ES2266361T3 - DISTRIBUTION MODULE TO HEAT OR COOL A CIRCUIT. - Google Patents

Abstract

A distribution module (1), particularly for distributing heating or cooling water, comprising a containment compartment (2) for a plurality of ducts (3a,3b,6,10,16,20,22,23) suitable to connect at least one first high-temperature circuit and/or one second low-temperature circuit, which are mutually connected by an adjustment valve (7) and a calibration valve (8). <IMAGE>

Description

Distribution module for heating or cooling a circuit

The present invention refers to a distribution module particularly suitable for use to distribute water to heat or cool.

At present, a building or a portion of a building is usually heated or cooled by water, taken respectively to an elevated or low temperature passing through a heat source, such as a boiler or a cooling unit.
I lie.

This water is circulated in a circuit of distribution to one or more heat exchangers of the type water-air, such as radiators, radiant panels or a fan coil system (fan-coil).

Currently, the distribution of water to heat exchangers is generally controlled by suitable electronic devices to affect the setting of the boiler and water circuits based on measurements made for example by room thermostats.

Accordingly, in the modern technology of buildings there is the inconvenience of providing technical sections reserved for placing electronic devices and especially the adjustment and control elements operated by such devices (e.g. pumps, calibration valves, mixing valves and / or distribution).

The main drawback is particularly that it is necessary to determine the technical section in each instance, according to each specific building structure, since each building has a specific heat demand, areas preset at different temperatures (for example, a home generally requires a day area, a night area and optionally a guest area) and other features specific ones that require dedicated technical choices.

Accordingly, the system installer must have a great experience and availability of time and resources, which affects the overall cost of the system.

In any case, the major problem of not having uniform technical solutions between two separate heating systems and not having a high efficiency or guarantee of results between the systems; this is worsened by the fact that the presence of specialized workers of various types, since the Hydraulic component installer often does not have a specialization that is enough to install the section electric too.

As a consequence of all problems and inconveniences mentioned above, sometimes they are installed heating systems that operate incorrectly, with a high consumption and a high risk of abnormal operation and breakdowns, with the obvious dissatisfaction of the user.

The situation is even worse when required a mixed thermal system, which supplies both temperatures elevated by radiators as low temperatures by Radiant panels mounted on the floor or on the wall.

FR-A-2733822 shows a distribution module to install in a central heating with a radiant panel and radiators, in which water flowing out of a boiler is divided into two paths parallels that respectively feed a temperature circuit high and a low temperature circuit.

EP-A-0806612 shows a heating installation having a mixer point in which hot water from a boiler is mixed with the return of a low temperature circuit to power a water store stream.

The objective of the present invention is solve the indicated problems, eliminating the inconveniences of the prior art cited and thus providing a invention that allows a system to be installed simply and quickly of heating in a building or in a portion of a building.

Within this objective, another object is to provide an invention that allows installation even at non-specialized workers, often requiring a single Installer for the entire system.

Another object is to provide an invention that allows the unified and simultaneous management of a plurality of circuits of high temperature (eg radiators) along with a plurality of low temperature circuits (such as panels floor or wall mounted radiants), and allow the use of Same system for cooling in summer.

Another object is to minimize not only the installation costs of the system, but also its costs of
management.

Another object of the invention is to optimize the temperature control, ensuring that comfortable conditions for The user will be automatically maintained.

Another object is to have an installation that is Compact, reliable over time and aesthetically pleasing.

Another object is to provide an installation that is structurally simple and has low costs of
manufacturing.

This goal and these and other objects that they will be apparent better then they are achieved by means of a distribution module according to claim 1.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent better from the following detailed description of an embodiment example your particular, illustrated only by non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the circuit according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the circuit of the invention applied to a heating system provided with a high temperature circuit and a circuit low temperature;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the circuit of the invention applied to a heating system provided with two high temperature circuits and two circuits of low temperature;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the circuit of the invention applied to a heating system provided with three high temperature circuits and three circuits low temperature;

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the circuit of the invention applied to a heating system and cooling provided with a high temperature circuit and a low temperature circuit;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of the circuit of the invention according to an operating mode for feeding only  the high temperature circuit;

Figure 7 is a schematic view of the circuit of the invention according to an operating mode for feeding only  the low temperature circuit;

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the circuit of the invention according to an operating mode for feeding both the high temperature circuit and the circuit low temperature.

With reference to Figure 1, the number of reference 1 designates a distribution module, particularly suitable for distributing water to heat or cool in a building or in a portion of him.

The distribution module 1 comprises a compartment, designated by reference number 2, for contain a plurality of conduits suitable to allow adjust the flow rate and temperature of the water to be sent to heating bodies, such as radiators, radiant panels and / or fan coils (fans-coils).

A closet or enclosure, well built, well arranged against a wall, it is used for example as a compartment 2.

Compartment 2 is provided with a first duct 3a, suitable for hot water inlet coming from a heat source, such as a boiler, designated by reference number 4 in Figures 2 to 5.

Near the first duct 3a there are advantageously a second conduit, designated by reference number 3b, which It is designed to return a flow rate to boiler 4 identical water, cooled beforehand in said bodies heaters

Inside compartment 2, the first and second ducts, 3a and 3b are conveniently controlled by a first flow control valve 5a and a second valve 5b flow control, for example the type of balls.

Downstream of the first control valve of flow 5a, the first conduit is affected by a third conduit, designated by reference number 6, for connection to an adjustment valve or mixer, such as a three valve lanes, designated by reference number 7.

A calibration valve 8, such as by example a micrometric detentor, is arranged along said third conduit 6 and is suitable for adjusting the speed of hot water flow circulating in a first circuit of high temperature, designated by reference number 9 in the Figure 6, to supply heating bodies, such as radiators, which operate in optimal conditions with water at a temperature from 70 to 80 ° C.

Water is returned from the radiators by a fourth conduit, designated by reference number 10 in the Figure 6, which is connected to the third conduit 6 downstream of the calibration valve or micrometric detentor 8.

Water circulation in the first circuit It is generally secured by the first pump, designated by the reference number 11 in Figures 2 to 5, which is integrated in the boiler 4.

If a very high flow rate, greater than which can be produced by the first pump 11, is required in the first circuit, it is possible to replace a portion or segment, designated by reference number 12, of the first conduit 3a with a second pump 50.

In order to ensure circulation in the direction schedule in the first circuit 9, a first one-way valve 13 of Figure 1 is inserted along the fourth conduit 10, specifically upstream of a first T-connection, designated by reference number 14, where the fourth conduit 10 and the third conduit 6 converge.

In addition, a third flow control valve 15a and a fourth flow control valve 15b also preferably they are used and are located respectively near the exit of the first conduit 3a and the entrance of the room duct 10.

As the micrometric detentor 8 opens, the flow rate of the water diverted to the mixing valve 7 increases; when the holder is completely open, the flow rate along the first conduit 3a is approximately zero, since the first circuit has losses of load much higher than those generated by the first detentor 8.

The water that reaches the mixing valve 7 is diverted, through a fifth conduit 16, to a first end 17a of a first collector, designated by reference number 18, which It is arranged approximately horizontally.

The second conduit 3b for water return towards the boiler 4 is connected to a second end 17b of the collector 18.

Figure 6 clearly shows that the speed flow through the mixing valve 7 and the manifold 18 is equal to the entire flow rate processed by the first pump of the boiler 11, since the flow velocity diverted to the radiators converges again in the third duct 6, after its partial cooling, at the first connection in T 14.

Figure 7 illustrates the operation of the invention exclusively for low temperature heating circulating water in a second low temperature circuit, designated by the number Reference 19.

Such second circuit 19 comprises bodies heaters that are suitable for operation in minimum conditions with water at a temperature between 35 and 50 ° C, such as panels radiant

In order to achieve this use, the detentor 8 it is placed in the fully open position; in the same way, the mixing valve 7 is adjusted to allow an input to the less partial water from a sixth conduit, designated by the reference number 20, for return of said panels radiant

A second one-way valve 21 is conveniently arranged along the sixth conduit 20 and is suitable to allow the circulation of water in the second circuit 19 only clockwise.

A seventh conduit, designated by the number of reference 22 and called bypass conduit, current is connected below the second one-way valve 21 and is suitable for making that a fraction of the water flow rate converges towards an eighth conduit 23 to supply the radiant panels. This Eighth conduit is a feeding conduit.

The eighth conduit 23 connects the third conduit 6, downstream of the first connection at T 14, to the second T-connection, designated by reference number 24, with the bypass conduit 22, and then to a third pump 25, and from there to the exit to the radiant panels.

The third pump circulates the water between the sixth, seventh and eighth conduit, 20, 22 and 23 and radiant panels.

Water inlet from third conduit 6 to eighth conduit 23 is regulated by the mixing valve 7; the lower the flow rate entering the valve mixer 7 through the third conduit 6, the greater the flow rate circulating in the sixth and eighth conduit 20 and 2. 3.

The flow rate along the duct bypass 22 accordingly matches the flow rate that arrives from the eighth conduit 23, in order to maintain the flow rate in the second circuit 19 approximately constant.

It can be noted that the mixing valve 7, by adjusting the hot water flows that arrive from the boiler 4 (through the third conduit 6) and cooled water that arrives from the radiant panels, determines the temperature of the water leaving the eighth conduit 23 and in this way it also determines the amount of heat transferred to the room to be
heated.

Conveniently, a fifth valve flow control 26a and a sixth flow control valve 26b they are provided in said outlet of the eighth conduit 23, and of the same mode at the entrance of the sixth conduit 20.

Figure 8 illustrates a module 1 that distributes and controls the water in the first high temperature circuit 9 and simultaneously in the second low temperature circuit 19.

The water that arrives from the fourth conduit 10, partially cooled during its passage through the radiators until it reaches a temperature that is approximately 5? 10 ° C lower than the boiler temperature, enters the third conduit 6 and from there, depending on the mixing valve 7, it partially enters the eighth duct 23 and partially enters the manifold 18 to return to the
boiler 4.

The fraction of water that enters the eighth duct 23 increases as the demand for heat in the room heated by radiant panels increases; of the same so, an equivalent amount of water flows from the sixth conduit 20 in mixing valve 7 and from there to manifold 18 and to the boiler.

When the heat demand decreases, the setting of the mixing valve 7 varies, to have a flow rate low water coming from the sixth conduit 20 and similarly a low water flow rate entering the eighth duct 2. 3.

A first application of module 1 is shown in Figure 2; in addition to boiler 4, which is provided with the first recessed pump 11, the figure shows a first area that is heated by radiators (only one radiator, designated by reference number 27, has been shown for reasons of simplicity), and a second area that is heated by radiant panels, one of which is designated by the number of reference 28.

The first and second areas can be mutually different or may be the same if heating is required differentiated or if winter heating is required by 27 radiators and cooling in summer by panels radiant 28.

Normally, in any case, this first application of the invention is suitable for use in homes, by example using radiators to heat bathrooms and panels radiants to heat and cool the other rooms; is solution also has the advantage of not requiring the installation of the second pump 50, since the flow rate required by The first circuit 9 is very low.

The temperature control in the second areas are provided for example by a thermostat of room, designated by the TA reference letters and by the reference number 29, which is connected to an electrical panel 30 suitable to provide the electrical wiring of the mixing valve 7 and feed pumps.

The electrical panel 30 is advantageously integrated in the module 1, so that the connections, not shown in the figures, to the valves and the pumps, integrated in the module 1, are provided directly during production and are not left to the
installer

Figure 3 illustrates a second application of the module 1, which is more complicated because it comprises two sets of radiant panels, designated by reference numbers 28a and 28b, and two sets of radiators 27a and 27b.

In this way it is possible to heat four areas independent, such as a day area, an area of night, and two bathrooms.

The temperature control of each area is performs advantageously using room thermostats, designated by reference numbers 29a, 29b, 29c and 29d in the Figure 3, which are all connected to the electrical panel 30.

Each of the radiator sets 27a and 27b and of radiant panels 28a and 28b is powered by zone valves, such as valves of the normally known type as "stopcock" (that is, "fully open or completely closed "), conveniently connected to the panel electric 30 and controlled by him.

The example shown in Figure 3 illustrates a first pair of zone valves 31a and 31b to feed the panels radiators and a second pair of zone valves 32a and 32b for Feed the radiators.

The first pair of zone valves 31a and 31b adjust the water supply from the eighth duct 23 to the radiant panels 28a and 28b; similarly, the second pair of zone valves 31c and 31d connect the first conduit 3a to the 27a and 27b radiators.

Figure 4 illustrates a third application of the invention, which is suitable for feeding three sets of panels radiators 28 and three sets of radiators 29, which are respectively controlled by room thermostats generally designated by reference number 29.

The power control is performed, in this particular application that is illustrated only by example, by two separate zone valves, designated by the number of reference 32, which are installed near the radiant panels 28 and are properly connected electrically to the panel electric 30.

In all these applications, the valve Mixer 7 can be controlled in several ways.

A first way is to use a first capillary probe, designated by reference number 51 in Figure 1, which is suitable for reading the water temperature in the delivery of the third pump 25 and send the corresponding signal to the thermostatic activator; said activator directly controls the mixing valve 7 according to the reference temperature preset by the user.

A second way to control the valve mixer 7 uses an electric servo control operated by a electronic control unit, designated by the number of reference 52 in Figure 5 and connected to electrical panel 30.

The electronic control unit 52 processes the signals sent by a second temperature probe 53, located in the delivery of the third pump 25, and by a third probe 54 to detect the external temperature.

A variation of module 1, shown in the Figure 5, includes pre-installed conduits suitable to allow the interconnection of a water chiller unit, designated by the reference number 33, which is provided with a fourth pump of recessed power 34.

The ducts are constituted for example by a second manifold 35, arranged along the first conduit 3a downstream of the first flow control valve 5a, which is powered by a ninth conduit, designated by the number of reference 36, which is suitable for sending cold water (to a temperature 15 \ 16 ° C).

The return of water, heated as it passes through radiant panels 28, the cooling unit 33 is secured by a tenth conduit 37, which affects the second current conduit 3b above the second flow control valve 5b.

The operation of the cooling system requires the closure of the first and second valves 5a and 5b with the in order to disconnect the boiler 4; detentor 8 is preferably arranged in a completely open position, to exclude the water circulation in the first circuit 9.

As shown in Figure 1, a form to completely avoid any circulation in the first circuit 9 is to provide the first connection in T 14 at a height lower than detentor 8, to produce a head or elevation, designated by reference number 38, which is suitable for facilitate the passage of water through said detentor.

The use of the invention implies that the installer place compartment 2, which contains the components and the distribution and adjustment elements described above, in the preset place (for example, but not necessarily, in a closet or recessed in a wall).

The installer then only has to provide hydraulic connections for delivery and return to the boiler and to the heating elements and electrical connections of any external control and tracking device (for example external probes and control panels) to the electrical panel 30.

Thus it is clear that the invention has achieved the objective and the intended objects, a module for distribute water to heat or cool for a system of heating of a building having been designed that allows the Quick and easy installation of such heating system.

The installation does not require highly personal specialized, since most of the connections hydraulic and electrical have already been provided during the module production.

The invention therefore makes it possible to provide easy, efficient, unified and simultaneous management of a plurality of high and low temperature circuits, and to use the same system for cooling in
summer.

Through the module described above it is possible to greatly reduce both installation times As the installation costs.

Finally, the installation is compact, reliable in time and aesthetically pleasing, since all adjustment and control elements are located within the compartment

The invention is of course susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the claims.
attached.

Thus, for example, it is possible to provide a module in which one or both of the first and second collector 18 and 35 they are replaced by ordinary tubes, preferably outside with with respect to the plane in which the other tubes are located.

Although this solution is less valid since point of view of robustness and thermal efficiency of the system, it is more Simple and cheap.

Similarly, mechanical and electrical adjustment of the heating system may be the most appropriate according to specific requirements of the installer and / or the user.

The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, of course, may be more relevant according to specific requirements.

The various means to perform certain different functions must certainly not coexist only in relation  with the illustrated exemplary embodiment but they may be present by themselves in any embodiment example, even if such an embodiment has not been illustrated.

Where the technical characteristics mentioned in any claim they are followed by reference signs,  such reference signs have been included for the sole purpose to increase the intelligibility of the claims and so accordingly, such reference signs have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by example for such reference signs.

Claims (29)

1. A distribution module, particularly for distributing water for heating or cooling, comprising a containment compartment (2) for a plurality of conduits suitable for connecting at least a first high temperature circuit (9) and a second low temperature circuit (19), which are mutually connected by at least one adjustment valve (7) and a calibration valve (8), said compartment (2) further comprising a first conduit (3a) for the entry of hot water arriving from a source of external heat (4), such as a boiler, and a second conduit (3b) to return to said heat source (4) the water circulated in at least one of said first and second circuits (9, 19), characterized by the fact that said first conduit (3a) is affected by a third conduit (6) for connection to said adjustment valve (7), which is constituted by a mixing valve such as a three-way valve, said third conduct or (6) connecting said first high temperature circuit (9) to said second low temperature circuit (19) by:

(i)

                 a fourth conduit (10) disposed downstream of said calibration valve (8) and allowing the water outlet of said first high temperature circuit (9) towards a first T-connection (14) located along said third conduit (6); Y

(ii)

               a feeding conduit (23) of said second low temperature circuit (19) connected to said third conduit (6) current under said first T-connection (14) and current above said adjustment valve (7).

2. The distribution module according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an electrical panel (30) for the electrical wiring of said valves. 3. The distribution module according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first conduit comprises a portion or segment (12) that can be replaced by a second pump (50), arranged in series to a first feed pump (11) of said heat source and suitable to ensure proper feeding of said first circuit (9). 4. The distribution module according to claim 3, characterized in that said compartment comprises a third pump (25) suitable for circulating water in said second low temperature circuit (19). 5. The distribution module according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first high temperature circuit (9) is suitable for distributing heating water to one or more heating bodies (27), such as radiators and / or fan coils (fans-coils). 6. The distribution module according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second low temperature circuit (19) is suitable for distributing water for heating or cooling to one or more radiant panels (28), of the type mounted on the floor or on the wall. 7. The distribution module according to claim 1, characterized in that along said third duct (6) there is a calibration valve (8), which is constituted by a micrometric detentor suitable for adjusting the flow rate of the hot water circulating in said first high temperature circuit. 8. The distribution module according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, along said fourth conduit (10), a first one-way valve (13) that is arranged upstream of said first T-connection between said fourth and third ducts (10, 6) and allows water to circulate in said first circuit (9) only clockwise. 9. The distribution module according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extension of the opening of said calibration valve (8) determines the flow rate of the water diverted to said mixed valve.
Dora (7). 10. The distribution module according to claims 1 and 9, characterized in that when said calibration valve 8 is completely open, the flow rate along said first conduit (3a) is approximately equal to zero, set that said calibration valve, when open, has much lower load losses than those generated by said first circuit
to (9). 11. The distribution module according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mixing valve (7) diverts incoming water to a fifth conduit (16) for connection to a first end (17a) of a first collector (18), which is advantageously arranged horizontally. 12. The distribution module according to claims 1 and 11, characterized in that said second conduit (3b) for returning water to said heat source (4) is connected to a second end (17b) of said collector ( 18). 13. The distribution module according to one or more of claims 6-12, characterized in that it comprises a sixth conduit (20) for the connection between said radiant panels (28) and said mixing valve (7). 14. The distribution module according to claim 13, characterized in that a second one-way valve (21) is arranged along said sixth conduit (20) and allows water circulation in said second circuit (13 ) exclusively clockwise. 15. The distribution module according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a seventh bypass conduit (22) for mutually connecting said sixth conduit (20) and said supply conduit (23). 16. The distribution module according to claim 15, characterized in that said seventh conduit (22) is suitable for sending at least part of the flow rate of the water leaving said second valve one way (21) towards a second T connection (24), between said seventh duct (22) and said feed duct (23), which is located upstream of a third feed pump (25) for said second circuit
to (19). 17. The distribution module according to claim 16, characterized in that said third pump circulates water between said sixth conduit, seventh conduit and feed conduit and said radiant panels. 18. The distribution module according to claims 11 and 13, characterized in that said mixing valve (7) adjusts the water inlet of said third conduit (6) to said supply conduit (23) and also proportionally adjusts the water inlet at the inlet of said sixth conduit (20), to ensure a substantially constant flow rate along said conduit (16). 19. The distribution module according to one or more of claims 15-18, characterized in that said mixing valve, adjusting the flow rates of hot water arriving from said third conduit and cooled water arriving from said radiant panels, determines the temperature of the water at the inlet of said feed duct. 20. The distribution module according to one or more of claims 2-19, characterized in that said mixing valve (7) is controlled by said electrical panel (30), integrated in said module, according to one or more sensor devices of temperature, such as a room thermostat or a capillary probe. 21. The distribution module according to one or more of claims 5-20, characterized in that it comprises one or more zone valves (31, 32) such as "stopcock" or "fully open or fully closed valves. ", to selectively send water from said first conduit and / or feed conduit to said heating bodies and / or radiant panels. 22. The distribution module according to claim 4, characterized in that the adjustment of said mixing valve (7) is carried out by means of a first capillary probe that is suitable for reading the water temperature upon delivery of said third pump ( 25) and send the corresponding signal to a thermostatic controller activator for said mixing valve (7) depending on a reference temperature preset by the user. 23. The distribution module according to claim 4, characterized in that said mixing valve (7) is adjusted by means of an electric servo control, controlled by an electronic controller that is connected to said electrical panel, on the basis of signals sent by a second temperature probe located in the delivery of said third pump (25), and by a third temperature probe to detect the external temperature. 24. The distribution module according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second ducts are preferably controlled by a first flow control valve (5a) and a second flow control valve (5b ), such as a ball valve. 25. The distribution module according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a third flow control valve and a fourth flow control valve, located respectively near the outlet of said first conduit (30 ) and the entrance of said fourth conduit (19). 26. The distribution module according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a fifth flow control valve (26a) and a sixth flow control valve (26b), which are located near the outlet of said conduit of feeding and the entrance of said sixth conduit respectively. 27. The distribution module according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of separate ducts (36, 37) suitable for allowing the interconnection of a known type of water cooling unit (33) , which is provided with a fourth recessed feed pump (34). 28. The distribution module according to claims 24 to 27, characterized in that said separate ducts are constituted by a second manifold (35) which is arranged, along said first duct (3a), downstream of said first flow control valve (5a) and is fed by a ninth conduit (36) connected upstream to said cooling unit (33). 29. The distribution module according to claim 28, characterized in that it comprises a tenth conduit (37) for the connection between said second conduit (3b) and said cooling unit (33), suitable for the return of the heated water in said radiant panels (28) to said cooling unit (33).