NL2015440B1

NL2015440B1 - Satellite for central heating or for teleheating with multifunction presettings.

Info

Publication number: NL2015440B1
Application number: NL2015440A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Fugazza Giuseppe
Original assignee: Fugas Spa
Priority date: 2014-09-23
Filing date: 2015-09-15
Publication date: 2017-09-07
Also published as: GB201515907D0; IES20150289A2; DE202015006669U1; ITMI20140288U1; NL2015440A; FR3027101A3; BE1022927A1; DK201500129U3; IES86655B2; FR3027101B3; GB2535258B; GB2535258A

Abstract

A hydraulic satellite (1) for central heating or for teleheating features a box-like structure (2) comprising, internally thereto, pipings (16, 17, 18) connecting functional elements (10, 12, 13) of the assembly (1), said pipings being connected to a pipe fitting (21) for an inlet duct receiving a heating fluid from a plant that produces or generates said fluid in a remote location, and a pipe fitting (20) for a return duct from which water is fed back to said plant, as well as pipe fittings (22-25) for connecting the satellite to pipings of a heating circuit used to heat a flat or the like where such satellite is installed and to pipings of a sanitary water production network for such flat or the like. Inside said structure (2) a body (30) is present connected to said pipings (17, 18) and to said pipe fittings (20, 21) of the heating fluid inlet and outlet ducts from and to the remote plant, said body (30) having a seat (31) suitable for accommodating a differential pressure regulator member (32), if any, said member (32) being connectable via an external piping (37) to a first piping fitting of said pipe fittings (20) for the heating fluid inlet and outlet ducts, said seat (31) being in a direct connection to the other pipe fitting (21) of said connector pipe fittings (20, 21) for the inlet and outlet ducts, said seat (31) being closed whenever it does not accommodate said regulator member (32) and being in this case disconnected from the first pipe fitting (20).

Description

SATELLITE FOR CENTRAL HEATING OR FOR TELEHEATING WITH MULTIFUNCTION PRESETTINGS

The object of the present invention is a satellite assembly for central heating or for teleheating according to the introductory section of the main claim.

Specifically, the invention refers to a hydraulic satellite assembly for hot water production systems, for flat, or the like, heating systems, or for producing sanitary water, wherein the production of the heating fluid takes place remotely from the heated flat or from the place where the sanitary hot water is used. In such systems, like that known as "district heating" or “teleheating”, the production of heating fluid takes place in a remote location, by means of the most varied techniques, including heat recovery from waste disposal systems, via a true water heating in tanks that are decentralized with respect to the flats or the like where such hot water is used.

Hydraulic satellites are known which make it possible produce such hot water to use in a remote location for heating flats or the like, or for sanitary use. In general, such devices or systems include a structure containing functional elements suitable for providing a sanitary water flow within a heat exchanger which it is fed to and where the heating fluid (produced in a remote location) also flow. Such regulator comprises internal valves suitable for regulating the flow of the heating fluid so as to control and regulate the temperature of the sanitary water and to use it in the flat or the like.

In the known hydraulic systems of the mentioned type a variety of components are present, including flow regulators and valves that are operated electrically or in any case are operated by external devices (for instance a thermostat) that are electrically controlled. Such systems or satellites are implemented by installing, within a box-like structure, pipings that allow to receive the heating fluid from a remote location and to return it to the plant that produces such heating fluid, a pump, one or several safety valves, and the components necessary to control the sending of water to radiators or taps of said flat or the like. Such components are assembled inside the box-like structure as a function of the actual needs, which implies a lengthening of the installation times in the flat, or the like, where the structure is to be used.

Also, the known solutions are in any case complex and expensive. A purpose of the present invention is to offer a satellite assembly that is enhanced with respect to the known solutions and is promptly available for installation in a flat or the like.

Another purpose is to offer a satellite assembly that is capable of receiving, or not, in short times, a differential pressure regulator member, whenever necessary. A further purpose is to offer a satellite assembly of the type mentioned above that is capable of receiving said regulator member without being obliged to "reconstruct" the hydraulic system present inside the satellite body. A further purpose is to offer a satellite assembly that is reliable in use and offers a high safety degree in each of its applications.

These purposes and others which will be apparent to those skilled in the sector are achieved by a satellite assembly according the claims appended hereto.

For a better understanding of the present invention, the following drawings are attached for merely explanatory, not limiting purposes, in which: figure 1 shows a front view of a satellite assembly embodied according to the invention, some of its component parts being omitted for the sake of simplicity; figure 2 shows a perspective view of the satellite assembly of figure 1; figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of a component of the satellite assembly of figure 1; figure 4 shows a partially cross-sectioned perspective view of the component of figure 3; and figure 5 shows a cross-section of a valve mounted in the satellite assembly of figure 1.

With reference to the mentioned figures, a hydraulic satellite assembly (or simply, "satellite") for central heating or for teleheating is generally identified by the reference numeral 1 and in figures 1 and 2 at least a front panel has been removed therefrom in order to have a visual access to its internal component parts. Such satellite assembly or simply satellite 1 comprises a box-like structure 2 having a side wall 3 (the top side in the figures), a side wall 4 (the right side in the figures), a side wall 5 (the lower side in the figures) and a side wall 6 (the left side in the figures) and a back closing plane or panel 7. Such walls 3-6 and panel 7 (along with the front panel, not shown in the figures) delimit an inner space 9 of the satellite 1, wherein a number of functional elements are located, including a pump 10 complete with its own clamps, regulating valves 12 and 13, and a usual thermostatic switch 14, all of them connected by appropriate pipings (generally identified by the reference numeral 16). The latter include in particular an inlet or delivery piping 18 and an outlet or return piping 17: the piping 18 is connected to a usual first (threaded) pipe fitting 21 to join to the satellite 1 an inlet or delivery duct (not shown in the figures) carrying the heating fluid from a plant where such fluid is produced at a certain distance from the satellite 1 (hence "remotely" therefrom) not shown in the figures. Conversely, the piping 17 is connected to a usual second pipe fitting 20 to join to the satellite an outlet or return duct (not shown in the figures) in which the fluid flows back to the above mentioned remote plant.

Such first and second pipe fittings 21 and 20 are associated with the wall 3 of the structure 2 in the example depicted by the figures.

Other usual pipe fittings 22, 23, 24, and 25 are associated with the wall 5 of the structure 2 in the example depicted in the figures and connect the latter to pipe fittings (not shown in the figures) which distribute the incoming fluid to a heating plant or to a sanitary water plant (not shown in the figures) of a flat or the like (comprising one or several rooms) in which the satellite 1 is included, as a function of the actual requirements.

The above mentioned functional elements are usually present inside a satellite of a type similar to that of the present invention. Such elements are controlled by a control unit, not shown in the figures, which controls its operation as a function of the users’ needs or requirements, in modes that are known by themselves.

It is known that the user satellites for central heating or for teleheating shall be capable of operating in extremely variable conditions. For instance, one and the same satellite can be used in a system having less than six users and a delivery head for the circulation pumps less than six meters (60kPa) or in extended teleheating networks, in which the delivery head of the pump might even exceed 10 Bars (1 MPa).

Therefore, in order for such satellite to operate optimally, in particular in the case of its use in a system comprising delivery heads of up to 6 Bars, it is advisable to add a differential pressure regulator thereto. The satellite according to this invention is preset to receive such a regulator or to operate without it, as a function of the actual needs.

For this purpose, the satellite 1 (preferably, but not necessarily) comprises, within the space 9, a body 30 connected, via the openings 30A and 30B, to the pipings 18 and 17 and hence to the first input pipe fitting 21 and to the second output pipe fitting 20 and having a seat 31 suitable for receiving a usual pressure regulator 32 including a spring contrast movable membrane member 33 and a filter of its own. In the embodiment depicted by the figures, the seat 31 is connected to the inlet piping 18 and the pressure regulator 32 operates onto the fluid passing through the second, inlet pipe fitting 21. Specifically, such fluid input to body 30 moves according the arrow W in figure 4.

The pressure regulator 32 is connected, via a reduced cross-section piping 37, to a channel 38 connected to the opening 30A connected to the return piping 17, downstream with respect to the latter. Through this piping 37, the pressure of the return of fluid (output from the pipe fitting 20) is "brought back" onto the membrane 33 of the pressure regulator 32, whereas the pressure of the fluid present in the inlet piping 18 is "brought back" onto the lower surface 33A of the membrane 33 via an internal duct 40 of the body 30 in which a shutter 41 of the regulator 32 moves. As a function of the flow rate of the heating fluid requested by the satellite, the position of the shutter is regulated to keep the differential pressure downstream the body 30, more specifically between the pipings 17 and 18, constant to a predetermined value.

The pressure regulator 32 comprises a body 44 having a portion 45 suitable for being accommodated or mounted, through an opening 46, in the seat 31 where it is locked by easily releasable, constraining means, for instance locking springs 47, which encompasses the portion 45. A filter can be installed around such portion 45. Therefore, when mounting the satellite 1, should the presence of the regulator 32 not be required, the body 30 will have plugs in correspondence with the opening 46 of the seat 31 and of the channel 38 respectively, whereas it will not include, besides the regulator 32, the piping 37 either. If such regulator is required or it has to be inserted in the satellite 1 even after its installation (and during its life time), said plugs are removed and are associated with the body 30 said piping and the regulator 32. All of this in a quick and simple manner for that who is in charge of modifying the satellite.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the satellite 1 comprises a safety on-off valve 49 (which is capable of switching off the fluid if necessary, hence performing a safety function), which is well known, but inserted in a predetermined position of the satellite. For this purpose, a pipe fitting 50 is arranged at the output from a regulating valve 12, whereas a pipe 51 is arranged at the output from the pipe 18. The valve 49 (with a membrane 52) of a type with connections 53, 54 arranged in such a way as to from an angle of 90° from each other can be mounted thereon, if deemed necessary.

The valve 49 is a solenoid valve 56 and perfectly fits the hydraulic assembly of the regulating valve 12. The valve features an on-off operation and is energized by the control unit of the satellite via a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control: this driving makes it possible to substantially reduce the power dissipated in the solenoid, down to a fraction of second as from the start of the valve opening control.

Should the mains fail, said unit cannot control any longer the flows and the temperatures of the system, which might reach very high values, capable of damaging the system itself or even constituting a threat to safety, the presence of the (normally closed) valve automatically assures the closing of the input aperture of the heating fluid.

Also, should the electronic control unit or a temperature probe become faulty, a further, redundant thermostatic sensor (of a mechanical type) not shown in the figures opens the circuit of the solenoid 56 and of the valve, thus stopping the heating flow. This function is specially advantageous (and necessary) in the case of a panel (or underfloor) heating, whereas it is not used in systems featuring wall-mounted radiators.

The valve is servo-assisted: the solenoid 56A of the solenoid valve opens a very small aperture 57 which allows the fluid to flow from a chamber 58 located on a side of the fluid inlet connection 54, towards a chamber in communication with the connection 53 and, by acting onto the membrane 52, to open the valve. Usually, the solenoid not being energized, the valve is held closed by a weak spring (not shown in the figures) acting onto the membrane and by the pressure of the fluid, on the "closed" side of membrane, which reaches this side through a small hole (or calibrated hole) 60 cut in the middle of the membrane.

In order to prevent impurities in the fluid from stopping this small hole, a small stainless steel wire net filter 61 is located in the middle of a shutter 62 of the valve 49.

In this case too, as with the pressure regulator 32, the valve 49 is either installed or not. In the latter case, the pipe 51 connect directly to the valve 12.

In a variant, the first and second pipe fittings 21 and 20 are defined by the openings 30A and 30B of the body 30.

The satellite 1 embodied according to this invention can be supplemented by component easily insertable therein, as a function of the actual requirements. All of this through operations quick to be performed by an installer.

Claims

A hydraulic satellite (1) for central heating or heat distribution with a box-shaped structure (2) comprising, internally therein, tubes (16, 17, 18) connecting functional elements (10, 12, 13) of the assembly (1), the tubes being connected to a first tube fitting (21) for an inlet channel that receives a heating fluid from a remote installation, which produces or generates this fluid at a remote location, and a second tube fitting (20) for a return channel, through which the fluid is recycled to the installation, as well as pipe fittings (22-25) for connecting the satellite to pipes of a heating circuit, which is used for heating a flat or similar where such a satellite is placed, and to pipes of a sanitary water production network for such a flat or similar, characterized in that within the structure (2) a body (30) is present, which is connected to the tubes (17, 18) and the tube fittings (20, 21) of the inlet and outlet channels of the heating fluid to and from the remote installation, the body (30) comprising a seat (31) suitable for receiving a differential pressure regulator (32), this part (32), if present, can be connected via an external tube (37) to a second tube fitting (20) for the water inlet and outlet channels, the seat (31) being in direct connection with the first tube fitting (21) of the tube fittings (21,20) for the inlet and outlet channels, the seat (31) being closed when the pressure regulator member (32) is not included and in this case not connected to the second tube fitting (20).

A hydraulic satellite according to claim 1, characterized in that the seat (31) is in fluid communication with a first tube fitting (21) through an opening (30B) of the body (30) and receives the incoming fluid, the body ( 30) is connected to the second pipe fitting (20) and receives the heat fluid from a return pipe (17) to the remote installation in the structure (2).

The hydraulic satellite according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (30) comprises an opening (46) suitable for allowing the introduction of the differential pressure regulator component (32), wherein a tight-fitting plug is provided which is suitable is for closing the opening (46) when the part (30) is not placed in the seat (31) of the body.

The hydraulic satellite according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises releasable retaining means (47) suitable for cooperation with the differential pressure regulator member (32) when it is placed in the seat (31) of the body (30) .

A hydraulic satellite according to claim 4, characterized in that the releasable retaining means are at least one elastic element (47) disposed on a portion (45) of a body (44) of the differential pressure regulator (32) inserted into the seat (31).

The hydraulic satellite according to claim 1, characterized in that the external tube (37) is connected to the second tube fitting (20) via a channel (38) provided in the body (30) and connected to an opening ( 30A) connected therein to the second tube fitting (20), wherein a close fitting is provided which is suitable for closing the channel (38) when the external tube (37) is separated from the body (30) in the absence of the differential pressure regulator part (32).

The hydraulic satellite according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second tube fittings (20, 21) form part of the body (30) suitable for containing the differential pressure regulator component.

The hydraulic satellite according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an on / off safety valve (49).

A hydraulic satellite according to claim 8, characterized in that the on / off safety valve (49) is connected to a control valve (12) in the box-shaped structure (2) of the assembly and to the water inlet pipe (18) therein.

The hydraulic satellite according to claim 8, characterized in that the on / off safety valve (54) is a normally closed solenoid valve (56A).

The hydraulic satellite according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a spring-operated diaphragm element (52), the diaphragm element comprising a calibrated hole (60) cut into a central portion thereof.

The hydraulic satellite according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a filter (61) to protect the calibrated hole (60) associated with a shutter (62) of the valve (49).