Series-Coupled Heating Circuit With Check Valves for Variable Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupled heating systems face energy losses due to the need for precise matching of heat source and sink volume flows, requiring complex valve arrangements and additional pumps, which increases costs and reduces operational reliability.
Innovation Solution
A heating system where the first heat source for base load and the second heat source for peak loads are connected in series, with check valves allowing the heat transfer medium to flow through both, eliminating the need for complex 3-way valves and independent pumps, and allowing for operation with different volume flows, ensuring reliability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a low loss header is used to connect heat sources and heat sinks, then energy losses are reduced, but the volume flows of heat sinks and heat sources must be precisely matched and a separate pump is required for each connected branch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple heat sources and heat sinks into a single series-connected hydraulic circuit. Instead of using separate pumps and complex valve arrangements for each connection, all heat sources (first heat source 1 and second heat source 2) and heat sinks (first heat sink 3 and second heat sink 4) are connected in series, allowing a single hydraulic circuit to serve all components. This merging eliminates the need for separate pumps and reduces valve complexity while maintaining energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The single hydraulic circuit designed in the patent serves multiple functions simultaneously: it can heat multiple different heat sinks (building heating and domestic hot water) using multiple different heat sources (CHP unit and peak-load burner). The same heat transfer medium circulates through all components, making the system universal in its ability to handle various heating scenarios without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each function.
2Reliability
If multiple heat sources are connected with complex valve arrangements to provide flexibility, then operational reliability is improved, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple heat sources and heat sinks into a single series-connected hydraulic circuit, eliminating the need for separate pumps and complex valve arrangements for each connection. This simplification reduces device complexity and potential failure points while maintaining operational reliability through the series configuration that allows flexible operation of different heat source combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The series-connected hydraulic circuit automatically distributes heat transfer medium to all heat sources and heat sinks in sequence without requiring complex control valves or pumps for each component. The system self-regulates the flow distribution through the series connection, reducing the need for active control mechanisms and simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining operational flexibility.
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 configuration enhances operational reliability by providing redundant heating sources, reduces energy losses, and allows for the use of commercially available heaters, ensuring continuous heat and hot water supply with reduced operational complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
The flow through the non-return valves results automatically from the volume flows of the circulating pumps of the heat sources
Implementation Method 2
a first heat source (1), which provides a base load, for example, and can have a comparatively low output, and a second heat source (2), which is provided as an additional heating device for peak loads, are connected in series
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a heating system with a heat source 1 for the base load and a heat source 2 for the peak load. The heat sources are connected in series with a first heat sink 3 in the piping system. Check valves 19, 29 are provided in parallel with the heat sources, the flow direction of the check valves being in the same direction as the delivery direction of the respective circulation pumps 12, 22.