Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
  • F24D19/00—Details
  • F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
  • F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
  • F24D19/1009—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for central heating
  • F24D19/1015—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for central heating using a valve or valves
  • F24D19/1018—Radiator valves

Definitions

• the invention concerns the control of a heating system with a heat transfer medium by means of a remotely controlled head that electromechanically controls the valve of the heating element.
• the head is capable of sensing the temperature of the valve and thereby the temperature of the heating element, too, and the measured data are sent by the head to a superior control center.
• the valves of heating elements with a heat transfer medium are controlled manually or by means of thermostatic heads or by means of electronically controlled heads, which can operate autonomously or which can communicate with a superior (higher-level, master) control element.
• An electronically controlled head usually includes an electric motor, a gear mechanism, a power source, an engine control circuit (usually with a position sensor, too) and preferably also a contactless communication element for connection with a superior control element.
• Such a device is described, for example, in the documents DE102012011336A1 , DE102013110821A1 .
• the head is capable of pressing or releasing a valve pin according to instructions, by which the throttling element in the valve is moved between the two end positions.
• the head is also capable of measuring the temperature of the surrounding environment, using a sensor located away from the valve within the head body, for example according to documents CN108548002A , CN220452871U or CN103616903A .
• Publication EP3246782A1 describes three temperature sensors located in the head at different distances from the zone of the connection of the head with the valve. Based on the different values from the three sensors, the temperature gradient can be calculated, while the temperature of the valve can be calculated indirectly. This system is complicated and burdened with various measurement errors.
• valve head of the heating element with a body
• the head inside the body includes an electric engine, a gear mechanism, a power source, a control circuit, preferably also a contactless communication element
• the body has an external connection zone adapted for connection to the valve of the heating element, whereby the connection zone is provided with a rotatably mounted nut (screw female) for connection with the thread of the valve according to this invention, the essence of which lies in the fact that a casing (housing) with a temperature sensor is movably mounted in the body, whereby the casing is pressed against the surface of the nut and the temperature sensor is connected to the control circuit and/or to the contactless communication element.
• the casing is preferably metallic or at least partially metallic or including at least one metal surface for the contact with the nut.
• the metal surface of the casing is advantageous not only because of good heat transfer, but also to ensure the sliding contact of the casing and the nut when screwing the nut.
• the head also has an ambient temperature measurement, which will be the usual embodiment, it will also have a temperature sensor oriented oppositely against the connection zone, as is known from the prior art. This ambient temperature sensor is not described in detail further.
• An important feature of the present invention is the arrangement where the casing with the temperature sensor is physically pressed onto the surface of the nut.
• the body of the head is usually made of plastic, which allows for a suitable shape to be created for receiving all the components, to ensure mechanical resistance and at the same time to achieve the desired aesthetic appearance.
• the nut is almost always metallic, in particular due to sufficient strength with a small thread height, which must correspond to the thread on the metal valve. Plastic nuts have not proven themselves in practice, since the thread could easily be torn down if installed incorrectly.
• the present invention therefore uses the good thermal conductivity of the metal valve casing and good heat transfer to the nut, which is a common part of the head in a metal version.
• the nut is put onto the connection zone of the body in such a way that the connection zone contains elastically (flexibly) deformable stops and after the nut is put on, the front annulus of the nut rests on the surfaces of these stops.
• the stops are preferably arranged around the circumference and they form a circumferential collar. This allows the nut mounted on the body to rotate essentially freely in the axis of the zone of connection, so that the nut can be screwed onto the valve. At the same time, after tightening the nut, a solid axial connection between the head body and the valve is created.
• a pusher element protrudes from the body through the zone of connection and rests on the valve pin. By pushing the pin, the flow of the heat transfer medium through the valve is regulated.
• the heat transfer medium is supplied to the valve through a pipe with a relatively small cross-section; when the valve is stopped, the flow in the pipe stops and heat transfer without flow occurs only over a very short distance, which is quickly reflected in the cooling of the valve body.
• This temperature change is transferred to the nut; the temperature is recorded from the surface of the nut by a temperature sensor in the casing.
• the head in this document may also be referred to as a valve control element, a controlled actuator, or it may be referred to similarly with the meaning of a device that is connected to the valve and controls the level of its opening and closing.
• the contact of the temperature sensor casing with the surface of the nut can be produced as permanent or as adjustable, when during installation of the head the pressure is limited or completely excluded and then after tightening the nut the pressure mechanism is released again to the position in which the casing with the temperature sensor is pressed against the surface of the nut.
• a simpler solution has proven to be advantageous, when the pressure of the casing on the surface of the nut is exerted constantly, for example by means of a spring. In such a case, the casing slides over the surface of the nut when screwing it, which does not pose a problem, since screwing the nut is a one-off operation and the friction in contact of the casing with the nut is not high. Permanent pressure of the casing to the nut is also advantageous because there is no risk of accidentally leaving the casing without pressure when installing the head.
• the pressure of the casing to the nut can be arranged in two basic directions.
• the casing can be radially pressed against the outer or inner circumference of the nut, when the casing is placed, for example, on a pivotable holder in the body of the head.
• the casing can then lean onto the circumference of the nut, where the nut has recesses that facilitate gripping with fingers or tools. In such a case, the casing also acts against the nut's spontaneous rotation.
• the nut can have a smooth cylindrical shape at the edge or a smooth circumferential groove into which the casing leans.
• a metal casing with a temperature sensor is inserted into a cavity in the body of the head, whereby the cavity has an opening corresponding to the cross-section of the casing on the side adjacent to the nut.
• the cavity On the opposite side, inside the body, the cavity has an opening for passing the wires of the temperature sensor.
• the wires of the sensor enter the inside of the body, where they are connected to the corresponding PCB.
• the wires are led with a bend and with a gap, so they do not prevent the casing from being pulled out of the cavity.
• a spring is inserted in the cavity, which pushes the casing out of the cavity in the direction towards the surface of the nut.
• the cavity preferably has a cylindrical shape, which corresponds to the cylindrical shape of the casing with a small gap.
• the axis of the cavity is essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of the nut or the axis of the cavity is led obliquely so that the casing is directed towards the surface of the nut.
• the spring pushes the casing out of the cavity, but after the nut is put on and the nut fits on the circumferential collar, the casing's outward movement is limited precisely by the nut.
• the spring has a support formed in the cavity, for example, the spring leans onto the bottom of the cavity, which has an opening for passing of the wires, but the opening is smaller than the diameter of the compression cylinder spring.
• This slidable deposition does not need to have a stop for the extended position formed within the cavity, since the function of the stop is performed by the nut after it is put onto the zone of connection.
• the metal casing is reliably led in the cavity and the plastic material of the cavity surface ensures low friction when the casing is pushed towards the nut.
• the plastic material of the cavity creates thermal insulation of the casing against the environment and also against the inside of the body of the head. Heat can be generated in the body of the head from the PCB board, from the electric engine, from the gearbox when the engine is operating, and so on.
• the metal casing is pressed in by means of a lever with a spring.
• the casing is inserted into a hole inside the lever, with the edge of the casing projected from the lever in the zone for contact with the nut.
• the lever is made of plastic and thus it thermally insulates the casing against the cooling from the environment.
• the lever can be pressed into engagement with the nut by means of a spring, or the lever can be made of plastic so that after the insertion of the sleeve and the attachment of the nut, the lever is deformed within the elastic deformation.
• the nut can have a circumferential contact surface with a corresponding slope.
• the temperature sensor is pressed against the inner surface of the nut, for example in the zone of the stops of the circumferential collar, which define the position of the nut.
• a cavity is formed in one of the stops for placing the temperature sensor.
• the sensor in this embodiment has small dimensions, preferably in SMD realization, or as a MEMS sensor, while its conductive connection to the printed circuit board in the body of the head is ensured by wires guided inside the body of the head.
• the SMD temperature sensor preferably has at least one surface made with a metal coating, for example from platinum, whereby this part of the temperature sensor should be considered as a metal casing.
• a slight deformation of the stop formed as a segment of the peripheral collar can maintain the necessary pressure of the temperature sensor on the inner surface of the nut, while the elastic deformation of the corresponding part of the peripheral collar also serves in the phase of placing the nut on the peripheral collar.
• the location of the temperature sensor in contact with the inner surface of the nut reduces the influence of heat loss on the accuracy of the measured temperature, as the nut is cooled by the ambient temperature on the outside.
• the nut is directly connected to the body of the valve, but its surface is cooled by the surrounding environment, which creates a temperature difference between the measured temperature and the temperature of the heat transfer medium.
• the temperature gradient depends on the ambient temperature, which is usually also measured by the head or by a separate sensor. Depending on the measured ambient temperature and the temperature at the temperature sensor in the casing, a correction can be made using calibration curves.
• the nut is provided with thermal insulation, at least on a part of the outer surface outside of contact with the casing, which may take the form of a plastic coating, an insulating cover of the nut, and so on.
• the function of thermal insulation of the nut can also be fulfilled by a protective element against unauthorized manipulation with the nut. If the heads are installed in public areas, there is a risk of their theft, which can be prevented by a protective element in such a way that, after installation, the rotation of the nut is blocked by means of a protective element.
• the protective element can be in the form of a hoop that is pushed onto the surface of the nut after the nut is tightened to the valve.
• a heating control system which includes at least two heating elements with a heat transfer medium, which have valves for controlling the flow of the heat transfer medium, where heads are connected to the valves according to the description above, whereby the system includes a superior control center which is connected to the heads and where the superior control center has an evaluation unit for processing data concerning the temperature of the valves.
• the heads are connected to the superior control center wirelessly, which significantly increases the flexibility of the system and simplifies installation even with a large number of heads.
• the technical features and algorithm steps described here can also be used with heads connected by conventional wires.
• the deficiencies in the prior art are also significantly remedied by a method of heating control, where the heating system includes at least two heating elements with a heat transfer medium with valves and heads according to the previous description, whereby the temperature of the nut by which the head is screwed to the valve is sensed; the data concerning the temperature of the nut are sent to the superior control center and assigned to the corresponding position of the pusher element in the head.
• the method according to this invention may also include the step of adjusting the course of the pusher, whereby the engine is rotated, the position of the pusher is recorded, and the temperature measured on the nut is assigned to the position of the pusher element. By repeating these steps, a file is created that expresses the dependence of temperature on the position of the pusher element.
• the proposed invention enables precise determination of the position of the pusher element at which the heat transfer medium begins to flow into the heating element.
• the algorithm for tracking the optimal valve opening point is based on iterative measurement of the position of the pusher element relative to the temperature measured on the nut.
• the algorithm can be used, for example, in a state where the temperature measured on the nut corresponds to the statistically measured temperature corresponding to the cooled heating element of the system and the difference between the set room temperature and the room temperature measured by the control unit (regulation unit) is not greater than, for example, 3°C, preferably not greater than 1°C.
• the algorithm is not initiated in order to not to delay the start of heating of the space.
• the algorithm is based on the gradual movement of the pusher element, which leads to the opening of the valve in small steps, and after each change of the step, the head waits for a set time for the newly set position to ensure the possibility of heating the nut by the heat transfer medium that has started to flow into the heating element.
• the waiting time can be set according to the type of valve and the flow rate in the heating system.
• the head records the current position of the pusher element, and this position corresponds to the real beginning of the valve opening.
• the position corrected by the margin of error or corrected by the valve hysteresis - when the point of the beginning of the flow through the valve is slightly moved from the point of end of the flow during the closing of the valve - is sent to the superior control center.
• the above-described algorithm or another algorithm can be deactivated or activated by a superior control center even at a higher difference between the set and actual room temperature, in order to set the optimal valve opening points, e.g. after installation of the system.
• the algorithm can include a step where, after measuring the temperature increase on the nut, the valve does not continue to open and the heating element is not controlled to reach the desired temperature, but the valve is closed and after the time required for the heating element to cool down, another measurement iteration occurs in one or more stages.
• the correct setting of the valve opening point can also be checked during the operation of the heating system, when the valves are closed when the heated space reaches the attenuation (lower) temperature. In this case, it is evaluated whether, after the specified time interval required for the heating element to cool down, the temperature measured on the nut of the head has decreased to the value corresponding to the state without heating medium flow. If the temperature measured on the nut of the head does not decrease to the temperature corresponding to the cooled heating element, the algorithm proceeds in the opposite way to what was already mentioned, i.e. the valve is gradually closed. After each change in the position of the pusher element, the head remains in the newly set position for a specified time interval, during which the decrease in the temperature measured on the nut is monitored. If, after the specified time interval, the temperature of the nut does not decrease, further measurement iterations follow.
• the head will send information about the given condition to the superior control center, which will then notify the system administrator and ask him to mechanically check the head and the valve.
• An important feature of the invention is therefore the integration of a temperature sensor into the body of the head so that the sensor measures the temperature of the valve.
• the integration simplifies the installation of the head and achieves a compact construction compared to solutions where it was necessary to separately attach the temperature sensor and lead its wires into the head.
• the head according to this invention in connection with a superior control center, provides data concerning the dynamic onset of heating, which indicates the flow rates to the heating elements at given hydraulic conditions.
• the superior control center within the system can, using the collected data, issue an instruction to the head or several heads where the valve temperature increases most rapidly, in order to limit the flow rate of the heat transfer medium.
• the system records the data for the relevant valves and subsequently limits the active course of the pusher element in the next control.
• the relevant valve is then operated not in the entire range of movement, but in one that takes into account the hydraulically balanced flow rate through several or even all branches of the heating system.
• This procedure is particularly advantageous in systems without functional hydraulic regulation, and also where the performance of the heating elements is not well dimensioned in some rooms.
• the previous solution consisted of starting the heating earlier, so that even the under-dimensioned rooms were heated at the monitored time, which, however, leads to a waste of energy.
• the method of hydraulic balancing of a heating system using heads according to this invention consists in monitoring the temperature conditions of individual rooms of the building in the time period when the required temperature changes from the attenuation (lower) to the comfort (higher), while the main monitored factor is the dynamics of the temperature increase in the room measured by the spatial control unit.
• the output data from the control unit can be a set of particular time intervals assigned to particular temperature points, or parameters, coefficients of the mathematical description of the temperature curve. In both cases, it is necessary to select the largest possible number of samples in order to record the nonlinearity of the temperature increase, which depends on the current room temperature.
• Another input data consist of the temperature of the heat transfer medium measured by a nut, which is the main variable and directly affects the dynamics of the temperature increase.
• the head according to the proposed invention in connection with a superior control center, provides data concerning the response of the temperature of the heat transfer medium to a change in the percentage of opening of multiple valves, which indicates the flow rates to the heating elements at given hydraulic conditions.
• the data are sent to the superior control center and provide information on the dynamics of the heating system across the rooms of the regulated building. It is also appropriate to include data on the external temperature of the environment in the calculation, which, based on the diversity of heat losses in individual rooms, affects the temperature increase.
• the compensation of the effects of the external temperature itself should be ensured by the equithermal control of the temperature of the heat transfer medium, but due to the fact that the heating system is a dynamic system, the increase in the temperature of the heat transfer medium may not compensate for the influence of the external temperature in all rooms equally.
• the mathematical algorithm can evaluate the dynamics of the heating system and assign values to individual rooms, based on which it is possible to sort the heated rooms, beginning with the room with the fastest temperature increase all to the room where the heating system is not properly dimensioned. Based on the given values, an immediate change of settings may not be made, but changes in the configuration of the regulation courses of the pusher elements can be conveniently made after a selected time interval of building monitoring.
• the algorithm in the superior control center knows the temperature of the currently supplied heating heat transfer medium (usually water) to the heating system, the percentage of the opening of the valve (the course and position of the pusher element), the set temperature, the real temperature in individual rooms, the dynamics of their heating and/or cooling over time, or data on the CO 2 status (detection by the appropriate sensor to determine the real occupancy of the room).
• the algorithm adjusts the operating courses of the pusher elements in the heads, thereby changing the valve flow rates so that this new setting ensures more uniform temperature heating of all rooms in the building.
• the algorithm can specifically heat rooms based on other priorities, which may differ depending on the purpose of use of individual rooms.
• Valve temperature sensing provides a whole range of new control options and benefits.
• the temperature of the valve is partly related to its position, and the temperature datum can be used to verify the correct function of the valve.
• Valves and heads are often supplied and installed separately and they come from different manufacturers.
• Various procedures are used to match the valve and head interaction, for example, the engine load is measured when moving the pusher element in the extreme positions of the valve.
• the head tries to adjust the travel of the pusher element in a range that corresponds to the extreme positions of the valve pin.
• the extreme positions in the movement of the valve pin determined according to the engine load are determined with a relatively large margin of error.
• the valve temperature reading is a direct parameter for the correct assessment of whether the valve is fully closed.
• Adjusting the range of movement of the pusher element according to the temperature profile on the valve nut can be repeated within different algorithms and at different time intervals. The correctly set range of movement of the pusher element is checked in the background of other control steps during the functionality of the control system, or the aforementioned algorithms can be activated via a superior control center.
• a difference in the optimal range compared to the previous detection indicates wear of the valve seal or loosening of the nut.
• a sudden difference in the optimal range of movement of the pusher element can directly indicate unauthorized loosening of the nut. Detection of unauthorized manipulation of the nut is especially important in public areas, where it can signal an attempt at theft or an attempt to increase the temperature in the room compared to the centrally set temperature. Loosening the nut moves the pusher element away from the valve and thus prevents the valve pin from being pressed into the fully closed position. Even in situations where the temperature already exceeds the desired room temperature, the valve head may not be able to close the valve. Measuring the temperature of the nut can reveal a situation where the flow of the heat transfer medium does not stop despite the instruction to close. Previously measured values can be archived in a superior control center or directly in the valve head.
• the proposed invention provides the heating system administrator with information that a closed valve is allowing heat transfer medium (usually water) to flow, i.e. that it is not working according to the required control.
• the heating element usually a radiator
• the valve temperature also allows for the identification of faults in remote elements of the heating system, for example, problems with the flow of heat transfer medium to the valve can be identified. If the temperature of the heat transfer medium is insufficient (for example, due to reasons on the part of the boiler room), this will manifest itself in the fact that the room cannot be heated to the required temperature despite the administrator's request.
• the valve will be 100% open by the head, but the temperature in the room does not rise and the temperature sensor on the nut measures a low temperature.
• the temperature reading from the valve nut is a very useful tool for remote analysis and problem solving.
• it is possible to detect possible anomalies in the supply of heat transfer medium. Any loosening of the nut can be compensated for in the system according to this invention without the need for physical intervention on site by changing the range of movement of the pusher element to achieve complete closure of the valve, while appropriately using the information on the current temperature of the valve.
• the nut can be loosened for various reasons, for example, when attempting to steal the head or as a result of unauthorized manipulation with the aim of increasing the temperature in the room, or due to the effect of long-term vibrations, and so on. From the point of view of the system administrator, such unwanted loosening of the nut can be understood as spontaneous or arbitrary, whereby the actual cause of the loosening is not significant.
• the system according to the proposed invention may include at least one control unit contactlessly connected to the heads and also to the superior control center.
• the control unit is provided with a room temperature sensor and sends these data to the superior control center.
• the control unit may also serve as a concentrator of communication channels from several heads and all elements - heads and control units may form a MESH network for reliable communication in larger buildings and spaces.
• the control unit may also form a control element by which the user enters or adjusts the desired thermal comfort state, while the superior control center may evaluate such an instruction according to the set rules.
• the system preferably also includes a CO 2 sensor, which can indirectly but statistically very reliably determine the occupancy of the room.
• the CO 2 sensor can be part of the head or it is preferably part of the control unit, which is usually placed on the wall of the room.
• the CO 2 sensor is able to determine the presence of people based on exhaled CO 2 , and it has been found that a measurable increase in CO 2 occurs relatively quickly after a person enters the room. Ventilating the room reduces the volume of CO 2 , but this effect is relatively constant for each room and is conditioned by the position of the CO 2 sensor, the ventilation method and the number of people in the room.
• Information about the actual presence of people in the room can be used in several algorithms to control the heating system. For example, an initially higher classroom temperature programmed according to the class schedule can be reduced if there is no increase in CO 2 within the set time from the start of the planned lesson, which essentially means that the classroom is empty and there is no reason to heat it.
• the CO 2 sensor can also be located in the head according to the proposed invention, while the heat in the vicinity of the heating element does not essentially affect the CO 2 content in the air. This allows the sensing of the CO 2 volume even in a system where the control units do not have such functionality.
• the body 2 of the head 1 is made of plastic; the body 2 has two main parts connected by screws.
• the rear part comprises a zone of connection which has a tubular sleeve extending from the vertical wall of the body 2. Through the opening in the wall, a pusher element for operating the valve pin passes through the inside of the sleeve.
• the zone of connection has essentially the same realization as is known in the prior art. Similar to the prior art, components for moving the pusher element are located inside the body 2, in particular a DC electric engine, a gear mechanism connected to the engine output, a power source in the form of a battery, an electronic control circuit for controlling the engine and a contactless communication element for connecting to a superior center 8.
• the difference in the realization compared to the prior art lies in the integration of a temperature sensor into the rear part of the body 2.
• the designation "rear” describes the side opposite the position that the user sees as the front when looking at the head in the installed position.
• the rear wall of the body 2 is adjacent to the valve after the head 1 is installed.
• a commercially available encapsulated NTC temperature sensor is used as the temperature sensor.
• the casing 4 is made of stainless steel, it has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of about 3 mm and a length of about 12 mm.
• the casing 4 is supplied as waterproof, two wires coming out of the casing 4 are connected to the control circuit inside the body 2.
• the measurement range of the temperature sensor is -20 to 110°C.
• the temperature sensor in the casing 4 is a thermistor with NTC characteristics, where its electrical resistance decreases with increasing temperature.
• the voltage is 3.7 V according to the voltage of the battery used.
• the temperature B-constant in this example is 3950 K ⁇ 1%.
• the use of a commonly available sensor simplifies the production and the use of a thermistor reduces energy requirements, when the measurement phase and power supply of the temperature sensor do not occur continuously, but at set intervals and in set modes.
• the cavity 6 has an axis parallel to the axis of the sleeve and it has a cylindrical shape that corresponds with a gap to the dimensions of the casing 4.
• the cavity 6 extends into the interior of the body 2 and at the same time the outer wall of the cavity 6 passes near the sleeve, thereby creating a bearing for the casing 4 up to the vicinity of the point of contact of the casing 4 with the nut 3.
• the outer wall of the cavity 6 also creates thermal insulation for the casing 4 so that the recorded data concerning the temperature of the nut 3 are as little affected by the ambient temperature as possible.
• a compression cylindrical spring 5 is placed in the cavity 6, the first end of which leans onto the wall at the end of the cavity 6.
• the casing 4 is inserted into the cavity 6 so that the wires coming out of the casing 4 are passed through the opening at the end of the cavity 6 into the interior of the body 2, where they are subsequently connected to the control circuit, whereby the wires have a length that does not limit the movement of the casing 4 in the cavity 6.
• the casing 4 is pressed into the cavity 6 against the pretension of the compression spring 5 and then a nut 3 is placed on the sleeve.
• the connection zone on the sleeve contains elastic segments around the circumference, which form a circumferential collar on the outside of the sleeve.
• the elastic segments have a conical onset, due to which, when the nut 3 is pushed onto the sleeve, they deform inwards and the nut 3 is axially displaced towards the circumferential collar. After the edge of the nut 3 falls behind the collar, the nut 3 is freely rotatable on the sleeve and at the same time the front wall of the nut 3 limits the extension of the casing 4 from the cavity 6. Now the casing 4 is permanently pressed against the nut 3, however, this pressure does not prevent the rotation of the nut 3. The friction between the smooth metal casing 4 and the smooth metal surface of the nut 3 is low.
• the length of the course of the casing 4 in the assembled state is relatively short, it is sufficient if it overcomes the axial gap of the nut 3, while this axial gap ensures smooth rotation of the nut 3 on the sleeve and also correct locking of the nut 3 behind the edge of the collar after deformation of the elastic segments.
• a course of up to 5 mm is sufficient, preferably up to 3 mm, particularly preferably up to 2 mm. Thanks to this, the deposition of the casing 4 is permanently reliable and the movements of the casing 4 do not lead to stress on the wires or to tearing of the insulation of the wires against the spring 5.
• the nut 3 is screwed onto the valve, opposite the valve pin there is the pusher element of the head 1.
• the nut 3 in this example is made of brass and its surface is decoratively electroplated.
• the nut 3 has grooves or recesses on the circumference to facilitate screwing onto the valve.
• the metal material of the nut 3 conducts heat well and transfers the temperature from the heat transfer medium through the valve to the housing 4 with the temperature sensor.
• valve temperature sensing is advantageously used in this example for automatic management of the heating control system. Thanks to the head 1 with integrated valve temperature sensing, notifications about a poorly sealing valve can be sent, for example by e-mail or SMS, which allows the system administrator to make a correction, for example to correct the working course of the pusher element on the head 1 (the pusher element lift) or to physically tighten the loose nut 3 on the valve, or to replace the malfunctioning valve, or to warn about possible vandalism or theft.
• valve temperature sensor in the head 1 enables new functionality within the head 1 itself, which is able to regulate the extent of the movement course of the pusher element according to the valve reaction, i.e. according to the actually recorded flow stop, where this stop is reflected in a drop in temperature compared to the ambient temperature.
• the head 1 is able to bring to the superior control center 8 new data, which can be used to analyze the flow dynamics of the heat transfer medium and subsequently it is possible to influence the heating dynamics within the system with set conditions, for example to compensate for the hydraulic imbalance of the system.
• control unit 9 contains a room air temperature sensor and a CO 2 sensor for assessing the actual occupancy of the room.
• the temperature sensor according to figure 5 is encapsulated in a copper casing 4 which is inserted into the hole in the lever before the nut 3 is mounted.
• the lever is formed on the rear wall of the body 2 of the head 1 and the elastic pressure of the lever is derived from the deformation of the plastic material, which is formed after the nut 3 is pressed onto the connection zone sleeve.
• the embodiment according to example 1 is supplemented with insulation 7, which is shown in figures 8 and 9 .
• the nut 3 is provided with insulation 7, which consists of a plastic hoop mounted after the installation of the head 1.
• the insulation 7 also performs the function of a seal, which protects against unauthorized manipulation of the nut 3.
• the plastic hoop may be hollow or it may have an interior filled with insulating material.
• the insulation 7 may carry a marking in the form of a number that is stored in the system or it may have an RFID chip for remote reading when checking for integrity.
• the RFID chip may have an antenna wound in such a way that if the integrity of the ring is violated, the antenna will tear and the absence of a response to the reader signal detects a problem with the integrity of the seal.
• the casing 4 may be pressed against the nut 3 according to the diagrams in figure 4 .
• the contact of the casing 4 in the formed groove on the surface of the nut 3 will increase the contact area for heat transfer.
• an SMD temperature sensor is used, mounted on a small plate, which is inserted into a groove in the stop of the circumferential collar.
• the circumferential collar has a group of segments, which, thanks to the elasticity of the plastics used, allow the insertion of a metal nut 3.
• the front of the nut 3 is pressed against the sloped, conical surfaces of the stops, which creates a radial force compressing the segments towards the axis of the circumferential collar.
• the segments After the front of the nut 3 passes the edge of the stops, the segments return to their original position by elastic deformation, but at least one segment, which carries the plate with the SMD temperature sensor, is designed to create a preload against the inner surface of the nut 3 in order to ensure the pressure of the SMD temperature sensor against the inner surface of the nut 3.
• This pressure scheme corresponds to figure 4 on the right.
• All data on the valve opening position, temperature data on the individual valve nut 3, room temperature data and possibly also CO 2 volume are collected in a cloud storage, which is accessible to the heating system administrator and the system supplier.
• Statistical procedures and analysis of recurring relationships can be used to identify, test and subsequently deploy further optimization procedures to increase energy savings while maintaining thermal comfort. For example, a temperature inertia curve is obtained for individual rooms in the building after the end of active heating and, taking into account the planned end of activity on a given day of the week, the heat input in the relevant room is limited in time, while data on the current outdoor temperature, which has an impact on heat loss, can also be used.
• the loosening of the head 1 from the valve is detected.
• the correlation of the measured temperature on the nut 3 with the desired (set) temperature, the actually measured room temperature measured by the control unit 9 (e.g. on the wall), or the second temperature sensor in the head 1 and the information about the opening status of the valve mechanically controlled by the head 1 in percentage (0 to 100%) are monitored.
• the system requests the head 1 to fully or partially open the valve flow to the radiator.
• the sensor in the casing 4 records the maximum or increased temperatures of the heat transfer medium depending on the valve opening (compared to the state when the valve is closed).
• the system gives the command to the head 1 to completely close the valve (0% opening).
• the temperature measured on the nut 3 begins to gradually decrease.
• the measured temperature can approach the values of the temperatures measured in the room, which correspond to the graph in figure 11 .
• the temperature sensor on the nut 3 continuously measures values that are close to the air temperature in the room according to figure 14 . This is the case even if an instruction is received from the room heating system and the head 1 receives the command to open the valve to maximum flow. An accompanying sign of this undesirable condition is also the fact that the measured temperatures in the room are permanently significantly lower than the desired, set temperatures. The room is not heated enough.
• the heating efficiency of the respective room is evaluated.
• the correlation of the data is monitored similarly to example 7 and at the same time the CO 2 level is evaluated using a wall sensor, preferably as part of the control unit 9.
• the system sends a command to the head 1 to fully or partially open the valve flow to the radiator.
• the temperature sensor on the nut 3 records the maximum or increased temperatures of the heat transfer medium depending on the valve opening (compared to the state when the valve is closed).
• the temperature on the nut 3 gradually decreases.
• the measured temperature can approach the values of the temperatures measured in the room.
• the CO 2 level is also monitored in the room, which can reliably detect the presence of people in the room.
• the CO 2 level in the case of efficient heating increases or has a fluctuating course of measured values according to figure 15 .
• the graph in figure 16 shows that the measured values of the CO 2 level in the room do not change during the monitored period, which means that the room is unoccupied and no activity is taking place in it. Based on the collected data, the system can detect in this case, according to graph in figure 16 , that the relevant room is heated inefficiently.
• An open window in a room can be evaluated by analyzing data from the head 1 and possibly also from the CO 2 sensor, without the need to install separate window opening sensors.
• To this can be added data on the drop in temperature measured by the control unit 9 on the wall and possibly also the trend of the drop in CO 2 , whereby all these changes are relatively rapid.
• valve heads for heating elements
• head with integrated temperature sensing provides important information about the valve temperature, which can be used in the setting of the head and also in the setting of the entire heating system.

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Citations (13)

• 2024
  • 2024-02-12 SK SK50016-2024U patent/SK10179Y1/sk unknown
• 2025
  • 2025-02-11 EP EP25157079.2A patent/EP4600562A1/fr active Pending

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