Method of automatic hydraulic equalization in a fluid-flow system

A method of hydraulically calibrating a heating/cooling system having:

• a plurality of users;
• a piping system subdivided into a plurality of zones in each of which a respective group of the users is connected in parallel;
• a heater or cooler having a supply line and a return line connected to the zones;
• a pump connected to the heater or cooler and to one of the lines for flowing a heat-exchange medium through the respective users;
• and
• respective flow-control valves connected in each of the zones for controlling flow of the medium therethrough and establishing in the respective zones a respective differential pressure,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• detecting the pressure differentials between inlet and outlet sides of each of the valves and generating respective set-point outputs corresponding thereto;
• detecting the pressure differential between the supply and return lines and generating a set-point output corresponding thereto;
• storing all of the outputs;
• and thereafter
• continuously monitoring the pressure differentials between the inlet and outlet sides of each of the valves and generating respective actual-value outputs corresponding thereto;
• continuously monitoring the pressure differential between the supply and return lines and generating an actual-value output corresponding thereto;
• and
• continuously comparing each of the actual-value outputs with the respective set-point outputs and adjusting flow through each of the valves so as to bring the respective actual-value output into agreement with the respective set-point value.