EP0039655B1 - Accelerating device of fluids for circuits of hot-water heating plants - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fluid accelerator device for a central water heating circuit.

Since raising public awareness of the problems posed by energy supply, many “calorie recovery” systems have appeared on the market, in particular grates and / or chenets intended to be placed in open fireplaces, and produced by means of hollow tubes, connected to a conventional water circulation heating circuit. The part of the circuit, in which the recuperator is connected, usually includes a device called a circulator, ensuring the circulation of the fluid in the conduits, in order to avoid local overheating liable to cause an overpressure which risks damaging the pipes.

The simplest known circulators are driven by an electric motor. As a result, the problem of possible local overheating becomes particularly crucial in the event of a power failure.

Various systems have already been proposed which meet the concerns of ensuring the circulation of water in a central heating installation in the event of a power failure. In particular, a system is known based on the principle of the rechargeable battery, which provides the electrical energy necessary to drive the accelerator in the event of a power cut. Such a device has an extremely limited autonomy. It remains unreliable because its activation is not automatic. In addition, its implementation is relatively expensive.

To overcome these various drawbacks, it is practically compulsory to install a thermosyphon in any heating system supplied by a wood or coal boiler. In the case of a heat recovery unit installed in an open fire, mounting in a thermosyphon is very often impossible. The recuperator is generally at the same height as the radiators, so that a thermosyphon installation is hardly possible.

German patent No 457 674 describes a fluid accelerator device, comprising an accelerator member mounted in a circuit of a first fluid, an electric motor coupled to said accelerator member, a drive turbine powered by a second pressurized fluid and also coupled to said accelerator member, and a valve mounted on the second fluid supply circuit of the turbine and automatically controlled to start the drive turbine in the event of the power supply to the electric motor stopping, said valve being coupled to an electro -magnet.

This complex, costly device has the particular disadvantage of requiring monitoring since it is mandatory to reset the system after each operation. In addition, its installation requires the implementation of significant resources, so that it does not lend itself to domestic use.

The present invention proposes to overcome the various drawbacks mentioned above and proposes to ensure the permanent operation of an accelerator whose autonomy is unlimited, the reduced size and the relatively modest cost. The simple design of the proposed device guarantees almost total reliability and zero maintenance.

For this purpose, the accelerator device as mentioned above, is characterized in that the circuit of the first fluid is a domestic central heating circuit, that the second fluid is water and in that the electromagnet and the valve are arranged so as to also close the supply circuit for the second pressurized fluid in the event of restoration of the supply current to the electric motor.

According to a preferred embodiment, the accelerator, the electric motor and the turbine are mounted in respective adjacent watertight housings.

• la fig. 1 représente une vue schématique de la turbine servant d'entraînement d'appoint, et
• la fig. 2 représente une vue en coupe transversale selon la ligne a-a de la fig. 1.

The present invention will be better understood with reference to the description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

• fig. 1 represents a schematic view of the turbine serving as an auxiliary drive, and
• fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view along line aa of FIG. 1.

With reference to the figures, the turbine 1, mounted in a housing 10, is intended to be driven in rotation about its central axis 6 when a jet of pressurized water 5 is projected onto its blades by the injector 2. A electromagnetic valve 4 opens or closes the circuit connecting the water pipe 5 to the injector 2. The housing 10 of the turbine is secured to the carcass of an electric motor 7, the axis 6 of which is connected to the both to the turbine 1 and to the accelerator 8, these two members being arranged on either side of the carcass 7 of the engine.

In normal operation, the electric motor 7 supplied with current drives the accelerator 8 which is in charge, since it is mounted on a conventional circuit 9 of central heating, or on the part of the circuit in which is incorporated a heat recovery unit placed in an open fireplace. The electric motor also drives the turbine 1 which rotates when empty.

In the event of a break in the electric current supply to the motor 7, the electromagnetic valve 4, pre-armed by means of a spring (not shown), opens the water supply 5 of the injector 2, and generates the rotation of the turbine 1, which takes over from the electric motor 7 to rotate the accelerator 8. The water projected by the injector 2 on the blades of the turbine 1 is discharged through the conduit 3.

Consequently, thanks to the device described, the accelerator 8 is driven either by an electric motor 7 or by the turbine 1, and the transition from the first to the second drive mode takes place automatically in the event of a cut, even accidental, of the electric current supply to the motor 7.

Claims (2)

1. An accelerating device of fluids, comprising an accelerating mean mounted in the circuit of a first fluid, an electric motor which is connected to said accelerating mean, a driving turbine fed by a second fluid under pressure which is also connected to said accelerating mean, and a gate connected to the second fluid supply circuit of the turbine and automatically controlled for starting the driving turbine if the feeding of the electric motor is stopped, the said gate being connected to an electromagnet, characterized in that the circuit of the first fluid is a circuit of domestic central heating, in that the second fluid is water and in that the electromagnet and the gate (4) are arranged so that they close the second fluid supply circuit (5) if the feeding of the electric motor (7) is restored.

2. An accelerating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the accelerating mean (8), the electric motor (7) and the turbine (1) are mounted in fluid-tight boxes which are contiguous.

Images