FR2515797A1 - Solar heating system accommodation cabinet - has single chassis enclosed by panels containing all control appts. for hydraulic and electrical circuits, accessible via rear panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit includes a frame (1) built of square section metal tubes welded together. Panels (2-7) fit on to this frame and may be removed using screws (35,38). The upper part of the unit comprises a control panel (9) and display for monitoring performance. This panel may tip forward to allow access to electrical components behind it. The panel includes an electronic temperature regulator (8) for the area to be heated, a gauge (6) measuring the hydraulic circuit pressure, and a clock recording the useful hours of sunshine. Thermometers (10) record the heat collector temps. and control lights (13) indicate the setting of control switches (12). All the necessary equipment for the unit is housed in this casing.

Description

SOLAR BOILER (or other sources of heat)
The present invention is intended to recover the solar energy captured by means of liquid solar collectors (the machine can also operate with all other heat sources such as hot water source, industrial hot water recovery, etc. ..). The energy captured is then directed via the boiler either to a heating floor (accumulation of calories) or to a reserve of domestic hot water when the heating demand is satisfied.

 In known devices of this kind, all of the hydraulic, electrical, regulating, electrical back-up, measurement and control organs are dispersed, which makes the adjustments, the operating precision random.

 The proposed assembly avoids all these drawbacks since it combines all the hydraulic members in a compact form. electrical, regulation, measurement, control, security. The commands as well as the reading of the measurement or regulation instruments are easy since grouped on a dashboard on the front.

 This boiler is intended more particularly for the heating and production of sanitary hot water by solar energy (or other heat source) of individual or semi-collective dwellings.

 The accompanying drawings show the metal structure as well as all the internal elements of this boiler.

 The representation of the machine in Figure 1 shows that it consists of a metal frame (i) made of square section tubes and welded together. All the panels 2-3-4-5-7 surround the internal elements of the boiler and are removable by screws 35 and 48. The upper part of the machine is used for the control and reading panel (9) measurement and control devices. This table can be tilted forward for access to the electrical components (15-16) located at the rear. This table includes on the front the electronic internal temperature regulator of the habitat to be heated (8), the pressure gauge of the hydraulic circuit (6), the hour meter (11) recording the useful sunshine, the thermometers (10) of the sensor and heating circuits, control indicator lights (13) and control switches (12). All these devices are mounted on a glued plastic support which carries the different inscriptions defining the devices.

Figures 2 and 3 show the arrangement of the following devices
The mixing bottle (24) is supplied by solar collectors (or other hot source) via a motorized 3-way valve (29) which can direct the fluid either to the mixing bottle (24) or serve the outlet which feeds the exchanger of the domestic hot water tank of the automatic air vents (28) eliminating the air contained in the hydraulic circuit. the solar collectors circuit is circulated by the electric accelerator (30), the heating circuit having its own accelerator (19). The heating circuit is regulated by a modulating 3-way valve (18). In the heating circuit are inserted two electric resistors (20-21) acting as a backup during non-sunny periods. A safety valve (26) evacuates accidental overpressures. This is connected to an evacuation tube.

The electronic probes 22-25-27 transmit their information to the electronic comparison regulators (15) (between the solar collectors and the mixing bottle (24) and between the latter and the heating return). The heating circuit flow sensor transmits the heating water temperature information to the electronic regulator (8). The electrical panels (16) include all the protections and electrical control elements. The electrical connection box (23) allows connections with the general electrical power supply as well as with external components such as an external thermostat, piloting, off-peak hours, external temperature sensor, domestic hot water reserve sensor, collection probe.

 Figures 6 and 7 show the composition of the tubular frame (1) with the crosspieces (37) supporting the mixing bottle. The metal tabs (33) hold the electrical connection box (23). The tabs (32) serve to hold the screws (35) for holding the sheets (2-3-4-5-7) shown in Figures 8 and 9. These are provided with fixing holes (34).

 Figure 10 shows the sheet used for making the command and control panel (9). It is fixed to the chassis by the holes (35) on the tabs (32) of the chassis (1). Figures 15 and 16 give the articulation details (45) of the table (9). The table (9) is kept open during troubleshooting by a chain (46).

 Figures 11 and 12 show the details of the mixing bottle (24).

This is provided with threaded connection holes (25) for the sensors and the heating circuit, the other holes (27) for the probes and the hole (26) for the safety valve. This mixing bottle is held by the 2 fixing lugs (28) on the chassis.

 Figures 13 and 14 show the cases (38 and 42) intended to receive electric immersion heaters. These consist of tube 102/114.

These cases are closed at one end by domed bottoms. At the other end are welded the threaded rings intended to receive the electric immersion heaters. The cases are provided with threaded holes (39 and 40) and are interconnected by a tube (41).

 Figure 17 shows the principle of hydraulic operation of the boiler. The mixing bottle (24) receives the sensor circuit and the heating circuit. It allows different flow rates in each circuit. The collection circuit is directed by the 3-way valve (29) either to the bottle (24) or to the domestic hot water preparation tank. The accelerator (30) puts the sensor circuit into circulation. The heating circuit takes the calories it needs as a priority from the bottle (24) via the motorized 3-way valve (18) which modulates the temperature of this circuit. Circulation is ensured by the accelerator (19). When there are no more calories in the bottle (24) the valve (19) closes closing the circulation towards the bottle (24) .The cricuit is then completely deflected on the electrical resistances (20 and 21). These can then maintain the temperature of the heating circuit. All these operations are monitored by the aquastats 22-31-65 as well as by the probes 25-27-49. The different circuits have control thermometers (10), a pressure gauge (6), a safety valve (26). A diaphragm vessel (66), inflated with nitrogen, ensures the expansion of the circuits.

 Figure 18 shows the operation of the electrical servo. The entire electrical circuit goes through a general fuse disconnector (50). The assemblies 51 and 52 are the discontactors of the electrical resistances, the assembly 53 being the discontactor of the electric storage water heater. The remote control circuit is protected by a magneto-thermal circuit breaker (54).

 The switches or reversers (12) allow the electrical components to be started or stopped. The indicators (13) control the proper functioning of the assembly. When the sensors supply sufficient calories, the comparison regulator (15) remains at rest (the indications are given to it by the probe (22) located on the heating return and the probe (25) located on the bottle (24) as well than its relay 62). The regulator (8) therefore transmits the commands directly to the valve motor (18) which acts at this time in modulation.

 The electronic regulator (8) determines the temperature of the water in the heating circuit in the accumulating floor as a function of the outside temperature by the probes 56 and 49.

 The other regulator (15) compares the temperatures between collection and bottle by the probes 58 (collection) and 27 (heating) or between collection and hot water tank 57. When the temperature is higher at collection, the controller gives l ordering the accelerator to start operating and supplying calories to the bottle (24) via the relay (64). The indicator (13) is then lit and the hour meter (11) records the hours of sunshine or useful recovery. When the heating demand for heat is satisfied, the motorized valve (29) can switch to the hot water tank circuit provided that the heating valve (18) is closed and that the contact thermometer (10) (located at the crossing of the tank return and sensor return - see plate 5/6) has recorded a temperature rise. The relay (63) is then energized and drives the valve motor (29). In summer, the valve (29) remains in the position towards the hot water tank thanks to a switch (12) which directly excites the relay (63). In this switch position, the power supply to the other regulators 8 and 15 is interrupted.

 During the heating period, when there are no more calories to recover in the bottle (24), the first regulator (15) will indicate by comparison a temperature equal to the heating return (22) and at this time, it will control the relay (62). The relay will imperatively close the heating valve (18). The regulator (8) will therefore no longer act on it and the request orders will be transmitted to the contactors of the resistors 52 and 53 via the relays 60 and 61 (the relay 69 being the positive request for heating, the relay 61 being negative demand). However, the contactors 52 and 53 are subject to other conditions.

First of all, the valve contact (18) must be established. The electrical resistances can only operate during off-peak hours thanks to the pilot
EDF which acts on the relay (59) (an exemption can be granted thanks to the reverser (12) eliminating piloting).

 In the off-peak operating position, an automatic override is made by the external thermostat (55). An aquastat (31), located on the heating circuit, will cut all the immersion heaters during an abnormal rise in temperature.

The second immersion heater can only be put into service if the first is energized and its activation depends on its switch (12) and a timed contact located on the assembly (52). The heating circulator (19) is linked to a floor temperature limiter aquastat (65)
A switch, located inside the boiler, acting directly on the relay (62), allows total operation by the immersion heaters, in the event of damage to the collection circuit.

 The discontactor (51) supplies the auxiliary electric water heater (this is located outside the boiler). It is subject to off-peak hours by the relay (59). However, as with immersion heaters, there is a manual override thanks to its reversing switch (12).

 The device, object of the invention, can be used in all cases where there will be premises to be heated either by solar energy or any other liquid hot source (continuous or intermittent).

 This boiler can be installed in all dwellings (villas, small buildings, workshops, shops) of traditional designs.

Claims (9)

Claims 1.- Control cabinet for heating installation for housing of the type comprising a fluid heat source connected to one or more heat accumulation and distribution devices internal to the housing, characterized in that it is housed in a single and same chassis (1) closed by walls (2,3,4,5,7) all the organs (8,6,11,10,13,12) of regulation, measurement, control and safety of the installation as well as all the mechanical, hydraulic and electrical components necessary for the operation of the hydraulic circuit (s), the conduits of the hydraulic circuit (s) to be connected and the cables of the electrical system to be connected being accessible via the rear wall of the cabinet. 2. Cabinet according to claim 1, characterized in that all the regulation, measurement, control and safety organs are themselves grouped together inside the cabinet and arranged behind a table (9) for reading and on the front panel, so that they can be easily controlled or controlled. 3.- cabinet according to claim 2, characterized in that the table (9) is tiltable forward for access to the organs located at the rear. 4.- Cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, for an installation comprising a heating element system for the home and a reserve of domestic hot water, the hydraulic circuit housed in the cabinet includes a mixing bottle (24) to which the supply and return pipes to the heat source are connected, the supply and return pipes to the heating elements for the home and the supply and return pipes to the hot water supply, this bottle (24) allowing the fluid to circulate at different flow rates in the "home heating" circuit or in the "hot water reserve" circuit. 5.- Cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it houses auxiliary heating members (20,42; 21,38) entering into operation under the command and control of the same regulating members as the organs ensuring the distribution of the energy recovered from the main heat source. 6. Cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it houses an hour meter (11) for accounting for the useful energy stored by the heat source. 7.- Heating installation for housing of the type comprising a fluid heat source connected to one or more heat accumulation and distribution devices internal to the housing, characterized in that it comprises a cabinet according to one any of the preceding claims. 8.- Installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the main heat source is constituted by a solar collector. 9.- Installation according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the heating element system for the home is a heated floor.