 5', 5", 5'"), and at least one control unit (11) which controls the actuators of the valves (6, 6', 6", 6'") by pulse width modulation, wherein the method comprises the following stages: (a) determining room-specific correction values for the preset parameters of the control unit (11) at least during a learning phase of the heating operation, which it performs during the balancing phase of the heating system (1), in which Energy is supplied to the individual heat exchangers (5, 5', 5", 5'"),(a) enable the room temperature in the room assigned to this heat exchanger (5, 5', 5", 5'") to be maintained within a predetermined interval around a room temperature setpoint specified for the respective room; and (b) reduce the time-averaged flow rate of the temperature control medium of those heat exchangers (5, 5', 5", 5'"), averaged over the opening period of the valves (6, 6', 6", 6'"), for which the correction values determined in step (a) result in a reduction of the amount of energy supplied to the heat exchangers (5, 5', 5", 5'') compared to the corresponding initial parameters. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a heating system (1) designed for carrying out such a method.