US20240117997A1

US20240117997A1 - System for producing hot or cold water

Info

Publication number: US20240117997A1
Application number: US18/482,973
Authority: US
Inventors: Giuseppe POLVERELLI
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-10-07
Filing date: 2023-10-09
Publication date: 2024-04-11
Also published as: EP4350224A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for the production of hot or cold water including: a water reservoir suitable for supplying water to a thermal conditioning device, and/or to a tap; a refrigeration unit having heat exchangers, of which one of the two heat exchanger is immersed in a water receptacle; pipes providing communication between the water reservoir, the water receptacle, a water network, the tap and thermal conditioning devices. The system further includes a box body containing the refrigeration unit and a ventilation mechanism configured to generate an airflow passing through the heat exchangers of the refrigerating unit.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present patent application for an industrial invention relates to a system for producing hot or cold water.
Specifically, the relevant field is that of systems for regulating the water temperature inside dwellings and buildings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As it is well known, the most widely used solution for regulating the water temperature inside a dwelling involves the use of conventional Natural Gas or Gas boilers comprising two separate liquid compartments, one of which is hydraulically connected to a first circuit of thermal conditioning devices (such as radiators) and the other one is hydraulically connected to a circuit connected to domestic water taps.
The first circuit is a closed circuit in which the same water always flows, whereas the second circuit is open. In fact, the second circuit receives the water from the water network and then supplies it to the taps of the building.
The water contained inside the first and/or second compartment is heated by burning Natural Gas or Gas taken from the network.
Despite its widespread use, such a solution has an environmental issue as it produces a high amount of CO2 which, as it is known, has several negative implications for the climate and the environment.
In this regard, in recent years, new systems for producing hot and cold water that do not involve the combustion of fossil fuels have been proposed by different companies. Such new systems are called “heat pump boilers.”
Such systems involve the use of a heat pump comprising a circuit in which there is a continuous flow of a heat transfer fluid. Said circuit comprises a compressor, a lamination element, a first exchanger arranged in a unit outside the building, and a second exchanger arranged in a unit inside the building together with the water reservoir comprising the two compartments in order to exchange thermal energy with said compartments.
Although they can be powered by electricity generated from renewable sources, and thus they do not involve the combustion of fossil fuels, such “heat pump boiler” systems are certainly not free of limitations and drawbacks.
Firstly, such systems cannot be installed anywhere, for instance, they cannot be installed in historic centers where it is normally prohibited to install units outside the building.
In addition, such heat pumps have a low heating performance during winter, particularly in those places where the temperature is below 0° C.
Additionally, when it is summer and they work in cooling mode, the heat pumps significantly overheat the environment. For example, in the summer season, the heat exchanger arranged in the outdoor unit is hit by air with a temperature comprise between 35° and 45°, and gives up heat to the same air until it reaches a temperature comprised between 50° and 65°. Evidently, the greater the number of heat pumps active in summer, the greater the heat introduced into the air will be.
GB2247072A describes a heating or cooling system uses a heat pump and a thermal storage tank to supply space heating, space cooling, and domestic hot water to a building.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to devise a new system for the production of hot or cold water which does not involve the combustion of fossil fuels and which at the same time does not make use of units outside the building.
Another purpose of the present invention is to devise a system for producing hot or cold water that is always efficient in the same way regardless of the outdoor temperature.
A final purpose of the present invention is to devise a system that is safe and can use the flows of air and water circulating in the system to generate electric current suitable for being used to power the system.
These purposes are achieved in accordance with the invention with the features listed in the attached independent claim 1.
Advantageous achievements appear from the dependent claims.
The system according to the invention is defined by claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For the sake of explanatory clarity, the description of the system according to the invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, which are for illustrative and non-limiting purposes only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the system according to the invention in a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are diagrammatic views of the box body of the system of FIG. 1 in three different arrangements;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the system according to the invention during the powering of thermal conditioning devices;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the system according to the invention during the supply of taps;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the system according to the invention, in an alternative version to the version shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the box body shown in FIG. 2 sectioned according to the Z-Z plane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the attached figures, a system for producing hot or cold water according to the invention is described.
With particular reference to FIG. 1 , the system comprises a heat exchange water reservoir (1) comprising a first compartment (11) suitable for containing water to supply at least one thermal conditioning device (B), and a second compartment (12) suitable for containing water to supply at least one tap (R).
The expression “at least one tap (R)” means one or more taps (of sinks, showers, and the like) located in a dwelling where the system is to be installed.
The expression “thermal conditioning device (B)” means, for example, radiators and/or floor coils, and/or fan convectors and/or fan coils.
So, the first compartment (11) is intended to be part of a closed circuit where the same water always flows, whereas the second compartment (12) is intended to be part of an open circuit where water is taken from a water network (A) and is sent to the tap (R) in order to be used by residents.
The two compartments (11 and 12) of the water reservoir (1) are conformed in such a way as to promote a heat exchange between them. Otherwise said, they are conformed in such a way as to have protrusions and recesses that fit together so as to maximize the heat conduction surfaces.
The water reservoir (1) also comprises a first expansion vessel (13) connected to the first compartment (11) of the water reservoir (1) and a second expansion vessel (14) connected to the second compartment of the water reservoir (1). The function of the expansion vessels (13 and 14) is to compensate for any sudden expansions of the water inside the compartments (11 and 12) caused by a temperature change.
The water reservoir (1) is arranged inside an enclosed room (M). The room (M) comprises an opening (F1) that provides a fluid communication between the interior of the room (M) with the exterior of the room. Preferably, said opening (F1) provides communication between the room (M) and an external environment and not with another enclosed room. Adjustable slats (L) are arranged on the opening (F1) and configured to close or open the opening (F1).
A first refill pipe (T1) is hydraulically connected to the first compartment (11) on one side and is suitable for being connected to the water supply (A) on the other side. The first refill pipe (T1) comprises a pressure gauge (Y) and a tap (X) configured to check the pressure inside the first compartment (11) and refill the water in the first compartment (11) when the pressure decreases, respectively.
A second refill pipe (T2) is hydraulically connected to the second compartment (12) on one side and is suitable for being connected to the water network (A) on the other side. The second refill pipe (T2) remains constantly open so that the internal pressure of the second compartment (12) is equal to that of the water network (A).
A first delivery pipe (TM1) is hydraulically connected to the first compartment (11) of the water reservoir (1) on one side and to the thermal conditioning device (B) on the other side.
A second delivery pipe (TM2) is hydraulically connected to the second compartment (12) of the water reservoir (1) on one side and to the tap (R) or taps on the other side.
The system also comprises a refrigeration unit (4 a).
The refrigeration unit comprises a first finned heat exchanger (41), a second finned heat exchanger (42), a lamination element (43) and a compressor (44).
Referring to FIG. 1 , the first finned heat exchanger (41) comprises a coil (411), radiant fins (410) (shown in FIG. 6 ) suitable for being lapped by the air intercepting the first heat exchanger (41), and a water receptacle (412) in which the coil (411) is immersed.
The second finned heat exchanger (42) comprises a coil (421) and radiant fins (420) (shown in FIG. 6 ) suitable for being lapped by the air intercepting the second heat exchanger (42).
A heat transfer fluid driven by the compressor (44) is suitable for forcedly flowing in the coils (411 and 421) of the heat exchangers (41, 42), in the lamination element (43) and in the compressor (44).
Returning to FIG. 1 , preferably, said refrigeration unit (4 a) also comprises a four-way valve (46) configured to reverse the flow of the heat transfer fluid, thus allowing the system to work in both a heating and a cooling mode.
The operation of a refrigeration unit (4 a) is known to a technician of the field, and therefore a detailed description of the physical phenomena occurring in the heat transfer fluid as it flows in the components (41, 42, 43, and 44) of the refrigeration unit (4 a) is omitted.
Advantageously, the first heat exchanger (41) and the second heat exchanger (42) are arranged above each other at a distance of 15 cm to 20 cm.
Still referring to FIG. 1 , the system comprises first pipes (51) hydraulically connected to the water receptacle (412) of the first heat exchanger (41) on one side and suitable for being hydraulically connected to the thermal conditioning device (B) on the other side.
On the other hand, second pipes (61) are hydraulically connected to the water receptacle (412) of the first heat exchanger (41) on one side, and suitable for being hydraulically connected to the water network (A) on the other side.
The system comprises a first valve (V1) arranged inside the first pipes (51) and configured to close or open said first pipes (51), and a second valve (V2) arranged inside the second pipes (61) and configured to close or open said second pipes (61). By opening the first valve (V1) or the second valve (V2), the water receptacle (412) is alternately filled with water from the thermal conditioning device (B) or water from the water network (A).
Third pipelines (70, 71, 72) are hydraulically connected to the water receptacle (412) of the first heat exchanger (41) of the refrigeration unit (4 a) on one side and are hydraulically connected to the first compartment (11) or to the second compartment (12) of the water reservoir (1) on the other side.
Specifically, said third pipes (70, 71 and 72) comprise a main pipe (70) that is connected to the water receptacle (412) of the first heat exchanger (41) wherein the water that has passed through the water receptacle (412) and alternately comes from the water network (A) or from the thermal conditioning device (B) is suitable for flowing.
The third pipes (70, 71 and 72) also comprise a first pipe (71) and a second pipe (72) that branch off from the main pipe (70). The first pipe (71) is connected to the first compartment (11) of the water reservoir (1) whereas the second pipe (72) is connected to the second compartment (12) of the water reservoir (1).
A switching means (73) is arranged in the third pipes (70, 71 and 72) to enable the passage from the water receptacle (412) to the first compartment (11) or to the second compartment (12). In particular, said switching means (73) comprises a two-way solenoid valve.
Still, with reference to FIG. 1 , a pump (PP) is configured to draw the water from the first compartment (11) and push it into the first delivery pipe (TM1) so that the water performs a cycle in which it passes into the thermal conditioning device (B), then into the water receptacle (412) and finally returns into the first compartment (11).
The system also comprises water temperature sensors (J1, J2) configured to detect the water temperature in the first compartment (11) and in the second compartment (12) of the water reservoir (1).
In order to keep an appropriate temperature in the room (M) where the refrigeration unit (4 a) is arranged, that is to say a temperature at which the refrigeration unit (4 a) is efficient and does not suffer any performance loss, the applicant has devised to mount the refrigeration unit (4 a) inside a box body (P1) housed in the room (M).
With particular reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, the box body (P1) comprises:

- a first chamber (21) wherein said first heat exchanger (41) is arranged, a second chamber (22) wherein said second heat exchanger (42) is arranged, and a third chamber (23) interposed between the first chamber (21) and the second chamber (22); the three chambers (21, 22 and 23) are in communication with each other through a first hole (g1) that provides communication between the first chamber (21) and the third chamber (23) and a second hole (g2) that provides communication between the third chamber (23) and the second chamber (22);
- an inlet (e1) for the entry of air from the room (M) inside the first chamber (21);
- an outlet (e2) for the exit of air from the second chamber (22) into the room (M);
- an intermediate opening (e23) for the exit of air from the third chamber (23);
- ventilation means (31 and 32) configured to generate an airflow entering the first chamber (21) and forcedly flowing only towards the outlet (e2) or partially towards the outlet (e2) and partially towards the intermediate opening (e23); particularly, said ventilation means (31 and 32) comprise a first fan (31) arranged in the first hole (g1) and a second fan (32) arranged opposite the intermediate opening (e23); and
- selection means (p3 and p4) configured to allow or prevent air from escaping from the third chamber (23) through the intermediate opening (e23).

So, by controlling the ventilation means and/or the selection means (p3 and p4) it is possible to decide the path followed by the air after lapping the first heat exchanger (41).
In particular, it is possible to decide whether, after passing through the first heat exchanger (41), the air:

- will completely pass through the second heat exchanger (42); or
- will partially pass through the second heat exchanger (42) and partially pass through the intermediate opening (e23) so that it will not pass through the second heat exchanger (42).

Moreover, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, said box body (P1) comprises a return pipe (24) connected to the intermediate opening (e23) on one side and to the first chamber (21) on the other side.
In particular, the selection means (p3 and p4) comprise:

- a first movable partition (p3) suitable for closing an outlet opening (e3) obtained on the return pipe (24) and communicating directly with the room (M);
- a second movable partition (p4) suitable for closing the return pipe (24) and arranged downstream of the first movable partition (p3).

In this way it is possible to direct the air flowing through the intermediate opening (e23). In particular, it is possible to make the air flow outside the box body (P1) while keeping the first movable partition (e3) open (see FIG. 2C) and/or feed it back into the first chamber (21) while keeping the fourth movable partition (p4) open (see FIGS. 2B and 2C).
Advantageously, said first fan (31) has a greater capacity than the second fan (32) so that the second fan (32) cannot suck in all the air coming out of the first chamber (21).
With reference to FIG. 1 , the system comprises air temperature sensors (H1, H2, H3, and H4) configured to detect an air temperature inside the box body (P1) and/or outside the box body (P1).
Specifically, the air temperature sensors (H1, H2, H3, and H4) comprise a first sensor (H1) arranged outside the box body (P1) near the inlet (e1) of the box body (P1), a second sensor (H2) arranged in the second chamber (22) of the box body (P1) upstream of the second exchanger (42), and a third sensor (H3) arranged near the outlet (e2) of the box body (P1).
Additionally, said air temperature sensors (H1, H2, H3 and H4) may comprise an external sensor (H4) arranged outside the room (M) near the opening (F1).
The system also comprises a management and control unit (U) operatively connected to said air temperature sensors (H1, H2, H3, H4) and to said water temperature sensors (J1, J2) so that the management and control unit (U) can manage the entire system according to the detected temperatures to regulate the temperature of the water inside the compartments (11 and 12) and regulate the temperature inside the room (M) and inside the box body (P1). Advantageously, the management and control unit (U) may be connected to a house thermostat to receive temperature information of the rooms of the building.
In practice, the management and control unit (U) is operatively connected to the following components in order to manage them: to the pump (PP), to the switching means (73), to the first valve (V1), to the second valve (V2), to the second fan (32), to the partitions (p3 and p4), and to the slats (L).
With reference to FIG. 6 , it is worth pointing out how the applicant has devised to make said heat exchangers (41 and 42). In particular, when seen in a longitudinal section, each heat exchanger (41 and 42) has a biconvex aerodynamic profile so as to generate a Coanda effect of the air that reaches the heat exchanger (41 and 42). In practice, the applicant has appropriately devised to use such a profile in such a way that the air lapping the heat exchangers (41 and 42) tends to follow the contour of the entire outer surface of the heat exchanger (41, 42), as specifically shown in FIG. 6 .
FIG. 5 shows an alternative and preferred embodiment of the invention.
Instead of a single refrigeration unit (4 a), the system shown in FIG. 5 comprises two identical refrigeration units (4 a and 4 b), namely a first refrigeration unit (4 a) and a second refrigeration unit (4 b).
The two refrigeration units (4 a and 4 b) are mounted inside two box bodies (P1 and P2) that do not directly communicate with each other. The two box bodies (P1 and P2) can be made in one piece so as to make a single frame.
Still with reference to FIG. 5 , said system also comprises two of said third pipes (70, 71 and 72), one of which being directly connected to the water receptacle (412) of the first heat exchanger (41) of the first refrigeration unit (4 a) and the other one of which being directly connected to the water receptacle (412) of the first heat exchanger (41) of the second refrigeration unit (4 b).
Still with reference to FIG. 5 , said first pipes (51) are directly connected to the water receptacle (412) of the first heat exchanger (41) of the first refrigerating unit (4 a), whereas said second pipes (61) are directly connected to the water receptacle (412) of the first heat exchanger (41) of the second refrigerating unit (4 b).
The two water receptacles (412) of the heat exchangers (41) of the two refrigeration units (4 a and 4 b) are also connected in series by means of piping (8) which internally comprise opening and closing valves (80).
The provision of the two refrigeration units (4 a and 4 b) having the water receptacles (412) connected in series makes it possible to heat or cool the water in both water receptacles (412) so as to reduce the time necessary to bring the water to the required temperature.
Although not shown in the attached figures, it is worth pointing out that the system may comprise a number of refrigeration units greater than two, each refrigeration unit being housed in a corresponding box body and having the water receptacles (412) all connected to each other. It is obvious to a technician of the field that the greater the number of refrigeration units, the greater the speed of the system to bring the water to the required temperature will be. Moreover, by increasing the number of refrigeration units, also the ability of the system to regulate the temperature inside the room will increase, making the system suitable for being used even in places with temperatures considerably lower than 0° C. and with considerably higher than 40° C.
Moreover, the system comprises power supply means (Z1, Z2, Z3, and Z4) to power the system. Said power supply means (Z1, Z2, Z3, and Z4) comprise devices for generating power from renewable sources (Z1, Z2, and Z3), such as:

- a microturbine (Z1) arranged in the first pipes (51) suitable for converting the water flow flowing inside the first pipes (51) into electricity; and/or
- a wind turbine (Z2) arranged in the outlet (e2) of the box body (P1) suitable for converting the airflow passing through the outlet (e2) into electrical energy; and/or
- a photovoltaic panel (Z3) arranged outside the room (M) and suitable for converting the sunlight into electrical energy.

The power supply means (Z1, Z2, Z3, and Z4) also comprise a storage battery (Z4) with an inverter connected to the microturbine (Z1) and/or to the wind turbine (Z2) and/or to the photovoltaic panel (Z3).
It should be noted that, unlike the photovoltaic panel (Z3), the microturbine (Z1) and the wind turbine (Z2) generate energy while the system is active regardless of outdoor weather conditions.
Obviously, if the renewable energy devices (Z1, Z2 and Z3) are not sufficient to provide enough energy to power the entire system, then said power supply means may comprise a power cable directly connected to the electrical mains.
In order to better understand the advantages of the present system, it is necessary to describe the operating mode of said system. For ease of understanding, the operating mode of the system will be described by referring to the system of FIG. 1 , that is, the system equipped with a single refrigeration unit (4 a).
It is made clear that the system can operate in either a heating mode or a cooling mode. The heating or cooling mode depends on the setting of the four-way valve (46).
For the sake of convenience, only the operation in heating mode of the system according to the invention will be described in detail below, it being obvious to a technician of the field that the operation in cooling mode can be enabled by reversing the setting of the four-way valve (46).
In the heating mode, the four-way valve (46) of the refrigeration unit (4 a) is set in such a way that the heat transfer fluid cyclically flows through the elements of the refrigeration unit (4 a) in the following sequence:

- firstly, it passes through the compressor (44) which increases both the temperature and the pressure of the heat transfer fluid;
- then, it passes through the coil (411) of the first heat exchanger (41); in such a case hot water passes through the coil (411) of the first heat exchanger, and thus the first heat exchanger (41) acts as a condenser and is intended to yield heat both to the water contained in the water receptacle (412) and to the airflow that laps its fins (410);
- next, the heat transfer fluid passes through the lamination element (43), which lowers both the temperature and the pressure of the heat transfer fluid;
- finally, it passes through the coil (421) of the second heat exchanger (42); in such a case, therefore, the second heat exchanger (42) acts as an evaporator and is therefore intended to absorb heat from the air that laps its fins (410).

FIG. 3 shows the system when it sends hot water to the thermal conditioning devices (B) (e.g., radiators or the like), whereas FIG. 4 shows the system when a tap (R) is opened.
Referring to FIG. 3 , in the case when the system sends hot water only to the thermal conditioning devices (B) to heat the rooms of the building, the pump (PP) is switched on, the first valve (V1) is open, the second valve (V2) is closed, and the switching means (73) is switched in such a way that the main pipe (70) is connected to the first pipe (71) and not to the second pipe (72).
So, the water (a1) pushed by the pump (PP) cyclically travels through the closed circuit that connects the first compartment (11) of the water reservoir (1), the thermal conditioning devices (B) (e.g., radiators) and the water receptacle (412) of the first heat exchanger (41).
Specifically, the water (a1) inside the water receptacle (412) is heated to a temperature of between 55° and 65°, then it flows into the first compartment (11) where it yields some of the heat to the water in the second compartment (12) by conduction so that the latter is lukewarm, and finally the water (a1) flows into the thermal conditioning devices (B) to yield heat to the rooms in which the thermal conditioning devices (B) are located. After passing through the thermal conditioning devices (B), the water (a1) flows back into the water receptacle (412) in order to be reheated and brought to a temperature between 55° and 65°.
With reference to FIG. 4 , at the time when a user opens a tap of the building to use the hot water, the management and control unit (U) switches off the pump (PP), closes the valve (V1), opens the second valve (V2), and switches the switching means (73) so that the main pipe (70) is connected to the second pipe (72) and not to the first pipe (71).
In such a case, the water (a2) from the water network (A) flows into the water receptacle (412) of the first heat exchanger (41) where it absorbs heat from the coil (411), then flows into the second compartment (12), mixing with the lukewarm water contained in the second compartment (12), and finally flows out of the tap (R).
After describing the hydraulic circuits and the waterflows inside them, FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C describe the way in which the partitions (p3 and p4) and the fans (31 and 32) are operated in order to keep the air entering the inlet (e1) and the second hole (g2) at a suitable operating temperature for the refrigeration unit.
FIG. 2A shows the box body (P1) is shown in an arrangement in which:

- the first partition (p3) and the second partition (p4) of the selection means (p3 and p4) are both in closed position;
- the first fan (31) is active;
- the second fan (32) is off.

Therefore, in such a condition, the first fan (31) draws in air from the inlet (e1) and forcedly conveys it towards the outlet (e2). On the way between the inlet (e1) and the outlet (e2), the air first encounters the first heat exchanger (41) (which acts as a condenser) and absorbs heat, then it encounters the second heat exchanger (42) (which acts as an evaporator) and yields heat, and finally it is expelled inside the room (M). It should be pointed out that since the first heat exchanger (41) is used to yield heat to both the water contained in the water receptacle (412) and to the air that laps its fins (410), whereas the second heat exchanger (42) is used to absorb heat from the air that laps its fins (420), the heating of the air that encounters the first heat exchanger (41) is lower than the cooling of the air that encounters the second heat exchanger (42).
Therefore, it is easy to understand how by maintaining the conditions shown in FIG. 2A for a certain period of time, there would be a gradual decrease in the temperature of the air inside the room (M) until reaching temperatures below 0° C. which would result in the formation of ice on the second heat exchanger (42) and thus in a blockage of the refrigeration unit (4 a).
To avoid such a gradual cooling of the room (M), the air entering the second heat exchanger (42) (which acts as an evaporator) must be kept at a temperature between 15° C. and 20° C. at all times. To maintain such a constant temperature, the management and control unit (U) monitors the temperatures detected by the first sensor (H1), by the second sensor (H2) and by the third sensor (H3) and opens or closes the partitions (p3 and p4) according to the detected temperatures.
By way of example, when the temperature detected by the first sensor (H1), by the second sensor (H2) and by the third sensor (H3) are excessively low, then the management and control unit (U) will activate the second fan (32) in order for some of the air, coming from the first heat exchanger (41), to return directly into the first chamber (21), as shown in FIG. 2B, or to partly return into the first chamber (21) and partly escape into the room (M), as shown in FIG. 2C. The air that escapes from the intermediate outlet opening (e3) is mixed with the cold air that escapes from the outlet (e2).
The air that is expelled into the room (M) or is directly reintroduced into the first chamber (21) to be immediately reheated by the first heat exchanger (41) allows for increasing the overall temperature of the room and thus of the second chamber (22), preventing frost from being generated on the second heat exchanger (42) and from blocking the refrigeration unit.
Obviously, it is easy to understand for a technician of the field that what has been described with reference to the system with a single refrigeration unit also applies to a system with two refrigeration units (shown in FIG. 6 ) with the added advantages related to the possibility that the refrigeration units can work in series and thus heat the water more quickly, obtaining a faster response of the system.
In the cooling mode (which can be programmed in summer, for example), the four-way valve (46) of the refrigeration unit (4 a) is set in such a way that the heat transfer fluid reverses its cycle so that the first heat exchanger (41) acts as an evaporator whereas the second heat exchanger (42) acts as a condenser. In such a case, the water flowing into the water receptacle (412) will be cooled by the coil (411) and can be used for a thermal conditioning device, such a fan coil.
In such a case, the water will be cooled in such a way that the water inside the first compartment (11) of the water reservoir (1) has a temperature between 10° and 15°.
Obviously, in such a case, if hot water is required from a tap (e.g., to take a shower), then the four-way valve (46) of the refrigeration unit (4 a) will be set in such a way as to reverse the cycle of the heat transfer fluid inside the refrigeration unit (4 a) so that hot water instead of cold water can reach the tap (R).
In such an instance, in order to reduce the time required to bring the water to the proper temperature, it would be advisable for the system to be equipped with the two refrigeration units (4 a and 4 b) with the two water receptacles (412) connected in series so that the water coming from the water network (A) is subjected to a double heating before reaching the second compartment (12) that feeds the tap (R).
Finally, it should be noted that the management and control unit (U) is configured in such a way to close the slats (L) when:

- the system operates in heating mode (e.g., in winter) and said external sensor (H4) detects an outdoor temperature lower than a preset minimum temperature, e.g., 15° C.;
- the system operates in cooling mode (e.g., in summer) and said external sensor (H4) detects an outdoor temperature greater than a preset maximum temperature, e.g., 15° C.

The closing of the slats (L) prevents the heat from escaping from the room (M) both in summer and in winter.
Following the foregoing description, the advantages brought by the present invention now become apparent.
First of all, the system according to the invention is extremely safer than gas boiler systems because it works with the refrigeration unit and not by burning fossil fuels.
In addition, thanks to the box body (P1; P2) that contains the refrigeration unit and thanks to the management and control unit (U) that operates the partitions (p3 and p4) and the second fan (32), it is possible to maintain the interior of the room (M) at a temperature such that the refrigeration unit always operates in maximum efficiency conditions regardless of the temperatures outside the room (M). So, the system according to the invention is suitable for being installed in any location because the refrigeration unit (4 a and 4 b) completely operates inside a room (M) and is not affected by outside temperatures.
Additionally, thanks to the management and control of the operating temperature of the refrigeration unit (4 a, 4 b), the thermal conditions are created to allow the refrigeration unit to work constantly with maximum performance, thus reducing the consumptions and maximizing the yield.
Otherwise said, both in summer and in winter, the system has efficiency indices (EER AND COP) that are higher than those of systems using refrigeration units with external units.
Finally, it is worth pointing out that thanks to the fact that the refrigeration unit is completely arranged inside the room (M) and thanks to the provision of the slats (L) that are suitable for closing the opening (F1) of the room (M), the amount of heat yielded to the outdoor environment is null and therefore the system will not contribute to the climatic heating.
Numerous variations and modifications of detail may be made to the present embodiment of the invention, within the scope of a person skilled in the art, but within the scope of the invention as expressed by the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. System for producing hot or cold water comprising:

a) a water reservoir comprising a first compartment suitable for supplying water to at least one thermal conditioning device, and a second compartment suitable for supplying water to at least one tap;

b) at least one refrigeration unit comprising a first heat exchanger having a coil and a water receptacle wherein said coil is immersed; said at least one refrigeration unit comprising a second heat exchanger comprising a coil; wherein said refrigeration unit is completely disposed in a room comprising an opening in fluid communication with the outside of the room;

c) first pipes hydraulically connected to the water receptacle of the first heat exchanger and suitable for being connected to the thermal conditioning device;

d) second pipes hydraulically connected to the water receptacle of the first heat exchanger and suitable for being connected to a water network; and

e) a box body suitable or being disposed in the room and containing said refrigerating unit;

wherein the system comprises third pipes hydraulically connected to the water receptacle of the first heat exchanger of the refrigeration unit and to the first compartment or to the second compartment of the water reservoir;

wherein said box body comprises:

a first chamber wherein said first heat exchanger is disposed; a second chamber wherein said second heat exchanger is disposed; and a third chamber interposed between said first chamber and said second chamber;

an inlet for the entrance of air from the room inside the first chamber;

an outlet for the exit of air from the second chamber into the room;

an intermediate opening for the exit of air from the third chamber;

ventilation means configured to generate an airflow that enters the first chamber and flows toward the outlet or towards both the outlet and the intermediate opening.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising selection means configured to enable the outflow of air from the third chamber through the intermediate opening.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising:

air temperature sensors suitable for detecting the air temperature inside the box body and/or outside the box body;

water temperature sensors suitable for detecting the water temperature inside the compartments of the water reservoir;

a management and control unit operatively connected to said temperature sensors in such a way that the management and control unit manages the entire system according to the detected temperatures in order to regulate the water temperature inside the compartments and to regulate the temperature inside the room.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a first valve installed in the first pipes and a second valve installed in the second pipes.

5. The system of claim 1, comprising the at least one thermal conditioning device and a pump suitable for taking the water from the first compartment, said water performing a cycle in which it flows into the thermal conditioning device, then into the water receptacle, and finally returns to the first compartment.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said refrigeration unit comprises a four-way valve configured to reverse the flow of a heat transfer fluid of the refrigeration unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said third chamber is in communication with said first chamber via a first hole and with said second chamber via a second hole; wherein said ventilation means comprise:

a first fan installed in the first hole; and

a second fan installed in front of the intermediate opening.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first fan has a greater capacity than the second fan.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein said box body comprises a return pipe connected to the intermediate opening on one side and to the first chamber on the other side; wherein said selection means comprise:

a first movable partition suitable for closing an outflow opening formed on the return pipe and communicating directly with the room; and

a second movable partition suitable for closing the return pipe and disposed downstream the first movable partition.

10. The system of claim 1, comprising a switching means disposed in the third pipes and suitable for enabling the passage of water from the water receptacle to the first compartment or to the second compartment of the water reservoir; wherein said third pipes comprise:

a main pipe connected to the water receptacle of the first heat exchanger wherein water from the water receptacle flows; and

a first pipe and a second pipe branching off from the main pipe; the first pipe is connected to the first compartment of the water reservoir, whereas the second pipe is connected to the second compartment of the water reservoir.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first refill pipe hydraulically connected to the first compartment on one side and suitable for being connected to a water network on the other side; wherein said first refill pipe comprises a tap and a pressure gauge;

a second refill pipe hydraulically connected to the second compartment on one side and suitable for being connected to the water network on the other side;

a first delivery pipe hydraulically connected to the first compartment of the water reservoir on one side and to the thermal conditioning device on the other side; and

a second delivery pipe hydraulically connected to the second compartment of the water reservoir on one side and to the tap on the other side.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein, when longitudinally sectioned, each one of said heat exchangers has a biconvex aerodynamic profile in such a way to generate a Coanda effect of the air that hits the heat exchanger.

13. The system of claim 1, comprising two refrigeration units each one being arranged in a corresponding box body; wherein the water receptacles of the first two heat exchangers of the two refrigeration units are hydraulically connected in series by means of piping that comprise opening and closing valves.

14. The system of claim 1, comprising power supply means for said management and control unit; said power supply means comprising:

a microturbine arranged in the first pipes suitable for converting the waterflow that flows inside the first pipes into electric power; and/or

a wind turbine arranged at the outlet of the box body suitable for converting the airflow that passes through the outlet into electrical energy; and/or

a photovoltaic panel arranged outside the room and suitable for converting the sunlight into electrical energy;

wherein said power supply means comprise a storage battery connected to the microturbine and/or the wind turbine and/or the photovoltaic panel.