HVAC Hydronic System with Split Buffer Tank for Zero-Mixing System Operation
OwnerDenering Berrioinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to HVAC-systems operating under new ZERO-MIXING (ZM) water flow condition as innovative way to promote consistent highly energy efficient performance on SOURCE-heating/cooling thermal production and BUILDING's system distribution (FIG. 1). ZM technology is applicable; but not limited, to large-residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities. Current state on HVAC technology, for system hydronics loop-flow, do not provide flows temperature segregation mechanisms between heating/chiller-plants hot/cold water supply and warmer water system returns. The result, a system that continuously operates at WATER MIXING conditions that impair equipment efficiency and output, and therefore, overall system energy performance.
Claims20
A hydronic HVAC system comprising:
- a heating/cooling source (B1-B2/CH) for heating or cooling a working fluid;
- a buffer for holding a thermal mass warmed or cooled by said heating/cooling source;
- a primary fluid loop and a primary pumping system (P1, P2) installed therein in a manner operable to pump a working fluid through the heating/cooling source from a return outlet of the buffer to a supply inlet of the buffer;
- a secondary fluid loop and a secondary pumping system (P3) installed therein in a manner operable to pump the working fluid from a supply outlet of the buffer to at least one heating/cooling unit (FC1, FC2, FC3, HP, MUA, DHW) that uses the working fluid for heating/cooling purposes, said secondary fluid loop comprising at least one return line through which the working fluid is returnable from at least one heat/cooling unit to a return inlet of the buffer;
- at least one control valve (CV1, CV2, CV3) installed in said at least one return line, said at least one control valve being settable into a plurality of different operating states, including at least a recirculation state operable to recirculate said working fluid back through said secondary fluid loop, and a bypass state operable to return said working fluid to the return inlet of the buffer;
- and
- a control system configured to perform monitoring of temperature conditions of the working fluid and controlled operation of the at least one control valve between the recirculation state and the bypass state depending on said temperature conditions of the working fluid.
A method of controlling hydronic heating or cooling, said method comprising:
- having a hydronic HVAC system comprising:
- a heating/cooling source (B1-B2/CH) for heating or cooling a working fluid;
- a buffer for holding a thermal mass warmed or cooled by said heating/cooling source;
- a primary fluid loop in which the heating/cooling source is fluidly connected between a supply inlet and a return outlet of the buffer to receive said working fluid from the return outlet and heat/cool said working fluid, before loading thereof into the buffer through the supply inlet;
- a secondary fluid loop in which at least one heating/cooling unit (FC1, FC2, FC3, HP, MUA, DHW) is fluidly connected between a supply outlet and return inlet of the buffer to receive said working fluid from the supply outlet and use said working fluid to address a heating/cooling load, before returning said working fluid to the buffer through the return inlet;
- and
- perform monitoring of temperature conditions of the working fluid and controlled operation of the at least one control valve between the recirculation state and the bypass state depending on said temperature conditions of the working fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.