Heating Circuit Pump Pressure Control for Low Return Temperature

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heat generators in heating systems face inefficiencies due to rising return temperatures when flow temperatures or differential pressures are reduced, leading to a deterioration in energy efficiency and degree of utilization, despite efforts to minimize energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method that measures and adjusts the differential pressure in the heating system by incrementing or decrementing it based on return temperature changes, ensuring optimal flow and return temperatures to maximize heat generator efficiency, while maintaining thermal comfort and avoiding undersupply or oversupply of heat.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If flow temperature or differential pressure is reduced to minimize energy consumption, then energy consumption decreases, but return temperature rises leading to deterioration in heat generator efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidheat generator efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of differential pressure through a control device that continuously monitors return temperature and adjusts the heating circuit pump's differential pressure accordingly. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to changing thermal conditions, maintaining optimal heat generator efficiency while minimizing energy consumption. The differential pressure is adjusted in response to return temperature changes, creating a responsive control system that balances energy consumption and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the return temperature is continuously measured and used to adjust the differential pressure setting. The control device receives feedback about the actual return temperature and modifies the pump operation to maintain the heat generator within its optimal efficiency range. This closed-loop control ensures that energy consumption is minimized without sacrificing heat generator performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Use of energy by moving object

If flow temperature is lowered to reduce energy consumption, then energy consumption decreases, but thermal comfort in heated spaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidthermal comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts differential pressure rather than using a fixed flow temperature reduction approach. By modulating the pump's differential pressure based on real-time return temperature measurements, the system can maintain adequate flow rates to heat consumers while minimizing energy consumption. This dynamic adjustment ensures thermal comfort requirements are met even as energy consumption is reduced.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operating parameters of the heating system by adjusting differential pressure instead of simply lowering flow temperature. This parameter change allows the system to achieve energy reduction while maintaining the thermal performance needed for comfort. The control device modifies the pressure differential to optimize the balance between energy consumption and thermal comfort delivery to heat consumers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If differential pressure is reduced to optimize heat generator efficiency, then heat generator efficiency improves, but heat supply to consumers becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat generator efficiencyVSAvoidheat supply sufficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device uses feedback from return temperature measurements to determine the appropriate differential pressure setting. When return temperature indicates that heat generator efficiency is deteriorating, the system adjusts differential pressure to restore optimal efficiency while ensuring adequate heat supply. The feedback mechanism ensures that efficiency optimization does not compromise the reliability of heat supply to consumers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system optimizes heat generator efficiency by dynamically changing the differential pressure parameter rather than using fixed settings. The control device adjusts this parameter in response to operating conditions, allowing the system to maintain the heat generator within its efficient operating range while ensuring sufficient heat supply to all consumers connected to the heating circuit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 increases the degree of utilization of heat generators by optimizing differential pressure settings, leading to improved energy efficiency and maintaining thermal comfort within heated spaces.

Implementation Method 1

The differential pressure describes the difference in pressure in a pipe circuit before and after the heating circuit pump. This pressure difference in the pipe circuit before and after the heating circuit pump is clearly described by the delivery height of the heating circuit pump.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDifferential pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The heat generator generates heat from or by means of final energy, which is transferred to a pipe circuit.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3220065B1Method and control device for increasing the performance ratio of a heat generator in a heating installation
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 TECHEM ENERGY SERVICES
  • EP3220065B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3220065B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3220065B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method and a control device for increasing the degree of utilization of a heat generator (2) in a heating system (1) are described, in which the following method steps are carried out: (a) measuring the return temperature (ϑR) of the heat transfer medium and the differential pressure (dp) of a heating circuit pump (6) in the heating system (1); (b) determining a supply status value (GVZ) and checking whether the supply status value (GVZ) lies within a predefined value range; (c) lowering the differential pressure (dp) by a predetermined differential pressure decrement (Δdpdek) and waiting for a change period of time; (d) measuring the return temperature (ϑR) and determining the return temperature change (ΔϑR) after the differential pressure (dp) change; (e) determining a supply status value (GVZ) after the change in the differential pressure (dp);