WO2012127186A2 - Inhibition de la formation de glace dans un tuyau - Google Patents

Inhibition de la formation de glace dans un tuyau Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012127186A2
WO2012127186A2 PCT/GB2012/000253 GB2012000253W WO2012127186A2 WO 2012127186 A2 WO2012127186 A2 WO 2012127186A2 GB 2012000253 W GB2012000253 W GB 2012000253W WO 2012127186 A2 WO2012127186 A2 WO 2012127186A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pipe
air
temperature
appliance
condensate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB2012/000253
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2012127186A3 (fr
Inventor
Geoffrey Thomas Henderson
Jacob David ANDREWS
Russel Anthony BURNS
John Maurice KENT
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Schneider Electric Controls UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Invensys Controls UK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Invensys Controls UK Ltd filed Critical Invensys Controls UK Ltd
Publication of WO2012127186A2 publication Critical patent/WO2012127186A2/fr
Publication of WO2012127186A3 publication Critical patent/WO2012127186A3/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/89—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03B—INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER
    • E03B7/00—Water main or service pipe systems
    • E03B7/09—Component parts or accessories
    • E03B7/10—Devices preventing bursting of pipes by freezing
    • E03B7/12—Devices preventing bursting of pipes by freezing by preventing freezing
    • 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
    • F24D19/0095—Devices for preventing damage by freezing
    • 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
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/22—Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate
    • F24F13/222—Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate for evacuating condensate
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
    • F24H15/10—Control of fluid heaters characterised by the purpose of the control
    • F24H15/136—Defrosting or de-icing; Preventing freezing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
    • F24H15/20—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control inputs
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
    • F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
    • F24H15/345—Control of fans, e.g. on-off control
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
    • F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
    • F24H15/355—Control of heat-generating means in heaters
    • F24H15/37—Control of heat-generating means in heaters of electric heaters
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H8/00—Fluid heaters characterised by means for extracting latent heat from flue gases by means of condensation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H8/00—Fluid heaters characterised by means for extracting latent heat from flue gases by means of condensation
    • F24H8/006—Means for removing condensate from the heater
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H9/00—Details
    • F24H9/16—Arrangements for water drainage 
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H9/00—Details
    • F24H9/20—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/04—Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/14—Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
    • F24H15/40—Control of fluid heaters characterised by the type of controllers
    • F24H15/486—Control of fluid heaters characterised by the type of controllers using timers
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an icing inhibitor for a pipe such as a condensate pipe, a method of inhibiting formation of ice in a pipe and an installation comprising the combination of an appliance which emits a flow of water, such as a flow of condensate, and an icing inhibitor which is operable to inhibit freezing of water in an outlet extending from the appliance.
  • the drainage of condensate typically is through a pipe which terminates at or extends via a position exposed to the external environment and which, at at least some times of the year, is sufficiently cold as to cause condensate to freeze in the pipe.
  • the propensity of the condensate to freeze can be exacerbated if the pipe terminates at or extends via a position where it is exposed to wind chill effects.
  • the relatively small volume, and often substantially continuous, trickle of condensate from a condensate generating appliance results in the condensate being particularly prone to freezing at the outlet region of the condensate pipe, and subsequent blockage of the pipe.
  • an internally installed appliance may drain into a larger diameter indoor waste pipe, such as that extending from a sink.
  • the present invention seeks to provide an improved method, icing inhibitor device and installation for inhibition of ice formation in a pipe.
  • a method for inhibition of ice formation in a pipe which is exposed to a low ambient temperature comprises providing a source of air at a temperature above the ambient temperature to which the pipe is exposed and effecting a forced flow of said air through the pipe in a direction towards the pipe outlet.
  • references herein to a low ambient temperature refer to an ambient temperature which is sufficiently low as to cause water to freeze and to an ambient temperature which in combination with any wind chill effects in the vicinity of the pipe will cause water to freeze.
  • the method is particularly, but not exclusively, directed to inhibition of ice formation in a pipe which carries a low volume flow, e.g. a trickle flow of water, whether a continuous or intermittent flow, such as the flow of condensate from a condensate producing appliance.
  • a low volume flow e.g. a trickle flow of water
  • the method may comprise providing the forced air flow only when at least a part of the pipe, for example the pipe outlet, is exposed to a temperature at which water might freeze within the pipe or at the pipe outlet, and which may be either an ambient temperature at still air conditions or at a position exposed to wind chill effects.
  • the air may be introduced into the pipe at a position within an appliance, such as an appliance which produces the condensate, at a position close to an outlet of the appliance, or at any other position upstream of the distal, outlet end of the pipe.
  • an appliance such as an appliance which produces the condensate
  • the air may be introduced into the pipe either at a position which is within the building or external thereof.
  • the air for forced flow through the pipe may be sourced from an ambient environment, such as a room heated by a condensing type central heating boiler.
  • a restriction such as a one-way air valve preferably is provided to ensure that foul air from an external drain position cannot enter the room via the pipe.
  • the air for forced flow may be sourced from the appliance which emits water, e.g. a condensate producing appliance such as a central heating boiler or an air conditioning unit, or from a heating device, e.g. an electric heater, provided either external of or within the pipe for heating a flow of air.
  • a forced air flow device such as an electrically powered fan, may be provided either external of or within the pipe.
  • any electrically powered device(s) for creating a forced air flow and for heating air is (are) positioned external of the pipe.
  • any electrically powered device(s) for creating a forced air flow and for heating air is (are) positioned external of the pipe.
  • an appliance which is within a building, and has a pipe extending outwards through an external wall of the building, air is taken from the external environment, heated and forced into the pipe by an icing inhibitor device positioned in the external environment, external of or surrounding the pipe.
  • the method of the invention may comprise provision of a sensor to detect the ambient temperature at or in the vicinity of the pipe outlet.
  • the sensor may be positioned at the pipe outlet, if supply means for providing the heated source of air is in the external environment, exposed to conditions similar to those at the outlet end of the pipe, the sensor may be provided integrally with at least part of said supply means.
  • Control means may be provided to effect said forced flow of air through the pipe as a function of sensed or an estimate of ambient temperature.
  • the rate of air flow and or temperature may be varied in relation to the ambient temperature such that, for example, in very cold conditions there is a high flow rate and/or high temperature of forced air as compared with the flow rate or temperature when the ambient temperature is higher, and for there to be no forced air flow or at least no heating effect when the ambient air temperature is greater than that at which water might freeze within the pipe.
  • the sensor may be of a type which is sensitive to wind chill effects that may affect the propensity for water to freeze in the pipe, and the air flow temperature and/or rate of air flow may be a function of wind chill effects.
  • Variation of the rate of heat input to the flow of air may be effected by variation of the power supply to an electrical heater, for example by variation of the current magnitude or frequency of energy input such as by pulse width modulation.
  • a method for the variation of the rate of heat input to the flow of air may comprise increasing the output of the heater as ambient temperature decreases, with the heater and operation of an airflow fan both being initiated when the ambient temperature has decreased to below a pre-established temperature, for example +5°C.
  • Two temperature sensors may be employed, one at the air input to the heater and the other at or in the vicinity of the air output of the heater, for example on a heater heat shield. In operation of the heater the temperature at the air input of the heater can be expected to differ from the true ambient temperature because, for a compact installation and device, that sensor will be affected by proximity to the heater.
  • the method of the invention may employ extrapolation to estimate the ambient temperature by having reference to the temperature sensed at the air output of the heater, for example by using a linear or other predicted relationship between the air inlet and outlet temperatures of the airflow through the heater for a given rate of heat input.
  • the temperature of heated air may be measured at the air output of the heater or at or in the vicinity of the outlet end of the pipe.
  • the air flow temperature and/or rate of air flow may be controlled to be at least in part a function of wind chill effects.
  • the temperature sensor and/or the controller may be secured to and/or be positioned within said enclosure.
  • the enclosure may be provided with means, such as apertured lugs, to facilitate attachment to the external wall of a building.
  • An enclosure for mounting externally may comprise a non-apertured face which, in use, is uppermost and one or more of the other faces may face horizontally or downwards and be apertured to provide the air inlet in a manner that inhibits ingress of rain.
  • Two temperature sensors may be provided within or at a surface of said enclosure, one at the air input position to the heater and the other at or in the vicinity of the air output of the heater, for example on a heater heat shield. Operation of the heater and the degree of heat input provided by the heater may be a function of the temperature sensed by either or each of said two temperature sensors. Operation of the heater may be a function of an estimated ambient air temperature which, when the heater is in operation to provide a heating effect, is determined by extrapolation of the temperature sensed at the air input of the heater (which temperature reading generally will not be true ambient because of proximity to the heater) by having reference to the temperature at the air output of the heater for a given rate of heat input.
  • the icing inhibitor may comprise control means which applies a linear or other predictive relationship between the two sensed temperatures to provide an estimate of the ambient air temperature external of the enclosure.
  • the icing inhibitor may be of a type which operates at mains voltage or it may operate at a low voltage.
  • the icing inhibitor may comprise an outlet port for a supply of heated air which is introduced into the condensate pipe at a position external of said enclosure.
  • the condensate may flow through the inhibitor and air may be introduced into the condensate pipe, or a junction between two sections of condensate pipe at a position within the icing inhibitor.
  • the condensate from a first section is directed to flow into the second section at a position substantially centrally within the second section.
  • said second section when in an assembly installation, extends substantially vertically. Accordingly the condensate is discouraged from flowing in direct contact with the wall of the downstream outlet section of the condensate pipe.
  • a failsafe condensate flow path may be provided whereby, in the event of the outlet section of pipe becoming blocked, condensate is able to flow out of the pipe from between the two section thereof and flow outwards from the enclosure.
  • a first section of condensate pipe for introducing condensate to within the enclosure of the icing inhibitor may enter through one of the side or upper or lower faces of the enclosure. Alternatively it may enter directly through the rear of the enclosure, with the icing inhibitor thus being secured to the external wall of a building at a position aligned with the section of condensate pipe that extends through the wall of the building.
  • a flexible, resilient connector typically of a type for push fitting into a condensate pipe, is provided at a position where the condensate pipe terminates at the external wall of a building.
  • the flexible connector preferably is arranged to form a fluid tight seal with that section of condensate pipe and to ensure that condensate then flows through a further, downstream section of condensate pipe without risk of contacting the external wall of a building.
  • Said flexibility of the connector is intended to provide a fluid tight connection whilst also accommodating any misalignment between the pipe extending through the wall of a building and the longitudinal axis of an entry port of the icing inhibitor. Accordingly the risk of acidic condensate damaging the building structure and foundations is minimised.
  • an installation comprising an appliance which emits water, whether as a liquid or vapour, a pipe for drainage of water from the appliance, a temperature sensor for establishing the ambient temperature at or in the vicinity of the outlet end of the pipe, an air supply device for forced flow of air through the pipe in a direction towards said outlet end of the pipe, said air supply device providing air at a temperature greater than the ambient temperature, and control means operable, at least when the appliance is operative to emit water, to provide a forced flow of air when the ambient temperature is indicative of a risk of ice formation in the pipe.
  • Said installation may comprise an icing inhibitor device of a kind in
  • Said installation may comprise a condensate producing appliance such as a thermal energy conversion appliance and wherein condensate is drained via said pipe.
  • a condensate producing appliance such as a thermal energy conversion appliance
  • a pipe such as a condensate pipe
  • a U bend This is intended primarily to act to prevent foul aromas travelling up the pipe from an external drain to within a property.
  • the present invention provides an installation wherein a forced flow of air is introduced into the pipe at a position between the U bend and the distal, outlet end.
  • the U bend therefore advantageously serves to ensure that air introduced into the pipe flows in a direction towards the outlet end of the pipe.
  • either a one-way valve such as a simple flap valve may be provided to inhibit flow of air in a reverse direction along the pipe towards the appliance, or air may be introduced into the pipe in a direction parallel with the length of the pipe, thus being in contrast to entry via a simple T junction which would inject the air in a direction perpendicular to the length of the pipe.
  • the appliance may be of a type under the control of a timer which designates specific "on” periods and “off” periods, and during the "on” periods the appliance may operate either continuously or intermittently in response, for example, to the temperature of air in the environment which is being heated or cooled by the appliance.
  • the forced flow of air into the pipe may be controlled to occur only during all or at least some of the time for which the appliance is at an "on" period and the temperature sensor indicates the potential risk of water freezing in the pipe.
  • the forced flow of air may be confined only to periods when the appliance is operative to emit water.
  • the forced flow of air may be confined to said "on” periods, or the times in the "on” period when the appliance is in actual operation potentially to emit water, and an additional period subsequent to the appliance not being in actual operation to emit water. That additional period may be pre-set or may be a function of the sensed ambient temperature such as the ambient temperature at or in the region of the pipe outlet.
  • the appliance may be under the control of means other than or additional to a timer.
  • a timer For example it may be under the control of a temperature or humidity sensor.
  • the forced flow of air similarly may be confined to a period when the appliance is operative to emit water, or to a said period extended by an additional period.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an installation in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a view in the direction of arrow A of figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view showing, part cut away, the icing inhibitor device of the installation of Figure 1 and part of the
  • Figure 4 shows diagrammatically the inter-connection of component parts of the icing inhibitor device
  • Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of part of an installation in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 6 shows in detail part of Figure 5.
  • An icing inhibition installation 10 comprises a gas fired condensing type central heating boiler 11 which is under the control of an electrically powered timer 12 such that the boiler operates at pre-set "on” and "off' periods.
  • an override "frost protection" facility 1a whereby the boiler automatically adopts an operative "on” mode, even during a timed "off' period, when the temperature in the vicinity of the boiler approaches 0°C, typically when it approaches 5°C.
  • the condensate pipe incorporates a U bend 19 in which a quantity of condensate is retained and serves to prevent foul aromas travelling up the condensate pipe to be at risk of entering the building, and/or adversely interfering with the combustion process within the boiler.
  • the icing inhibitor device 20 (see Figure 3) comprises an enclosure body 22 in the form of a moulded plastics box having a pair of lugs 23 for enabling it to be secured to the external surface 24 of the wall 15 at a small distance (see Figure 2) above and to one side of the hole 16 through which the pipe extends.
  • the body 22 has a non-apertured top face 31 and a front face 25 formed with a grill 26 through which air can enter the enclosure body.
  • a baffle 27 is positioned inwards of the grill, and is sealed to the lower edge of the grill opening such that any rain water ingressing through the grill contacts the baffle and drains back, outwards through the grill.
  • the enclosure supports an air impellor 28 which directs a forced flow of air downwards over an electrically powered heater element 29. Heated air then flows through an outlet pipe 30 to the junction 21 with the condensate pipe.
  • the enclosure body additionally supports a printed circuit board (PCB) 35 on which is mounted a temperature sensor 36 and microprocessor 39. Part of the sensor extends to a side face of the body to be exposed to the external temperature.
  • PCB printed circuit board
  • the printed circuit board is powered by a low voltage supply cable 37 which extends through the hole 36 from a transformer 38 connected to the mains electrical supply 38a within the building.
  • the PCB 35 receives power via the aforementioned low voltage supply 37. Power is then applied to the fan 28 and heater element 29 in dependence of the signal received by the processor 39 from the temperature sensor 36. In this embodiment the processor is operative to power the fan and heater when the temperature information received from the sensor 36 indicates a temperature below 3°C.
  • the fan is of the constant speed type whereby the forced flow of air has a predetermined velocity.
  • the processor 39 provides pulse width modulation control of power to the heater 29 such the lower the sensed temperature is below 3°C the greater the average heating effect provided by the heater.
  • the PCB 35 is connected to the boiler by an additional cable 40 which also extends through the hole 16 and connects with the boiler control mechanism 41 in a manner such that it provides to the processor 39 information as to when the boiler is at an operative mode, whether by virtue of a pre-set on period of the timer 12 or by virtue of the frost protection override 1 1 a putting the boiler into an on mode.
  • the processor inhibits operation of the fan and heater only when the boiler has switched to an inoperative mode and a preset period, typically ten minutes, has elapsed.
  • an icing inhibition installation 50 comprises an enclosure 51 which contains a heater, fan and temperature sensor substantially as described in respect of the first embodiment of the invention.
  • the heated air is introduced into the condensate pipe, between two sections thereof, at a position within the enclosure.
  • the enclosure 51 comprises a rear condensate entry port 52 and a
  • condensate outlet port 53 sealingly engages with a flexible connector 54 of a resilient material which is able sealingly to engage with the bore of first section of condensate pipe extending through the wall of a building against which the rear face 55 of the enclosure is mounted.
  • the flexibility of the connector 54 accommodates any misalignment between the longitudinal axis of the inlet port 52 and the bore of the pipe which typically may extend in an inclined manner through the wall of a building, and thereby ensures that the risk of leakage of acidic condensate is minimised.
  • the outlet port 53 provides location for a second, outlet section 56 of the condensate pipe.
  • This pipe has a bore of a diameter greater than that of the first, inlet section of condensate pipe into which the connector 54 locates, and in the assembly extends vertically downwards away from the enclosure 51 of the icing inhibitor device.
  • the upper end region 57 of the bore of the pipe section 56 extends around a condensate feed pipe 58 to define therebetween an annular plenum chamber 59 via which heated air is directed from the heater output to flow downwards through the pipe 56.
  • the condensate feed pipe 58 is formed integrally with the body of the enclosure 51 to receive condensate from the flexible connector 54 and direct that condensate downwards, centrally through the outlet section 56 of the condensate pipe.
  • the inlet and outlet ports 52,53 of the enclosure are positioned such that when the inhibitor device is installed in the intended orientation the inlet and outlet ports are vertically aligned. Accordingly for a retro-fit installation in which the icing inhibitor device is to be introduced into an existing condensate pipe which extends though the wall of a building and then vertically downwards, the position at which the pipe enters or drains into a drain need not be altered.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Buildings Adapted To Withstand Abnormal External Influences (AREA)
  • Testing Resistance To Weather, Investigating Materials By Mechanical Methods (AREA)
  • Pipe Accessories (AREA)
  • Road Paving Structures (AREA)

Abstract

Dans l'inhibition de la formation de glace dans un tuyau, tel que le tuyau de condensat (13) d'une chaudière à gaz (11), on introduit (21), dans le tuyau, de l'air à une température supérieure à celle de la sortie (17) du tuyau et on le contraint à s'écouler dans le tuyau dans une direction opposée à la sortie du tuyau. Un capteur de température peut être ménagé à proximité de la sortie du tuyau pour permettre un écoulement confiné de l'air dans le tuyau à des périodes où la température détectée est inférieure à une température prédéterminée.
PCT/GB2012/000253 2011-03-22 2012-03-21 Inhibition de la formation de glace dans un tuyau Ceased WO2012127186A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1104793.3A GB2489404A (en) 2011-03-22 2011-03-22 Pipe icing inhibition
GB1104793.3 2011-03-22
GB1117719.3A GB2489542A (en) 2011-03-22 2011-10-13 Pipe icing inhibition
GB1117719.3 2011-10-13

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2012127186A2 true WO2012127186A2 (fr) 2012-09-27
WO2012127186A3 WO2012127186A3 (fr) 2013-08-01

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2012/000253 Ceased WO2012127186A2 (fr) 2011-03-22 2012-03-21 Inhibition de la formation de glace dans un tuyau
PCT/GB2012/000254 Ceased WO2012127187A2 (fr) 2011-03-22 2012-03-21 Inhibition de la formation de glace dans un tuyau (2)

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2012/000254 Ceased WO2012127187A2 (fr) 2011-03-22 2012-03-21 Inhibition de la formation de glace dans un tuyau (2)

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WO2012127186A3 (fr) 2013-08-01
GB2489404A (en) 2012-10-03
GB201104793D0 (en) 2011-05-04
GB2489542A (en) 2012-10-03
WO2012127187A2 (fr) 2012-09-27
GB201117722D0 (en) 2011-11-23
GB201117719D0 (en) 2011-11-23
GB2489543A (en) 2012-10-03

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