IT202000003386A1 - CENTRALIZED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the patent for industrial invention entitled:

? CENTRALIZED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM?

The present invention? relating to a centralized air conditioning system.

Pi? in detail the present invention? relating to a centralized air conditioning system for buildings with a high number of fan coils and / or radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals, which operate independently from each other, such as hotels, hospitals and other residential complexes with a high number of rooms for residential use. Employment to which the following discussion will? explicit reference without losing in generality.

How ? known, centralized air conditioning systems are normally composed of a series of fan coils and / or radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals strategically positioned in the various rooms of the building to be air conditioned, and by a high power hydronic machine, which? able to alternatively heat or cool the water that circulates inside the various fan coils and / or radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals that are part of the system, in such a way as to allow the latter to subtract or transfer heat to the air present inside the room in which they are located.

Clearly the operation of the individual fan coils and / or radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals? conditioned by the temperature of the water circulating inside them, with all the operating limits that this entails. This type of air conditioning systems, in fact, does not allow a separate and independent temperature control for each single room equipped with fan coils and / or radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals, so? to be able to air-condition rooms with opposite thermal loads at the same time.

In other words, this type of air conditioning systems does not allow some fan coils and / or radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals of the system to cool the surrounding environment, while the remaining fan coils and / or radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals air conditioning of the system are heating the surrounding environment.

To overcome this drawback, centralized air conditioning systems have been developed over the last few years in which the hydronic machine is replaced by a multifunctional heat pump machine (also called a total recovery multipurpose machine), which? able to supply at the same time a flow of hot water and a flow of cold water separate and distinct from each other; and the fan coils and / or radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals of the system are connected to the multifunctional machine by means of two separate and independent water circulation lines, which can be alternatively selected by means of valves located immediately upstream of each fan coil, radiator or other system air conditioning terminal.

The multifunctional heat pump machine heats the water that circulates inside the first supply line, and at the same time cools the water that circulates inside. inside the second power supply line.

The first power line? therefore composed of a hot water delivery pipe and a hot water return pipe. The second power line, on the other hand,? consisting of a cold water delivery pipe and a cold water return pipe.

Clearly, the hot water flowing along the hot water return pipe has a lower temperature than the hot water flowing along the hot water supply pipe. Similarly, the cold water flowing along the cold water return pipe has a higher temperature than the cold water flowing along the cold water delivery pipe.

By acting on the valves located upstream of each fan coil, radiator or other air conditioning terminals, the user or the local electronic control unit can, at their discretion and according to the preset target temperature, connect the corresponding fan coil, radiator or other terminal. to the hot water supply line or to the cold water supply line, in order to alternatively cool or heat the room where the same fan coil, radiator or other air conditioning terminal is located.

Clearly these new centralized air conditioning systems, in the face of greater flexibility? operational, have a cost of construction significantly higher than that of previous air conditioning systems, why? each fan coil, radiator or other air conditioning terminal of the system must be reached by both the hot water supply line and the water supply line. cold water, with the higher costs that this entails.

To reduce the costs of the air conditioning system without for? jeopardize the functional advantages deriving from the simultaneous presence of the hot water supply line and the water supply line cold water, in recent years numerous attempts have been made to couple the multifunctional heat pump machines to a three-pipe hydraulic circuit, which connects the machine to all the fan coils, radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals of the system , and provides a single return pipe that collects and conveys, to the multifunctional heat pump machine, both the hot water and the cold water leaving each fan coil, radiator or other air conditioning terminal of the system.

Clearly, the temperature of the water flowing along the return pipe, towards the multifunctional heat pump machine, depends on the number of fan coils, radiators or other air conditioning terminals that are momentarily connected to the delivery pipe of the? hot water, compared to the number of fan coils, radiators or other air conditioning terminals that are temporarily connected to the cold water delivery pipe.

A centralized air conditioning system with a three-pipe hydraulic circuit? described in application WO2014 / 009565 A1.

Unfortunately, numerous experimental tests have shown that the multifunctional heat pump machines, if connected to the fan coils, radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals of the system through a three-pipe hydraulic circuit, have a significantly lower energy efficiency than that measured in the presence. of a hot water supply line and a cold water supply line, separate and independent from each other. other. This phenomenon ? essentially due to the mixing of the return water from the fan coils, radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals which are working in heating, with the return water from the fan coils and / or other air conditioning terminals which are working in cooling.

In addition, the multifunctional heat pump machines, if connected directly to the fan coils, radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals of the? system through a three-pipe hydraulic circuit, are often subject to drastic and sudden changes in the flow of hot and / or cold water, which often lead to the complete block of the machine.

Most of the multifunctional heat pump machines, in fact, are notoriously machines sized to work at a constant flow rate, and therefore only tolerate small flow variations, which also occur very slowly so as not to destabilize the thermal flows. inside the machine.

Purpose of the present invention? that of creating a centralized air conditioning system with a three-pipe hydraulic circuit, which uses a multifunctional heat pump machine, minimizes the drawbacks indicated above, both structurally more? simple and inexpensive to make with respect to that described in application WO2014 / 009565 A1, and finally can also provide for the use of multifunctional machines which require the maintenance of a substantially constant flow rate to the user-side exchangers during operation.

In accordance with the objectives indicated above, according to the present invention a centralized air conditioning system is provided as defined in claim 1 and preferably, but not necessarily, in any of the claims dependent on it.

The present invention will come now described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example of embodiment, in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a centralized air conditioning system made according to the dictates of the present invention and with parts removed for clarity; while

- Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 schematically illustrate as many embodiments of the centralized air conditioning system visible in Figure 1, with parts removed for clarity.

With reference to Figure 1, with the number 1? indicated as a whole a centralized air conditioning system, which can? be advantageously installed in buildings with a large number of fan coils, radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals operating independently from each other, such as hotels, hospitals, office buildings and residential complexes with a large number of rooms for residential use.

The centralized air conditioning system 1 firstly comprises: a hydronic heat pump machine 2, preferably electrically operated, which? simultaneously connected to a hot water supply line 3 and to a cold water supply line 4, separated from each other and both substantially in a closed loop, and structured in such a way as to be able to simultaneously and separately heat the water circulating in the hot water supply line 3, and cool the water circulating in the cold water supply line 4; and a plurality? of liquid arial heat exchangers 5 for air conditioning, such as fan coils, radiators and / or other similar air conditioning terminals, which are suitably positioned in the various rooms to be air conditioned.

Pi? in detail, the hydronic heat pump machine 2? equipped with a hot-water inlet and a hot-water outlet which are directly connected to the hot water supply line 3, and? able to produce a flow of hot water more? or less constant, with a predetermined temperature and preferably between 35 ° C and 60 ° C. In addition, the hydronic heat pump machine 2? also equipped with a cold-water inlet and a cold-water outlet which are directly connected to the cold water supply line 4, and? able to produce a flow of cold water more? or less constant, with a predetermined temperature and preferably between 4 ° C and 16 ° C.

In other words, the hydronic heat pump machine 2? a hydronic machine capable of delivering at the same time a flow of hot water and a flow of cold / chilled water.

Obviously, the water leaving the hot-water outlet of the hydronic heat pump machine 2 always has a higher temperature than the water leaving the cold water outlet of the same machine.

Clearly the water circulating in the hot water supply line 3 and / or in the cold water supply line 4 can? be replaced by any other heat transfer liquid.

In the example illustrated, in particular, the hydronic heat pump machine 2? preferably a multipurpose heat pump machine of a known type.

Pi? in detail, in the example illustrated the hydronic heat pump machine 2? preferably, but not necessarily, made up of a unit? multifunctional model NRP 0200-0750, from one unit? multifunctional model NRP 0804-3606, or from a unit? multifunctional model NXP 0500-1650, all currently produced and marketed by the applicant

Clearly, being a machine already? known and easily available on the market, the multifunctional heat pump machine will not come? further described.

The air conditioning system 1 also includes a hydraulic connection circuit 6 with a three-pipe structure, which connects the air-liquid heat exchangers 5 to the hot water supply line 3 and to the cold water supply line 4 , in such a way that each air-liquid heat exchanger 5 can be reached and crossed, optionally and alternatively, by the hot water coming from the hot water supply line 3 or by the cold water coming from the water supply line. cold water 4.

With reference to Figure 1, the hot water supply line 3 in turn comprises: a hydraulic separator 31; a delivery pipe 32 which connects the hot-water outlet of the heat pump hydronic machine 2 to the hydraulic separator 31; a return pipe 33 which connects the hot water inlet of the heat pump hydronic machine 2 to the hydraulic separator 31; and a circulation pump 34 preferably electrically operated, which? positioned along the delivery pipe 32, and? suitable for circulating the hot water inside the ring formed by the hydronic heat pump machine 2, the delivery pipe 32, the hydraulic separator 31 and the return pipe 33.

Preferably, the circulation pump 34 also works at a constant flow rate.

In addition, the hot water supply line 3 preferably also comprises a large capacity storage tank 35. and preferably heat insulated, which? positioned along the return pipe 33, in such a way as to contain a large quantity? of hot water which preferably serves to regulate the operation of the heat pump hydronic machine 2.

In other words, the storage tank 35? designed to reduce / minimize fluctuations in the flow rate and / or temperature of the water directed towards the hot-water inlet of the heat pump hydronic machine 2.

Preferably the capacity? of the storage tank 35? also a function of the nominal cooling capacity of the heat pump hydronic unit 2.

Pi? in detail the relationship between the capacity? of the storage tank 35 and the nominal cooling capacity of the heat pump hydronic machine 2,? preferably between 10 and 18 liters / kW (liters per kilowatt), and optionally equal to about 14 liters / kW.

Clearly, the circulation pump 34 could alternatively be positioned along the return pipe 33, preferably, but not necessarily, downstream of the storage tank 35.

Preferably, the hot water supply line 3 also comprises also two connection manifolds 36 and 37, which are positioned, respectively, along the delivery pipe 32 and along the return pipe 33, and are structured / dimensioned in such a way to reduce the speed? water and bring it below a predetermined limit value. Preferably this limit value? moreover less than 1 m / s (meter per second).

Pi? in detail, the connection manifolds 36, 37 have a passage section that is significantly higher than that of the delivery 32 and return 33 pipes on which they are positioned, in such a way as to reduce the speed. of the water inside the same attachment manifold 36 and / or 37 at a value preferably less than or equal to 0.5 m / s (meters per second) and optionally equal to about 0.2 m / s.

The connection manifolds 36 and 37 are suitable for supplying hot water to other branches, utilities and / or auxiliary equipment of the air conditioning system 1, preferably with the aid of as many additional delivery pumps, connected in derivation on the connection manifold 36 .

In other words, the hot water supply line 3 preferably also comprises at least one and more? conveniently, a plurality? of auxiliary delivery pumps 38, preferably electrically operated, each of which? connected in shunt on the connection manifold 36, and? able to send part of the hot water circulating in the connection manifold 36 to a corresponding branch, user or auxiliary equipment of the air conditioning system 1.

In the example illustrated, in particular, the delivery pumps 38 are preferably suitable for sending hot water to the heat exchanger of a boiler for the production of domestic hot water (not shown), or to the evaporator of a heat pump appliance. water-water for the production of domestic hot water (not shown), and to a unit? air treatment (not shown).

With reference to Figure 1, similarly to the hot water supply line 3, the cold water supply line 4 comprises: a hydraulic separator 41; a delivery pipe 42 which connects the cold water outlet of the heat pump hydronic machine 2 to the hydraulic separator 41; a return pipe 43 which connects the cold-water inlet of the heat pump hydronic machine 2 to the hydraulic separator 41; and a circulation pump 44 preferably electrically operated, which? positioned along the delivery pipe 42, and? suitable for circulating the cold water inside the ring formed by the hydronic heat pump machine 2, by the delivery pipe 42, by the hydraulic separator 41 and by the return pipe 43.

Preferably, the circulation pump 44 also works at a constant flow rate.

In addition, the cold water supply line 4 preferably also comprises a large capacity storage tank 45. and preferably heat insulated, which? positioned along the return pipe 43, in such a way as to contain a large quantity? of cold water, which preferably serves to regularize the operation of the heat pump hydronic machine 2.

In other words, the storage tank 45? designed to reduce / minimize fluctuations in the flow rate and / or temperature of the water directed towards the cold-water inlet of the heat pump hydronic machine 2.

Preferably the capacity? of the storage tank 45? also a function of the nominal cooling capacity of the heat pump hydronic unit 2.

Pi? in detail the relationship between the capacity? of the storage tank 45 and the nominal cooling capacity of the heat pump hydronic machine 2,? preferably between 10 and 18 liters / kW (liters per kilowatt), and optionally equal to about 14 liters / kW.

Clearly, the circulation pump 44 could be positioned along the return pipe 43, preferably, but not necessarily, downstream of the storage tank 45.

Preferably, the cold water supply line 4 also comprises also two connection manifolds 46 and 47, which are positioned, respectively, along the delivery pipe 42 and the return pipe 43, and are structured / dimensioned in such a way as to reduce the speed? water and bring it below a predetermined limit value. Preferably this limit value? moreover less than 1 m / s (meter per second).

Pi? in detail, the connection manifolds 46, 47 have a passage section significantly higher than that of the delivery 42 and return 43 pipes on which they are positioned, in such a way as to reduce the speed. of the water inside the same attachment manifold 46 and / or 47 at a value preferably less than or equal to 0.5 m / s (meters per second) and optionally equal to about 0.2 m / s.

Similarly to the connection manifolds 36 and 37, the connection manifolds 46 and 47 are suitable for supplying cold water to other branches, utilities and / or auxiliary equipment of the? air conditioning system 1, preferably with the aid of as many supplementary delivery pumps, connected in by-pass on the connection manifold 46.

In other words, the cold water supply line 4 preferably also comprises at least one and more. conveniently, a plurality? of auxiliary delivery pumps 48, preferably electrically operated, each of which? connected in shunt on the manifold 46, and? able to send a part of the cold water that circulates in the connection manifold 46, towards a corresponding branch, user or auxiliary equipment of the? air conditioning system 1.

In the example illustrated, in particular, the delivery pumps 48 are preferably adapted to send cold water to a unit. air treatment (not shown).

With reference to Figure 1, the hydraulic connection circuit 6 on the other hand comprises: a hot water delivery pipe 61, which? connected in derivation on the hydraulic separator 31 of the supply line of the? hot water 3, and? adapted to convey the water of the hydraulic separator 31 towards the inlets of the various air-liquid heat exchangers 5 of the system; a hot water delivery pump 62 which? positioned along the hot water delivery pipe 61, and? adapted to pump hot water from the hydraulic separator 31 of the hot water supply line 3 towards the inlets of the air-liquid heat exchangers 5; a cold water delivery pipe 63, which? connected in by-pass on the hydraulic separator 41 of the cold water supply line 4, and? adapted to convey the water of the hydraulic separator 41 towards the inlets of the various liquid arial heat exchangers 5 of the system; and a cold water delivery pump 64, which? positioned along the cold water delivery pipe 63, and? suitable for pumping cold water from the hydraulic separator 41 of the supply line of the? cold water 4 towards the inlets of the air-liquid heat exchangers 5.

Pi? in detail, the hot water delivery pump 62? preferably adapted to suck / divert, along the hot water delivery pipe 61, a limited percentage of the water flow that crosses the hydraulic separator 31. Similarly, the cold water delivery pump 64? preferably adapted to suck / divert, along the cold water delivery pipe 63, a limited percentage of the water flow that crosses the hydraulic separator 41.

Preferably, the hot water delivery pump 62 and the cold water delivery pump 64 are electrically operated pumps.

Preferably the hot water delivery pump 62? also a variable displacement pump, and? adapted to vary the flow rate of the water directed towards the inlets of the air-liquid heat exchangers 5 as a function of the number of air-liquid heat exchangers 5 that momentarily require hot water.

Similarly, the cold water delivery pump 64? also a variable displacement pump, and? adapted to vary the flow rate of the water directed towards the inlets of the air-liquid heat exchangers 5 as a function of the number of air-liquid heat exchangers 5 which momentarily require cold water.

In addition, the hydraulic connection circuit 6 also comprises: a return pipe for warm water 65, which? able to convey the water leaving the various air-liquid heat exchangers 5 of the system towards the heat pump machine 2; and a distribution manifold 66, which? interposed between the warm water return pipe 65 and the hydraulic separators 31 and 41, respectively, of the hot 3 and cold 4 water supply lines, and designed to dynamically distribute and convey the flow of lukewarm water arriving from the lukewarm water return pipe 65, towards the hydraulic separators 31 and 41.

Pi? in detail, the distribution manifold 66? structured / sized in such a way as to drastically reduce the speed? of the water coming from the return line of the lukewarm water 65, cos? that the water present in the manifold can be distributed naturally and dynamically to the hydraulic separators 31 and 41, respectively, of the hot water 3 and cold water supply line 4, substantially equalizing the flow of water taken from the delivery pipes of the hot water 61 and cold water 63.

In the example illustrated, in particular, the distribution manifold 66? preferably sized in such a way as to reduce the speed? of the water that runs through it at a value less than or equal to 0.5 m / s (meters per second) and optionally equal to about 0.2 m / s.

Even more? in detail, in the illustrated example, the distribution manifold 66? preferably consisting of a large closed container of oblong shape and with capacity? preferably, but not necessarily comprised between 20 and 100 liters, which preferably has a substantially cylindrical tubular shape,? preferably centrally connected to the warm water return pipe 65, and? simultaneously connected to the hydraulic separators 31 and 41 at its two ends.

Clearly the cross-sectional area of the closed oblong container? much higher than the area of the passage section of the return pipe of the? lukewarm water 65, in order to lower the speed? dell? water entering the distribution manifold 66.

The hydraulic connection circuit 6 also comprises, upstream of the inlet of each air-liquid heat exchanger 5 of the system, also a respective valve group 67, preferably electrically or manually operated, which? connected both to the hot water delivery pipe 61, and to the cold water delivery pipe 63, and? structured in such a way as to be able to connect the inlet of the air-liquid heat exchanger 5, optionally and alternatively, to the hot water delivery pipe 61 in such a way as to allow hot water to flow through the heat exchanger 5 , or to the cold water delivery pipe 63 in such a way as to allow cold water to flow through the heat exchanger 5.

With reference to Figure 1, preferably the hydraulic connection circuit 6 further comprises also: a first mixing valve 70 with electronic control, which? interposed between the hot water delivery pipe 61 and the warm water return pipe 65, and? selectively able to introduce, in the delivery pipe of the hot water 61, a quantity? variable of lukewarm water coming from the lukewarm water return pipe 65; and a second mixing valve 71 with electronic control, which? interposed between the cold water delivery pipe 63 and the warm water return pipe 65, and? selectively able to introduce, in the delivery pipe of the cold water 63, a quantity? lukewarm water variable coming from the lukewarm water return pipe 65.

Pi? in detail, the mixing valve 70? preferably positioned along the delivery pipe of the? hot water 61, preferably upstream of the hot water delivery pump 62, and? selectively suitable for introducing lukewarm water into the delivery pipe of the? hot water 61, in such a way as to reduce the temperature of the? hot water directed towards the inlets of the air-liquid heat exchangers 5.

Parallel to the mixing valve 71? preferably positioned along the delivery pipe of the? cold water 63, preferably upstream of the hot water delivery pump 64, and? selectively suitable for introducing lukewarm water into the delivery pipe of the? cold water 63, in such a way as to increase the temperature of the cold water directed towards the inlets of the air-liquid heat exchangers 5.

In addition, the central air conditioning system 1? preferably equipped with an electronic control unit (not shown), which? adapted to control the delivery pumps 62 and 64 and / or the mixing valves 70 and 71.

Preferably, the centralized air conditioning system 1 additionally also comprises at least a first temperature sensor 72, which? able to detect the temperature of the? lukewarm water entering the distribution manifold 66, and optionally also a second temperature sensor (not shown) which? able to detect the temperature of the? hot water flowing along the delivery pipe of the? hot water 61, towards the air-liquid heat exchangers 5, and / or a third temperature sensor (not shown), which? able to detect the temperature of the cold water flowing along the cold water delivery pipe 63, towards the air-liquid heat exchangers 5.

Preferably the electronic control unit of the system? moreover programmed / configured in such a way as to control the mixing valves 70 and 71 according to the signals coming from the temperature sensor 72.

In addition, the electronic control unit of the system? preferably adapted to drive the mixing valve 70 in such a way as to maintain, downstream of the mixing valve 70, the temperature of the hot water flowing along the hot water delivery pipe 61 at a first predetermined target value. Preferably, the percentage of lukewarm water introduced into the hot water delivery pipe 61 will also be? always less than or equal to the percentage of hot water coming from the hydraulic separator 31.

In addition, the electronic control unit of the system? preferably adapted to drive the mixing valve 71 in such a way as to maintain, downstream of the mixing valve 71, the temperature of the cold water flowing along the cold water delivery pipe 63 at a second predetermined target value. Preferably, the percentage of lukewarm water introduced into the cold water delivery pipe 63 will also be? always less than or equal to the percentage of hot water coming from the hydraulic separator 41.

With reference to Figure 1, preferably the air conditioning system 1 finally also comprises an auxiliary heat pump machine 10, preferably electrically operated, which? selectively and alternatively suitable for heating (i.e. raising the temperature) the hot water circulating in the hot water supply line 3, and for cooling (i.e. lowering the temperature) the cold water circulating in the water supply line cold 4.

Pi? in detail, the auxiliary heat pump machine 10? selectively and alternatively suitable for heating the hot water directed towards the hydraulic separator 31 of the hot water supply line 3 in parallel with the multipurpose heat pump machine 2, and for cooling the cold water directed towards the hydraulic separator 41 of the cold water supply line 4 in parallel to the heat pump multipurpose machine 2.

Even more? in detail, the auxiliary heat pump machine 10? equipped with a water inlet and a water outlet, which can be connected as a derivation on the hot water supply line 3 or as a derivation on the cold water supply line 4, respectively upstream and downstream of the relative hydraulic separator 31, 41.

In other words, the water inlet of the machine with auxiliary heat pump 10? preferably selectively and alternatively connectable as a derivation on the hot water supply line 3, or as a derivation on the cold water supply line 4, downstream of the relative hydraulic separator 31, 41 and optionally also downstream of the relative accumulation tank 35 , 45.

The water outlet of the heat pump machine 10, on the other hand,? preferably selectively and alternatively connectable as a derivation on the hot water supply line 3, or as a derivation on the cold water supply line 4, upstream of the relative hydraulic separator 31, 41, so that the water, after having after passing through the heat pump machine 10, re-enter the hot water 3 or cold water 4 supply line upstream of the relative hydraulic separator 31, 41.

In the example illustrated, in particular, the water inlet of the auxiliary heat pump machine 10? preferably selectively connectable in by-pass on the return pipe 33 of the hot water supply line 3, downstream of the connection manifold 37 and of the storage tank 35, and at the same time selectively connectable in by-pass on the return pipe 43 of the cold water supply line 4, downstream of the connection manifold 47 and of the storage tank 45.

The water outlet of the auxiliary heat pump machine 10, on the other hand,? preferably selectively connectable in derivation on the delivery pipe 32 of the hot water supply line 3, between the hydraulic separator 31 and the connection manifold 36, and? at the same time selectively connectable in by-pass on the delivery pipe 42 of the cold water supply line 4, between the hydraulic separator 41 and the connection manifold 46.

Preferably the electronic control unit of the system? furthermore programmed / configured in such a way as to activate the auxiliary heat pump machine 10, and connect it alternatively to the hot water supply line 3 to raise the temperature of the hot water directed towards the hydraulic separator 31, or to the supply line cold water 4 to lower the temperature of the cold water directed towards the hydraulic separator 41, according to the signals coming from the temperature sensor 72.

Pi? in detail, the water outlet of the auxiliary heat pump machine 10? preferably connected to the delivery pipe 32 of the supply line of the hot water 3 and to the delivery pipe 42 of the cold water supply line 4 by means of a first electronically controlled three-way valve group, which? able to put the water outlet of the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 in communication with the delivery pipe 32 or with the delivery pipe 42. Clearly the first valve group? able also to isolate the water outlet of the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 from the delivery pipe 32 and from the delivery pipe 42.

Instead, the water inlet of the machine with auxiliary heat pump 10? preferably connected to the return pipe 33 of the hot water supply line 3 and to the return pipe 43 of the cold water supply line 4 by means of a second electronically controlled three-way valve group, which? able to put the water inlet of the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 in communication with the return pipe 33 or with the return pipe 43. Clearly also the second valve group? able also to isolate the water inlet of the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 from the return pipe 33 and from the return pipe 43.

The electronic control unit of the system, in turn,? preferably programmed / configured in such a way as to also control the first and second valve group.

In the example illustrated, in particular, the water outlet of the auxiliary heat pump machine 10? preferably connected to the delivery pipe 32 of the hot water supply line 3, preferably between the hydraulic separator 31 and the connection manifold 36, by means of a first interception valve 80 with electronic control, and? at the same time also connected to the delivery pipe 42 of the supply line of the? cold water 4, preferably between the hydraulic separator 41 and the connection manifold 46, by means of a second interception valve 81 with electronic control.

In a different embodiment, however, the water outlet of the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 could be connected to the delivery pipe 32 of the hot water supply line 3 upstream of the connection manifold 36, i.e. between the pump 34 and the attachment manifold 36, and to the delivery pipe 42 of the cold water supply line 4 upstream of the attachment manifold 46, ie between the pump 44 and the attachment manifold 46.

The water inlet of the heat pump machine 10, on the other hand,? preferably connected to the return pipe 33 of the hot water supply line 3, preferably downstream of the tank 35, by means of a third interception valve 82 with electronic control, and? at the same time also connected to the return pipe 43 of the cold water supply line 4, preferably downstream of the tank 45, by means of a fourth interception valve 83 with electronic control.

The first valve group therefore comprises the shut-off valves 80 and 81, while the second valve group comprises the shut-off valves 82 and 83.

The electronic control unit of the system? therefore able to control the shut-off valves 80, 81, 82 and 83, in such a way as to connect, when necessary, the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 to the hot water supply line 3 or to the water supply line cold 4.

Pi? in detail, by opening the valves 80 and 82, the electronic control unit connects the water inlet and the water outlet of the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 to the hot water supply line 3, so that a part of the water supply hot water circulating in the hot water supply line 3 can also pass through the auxiliary heat pump machine 10, so? to raise the temperature of the hot water entering the hydraulic separator 31.

By opening the valves 81 and 83, on the other hand, the electronic control unit connects the water inlet and the water outlet of the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 to the cold water supply line 4, so that part of the water cold circulating in the cold water supply line 4 can also pass through the auxiliary heat pump machine 10, so? to lower the cold water temperature entering the hydraulic separator 41.

The operation of the air conditioning system 1 described above? easily deduced from what is written above, and does not require further explanations.

As for the mixing valves 70 and 71, by introducing lukewarm water into the delivery pipes of the? hot water 61 and cold water delivery 63, the mixing valves 70 and 71 are respectively capable of lowering the temperature of the hot water directed towards the air-liquid heat exchangers 5 for air conditioning, i.e. towards the various fan coils, radiators and / or other air conditioning terminals of the system, and / or to increase the temperature of the cold water directed towards the same air-liquid heat exchangers 5 for air conditioning.

The advantages associated with the particular structure of the? air conditioning system 1 are remarkable.

Experimental tests have shown that the use of the hydraulic separators 31 and 41 in combination with the distribution manifold 66, allows to stabilize the flow rate and the temperature of the hot and cold water circulating in the heat pump hydronic machine 2, without the measures described in application WO2014 / 009565 A1.

In addition, the air conditioning system 1 allows a normal hydronic heat pump machine to be coupled to a three-pipe hydraulic circuit without adding further heat exchangers which reduce the overall efficiency of the system.

The presence of the mixing valves 70 and 71 also allows the electronic control unit of the? system to vary / adjust the temperature of the lukewarm water entering the distribution manifold 66, in such a way as to minimize the differences in the temperatures of the cold water and the hot water that return to the heat pump hydronic machine 2, with respect to corresponding optimal values.

The intervention of the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 also prevents an excessive imbalance in the requests for hot and cold water from destabilizing the heat pump hydronic machine 2.

Finally, the structure of the air conditioning system 1 makes it very suitable for new buildings with low environmental impact, where the considerable thermal insulation of the individual rooms can? require a high flow rate of cold water even in winter. In fact, in this type of buildings, the solar radiation from the rooms facing south can? to raise the air temperature well over 24 ° C even in winter.

Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations can be made to the centralized air conditioning system 1 described above without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, instead of? be interposed between the hot water delivery pipe 61 and the warm water return pipe 65, the mixing valve 70 could be interposed between the hot water delivery pipe 61 and the distribution manifold 66.

Similarly, instead? be interposed between the cold water delivery pipe 63 and the warm water return pipe 65, the mixing valve 71 could be placed between the cold water delivery pipe 63 and the distribution manifold 66.

In addition, the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 could be connected only to the hot water supply line 3, or only to the cold water supply line 4. In the first case, the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 would be able only to heat the water circulating in the hot water supply line 3. In the second case, the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 would only be able to cool the water circulating in the hot water supply line. cold water 4.

With reference to Figure 2, moreover in a first less sophisticated embodiment the centralized air conditioning system 1? without the mixing valves 70 and 71 and the relative connection pipes to the warm water return pipe 65.

In this embodiment, therefore, all the lukewarm water leaving the arial-liquid heat exchangers 5, ie from the fan coils, radiators or other air conditioning terminals, flows directly towards the distribution manifold 66.

With reference to Figure 3, in a second less sophisticated embodiment the centralized air conditioning system 1? without the auxiliary heat pump machine 10 and the shut-off valves 80, 81, 82 and 83 or similar, which allow the machine to be connected to the auxiliary heat pump 10 as a derivation on the hot water supply line 3, or in branch on the cold water supply line 4.

Clearly, the centralized air conditioning system 1 could lack both the mixing valves 70 and 71, and the auxiliary heat pump machine 10.

With reference to figure 4, in a more embodiment? sophisticated the air conditioning system 1 optionally also includes an auxiliary water-water exchanger 100, which? positioned between the distribution manifold 66 and the hydraulic separator 41 of the cold water supply line 4, and? suitable for transferring heat from the lukewarm water which returns to the cold water supply line 4, to the drinking water coming from the aqueduct.

Pi? in detail, the first branch of the water-to-water exchanger 100? preferably interposed between the distribution manifold 66 and the hydraulic separator 41 of the cold water supply line 4 in such a way as to be crossed by the? lukewarm water returning to the cold water supply line 4, while the second branch? preferably positioned along the pipeline that connects the aqueduct to the equipment or devices that produce domestic hot water, in such a way as to be crossed by the? drinking water directed to the appliance (s) that produce domestic hot water. So ? It is possible to preheat the drinking water directed to the appliance (s) that produce domestic hot water, subtracting heat from the water that returns to the cold water supply line 4.

Clearly, also in this case, the centralized air conditioning system 1 can? be without mixing valves 70 and 71, and / or without the auxiliary heat pump machine 10.

With reference to Figure 5, moreover, in a further embodiment the centralized air conditioning system 1 optionally also comprises an auxiliary heating apparatus 200, which? positioned along the hot water supply line 3, and? suitable for heating (i.e. raising the temperature) the water circulating in the hot water supply line 3.

Pi? in detail, the auxiliary heating equipment 200? preferably positioned along the hot water supply line 3, upstream of the hydraulic separator 31, and? suitable for heating (i.e. raising the temperature) the hot water directed towards the hydraulic separator 31.

In the example illustrated, in particular, the auxiliary heating device 200? preferably consisting of a boiler or an electric boiler of a known type, and preferably connected in by-pass on the delivery pipe 32 of the hot water supply line 3, optionally upstream of the connection manifold 36.

Preferably the circulation of the water inside the auxiliary heating apparatus 200? moreover controlled by means of two electronically controlled interception valves 201, which are interposed between the delivery pipe 32 and the heating apparatus 200, and are preferably piloted by the electronic control unit of the system.

Clearly, also in this case, the centralized air conditioning system 1 can? be without mixing valves 70 and 71, and / or without the auxiliary heat pump machine 10.

In addition, the auxiliary heat pump machine 10, if present, can? be connected only to the cold water supply line 4, in such a way as to be able to selectively cool (i.e. lower the temperature) the cold water that returns to the heat pump multipurpose machine 2 along the return pipe 43.

Finally, in a less sophisticated embodiment, instead of? being a multifunctional heat pump machine, the hydronic heat pump machine 2 could be: a partial recovery refrigeration unit, a total recovery refrigeration unit, a water-water refrigeration unit, or a water-water heat pump.

The partial recovery refrigeration unit? an air-water or water-water refrigeration machine, what? equipped with an additional refrigerant-water heat exchanger, in the refrigeration circuit placed between the compressor delivery and the external exchanger, whose function during the cooling operation of the machine? that of recovering part of the heat to be disposed of to heat the water of an additional circuit. The recovered thermal power? usually coinciding with the power required to desuperheat the refrigerant (i.e. to bring it from the compressor outlet temperature to the condensing temperature), and depends on the type of machine, its working conditions and the chosen refrigerant (indicatively it can be recovered from 10% with R134a to about 25-30% with R410A of the total heat disposed).

The total recovery refrigeration unit? an air-water or water-water refrigeration machine, what? equipped with an additional refrigerant-water heat exchanger, in the refrigeration circuit usually placed in parallel with the external heat exchanger, which? able to dissipate all the heat towards a hot water circuit, and? crossed by the refrigerant fluid as an alternative to the main external exchanger thanks to special switching valves placed on the refrigeration circuit and controlled by the processor of the group itself. Limited to the times in which the refrigeration unit works in cooling mode, and in the presence of suitable conditions (hot water temperature in the recovery circuit lower than a set point value), the refrigerant is diverted to the recovery exchanger where the desuperheating and condensation, allowing to fully recover the heat to be disposed of.

The partial and total recovery refrigeration units, unlike a multifunctional heat pump machine, are not able to deliver heat to the recovery circuits if not? activates the cooling request, and the recoverable thermal power? at any time bound by the required cooling capacity. Therefore, they are not able to simultaneously satisfy the request for thermal and cooling energy with any percentage of load on the two circuits, in particular with a request for thermal power which is significantly higher than the request for cooling power.

The water-water refrigeration unit? instead a refrigeration unit, which cools the water of a user circuit (refrigerated) and disposes of the heat of the cycle on a circuit in which water flows (coming from a well, or from a water reserve, or from a circuit that uses a tower cooling system, or by a circuit that uses a dry-cooler).

Finally, the water-water heat pump? a heat pump that heats the water of a user circuit (hot), and takes the heat necessary for the cycle from a circuit in which water flows (coming from a well, or from a water reserve, or from geothermal probes).

Claims (17)

R I V E N D I C A Z I O N I 1. Air conditioning system (1) characterized by the fact of including: a hydronic heat pump machine (2) which? connected to a hot water supply line (3) and to a cold water supply line (4), and? at the same time able to heat the water circulating in said supply line of the hot water (3) and to cool the water circulating in said cold water supply line (4); a plurality? of heat exchangers (5) for air conditioning; and a hydraulic connection circuit (6) with a three-pipe structure, which connects the heat exchangers (5) to the hot water supply line (3) and to the water supply line. cold water (4); the hot water supply line (3) comprising: a first hydraulic separator (31); a first delivery pipe (32) which connects the hot water outlet of the hydronic heat pump machine (2) to the hydraulic separator (31); a first return pipe (33) which connects the hot water inlet of the hydronic heat pump machine (2) to said first hydraulic separator (31); and a first circulation pump (34) which? suitable for circulating the hot water inside the ring formed by the hydronic heat pump machine (2), by the first delivery pipe (32), by the first hydraulic separator (31) and by the first return pipe (33 ); the cold water supply line (4) comprising: a second hydraulic separator (41); a second delivery pipe (42) which connects the cold-water outlet of the hydronic heat pump machine (2) to the second hydraulic separator (41); a second return pipe (43) which connects the cold-water inlet of the hydronic heat pump machine (2) to the second hydraulic separator (41); and a second circulation pump (44) which? suitable for circulating the cold water inside the ring formed by the hydronic heat pump machine (2), by the second delivery pipe (42), by the second hydraulic separator (41) and by the second return pipe (43 ); the hydraulic connection circuit (6) including: a hot water delivery pipe (61), which? connected in derivation on the first hydraulic separator (31) and d? adapted to convey the water from the first hydraulic separator (31) towards the inlets of the various heat exchangers (5); a first delivery pump (62) which? positioned along the hot water delivery pipe (61), and? adapted to pump hot water from the first hydraulic separator (31) towards the inlets of the heat exchangers (5); a cold water delivery pipe (63), which? connected in derivation on the second hydraulic separator (41) and d? adapted to convey the water from the second hydraulic separator (41) towards the inlets of the heat exchangers (5); a second delivery pump (64), which? positioned along the cold water delivery pipe (63) and? adapted to pump cold water from the second hydraulic separator (41) towards the inlets of the heat exchangers (5); a warm water return pipe (65), which? suitable for conveying the water leaving the various heat exchangers (5) to the heat pump machine (2); and a distribution manifold (66), which? interposed between the return pipe of warm water (65) and said hydraulic separators (31, 41), and? adapted to dynamically distribute and convey the flow of lukewarm water arriving from said lukewarm water return pipe (65), towards the same hydraulic separators (31, 41). 2. Air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the hot water supply line (3) also comprises a first connection manifold (36) which? positioned along the first delivery pipe (32), and a second connection manifold (37) which? positioned along the first return pipe (33); said first attachment manifold (36) and said second attachment manifold (37) being adapted to reduce the speed? water below a predetermined limit value. 3. Air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the hot water supply line (3) also comprises one or more? first auxiliary delivery pumps (38), each of which? connected in shunt on the first connection manifold (36), and d? able to send part of the hot water that circulates in the first connection manifold (36), towards a corresponding branch, user or other auxiliary equipment of the air conditioning system (1). 4. Air conditioning system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cold water supply line (4) also comprises a third connection manifold (46) which? positioned along the second delivery pipe (42), and a fourth connection manifold (47) which? positioned along the second return pipe (43); said third attachment manifold (46) and said fourth attachment manifold (47) being adapted to reduce the speed? water below a predetermined limit value. 5. Air conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein the cold water supply line (4) also comprises one or more? second auxiliary delivery pumps (48), each of which? connected in shunt on the third attachment manifold (46), and d? able to send part of the cold water that circulates in the third connection manifold (46), towards a corresponding branch, user or other auxiliary equipment of the air conditioning system (1). 6. Air conditioning system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the hydraulic connection circuit (6) also comprises: a first mixing valve (70) which? interposed between the hot water delivery pipe (61) and the warm water return pipe (65), and? selectively adapted to introduce, into said hot water delivery pipe (61), lukewarm water coming from said warm water return pipe (65); and a second mixing valve (71) which? interposed between the cold water delivery pipe (63) and the warm water return pipe (65), and selectively adapted to introduce, into said cold water delivery pipe (63), lukewarm water coming from said warm water return pipe (65). 7. Air conditioning system according to claim 6, characterized in that it also comprises an electronic control unit which? adapted to control said first mixing valve (70) and said second mixing valve (71). 8. Air conditioning system according to claim 7, characterized in that it also comprises a temperature sensor (72), which? adapted to detect the temperature of the lukewarm water entering the distribution manifold (66); the electronic control unit being adapted to control said first mixing valve (70) and said second mixing valve (71) as a function of the signals coming from said temperature sensor (72). 9. Air conditioning system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises an auxiliary heat pump machine (10) which? selectively and alternatively suitable for heating the water that circulates in the supply line of the? hot water (3), and to cool the water that circulates in the cold water supply line (4). Air conditioning system according to claim 9, wherein the auxiliary heat pump machine (10)? selectively and alternatively designed to heat the hot water directed towards the first hydraulic separator (31) of the hot water supply line (3) in parallel to said multipurpose heat pump machine (2), and to cool the water directed towards the second hydraulic separator (41) of the cold water supply line (4) in parallel to said multipurpose heat pump machine (2). 11. Air conditioning system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the auxiliary heat pump machine (10)? equipped with a water inlet and a water outlet that can be connected as a derivation on the hot water supply line (3) or as a derivation on the cold water supply line (4), respectively upstream and downstream of the first ( 31) or the second hydraulic separator (41). 12. Air conditioning system according to claim 11, wherein the water outlet of said auxiliary heat pump machine (10)? simultaneously connected to said first (32) and said second (42) delivery pipe by means of a first three-way valve group (80, 81); and in which the cold-water inlet of said auxiliary heat pump machine (10)? simultaneously connected to said first (33) and said second (43) return pipe by means of a second three-way valve group (82, 83). 13. Air conditioning system according to claim 9, 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that it also comprises an electronic control unit which? adapted to control said auxiliary heat pump machine (10) and / or said first (80, 81) and second (82, 83) three-way valve group. 14. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hot water supply line (3) also comprises a first tank (35) which? positioned along said first return pipe (33) and d? suitable for accumulating hot water. 15. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cold water supply line (4) also comprises a second tank (45) which? positioned along said second return pipe (43) and d? suitable for accumulating cold water. 16. Air conditioning system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hydraulic connection circuit (6) comprises, upstream of the inlet of each heat exchanger (5) for air conditioning, also a third valve group (67) which? connected to both the hot water delivery pipe (61) and the cold water delivery pipe (63), and? suitable for connecting the inlet of the heat exchanger (5), optionally and alternatively, to the hot water delivery pipe (61) or to the cold water delivery pipe (63). 17. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hydronic heat pump machine (2)? a multifunctional heat pump machine.