Fluid handling – Freeze condition responsive safety systems
Patent
1989-09-06
1991-05-14
Rivell, John
Fluid handling
Freeze condition responsive safety systems
137512, 137514, 138 32, E03B 710
Patent
active
050147315
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method of preventing freezing in pipes for carrying water. The invention also relates to a piping system for carrying out the method in accordance with the preamble to the accompanying claim 2.
Freezing in water carrying piping is a very great problem in all countries with a cold winter climate. Apart from the immediate problem of being without water, pipe damage and subsequent water damage on thawing cost enormous amounts every year. Since the previous century, much thought and effort have been put into finding a reliable and practicably executable solution to this problem.
The proposals to solutions which have been made during the course of the years can be divided into two different main categories: freezing point,
Attempts in accordance with the first category have included different ways of insulating the pipes. All these have increased material and installation costs. Neither has it always been possible to insulate the entire piping system, due to wall lead-throughs, couplings, disposition under ground, etc. Insulation has not given satisfactory results even so, for reasons which will be made clear below.
Another possibility which has been tried for keeping the temperature of the water in the piping system above freezing point has been heating cable or heating tape mounted inside or outside the pipes and connected to the electricity supply. These are very difficult to install in existing piping systems and must be connected to the electricity supply, and thus stop functioning if there is failure in the electricity supply There is also a risk of over-heating the water, which leads to deteriorated drinking water quality. For controlled heating, temperature measurement and regulation must take place along the entire extent of the piping system.
Attempts according to the second category, i.e. keeping the water moving continuously or periodically, have also been many during the years. An old, well-tried method is to keep a water tap open during the winter. This has the disadvantage of increasing water consumption considerably. It is difficult to set the tap open sufficiently to be sure that the water does not freeze. There can also be problems with freezing in the drain with continuous minimum flushing. Attempts have also been made to connect a timing clock to the tap, e.g. for opening it every other hour round the clock. The programmed opening and closing of the tap is dependent on electric current and must be set to take into account the freezing risks pertaining to each building. The problems with water consumption and ice formation in the drain remain, although to a lesser extent. Storage tanks have also been used as a kind of water clock for periodic flushing. These have the above-mentioned disadvantages, but function during an electricity failure, although in addition they have a voluminous water tank which is difficult to adjust.
There have also been investigated different proposals for forced circulation without tapping, inter alia systems for blocks of buildings requiring a common circulation pump and relaying of the service piping with duplicating of the pipes to and from each building, and in the building if these pipes are also to be protected. This solution is however expensive and complicated and not executable in an existing water piping system.
Extensive attempts with temperature-regulated tapping have given poor results, since the temperature in the piping system can vary heavily at different places. Placing the temperature indicators and selection of sensitivity will thus be very difficult. They are also dependent on functioning electronics.
Different attempts have also been made during the course of the years to design a valve for water piping which guards against freezing damage. For example, a waste valve is known from SE-C 210 736 with an upper chamber filled with water, which is assumed to freeze before the water in the piping freezes. The expansion on the formation of ice in the upper chamber actuates a waste valve causing it to open and allow the
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