EP1839002A1

EP1839002A1 - A plant for production of hot water

Info

Publication number: EP1839002A1
Application number: EP06701072A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kjell Andersson
Original assignee: Mecmaster AB
Current assignee: Mecmaster AB
Priority date: 2005-01-21
Filing date: 2006-01-20
Publication date: 2007-10-03
Also published as: WO2006078215A1

Abstract

The invention refers to a plant (1) for production of hot water, comprising means for evaporating a refrigerant, a compressor (3) for compressing the refrigerant whereupon the temperature thereof is increased, a condenser (4) for emitting the heat stored in said refrigerant to a water supply network (5) connectable to the plant, as well as means for operating the compressor (3). According to the invention is said operating means constituted by a mechanism (9) that is exposable to flowing energy and that is connected directly to the compressor (3) via a mechanical transmission (10), that the evaporation means is constituted by an evaporator (7) arranged to by means of energy, which is extracted from the geosphere, evaporate the refrigerant, and that the water supply network (5) is constituted by a regional district heating system, which is arranged to distribute hot water to a number of recipients.

Description

A PLANT FOR PRODUCTION OF HOT WATER

Technical field of the Invention

This invention relates to a plant for production of hot water to one or more recipients , the plant comprising means for evaporating a refrigerant, a compressor for compressing the refrigerant whereupon the temperature thereof is in creased, a condenser for emitting the stored heat in said refrigerant to a water supply network connectable to the plant , as well as means for operating the compressor.

Background of the Invention

For the production of hot water in, for instance , households/industrial plants , for heating of locals and/or tap water, heat pumps of different types are used in an increasing extent , which achieve to transfer heat from a cold area to an already warmer area . Usually, each household has an own heat pump and these may vary a lot regarding seize and type depending on application, more precisely the seize of the local and the amount of tapped off hot water . However, common for heat pumps is that a refrigerant is circulated in a closed circuit in order to transfer heat from a cold source in the geosphere, suitable for the application, to the hot water system of the household. The refrigerant is evaporated in a low pressure side of said circuit , either by being exposed directly for geothermal heat , water heat, etc . in the actual refrigerant circuit, or by being exposed indirectly for the heat in an evaporator , to which a collector is attached that extracts heat from the geosphere . The evaporated refrigerant is com- pressed by a compressor whereupon the heat of the refrigerant is increased considerably. The heat is thereafter transferred to the hot water system of the household via a condenser whereupon the refrigerant passes an expansion valve in order to once again be exposed to evaporation. However, a heat pump has to be supplied with energy in order to function in accordance with the second main principle of thermodynamics , and this is usually carried out by means of an electric motor . The electric motor in its turn receives energy from an electricity supply network that provides electricity to the household. Originally the electric energy is created by means of, for instance , a wind power plant or a water power plant , in which so-called flowing energy (wind energy, water energy) is converted into a mechanical movement that operates a generator . The electricity created by the generator is transformed in order to be given a suitable form for distribution of the same . When the electri city approaches the consumer after long distribution once again a transformation takes place in different steps such that the households shall receive a suitable voltage and current in order to operate, for instance , abovementioned electric motor.

A big and considerable disadvantage with this gene- rator-electricity supply network-electric motor-structure in order to operate a compressor is that an unnecessary amount of energy is lost . In the best case only 70 -80% of the extracted energy from the wind or the water reaches the compressor. Thus, in geographical areas without established electricity supply network it seems extremely obsolete that upon new establishment , establish a system that is very expensive and ineffective from an operational point of view . Thereto, electricity supply networks , as these are constructed today having overhead cables that runs very exposed through the landscape , is extremely sensitive to , for instance, trees that are wind- thrown, which may damage the cables and cause power failure . When the electricity supply network is damaged not only the light but also the hot water is absence in the households, as the water is heated by the heat pump that in its turn is dependent on electricity. Another big disadvantage is that each consumer is forced to make big investments upon buying a conventional heat pump and in addition operate the same by means of the electricity the consumer has to buy . Often or always the fundamental purpose of buying a heat pump is to get rid of the expensive direct electric heating. But one will only get half way since the heat pump almost always is operated by means of electricity. Is should be pointed out that there are heat pumps that are operated by means of incineration of , for instance , fuel or waste . This way of operating is nevertheless even more ineffective than the use of electric power, at the same time as the combustion additionally contribute to the global heating.

Obj ects and Features of the Invention

The present invention aims at obviating the above men- tioned disadvantage of previously known plants for production of hot water and at providing an improved plant . A primary obj ect of the invention is to provide a plant that makes use of a bigger share of the energy from the energy source that is used. Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant that converts natural energy to hot water, at a lower total cost than previously known plants . It is also an obj ect to ensure the supply of hot water to households/industries even when the individual household has a power failure .

According to the invention at least the primary object is achieved by means of the initially defined plant , which is characterized by the features that are set out in the characterizing clause of claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the inventive plant are further seen in the dependent claims , as well as in the fol- lowing detailed description.

Short description of appended drawings

In the drawings :

Fig . 1 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a plant according to the present invention operated by a wind power plant ,

Fig . 2 is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment of a plant according to the present invention operated by a water power plant , and Fig . 3 is a schematic illustration of another alternative embodiment of a plant according to the present invention operated by a wave power plant Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the Invention

In figs 1 , 2 and 3 are shown schematic illustrations of alternative embodiments of a plant for production of hot water, generally designated 1. Already here , it should be pointed out that this is only three examples of a great number of examples, but the graphic display of all imaginable examples does not appreciably support further understanding of the present invention. Generally, the thing that separates these plants 1 according to the present invention from conventional plants is that the hot water is created directly at the energy source, whereupon hot water of preferably 65-70⁰C is distributed to the end consumer, in contrast to previous solutions in which the kinetic energy of , for instance, water is converted into mechanical kinetic energy that is converted to elec- tricity that is distributed and which in its turn once again is converted to kinetic energy in order to operated a heat pump in order to heat the water of each end consumer. By using a plant according to the present invention the unnecessary energy intensive intermediate stages between the energy source and the heat pump are removed. By using a plant according to the present invention hot water may be created and distributed to the recipient/user to a cost that solely amounts to approximately 1/6 of the cost that is present in the energy supply/ heating solutions of today. The inventive plant 1 comprises, according to traditional heat pump manner, a refrigerant circuit 2 in which a refrigerant is circulated . Along said refrigerant circuit 2 is arranged a compressor 3 in order to compress the refrigerant whereupon the temperature of the same is increased substantially, a condenser 4 in order to emit the heat stored in the refrigerant to a water supply network 5 connectable to the plant 1, for instance, a district heating system that supply a great number of recipients with hot water for tap water and local heating, and a expansion valve 6 in order to once again trans- port the refrigerant to the low pressure side or heat absorption side of the circuit 2 after the heat emission.

At the low pressure side of the circuit 2 the heat absorption/evaporation of the refrigerant takes place , either by the refrigerant circuit 2 itself , at least partly, is arranged at a suitable location in the geosphere , for instance, in a rock in such a way that the same has the function of an evaporator (see fig. 1) or that the refrigerant circuit 2 passes a separate evaporator 7 (see fig. 2) , to which also a collector 8 is connected. The collector 8 is in its turn arranged at a suitable location in the geosphere . It is also possible to achieve evaporation of the refrigerant by means of a combination of the two above mentioned techniques , more pre- cisely by directing, for instance , water or air through a separate evaporator 7 ( see fig . 3 ) . It should also be pointed out that by, a suitable location in the geosphere the following is intended, in the water, in the ground, in the rock, in the air, depending on which natural element being the most suitable to extract energy from referring to the individual application. Furthermore, the plant 1 comprises means for operating the compressor 3.

Characterizing for the inventive plant is that the operating means of the compressor is constituted by a mechanism 9 that is exposed to natural energy. By natural energy is here intended so called flowing energy in the shape of, for instance , water energy, wind energy and solar energy. The mechanism 9 is preferably constituted by a turbine , located, for instance, in a water power plant (according to fig. 2 ) , a wind power plant (according to fig. 1) or, for instance , a buoy in a wave power plant (according to fig. 3 ) , etc . The mechanism/turbine 9 is given a movement when the wind/water/ wave flows passed the same . It is also conceivable to use solar energy in order to cause a movement of the mechanism 9 , as a consequence of , for instance , heat expansion. The mechanism 9 is directly via a mechanical transmission 10 connected to the above mentioned compressor 3 in order to establish circulation and compression of the refrigerant in the plant .

As an illustrating example, a fiord mouth may be descry- bed in which the water always is in motion, as a consequence of, for instance , tidal phenomenon. At this place it is excellently to arrange a wave power plant according to the present invention, which by means of the flowing water produces hot water that easily may be distributed to the settlement/town that eventually is located by the shore of the fiord. As a suitable evaporator the water is used in this case , which is either directed to an evaporator 7 or in which the refrigerant circuit 2 may be arranged directly. The wave power plant according to fig. 3 consists of a buoy 9 that causes a movement of a mechanism arranged at the sea bed when the waves move the buoy up and down .

Advantages of the Invention

A primary advantage of the inventive plant 1 is that, as a consequence of that the compressor 3 is mechanically operated directly by the mechanism 9 , a considerably bigger share of the energy that is received from the water/wind may be used to operate the compressor 3 than which was the case of previously known household heat pumps . Thus , the plant 1 according to the invention admits that the households/industrial plants may receive hot water to a lower cost per energy unit . Furthermore, this system is less susceptible to weather disturban- ces , since the hot water is always produced as long that there is water movement and wind, and consequently the heat in the individual household may easily by maintained despite a breakdown of the electricity supply. If the household furthermore have solar cells for the household electricity as well as bottled gas for cooking and refrigerators , both the light and the cooking is ensured at a power failure . Alternatively, traditional electricity supply networks are not necessary at all at the establishment of a new infrastructure to areas without previously operating/existing infrastructure . Another advantage of the inventive plant 1 is that one furthermore may allow the mechanism/turbine 9 to operate a generator in order to produce electricity in a conventional way, in the areas where an operating and established electricity supply network already exists .

Feasible modifications of the Invention

The invention is not limited only to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings . The plant may thus be modified in all kinds of ways within the scope of the subsequent claims . Although the term "flowing energy" for the sake of simplicity has been used, in the description as well as in the subsequent claims, it should be understood that by this term it is meant the energy of flowing water, wind, sun, etc .

Especially, is should be mentioned that the mechanical transmission is merely shown schematically in the drawings , and it should be pointed out that the same may present any suitable shape that is capable of performing the task of mechanically transmitting a power . In addition, it should be pointed out that the relationship , that the mechanism is connected directly to a compressor via a mechanical transmission, shall be interpreted in its widest meaning, and thus conside- red to comprise any shape of mechanics , without intermediate electricity generating and/or electricity distributing steps , that is capable of performing the task of transmition power from the mechanism to the compressor.

It should also be pointed out that several plants accor- ding to the present invention may j ointly provide hot water to a national water supply network. With the consequence that , if the production of hot water is interrupted in one plant , the supply of hot water to all connected recipients is ensured anyway.

Claims

1. A plant (1 ) for production of hot water, comprising means for evaporating a refrigerant, a compressor (3 ) for compressing the refrigerant whereupon the temperature thereof is increased, a condenser (4) for emitting the heat stored in said refrigerant to a water supply network (5) connectable to the plant, as well as means for operating the compressor (3 ) , characterized in that said operating means is constituted by a mechanism (9) that is exposable to flowing energy and that is connected directly to the compressor ( 3) via a mechanical transmission (10) , that the evaporation means is constituted by an evaporator ( 7) arranged to by means of energy, which is extracted from the geosphere , evaporate the refrigerant, and that the water supply network (5) is constituted by a regional district heating system, which is arranged to supply hot water to a number of recipients .

2. A plant according to claim 1, characterized in that said mechanism (9) is constituted by a turbine .

3. A plant according to claim 1 , characterized in that said mechanism (9) is arranged in a wind power plant .

4. A plant according to claim 1, characterized in that said mechanism (9) is arranged in a water power plant .

5. A plant according to claim 1, characterized in that said mechanism (9) is arranged in a wave power plant .

6. A plant according to any preceding claims , characterized in that the evaporation means is constituted by an evaporator (7) , by means of which the energy that is extracted from the geosphere by means of a collector ( 8) evaporates the refrigerant .