FR2475704A1 - HEAT PUMP - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat pump which conveys thermal energy between a cold source and a heat source, with an evaporator and a condenser which cooperate respectively with one of the sources, and with a heat-transport medium which circulates in a closed circuit between the evaporator and the condenser by way of an expansion unit and a compressor, one of the sources being formed by the water of a river. A hydraulic turbine dips into the water and is driven by the water and itself drives the compressor.

Description

 The present invention relates to a heat pump intended to ensure a transfer of thermal energy between a cold source and a hot source, comprising an evaporator and a condenser, cooperating respectively with one of said sources, a heat transfer fluid circulating in closed circuit between these two heat exchangers through a pressure reducer and a compressor, one of the sources being water from a river.

In known heat pumps, the compressor is generally actuated by an electric motor. The hydraulic energy of the river water used as a heat source thus remains unused.

 The object of the invention is to provide a heat pump using the hydraulic power of the river for the actuation of the compressor.

 To this end, the heat pump which is the subject of the invention is characterized in that a hydraulic turbine intended to be immersed in the water of the river actuates the compressor.

 This heat pump therefore uses the thermal and hydraulic energies of the river water, and its operation requires no other energy source.

 The accompanying drawing shows, schematically and by way of example, an embodiment of the pump which is the subject of the invention.

 The single figure in this drawing represents a heat pump supplying thermal energy to a user circuit.

 With reference to the drawing, the heat pump comprises a compressor 1, a condenser 2, a pressure reducer 3 and an evaporator 4 which are connected in series and in which a heat-transfer fluid circulates in a closed circuit. A user circuit 8 intended for domestic heating is connected in a known manner to the condenser 2.

 the heat source of the heat pump consists of water from a river channeled in a conduit 7 in which the evaporator 4 is arranged.

A turbine 6 coupled to the compressor 1 is disposed in the duct 7 upstream of the evaporator 4. The turbine 6 is intended to be actuated by the water passing through this duct to drive the compressor 1. The latter is placed in the body 9 of the turbine 6 and the pipes 10, 11 connecting the compressor 1 respectively to the evaporator 4 and to the condenser 2, pass through cross-pieces 12 for fixing the body 9 of the turbine 6 in the pipe 7.

To avoid creating pressure drops downstream of the turbine, which adversely affects the efficiency of the latter, the evaporator 4 is preferably of annular shape and extends the internal wall of the duct 7.

 The above heat pump is intended to supply heat to domestic heating. A heat pump provided for cooling the user circuit 8, for example a cold room, can be produced in a similar manner.

In this case, the direction of circulation of the heat transfer fluid and that of the regulator 3 must be reversed and the two exchangers 2,4 must be reversed.

 The user circuit then cooperates with the condenser disposed upstream of the compressor and the evaporator is placed in the duct 7 downstream of the turbine 6, the water from the river constituting the cold source. The evaporator is then preferably of annular shape and is integrated into the duct 7.

The heat pumps described above use the thermal energy of the river water, the latter respectively constituting the hot source and the cold source, and the hydraulic energy of this water to actuate the compressor 1. These pumps can operate without any other energy input than that of river water.

Many other variants of the heat pump described and shown in the drawing can be envisaged.

 Instead of being fitted with a propeller wheel 13, the turbine 6 could comprise an Eaplan wheel or any other kind of hydraulic turbine wheel.

 Instead of being coupled directly to the turbine 6, the compressor 1 could be via a reduction gear 11.

 The compressor 1 and / or the turbine 6 could be arranged outside the duct 7.

 The heat pump could also be equipped with known means of automatic adjustment.

Claims (5)

BEVENDICATI ~ ONS  1. Heat pump intended to ensure a transfer of thermal energy between a cold source and a hot source, comprising an evaporator (4) and a condenser (2), cooperating respectively with one of said sources, a heat-carrying fluid circulating in closed circuit between these two heat exchangers through a pressure reducer (3) and a compressor (1), one of the sources being water from a river, characterized in that a hydraulic turbine (6) intended to be immersed in river water activates the compressor (1).  2. Heat pump according to claim 1, charac terized in that the evaporator (4), disposed upstream of the compressor (1) in the circuit of the heat transfer fluid, is intended to be immersed in water of the river which constitutes the hot spring.  3. Heat pump according to claim 1, charac terized in that the condenser (2), arranged downstream of the compressor (1) in the circuit of the heat transfer fluid, is intended to be immersed in the water of the river that constitutes the cold spring.  4. Heat pump according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the exchanger cooperating with the river water is arranged downstream of the turbine (6) in the river water.  5. Heat pump according to any one of claims 1 i 4, c a r a c t é r i s in that the compressor (1) is disposed in the body of the turbine (6).