HEATING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A HEATING SYSTEM

Abstract

In a method for operating a heating system, a heating circuit medium is guided in an overall heating circuit and in first and second sub-heating circuits connected to the overall heating circuit. A heating circuit medium volumetric flow through the sub-heating circuits is defined by a valve device and fed to the second sub-heating circuit via a first valve device connection and/or guided via a second valve device connection. The heating circuit medium volumetric flow is fed via a connection of the valve device connected to the overall heating circuit. If necessary, the heating circuit medium volumetric flow is fed to the first sub-heating circuit via the second connection of the valve device, and if necessary, the heating circuit medium volumetric flow is delivered via a bypass on the second sub-heating circuit. If necessary, the heating circuit volumetric flow is guided through a buffer store at the bypass.

Description

The invention relates to a heating system according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating a heating system according to the preamble of claim 7.

A heating system of the type mentioned in the introduction is disclosed in the patent document CH 556 513 A. In this case, in particular, a heat consumer, namely the space heater having the reference sign 17, is arranged on the first sub-heating circuit. Moreover, a heat consumer, namely the boiler having the reference sign 19, is also arranged on the second sub-heating circuit. Finally, a bypass, namely the mixing line having the reference sign 21, is also provided in this solution.

A further heating system of this type is disclosed in the patent document EP 2 530 391 A1. This heating system consists of an overall heating circuit guiding a heating circuit medium and a first and a second sub-heating circuit which are connected in each case to the overall heating circuit and which also guide the heating circuit medium, wherein a valve device is provided for defining a heating circuit medium volumetric flow through the sub-heating circuits, wherein the valve device has a first connection connected to the second sub-heating circuit, a second connection and a third connection connected to the overall heating circuit. Expressed in terms of the method, in this solution a heating circuit medium is guided in an overall heating circuit. The heating circuit medium is also guided in a first and a second sub-heating circuit connected to the overall heating circuit.

A heating circuit medium volumetric flow through the sub-heating circuits is also defined by a valve device. Moreover, the heating circuit medium volumetric flow is fed via a first connection of the valve device to the second sub-heating circuit and/or is guided via a second connection of the valve device. Moreover, the heating circuit medium volumetric flow is fed via a connection of the valve device which is connected to the overall heating circuit. In this solution, the second connection of the valve device is connected to a mixer line which in principle connects the flow line of the overall heating circuit with the return line thereof.

The task underlying the invention is to improve a heating system and a method for operating a heating system of the type mentioned in the introduction. In particular, a particularly good or easily adjustable heating system with (at least) two sub-heating circuits is intended to be provided.

In terms of the object, this task is achieved by a heating system of the type mentioned in the introduction by the features set forth in the characterising part of claim 1. In terms of the method, this task is achieved by the features set forth in the characterising part of claim 7.

In terms of the object, therefore, it is provided according to the invention that a buffer store is provided on the second sub-heating circuit. In terms of the method, it is provided according to the invention that the heating circuit medium volumetric flow, if required, is guided on the bypass through a buffer store.

In other words, the solution according to the invention, and in contrast to the aforementioned prior art, is thus characterized in that the second sub-heating circuit can be regulated completely independently of the first sub-heating circuit as a result of the arrangement of the valve device according to the invention or the guidance of the heating circuit medium volumetric flow according to the invention. As is explained in more detail below, as a result of the solution according to the invention, in principle it is even possible to regulate the temperature of the second sub-heating circuit solely via the pump thereof and namely without influencing the first sub-heating circuit at the same time.

Other advantageous developments of the heating system according to the invention or the method according to the invention for operating a heating system are found in the dependent claims.

The heating system according to the invention or the method according to the invention for operating a heating system is explained in more detail below by way of the illustrated representation of various exemplary embodiments.

In the Drawings, Schematically

FIG. 1 shows a first representation of the heating system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a second representation of the heating system according to the invention but which corresponds hydraulically to that according to FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows the heating system known from the prior art (EP 2 530 391 A1) mentioned in the introduction (shown in simplified form).

The heating system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 consists in a manner known per se of an overall heating circuit 1 guiding a heating circuit medium and a first and a second sub-heating circuit 1.1, 1.2, connected in each case to the overall heating circuit 1 and also guiding the heating circuit medium, wherein a valve device 2 is provided for defining a heating circuit medium volumetric flow through the sub-heating circuits 1.1, 1.2, wherein the valve device 2 has a first connection 2.1 connected to the second sub-heating circuit 1.2, a second connection 2.2 and a third connection 2.3 connected to the overall heating circuit 1.

As is also visible from FIGS. 1 and 2, it is particularly preferably provided that the overall heating circuit 1 has a flow line 1.0.1 and a return line 1.0.2. Considered in more detail, it is also preferably provided that the flow line 1.0.1 and the return line 1.0.2 are configured to be connected together, on the one hand, via a heat exchanger 9 and, on the other hand, via the first and second sub-heating circuit 1.1, 1.2. The aforementioned heat exchanger 9, which ultimately preferably has four connections (not shown separately) and which is configured as a plate heat exchanger, is in turn configured, for example, as a condenser of a heat pump.

It is also provided that at least one heat consumer 11, in particular preferably a floor heating system or a radiator, is arranged on the first sub-heating circuit 1.1. Naturally a whole series of such heat consumers is generally provided.

It is also provided that a sub-heating circuit pump 4 and at least one heat consumer 5, in particular preferably a floor heating system or a radiator, are arranged on the second sub-heating circuit 1.2. Naturally a plurality of such heat consumers are also generally provided here.

In the solution according to the invention, a further pump is also provided in addition to the aforementioned sub-heating circuit pump 4, not a second sub-heating circuit pump 10′—as in the solution according to FIG. 3—on the first sub-heating circuit 1.1, but an overall heating circuit pump 10 arranged on the return line 1.0.2 of the overall heating circuit 1. Moreover, a bypass 7 is provided on the second sub-heating circuit 1.2.

Expressed in terms of the method, as in the solution according to FIG. 3 and also in the solution according to the invention, a heating circuit medium is guided in an, or in the, overall heating circuit 1. The heating circuit medium is also guided in a first and a second sub-heating circuit 1.1, 1.2 connected to the overall heating circuit 1. Moreover, a heating circuit medium volumetric flow through the sub-heating circuits 1.1, 1.2 is defined by a valve device 2. Moreover, the heating circuit medium volumetric flow is fed via a first connection 2.1 of the valve device 2 to the second sub-heating circuit 1.2 and/or via a second connection 2.2 of the valve device 2. Moreover, the heating circuit medium volumetric flow is also fed via a connection 2.3 of the valve device 2 connected to the overall heating circuit 1.

Considered in terms of the object, it is also provided that the second connection 2.2 is configured to be connected to a feed 1.1.1 for the first sub-heating circuit 1.1.

Expressed in terms of the method, it is also provided that the heating circuit medium volumetric flow, if required, is fed to the first sub-heating circuit 1.1 via the second connection 2.2 of the valve device 2.

This measure brings the significant advantage relative to the solution shown in FIG. 3, amongst other things, that the quantity of heat available to the heat consumer 5 of the second sub-heating circuit 1.2 can be regulated solely—and thus independently of the first sub-heating circuit 1.1—by means of the sub-heating circuit pump 4. Alternatively, in other words: it is provided that a usable temperature at a heat consumer 5 of the second sub-heating circuit 1.2 is regulated (solely) via a rotational speed of a sub-heating circuit pump 4 of the second sub-heating circuit 1.2. With the solution according to FIG. 3, this is not possible since the two pumps 4 and 10′ mutually influence one another.

For the specific implementation of the invention, it is preferably provided that the valve device 2 is arranged on the flow line 1.0.1 of the overall heating circuit 1.

It is also particularly preferably provided that the heating circuit medium, if required, is selectively guided by the valve device 2 entirely via the first sub-heating circuit 1.1 or entirely via the second sub-heating circuit 1.2. Moreover—in contrast to the solution according to FIG. 3 and less essential than as described above—it is preferably provided that a distribution of the heating circuit medium, which flows in via the connection 2.3, to the connections 2.1, 2.2 is set by the valve device 2.

A line branching 3 with three line connections is also particularly preferably provided on the return line 1.0.2 of the overall heating circuit 1, wherein the first line connection 3.1 is configured to be hydraulically connected to the first sub-heating circuit 1.1, the second line connection 3.2 to the second sub-heating circuit 1.2 and the third line connection 3.3 to the return line 1.0.2 of the overall heating circuit 1.

Moreover, on the second sub-heating circuit 1.2, when viewed in the direction of flow of the heating circuit medium, on the one hand, a first preferably valve-free branching 6.1 is particularly preferably provided upstream of the sub-heating circuit pump 4 and upstream of the heat consumer 5 and, on the other hand, a second preferably valve-free branching 6.2 is provided downstream of the sub-heating circuit pump 4 and downstream of the heat consumer 5. A bypass 7 is also provided on the first sub-heating circuit 1.1—which is revealed particularly clearly from the view according to FIG. 2. It is also particularly preferably provided that the two branchings 6.1, 6.2 are configured to be hydraulically connected together via the bypass 7.

For increasing the volume of the bypass 7, and thus for improving the ability to regulate the second sub-heating circuit 1.2, it is also provided that a buffer store 8 is provided on the second sub-heating circuit 1.2. It is particularly preferably provided that the second sub-heating circuit 1.2 is configured to be provided with the buffer store 8 which is hydraulically connected, on the one hand, to the first branching 6.1 and, on the other hand, to the second branching 6.2. This buffer store preferably has a volume of less than 30 litres, particularly preferably less than 20 litres. Expressed in terms of the method, it is provided that the heating circuit medium volumetric flow, if required, is delivered via a bypass 7 provided on the second sub-heating circuit 1.2 and is guided there through a buffer store 8. It is also quite particularly preferably provided that a proportion of the heating circuit medium volumetric flow guided through the buffer store 8 is regulated by means of the valve device 2 and by means of a rotational speed of a sub-heating circuit pump 4 of the second heating circuit 1.2.

Finally, in addition and in contrast to the solution according to FIG. 3 (compare in particular the dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 3) according to the invention, since it is particularly preferably provided that both the first sub-heating circuit 1.1 and the second sub-heating circuit 1.2, when viewed in the direction of flow of the heating circuit medium, have in each case a connection interface 5.1, 5.2, 11.1, 11.2 upstream and downstream of the heat consumer 5, 11, for the partial coupling and decoupling of the two sub-heating circuits 1.1, 1.2, it advantageously results in that, in addition to the valve device 2 and the buffer store 8, both the overall heating circuit pump 10 and the sub-heating circuit pump 4 can be arranged at a central location in a building.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

• • 1 Overall heating circuit
  • 1.0.1 Flow line
  • 1.0.2 Return line
  • 1.1 Sub-heating circuit
  • 1.1.1 Feed
  • 1.2 Sub-heating circuit
  • 2 Valve device
  • 2.1 First connection
  • 2.2 Second connection
  • 2.3 Third connection
  • 3 Line branching
  • 3.1 First line connection
  • 3.2 Second line connection
  • 3.3 Third line connection
  • 4 Sub-heating circuit pump
  • 5 Heat consumer
  • 5.1 Connection interface
  • 5.2 Connection interface
  • 6.1 First branching
  • 6.2 Second branching
  • 7 Bypass
  • 8 Buffer store
  • 9 Heat exchanger
  • 10 Overall heating circuit pump
  • 10′ Sub-heating circuit pump
  • 11 Heat consumer
  • 11.1 Connection interface
  • 11.2 Connection interface

Claims

1. A heating system comprising an overall heating circuit (1) guiding a heating circuit medium and a first and a second sub-heating circuit (1.1, 1.2) connected in each case to the overall heating circuit (1) and also guiding the heating circuit medium, wherein a valve device (2) is provided for defining a heating circuit medium volumetric flow through the sub-heating circuits (1.1, 1.2), wherein the valve device (2) has a first connection (2.1) connected to the second sub-heating circuit (1.2), a second connection (2.2) and a third connection (2.3) connected to the overall heating circuit (1), wherein the second connection (2.2) is configured to be connected to a feed (1.1.1) for the first sub-heating circuit (1.1), wherein a heat consumer (11) is arranged on the first sub-heating circuit (1.1), wherein a sub-heating circuit pump (4) and a heat consumer (5) are arranged on the second sub-heating circuit (1.2), and a bypass (7) is provided, whereina buffer store (8) is provided on the second sub-heating circuit (1.2).

2. The heating system according to claim 1, wherein the overall heating circuit (1) has a flow line (1.0.1) and a return line (1.0.2), whereinthe valve device (2) is arranged on the flow line (1.0.1) of the overall heating circuit (1).

3. The heating system according to claim 1, wherein the overall heating circuit (1) has a flow line (1.0.1) and a return line (1.0.2), whereina line branching (3) with three line connections is provided on the return line (1.0.2) of the overall heating circuit (1), wherein the first line connection (3.1) is configured to be hydraulically connected to the first sub-heating circuit (1.1), the second line connection (3.2) to the second sub-heating circuit (1.2) and the third line connection (3.3) to the return line (1.0.2) of the overall heating circuit (1).

4. The heating system according to claim 1, whereinon the second sub-heating circuit (1.2), when viewed in the direction of flow of the heating circuit medium, on the one hand, a first branching (6.1) is provided upstream of the sub-heating circuit pump (4) and upstream of the heat consumer (5) and, on the other hand, a second branching (6.2) is provided downstream of the sub-heating circuit pump (4) and downstream of the heat consumer (5).

5. The heating system as claimed in claim 4, whereinthe two branchings (6.1, 6.2) are configured to be hydraulically connected together via the bypass (7).

6. The heating system as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe bypass (7) is configured to be provided with the buffer store (8) which is hydraulically connected, on the one hand, to the first branching (6.1) and, on the other hand, to the second branching (6.2).

7. A method for operating a heating system, in which a heating circuit medium is guided in an overall heating circuit (1), in which the heating circuit medium is guided in a first and a second sub-heating circuit (1.1, 1.2) connected to the overall heating circuit (1), in which a heating circuit medium volumetric flow through the sub-heating circuits (1.1, 1.2) is defined by a valve device (2), in which the heating circuit medium volumetric flow is fed via a first connection (2.1) of the valve device (2) to the second sub-heating circuit (1.2) and/or is guided via a second connection (2.2) of the valve device (2) and in which the heating circuit medium volumetric flow is fed to the valve device (2) via a connection (2.3) which is connected to the overall heating circuit (1), wherein the heating circuit medium volumetric flow, if required, is fed to the first sub-heating circuit (1.1) via the second connection (2.2) of the valve device (2), wherein the heating circuit medium volumetric flow, if required, is delivered via a bypass (7) provided on the second sub-heating circuit (1.2), whereinthe heating circuit medium volumetric flow, if required, is guided on the bypass (7) through a buffer store (8).

8. The method according to claim 7, whereina usable temperature at a heat consumer (5) of the second sub-heating circuit (1.2) is regulated via a rotational speed of a sub-heating circuit pump (4) of the second sub-heating circuit (1.2).

9. The method according to claim 7, whereina proportion of the heating circuit medium volumetric flow guided through the buffer store (8) is regulated by means of the valve device (2) and by means of a rotational speed of a sub-heating circuit pump (4) of the second sub-heating circuit (1.2).

10. The method according to claim 7, whereinthe heating circuit medium, if required, is selectively guided by the valve device (2) entirely via the first sub-heating circuit (1.1) or entirely via the second sub-heating circuit (1.2).

11. The method according to claim 7, whereina distribution of the heating circuit medium, which flows in via the connection (2.3), to the connections (2.1, 2.2) is set by the valve device (2).