WO2020169886A1

WO2020169886A1 - A shipyard heating system, a method for heating and a portable heat pump

Info

Publication number: WO2020169886A1
Application number: PCT/FI2020/050107
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sami Aro
Original assignee: Geotalot Oy
Priority date: 2019-02-21
Filing date: 2020-02-20
Publication date: 2020-08-27
Also published as: EP3927616A4; EP3927616A1; FI128365B; FI20195133A1

Abstract

A shipyard heating system comprises a heat pump that sources the thermal energy from the surface water (19) at the shipyard. Also, a method for heating a portion of a ship (10) docked on the shipyard is disclosed. The heat pump is connected to a mobile heater system inside the ship (10) under construction. The heat pump is connected to the mobile heater system by a flexible tube that transfers a refrigerant fluid and enables heating an inside portion of the ship (10).

Description

A SHIPYARD HEATING SYSTEM, A METHOD FOR HEATING AND A PORTABLE HEAT PUMP

BACKGROUND

Ships are built and repaired in shipyards. During the building process the temperature inside the ship’s hull or ship’s compartments must be controlled. Shipyards may reside in arctic conditions, where the temperatures vary a lot. The paints or other chemical compounds require suitable temperatures to operate accordingly and the ship must be heated. The hull may not be insulated; therefore, the loss of thermal energy is significant.

The heater units may be mobile heater systems configured to be located to suitable positions inside the hull, according to the building process. The heater units should not interfere the shipbuilding process. The heater units may operate on fuel or electric power. Heating the ship under construction creates significant energy cost and environmental impacts.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure. A shipyard heating system comprises a heat pump that sources the thermal energy from the surface water at the shipyard. Also, a method for heating a portion of a ship docked on the shipyard is disclosed. The heat pump is connected to a mobile heater system inside the ship under construction. The heat pump is connected to the mobile heater system by a flexible tube that transfers a refrigerant fluid and enables heating an inside portion of the ship.

The heat pump components may be preassembled into a portable housing. The portable housing may be conveniently relocated in the shipyard. In one example the heat pump is installed in the service tunnel of the dry dock. The service tunnel may accommodate various auxiliary functions of the shipyard, while keeping them out of way from the logistics related to shipbuilding - for example materials, components or tools that need to be transported in or out the ship under construction.

The heat pump comprises a surface water heat exchanger that is quick and easy to install. The surface water heat exchanger may be positioned on the portable housing or into the surface water at the vicinity of the heat pump.

According to one example the surface water is pumped, for example by a submersible water pump, to the heat exchanger at the portable housing. After passing through the heat exchanger the water is released back to the surface water.

According to another example, the surface water heat exchanger is submerged to the surface water at the shipyard area. In this example the refrigerant fluid passes through the surface water heat exchanger positioned at a seabed. The shipyard’s water area may be adequately marked to indicate the position of the surface water heat exchanger.

Shipyards are at the shore with an immediate contact to ambient water, usually seawater. Depth of the seawater at the shipyard area ensures that the sea never fully freezes onto the seabed and there is plenty of available thermal energy. The currents circulate the seawater sufficiently for a surface water heat exchanger. The surface water heat exchanger may be positioned at the seabed, although the name might suggest positioning it near the water surface. Ground water heat pump would require drilling a deep hole into the ground, which is not required when using the surface water.

The surface water heat pump system reduces the energy costs significantly. Heating of the ship under construction reduces the carbon footprint of the shipyard. The surface water source heat pump system reduces CO² and other greenhouse gas emissions. It improves using natural resources sustainably and reduces or replaces fossil fuel consumption.

Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are not limited to implementations which solve any or all the

disadvantages of known heat pump solutions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present description will be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically one example of an embodiment according to the system; and FIG. 2 illustrates schematically one example of a dry dock.

Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description provided below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the present embodiments or examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present

embodiment or example may be constructed or utilized. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different examples.

Although the present embodiments or examples are described and illustrated herein as being implemented as a system in a dry dock, the system described is provided as an example and not a limitation. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the present examples are suitable for application in a variety of different types of shipyards.

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically one example of an embodiment having a heat pump configured to be used at the shipyard. The shipyard and the ship 10 being constructed is heated with an energy extracted from surface water 19, using a heat pump. In this example the heat pump is arranged into a portable housing

25. The surface water heat pump is configured to be used with mobile heaters 20.

The heat pump comprises a compressor 14 configured to pressurize and circulate a refrigerant fluid. The refrigerant fluid circulates in the first tubing 13,

26. The compressor 14 compresses the refrigerant fluid to make it hotter on a second heat exchanger 12 to be warmed. The pressure is released by an expansion valve to a condenser configured to the second heat exchanger 12. In some embodiments the expansion valve is arranged in the same body as the compressor 14. A surface water heat exchanger 17 is connected to the compressor 14 by a portion 26 of the first tubing. The surface water heat exchanger 17 is an evaporator that warms the cool refrigerant fluid with the thermal energy from the surface water 19. The refrigerant fluid passing through the evaporator and the condenser follows the Carnot cycle. In one embodiment the first tubing comprises a first circulator pump 27 and a first expansion container 15 to manage the refrigerant fluid circulation.

The refrigerant fluids are known in prior art. The suitable refrigerant fluid has favorable thermodynamic properties, is noncorrosive and safe. Examples of favourable thermodynamic properties are a boiling point somewhat below the target temperature, a high heat of vaporization, a moderate density in liquid form, a relatively high density in gaseous form, and a high critical temperature. The surface water heat exchanger 17 is configured to receive thermal energy from the surface water 19 to the refrigerant fluid. A water pump 20 circulates water from the ambient water at the shipyard, surface water between the surface and the seabed. The surface water 19 may be passed to the water pump 20 via various alternative channels. In one embodiment the water pump 20 is a submersible water pump. The water pump 20 is connected to the surface water heat exchanger 17 by a pipe 18. The surface water exits the surface water heat exchanger by a discharge pipe 28. In one embodiment the discharge is visibly above the surface water 19, allowing easy visual inspection that the water pump 20 is operating accordingly. In one embodiment the discharge pipe is positioned below the water surface 19, thereby mitigating any problems caused by a freezing discharge water.

In an alternative solution the surface water heat exchanger 17 is positioned in the surface water 19. The portion 26 of the first tubing carries the refrigerant fluid between the surface water heat exchanger 17 in the water and the compressor 14. In one embodiment the surface water heat exchanger 17 is a loop of tube positioned at the seabed, receiving thermal energy from the ambient water.

In the example of FIG. 1 a second tubing 22 is configured to connect the thermal energy received from the compressor 14 to the mobile heater system comprising the second heat exchanger 12. The second heat exchanger 12 transfers the thermal energy from the refrigerant fluid to a heater fluid. The heater fluid may be water, alcohol or a mixture with suitable antifreezing substance. In an embodiment the heater fluid is liquid.

In one embodiment the mobile heater system comprises a second circulator pump 11 configured to circulate the heater fluid in the mobile heater system. A second expansion container 21 may be used to level the pressures and the thermal expansion in the mobile heater system.

The second tubing 22 carries the heater fluid to a heater unit 29 inside the ship 10. At least portion of the second tubing 22 is flexible to enable moving the heater unit 29 inside the ship. The system may utilize multiple heater units 29. The heater units may be connected in parallel or in series to the incoming flexible tubing 22. The ship’s interior may be equipped with a piping manifold allowing multiple installations of heater units 29. The construction site may require relocating heater units 29 often, therefore the flexible tubing 22 is easy to carry and cover during the construction period. The mobile heater unit 29 comprises in one embodiment liquid-to-air heat exchanger and a blower for distributing hot air. The liquid-to-air heat exchanger may be equipped with a filter to protect it from dust.

In on embodiment multiple components of the shipyard heating system are installed in the portable housing 25. In one embodiment the portable housing 25 comprises the compressor 14, the surface water heat exchanger 17 and the second heat exchanger 12. Alternatively, or in addition, in one embodiment the portable housing 25 comprises the first circulator pump 27, the second circulator pump 11 , the first expansion container 15 and the second expansion container 21. Alternatively, or in addition, in one embodiment the portable housing 25 comprises an electric switchboard 16 having an inlet for electric power. The switchboard 16 distributes electric power to components of the heating system. In one embodiment the switchboard comprises a controller for controlling the functions of the heat pump and/or the mobile heating system.

The controller may select the electrical energy from multiple sources according to availability, such as solar power or wave-generated power.

In one embodiment the portable housing 25 comprises a reservoir 23 of heater fluid and a pump 24 for filling the mobile heater system with the heater fluid.

The pump 24 may be a manual pump. The pump 24 may be used to fill the second tubing 22 with the heater fluid. The pump 24 enables removing and reattaching the second tubing 22 or adding multiple heater units 29 to the mobile heater system. The pump 24 may be used to bleed the mobile heater system. The second circulator pump 11 may operate erratically if the second tubing 22 circulates air.

The heat pump system in the portable housing 25 may be pre-assembled to be fully functional when the electric switchboard is connected to an electrical grid. The submersible water pump 20 is simple to position at the ambient water 19 and the discharge pipe 28 may be connected to sewer or the water may be discharged near the same location as the water pump 20. The mobile heating system comprises a simple interface at the portable housing 25, connecting the second tubing 22. The portable housing 25 may comprise wheels to enable transferring for short distances. In one embodiment, the portable housing 25 is moved by lifting it with a suitable lift. The portable housing 25 is in one example a frame made of metal, with mounting positions for various components. In one embodiment the portable housing 25 comprises adjustable feet for installing the system onto uneven surface. In one embodiment the portable housing 25 comprises feet sufficiently long to be fixedly mounted in concrete. For example, the portable housing 25 may be carried into position before a flooring is completed - the feet may remain within the floor casting.

FIG. 2 discloses a schematical illustration of a dry dock and one exemplary embodiment of the shipyard heating system. In this example all water has been removed from the dry dock area 31. The shipyard is at the shoreline and the dry dock area 31 is positioned below the water surface level 19, wherein the ship 10 may be built or repaired. The dry dock area 31 is surrounded by a service tunnel 30 that may comprise one or more service galleries or utility galleries.

The service tunnel 30 is arranged below ground level and covered to enable traffic along the shipyard. Utilities, such as electric power, fresh water supply or sewage are kept out of the construction process, yet available to all parties. The required utility may be taken from the utility gallery 30 into the ship 10 by predefined openings.

In one embodiment the portable housing 25 is configured to fit inside a service tunnel 30 of a dry dock and the mobile heater system is configured to transfer the thermal energy via a service tunnel 30 and/or a service gallery into the ship 10. In one example the portable housing 25 has width of 3 m, depth of 1 m and height of 2.1 m. For the heating power of 160 kW the system requires electrical power of 3 x 150 A. Length of the second tubing 22 is between 100...300 m. In one embodiment the second tubing 22 comprises a fixed, insulated portion starting from the portable housing and extending to 150 m. The exemplary system has three 60kW fan convector units as heater units 29. The shipyard heating system is disclosed. The system comprises, at least one mobile heater system configured to heat a portion of a ship. The shipyard heating system further comprises a heat pump, comprising a compressor configured to pressurize and circulate a refrigerant fluid; and a surface water heat exchanger connected to the compressor by a first tubing, configured to receive thermal energy from a surface water to the refrigerant fluid; a mobile heater system comprising a second heat exchanger, configured to transfer thermal energy from the refrigerant fluid to a heater fluid; wherein the mobile heater system is configured to transfer thermal energy to the portion of the ship by circulating the heater fluid via a flexible second tubing through a mobile heater unit. In one embodiment, the system comprises a portable housing having the compressor, the surface water heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the system comprises a water pump connected to the surface water heat exchanger, wherein the water pump is configured to pump water from the surface water to the surface water heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the portable housing is configured to fit inside a service tunnel of a dry dock and the mobile heater system is configured to transfer the thermal energy via a service tunnel and/or a service gallery into the ship. In one embodiment, the system comprises a reservoir of heater fluid and a pump for filling the mobile heater system with the heater fluid.

Alternatively, or in addition, a method for heating a portion of a ship docked on a shipyard is disclosed. The method comprises heating the portion of the ship by a mobile heater unit; pressurizing and circulating a refrigerant fluid by a compressor; circulating the refrigerant fluid through a surface water heat exchanger connected to the compressor by a first tubing and receiving thermal energy from the surface water to the refrigerant fluid; transferring thermal energy from the refrigerant fluid to a heater fluid by a second heat exchanger; and transferring thermal energy to the portion of the ship by circulating the heater fluid though the mobile heater unit. In an embodiment, the method comprises arranging the compressor, the surface water heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger into a portable housing. In an embodiment, the method comprises connecting a water pump to the surface water heat exchanger; and pumping water from the surface water to the surface water heat exchanger. In an embodiment, the method comprises installing the portable housing inside a service tunnel of a dry dock and transferring the thermal energy via a service tunnel and/or a service gallery into the ship via the mobile heater system.

Alternatively, or in addition, the portable heat pump is disclosed, comprising a compressor configured to pressurize and circulate a refrigerant fluid; a surface water heat exchanger connected to the compressor by a first tubing, configured to exchange thermal energy between the surface water and the refrigerant fluid; a second heat exchanger, configured to transfer thermal energy from the refrigerant fluid to a heater fluid; a portable housing for the heat pump

components an interface to a mobile heater system having a flexible second tubing and a heater unit, configured to transfer thermal energy between the refrigerant fluid and a portion of a ship docked on a shipyard; and wherein the mobile heater system is configured to transfer thermal energy to the portion of the ship by circulating the heater fluid. In one embodiment, the heat pump housing comprises a water pump connected to the surface water heat exchanger, wherein the water pump is configured to pump water from the surface water to the surface water heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the portable housing is configured to fit inside a service tunnel of a dry dock. In one embodiment, the heat pump housing comprises a reservoir of heater fluid and a pump for filling the mobile heater system with the heater fluid.

Alternatively, or in addition, the controlling functionality described herein can be performed, at least in part, by one or more hardware components or hardware logic components. An example of the control system described hereinbefore is a computing-based device comprising one or more processors which may be microprocessors, controllers or any other suitable type of processors for processing computer-executable instructions to control the operation of the device in order to control one or more sensors, receive sensor data and use the sensor data. The computer-executable instructions may be provided using any computer-readable media that is accessible by a computing-based device. Computer-readable media may include, for example, computer storage media, such as memory and communications media. Computer storage media, such as memory, includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transmission medium that can be used to store information for access by a computing device. In contrast, communication media may embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave, or other transport mechanism. As defined herein, computer storage media does not include communication media. Therefore, a computer storage medium should not be interpreted to be a propagating signal per se. Propagated signals may be present in a computer storage media, but propagated signals per se are not examples of computer storage media. Although the computer storage media is shown within the computing-based device, it will be appreciated that the storage may be distributed or located remotely and accessed via a network or other communication link, for example, by using a communication interface.

The system, the controller or any device within the system may comprise an input/output controller arranged to output display information to a display device which may be separate from or integral to the system, the controller or any device within the system. The input/output controller is also arranged to receive and process input from one or more devices, such as a user input device (e.g. a mouse, keyboard, camera, microphone or other sensor).

The methods described herein may be performed by software in machine- readable form on a tangible storage medium e.g. in the form of a computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to perform all the steps of any of the methods described herein when the program is run on a computer and where the computer program may be embodied on a computer- readable medium. Examples of tangible storage media include computer storage devices comprising computer-readable media, such as disks, thumb drives, memory etc. and do not only include propagated signals. Propagated signals may be present in a tangible storage media, but propagated signals per se are not examples of tangible storage media. The software can be suitable for execution on a parallel processor or a serial processor such that the method steps may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously.

Any range or device value given herein may be extended or altered without losing the effect sought.

Although at least a portion of the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as examples of implementing the claims and other equivalent features and acts are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

It will be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one embodiment or may relate to several embodiments. The embodiments are not limited to those that solve any or all of the stated problems or those that have any or all of the stated benefits and advantages. It will further be understood that reference to‘an’ item refers to one or more of those items.

The steps of the methods described herein may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from any of the methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Aspects of any of the examples described above may be combined with aspects of any of the other examples described to form further examples without losing the effect sought.

The term‘comprising’ is used herein to mean including the method blocks or elements identified, but that such blocks or elements do not comprise an exclusive list and a method or apparatus may contain additional blocks or elements.

It will be understood that the above description is given by way of example only and that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments. Although various embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this specification.

Claims

1. A shipyard heating system, comprising:

at least one mobile heater system configured to heat a portion of a ship

(10);

characterized in that the shipyard heating system comprises a heat pump, comprising;

a compressor (14) configured to pressurize and circulate a refrigerant fluid; and

a surface water heat exchanger (17) connected to the compressor (14) by a first tubing (13, 26), configured to receive thermal energy from a surface water (19) to the refrigerant fluid;

a mobile heater system comprising a second heat exchanger (12), configured to transfer thermal energy from the refrigerant fluid to a heater fluid; wherein

the mobile heater system is configured to transfer thermal energy to the portion of the ship (10) by circulating the heater fluid via a flexible second tubing (12) through a mobile heater unit.

2. A shipyard heating system according to claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d by comprising a portable housing (25) having the compressor (14), the surface water heat exchanger (17) and the second heat exchanger (12).

3. A shipyard heating system according to claim 1 or claim 2,

characterized by comprising a water pump connected to the surface water heat exchanger (17), wherein the water pump is configured to pump water from the surface water (19) to the surface water heat exchanger (17).

4. A shipyard heating system according to claim 2 or claim 3,

characterized in that the portable housing (25) is configured to fit inside a service tunnel (30) of a dry dock (31 ) and the mobile heater system is configured to transfer the thermal energy via a service tunnel (30) and/or a service gallery into the ship (10).

5. A shipyard heating system according to any of the claims 1 to 4,

characterized by comprising a reservoir of heater fluid and a pump for filling the mobile heater system with the heater fluid.

6. A method for heating a portion of a ship (10) docked on a shipyard, comprising:

heating the portion of the ship (10) by a mobile heater unit,

characterized by comprising;

pressurizing and circulating a refrigerant fluid by a compressor (14); circulating the refrigerant fluid through a surface water heat exchanger (17) connected to the compressor (14) by a first tubing (13, 26) and receiving thermal energy from the surface water (19) to the refrigerant fluid;

transferring thermal energy from the refrigerant fluid to a heater fluid by a second heat exchanger (12); and

transferring thermal energy to the portion of the ship (10) by circulating the heater fluid though the mobile heater unit.

7. A method according to claim 6, characterized by arranging the compressor (14), the surface water heat exchanger (17) and the second heat exchanger (12) into a portable housing (25).

8. A method according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized by

connecting a water pump to the surface water heat exchanger (17); and pumping water from the surface water (19) to the surface water heat exchanger (17).

9. A method according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized by

installing the portable housing (25) inside a service tunnel (30) of a dry dock (31) and transferring the thermal energy via a service tunnel (30) and/or a service gallery into the ship (10) via the mobile heater system.

10. A portable heat pump, comprising:

a compressor (14) configured to pressurize and circulate a refrigerant fluid;

a surface water heat exchanger (17) connected to the compressor (14) by a first tubing (13, 26), configured to exchange thermal energy between the surface water (19) and the refrigerant fluid;

a second heat exchanger (12), configured to transfer thermal energy from the refrigerant fluid to a heater fluid; and

a portable housing for the heat pump components,

characterized by comprising an interface to a mobile heater system having a flexible second tubing (12) and a heater unit, configured to transfer thermal energy between the refrigerant fluid and a portion of a ship (10) docked on a shipyard; and wherein

the mobile heater system is configured to transfer thermal energy to the portion of the ship (10) by circulating the heater fluid.

11.A portable heat pump according to claim 10, characterized by comprising a water pump connected to the surface water heat exchanger (17), wherein the water pump is configured to pump water from the surface water (19) to the surface water heat exchanger (17).

12. A portable heat pump according to claim 10 or claim 11 ,

characterized in that the portable housing (25) is configured to fit inside a service tunnel (30) of a dry dock (31 ).

13. A portable heat pump according to any of the claims 10 to 12,