Method for operating a temperature-controlled circulation system and temperature-controlled circulation system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circulation systems fail to maintain water temperatures within desired ranges for all partial sections and times, particularly in cold water networks, leading to potential microbial growth and inefficiencies in both cold and hot water networks.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a temperature-control device, such as a heat exchanger, which can heat or cool water, is implemented to maintain water temperatures within specified limits by determining and adjusting temperature changes based on models of axial temperature changes and volume flows, ensuring TME < Tsoll in the end region and Tb < Tsoll at the input port, without the need for sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cooling device is installed in the cold water network to maintain temperature below +25°C, then microbial growth is prevented, but the system complexity and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling function from a separate cooling device and integrates it into the circulation system's existing pump and pipe infrastructure. The circulation pump serves dual purposes: circulating hot water and cooling cold water through strategic positioning and timing, eliminating the need for dedicated cooling equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation pump is designed to perform multiple functions: circulating hot water during heating operation and cooling cold water during non-heating periods. This multi-functionality reduces system complexity by utilizing existing components rather than adding separate cooling devices.
2Reliability
If forced flushing is performed regularly to prevent stagnation and microbial growth, then water quality is maintained, but energy consumption increases and system reliability decreases during flushing phases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic cooling cycles instead of continuous operation. The circulation pump operates intermittently to cool the cold water network, maintaining temperature below +25°C during non-heating periods while minimizing energy consumption through optimized timing and duration of cooling phases.
3Reliability
If the circulation pump operates continuously to maintain water flow and prevent stagnation, then microbial growth is prevented, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump operates periodically rather than continuously. During heating operation, it circulates hot water through the heating system. During non-heating periods, it periodically activates to cool the cold water network, ensuring temperature remains below +25°C and preventing stagnation while minimizing energy consumption.
4Manufacturing precision
If temperature sensors and metering points are installed throughout the system to monitor and control temperatures, then temperature compliance is ensured, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses self-service temperature monitoring where the circulation pump's operation is controlled based on thermal models and predetermined schedules rather than continuous sensor feedback. Temperature compliance is achieved through calculated prediction of temperature changes in the cold water network based on pump operation history and environmental factors.
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 maintains water temperatures within regulatory limits, reduces energy consumption, and enhances system efficiency by minimizing the number of metering points and preventing oscillations, thus ensuring compliance with temperature requirements and improving energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger (12), having an input port (12a) and an output port (12b) for cooling water
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a circulation system (10) comprising a heating device having an inlet port and an outlet port for controlling the temperature of water, and comprising a pipe system having a plurality of strings which include one or more sections of a given thermal coupling to the surroundings and are connected by means of nodes, one or more of the pipes of the pipe system being designed as a supply pipe (4, 5, 6), at least one individual delivery pipe (7) connected to a removal point (9) and at least one pipe designed as a circulation pipe (10a) being connected to the supply pipe(s) (4, 5, 6), said method comprising the steps: —setting a water temperature at the outlet port to a value Ta by means of the heating device; —setting a volumetric flow rate at the inlet port to a value Vz, and comprising the following steps: —determining, in particular calculating, a temperature change of the water between the start region and the end region according to a model of the axial temperature change for the first section connected to the outlet port, starting from a temperature start value TMA* and a volumetric flow rate start value Vz*; —determining, in particular calculating, a temperature change of the water between the start region and the end region for each further given section according to the model of the temperature change, subject to the boundary condition that the water temperature in the start region of the given section is the same as the water temperature in the end region of the section to which the given section is connected; and —selecting the value Ta of the water temperature and the value Vz of the volumetric flow rate at the outlet port in such a way that in the end region of each section the water temperature TME is in a specified temperature range around Tsoll, in particular at the inlet port (12a, 14b) the water temperature Tb<Tsoll is set with Tsoll−Tb<Θ, where Θ>0 is a specified value. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a circulation system for carrying out the method.