Thermal Drinking Water Valve for Low-Flow Circulation and Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valves for regulating cold water circulation do not adequately meet the requirements, as they are designed based on hot water circulation principles and fail to efficiently manage cold water flow, leading to suboptimal performance at varying temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a radially extending gap between the regulating piston and the bore, with a plastic sealing element and support points, allowing for adjustable flow passages to optimize cold water circulation by minimizing flow at low temperatures and maximizing it as water heats up, and incorporating a motor drive for Kv max setting to ensure efficient flushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional hot water circulation valve design is used, then the valve structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the valve fails to efficiently regulate cold water circulation and maintain proper flow rates at varying temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The valve incorporates a specifically designed Kv min adjustment range with a radially extending gap and plastic sealing element in the regulating piston, creating a localized flow control mechanism optimized for cold water circulation. This local modification allows precise flow regulation at low temperatures without redesigning the entire valve structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve enables dynamic flow rate adjustment through the Kv min and Kv max positions, allowing the flow passage area to change based on temperature conditions. The regulating piston can be positioned to create different flow characteristics, transitioning from minimal flow at low temperatures to higher flow rates when needed.
2Quantity of substance
If the flow passage is completely sealed at Kv min position, then minimal circulation occurs at low temperatures, but the flow passage may become completely blocked preventing any flow
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism is divided into segments: the plastic sealing element provides circumferential sealing (at least 330° or 350° of the bore circumference) while leaving a radial slot that forms a controlled gap. This segmentation ensures minimal flow at low temperatures while preventing complete blockage through the radial escape path.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial slot in the plastic sealing element acts as an intermediary flow path between the sealed circumferential region and the external environment. This intermediate structure allows controlled minimal flow to pass through while maintaining the sealing function, preventing complete blockage.
3Productivity
If the regulating piston is inadequately guided in Kv max position, then the valve can achieve high flow rates for flushing, but the piston lacks proper guidance and support
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding elements extend partially into the bore rather than fully, providing sufficient guidance for the regulating piston in the Kv max position without completely restricting movement. This partial guidance is adequate for achieving high flow rates during flushing while maintaining proper piston control.
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
The valve achieves a low Kv min flow of approximately 0.05 m³/h and a high Kv max flow of 1.8 m³/h ± 0.5 m³/h, ensuring efficient cold water circulation and flushing, while preventing complete blockage of the flow passage.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal expansion element (24) is exposed in a flow path (52) for the drinking water in the valve insert housing (12)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~9
AI summary
The present invention relates to a valve for drinking water installations comprising a valve housing (2) with connections to a pipeline and a regulating piston (28) movable within the valve housing (2). The regulating piston is coupled to a spindle (14) exposed on the outside of the valve housing (2) and interacts on the side opposite the spindle (14) with a thermal expansion element (24) exposed in a flow path through the valve housing (2). The thermal expansion element is pressed against the regulating piston (28) by a spring element (34), and its expansion causes the regulating piston (28) to be movable relative to a bore (54). To create an improved valve for drinking water installations,The present invention proposes a device which, depending on an adjustable or fixed temperature, allows a larger volume flow of cold water at a water temperature higher than that temperature and preferably regulates the flow to a minimum volume flow at low temperatures.that the regulating piston (28) forms a Kv max adjustment range (III) with support points (62) formed on the outer circumferential surface of the regulating piston and flow passage recesses (64) located between them, and that in the Kv max position of the regulating piston (28) the support points (62) extend to the bore (54) and the flow passage recesses (64) provided between them form a Kv max flow passage (III), and/or that the regulating piston (28) forms a Kv max adjustment range (III) with support points (62) formed on the outer circumferential surface of the regulating piston and flow passage recesses (64) located between them, and that in the Kv max position of the regulating piston (28) the support points (62) extend to the bore (54) and the flow passage recesses (64) provided between them form a Kv Form maximum flow rate (III).