Method and devices for controlling a fluid transportation network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11047582-B2
Application number	US-201716099293-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2017
Priority date	Jun 22, 2016
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

A fluid transportation network ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of parallel zones (Z 1 , Z 2 ), fed by a common supply line (L), with a regulating zone valve (V 1 , V 2 ) in each zone (Z 1 , Z 2 ) for regulating a flow of fluid (ϕ 1 , ϕ 2 ) through the respective zone (Z 1 , Z 2 ). A processing unit (RE) receives valve positions (pos 1 , pos 2 ) of the regulating zone valves (V 1 , V 2 ) and determines and sets an adjusted valve position for a line valve (VE) arranged in the supply line (L), depending on the valve positions (pos 1 , pos 2 ) of the regulating zone valves (V 1 , V 2 ). A processing unit (RE) further receives a measurement of a total flow of fluid (ϕ tot ) through the supply line (L) and determines and sets adjusted valve positions for the regulating zone valves (V 1 , V 2 ), depending on the measurement of the total flow of fluid (ϕ tot ) through the supply line (L).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a liquid transportation network ( 1 ) that comprises one or more network sections (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ), each network section (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ) being connected to a liquid transportation circuit (C, C 1 , C 2 ) through a respective supply line (L, La, Lb, Ln, L 1 , L 2 ) and comprising one or more parallel zones (Z 1 , Z 2 ), the method comprising:
arranging a pressure invariant regulating system (PI 1 , PI 2 ) in each of the zones (Z 1 , Z 2 ) to implement each of the zones (Z 1 , Z 2 ) as a pressure independent branch of the respective network section (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 );
arranging in the supply lines (L, La, Lb, Ln, L 1 , L 2 ) or respective return lines (LR, LRa, LRb, LRn, LR 1 , LR 2 ) of each of the network sections (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ) a pressure regulating device (PR, PRa, PRb, PRn, PR 1 , PR 2 ); and
controlling by a first processing unit (RE, REa, REb, REn, RE 1 , RE 2 , 10 ) the pressure regulating devices (PR, PRa, PRb, PRn, PR 1 , PR 2 ) of each of the network sections (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ) to operate the pressure independent branches of the respective network section (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ) within a specified pressure range, defined by device specifications of the pressure invariant regulating system (PI 1 , PI 2 ) in each of the zones (Z 1 , Z 2 ),
wherein the pressure invariant regulating systems (PI 1 , PI 2 ) are each implemented as a regulating zone valve (V 1 , V 2 ) in each zone (Z 1 , Z 2 ) for regulating a flow of liquid (Φ 1 , Φ 2 ) through the respective zone (Z 1 , Z 2 ).

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining and setting by a second processing unit (RE, REa, REb, REn, RE 1 , RE 2 , 10 ) a level of pumping power for a pump (P, P 1 , P 2 ) of the liquid transportation circuit (C, C 1 , C 2 ), depending on current operating parameters of the pressure regulating devices (PR, PRa, PRb, PRn, PR 1 , PR 2 ) arranged in the respective supply lines (L, La, Lb, Ln, L 1 , L 2 ) or return lines (LR, LRa, LRb, LRn, LR 1 , LR 2 ) of the network sections (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ).

3. A method of controlling a liquid transportation network ( 1 ) that comprises one or more network sections (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ), each network section (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ) being connected to a liquid transportation circuit (C, C 1 , C 2 ) through a respective supply line (L, La, Lb, Ln, L 1 , L 2 ) and comprising one or more parallel zones (Z 1 , Z 2 ), the method comprising:
arranging a pressure invariant regulating system (PI 1 , PI 2 ) in each of the zones (Z 1 , Z 2 ) to implement each of the zones (Z 1 , Z 2 ) as a pressure independent branch of the respective network section (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 );
arranging in the supply lines (L, La, Lb, Ln, L 1 , L 2 ) or respective return lines (LR, LRa, LRb, LRn, LR 1 , LR 2 ) of each of the network sections (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ) a pressure regulating device (PR, PRa, PRb, PRn, PR 1 , PR 2 ); and
controlling by a first processing unit (RE, REa, REb, REn, RE 1 , RE 2 , 10 ) the pressure regulating devices (PR, PRa, PRb, PRn, PR 1 , PR 2 ) of each of the network sections (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ) to operate the pressure independent branches of the respective network section (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ) within a specified pressure range, defined by device specifications of the pressure invariant regulating system (PI 1 , PI 2 ) in each of the zones (Z 1 , Z 2 ),
wherein the pressure invariant regulating systems (PI 1 , PI 2 ) are each implemented as a regulating zone valve (V 1 , V 2 ) in each zone (Z 1 , Z 2 ) for regulating a flow of liquid (Φ 1 , Φ 2 ) through the respective zone (Z 1 , Z 2 );
wherein the pressure regulating devices (PR, PRa, PRb, . . . , PRn, PR 1 , PR 2 ) are each implemented as a line valve (VE, VEa, VEb, VEn, VE 1 , VE 2 ) arranged in the respective supply lines (L, La, Lb, Ln, L 1 , L 2 ) or return lines (LR, LRa, LRb, LRn, LR 1 , LR 2 ) of the network sections (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ); and
the method further comprises receiving in the first processing unit (RE, REa, REb, REn, RE 1 , RE 2 , 10 ) valve positions (pos 1 , pos 2 ) of the regulating zone valves (V 1 , V 2 ); and
determining and setting by the first processing unit (RE, REa, REb, REn, RE 1 , RE 2 , 10 ), depending on the valve positions (pos 1 , pos 2 ) of the regulating zone valves (V 1 , V 2 ), an adjusted valve position for a line valve (VE, VEa, VEb, VEn, VE 1 , VE 2 ) arranged in the supply line (L, La, Lb, Ln, L 1 , L 2 ) or a respective return line (LR, LRa, LRb, LRn, LR 1 , LR 2 ).

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the adjusted valve position for the line valve (VE, VEa, VEb, VEn, VE 1 , VE 2 ) comprises determining whether the valve position (pos 1 , pos 2 ) of the regulating zone valve (V 1 , V 2 ) that is opened most is within defined lower and upper opening limits;
setting the adjusted valve position for the line valve (VE, VEa, VEb, VEn, VE 1 , VE 2 ) to a value representative of a more open setting, if the valve position (pos 1 , pos 2 ) of the regulating zone valve (V 1 , V 2 ) that is opened most is above the upper opening limit; and setting the adjusted valve position for the line valve (VE, VEa, VEb, VEn, VE 1 , VE 2 ) to a value representative of a more closed setting, if the valve position (pos 1 , pos 2 ) of the regulating zone valve (V 1 , V 2 ) that is opened most is below the lower opening limit.

5. The method of claim 3 ,
wherein the regulating zone valves are implemented as six-way valves configured to couple a respective zone (Z 1 , Z 2 ) alternatively to a first liquid transportation circuit (C 1 ) for heating or to a second liquid transportation circuit (C 2 ) for cooling, and to regulate the flow of liquid (Φ 1 , Φ 2 ) from the first or second liquid transportation circuit (C 1 , C 2 ), respectively, through the zone (Z 1 , Z 2 ); and
the method comprises receiving in the first processing unit (RE 1 , RE 2 , 10 ) valve positions (pos 1 , pos 2 ) of the six-way regulating zone valves (V 61 , V 62 ); calculating and setting by the first processing unit (RE 1 , RE 2 , 10 ), depending on the valve positions (pos 1 , pos 2 ) of the six-way regulating zone valves (V 61 , V 62 ), an adjusted valve position for a valve (VE 1 ) arranged in a supply line (L 1 ) or a respective return line (LR 1 ) of the first liquid transportation circuit (C 1 ) and an adjusted valve position for a line valve (VE 2 ) arranged in a supply line (L 2 ) or a respective return line (LR 2 ) of the second liquid transportation circuit (C 2 ).

6. The method of claim 3 ,
wherein the liquid transportation network ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of network sections (F, Fa, Fb, Fn, F 6 ); and
the method comprises receiving in the second processing unit (RE, REa, REb, REn, RE 1 , RE 2 , 10 ) valve positions (pos 1 , pos 2 ) of the line valves (VE, VEa, VEb, VEn, VE 1 , VE 2 ) arranged in the respective supply line (L, La, Lb, Ln, L 1 , L 2 ) or return line (LR, LRa, LRb, LRn, LR 1 , LR 2 ); and
determining and setting by the second processing unit (RE, REa, REb, REn, RE 1 , RE 2 , 10 ) a level of pumping power for a pump (P, P 1 , P 2 ) of the liquid transportation circuit (C, C 1 , C 2 ), depending on the valve positions (pos 1 , pos 2 ) of the line valves (VE, VEa, VEb, VEn, VE 1 , VE 2 ) arranged in the respective supply line (L, La, Lb, Ln, L 1 , L 2 ) or return line (LR, LRa, LRb, LRn, LR 1 , LR 2 ).

7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising
receiving in a third processing unit (RE, REa, REb, REn, RE 1 , RE 2 , 10 ) a measurement of a total flow of liquid (Φ tot , Φ tota , Φ totb , Φ totn , Φ tot1 , Φ tot2 ) through the supply line (L, La, Lb, Ln, L 1 , L 2 ); and
determining and setting by the third processing unit (RE, REa, REb, REn, RE 1 , RE 2 , 10 ), depending on the measu

Assignees

• Belimo Holding Ag

Inventors

• Mischler Stefan
• Aeberhard Ronald
• Reider Forest
• Thuillard Marc

Classifications

• F24D2220/0207

  Pumps · CPC title

• F24D2220/0242

  Multiple way valves · CPC title

• F24D2220/044

  Flow sensors · CPC title

• F24D2220/046

  Pressure sensors · CPC title

• Y02B30/17

  District heating · CPC title