Pulse Modulated Underfloor Heating to Limit Floor Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional heating and cooling systems, such as underfloor heating systems, require substantial time to adjust room temperatures due to low flow temperatures and restricted flow rates, making it inefficient to lower or raise room temperatures quickly without risking excessive floor temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A controller assembly that pulsates water flow through hydronic emitters based on a determined pulsing ratio, allowing the flow to be turned on and off to limit floor temperatures and adjust room temperatures efficiently without exceeding maximum floor temperatures, supporting both heating and cooling modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the water flow rate through the hydronic emitter is increased to raise room temperature quickly, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the floor temperature exceeds the maximum safe temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulsing of water flow through the hydronic emitter, alternating between flow and no-flow periods. During flow periods, heated water raises the room temperature; during no-flow periods, the floor temperature stabilizes or decreases. This periodic action allows the system to achieve effective heating over time while preventing floor temperature from exceeding maximum safe levels during any single period.
2Temperature
If the water flow is stopped completely to prevent floor temperature from rising too high, then the floor temperature is controlled, but the room temperature cannot be raised efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the water flow through the hydronic emitter by transitioning between flowing and non-flowing states based on temperature conditions. The controller monitors floor and room temperatures and dynamically switches the valve state to optimize both floor temperature control and heating efficiency, rather than maintaining a static flow rate.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the flow temperature is kept low to prevent floor damage, then the floor safety is ensured, but the time to reach target room temperature becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic pulsing of hot water through the hydronic emitter. During flow periods, higher temperature water is delivered to rapidly heat the room; during no-flow periods, the floor temperature is allowed to stabilize or cool slightly. This periodic delivery of higher temperature water achieves faster heating response while preventing continuous exposure that would cause floor damage.
4Loss of time
If the system maintains constant room temperature to avoid long recovery times, then the comfort level is maintained, but the system cannot take advantage of setback energy savings
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically responds to temperature setpoints and can operate in different modes including setback operation. When setback is desired, the controller allows room temperature to decrease and floor temperature to stabilize at lower levels. When heating is needed, the controller pulses hot water through the emitter to rapidly raise room temperature, achieving energy savings during setback periods while maintaining acceptable comfort levels.
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 solution reduces the time needed to reach target room temperatures while preventing floor temperatures from becoming too high or low, enhancing comfort and preventing damage to floor materials, and allows for independent control of multiple rooms with different temperature limitations.
Implementation Method 1
heated water fills the circuit... heating the environmental entity
Implementation Method 2
water flow through a hydronic emitter (circuit) heating the environmental entity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An underfloor heating (UFH) system limits the floor temperature of an environmental entity (for example, a room) by pulsing (pulse modulating) the flow rate through a hydronic emitter (circuit) heating the environmental entity. Once the heated water fills the circuit during time interval Ton, the flow is stopped for a fixed time Toff before allowing the cycle to repeat until a target temperature is reached. The ratio of flow/no flow (Ton/Toff) may be a proportional lower floor temperature compared to a traditional circuit supporting a constant water flow. The UFH system may heat a plurality of rooms, each having different floor temperature limitations. The floor temperatures may be limited differently by pulsing the hydronic emitters (circuits) rooms differently.