WO2018049541A1

WO2018049541A1 - Urban heat exchange network

Info

Publication number: WO2018049541A1
Application number: PCT/CH2017/000085
Authority: WO
Inventors: François Ignace GEINOZ; Marcel CUENI; David Orlando
Original assignee: Geinoz Francois Ignace
Priority date: 2016-09-16
Filing date: 2017-09-15
Publication date: 2018-03-22
Also published as: CH712934A2; CH712934B1

Abstract

An urban heat exchange network (10) comprises a unit (14) for producing heat energy and a plurality of devices (15) consuming heat energy. To increase the storage capacity of the ambient medium in which the heat exchange network (10) is disposed, every consuming device (15) is paired with a circuit called a heat energy storage circuit (18), made up, on the one hand, of a supply conduit (18a) and a return conduit (18b) which are substantially parallel and in which a heat transfer fluid flows, and, on the other hand, of a set of baskets (19) for storing heat energy, said baskets being connected between the supply conduit (18a) and the return conduit (18b). Means for storing heat energy and, as applicable, transferring to the consumer (15) a portion of this energy stored in the heat energy storage circuit (18) comprise said baskets (19), which are disposed in vertical cavities located below the trenches accommodating all the heat energy distribution loops (16) corresponding to a user (15). The baskets (19) consist of a spiral which is made of a wound tube and comprises an intake connected to the corresponding supply conduit (18a) and an output connected to the corresponding return conduit (18b).

Description

URBAN THERMAL EXCHANGE NETWORK

Technical area

The present invention relates to an urban heat exchange network of the anergy type, comprising at least one thermal energy transport unit, at least a first loop called thermal energy supply loop, comprising a conduit arranged to convey a heat transfer liquid. between an output of said thermal energy transport unit and a return input of said unit, a plurality of thermal energy user organizations, each of said user organizations having a connected thermal energy distribution loop said supply loop and equipped with a heat transfer fluid withdrawal point for extracting thermal energy, and an injection point for reinjecting said heat fluid into said supply loop, after a withdrawal of thermal energy by said user, said supply loop being deposited in a zone formed in the ground n surrounding, containing said urban heat exchange network of the type anergy.

Prior art

The urban heat exchange networks called anergy networks, convey, in a circuit consisting of one or more loops, a coolant liquid at relatively low temperature so that it can capture heat energy in the medium in which it is housed. Indeed, when the average temperature of the soil in which are placed the loops which convey the coolant is greater, if only a few degrees, the temperature of the coolant, the heat exchange is in the direction of soil - duct and no longer in the duct-to-ground direction, as in conventional heat distribution circuits, in which there is a loss of heat, ie a loss of energy, whereas the previous one corresponds to a supply of energy. Of course, the calorie intake must be done via a heat pump. This is well known, but only the anergy networks are able to solve it. However, it was found that natural thermal energy storage capacity was not unlimited and that the heat produced for example in summer, by solar radiation, was exhausted very quickly and could not be kept very long. It is therefore obvious that all the natural means for storing a thermal energy of solar origin, available for free during the short summer period or natural means for storing a heat energy of industrial origin, available during periods of hollow consumption, are effective in increasing the profitability of an urban network of the type anergy, distribution of thermal energy. It should also be noted that many industrial activities generate heat which is then considered a disadvantage and must be eliminated. This is particularly the case of certain plastics activities where the raw material, the thermoplastic must be heated to be thermoformed and which must then be cooled to be used. Cooling is usually a waste.

Presentation of the invention

The present invention proposes to overcome all the drawbacks mentioned above by developing a remote thermal energy distribution network of the anergy type, in which the coolant is conveyed at a temperature below or close to the average temperature of the the environment in which the conduits are arranged. The invention also proposes to increase the thermal energy storage capacity of this environment in order to extend the duration of capture of naturally available thermal energy temporarily and to lengthen the period during which this thermal energy is recoverable when it is is naturally injected into the anergy network. In addition, the network is able to use both the hot thermal network and the cold thermal network, so that the same network is capable of constituting a source of hot energy and cold energy. These goals are achieved by the district heating network, as defined in the preamble and characterized in that characterized in that:

at least one of said user organizations is associated with a circuit called thermal energy storage circuit,

said thermal energy storage circuit is constituted, on the one hand, by a return duct and a return duct, traversed by a heat-transfer fluid, and on the other hand by at least one set of elements; thermal energy storage, mounted between said go duct and said return duct, and

said forward duct and said return duct of said thermal energy storage circuit, comprise means for transmitting in said user organization at least a portion of the thermal energy taken from said thermal energy storage circuit.

Advantageously, said set of elements comprises a plurality of individual elements which are connected in parallel between the forward conduit and said return conduit.

In another embodiment, said set of elements comprises a plurality of individual elements that are connected in series between the go path and said return path.

Particularly advantageously, said means for transferring thermal energy taken from said thermal energy storage circuit to said user organization include a heat exchanger to which said go duct and said return duct are coupled. of said thermal energy storage circuit.

Particularly advantageously, said forward duct and said return duct of the thermal energy storage circuits are closed at one of their ends and connected to said corresponding heat exchanger. Advantageously, said set of thermal energy storage elements comprise at least partly a form of thermal energy storage basket and each a spiral traversed by said coolant fluid circulating in said circuit to go then in said return circuit.

According to one embodiment, said sets of thermal energy storage elements, of the thermal energy storage circuit assigned to a user organization, are connected to a heat pump associated with said user organization. said spiral of a thermally conductive tube of each of said thermal energy storage elements is housed in a vertical cavity formed in the ground, below said thermal energy distribution loop. Advantageously, at least one thermal energy storage circuit is associated with at least one section of the supply loop of said heat exchange network. According to one embodiment, said thermal energy storage elements can be housed in a substantially cylindrical passenger compartment made of a thermally conductive material, said passenger compartment being placed in said vertical cavity formed in the ground. Advantageously, said thermal energy storage elements may be each disposed in a vertical cavity, disposed substantially in the center of said trench in which is housed said heat energy transport unit. Brief description of the drawings

The present invention and its main advantages will become more apparent in the description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of part of the urban heat exchange network according to the invention, illustrating in particular the thermal energy storage circuit associated with each of the user organizations, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view which illustrates elements of storage of thermal energy, for example in the form of baskets, and their connection with a user organization, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a trench in which is installed an anergy conduit of a thermal energy distribution loop to a user organization and a thermal energy storage element, according to the invention, and FIG. 4 is a partial view in longitudinal section of a trench in which a network is installed. anergy with a thermal energy distribution loop to a user organization, for example in the form of thermal energy storage bins. MeiHeure (s) manlèrefs) to achieve the invention

With reference to the figures, in particular FIG. 1, the heat exchange network 10 comprises at least one unit 14 for concentrating or producing thermal energy and at least one so-called supply loop 12 for thermal energy, comprising at least one least one duct 11, part of a network, arranged to convey a coolant 13 between an output of said unit 14 for producing thermal energy and a return of said unit 14 for concentrating or producing thermal energy. Said supply loop 12, which is part of a more or less complex network, is connected to a plurality of thermal energy user organizations, each of said user organizations having at least one transport loop 16 of thermal energy connected to said supply loop 12 and equipped with a heat transfer fluid withdrawal point to extract it from thermal energy and an injection point for reinjecting said heat transfer fluid 13 into said supply loop, after a thermal energy withdrawal by said user connected to the supply loop 12. Speaking of thermal energy it is of course possible to speak of either hot energy or cold energy, both actions can be carried out with a heat exchange network whose average temperature is close to the average temperature of the ground.

In practice, the withdrawal and the re-injection of calories, in particular, are carried out via a heat exchanger 17, in principle a plate heat exchanger which is mounted on the distribution loop 16 of thermal energy. Each part of the thermal energy distribution loop 16 is ultimately connected to a user organization 15. However, for practical reasons, the thermal energy distribution circuit 16 is connected to the heat exchanger 17 of FIG. the following way: an input circuit 16a passes through the heat exchanger 17, enters a heat pump 20 and enters the user organization 15. After collection of thermal energy or cold, by and in a user device 15a that is part of a user organization 15, the carrier fluid that is responsible for transporting energy to bring it to the user organization 15, exits through the output circuit 16b and crosswise, in the other direction, the heat exchanger 17. The circuit of the heat exchanger 17 is disposed at the entrance of the user organization 15. The heat pump 20 is essential to allow heating or to cool the user organization 15 in heat and / or cold with a network of the type anergy 10.

In order to improve the storage capacity of the surrounding environment in which the thermal exchange energy network 10 is located, each user organization 15 of said plurality of user organizations 15 is associated with an energy storage device. This heat storage device 18 is constituted on the one hand by a forward duct 18a and a return duct 18b, for example substantially parallel to each other and traversed by a heat transfer fluid 131. Furthermore, this device may comprise a set of supports, for example in the form of thermal energy storage baskets 19, associated with said forward duct 18a and with said return duct 18b of the thermal energy storage device. 18, The coupling can be carried out directly or indirectly, or by a series connection or by a parallel connection or partially in series and partially in parallel. Said thermal storage circuit 18 comprises means for storing thermal energy and, where appropriate, for transferring into said user organization 15, a part of this energy or reserve of energy stored in said storage circuit. These means may comprise several devices or several baskets 19 which are placed in vertical cavities 30 located below trenches 50 which house each distribution loop 16 of thermal energy corresponding to a user organization 15. The baskets 19 may be composed of a spiral 19a made of a winding of a tube 19b and which has an inlet 19c connected to the corresponding conduit 18a and an outlet 19d connected to the return duct 18b corresponding, as shown more precisely FIGS. 3 and 4 show sectional views, respectively transverse and longitudinal, of the supply loops. 18 being deposited in a trench 50 formed in the surrounding terrain. The ducts 16a and 16b of the distribution loop 16 assigned to a user, are placed near the bottom of the trench 50 and covered with at least one layer of filling materials 51, thin such as sand, or more voluminous, such as gravel or crushing products. The conduits 16a and 16b have a single-walled tube shape made of a thermally good conductive material. They convey a coolant 13 and exchange heat energy with the surrounding materials and in particular the materials contained in the trench 50. On the bottom of the trench 50 are also laid two ducts 18a and 18b which constitute the two branches of the thermal energy storage circuit 18 corresponding to each user organization 15. The bins 19 can be connected in parallel on both ducts 18a and 18b.

As shown in the longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 4, the baskets 19 are spaced apart from one another by a relatively regular distance which is between 2 and 5 m, advantageously between 3 and 4 m, and preferably between order of 3.5m, depending on the nature of the terrain. The gap between the bins 19 is necessary so that a sufficient amount of heat energy can be efficiently stored by the soil around the pipe spiral 19a 19b. All this accumulated thermal energy can subsequently be restored by the thermal energy storage circuit 18 to the thermal energy distribution circuit 16 corresponding to the user concerned.

Various variants could be devised by those skilled in the art, as regards the construction and layout of the conduits that constitute the network, but they remain included in the features defined by the claims. On the one hand the baskets could have different geometric shapes, for example networks of parallel and superimposed grids, so that the sections are parallel connected in parallel and in series. The idea would be to find a geometry to accumulate the largest amount of external energy on a smallest possible surface in order to maintain the best efficiency for energy storage systems.

Claims

1. Urban heat exchange network of the anergy type (10), comprising at least one thermal energy transport unit (14), at least a first loop called thermal energy supply loop, comprising a conduit (11) arranged to convey a heat transfer liquid (13) between an output of said thermal energy transport unit (14) and a return input of said unit (14), a plurality of energy user organizations (15) thermal, each of said user organizations (15) having a thermal energy distribution loop connected to said supply loop and equipped with a heat transfer fluid withdrawal point (16) for extracting heat energy therefrom, and an injection point (17) for reinjecting said heat transfer fluid (13) into said supply loop, after a withdrawal of thermal energy by said user, said supply loop being deposited in a zone m embedded in the surrounding terrain, containing said urban heat exchange network of the anergy type (10), characterized in that:

at least one of said user organizations (15) is associated with a circuit called thermal energy storage circuit (18),

said thermal energy storage circuit (18) consists, on the one hand, of a feed duct (18a) and of a return duct (18b), traversed by a coolant (131), and on the other hand at least one set of thermal energy storage elements (19) mounted between said feed duct (18a) and said return duct (8b), and

said forward duct (18a) and said return duct (18b) of said thermal energy storage circuit (18) comprise means for transmitting in said user organization (15) at least a portion of said thermal energy taken from said thermal energy storage circuit (18).

2. Urban heat exchange network of the anergy type (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that said set of elements (19) comprises a plurality of individual elements which are connected in parallel between the go path (18a) and said return path (18b),

Anergy-type urban heat exchange network (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that said set of elements (19) comprises a plurality of individual elements which are connected in series between the forward path (18a). and said return duct (18b).

4. Urban heat exchange network of the anergy type (10), according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said means for transferring into said user organization (15), thermal energy taken from said circuit of thermal energy storage (18), comprise a heat exchanger (17) to which said go duct (18a) and said return duct (18b) of said thermal energy storage circuit (18) are coupled.

5. Anergy-type urban heat exchange network (10), according to claim 4, characterized in that said go duct (18a) and said return duct (18b) of the thermal energy accumulation circuit ( 18), are closed at one of their ends and connected to said heat exchanger (17) corresponding.

6. urban heat exchange network of the type anergy (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that said set of elements (19) for storing thermal energy, comprise at least partly a form of storage bin thermal energy (19) and each a spiral (19a) traversed by said carrier fluid (131) flowing in said circuit go (18a) and in said return circuit (18b).

7. Urban heat exchange network of the anergy type (10), according to claim 6, characterized in that said set of elements (19) for storing thermal energy, the thermal energy storage circuit (18). ) assigned to a user organization (15) are connected to a heat pump (20) associated with said user organization (15).

8. Urban heat exchange network of the anergy type (10), according to claim 6, characterized in that said spiral (19a) of a thermally conductive tube of each of said thermal energy storage elements (19) is housed in a vertical cavity formed in the ground, below said loop (16) of thermal energy distribution.

9. Anenergic type urban heat exchange network (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one thermal energy storage circuit (18) is associated with at least one section of the heating loop. supply (12) of said heat exchange network (10).

10. Urban thermal exchange network of the anergy type (10), according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thermal energy storage elements (19) are housed in a substantially cylindrical passenger compartment of a thermally material conductor, said passenger compartment being placed in said vertical cavity (30) formed in the ground.

11. Anergy-type urban heat exchange network (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said thermal energy storage elements (19) are each arranged in a vertical cavity, arranged substantially at center of said trench (50) in which is housed said transport unit (14) of thermal energy.