WO2015101880A1

WO2015101880A1 - Device for optimising energy use when a flow of fluid is being selectively and gradually mixed, said device comprising three inlets and one outlet

Info

Publication number: WO2015101880A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/067028
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl LÜDERS SCHWARZENBERG
Original assignee: Pontificia Universidad Católica De Chile
Priority date: 2013-12-31
Filing date: 2014-12-17
Publication date: 2015-07-09
Also published as: WO2015101880A4; CL2013003818A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for optimising energy use, when selectively and gradually mixing a flow of fluid supplied continuously and at a temperature and flow rate regulated by the user in a simple and intuitive manner, said fluid coming from a conventional heater, a renewable energy-powered heater and a source of ambient-temperature or cold fluid from the network, said device comprising: a fluid valve body to which fluid inlet connections are joined; a fluid outlet located in the fluid valve body; a mobile fluid-distributing element that is in sliding contact with the fluid valve body, said contact generating a seal or leak-tight state; and an actuating means joined to the mobile fluid-distributing element, by means of which actuating means a user moves the mobile fluid-distributing element, in order to regulate the temperature and the flow of fluid, said fluid valve body comprising three fluid inlets that are separated from one another, and a fluid outlet, wherein one inlet of the inlets corresponds to a fluid from a renewable energy-powered heater physically located between the other two fluid inlets, and said mobile element comprising a fluid connection and interruption means that connects one or two of the fluid inlets to the fluid outlet, permitting the fluid from two fluid sources to mix, and permitting the complete disconnection or cut-off of the fluid from the outlet.

Description

DEVICE THAT OPTIMIZES ENERGY USE, BY SELECTING AND GRADUAL MIXING, A FLOW OF FLUI DO, THAT INCLUDES THREE INPUTS AND ONE EXIT. DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY

SCOPE

The present invention relates to clean technologies or efficient use of energy without lowering the final performance for the user. More specifically, this technology is related to the flow regulating systems that allow two fluids, which is normally water, to be combined, coming from the following three fluid sources: conventional heaters, renewable energy heater and fluid source at room or cold temperature of the net.

Conventional heaters are understood as: boilers; thermoses or water heaters that use traditional energies such as electricity, gas, wood or firewood, and / or from fossil fuels. Renewable energy heater is understood as heaters that use solar, geothermal, wind, tidal energy among other renewable energies, to heat the fluid.

Even more specifically, the present invention is a device that optimizes the energy use to heat a fluid, which is preferably water, by combining two fluids from three fluid sources, conventional heaters, renewable energy heater and source of fluid at room temperature. or cold of the network and in such a way to obtain at the exit, a fluid with a temperature and flow regulated and desired by the user, uniformly variable. Its use can be both home and industrial.

BACKGROUND Different devices have been found in the prior art that have more than one fluid inlet with at least one fluid outlet, which is generally water, among them is patent application EP0198129 corresponding to a valve with 3 or 5 ways, with an efficient sealing system and automatic control. Said valve is capable of receiving a flow from four different pipelines for blocking or redirection without the possibility of any mixing between the flows, which does not allow the simultaneous connection of two inputs, mix the inlet fluids inside the ball and then exit through Same exit. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Renewable energy water heaters have the disadvantage that at certain times of the year they are not able to raise the temperature of the water to the temperature desired by the user, which normally for a shower, sink or dishwasher, is between 20 ° C at approximately 40 ° C. In such a case, said renewable energy heater must be replaced by a conventional heater to heat the water. The change from one heater to another is annoying for the user, usually complex or slow and usually does not optimize the use of energy.

In order to optimize energy use, which results in optimizing the use of solar heaters, a device is needed to selectively and gradually mix the fluid from two of the following three sources of fluid, conventional heaters, water heater renewable energy and source of fluid at room or cold temperature of the fluid network, such as water.

That is, the present device must be able to mix the fluids from the three sources indicated above, in uniformly variable proportion and control the total flow of the fluid that it delivers continuously, both the temperature and the flow rate supplied and Simple and intuitive way. Further, said device must be able to directly connect a source of fluid to the outlet and also allow total disconnection.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

To be able to mix selectively, continuously fluids from: conventional heaters; renewable energy heaters and coming from the network, in a single outlet, and that delivers a regulated fluid both in temperature and in flow, using energy efficiently and intuitively, the present mixing device and flow regulator is a single-lever or four-way ball wrench comprising three inputs and one output.

It is understood as a single lever, a fluid stopcock with a single actuation or control means, whose functions are the regulation of flow and the temperature of the fluid through the mixture of cold and hot fluid. Said regulation of the flow and temperature is carried out by means of the actuation of a drive means, which is normally a lever, when moving a disc or upper moving plate with respect to a lower fixed disk or plate which is larger than the moving plate. Water mixes inside the faucet, known as a cartridge and exits through an outlet opening to the faucet outlet. The upper disc or mobile plate and the lower fixed disk or plate are usually ceramic.

A ball key is understood as a stopcock that serves to regulate the flow of a fluid, where the regulator is a perforated ball, which allows the passage to be closed or the fluid passage through a perforation in the ball. The ball key also has a single drive or control means, which commands the position of the perforated ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 represents a schematic of the geometry and perforations of the three inputs and one output, of a fixed plate of the single lever key (105). Figure 2 represents a schematic of the geometry of the movable plate (106) and means for connecting and interrupting fluid of the single lever (107) of a single lever.

Figure 3a shows a diagram of the relative position of the movable plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), with the maximum flow rate coming from a renewable energy heater.

Figure 3b represents a diagram of the relative position of the movable plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), in a 100% fluid position from a renewable energy heater and zero or zero flow.

Figure 3c represents a diagram of the relative position of the movable plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), with intermediate flow from a renewable energy heater.

Figure 4a shows a diagram of the relative position of the mobile plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), with the maximum flow from a source of fluid at room temperature or cold of the network.

Figure 4b represents a diagram of the relative position of the movable plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), in the position of a 100% source of fluid at room temperature or cold of the network in closing or zero flow .

Figure 4c represents a diagram of the relative position of the mobile plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), with intermediate flow coming from a source of fluid at room or cold temperature of the network.

Figure 5a shows a diagram of the relative position of the movable plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), with the maximum flow rate coming from a conventional heater.

Figure 5b represents a diagram of the relative position of the movable plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), in a 100% flow position from a conventional heater at closing or zero flow. Figure 5c shows a diagram of the relative position of the movable plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), with intermediate flow from a conventional heater.

Figure 6a shows a diagram of the relative position of the movable plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), at the maximum flow position, where the fluid comes from a 50% mixture from a heater renewable energy and 50% of a source of fluid at room or cold temperature of the network.

Figure 6b represents a diagram of the relative position of the movable plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), in a position of a mixture of 50% of fluid from a renewable energy heater and 50% of a source of fluid at room temperature or cold of the network, in closing or zero flow.

Figure 6c shows a diagram of the relative position of the mobile plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), with an intermediate flow from a renewable energy heater and a source of fluid at room or cold temperature of the network .

Figure 7a shows a diagram of the relative position of the movable plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), at the maximum flow position, where the fluid comes from a 50% mixture of a renewable energy heater and 50% of a conventional heater.

Figure 7b represents a diagram of the relative position of the movable plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), in a position of a mixture of 50% of fluid from a renewable energy heater and 50% of a conventional heater, in closing or zero flow.

Figure 7c represents a diagram of the relative position of the mobile plate (106) and the fixed single-lever key plate (105), with an intermediate flow from a renewable energy heater and a conventional heater. Figure 8 represents a schematic of the geometry and perforations of the three inlets and an outlet, in a preferred ball-key configuration, in a 100% fluid position from a renewable energy heater.

Figure 9 represents a schematic of the geometry and perforations of the three inlets and an outlet, in a preferred ball-key configuration, in a 100% fluid position from a source of ambient or cold temperature fluid in the network.

Figure 10 represents a diagram of the geometry and perforations of the three inlets and an outlet, in a preferred ball-key configuration, in a 100% fluid position from a conventional heater.

Figure 11 represents a schematic of the geometry and perforations of the three inlets and an outlet, in a preferred ball-key configuration, in a 50% fluid position from a renewable energy heater and 50% fluid from a source of fluid at room temperature or cold network.

Figure 12 represents a schematic of the geometry and perforations of the three inlets and an outlet, in a preferred ball-key configuration, in a 50% fluid position from a renewable energy heater and 50% fluid from a conventional heater, and also shows the cutting axis (Χ-Χ '), which is detailed in the figures (13a, 13b and 13c).

Figure 13a represents a sectional view (Χ-Χ '), wherein the ball of a ball key assembly (200) is in a 100% open position, for the passage of fluids. This figure also shows the "Y" and "Z" axes around which the ball can rotate, in order to regulate the flow rate and the fluid mixture of the different sources.

Figure 13b represents a sectional view (Χ-Χ '), wherein the ball valve assembly (200) is in a fluid passage closure configuration.

Figure 13c represents a sectional view (Χ-Χ '), wherein the ball valve assembly (200) is partially open for the passage of fluids. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As described in the figures, the present invention is a device that allows fluid to be mixed from three fluid sources and to control the outflow uniformly. Preferably the fluid is water. More specifically, this device is a water faucet that is capable of mixing water from three sources and having a single outlet. The sources of fluid come from a conventional heater, from a renewable energy heater and a source of fluid at room or cold temperature of the network.

The present flow regulator and fluid mixer device comprises three inlets (101, 102, 103, 201, 202 and 203) with a fluid outlet (104, 204) and fluid connection means (107, 207).

This device allows to reduce the requirements of conventional energy such as electric, wood or gas through the use of solar energy or other renewable energy source, combining the hot fluid from a conventional heating source with that of a heater renewable energy. In the event that the renewable energy heater fluid has a higher temperature than desired, the key allows the hot fluid of said heater to be continuously combined with the necessary amount of cold fluid to obtain the desired temperature. If the solar heater fluid has a lower temperature than desired, the key allows you to gradually add the necessary amount of hot fluid from the conventional heater, so that the outlet fluid reaches the desired temperature. In addition, the present device, apart from mixing the different sources of fluid, can regulate the flow continuously and generate the total cut of the flow or zero flow. This device optimizes the energy use to heat the fluid or water from conventional heaters. The use of the key is simple and intuitive. It does not require calibration or adjustments or special maintenance processes. Moreover, a common user who uses this device as a water tap in the shower, sink or dishwasher I would not see any difference in its use with respect to a traditional single lever faucet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a device that optimizes energy use, by selectively and continuously mixing the fluid from a conventional heater, a renewable energy heater and a source of fluid at room or cold temperature of the network , which includes:

a fluid faucet body; to which three fluid inlet connections are attached,

a fluid outlet located in the body of the fluid wrench;

a mobile fluid distributor element, which is in sliding contact with the fluid key body and that said contact generates seal or seal; Y

a drive means attached to the mobile fluid distributor element, by means of which a user moves the mobile fluid distributor element, to regulate the temperature and fluid flow, wherein the body of the fluid key comprises:

three fluid inlets separated from each other, and one fluid outlet, where one inlet of the inlets corresponds to a fluid from a renewable energy heater that is physically located between the other two fluid inlets; Y

the mobile element, comprising a fluid connection and interruption means, which connects one or two of the fluid inlets with the fluid outlet, allowing the mixing of fluid from two fluid sources, and allows disconnection or cutting Total fluid with outlet.

In a preferred configuration the fluid wrench is a single lever wrench comprising:

a fixed single lever key plate (105), comprising: a fluid inlet at room or cold temperature of the single lever wrench (101), a fluid inlet of a renewable energy heater of the single lever wrench (102), a fluid inlet from a conventional heater of the single lever wrench (103 ) and a fluid outlet of the single lever wrench (104), through which a fluid that is the fluid coming from a conventional heater, a renewable energy heater or a source of fluid at room or cold temperature of the network comes out a mixture of them, and the fluid inlet from a renewable energy heater of the single lever (102), is physically located between the fluid inlet at room or cold temperature of the single lever (101) and the fluid inlet from a conventional single lever key heater (103); Y

The mobile element is a mobile plate (106), wherein the mobile plate (106) is smaller than the fixed single-lever key plate (105) and the mobile plate (106) comprising fluid connection means of the single lever wrench (107), which connect one or two fluid inlets with the fluid outlet of the single lever wrench (104), together forming a single lever wrench (100).

The fluid connection means of the single lever (107), of the mobile plate (106), is a slot, wherein said slot connects one or two of the fluid inlet sources with the fluid outlet of the single lever (104).

In another preferred configuration, the fixed plate of the single-lever key (105) has a circular shape and the mobile plate (106) has the shape of a flat circle or ellipse, where the diameter of the fixed single-key key plate (105) is slightly greater than the semi-major axis of the movable plate (106), which allows the displacement and rotation of the movable plate (106) within the single lever key assembly (100). In another preferred configuration, the fixed plate of the single-lever key is in the form of a flat circle or ellipse and the mobile plate has a circular shape, where the smaller semi-axis of the fixed single-key plate is slightly larger than the diameter of the mobile plate, not shown in the figures, which allows the displacement and rotation of the movable plate within the single lever key assembly (100). It is understood as slightly greater at a distance of the order of 0.5 mm. approximately, that is, fixed single lever key plate (105) is greater by at least 0.5mm. with respect to the movable plate (106).

In another preferred configuration, the fluid wrench is a ball wrench comprising:

a ball key body (205), comprising:

a fluid inlet at room or cold temperature of the ball wrench (201), a fluid inlet of a renewable energy heater of the ball wrench (202), a fluid inlet from a conventional heater of the ball valve ball (203) and a fluid outlet of the ball valve (204), through which a fluid that is the fluid from a conventional heater, a renewable energy heater or a source of fluid at room temperature or cold of the network or mixture, where the fluid inlet from a renewable energy heater of the ball wrench (202), is physically located between the fluid inlet at room temperature or cold of the ball wrench (201) and the fluid inlet from a conventional ball valve heater (203); and the movable element is a movable ball (206), which comprises a means for connecting and interrupting fluid of the ball wrench (207), the ball wrench (200) forming together. The fluid connection means of the ball valve (207), of the movable ball (206), is a cavity, wherein said cavity connects or disconnects one or two sources of fluid with the outlet.

In another preferred configuration, between the ball key body (205) and the movable ball (206) there is a ball key seal (208).

In another preferred configuration, the fluid outlet of the ball valve (204) comprises connection means for connecting with means for transporting fluid (not shown in the figures).

The ball key comprises a drive means (209) that is connected to the movable ball (206).

It should be mentioned that the movable ball (206) of the ball wrench can rotate around the axes (Y, Z), inside the ball wrench body (205), to regulate the flow rate from 0% to 100% by joining the fluid inlets (201, 202 and 203) with the fluid outlet of the ball valve (204) independently or mixing two fluid sources and through the fluid connection and interruption means of the ball valve (207). In the same way, the mobile plate (106), travels in the axes (X, Y) with respect to the fixed single-lever key plate (105), to regulate the flow from 0% to 100% when joining the fluid inlets (101, 102 and 103) with the fluid outlet of the single lever wrench (104) independently or to mix two fluid sources and through the fluid connection and interruption means of the single lever wrench (107).

The shape of the fluid inlet (101, 102 and 103) and fluid outlet perforations of the single lever wrench (104) located in the fixed single lever wrench plate (105) and the fluid connection means of the single lever wrench (107) located on the mobile plate (106), may vary according to the sensitivity that is desired to give to the control of expenditure and combination between the different sources of fluid, said forms may be: circular, elliptical, drop, trapezoidal, among other. In the same way, the shape of the fluid inlet (201, 202 and 203) and fluid outlet perforations of the ball wrench (204) located in the movable ball (206) and the fluid connection means of the ball wrench (207), may vary according to the sensitivity that is desired to give to the control of expenditure and combination between the different sources of fluid, said forms can be: circular, elliptical, drop, trapezoidal, among others.

Claims

1. - A device that optimizes energy use, by mixing selectively and gradually, the flow of fluid that delivers continuously, at a temperature and flow rate regulated by the user in a simple and intuitive way, the fluid from a conventional heater , of a renewable energy heater and a source of fluid at room or cold temperature of the network, comprising:

a fluid faucet body; to which fluid inlet connections are attached,

a fluid outlet located in the body of the fluid wrench;

an actuating means attached to the mobile fluid distributor element, by means of which a user moves the mobile fluid distributor element, to regulate the temperature and fluid flow, CHARACTERIZED because the fluid key body comprises:

three fluid inlets separated from each other, and one fluid outlet, where one inlet of the inlets corresponds to a fluid comes from a renewable energy heater that is physically located between the other two inlets of fluid; Y

The mobile element comprises a fluid connection and interruption means, which connects one or two of the fluid inlets with the fluid outlet, allowing the mixing of fluid from two fluid sources, and allows the total disconnection or cutting of the fluid with the outlet.

2. - The device that optimizes the energy use, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the fluid key is a single lever key comprising: a fixed single lever key plate (105), comprising: a fluid inlet at room or cold temperature of the single lever wrench (101), a fluid inlet of a renewable energy heater of the single lever wrench (102), a fluid inlet from a conventional heater of the single lever wrench (103 ) and a fluid outlet of the single lever wrench (104), through which a fluid that is the fluid coming from a conventional heater, a renewable energy heater or a source of fluid at room or cold temperature of the network comes out or mixture, wherein the fluid inlet from a renewable energy heater of the single lever (102), is physically located between the fluid inlet at room or cold temperature of the single lever (101) and the inlet of fluid from of a conventional single lever key heater (103); Y

The mobile element is a mobile plate (106), wherein the mobile plate (106) is smaller than the fixed single-lever key plate (105) and the mobile plate (106) comprises a fluid connection and interruption means of the single lever

(107), forming a single lever wrench assembly (100).

3. - The device that optimizes the energy use, according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED in that the fluid connection means of the single lever key (107), of the mobile plate (106), is a slot, wherein said slot connects or disconnect one or two sources of fluid with the outlet.

4. - The device that optimizes the energy use, according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED in that the fixed single-lever key plate (105) has a circular shape and the mobile plate (106) is in the form of a flat circle or ellipse, wherein the diameter of the fixed single lever key plate (105) is larger by at least 0.5mm. to the semi-major axis of the movable plate (106).

5. - The device that optimizes the energy use, according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED because the fixed single lever key plate has a circle shape flat or ellipse and the movable plate has a circular shape, where the smaller semi-axis of the fixed single lever key plate is larger by at least 0.5mm. to the diameter of the movable plate.

6. The device that optimizes the energy use according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED because the fluid key is a ball key comprising: a ball key body (205), comprising:

a fluid inlet at room or cold temperature of the ball wrench (201), a fluid inlet of a renewable energy heater of the ball wrench (202), a fluid inlet from a conventional heater of the ball valve ball (203) and a fluid outlet of the ball valve (204), through which a fluid that is the fluid from a conventional heater, a renewable energy heater or a source of fluid at room temperature or cold of the network or mixture, where the fluid inlet from a renewable energy heater of the ball wrench (202), is physically located between the fluid inlet at room temperature or cold of the ball wrench (201) and the fluid inlet from a conventional ball valve heater (203); and the movable element is a movable ball (206), which comprises a fluid connection means of the ball wrench (207), the ball wrench (200) forming together.

7. The device that optimizes energy use, according to claim 6,

CHARACTERIZED because the fluid connection means of the ball wrench (207), of the movable ball (206), is a cavity, wherein said cavity connects or disconnects one or two sources of fluid with the outlet.

8. The device that optimizes the energy use according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED because between a ball key body (205) and the movable ball (206) there is a ball key seal (208).

9. - The device that optimizes the energy use, according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED in that the fluid outlet of the ball valve (204) comprises connection means for connecting with means for transporting fluid.

10. - The device that optimizes the energy use according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED because the movable ball (206) of the ball wrench rotates around the axes

(Y, Z), inside the ball key body (205).

11. - The device that optimizes energy use, according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED in that a drive means (209) is connected to the movable ball (206).