ZERO EMISSION DIALYSIS CLINIC

• US 20140284275A1
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH, Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Boccato, Carlo, Discher, Henning, Kastl, Juergen, Merello De Miguel, Maria, Wild, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,642,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/645
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/166 Heating for sterilisation A61M1/1686
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 61/30 Accessories; Auxiliary operation
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/08 Hospitals, infirmaries, or the like; Schools; Prisons
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2203/02 System or Device comprising a heat pump as a subsystem, e.g. combined with humidification/dehumidification, heating, natural energy or with hybrid system
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/61 Passive solar heat collectors, e.g. operated without external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 30/06 characterised by the source of low potential heat
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers

Abstract

The present invention provides a zero-emission dialysis clinic including a building envelope, daylight concept, lighting concept, mechanical ventilation (71), a chilled and heated ceiling (61) with capillary tubes (60), heat pump (50), and a photovoltaic system (80). Specifically, the present invention balances the energy consumption with energy generation by a photovoltaic system. The CO₂ emissions are thus balanced and the building produces no net emissions.

Claims

1. A net zero-emission dialysis clinic comprising:

a plurality of dialysis systems;

a building envelope;

a daylight concept;

a lighting concept;

a mechanical ventilation system;

a heating/cooling system;

a heat pump; and

a photovoltaic system,

wherein the heat pump comprises a reversible heat pump that is configured to be supplied with waste water from one or more of said plurality of dialysis systems.

2. The net zero-emission dialysis clinic of claim 1, wherein the building envelope comprises walls, windows, a roof and a floor which are all insulated.

3. The net zero-emission dialysis clinic of claim 1, wherein the heating/cooling system comprises a chilled and/or heated ceiling having capillary tubes.

4. The net zero-emission dialysis clinic of claim 1, wherein the daylight concept comprises both a plurality of skylights and a plurality of shading systems.

5. The net zero-emission dialysis clinic of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of shading systems comprise a first control for a top section and a second control for a bottom section.

6. The net zero-emission dialysis clinic of claim 1, wherein the lighting concept comprises a sensor that senses natural light.

7. The net zero-emission dialysis clinic of claim 1, wherein the lighting concept comprises a sensor that senses the presence of a person in a room of said clinic.

8. The net zero-emission dialysis clinic of claim 1, wherein the lighting concept comprises fluorescent lights.

9. The net zero-emission dialysis clinic of claim 1, wherein the mechanical ventilation system comprises an open window near the ceiling.

10. The net zero-emission dialysis clinic of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic system comprises solar panels on the roof of the clinic.

11. The net zero-emission dialysis clinic of claim 10, wherein the solar panels mounted on the roof at an angle of about 10 degrees from horizontal.

12. The net zero-emission dialysis clinic of claim 1, wherein the reversible heat pump is configured to be supplied with waste water from each of said plurality of dialysis systems.

13. A medical clinic comprising:

a plurality of medical systems; and

a heat pump,

wherein the heat pump is configured to be supplied with waste water from one or more of said plurality of medical systems.

14. The medical clinic of claim 13, wherein the heat pump is reversible.

15. The medical clinic of claim 13, wherein the plurality of medical systems are dialysis systems.

16. The medical clinic of claim 15, wherein the heat pump is configured to be supplied with waste water from each of said plurality of dialysis systems.

17. The medical clinic of claim 15, wherein the plurality of dialysis systems are configured to supply warm waste water to said heat pump.

18. The medical clinic of claim 15, wherein the medical clinic is configured as a net-zero CO₂ emissions building.

19. A method for implementing a net zero-emission building comprising:

identifying the main energy consumers of the building;

reducing the energy demand of the building by an energy concept;

supplying the remaining heating and cooling demand by energy efficient technologies; and

,

using renewable energy sources to generate the same amount of CO₂ equivalents that are emitted through the energy consumption of the building.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the net zero-emission building is a dialysis clinic, and

wherein one of said energy efficient technologies is supplying waste water from at least one dialysis machine to a reversible heat pump.