Multifunctional thermal installation

Abstract

A multifunctional thermal installation includes a compressor, a switch valve, an evaporator, a condenser, a water heater, and an expansion valve. The water heater has a water inlet that is connected to an underground well. The evaporator and the condenser include at least a first group of heat exchangers and a second group of heat exchangers. The first group of heat exchangers is disposed in the water heater and the second group of heat exchangers and a fan associated with the second group of heat exchangers are disposed in a room. After integrating separate installations into a system, the present invention uses only a small amount of a non-renewable energy source and most of the required energy sources can be replaced by the renewable energy sources collected from the system itself. Thus, the environmental pollution caused by the consumption of energy sources can be reduced significantly. In addition, non-renewable energy sources can be conserved.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN00/00172, with an international filing date of Jun. 23, 2000, which was not published in English under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a multifunctional thermal installation used to improve living conditions. This household multifunctional thermal installation is a multifunctional integrated system of air conditioning, heating, living hot water and energy storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The speed of economic development in this century has reached an unprecedented level. Although living conditions have been improved, high-speed development brings adverse social effects that may be neglected by people until those effects pose risks to the environment that are hard to recover. There is no doubt that the next century will bring even more developments, and the living conditions of people in developing countries will be generally improved; however, improving living conditions for people comes at a high cost to the environment by consuming natural resources that then may require international treaties to recover within a limited period of time. Since developing countries are more populated than developed ones, if developing countries improve living conditions according to the present model, it will be a problem as to whether or not the desired standard of living can be reached. In fact, the environmental problem in China has been placed on the agenda.

[0004] The situation in some of the developing countries is that most of the household installations use stand-alone systems, such as air conditioning, heating and living hot water. These installations run on the consumption of non-renewable resources.

[0005] From a development point of view, the energy consumption for the household installations would increase with the rising standard of living. But if every one of the household installations runs on the consumption of non-renewable resources, they will directly or indirectly produce waste materials. These household installations that are placed in different homes are not only large in quantity but are also found in a wide distribution area, and the resulting environmental influence cannot be neglected. Actually, the demand for energy sources for the household installations is very low, i.e. the temperature difference between them is generally 20-30° C., but it is completely possible that most of the non-renewable energy sources can be replaced by renewable energy sources. The installations that require large amounts of energy sources in ordinary life include air-conditioners, living hot water supply equipment and heating equipment, and indirect energy demand for air-ventilators. These requirements will increase in the future. From the point of view of social resources that are individually occupied, the consumption model will not be developed sustainably. New energy sources must be found to cover the shortage of the non-renewable energy sources.

[0006] At present, although such household installations as aforementioned air-conditioners, heating equipment and living hot water supply equipment use the system of central production and supply in developed countries, they run on the consumption of non-renewable resources. Therefore, the amount of non-renewable resources consumed by the developed countries is much larger than those consumed by the developing countries, and the harm they do to the environment is also larger and the non-renewable resources they waste is much more.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention provides a multifunctional thermal installation used to improve living conditions on the basis of the concept of sustainable development and ecological equilibrium. If the separate installations are made into an integrated system called a multifunctional system, only a little amount of non-renewable energy source is used and most of the energy sources can be replaced by the renewable energy sources collected from the system, so that the pollution that is created by the consumption of energy sources can be reduced effectively. Meanwhile, large amounts of non-renewable energy sources can be saved and recovered.

[0008] The multifunctional thermal installation of the present invention includes a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser, and an expansion valve, of which the evaporator and the condenser comprise first and second groups of heat exchangers. A switch valve is provided at the end of the outlet of the compressor. The first group of heat exchangers is disposed within a water heater, while the second group of heat exchangers together with their associated fans are disposed inside a room. The inlet of the water heater is connected to an underground well.

[0009] The switch valve at the outlet of the compressor of the present invention is connected to the heat exchanger inside the room to form a heat supply circulating device; however, the switch valve can also turn to the heat exchanger disposed in the water heater to form a refrigerating circulating device. The water heater can be an enclosed water tank with a hot water outlet and the compressor can be disposed inside the water heater. The water inlet of the water heater can be connected to an underground well through a pump.

[0010] The operational principle of the multifunctional thermal installation is as follows. The multifunctional cold/hot air blower also has a fan and an evaporating/condensing heat exchanger as ordinary cold/hot air blowers do, and the structure of the multifunctional water heater is substantially the same as those of ordinary ones. The compressor condensing process used in the refrigeration and the reverse cycle of said process is used in the heat supply of the multifunctional cold/hot air blower and no more description on the operational principle of the heat supply shall be made herein. The combined installation is a multifunctional integration of a multifunctional blower, a compressor and a multifunctional water heater. The multifunctional integration only consumes 10-20% of the absolute value of the total non-renewable energy resources of the system and other energy resources it needs come from alternate energy resources. This integrated system is called “multifunctional system.”

[0011] When it is in the status of refrigeration, the refrigerating energy of the cold air blower comes from the water heater, wherein the heating energy of the water heater comes from the cold air blower, the residual thermal energy of the water heater is output and stored in the underground well for use as the primary thermal energy for heating in winter.

[0012] When it is in the status of heating, the thermal energy of the hot air blower comes from the energy stored in the underground well in seasons that do not need heating, while the cold water of which the thermal energy has been absorbed by the hot air blower shall be stored in the underground well for use as the refrigeration source in summer.

[0013] The combined installation is an integrated accrete body of which the cold/hot air blower and the multifunctional water heater constitute a common thermal circulation after compensating each other, so its structure is compact.

[0014] Although the thermodynamic process of the combined installation still uses the circulating process of conventional compressors, the work condition of the combined installation is much lower than that of conventional air-conditioners, i.e. the seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER) can reach 10 or greater which is more than two times that of conventional air-conditioners, since the thermodynamic processes of two functions are combined into one.

[0015] For example, the condensing temperature of 40° C. and evaporating temperature of 5° C. is used in conventional air-conditioners with R22 as a work medium, while the evaporating temperature used in the combined installation is more than 12° C. and the condensing temperature is 20° C. or even lower. The LGp-H circulation figure is attached for reference.

[0016] For users, since the previous set of air-conditioner is simplified into a cold/hot air blower without outdoor equipment and the previous boiler for supply of living hot water is simplified into an enclosed container, the space they occupy is reduced and they are convenient for use. Replacing the separate household thermal installations with the multifunctional installations can reduce more than half of the energy consumption per capita in developed countries. Since the efficiency of the industrial installations in developed countries has reached a high level, it is difficult to reduce the emission index of the greenhouse gases while civil installations are potential. Replacing the conventional separate installations with the multifunctional installations could efficiently reduce the emission index of the greenhouse gases in developed countries. Although the cost/performance ratio of the multifunctional installation is much higher than that of the conventional top-grade household appliances, it will be more advantageous if the multifunctional installations are promoted in developing countries using the one-step model, which avoids taking the road back using the development model of the developed countries. Since nearly 100 million sets of household appliances are needed in developing countries every year, the promotion of the multifunctional installation in these countries constitutes a large-scale project of recovery of global warming. If conventional household appliances are still used, the greenhouse gases shall increase at an order of magnitude of 100 million tons per year.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment according to the present invention; and

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a multifunctional installation mainly including a compressor 1, an evaporator (or condenser) 3, a condenser (or evaporator) 6, and an expansion valve 5, wherein the evaporator and the condenser both include first and second groups of heat exchangers 31 and 61 and a fan. At the outlet of the compressor 1 of the present invention there is provided an expansion valve 2 of which different changes can result in the refrigeration and heating systems wherein one group of the heat exchangers 61 is disposed in a water heater 7 and the other group 31 together with their corresponding fans are disposed inside the room. The water inlet of the water heater 7 is connected to a well.

[0020] The operational principle of the present invention is very simple: When refrigeration is needed, the water heater collects 12-16° C. water from the underground well, the switch valve at the end of the outlet of the compressor 1 is connected to the heat exchanger 61 which is inside the water heater, the cryogen is changed into high-temperature saturated gas of more than 65° C. after compressed by the compressor 1, then its temperature is lowered by the heat exchanger 61 after heat exchange with the low-temperature water in the water heater 7, and then the condensed cryogen enters the heat exchanger 31 inside the room to be evaporated and absorbs a large amount of heat after being expanded by the expansion valve 5; thus the refrigeration process is finished. During this process, the heat exchanger 61 functions as a condenser and the heat exchanger 31 functions as an evaporator, so a cold air blower is formed. During the process of heat exchange, the low-temperature water in the water heater 7 shall be changed into 62° C. hot water for use directly. Therefore, refrigerating energy of the cold air blower comes from the water heater 7 and the thermal energy of the water heater 7 comes from the cold air blower, the residual thermal energy of the water heater 7 can be stored in the underground well for use as the primary thermal energy for heating in winter.

[0021] The other work condition of the present invention is a heating process as shown in FIG. 2. The water heater 7 collects 16-30° C. warm water that is stored in summer from the underground well, the switch valve at the end of the outlet of the compressor 1 is connected to the heat exchanger 31 which is inside the water heater, the cryogen is changed into high-temperature gas work medium of more than 55° C. after compressed by the compressor 1, and then condensed by the heat exchanger 31 and gives out heat. Thus the heating process is finished. The condensed cryogen enters the heat exchanger 61 inside the room to be evaporated and absorbs heat after being expanded by the expansion valve 5. During this process, the heat exchanger 31 functions as a condenser and the heat exchanger 61 functions as an evaporator and thus a heating device is formed. During the process of heat exchange, the high-temperature water in the water heater 7 shall be changed into 1-2° C. cold water and can then be refilled in the underground well for use as the primary refrigerating energy in summer. Therefore, the heating energy of the hot air blower mainly comes from the energy stored in the underground well in the warmer seasons, and the water from which the thermal energy has been absorbed by the hot air blower shall be stored in the underground well for use as the refrigerating energy in summer.

[0022] In summary, the combined installation of the present invention is an integrated accrete body of which the cold/hot air blower and the multifunctional water heater constitute a common thermodynamic circulation after compensating each other, so the installation is compact in structure. Since the thermodynamic processes of two functions are combined into one, the work condition of the combined installation is much lower than that of conventional air-conditioners, i.e., the seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER) can reach 10 or greater, which is more than two times of that of conventional air-conditioners.

[0023] Embodiment 1

[0024] The structure shown in FIG. 1 is the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the water heater 7 is an enclosed water container which is provided with a water inlet 71 that is connected to an underground well, from the well 8-16° C. low-temperature water is pumped into the enclosed water heater 7 by the pump P. The compressor 1 can also be disposed in the water heater 7. The switch valve 2 at the end of the outlet of the compressor 1 is connected to the heat exchanger 61 which is inside the water heater 7. After being compressed, the cryogen is changed into a gas work medium with the high temperature of 65° C., and then the high-temperature gas work medium can lower the temperature efficiently after heat exchange with the low-temperature water in the water heater 7 through heat exchanger 61. The temperature of the cryogen of which the temperature has been lowered to −4° C. shall be generally lowered to −15° C. after being expanded through the expansion valve 5, and then it enters the heat exchanger 31 which is inside the room to be evaporated and absorbs the heat in the room to finish the refrigerating process. In the circulation of the present embodiment, the heat exchanger 61 in the hot water heater 7 functions as a condenser and the heat exchanger 31 in the room functions as an evaporator. In the process of condensation, without any heating process using non-renewable energy sources, the low-temperature water in the water heater can be heated, since the cryogen shall give out a large amount of heat. Thus the water of 62° C. is obtained and flows out for use through the hot water outlet 72 disposed on the water heater 7. The residual hot water can be stored in the underground well for use as the primary thermal energy for heating in winter.

[0025] Embodiment 2

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the water heater 7 is an enclosed water container which is provided with a water inlet 71 connected to an underground well. In the underground well there is warm water of 16-30° C. that was stored in summer, and the warm water is pumped by the pump P into the water heater 7. The compressor 1 is disposed inside the water heater 7. The switch valve 2 at the end of the output of the compressor 1 is connected to the heat exchanger 31 in the room. The cryogen is changed into a gas work medium of 55° C. after being compressed and then exchanges heat with the low-temperature air in the room through the heat exchanger 31, thus a hot air blower is formed. The temperature of the air outlet of the hot air blower can reach 55° C., so the function for heating the room is realized. The cryogen of which the temperature has been lowered shall enter the heat exchanger 61 for evaporating and absorbing after it is lowered further to −15° C. by being expanded in expansion valve 5. Thus the water in the water heater is changed into low-temperature water of 1-2° C. and then stored in the underground well for use as the primary refrigerating energy in summer. In the circulation of the present embodiment, the heat exchanger 61 inside the water heater 7 functions as an evaporator and the heat exchanger in the room functions as a condenser.

Claims

1. A multifunctional thermal installation, comprising:

a compressor having an inlet and an outlet;

a switch valve coupled to the outlet of the compressor;

an evaporator;

a condenser;

a water heater having a water inlet and a water outlet, the water inlet of the water heater being connected to an underground well; and

an expansion valve, wherein the evaporator and the condenser comprise at least a first group of heat exchangers and a second group of heat exchangers, the first group of heat exchangers being disposed in the water heater and the second group of heat exchangers and fans associated with the second group of heat exchangers being disposed in a room.

2. A multifunctional thermal installation as described in claim 1, wherein the switch valve coupled to the outlet of the compressor is connected to the second group of heat exchangers disposed in the room to form a heating circulation system.

3. A multifunctional thermal installation as described in claim 1, wherein the switch valve coupled to the outlet of the compressor is connected to the first group of heat exchangers disposed in the water heater to form a refrigeration circulation device.

4. A multifunctional thermal installation as described in claim 1, wherein the water heater is an enclosed water container and the water outlet is a hot water outlet.

5. A multifunctional thermal installation as described in claim 1, wherein the compressor is disposed in the water heater.

6. A multifunctional thermal installation as described in claim 1, wherein the water inlet of the water heater is connected to the underground well by a pump.