BE1025665B1 - ADVANCED HYDRAULIC SATELLITE GROUP - Google Patents

Abstract

Satellite group or heating interface unit for central heating or for a type of heating comprising a first discharge duct (4) connected to a heating installation of an environment, a first return duct (6) of said installation a second discharge duct (5) connected to a sanitary water installation, a second return duct (7) of said sanitary water installation, said first discharge duct (4) being directly connected to a duct; (8) supplying hot water from a remote system for producing hot water, remote from said environment, said return duct (7) being connected to a conduit (9) for returning water to said system of remote hot water production; an electronic control unit (30) connected to the components (27; 19; 25; 21; 22) of said satellite group being provided for modulating the temperature of the water input to said satellite group to obtain an appropriate temperature of the water in heating or sanitary water.

Description

IMPROVED HYDRAULIC SATELLITE GROUP

The invention relates to a satellite unit for central heating or for remote heating according to the introductory part of the main claim.

Satellite groups or interface units for hydraulic heating are known for environmental heating installations or for the production of sanitary water in which the production of the heating fluid (water) takes place at a distance from the heated environment or where domestic hot water is used. This procedure, also known as remote heating, provides for the production of the heating fluid to take place remotely using various techniques, such as, for example, recovering heat from installations for the disposal of waste, through real water heating in tanks decentralized to environments where this hot water is used or the like.

The satellite groups or heating interface units are usually located in an environment which must be heated by hot water produced remotely (by means of usual heating elements) or in which domestic hot water for use domestic must be distributed. Usually, these systems include a structure containing functional elements capable of allowing the flow of water which comes, heated, from a remote location in pipes or ad hoc pipes which connect this interface unit to usual heating elements or taps from which hot water can be taken out for sanitary use.

Such a heating interface unit provides one or both of the following services: sending hot water for heating on demand or producing hot water for instant domestic use. This is usually done by means of a corresponding heat exchanger with which the interface unit is provided, said exchanger being hydraulically connected to a distribution network which comes from the remote area where the hot water is produced.

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The satellite group or heat interface unit is a hydraulic device which, depending on the configuration and the services it provides, has a variable number of connections to domestic water systems specific to the environment in which it is located. installed. Generally, all the components of the interface unit or satellite group (or even simply "satellite"), are produced and arranged in a single body, so that the interface unit is supplied during the installation phase. as a single component.

However, various embodiments of such a group or unit are known: in one configuration, a single heat exchanger is provided at the part of the satellite connected to the circuit or to the conduits of the sanitary water in the environment, while that hot water from a remote location is supplied directly to the heating elements in that environment. In another embodiment, however, a heat exchanger is provided which connects the circuit part of the satellite unit or group to the heating elements.

More particularly, the known hydraulic installations of the type cited above, comprise various components such as flow regulators and electrically actuated valves. There are also connections with thermostats located in the environment and which can actuate these organs in electric mode. These installations or satellites are produced by inserting, in a box structure, pipes which make it possible to receive the heated fluid from a distance and to send it back to the remote installation which produces this heating fluid, a pump, one or more safety valves. and the control components necessary to send water to the heating elements or to the taps in the environment. These components are assembled in the box structure as required.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a satellite group or a heating interface unit which is able to offer a rapid response to the demand for hot water for heating or hot water for use in as sanitary water.

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Another objective consists in proposing a satellite group or a heating interface unit which makes it possible to maintain the temperature of the heating water at a value such that it can meet the demands by conventional systems for controlling the temperature present. in the environment where said heating elements are located.

Another objective is to provide a satellite group or an entire heating interface unit which can be controlled remotely by specific commands transmitted by a user so as to be able to obtain the environmental heating characteristics desired by the latter.

These objectives, as well as other objectives which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are achieved by a satellite group or a heating interface unit according to the appended claims.

For a better understanding of the present invention, we refer, for information only, but not limitation, to the following figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a hydraulic configuration of a first embodiment of a satellite unit according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a hydraulic configuration of a second embodiment of the satellite group according to the invention; and FIG. 3 shows a hydraulic configuration of a third embodiment of the satellite group according to the invention.

Relative to the cited figures, and in particular to Figure 1, it shows a satellite group or a heating interface unit 1, said unit or said satellite group being shown schematically with reference only to its internal hydraulic components. The satellite group 1 is connected to heating elements 2 and to taps 3 for the domestic hot water of an environment by means of pipes 4 and 5, of delivery and through

BE2018 / 5137 of pipes 6 and 7, back. A delivery pipe 8 of the hot water produced at a distance (in a manner known per se) reaches the satellite group 1 and from this satellite group 1 there comes out a pipe 9 which brings the water back to a temperature lower than that of entry to the remote position where this fluid will be heated again. These pipes 8 and 9 are connected to inlet 10 and outlet 11 conduits of the satellite group 1.

The satellite group 1 is connected to the discharge pipe 8 and to the return pipe 9 in a manner known per se.

More particularly, the satellite group 1 includes, internally, disposed on the pipe 4, a heat exchanger 12 and a temperature sensor for the hot water flow 13. As an option, it is also possible to provide a safety thermostat 14 able to read the temperature of the hot water present in the pipe 4 and directed towards the heating elements 2. The pipe 6 on which is located a pump 18; part of the heating elements 2; this pipe passes through the heat exchanger 12 before leaving the satellite group 1; on the duct 5, there is a valve 19 dedicated to controlling the flow rate downstream of the heat exchanger, as well as a temperature sensor 27 (located on the duct 11).

It should be noted that the safety thermostat 14 is connected to the valve 19 and to the temperature sensor 27. Therefore, this thermostat is able to interrupt the return of the fluid after it has been used for heating the environment cited. above if security reasons require this interruption. All this in a manner known per se.

At the same time, the pipe 5 is detached from the duct or pipe 4 before this pipe 4 enters the heat exchanger 12; said pipe 5 passes through a heat exchanger 20 before reaching the taps 3. A hot water temperature probe 21 is connected to pipe 5.

The pipe 7 on which a flow switch or flowmeter 22 is provided moves away from the taps 3, as has been said. The pipe 7 passes through the exchanger 20 and downstream of it, on the conduit 11 is a valve

BE2018 / 5137 dedicated to controlling the flow of water downstream of the heat exchanger and directed to pipe 9.

The satellite group or interface unit 1 includes, in an innovative manner, an electronic controller or a control unit, preferably with a microprocessor, 30; this unit is connected to the various electrical components of said group 1. In particular, the control unit 30 is connected to the temperature probe 13, to a pressure sensor 15 present on the pipe 4 downstream of the probe 13, to the pump 18, to the temperature probe 21 of the hot water circulating in the pipe 5, to the valve 19 located on the conduit 11 and to the valve 25 dedicated to controlling the flow of fluid downstream of the exchanger 20.

The control unit 30 controls both the environmental heating function and the function of producing hot water for instant sanitary use. And this, through the input signals collected by the components connected to it.

In addition to the components mentioned above, the microprocessor unit 30 is also connected to a conventional thermostat 37, capable of controlling the temperature of the environment to be heated; said thermostat could be outside or part of the devices could be present inside the satellite group or interface unit 1.

The control unit 30 acts on the modulation valves 19 and 25 in order to control the primary flow which feeds the interface unit or the satellite group. This flow control can be carried out separately, through the valve 25 and through the valve 19. As a variant, the control of the flow which supplies the interface unit or satellite group 1 can be obtained by modulating a single valve located on the inlet side of this group which controls the flow to the entire interface unit by adding a deflection valve which divides the fluid flow to one of the two heat exchangers 12 and 20. These latter valves do not are not shown in the figure, but are known per se both as features and as use in an interface unit such as that object of the present invention.

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When the room thermostat 37 requires heating, the control unit 30 present in the interface unit 1 activates the pump 18 and partially opens the modulation valve 19 in order to obtain a desired fluid temperature, measured by the probe 13, in order to be able to satisfy the request from the thermostat 37. The control unit 30 checks, after the activation of said components 18 and 19, the state of the temperature measured by the thermostat 37 and the pressure measured by the sensor pressure 15. If one of these components detects a problem, the pump 18 is deactivated and the modulation valve 19 is closed.

Similarly, when there is a demand for hot water from a user present in the environment where the satellite group 1 is located, that is to say when the flow meter or flow switch 22 detects a flow of water (opening a hot water tap), the control unit 30 of the satellite group partially opens the modulation valve 25 in order to obtain the desired water temperature, measured by the temperature probe 21 .

We now refer to Figure 2. It has parts corresponding to those already described in claim 1, indicated with the same reference numerals.

In the schematic configuration shown in Figure 2, the environment is supplied without any heat exchanger between the circuit or the hot water inlet pipe 8 and the pipe 4 of the group satellite or interface unit 1. There is therefore a direct hydraulic link between the distribution network of hot water produced remotely and the environment heating system through the satellite group or interface unit 1.

In the case of FIG. 2, when the thermostat 37 requires the activation of the heating elements 2, the control unit 30 present in the satellite group or the interface unit 1 activates the pump 8. Therefore, it acts on a mixing valve 40 provided on the return pipe 6 downstream of the pump 8 (with reference to the direction of circulation of the fluid in the pipe or conduit 6). And this, in order to obtain a temperature of the desired flow, measured by the temperature probe 13.

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The control unit 30, when these components are operational, checks the status of the safety thermostat 14. If this thermostat detects a problem, the pump 8 is deactivated and the mixing valve 40 is closed. Another safety valve can also be provided to stop the flow of water from a remote location to the heating elements when the safety thermostat 14 detects a problem (generally, when the water temperature is higher at its predefined reference point).

Similarly, when there is a demand for hot water from a user present in the environment where the satellite group 1 is located, that is to say when the flow meter or flow switch 22 detects a flow of water (opening a hot water tap), the control unit 30 inserted inside the interface 1 partially opens the modulation valve 25 in order to obtain the desired flow temperature, measured by the temperature probe 21.

Figure 3 shows a third variant of the invention. This figure presents parts corresponding to those of the figures already described and indicated with the same reference numerals.

In the configuration examined, the heating of the environment is provided without there being the slightest heat exchanger between the hot water pipe 8 entering the group 1 and the heating circuit or the heating elements 2, with a direct connection between the water distribution network from a remote location and the system for heating the environment.

In this case also, when the room thermostat 37 requires heat, the controller or control unit 30 located in the interface unit or in the satellite group 1 acts on the modulation valve 19 in order to open it up to a certain point, determined by algorithms present inside the control unit 30. These algorithms correspond to the quantity of hot water which must be supplied to the heating installation in order to be able to obtain specific temperatures established. The correlation between the water flow rate and the temperatures is recorded in a memory (not shown) of the control unit 30.

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Similarly, when there is a demand for hot water from a user present in the environment where the satellite group 1 is located, that is to say when the flow meter or flow switch 22 detects a flow of water (opening a hot water tap 3), the controller or control unit 30 partially opens the modulation valve 25 in order to obtain the desired flow temperature, measured by the temperature probe 21.

In the case of the configuration of FIGS. 1 and 2, when a specific control function is activated, the control unit 30 calculates the temperatures that the flow in circulation in the heating circuit and in the domestic hot water circuit must reach, depending on the temperature recorded by the temperature sensor 27 located on the return duct 6.

In the case of the configuration in FIG. 3, the control unit 30 calculates the position of the modulation valve 19 according to the temperature recorded by the temperature sensor 27 located on the duct 6, when the heating interface unit provides environmental heating. When the interface unit operates so as to supply domestic hot water, the control unit 30 calculates a final temperature for the domestic hot water according to the temperature recorded by the temperature sensor 27 always located on the duct. back 6.

In all configurations, it is possible to set a maximum opening for each valve present. In addition, in all configurations, when the control function is active, the heating interface unit or satellite group 1 provides a “temperature maintenance” function, with the aim of maintaining the heat exchanger 20 dedicated to the production of domestic hot water at a temperature compatible with a rapid response time, when domestic hot water is required after a period of waiting or stand-by time. The temperature maintenance cycle begins when the control unit 30 partially opens the modulation valve 25 and when the temperature recorded by the temperature probe 21 drops below a given threshold. The temperature maintenance cycle stops when the temperature recorded by the temperature probe 27 reaches or exceeds a given predefined value.

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The temperature maintenance function can be deactivated, activated 24 hours a day or activated only during the preset hours of the day.

The control unit 30 of the satellite group can be provided with an auxiliary contact, in order to be able to program it.

The heating interface unit or satellite group 1 can be provided with a control unit which can be connected to external devices via cable or radio connections. Through this connectivity, the interface unit or satellite group can be controlled and adjusted remotely so that at least all the settings that can be made using the interface in acting directly on it, can also be performed remotely.

Finally, by means of specific commands for users, transmitted to the control unit of the interface unit or satellite group 1, it is possible to modify the behavior of the interface unit and cancel a input signal received by the interface unit from one of the components associated with it.

The present invention therefore relates to an interface unit or satellite group provided with a programmable and controllable control unit, capable of intervening in order to be able to modulate the temperature of the flow of water both inside the circuit. usual heating than inside the domestic water circuit of an environment. And this, in order to limit the temperature of the water or of the fluid entering inside the interface unit or satellite group and of the water which leaves this unit or this satellite group to return at a remote station where the water will be heated again.

The invention makes it possible to identify temperature limits beyond which the control unit intervenes for security purposes. Thanks to the invention, it is also possible also to provide a function for maintaining the temperature of water for sanitary use, which makes it possible to maintain this temperature at a predefined value.

Claims (11)

1. Satellite unit or heating interface unit for central heating or for remote heating of the type comprising a first discharge duct (4) connected to an installation for heating an environment, a first return duct (6) of said heating installation, a second discharge conduit (5) connected to a sanitary water installation, a second return conduit (7) of said sanitary water installation, said first discharge conduit (4) being directly connected to a pipe (8) for supplying hot water from a remote hot water production system, remote from said environment, said return pipe (7) being connected to a pipe (9) for returning water to said water remote hot water production system; a modulation valve (19, 25) located on each of said return conduits (6, 7), each being capable of controlling the flow rate of flow flowing in said return conduits (6, 7), a temperature sensor (21 ) being provided on the second discharge conduit (5) and a flow meter (22) also being provided on the second return conduit (7), a temperature sensor 27 recording the temperature of the water leaving said satellite group or the heating interface unit (1), characterized in that an electronic control unit (30) is provided, connected at least to said sensor (27) of the temperature of the water leaving said satellite group, to said valves flow control (19, 25) located on the return conduits (6, 7), to said temperature sensor (21) located on the second discharge conduit (5) and to said flow meter (22), said modulating control unit the temperature of the water flow in order to obtain an approximate temperature required water circulating in the heating installation and / or water for sanitary use. 2. Satellite unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (30) is a microprocessor unit provided with a memory. 3. Satellite unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (30) is connected to an ambient temperature thermostat (37). BE2018 / 5137 4. Satellite unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the memory of the control unit (30) contains predefined data of temperature values of the environment heating circuit and minimum values of water temperature health. 5. Satellite unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the control unit is able to activate a circulation of hot water for sanitary use in order to maintain a minimum accepted temperature of sanitary hot water. 6. Satellite unit according to claim 1, of the type comprising a pump (18) disposed on the first return duct (6), characterized in that said control unit controls said pump (18). 7. Satellite unit according to claim 1, of the type comprising a pump and a mixing valve (40) located on the first return duct (6) characterized in that said pump (18) and said mixing valve (40) are connected to said control unit (30). 8. Satellite unit according to claim 1, of the type comprising a temperature probe (13) capable of reading the temperature of the water present in the first discharge conduit (4) and a safety thermostat (14) connected to said first conduit discharge (4), characterized in that said control unit is connected to said temperature probe (13) and to said safety thermostat (14). 9. Satellite unit according to claim 1, of the type comprising a pressure sensor or pressure switch (15) disposed on the first discharge conduit (4), characterized in that the control unit (30) is connected to said sensor pressure (15). 10. Satellite unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said control unit (30) is remotely programmable. BE2018 / 5137 11. Satellite group according to claim 1, characterized in that said control unit (30) has connection zones capable of allowing its direct programming.