FR3055407A1 - LIQUID STORAGE DEVICE FOR DELIVERING SANITARY HOT WATER - Google Patents

Abstract

A liquid storage device (L), comprising: - a plurality of planar partitions each comprising a layer of insulating material such as a polymer and forming a structure with an inner chamber isolated to contain a liquid (L) such as water, characterized in that the device comprises a plurality of inserts (21) arranged to form screw anchors in the layer of insulating material of each flat partition, in that the flat partitions are assembled and fixed together. by screws (22) coupled to the inserts (21).

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number:

(to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number

055 407

01254

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : F24 H 9/02 (2017.01)

PATENT INVENTION APPLICATION

A1

©) Date of filing: 24.08.16. (© Priority: (© Applicant (s): SOLABLE Simplified joint stock company - FR. @ Inventor (s): BRAHMI SAADI and NUTI PASCAL. ©) Date of availability of the request: 02.03.18 Bulletin 18/09. ©) List of documents cited in the preliminary search report: See the end of this booklet (© References to other related national documents: ©) Holder (s): SOLABLE Simplified joint-stock company. ©) Extension request (s): (© Agent (s): SOLABLE SAS.

LIQUID STORAGE DEVICE FOR DELIVERING DOMESTIC HOT WATER.

FR 3 055 407 - A1

Liquid storage device (L), comprising:

- a plurality of flat partitions each comprising a layer of insulating material such as a polymer and forming a structure with an interior chamber insulated to contain a liquid (L) such as water, characterized:

- in that the device comprises a plurality of inserts (21) arranged to form screw anchors in the layer of insulating material of each planar partition,

- in that the flat partitions are assembled and fixed together by screws (22) coupled to the inserts (21).

LIQUID STORAGE DEVICE FOR DELIVERING

DOMESTIC HOT WATER

The present invention relates generally to a liquid storage device, and a heating device incorporating such a liquid storage device, for delivering domestic hot water.

It is known in the prior art storage devices provided 5 for delivering domestic hot water. It is known to use an electric hot water tank to perform this function, but this device consumes a lot of electrical energy. It is also known to couple a solar panel with circulation of liquid to heat domestic water to the hot water tank, but this association often leads to a complex system due to the numerous fluidic connections and ineffective due to the thermal losses and inertia due to the mass of sanitary water to be heated. In addition, the manufacture, transport, and storage before installation of such very bulky equipment are complex, because of the handling of large-volume objects.

An object of the present invention is to respond to the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to provide a liquid storage device for supplying domestic hot water, which is easy to manufacture and transport and set up on site, while offering an efficient solution in terms of energy savings.

For this, a first aspect of the invention relates to a liquid storage device, comprising:

- a plurality of flat partitions each comprising a layer of insulating material such as a polymer, and forming a structure with at least one interior chamber, characterized:

-2- in that the storage device comprises sealing means arranged between the flat partitions so that the interior chamber can contain a liquid such as water,

- in that the storage device comprises a plurality of inserts arranged to form screw anchors in the layer of insulating material of each planar partition,

- in that the flat partitions are assembled and fixed together by screws coupled to the inserts. The manufacture of partitions remains standard since they are flat partitions. The invention therefore provides a kit to be mounted on site to obtain a liquid storage device which ultimately has good energy efficiency, since the flat partitions all include a layer of insulating material. Finally, the sealing means placed between the flat partitions make it possible to obtain sealed storage, and are very easily transported before final installation. Finally, a last advantage of this implementation is to allow maintenance or replacement of certain elements of the storage device, if they are damaged by an impact, for example before or during use on site. Typically, the liquid stored is water, possibly with additives such as antifreeze or a fungicide. Finally, the term “flat partitions” means partitions which are essentially flat, even if they have stiffening ribs.

Of course, the insulating material is a thermal insulating material.

Advantageously, the planar partitions are assembled and fixed together only by the screws coupled to the inserts.

Advantageously, one of the plane partitions forms a bottom of the interior chamber, and the partition forming the bottom is made of extruded polystyrene. The extruded polystyrene base has a very good coefficient of thermal insulation (R = 1.2 for 40mm thickness for example) (or a very low thermal conductivity) and in addition, a very high compressive strength, which allows support the weight of the stored liquid.

Advantageously, the flat partitions forming side walls and / or the bottom and / or a cover of the interior chamber have a sandwich type structure, with the layer of insulating material arranged between metal sheets. We can typically use partitions initially intended to form metal roofs.

Advantageously, the insulating material of the flat partitions forming side walls and / or the bottom and / or a cover is polyurethane.

Advantageously, the sealing means are an adhesive, such as polyurethane adhesive. Such an adhesive is easy to put in place between the walls before mounting, and can even provide temporary support for the partitions between them, even if this support is insufficient to withstand the pressure forces of the water.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a liquid heating device comprising:

a liquid storage device, possibly according to the first aspect of the invention, with at least one interior chamber,

- a liquid-liquid heat exchanger comprising:

- a heating circuit arranged to circulate the liquid contained in said at least one interior chamber

- a supply circuit connected at the input to a domestic water supply network and at the output to a domestic hot water circuit, in which the liquid-liquid heat exchanger is arranged to heat domestic water circulating in the supply circuit with heat of the liquid circulating in the heating circuit, the liquid liquid heat exchanger comprising a pumping unit arranged to create a flow of liquid in the heating circuit at least 30% greater than a flow of domestic water in the supply circuit.

In other words, the second aspect of the invention is a heating device which couples a heat exchanger whose heating circuit

-4 uses the liquid from a storage device as dead water to heat domestic water with great efficiency and without inertia. The exchanger (with plates for example) is therefore completely immersed in the liquid contained in the interior chamber, and the difference in flow between the heating circuit (which circulates the liquid contained in the bag) and the supply circuit ( which heats the sanitary water before distribution to the user) makes it possible to obtain an exchanger without thermal resistance, and without inertia. Consequently, the liquid contained in the interior chamber can be called dead water, since it circulates in a closed circuit between the interior chamber, the exchanger and possibly means for heating the liquid.

Advantageously, the liquid heating device comprises:

a pumping unit, such as a pump, arranged to impose a circulation with a predetermined flow rate in the heating circuit, and / or

a flow measurement unit, such as a flow meter, arranged to measure a flow of sanitary water circulating in the supply circuit, to control a circulation flow imposed by the pumping unit, and / or

- an auxiliary electric heating unit, arranged in the interior chamber and / or in the distribution circuit, for respectively heating the liquid contained in the bag and / or the sanitary water.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a liquid heating device comprising:

a liquid storage device, optionally according to the first aspect of the invention or possibly according to the second aspect of the invention, with at least one interior chamber,

- a solar thermal collector,

- Connection tubes arranged to allow a circulation of liquid between the said at least one interior chamber and the solar thermal collector. The solar thermal collector (a solar panel designed to collect solar energy transmitted by radiation and communicate it to a fluid

-5 heat carrier in the form of heat) allows to significantly improve the energy efficiency of the complete device.

Advantageously;

the liquid storage device comprises a separating partition defining two interior chambers,

- the heat exchanger is arranged in a first interior chamber,

- the solar thermal collector is connected with a second interior chamber,

- The storage device comprises secondary circulation means arranged to take liquid from an upper part of the second interior chamber, and inject it into a lower part of the first interior chamber, such as for example a conduit running from a hole arranged in the upper part of the separating partition to an outlet mouth arranged below a line halfway up the first interior chamber. The present implementation makes it possible to maintain a high temperature in the first interior chamber, while allowing the solar thermal collector to heat the second chamber. Indeed, the secondary circulation means (the conduit going from a hole arranged in the upper part of the separating partition to an outlet mouth) and the internal wall avoid any disturbance in the first chamber, even if a strong thermal current is installed in the second interior bedroom. The heating circuit can in turn directly discharge the liquid into the second interior chamber.

Advantageously, the liquid heating device comprises a low temperature heating device, and:

the liquid storage device comprises at least one separating partition defining three interior chambers,

- the heat exchanger is arranged in a first interior chamber,

- the solar thermal collector is connected with a second interior chamber to heat the liquid,

-6- the low temperature heating device is connected with a third interior chamber to heat the liquid,

- The storage device comprises first secondary circulation means arranged to take liquid from an upper part of the second interior chamber, and inject it into a lower part of the first interior chamber, such as for example a first conduit going from '' a first hole arranged in the upper part of said at least one separating partition to a first outlet mouth arranged below a line halfway up the first interior chamber

- The storage device comprises second secondary circulation means arranged to take liquid from an upper part of the third interior chamber, and inject it into a lower part of the second interior chamber, such as for example a second conduit going from 'a second hole arranged in the upper part of said at least one separating partition to a second outlet mouth arranged below a line halfway up the second interior chamber. This implementation makes it possible to segment and the stages of hot water preparation, while guaranteeing a high temperature in the first chamber. Typically, the third chamber can be heated to a temperature of 35 ° C, the second chamber is therefore supplied with water at 35 ° C and heats it to a temperature of 70 ° C minimum, and the first chamber remains at a temperature between 60 and 80 ° C for example. The heating circuit can directly discharge the liquid into the third interior chamber.

Advantageously, the sealing means form a seal between the connection tubes and one of the flat partitions.

Advantageously, the solar thermal collector is fixed to one of the plane partitions forming a side wall of said at least one interior chamber. The structure is therefore autonomous according to this implementation, since the storage device makes it possible to hold / fix the solar thermal collector.

Advantageously, an altitude difference between the solar thermal collector and said at least one interior chamber does not exceed 0.5m. The Applicant has noted that there is no need to vertically shift the storage device for the solar thermal collector, that is to say that circulation by thermosyphon was possible between the interior chamber and the solar thermal collector arranged at the same altitude.

Advantageously, the storage device has a height greater than 1m.

Advantageously:

the storage device comprises an air space between an upper level of liquid and a cover, with a thickness of between 6 cm and 3 cm, and

- A plurality of fluidic and / or electrical connections crosses at least one of the lateral partitions of the storage device at the level of the air space. The air knife provides additional thermal insulation which allows a thickness of the cover to be reduced for example, and the passage of all the connections at the level of the air knife makes it possible to minimize the sealing constraints, since the liquid will not bathe not constantly connecting passages.

Advantageously, one of the flat partitions forms an upper cover of the interior chamber, and the liquid-liquid heat exchanger is fixed to the upper cover to immerse in the liquid contained by the pocket. This implementation makes it possible to propose a simple system, since the cover combines the functions at the level of the overall device.

Advantageously, the solar thermal collector comprises an inlet for supplying liquid to be heated, and at least one thermal shut-off valve, arranged to close the inlet for supplying liquid to be heated when the latter has a temperature above a predetermined temperature. . Typically, a heat-transfer fluid solar thermal collector is supplied with water to be heated by the supply inlet, and delivers this heated water by an outlet as an outlet. When the liquid is

-8 too hot, there is a risk of boiling in the storage device. Blocking the water supply to the solar thermal collector cuts circulation and limits the risk of boiling and overpressure in the storage device.

Advantageously, the thermal shut-off valve is a valve comprising a material arranged to change phase and / or density at the predetermined temperature.

Advantageously, the thermal closure valve comprises a piston arranged to be moved by the material during its phase change.

Advantageously, the material is paraffin. Such a thermal valve is very robust and inexpensive.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a simplified diagram of a heating device comprising a liquid storage device according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 represents a liquid storage device L, which comprises a box formed by four side walls 11, a bottom 12 and a cover 13. The storage device also comprises a separating partition 14 which thus separates the internal space from the box in a first interior chamber C1 and a second interior chamber C2, in which the liquid L is stored.

A solar thermal collector 31 is coupled to the box, via one of the side walls 11, to communicate with the second interior chamber C2.

Finally, an exchanger, and in particular a plate exchanger 41, is immersed in the liquid L of the first interior chamber C1, for heating domestic water before being distributed to a user.

At the level of the box, the latter comprises flat partitions to form the side walls 11, the bottom 12 and the cover 13. Consequently, the general shape of the box is parallelepiped. The flat partitions all include a layer of thermal insulation, in order to limit thermal losses. For example, the side walls 11 and the cover 13 may comprise a layer of polyurethane with a thickness of at least 40 mm, and preferably at least 70mm or 80mm. The bottom 12 may in turn comprise a layer of extruded polystyrene with a thickness of at least 40 mm, and preferably at least 70mm or 80mm.

The storage device comprises a plurality of inserts 21, inserted or inserted in the layer of insulating material of each side wall 11, in order to allow assembly of the planar partitions by screws 22. Thus, the mounting of the box can be carried out on the final installation site, and the handling and transport constraints are then considerably reduced, since the volume to be transported is greatly reduced, compared for example to a conventional hot water tank.

In addition, it is essential to note that the liquid L is not under pressure, only the mass of the liquid L exerts a force on the partitions of the box.

In order to ensure the tightness of the device, sealing means, such as a polyurethane adhesive (not visible in FIG. 1), are placed between the flat partitions, at least between the bottom 12 and the lateral partitions 11. Due the absence of pressure other than that created by gravity, such a seal is sufficient.

The first interior chamber C1 and the second interior chamber C2 therefore contain liquid L which has the function of supplying heat to domestic water which passes through the plate exchanger 41. This liquid L

-10 therefore remains in the first interior chamber C1 and the second interior chamber C2, and one can use water, possibly additivated with products to prevent it from freezing or stagnating (antifreeze, antiseptic, fungicide ...). In summary, liquid L can be called dead water.

To heat this liquid L, the invention proposes to couple the box to a solar thermal collector 31, which is connected to the second interior chamber C2 by connection tubes such as a puncture tube 32 and a supply tube. 33. One can also provide a support structure attached to one of the side walls 11 to take up the mechanical forces. The puncture tube 32 is located in the lower part of the box, to take the coldest water from the second inner chamber C2, and the intake tube 33 is located in the upper part of the box, to discharge the heated water into the second interior chamber C2. By attaching as closely as possible the solar thermal collector 31 of the box, the lengths of puncture tube 32 and of intake tube 33 are short, and there is no need to provide an offset in altitude between the solar thermal collector 31 and the box for obtaining a flow between these elements, maintained by heating the liquid when passing through the solar thermal collector 31.

To limit the risks of an excessive rise in temperature in the internal chamber C2, it is possible to include in the puncture tube 32 a thermal valve or paraffin cylinder, to block the passage of liquid L, if for example the temperature in the tube puncture 32 exceeds 55 ° C or 60 ° C. The risks of overpressure and / or corrosion due to an excessively hot liquid L in the chamber C2 or C1 are limited / eliminated, because the thermo siphon and the circulation in the solar thermal collector are stopped by the thermal valve or cylinder paraffin (whose phase change at 55 ° C or 60 ° C pushes a piston which blocks the passage of liquid L in the puncture tube 32)

For example, the box and the solar thermal collector 31 both have a height of 1.2 m and preferably a height of 1.5 m.

-11 To ensure the heating of the liquid L at night or in case of high needs, the storage device comprises an electrical resistance 34 which forms auxiliary electrical heating means. It is possible to provide, using these electric heating means, for imposing a temperature rise cycle in order to eliminate any microorganisms in the liquid L, for example a rise to 70 ° C, or 80 ° C for several minutes. .

As regards the plate exchanger 41, the latter is immersed in the liquid L, in the upper part of the first interior chamber C1 of the box. It is attached to the cover 13 or to a side wall 11, and is therefore permanently at the hottest temperature of the liquid L.

The plate heat exchanger 41 comprises a supply circuit 42, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 by a single line, and a heating circuit 43 also shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 by a single line. The supply circuit 42 is connected at the inlet to a sanitary water distribution network which is therefore cold, and at the outlet to a domestic sanitary hot water network, and may include a flowmeter D.

The heating circuit 43 is arranged to take the liquid L in the upper part of the first internal chamber C1, and to reject this liquid L in the lower part of the first internal chamber C1 or directly in the second internal chamber C2, and comprises a pump P to force a minimum flow of liquid L into the plate heat exchanger 41, when a user opens a hot water distribution valve 44.

In particular, the pump P is arranged to produce a flow of liquid L in the plate exchanger 41 (considerably) greater than the flow of sanitary water when the user opens the hot water tap. Advantageously, the flow of liquid L in the plate exchanger 41 is 30% higher than the flow of sanitary water, thus, the liquid L, typically at a temperature of 70 ° C. effectively heats the sanitary water to 38 ° C. which passes through the plate heat exchanger 41, even during prolonged use.

Furthermore, since the plate exchanger 41 is immersed in the liquid L, there is no thermal inertia to overcome, and the distribution of hot water is immediate.

The separating partition 14 has the effect of separating the first interior chamber C1 and the second interior chamber C2, which limits the disturbances in the first interior chamber C1 (which ideally remains at a high temperature above for example 60 ° C.), even if a strong thermal flux is present in the second interior chamber C2, or if the latter is being reheated after a long period without sun.

To obtain a stratification of the liquid L in the first interior chamber C1, the separating partition 14 is pierced in the upper part of an orifice 17, and the storage device comprises a conduit 16. Consequently, the liquid L heated in the second chamber C2 is taken off through the conduit 16 to be discharged into a lower part of the first chamber C1, via an outlet mouth of the conduit 16 located in the case of FIG. 1 a few centimeters from the bottom 12. This implementation makes it possible to limit disturbances of the liquid strata L in the first chamber C1.

To allow the liquid L to return from the first interior chamber C1 to the second interior chamber C2, a hole 15 is provided for example in the separating partition 14, but it will be offset and as far as possible from the outlet outlet of the conduit 16 (even if figure 1 these two elements are close, for reasons of clarity). As an alternative and as mentioned above, the heating circuit 43 can directly discharge the liquid L into the second interior chamber C2.

The fluidic and electrical connections in FIG. 1 pass through the cover 13 for reasons of clarity, but it is advantageous to pass them through one of the lateral faces of the box, and in particular at the level of the blade. air provided between the cover 13 and the upper liquid level L. Thus, the mounting of the cover 13 remains easy (since free of tubes or through connections), and there is no need for a

-13 sophisticated sealing at the level of the passages in the lateral partitions, since the liquid L does not bathe through these connections or through bulkheads.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements evident to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. In particular, FIG. 1 represents a certain proportion between the interior chambers C1 and C2, but any proportion can be used, it suffices to shift the separating partition 14 for this purpose.

One can also provide an auxiliary pump on the conduit 16 to control only when necessary an exchange of liquid between the inner chambers C1 and C2.

Claims (10)

1. Liquid storage device (L), comprising: - a plurality of flat partitions each comprising a layer of insulating material such as a polymer, and forming a structure with at least one interior chamber, characterized: - in that the storage device comprises sealing means arranged between the flat partitions so that the interior chamber can contain a liquid (L) such as water, - in that the storage device comprises a plurality of inserts (21) arranged to form screw anchors in the layer of insulating material of each planar partition, - in that the flat partitions are assembled and fixed together by screws (22) coupled to the inserts (21). 2. Liquid storage device (L) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the flat partitions forming side walls (11) and / or a bottom and / or a cover of the interior chamber have a sandwich type structure. , with the layer of insulating material arranged between metal sheets. 3. Liquid storage device (L) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sealing means are an adhesive, such as polyurethane adhesive. 4. Liquid heating device (L) comprising: - a liquid storage device (L) according to one of the preceding claims, - a liquid-liquid heat exchanger comprising: - a heating circuit arranged to circulate the liquid (L) contained in said at least one interior chamber - 15- a supply circuit connected at the input to a sanitary water supply network and at the output to a domestic hot water circuit, in which the liquid-liquid heat exchanger is arranged to heat sanitary water circulating in the supply circuit with heat of the liquid (L) circulating in the heating circuit, the liquid-liquid heat exchanger comprising a pumping unit arranged to create a flow of liquid (L) in the heating circuit at least 30% higher than a domestic water flow in the supply circuit. 5. A liquid heating device (L) according to the preceding claim, comprising: - a solar thermal collector (31), - connection tubes arranged to allow a circulation of liquid (L) between said at least one interior chamber and the solar thermal collector (31). 6. Liquid heating device (L) according to the preceding claim, in which: the liquid storage device (L) comprises a separating partition defining two interior chambers, - the heat exchanger is arranged in a first interior chamber, - the solar thermal collector is connected with a second interior chamber, - The storage device comprises secondary circulation means arranged to take liquid from an upper part of the second interior chamber, and inject it into a lower part of the first interior chamber, such as for example a conduit running from a hole arranged in the upper part of the separating partition to an outlet mouth arranged below a line halfway up the first interior chamber. -167. Liquid heating device (L) according to claim 5, comprising a low temperature heating device, and in which: the liquid storage device (L) comprises at least one separating partition defining three interior chambers, - the heat exchanger is arranged in a first interior chamber, - the solar thermal collector is connected with a second interior chamber to heat the liquid (L), - the low temperature heating device is connected with a third interior chamber to heat the liquid (L), - The storage device comprises first secondary circulation means arranged to take liquid from an upper part of the second interior chamber, and inject it into a lower part of the first interior chamber, such as for example a first conduit going from '' a first hole arranged in the upper part of said at least one separating partition to a first outlet mouth arranged below a line halfway up the first interior chamber - The storage device comprises second secondary circulation means arranged to take liquid from an upper part of the third interior chamber, and inject it into a lower part of the second interior chamber, such as for example a second conduit going from 'a second hole arranged in the upper part of said at least one separating partition to a second outlet mouth arranged below a line halfway up the second interior chamber. 8. A liquid heating device (L) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein an altitude difference between the solar thermal collector (31) and said at least one interior chamber does not exceed 0.5m. 9. Liquid heating device (L) according to one of claims 4 to 8, - in which the storage device comprises an air space between a -17 upper liquid level (L) and a cover, between 6cm and 3cm thick, and - in which a plurality of fluidic and / or electrical connections pass through at least one of the lateral partitions of the storage device at the level of the 5 air gap. 10. Liquid heating device (L) according to one of claims 4 to 9, comprising electric heating means arranged to heat the liquid (L) of the interior chamber which contains the heat exchanger. 11. A liquid heating device (L) according to one of claims 4 to 10, in which the solar thermal collector (31) comprises a liquid supply inlet (L) to be heated, and at least one shut-off valve. thermal closure, arranged to close the liquid supply inlet (L) to be heated when the latter has a 15 temperature higher than a predetermined temperature. 1/1