A control valve including: a valve body, a flow shutter operatively interposed between an inlet and an outlet, a driving spindle having at least a first actuating end and a second end connected to the flow shutter. The valve also includes a differential pressure automatic regulation device, comprising: a cup-shaped body arranged around the driving spindle and axially mobile with respect to said driving spindle; a spring operatively interposed between the valve body and the cup-shaped body to push the latter away from the flow shutter; a rolling membrane having a radially inner edge fixed to the cup-shaped body and a radially outer edge fixed to the valve body to delimit a first chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and a second chamber in fluid communication with the outlet.

A cold water intake pipe 4 and a hot water extraction pipe 5 that communicate with multiple spiral tubes 101 and a steam supplying pipe 2 and a condensate discharge pipe 3 that communicate with a shell are connected to a corrugated spiral tube type heat exchanger 1. Between the cold water intake pipe 4 and multiple spiral tubes 101, communication paths 46 that communicate between the cold water intake pipe 4 and some multiple spiral tubes 101a are provided, and a valve 44 is provided to communicate between the cold water intake pipe 4 and the other multiple spiral tubes 101b when the force acting from the cold water intake pipe 4 becomes larger than the force acting from the other multiple spiral tubes 101b and to block the cold water intake pipe 4 from the other multiple spiral tubes 101b when the force acting from the cold water intake pipe 4 becomes smaller than the force acting from the other multiple spiral tubes 101b.

A hydraulic network (1) having plural parallel zones (Z1, Z2) with a regulating valve (V1, V2) in each zone for regulating a flow of fluid (1, 2) through respective zones. Characteristic parameters of the hydraulic network (1) include static flow capacity values (Kex,a, Kex,b) of the zones. Measurement data sets are recorded which include a determined value of a hydraulic system variable of the hydraulic network (1), e.g. the total flow (tot) or the system pressure (P), and valve positions of the regulating valves (V1, V2) set for the determined value of the hydraulic system variable. The characteristic parameters are calculated from plural measurement data sets, by grouping related measurement data sets, which include the same value of the hydraulic system variable but different valve positions, and by using the flow capacity (Kvalve,a, Kvalve,b) of the regulating valves (V1, V2) at the valve positions included in the data sets.

The disclosed technology includes an on-demand water heater which uses a heat pump to heat the fluid. The on-demand heat pump water heater can have a low fluid capacity heating chamber which has an inlet and an outlet, a heat pump for heating the fluid, and a controller to control the heat pump and maintain the temperature of the fluid at a predetermined temperature. The on-demand heat pump water heater can include one or more temperature sensors, flow sensors, fluid mixing valves, or supplemental heat sources.

A fluid transportation network includes plural parallel zones, a common supply line for feeding a total flow of fluid to the parallel zones, each parallel zone being connected to the common supply line and associated with a pump that controls a flow of fluid through the respective parallel zone, one or more zone valves arranged in one of the parallel zones and controlling the flow of fluid through the parallel zone, and a processor that controls one or more of the pumps, and/or the at least one zone valve, to control the flow of fluid through the parallel zones. The pumps control the flow of fluid through one or more of the plural parallel zones only when a respective pump is operating within a specified efficient operating range of the respective pump, and the respective pump regulates flow of fluid above a respective flow threshold value of the respective pump.

The present invention relates to HVAC-systems operating under new ZERO-MIXING (ZM) water flow condition as innovative way to promote consistent highly energy efficient performance on SOURCE-heating/cooling thermal production and BUILDING's system distribution (FIG. 1). ZM technology is applicable; but not limited, to large-residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities. Current state on HVAC technology, for system hydronics loop-flow, do not provide flows temperature segregation mechanisms between heating/chiller-plants hot/cold water supply and warmer water system returns. The result, a system that continuously operates at WATER MIXING conditions that impair equipment efficiency and output, and therefore, overall system energy performance.

The invention relates to a valve having a balancing function for a fluid distribution system. A valve closing member is movable between a closed position and a fully opened position. An actuation device is provided for changing the position of the valve closing member. A control unit is provided and comprises an electronic memory adapted to receive and store an opening limitation value, said opening limitation value being representative of a selected intermediate position between said closed position and said fully opened position of the valve closing member, wherein the control unit controls the actuation device to limit the movement of the valve closing member to positions from said closed position to said selected intermediate position. The invention also relates to a valve system and to a method of operating a valve.

An electronic converter unit (30, 86, 87) for being arranged external to a pump unit (10) is described. The pump unit (10) includes a housing (12), which comprises a signal source (16, 18) for emitting a signal. The electronic converter unit (30, 86, 87) comprises a signal detector (40) for measuring the signal emitted from the signal source (18) of the pump unit (10). The electronic converter unit (30) further comprises a converter unit (41) for converting said signals to electrical signals, and transmitting means (42) for transmitting the electrical signals to an external communication unit (50). The electronic converter unit (30, 86, 87) is further configured to operate in a signal converter mode (30) and a signal repeater mode (86, 87).

A method of balancing a heating system with a flow system, including a supply flow line (60) and a return flow line (70), a heat source (55) and a pump (10) hydraulic lines (L.sub.1-L.sub.n), some having a heating element (H.sub.1-H.sub.n) with a balancing valve (V.sub.1-V.sub.n). The method includes: carrying out one or more measurements by opening one hydraulic line only and determining a flow rate through the pump and a pressure difference across the pump, establishing a hydraulic model based on the determined flow rate and pressure difference from at least two measurements from step, and at least one additional measurement for at least two hydraulic lines, specifying a desired flow rate for each of the hydraulic lines, and adjusting one or more of the dedicated balancing valves in order to meet the desired flow rate for each of the hydraulic lines by using the hydraulic model.

A modular hydronic system core system and method includes a hydronic fluid flow conduit with closely spaced tees and distribution supply and return portions on a substrate. A supply manifold is coupled to branch feeders that support a circulator pump or zone valve. An ECM circulator along the conduit includes a Bluetooth transmitter to capture and transmit fluid flow rate and pressure. A return manifold includes branch returns with purge/shutoff valves. The branch feeders and returns are connectable to a distribution system having heating elements. Air and dirt separators, and an iron remover remove air, dirt and iron from the fluid. An expansion tank bracket supports a pressure gauge and expansion tank. A zone relay is coupled to the ECM circulator and zone valves on the branch feeders, and includes thermostat terminals. The zone relay captures inputs from the thermostats to control operation of the ECM circulator and zone valves.