# US 2014/0150883 A1 · Method and devices for equalizing a group of consumers in a fluid transport system

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0150883 A1
- Document ID: US20140150883A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/129,139
- Filed: 2012-06-20
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-30
- Assignees: Belimo Holding AG
- Inventors: Norbert Markus Lederle; Urs Keller; Reto Hobi; Peter Schmidlin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150883A1

## CPC

- G05D 7/0617: {specially adapted for fluid materials}
- F24D 19/1009: {for central heating}
- Y10T 137/0368: By speed of fluid
- Y10T 137/7759: Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- F24D: DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR (using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plants for heating purposes F01K17/02)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

For the purpose of balancing (S3) a group of consumers in a fluid transport system in which each consumer is configured with a motorized regulating valve for the purpose of regulating the flow through the consumer, characteristic data for the consumer is saved (S2) which determines a valve position of the corresponding regulating valve for the target throughput through each consumer. A momentary total throughput through the group of consumers is determined (S32) by means of a common throughput sensor, and based on the momentary total throughput and a sum of the desired target throughputs through the consumers, a balancing factor is determined (S34). By setting (S31) the valve positions of the corresponding regulating valves based on the characteristic data and the balancing factor, a dynamic balancing of the consumers is carried out.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for balancing a group of consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) in a fluid transport system (5, 5′) in which each consumer (V1, V2, V3, Vi) is configured with a motorized regulating valve (V11, V22, V33, Vii) for the purpose of regulating the flow through the consumer (V1, V2, V3, Vi), characterized by the:
storage (S2) of characteristic data for the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) which determines a valve position (Hi) of the corresponding regulating valve (V11, V22, V33, Vii) for the target throughputs (Fi) through each of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi),
determination (S32) of a momentary total throughput through the group of consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) by means of a flow sensor (4),
determination (S34) of a balancing factor based on the momentary total throughput and a sum of the desired target throughputs through the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi), and
execution (S3) of a dynamic balancing of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) by setting the valve positions (Hi) of the corresponding regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii) based on the characteristic data and the balancing factor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, characterized by repeated determinations (S32, S34) of the momentary total throughput and the balancing factor, and execution (S3) of the dynamic balancing until the momentary total throughput is within a defined threshold range around the sum of the desired target throughputs.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, characterized by the detection (S1) of the characteristic data for the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) of the group by setting the regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii) for a first part of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) in a closed position, and measuring the flow (F) through a second part of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) in different valve positions (H) by means of the flow sensor (4).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, characterized by the detection (S1) of the characteristic data for each consumer (V1, V2, V3, Vi) of the group by setting the regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii) for the other consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) of the group in a closed position, and measuring the flow (F) through the one consumer (V1, V2, V3, Vi) in different valve positions (H) by means of the flow sensor (4).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, characterized by the execution of a one-time actuation of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) when a maximum position is reached in at least one of the regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, characterized by the saving of priority data for each of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi), and the throttling of the flow through consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) with low priority, when a maximum position is reached in one of the regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii) of a consumer (V1, V2, V3, Vi) with high priority.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, characterized by the reduction of the output of a fan and/or pump when a defined minimum position is reached in at least one of the regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii), for the purpose of preventing flow noise by a fluid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, characterized by the setting of the valve positions (Hi) of the corresponding regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii) based on the characteristic data, the balancing factor, and—if pump output is reduced and the sum of the desired target throughput remains constant through the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi)—with an increased degree of opening of the corresponding regulating valve (V11, V22, V33, Vii) up to a defined maximum position in at least one of the regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii).

### Claim 9

A device (1) for balancing a group of consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) in a fluid transport system (5, 5′) in which each consumer (V1, V2, V3, Vi) is configured with a motorized regulating valve (V11, V22, V33, Vii) for the purpose of regulating the flow through the consumer (V1, V2, V3, Vi), and in which a common flow sensor (4) is included for the purpose of measuring a total throughput through the group of consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi), characterized by:
a characteristic data module (11) which is designed for saving characteristic data for each of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi), said characteristic data determining a valve position (Hi) of the corresponding regulating valve (V11, V22, V33, Vii) for each of the target throughputs (Fi) through each of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi), and
a balancing module (12) which is designed to determine the momentary total throughput through the group of consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) by means of the flow sensor (4), to determine a balancing factor based on the momentary total throughput and a sum of the desired target throughputs through the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi), and to carry out a dynamic balancing of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) by setting the valve positions (Hi) of the corresponding regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii) based on the characteristic data and the balancing factor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the balancing module (12) is designed to make repeated determinations of the momentary total throughput and the balancing factor, and to execute the dynamic balancing until the momentary total throughput is within a defined threshold range around the sum of the desired target throughputs.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

A device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the characteristic data module (11) is designed to detect the characteristic data for the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) of the group by setting the regulating valve (V11, V22, V33, Vii) for a first part of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) in a closed position, and to measure the flow (F) through a second part of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) in different valve positions (H) by means of the common flow sensor (4).

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the characteristic data module (11) is designed to detect the characteristic data for each of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) by setting the regulating valve (V11, V22, V33, Vii) for the other consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) of the group in a closed position, and to measure the flow (F) through the specific one of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) in different valve positions (H) by means of the common flow sensor (4).

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

A device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the balancing module (12) is designed to execute a one-time actuation of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) when a maximum position is reached in at least one of the regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii).

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

A device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the characteristic data module (11) is designed to save priority data for each of the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi), and the balancing module (12) is designed to throttle the flow through consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) with low priority when a maximum position is reached in one of the regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii) of a consumer (V1, V2, V3, Vi) with high priority.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

A device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the balancing module (12) is designed to prevent flow noise by a fluid by reducing the output of a fan and/or pump when a minimum position is reached in at least one of the regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii).

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

A device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the balancing module (12) is designed to set the valve positions (Hi) of the corresponding regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii) based on the characteristic data, the balancing factor, and—if pump output is reduced and the sum of the desired target throughput remains constant through the consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi)—with an increased degree of opening of the corresponding regulating valve (V11, V22, V33, Vii) up to a defined maximum position in at least one of the regulating valves (V11, V22, V33, Vii).

### Claim 17 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

A computer program product comprising computer program code for controlling one or more processors of a device (1) in such a manner that the device (1) executes a method according to one of the claims 1-8 for the purpose of balancing a group of consumers (V1, V2, V3, Vi) in a fluid transport system (5, 5′).