EP3580627A1

EP3580627A1 - Watering control device

Info

Publication number: EP3580627A1
Application number: EP17811258.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gernot Becker
Original assignee: Innogy SE
Current assignee: Innogy SE
Priority date: 2017-02-13
Filing date: 2017-11-30
Publication date: 2019-12-18
Also published as: DE102017102740A1; WO2018145790A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a watering control device (2), comprising an inlet (4), an outlet (6), a passage (8) arranged between the inlet (4) and the outlet (6), and an electromagnetically driven shut-off element (10) arranged in the passage (8). The shut-off element (10) closes and opens the passage (8) between the inlet (4) and the outlet (6). An electrical turbomachine (12) is arranged in the passage (8) and is connected to an energy store (14), said energy store (4) being designed to electromagnetically operate the shut-off element (2).

Description

Irrigation control device

The subject matter relates to an irrigation control device, in particular for use in a home automation system. Home automation systems, also known as smart home systems, control not only lights, blinds, and heaters, but also various other domestic home appliances. In radio-based smart home systems, however, the energy requirements of actuators and sensors are always challenging. Because users do not always want to replace batteries on their devices (from comfort and convenience)

Environmental reasons), are always energetically self-powered devices

Make efforts to minimize their energy consumption and thus to ensure a particularly long service life. The maintenance-free runtime is crucial for the acceptance of devices in smart home systems. Users do not always want to be busy with the maintenance of their smart home devices, because then the resulting overhead quickly outweighs the benefits of smart home.

In particular, preferably arranged outside the home appliances, such as irrigation control, the energy supply is of particular importance. As a rule, in the area of water taps no sockets are available, so that irrigation control devices and

Irrigation computers are often fully self-powered.

The object is the object of a

Irrigation control device to provide that provides a particularly long maintenance-free duration. This object is achieved objectively by an irrigation control device according to claim 1.

The subject irrigation control device has an inlet and an outlet. Both inlet and outlet are preferably V2 inch,% inch or 1 inch internal or external threads or other common connections and couplings, such as plug-in couplings, jaw couplings,

Screw couplings, spouts or the like provided. The inlet is connected to the outlet via a passage. Inlet, outlet and passage are preferably tubular. Medium, such as water, may flow from the inlet to the outlet through the passage.

In the passage an electromagnetically driven obturator is provided. The obturator is adapted to close or open the passage between the inlet and the outlet. In the closed state can of the

Inlet to the outlet no medium flow and in the opened state medium can flow from the inlet to the outlet.

The inventors have now recognized that an energetically self-powered

Irrigation control device is then particularly low maintenance, if this at least partially covers their energy needs themselves. This is possible because an electrical turbomachine is arranged in the passage. The

Turbomachine is adapted to convert flow energy into electrical energy by preferably electromagnetic induction and to provide the electrical energy thus obtained to an energy storage connected to the turbomachine. In the energy storage, the electrical energy is cached. The energy store is set up for the electromagnetic operation of the obturator. That is, when the obturator needs to be actuated, the energy storage provides the electrical power to accomplish this

Electromagnetically actuate obturator. An irrigation cycle usually consists only of an opening and a time-delayed closing of the passage through the obturator. Of the

Energy storage must thus provide electrical energy only for these two actions even with longer irrigation periods or longer periods between two irrigation cycles. In addition, the energy storage should also provide sufficient energy for operating a control device, which is in particular connected to a home automation system. This control device is used to receive and send signals to a home automation center and must be permanently supplied with electrical power. The power consumption of such

However, control devices can be very small. For example, an energy requirement of a control device can be a few milliwatt seconds per day, in particular between 10 and 15 milliwatt seconds per day. The physical energy store is thus charged by the turbomachine and discharged both to operate the obturator and preferably a control device.

Concretely, batteries are dispensed with in the irrigation control device, but a rechargeable energy store, in particular a capacitor or a rechargeable battery, is used. Preferably, a so-called Goldcap capacitor is used here to ensure maximum life and temperature resistance. With the help of the integrated turbomachine, for example, by a

Microturbine can be driven, the energy of the medium flow from the inlet to the outlet, in particular the flow of water from the inlet to the outlet is used with open obturator to recover electrical energy and recharge the energy storage. During the watering period, the subject irrigation control device uses the hydropower to remove the water Recharge energy storage. As a result, a virtually maintenance-free operation of the irrigation control device is possible.

In particular, the turbomachine has a turbine. The turbine is rotatably arranged in the passage and is driven by the volume flow of the medium.

It is also proposed that the turbomachine has a brushless generator. The rotor is preferably formed by the turbine arranged in the passage or a propeller, whereas the stator windings are arranged outside the passage and are excited by a permanent magnet arranged in the rotor.

For power consumption by the volume flow of the medium, it is proposed that the turbomachine be rotatable in the passage along a

Having flow sensor mounted transducer, in particular a propeller or a turbine. The axis of rotation is preferably along the flow direction of the medium in the passage. In order to enable contactless transmission of the power from the volume flow to the stator windings, it is proposed that the sensor has at least one permanent magnet. This permanent magnet is set in rotation by the volume flow, as the turbine or the propeller is turned on by the volume flow. On the outside of the flow, an induction coil is arranged in the region of the transducer. This induction coil may be formed as a stator winding, and a current is induced therein by the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet.

According to one embodiment, it is proposed that a control unit is provided in the irrigation control device, that the control unit is powered by the energy store and that the control unit is the obturator controls. The control unit is preferably energetically self-sufficient by the

Energy storage operated. For operation, the control unit requires at least a permanent power supply, for example, to process an irrigation program. This can be ensured by the energy storage described above. The control unit may comprise a microprocessor which can operate in a so-called deep sleep mode and is only woken up at certain times. This greatly reduces the power consumption of the control unit.

To activate or to open the obturator, a control pulse is transmitted to the obturator by the control unit. This control pulse can cause the opening or closing of the obturator. In this case, electric current flows from the energy storage through the obturator. At least that

Shut-off is electrically active only at times of opening and closing, so that only then electric power must be provided. After opening, electrical power from the volume flow, as explained, won and the energy storage is recharged.

For comfortable irrigation control it is also suggested that the

Control unit is set up in the irrigation control device as an actuator and / or sensor of a home automation system. In particular, the

Control device, an actuator or a sensor of a home automation solution, in particular according to the so-called CoslP protocol, his. In the case of an actuator, the irrigation control device can in particular control the obturator and thus control the irrigation. For example, in the sense of a sensor, the control unit can measure and report flow rates to the home automation system. Also, for example, a thermostat may be installed in the control unit to send, for example, a freeze warning to the home automation system in the case of a low temperature. According to an advantageous embodiment, the obturator is as

Shut-off valve formed. Also, the obturator may be formed as a gate valve. The gate valve can be arranged for example in the passage and thus open or close the passage by at least one transverse movement. To provide the necessary electrical power to close the

Keep gate valve as low as possible, this is preferably loaded with a spring. In particular, the spring is a compression spring. By means of the spring force, the gate valve is held in the closed position. In addition, however, the gate valve can also be electromagnetically adjustable. The gate valve can be arranged in an electromagnet and have a piston with a permanent magnet. This piston can by the

Electromagnets are moved in the axial direction. To open the gate valve may be electromagnetically activated with a force acting against the spring force magnetic force. In this case, the magnetic force preferably acts against the spring force to open and, for closing, the magnetic force acts in the direction of the spring force. Also, the gate valve may be adjustable by electric motor in addition or alternatively to the electromagnetic adjustability. The spring can also act. In an electromotive drive this can, for example, drive a worm gear and thus cause a transverse movement of the gate valve. To assist in opening, the gate valve may have a tapered end. The taper may be such that, seen from the flow direction, the gate valve tapers in the direction of its end. As soon as an opening gap has been established by the magnetic force, medium flows past this opening gap at the end of the gate valve. To assist the spring force, the end is tapered such that the medium flowing on the tapered end causes a force component on the gate valve which moves axially in the direction of the gate valve Direction of movement is directed. As a result, the flowing medium supports the opening process in which it exerts a force on the gate valve, which is directed against the spring force. Preferably, the end has a taper angle of 45 ° so that the force directed in the direction of movement of the gate valve is maximized.

According to one embodiment, it is proposed that the gate valve is spring-loaded with a spring force and electromagnetically adjustable, such that for closing the gate valve of this with a force acting in the direction of the spring force magnetic force is electromagnetically activated. When closing first, the spring force acts. By an optionally tapered end but acts against this spring force from the flowing medium on the

Gate valve applied force. This is preferably greater than the spring force, so that after the gate valve has been opened, no electromagnetic force is more necessary to keep it open. For closing, however, the gap must be closed, flows past the medium at the end of the gate valve and exerts the force acting against the spring force. This closing process is electromagnetically assisted by the electromagnetic force acts in the direction of the spring force on the gate valve.

According to one embodiment, it is proposed that the passage has a main flow channel and a secondary flow channel. The effective flow cross section in the secondary flow channel is smaller than that in the main flow channel.

Preferably, the secondary flow channel is used to receive the turbomachine. The turbomachine is thus not arranged in the main flow channel, so that the flow through the main flow channel is unhindered. It has been found that at least in part so-called gold-cap capacitors can be used as the energy store. These are characterized by a high power consumption with low self-loss. With the help of the turbomachine is not only electrical energy from the

However, it is also possible, for example, to obtain the flow energy

Turbomachine for detecting a flow rate to use. With the help of the power consumption at least a relative flow rate can be determined. If the medium pressure is known, it is also possible to make an exact statement about the flow rate. For this purpose, a pressure gauge can also be arranged in the watering control device, preferably at the inlet or at the passage.

The control unit may include a wireless communication module. With the help of the wireless communication module, it is possible, with a

Home automation control to communicate. On the other hand, however, it is also possible, for example, to send a short message or an OTT message via a mobile radio network.

Since the irrigation control device is primarily used on the outside, in particular a watertightness makes sense. That's why

proposed that at least the turbomachine, the control unit and the energy storage are encapsulated in a housing. The turbomachine is preferably to be made as a generator with a hermetic separation between the interior of the flow and the turbine arranged there and the outer and the coil windings arranged there.

It is also possible that the obturator is a shut-off valve, in particular a pilot operated or positively controlled valve. Especially with a pilot operated valve can with the help of a in a

Side flow channel arranged pilot valve in a particularly energy-efficient way and a main flow channel can be opened. When piloted

Shut-off valve, the medium pressure is used to close the shut-off in the passage. For this purpose, a pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet is used. To reduce this pressure difference, a pilot valve may be provided which is arranged in a secondary flow channel.

The article will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings showing an exemplary embodiments. In the drawing: FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a

Irrigation control device;

Fig. 2a is a schematic representation of a total flow machine in the closed state;

FIG. 2b shows the view according to FIG. 2a in the opened state; FIG. a schematic view of a turbomachine; a pilot-operated shut-off valve in the closed state, the shut-off valve of FIG. 4a in the open state.

1 shows an irrigation control device 2 with an inlet 4, an outlet 6 and a passage 8 arranged between the inlet 4 and the outlet 6. In the passage 8 there is a shut-off device 10, in the present case

Gate valve 10 is arranged. Finally, in the passage 8 is a

Turbomachine 12 is provided.

In a preferably watertight housing 14, an energy store 16, a control device 18 and a communication module 20 are provided. Optionally and not shown, a pressure sensor may be provided in the passage 8. In addition, in the control device 18, for example, a thermostat may be provided.

Inlet 4, outlet 6 and passage 8 may be tubular shaped and

in particular be formed from a plastic pipe, such as a PE pipe.

The obturator 10 may on the input side at the inlet 4 or on the output side on

Outlet 6 can be arranged. Water preferably flows in the flow direction 22 from the inlet 4 to the outlet 6.

The water flows around the turbomachine 12, whose axis of rotation 24 is preferably parallel to the flow direction 22.

The turbomachine 18 is a propeller or a turbine with

Permanent magnets. Coil windings 26 may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the passage 8 in the area of the turbomachine 12, in which case an electrical current is induced around the axis of rotation 24 when the turbomachine 12 rotates.

About a charge management, in particular an AC / DC conversion of the

Energy storage 15, which is preferably made of gold caps are loaded. The energy storage 16 supplies the control device 18 with electrical energy. The control device 18 is configured to operate the obturator 10. For this purpose, the obturator 10 is preferably electromagnetically actuated. In particular, a magnetic field can be induced by a winding arranged on the outside of an enclosure of the slide 10a by the slide 10a being moved transversely in the direction 30. In operation, the slide 10a is by a spring not shown here in a closed position, ie that in the direction of movement 30 in FIG. 1, the slider 10a completely blocks a passage between the inlet 4 and the turbomachine 24.

In case of activation, via a communication module 20 of a

Home automation control a corresponding signal are received, whereupon the control device 18, the coil 28 is supplied with electric current. Due to the induced magnetic field of the slider 10 a, the

preferably contains a permanent magnet, pulled in the direction of movement 30 upwards. The magnetic force induced by the windings 28 over the magnetic field is against the spring force.

Water flows in the direction of flow 22 from the inlet 4 to the turbomachine 12 and from there to the outlet 6. The turbomachine 12 is to the

Rotated axis 24 and induces a charging current in the coil windings 26th

In order to complete the irrigation, the irrigation control device 2 in turn receives a corresponding signal via the communication module 20, whereupon the control device 18 either shuts off the windings 28 or allows a current to flow in the opposite direction to the current direction in the case of opening. The slider 10a is then moved downwardly in the direction of movement 30 and closes the passage between the inlet 4 and the

Turbomachine 12.

In the closed position, the slider 10a may be held, for example, by a magnet whose magnetic force holds the slider 10a in the closed position. The magnetic force of this magnet can when opening through the

Magnetic force generated by the windings 28 are overcome. Fig. 2a is a schematic representation of a microturbine 12a. In Fig. 2a, the passageway is divided into a main flow passage 8 'and a bypass flow passage 8 ", and in the bypass flow passage 8", the micro turbine 12a is arranged. Fig. 2a shows the slider 10a in a closed position. Via a compression spring 32, which exerts a spring force in the direction 34, the slider 10a in a

Blocking position held.

In the activation case, the slider 10a is moved to a position shown in Fig. 2b. For this purpose, the winding 28 is acted upon by the control device 18 with electric current. A permanent magnet is arranged in the slide 10a and the magnetic field induced via the windings 28 or the current flowing therein causes a force in the direction 36 on this magnet which is opposite to the direction of force 34 of the spring 32. The slider 10a is first moved a distance from its closed position and the medium flows along the

Flow direction 22 past the tapered end of the slider 10a.

By the medium flowing past the end of the spool 10a, a force is exerted in the direction 36 on the spool 10a since its end is tapered. This supports the magnetic force in direction 36 and thus overcomes the spring force acting in direction 34. In particular, the slide 10a is formed as a bistable obturator closed and opened with the two stable positions. The closed position is stably held by the spring force of the spring 32, whereas the open position is formed by the magnetic force across the coil 28 and the force caused by the medium.

The medium flows over the main flow channel 8 'as well as the

Side flow channel 8 ".

In the bypass duct 8 ", the microturbine 12a is rotated about its axis of rotation 24. As a result, since permanent magnets are installed in the microturbine 12a, in the windings 26 induces an electric current, which can serve to supply the energy storage 16 via a suitable charging circuit.

An embodiment of the microturbine is shown by way of example in FIG. 3. The

Microturbine is ideally guided in an angled plastic tube in which a freely movable plastic screw, driven by the

Flow of the medium can rotate. In Fig. 3 it can be seen that the screw is mounted in the contour of the secondary flow channel 8 ", medium flows in the gap between the screw and the inner wall of the secondary flow channel 8" and thus drives the screw so that it moves around its Rotary shaft 24 rotates. In the

Worm are permanent magnets inserted, which induce a current in the coil 26 upon rotation about the axis of rotation 24.

Ideally, the winding 26 is disposed directly on the outer surface of the preferably tubular formed Nebenströmungskanals 8 ".

The screw as well as the pipe of the bypass duct 8 "can also be formed from gunmetal, copper, stainless steel or the like

Irrigation control device 2, wherein also only shut-off devices 10 and control machine 12 are shown.

In Fig. 4a, an inlet 4 and an outlet 6 and a passage 8 is shown. The obturator 10 is formed here with a pilot valve 10b and a membrane 10c.

By the compression spring 32, the pilot valve 10b is forcibly controlled in the position shown in Fig. 4a. A passage between the secondary flow channel 8 "and the outlet 6 is closed, medium is located on both sides of the membrane 10c The medium, here preferably water, has a certain pressure which is higher than the pressure on the underside of the membrane 10c in the region of Passage 8. By the membrane 10c is pressed into the position shown. This is aided by the spring 38, which pushes the diaphragm 10c in the position shown.

In the membrane 10c, a flow opening 40 may be provided, so that the medium rests on both sides of the membrane 10c. Instead of the through-flow opening 40, a secondary channel can also be provided between the inlet 4 and the secondary flow channel 8 "The flow-through opening 40 can also be provided next to the membrane 10. The important thing is that the medium pressure on one side of the membrane 10c is higher than on the one other side, which is to be closed by the membrane 10c.

When the control device receives an opening signal, the winding 28 is energized and a magnetic force acting against the spring force of the spring 32 pulls the pilot valve 10b upward. The medium now flows along the

Nebenströmungskanals 8 "past the turbomachine 12 to the outlet 6th

As a result, an equal medium pressure is applied to both sides of the membrane 10b, and the spring force of the spring 38 is overcome by the flowing medium. As a result, the medium can flow past the membrane 10b into the passage 8.

With the help of the biased shut-off valve, another structurally simple possibility is created to build an irrigation control device 2 with the lowest possible power consumption. In particular, the pilot valve 10b needs only small amounts of current to be shifted to the open position because the effective cross-section to be closed is small and thus the lift is small.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2 irrigation control device

4 inlet

6 outlet

8 passage

8 'main flow channel

8 "secondary flow channel

10 shut-off valve, gate valve, shut-off valve

10a slider

10b pilot valve

10c membrane

12 turbomachine

12a microturbine

14 housing

16 energy storage

18 control device

20 communication module

22 flow direction

24 axis of rotation

26 coil winding

28 coil winding

30 direction of movement

32 red pressure spring

34, 36 direction

38 compression spring

40 flow opening

Claims

P a n t a n s p r e c h e

Irrigation control device comprising

an inlet,

an outlet,

a passage disposed between the inlet and the outlet, and an electromagnetically driven one disposed in the passage

Obturator, wherein the obturator closes and opens the passage between the inlet and the outlet,

characterized,

that an electric fluid machine is arranged in the passage and is connected to an energy store, wherein

the energy storage is set up for electromagnetic operation of the obturator.

Irrigation control device according to claim 1,

characterized,

that the turbomachine has a turbine and / or that the

Turbomachine has a brushless generator.

Irrigation control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the turbomachine has a transducer, in particular a propeller or a turbine mounted rotatably along a flow direction in the flow, that the transducer has at least one

Having permanent magnets and that an induction coil is disposed on an outer side of the flow in the region of the transducer, in which a current is inducible by the permanent magnet. Irrigation control device according to one of the preceding

Claims,,

characterized,

a control unit is provided in the irrigation control device, that the control unit is powered by the energy store and that the control unit controls the shut-off device.

a control unit is set up in the watering control device as an actuator and / or sensor of a home automation system.

that the obturator is formed as a shut-off valve or gate valve.

that a gate valve is arranged in the passage that the

Gate valve spring-loaded with a spring force and electromagnetically adjustable,

in such a way that the gate valve can be electromagnetically activated with a magnetic force acting counter to the spring force, or

in such a way that it is electromagnetically activatable to close the gate valve with a magnetic force acting in the direction of the spring force.

Irrigation control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized a gate valve has a tapered end disposed in the passage when opening, the taper facing the inlet.

in that the passage has a main flow channel and a secondary flow passage, wherein the flow cross section in the bypass flow passage is smaller than in the main flow passage.

the turbomachine is arranged in the bypass duct and / or

the flow machine is designed to detect a flow rate.

that the energy storage has gold-cap capacitors.

the control unit has a wireless communication module.

that at least the turbomachine, the control unit and the

Energy storage are encapsulated in a housing together. Irrigation control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

the shut-off device is a pilot operated or positively controlled valve. 15. Irrigation control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

that a pilot valve is electromagnetically driven by the energy storage.