Siemens Schweiz Ag

Karl-Heinz Petry

Hilmar Konrad

Rolf Kunzmann

Adrian Huwiler

Pascal Ernstberger

Wolfgang Huber

Alexander Jekimow

Tilman Weiers

Giuseppe Tramaglino

Andreas Vogt

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a valve comprising: a first port; a second port; a fluid path extending between the first port and the second port; a valve member situated in the fluid path, the valve member selectively moveable between a closed position, blocking the fluid path, and an open position; an armature coupled to the valve member and having a surface; and a solenoid forming a linear actuator with the armature. At least a portion of the surface of the armature directly faces the solenoid.

Expansion valve

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for operating a valve comprising: determining a nonlinear characteristic curve function indicating a required relationship between a valve opening position and flow of a fluid; storing the function in an ECU; and using the function to set the valve opening position with a control signal indicating a target flow. The function is calculated automatically using a parameter value, with an analytic function, or by interpolation with specified supporting values by a user. The function comprises an inverse function based on a characteristic curve for a heat exchanger and a target function. The curve for the heat exchanger indicates a relationship between a heating power or a cooling power and the flow of a fluid. The target function indicates a relationship between the heating power or the cooling power of the heat exchanger based on the valve opening position. The characteristic curve for the heat exchanger depends on the same parameter value as the characteristic curve function.

Method for operating a valve, associated electronic control unit, and valve drive

Maximum flow setting. A method of limiting flow through a valve () comprising: reading a time series of signals from a flow sensor (); producing a time series of flow rates from the time series of signals; producing an averaged series of values; producing a first bounded series of values by replacing values that are below a lower threshold () with the lower threshold (); producing a second bounded series of values by replacing values that exceed an upper threshold () with values that equal the upper threshold (); producing a maximum flow rate by applying a moving maximum filter () to the second bounded series; reading a set point signal (); limiting the set point signal () to the maximum flow rate; producing an actuation signal from the limited set point signal; transmitting the actuation signal to an actuator ().

Estimating a maximum flow through a heat exchanger

A valve assembly may include: a valve body with a fluid path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port; a valve member with a closed position blocking the fluid path and an open position; a sensor the fluid flow; an actuator coupled to the valve member; and a controller for the actuator with a set point value and a default flow rate indicative of nominal flow through the fluid path. The controller may: read the sensor; calculate a flow rate; compare the flow rate to a threshold value indicative of substantially zero flow rate; and if the measure of flow rate is below the threshold value, calculate a position of the valve member directly from the set point value and the default flow rate, produce a control signal from the calculated position, and communicate the control signal to the actuator.

Control gain automation

A system supplies a fluid to an evaporator of a refrigeration unit and has first and second lines connected to a fluid inlet of the evaporator. The system has an expansion valve with a continuously modifiable first flow cross section, disposed in the first line, the continuously modifiable first flow cross section setting a first mass flow through the first line. A shut-off device is disposed in the second line and switchable discretely between an open position and a closed position. A throttle with a constant second flow cross section is disposed in the second line. A control unit continuously modifies the first flow cross section of the expansion valve and controls the shut-off device as a function of the first flow cross section.

Growing community of inventors

Reichenburg, Switzerland

Karl-Heinz Petry