Manifold for connecting circuits of a central heating system

Heating systems – Automatic control – Water

Patent

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Details

237 56, F24D 300

Patent

active

060927348

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a manifold for connecting two or more circuits of a liquid, heat transfer medium central heating system, typically, a central heating system in which the liquid heat transfer medium is water, for example, a hot water central heating system, and the invention also relates to a central heating system.
In many cases, it is desirable to connect two or more circuits of a central heating system together. However, when connecting such circuits, it is desirable that at least some of the circuits should be capable of functioning independently of some of the other circuits, and in association with those and others of the circuits. For example, it is desirable that if two or more boilers are connected into a central heating system that the boiler circuits should be capable of being functioning independently of each other. In other words, when only one of the boilers is operating, the heat transfer medium should not circulate through the idle boiler or boilers. Otherwise, the idle boilers act as heatsinks. Additionally, should the central heating system comprise two or more circuits, each of which comprises a plurality of heat exchangers, for example, central heating radiators, or an indirect hot water tank, it is desirable that the two or more heat exchanger circuits should be capable of functioning independently of each other, but in association with one or more boiler circuits of the central heating system, so that heat transfer medium only circulates in those heat exchange circuits which are to be operated, and only through the boiler or boilers of the boiler circuits in which the boiler or boilers are operating.
In general, the only known satisfactory method of operating a central heating system with two or more heat exchanger circuits and one or more boiler circuits is to interconnect the respective circuits through a series of valves, typically solenoid operated valves. The solenoid valves are appropriately operated for connecting the heat exchanger circuits which are to operate to the corresponding boiler or boiler circuits for providing heated heat transfer medium to the appropriate heat exchanger circuit or circuits. Such interconnecting arrangements with solenoid valves, while they achieve the objective, require relatively complex control circuitry, and are relatively complex and expensive to install. The solenoid valves are relatively expensive, as is the control circuitry.
Attempts to interconnect two or more circuits of a central heating system have been made by the provision of a manifold, however, to date all such attempts have been relatively unsuccessful. Known manifolds tend to be relatively inefficient. In such known manifolds colder return heat transfer medium from a heat exchanger circuit tends to be recirculated through the flow line of that or another heat exchanger circuit. It has been found that at best the colder heat transfer medium from a heat exchanger circuit mixes with the warmer flow heat transfer medium received from a boiler circuit in the manifold, and a mixture of the flow and return heat transfer medium is circulated through the flow line of the heat exchanger circuits. This, is inefficient and is undesirable.
There is therefore a need for a manifold for connecting two or more circuits of a liquid, heat transfer medium central heating system together which overcomes the problems of known manifolds.
The present invention is directed towards providing such a manifold, and a central heating system incorporating the manifold.
According to the invention there is provided a manifold for connecting at least two circuits of a liquid, heat transfer medium central heating system in which the circuits each comprise a flow line and a return line, so that at least some of the circuits can function independently of each other and at least some of the circuits can function in association with each other, the manifold comprising a container defining an enclosed hollow interior region for the heat transfer medium, and a plurality of pairs of first and second ports

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