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US 2018/0340854 A1Published application
Device and methodology for early detection of fluid loss and notification and system shutdown for a closed loop fluid heat transfer system.
OwnerLee Hiram Stevensinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydronic system and method of use that will maintain normal system operating pressure while also reliably detecting even very small fluid losses in any closed loop fluid heat transfer system is described. The system includes a controller having clock or timing functionality in communication with one or more pressure sensors and a fluid supply valve that provides one or more notifications when the pressure drops below predetermined levels during predetermined periods of time. Depending on the nature of the pressure loss, the system has the capability of opening a fluid supply valve to provide make up fluid and increase system pressure.
Claims21
A method of detecting a leak in an hydronic system, the method comprising:
- providing a hydronic heating or cooling system, the system including,
- one or more pressure sensors, the one or more sensors configured to sense when a system pressure drops below or rises above at least first and second pressure set points
- a circulator pump,
- a controller, the controller including a timer and being configured to control the operation of the hydronic system responsive to pressure changes indicated by the one or more pressure sensors;
- a fluid supply valve coupled to a fluid supply,
- an expansion tank,
- at least one of a heating appliance and cooling appliance,
- conduit fluidly coupling at least the circulator pump, the fluid supply valve, the expansion tank and the heating or cooling appliance, and
- a fluid contained in the system;
- periodically sampling system pressure at regular intervals;
- initiating a leak determination cycle when the system pressure drops below a first pressure set point, the leak determination cycle executing the following operations in order,
- (1) starting the timer to count a first period of time;
- (2) opening a fluid supply valve for no more than a predetermined second period of time when the system pressure remains greater than a second pressure set point at a termination of the first period of time, the first pressure set point being greater than the second pressure set point,
- (3) closing a fluid supply valve no later than conclusion of the second period of time,
- (4) starting the timer for a predetermined third period of time generally coincident with fluid supply valve closure,
- (5) preventing the opening of the fluid supply valve during the third period of time, and
- (6) turning off the circulator pump when the system pressure drops below the second pressure set point.
14 more elements
A method of detecting a leak in an hydronic system, the method comprising:
- providing a hydronic heating or cooling system, the system including,
- one or more pressure sensors, the one or more sensors configured to sense when a system pressure drops below or rises above at least first and second pressure set points,
- a circulator pump,
- a controller, the controller being configured to control the operation of the hydronic system responsive to pressure changes indicated by the one or more pressure sensors;
- a fluid supply valve coupled to a fluid supply,
- an expansion tank,
- at least one of a heating appliance and cooling appliance,
- conduit fluidly coupling at least the circulator pump, the fluid supply valve, the expansion tank and the heating or cooling appliance, and
- a fluid contained in the system;
- periodically after each passing of a predetermined first period of time, opening the fluid supply valve for a predetermined second period of time and closing the fluid supply valve after the expiration of the second period of time;
- periodically sampling system pressure at regular intervals;
- providing a first notification indicating the system pressure dropped below a first pressure set point;
- and
- providing a second notification when the system pressure drops below the second pressure set point at any time.
11 more elements
A hydronic heating or cooling system, the system comprising:
- at least one of a heating appliance and cooling appliance;
- a circulator pump;
- an air separator including an air vent;
- first conduit fluidly coupling at least the at least one of a heating appliance and cooling appliance, the circulator pump, and the air separator in a continuous loop;
- a fluid supply valve;
- an expansion tank;
- one or more pressure sensors, the one or more sensors configured to sense when a system pressure drops below or rises above at least first and second pressure set points;
- second conduit fluidly coupling the fluid supply valve, the expansion tank, and the one or more pressure sensors to the air separator and the continuous loop wherein the fluid supply valve, the expansion tank and the one or more pressure sensors are not part of the continuous loop;
- a controller, the controller and at least one notification output and being operatively coupled to at least the circulator pump, the fluid supply valve and the one or more pressure sensors, the controller being configured to (i) provide a first notification by way of the at least one notification output when the system pressure drops below a first pressure set point, and (ii) provide a second notification by way of the at least one notification output when the system pressure drops below a second pressure set point.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.