DE19531339A1 - Process to monitor heating and water circuits - Google Patents

Abstract

The process monitors heating and water circuits, especially in high buildings, and uses an equalisation vessel with at least two volumes (2,3). The latter are separated from one another by a flexible, elastic element (4). The variation in the volumes is measured, and is used as a reference value for the serviceability of the circuit which is being monitored. The variation may be determined indirectly by measuring the pressure exerted by the elastic element on a surface of a pressure tank (1) in the vessel. It may also be determined by measuring the deformation of the elastic element.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for Monitoring of heating circuits and water circuits under Use of expansion tanks, such Expansion tanks in heating circuits and also for Fresh water supply from higher buildings is used.

Such pressure compensation vessels are therefore for Heating circuits, but also for fresh water circuits used.

Both arrangements have in common that in a pressure vessel separation into two different volumes takes place. As Separation medium is usually a rubber membrane or a compressed air-filled rubber bellows used.

This rubber bellows cannot only be used with a gaseous one Be filled with pressure medium, e.g. B. also nitrogen, it can also be filled with water.

The core of such an expansion tank is that it is divided into two Volumes is divided, usually on the top Volume of the heating circuit weighs while the lower volume from the upper one through said Rubber bellows or the rubber membrane is sealed.

Pressure is generally fed into the lower volume, e.g. B. produces a nitrogen cushion or even a Compressed air cushion.

It has now been found that in both cases, due to the diffusion the pressure volume from the lower  Volume range through the rubber bellows or the rubber membrane diffused into the upper volume. In the This is special when using a nitrogen cushion uncomfortable because one through the rubber membrane or through the Rubber bellows diffuses through the nitrogen pad Heating effect in the heating circuit is greatly reduced because of the Nitrogen passes into the heating water in a larger form and thus the heat transfer efficiency of the Heating water greatly reduced. In extreme cases, it can Water up to 40% of its heat transfer ability to lose.

So there is a strong need, the function to check such reservoirs in order to to determine the defective expansion tank and in good time to be able to intervene.

This is where the invention comes in, which is a method and a provides for a compensation container working in the process.

To achieve the object, the invention is accordingly through the technical teaching of independent claims featured.

It is essential here that a change in the Compensation volume available, the either via a pressure measurement or a deformation measurement can be done.

In a first embodiment is one with the heating water or fresh water-filled rubber bellows. Of the remaining interior of the pressure vessel is covered with a Compressed air or nitrogen pads filled.

The pressure of this cushion is the pressure in the rubber bellows adapted, ideally creating a balance  should. For example, a pressure of z. B. 5 bar, then the nitrogen cushion should ideally also Have 5 bar. In this state of balance, the Rubber bellows with its lower end on the bottom surface of the Pressure vessel, the entire interior of the pressure vessel is filled and supplied with this nitrogen cushion.

Now the nitrogen cushion loses its effectiveness by it through the rubber bellows into the water diffuses into it, then the rubber bellows always expands stronger and there is a change in volume of the Rubber bellows. These volume changes are said to be after technical teaching of the present invention can be detected.

In the first embodiment it is provided that a sensor on the bottom surface of the rubber bellows is arranged, which measures the mass of the rubber bellows.

This mass measurement takes place via a pressure measurement between the rubber bellows surface and the associated inner surface of the Pressure vessel.

It turned out that the mass and that Volume of the rubber bellows does not remain constant because of this Volume undesirably increases when that Nitrogen cushion loses pressure.

After a simple mass measurement of the rubber bellows enough, you can still do that because of this mass measurement Easily determine the remaining internal volume in the pressure vessel. If the mass increases, then you know at the same time that the volume in the pressure vessel decreases, which is only due to one defective nitrogen pad may be the case.

So an increasing mass says something about that Functionality of the pressure vessel, namely that the  Nitrogen cushion slowly disappears. Such a thing The measurement result is then displayed externally, whereby either a mechanical or an electrical display are possible and a switch can also be operated, the one when a certain threshold value is exceeded Triggers an alarm or other signal condition.

In another, not shown in the drawing Embodiment of the present invention is provided that the rubber bellows with its pipe socket from below Pressure vessel is filled with an air cushion and this this rubber bellows the pressure vessel into two different ones Divide volumes.

The upper volume is from the heating or fresh water acts and pushes the rubber bellows down into the Pressure vessel into it. In this embodiment, again in the bottom surface of the rubber bellows the aforementioned Sensor used, which consequently also the Deformation of the rubber bellows used to make a statement about the presence or defect of the nitrogen cushion to give.

In this embodiment, an alternative suggested that you use the pressure of the nitrogen cushion displays a manometer, which for example can also have a drag pointer. With a fresh, functional system with a new expansion tank accordingly, the initial state and the outlet pressure of the nitrogen cushion is displayed and frozen.

The pressure in the nitrogen cushion is now constantly in operation measured, and this pressure decreases compared to the frozen Drag pointer off, then you also know that that  Nitrogen cushion has been damaged and can be used accordingly Take countermeasures.

Such a manometer can be electrical or mechanical or be electromechanical and can also be have switching or only significant significance.

In a further embodiment it is provided that instead of of the rubber bellows a simple membrane is used, which Divides the pressure vessel into two volumes.

Here the deformation of the rubber membrane is simple detected and used for switching.

In the simplest case, the rubber membrane is used Strain gauges attached and the deformation of the Rubber membrane is found. Because the pressure in the Nitrogen cushion, then the rubber membrane deforms sack-like downwards, causing the strain gauge is deformed accordingly and this deformation then becomes Ad used.

The subject matter of the present invention provides not just from the subject of each Claims, but also from the combination of individual claims among themselves.

All in the documentation, including the summary, Disclosed information and features, in particular those in the Drawings illustrated spatial training are considered essential to the invention, insofar as they are used individually or in Combination are new compared to the prior art.

In the following the invention is based on only one Execution path illustrating drawings explained in more detail.

Here go from the drawings and their description  further features and advantages essential to the invention Invention.

Show it:

FIG. 1 shows schematically a section through a pressure compensation vessel in a first embodiment;

Fig. 2 schematically shows a section through a pressure compensation vessel in a second embodiment.

The pressure vessel 1 according to Fig. 1 consists of a steel container, which is designed as a pressure vessel, and is arranged in the interior of a rubber bellows. 4 In the exemplary embodiment described, this rubber bellows 4 is filled with the heating water or the fresh water via a pipe socket 7 , so that its bottom surface 10 bears against the bottom surface 16 of the pressure vessel 1 .

According to the invention, a measuring sensor 9 is now present on the bottom surface 10 of the rubber bellows 4, which detects the pressure between the rubber bellows and the bottom surface 16 of the pressure vessel 1 and makes a functional statement about the nitrogen cushion.

The pressure vessel consists of an upper volume 2 and a lower volume 3 , the two volumes 2 , 3 being connected to one another in the exemplary embodiment shown and being filled with nitrogen or another gaseous pressure medium.

Filling with nitrogen can e.g. B. take place via a pipe socket 5 , wherein according to the above embodiment, a pressure measurement in volume 2, 3 can be carried out via the pipe socket 5 .

In another embodiment of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 it can be provided that the rubber bellows 4 itself with a gaseous pressure medium, for. B. again nitrogen, is filled and the filling takes place here via the pipe socket 7 .

Alternatively, the rubber bellows 4 can also be turned over and is then connected in an air-tight manner to the pipe socket 8 in the lower part of the pressure vessel 1 and is filled from here with the pressure cushion.

The upper volume 2 is in turn connected to the lower volume 3 in an air-tight manner and the heating water is stored in these two volumes.

The heating water is then introduced into the pressure vessel 1 via the pipe socket 6 , for example.

Here, again, the deformation work of the rubber bellows 4 is detected by the transducer 9 arranged on the bottom surface 10 of the rubber bellows 4 in relation to the bottom surface 16 of the pressure vessel 1 . A simple pressure measurement is also possible, and the device can be calibrated by calibration.

In the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the pressure vessel 11 consists of a simple pressure vessel, the interior of which is divided into two volumes 12 , 13 by a corresponding membrane 14 . The heating or fresh water is stored in the upper volume 12 , for example, while the nitrogen cushion or another gaseous cushion is present in the lower volume 13 . The membrane 14 is connected according to the invention to a transducer, this transducer preferably being designed as a strain gauge 15 . However, other transducers can also be used which detect the change in shape of the membrane.

However, the use of a strain gauge 15 is preferred because it is a simple measurement method.

When the nitrogen cushion disappears in the lower volume 13 , the membrane deforms into its position 14 ', and here the strain gauge 15 is changed in its shape, which can be indicated electrically or mechanically.

It is again pointed out that such Pressure vessel is not only used in heating circuits, but also in fresh water systems accordingly in the case of pressure booster systems, monitoring the pressure-increased water circuit with this expansion tank guarantee.

Reference list

1 pressure vessel
2 upper volume
3 lower volume
4 rubber bellows
5 pipe sockets
6 pipe sockets
7 pipe sockets
8 pipe sockets
9 sensors
10 floor space
11 pressure vessel
12 upper volume
13 lower volume
14 , 14 ' membrane
15 strain gauges
16 floor area

Claims (8)

1. A method for monitoring heating circuits and water circuits, wherein a compensating vessel with at least two volumes separated by a flexible element is used, characterized in that a change in the volumes ( 2 , 3 ; 12 , 13 ) is measured and as a characteristic value for the Functionality of the monitored water cycle is used. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the change in the volumes ( 2 , 3 ) indirectly via a measurement of the pressure exerted by the elastic element ( 4 ) on a surface ( 16 ) of a pressure vessel ( 1 ) of the expansion tank is detected. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the change in the volumes ( 12 , 13 ) is detected by measuring the deformation of the elastic element ( 14 ). 4. A device for monitoring heating circuits and water circuits, which has at least two volumes separated from one another by a flexible element, a first volume being connected to the water circuit to be monitored and a second volume being filled with a pressure medium, characterized in that the elastic Element ( 4 ) is in contact with a surface ( 16 ) of the pressure vessel ( 1 ) of an expansion tank at at least one point and a measuring sensor ( 9 ) is attached to this contact point. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the elastic element is designed as a rubber bellows ( 4 ). 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the rubber bellows ( 4 ) is connected to the water circuit and a measurement of the pressure exerted by the rubber bellows ( 4 ) on the bottom surface ( 16 ) of the pressure vessel ( 1 ). 7. A device for monitoring heating circuits and water circuits, which has at least two volumes separated from one another by a flexible element, a first volume being connected to the water circuit to be monitored and a second volume being filled with a pressure medium, characterized in that the elastic Element ( 14 ) is provided with a measuring device ( 15 ) for detecting strains of the elastic element ( 14 ). 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the measuring device is designed as a strain gauge ( 15 ).