SIMULTANEOUS HYBRID HEATING SYSTEM

The system is for use with an occupiable space and comprises (i) a heat pumping arrangement including a refrigerant-containing circuit including an interior portion within the space and an exterior portion exterior to the space; (ii) a compression-expansion mechanism including a compressor and one or more expansion valves and operable in a heating mode to provide for compression of the refrigerant upstream of the exterior portion and downstream of the interior portion; and expansion of the refrigerant downstream of the exterior portion and upstream of the interior portion; (iii) a heater for producing a flow of heat; and (iv) distribution apparatus for, simultaneously: when the heater is producing, receiving its flow and transferring the received heat to air within the space; and when the compression-expansion mechanism is operating in the heating mode, absorbing heat from the interior portion of the circuit and transferring such heat to air within the space.

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Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/409,979, filed Sep. 26, 2022, incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The invention relates to the field of space heating.

BACKGROUND

It is well known to heat a space through the resistive or combustive production of heat. It is also well known to heat a space by transferring heat to the space from its exterior using an air source heat pump. The latter is increasingly viewed as advantageous from the standpoint of greenhouse gas reduction. However, air source heat pumps become less efficient in operation at lower temperatures and the net heat they can produce is reduced. In some jurisdictions, heat pumps cannot be oversized, to ensure the system can provide sufficient dehumidification during the summer months. Indeed, for regions where cooling loads are much smaller than heating loads, a heat pump will often be intentionally undersized for the heating load of a building such that the heat pump will not be able to provide the required heat in the cold. To address this, in cold winter months, the use of the heat pump is discontinued in favor of alternative heat sources, such as a furnace, a boiler or electric resistance heating, which are all considerably less efficient and increase operating costs and GHG emissions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Forming one aspect of the invention is a system for use with an occupiable space and a source of operational data. The operational data includes electricity cost data, gas cost data, greenhouse gas intensity data associated with electricity production, greenhouse gas intensity data associated with gas production, outdoor temperature and utility load balancing data.

The system comprises a heat pumping arrangement, a heater, and distribution apparatus.

The heat pumping arrangement includes:

    • a refrigerant-containing circuit including an interior portion within the space and an exterior portion outside of the space;
    • a compression-expansion mechanism including a compressor and one or more expansion valves and operable in a heating mode to provide for
      • compression of the refrigerant upstream of the exterior portion and downstream of the interior portion; and
      • expansion of the refrigerant downstream of the exterior portion and upstream of the interior portion;

The heater is adapted to combust gas to produce a flow of heat.

The distribution apparatus is for, simultaneously:

    • when the heater is producing, receiving its flow and transferring the received heat to air within the space; and
    • when the compression expansion mechanism is operating in the heating mode, absorbing heat from the interior portion of the circuit and transferring the absorbed heat to air within the space.

According to another aspect, the distribution apparatus can have: a blower; a return upstream of the blower; and a supply downstream of the blower.

According to another aspect, the absorbed heat can be transferred in the return and the flow of heat can be transferred in the supply.

According to another aspect, the interior portion of the circuit can include a coil, the coil being disposed in the return.

According to another aspect, the heater can be a boiler and the apparatus can include a hydronic coil in the supply through which heated water from the boiler traverses.

According to another aspect, the exterior portion of the circuit and the compression-expansion mechanism can form part of a combination device which further includes a fan.

According to other aspects:

    • the compression-expansion mechanism can further be operable in a cooling mode which provides for:
      • expansion of the refrigerant upstream of the exterior portion and downstream of the interior portion; and
      • compression of the refrigerant downstream of the exterior portion and upstream of the interior portion;
    • the distribution apparatus, when the compression-expansion mechanism is operating in the cooling mode, can absorb heat in the return and transfer the absorbed heat to the exterior.

According to another aspect, the system can further comprise a controller adapted to perform calculations.

According to another aspect, the calculations can include:

    • [GHGP] a calculation made by the controller of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of electricity required to operate the heat pumping arrangement; and
    • [GHGB] a calculation made by the controller of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the heater
      and the controller can be adapted to operate the heat pump arrangement and the heater in a sustainable mode to minimize [GHGP]+[GHGB].

According to another aspect, the greenhouse gas intensity data associated with electricity production can be used in [GHGP].

According to another aspect, the calculations can include:

    • [CP] a calculation of the cost associated with operation of the heat pumping arrangement; and
    • [CB] a calculation of the cost associated with the operation of the heater
      and the controller can be adapted to operate the heat pumping arrangement and the heater in an economy mode to minimize [CP]+[CB].

According to another aspect, the electricity cost data can be used in [CP].

According to another aspect, the controller can be adapted to automatically assume, when access to electricity cost data is unavailable, a basic mode wherein, when the outdoor temperature is above a set point, the heat needs of the space are met entirely by the heat pumping arrangement.

According to another aspect, the controller can be adapted to operate the heat pump arrangement and the heater, in response to utility load balancing data, in an override mode wherein the load on the heat pump arrangement is varied in response to load balancing needs of the electricity provider.

According to another aspect, the controller can be adapted to automatically assume, when the space has a heat requirement and the heat pump arrangement is not operable in the heating mode, a defrost mode wherein the heat needs of the space are met by the heater.

Advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention will become evident to persons of ordinary skill upon review of the following detailed description, with reference to the appended drawing, the latter being briefly described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of the invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system according to an embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in FIG. 1 in use with an occupiable space [indicated by pressure boundary PB] and will be seen to include a heat pumping arrangement 22, a heater 24, a distribution apparatus 26, an indoor temperature sensor 28, an outdoor temperature sensor 30, a return air sensor 32, a supply air sensor 34, and a controller 36. Also indicated on FIG. 1 are a domestic cold water supply CWS, a natural gas supply GS, the Internet cloud CL, a purge and fill valve PRV, a domestic hot water supply HW, a domestic cold water supply CW, a mixing valve MV, a supply water temperature sensor S1 and a return water temperature sensor S2.

The heat pumping arrangement 22 will be understood to include a refrigerant-containing circuit, a compressor C, an expansion valve EV and a check valve CV1. The circuit includes an interior portion and an exterior portion. The interior portion is inside the space and includes an A-coil 37. The exterior portion is outside the space and forms part of a combination unit 38 that includes the compressor C, another expansion device EV2, a fan F, a reversing valve RV and another check valve CV2.

The compressor and expansion device will be understood to be interposed in the circuit. The reversing valve RV will be understood to permit, in combination with operation of the check valves CV1 and CV2, selective configuration of the heat pumping arrangement in one of a heating mode and a cooling mode. In the heating mode, the compressor is upstream of the exterior portion and downstream of the interior portion and the expansion device is downstream of the exterior portion and upstream of the interior portion. In the cooling mode, the expansion device is upstream of the exterior portion and downstream of the interior portion and the compressor is downstream of the exterior portion and upstream of the interior portion.

The heater 24 is a boiler and is adapted to provide domestic hot water HW.

The distribution apparatus includes a blower B, a return R upstream of the blower and in receipt of the interior portion of the circuit, a supply S downstream of the blower, and a hydronic coil C in the supply operatively coupled to the boiler via a hydronic loop L that includes an expansion tank T to receive heated water.

The indoor temperature sensor 28 is positioned within the pressure boundary PB.

The outdoor temperature sensor 30 is positioned outside the pressure boundary PB.

The return air temperature sensor 32 is disposed in the return R.

The supply air temperature sensor 34 is disposed in the supply S.

The controller 36 is: disposed within the pressure boundary; operatively coupled to sensors 28, 30, 32, 34; coupled to the cloud CL to receive electricity cost data, gas cost data, greenhouse gas intensity data associated with electricity production and greenhouse gas intensity data associated with gas production [collectively, “Operational Data”]; and adapted, when in receipt of the Operational Data, to perform the following calculations:

    • greenhouse gas emissions [GHGP] associated with the production of electricity required to operate the heat pumping arrangement
    • greenhouse gas emissions [GHGB] associated with the production of heat by the heater;
    • cost of the electricity [CP] required to operate the heat pumping arrangement
    • cost [CB] associated with the production of the heat by the heater,

Operational Abilities

As an initial matter, it will be appreciated that the system has one possible mode of operation to cool the space and three possible heating modes of operation.

    • 1. Cooling
    • 2. Heat Pump
    • 3. Heater
    • 4. Hybrid

In Cooling mode:

    • the heat pumping arrangement is in the cooling mode
    • the boiler is not delivering heat to the hydronic coil
    • the distribution apparatus absorbs heat in the return and transfers the absorbed heat to the exterior

In Heat Pump mode:

    • the heat pumping arrangement is in the heating mode
    • the boiler is not delivering heat to the hydronic coil
    • the distribution apparatus absorbs heat from the exterior portion of the loop and transfers the absorbed heat to the occupied space via the A-coil in the return

In Heater mode:

    • the heat pumping arrangement is inactive
    • the boiler is delivering heat to the hydronic coil
    • the distribution apparatus receives heat from the boiler and transfers the received heat to the occupied space via the hydronic coil in the supply

In Hybrid mode

    • the heat pumping arrangement is in the heating mode
    • the boiler is delivering heat to the hydronic coil in the supply
    • the distribution apparatus absorbs heat from the exterior portion of the loop and transfers the absorbed heat to the occupied space via the A-coil in the return
    • the distribution apparatus also receives heat from the boiler and transfers the received heat to the occupied space via the hydronic coil in the supply

Performance Control

It will be appreciated that when the system is in the Hybrid mode of operation and the controller has access to the Operational Data, the availability of two distinct heat sources, each with a unique cost per Btu and GHC footprint, allows for significant variation in terms of control based upon user selection.

In Economy mode, whenever the controller determines that any portion of the heat required by the space can be met by the heat pumping arrangement and the cost of the electricity [CP] required to operate the heat pumping arrangement to produce that portion of heat required by the space is lower than the cost [CB] associated with the production of the same amount of heat by the heater, that portion of the heat required by the space is met entirely by heat pumping arrangement and the remainder is met by the heater.

In Sustainable mode, whenever the controller determined that any portion of the heat required by the space can be met by the heat pumping arrangement and the greenhouse gas emissions [GHGP] associated with the production of electricity required to operate the heat pumping arrangement to produce that portion of heat required by the space are lower than the greenhouse gas emissions [GHGB] associated with the production of the same amount of heat by the heater, that portion of the heat required by the space is met entirely by heat pumping arrangement and the remainder is met by the heater.

Of course, there also exists the possibility for users to modify the operating parameters to some compromise position between Economy and Sustainable, ie. to use the heat pump arrangement to provide heat so long as the cost differential is less than a predetermined amount.

Basic Mode

When the Economy mode has been selected and access to electricity cost data becomes unavailable, for example, in an internet outage, the system assumes a Basic mode. The Basic mode is similarly assumed when Sustainable mode has been selected and access to greenhouse gas data becomes unavailable.

In Basic mode, when the outdoor temperature is above a set point, the heat needs of the space are met entirely by the heat pumping arrangement.

Override Mode

Further, irrespective of the Performance selection of the user, the controller is adapted to operate the heat pump arrangement and the heater, in response to utility load balancing data, in an override mode wherein the load on the heat pump arrangement is varied in response to load balancing needs of the electricity provider.

Defrost Mode

According to another aspect, the controller can be adapted to automatically assume, when the space has a heat requirement and the heat pump arrangement is not operable in the heating mode, a defrost mode wherein the heat needs of the space are met by the heater. This has advantage of course in situations wherein the heat pumping arrangement is inoperable, for example, as a result of a compressor failure, but also has advantage in that it allows for heat to be provided to the home in winter months when the heat pump enters its periodic defrost cycle, to remove ice build up.

Load Switching

One manner in which the basic mode can be implemented is by (i) running the heat pump at maximum capacity when the outside temperature is such that the calculated heat requirements of the structure are exceeded by the heating capacity of the heat pump; and (ii) meeting the balance of the heat load requirements through regulation of the heater. Regarding (i), heat requirement calculations for a structure based on exterior temperature, insulation, desired interior temperature, etc., are a matter of routine to persons of ordinary skill in the art. Similarly, the capacity of a given heat pump to produce heat at any one of a wide range of ambient temperatures is generally made available by manufacturers. As such, this calculation can be done in a number of conventional manners, including but not limited to look-up tables to which resource is made as a function of ambient temperature. Regarding (ii), this could be done, for example, by toggling the pump that delivers heated water from the boiler in a manner similar to the manner in which a forced air furnace is toggled.

Variations

Whereas a specific embodiment is described, it will be appreciated that variations are possible.

For example, whereas an air-to-air heat exchanger is described, water-to-air heat exchangers, ground source heat pumps and gas adsorption heat pumps could also be employed.

Further, whereas a boiler is described, the heater could, for example, be of the resistive type or a modulating furnace.

Yet further, an indirect heating tank can be installed in the system so that the heat pump can be used to heat water (instead of air), that can then be either directed to the purpose of providing hot water to the home or for supply to a fan coil to heat the air within the home, or both.

As well, the content of the Operational Data could be varied, expanded or restricted, and it need not come from the “cloud”, i.e. the internet, but could come, for example, from a proprietary private network feed or the like.

Whereas a gas burning boiler is specified, other fuel sources could be used.

As well, whereas the system is indicated to switch between hybrid and heater modes of operation generally only in fault situations, the system could of course be operated to function in a manner to mimic combination systems of the prior art, wherein the heat pump is disabled entirely in favor of the furnace when temperatures fall.

Accordingly, the invention should be understood to be limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.

Claims

1. A system for use with an occupiable space and a source of operational data, the operational data including electricity cost data, gas cost data, greenhouse gas intensity data associated with electricity production, greenhouse gas intensity data associated with gas production, outdoor temperature and utility load balancing data, the system comprising:

a heat pumping arrangement including: a refrigerant-containing circuit including an interior portion within the space and an exterior portion outside of the space; a compression-expansion mechanism including a compressor and one or more expansion valves and operable in a heating mode to provide for compression of the refrigerant upstream of the exterior portion and downstream of the interior portion; and expansion of the refrigerant downstream of the exterior portion and upstream of the interior portion;
a heater adapted to combust gas to produce a flow of heat; and
distribution apparatus for, simultaneously: when the heater is producing, receiving its flow and transferring the received heat to air within the space; and when the compression expansion mechanism is operating in the heating mode, absorbing heat from the interior portion of the circuit and transferring the absorbed heat to air within the space.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution apparatus has: a blower; a return upstream of the blower; and a supply downstream of the blower.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the absorbed heat is transferred in the return and the flow of heat is transferred in the supply.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the interior portion of the circuit includes a coil, the coil being disposed in the return.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the heater is a boiler and the apparatus includes a hydronic coil in the supply through which heated water from the boiler traverses.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the exterior portion of the circuit and the compression-expansion mechanism form part of a combination device which further includes a fan.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein:

the compression-expansion mechanism is further operable in a cooling mode which provides for: expansion of the refrigerant upstream of the exterior portion and downstream of the interior portion; and compression of the refrigerant downstream of the exterior portion and upstream of the interior portion;
the distribution apparatus, when the compression-expansion mechanism is operating in the cooling mode, absorbs heat in the return and transfers the absorbed heat to the exterior.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller adapted to perform calculations.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the calculations include: and the controller is adapted to operate the heat pump arrangement and the heater in a sustainable mode to minimize [GHGP]+[GHGB].

[GHGP] a calculation made by the controller of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of electricity required to operate the heat pumping arrangement; and
[GHGB] a calculation made by the controller of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the heater

10. A system according to claim 9, where the greenhouse gas intensity data associated with electricity production is used in [GHGP].

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein the calculations include: and the controller is adapted to operate the heat pumping arrangement and the heater in an economy mode to minimize [CP]+[CB].

[CP] a calculation of the cost associated with operation of the heat pumping arrangement; and
[CB] a calculation of the cost associated with the operation of the heater

12. A system according to claim 11, where the electricity cost data is used in [CP].

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is adapted to automatically assume, when access to electricity cost data is unavailable, a basic mode wherein, when the outdoor temperature is above a set point, the heat needs of the space are met entirely by the heat pumping arrangement.

14. A system according to claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to operate the heat pump arrangement and the heater, in response to utility load balancing data, in an override mode wherein the load on the heat pump arrangement is varied in response to load balancing needs of the electricity provider.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to automatically assume, when the space has a heat requirement and the heat pump arrangement is not operable in the heating mode, a defrost mode wherein the heat needs of the space are met by the heater.

Patent History
Publication number: 20240102684
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 26, 2023
Publication Date: Mar 28, 2024
Inventors: David SHULVER (Barrie), Thomas HERING (Barrie), Bismark ADDO-BINNEY (Barrie)
Application Number: 18/372,932
Classifications
International Classification: F24F 11/65 (20060101); F24F 11/47 (20060101);