Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
Adjustment apparatus and method for determining a hydraulic
threshold value of a valve
The present application relates to an adjustment apparatus for the temperature-
dependent, self-regulating adjustment of a flow control valve in a temperature
regulating
system and a corresponding method focusing on a functionality consisting of
determining
a hydraulic threshold value of a valve.
Associated aspects of the subject matter of this patent application are based
upon
143 patent application DE 10 2017 123 560 Al by the same applicant. The
present invention
is based upon unpublished, internal knowledge and improvements from a product
development relating to the technology from said patent application by the
applicant.
Parts of the present disclosure, the drawing and independent claims thus
include parts of
the older subject matter of the application, reference being made herein to
the technology
thereof.
A technical background of the invention resides in the use of heating and air-
conditioning installations for rooms, such as in particular floor heating
assemblies,
surface heating assemblies or cooling ceilings which are installed in a
building in order
to provide a selectable room temperature which is independent of weather
conditions.
In the prior art, numerous arrangements and control methods for comfort-
oriented
and efficiency-oriented distribution and control of a heat energy by means of
a hydraulic
network in the building are known from heating engineering, wherein similar
installations
in buildings are likewise known for distributing and regulating air-
conditioning energy or
heat extraction from rooms.
The prior art discloses methods for performing hydraulic alignment, in which
the
return temperature is detected at a heat exchanger and the volume flow through
the heat
exchanger is controlled in dependence upon the return temperature. In one
alternative, a
temperature difference between the supply temperature and the return
temperature is
ascertained. A control difference is formed between the ascertained
temperature
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
difference and a desired value of a constant temperature difference. The
volume flow
through the heat exchanger is controlled on the basis of this control
difference in order to
bring the return temperature more into line with the desired value of the
constant
temperature difference, i.e. a predetermined, invariable temperature spread.
The technology of the aforementioned patent application DE 10 2017 123 560 Al
describes an adjustment apparatus and a method for self-regulating adjustment
of a flow
in consumer loops comprising a heat exchanger, which is based upon a
calculation of a
use-optimised temperature spread between the supply temperature and return
temperature, i.e. a variable desired temperature difference in each consumer
loop. The
adjustment apparatus foinis the significant component of a temperature
regulating
system, in which the corresponding method is carried out and which has an
allocated
room thermostat. The calculation of a variable spread of the temperature
difference is
used for the purpose of independently adapting an optimum operating point in
an
individual installation environment of the heat exchanger. The incorporation
of the
resulting heating period compensates for conditions of the building, such as
e.g. storey,
basement position or external wall ratio as well as conditions of the
installation, and
renders it possible to independently optimise a more rapid room temperature
regulation
within an efficient range. A plurality of corresponding adjustment apparatuses
effect,
without the requirement of a central control unit, distribution of the partial
flows in the
consumer loops as required.
The present invention is concerned with a determination of a hydraulic minimum
opening position of a valve, from which flow is effected through a consumer
loop
allocated to the valve. The learning of such a hydraulic threshold value of
the valve serves
as an initialisation or calibration of the adjustment apparatus to a used
valve type, or to a
variable ageing state of a seal of the valve, whereby an accuracy and a speed
of a control
for adjusting the valve are improved.
In general, so-called flow control valves which are used in heating circuits
of a
heating installation, such as a floor heating assembly or other temperature
regulating
systems, such as cooling ceilings or the like, have a seal. The seal seals a
flow of a liquid
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
heating medium in a closed position of the valve, e.g. when there is no
temperature
regulating requirement by the allocated consumer loop and its heat exchangers.
The seal
can be arranged on a valve body or a valve plate which is displaced via a
valve pin. In
general, the seal consists of an elastic material, such as e.g. rubber. If the
valve plate is
.. lifted from a valve seat, a compression of the seal decreases within the
resulting valve
gap, but the seal does not yet release flow through the valve gap. By reason
of the elastic
material property, there is thus a seal-effective region along an actuating
travel path of
the valve. From a hydraulic threshold value which is to be subsequently
determined, a
minimum flow of the heating medium is effected under a hydraulic pressure
applied
upstream of the valve. In a subsequent hydraulic region along the actuating
travel path of
the valve, a restricted flow through the valve increases.
In order to provide an energetically efficient fine regulation of heating
circuits or
consumer loops in a temperature regulating system, the control operation of a
self-
regulating adjustment apparatus can be optimised if it can revert to a value
which is
allocated to a minimum or smallest possible known opening position of the
valve.
The corresponding threshold value of an actuating travel of a valve between a
hydraulic region and a seal-effective region, in which a flow through a valve
seal is almost
prevented, is individual. A corresponding transition is expected to be within
a lower half
of the valve actuating travel, but an absolute value is in principle unknown
because it
depends on any compatible valve type as well as on wear or ageing of the seal.
In the case of the above-mentioned technology, an arrangement of the valve and
a
temperature sensor for the supply temperature is preferably provided in such a
way that
the valve is attached to a supply manifold pipe, i.e. upstream of the
allocated consumer
loop in the direction of flow, and the temperature sensor for the supply
temperature is
attached to a line section leading away from the supply manifold pipe, i.e.
downstream of
the valve in the direction of flow, in an initial region of the consumer loop.
No detection
of the flow is provided on the valve or an allocated line. A control makes use
of a
comparison of detected temperatures at the beginning and end of the consumer
loop to
draw conclusions as to whether there is a flow in the consumer loop.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
In a possible solution for this control, provision could be made that the
hydraulic
threshold value of the valve used is learned as part of an initialisation of
the adjustment
apparatus which is performed by a trained mechanic after assembly and before
an initial
start-up. The adjustment apparatus slowly opens the valve, starting from the
closed
position while the temperature difference at the beginning and end of the
consumer loop
is monitored. As soon as the detected temperatures indicate a flow of the
heating medium,
the hydraulic threshold value is fixed on the corresponding valve control
value. After the
initialisation procedure has been completed, the adjustment apparatus is
released by the
to trained mechanic for control operation in the temperature regulating
system.
However, this approach has various disadvantages. The initialisation for
learning
the threshold values of the valves must be carried out or monitored by a
mechanic. The
procedure must be carried out individually by the mechanic after an
installation on each
adjustment apparatus of each valve of a manifold pipe or a heating circuit
manifold. This
gives rise to corresponding outlay and costs before the start-up of the
temperature
regulating system.
The more accurately the threshold value is to be determined, the slower the
speed
at which the valve opens must be, also because the thermal response behaviour
of a low
flow in the consumer loop to the temperature detection is accompanied by a
delay. If
carried out carefully, learning of the hydraulic threshold value of a valve
used can take
the mechanic approximately one hour.
Furthermore, at the time of initialisation, all components of the temperature
regulating system must be set ready for operation and the supply connections
of an energy
source and the electricity must already be enabled by a utility company.
Likewise, the
insulation of the building should be completed. Otherwise, separate work of a
mechanic
is required separately from an installation of the heating circuit manifold in
the building
again at a later time of the initial start-up of the temperature regulating
system.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
It is an object of the invention to provide an adjustment apparatus and a
corresponding method for self-regulating adjustment of a flow control valve,
which
provide an alternative determination of a hydraulic threshold value of the
flow control
valve.
This object is achieved by the characterising features of an adjustment
apparatus as
claimed in claim 1 or 2, and the characterising features of a method as
claimed in claim
13 or 14.
lo The
adjustment apparatus for self-regulating adjustment of a flow control valve is
characterised in particular in that it is arranged to determine a hydraulic
minimum opening
position of the flow control valve, at which a minimum flow can be detected,
along an
actuating travel path; and the adjustment apparatus detects a flow through the
flow control
valve based upon a temperature change of the heating medium in the consumer
loop;
wherein the determination of the hydraulic minimum opening position comprises
iterations of different opening positions along the actuating travel path of
the flow control
valve; each iteration of an opening position of the flow control valve
comprises at least
one detection of the flow through the flow control valve; and the
determination of the
hydraulic minimum opening position extends over a plurality of external
temperature
regulating requests to the consumer loop, and missing iterations of the
determination,
which are still pending after deactivations of the adjustment apparatus
between the
temperature regulating requests, are continued upon reactivation of the
adjustment
apparatus.
The corresponding inventive method for self-regulating adjustment of a flow is
characterised in particular by the steps of: determining a hydraulic minimum
opening
position of the flow control valve, at which a minimum flow can be detected,
along an
actuating travel path; by means of detecting a flow through the flow control
valve based
upon a temperature change of the heating medium in the consumer loop; wherein
the
determination of the hydraulic minimum opening position comprises iterations
of
different opening positions along the actuating travel path of the flow
control valve; each
iteration of an opening position of the flow control valve comprises at least
one detection
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
of the flow through the flow control valve; and the determination of the
hydraulic
minimum opening position extends over a plurality of external temperature
regulating
requests to the consumer loop, and missing iterations of the determination,
which are still
pending after deactivations of the adjustment apparatus between the
temperature
regulating requests, are continued upon reactivation of the adjustment
apparatus.
For the first time, the invention provides an independent determination of a
hydraulic threshold value of the flow control valve by means of an adjustment
apparatus,
which is carried out in a time-distributed manner over the temperature
regulating
operation after start-up of the temperature regulating system.
In its most general foiiii, the invention is based upon the idea of performing
a
successive approximation to the threshold value, which is to be determined,
automatically
by the adjustment apparatus during ongoing operation over a plurality of
temperature
.. regulating requests which are made to open a flow through a consumer loop.
An external temperature regulating request in terms of this disclosure is made
e.g.
by a theimostat which outputs a signal, e.g. a binary switch-on signal
(ON/OFF) to
activate the adjustment apparatus. For example, a room thermostat makes a
heating
request to a floor heating assembly and activates, on a heating circuit
manifold, the
adjustment apparatus of a flow control valve which is assigned to the floor
heating
assembly in the room in question. The flow control valve opens the
corresponding
consumer loop and adjusts a flow and so the room temperature approaches a
desired
temperature which has been adjusted on the room thermostat by a user.
As an alternative to a thermostat, the adjustment apparatus can also be
activated by
another input means, such as a switch, by means of which the user can directly
specify a
temperature regulating request for the adjustment apparatus.
The invention has the advantage that the adjustment apparatus can learn the
hydraulic threshold value of the flow control valve independently after a
start-up of the
temperature regulating system. This eliminates the need for a mechanic to do
the work.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
The hydraulic threshold value is determined in a time-distributed manner over
a
plurality of temperature regulating requests. There is no need to initialise
or calibrate the
adjustment apparatus before initial start-up, for which all other requirements
of the
temperature regulating system must be ensured ready for operation.
Installation of the
adjustment apparatus and a start-up of the temperature regulating system are
decoupled
in terms of time. Thus, for the inventive determination of the hydraulic
threshold value,
it is irrelevant whether the adjustment apparatus was installed e.g. when a
building was
completed in summer, and is only put into operation for the first time during
the course
of a heating period in autumn.
The invention also has the advantage that the determination of the hydraulic
threshold value is suitable to be repeated routinely. In principle, this
enables the
adjustment apparatus to independently adapt to changes in the hydraulic
threshold value,
.. such as those caused by a replacement of a valve, wear or ageing of a seal.
Advantageous developments of the present invention are provided in the
dependent
claims.
According to one aspect of the invention, the first iteration can begin at a
hydraulic
opening position, at which flow through the flow control valve is to be
expected; and the
adjustment apparatus can adjust in an offset manner an opening position of the
flow
control valve for a subsequent iteration towards a closed position of the flow
control valve
if flow through the flow control valve is detected. Thus, a start-up of the
temperature
regulating system is not initially impaired by the functionality for
determining the
hydraulic minimum opening position, i.e. in particular a flow for a first
heating request is
not prevented by the first iteration of an opening position of the flow
control valve.
According to one aspect of the invention, the adjustment apparatus can adjust
in an
offset manner an opening position of the flow control valve for a subsequent
iteration
opposite to the direction to the closed position of the flow control valve if
no flow through
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
the flow control valve is detected. By means of a two-sided iterative
approximation, the
hydraulic minimum opening position can be determined relatively accurately.
According to one aspect of the invention, the adjustment apparatus can offset
an
opening position of the flow control valve during a subsequent iteration by a
distance
along the actuating travel path equal to half the amount of the offset
distance during the
preceding iteration. During this iterative approximation, large distances of
the actuating
travel are initially covered, which are included in the determination. This
allows the
hydraulic minimum opening position to be determined relatively quickly in
relation to the
number of iterations of opening positions.
According to one aspect of the invention, the adjustment apparatus can
deteimine
the hydraulic minimum opening position within a predetermined number of
iterations of
different opening positions of the flow control valve. Thus, the length of the
determination
can be effectively and simply limited in dependence upon a predetermined
resolution or
accuracy of the hydraulic threshold value.
According to one aspect of the invention, if no flow through the flow control
valve
is detected, an iteration of the corresponding opening position can still
comprise a
detection of the flow at a higher opening position of the flow control valve.
Therefore, by
means of a comparison it is possible to verify whether in fact no flow was
detected as a
result of a substantially closed flow cross-section. In particular, it is
possible to exclude
the fact that the detection of no flow is not the result of another possible
cause, such as a
misinterpretation from an influence of the detected temperature change or a
malfunction
of the pump.
According to one aspect of the invention, each iteration can comprise a
predetermined number of detections of flow through the flow control valve at
an opening
position of the flow control valve. Therefore, the result of whether there is
a flow can be
checked and ensured multiple times through a plurality of successive closures
and
readjustments of the relevant opening position and detections of the flow
before the
determination progresses to a subsequent iteration at a further opening
position. In the
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
case where there is no flow at an opening position, the iteration can comprise
e.g. twice
the number of detections of the flow, i.e. each detection where there is no
flow is
alternately followed in each case by a detection to verify that flow is
provided by the
system or can be detected by means of the temperature measurement at a higher
opening
.. position.
According to one aspect of the invention, between each iteration of an opening
position, between each detection of flow within an iteration of an opening
position, and/or
between an activation and a continuation of pending iterations of the
detection, a
predetermined blocking period can initially run, for which the flow control
valve is closed
and/or during which no temperature is detected. Thus, a thermal inertia of
components,
node points and circuits in the temperature regulating system is taken into
consideration,
which can influence a response behaviour of a temperature measurement and
initially
impair or falsify the detection of the temperature change in the consumer
loop.
According to one aspect of the invention, the continuation of an interrupted
iteration
of the determination of the hydraulic minimum opening position can be
temporarily
suspended for a temperature regulating request; if no flow through the flow
control valve
was previously detected at the opening position of the interrupted iteration.
Therefore, the
functionality for determining the hydraulic minimum opening position is
temporarily
subordinated to a requested temperature regulating requirement in order to
minimise any
impairment of user comfort during the determination.
According to one aspect of the invention, the adjustment apparatus can perform
the
determination of the hydraulic minimum opening position when it has been
disconnected
from a power supply and/or when a disassembly with respect to the flow control
valve
has been detected by means of the actuator. Therefore, the adjustment
apparatus can carry
out an initialisation independently after changes have possibly been made to
the
temperature regulating system.
According to one aspect of the invention, the adjustment apparatus can perform
the
determination of the hydraulic minimum opening position when a predetermined
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
repetition interval expires. Therefore, the adjustment apparatus can
independently carry
out a recurring calibration to a variable valve state.
The invention as well as suitable technology for carrying out the invention
will be
understood more clearly with the aid of the description of the Figures with
reference to
the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference signs are used for like
elements, in
which:
Fig. 1 shows a graph, in which a characteristic curve of a flow value
and of a valve
lo actuating travel of a flow control valve are plotted on the axes;
Fig. 2 shows a diagram illustrating a scatter of the hydraulic threshold
value with
respect to a minimum flow at different flow control valves and a determined
hydraulic threshold value at a specific flow control valve in relation to a
valve
actuating travel;
Fig. 3 shows a graph illustrating iterations of different opening
positions along a
valve actuating travel path from a detennination of the minimum hydraulic
opening position according to one embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 4 shows a block diagram explaining a theoretical resolution of the
deteunined
result after a predetermined number of iterations;
Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an adjustment apparatus;
Fig. 6 shows a view of a temperature regulating system comprising
adjustment
apparatuses in a manifold apparatus, thermostats and further system
components; and
Fig. 7 shows a block diagram illustrating the system components for self-
regulation,
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
An exemplified embodiment of the inventive functionality for determining a
hydraulic minimum opening position of a flow control valve 2 is described
hereinafter in
relation to Figs. 1 to 4 and is implemented on an adjustment apparatus 1 in a
temperature
regulating system 10 illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7.
In terms of this disclosure, the hydraulic minimum opening position is an
opening
position, at which there is a minimum flow to be established for control
operation.
However, it is not absolutely necessary that the smallest absolute flow which
can be
adjusted or achieved is present at this opening position. It is relevant that
a flow is ensured
and that this turns out to be as low as possible within the scope of an
approximation. On
the one hand, the approximation to the smallest absolute flow is limited by
the indirect
measurement methodology which does not provide a flow measurement on the
apparatus
side, but instead provides a temperature measurement. On the other hand, for
practical
regulating operation, the approximation to the smallest absolute flow is
sufficient up to a
remaining tolerance and can then preferably be terminated in order to limit
outlay. It is
relevant that the remaining tolerance remains within a hydraulic region and
not within a
seal-effective region of the valve actuating travel, and so a flow at the
approximated
threshold value of the hydraulic minimum opening position is ensured. The
determined
threshold value is then used as the hydraulic minimum opening position in the
adjustment
apparatus 1 for the regulating operation.
In terms of this disclosure, the actuating travel of the flow control valve 2
is an
absolute distance of the valve stroke, i.e. actuating travel between a
completely closed
position Sv min, in which a valve body or valve plate 24 lies on a valve seat
25 under
pretensioning, and a completely open position, in which a flow cross-section
is
completely or as far as possible adjustably released by the valve plate 24
against
pretensioning. Furthermore, in terms of this disclosure, the completely closed
position Sv
min of the flow control valve 2 represents an arrangement, in which an
actuator 6 of the
adjustment apparatus 1 is just coming into contact with a valve pin 23, i.e. a
point before
a valve adjustment path begins.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
In terms of this disclosure, an external temperature regulating request
leading to
activation and subsequently deactivation of the adjustment apparatus 1 at a
flow control
valve 2 in a consumer loop 3 is a demand for a temporary temperature
regulating power
to maintain a desired temperature, in particular room temperature. Such a
demand is
determined by a user or a thermostat 12 and is output by means of a signal in
order to
activate the adjustment apparatus 1. A corresponding signal is e.g. a control
voltage which
has a high level during the demand for temperature regulation and has a low
level or zero
level after the demand.
In the case of a thermostat 12, a temperature regulating request is made by
the
thermostat 12 after a user specifies or changes a desired temperature which
deviates from
an actual temperature. Much more frequently, e.g. in the form of regular
cycling,
temperature regulating requests are made by a thermostat 12 while maintaining
an actual
temperature which has already been brought up to the desired temperature. The
state is
maintained generally within a temperature fluctuation around the desired
temperature
which is modelled via an intermittent supply of the temperature regulating
power. For
this purpose, a thermostat 12 cycles flow times of the heating medium through
the
corresponding consumer loop 3 or the heat exchangers 30 by activating and
deactivating
the adjustment apparatus 1 in phases. The duration of such cycling depends
upon the
design (e.g. bimetal or analogue or digital) or the type of a thermostat 12.
In order to
maintain a temperature, short-cycle types of thermostats 12 can specify
activation
durations for temperature regulating requests and deactivation durations
between
temperature regulating requests which may be in the region of 15 or 10
minutes, or
possibly even less. Long-cycle types of thermostats 12 can specify
corresponding
durations in the region of a few hours, e.g. 4 hours.
As explained later, each flow control valve 2 is arranged upstream or at the
beginning of each consumer loop 3 illustrated in Fig. 6 and controls the flow
of a liquid
heating medium through the consumer loop 3. The opening position of each flow
control
valve 2 is adjusted by an autonomously controlling adjustment apparatus 1 in a
decentralised manner, i.e. in particular not from a central control unit of
the temperature
regulating system 10, on the basis of a comparison of the temperatures of the
heating
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
medium flowing through at the beginning and end of the consumer loop 3. The
adjustment
apparatus 1 is designed for mounting on a standardised valve type which is
preferably
used on manifold pipes of heating circuit manifolds.
The detection of a temperature change means a temporal detection of a gradient
of
the temperature change of the heating medium at a position of a temperature
detection
means 7 at the consumer loop 3, preferably of the temperature detection means
7 at the
beginning of the consumer loop 3 downstream of the flow control valve 2. In a
transitory
memory or RAM of a microcomputer or calculation means 8 of the adjustment
apparatus
143 1, a temperature change is detected e.g. over one minute. For example,
a gradient of the
detected temperature change is formed over several tens of seconds or one
minute and is
compared to a predetermined gradient, e.g. +1 or +2 K/min.
If there is a significant temperature change, i.e. a detected gradient is
greater than
the predetermined gradient, this temperature change must have resulted from a
volume of
the liquid heating medium present in the consumer loop 3 having been replaced
at the
position of the temperature detection means 7 by a volume of heating medium
subsequently flowing from the temperature regulating source 4. Consequently,
there is a
flow at the flow control valve 2 at the relevant opening position.
If no temperature change is detected, i.e. the gradient is substantially 0
IC/min, a
volume of the liquid heating medium is obviously still present at the position
of the
temperature detection means 7 and has not been replaced by a subsequently
flowing
volume of the heating medium. Consequently, there is no flow at the flow
control valve
.. 2 at the relevant opening position.
Furthermore, a transition range of the gradient can be defined, in which the
detection of a slight temperature change does not allow a reliable
determination relating
to a flow. If the detected gradient has e.g. values in the region of several
tenths of Kelvin
per minute, the temperature change could also have been caused by other
external
circumstances, such as cooling or a equalisation between heat capacitances of
liquid-
13
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
carrying components in the temperature regulating system 10. In this case, the
result of
the detection is discarded.
The inventors have tested a large number of products of flow control valves 2
available on the market which are compatible with the adjustment apparatus 1
with regard
to standardised dimensions, in relation to a transition between a seal-
effective region and
a hydraulic region with respect to the actuating travel of the valve, and have
analysed
relevant parameters with regard to the inventive functionality of the
adjustment apparatus
1.
For instance, Fig. 1 shows a graph, in which a flow rate of a flow control
valve 2 is
plotted on a vertical axis in relation to a valve actuating travel. In an
exemplary
characteristic curve of a tested flow control valve 2, as shown in Fig. 1, it
can be read that
there is no flow of the heating medium within a range of the actuating travel
of 0 to 0.25
mm. In a range from 0.25 mm to about 2 mm, the flow initially increases
approximately
linearly up to about 0.7 mm and flattens out above this. Beyond an opening of
the
actuating travel of about 2.0 mm, the flow stagnates at a maximum.
The various products of commercially available flow control valves 2 which are
compatible with the adjustment apparatus 1 differ with regard to the
characteristic curve
illustrated, but they are correlated in teuns of the course of the
characteristic curve. From
the correlation, applicable regions along the actuating travel path of a flow
control valve
2 have been defined for the functionality of the determination of a hydraulic
threshold
value of a valve which is allocated to the hydraulic minimum opening position.
Fig. 2 shows a comparison between a control operation before a threshold value
of
the hydraulic minimum opening position has been determined and a control mode
after
the threshold value of the hydraulic minimum opening position has been
determined.
Firstly, the illustration on the left shows a division of the actuating
travel, to which
the adjustment apparatus 1 reverts if the hydraulic minimum opening position
has not yet
been conclusively determined. At the lower end of the actuating travel, the
actuator 6 of
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Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
the adjustment apparatus 1 comes into contact with the flow control valve 2.
In this region,
the adjustment apparatus 1 detects that it is coupled to a flow control valve
2 or that there
is an operable mounting state of the adjustment apparatus 1. This is followed,
at some
distance, by a region, in which the hydraulic threshold value of a valve which
is allocated
to the hydraulic minimum opening position was discovered when testing various
products
of standardised, compatible flow control valves. The scatter of the threshold
values of the
tested valves produces a region, in which the adjustment apparatus 1 discovers
the
hydraulic minimum opening position to be determined along the actuating travel
path, as
expected. Above this, an open region is defined, in which, based on the test,
as expected,
a substantial bandwidth of hydraulically limited opening positions SV-
hydraulic is adjustable.
Above this is an upper region of the actuating travel, in which the flow
control valve 2 is
substantially unrestricted, i.e. flow is scarcely limited or is not limited.
The illustration on the right shows a division of the actuating travel, to
which the
adjustment apparatus 1 reverts if the threshold value of the hydraulic minimum
opening
position has been determined. The determined threshold value confirms how far
the seal-
effective region extends starting from the completely closed position Sy-min
over the
actuating travel path. This knowledge enables the control to adjust a fine
regulation of a
small flow up to and into a critical region of a valve gap. It is further
specified that
extending from the threshold value of the hydraulic minimum opening position
SV-hydraulic-
min is the region, in which the substantial bandwidth of hydraulically limited
opening
positions SV-hydraulic is adjustable. Furthermore, it is specified that a
substantially open
opening position can be adjusted in the remaining upper region of the
actuating travel.
At the completely closed position Sy-min, an actuator 6 of the adjustment
apparatus
1 is coupled without force to the valve pin 23. In an opening position
thereabove, the
valve plate 24 is lifted off the valve seat 25 against pretensioning, but a
seal still blocks a
valve gap. In the region defined as seal-effective, it can therefore be
assumed that a
compression of the seal at the valve gap has decreased or has been relieved,
but
substantially no opening has yet been released at the valve gap which allows a
flow of the
liquid heating medium under the applied delivery pressure. In the region of
the
hydraulically limited opening positions Sy-hydraulic, it was ensured during
the
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
determination that a flow occurs, wherein this increases along the actuating
travel path
located thereabove.
An absolute value of the hydraulic minimum opening position SV-hydrauhc-min
varies
not only in dependence upon the valve, but also by reason of ageing and wear
of the seal.
The value ranges of the actuating travel in the illustration on the left,
which are based on
correlations of the values in the tests carried out on various available flow
control valves
2, can be stored in advance in a memory of the adjustment apparatus 1. The
values are
selected in such a manner that in a random selection of a compatible,
standardised flow
control valve 2, the predefined property of an effective seal or a hydraulic
limitation
applies with certainty or at least with a high probability.
There is no flow through the consumer loop 3 in the seal-effective region of
the
actuating travel. As a result, control logic which is not based upon an actual
flow
measurement, but instead is based upon the temperature comparison of an
assumed flow,
can cause a malfunction to occur. The control logic of the adjustment
apparatus 1 would
reach a control-related dead end, in which the flow is restricted ever
further, while the
detected temperature difference remains unchanged due to the cause of a lack
of flow. By
means of a further functionality of the adjustment apparatus 1 which is the
subject of a
contemporaneous patent application, and which is oriented to a hydraulic
threshold value,
preferably to the hydraulic minimum opening position SV-hydraulic-min
determined in
accordance with this disclosure, such a malfunction can be prevented or causes
for a
control-related dead end can be excluded.
Fig. 3 shows on a vertical axis an actuating travel in relation to a total
movable
distance Sv of a flow control valve 2, at which the adjustment apparatus 1
performs the
determination of the hydraulic minimum opening position SV-hydraulic-min. On a
horizontal
time axis, positive results p and negative results n are plotted in relation
to one detection
of a flow.
The determination of the hydraulic minimum opening position Sv-hydraulic-min
is
described hereinafter in a course of iterations in Fig. 3. The adjustment
apparatus 1
16
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
performs the determination on the lower half of the actuating travel, in which
the
hydraulic minimum opening position Sy-hydraulic-min is located as expected. At
the
beginning of the determination, the adjustment apparatus 1 of the present
embodiment
adjusts, in a first iteration, an opening position of the flow control valve 2
allocated to the
.. half SV-hydraulid2 of the total distance of the actuating travel Sy.
Then, a blocking period of a few minutes, e.g. 5 min, which is not
illustrated, is run
through and so a thermal inertia which influences the response behaviour of
the
temperature measurement is awaited. Then, a measurement is perfolined to
establish
whether a temperature of the heating medium at the beginning or at the end of
the
consumer loop 3 changes significantly or does not even change. If a
temperature change
is measured which exceeds a predetermined gradient, e.g. 1 or 2 IC/min, it
is assumed
that the liquid heating medium in the consumer loop 3 is not at rest in the
region of the
temperature detection means 7. On the contrary, it is to be assumed that a
portion of the
heating medium coming from the temperature regulating source 4 has now passed
through
the flow control valve 2 and is flowing into the consumer loop 3, i.e. there
is a flow, and
a positive result p of the detection of a flow is established for the first
iteration.
After a positive result p, the adjustment apparatus 1 adjusts, in a second
iteration,
an opening position of the flow control valve 2 allocated to a quarter Sy-
hydraulic/4 of the
total distance of the actuating travel Sy. Then, the procedures from the first
iteration are
repeated in relation to the passing of the blocking period and the temperature
measurement for detecting a flow, which again leads to a positive result p.
After the positive result p, the adjustment apparatus 1 adjusts, in the third
iteration,
an opening position of the flow control valve 2 allocated to an eighth Sy-
hydramic/8 of the
total distance of the actuating travel Sy. Then, the procedures are repeated
in relation to
the passing of the blocking period and the temperature measurement for
detecting a flow.
In the third iteration, no significant temperature change is measured. In
order to rule out
.. that the missing flow or the missing temperature change is not the result
of a cause on the
part of the temperature regulating system 10, such as e.g. a shutdown of the
pump 5 or a
night-time reduction of the supply temperature, the adjustment apparatus 1
performs a
17
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
comparison measurement within the same iteration. For this purpose, the
adjustment
apparatus 1 temporarily opens the flow control valve 2 to a hydraulic opening
position,
in which a flow is ensured, e.g. to an opening position of the previous
iterations with a
positive result p. Then, the adjustment apparatus 1 waits for the blocking
period and
subsequently performs a second detection for verification. If a flow is
detected during the
comparison measurement, this means that there is no error on the part of the
system. On
the other hand, this also means that a lack of flow in the first detection was
the result of a
sealed flow cross-section at the adjusted opening position of the third
iteration.
Accordingly, a negative result n is established for the third iteration.
After a negative result n, in a fourth iteration the adjustment apparatus 1
adjusts an
opening position of the flow control valve 2 which is greater than the opening
position in
the third iteration, and moreover by half the distance of the change before
the third
iteration. This value is midway between a quarter SV-hydraulic/4 and an eighth
Sy-hydraulic/8,
i.e. three sixteenths Sy-hydrauhc/3/16 of the total distance of the actuating
travel Sy. Then,
the procedures are repeated in relation to the passing of the blocking period
and the
temperature measurement for detecting a flow which, in turn, leads to a
positive result p.
After the positive result p, in the fifth iteration the adjustment apparatus 1
adjusts
an opening position of the flow control valve 2 which is smaller than the
opening position
in the fourth iteration, and moreover by half the distance of the change
before the fourth
iteration. This value is five thirty-seconds SV-hydraulic/5/32 of the total
distance of the
actuating travel Sy. Then, the procedures are repeated in relation to the
passing of the
blocking period and the temperature measurement for detecting a flow. In the
first
detection, no significant temperature change is measured. As in the third
iteration, by
reason of the negative detection of a flow by means of temperature
measurement, the
adjustment apparatus 1 once again performs a second detection for verification
purposes.
For this purpose, the adjustment apparatus 1 temporarily adjusts the flow
control valve 2
to a hydraulic opening position, at which a flow is ensured, waits again for
the blocking
period and subsequently performs a detection of a flow. After a temperature
change has
occurred in the consumer loop 3 and this is verified during the second
detection of a flow,
18
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
it is established that there is no external impailinent. Accordingly, a
negative result n is
established for the fifth iteration.
An optional, illustrated sixth and a seventh iteration are effected according
to the
procedures in the preceding iterations.
In one embodiment of the invention, the adjustment apparatus 1 perfomis a
detection of a flow three times within each iteration which leads to a
positive result p.
Between the temperature measurements, the flow control valve 2 is temporarily
closed
for a blocking period, then is readjusted to the corresponding opening
position of the
iteration, and once again a blocking period is awaited. In each iteration
which leads to a
negative result n, a flow is detected six times, since each detection in which
no significant
temperature change is measured is followed by a detection to verify a flow at
a higher
hydraulic opening position.
The blocking period which is a predetermined number of a few minutes enables
better recognition of a gradient of the temperature change and reduces
influences on the
temperature measurement by reason of an inertia of heat capacitances of the
liquid-
carrying components in the temperature regulating system 10.
Furthermore, the determination can be interrupted at any time by deactivating
or
switching off the adjustment apparatus 1 between two temperature regulating
requests. In
this case, after a subsequent activation or switch-on and after a blocking
period has
passed, the adjustment apparatus 1 continues with the next pending detection
of the
iteration, in which the determination was interrupted.
Fig. 4 shows a branching of percentage values in relation to a resolution of
measurement errors. The values are based upon a symmetrical division of value
ranges
which are successively approximated to narrow down a searched value. Here,
positive
and negative measurements are designated by 1 and 0, respectively, wherein
pending
iterations are designated by X. It can be seen from the illustration that in
the present
application of the determination of the threshold value of the hydraulic
minimum opening
19
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
position, after five iterations a resolution of 3.125% is achieved in relation
to the entire
distance Sv. This accuracy is sufficient for the control operation of the
adjustment
apparatus 1. Moreover, the outlay for or the duration of the determination can
be limited.
It must only be ensured that at the end of the determination there is a
positive result p in
relation to a flow at the opening position. Otherwise, the adjustment
apparatus 1 reverts
e.g. to a preceding iteration or performs a further last iteration.
In one embodiment, the adjustment apparatus 1 can decide, based upon
parameters
such as the detected temperature difference ATactuar, a progression thereof or
the duration
.11:1 of preceding activations, whether a current temperature regulating
request contributes a
small or large portion to bringing an actual temperature closer to a desired
temperature.
This decision is particularly relevant if there is a large temperature
regulating demand and
no flow through the flow control valve 2 was previously detected at the
opening position
of the interrupted iteration. Accordingly, the adjustment apparatus 1 can make
a decision
.. that a continuation of the determination which starts again at a
substantially closed
opening position is temporarily postponed by one temperature regulating
request, or is
suspended at every second temperature regulating request. As a result, the
determination
of a hydraulic threshold value is predominantly shifted to temporal sections
of the control
operation, in which merely a temperature state is maintained.
In the event of a relatively short cycle by a thermostat 12 of e.g. merely 15
or 10
minutes or less between activations and deactivations of the adjustment
apparatus 1, a
detection of a flow in a continued determination can be cancelled again
without the
blocking period between an adjustment of an opening position and a temperature
measurement to be performed at the consumer loop 3 having expired.
Consequently, the
result of the detection possibly cannot be used and is discarded. Furthermore,
in the event
of such short cycles, a deactivation of the adjustment apparatus 1, i.e. a
duration between
detections, may not be sufficiently long for a temperature of the heating
medium in the
consumer loop 3 to already be distinctively different from a temperature of a
potentially
newly inflowing part of the heating medium by reason of a heat exchange. In
this case, in
one embodiment, the adjustment apparatus 1 can make a decision based upon
passed
blocking durations and activation durations that the flow control valve 2
remains
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
temporarily closed for the subsequent temperature regulating request. Thus,
even during
a relatively short cycle, it is ensured that the temperature of the heating
medium in the
closed consumer loop 3 has already changed in a distinctive manner by the time
the
determination is continued by means of a heat exchange, and a newly inflowing
part of
the heating medium would be detectable by a significant temperature change.
Furthermore, in one embodiment of the adjustment apparatus 1, provision is
made
that, after each temperature regulating request, only one interrupted or next
pending
iteration including a comprised predetermined number of detections of a flow
is
performed, and thereafter the control operation of the adjustment apparatus 1
for self-
regulating adjustment of the flow control valve 2 in favour of temperature
regulation by
the temperature regulating system 10 begins. In a further embodiment of the
adjustment
apparatus 1, provision is made that, after each temperature regulating
request, only one
further detection of a flow from an interrupted or next pending iteration is
performed
before the typical control operation then starts. A total duration of the
determination over
which the iterations and their detections are performed in a temporally
distributed manner
thus depends significantly upon the durations of the temperature regulating
requests and
those therebetween, i.e. the activation durations and the deactivation
durations or, in the
case of a thermostat 12, upon a cycle thereof.
In one embodiment, the adjustment apparatus 1 starts or repeats the
determination
of the hydraulic threshold value when it was disassembled from a flow control
valve 2
and disconnected from a power supply. This initial situation occurs if the
adjustment
apparatus 1 is installed for the first time or in the meantime has been
removed from the
flow control valve 2 and deliberately disconnected from the power or reset.
The
adjustment apparatus 1 of this embodiment can detect a disassembly by means of
free
actuating travel of the actuator 6 which results in the assembled state up to
a contact with
the pretensioned valve pin 23, or does not result in the disassembled state.
Furthermore, in one embodiment of the adjustment apparatus 1, the
determination
of the hydraulic threshold value can be manually re-initiated by the user or a
mechanic.
For this purpose, a predetermined signal can be manually input, e.g. in the
form of a timed
21
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
sending of a signal in Morse code for switching on and off or activating and
deactivating
the adjustment apparatus 1.
In a further embodiment, the adjustment apparatus 1 repeats the determination
of
the hydraulic threshold value cyclically in relation to a repetition interval.
The repetition
interval is fixed e.g. to a predeteimined number of several hundred or several
thousand
temperature regulating requests or adjustment procedures on the flow control
valve 2,
after which a change in the valve seal is to be expected. The repetition
interval can
likewise be fixed to a predetermined number of several hundred or several
thousand
.. operating hours of the adjustment apparatus 1.
Hereinafter, with the aid of Figs. 5 to 7 reference will be made to a suitable
embodiment from said technology which is the subject matter of independent
claims.
The adjustment apparatus 1 is mounted on a flow control valve 2. The
adjustment
apparatus 1 is fastened to the flow control valve 2 by means of a flange 27.
For its part,
the flow control valve 2 is installed into a return manifold 14 in the
embodiment depicted
in this case. The return manifold 14 has a connecting piece 18 screwed therein
which
connects the return manifold 14 to a consumer loop 3, not illustrated in
greater detail. The
flow control valve 2 can also be otherwise installed into the return manifold
14. The
connecting piece 18 can also be pressed, adhered, soldered, welded or
otherwise fastened
into the return manifold 14.
The adjustment apparatus 1 comprises an electrically activatable actuator 6.
In the
present example, the longitudinal axis of the adjustment apparatus 1 coincides
with that
of the actuator 6. The electrically activatable actuator 6 contains an
activation means 20
which is movable in the axial direction. The longitudinal axis of the
activation means 20
likewise coincides with the longitudinal axis of the electrically activatable
actuator 6. The
activation means 20 is arranged within the electrically activatable actuator
6, has a
component which is variable in length in the axial direction, e.g. a flexible
material
element 21, in particular a wax caitiidge, and is pretensioned by means of a
spiral spring
22 arranged coaxially thereto in a concentric manner. The component which is
variable
22
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
in length can also be designed as an electrical mini-actuator instead of a
flexible material
element 21, although frequently these actuators are more likely not to be
considered for
reasons of cost and owing to the supposed noise development. Instead of the
spiral spring
22, a different suitable means, e.g. an annular spring assembly or the like,
can also
produce a pretensioning.
By means of electrical lines, the electrically activatable actuator 6 receives
signals
from a temperature detection means 7 or temperature sensor, not illustrated in
greater
detail, on the return manifold 14 with regard to the output-side return
temperature Treturn
of the through-flowing heating medium. The electrically activatable actuator 6
also
receives via the lines temperature signals from a temperature detection means
7 or
temperature sensor on the supply manifold 13, not illustrated here, with
regard to an input-
side supply temperature Tsupply of the through-flowing heating medium. In the
present
embodiment, a further electrical line forms an interface 9 to a thermostat 12,
not
illustrated in Fig. 5 but illustrated in Fig. 6.
Calculation means 8 contained in the adjustment apparatus 1 process the
signals
obtained via the lines and output to the electrically activatable actuator 6
corresponding
commands or control signals, by means of which the flexible material element
21 in the
.. activation means 20 is activated or deactivated. A defined adjustment path
or stroke of
the activation means 20 in the axial direction is ultimately produced in this
manner. The
activation means 20 presses in the axial direction onto an activation pin or
valve pin 23
of the flow control valve 2 and thus activates same. In the present
embodiment, the
longitudinal axis of the activation means 20 and the activation pin or valve
pin 23 of the
flow control valve 2 coincide.
By means of the axial activation of the valve pin 23, a valve head which in
the
exemplified embodiment is designed as a valve plate 24 is lifted from a valve
seat 25 and
therefore a valve position is defined which conesponds to a specific opening
position of
.. the flow control valve 2 or a specific valve opening cross-section.
23
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
The respective stroke of the flow control valve 2 or the opening cross-section
resulting therefrom is detected via a position detection means 15 in the
adjustment
apparatus 1. In the present embodiment, the position detection means 15
consists of a
magnet 16 which is allocated via a radially outwardly protruding aim 26 to the
electrically
activatable actuator 6 and is connected to the activation means 20. In this
manner, the
magnet 16 moves in the axial direction in parallel with the flexible material
element 21
or in parallel with the valve plate 24, executes therewith the same stroke or
adjustment
path and serves as a reference for the respective stroke. A hall sensor 17
which is arranged
opposite the magnet 16 is a further component of the position detection means
15. By
means of the hall sensor 17, the position and also the movement or the stroke
of the
magnet 16 is detected and thereby the lift of the valve plate 24 with respect
to the valve
seat 25 is detected and ultimately the cross-section of the flow control valve
2 is
determined.
The adjustment apparatus 1 illustrated in Fig. 5 is used in high number in the
temperature regulating system 10 illustrated in Fig. 6. The exemplified
embodiment of
the temperature regulating system 10 shown in Fig. 6 contains a manifold
apparatus 11
having three adjustment apparatuses 1 which are mounted by means of the
respective
flange 27 on the respectively allocated flow control valve 2. The respective
flow control
.. valves 2 are installed into one return manifold 14. On the opposite side of
the adjustment
apparatus 1 or on the underside of the return manifold 14 as viewed in the
installation
direction, said manifold has in each case a connecting piece 18 which
establishes the
connection to the respective consumer loop 3. The respective consumer loop 3
fonns a
respective heat exchanger 30. In each case, a temperature detection means 7,
e.g. a return
.. temperature sensor 7h is attached, in particular clipped or adhered, to the
connecting piece
18. The return temperature sensor 7b is used to detect the respective output-
side return
temperature Tretum of the heating medium flowing through the respective
consumer loop
3. The return temperature sensor 7b could also be attached to another suitable
point for
detecting the respective return temperature, e.g. immediately after the
connecting piece
18 on the pipe wall of the consumer loop 3 illustrated by lines.
24
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
The temperature regulating system 10 further has a supply manifold 13. In the
exemplified embodiment, the supply manifold 13 contains three connecting
pieces 28 for
the three illustrated consumer loops 3. However, a temperature detection means
7 is
attached to each connecting piece 28, e.g. a supply temperature sensor 7a, in
order to
detect the respective input-side supply temperature Tsupply of the heating
medium flowing
through the respective consumer loop 3. The supply temperature sensor 7a could
also be
attached to another suitable point for detecting the respective supply
temperature, e.g.
immediately after the connecting piece 28 on the pipe wall of the consumer
loop 3
illustrated by lines.
lo
The supply manifold 13 is connected to the return manifold 14 via a line 29
which
contains a temperature regulating source 4 and a pump 5. The liquid heating
medium
which has been charged with heat energy or optionally cooled by the
temperature
regulating source 4 can be circulated by the pump 5. The through-flowing
heating
medium is transported by the pump 5 to the supply manifold 13 where the
heating medium
flows into the three consumer loops 3 illustrated in this case and flows
therethrough back
to the return manifold 14, wherein the respective flow volume is determined by
the flow
cross-section of the respective flow control valve 2 used in the return
manifold 14. From
the return manifold 14, the through-flowing heating medium combined at this
location
then flows back to the pump 5 or the temperature regulating source 4.
A thermostat 12 which is allocated to the respective consumer loop 3 outputs
an
activation signal if there is a requirement for temperature regulating. The
activation signal
is transmitted from the thermostat 12 e.g. via an interface 9, in this case a
cable, to the
adjustment apparatus 1. However, the interface 9 could also be designed as a
wireless
connection. The respective adjustment apparatus 1 determines the respective
opening
cross-section of the respective flow control valve 2 by means of the
respective calculation
means 8 in dependence upon the activation signal or deactivation signal of the
respective
thermostat 12 and the respectively allocated signals or data of the supply
temperature and
the return temperature.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
The adjustment apparatuses 1 shown in Fig. 5 used in the temperature
regulating
system 10 shown in Fig. 6 are illustrated in Fig. 7 once again in a block
diagram showing
the system components for self-regulation.
Heat or cold is discharged by the consumer loop 3 to the environment. A
thermostat
12, in particular a room thermostat in a living space in a building outputs a
signal. The
signal from the thermostat 12 is transmitted to an ECU of the adjustment
apparatus 1.
Furthermore, the ECU obtains temperature signals or data, such as e.g. the
return
temperature Tretum and the supply temperature Tsupply. A calculation means 8
which
contains the ECU is configured to electrically activate the actuator 6, not
illustrated in
greater detail here, of the adjustment apparatus 1 in order to effect a stroke
of the valve
or to adjust a predetermined opening position of the flow control valve 2
allocated to a
specific flow cross-section.
The opening cross-section of the flow control valve 2 or the stroke thereof is
calculated based upon a control difference ATcontrol difference, wherein the
control difference
ATcontrol difference, which is to be calculated, between the temperature
difference ATactuai is
fotined from the detected input-side supply temperature Tsupply and the output-
side return
temperature Tretum and a predetermined temperature spread ATaesirea from the
output-side
return temperature Treturn to the input-side supply temperature Tsupply.
The adjustment apparatus 1 further comprises a time detection means, not
further
illustrated here, and a storage means which are configured to detect and store
a preceding
or current activation period of the activation signal from the thermostat 12
and/or a
deactivation period between two activations or deactivations, wherein the
calculation
means 8 with the ECU contained therein is configured to variably determine the
temperature spread ATaesirea based on an activation period and/or a
deactivation period.
Alternative aspects for implementing the suitable technology
26
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
Further aspects and alternatives of the adjustment apparatus 1 of the method
or a
corresponding temperature regulating system 10 and assemblies thereof will be
provided
hereinafter.
The thermostat 12 of the temperature regulating system 10 which is located in
a
room can have an input means for inputting a value representative of a
specifiable room
temperature, and an interface 9 for outputting an activation signal for at
least one
consumer loop 3 in the room.
lo The
thermostat 12 of the temperature regulating system 10 can be configured to
react to an actual room temperature, in that the thermostat 12 outputs the
activation signal
as long as a deviation tolerance between the specifiable room temperature and
the actual
room temperature is exceeded.
An activation according to the definition of the present disclosure is a
switch-on
state or a start-up from a standby mode of the adjustment apparatus 1 or at
least of the
calculation means 8 in the adjustment apparatus 1, which is supported by a
continuous
signal level, is triggered by a signal pulse, or is activated by a control
voltage or activation
voltage, which is applied in the form of a signal, for switching a transistor
on a power
supply, a power supply supplied directly in the form of a signal, or the like.
An activation
period relates by definition to the time period from the beginning to the end
of the
correspondingly activated switch-on state or the start-up from a standby mode
or the
reception period of continuous signal level, control voltage, activation
voltage or power
supply, or the time period between two signal pulses which effect a switch-on
procedure
and a switch-off procedure. A deactivation and a deactivation period are
accordingly the
complementary state and time period, in which the adjustment apparatus 1 is
not operated
or at least the calculation means 8 does not calculate or the actuator 6 does
not activate.
The adjustment apparatus 1 can be configured to output, during an activation
period, the electrical activation, which is calculated by the calculation
means 8, to the
actuator 6, and to output, during a deactivation period, no electrical
activation or a
predetermined electrical activation, which corresponds to the closed position
of the flow
27
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
control valve 2, to the actuator 6. As a result, depending upon the type of
actuator 6 the
consumer loop 3 is blocked after a heating procedure so as to prevent any
excessive
energy supply or any overshooting of the temperature regulating.
The adjustment apparatus 1 can be configured to switch off, during a
deactivation
period, an electrical power supply to the calculation means 8 and/or to the
adjustment
apparatus 1. As a result, during the deactivation periods which can also last
e.g.
throughout a summer, electricity is saved.
The calculation means 8 can be configured to store at least one value of a
preceding
opening position of the flow control valve 2 in the storage means. As a
result, when the
adjustment apparatus 1 is activated the valve is initially moved to a valve
position as a
starting point which has already been ascertained during the course of the
previous
heating periods, and which needs to be adapted merely in a different manner
during the
current heating period.
The storage means can contain a pre-stored reference value for the activation
period
and/or a pre-stored reference value for the deactivation period. As a result,
a time period,
established as being comfortable, for reaching a specified temperature is
stored as a
sought-after reference value which governs the self-regulation.
The storage means can contain a pre-stored value range for the temperature
spread.
As a result, it is easily possible to ensure that the operating point of the
heat exchanger
is selected within an energy-efficient range.
The storage means can contain a pre-stored characteristic map including
allocated
values of activation periods and/or deactivation periods and specified
temperature spreads
for determining the temperature spread. As a result, it is possible to
implement a
predetermined universal control with less processing power.
The storage means can contain pre-stored control logic for calculating the
temperature spread. As a result, a more individual control can be implemented.
28
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
The adjustment apparatus 1 can be configured to modify the temperature spread
in
dependence upon the supply temperature, and/or the adjustment apparatus 1 can
be
configured to modify a bandwidth of the temperature spread in dependence upon
the
supply temperature, and/or the adjustment apparatus 1 can be configured to
receive, via
the interface 9, further external signals with operating parameters from the
temperature
regulating system 10; and the calculation means 8 can be configured to adapt
the
temperature spread in dependence upon the operating parameters. As a result,
it is
possible to implement a control which, on the basis of a change in the supply
temperature,
detects weather fluctuations or times of the year and adapts an efficient
working point
accordingly or to allow further comfort-oriented functions, which can be
specified on a
multifunctional room thermostat, to also influence the control.
One thermostat 12 and two or more consumer loops 3 or heating or cooling
circuits
can be located in one room of the building. This makes it possible to supply
large rooms
by means of a plurality of installed heating or cooling coils which have
standardised
diameters and an overall lower flow resistance and which are regulated by
dedicated
adjustment apparatuses 1 but the same room thermostat.
The thermostat 12 can have a bi-metal element which reacts to the actual room
temperature and effects an output of the activation signal or deactivation
signal. This
provides a particularly simple, reliable and cost-effective design of the room
thermostat
without electronics and sensors.
The activation signal or deactivation signal can be a binary signal which
comprises
a switch-on state with a signal level above a predetermined level value and
comprises a
switch-off state without a signal level or with a signal level below the
predetermined level
value. This likewise provides a particularly simple and cost-effective
embodiment of the
signal generation and signal recognition.
A thermostat 12 can comprise a microcomputer and a temperature sensor 7a, 7b
for
detecting the actual room temperature; wherein the thermostat 12 detects and
stores a
29
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
progression of the actual room temperature, whilst and/or after the activation
signal or the
deactivation signal is output; and the thermostat 12 and an adjustment
apparatus 1 are
configured to communicate data relating to a progression of detected actual
room
temperatures. This provides a multifunctional design of the temperature
regulating system
10 which permits an adaptive control to further comfort-oriented parameters,
such as
influencing a heating curve progression in dependence upon an output
temperature and
target temperature and/or an outside temperature or a time of day or the like.
The activation signal and/or the deactivation signal can be communicated from
a
specific thermostat 12 to an allocated adjustment apparatus 1 by means of
wireless
interfaces 9. As a result, cabling from the room thermostat to the adjustment
apparatus 1
can be omitted and installation outlay can be reduced. Furthermore, such a
wireless
interface 9 can also be used to establish a connection between a smartphone,
tablet PC or
the like and an adjustment apparatus 1 or a thermostat 12, thus permitting a
further input
option for the user to the system.
A smaller temperature spread can be determined if at least one preceding
activation
period is greater than a reference value, or a larger temperature spread can
be determined
if at least one preceding activation period is less than the reference value.
As a result, the
.. self-regulation is oriented to a time period, established in advance as
being comfortable,
for reaching a specified [temperature].
The temperature spread can be deteiniined based upon a progression of
consecutive,
preceding activation periods. This permits better adaptation of the self-
regulation to user
behaviour, times of the year and the like.
The adjustment apparatus 1 can have a position detection means 15 which is
designed in such a way as to detect a current position of the actuator 6. This
allows
specified actuating travel to be respected, which is required depending upon
the type of
actuator 6.
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
The position detection means 15 can be formed from a magnet 16 and a hall
sensor
17 allocated to the magnet 16. This permits exact detection and implementation
of
specified actuating travel.
The actuator 6 can be provided by various types of actuators, of which the
actuating
force is based upon an electromotive power, a thermal expansion, a spring bias
or the like,
as long as the actuating travel can be activated by an activation on the part
of the
calculation means 8.
lo Figs. 5 to 7 discussed above use the reference signs which are listed
below in
summary, wherein this list does not claim to be complete:
1 adjustment apparatus;
2 flow control valve;
3 consumer loop;
4 temperature regulating source;
5 pump;
6 actuator
7 temperature detection means;
7a supply temperature sensor;
7b return temperature sensor;
8 calculation means;
9 interface;
10 temperature regulating system;
11 manifold apparatus;
12 theimostat;
13 supply manifold;
14 return manifold;
15 position detection means;
16 magnet;
17 hall sensor;
18 connecting piece;
31
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
20 activation means;
21 flexible material element;
22 coil spring;
23 valve pin;
24 valve plate;
25 valve seat;
26 arm;
27 flange;
28 connecting piece;
29 line;
30 heat exchanger;
Sv entire movable distance of the actuating travel
SV min closed position of the flow control valve
SV-hydraulic-min hydraulic minimum opening position of the flow control
valve
Sv-hyclraulic hydraulic limited opening position of the flow control valve
Tsupply input-side supply temperature of the through-flowing heating
medium;
Tretum output-side return temperature of the through-flowing heating
medium;
ATaetual temperature difference;
ATdesired temperature spread;
ATeontrol difference control difference;
Troom-desired specifiable room temperature;
Troom-aetual actual room temperature;
32
Date Recue/Date Received 2023-04-17
