Single thermostat with multiple thermostatic radiator valve controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In larger rooms with multiple radiators, traditional thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controllers require multiple thermostats for control, increasing costs and complicating system setup, and synchronizing valve opening across multiple controllers is difficult due to mechanical structure tolerances.
Innovation Solution
A single thermostat with RF module and temperature sensors controls multiple TRV controllers via wireless communication, automatically detecting and adjusting valve positions based on room temperature and power output, ensuring synchronized operation by normalizing pin position percentages across all controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple TRV controllers are used to control multiple radiators in a large room, then the room temperature control coverage is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase due to requiring multiple thermostats
Solution Approach 1:
A single thermostat is designed to control multiple TRV controllers simultaneously, making the thermostat universal for managing multiple radiators across different zones or areas. This multi-functionality allows one thermostat to serve the purpose that traditionally required multiple thermostats, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining extended room coverage capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the control function of multiple thermostats into a single thermostat device. By combining multiple thermostat functions into one unit, the system achieves centralized control over multiple TRV controllers, reducing the overall number of components and simplifying the system architecture while maintaining the ability to control heating across a large area
2Area of stationary object
If multiple TRV controllers are used to control multiple radiators, then the heating coverage is improved, but the cost increases due to requiring multiple thermostats
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat is designed with universal control capability to manage multiple TRV controllers simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows a single thermostat to replace what would traditionally require multiple thermostat units, thereby reducing the quantity of thermostats needed while maintaining the ability to provide heating coverage across a large area with multiple radiators
3Area of stationary object
If traditional TRV controllers are used with multiple radiators, then the heating control coverage is improved, but the setup complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple thermostat functions into a single device, thereby simplifying the setup process. Instead of installing and configuring multiple separate thermostats for multiple radiators, the system uses one thermostat to control multiple TRV controllers, reducing the number of installation steps and configuration tasks required while maintaining comprehensive control coverage across the heated area
4Stability of the object's composition
If multiple TRV controllers are synchronized manually, then the valve opening coordination is improved, but the adjustment precision is poor due to mechanical structure tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control where the single thermostat continuously monitors room temperature and sends control signals to multiple TRV controllers based on actual temperature readings. This closed-loop feedback mechanism compensates for mechanical tolerances in valve openings by dynamically adjusting each TRV controller's position based on the overall room temperature response, thereby achieving precise synchronized control despite manufacturing variations in the mechanical components
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 costs and simplifies setup by allowing a single thermostat to manage multiple TRV controllers, ensuring precise and synchronized control of heat transfer across radiators, improving system efficiency and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
temperature sensor to sense the room temperature
Implementation Method 2
RF module or integrated RF circuitry
Implementation Method 3
control heat transfer to radiators
Implementation Method 4
control heat transfer to radiators
Data Source
AI summary
A heating system includes a single thermostat that controls multiple thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) controllers that control heat transfer to radiators in a room. Each TRV controller has the capability to automatically detect the open/closing point and maximum heating point and to register corresponding pin positions of the valve. Each TRV controller is subsequently instructed by the thermostat to adjust the valve in relation to a determined percentage of the registered pin positions, thus accounting for the varying characteristics among the valves in the system. The TRV controller detects the maximum heating point by checking the rate of temperature rising and the open/closing point by sensing the temperature turning point through a temperature sensor situated appropriately in relation to the associated radiator.