Heating and warm water supply unit and method for operating the same

• US 20060159154A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prefa-Aluminiumprodukte GmbH
• Original Assignee: Prefa-Aluminiumprodukte GmbH
• Inventors: Neumuller, Harald, Lackinger, Dietmar, Hinrichs, Karl-Heinz
• Granted Patent: US 7,575,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 373/60
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 11/0221 combined with solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/10 with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0034 using liquid heat storage material
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/022 the conduits of two or more media in heat-exchange relationship being helically coiled, the coils having a cylindrical configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/40 Geothermal heat-pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 Geothermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A heat exchanger is disclosed which is built up of a series of segments, which have each a fore-run and a return collector, which are interconnected by tubular or plate-shaped, substantially parallel, heat exchanging elements, in contact with cistern water through which flows the cooling medium of the heat pump. Adjacent heat exchanging segments have flow through in a reversed direction, and the fore-run and return collectors of adjacent segments are directly side by side. An electronic control unit which controls the pump and, optional valves, as a function of signals of temperature sensors on the roof surface, is included in the cistern and/or in conduits, so that during normal operation water is fed from the cistern onto the roof, is heated, and may be returned to the cistern. In times of the risk of icing of the water in the distribution pipes and on the roofing the pump and the valves are controlled in such a manner that feeding water to the roof is interrupted, and the distribution pipes, and optionally their feeding pipes, are drained off, while the pump can take care of a circulation of water in the cistern, so that the heat capacity of the water of the cistern, including at least part of the latent heat thereof, and optionally the geothermal energy fed through the cistern'"'"'s wall, may be utilized.

Claims

1. A heating arrangement for a building built on soil and having a roof, comprising:

heat pump means including first conduit means forming a primary circuit for distributing a heated medium, and

second conduit means forming a secondary circuit for circulating a heat carrier medium;

water container means including a rain water cistern;

first heat exchanger means in communication with said water container means, said first heat exchanger means being in communication with said second conduit means for warming up said heat carrier medium cooled in said heat pump means and returning it to said heat pump means, said first heat exchanger means including

at least two heat exchanging segments, each segment being provided with a fore-run collector and a return collector, adjacent heat exchanging segments configured to have the heat carrier medium flow in reverse direction, and the fore-run and return collectors of adjacent segments being directly side by side;

pump means for pumping water from said water container means to said roof;

distributing means for receiving water from said water container means with the aid of said pump means and for distributing said water on said roof to flow over said roof;

water recollecting means for recollecting water from said roof and for returning it to said water container means;

at least one temperature sensor means for providing a temperature signal to indicate whether a normal operation is possible, and to indicate when risk of icing is present, said temperature sensor means being arranged in at least one of the following places;

on said roof, in said water container means, and in said conduit means;

control means receiving said temperature signal for controlling said pump means, said control means being programmed so that during normal operation water is fed from said water container means onto said roof, is heated there and is returned to said water container means, and in times where said temperature signal indicates the risk of icing of the water, said pump means are controlled in such a manner that feeding water to the roof is interrupted, and said distribution means are drained off.

2. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said water container means are sunk into said soil to absorb heat from the ambient soil by heat exchange through said water container means, thus heating water contained in the water container.

3. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first water recollecting means comprise at least one eaves gutter below said roof.

4. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first heat exchanger means comprise a plurality of heat exchanging elements substantially parallel to each other.

5. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first heat exchanger means comprise tubular heat exchanging elements.

6. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 5, wherein said tubular heat exchanging elements comprise a plurality of pipes folded about at their respective middle so that adjacent portions of said tubular heat exchanging elements are adapted to have the heat carrier medium flow in a reverse direction.

7. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 5, wherein said tubular heat exchanging elements are of plastic material.

8. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 5, wherein said tubular heat exchanging elements are of metal.

9. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said water container means comprise an entrance opening.

10. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first heat exchanger means are spirally wound into the form of a cylinder of a predetermined diameter having a longitudinal axis.

11. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein said longitudinal axis is vertical within said water container means.

12. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 10, wherein said water container means comprise an entrance opening of a predetermined width, said redetermined diameter of said heat exchanger means wound into a cylinder being smaller than said predetermined width.

13. A heating arrangement for a building built on soil and having a roof, comprising:

heat pump means including

first conduit means forming a primary circuit for distributing a heated medium, and

second conduit means forming a secondary circuit for circulating a heat carrier medium;

water container means including a rain water cistern;

heat exchanger means in communication with said water container means, said heat exchanger means being in communication with said second conduit means for warming up said heat carrier medium cooled in said heat pump means and returning it to said heat pump means, said heat exchanger means including

at least two heat exchanging segments, each segment being provided with a fore-run collector and a return collector, adjacent heat exchanging segments being configured to have the heat carrier medium flow in reverse direction, and the fore-run and return collectors of adjacent segments being directly side by side;

pump means for pumping water from said water container means to said roof;

distributing means for receiving water from said water container means with the aid of said pump means at a feeding side thereof, and for distributing said water on said roof to flow over said roof, said distributing means comprise distribution pipe means of a predetermined length, said distribution pipe means having a plurality of exit openings for distributing water through said outlet bores;

water recollecting means for recollecting water from said roof and for returning it to said water container means;

at least one temperature sensor means for providing a temperature signal to indicate whether a normal operation is possible, and to indicate when risk of icing is present, said temperature sensor means being arranged in at least one of the following places;

on said roof, in said water container means, and in said conduit means;

control means receiving said temperature signal for controlling said pump means, said control means being programmed so that during normal operation water is fed from said water container means onto said roof, is heated there and is returned to said water container means, and in times where said temperature signal indicates the risk of icing of the water, said pump means are controlled in such a manner that feeding water to the roof is interrupted, and said distribution means are drained off.

14. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein said exit openings are substantially equally distributed over the length of said distribution pipe means.

15. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein said distribution pipe means comprise at least one horizontally extending distribution pipe having a plurality of the exit openings arranged along said horizontal distribution pipe to irrigate said roof substantially uniformly.

16. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 15, wherein said roof comprises a roof ridge, said horizontal distribution pipe extending along said roof ridge.

17. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 14, wherein said exit openings are on an upper side of said distribution pipe means so that water exits substantially pressure-less.

18. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 14, wherein said exit openings are on a lower side of said distribution pipe means.

19. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein said distribution pipe means comprise a corrugated pipe.

20. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein said distribution pipe means are of plastic material.

21. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein said distribution pipe means are of metal.

22. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 21, wherein said distribution pipe means are of a corrosion resistant metal.

23. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein said distribution pipe means comprise at least one distribution pipe having a vertical pipe socket open on its upper side at the end averted from said feeding side.

24. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 23, wherein said pump means are pressure adjustable pump means, the pressure being adjusted in such a manner that said vertical pipe socket is only partially filled with water.

25. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein said distribution pipe means are mounted on said roof with a small ascent in a direction to the feeding side so that the distribution pipes drain substantially completely during intermissions.

26. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein said roof comprises at least one ridge turret, said distribution pipe means are at least partially integrated into said at least one ridge turret.

27. A heating arrangement for a building built on soil and having a roof, comprising:

heat pump means including first conduit means forming a primary circuit for distributing a heated medium, and

second conduit means forming a secondary circuit for circulating a heat carrier medium;

water container means including a rain water cistern;

first heat exchanger means in communication with said water container means, said first heat exchanger means comprising conduit means for communication with said second conduit means for warming up said heat carrier medium cooled in said heat pump means and returning it to said heat pump means, said first heat exchanger means including

at least two heat exchanging segments, each segment being provided with a fore-run collector and a return collector, adjacent heat exchanging segments being configured to have the heat carrier medium flow in reverse direction, and the fore-run and return collectors of adjacent segments being directly side by side;

pump means for pumping water from said water container means to said roof;

distributing means for receiving water from said water container means with the aid of said pump means and for distributing said water on said roof to flow over said roof;

water recollecting means including recollecting conduit means for recollecting water from said roof and for returning it to said water container means;

valve means for controlling the flow in at least one of said conduit means;

at least one temperature sensor means for providing a temperature signal at least to indicate whether a normal operation is possible, and to indicate when risk of icing is present, said temperature sensor means being arranged in at least one of the following places;

on said roof, in said water container means, and in said conduit means;

control means receiving said temperature signal for controlling said pump means and said valve means as a function of said temperature signal, said control means being programmed so that during normal operation water is fed from said water container means onto said roof, is heated there and is returned to said water container means, and in times where said temperature signal indicates the risk of icing of the water, said pump means and said valve means are controlled in such a manner that feeding water to the roof is interrupted, and said distribution means are drained off.

28. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 27, comprising:

feeding pipe means for feeding water from said pump means to said distributing means.

29. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 28, wherein said control means are programmed to drain also said feeding pipe means, when said temperature signal indicates the risk of icing of the water.

30. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 27, wherein said secondary circuit for circulating a heat carrier medium comprises output conduit means leading to said first heat exchanger means, and return conduit means, said return conduit means including second heat exchanger means for warming up said heat carrier medium, said valve means including a valve for controlling the flow within said secondary circuit and said second heat exchanger means, said at least one temperature sensor means comprising a sensor to provide a temperature signal for controlling said valve.

31. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 30, wherein said second heat exchanger means comprises a reverse direction flow heat exchanger.

32. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 30, wherein said second heat exchanger means is connected to said primary circuit via said valve, said valve being configured to open when said temperature signal falls below a given temperature value so as to feed a partial stream of water from said primary circuit of the heat pump to said second heat exchanger.

33. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 27, comprising:

at least one boiler means for heating the heat carrier medium, and at least third heat exchanger means arranged to heat said heat carrier medium of said boiler means, wherein said valve means comprise at least one valve in said water recollecting means, said at least one temperature sensor means comprising a sensor for sensing the temperature within said water recollecting means to control said valve by its temperature signal when a predetermined switching temperature for said valve is at least attained, so as to open said valve in said water recollecting means independently from operation of said heat pump to guide water of said water recollecting means via said third heat exchanger means into said water container means, when said given switching temperatures of the valve is at least attained, said third heat exchanger means being in contact and surrounded by water of the associated boiler.

34. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 33, comprising:

rain water filter means in said water recollecting means so as to provide filtered recollected water for said third heat exchanger means via said valve.

35. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 34, wherein said rain water filter means comprise an adhesion filter.

36. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 34, wherein said rain water filter means is adapted to allow coarse pollutions to be fed directly into said water container means.

37. A heating arrangement for a building built on soil and having a roof, comprising:

heat pump means including first conduit means forming a primary circuit for distributing a heated medium, and

second conduit means forming a secondary circuit for circulating a heat carrier medium;

water container means including a rain water cistern;

pump means for pumping water from said water container means to said roof;

distributing means for receiving water from said water container means with the aid of said pump means and for distributing said water on said roof to flow over said roof;

feeding pipe means for feeding water from said pump means to said distributing means;

connection conduit means extending between said feeding pipe means and said water container means valve means between said water container means and said distributing means, said valve means including a valve in said connection conduit means which orifices into said feeding pipe means before said valve;

heat exchanger means in communication with said water container means, said heat exchanger means being formed as a reverse direction flow heat exchanger which is in communication with said second conduit means for warming up said heat carrier medium cooled in said heat pump means and returning it to said heat pump means, while heat energy of water from said water container means is used to warm said heat carrier medium, so that cooled water exiting said heat exchanger means is fed to said distribution means via said valve means to be finely distributed over the roof surface area;

water recollecting means for recollecting water from said roof and for returning it to said water container means;

at least one temperature sensor means for providing a temperature signal to indicate whether a normal operation is possible, and to indicate when risk of icing is present, said temperature sensor means being arranged in at least one of the following places;

on said roof, in said water container means, and in said conduit means;

control means receiving said temperature signal for controlling said pump means and said valve means, said control means being programmed so that during normal operation water is fed from said water container means onto said roof, is heated there and is returned to said water container means, and in times where said temperature signal indicates the risk of icing of the water, said pump means and said valve means are controlled in such a manner that said valve in said connection conduit means is opened and water after cooling in the reverse direction flow heat exchanger is returned directly into said water container means via said open valve, while feeding water to the roof is interrupted.

38. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 37, wherein said roof comprises a roofing which consists of sheet metal having a surface coating of high absorption capacity in the visible and in the infrared range of the spectrum.

39. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 37, wherein said roof comprises at least one integrated photo-voltaic panel to be irrigated, and thus cooled, by water fed via said distribution pipe means.

40. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 37, wherein said reverse direction flow heat exchanger comprises a coaxial double-walled pipe including an inner pipe and an outer pipe, the inner pipe being connected to said primary circuit and being configured so that water of said second conduit means is fed into an interspace between the inner pipe and the outer pipe.

41. Heating arrangement as set forth in claim 37, wherein said reverse direction flow heat exchanger is immersed into said water container means.

42. A method for operating a heating arrangement having a heating means using ambient heat collected in a heating surface, a heat exchanger means, a heat pump means having a primary and a secondary circuit for heating water, and a water container means for storing warm water, the method comprising:

filling said water container means with water;

heating said secondary circuit of said heat pump by said heat exchanger;

feeding said water during normal operation to said heating surface;

distributing said water on said heating surface,

recollecting said water from said heating surface; and

returning said heated water to said water container means.

43. Method as set forth in claim 42, wherein said heating surface comprises a roof surface.

44. Method as set forth in claim 43, wherein said recollecting step comprises guiding said water through at least one eaves gutter.

45. Method as set forth in claim 42, comprising:

heating said water on its way from said heating surface to said water container means by at least one further heat exchanger.

46. Method as set forth in claim 42, wherein said heat exchanger means comprise a reverse direction flow heat exchanger.

47. Method as set forth in claim 42, wherein said feeding step is effected periodically.

49. Method as set forth in claim 42, comprising:

measuring the temperature of at least one of said primary and secondary circuits.

50. Method as set forth in claim 49, wherein said risk of icing is determined at a measured temperature of less than 1°

C.

51. Method as set forth in claim 42, wherein said water container means are sunk into ground to use geothermal heat.

52. Method as set forth in claim 42, comprising:

cooling said heating surface in a summer operation by effecting said feeding step.

53. Method as set forth in claim 52, comprising:

switching off said heat pump during said summer operation.

54. Method as set forth in claim 42, comprising:

starting said distributing step for defrosting said heating surface.

48. A method for operating a heating arrangement having a heating means using ambient heat collected in a heating surface, a heat exchanger means, a heat pump means having a primary and a secondary circuit for heating water, and a water container means for storing warm water, the method comprising:

filling said water container means with water;

heating said secondary circuit of said heat pump by said heat exchanger;

feeding said water during normal operation to said heating surface through a pipe system;

draining said pipe system when a risk of icing of the water is detected;

distributing said water on said heating surface during normal operation;

recollecting said water from said heating surface; and

returning said heated water to said water container means.