DE102023002750A1 - Method and device for using existing tanks, preferably oil tanks, for storing thermal energy from a heating source - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for using existing tanks, preferably oil tanks, for storing thermal energy from a heating source, with a closed plastic membrane being introduced into the existing tank. The invention is based on the object of making an existing tank, preferably an oil tank, as effective and cost-effective as possible to be converted so that it can be used as a layered heat storage unit that can be controlled in layers in conjunction with an alternative heating source, without the need for complex demolition/cutting and welding work. The horizontal layered heat storage device should be nestled against the existing container wall over the entire surface without any gluing or fastening. This is achieved by using a prefabricated single-walled plastic fabric as a roll-up plastic membrane, adapted to the respective tank, after precise knowledge of the container/tank size. or foldable inlay is inserted into the inspection opening of the tank using the existing cleaned tank lines, the inlay having horizontal heat-conducting circuits through which water flows, designed as layered water-carrying lines or cushions or heat pockets, which unfold and tighten independently after the inlay has been filled with water , while the inlay hugs the entire surface of the tank's inner walls, with the remaining volume of the tank space surrounding the tank being filled with an insulating layer and each layer level being connected to a control via a circuit temperature sensor and cabling. The device according to the invention is characterized in that Single-walled, foldable inlay adapted to the respective tank has a filling and removal hose in different horizontal layer levels/heat-conducting circuits, both of which are guided over the inspection opening or use the existing cleaned tank lines and are connected to the heating source, with each layer level /heat conduction circuit has a circuit temperature sensor, which is equipped with appropriate cabling and linked to a control, whereby the remaining volume of the tank space surrounding the tank is filled with an insulating layer.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for using existing tanks, preferably oil tanks, for storing thermal energy from a heating source, with a closed plastic membrane being introduced into the existing tank.

In the context of climate change, new ways to use alternative forms of energy are increasingly being sought in order to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of fossil fuels.

In this context, existing oil heating systems are no longer used and are often dismantled with considerable effort or remain unused. The existing oil tanks usually remain in the ground or in separate oil tank rooms, are emptied and left to rot or block converted space without any use.

From the DE 102 55 220 B4 a method for lining an oil tank is known, in which a fleece lining is used as an inner cover to protect the tank made of sheet steel from rusting through. The prefabricated fleece cladding is applied as a wall membrane, as a covering on the walls and as a floor covering on the tank wall, with a foil bag then being inserted into the existing oil tank as an inner cover, inflated and then secured against slipping.

Furthermore, from the DE 20 2005 015 957 U1 a GRP retrofit separation system for tank chambers is known.

From the DE 199 19 756 A1 Double separating pipes, plates or containers with leakage monitoring devices and a method for producing such double-walled pipes, plates or containers are known, the circumferential hose being a corrugated hose which lies close together between the two wall sections, with the depressions on the circumference of the corrugated hose not being present are filled with the material of the inner and outer wall sections.

The WO 2010/089 317 A2 describes an insert that can be inserted into the tank and has a storage container and lines. The storage container is held on two fixing elements, so that the storage container remains stretched in the longitudinal direction even when it is at least partially emptied. However, fixing with two elements cannot achieve a full-surface fit of the insert into the existing container. There is no additional insulation for the storage container or a layered structure of the insert.

In the DE 10 2013 112 102 A1 a heating or cooling system for receiving a fluid heat transfer medium is described, the container having a thermally insulating inner cover made of a flexible material on its container wall, which is preferably attached to the container via a Velcro tape or an adhesive. Only the dome cover then receives additional thermal insulation.

The use of an existing oil tank as a horizontal layered heat storage with separate control of each layer is not known from the prior art.

The invention is based on the object of converting an existing tank, preferably an oil tank, so effectively and cost-effectively that it can be used as a layered heat storage unit that can be controlled in layers in conjunction with an alternative heating source, without the need for complex demolition/cutting and welding work. The horizontal layered heat accumulator should be nestled against the existing container wall over the entire surface without any gluing or fastening.

This is achieved by inserting a prefabricated single-walled plastic fabric as a plastic membrane, adapted to the respective tank, as a rollable or foldable inlay into the inspection opening of the tank, using the existing cleaned tank lines, after exact adaptation to the existing tank size Inlay has horizontally flat heat-conducting circuits, designed as layered water-carrying lines or cushions or heat pockets, which unfold and tighten independently after filling the inlay with water, while the inlay hugs the entire surface of the tank's inner walls, with the remaining volume of the tank surrounding the tank Tank room is filled with an insulating layer and each layer level is connected to a controller via a circuit temperature sensor and cabling.

According to the invention, the previously cleaned tank lines should be used to fill and empty the layered heat storage.

Thanks to the precisely fitting inlay, the tank finds new use as a large heat storage and exchanger, which uses the entire tank volume as a storage volume that can be filled with any heat source.

This requires prior, exact knowledge of the size of the existing container to be filled, so that the inlay can be prefabricated to fit so that the entire container/tank volume can be used across the entire surface without the need for additional holding devices on the container/tank wall.

The heating source can be, for example, a solar heater, wood heating using logs, wood chips or pellets, a heat pump or an electric boiler, as well as remaining fossil fuels, biogas or industrial waste heat to heat the storage.

The remaining volume of a surrounding tank space is filled with an insulating layer.

The device for using existing tanks, preferably oil tanks for storing thermal energy from a heating source, is characterized in that a single-walled, foldable inlay adapted to the respective tank has a filling and removal hose in different horizontal layer levels/heat-conducting circuits, both of which are connected via the inspection opening or use the existing cleaned tank lines and are connected to the heating source, with each layer level/heat-conducting circuit having a circuit temperature sensor, which is equipped with appropriate cabling and linked to a control, with the remaining volume of the The tank space comprising the tank is filled with an insulating layer.

The heating source is solar thermal energy or pellet heating or a heat pump.

• - Vorhandene Tanks, vorzugsweise Öltanks können nach einer exakten Vorfertigung vollinhaltlich auch bei einer Umrüstung auf alternative Heizungsformen, wie Solarthermie, Holz, Pelletheizungen, Heizschwertern aus PV oder Wärmepumpen weiterhin ohne großen Aufwand dann als Wärmespeicher genutzt werden.
• - Eine vollständige Umrüstung zum Schichtwärmespeicher bringt dabei weitere erhebliche Effektivitätsvorteile für die neue Heizung.
• - Der so umgerüstete horizontale Schichtwärmespeicher wird mit einer schichtweisen Steuerung und der Heizquelle verbunden und arbeitet somit angepasst an die jeweiligen Nutzungserfordernisse.
• - Es fallen keinerlei Schweiß- oder Schneidarbeiten am vorhandenen Tank an.
• - Das vorkonfektionierte Inlay passt sich nach Einbringung in den Tank und Befüllung mit dem Wärmeträgermedium, vorzugsweise Wasser automatisch dem Volumen des vorhandenen Tanks, vorzugsweise Öltanks vollflächig an. Es sind keinerlei weitere Anpassungsarbeiten und keine Haltevorrichtungen notwendig.
• - Die horizontal durchströmten Wärmeleitkreise, ausgebildet als Rohre / Kissen oder Wärmetaschen, zusammen mit der externen Dämmung ermöglichen erfindungsgemäß die äußerst vorteilhafte Nutzung der horizontal physisch gegebenen Wärmeunterschiede in unterschiedlichen Wärmestapelschichten des Speichers.
• - Über eine Dämmschüttung wird die Wärmespeicherung nochmals verbessert.

The invention has the following advantages:

• - Existing tanks, preferably oil tanks, can still be used as heat storage without much effort after precise prefabrication, even when converting to alternative forms of heating, such as solar thermal energy, wood, pellet heating, PV heaters or heat pumps.
• - A complete conversion to a layered heat storage system brings further significant effectiveness advantages for the new heating system.
• - The horizontal layered heat storage system converted in this way is connected to a layered control system and the heating source and thus works in accordance with the respective usage requirements.
• - There is no welding or cutting work required on the existing tank.
• - After being inserted into the tank and filled with the heat transfer medium, preferably water, the prefabricated inlay automatically adapts to the volume of the existing tank, preferably oil tank, over its entire surface. No further adjustment work and no holding devices are necessary.
• - The horizontally flowed heat conduction circuits, designed as tubes/cushions or heat pockets, together with the external insulation, enable, according to the invention, the extremely advantageous use of the horizontally physical heat differences in different heat stack layers of the storage.
• - Heat storage is further improved using an insulating layer.

Example embodiment

The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment.

The sizes of common tank types L / W / H based on their volume are generally known and standardized.

The inlays are pre-assembled to these standard types.

Depending on the tank height, the inlay has between 7 and 15 layer circles

The prefabricated inlay is then inserted into the emptied tank, preferably the oil tank, via the inspection opening and completely filled with a heat transfer medium, preferably water. The inlay unfolds and adapts completely to the existing tank by completely filling it, stretching out the layer circles located and fixed in the inlay at a defined height.

According to the invention, the cleaned existing lines of the tank can also be used as an alternative for filling.

By cabling in layers with a control system, it is then possible to use the optimal layer for heating the object at any desired temperature, whether for domestic water, radiators or underfloor circulation.

The thermal insulation of the tank can be improved by filling the surrounding tank space with an insulating layer.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10255220 B4 [0004]
• DE 202005015957 U1 [0005]
• DE 19919756 A1 [0006]
• WO 2010089317 A2 [0007]
• DE 102013112102 A1 [0008]

Claims (5)

Method for using existing stationary tanks, in particular oil tanks, for storing thermal energy from a heating source, wherein a plastic membrane is introduced into the existing tank, characterized in that after an exact adaptation to the existing tank size, a prefabricated plastic membrane is used and attached to the Single-walled plastic fabric adapted to the respective tank is inserted as a rollable or foldable inlay into the inspection opening of the tank using the existing cleaned tank lines, the inlay having horizontally flat heat-conducting circuits, designed as layered water-carrying lines or cushions or heat pockets, which open after filling the Inlays with water, unfold and tension independently, while the inlay hugs the entire surface of the tank's inner walls, whereby the remaining volume of the tank space surrounding the tank is filled with an insulating layer and each layer level is connected to a control via a circuit temperature sensor and cabling. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the inlay is used as a heat storage and exchanger, which uses the existing tank as a base and is connected to the respective heating source. Procedure according to Claim 2 , characterized in that a solar heater, an electric radiator, logs, chopped wood, a pellet heater or a heat pump is used as the heating source. Device for using existing tanks, preferably oil tanks, for storing thermal energy from a heating source, characterized in that a single-walled, foldable inlay adapted to the respective tank has a filling and removal hose in different horizontal layer levels/heat-conducting circuits, both of which are guided over the inspection opening or use the existing cleaned tank lines and are connected to the heating source, with each layer level/heat conducting circuit having a circuit temperature sensor, which is equipped with appropriate cabling and linked to a control, with the remaining volume of the tank comprising the tank Tank room is filled with an insulating layer. Device according to Claim 4 , characterized in that any heat source can be used to heat the buffer.