Radiator Valve Lift Analysis for Hydraulic Balancing Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the operating state of radiators in heating systems are complex and often fail to ensure optimal operation due to incorrect hydraulic balancing, which can change over time.

Innovation Solution

A method that detects the valve lift and heat output of radiators, creating a heat output characteristic and comparing it to a target characteristic to derive the operating state, using graphical or statistical evaluations to determine if the radiator is operating within the desired parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hydraulic balancing is performed during commissioning, then the radiators should have similar operating states, but the balancing is often not carried out correctly or changes over time, resulting in non-optimal operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydraulic balancing stabilityVSAvoidoptimal operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous monitoring of the radiator's heat output and valve lift position, comparing actual performance against target characteristics. This feedback mechanism detects deviations from optimal operation caused by incorrect or changed hydraulic balancing, enabling identification and correction of balancing issues without requiring manual re-balancing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex manual hydraulic balancing procedures with an automated evaluation system that uses measured data (heat output, valve lift) and computational comparison against target characteristics. This substitution eliminates the need for precise manual balancing while ensuring optimal operation through continuous automated assessment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If complex iterative methods are used to determine radiator operating point, then detailed hydraulic state information can be obtained, but the determination process becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydraulic state detection accuracyVSAvoiddetermination process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential parameters needed for hydraulic state evaluation - heat output and valve lift position - and uses these directly to create and compare heat output characteristics. This extraction approach avoids the complexity of iterative methods while obtaining sufficient precision for determining radiator operating state and hydraulic balancing condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a simplified measurement approach that captures the critical aspects of radiator performance without attempting to measure all possible hydraulic parameters. By focusing on the relationship between valve lift and heat output, the system achieves adequate precision for hydraulic state determination without the complexity of comprehensive iterative analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3217104B1Apparatus and method for determining the operating conditions of a radiator with a radiator valve
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 TECHEM ENERGY SERVICES
  • EP3217104B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3217104B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3217104B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and a device for determining the operating state of a radiator (3) with a radiator control valve (6) are described, in which at times Δt - the valve lift (h) of the radiator control valve (6) and - the output by the radiator (3). Amount of heat (ΔQ) is recorded and a heat output characteristic (10) is created from this by describing the amount of heat (ΔQ) released at different points in time (Δt) as a function of the valve lift (h), and in which the heat output characteristic (10) created is combined with a Target characteristic (11) is compared, the operating state of the radiator (3) with the radiator control valve (6) being derived from the comparison result.