APPARATUS FOR AND OPERATION OF A LIQUID FLOW CIRCUIT CONTAINING A CHEMICAL ADDITIVE

Abstract

A liquid flow system includes a dosing device for introduction of a chemical additive into a liquid flow circuit, the dosing device including an inlet port in fluid communication with the liquid flow circuit and a container of chemical additive secured or adapted to be secured to the inlet port, the container including a radio frequency identification (RFID) device which stores data of a parameter related to the correct operation of the liquid flow circuit, and the system including a communication device to receive data from the container whereby the liquid flow system is responsive to data received by the communication device.

Claims

1-33. (canceled)

34. A closed circuit type liquid flow system comprising a dosing device for introduction of a chemical additive into a liquid flow circuit, said dosing device comprising an inlet port in fluid communication with the liquid flow circuit and a container of chemical additive secured or adapted to be secured to said inlet port, said container comprising an adaptor for securing the container to the dosing device whereby in use the adaptor is positioned to lie between a pressurised body of the container and the inlet port of the dosing device, wherein the container comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) device which stores data of a parameter related to the correct operation of the liquid flow circuit, and wherein the system comprises a communication device to receive data from the container.

35. A system according to claim 34 wherein the RFID device is adapted to store data related to one or more of the identity of chemical within the container, date of filling of the container, pressure of chemical in the container, volume of the container, volume of chemical remaining in the container when part used, whether the container should be replaced or whether the container should be rendered non reusable.

36. A system according to claim 34 wherein the communication device is operable to transmit data to the container.

37. A system according to claim 36 wherein the communication device is operable to send to the RFID device a status report related to the volume of chemical supplied from the container to the dosing device and or volume of chemical remaining.

38. A system according to claim 36 wherein the communication device is operable to cause the RFID device to record the container as used or non-re-usable whereby subsequent use of the container in the same or another system is inhibited.

39. A system according to claim 34 wherein the system comprises a charging circuit operable to provide power to the RFID device by electro-magnetic induction.

40. A system according to claim 39 wherein the container has secured thereto an RFID device comprising an RFID chip and a wire coil which acts as an aerial and to receive power for the chip by electro-magnetic induction.

41. A system according to claim 34 and comprising a data store in communication with the communication device or dosing device and which stores data related to the types of chemical allowable for use in the system.

42. A system according to claim 34 and comprising a data store responsive to information related to the operational phase of the liquid flow system.

43. A system according to claim 34 wherein the communication device is operable to transmit to a remote server information transmitted between the communication device and a monitoring device that monitors the concentration of additive in the system or a parameter related to that concentration.

44. A system according to claim 43 wherein the monitoring device is operable to provide information to the dosing device related to the required quantity of chemical additive to be introduced into the liquid flow circuit, and or to receive information from the dosing device in respect of the quantity of chemical additive that has been introduced into the liquid flow circuit.

45. A system according to claim 43 wherein the dosing device is operable automatically to introduce chemical additive into the liquid flow circuit in response to a signal from the monitoring device.

46. A system according to claim 34 wherein the RFID device is secured to the adaptor.

47. A system according to claim 34 wherein the adaptor comprises a retention formation whereby it is secured as a click-type fit to the container body for permanent attachment of the adaptor to the container body.

48. A system according to claim 34 wherein the adaptor defines a through-bore through which an outlet nozzle of the container body extends or into which a part of a dosing device outlet port extends for connection and fluid communication with the container nozzle.

49. A system according to claim 48 wherein the RFID device comprises a chip and coil and wherein the coil extends circumferentially around the through-bore.

50. A system according to claim 34 and comprising a location formation to engage with a receiving formation of the inlet port, said location and receiving formations comprising shape features which are complementary and the receiving formation having a shape and dimension that is engagable substantially only by an adaptor having a location formation of a complementary shape.

51. A system according to claim 50 wherein the adaptor comprises a location formation comprising at least two circumferentially spaced inclined wing formations extending radially outwards from a central spigot portion of the adaptor to define helically shaped surfaces to engage with complementary grooves in the dosing module inlet port.

52. A system according to claim 50 wherein the location and receiving formations cause the container nozzle to engage progressively with the inlet port as the adaptor is rotated relative to the inlet port and wherein the container moves away from the dosing device only in the event of relative rotation in a reverse direction.

53. A series of containers each for a liquid flow circuit of a type according to claim 34, each container containing a different chemical additive and each container comprising an attachment formation for securing the container to a dosing device of a liquid flow circuit for introduction of the chemical additive into the liquid flow circuit, wherein each container contains a chemical additive different from the additive of other containers of the series and wherein each attachment formation is different from the attachment formations of the other containers of the series.

Description

[0033] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a central heating system in accordance with the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a part of the system of FIG. 1 comprising a dosing module;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dosing module of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0037] FIG. 4 is a view of a container of chemical additive, part cut away;

[0038] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an upper part of the container of FIG. 4;

[0039] FIG. 6 is a side view of an adaptor for securing to the container of FIG. 4;

[0040] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an upper part of the adaptor of FIG. 6;

[0041] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an underside of the adaptor of FIG. 6, and

[0042] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of part of the container assembled with the adaptor of FIG. 6.

[0043] A domestic central heating system 10 comprises a condensing boiler heat exchanger 11, two radiators 12 located at first floor level and two radiators 13 at ground floor level, said radiators and boiler being inter-connected in a closed loop pressurised circuit by pipe work 14. A valve 15 facilitates drainage of the system and a pressurised dosing device 18 facilitates addition of corrosion and lime scale inhibitor into the water contained within the circuit.

[0044] In proximity to the heat exchanger 11 there is a supply pipe 16 which is substantially permanently connected to a mains water supply and, via a pressure control valve 22 facilitates flow of water into the pipe work 14 of the liquid flow circuit of the system 10. Fitted to that pipe 16 is a T connector which houses a volume flow sensor 17 which is operable to measure the volume flow of water through the pipe 16. The volume flow sensor 17 is positioned upstream of the position at which the dosing device 18 introduces inhibitor for the liquid flow circuit.

[0045] Associated with the sensor 17 is a display 19 which provides a visual display of the volume of water that has flowed through the pipe 16. The sensor and display form part of a management device that also comprises a data store and processing function whereby, in use, the volume flow information may be used to calculate the quantity of a chemical additive, whether a cleaning additive or inhibitor, that should be added to the water in the pipe work 14 via the dosing device 18. The required quantity is then indicated on the display 19.

[0046] The heat exchanger 11, the volume flow sensor 17 and the dosing device in the example of this embodiment of the invention are all provided integrally within a boiler casing 21.

[0047] The system may comprise a monitoring device that monitors the concentration of additive in the system or a parameter related to that concentration.

[0048] The dosing device 18 comprises an inlet port 25 which is shaped and dimensioned to receive and retain a container 30 of pressurised liquid chemical additive.

[0049] The dosing device 18 also comprises an indicator panel 31 provided with three lights which indicate whether or not the dosing device is functioning correctly and, if necessary, to provide a visual alarm signal.

[0050] The container 30 (see FIGS. 4 and 9) comprises a container body 29 and an adaptor 32 which is secured to the body for connecting the container body 29 relative to the inlet port 25 of the dosing device.

[0051] The container body 29 (see FIG. 4) comprises a metal can which features bag-on-valve technology such that within the container body 29 liquid chemical is contained within a flexible bag 34 that is in communication with an outlet valve 35 having an outlet nozzle 41.

[0052] Within the container body the flexible bag 34 separates the liquid chemical therein from surrounding propellant gas present in a space 36 between the bag and container body. Typically the propellant gas is initially pressurised to a pressure of approximately 10 bar.

[0053] The adaptor 32 has an internal rib 28 (see FIG. 8) which enables it to be secured to the container body by a snap fit type engagement of that rib with a corresponding circumferentially extending bead 37 that is formed integrally with an end region of the container body 29 and positioned to extend around the outlet valve 35. The rib 28 and bead 37 are dimensioned such that, following snap-fit assembly, removal of the adaptor from the can is prevented but the adaptor remains rotatable relative to the can.

[0054] The adaptor has an outer cylindrically shaped skirt 38 of a diameter greater than that of the rib 28 and bead 37 for ease of gripping to rotate the adaptor for engagement with or removal from the inlet port 25 of the dosing device 18.

[0055] The upper end 40 of the adaptor has a cylindrical formation 42 which defines an opening 39 through which a nozzle 49 of the dosing device inlet port extends when the container is secured to the inlet port.

[0056] The cylindrical formation 42 has a radially outer surface 43 that is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed wing type formations 44 that define helically shaped retention surfaces 45, 46. The inlet port of the dosing device (see FIG. 3) is shaped to provide a cavity 47 which receives the adaptor cylindrical formation 42, with the wings 44 initially aligned with complementary shaped recess regions 48 of the cavity 47. Subsequently, with light axial pressure, the adaptor may be rotated relative to the dosing device inlet port to move the adaptor outlet nozzle 41 into communication with a central spring loaded one way inlet valve associated with the nozzle 49 of the dosing device inlet port as the helically extending surfaces 45, 46 of the wing formations 44 and corresponding surfaces of the inlet port slide relative to one another during said rotation thereby progressively to move the adaptor into full engagement with the dosing device.

[0057] The adaptor 32 is provided with an RFID device (see FIG. 6) comprising an RFID chip 50 and a coil 51 which acts as an aerial and also as a power source for the chip when the adaptor is secured to the dosing device. The coil 51 extends circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the adaptor, between the cylindrical formation 42 and skirt 38 thereby to receive power by electro-magnetic induction from a power source coil (not shown) provided within the dosing device.

[0058] The chip 50 is pre-programmed with information such as data relating to the type and volume of chemical within the container and said data may then be received by a communication receiver 33, which may be positioned within the dosing device, to facilitate control and operation of the dosing device.

[0059] Subsequent to use, a container may be removed from the dosing device by the simple action of rotation of the adaptor relative to the dosing device in a reverse direction.

[0060] A further feature of the adaptor is the provision of a cap retention groove 55 that extends circumferentially around the outer surface of the adaptor, this providing a means for temporary location of a protective cap (not shown) to protect the nozzle until the container is engaged with the dosing device.

[0061] In this embodiment of the invention the display 19 facilitates manual operation of the dosing device for introduction of cleaning fluid or inhibitor. However it is to be understood that the central heating system may be modified to incorporate for example automatic operation of the dosing device via a connection 24 in response to a signal from a monitoring device comprising said sensor 17 and display 19 and in response to data from the RFID chip 50.

[0062] Optionally the feed pipe 16 may incorporate a shut off valve 23 which operates automatically to prevent further flow of water into the pipe work 14 in the event that the sensor 17 has detected a high volume of flow at a time other than initial commissioning or flushing or cleaning of the system, and which therefore is indicative of a significant leakage or drainage of liquid from the pipe work 14. Thus wastage of chemical additive from the container may be avoided or minimised

[0063] Optionally the system may incorporate, as a check on the concentration of chemical additive in the system, an on-line monitoring device such as that the subject of our UK patent GB 2462518.

[0064] Although the invention has been described by way of example in relation to a domestic central heating system it may be employed also in respect of other liquid flow systems such as that of a cooling system.

[0065] Having regard to the foregoing it will be understood that the present invention facilitates a more reliable and correct operation of a liquid flow circuit such as that of a heat transfer system.