WO2009150495A1 - A thermal isolation valve - Google Patents
A thermal isolation valve Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2009150495A1 WO2009150495A1 PCT/IB2008/053280 IB2008053280W WO2009150495A1 WO 2009150495 A1 WO2009150495 A1 WO 2009150495A1 IB 2008053280 W IB2008053280 W IB 2008053280W WO 2009150495 A1 WO2009150495 A1 WO 2009150495A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- valve
- thermal isolation
- seat
- housing
- fluid
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
- F16K1/00—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces
- F16K1/32—Details
- F16K1/34—Cutting-off parts, e.g. valve members, seats
- F16K1/36—Valve members
- F16K1/38—Valve members of conical shape
- F16K1/385—Valve members of conical shape contacting in the closed position, over a substantial axial length, a seat surface having the same inclination
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H9/00—Details
- F24H9/12—Arrangements for connecting heaters to circulation pipes
- F24H9/13—Arrangements for connecting heaters to circulation pipes for water heaters
- F24H9/133—Storage heaters
- F24H9/136—Arrangement of inlet valves used therewith
Definitions
- This invention relates to a thermal isolation valve.
- a thermal isolation valve including:
- valve housing having an inlet connectable to an inflow conduit, an outlet connectable to an outflow conduit, a valve chamber which is disposed between the inlet and the outlet and in flow communication therewith, and a valve seat;
- valve member which is located in the valve chamber of the valve housing and which is movable relative to the valve housing between an open position wherein fluid flow through the valve chamber is permitted in a forward flow direction from the inlet to the outlet of the valve housing and a closed position wherein the valve member is seated against the valve seat of the valve housing, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through the valve chamber in said forward flow direction
- the thermal isolation valve being characterised in that at least an external fluid-contacting surface of the valve member is of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity, thereby to provide a heat transfer barrier between fluid in the inflow and outflow conduits.
- At least a part of the valve housing which surrounds the valve chamber may be of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity thereby to thermally decouple the inflow conduit from the outflow conduit.
- the thermal isolation valve may include valve member urging means for urging the valve member into said closed position.
- the valve housing may include a valve body, with the valve seat being movable within the valve chamber relative to the valve body between an open position wherein fluid flow through the valve chamber is permitted in a reverse flow direction from the outlet to the inlet of the valve housing and a closed position wherein the valve seat is seated against the valve body, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through the valve chamber in said reverse flow direction.
- valve seat and the valve body may have seat means engageable so as to close off the flow of fluid in said reverse flow direction when the valve seat is in its closed position.
- the thermal isolation valve may include valve seat urging means for urging the valve seat into its closed position.
- the valve seat may be of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
- the valve body may be of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
- the entire valve member may be of said material having a low thermal conductivity.
- a thermal isolation valve including:
- valve housing having an inlet connectable to an inflow conduit, an outlet connectable to an outflow conduit, a valve chamber which is disposed between the inlet and the outlet and in flow communication therewith, and a valve seat;
- valve member which is located in the valve chamber of the valve housing and which is movable relative to the valve housing between an open position wherein fluid flow through the valve chamber is permitted in a forward flow direction from the inlet to the outlet of the housing and a closed position wherein the valve member is seated against the valve seat of the valve housing, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through the valve chamber in said forward flow direction
- the thermal isolation valve being characterised in that the valve housing which surrounds the valve chamber is of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity thereby to thermally decouple the inflow conduit from the outflow conduit.
- At least an external fluid-contacting surface of the valve member may be of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity, thereby to provide a heat transfer barrier between fluid in the inflow and outflow conduits.
- the entire valve member may be of said material having a low thermal conductivity.
- the thermal isolation valve may include valve member urging means for urging the valve member into said closed position.
- the valve housing may include a valve body, with the valve seat being movable within the valve chamber relative to the valve body between an open position wherein fluid flow through the valve chamber is permitted in a reverse flow direction from the outlet to the inlet of the valve housing and a closed position wherein the valve seat is seated against the valve body, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through the valve chamber in said reverse flow direction.
- valve seat and the valve body may have seat means engageable so as to close off the flow of fluid in said reverse flow direction when the valve seat is in its closed position.
- the thermal isolation valve may include valve seat urging means for urging the valve seat into its closed position.
- the valve seat may be of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
- the valve body may be of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
- Figure 1 A shows a sectional side view of a thermal isolation valve in accordance with the invention, with the valve member and valve seat thereof in closed positions;
- Figure 1 B shows a sectional side view of the thermal isolation valve of Figure 1 A, with the valve member thereof in an open position;
- Figure 1 C shows a sectional side view of the thermal isolation valve of Figure 1 A, with the valve seat thereof in an open position;
- Figure 2 shows an exploded side view of the valve housing of the thermal isolation valve of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 3 shows a sectional side view of the valve body of the thermal isolation valve of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the valve member, valve member spring, valve seat member and valve seat spring of the thermal isolation valve of Figure 1 ; and Figure 5 shows a water heating system in accordance with the invention, including thermal isolation valves in accordance with the invention.
- a thermal isolation valve in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10.
- the thermal isolation valve 10 comprises, broadly, a valve housing designated generally by the reference numeral 12 which defines a valve chamber 14 and a valve member 16 moveably located within the valve chamber.
- the thermal isolation valve 10 may in a particular embodiment, be adapted for use with a hot water heating system as will be described in further detail below.
- the valve housing 12 comprises a valve body 20 of a low thermal conductive plastics material such as acetyl copolymer, a brass inlet pipe coupling 22, a brass outlet pipe coupling 24 and a valve seat 18.
- the valve body 20 has a generally cylindrical external configuration and has an operative lower end and an operative upper end.
- the valve body 20 defines an inlet opening 26 at its lower end, through which fluid can flow into the valve chamber and an outlet opening 28 at its upper end, through which fluid can exit the valve chamber.
- the valve body defines an internal screw thread 30 at its lower end and an internal screw thread 32 at its upper end.
- the valve chamber 14 defined by the valve body has an outflow section 34 having a tubular configuration, a central section 36 having a truncated frusto-conical configuration and an inflow section 38 having a tubular configuration. More particularly, the central section 36 of the valve chamber 14 is defined by an inside wall 40 of the valve body which tapers in a direction from the inlet opening to the outlet opening of the valve body.
- the inlet pipe coupling 22 is in the form a pipe section which has a first externally screw threaded formation 42 which is screwed into the internal screw thread 30 of the valve body 20 and a second externally screw-threaded formation 44 which permits the connection of the valve body to a pipe having a complementary internal screw thread formation.
- the outlet pipe coupling 24 is in the form a pipe section which has a first externally screw threaded formation 46 which permits the connection of the valve body to a pipe having a complementary internal screw-thread formation and a second externally screw-threaded formation 48 which is screwed into the internal screw thread 32 of the valve body.
- the valve member 16 comprises an inverted frusto-conical valve formation 48 of a low thermal conductive plastics material such as acetyl copolymer and a pin 50 which is integrally formed with the valve formation.
- the valve formation 48 defines a longitudinal axis along its length, with the pin extending from an upper end of the valve formation 48 along the longitudinal axis thereof.
- the thermal isolation valve includes a guide disc 52 within which the pin 50 is located so as to be slidably displaceable. In use, the guide disc guides the movement of the pin and consequently of the valve member 16 within the valve chamber 14.
- the valve seat 18 is of a low thermal conductive plastics material such as acetyl copolymer and comprises a lower tubular section 54 and a truncated frusto-conical section 56.
- the truncated frusto-conical section 56 has an inverted frusto-conical internal passage 58 defined therein which is open at an upper end of the frusto-conical section 56.
- the tubular section 54 has an annular internal passage 60 defined therein which is open at a lower end thereof and which leads into the internal passage 58.
- valve formation 48 of the valve member 16 defines a taper angle which matches the taper angle of the frusto-conical passage 58 of the valve seat 18 thereby to sealingly engage the valve seat as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.
- the outer circumference of the frusto-conical section 56 of the valve seat 18 defines a taper angle which matches the taper angle of the inside wall 40 of the valve body 20 thereby to sealingly engage the inside wall 40 as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.
- the thermal isolation valve 10 has valve member urging means in the form of a helical valve spring 62 and valve seat urging means in the from of a helical seat spring 64 against which the valve member and the valve seat, respectively, are mounted.
- the outlet pipe coupling 24 defines an inwardly-extending annular abutment formation against which an upper side of the guide disc 52 abuts.
- the pin 50 is received within the valve spring 62 with a lower end of the spring abutting an upper end of the valve formation 48 and an upper end of the spring abutting a lower side of the guide disc 52.
- the inlet pipe coupling 22 defines an inwardly-extending annular abutment formation 67 against which a lower end of the seat spring 64 abuts.
- An upper end of the seat spring 64 abuts against a lower end of the frusto-conical section 56 of the valve seat 18, with the tubular section 54 of the valve seat being received within the spring 64.
- valve member 16 In use, when the water pressures at the inlet and outlet openings 26,28 of the valve member 16 are substantially equal, the valve member is seated against the valve seat 18 in the valve chamber 14 and the valve seat is seated against the inside wall 40 of the valve body, forming a fluid-tight seal preventing the flow of water through the valve chamber as is shown in Figure 1 A of the drawings.
- valve member 16 When the water pressure at the inlet side of the thermal isolation valve 10 exceeds the pressure at the outlet side, the valve member 16 is moved off the valve seat 18 into an open position by the water pressure against the force of the valve spring 62, permitting the flow of water through the valve chamber 14 in a forward flow direction as is shown by arrows F in Figure 1 B of the drawings. When the water pressures at the inlet and outlet sides of the thermal isolation valve are again substantially equal, the valve member is forced back into its closed position by the valve member 62.
- valve seat 18 When the water pressure at the outlet side of the thermal isolation valve 10 exceeds the pressure at the inlet side, the valve seat 18 is displaced downwardly away from the inside wall 40 of the valve body against the force of the seat spring 64 into an open position allowing for the flow of water through the valve chamber in a reverse flow direction as is shown by arrows R in Figure 1 C of the drawings.
- the valve seat When the water pressure at the inlet and outlet sides of the thermal isolation valve are again substantially equal, the valve seat is forced back into its closed position by the seat spring 64.
- the thermal isolation valve 10 will typically be used with a water heating system on a domestic or commercial scale, including a hot water cylinder 66 in which water is stored and heated by means of an electrical heating element 68.
- the hot water cylinder has an inlet 70 at a lower region thereof which is connectable to a water mains supply through an inflow pipe 72 and an outlet 74 at an upper region thereof, through which heated water can be discharged from the hot water cylinder into a water outflow pipe 76 (which is typically of copper or another material having a relatively high thermal conductivity) which has a tap 78 at its outlet for discharging hot water from the hot water cylinder.
- first thermal isolation valve 10.1 in accordance with the invention will be connected in-line with the water outflow pipe 76 and a second thermal isolation valve 10.2 in accordance with the invention will be connected in-line with the water inflow pipe 72 at positions near the outlet 74 and the inlet 70 of the hot water cylinder 66.
- the inlet pipe coupling 22 of the valve housing 12 of the first thermal isolation valve 10.1 is thus connected, via its screw thread formation 44, to a section of the outflow pipe 76 closest to the hot water cylinder 66 whereas the outlet pipe coupling 24 is connected, via its screw thread formation 46, to a section of the outflow pipe closest to the tap 78.
- the inlet pipe coupling 22 of the valve housing 12 of the second thermal isolation valve 10.2 is thus connected, via its screw thread formation 44, to a section of the inflow pipe 72 closest to the water mains, whereas the outlet coupling is connected, via its screw thread formation 46, to the section of the inflow pipe 72 closest to the hot water cylinder 66.
- valve member 16 and valve seat 18 which are in contact with water flowing through the valve chamber of the valve body, are of a low thermal conductive material, the valve member and valve seat when in their closed positions, form a barrier to heat transfer between water in the hot water cylinder and the water in the outflow pipe 76 downstream of the valve thermal isolation 10.1 and water in the inflow pipe 72 upsteam from the thermal isolation valve 10.2, respectively.
- the valve body 20 being of a low thermal conductive material, thermally decouples water in the hot water cylinder from the section of the outflow pipe 76 downstream of the thermal isolation valve 10.1 and the section of the inflow pipe 72 upstream of the thermal isolation valve 10.2.
- the thermal isolation valve 10 by providing for fluid flow in both forward flow and reverse flow directions, provides for high pressure or vacuum relief. In the case of the valve
- the water flow is in a forward flow direction for discharging water from the cylinder 66 and also for pressure relief and in a reverse flow direction for relieving a partial vacuum which may have arisen upstream of the valve 10.1.
- the valve 10.1 In the case of the valve
- the water flow is in a forward flow direction for charging the cylinder 66 with water from the water mains supply and for any pressure relief to a pressure control relief valve 79 and in a reverse flow direction to provide vacuum relief.
- the thermal isolation valve provides a simple, yet effective device for thermally decoupling the pipe section connected to the inlet and outlet sides thereof and for forming a thermal barrier between water at its inlet and outer sides. In so doing, heat losses from the hot water cylinder to the surroundings can be significantly reduced. As such, the Applicant envisages that significant energy savings can be achieved by eliminating the abovementioned heat losses.
Abstract
A thermal isolation valve 10 for use with a hot water heating system, comprises a valve housing 12 defining a valve chamber 14 and a valve member 16 moveable located within the valve chamber. The valve body 12 comprises a valve body 20, an inlet pipe coupling 22, an outlet pipe coupling 24 and a valve seat 18. The valve member 16, valve body 20 and valve seat 18 are of a low thermal conductive material. The valve 10 allows water flow in a forward flow direction from the inlet coupling 22 to the outlet coupling 24, with the valve member 16 lifting off the valve seat 18 in the process. Water flow in a reverse flow direction, for pressure relief, is permitted by the valve seat being displaced downwardly relative to the valve body 20. The valve member 16 provides a heat transfer barrier between water upstream and downstream of it, whereas the valve body 20 thermally decouples the inlet coupling 22 from the outlet coupling 24 so as to achieve energy savings.
Description
A THERMAL ISOLATION VALVE
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a thermal isolation valve.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a thermal isolation valve including:
a valve housing having an inlet connectable to an inflow conduit, an outlet connectable to an outflow conduit, a valve chamber which is disposed between the inlet and the outlet and in flow communication therewith, and a valve seat; and
a valve member which is located in the valve chamber of the valve housing and which is movable relative to the valve housing between an open position wherein fluid flow through the valve chamber is permitted in a forward flow direction from the inlet to the outlet of the valve housing and a closed position wherein the valve member is seated against the valve seat of the valve housing, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through
the valve chamber in said forward flow direction, the thermal isolation valve being characterised in that at least an external fluid-contacting surface of the valve member is of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity, thereby to provide a heat transfer barrier between fluid in the inflow and outflow conduits.
At least a part of the valve housing which surrounds the valve chamber may be of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity thereby to thermally decouple the inflow conduit from the outflow conduit.
The thermal isolation valve may include valve member urging means for urging the valve member into said closed position.
The valve housing may include a valve body, with the valve seat being movable within the valve chamber relative to the valve body between an open position wherein fluid flow through the valve chamber is permitted in a reverse flow direction from the outlet to the inlet of the valve housing and a closed position wherein the valve seat is seated against the valve body, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through the valve chamber in said reverse flow direction.
The valve seat and the valve body may have seat means engageable so as to close off the flow of fluid in said reverse flow direction when the valve seat is in its closed position.
The thermal isolation valve may include valve seat urging means for urging the valve seat into its closed position.
The valve seat may be of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
The valve body may be of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
The entire valve member may be of said material having a low thermal conductivity.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a thermal isolation valve including:
a valve housing having an inlet connectable to an inflow conduit, an outlet connectable to an outflow conduit, a valve chamber which is disposed between the inlet and the outlet and in flow communication therewith, and a valve seat; and
a valve member which is located in the valve chamber of the valve housing and which is movable relative to the valve housing between an open position wherein fluid flow through the valve chamber is permitted in a forward flow direction from the inlet to the outlet of the housing and a closed position wherein the valve member is seated against the valve seat of the valve housing, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through the valve chamber in said forward flow direction, the thermal isolation valve being characterised in that the valve housing which surrounds the valve chamber is of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity thereby to thermally decouple the inflow conduit from the outflow conduit.
At least an external fluid-contacting surface of the valve member may be of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity, thereby to provide a heat transfer barrier
between fluid in the inflow and outflow conduits. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the entire valve member may be of said material having a low thermal conductivity.
The thermal isolation valve may include valve member urging means for urging the valve member into said closed position.
The valve housing may include a valve body, with the valve seat being movable within the valve chamber relative to the valve body between an open position wherein fluid flow through the valve chamber is permitted in a reverse flow direction from the outlet to the inlet of the valve housing and a closed position wherein the valve seat is seated against the valve body, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through the valve chamber in said reverse flow direction.
The valve seat and the valve body may have seat means engageable so as to close off the flow of fluid in said reverse flow direction when the valve seat is in its closed position.
The thermal isolation valve may include valve seat urging means for urging the valve seat into its closed position.
The valve seat may be of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
The valve body may be of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of a non-limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 A shows a sectional side view of a thermal isolation valve in accordance with the invention, with the valve member and valve seat thereof in closed positions;
Figure 1 B shows a sectional side view of the thermal isolation valve of Figure 1 A, with the valve member thereof in an open position;
Figure 1 C shows a sectional side view of the thermal isolation valve of Figure 1 A, with the valve seat thereof in an open position;
Figure 2 shows an exploded side view of the valve housing of the thermal isolation valve of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 shows a sectional side view of the valve body of the thermal isolation valve of Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the valve member, valve member spring, valve seat member and valve seat spring of the thermal isolation valve of Figure 1 ; and
Figure 5 shows a water heating system in accordance with the invention, including thermal isolation valves in accordance with the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the drawings, a thermal isolation valve in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The thermal isolation valve 10 comprises, broadly, a valve housing designated generally by the reference numeral 12 which defines a valve chamber 14 and a valve member 16 moveably located within the valve chamber. The thermal isolation valve 10 may in a particular embodiment, be adapted for use with a hot water heating system as will be described in further detail below.
The valve housing 12 comprises a valve body 20 of a low thermal conductive plastics material such as acetyl copolymer, a brass inlet pipe coupling 22, a brass outlet pipe coupling 24 and a valve seat 18. The valve body 20 has a generally cylindrical external configuration and has an operative lower end and an operative upper end. The valve body 20 defines an inlet opening 26 at its lower end, through which fluid can flow into the valve chamber and an outlet opening 28 at its upper end, through which fluid can exit the valve chamber. The valve body defines an internal screw thread 30 at its lower end and an internal screw thread 32 at its upper end. The valve chamber 14 defined by the valve body, has an outflow section 34 having a tubular configuration, a central section 36 having a truncated frusto-conical configuration and an inflow section 38 having a tubular configuration. More particularly, the central section 36 of the valve chamber 14 is defined
by an inside wall 40 of the valve body which tapers in a direction from the inlet opening to the outlet opening of the valve body.
The inlet pipe coupling 22 is in the form a pipe section which has a first externally screw threaded formation 42 which is screwed into the internal screw thread 30 of the valve body 20 and a second externally screw-threaded formation 44 which permits the connection of the valve body to a pipe having a complementary internal screw thread formation.
The outlet pipe coupling 24 is in the form a pipe section which has a first externally screw threaded formation 46 which permits the connection of the valve body to a pipe having a complementary internal screw-thread formation and a second externally screw-threaded formation 48 which is screwed into the internal screw thread 32 of the valve body.
The valve member 16 comprises an inverted frusto-conical valve formation 48 of a low thermal conductive plastics material such as acetyl copolymer and a pin 50 which is integrally formed with the valve formation. The valve formation 48 defines a longitudinal axis along its length, with the pin extending from an upper end of the valve formation 48 along the longitudinal axis thereof.
The thermal isolation valve includes a guide disc 52 within which the pin 50 is located so as to be slidably displaceable. In use, the guide disc guides the movement of the pin and consequently of the valve member 16 within the valve chamber 14.
The valve seat 18 is of a low thermal conductive plastics material such as acetyl copolymer and comprises a lower tubular section 54 and a truncated frusto-conical section 56. The truncated frusto-conical section 56 has an inverted frusto-conical internal passage 58 defined therein which is open at an upper end of the frusto-conical section 56. The tubular section 54 has an annular internal passage 60 defined therein which is open at a lower end thereof and which leads into the internal passage 58.
The valve formation 48 of the valve member 16 defines a taper angle which matches the taper angle of the frusto-conical passage 58 of the valve seat 18 thereby to sealingly engage the valve seat as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.
The outer circumference of the frusto-conical section 56 of the valve seat 18 defines a taper angle which matches the taper angle of the inside wall 40 of the valve body 20 thereby to sealingly engage the inside wall 40 as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.
The thermal isolation valve 10 has valve member urging means in the form of a helical valve spring 62 and valve seat urging means in the from of a helical seat spring 64 against which the valve member and the valve seat, respectively, are mounted.
The outlet pipe coupling 24 defines an inwardly-extending annular abutment formation against which an upper side of the guide disc 52 abuts. The pin 50 is received within the valve spring 62 with a lower end of the spring abutting an upper end of the valve formation 48 and an upper end of the spring abutting a lower side of the guide disc 52.
The inlet pipe coupling 22 defines an inwardly-extending annular abutment formation 67 against which a lower end of the seat spring 64 abuts. An upper end of the seat spring 64 abuts against a lower end of the frusto-conical section 56 of the valve seat 18, with the tubular section 54 of the valve seat being received within the spring 64.
In use, when the water pressures at the inlet and outlet openings 26,28 of the valve member 16 are substantially equal, the valve member is seated against the valve seat 18 in the valve chamber 14 and the valve seat is seated against the inside wall 40 of the valve body, forming a fluid-tight seal preventing the flow of water through the valve chamber as is shown in Figure 1 A of the drawings.
When the water pressure at the inlet side of the thermal isolation valve 10 exceeds the pressure at the outlet side, the valve member 16 is moved off the valve seat 18 into an open position by the water pressure against the force of the valve spring 62, permitting the flow of water through the valve chamber 14 in a forward flow direction as is shown by arrows F in Figure 1 B of the drawings. When the water pressures at the inlet and outlet sides of the thermal isolation valve are again substantially equal, the valve member is forced back into its closed position by the valve member 62.
When the water pressure at the outlet side of the thermal isolation valve 10 exceeds the pressure at the inlet side, the valve seat 18 is displaced downwardly away from the inside wall 40 of the valve body against the force of the seat spring 64 into an open position allowing for the flow of water through the valve chamber in a reverse flow direction as is shown by arrows R in Figure 1 C of the drawings. When the water
pressure at the inlet and outlet sides of the thermal isolation valve are again substantially equal, the valve seat is forced back into its closed position by the seat spring 64.
It is known that significant heat loss to the surroundings occurs via heat transfer between hot water in a hot water cylinder and water contained in the inflow and outflow pipes connected to the hot water cylinder. After discharging hot water from the hot water cylinder, the water in the outflow pipe will be hot. This water begins to cool over time due to heat transfer between the water and the surrounding pipe and between the pipe and the surroundings. As the water contained within the outflow pipe is in flow communication with the water in the hot water cylinder, heat loss from the water in the hot water cylinder to the water in the outflow pipe occurs as the water in the outflow pipe cools due to heat transfer to the surroundings. Similarly, mains supply water in the inflow pipe is cold, again resulting in heat loss from the hot water cylinder.
With reference to Figure 5 of the drawings, the Applicant envisages that the thermal isolation valve 10 will typically be used with a water heating system on a domestic or commercial scale, including a hot water cylinder 66 in which water is stored and heated by means of an electrical heating element 68. The hot water cylinder has an inlet 70 at a lower region thereof which is connectable to a water mains supply through an inflow pipe 72 and an outlet 74 at an upper region thereof, through which heated water can be discharged from the hot water cylinder into a water outflow pipe 76 (which is typically of copper or another material having a relatively high thermal conductivity) which has a tap 78 at its outlet for discharging hot water from the hot water cylinder.
The Applicant envisages that a first thermal isolation valve 10.1 in accordance with the invention will be connected in-line with the water outflow pipe 76 and a second thermal isolation valve 10.2 in accordance with the invention will be connected in-line with the water inflow pipe 72 at positions near the outlet 74 and the inlet 70 of the hot water cylinder 66.
The inlet pipe coupling 22 of the valve housing 12 of the first thermal isolation valve 10.1 , is thus connected, via its screw thread formation 44, to a section of the outflow pipe 76 closest to the hot water cylinder 66 whereas the outlet pipe coupling 24 is connected, via its screw thread formation 46, to a section of the outflow pipe closest to the tap 78. Similarly, the inlet pipe coupling 22 of the valve housing 12 of the second thermal isolation valve 10.2, is thus connected, via its screw thread formation 44, to a section of the inflow pipe 72 closest to the water mains, whereas the outlet coupling is connected, via its screw thread formation 46, to the section of the inflow pipe 72 closest to the hot water cylinder 66.
It will be appreciated that as the valve member 16 and valve seat 18 which are in contact with water flowing through the valve chamber of the valve body, are of a low thermal conductive material, the valve member and valve seat when in their closed positions, form a barrier to heat transfer between water in the hot water cylinder and the water in the outflow pipe 76 downstream of the valve thermal isolation 10.1 and water in the inflow pipe 72 upsteam from the thermal isolation valve 10.2, respectively. Similarly, the valve body 20, being of a low thermal conductive material, thermally decouples water in the hot water cylinder from the section of the outflow pipe 76 downstream of the thermal
isolation valve 10.1 and the section of the inflow pipe 72 upstream of the thermal isolation valve 10.2.
The thermal isolation valve 10, by providing for fluid flow in both forward flow and reverse flow directions, provides for high pressure or vacuum relief. In the case of the valve
10.1 , the water flow is in a forward flow direction for discharging water from the cylinder 66 and also for pressure relief and in a reverse flow direction for relieving a partial vacuum which may have arisen upstream of the valve 10.1. In the case of the valve
10.2, the water flow is in a forward flow direction for charging the cylinder 66 with water from the water mains supply and for any pressure relief to a pressure control relief valve 79 and in a reverse flow direction to provide vacuum relief.
The Applicant believes that the thermal isolation valve provides a simple, yet effective device for thermally decoupling the pipe section connected to the inlet and outlet sides thereof and for forming a thermal barrier between water at its inlet and outer sides. In so doing, heat losses from the hot water cylinder to the surroundings can be significantly reduced. As such, the Applicant envisages that significant energy savings can be achieved by eliminating the abovementioned heat losses.
Claims
1 . A thermal isolation valve including
a valve housing having an inlet connectable to an inflow conduit, an outlet connectable to an outflow conduit, a valve chamber which is disposed between the inlet and the outlet and in flow communication therewith, and a valve seat; and
a valve member which is located in the valve chamber of the valve housing and which is movable relative to the valve housing between an open position wherein fluid flow through the valve chamber is permitted in a forward flow direction from the inlet to the outlet of the valve housing and a closed position wherein the valve member is seated against the valve seat of the valve housing, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through the valve chamber in said forward flow direction, the thermal isolation valve being characterised in that at least an external fluid- contacting surface of the valve member is of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity, thereby to provide a heat transfer barrier between fluid in the inflow and outflow conduits.
2. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the valve housing which surrounds the valve chamber is of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity thereby to thermally decouple the inflow conduit from the outflow conduit.
3. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, which includes valve member urging means for urging the valve member into said closed position.
4. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the valve housing includes a valve body, with the valve seat being movable within the valve chamber relative to the valve body between an open position wherein fluid flow through the valve chamber is permitted in a reverse flow direction from the outlet to the inlet of the valve housing and a closed position wherein the valve seat is seated against the valve body, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through the valve chamber in said reverse flow direction.
5. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in claim 4, wherein the valve seat and the valve body have seat means engageable so as to close off the flow of fluid in said reverse flow direction when the valve seat is in its closed position.
6. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, which includes valve seat urging means for urging the valve seat into its closed position.
7. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in claims 4 to 6, wherein the valve seat is of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
8. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in claims 4 to 7, wherein the valve body is of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
9. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the entire valve member is of said material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
10. A thermal isolation valve including
a valve housing having an inlet connectable to an inflow conduit, an outlet connectable to an outflow conduit, a valve chamber which is disposed between the inlet and the outlet and in flow communication therewith, and a valve seat; and
a valve member which is located in the valve chamber of the valve housing and which is movable relative to the valve housing between an open position wherein fluid flow through the valve chamber is permitted in a forward flow direction from the inlet to the outlet of the housing and a closed position wherein the valve member is seated against the valve seat of the valve housing, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through the valve chamber in said forward flow direction, the thermal isolation valve being characterised in that the valve housing which surrounds the valve chamber is of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity thereby to thermally decouple the inflow conduit from the outflow conduit.
1 1. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least an external fluid-contacting surface of the valve member is of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity, thereby to provide a heat transfer barrier between fluid in the inflow and outflow conduits.
12. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in claim 10 or claim 1 1 , which includes valve member urging means for urging the valve member into said closed position.
13. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the valve housing includes a valve body, with the valve seat being movable within the valve chamber relative to the valve body between an open position wherein fluid flow through the valve chamber is permitted in a reverse flow direction from the outlet to the inlet of the housing and a closed position wherein the valve seat is seated against the valve body, thereby preventing the flow of fluid through the valve chamber in said reverse flow direction.
14. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in claim 13, wherein the valve seat and the valve body have seat means engageable so as to close off the flow of fluid in said reverse flow direction when the valve seat is in its closed position.
15. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, which includes valve seat urging means for urging the valve seat into its closed position.
16. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the valve seat is of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
17. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the valve body is of a material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
18. The thermal isolation valve as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein the entire valve member is of said material having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA2008/05154 | 2008-06-12 | ||
| ZA200805154 | 2008-06-12 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2009150495A1 true WO2009150495A1 (en) | 2009-12-17 |
Family
ID=40383611
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2008/053280 WO2009150495A1 (en) | 2008-06-12 | 2008-08-15 | A thermal isolation valve |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| WO (1) | WO2009150495A1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2011147911A1 (en) * | 2010-05-26 | 2011-12-01 | Petrolvalves S.R.L. | Intelligent pressure relief device for a double isolation valve |
| FR2981142A1 (en) * | 2011-10-10 | 2013-04-12 | Jean Abel Pierre Tremolieres | Thermal rupture device for use at exit of e.g. cumulus, for allowing thermal rupture between parts of drain containing water, has inlet and outlet drains, where thermal rupture occurs between fluid in inlet drain and fluid in outlet drain |
| EP2626608A1 (en) * | 2012-02-13 | 2013-08-14 | Dubuis et Cie S.A.S. | Pressure relief valve for a hydraulic press tool and associated hydraulic press tool |
| EP2604945A3 (en) * | 2011-12-16 | 2015-12-09 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Hot water tank with excess pressure shut-off |
| WO2017187048A1 (en) * | 2016-04-28 | 2017-11-02 | Valeo Systemes Thermiques | Insulation device for thermal system |
| US9976663B2 (en) | 2010-05-26 | 2018-05-22 | Petrolvalves S.P.A. | Intelligent pressure relief device for a double isolation valve |
| IT202200000830A1 (en) * | 2022-01-21 | 2023-07-21 | Dk Service | SAFETY DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC WATER SYSTEM |
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| US4364411A (en) * | 1980-07-21 | 1982-12-21 | Payton Kenneth J | Liquid line thermal barrier |
| US5165445A (en) * | 1991-08-21 | 1992-11-24 | Gits Manufacturing Company | Relief vent apparatus |
| WO2002098382A1 (en) * | 2001-06-06 | 2002-12-12 | Nl Technologies, Ltd. | Thermally insulating interfaces |
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Cited By (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103026110B (en) * | 2010-05-26 | 2014-10-29 | 石油阀门有限责任公司 | Intelligent pressure relief device for a double isolation valve |
| CN103026110A (en) * | 2010-05-26 | 2013-04-03 | 石油阀门有限责任公司 | Intelligent pressure relief device for a double isolation valve |
| WO2011147911A1 (en) * | 2010-05-26 | 2011-12-01 | Petrolvalves S.R.L. | Intelligent pressure relief device for a double isolation valve |
| US9976663B2 (en) | 2010-05-26 | 2018-05-22 | Petrolvalves S.P.A. | Intelligent pressure relief device for a double isolation valve |
| FR2981142A1 (en) * | 2011-10-10 | 2013-04-12 | Jean Abel Pierre Tremolieres | Thermal rupture device for use at exit of e.g. cumulus, for allowing thermal rupture between parts of drain containing water, has inlet and outlet drains, where thermal rupture occurs between fluid in inlet drain and fluid in outlet drain |
| EP2604945A3 (en) * | 2011-12-16 | 2015-12-09 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | Hot water tank with excess pressure shut-off |
| EP2626608A1 (en) * | 2012-02-13 | 2013-08-14 | Dubuis et Cie S.A.S. | Pressure relief valve for a hydraulic press tool and associated hydraulic press tool |
| US20130240061A1 (en) * | 2012-02-13 | 2013-09-19 | Stanley Works (Europe) Gmbh | Pressure relief valve |
| US9328831B2 (en) | 2012-02-13 | 2016-05-03 | Dubuis Et Cie S.A.S. | Pressure relief valve |
| FR2986848A1 (en) * | 2012-02-13 | 2013-08-16 | Dubuis Et Cie | PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE FOR A HYDRAULIC PRESS TOOL, AND HYDRAULIC PRESS TOOL |
| WO2017187048A1 (en) * | 2016-04-28 | 2017-11-02 | Valeo Systemes Thermiques | Insulation device for thermal system |
| FR3050813A1 (en) * | 2016-04-28 | 2017-11-03 | Valeo Systemes Thermiques | INSULATION DEVICE FOR THERMAL SYSTEM |
| CN109863361A (en) * | 2016-04-28 | 2019-06-07 | 法雷奥热系统公司 | Seal for hot systems |
| IT202200000830A1 (en) * | 2022-01-21 | 2023-07-21 | Dk Service | SAFETY DEVICE FOR DOMESTIC WATER SYSTEM |
| EP4215838A1 (en) | 2022-01-21 | 2023-07-26 | DK Service a company organized under the Laws of Italy | Safety device for a domestic water supply system |
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