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BR-102022009015-B1 - Anti-freeze valve for drainage in hydraulic circuits of solar water heaters, with thermomechanical expansion and contraction system.

BR102022009015B1BR 102022009015 B1BR102022009015 B1BR 102022009015B1BR-102022009015-B1

Abstract

ANTI-FREEZE VALVE FOR DRAINAGE IN HYDRAULIC CIRCUITS OF SOLAR WATER HEATERS, WITH THERMO-MECHANICAL EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION SYSTEM. To block or release the passage of drain water in solar water heaters, before the water contained in the tubes (T) of the solar panels (SO) freezes and damages them. For this purpose, the valve (1) was developed which works thermomechanically, through gas (G1) and (G2) acting to expand and contract, minimally, the bellows-shaped bronze body (2) of the valve (1). The valve (1) is installed in the hydraulic circuit of the solar water heater so that, when atmospheric conditions are above 10°C, the water outlet is blocked by its piston (7), thus eliminating the need for drainage. In case of cooling of the temperature, the piston (7) unblocks the water outlet to cause drainage. The piston movement is achieved by the minimal expansion and contraction of the bronze material (dimensioned) of the bronze bellows body (2), sufficient to slide the piston (7) also in a dimensioned stroke for blocking or releasing the drainage necessary to preserve the solar heater piping (T).

Inventors

  • SANDRO JOSE DE OLIVEIRA

Assignees

  • MASTERSOL INDUSTRIA E COMERCIO DE AQUECEDORES SOLAR LTDA ME

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20220510

Claims (4)

  1. 1 - “ANTI-FREEZE VALVE FOR DRAINAGE IN HYDRAULIC CIRCUITS OF SOLAR WATER HEATERS”, wherein a valve (1) has a piston (7) equipped with an o-ring (8) next to its conical tip (9), installed in a housing (15) characterized by having a bellows-shaped bronze body (2) that communicates, in its hollow interior (3), with an upper gas supply tube (4) equipped with a seal (5), the said bellows-shaped body (2) being welded at its base by the circular protrusion (6) of the piston (7); the bellows-shaped body (2) receiving, in its hollow interior (3), gas (G1) and gas (G2) and being surrounded by the tube (10) of a “U” support (11) fixed by rivet (12) to a plate (13) with hole (14) for the passage of the piston (7); by the valve (1) being mounted in the compartment (16) of the housing (15), having at the bottom a surrounding recess (17) and a cone (18) that opens into a straight flow channel (19) that converges into an outlet (20), in reduced diameter, pierced by the hole (21) of a nozzle (22) with external thread, and, in alignment with it, on the opposite side, by a hole (23) with internal protrusion (24) of the nozzle (25) with external thread; and by bracing the “U” support (1 1) on the internal protrusion (24) of the compartment (16), accommodating the seal (5) inside the upper nozzle (25), keeping a predefined stroke distance between the circular protrusion (6) of the piston (7) and the plate (13), with the conical tip (9) facing the cone (1 8), sealing the drainage channel (19) by the o’ring (8).
  2. 2 - “VALVE”, according to claim 1, characterized by the bellows-shaped body (2) receiving, in its hollow interior (3), the gas (G1) for operation in low-pressure hydraulic circuits and the gas (G2) for operation in high-pressure hydraulic circuits.
  3. 3 - “VALVE”, according to claim 1, characterized by accommodating the seal (5) inside the upper nozzle (25) by locking it in place by coupling the rivets (12) in the surrounding recess (17) of the housing (15).
  4. 4 - “THERMOMECHANICAL EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION SYSTEM”, wherein the valve defined in claim 1, being threaded by its nozzle (25) to the threaded sleeve (L) of the drain pipe (S) of the pipes (T) of the low pressure and/or high pressure hydraulic circuit of the solar heater, with its solar collector plates (SO), and the ambient temperature being above 10°C, characterized by minimal expansion of the material of the bellows body (2) by the gas (G1), (G2), forcing the piston (7) between its shoulder (6) and the plate (13) of the “U” support (11), pressing the conical tip (9) by the cone (18) and sealing, by the o-ring (8) against the drainage channel (19), blocking the drainage system, whereas, with the beginning of the cooling of the temperature to cold atmospheric conditions (frost), by the action of the gas (G1), (G2) being caused to minimal contraction of the bellows body (2) bringing the piston (7) against itself, moving the conical tip (9) and its o-ring (8) away from the drainage channel (19) for the passage of water through the outlet (20) of the hole (21), causing the drainage system; returning to the blocked condition with the return of the appropriate temperature, above 10°C, when a minimal new expansion of the bellows body (2) occurs by the action of the gas (G1), (G2) and so on automatically and successively.

Description

Introduction [001] This descriptive report refers to a patent application for an invention for a valve for use in water pipes of solar collectors in solar heating systems. According to the developed design, under low atmospheric temperature conditions, the bellows-shaped bronze body of the valve undergoes minimal contraction under the action of a gas, sufficient to move a piston and drain water, in a mechanical action so as to prevent freezing inside the collector plate pipes, thus preserving them from damage. State of the art [002] As is known, solar heating systems are currently used in buildings to heat water without the cost of electricity from utility companies. These systems can be high or low pressure. However, these hydraulic systems, installed on the roofs of buildings, become susceptible to low temperatures or even frost, and in this condition, the water inside the water passage pipes of the solar collectors freezes, impairing the system's operation. There is an electric anti-freeze valve on the market to drain the water before freezing occurs, which is cited and shown here only as an example as figure 1 for the application to be described, and can be viewed on the internet: https://www.thermiccomercial.com.br/valvula-anticongelamento-eletrica. This known valve works by electric actuation, used only for high-pressure systems, and has an internal mechanism actuated by a solenoid coil. This type of valve requires conductive cables for its electrical connection, as well as sensors for its operation and sensors for detecting the temperature in the collector plate tubes (to release or block the drainage system), resulting in high installation costs and requiring constant maintenance. Objectives of the invention [003] The purpose of the application in question is to create a thermomechanical anti-freeze valve for use in both low and high pressure solar water heating systems. Its casing is developed with specific dimensions, injected and shaped in a dedicated mold to receive, inside, a bellows valve body, which receives gas for controlling minimal expansion and contraction actions, movement of the release piston or blockage of drainage. [004] Thus, in situations of low temperature, through the action of the gas, the accordion-like body contracts, causing the piston to retract to release the drainage system of the solar panels, draining the water contained in them before freezing. In normal temperature situations (above 10°C) the gas keeps the accordion-like body expanded with its piston blocking the drainage system of the solar panels. [005] Therefore, through this thermomechanical valve, the subject of the patent application, the use of electric valves with the installation of electric conductors as well as thermometers and sensors in low and high pressure solar heating hydraulic circuits is dispensed with, bringing great advantages in its application, both for low and high pressure hydraulic systems in solar heaters. Brief description of the figures [006] Explained superficially, the valve will now be detailed by the attached drawings. [007] Figure 1, as already explained, refers to the state of the art. The following related figures, numbered 2 to 10, refer to the valve and the system that surrounds it, which are the subject of this patent application: Figure 2 - cutaway view of the valve containing gas for low-pressure hydraulic circuit; Figure 3 - front cutaway view of the valve containing gas for high-pressure hydraulic circuit; Figure 4 - cutaway view of the valve housing, for both low-pressure and high-pressure circuits; Figure 5 - cutaway view of the valve, containing gas for low-pressure hydraulic circuit, mounted inside the housing; Figure 6 - cutaway view of the valve, containing gas for high-pressure hydraulic circuit, mounted inside the housing; Figure 7 - schematic view of the low-pressure hydraulic circuit for solar water heaters, with the valve containing gas for low pressure, mounted on the drain pipe of the solar collectors. In temperatures above 10°C, the valve's bellows body expands, pressing the piston inside the housing's drainage channel and preventing water from exiting, thus preventing drainage. Detail A shows this condition enlarged. As can be seen, the drainage channel is sealed by the O-ring on the piston's conical tip, preventing water from passing through; Figure 8 - view as shown in the previous figure showing the low-pressure hydraulic circuit under low temperature, when, due to the action of the gas, the bellows body contracts, bringing the piston with it and moving its conical tip with the O-ring away from the housing's drainage channel, allowing water to exit into the drainage system. In detail A, this condition is shown; Figure 9 - schematic view of the hydraulic circuit for high-pressure solar water heaters showing the condition of temperatures above 10°C, with the bellows-shaped body expanded by the action of the high-pressure gas, forcing the piston inside the drai