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US 9,284,721 B2Granted
Fluid flow control system
AssigneePatrick Gilbert
InventorPatrick Gilbert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid flow control system has a heating device for heating a fluid and a first flow path for providing the heated fluid from the heating device to a use region. A heat exchanger has a supply path that received fluid from a fluid supply, and an outlet path that receives fluid from the use region, whereby the fluid in the supply path is pre-heated by the fluid in the outlet path. A second flow path provides pre-heated fluid from the supply path of the heat exchanger to the heating device. Modulating devices control fluid flow through the outlet path along the supply path. A flow control device controls the modulating devices such that the fluid flow rates in the fluid supply path and outlet path of the heat exchanger are balanced, so as to be substantially the same.
Claims19
A fluid flow control system comprising:
- a heating device for heating a fluid;
- a first flow path for providing the heated fluid from the heating device to a use region;
- a heat exchanger having a supply path adapted to receive fluid from a fluid supply and an outlet path adapted to receive fluid from the use region, whereby the fluid in the supply path is pre-heated by the fluid in the outlet path;
- a second flow path for providing the pre-heated fluid from the supply path of the heat exchanger to the heating device;
- a first flow modulating device for controlling a flow of fluid along the first flow path and therefore along the outlet path;
- and,
- a second flow modulating device for controlling a flow of pre-heated fluid along the supply path;
- wherein the system further comprises a flow control device adapted to control each of the first and second flow modulating devices such that, during use, the fluid flow rates or changes to/in said flow rates in the fluid supply path and outlet path of the heat exchanger correlate substantially in proportion;
- a bypass flow path for providing per-heated fluid from the supply bath to the use region, the bypass flow path being connected between the second flow path upstream of the heating device and the first flow path downstream of the heating device;
- and,
- a bypass flow modulating device for controlling the flow of fluid in the bypass path;
- wherein the flow control device is further adapted to control the bypass flow modulating device such that the flow rate in the bypass path is a function of the flow rate in at least one of the first flow path and the second flow path;
- wherein each of the first, second and bypass flow modulating devices are capable of providing a variable degree of fluid flow between a closed position in which fluid flow is prevented and a fully open position;
- wherein the control device is operative to cause the actuation of the first and second flow modulating devices proportionally to that of the bypass flow modulating device.
11 more elements
A fluid flow control system comprising:
- a heating device for heating a fluid;
- a first flow path for providing the heated fluid from the heating device to a use region;
- a heat exchanger having a supply path adapted to receive fluid from a fluid supply and an outlet path adapted to receive fluid from the use region, whereby the fluid in the supply path is pre-heated by the fluid in the outlet path;
- a second flow path for providing the pre-heated fluid from the supply path of the heat exchanger to the heating device;
- a first flow modulating device for controlling a flow of fluid along the first flow path and therefore along the outlet path;
- and,
- a second flow modulating device for controlling a flow of pre-heated fluid along the supply path;
- wherein the system further comprises a flow control device adapted to control each of the first and second flow modulating devices such that, during use, the fluid flow rates or changes to/in said flow rates in the fluid supply path and outlet path of the heat exchanger correlate substantially in proportion;
- a bypass flow path for providing pre-heated fluid from the supply path to the use region, the bypass flow path being connected between the second flow path upstream of the heating device and the first flow path downstream of the heating device;
- and,
- a bypass flow modulating device for controlling the flow of fluid in the bypass path;
- wherein the flow control device is further adapted to control the bypass flow modulating device such that the flow rate in the bypass path is a function of the flow rate in at least one of the first flow path and the second flow path;
- wherein each of the first, second and bypass flow modulating devices are capable of providing a variable degree of fluid flow between a closed position in which fluid flow is prevented and a fully open position;
- wherein the control device is operative to cause the actuation of the first and second flow modulating devices inversely proportionally to that of the bypass flow modulating device so as to allow control of the temperature of the fluid in the use region substantially independently of the fluid flow rate.
11 more elements
A fluid flow control system comprising:
- a heating device for heating a fluid;
- a first flow path for providing the heated fluid from the heating device to a use region;
- a heat exchanger having a supply path adapted to receive fluid from a fluid supply and an outlet path adapted to receive fluid from the use region, whereby the fluid in the supply path is pre-heated by the fluid in the outlet path;
- a second flow path for providing the pre-heated fluid from the supply path of the heat exchanger to the heating device;
- a first flow modulating device for controlling a flow of fluid along the first flow path and therefore along the outlet path;
- and,
- a second flow modulating device for controlling a flow of pre-heated fluid along the supply path;
- wherein the system further comprises a flow control device adapted to control each of the first and second flow modulating devices such that, during use, the fluid flow rates or changes to/in said flow rates in the fluid supply path and outlet path of the heat exchanger correlate substantially in proportion;
- a fluid pressure regulating system, the fluid pressure regulating system comprising:
- a fluid pressure modulating device located in either the second flow path or the supply path;
- pressure sensitive surface areas in pressure communication with the upstream and downstream sides of the first and second flow modulating devices which are coupled so as to actuate a common mechanism for controlling the fluid pressure modulating device;
- and
- a pressure control system adapted in use to control the fluid pressure modulating device, in accordance with the displacement of the pressure sensitive surfaces or fluid pressure thereat, so as to control the flow of fluid in the second flow path with respect to that in the first flow path.
10 more elements
A fluid pressure regulating system comprising:
- a fluid pressure modulating device connectable to a fluid supply;
- a first flow modulating device and a second flow modulating device, each having a controllable resistance to fluid flow;
- a first upstream subchamber and a first downstream subchamber having a common first displaceable separator, the displacement of the first displaceable separator determining the relative internal volumes of each of the first subchambers, wherein an upstream side of the first flow modulating device is arranged in pressure communication with the first upstream subchamber and a downstream side of the first flow modulating device is arranged in pressure communication with the first downstream subchamber;
- a second upstream subchamber and a second downstream subchamber having a common second displaceable separator, the displacement of the second displaceable separator determining the relative internal volumes of each of the second subchambers, wherein an upstream side of the second flow modulating device is arranged in pressure communication with the second upstream subchamber and a downstream side of the second flow modulating device is arranged in pressure communication with the second downstream subchamber, the upstream side of the second flow modulating device being arranged for receiving fluid from the fluid pressure modulating device and wherein the first and second separators are coupled mechanically;
- and
- a pressure control system adapted in use to control the fluid pressure modulating device, in accordance with the position of the first and second separators with respect to the subchambers.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.