DE29900636U1 - Device for distributing and mixing a heat transfer medium circulated in a closed circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly has three chambers (H,K,R) in parallel. Each is connected to a control circuit each for a system using the medium, with three supply channels (HV,KV,RI) directly next to each other at the chambers (H,K,R). The back flow channels (RI) of all the control circuits are connected to the common back flow chamber (R).

Description

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PATENT ATTORNEYS ——

DIPL-ING. WOLFRAM WATZKE

DIPL-ING. HEINZ J. RING

DIPL-ING. ULRICH CHRISTOPHERSEN

Our reference: 99 0064 DIPL.-INC. MICHAEL RAUSCH

DIPL-ING. WOLFGANG BRINGMANN

Supellex AG Patent Attorneys

Bahnhofstrasse 49 european patent attorneys

CH - 8500 Frauenfeld

Date 18 January 1999

Device for distributing and mixing a heat transfer medium circulated in a closed circuit

The invention relates to a device for distributing and mixing a heat transfer medium circulated in a closed circuit, which is heated in a heat source and/or cooled in a cold source and mixed according to the requirements of the respective consumer. Such devices comprise a heating chamber connected to the heat source via a heating flow, a cooling chamber connected to the cold source via a cooling flow, and a common return chamber connected to both the heating return and the cooling return.

In order to heat separate rooms or zones of a large room, radiators are usually used through which a heat transfer medium circulates in a closed circuit. The desired temperature of the room or the respective room zone is regulated in these central heating systems by using thermostat valves, which regulate the flow rate of the heat transfer medium through the respective radiator depending on the desired and existing temperature. Any necessary cooling of the rooms or room zones is achieved by blowing in cold air, which is generated and distributed by a separate air conditioning system.

By using surface radiant elements, rooms or room zones can not only be heated, but also cooled. While the surface radiant element, which has a temperature above the room air temperature, mainly transfers heat to the room by radiation,

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The heat is emitted by the surface radiant element, whose temperature is below the room air temperature, to the boundary walls of the room and to the objects and living beings in the room (without directly heating the room air), while cooling is carried out by the surface radiant element, which absorbs the heat emitted by the boundary walls and the objects and living beings in the room, so that they are cooled down. The radiation component is around 80% of the total heat output when heating using surface radiant elements arranged on the ceiling, and around 50% when cooling. The remaining heat is transferred by convection or heat conduction.

When installing such surface radiant elements, which are used not only for heating but also for cooling rooms using radiation, it is known to use a so-called three-pipe system to reduce the installation effort, in which the returns from the heating circuit and the returns from the cooling circuit are combined into a common return. This results in a saving in pipes and installation material.

Since the temperature of the heat transfer medium to be supplied to the respective consumer must be precisely maintained with regard to the desired heating or cooling performance, because the respective heat emission or absorption is not caused by the amount of heat transfer medium, but by its temperature, complex measures are required to distribute and mix the heat transfer medium circulated in the closed circuit. So-called distributors are used for this purpose, of which the main distributor is arranged between the heat source and the cold source. Several control circuits are connected to this main distributor, through which the heat transfer medium is supplied to the consumers via a sub-distributor.

The invention is based on the object of creating a device of the type described above for distributing and mixing a heat transfer medium circulated in a closed circuit, which, with a simple construction, enables a compact design and, due to its simple and clear structure, can be easily adapted to the respective circumstances

which result in particular from the number of control loops and consumers.

The solution to this problem by the invention is characterized in that the three chambers (heating chamber, cooling chamber and return chamber) are arranged parallel to one another and the three supply lines, each belonging to a control circuit for at least one consumer, are arranged directly next to one another on the chambers.

This inventive proposal results in a compact design for both the main distributor and the sub-distributors, because not only the chambers are arranged next to each other, but also the supply lines with fittings belonging to each control circuit are arranged clearly and compactly as a group next to each other.

The inventive design of a main distributor, in which the heating flow and cooling flow lines of each control circuit are connected to the common return line via mixing valves, is characterized in that the return lines of all control circuits are connected to the common return chamber. This results in a mixture of the heat transfer media coming from the control circuits at different temperatures in the common return chamber, which at the same time results in heat recovery.

In order to also use this advantage with regard to the sub-distributors, in which the feed line of each consumer is connected to both the heating chamber and the cooling chamber via a mixing valve, the invention proposes to connect the return line of all consumers to the common return chamber.

According to the invention, the connection pieces for the heating flow, cooling flow and return lines can be arranged either on the top or bottom of the chambers. With the same construction and design of the chambers, the most favorable connection arrangement for the respective lines can be selected in this way.

According to a further feature of the invention, the main distributor is hydraulically separated from the heat source or cold source by a hydraulic switch (a pressureless distributor). In this way, hydraulic influences from the primary circuits of the heat and cold source on the secondary circuit containing the consumers are excluded.

In order to achieve the power control of the consumers exclusively via the temperature of the heat transfer medium at a constant volume flow, according to a further feature of the invention, a dynamic volume flow controller is arranged in the flow or return line leading to each consumer.

The structure of the device according to the invention explained above makes it possible, according to a further feature of the invention, for only one circulation pump with a constant flow rate and constant discharge pressure to be arranged in the return line of each control circuit. The device according to the invention therefore does not require any controllable pumps or differential pressure control, since the power control of each consumer is carried out solely via the temperature of the heat transfer medium.

Finally, the invention proposes arranging all fittings of the heating and cooling circuit, including the necessary vents and drains, on the main distributor and the sub-distributors so that they are clearly visible and easily accessible.

The drawing shows embodiments of the main distributor and the sub-distributor of the device according to the invention, namely:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a main distributor,

Fig. 2 a top view of the main distributor according to Fig. 1 when mounted in front of a wall,

Fig. 3 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 2 of a main distributor which is free-standing and contains connections for four control circuits,

Fig. 4 a view of a sub-distributor for two consumers with connection pieces arranged on the top of the chambers,

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 of a sub-distributor for two consumers with connection pieces arranged on the top and bottom,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side view of the chambers of the sub-distributor according to Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the chambers according to Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 a cross section through the chambers according to the section line VIIi-VIII in Fig. 6 and

Fig. 9 is a side view of a sub-distributor for six consumers corresponding to Figs. 4 and 5.

The first embodiment of a main distributor shown in Figs. 1 and 2 shows its arrangement between a heat source (not shown) and a cold source (also not shown), with which the main distributor is arranged via a hydraulic switch W _w or W _K. These hydraulic switches W _w or W _K are pressureless distributors, so that hydraulic influences from the primary circuits in which the heat source or cooling source is arranged on the secondary circuit containing the consumers are prevented.

Fig. 1 shows the heating flow HV _W coming from the heat source (not shown), which is connected to the hydraulic switch W _w at the top, as well as the heating return HR _W leading to the heat source, which is located in the lower area of the hydraulic switch W _w . In contrast to this, on the hydraulic switch W _K connected to the cold source (not shown), the cooling flow KV _K is arranged in the lower area and the cooling return KR _K in the upper area.

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The core of the main distributor consists of three chambers, namely the cooling chamber K ₁ at the bottom, the return chamber R above it and the heating chamber H at the very top. These chambers are highlighted in Fig. 1 by different markings. The return chamber R is drawn in black over its entire surface, the cooling chamber K is slightly tinted and the heating chamber H is more strongly tinted.

Fig. 1 also shows that the hydraulic switch W _w is connected to the heating chamber H via a line and the hydraulic switch W _K is connected to the cooling chamber K via a line and that both hydraulic switches W _w and W _K are connected to the return chamber R. The volume of the hydraulic switch W _w in the embodiment example is 300 liters, that of the hydraulic switch W _K is about 1,000 liters.

Since in the illustrated embodiment according to Fig. 1 and 2 the chambers K, R and H are located one above the other, their connection pieces are located in front of a wall on the back of the main distributor in the illustrated installation, as can be seen from Fig. 2. Fig. 1 shows that the heating flow line HV of two control circuits I and II are connected to the upper heating chamber H and the cooling flow lines KV of the two control circuits I and II are connected to the cooling chamber K. The return lines Rl located between these heating flow lines HV and cooling flow lines KV are connected to the return chamber R. A circulation pump U with a constant flow rate and constant flow pressure is arranged in each of them.

In order to be able to regulate the temperature of the heat transfer medium supplied to the consumers of control circuit I or II according to the respective requirements, the return line Rl of each control circuit I or II is connected to both the heating flow line HV and the cooling flow line KV via a 3-way mixing valve M. In this way, part of the heat transfer medium flowing back in the return line Rl can be mixed into both the heating flow line HV and the cooling flow line KV, as can be seen from the color design in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 and 2 show that the above-described design of the main distributor results in a compact design and clear arrangement of the

chambers and lines. Such a compact design is also possible if, as shown in Fig. 3, the main distributor is installed free-standing and is designed for four control circuits instead of two.

Fig. 4 and 5 show the side view of a sub-distributor for two consumers housed in a cabinet S, whereby the core of this sub-distributor is shown enlarged in Fig. 6 to 8, namely the compact arrangement of the heating chamber H, cooling chamber K and return chamber R.

As the side view, the top view and the cross section through these three chambers show, each of the chambers consists of a square cross-section pipe, closed at the ends and provided with various connection pieces. In the embodiments shown in Fig. 4 to 8, the three chambers are located next to each other; the front chamber is the cooling chamber K, the middle chamber is the heating chamber H and the rear chamber is the return chamber R. The heating chamber H is connected to the main distributor shown in Fig. 1 via the heating flow line HV of one control circuit, and the cooling chamber K is connected accordingly via the cooling flow line KV. The connection between the return chamber R of the sub-distributor and the return chamber R of the main distributor is made via the return line Rl. The difference between the embodiment according to Fig. 4 and 5 is only that these lines HV, KV and Rl open at the top of the respective chamber in the embodiment according to Fig. 4 and at the bottom of the respective chamber in the embodiment according to Fig. 5.

The two consumers are connected to the chambers H, K and R via a flow line VL and a return line RL. The flow lines VL are each connected to both the heating chamber H and the cooling chamber K via a 3-way mixing valve M as shown in Fig. 4 and 5, so that the temperature of the heat transfer medium in the flow line VL leading to the respective consumer can be precisely adjusted by mixing the heat transfer medium coming from the heating chamber H and the cooling chamber K.

As the side views of Fig. 4 and 5 show, a drain or venting valve E is connected to each of the chambers H, K and R. In addition, these illustrations show that in the return lines RL

a volume flow controller V _r is arranged. All lines are also equipped with a shut-off device A.

The sub-distributor shown in Fig. 9, designed for six consumers, has the same structure as the sub-distributor shown in Fig. 5; it only contains a correspondingly larger number of supply lines VL and return lines RL as well as associated fittings.

List of reference symbols

A Shut-off device E Drain and vent fitting H Heating chamber _HRW Heating return HVw Heating flow AGM Heating flow line K Cooling chamber KRk Cooling return KVk Cooling flow KV Cooling supply line M Mixing valve R Return chamber Rl Return line RL Return line S Wardrobe U Circulation pump v _r Volume flow controller VL Flow line W _K hydraulic switch W _w hydraulic switch

Claims (8)

Expectations 1. Device for distributing and mixing a heat transfer medium circulated in a closed circuit, which is heated in a heat source and/or cooled in a cold source and mixed according to the requirements of the respective consumer, with a heating chamber connected to the heat source via a heating flow, a cooling chamber connected to the cold source via a cooling flow and a common return chamber connected to both the heating return and the cooling return, characterized, that the three chambers (H, K, R) are arranged parallel to one another and the three supply lines (HV, KV, Rl) each belonging to a control circuit for at least one consumer are arranged directly next to one another on the chambers (H, K, R). 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the heating flow line and the cooling flow line of each control circuit are connected to the common return line via mixing valves, characterized in that the return lines (Rl) of all control circuits are connected to the common return chamber (R). 3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the flow line of each consumer is connected to the heating chamber and the cooling chamber via a mixing valve, characterized in that the return line (RL) of all consumers is connected to the common return chamber (R). 4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the connecting pieces for the heating flow, cooling flow and return lines (HV, KV, Rl) are arranged optionally on the top or bottom of the chambers (H, K, R). 5. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the main distributor is hydraulically separated from the heat source or cold source by a hydraulic switch (W _w , W _K ). 6. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that a dynamic volume flow controller (V _r ) is arranged in the flow or return line (VL, RL) leading to each consumer. 7. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a circulation pump (U) with a constant delivery rate and constant delivery pressure is arranged in the return line (RL) of each control circuit. 8. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that all fittings of the heating and cooling circuit including necessary draining and venting fittings (E) are arranged on the main distributor and the sub-distributors.