Combination device

Abstract

Combination device (1), comprising at least a gas heating appliance (2) and a heat pump (3), wherein a fuel gas (4) is combusted by the gas heating appliance (2) together with ambient air (5) to form an exhaust gas (6), wherein the ambient air (5) is at least heated and compressed by the heat pump (3), characterized in that the combination device (1) has a common supply line (7) for the ambient air (5), wherein the division of the ambient air (5) into a first partial flow (8), which flows through a first supply line (9) towards the gas heating appliance (2), and into a second partial flow (10), which flows through a second supply line (11) towards the heat pump (3), takes place within the combination device (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a combination device comprising a gas heater and a heat pump. The combination device can be used, for example, as a heating system, through which heating water conveyed in a pipe system of the heating system can be heated by both components of the combination device, i.e., by the gas heater and the heat pump. Each component can be designed as a backup device for the other component. However, the components can also be operated together.

[0002] A heating system can, for example, be installed in a building, such as a single-family home. Such a heating system is designed in particular to heat radiators in the building so that a desired room temperature can be set for the rooms. The radiators can be designed as radiators, surface heating systems, etc. They are characterized by the fact that they are designed to release heat to the room or room surfaces, which is supplied by means of heating water. After the heat has been released or left the radiators, the heating water is fed, for example, to a heat exchanger in the gas heater, where a fuel gas-air mixture is burned and the combustion heat is fed back into the heating water.

[0003] The system of an air-to-water heat pump, for example, contains a refrigerant that continuously circulates in a circuit. In this circuit, it is heated by the ambient air drawn in and compressed until it releases this heat to the heating water, thereby cooling it, and the cycle begins again. In a monoblock unit, all the key technical components of the heat pump's heat recovery process are combined in a single unit: the compressor, the condenser, the throttling device (expansion valve), and the evaporator. The heat pump therefore requires a supply of ambient air, which is usually provided with a separate connection.

[0004] A gas heater has an inlet through which heating water can be supplied. The gas heater contains a burner and a heat exchanger assigned to the burner, with the heating water in this heat exchanger being heated by the burner. Another (possibly electric) DHW (domestic hot water) heat exchanger (for drinking water) is provided in parallel in a switchable branch. The heated heating water can leave the gas heater via a drain. The gas heater therefore requires the supply of ambient air and the removal of combustion exhaust gases. A separate connection is usually provided for this, too, although the exhaust gases and ambient air can also be supplied and removed via a coaxial piping arrangement.

[0005] It is common practice to arrange the aforementioned components, a gas heater and a heat pump, side by side. This requires two connections for ambient air (or, if necessary, an additional connection for exhaust gases), particularly as openings in a wall. Furthermore, the components must be connected or wired together if necessary. The assembly or connection of the two components is therefore very complex and labor-intensive, as two connections for ambient air, for example, must be provided in a wall of a house.

[0006] The object of the invention is therefore to at least partially alleviate or solve the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, the installation of such a heating system is to be simplified and the associated effort reduced.

[0007] These objects are achieved by the features of the independent patent claim. It should be noted that the features listed in the dependent patent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically expedient manner and define further embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the features listed in the patent claims are further specified and explained in the description, with further preferred embodiments of the invention being presented.

[0008] A combination device contributes to this, comprising at least a gas heater and a heat pump. The gas heater combusts a fuel gas together with ambient air to form an exhaust gas, while the heat pump at least heats and compresses the ambient air. The combination device has a common supply line for the ambient air, and the ambient air is divided into a first partial flow, which flows through a first supply line to the gas heater, and a second partial flow, which flows through a second supply line to the heat pump, within the combination device.

[0009] The combination unit can be used, for example, as a heating system, allowing heating water pumped through a heating system's pipe system to be heated by both components of the combination unit—the gas heater and the heat pump. Each component can be used as a backup for the other. However, the components can also be operated together.

[0010] Instead of arranging the components as individual devices, e.g., on a wall of a house or apartment, and connecting each of them to the required media (e.g., heating water, drinking water, ambient air, exhaust pipe, electricity) via connections, the present proposal is to supply at least the ambient air to the combination device via a common supply line. This eliminates the need to provide at least two openings in the wall for the supply of ambient air. Instead, the ambient air can be supplied to the combination device via a single opening in the wall and then divided into partial streams by the combination device. This simplifies the connection of the components, reduces complexity, and reduces the required wall space.

[0011] The heat pump comprises, in particular, a circuit in which a refrigerant circulates. In this circuit, the refrigerant is heated by drawn-in ambient air and compressed and heated until it releases this heat to the heating water, cools through this and subsequent expansion, and is then returned to the ambient air for heating. In a monoblock unit, all the key technical components of the heat pump's heat recovery process are combined in a single unit: the compressor, the condenser (heat exchanger) with the heating water, the throttling device (expansion valve), and the evaporator (which is exposed to ambient air). The heat pump therefore requires a supply of ambient air, which in this case is supplied at least via the common supply line.

[0012] The gas heater, in particular, has an inlet through which heating water can be supplied. The gas heater includes a burner and a heat exchanger associated with the burner, with the heating water being heated in this heat exchanger by means of the burner. In particular, a further (possibly electric) DHW (domestic hot water) heat exchanger (for drinking water) is provided parallel to the first-mentioned heat exchanger in a switchable branch. The heated heating water can leave the gas heater via an outlet. The gas heater therefore requires a supply of ambient air, which in this case is supplied at least via the shared supply line.

[0013] In particular, the combination device has an exhaust line for discharging the exhaust gas, wherein the exhaust line is integrated into the common supply line. The exhaust line guides the exhaust gas, which is produced by the combustion of the fuel gas with ambient air, away from the combination device. The exhaust line can be arranged separately from the common supply line or can run at a distance from it.

[0014] In particular, the exhaust line runs at least partially within the common supply line. For this purpose, the exhaust line can, for example, comprise a first pipe that runs within a second pipe forming the common supply line. In particular, the different media, i.e., the ambient air and the exhaust gas, are separated from each other by a partition. The partition can, for example, divide a common pipe into two partial pipes, in which the different media can be routed separately from each other.

[0015] In particular, the exhaust line is arranged at least partially coaxially with the common supply line. In particular, the exhaust line is arranged within the common supply line and is arranged such that, at least in one section, it is completely surrounded by the ambient air conveyed through the supply line. In particular, in this section, the center axes of the common supply line and the exhaust line run coaxially with each other.

[0016] In particular, the gas heater and the heat pump are arranged in a common housing. In particular, the inflow of ambient air is only divided within the housing, so that the common supply line (possibly together with the exhaust line) extends from the outside into the housing.

[0017] An arrangement is further proposed, at least comprising the described combination device and a wall connection for the combination device. In particular, the wall connection has an opening for connecting the common supply line. The wall connection is provided, for example, on a wall of a house or apartment. In addition to the opening, the wall connection includes, in particular, a fastening option for the combination device and, if necessary, connection options for the required additional media (in addition to ambient air, possibly also electricity, heating water, domestic water, etc.). The opening is designed at least such that the supply line can be arranged or connected therein or thereto.

[0018] In particular, the arrangement is designed such that the combination device has an exhaust pipe for discharging the exhaust gas, wherein the wall connection has a connection option for the exhaust pipe in one opening.

[0019] As a precaution, it should be noted that the numerals used here ("first", "second", ...) primarily serve (only) to distinguish between several similar objects, quantities, or processes, and therefore do not necessarily prescribe any interdependence and / or sequence of these objects, quantities, or processes. Should a dependence and / or sequence be necessary, this is explicitly stated here or will be obvious to the person skilled in the art upon studying the specifically described embodiment. To the extent that a component can occur multiple times ("at least one"), the description of one of these components can apply equally to all or part of the majority of these components, but this is not mandatory.

[0020] The combination device or arrangement ensures that, instead of arranging the components as individual devices, e.g. on a wall of a house or apartment, and connecting each of them to the required media (e.g. heating water, drinking water, ambient air, exhaust pipe, electricity) via connections, at least the ambient air can be supplied to the combination device via a common supply line. This eliminates the need to provide at least two openings in the wall for the supply of ambient air. Instead, the ambient air can be supplied to the combination device via a single opening in the wall and only then divided into partial flows by the combination device. This simplifies the connection of the components, reduces complexity, and reduces the required wall space.

[0021] The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. It should be noted that the invention is not intended to be limited by the exemplary embodiments cited. In particular, unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is also possible to extract partial aspects of the facts explained in the figures and combine them with other components and findings from the present description. In particular, it should be noted that the figures, and in particular the proportions shown, are only schematic. They show: Fig. 1: an arrangement comprising a wall connection with a heating system attached thereto, which includes a gas heater and a heat pump; and Fig. 2: an arrangement comprising a wall connection with a combination device attached thereto, which includes a gas heater and a heat pump.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows an arrangement 14 comprising a wall connection 15 with a heating system attached thereto, which includes a gas heater 2 and a heat pump 3. A heating system can be installed in a building, such as a single-family home. Such a heating system is designed to heat radiators in the building so that a desired room temperature can be set for the rooms. The radiators can be designed as radiators, surface heating systems, etc. They are characterized in that they are designed to release heat to the room or room surfaces, which heat is supplied by means of heating water. After the heat has been released or left the radiators, the heating water is fed, for example, to a heat exchanger 20 of the gas heater 2, where a mixture of fuel gas 4 and ambient air 5 is combusted and the combustion heat is fed back into the heating water.

[0023] The gas heater 2 has an inlet 21 through which heating water can be supplied. The gas heater 2 contains a burner and a heat exchanger 20 associated with the burner, with the heating water in this heat exchanger 20 being heated by the burner. A further (possibly electric) DHW (domestic hot water) heat exchanger 20 (for drinking water) is provided at the bottom, parallel to the first-mentioned heat exchanger 20 at the top, in a switchable branch. The heated heating water can leave the gas heater 2 via an outlet 22. The gas heater 2 therefore requires a supply of ambient air 5, which is supplied here via a dedicated first supply line 9.

[0024] The heat pump 3 comprises a circuit 23 in which a refrigerant circulates. In this circuit 23, the refrigerant is heated by drawn-in ambient air 5 and compressed and heated until it releases this heat to the heating water, cools thereby and through subsequent expansion, and is then returned to be heated by ambient air 5. In the monoblock device shown, all important technical components of the heat recovery process of the heat pump 3 are combined in a single device: namely the compressor, the condenser (condenser for heat exchange) with the heating water, the throttle device (expansion valve), and the evaporator 18, which is supplied by the ambient air 5 via the fan 19. The heat pump 3 therefore requires a supply of ambient air 5, which here is supplied at least via the second supply line 11.

[0025] Here, the components 2, 3 are arranged as individual devices, e.g., on a wall of a house or apartment, and are each connected to the required media (e.g., heating water, drinking water, ambient air, exhaust pipe, electricity) via connections. The ambient air 5 is supplied to the gas heater 2 via a first supply line 9 and to the heat pump 3 via a second supply line 10. For this purpose, it is necessary to provide at least two openings 16 on the wall connection 15 for the supply of ambient air 5.

[0026] Fig. Figure 2 shows an arrangement 14 comprising a wall connection 15 with a combination device 1 attached thereto, which comprises a gas heater 2 and a heat pump 3. Reference is made to the explanations for Fig. 1 is referred to.

[0027] The wall connection 15 has an opening 16 for connecting the common supply line 7. The wall connection 15 is provided on a wall of a house or apartment. In addition to the opening 16, the wall connection 15 includes a mounting option for the combination device 1 and, if necessary, connection options 17 for the required additional media (in addition to ambient air 5, also electricity, heating water, domestic water, etc.). The opening 16 is designed at least so that the common supply line 7 can be arranged or connected therein or to it.

[0028] The arrangement 14 is designed such that the combination device 1 has an exhaust pipe 12 for discharging the exhaust gas 6, wherein the wall connection 15 has a connection option 17 for the exhaust pipe 12 in one opening 16.

[0029] The exhaust line 12 runs at least partially within the common supply line 7. For this purpose, the exhaust line 12 comprises a first pipe which runs within a second pipe forming the common supply line 7.

[0030] The exhaust line 12 is arranged at least partially coaxially with the common supply line 7. The exhaust line 12 is arranged within the common supply line 7 and is arranged such that, at least in a section 24, it is completely surrounded by the ambient air 5 conveyed through the common supply line 7. In this section 24, the center axes of the common supply line 7 and the exhaust line 12 run coaxially with each other.

[0031] The gas heater 2 and the heat pump 3 are arranged in a common housing 13. The inflow of ambient air 5 is first divided within the housing 13, so that the common supply line 7, together with the exhaust line 12, extends from the outside into the housing 13.

[0032] With the combination device 1 or the arrangement 14, it is achieved that instead of arranging the components 2, 3 as individual devices and connecting them each via connections to the required media (e.g. heating water, drinking water, ambient air, exhaust pipe, electrical power), at least the ambient air 5 can be supplied to the combination device 1 via a common supply line 7. This means that it is no longer necessary (as in Fig.1), at least two openings 16 must be provided in the wall for supplying ambient air 5. Rather, the ambient air 5 can be supplied to the combination unit 1 via a single opening 16 in the wall and then divided into partial flows 8, 10 by the combination unit 1. This simplifies the connection of the components 2, 3, reduces complexity, and reduces the required wall area. List of reference symbols 1 combination device 2 gas heaters 3 heat pump 4 Fuel gas 5 Ambient air 6 Exhaust 7 common supply line 8 first partial flow 9 first supply line 10 second partial flow 11 second supply line 12 exhaust pipe 13 housings 14 Arrangement 15 Wall connection 16 Opening 17 connection options 18 evaporators 19 Fan 20 heat exchangers 21 Inlet 22 Procedure 23 Circulation Section 24

Claims

[1] Combination device (1), at least comprising a gas heater (2) and a heat pump (3), wherein a fuel gas (4) is combusted by the gas heater (2) together with ambient air (5) to form an exhaust gas (6), wherein ambient air (5) is at least heated and compressed by the heat pump (3), characterized by that the combination device (1) has a common supply line (7) for the ambient air (5), wherein the division of the ambient air (5) into a first partial flow (8), which flows through a first supply line (9) towards the gas heater (2), and into a second partial flow (10), which flows through a second supply line (11) towards the heat pump (3), takes place within the combination device (1). [2] Combination device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the combination device (1) has an exhaust pipe (12) for discharging the exhaust gas (6), wherein the exhaust pipe (12) is integrated into the common supply pipe (7). [3] Combination device (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the exhaust gas line (12) runs at least partially within the common supply line (7). [4] Combination device (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that the exhaust pipe (12) is arranged at least partially coaxially to the common supply pipe (7). [5] Combination device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the gas heater (2) and the heat pump (3) are arranged in a common housing (13). [6] Arrangement (14), at least comprising the combination device (1) according to one of the preceding claims and a wall connection (15) for the combination device (1), characterized by that the wall connection (15) has an opening (16) for connecting the common supply line (7). [7] Arrangement (14) according to claim 6, characterized bythat the combination device (1) has an exhaust pipe (12) for discharging the exhaust gas (6), wherein the wall connection (15) has a connection option (17) for the exhaust pipe (12) in one opening (16).

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