A system for heating a first fluid flow from a first temperature to a second temperature, the system including a hot water supply line for receiving the first fluid flow at a first end and exhausting the first fluid flow at a second end; and a heating system including a heat engine, a thermal battery and a heat exchanger, wherein the thermal battery is configured to be replenished at a point of heat transfer by the heat engine and the hot water supply line is configured to receive heat from the thermal battery via the heat exchanger to elevate the temperature of the first fluid flow from the first temperature to the second temperature.

Control process of a thermal plant including a distribution circuit for a carrier fluid having a delivery line and a return line, a central thermal treatment group placed on the circuit, and channels, each of which is hydraulically interposed between the delivery line and the return line to serve respective environments. For each of the channels, the plant includes a respective exchange unit, a flow regulator to regulate a flow rate of carrier fluid through in the respective channel, an ambient temperature detector, a temperature detector of the carrier fluid for detecting a delivery temperature of the carrier fluid in each channel, and a return temperature of the carrier fluid in each channel. The process also includes a thermal optimization procedure as a function of ambient temperature, delivery temperature and return temperature of the carrier fluid.

The present invention relates to a distribution pump arrangement for a bi-directional hydraulic distribution grid (10). The distribution pump arrangement comprising: a hot conduit control valve (20) in a hot conduit (12); a first distribution pump (22) having an inlet (22a) connected to the hot conduit (12) at a first side (20a) of the hot conduit control valve, and an outlet (22b) connected to the hot conduit (12) at a second side (20b), opposite the first side (20a), of the hot conduit control valve (20); a pressure difference determining device (80, 80′) arranged beyond the second side of the hot conduit control valve (20) and configured to determine a local pressure difference, Δp, between a local pressure, p.sub.hot, of heat transfer liquid in the hot conduit (12) and a local pressure, p.sub.cold, of heat transfer liquid in the cold conduit (14); and a controller (90) configured to: while Δp<a threshold value, set the distribution pump arrangement in a flowing mode, wherein: the first distribution pump (22) is set to be inactive, and the hot conduit control valve (20) is set to be open, while Δp≥the threshold value and p.sub.cold>p.sub.hot, set the distribution pump arrangement in a hot conduit pumping mode, wherein: the hot conduit control valve (20) is set to be closed, and the first distribution pump (22) is set to be active, thereby reduce the local pressure difference.

An isolation mounting arm for use with an expansion tank has a passageway with a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion located between the first end portion and the second end portion with the drain port located at the terminal end of the second end portion. A first tee is located in the first end portion with oppositely disposed first and second ports. A second tee is located in the second end portion, with oppositely disposed fourth and fifth ports. A first valve member is coupled to the first port, a second valve member is coupled to the second port, and a third valve member is located adjacent to the drain port. An expansion tank is coupled to either the fourth port or the fifth port with a plug coupled to the other port.

Refilling device for a hydronic heating system, having a monolithic housing providing an inlet port, an outlet port, a middle section providing a flow channel for water extending between the inlet port and the outlet port and a connection socket for a softening and/or demineralization cartridge, having an inlet shut-off-valve accommodated within said monolithic housing downstream of said inlet port, having an automatically actuated outlet shut-off-valve accommodated within said monolithic housing upstream of said outlet port, having a system separator with backflow preventers, a conductivity or TDS sensor and a flow meter accommodated within said monolithic housing, and having a controller mounted to said monolithic housing, wherein the controller receives signals from the conductivity or TDS sensor and from the flow meter, wherein the controller processes said signals received from said sensors to automatically control the operation of the refilling device.

A method of controlling a gas furnace system includes determining a first pressure in a conduit coupled to a draft inducer from signals output by a pressure transducer positioned to sense a pressure within the conduit with a motor of the draft inducer in a stopped condition. A first status of the pressure transducer is determined based at least in part on the first pressure. The motor of the draft inducer is controlled to increase a speed of the motor from the stopped condition in response to a call for heat when the first status does not indicate that the pressure transducer is unreliable, and the motor is maintained in a stopped condition when the first status indicates that the pressure transducer is unreliable.

A system for heating a first fluid flow from a first temperature to a second temperature, the system including a hot water supply line for receiving the first fluid flow at a first end and exhausting the first fluid flow at a second end; and a heating system including a heat engine, a thermal battery and a heat exchanger, wherein the thermal battery is configured to be replenished at a point of heat transfer by the heat engine and the hot water supply line is configured to receive heat from the thermal battery via the heat exchanger to elevate the temperature of the first fluid flow from the first temperature to the second temperature.

A method of controlling a gas furnace system includes controlling a motor of a draft inducer to increase a speed of the motor in response to a call for heat, receiving pressure signals output by a pressure transducer, receiving signals indicating whether a pressure switch is in a first state or a second state, and determining a first status of the pressure transducer as reliable, unreliable, or questionable at a first time based on the received pressure signals from the pressure transducer, the signals indicating whether the pressure switch is in the first state or the second state, and a first status of the motor of the draft inducer at the first time. Operation of the motor of the draft inducer is stopped when the first status of the pressure transducer indicates that the pressure transducer is unreliable.

Setting and maintaining proper pre-charge air pressure in a diaphragm or bladder-type expansion tank of any fluid system is essential for safe and efficient operation of that system. In usual practice, pre-charge air pressure checks are done by emptying the system of fluid and connecting an analog air gauge to the air input of the expansion tank. In this invention a pressure sensor that is permanently coupled to the fluid volume of the expansion tank is used to also evaluate the pre-charge air pressure in the tank. By employing a single sensor for both fluid and pre-charge air pressure evaluation, the problem of inconsistent calibration between fluid sensing and air pre-charge measuring devices is eliminated. Using the same permanently installed sensor for every test or adjustment in a given system eliminates the problem of variations in calibration between different sensors or gauges used at different testing times.

A method of controlling a gas furnace system includes determining a first pressure in a conduit coupled to a draft inducer from signals output by a pressure transducer positioned to sense a pressure within the conduit with a motor of the draft inducer in a stopped condition. A first status of the pressure transducer is determined based at least in part on the first pressure. The motor of the draft inducer is controlled to increase a speed of the motor from the stopped condition in response to a call for heat when the first status does not indicate that the pressure transducer is unreliable, and the motor is maintained in a stopped condition when the first status indicates that the pressure transducer is unreliable.