HEATING INSTALLATION

A heating installation (1) comprising: a first circuit (C1) containing a medium; a first heat pump (5) for heating a medium by absorbing heat energy from the medium in the first circuit; a thermal energy store (2) connected to the first circuit in order to allow heat exchange between the thermal energy store and the medium in the first circuit; a second circuit (C2) containing a medium; a second heat pump (10) for heating a medium by absorbing heat energy from the medium in the second circuit; a cooling circuit (CC) containing a medium; a first heat exchanger (8) for transferring heat from the medium in the cooling circuit (CC) to the medium in the first circuit (C1); and a second heat exchanger (9) for transferring heat from the medium in the cooling circuit (CC) to the medium in the second circuit (C2).

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Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a heating installation according to the preamble of claim 1.

Heating installations with a heat pump that utilizes heat energy stored in a ground heat exchanger or other type of thermal energy store in order to satisfy different types of heating demands are previously known in various configurations. Such a heating installation may for instance be used in order to heat air and tap hot-water in a building. During periods with higher heating demands, heat energy may be extracted from the thermal energy store by means of a heat-carrier fluid that circulates between the thermal energy store and the heat pump. During periods with lower heating demands, heat energy may instead be transferred to the thermal energy store by means of the circulating heat-carrier fluid in order to increase the amount of heat energy stored in the thermal energy store.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a heating installation of the above-mentioned type that is capable of efficiently utilizing waste heat from a cooling circuit in a new a favourable manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, said object is achieved by means of a heating installation having the features defined in claim 1.

The heating installation according to the invention comprises:

    • a first circuit containing a medium;
    • a first heat pump, which has an input side connected to the first circuit and which is configured to heat a medium by absorbing heat energy from the medium in the first circuit;
    • a thermal energy store connected to the first circuit in order to allow heat exchange between the thermal energy store and the medium in the first circuit;
    • a second circuit containing a medium;
    • a second heat pump, which has an input side connected to the second circuit and which is configured to heat a medium by absorbing heat energy from the medium in the second circuit;
    • a cooling circuit containing a medium;
    • a first heat exchanger, which has a first side connected to the cooling circuit and a second side connected to the first circuit and which is configured to transfer waste heat from the medium in the cooling circuit to the medium in the first circuit; and
    • a second heat exchanger, which has a first side connected to the cooling circuit and a second side connected to the second circuit and which is configured to transfer waste heat from the medium in the cooling circuit to the medium in the second circuit.

In the heating installation according to the invention, the first heat pump is configured to satisfy a heating demand by utilizing heat energy stored in the thermal energy store, whereas the second heat pump is configured to satisfy a heating demand by utilizing heat energy from the medium in the cooling circuit, wherein heat energy from the medium in the cooling circuit is transferred to the input side of the second heat pump via the second heat exchanger and the second circuit. Via the first heat exchanger and the first circuit, heat energy from the medium in the cooling circuit may also be transferred to the thermal energy store in order to increase the temperature of the thermal energy store and thereby increase the amount of heat energy stored therein. The medium in the cooling circuit is heated by waste heat of a cooling process and used as an energy source by the heating installation. Hereby, the waste heat of the cooling process may be utilized for suitable heating purposes instead of being wasted. A cooling process, such as for instance a cooling process associated with the cooling of a data centre or hospital equipment or with the cooling of foodstuffs in a supermarket, is often producing waste heat continuously with low variations in temperature and quantity, wherein the temperature of the medium in a cooling circuit included in a cooling system configured to perform such a cooling process often has a temperature in the range of 20-30° C. Thus, the waste heat of such a cooling process is favourable for use as an energy source in a heating installation, for instance in a heating installation configured to satisfy heating demands in a building. During periods with higher heating demands, the waste heat of the cooling process may be used as an energy source by the second heat pump in order to heat a medium in a circuit connected to the output side of the second heat pump. During periods with lower heating demands, heat energy derived from the waste heat of the cooling process may be stored in the thermal energy store for later use by the first heat pump during periods with higher heating demands. In this manner, heat energy derived from the waste heat of the cooling process may for instance be stored in the summer for later use in the winter, or stored at night for later use in the daytime.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first and second heat exchangers are connected to the cooling circuit in series with each other, preferably with the first heat exchanger arranged in the cooling circuit downstream of the second heat exchanger. Hereby, heat energy of higher temperature quality may be transferred from the medium in the cooling circuit to the second circuit via the second heat exchanger in a first step, whereupon heat energy of lower temperature quality may be transferred from the medium in the cooling circuit to the thermal energy store via the first heat exchanger and the first circuit in a subsequent second step.

The thermal energy store is with advantage a ground heat exchanger. In this case, the thermal energy supplied to the thermal energy store from the cooling circuit is stored in the ground and/or in groundwater.

Other favourable features of the heating installation according to the invention will appear from the dependent claims and the description following below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will in the following be more closely described by means of embodiment examples, with reference to the appended drawings. It is shown in:

FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of a heating installation according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIGS. 2a and 2b a schematic illustration of a heating installation according to a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 a schematic illustration of a heating installation according to a third embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 a schematic illustration of a heating installation according to a fourth embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 5a and 5b a schematic illustration of a heating installation according to a fifth embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6a-6c a schematic illustration of a heating installation according to a sixth embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 7 a schematic illustration of a heating installation according to a seventh embodiment of the invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Different embodiments of a heating installation 1 according to the invention are schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1-7. In the illustrated embodiments, the heating installation 1 is configured to heat a house or other building and to heat tap hot-water in the building. However, the heating installation according to the invention may as an alternative be configured to satisfy any other types of heating demands.

The heating installation 1 according to the invention comprises a first circuit C1 containing a first liquid medium, for instance in the form of water, and a second circuit C2 containing a second liquid medium, for instance in the form of water.

The heating installation 1 comprises a thermal energy store 2, which is connected to the first circuit C1 in order to allow heat exchange between the thermal energy store 2 and the medium in the first circuit C1. The thermal energy store 2 is with advantage a vertical or horizontal ground heat exchanger, as illustrated in FIGS. 2-7. A ground heat exchanger comprises collector pipes 3 installed in the ground, wherein a heat-carrier fluid is circulated through the collector pipes in order to absorb heat from the ground or discharge heat to the ground. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2-7, the medium in the first circuit C1 is circulated through collector pipes 3 of the thermal energy store 2 and used as heat-carrier fluid. In a vertical ground heat exchanger, the collector pipes 3 are installed in vertical or inclined boreholes in the ground, wherein the space around the collector pipes 3 may be filled with groundwater or backfilled with thermally conductive grout in order to achieve good thermal contact between the ground material and the collector pipes. In a horizontal ground heat exchanger, the collector pipes 3 are installed horizontally at a suitable depth in the ground. In a thermal energy store 2 in the form of a ground heat exchanger, heat energy may for instance be stored in the summer for later use in the winter. However, any other suitable type of thermal energy store 2 may also be used, such as for instance a thermal energy store formed by one or more accumulator tanks 4 of larger size, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In a thermal energy store 2 consisting of one or more accumulator tanks 4, heat energy may for instance be stored at night for later use in the daytime.

The heating installation 1 comprises a first heat pump 5, which has an input side 5a connected to the first circuit C1 and which is configured to heat a medium by absorbing heat energy from the medium in the first circuit C1. Thus, the first heat pump 5 is configured to heat said medium by utilizing heat energy stored in the thermal energy store 2.

The first heat pump 5 comprises an evaporator 5c, a condenser 5d, a compressor 5e and an expansion valve 5f, preferably an electromechanical expansion valve. The evaporator 5c of the first heat pump 5 is connected to the first circuit C1. By heat exchange with the medium in the first circuit C1, the working medium of the first heat pump 5 absorbs heat energy via the evaporator 5c. Work is added via the compressor 5e, whereby the pressure and the temperature of the working medium is increased. In the condenser 5d, heat energy is then, by heat exchange, emitted to a medium in a circuit C3 connected to the condenser 5d and the working medium of the heat pump is then returned to the evaporator 5c via the expansion valve 5f, the pressure and the temperature of the working medium being lowered when passing the expansion valve.

The heating installation 1 comprises a first circulation pump 6, which is arranged in the first circuit C1 for controlling the flow of medium in the first circuit between the first heat pump 5 and the thermal energy store 2.

The heating installation 1 also comprises a cooling circuit CC containing a third medium, for instance in the form of water. The cooling circuit CC is connected to a cooling system CS, which may be configured to cool an industrial process, a data centre, a server room, hospital equipment or any other type of heat emitting equipment. The cooling circuit CC may also be connected to a cooling system CS in the form of a refrigeration and/or freezing system.

The heating installation 1 further comprises a first heat exchanger 8 and a second heat exchanger 9. The first heat exchanger 8 has a first side 8a connected to the cooling circuit CC and a second side 8b connected to the first circuit C1 and is configured to transfer heat from the medium in the cooling circuit CC to the medium in the first circuit C1. The second heat exchanger 9 has a first side 9a connected to the cooling circuit CC and a second side 9b connected to the second circuit C2 and is configured to transfer heat from the medium in the cooling circuit CC to the medium in the second circuit C2.

The heating installation 1 also comprises a second heat pump 10, which has an input side 10a connected to the second circuit C2 and which is configured to heat a medium by absorbing heat energy from the medium in the second circuit C2. Thus, the second heat pump 10 is configured to heat said medium by utilizing heat energy from the medium circulating in the cooling circuit CC. A circulation pump 11 is arranged in the second circuit C2 for controlling the flow of medium in the second circuit through the second side 9b of the second heat exchanger 9.

The second heat pump 10 comprises an evaporator 10c, a condenser 10d, a compressor 10e and an expansion valve 10f, preferably an electromechanical expansion valve. The evaporator 10c of the second heat pump 10 is connected to the second circuit C2. By heat exchange with the medium in the second circuit C2, the working medium of the second heat pump 10 absorbs heat energy via the evaporator 10c. Work is added via the compressor 10e, whereby the pressure and the temperature of the working medium is increased. In the condenser 10d, heat energy is then, by heat exchange, emitted to a medium in a circuit C3, C4 connected to the condenser 10d and the working medium of the heat pump is then returned to the evaporator 10c via the expansion valve 10f, the pressure and the temperature of the working medium being lowered when passing the expansion valve.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3-7, a second circulation pump 12 is arranged in the first circuit C1 for controlling the flow of medium in the first circuit C1 between the first heat exchanger 8 and the thermal energy store 2. When heat energy is to be transferred from the cooling circuit CC to the thermal energy store 2 via the first heat exchanger 8 and the first circuit C1, the second circulation pump 12 is operated in co-operation with the first circulation pump 6 in order to make the medium in the first circuit C1 flow through the second side 8b of the first heat exchanger 8 while absorbing heat energy from the medium circulating in the cooling circuit CC, and thereafter through the thermal energy store 2 in order to discharge heat energy to the thermal energy store 2 and thereby increase the temperature thereof. When the first circulation pump 6 is in operation with the second circulation pump 12 turned off, the medium in the first circuit C1 is directed directly from the first heat pump 5 to the thermal energy store 2 via a bypass line 14 without passing through the first heat exchanger 8. In the latter case, the medium circulating in the first circuit C1 may absorb heat energy from the thermal energy store 2 for use by the first heat pump 5.

As an alternative, the second circulation pump 12 may be replaced by a control valve 15 that is arranged in the first circuit C1 and configured to control the flow of medium in the first circuit between the first heat exchanger 8 and the thermal energy store 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the control valve 15 is a three-way valve, which in a first setting position is configured to direct the fluid flow in the first circuit C1 directly from the first heat pump 5 to the thermal energy store 2 via the bypass line 14, as illustrated with thick lines in FIG. 2a, and in a second setting position is configured to direct the fluid flow in the first circuit C1 through the second side 8b of the first heat exchanger 8, as illustrated with thick lines in FIG. 2b.

The first heat exchanger 8 and the second heat exchanger 9 are with advantage connected to the cooling circuit CC in series with each other, wherein the first heat exchanger 8 preferably is arranged in the cooling circuit CC downstream of the second heat exchanger 9 such that the medium in the cooling circuit CC will first flow through the first side 9a of the second heat exchanger 9 and thereafter through the first side 8a of the first heat exchanger 8. However, the first and second heat exchangers 8, 9 could as an alternative be connected to the cooling circuit CC in parallel with each other.

A circulation pump 13 is arranged in the cooling circuit CC for circulating the medium in this circuit, wherein the flow of medium through the first side 8a of the first heat exchanger 8 and through the first side 9a of the second heat exchanger 9 is controlled by means of this circulation pump 13.

In the illustrated embodiments, the first heat pump 5 is configured to heat a medium in the form of a third liquid medium, for instance in the form of water, that circulates in a third circuit C3 included in the heating installation 1. The first heat pump 5 has its output side 5b connected to the third circuit C3 so that heat exchange between the working medium of the first heat pump 5 and the medium in the third circuit C3 is possible via the condenser 5d of the first heat pump. The heating installation 1 may comprise one or more heat emitting devices 16 arranged in the third circuit C3 in order to transfer heat from the medium in the third circuit C3 to air within a building. The heat emitting devices 16 may for instance have the form of conventional radiators. An outlet of the condenser 5d of the first heat pump 5 is by means of a feed conduit 18 connected to the inlet 16a of said heat emitting devices 16. An outlet 16b of the heat emitting devices 16 is by means of a return conduit 19 connected to an inlet of the condenser 5d of the first heat pump. In the illustrated embodiments, the first heat pump 5 is consequently configured to heat a medium by utilizing heat energy extracted from the thermal energy store 2 for the purpose of heating the air within a building. However, the first heat pump 5 may as an alternative be configured to heat a medium by utilizing heat energy extracted from the thermal energy store 2 for any other suitable purpose.

A circulation pump 17 is arranged in the third circuit C3 for controlling the flow of medium in the third circuit between the first heat pump 5 and the heat emitting devices 16. In the illustrated embodiments, this circulation pump 17 is arranged in the feed conduit 18, but it could as an alternative be arranged in the return conduit 19.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3-7, the second heat pump 10 is configured to heat a medium in the form of a fourth liquid medium, for instance in the form of water, that circulates in a fourth circuit C4 included in the heating installation 1. The second heat pump 10 has its output side 10b connected to the fourth circuit C4 so that heat exchange between the working medium of the second heat pump 10 and the medium in the fourth circuit C4 is possible via the condenser 10d of the second heat pump. In these embodiments, the heating installation 1 comprises a heat emitting device 20, 20′ arranged in the fourth circuit C4 for heating tap hot-water by transferring heat from the medium in the fourth circuit C4 to water that is to be heated in order to provide tap hot-water. A circulation pump 21 is arranged in the fourth circuit C4 for circulating the medium in this circuit.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3-7, the tap hot-water final-heated by the heat emitting device 20, 20′ is conveyed via a tap hot-water circuit C5 to one or more tapping points 22, which for instance may be provided with hot-water taps. Tap hot-water that has passed the tapping points 22 without being tapped is conveyed back to the heat emitting device 20, 20′. A circulation pump 23 is arranged in the tap hot-water circuit C5 for circulating the medium in this circuit.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the tap hot-water final-heated by the heat emitting device 20′ is stored in an accumulator tank 24. In this case, the heat emitting device 20′ comprises a heating coil 25, which is arranged in the accumulator tank 24 and through which the medium in the fourth circuit C4 is allowed to flow in order to transfer heat from the medium in the fourth circuit C4 to the water in the accumulator tank 24. Via the tap hot-water circuit C5, tap hot-water is conveyed from an outlet 24a of the accumulator tank 24 to the tapping points 22. Tap hot-water that has passed the tapping points 22 without being tapped is conveyed back to the accumulator tank 24. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, no preheating of the tap hot-water takes place, wherein the accumulator tank 24 is arranged to receive cold water directly from a cold water supply line 26.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3-7, the above-mentioned heat emitting device 20 has the form of a heat exchanger, wherein this heat exchanger has a first side 20a connected to the fourth circuit C4 and a second side 20b connected to the tap hot-water circuit C5 and is configured to transfer heat from the medium in the fourth circuit C4 to the water in the tap hot-water circuit C5.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3-7, a first accumulator tank 30 arranged in the second circuit C2 for accumulating a part of the medium in the second circuit, wherein this first accumulator tank 30 is connected to the evaporator 10c of the second heat pump 10 in order to allow medium in the second circuit C2 to circulate between the first accumulator tank 30 and the evaporator 10c of the second heat pump. By means of the first accumulator tank 30, rapid changes in the temperature of the medium supplied to the input side 10a of the second heat pump 10 is prevented. In this case, the above-mentioned circulation pump 11 in the second circuit C2 is configured to control the flow of medium in the second circuit through the second side 9b of the second heat exchanger 9 and through the first accumulator tank 30, wherein a further circulation pump 31 is arranged in a conduit between the first accumulator tank 30 and the evaporator 10c of the second heat pump 10 in order to control the circulation of medium between the first accumulator tank 30 and the evaporator 10c of the second heat pump.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3-7, the heating installation 1 comprises a heat exchanger 33, in the following referred to as third heat exchanger, which has a first side 33a connected to the second circuit C2 and a second side 33b connected to the water supply line 26 upstream of the heat emitting device 20, wherein this heat exchanger 33 is configured to preheat tap hot-water by transferring heat from the medium in the second circuit C2 to water in the water supply line 26. In these embodiments, the heating installation 1 also comprises a second accumulator tank 34 arranged in the second circuit C2 for accumulating a part of the medium in the second circuit. The first and second accumulator tanks 30, 34 are arranged in series with each other in the second circuit C2, preferably with the second accumulator tank 34 arranged in the second circuit C2 upstream of the first accumulator tank 30 as seen in a flow direction FD from an outlet 9c of the second side 9b of the second heat exchanger 9 to an inlet 9d thereof. The third heat exchanger 33 has its first side 33a connected to the second accumulator tank 34 in order to allow medium in the second circuit C2 to circulate between the second accumulator tank 34 and the third heat exchanger 33. In this case, a further circulation pump 35 is arranged in a conduit between the second accumulator tank 34 and the third heat exchanger 33 in order to control the circulation of medium between the second accumulator tank 34 and the third heat exchanger 33.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6a-6c and FIG. 7, the second accumulator tank 34 is connected to the third circuit C3 in order to allow medium to circulate between the second accumulator tank 34 and the third circuit C3 to thereby increase the temperature of the medium flowing through the feed conduit 18 or through the return conduit 19 of the third circuit C3 by means of heat energy stored in the second accumulator tank 34 and thereby contribute to the heating of the air in the building in question via the heat emitting devices 16 arranged in the third circuit C3. In the illustrated examples, the flow of medium between the second accumulator tank 34 and the third circuit C3 is controlled by means of a circulation pump 36 and a control valve 37 in the form of a three-way valve. When the circulation pump 35 is in operation with the circulation pump 36 turned off, medium is made to circulate between the second accumulator tank 34 and the third heat exchanger 33, as illustrated with thick lines in FIG. 6a. When the circulation pump 36 is in operation with the circulation pump 35 turned off and with the control valve 37 in a first setting position, medium is made to flow from a first point P1 in the feed conduit 18 of the third circuit C3 into the second accumulator tank 34 and from the second accumulator tank 34 to a second point P2 in the feed conduit 18 downstream of the first point P1, as illustrated with thick lines in FIG. 6b, to thereby achieve a circulation of medium between the second accumulator tank 34 and the feed conduit 18 of the third circuit C3. When the circulation pump 36 is in operation with the circulation pump 35 turned off and with the control valve 37 in a second setting position, medium is made to flow from a third point P3 in the return conduit 19 of the third circuit C3 into the second accumulator tank 34 and from the second accumulator tank 34 to a fourth point P4 in the return conduit 19 downstream of the third point P3, as illustrated with thick lines in FIG. 6c, to thereby achieve a circulation of medium between the second accumulator tank 34 and the return conduit 19 of the third circuit C3.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7, the heating installation 1 comprises a third accumulator tank 40 arranged in the second circuit C2 for accumulating a part of the medium in the second circuit, wherein the first, second and third accumulator tanks 30, 34, 40 are arranged in series with each other in the second circuit C2 with the first accumulator tank 30 downstream of the second accumulator tank 34 and upstream of the third accumulator tank 40 as seen in the above-mentioned flow direction FD. Thus, the third accumulator tank 40 is arranged in the second circuit C2 downstream of the first accumulator tank 30 as seen in said flow direction FD. In this case, the heating installation 1 comprises a further heat exchanger 41, in the following referred to as fourth heat exchanger, which has a first side 41a connected to the third accumulator tank 40 in order to allow medium in the second circuit C2 to circulate between the third accumulator tank 40 and the fourth heat exchanger 41 and a second side 41b connected to the water supply line 26. In this case, a further circulation pump 42 is arranged in a conduit between the third accumulator tank 40 and the fourth heat exchanger 41 in order to control the circulation of medium between the third accumulator tank 40 and the fourth heat exchanger 41. The fourth heat exchanger 41 is configured to preheat tap hot-water by transferring heat from the medium in the second circuit C2 to the water in the water supply line 26. The third and fourth heat exchangers 33, 41 are arranged in series with each other in the water supply line 26, wherein the fourth heat exchanger 41 is connected to the water supply line 26 upstream of the third heat exchanger 33 to thereby allow the fourth heat exchanger 41 to preheat the tap hot-water in a first step and the third heat exchanger 33 to preheat the tap hot-water in a subsequent second step.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b, FIGS. 5a and 5b, FIGS. 6a-6c and FIG. 7, the second heat pump 10 has its output side 10b connected to the third circuit C3 so that heat exchange between the working medium of the second heat pump 10 and the medium in the third circuit C3 is possible via the condenser 10d of the second heat pump 10. Heat energy extracted from the medium in the cooling circuit CC may hereby be utilized by the second heat pump 10 in order to increase the temperature of the medium flowing through the third circuit C3 and thereby contribute to the heating of the air in the building in question via the heat emitting devices 16 arranged in the third circuit C3. In this case, an inlet of the condenser 10d of the second heat pump is connected to the third circuit C3 via a first connecting conduit 44, and an outlet of the condenser 10d of the second heat pump is connected to the third circuit C3 via a second connecting conduit 45. Medium may flow from the third circuit C3 to the condenser 10d of the second heat pump via the first connecting conduit 44, through the condenser 10d of the second heat pump while absorbing heat from the working medium of the second heat pump 10, and then back to the third circuit C3 via the second connecting conduit 45. In the illustrated examples, the first connecting conduit 44 is connected to the third circuit C3 at a point P5 located in the feed conduit 18, and the second connecting conduit 45 is connected to the third circuit C3 at another point P6 located in the feed conduit 18 downstream of the first-mentioned point P5.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the circulation of medium between the feed conduit 18 and the condenser 10d of the second heat pump 10 is controlled by means of a circulation pump 46 arranged in the first connecting conduit 44. This circulation pump 46 could as an alternative be arranged in the second connecting conduit 45.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b, FIGS. 6a-6c and FIG. 7, the flow of medium between the second heat pump 10 and the third circuit C3 is controlled by means of the circulation pump 21 and a control valve 47 in the form of a three-way valve. When the circulation pump 21 is in operation with the control valve 47 in a first setting position, medium is made to circulate between the condenser 10d of the second heat pump 10 and the heat emitting device 20, as illustrated with thick lines in FIG. 5a. When the circulation pump 21 is in operation with the control valve 47 in a second setting position, medium is made to flow from the feed conduit 18 of the third circuit C3 to the condenser 10d of the second heat pump 10 via the first connecting conduit 44, through the condenser 10d of the second heat pump and then back to feed conduit 18 of the third circuit C3 via the second connecting conduit 45, as illustrated with thick lines in FIG. 5b.

In the illustrated embodiments, the second heat pump 10 is configured to emit heat energy for final heating of tap hot-water and/or in order to give an addition of heat to the medium in the third circuit C3. However, the second heat pump 10 could as an alternative be configured to emit heat energy for any other suitable heating purpose.

The heating installation 1 comprises an electronic control device 50, which is configured to control the circulation of medium in the different circuits C1-C4 of the heating installation by controlling the circulation pumps 6, 11, 12, 17, 21, 31, 35, 36, 42, 46 and control valves 15, 37, 47 provided in these circuits. The electronic control device 50 is configured to control said circulation in dependence on temperature values representing the temperature of the medium at different places in the circuits C1-C4, wherein these temperature values are established by means of temperature sensors 51 connected to the electronic control device 50. Temperature sensors 51 included in the heating installation 1 are illustrated in FIG. 1, but have been omitted in the other figures.

The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the embodiments described above. On the contrary, many possibilities to modifications thereof will be apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the basic idea of the invention such as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A heating installation comprising: the heating installation (1) further comprises:

a first circuit (C1) containing a medium;
a first heat pump (5), which has an input side (5a) connected to the first circuit (C1) and which is configured to heat a medium by absorbing heat energy from the medium in the first circuit (C1);
a thermal energy store (2) connected to the first circuit (C1) to allow heat exchange between the thermal energy store (2) and the medium in the first circuit (C1);
a second circuit (C2) containing a medium; and
a cooling circuit (CC) containing a medium, wherein
a second heat pump (10), which has an input side connected to the second circuit (C2) and is configured to heat a medium by absorbing heat energy from the medium in the second circuit (C2);
a first heat exchanger (8), which has a first side (8a) connected to the cooling circuit (CC) and a second side (8b) connected to the first circuit (C1) and is configured to transfer heat from the medium in the cooling circuit (CC) to the medium in the first circuit (C1); and
a second heat exchanger (9), which has a first side (9a) connected to the cooling circuit (CC) and a second side (9b) connected to the second circuit (C2) and is configured to transfer heat from the medium in the cooling circuit (CC) to the medium in the second circuit (C2).

2. A heating installation according to claim 1, wherein the first and second heat exchangers (8, 9) are connected to the cooling circuit (CC) in series with each other.

3. A heating installation according to claim 2, wherein the first heat exchanger (8) is arranged in the cooling circuit (CC) downstream of the second heat exchanger (9).

4. A heating installation according to claim 1, wherein the heating installation (1) comprises a first circulation pump (6) arranged in the first circuit (C1) for controlling the flow of medium in the first circuit (C1) between the first heat pump (5) and the thermal energy store (2).

5. A heating installation according to claim 4, wherein the heating installation (1) comprises a second circulation pump (12) or a control valve (15) arranged in the first circuit (C1) for controlling the flow of medium in the first circuit (C1) between the first heat exchanger (8) and the thermal energy store (2).

6. A heating installation according to claim 1, wherein the heating installation (1) comprises:

a first accumulator tank (30) arranged in the second circuit (C2) for accumulating a part of the medium in the second circuit,
the first accumulator tank (30) is connected to an evaporator (10c) of the second heat pump (10) to allow medium in the second circuit (C2) to circulate between the first accumulator tank (30) and the evaporator (10c) of the second heat pump;
a third circulation pump (11), arranged in the second circuit (C2) for controlling the flow of medium in the second circuit through the second side (9b) of the second heat exchanger (9) and through the first accumulator tank (30); and
a fourth circulation pump (31), is arranged in a conduit between the first accumulator tank (30) and the evaporator (10c) of the second heat pump (10) and configured to control the circulation of medium between the first accumulator tank (30) and the evaporator (10c) of the second heat pump (10).

7. A heating installation according to claim 1, wherein:

the heating installation (1) comprises a third circuit (C3) containing a medium;
that the first heat pump (5) has its output side (5b) connected to the third circuit (C3) so that heat exchange between the working medium of the first heat pump (5) and the medium in the third circuit (C3) is possible via a condenser (5d) of the first heat pump (5); and
the heating installation (1) comprises one or more heat emitting devices (16) arranged in the third circuit (C3) in order to transfer heat from the medium in the third circuit (C3) to air within a building.

8. A heating installation according to claim 7, wherein the second heat pump (10) has its output side (10b) connected to the third circuit (C3) so that heat exchange between the working medium of the second heat pump (10) and the medium in the third circuit (C3) is possible via a condenser (10d) of the second heat pump (10).

9. A heating installation according to claim 1, wherein

the heating installation (1) comprises a fourth circuit (C4) containing a medium; the second heat pump (10) has its output side connected to the fourth circuit (C4) so that heat exchange between the working medium of the second heat pump (10) and the medium in the fourth circuit (C4) is possible via a condenser (10d) of the second heat pump (10); and the heating installation (1) comprises a heat emitting device (20, 20′) arranged in the fourth circuit (C4) for heating tap hot-water by transferring heat from the medium in the fourth circuit (C4) to water is to be heated in order to provide tap hot-water.

10. A heating installation according to claim 9, wherein the heating installation (1) comprises a third heat exchanger (33), which has a first side (33a) connected to the second circuit (C2) and a second side (33b) connected to a water supply line (26) and is configured to preheat tap hot-water by transferring heat from the medium in the second circuit (C2) to water in the water supply line (26).

11. A heating installation according to claim 6, wherein

the heating installation (1) comprises a third heat exchanger (33), which has a first side (33a) connected to the second circuit (C2) and a second side (33b connected to a water supply line (26) and is configured to preheat tap hot-water by transferring heat from the medium in the second circuit (C2) to water in the water supply line (26);
the heating installation (1) comprises a second accumulator tank (34) arranged in the second circuit (C2) for accumulating a part of the medium in the second circuit, the first and second accumulator tanks (30, 34) are arranged in series with each other in the second circuit (C2);
the third heat exchanger (33) has its first side (33a) connected to the second accumulator tank (34) to allow medium in the second circuit (C2) to circulate between the second accumulator tank (34) and the third heat exchanger (33); and
the heating installation (1) comprises a fifth circulation pump (35), which is arranged in a conduit between the second accumulator tank (34) and the third heat exchanger (33) and configured to control the circulation of medium between the second accumulator tank (34) and the third heat exchanger (33).

12. A heating installation according to claim 11, wherein the second accumulator tank (34) is arranged in the second circuit (C2) upstream of the first accumulator tank (30) as seen in a flow direction (FD) from an outlet (9c) of the second heat exchanger (9) to an inlet (9d) thereof.

13. A heating installation according to claim 11, wherein the second accumulator tank (34) is connected to the third circuit (C3) to allow medium to circulate between the second accumulator tank (34) and the third circuit (C3).

14. A heating installation according to claim 11, wherein

the heating installation (1) comprises a third accumulator tank (40) arranged in the second circuit (C2) for accumulating a part of the medium in the second circuit,
the first, second and third accumulator tanks (30, 34, 40) are arranged in series with each other in the second circuit (C2), the third accumulator tank (40) is arranged in the second circuit (C2) downstream of the first accumulator tank (30) as seen in said flow direction (FD);
the heating installation (1) comprises a fourth heat exchanger (41), which has a first side (41a) connected to the third accumulator tank (40) to allow medium in the second circuit (C2) to circulate between the third accumulator tank (40) and the fourth heat exchanger (41) and a second side (41b) connected to said water supply line (26), the fourth heat exchanger (41) is configured to preheat tap hot-water by transferring heat from the medium in the second circuit (C2) to the water in the water supply line (26);
that the heating installation (1) comprises a sixth circulation pump (42), which is arranged in a conduit between the third accumulator tank (40) and the fourth heat exchanger (41) and configured to control the circulation of medium between the third accumulator tank (40) and the fourth heat exchanger (41);
that the third and fourth heat exchangers (33, 41) are arranged in series with each other in said water supply line (26), and the fourth heat exchanger (41) is connected to the water supply line (26) upstream of the third heat exchanger (33) to thereby allow the fourth heat exchanger (41) to preheat the tap hot-water in a first step and the third heat exchanger (33) to preheat the tap hot-water in a subsequent second step.

15. A heating installation according to claim 1, wherein the thermal energy store (2) is a ground heat exchanger.

16. A heating installation according to claim 3, wherein the heating installation (1) comprises a first circulation pump (6) arranged in the first circuit (C1) for controlling the flow of medium in the first circuit (C1) between the first heat pump (5) and the thermal energy store (2).

17. A heating installation according to claim 2, wherein the heating installation (1) comprises a first circulation pump (6) arranged in the first circuit (C1) for controlling the flow of medium in the first circuit (C1) between the first heat pump (5) and the thermal energy store (2).

18. A heating installation according to claim 17, wherein the heating installation (1) comprises a second circulation pump (12) or a control valve (15) arranged in the first circuit (C1) for controlling the flow of medium in the first circuit (C1) between the first heat exchanger (8) and the thermal energy store (2).

19. A heating installation according to claim 16, wherein the heating installation (1) comprises a second circulation pump (12) or a control valve (15) arranged in the first circuit (C1) for controlling the flow of medium in the first circuit (C1) between the first heat exchanger (8) and the thermal energy store (2).

20. A heating installation according to claim 19, wherein the heating installation (1) comprises:

a first accumulator tank (30) arranged in the second circuit (C2) for accumulating a part of the medium in the second circuit,
the first accumulator tank (30) is connected to an evaporator (10c) of the second heat pump (10) to allow medium in the second circuit (C2) to circulate between the first accumulator tank (30) and the evaporator (10c) of the second heat pump;
a third circulation pump (11), arranged in the second circuit (C2) for controlling the flow of medium in the second circuit through the second side (9b) of the second heat exchanger (9) and through the first accumulator tank (30); and a fourth circulation pump (31), arranged in a conduit between the first accumulator tank (30) and the evaporator (10c) of the second heat pump (10) and configured to control the circulation of medium between the first accumulator tank (30) and the evaporator (10c) of the second heat pump (10).
Patent History
Publication number: 20250043962
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 15, 2022
Publication Date: Feb 6, 2025
Inventor: Hans-Göran GÖRANSSON (Sliema)
Application Number: 18/718,650
Classifications
International Classification: F24D 11/02 (20060101); F24D 19/10 (20060101);