ENHANCED CONVECTION, DIFFERENTIAL TEMPERATURE MANAGED, HYDRONIC HEATING APPLIANCE

• US 20170299200A1
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Published: 10/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul D. Mercier Sr
• Original Assignee: Paul D. Mercier Sr
• Inventors: Mercier, SR., Paul D
• Granted Patent: US 10,690,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1012 by regulating the speed of a pump
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1015 using a valve or valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2220/042 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2220/044 Flow sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/02 with forced circulation, e.g. by pumps pump constructions F04
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/1008 expansion tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/1075 Built up from modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for a differential temperature managed integral, free standing, hydronic heating appliance uses a high-mass heat source coupled to a single, highly-efficient, variable speed, Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM)-driven Delta-T stand-alone system circulator which feeds one or more zone valves governing flow to one or more hydronic zones. Components are integrated into simplified, compact, assemblies. Zone valve packaging of a compact header improves hydronic performance (head pressure reduction and increased flow), complementing zone valve performance and reducing zone valve wiring labor and material content. Returns have full port valves and the boiler includes isolation valves. All manually activated valves are full port. This can include full port boiler isolation valves, circulator isolation valves and return valves. Paralleled, ganged, alignment of state-indicating-lamped zone valves provides rapid, functional indication of component and system performance while the need for a zone valve panel commonly found on hydronic heating systems is negated.

Claims

1. An enhanced convection, differential temperature (Delta-T) managed, integrated free-standing hydronic heating appliance device comprising:

a high-mass heat source coupled to

a single, variable speed, stand-alone system circulator;

feeding at least one zone valve governing flow to at least one hydronic zone;

wherein components are integrated into simplified, compact, assemblies;

whereby head pressure is reduced and flow increased.

2. The device of claim 1 comprising:

a three-pass boiler configuration.

3. The device of claim 1 comprising:

near-boiler piping packaging to zone valving for hydronic distribution efficiency, including convective fail-safe operation.

4. The device of claim 1 comprising a Taco Delta-T circulator.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said high-mass Delta-T combination lowers system operating temperature, further reducing “

stand-by”

losses and increasing thermal efficiency.

6. The device of claim 1 comprising:

a high-mass cast-iron boiler, steel pipe, and malleable fittings.

7. The device of claim 1 comprising at least one electronically controlled full port ball valve.

8. The device of claim 1 comprising:

a compact hydronic header.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said header comprises:

2¾

inch center-to-center stub spacing for compact placement of zone valves.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein said header comprises:

zone valve close grouping on said header, enhancing status lamp visibility, and negating the use of a Zone Valve Control (ZVC).

11. The device of claim 1 comprising at least one high pass volute circulator.

12. The device of claim 1 comprising a Hydrolevel 3250-Plus aquastat.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said device includes no internal flow check valves.

14. The device of claim 1 comprises an air eliminator and expansion tank.

15. An enhanced convection, differential temperature (Delta-T) managed, integrated free-standing hydronic heating system comprising:

a boiler module;

a supply module;

a return module; and

a wiring harness;

wherein components are integrated into simplified, compact, assemblies;

whereby head pressure is reduced and flow increased.

16. The enhanced convection, differential temperature (Delta-T) managed, hydronic heating system of claim 15, wherein said boiler module comprises:

a high mass cast iron boiler with capacity increments.

17. The enhanced convection, differential temperature (Delta-T) managed, hydronic heating system of claim 15, wherein said supply module comprises:

an air eliminator;

a compact steel hydronic header; and

at least one zone valve.

18. The enhanced convection, differential temperature (Delta-T) managed, hydronic heating system of claim 15, wherein said return module comprises:

return zone isolation valving.

19. The enhanced convection, differential temperature (Delta-T) managed, hydronic heating system of claim 15, wherein said wiring harness comprises:

a pre-assembled 4-wire sub-assembly for each zone.

20. An enhanced convection, differential temperature (Delta-T) managed, integrated free-standing hydronic heating system comprising:

providing an integrated free-standing hydronic heating appliance, said appliance comprising;

a boiler module comprising a high mass cast iron boiler with capacity increments;

a supply module comprising an air eliminator;

a compact steel hydronic header; and

at least one zone valve;

a return module comprising return zone isolation valving; and

a wiring harness comprising a pre-assembled 4-wire sub-assembly for each zone;

ramping up a circulator upon a zone demand;

decelerating said circulator on a return temperature increase;

providing low speed circulation optimized radiation convective heating;

operating convectively during a power loss via thermal mass; and

inhibiting hydronic heating convection during off demand cycles.