DE2917840A1 - Temporary temp. limiter for thermostat-controlled radiator - has timing switch controlling thermostat electric heating for reduced temp. in rooms not in use - Google Patents

Abstract

The limiter is intended for heating energy reduction by lowering the temp. in rooms which are not in use. The temp. reduction is carried out automatically without excessive cost and by maintaining limited spatial demands for the arrangement, which is applicable to individual thermostats controlling hot water or steam heating systems. Each thermostat valve is electrically heated under control of a timing switch, while maintaining fully the advance heating temp. On the front face of the thermostat valve of a room radiator is secured an electric resistor, covered by a thin thermal insulating disc. The resistor is supplied with an alternating voltage of 24 V during off-peak period under control of a timing switch. 15 minutes after switching-on the hot water supply stops and is resumed after a temp. drop of 5 deg. K.

Description

Device for temporarily lowering the temperature in rooms with

thermostatically controlled radiators.

The invention relates to the control of space heating.

Its purpose is to save heating energy that in times If heated rooms are not used, the temperature is reduced by a few Kelvin will.

According to the current state of the art, the thermostatic valve is the most effective Device for the individual regulation of the temperature of centrally heated rooms. at Sufficiently high flow temperature of the heating medium (water) in a central heating system; e karin each connected room according to its use (living room, 3ad, office, Jerkstatt) are tempered. The temperature fluctuates little because of the market Liquid / e, as-filled control valves located in the system are very sensitive to temperature fluctuations react and switch accordingly.

If the flow temperature changes, the thermostatic valve opens accordingly further or less far. A temporary lowering of the flow temperature therefore results only then to a lowering of the room temperature and thus to save energy, if the temperature falls below a certain minimum. In many cases this is Regulation sufficient.

However, it is almost impossible if the flow temperature is reduced a central heating system, individual rooms e.g. bathroom and children's room in dormitories or caretaker's apartment and porter's lodge in office and commercial buildings to keep at a higher temperature, as in these cases the radiators are uneconomical would have to be oversized.

A possibility was therefore sought besides the individual Regulation of the room temperature with thermostatic valves also includes an automatic lowering this temperature by a few Kelvin when the heated rooms are not in use to save heating energy without reducing the Flow temperature comes.

The solution to the problem is time-controlled, automatic Level adjustment of the thermostat on. This is possible 1. mechanically via a timer with a downstream servomotor, as is the case with night setback commonly used by central heating systems, 2. in that the thermostatic valve during a higher temperature than that is offered for the desired reduction period set room temperature.

The solution mentioned under 1. is both in terms of costs and the space required is very expensive. Even the outer appearance of a voluminous one Switching equipment is a nuisance in unconscious.

The second approach was therefore taken: an electrical heating resistor was attached to a commercially available thermostatic valve in such a way that the heat that it emits when a voltage is applied, the expansion tank of the valve few Kelvin heated above the ambient temperature, whereupon this in turn the control level lowers. With a coordinated choice of voltage (safety), resistance and thermal insulation (only allowed to a very limited extent) can reduce the room temperature in this way by a desired amount. Switching the voltage on / off can can now be done using a timer.

Surprisingly, such a circuit reacts as quickly as the unheated valve: just a few minutes after switching on the heating voltage the valve closes, and it opens again just as quickly after switching off the voltage.

Compared to previous regulations, the device offers a number of options of advantages. The most important is that with little additional effort to normal control effort with thermostatic valves individually each to a heating system connected radiators thermostatically controlled and the control level via a Time switch controlled - to save energy with a constant flow temperature can be lowered.

First there is the single-family house. In a single-family house you have that Hitherto unknown possibility, depending on the number of electric circuits used Time switch (several clocks are also possible) different rooms at times when they do not need a high temperature level, individually lower the temperature level and thus not save unacceptable amounts of energy. For example, the living room at 293-29 K during main usage time from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., the kitchen at 293 i; during the time from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., bedrooms during this time of undressing and dressing can be set to 296 K while all these rooms are in the other times can be reduced to 285 - 283 K.

Rooms for toddlers and 3ad, on the other hand, stay warm throughout.

Even a single circuit can be closed in a family home lead to considerable energy savings.

There are similar advantages for the multi-family house. Of great The importance here is the achievable independence of the individual parties in their Heating rhythm.

Public institutions such as old people's homes, hospitals, schools, etc.

can according to the needs of the inmates and the purpose of the Rooms very advantageous from the possibility of temporary automatic temperature lowering Make use of it, even without just having the savings effect in mind.

Owners have special opportunities to save energy such apartments that are only present at certain times during the daily routine are, e.g. single workers. You can set illustrious heating times so that that the wages / sleep parts of the apartment trend in the night and the absence in the day the temperature is lowered and it is well-heated at the itückltehr in the evening Find an apartment as well as the morning toilet and breakfast. The bathroom one Such an apartment can be kept at a constant high temperature because of the low heat requirement being held.

The space required by the circuit and the heating resistor is conceivable small. The clock and transformer can be concealed in the apartment appropriate will. The heating resistor on the valve remains invisible because it is very small. The power supply lines, which are thin due to their extremely low power, can be without problems behind baseboards and under carpets. Dic water pipes the heating system and the radiators can be used as electrical if switched cleverly Conductors are used so that only a single wire is attached to the radiator valve must be introduced.

In new buildings, supply lines are of course laid under plaster and n the place that is intended as space for the time switch is merged.

Examples.

1. On the front of a thermostatic valve of a living room radiator an electrical resistor (1000 ohms, 2 watts) was attached and then the end face of the valve including the resistance with a thin styrofoam disk against heat loss isolated. An alternating voltage was applied via a two-wire strand soldered to the resistor of 24 volts applied via a standard time switch during the night (10 p.m. - 6 a.m.) was switched on. Approx. 15 minutes after switching on the heating voltage the inflow of hot water into the radiator hardened and only started again, when the room temperature, which had previously been 296 K, dropped to approx. 288 K. was. After switching off the heating current, the exit room temperature was set in about 30 minutes again. The outside temperature was below 270 K during the night.

2. At outside temperatures of 285 K, the same device sank each below 1. the temperature in the living room does not fall to the Vjinimum observed in frost of 288 K, although the heating water flow is completely when the heating voltage is switched on has been blocked.

So there was no heating energy whatsoever during the entire switch-on time taken from the central heating system.

3. The same device was used as under 1., only the resistor was replaced by another with 1200 ohms. Under these conditions If the room temperature only dropped to 290 K, then the thermostatic valve controlled already again.

Claims (3)

Expectations. 1. Device for individual, automatic, temporary lowering the temperature in rooms with individual thermostats controlled hot water resp. Steam heaters, characterized in that the thermostatic valve at constant Flow temperature to lower the control level, controlled by a timer is heated. 2. Claim as under 1., wherein the heating takes place electrically. 3. Claim as under 2., wherein the heating power between 0.05 and 5 VA.