FR3088990A1 - Heating system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an installation (1) for heating a room (2) equipped with a thermodynamic water heater comprising a domestic hot water storage tank (3) and a heat pump (4), the latter comprising a condenser (42) and a pressure reducer (43), mounted in series on a refrigerant circuit (40), said condenser being arranged around said storage tank to heat the water contained therein. This installation is remarkable in that it comprises a refrigerant / air heat exchanger (6) which itself comprises: -at least one air duct (60) disposed in contact with said condenser or in contact with the circuit circuit portion refrigerant located downstream of said condenser and upstream of the expansion valve, so as to transfer at least part of the heat of the refrigerant to the air circulating in said air duct, and at least one fan (61) which circulates from the air through said aeration duct, the outlet of said aeration duct opening into said room to be heated. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Description

Title of the invention: Heating installation [0001] GENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a heating installation for a room, this room being equipped with a thermodynamic water heater.

A thermodynamic water heater comprises a domestic hot water storage tank, coupled to a heat pump which supplies calories to at least partially heat the water contained in said tank.

The invention also relates to a method for controlling said heating installation.

PRIOR ART The coefficient of performance of a thermodynamic water heater (known by the acronym COP ”for“ Coefficient Of Performance ”in English) designates the quantity of thermal energy produced relative to the quantity of energy consumed , usually electrical energy.

To increase this coefficient of performance, you must either use more domestic hot water contained in the tank, or use the thermal energy stored in this tank, because the hot water in the unused tank leads every day to heat losses which lower the coefficient of performance.

Each day, a thermodynamic water heater is capable of producing approximately twice the volume of the storage tank, in hot water. For purely indicative purposes, this storage tank generally has a volume of between 100 and 300 liters.

However, the use of sanitary hot water is linked to the pace and lifestyle of the occupants of the premises (accommodation) in which this water heater is installed. It is therefore very difficult to increase the hot water consumption of the occupants of the premises only to increase the coefficient of performance.

Disclosure of the invention [0009] The invention aims to increase the coefficient of performance of the thermodynamic water heater.

More specifically, the invention aims to provide a space heating installation, equipped with such a thermodynamic water heater which allows to heat this room using part of the thermal energy produced by it. water heater, without degrading its capacity to produce and supply domestic hot water.

To this end, the invention relates to a heating installation of a room equipped with a thermodynamic water heater, this water heater comprising a domestic hot water storage tank and a heat pump controlled by a central control unit, said heat pump comprising a condenser and an expansion valve mounted in series on a refrigerant circuit, said condenser being arranged around said storage tank and performing a heat exchange with the water contained therein so as to heat it.

According to the invention, this installation comprises a refrigerant / air heat exchanger, this exchanger comprising:

- at least one air duct arranged in contact with said condenser or in contact with the refrigerant circuit portion located downstream of said condenser and upstream of the expansion valve relative to the direction of circulation of the refrigerant in the circuit, so as to transfer to the less part of the heat from the refrigerant to the air circulating in said aeration duct, and

- At least one fan which circulates air through said air duct of the refrigerant / air heat exchanger, the outlet of said air duct opening into said room to be heated or being connected thereto.

Thanks to these features of the invention, it is possible to use, to heat a room, part of the thermal energy produced by the thermodynamic water heater and which is not used to produce water. domestic hot water. Free calories are used, which would otherwise be lost.

According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention, taken alone or in combination:

- The air duct of said refrigerant / air heat exchanger is wound around said condenser and around said storage tank, so as to form a single turn, it has a rectangular or substantially rectangular cross section and it is arranged so that one of the longitudinal sides of its section is in contact with the condenser, so as to carry out the heat exchange with the refrigerant which is contained in this condenser;

- The air duct of said refrigerant / air heat exchanger is wound around said condenser and around said storage tank, so as to form several turns;

- The air duct of said heat exchanger extends from the lower part of the storage tank, over a height between 20% and 50% of the height of said tank;

- the fan is a tangential fan;

- the fan is controlled by said central control unit;

- The installation comprises a first temperature sensor disposed in the domestic hot water storage tank or on the outer wall of said tank, above the height at which is located said air duct of the heat exchanger refrigerant / air heat, this first probe measuring the temperature of the water in the tank at the height of said first probe and transmitting the measured temperature values to said central control unit;

- the installation includes a second temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the room to be heated, this second probe transmitting the measured temperature values to said central control unit.

The invention also relates to a method for controlling the aforementioned heating installation, said installation having an air duct arranged in contact with said condenser.

This method comprises the steps consisting:

-To read the temperature of the water in the storage tank using said first temperature probe, -to trigger the start of the fan and therefore the heating of the room if the measured temperature is below a temperature threshold, preferably equal to 40 ° C, and conversely to stop the operation of the fan and therefore the heating of the room if the measured temperature is greater than this same temperature threshold, preferably equal to 40 ° C.

According to other features of the invention, this method comprises the steps consisting:

- reading the temperature of the water in the storage tank using said first temperature probe, - reading the temperature of the room to be heated, using said second temperature probe, [0029] to trigger the start of the fan and therefore the heating of the room if the difference between the temperature recorded by the first probe and the temperature recorded by said second probe is greater than a threshold value, and conversely to stop the operation of the fan and therefore the heating of the room, if the difference between the temperature recorded by the first probe and the temperature recorded by said second probe is less than this same threshold value, said threshold value preferably being equal to two degrees Celsius.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the description which will now be given, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of indication but not limitation, various possible embodiments. .

In these drawings:

[Fig.l] is a diagram showing a heating installation of a room equipped with a thermodynamic water heater, this installation corresponding to a first embodiment of the invention;

[Fig.2] is a vertical cross-sectional view of part of a storage tank, part of a condenser of a heat pump and part of the installation of heating according to the first embodiment of the invention;

[Fig.3] is a vertical cross-sectional view of part of a storage tank, part of a condenser of a heat pump and part of the installation of heating according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[Fig.4] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a balloon equipped with a heat pump condenser and a heating installation according to the second embodiment, and [fig.5] ] is a diagram representing 'a heating installation of a room equipped with a thermodynamic water heater, this installation being in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

Description of the embodiments A first embodiment of the heating installation according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1.

In this figure, we can see a heating installation 1 of a room 2, this room can for example be one or more room (s) of a dwelling.

The installation 1 is equipped with a domestic hot water storage tank 3, coupled to a heat pump 4.

The ball 3 extends vertically. It is for example conventionally a balloon of cylindrical section. It includes a wall 30 which delimits the enclosure in which the domestic hot water is contained. This balloon 3 is connected to a cold water supply source 31, via a pipe 32 which opens at its base. It is also connected at its upper part, via a pipe 33, to at least one point for drawing sanitary hot water 34, shown here for example by a tap.

The heat pump 4 comprises a refrigerant circuit 40, inside which circulates this refrigerant, for example R134a (tetrafluoroethane).

On this circuit 40 are mounted in series: a compressor 41, a heat exchanger 42 (here a condenser), coupled to the balloon 3, a regulator 43 and finally, another heat exchanger 44, which plays the role here. evaporator.

The compressor 41 sucks and compresses the refrigerant, raises the temperature and directs it to the condenser 42. In the latter, it changes state and passes from the gaseous state to the liquid state by providing calories, through the wall 30, to the water which is contained in the flask 3. The refrigerant in the liquid state, the temperature of which has dropped, is then directed to the pressure reducer 43.

At the outlet thereof, the refrigerant, the temperature and pressure of which have decreased and which is predominantly liquid, is directed to the evaporator 44. In this, it recovers calories before being returned to the gaseous and low pressure state in the direction of the compressor 41.

There are several types of thermodynamic water heaters. The evaporator 44 can be placed outside the room to be heated, the refrigerant then recovers calories from the outside air. The evaporator 44 can also be placed in an unheated room of the house or dwelling, such as a garage or a cellar, or at the level of extracting air from the premises by ventilation. The calories are then taken respectively from the unheated room or from the air extracted by ventilation.

Note that the thermodynamic water heater can be in one piece and, in this case, the tank 3 and the heat pump 4 are part of the same unit, generally located inside the house, while when the thermodynamic water heater is separated (split), the heat pump 4 or at least the evaporator 44 are located outside the room and the refrigerant circuit 40 makes the connection between the heat pump 4 and the ball 3.

The condenser 42 is advantageously formed by a part of the refrigerant circuit 40, wound in a spiral around and in contact with the wall 30 of the storage tank 3. Preferably, the turns are contiguous. They could, however, be spaced slightly apart from each other. The condenser 42 extends from the bottom of the tank 3, over a height preferably between 30% and 75% of the height of the tank.

The heat pump 4 thus makes it possible to bring the sanitary water contained in the balloon to a temperature preferably close to 55 ° C.

For the record, it will be recalled that "domestic hot water" is defined as water having a temperature greater than or equal to 40 ° C., while water at a temperature below 40 ° C. is considered to be of Luke warm water.

By a phenomenon of convection, hot water tends to accumulate in the upper part of the balloon 3, and cold or lukewarm water remains at the base thereof.

The balloon 3 can also be equipped with auxiliary heating means 35, such as an electrical resistance. These means 35 are arranged higher than the condenser 42.

A central control unit 5, such as a control unit or a computer, makes it possible to control the operation of the heat pump 4. Preferably also, the unit 5 controls the starting or stopping of the auxiliary heating source 35.

The central unit 5 is also equipped with a control interface 51, by which the user can act on said central unit 5 to give instructions and / or enter operating instructions. This control interface 51 is for example a keyboard, a screen and / or an on / off button.

Preferably, a temperature probe 36 is disposed inside the balloon 3, substantially halfway up thereof. It is connected to the central unit 5. Depending on the value of the water temperature that the probe 36 returns to the central unit 5, the latter can determine the volume of domestic hot water (greater than 40 ° C) available in the ball. If this volume is no longer sufficient, then the central unit 5 operates the heat pump 4. Conversely, when this volume of domestic hot water is sufficient, the central unit 5 stops the operation of the heat pump 4 .

Heating a room only needs a maximum temperature of 25 ° C, while domestic hot water must be brought to a minimum temperature of 40 ° C to meet standards. There is therefore no conflict between the use of part of the calories, either lukewarm water stored in the flask 3 at a temperature below 40 ° C., or the refrigerant circulating in the condenser 42, in order to heat room 2 and use of water above 40 ° C to supply the taps with domestic hot water.

According to the invention, the heating installation 1 therefore comprises a refrigerant / air heat exchanger 6, which allows for a thermal exchange between the refrigerant present in the condenser 42 or at the outlet thereof- ci and the air present in the exchanger 6, so as to heat this air.

In general, this exchanger 6 comprises an air duct containing air at which the heat exchange takes place and a fan ensuring the circulation of air in this air duct.

According to a first embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the heat exchanger 6 comprises an air duct 60 and a fan 61.

As shown in Figure 2, the air duct 60 is wound in a spiral, forming several turns around the turns of the condenser 42 and therefore around the ball 3. The duct 60 is wound so that its wall is in contact with the wall of the various turns of the condenser 42. The air duct 60 is preferably of rectangular section and the turns are preferably bonded to each other.

The different turns of the air duct 60 extend over a height H preferably corresponding to 20% to 50% of the height of the balloon 3, from the bottom thereof.

The fan 61 allows the air present in the room 2 to be sucked in, for example via an air inlet mouth 62, to circulate it in the aeraulic duct 60 from which it emerges heated, in the local 2. The outlet of the air duct 60 can for example be fitted with an air supply grille 63.

Although this is not shown in the figures, it will be noted that it is also possible to have an air duct at the outlet of the air duct 60 to direct the heated air to another room in room 2.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 3 and 4, the heat exchanger which is then referenced 6 'comprises a single large air duct 64 and a fan 65.

The air duct 64 has an elongated cross section, preferably rectangular, wound in the form of a single turn around the winding (the turns) constituting the condenser 42.

This embodiment will be used preferentially, since the pressure drop of the air flow is lower than when the latter must travel several windings of turns, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1. In this second embodiment, the electrical consumption of the fan 65 is also lower.

As a purely illustrative example, the air duct 64 may have a rectangular section of approximately 2 cm wide by 40 cm high.

This air duct 64 is arranged around the condenser 42, so that its inner wall is in contact with the outer wall of the different turns of the condenser 42.

The air duct 64 is disposed in the lower part of the balloon 3, and preferably covers a height H1 of 20% to 50% of the height of the balloon 3 from the bottom thereof.

The fan 65 is preferably a tangential fan, capable of sending a fairly large air flow tangentially with respect to the turns of the condenser 42, and this, with a low pressure drop and a fairly reduced electrical consumption. .

Advantageously, the air duct 64 is surrounded by a layer of thermal insulation 37 which generally extends over the entire height of the tank 3.

Although this is not shown in FIG. 1, a layer of thermal insulator 37 can also be arranged around the tank 3, in particular around the condenser 42 and the air duct 60.

To start the heating installation 1, simply start the fan 61, 65, for example using the central unit 5, to recover the calories which pass by conduction through the wall of the air duct 60, respectively 64, in contact with the condenser 42.

If the heat pump 4 is stopped, the calories, present in lukewarm water (below 40 ° C) which is in the lower part of the storage tank 3, pass into the refrigerant present in the condenser 42. This refrigerant is then at the same temperature or substantially the same temperature as lukewarm water. These calories are then transmitted to the air in the air duct 60, 64. This air, once heated, heats room 2.

If the heat pump 4 is running, then part of the calories produced by the heat pump 4 and present in the condenser 42 is used to heat the water contained in the tank 3 to produce domestic hot water and another part of these calories is used to heat the air circulating in the air duct 60, 64 of the exchanger

6, 6 '.

In the two aforementioned cases, the advantage is that the domestic hot water at a temperature above 40 ° C is stored in the upper part of the tank 3 and that the domestic hot water supply to the room 2 does not is therefore never interrupted. The height of the air exchanger 6,6 'and in particular of the winding of the air duct 60 or the air duct 64, is to be dimensioned as a function of the height of the tank 3 and the power of the heat pump 4 The more powerful the heat pump 4, the more it is possible to provide heating to room 2, without reducing the quantity of hot water available in the tank 3.

It is also possible to control the operation of the fan 61, 65, using the central control unit 5 and on the basis of values received from different temperature probes.

In this case, the installation 1 comprises a first temperature probe 66, placed in or on the tank 3, just above the air duct 60 or 64, this probe making it possible to measure the temperature of the water in the ball 3 at this location.

Optionally, it is also possible to have a second probe 67 for measuring the temperature of the ambient air in the room 2. This probe 67 can be placed on a wall of the room 2 to be heated, or on a remote control of the central unit 5, for example.

The two probes 66 and 67 are connected to the central unit 5 so as to send the information on the measured temperature values.

A possible mode of piloting the heating installation 1 will now be described. Its purpose is to guarantee as a priority that the tank 3 is full of domestic hot water (and then in this case that the heat of this water is not used for heating) while authorizing the use of part of the calories of this water, for heating, when the tank 3 contains lukewarm water (and hot water).

If the temperature measured by the first probe 66 is less than a certain threshold (for example less than 40 ° C), the central unit 5 activates the fan 61, 65, which has the effect of starting the heating, using the caloric energy of lukewarm water which is in the lower part of the tank 3 at a level lower than the temperature probe 66.

Conversely, if the temperature sensor 66 detects that the temperature of the water in the tank 3 is greater than a certain threshold ((for example greater than the threshold of 40 ° C), then the central unit 5 stops the fan 61, 65 so as not to lower the temperature of the domestic hot water stored in the tank 3.

This regulation is simple and can operate both when the heat pump 4 is in operation and when it is stopped.

To stop the heating, it is also possible to use the probe 67. IF the difference between the temperatures measured by the two temperature probes 66, 67 is less than a certain value, for example less than two degrees Celsius , the central unit 5 then controls the fan 61, 65 to stop the latter and therefore stop the heating. Indeed, the fact of operating the fan 61, 65 with a very small temperature difference produces a very low heating but, conversely, a significant electrical consumption to operate the fan 61, 65.

FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment, which differs mainly from the previous two by the position of the refrigerant / air heat exchanger.

The other elements, identical to the two previous embodiments, will therefore not be described again and bear the same reference numbers. Their operation is identical.

The refrigerant / air heat exchanger then carries the reference numeral 7 and comprises an air duct 70 and a fan 71.

In this case, the air duct 70 is arranged downstream of the condenser 42 and upstream of the expansion valve 43 relative to the direction of circulation of the refrigerant inside the circuit 40. Preferably, the air duct 70 is arranged just after the outlet of condenser 42.

The heat exchange takes place between the air circulating in the aeraulic duct 70 of the exchanger and the calories coming from the refrigerant after the latter has circulated in the condenser 42.

This installation is suitable for premises 2, equipped with a storage tank 3 of smaller volume. Indeed, in this case, the volume of water contained in the tank 3 is entirely dedicated to the supply of domestic hot water to users of the premises. The heat exchanger 7 only makes it possible to recover the residual calories which have not been transmitted by the refrigerant to the water in the storage tank 3.

Consequently, the central unit 5 starts the fan 71 only while the heat pump 4 is operating.

Advantageously, it is possible to provide a temperature probe 72 which measures the temperature of the refrigerant circulating in the circuit 40 at the outlet of the condenser 42.

When this temperature drops below a threshold value, the fan 71 is stopped because the calories recovered would then be insufficient to ensure efficient heating. Similarly, a thermal probe 73, placed in room 2, in order to detect the temperature there, can make it possible to stop the fan 71, via the central unit 5.

In order to carry out all of the steps for controlling the installation 1 which have just been described, the central control unit 5 is equipped with a computer program which includes instructions for implementing this method.

Regardless of the type of exchanger 6, 6 ’or 7 used, the heating of the air is also advantageously regulated according to the season.

In "winter" mode, the central unit 5 regulates the operation of the fan 61, 65, 71, as explained above. In summer mode, the heating is switched off and the fan 61, 65, 71 does not work.

The two summer or winter modes can be programmed directly during the manufacture of the central unit 5 or can be adjusted by the user via the control interface 51.

The regulation of the heating installation can be simple or complex. For example, you can have a simple on / off button for heating or the control interface 1 which allows you to choose a set temperature, a heating period, a fan speed 61, 65, 71, etc.

It is also possible to add a regulation of the smart control type, that is to say a learning computer program. In this case, the daily domestic hot water consumption of the users of room 2 is recorded and the heating will be regulated so as to give priority to the supply of domestic hot water. For example, if the records show that the users of room 2 consume only half of the domestic hot water contained in the tank 3 on a daily basis, it is then possible to trigger the heating of the room even if the probe 66 detects a water temperature value greater than 40 ° C, for example 45 ° C.

The different embodiments of the heating installation 1 which have just been described have several advantages.

First of all, these installations make it possible to recover, for the heating of room 2, part of the thermal energy produced by the heat pump. The heat input made in the room 2 by the installation 1 according to the invention makes it possible to replace the heating produced by one or more radiator (s) and therefore constitutes an auxiliary heating. This results in a saving of electricity, gas or other fuel for the user of room 2, which also corresponds to a financial saving for him.

Another advantage lies in the increase in the coefficient of performance COP of the thermodynamic water heater. The more you use the water heater, the more you increase its efficiency or its annual coefficient of performance. In the present case, part of the energy produced by the thermodynamic water heater is used for heating room 2, without increasing the consumption of domestic hot water. The simulations carried out have shown that the coefficient of performance of the thermodynamic water heater is increased by up to 30% compared to the coefficient of performance of a conventional installation, throughout the heating season of room 2.

Claims (1)

[Claim 1] [Claim 2] [Claim 3] [Claim 4] Claims Installation (1) for heating a room (2) equipped with a thermodynamic water heater, this water heater comprising a domestic hot water storage tank (3) and a heat pump (4) controlled by a central control unit (5), said heat pump (4) comprising a condenser (42) and a pressure reducer (43) mounted in series on a refrigerant circuit (40), said condenser (42) being arranged around said tank storage (3) and performing a heat exchange with the water contained therein so as to heat the latter, this installation (1) being characterized in that it comprises a refrigerant / air heat exchanger (6) , this exchanger comprising: at least one air duct (60, 64, 70) disposed in contact with said condenser (42) or in contact with the portion of the refrigerant circuit (40) situated downstream of said condenser (42) and upstream of the regulator (43 ) with respect to the direction of circulation of the refrigerant in the circuit (40), so as to transfer at least part of the heat of the refrigerant to the air circulating in said aeraulic duct (60, 64, 70), and - at least one fan (61, 65, 71) which circulates air through said aeration duct (60, 64, 70) of the refrigerant / air heat exchanger, the outlet of said aeration duct opening into said room to be heated (2) or connected to it. Heating installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the air duct (64) of said refrigerant / air heat exchanger (6) is wound around said condenser (42) and around said storage tank (3), so as to form a single turn, in that it has a rectangular or substantially rectangular cross section and in that it is arranged so that one of the longitudinal sides of its section is in contact with the condenser (42), so as to perform the heat exchange with the refrigerant which is contained in this condenser. Heating installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the air duct (60) of said refrigerant / air heat exchanger (6) is wound around said condenser (42) and around said storage tank (3), so as to form several turns. Heating installation according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the air duct (60, 64) of said heat exchanger (6) extends from the lower part of the storage tank (3), on a height between 20% and 50% of the height of said balloon. [Claim 5] Heating installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the fan (61, 65, 71) is a tangential fan. [Claim 6] Heating installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fan (61, 65, 71) is controlled by said central control unit (5). [Claim 7] Heating installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a first temperature probe (66), disposed in the domestic hot water storage tank (3) or on the external wall (30) of said tank (3), above the height at which said aeration duct (60, 64) of the refrigerant / air heat exchanger (6) is located, this first probe (66) measuring the temperature of the water being located in the balloon (3) at the level of said first probe (66) and transmitting the measured temperature values to said central control unit (5). [Claim 8] Heating installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a second temperature probe (67) making it possible to measure the temperature of the room to be heated (2), this second probe (67) transmitting the temperature values measured at said central control unit (5). [Claim 9] Method for controlling the heating installation (1) according to claim 7, said installation (1) having an air duct (60, 64) disposed in contact with said condenser (42), characterized in that it comprises the stages consisting : -to read the temperature of the water in the storage tank (3) using said first temperature probe (66), - to trigger the start-up of the fan (61, 65) and therefore the heating of the room (2) if the temperature detected is below a temperature threshold, preferably equal to 40 ° C, and conversely to stop the operation of the ventilator (61, 65) and therefore space heating if the temperature detected is higher than this same temperature threshold, preferably equal to 40 ° C. [Claim 10] Method for controlling the heating installation (1) according to claim 8, said installation comprising a first temperature probe (66), disposed in the domestic hot water storage tank (3) or on the external wall (30 ) of said tank (3), above the height at which said aeration duct (60, 64) of the refrigerant / air heat exchanger (6) is located, this first probe (66) measuring the temperature of the water in the balloon (3) at the height of said first probe (66) and transmitting the measured temperature values to said central control unit (5) and said installation (1) having an air duct (60, 64) disposed in contact with said condenser (42), characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting: - reading the temperature of the water in the storage tank (3) using said first temperature probe (66), - reading the temperature of the room to be heated (2), using said second temperature probe (67), - Triggering the fan (61, 65) and therefore the space heating (2) if the difference between the temperature recorded by the first probe (66) and the temperature recorded by said second probe (67) is greater than a threshold value, and conversely to stop the operation of the fan (61, 65) and therefore the heating of the room (2) if the difference between the temperature recorded by the first probe (66) and the temperature recorded by said second probe (67) is less than this same threshold value, said threshold value being preferably equal to two degrees Celsius.