IT201900000472A1 - HYDRAULIC ASSEMBLY FOR A COMBINED SYSTEM FOR HEATING ROOMS AND FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC HOT WATER AND WALL-MOUNTED BOILER EQUIPPED WITH THIS ASSEMBLY - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the patent for industrial invention entitled:

"HYDRAULIC ASSEMBLY FOR A COMBINED SYSTEM FOR HEATING ROOMS AND FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DOMESTIC HOT WATER AND WALL-MOUNTED BOILER EQUIPPED WITH THIS ASSEMBLY"

TECHNIQUE SECTOR

The present invention relates to a hydraulic assembly for a combined system for space heating and for the production of domestic hot water and to a wall-mounted boiler provided with such assembly.

ANTERIOR ART

As is known, the hydraulic units for combined wall-hung boilers developed in recent years have undergone a considerable rationalization of the hydraulic components with the progressive abandonment of the single single-function components connected to each other by means of pipes, in favor of multifunctional control and safety devices. increasingly compact, which have been designed to perform all the hydraulic functions of the boiler. Currently, with the use of only three valve devices, in association with a secondary plate heat exchanger, the hydraulic layout of the boiler is substantially defined.

The three valve devices are:

- a valve device of a centrifugal pump

- a valve delivery device; and

- a return valve device.

The centrifugal pump valve device basically comprises an inlet connection placed on a degassing chamber, an outlet connection placed on a desired body that contains the centrifugal impeller and an electric motor.

In turn, the delivery valve device substantially comprises a double rear connection for the secondary exchanger and two connections, respectively, for the primary circuit (delivery) and for the secondary circuit (domestic hot water outlet).

And finally, the return valve device substantially comprises a double rear connection for the secondary exchanger and two connections, respectively, for the primary circuit (return) and for the secondary circuit (domestic cold water inlet).

The secondary plate heat exchanger for the production of conventional domestic hot water, also used as a hydraulic bar, includes two separate counter-current circuits with four terminal connections placed on the same plane which define the input and output respectively of the circuit primary and secondary circuit; the delivery and return valve devices are assembled on these four connections so that the secondary exchanger is arranged alternately on the front or rear of the delivery and return valve devices.

The air vent valve, the three-way diverter valve, the safety valve, the connection for the connection with the expansion vessel and the connection for the pressure gauge can be integrated on the valve device of the centrifugal pump.

Normally, the three-way diverter valve, the differential bypass valve, and the pressure switch can be integrated on the delivery valve device.

In ordinary use, the flow sensor (flow meter) can be integrated on the return valve body to control the sanitary draw, the system filling cock and the system drain cock.

Research is continually aimed at reducing the production costs of wall-hung boilers and reducing their dimensions (configuring them more and more as household appliances). It has been noted, however, that the arrangement of the various components (including the secondary heat exchanger) usually involves the development of customized projects and therefore requires high investments in equipment and molds, with rather long and not very compatible amortization times. with product life times tending to be shorter and shorter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a hydraulic assembly for a combined system for space heating and for the production of domestic hot water which is free from the drawbacks of the state of the art and is, in particular, easy and economical to produce.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wall-mounted boiler equipped with a hydraulic assembly for a combined system for space heating and for the production of domestic hot water which is free from the drawbacks of the state of the art and, in particular, of easy and cheap realization.

According to the present invention, a hydraulic assembly is provided for a combined system for space heating and for the production of domestic hot water and a wall-mounted boiler provided with a hydraulic assembly according to what is established in the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate non-limiting examples of implementation with the caveat that, given the particular complexity of the drawings and the high number of details, not all elements have been numbered; in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a general hydraulic diagram of a wall-mounted gas boiler in which a hydraulic assembly made in accordance with the present invention is used;

figure 2 schematically shows an enlargement of a detail of figure 1;

- figure 3 is a perspective and exploded view of a first embodiment of the hydraulic assembly of figure 1;

- figure 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of the hydraulic assembly of figure 1; And

- Figure 5 is a rear view of a third embodiment of the hydraulic assembly of Figure 1.

PREFERRED FORMS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

In figure 1, the number 1 indicates as a whole a combined system for space heating and for the production of domestic hot water.

System 1 includes a wall-mounted boiler 2 and a hydraulic network 3 connected hydraulically to each other. The hydraulic network 3 comprises, in turn, in a known way, a primary heating circuit 4 and a secondary circuit 5 in which the domestic hot water flows. The primary circuit 4 comprises a duct 6 for delivery of hot water towards at least one heating element 7 (preferably provided with a zone valve located near and immediately upstream of the heating element 7) and a water return duct 8 cold towards the wall-hung boiler 2 from the heating element 7.

On the other hand, at least one dispensing body 9 (tap or mixer) of domestic hot water is associated with the secondary circuit 5.

Again according to what is illustrated in Figure 1, the wall-mounted gas boiler 2 comprises:

- an atmospheric gas burner 10, associated with a gas supply line 11 controlled by a safety gas valve 12;

- a main heat exchanger 13;

- a chimney 14 equipped with a fan 15, for the evacuation of the fumes produced by the combustion of the gas; - a cold water delivery duct 16 to the main heat exchanger 13 of the cold heating water;

- a return pipe 17 from the main heat exchanger 13 of the heating hot water;

- a secondary heat exchanger 18, advantageously, but not necessarily, of the "plate" type;

- a delivery valve hydraulic unit 20 hydraulically connected to the secondary heat exchanger 18;

- a return valve hydraulic unit 19 also hydraulically connected to the secondary heat exchanger 18; and

- a centrifugal pump unit 21 hydraulically connected to the return valve hydraulic unit 19.

It is important to point out that while the water circulating in the main heat exchanger 13 is heated directly by the heat produced by the burner 10, in the secondary heat exchanger 18 there is a heat exchange between the hot water coming from the main heat exchanger 13 and cold sanitary water supplied by the water network fed by the aqueduct through a conduit 22.

The secondary heat exchanger 18 is activated in the presence of a request for domestic hot water, detected by a flow meter 23 by a user through the dispensing body 9. The primary circuit 4 also includes a duct 61 for the outlet of the domestic hot water from the secondary heat exchanger 18; by means of which the dispensing body 9 is fed.

According to a preferred embodiment, the centrifugal pump assembly 21 comprises, in turn, an electric motor 24 which rotates an impeller 25 which is in turn enclosed in a pump body 26. A pressure switch 39 is preferably integrated on the centrifugal pump unit 21.

The pump body 26 is provided with a connection for the pressure switch 39 and a connection 29 for connection with the return pipe 16 and a connection 30 for connection, through the pump interface 28, with the return valve hydraulic unit 19.

The return valve hydraulic unit 19 is intended for regulating the flow of water to / from the wall-mounted boiler 2 and comprises, in addition to a relative monobloc support body 31, the following devices: an expansion vessel 32, a safety valve 33 of the primary circuit 4 which, in case of need, is arranged to send the water to the discharge through a drain duct, an air vent valve 34, a three-way valve 35 intended to activate the sanitary phase of the wall-hung boiler 2 by diverting the flow towards the secondary heat exchanger 18 and having an electric motor 36, which in turn actuates a relative diverter shutter 37 subjected to the action of a helical spring 38, a check valve 40.

Preferably, the return valve hydraulic unit 19 also comprises the following devices: the flowmeter 23 of the domestic cold water, a tap 41 for filling the primary heating circuit 4, a tap 42 for draining the system which, in case of need , sends the discharge water through a discharge duct 43 (through which the discharge water flows even if the safety valve 33 is piloted).

The supporting body 31 is therefore provided with the following fittings:

- a fitting 44 for the expansion vessel 32

- a fitting 45 for the pressure gauge 27;

- a seat 46 for the three-way valve 35;

- a seat 47 for the flow meter 23 of domestic cold water;

- two fittings 48 for the filling cock 41;

- a fitting 49 for the safety valve 33;

- a fitting 50 for the drain cock 42 of the system;

- a fitting 51 for connection to the centrifugal pump unit 21;

- a connection 52 with the water mains (possibly arranged to house, in a known way, a filter and a flow limiter);

- a connection 53 with the primary heating circuit 4;

- a seat 54 for the check valve 40; And

- two pairs of fittings for connection to the secondary heat exchanger 18, indicated not by reference numbers 55 and 56. The pairs of fittings 55, 56 lie on different planes. In particular, the pairs of fittings 55, 56 lie on mutually parallel planes.

Each pair of fittings 55, 56 is arranged in correspondence with opposite faces of the support body 31.

In particular, according to what is illustrated in Figures 3 to 5, the pair of fittings 55 is arranged at the front on the support body 31 while the pair of fittings 56 is arranged at the rear on the support body 31.

The delivery valve hydraulic group 20 is also intended for regulating the flows of water from / to the wall-mounted boiler 2 through two connections, respectively, for the primary circuit (flow) and for the secondary circuit (domestic hot water outlet) and it comprises a relative monobloc support body 57.

The support body 57 is provided with the following fittings:

- a fitting 58 for the primary circuit delivery duct 6;

- a fitting 59 for the boiler delivery duct 17;

- a fitting 60 for the outlet duct 61 of the domestic hot water from the secondary heat exchanger 18; And

- two pairs of fittings for connection to the secondary heat exchanger 18, indicated not by reference numbers 62 and 63.

The pairs of fittings 62, 63 lie on different planes. In particular, the pairs of fittings 62, 63 lie on mutually parallel planes. Each pair of fittings 62, 63 is arranged at opposite faces of the support body 57. In particular, according to what is illustrated in Figures 3 to 5, the pair of fittings 62 is arranged at the front on the support body 57 while the pair of fittings 63 is arranged at the rear on the support body 31.

It is evident that both the support body 31 and the support body 57 can be provided with further fittings in addition to those listed and possibly closed by means of suitable plugs 67.

Inside the secondary heat exchanger 18, two distinct water paths in countercurrent are defined; in particular, a path 64 of the heating water in the sanitary phase is defined, and a path 65 of the sanitary water when the withdrawal from the dispenser element 9 is activated in countercurrent with respect to the path 64.

The heat exchanger 18 is therefore provided with four connections 66, of which respectively a pair of connections 66A, 66B for the inlet and outlet of the path 64 and a pair of connections 66C, 66D for the inlet and outlet. of the path 65 (clearly the connections 66A, 66D for the inlet of the path 64 and the outlet of the path 65 are aligned at the same first end of the heat exchanger 18 while the connections 66B, 66C for the inlet of the path 65 and the outlet of the path 64 are aligned at the same and second end of the heat exchanger 18). Connections 66 lie on the same plane. In other words, the connections 66 are formed in correspondence with the same face of the box-like body that defines the secondary heat exchanger 18.

The pairs of fittings 55, 56 are intended to selectively make the hydraulic connection with a first pair of connections 66 and, similarly, the pairs of fittings 62, 63 are intended to selectively make the hydraulic connection with a second pair of connections 66 as a function of the front / rear position of the secondary heat exchanger 18 with respect to the delivery and return hydraulic valve units 19, 20.

According to a first embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the secondary heat exchanger 18 is connected to the pairs of fittings 55 and 62 so as to be arranged in front of the supporting bodies 31 and 57. The pairs of fittings 55 and 62 are arranged, in use, on a common level, to make the connection with the connections 66.

Alternatively, in accordance with a second embodiment illustrated in Figure 5, the secondary heat exchanger 18 is connected to the pairs of fittings 56 and 63 in such a way as to be positioned behind the supporting bodies 31 and 57. The pairs of fittings 56 and 63 are arranged, in use, on a common plane to make the connection with the connections 66.

It is important to highlight that this second embodiment has overall a reduced size compared to the first embodiment since the secondary heat exchanger 18 is substantially placed side by side with the centrifugal pump unit 21.

Alternatively, in accordance with a third embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, two secondary heat exchangers 18 *, 18 ** are provided; the secondary heat exchanger 18 * is connected, respectively, to the pairs of fittings 56 and 63 so as to be positioned behind the supporting bodies 31 and 57 while the secondary heat exchanger 18 ** is connected, respectively, to the pairs of fittings 55 and 62 so as to be arranged in front of the support bodies 31 and 57.

The return and delivery hydraulic valve groups 19, 20 are in fact arranged to make the connection with the secondary heat exchanger 18 in two different positions, opposite to each other; the position (front and / or rear) of the secondary heat exchanger 18 with respect to the flow and return hydraulic valve units 19, 20 is chosen according to the space requirements and without having to change the position of the other devices (in particular the flow meter 23 is provided with a double outlet connection and is designed to convey the sanitary water towards the secondary heat exchanger 18 positioned indifferently on the front or on the back of the valve body).

As anticipated, the diverter shutter 37 of the three-way valve 35 is piloted by the electric motor 36 and is subjected to the action of the helical spring 38 to alternately close a way relative to the fitting 53 with the primary heating circuit 4 for the production phase of domestic hot water, or a way for the room heating phase, leaving in any case open a hydraulic communication way with a suction duct of the centrifugal pump group 21.

Preferably, the diverter shutter 37 has a differentiated section on the two closing diameters in order to reduce the pressure drops towards the main way for the room heating phase.

The main advantage of the assembly formed by the return and delivery hydraulic valve units 19, 20 and the secondary heat exchanger 18 consists in providing a rational arrangement of the secondary heat exchanger 18 on the front or alternatively on the rear of both the valve hydraulic unit 19 both of the delivery valve hydraulic unit 20. All this translates into a significant reduction in investment costs in molds and equipment as well as a substantial reduction in overall dimensions and a consequent reduction in production costs. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS OF THE FIGURES 1 combined system

2 wall-mounted boiler

3 hydraulic network

4 primary circuit

5 secondary circuit

6 delivery duct

7 heating element

8 return pipe

9 dispenser body

10 burner

11 gas supply line

12 safety valve

13 main heat exchanger

14 fireplace

15 fan

16 cold water delivery return pipe 17 water delivery pipe

18 secondary heat exchanger

19 return valve hydraulic unit

20 delivery valve hydraulic unit

21 centrifugal pump unit

22 duct

23 flowmeter

24 pump electric motor

25 pump impeller

26 pump body

27 pressure gauge

28 pump-return group interface

29 Pump-boiler return connection

30 pump-interface fitting

31 return unit support body

32 expansion vessel

33 safety valve

34 air vent valve

35 three-way valve

36 three-way valve electric motor

37 Three-way valve diverter obturator 38 Three-way valve helical spring

39 pressure switch

40 check valve

41 filling cock

42 drain cock

43 exhaust duct

44 fitting for expansion vessel

45 fitting for pressure gauge

46 three-way valve seat

47 seat for flow meter

48 Filling cock connection

49 connection for safety valve

50 fitting for drain cock

51 centrifugal pump fitting

52 connection for sanitary water network

53 fitting for drain cock

54 seat for check valve

55 connections for secondary exchanger 56 connections for secondary exchanger 57 delivery unit support body

58 primary circuit flow connection 59 boiler flow connection

60 domestic hot water outlet connection 61 Domestic hot water network duct 62 connections for secondary exchanger 63 connections for secondary exchanger 64 internal plate path

65 internal path plates

66 secondary exchanger connections

Claims (1)

R I V E N D I C A Z I O N I 1.- Hydraulic assembly for a combined system (1) for space heating and for the production of domestic hot water comprising a wall-mounted boiler (2) hydraulically connected to a hydraulic network (3) having a primary heating circuit (4) and a secondary circuit (5) in which the domestic hot water flows; the assembly includes a first heat exchanger (18; 18 *); a hydraulic return valve assembly (19) hydraulically connected to the first heat exchanger (18); and a hydraulic delivery valve unit (20) also hydraulically connected to the first heat exchanger (18); wherein the first heat exchanger (18; 18 *) is provided with four coplanar connections (66) for the hydraulic connection with the return valve hydraulic unit (19) and with the delivery valve hydraulic unit (20); the assembly is characterized by the fact that the return valve hydraulic unit (19) comprises a one-piece support body (31) having two first pairs of fittings (55, 56) arranged so as to lie on different planes and intended to selectively realize the hydraulic connection with a first pair of connections (66) and by the fact that the hydraulic delivery valve unit (20) comprises a monobloc support body (57) having two second pairs of connections (62, 63) arranged in such a way as to lie on planes that are different from each other and are intended to selectively make the hydraulic connection with a second pair of connections (66). 2.- Assembly according to Claim 1, in which the first two pairs of fittings (55, 56) are arranged so as to lie on mutually parallel planes. 3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the two second pairs of fittings (62, 63) are arranged so as to lie on mutually parallel planes. 4.- Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising a second heat exchanger (18 **); in which all said pairs of fittings (55, 56; 62, 63) are used to make the hydraulic connection with the first heat exchanger (18 *) or alternatively with the second heat exchanger (18 **). 5.- Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a three-way valve (35) is integrated in the return valve hydraulic assembly (35) intended to activate the domestic hot water phase of the wall-mounted boiler (2) by diverting the flow towards the first heat exchanger (18; 18 *) and having an electric motor (36) which drives a diverter shutter (37); in which the section of the diverter shutter (37) has differentiated closing diameters 6.- Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a flow meter (23) is integrated in the return valve hydraulic unit (19) which is provided with a double outlet connection to convey the sanitary water both towards the first and towards the second heat exchanger (18; 18 *). Wall-mounted boiler (2) characterized in that it is provided with at least one hydraulic assembly (20) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6.