FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20110162742A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belparts Group NV
• Original Assignee: Belparts Co.
• Inventors: Vandenheuvel, Philip, Vandendriessche, Peter, Ulens, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 9,823,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/624.27
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/00 Water main or service pipe systems pipes or tubes in general F16L
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/075 Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/08 Arrangement of draining devices, e.g. manual shut-off valvesdraining devices in general F16K, F16L
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1015 using a valve or valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1024 a multiple way valve
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1033 motor operated
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2220/044 Flow sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86485 Line condition change responsive release of valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87772 With electrical actuation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flow control system for controlling a flow of a medium passing through a pipe part of a pipe system via which the medium is distributed from a common source to a plurality of consumer devices. The flow control system comprises a flow sensor for sensing an actual medium flow through the pipe part, a controller in communicative connection with the flow sensor and provided for evaluating the electrical signal indicative of the sensed actual medium flow with a value representing a set medium flow and an orifice adjusting system in communicative connection with the controller and provided for adjusting the adjustable orifice in response to the control signal received from the controller. The flow sensor is arranged outside the flow chamber and has a static measurement principle based on a wave propagating in the medium.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system, comprising:

a common source provided for delivering a medium,

a plurality of consumer devices connected to the common source through a pipe system via which the medium is distributed,

at least one flow control system associated with at least one of the plurality of consumer devices and provided for controlling a flow of the medium passing through a pipe part of the pipe system, the flow control system comprising;

a flow sensor for sensing an actual medium flow through the pipe part and outputting an electrical signal indicative of the sensed actual medium flow,

a controller in communicative connection with the flow sensor, the controller being provided for evaluating the electrical signal indicative of the sensed actual medium flow with a value representing a set medium flow and outputting a control signal based on said evaluation, and

an orifice adjusting system in communicative connection with the controller, the orifice adjusting system comprising a flow chamber with an adjustable orifice in the pipe part, the orifice adjusting system being provided for adjusting the adjustable orifice in response to the control signal of the controller,

wherein the flow sensor is arranged outside the flow chamber and has a static measurement principle based on a wave propagating in the medium and

wherein the orifice adjusting system has an equal-percentage characteristic curve.

22. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 21, wherein the flow sensor is chosen from the group consisting of:

ultrasonic flow sensor, vortex flow sensor, electromagnetic flow sensor.

23. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according claim 21, wherein the sensor is provided in said pipe part in a position in front of the orifice adjusting system.

24. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 21, wherein the sensor is provided in said pipe part in a position behind the orifice adjusting system, spaced by at least a quieting section for attenuating turbulence in the medium caused by the orifice adjusting system.

25. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 21, wherein the orifice adjusting system (3, 4) comprises a two-way valve.

26. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 21, wherein the orifice adjusting system comprises a three-way valve located at an intersection of a supply pipe of the pipe system, provided for supplying the medium from the common source to at least one of the consumer devices, and a bypass pipe bypassing the at least one consumer device.

27. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 26, wherein the system further comprises a second sensor for sensing a second actual medium flow from the three-way valve to the consumer device and outputting a second electrical signal indicative of the second actual medium flow, the controller being in communicative connection with the second flow sensor and being provided for also evaluating the second electrical signal.

28. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 27, wherein the first flow sensor is provided along a return pipe rejoining the flow through the bypass pipe and the flow through the at least one consumer device.

29. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 26, wherein the system further comprises a second sensor for sensing a second actual medium flow through the bypass pipe and outputting a second electrical signal indicative of the second actual medium flow, the controller being in communicative connection with the second flow sensor and being provided for also evaluating the second electrical signal.

30. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 29, wherein the first flow sensor is provided along a return pipe rejoining the flow through the bypass pipe and the flow through the at least one consumer device.

31. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 26, wherein the flow sensor is provided between the three-way control valve and the consumer device.

32. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 21, wherein the flow control system further comprises a first temperature sensor provided along the pipe system in a position in front of the consumer device and provided for measuring a supply temperature of the medium entering the consumer device.

33. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 21, wherein the flow control system comprises a second temperature sensor provided along the pipe system behind the consumer device and provided for measuring an exit temperature of the medium leaving the consumer device.

34. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 21, wherein the flow control system further comprises a first pressure measurement device provided along the pipe system in a position in front of the consumer device and provided for measuring a first pressure of the medium entering the consumer device.

35. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 21, wherein the flow control system comprises a second pressure measurement device provided along the pipe system in a position behind the consumer device and for measuring a second pressure of the medium leaving the consumer device.

36. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 21, wherein said flow sensor is an electronic device outputting a digital value indicative of the actual medium flow.

37. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 21, wherein said flow control system further comprises a communication link towards a central unit.

38. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 21, wherein the control system is provided for calculating consumption of the consumer device.

39. A central heating/cooling system and/or sanitary system according to claim 21, wherein the orifice adjusting system comprises a driving unit, which is in communicative connection with the controller and which is provided for driving a movable part to adjust the adjustable orifice.

40. Use of a sanitary system according to claim 21, comprising the step of operating the flow control system for periodically flushing said pipe part.