EP2574855A2 - Heating system - Google Patents

Heating system Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2574855A2
EP2574855A2 EP12182989A EP12182989A EP2574855A2 EP 2574855 A2 EP2574855 A2 EP 2574855A2 EP 12182989 A EP12182989 A EP 12182989A EP 12182989 A EP12182989 A EP 12182989A EP 2574855 A2 EP2574855 A2 EP 2574855A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heating chamber
discharge
heating
feed
fluid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP12182989A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Willem Frederik van der Kooij
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
F&F Beheer BV
Original Assignee
F&F Beheer BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by F&F Beheer BV filed Critical F&F Beheer BV
Publication of EP2574855A2 publication Critical patent/EP2574855A2/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D17/00—Domestic hot-water supply systems
    • F24D17/0073—Arrangements for preventing the occurrence or proliferation of microorganisms in the water
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D17/00—Domestic hot-water supply systems
    • F24D17/0026—Domestic hot-water supply systems with conventional heating means
    • F24D17/0031—Domestic hot-water supply systems with conventional heating means with accumulation of the heated water

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system and a method for heating fluid, this comprising both liquids and gases.
  • Such systems and methods are generally known and are applied for instance in automatic milking systems in order to generate a steam surge for the purpose of thereby cleaning equipment, such as the milking cups of such an automatic milking system.
  • the use of fluid heated with the system is also referred to below as an external application in order to make clear that disinfection of milking cups is only one possible embodiment.
  • Known systems comprise a heating chamber with a heating element, a feed which is connected to the heating chamber and via which the heating chamber can be selectively filled (with fluid for heating); and a discharge which is likewise connected to the heating chamber and via which fluid can be discharged from the heating chamber.
  • heated steam or gases and warmer heated liquid gases and liquids are both fluids
  • these known systems have the discharge on an upper side thereof for the purpose of making available a quantity of steam or hot water for disinfecting milking cups or for other applications where a quantity of steam or heated liquid has to be provided.
  • the known systems further usually have complex and costly cleaning components in respect of the feed in order to minimize the quantities of residue in the heating chamber.
  • these known prior art measures so many residues still remain in the heating chamber that operation thereof has to be regularly interrupted in order to clean the interior of the heating chamber.
  • the residues accumulate at the bottom of the heating chamber, and cleaning often includes flushing out the interior of the heating chamber in an attempt to discharge the residues such as limescale, sand, grit and other more or less solid substances.
  • an outlet as addition to a discharge to a usable external application for the purpose of employing fluid heated in the chamber, is provided at the bottom of a heating chamber in order to be able to regularly interrupt the operation of the system known therefrom for the purpose of flushing the heating chamber.
  • the discharge for providing heated fluid to a usable external application is after all connected at the top of the heating chamber, optionally via an upright pipe to an upper area in the heating chamber for the purpose of extracting heated fluid with certainty from the heating chamber when this is required for the usable external application.
  • Fluid which has not yet been heated or is insufficiently heated can be present at the bottom of the heating chamber, so heated fluid is extracted (optionally via an upright pipe) from the chamber on the top side thereof.
  • the outlet is separate from and/or additional to a discharge to an active use of heated fluid in an external application, this increasing cost because of the large number of components. Flushing must further take place with substantially cold water, for which purpose the normal operation of providing heated fluid has to be interrupted and the supply and the outlet are both opened. The supply remains open so as to enable emptying of the heating chamber, this costing fluid for heating, and without this opening the emptying cannot be achieved because of underpressure in the heating chamber. It will thus be apparent that complete emptying is not achieved in this known system.
  • This known system is further intended and designed for domestic use, where the temperatures to be reached of fluid for heating seldom come close to or exceed 60°C.
  • the invention has for its object to obviate or at least reduce the above stated and/or other problems of the prior art, for which purpose a system according to the present invention is distinguished from the known systems at least in that at least the discharge is connected to the interior of the heating chamber at or at least close to the bottom of the heating chamber.
  • the substances are suctioned away together with each charge of heated liquid or gas or vapour, and gravitational force also assists here in discharging the substances from the heating chamber.
  • This is particularly (though not exclusively) the case when the system is utilized in a type of cyclic operation to heat a quantity of fluid at a time in the chamber, which is completely closed for this purpose. Only when a desired temperature has been reached, so as to for instance generate steam, is the discharge (and preferably only the discharge) opened to make the heated fluid available for the external application and to simultaneously discharge residues in favourable manner each time a quantity of heated fluid is released. Cleaning of the heating chamber therefore takes place substantially continuously here, which provides great advantages compared to the above cited prior art.
  • the system according to the invention has the feature that the discharge comprises a discharge valve with which connection of the discharge to the heating chamber can be selectively opened and closed.
  • the discharge valve As soon as the discharge valve is opened in order to provide heated liquid and/or steam to an external application (such as disinfection of milking cups), a pressure drop occurs provided the heating chamber is completely closed and pressure is increased therein by heating of the liquid therein, whereby in association with a temperature reached in the heating chamber a liquid therein rapidly changes to vapour or steam. There occurs as it were a controlled explosion under the influence of the pressure prevailing in the heating chamber, whereby liquid and vapour or steam are driven out of the heating chamber.
  • the supply is also opened when steam and/or vapour and liquid is or are discharged from the heating chamber, at least before the heating chamber is wholly emptied. It is for instance the intention here to utilize the pressure of the water or the other liquid to thereby enhance the expulsion of vapour or steam and heated liquid from the heating chamber.
  • the temperature of vapour or steam and heated liquid emitted from the heating chamber following opening of the supply is however hereby also decreased, and this may also involve a considerable reduction in the effectiveness of the external application, such as the disinfection of milking cups, to which the steam or vapour and heated liquid has to be provided.
  • the system according to the invention has the feature that the feed comprises a feed valve with which connection of the feed to the heating chamber can be selectively opened and closed.
  • the feed side can thus be closed and the heating chamber can be brought to pressure by increasing the temperature of the liquid therein, provided the discharge valve - if present - is closed here.
  • the system according to the present invention can further have the feature of a single connection to the heating chamber for the discharge and the feed.
  • a considerable simplification of the configuration of the heating chamber can thus be achieved by being able to dispense with at least one connection.
  • the system according to the invention can further have the feature that the feed valve and the discharge valve form a unit.
  • a three-way valve is also possible. This can achieve a simplification simply because a single three-way valve is easier to control than two two-way valves. It is noted in this respect that a three-way valve is then exposed to considerable temperature differences, which makes heavy demands of such a three-way valve. In order to enable a reduction in these temperature differences the feed could comprise a preheating, whereby the speed of the system can also be increased.
  • the system according to the invention has the feature that the heating chamber is a pressure chamber such as a boiler, and the feed comprises an inlet combination.
  • the heating chamber is a pressure chamber such as a boiler
  • the feed comprises an inlet combination.
  • system according to the invention has the feature of a control.
  • the control can be utilized to bring about a properly adjusted operation of the various components and elements of the system.
  • the system according to the invention can further have the feature that the control is adapted to act on at least the feed valve so that it remains closed when the discharge valve is open. It is thus possible to prevent supply of fresh fluid for heating from lowering the increased temperature of already heated fluid as is the case in the prior art, wherein it has been assumed that pressure in/of the feed is even necessary to expel heated fluid from the heating chamber.
  • the system according to the invention can additionally or alternatively have the feature that the control is adapted to act on at least the discharge valve so that it opens intermittently for a predetermined period of time.
  • This period of time is of course selected in accordance with options for the capacity of the heating, the volume of the heating chamber, the heat capacity of the fluid for heating, the intervals within which new emission of heated fluid for the external application (such as the disinfection of milking cups) is required and so on.
  • system according to the invention has the feature of a pressure relief device in respect of pressure in the heating chamber.
  • the pressure relief device will prevent damage to the heating chamber and/or other components and elements.
  • the system according to the invention can further have the feature that the pressure relief device comprises a hose-like element designed to tear in the case of a predetermined pressure over a predetermined period.
  • the pressure relief device comprises a hose-like element designed to tear in the case of a predetermined pressure over a predetermined period.
  • the system according to the invention has the feature that the discharge valve is arranged at least substantially immediately at the heating chamber. There is therefore no (or only a small quantity of the) fluid in a conduit or hose between the heating chamber and the discharge valve that is exposed to the action thereon by or with the heating. The emission of heated fluid to the external application is not therefore preceded by a substantially unheated quantity.
  • the system according to the invention can further have the feature that the feed comprises the hose-like element.
  • a favourable embodiment is thus realized in respect of placing of the discharge valve in the immediate active vicinity of the heating chamber.
  • the system according to the invention has the feature that the heating element is arranged against or round an outer wall of the heating chamber, and the outer wall of the heating chamber at least partially comprises material conducting heat to the interior of the heating chamber.
  • the present invention also relates to a method as according to the appended method claim with which a chamber is at least substantially wholly evacuated before the chamber is refilled with fluid, so that all residues are discharged during normal operation of the heating chamber, this operation usually being a cyclic process.
  • FIG. 1 shows a system 1 for heating fluid.
  • System 1 comprises a heating chamber in the form of a boiler 3, which forms a pressure chamber, with a heating element 4.
  • Boiler 3 has a cylindrical outer surface around which the heating element 4 is arranged as a sleeve.
  • the wall of boiler 3 on which heating element 4 is arranged comprises heat-conducting material for the purpose of transferring heat from heating element 4, which is arranged outside boiler 3, to the fluid in the interior of boiler 3.
  • feed 5 via which the boiler 3 can be filled.
  • feed 5 connected to boiler 3 on the upper side thereof, but could also be connected on the underside of boiler 3 or at some height along or on a side wall of boiler 3.
  • Heating element 4 will in practice often extend no higher than a maximum of three-quarters of the height of boiler 3 as seen from the underside of boiler 3 in order to prevent the temperature in the upper part of the interior of boiler 3 being or becoming 100°C higher than in the bottom of boiler 3.
  • Feed 5 comprises a connection to the mains 6 via a feed valve 7, an inlet combination 8 with a sewer connection 13, and a hose 9 forming a pressure relief device.
  • Hose 9 breaks or bursts, because it is so designed, if the pressure in boiler 3 exceeds a value of for instance 40 or 50 bar for a predetermined period of for instance several minutes. Damage to boiler 3 and other components and elements of the system can thus be effectively prevented at the cost of only hose 9, which can form the pressure relief device in elegant and simple manner. It is noted by way of alternative that a hose, because of the relatively limited lifespan thereof, can be replaced by a fixed conduit such as a copper pipe.
  • inlet combinations such as inlet combination 8 are per se known, though not in the combination of features, elements, components and functionalities as according to the present invention.
  • Heating element 4 can be electrically connected in selective manner via a switch 10 to an electricity power source 11.
  • System 1 further comprises a discharge 14 connected to boiler 3 and having a discharge valve 15 close to or immediately at the boiler 3 and a conduit 16 to an external application, which is not further defined, for heated fluid from boiler 3, such as a cleaning system for milking cups of milking systems which utilizes a steam surge to clean the cups.
  • Discharge valve 15 lies on or close to boiler 3 in order to limit to a minimum the quantity of liquid in a hose or conduit between boiler 3 and discharge valve 15 which is not heated directly and in boiler 3.
  • Switch 10, feed valve 7 and discharge valve 15 are operated with a control 12.
  • the heating 4 normally remains continuously connected to power supply 11, but for maintenance or the like can be uncoupled or disconnected from power supply 11 by appropriate operation of switch 10 by control 12.
  • Heated fluid from boiler 3 can be discharged via discharge 14 to the external application, wherein the discharge 14 to the external usable application is connected at or at least close to the bottom 17 of boiler 3.
  • Feed valve 7 and discharge valve 15 are controlled by control 12 so that they are both closed during heating of fluid in boiler 3. It is however noted that feed valve 7 is not or need not be closed during heating. During heating the pressure increases against a non-return valve inherently present in inlet combination 8. For this reason water cannot flow through the feed valve to or from boiler 3. At this stage of the heating the feed valve thus fulfils only a kind of back-up function.
  • discharge valve 15 When fluid has been heated in boiler 3, for instance following a preset period of time or when a temperature measured or to be measured with a thermostat (not shown) has been reached, discharge valve 15 is opened and inlet combination 8 and feed valve 7 remain closed under the influence of control 12. Due to the resulting pressure drop in boiler 3 and the prevailing temperature therein increased by heating 4, a further additional part of heated liquid in boiler 3 evaporates. Owing to this pressure drop suction occurs in discharge 14, while the pressure built up in the fluids seeks a way out of the interior of boiler 3 and all fluids in boiler 3 are emitted in a short period of time from boiler 3. When boiler 3 has thus been at least substantially wholly emptied, with all potential residues also being removed here, discharge valve 15 is reclosed. Only then according to the present invention are feed valve 7 and the inlet combination opened to admit a fresh quantity of fluid for heating into boiler 3 via inlet combination 8 by opening feed valve 7 through the action of control 12.
  • Valves 7, 15 are preferably switched as simultaneously as possible from open to closed, and vice versa, each in its own sequence, but then for instance with a single control signal from control 12, so substantially at exactly the same time. In another possible embodiment with separate control signals a short interval could occur, which is not desirable because some pressure could then possibly be built up again, and this could make filling of boiler 3 more difficult.
  • control 12 closes feed valve 7 again while inlet combination 8, or at least the non-return valve inherently present therein, does in fact already close the feed of boiler 3 so that in a practical embodiment the feed valve does not actually have to be closed.
  • Both valves 7, 15 and inlet combination 8 are then closed (or at least the inlet combination closes the feed quickly following admission of fluid for heating into heating chamber 3 when the pressure therein rises due to the fluid being heated in chamber 3) and, provided the electrical connection of heating 4 to the electricity power supply has in the meantime been closed, heating 4 is reconnected to power supply 11 by control 12.
  • This process is repeated in order to provide a dose of heated fluid at regular intervals to the "external application", such as for instance a part (not shown) of an installation for disinfecting milking cups.
  • the control can for this purpose open discharge valve 15 intermittently following a predetermined period of time which is related to, or even depends on, the quantity of fluid in the boiler, the heating capacity of heating 4, quantities of heated fluid required by the external application, and so forth.
  • control 12 comprises "only" two thermostats, for instance KLIXON thermostats, and only the control signal for the valves is supplied externally.
  • FIG. 2 The embodiment of a system 2 shown in Fig. 2 differs from that of Fig. 1 in several respects.
  • a heating element 18 is thus arranged in the interior of boiler 3 for heating for instance water 23, wherein steam 24 accumulates at the top of boiler 3.
  • a single connection 19 is further applied for both the feed and the discharge, wherein a three-way valve 20 operated by control 21 selects whether the feed or the discharge, or neither of the two, can or may be connected to (the interior of) boiler 3 via connection 19.
  • Three-way valve 20 is a variant in which the feed valve and the discharge valve form a unit.
  • the operation of the system shown in Fig. 2 is substantially the same as in the foregoing description relating to Fig. 1 .
  • Fig. 3 shows a constriction 25 which can be arranged in the conduit 16 in each of the embodiments of Fig. 1 or 2 .
  • the purpose hereof is to regulate the speed of the emission of heated fluid from the heating chamber of Fig. 1 or 2 , in order to control the time duration thereof.
  • Constriction 25 comprises a connection 26 for conduit 16 (which is not shown in Fig. 3 ), a cone 27 which is arranged in a throughfeed 29 and which is oriented with the tip 30 thereof in a direction counter to the flow direction (arrow A) of heated fluid, a passage 28 through cone 27 from the tip 30 thereof, and a connection for a continuation (not shown in Fig. 3 ) of conduit 16 or other conduit to the external usable application of the heated fluid from the direction of arrow A.
  • the constriction, formed particularly by passage 28, makes it possible to lengthen the time duration of generation of heated fluid, such as hot water and steam, compared to an embodiment without such a constriction.
  • heated fluid such as hot water and steam
  • the steam surge - in the case water is heated in chamber 3 for the purpose of disinfecting for instance a milking cup of a milking robot - has at least or approximately a time duration of about 5 to 6 seconds in order to provide sufficient thermal contact.
  • Such a time duration will be longer or shorter for other usable applications, and the skilled person must be deemed capable of making corresponding modifications him/herself in the design of the constriction (or nozzle) in the light of the wishes or requirements associated with such other usable applications.
  • constriction is preferably placed downstream of outlet valve 15, 20 in the direction of emission (arrow A).
  • Such a constriction 25 or nozzle reduces to the desired extent the quantity of heated fluid or steam to be allowed through per unit of time and changes nothing in the construction of the heating chamber and related elements and components as shown in the embodiments of Fig. 1 and/or 2.
  • passage 28 further acts as a venturi in the sense that the pressure drop over passage 28 contributes toward evaporation of particularly water particles or droplets which could be left in the steam.
  • Customized steam times (time durations) and speeds can be provided by varying the diameter of passage 28 in combination with different sizes of heating chambers 3.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
EP12182989A 2011-09-28 2012-09-04 Heating system Withdrawn EP2574855A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2007493A NL2007493C2 (nl) 2011-09-28 2011-09-28 Verwarmingssysteem.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2574855A2 true EP2574855A2 (en) 2013-04-03

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12182989A Withdrawn EP2574855A2 (en) 2011-09-28 2012-09-04 Heating system

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EP (1) EP2574855A2 (nl)
NL (1) NL2007493C2 (nl)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3933125A1 (en) * 2020-06-03 2022-01-05 Quooker International B.V. Water dispensing device

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001063182A1 (en) 2000-02-21 2001-08-30 Dantaet Electronics A/S Method and unit for controlling the bacterial conditions in water systems

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU6670700A (en) * 1999-08-18 2001-03-13 Klaus Leiter Sanitation unit
NL1013341C1 (nl) * 1999-10-19 2001-04-23 Heatex Bv Beheer van verwarmd water in een voorraadboiler met anti-Legionella voorzieningen.

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001063182A1 (en) 2000-02-21 2001-08-30 Dantaet Electronics A/S Method and unit for controlling the bacterial conditions in water systems

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3933125A1 (en) * 2020-06-03 2022-01-05 Quooker International B.V. Water dispensing device
NL2025741B1 (nl) * 2020-06-03 2022-01-26 Quooker Int B V Waterafgifte-inrichting

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Publication number Publication date
NL2007493C2 (nl) 2013-04-02

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