GB2528826A

GB2528826A - Fluid flow control apparatus for a hydronic distribution system

Info

Publication number: GB2528826A
Application number: GB1404851.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lars Christian Fabricius
Original assignee: V United Kingdom Ltd SA
Current assignee: V United Kingdom Ltd SA
Priority date: 2014-03-18
Filing date: 2014-03-18
Publication date: 2016-02-10
Also published as: GB201404851D0

Abstract

A fluid flow control apparatus for a hydronic distribution system in which water from a common source is distributed to a plurality of appliances within an office, wherein the appliances are controlled separately. A water flow control apparatus has an elongate manifold 1 including a port 2, 3 for conveying water to or from the interior of the manifold and a plurality of valve ports 4A, 4B, 4C distributed along the length of the manifold 1 for supplying water in the manifold 1 to a plurality of fluid receiving units, or for receiving water in the manifold 1 from a plurality of water receiving units. The valve ports 4A, 4B, 4C are of substantially the same design and size. A plurality of regulators 6A, 6B, 6C are mounted in respective valve ports 4A, 4B, 4C of the manifold 1 for regulating water flow to or from the fluid receiving units, wherein at least one regulator has a Kv (Volume flow in cubic metres per hour of water at a temperature between 5-40 degrees Celsius with a pressure drop of one bar) that differs from the Kv of another regulator. The manifold may be cast as a single piece and the water may be chilled water.

Description

Fluid flow control apparatus for a hydrouic distributiou system This invention relates to a fluid flow control apparatus for a hydronic distribution system and to a hydronic distribution system including such an apparatus.

The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with hydronic distribution systems in which water from a common source is to be distributed to a plurality of appliances within an office and the feeding of the water to the various appliances is to be controlled separately.

Such fluid flow control apparatus is known and is for example described in GB 23760663 and GB2416866B. In the systems described therein, an elongate manifold is provided including inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends and a plurality of fluid distribution ports distributed along the length of the manifold in fluid flow paths to or from respective appliances. The appliances with which each of the valve ports are associated may have different fluid flow reguirements and in that case the maximum flows that are desired to pass through the regulators may vary.

In known commercial apparatus of the kind shown in GB 23760663 and GB2416866B the fluid distribution ports are all of the same design and size and regulators are connected via a short length of flexible piping to each of the respective fluid distribution ports. Because the regulators are separate from the manifold the Ky value of a regulator connected to a port can readily be chosen according to the particular appliance to which it is to be connected. That enables each regulator to operate across its full range from fully open to fully closed when regulating the flow, even though the respective maximum flows through each appliance are substantially different.

That allows good regulation of different flows to be achieved -Arrangements of the kind just described can perform well, but the provision of separate regulator valves makes the arrangement both bulky and expensive.

Tn GB 2376066B there are also shown isolating valves in the manifold that can be moved between open and closed positions to control whether or not there is fluid flow through an associated fluid distribution port, all the isolating valves being the same and therefore having the same Ky value. Since these valves are required only to move between fully open and closed positions, they are suitable for preventing and allowing both relatively high flow rates and relatively low flow rates.

Tt is an object of the invention to provide an improved form of fluid flow control apparatus for a hydronic distribution system.

According to the invention, there is provided a fluid flow control apparatus comprising: an elongate manifold including a port for conveying fluid to, or from, the interior o the manifold and a plurality of valve ports distributed along the length of the manifold for supplying fluid in the manifold to a plurality of fluid receiviug uuits, or for receiving fluid in the manifold from a plllrality of fluid receiving units, the valve ports being of substantially the same design and size, a plurality of regulators mounted in respective ones of the valve ports of the manifold, for regulating fluid flow to or from the fluid receiving units, wherein at least one regulator has a Ky that differs from the Ky of another regulator.

As will be well understood by those skilled in the art, the Xv value of a regulator is the metric measure for the flow of a regulator when fully open and is defined as the volume flow in cubic metres per hour of water at a temperature between 5 and 40 degrees Celsius with a pressure drop across the valve of 1 bar. A "regulator" as defined herein is able to be adjusted to reduce the flow in a controlled manner from the maximum flow that applies when the regulator is fully open. Conveniently the "regulator" is a single assembly of parts mounted in the port as one unit and that is the case in an embodiment of the invention defined below, but it is within the scope of the invention for it to consist of two or more units separately installed in the port, and it is also within the scope of the invention for one of those units to define the valve seat with which a regulating valve member cooperates. The precise design of the regulator is not the subject of the present invention.

By providing regulators of differing Kvs in valve ports that are substantially the same It becomes possible to vary the Ky of each valve port in the manifold by varying the selection of the regulator fitted in that port.

In that way it is possible to match the Ky of each regulator to the maximum flow required from or to the outlet port but still have an especially compact and economical arrangement that provides good regulation of the flow down from that maximum amount. In some applications, for example where there are two fluid receiving units of similar design connected to respective valve ports, those ports may mount regulators of the same Ky, but it is also possible for each regulator to have a different Ky from the other regulator(s).

The number of valve ports and regulators in the manifold is a matter of design choice according to the number of fluid receiving units. Whilst the invention can be applied to an apparatus with only two regulators in respective valve ports, there will more commonly be three or more regulators.

The regulators may have portions projecting externally from the valve ports. The dimensions of the externally projecting portions of the regulators of differing Kvs are preferably the same.

The manifold may take a variety of physical forms but for ease of use and compactness the manifold preferably includes an inlet port at one end for receiving fluid from a source and an outlet port at an opposite end for returning fluid to the source. Whilst the invention may be employed using a variety of fluids, most commonly and conveniently the fluid is water. The source of water will most commonly be a source of chilled water since arrangements of this kind are of most advantage in such systems, with the chilled water being passed to air conditioning appliances.

The plurality of valve ports distributed along the length of the manifold are preferably disposed at approximately the same circumferential position around the manifold to form a line of ports approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the manifold. This provides a design that is compact and facilitates manufacture of the manifold.

The valve ports in the manifold may also provide the fluid paths between the manifold and the fluid receiving units, but it is preferred that there is a respective fluid port in the manifold associated with each valve port, the regulator mounted in the valve port controlling the fluid communication between the manifold and the associated fluid port. Preferably, the fluid ports form a line of ports approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the manifold. Tn an embodiment of the invention described below, the line of fluid ports are offset by about 90 degrees from the line of valve ports.

Whilst it is within the scope of the invention for the manifold to be formed in more than one piece it is preferred that the manifold is formed in one piece.

Preferably, the manifold is a casting.

The present invention further provides a hydronic distribution system comprising a fluid flow control apparatus as defined above and a plurality of fluid receiving units, each being in fluid communication with the manifold via a respective valve port.

The fluid is preferably water. The source of the water may be a communal source shared with other users, for example in an office block.

The present invention still further provides a method of commissioning a hydronic distribution system as defined above, in which each regulator mounted in a respective valve port of the manifold has a respective Ky value selected in dependence upon the fluid receiving unit with which the valve port is in fluid communication. For example, a commissioning engineer would at the time of commissioning select a regulator of a relatively high Ky value for a circuit reguiring a relatively large heat exchange rate and would select a regulator of a relatively low Ky value for a circuit reguiring a relatively small heat exchange. The same manifold is used and the different regulators can be mounted in whichever valve ports the engineer chooses.

By way of example, a fluid flow control apparatus will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, of which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a fluid flow control apparatus.

Fig. 1 shows a fluid flow control apparatus comprising an elongate manifold 1 having an externally screw threaded inlet end 2 and an internally screw threaded outlet end 3.

Distributed at evenly spaced intervals along the manifold are three valve ports 4A, 4B and 40. Each valve port is of identical design and receives a respective regulator valve assembly 6A, 6B and 6C of identical external construction.

Control knobs 7A, 7B and 70 are fitted onto the tops of the regulator valve assemblies 6A, 6B and 60 and rotation of the knobs 7A, 7B, 70 is effective to rotate actuators 8A, 8B and 80 projecting out of the tops of the valve assemblies.

The manifold is also provided with three fluid ports 9A, 9B and 90 associated with respective ones of the valve ports 4A, iS and 40. In each case the valve assembly 6A, 6B and 60, when adjusted to a closed position, prevents flow of fluid between a passageway extending through the manifold 1 from the inlet end 2 to the outlet end 3 and the associated port 9A to 90.

Whilst the valve ports 4A to 40 are identical, and the knobs 7A to 70 are also identical, the regulator valve assemblies 6A to 60 are different internally and, when fully open, provide different Ky values.

As already explained, the manner in which the Ky value of each regulator valve is designed to be varied is not a part of the present invention and various designs are possible. As a simple example, each of the assemblies 6A to 60 may include a valve member that moves axially towards and away from a seat in the manifold when the respective actuator 8A to 80 is rotated. For a relatively high Ky the assembly is designed such that the valve member is spaced from the valve seat by a relatively large distance in a fully open condition, and a screw thread that converts rotary mction of the respective actuatcr 8A tc 80 intc linear movement of the valve member is relatively coarse.

On the other hand, for a relatively low Ky the assembly is designed such that the valve member is spaced from the valve seat by a relatively small distance in a fully open condition, and a screw thread that converts rotary motion of the respective actuator 8A to 80 into linear movement of the valve member is relatively fine. Thils the rotary movement of each actuator reguired to move the valve assembly from a fully open to a fully closed position may be substantially the same regardless of the Ky value.

The design of the manifold is of course suited to the design of valve assembly. In the simple example just described, the manifold may have a longitudinal passageway through a lower portion thereof in fluid communication with the inlet 2 and the outlet 3. The top of that passageway may have three openings that are all substantially the same and define the valve seats for the valve assemblies.

Respective chambers are defined in the manifold above each opening with transverse partitions formed in the manifold to isolate each chamber from the others.

Mi engineer installing the manifold is able to select a particular valve assembly according to the Ky value required for the associated fluid path. Since the exterior of each valve assembly is of the same design, any valve assembly can be fitted into any of the valve ports 4A to 4C. Thus an engineer is able to select a regulator of a chosen Ky value at the time of commissioning the system and without making any change to the manifold 1. At the same time, because the valve assemblies are received within the manifold, a compact arrangement is provided.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or

elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims.

Claims

-10 -Claims: 1. A fluid flow control apparatus comprising: an elongate manifold including a port for conveying fluid to, or from, the interior of the manifold and a plurality of valve ports distributed along the length of the manifold for supplying fluid in the manifold to a plurality of fluid receiving units, or for receiving fluid in the manifold from a plurality of fluid receiving units, the valve ports being of substantially the same design and size, a plurality of regulators mounted in respective ones of the valve ports of the manifold, for regulating fluid flow to or from the fluid receiving units, wherein at least one regulator has a Ky that differs from the Ky of another regulator.
2. Mi apparatus according to claim 1, in which each regulator has a different Ky from the other regulator(s).
3. Mi apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, in which there are three or more regulators.
4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the manifold includes an inlet port at one end for receiving fluid from a source and an outlet port at an opposite end for returning fluid to the source.
5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the plurality of valve ports distributed along the length of the manifold are disposed at approximately the same circumferential position around the manifold to form a line -11 -of ports approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the manifold.
6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which there is a respective fluid port in the manifold associated with each valve port, the regulator mounted in the valve port controlling the fluid communication between the manifold and the associated fluid port.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, in which the fluid ports form a line of ports approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the manifold.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7 when dependent upon claim 5, in which the line of fluid ports are offset by about 90 degrees from the line of valve ports.
9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the manifold is formed in one piece.
10. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the manifold is a casting.
11. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A hydronic distribution system comprising a fluid flow control apparatus according to any preceding claim and a plurality of fluid receiving units, each being in fluid communication with the manifold via a respective valve port.
13. A hydronic distribution system according to claim 10, in which the fluid is chilled water.
14. A method of commissioning a hydronic distribution system according to claim 12 or 13, in which each regulator -12 -mounted in a respective valve port of the manifold has a respective Ky value selected in dependence upon the fluid receiving unit with which the valve port is in fluid communication -