Circulation control device CIRCON, self-learning

The CIRCON circulation control device makes it possible to prevent constant heat losses from the warm water circulation.

Previously:
A hot-water circulation pump causes the water in the pipes to move in a continuous circuit. As the water cools down, it is continuously replaced by hot water, even if no hot water is currently needed.
As the heat dissipates to the masonry and to the environment, heat energy is being lost all the time.
In addition to this heat energy loss, the electric circulation pump is in operation around the clock and the boiler needs additional heating cycles to heat the buffer storage more frequently.

The solution:
CIRCON is a microcontroller-controlled ballast unit for the hot-water circulation pump that restricts the circulation times to a reasonable minimum, to prevent the associated energy loss.

Mode of operation
Switches on the circulation pump as required:

1. On demand:
i.e. if any of the hot water valves in the building is opened briefly.
As a result, a short blast of hot water comes out of the boiler into the riser and is detected immediately by the temperature sensor. The pump is switched on. Despite the fact that the valve has been closed in the meantime, hot water is available quickly.
The returning water in the circulation line is monitored by another temperature sensor. If this detects a rise in temperature, the pump is switched off as all tapping points now have an adequate supply.

2. Proactive circulation:
When regular daily consumption habits are detected, the CIRCON starts up automatically in advance so that there is no waiting. The device thus “learns” continuously and always compares the proactive running times with the actual tapping times.
If habits change significantly at the weekend, the device also detects this automatically. If you are away for an extended period, on holiday for example, pump runs are shut down completely, apart from the occasional flushing cycles (Legionella monitoring). As soon as hot water is extracted again, the pattern of habits learnt by the device is reactivated immediately.
With the aid of an adjustment slot on the side of the device, you can determine the optimal balance between maximum saving and convenience: in the centre position, the two are balanced equally. The further you move into the red zone, the more convenience predominates, i.e. even habits observed more rarely are learnt more quickly and apply for longer without being refreshed.
Adjustment into the blue zone puts the emphasis on saving, i.e. only regularly recurring and more clearly time-related habits are learnt.

Simple installation
Once the temperature sensor has been fastened and connected to the device, CIRCON is inserted between mains plug (circulation pump) and wall socket.

• Temperature sensors can be fastened easily with cable ties provided.
• The flat, temperature-resistant cable can be laid along the pipe under the insulating sleeves.

Technical data:
• Operating voltage: 230 V / 50 Hz
• Intrinsic power consumption: 0.35 W
• Sensor connection cables: 2 x 2.5 m with plug connectors