GB2082317A

GB2082317A - Temperature control apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2082317A
Application number: GB8125591A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-08-21
Filing date: 1981-08-21
Publication date: 1982-03-03
Also published as: GB2082317B

Abstract

Apparatus for heating or cooling, comprising a heat exchanger through which an intermediate fluid is driven and a fan which drives air or other primary fluid over the heat exchanger surface towards a point of use. The moving intermediate fluid is used to drive the fan, thus facilitating the matching of the flow of intermediate fluid to the required flow of air or other primary fluid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Temperature control apparatus The invention relates to temperature control apparatus, and particularly to heating or cooling apparatus comprising radiators through which an intermediate coolant is driven, and means to drive air over the surfaces of the radiators and so onwards towards a point of use where the temperature is to be controlled.

It is normal for the flow of air and intermediate coolant to be powered separately, this power being provided by separate mechanical or electrical or hydraulic or other means.

According to the present invention temperature control apparatus comprises driving means to drive temperature controlling fluid towards a point of use over the surface of a heater exchanger with which it exchanges heat. An intermediate fluid is driven through the heat exchanger whereby to maintain the surface temperature of that exchanger at a desired value, and the driven intermediate fluid acts as the source of power of the first driving means. The flow rate of the intermediate fluid may be regulated in accordance with the temperature existing at the point of use, or alternatively for instance by varying the resistance to its flow.

Relatively cool intermediate fluid may be driven through the heat exdhanger so that the apparatus acts to cool the point of use. Alternatively, if the apparatus is for use as a hot water air heating system, hot water may be driven through radiators and the same hot water may drive fans which impel air over the radiator surfaces towards the point of use.

In some installations it may be necessary to provide more than one radiator and fan, and in known. installations of this kind the power source of the fans is separate from that of their associated radiators. With externally powered individual fans and radiators, it is difficult to balance the intermediate coolant flow to each of the radiators. By providing each radiator bank with its own fan driven from the coolant flow into the radiator the flows of coolant are balanced into each radiator, the airflow through the fan and radiator is automatically matched to the flow of coolant through the radiator, and the power requirement may be adjusted according to the required cooling. The use of different coolant circulating pump characteristics and fan and fan engine characteristics makes possible a wide range of self regulating characteristics for the complete cooling system.

The invention is also defined by the Claims, which should be read as forming part of the disclosure of this specification, and the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows basic apparatus; Figure 2 shows air-cooled condensing steam plant using a tube and shell condenser; Figure 3 shows air-cooled condensing steam plant using a "jet" condenser; Figure 4 is in two parts and shows both a refrigerator/air conditioner and a heat pump, and Figure 5 shows hot water air heating apparatus.

Figure 1 shows a circulating pump providing the power to cause the passage of intermediate coolant through the heat exchanger and then through the fan drive means of three fans arranged in parallel, each fan drive means being in flow series with a radiator over which the associated fan drives air towards a point of use.

Figure 2 shows the system applied to an aircooled condensing steam plant using a tube and shell condenser and an exhaust turbine or engine to provide the required power. The steam passing through the plant 1 is exhausted into the turbine 2 which provides the power for the condensing and cooling system. The exhaust from the turbine 2 passes into the condenser 3 in which the steam condenses and from which the condensate and any air or other gases are pumped into a hot well 4 by pump 10. The intermediate coolant circulates in a closed system from a header tank 5 through the tubes of condenser 3 circulating pump 6, fan drive turbines 7 and radiators (8).Air (a) passes through the radiators 8 under the action of fans 9 which are driven by the fan turbines 7, and by careful matching of the characteristics of the turbines 2 and 7 and the pumps 6 and the fans 9 the system may operate in a stable manner so that the air flow through fan 9 is matched to the steam flow (b).

Figure 3 shows a similar system to that shown in Figure 2 but with the tube and shell condenser replaced by a "jet" condenser 3a. Two pumps 6 and 6a are provided and driven from the turbine 2.

The condensate pump 10 and the hot well 4 are not used but the essential action of the system is again as summarised with reference to Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows the system applied to a refrigerator/air conditioner, or to a heat pump. The unit consists of the usual heat exchanger 11 and compressor or pump 12. The throttle valve is replaced by the turbine or engine 1 3 that provides the power to fan 1 5 to cause air (a) to pass through the radiator 1 4 which may heat the passing air when the convectors are as shown in Figure 4a or cool the passing air when arranged as shown in Figure 4b. The whole unit is powered by the drive source 1 6.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 5, a hot water air heating system. The circulating water is heated in the boiler 21 and pumped by a pump 22 to an air-heating radiator 25 and to the drive turbine or engine 23 of a fan 24. The flow may be controlled by a valve 27 which may be operated by hand or automatically with reference to some required temperature or other control parameter. The power input 26 provides all the power to the system which may have any number of radiators and fans connected in parallel and/or series.

1. Temperature control apparatus comprising

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Temperature control apparatus The invention relates to temperature control apparatus, and particularly to heating or cooling apparatus comprising radiators through which an intermediate coolant is driven, and means to drive air over the surfaces of the radiators and so onwards towards a point of use where the temperature is to be controlled. It is normal for the flow of air and intermediate coolant to be powered separately, this power being provided by separate mechanical or electrical or hydraulic or other means. According to the present invention temperature control apparatus comprises driving means to drive temperature controlling fluid towards a point of use over the surface of a heater exchanger with which it exchanges heat. An intermediate fluid is driven through the heat exchanger whereby to maintain the surface temperature of that exchanger at a desired value, and the driven intermediate fluid acts as the source of power of the first driving means. The flow rate of the intermediate fluid may be regulated in accordance with the temperature existing at the point of use, or alternatively for instance by varying the resistance to its flow. Relatively cool intermediate fluid may be driven through the heat exdhanger so that the apparatus acts to cool the point of use. Alternatively, if the apparatus is for use as a hot water air heating system, hot water may be driven through radiators and the same hot water may drive fans which impel air over the radiator surfaces towards the point of use. In some installations it may be necessary to provide more than one radiator and fan, and in known. installations of this kind the power source of the fans is separate from that of their associated radiators. With externally powered individual fans and radiators, it is difficult to balance the intermediate coolant flow to each of the radiators. By providing each radiator bank with its own fan driven from the coolant flow into the radiator the flows of coolant are balanced into each radiator, the airflow through the fan and radiator is automatically matched to the flow of coolant through the radiator, and the power requirement may be adjusted according to the required cooling. The use of different coolant circulating pump characteristics and fan and fan engine characteristics makes possible a wide range of self regulating characteristics for the complete cooling system. The invention is also defined by the Claims, which should be read as forming part of the disclosure of this specification, and the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows basic apparatus; Figure 2 shows air-cooled condensing steam plant using a tube and shell condenser; Figure 3 shows air-cooled condensing steam plant using a "jet" condenser; Figure 4 is in two parts and shows both a refrigerator/air conditioner and a heat pump, and Figure 5 shows hot water air heating apparatus. Figure 1 shows a circulating pump providing the power to cause the passage of intermediate coolant through the heat exchanger and then through the fan drive means of three fans arranged in parallel, each fan drive means being in flow series with a radiator over which the associated fan drives air towards a point of use. Figure 2 shows the system applied to an aircooled condensing steam plant using a tube and shell condenser and an exhaust turbine or engine to provide the required power. The steam passing through the plant 1 is exhausted into the turbine 2 which provides the power for the condensing and cooling system. The exhaust from the turbine 2 passes into the condenser 3 in which the steam condenses and from which the condensate and any air or other gases are pumped into a hot well 4 by pump 10. The intermediate coolant circulates in a closed system from a header tank 5 through the tubes of condenser 3 circulating pump 6, fan drive turbines 7 and radiators (8).Air (a) passes through the radiators 8 under the action of fans 9 which are driven by the fan turbines 7, and by careful matching of the characteristics of the turbines 2 and 7 and the pumps 6 and the fans 9 the system may operate in a stable manner so that the air flow through fan 9 is matched to the steam flow (b). Figure 3 shows a similar system to that shown in Figure 2 but with the tube and shell condenser replaced by a "jet" condenser 3a. Two pumps 6 and 6a are provided and driven from the turbine 2. The condensate pump 10 and the hot well 4 are not used but the essential action of the system is again as summarised with reference to Figure 1. Figure 4 shows the system applied to a refrigerator/air conditioner, or to a heat pump. The unit consists of the usual heat exchanger 11 and compressor or pump 12. The throttle valve is replaced by the turbine or engine 1 3 that provides the power to fan 1 5 to cause air (a) to pass through the radiator 1 4 which may heat the passing air when the convectors are as shown in Figure 4a or cool the passing air when arranged as shown in Figure 4b. The whole unit is powered by the drive source 1 6. A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 5, a hot water air heating system. The circulating water is heated in the boiler 21 and pumped by a pump 22 to an air-heating radiator 25 and to the drive turbine or engine 23 of a fan 24. The flow may be controlled by a valve 27 which may be operated by hand or automatically with reference to some required temperature or other control parameter. The power input 26 provides all the power to the system which may have any number of radiators and fans connected in parallel and/or series. CLAIMS

1. Temperature control apparatus comprising driving means to drive temperature control fluid towards a point of use over the surface of a heater exchanger with which the fluid exchanges heat, and in which an intermediate fluid is driven through the heat exchanger whereby to maintain the surface temperature of that exchanger at a desired value, in which the driven intermediate fluid acts as the source of power of the driving means.

2. Temperature control apparatus according to Claim 1 in which the flow rate of the intermediate fluid is regulated in accordance with the temperature existing at the point of use.

3. Temperature control apparatus according to Claim 2 in which the flow rate of the intermediate fluid is regulated by varying the resistance of its flow.

4. Temperature control apparatus according to Claim 1 in which relatively cool intermediate fluid is driven through the heat exchanger so that the apparatus acts to cool the point of use.

5. Temperature control apparatus according to Claim 1 for use as a hot water air heating system, in which hot water is driven through radiators and in which the same hot water drives fans which impel air over the radiator surfaces towards the point of use.

6. Temperature control apparatus according to Claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.