| 摘要 |
Apparatus, systems, and methods related to a constant-flow control valve and BTU meter assembly that has a pressure independent, constant-flow control valve assembly connectable to the fluid-based heating or cooling system. A valve stem is connected to a valve member and is rotatable as a unit relative to a valve body to change the position of valve member to change a fluid flow rate through the valve. The valve member's position relative to the fluid path is directly related to the fluid flow rate. Pressure sensors measure the pressure of fluid entering and exiting the valve body. A BTU meter assembly is connected to the valve stem, which is rotatable relative to the BTU meter assembly. A position sensor of the BTU meter assembly detects a rotational position of the valve stem relative to the BTU body. A controller of the BTU meter assembly is coupleable to the position sensor, the pressure sensors, and the temperature sensors, and the controller determines the fluid flow rate based upon the pressure drop across the valve assembly and the rotational position of the valve stem. The controller also determines energy usage of the heating or cooling device based upon the flow rate and the temperature change across the heating or cooling device. |
| 主权项 |
1. A constant-flow control valve and BTU meter assembly coupleable to a fluid-based heating or cooling system with a heating or cooling device at least a portion of which defines a heating or cooling load, fluid supply and return lines connected to the heating or cooling device, and temperature sensors connected to the fluid supply and return lines and configured to measure fluid temperatures of supply fluid and return fluid relative to the heating or cooling device, wherein a temperature difference between the first and second temperatures is a temperature change across the heating or cooling load, the constant-flow control valve and BTU meter assembly comprising:
a pressure independent, constant-flow control valve assembly connectable to the fluid-based heating or cooling system, the pressure independent, constant-flow control valve assembly having a valve body with an inlet and an outlet, a valve chamber with a fluid path therein extending between the inlet and outlet, an adjustable valve member in the valve chamber and disposed in at least a portion of the fluid path to define a throttle in the fluid path, a valve stem connected to the valve member and being rotatable as a unit relative to the valve body to change the position of valve member to change a fluid flow rate through the valve body, wherein the position of the valve member relative to the fluid path is directly related to the fluid flow rate through the fluid path, the valve stem having a free end portion projecting from the valve body; a first fluid pressure sensor positioned to measure the fluid pressure of fluid entering the inlet of the valve body; a second fluid pressure sensor positioned to measure the fluid pressure of fluid exiting the outlet of the valve body, wherein a difference between the first and second pressures is the pressure drop across the valve assembly; and a BTU meter assembly connected to the free end portion of the valve stem, wherein the valve stem is rotatable relative to at least a portion of the BTU meter assembly, the BTU meter assembly having a BTU body, and a position sensor coupled to the BTU body and to the valve stem, the position sensor being configured to detect a rotational position of the valve stem relative to the BTU body, the BTU meter assembly having a controller coupleable to the position sensor, to the first and second pressure sensors, and to the first and second temperature sensors, the controller being configured to determine the fluid flow rate based upon the pressure drop across the valve assembly and the rotational position of the valve stem, and the controller being configured to determine energy usage of the heating or cooling device based upon the flow rate and the temperature change across the heating or cooling load. |
