Solar support module for an air heat exchanger

Abstract

The present invention relates to a solar support module (11) for a heat pump comprising: a housing (12) including an inlet (14) and an outlet (16), wherein the housing (12) forms an air path configured to direct air from the inlet (14) of the housing (12) through the housing (12) to the outlet (16); a solar unit (18) which is heated by solar radiation and configured to transfer this heat to the air directed through the air path; and a coupling unit (20) for connecting the outlet (16) of the housing (12) to a heat exchanger (36) of the heat pump in order to direct the air preheated by means of the solar support module (11) to the heat exchanger (36). The present invention further relates to a corresponding system (10) and method.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar support module for supporting a heat exchanger of a heat pump, in particular a heat pump with air as a heat source, as well as a corresponding system and method.

[0002] A heat pump is a combined heat and power machine that absorbs thermal energy, i.e., heat, from a low-temperature reservoir and transfers it as usable heat at a higher temperature to a system to be heated. Heat pumps are commonly used to heat living spaces.

[0003] Typically, living spaces need to be heated when the outside temperature is low. This low outside temperature leads to low heat pump efficiency.

[0004] There is therefore a need to increase the efficiency of a heat pump sustainably and preferably cost-effectively.

[0005] The present invention therefore aims to provide a way to increase the efficiency of a heat pump. Preferably, this should require little or no additional energy. Particularly preferably, the method should be robust and electronics-free.

[0006] This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1.

[0007] The solar support module comprises a housing having at least one inlet and one outlet, wherein the housing forms an air path configured to conduct air from the inlet of the housing through the housing to the outlet.

[0008] The solar support module further comprises a solar unit that is heated by solar radiation and is designed to transfer this heat to the air passed through the air path.

[0009] Finally, the solar support module comprises a coupling unit for connecting the outlet of the housing to a heat exchanger of the heat pump in order to direct the air preheated by the solar support module to the heat exchanger.

[0010] A housing that forms an air path can create a robust solar support module. In particular, the housing can fulfill a dual function, protecting the solar unit on the one hand and forming an air guide that directs the air to be heated to the solar unit and ultimately to a heat exchanger of the heat pump on the other. Preferably, the housing itself can at least partially form the solar unit. A coupling unit for connecting the outlet of the housing to a heat exchanger can create a solar support module that is also suitable as a retrofit solution for existing heat pumps. In the simplest case, the coupling unit can be a nozzle or an opening. Preferably, the coupling unit is hermetically connected to the heat exchanger.

[0011] The solar support module can be electronics-free and completely passive, as a heat exchanger is typically supplied with air by a fan. This fan can be advantageously used to direct air through the air path. Preferably, the fan draws air along the air path through the solar support module housing and then draws or blows this heated air onto the heat pump's heat exchanger.

[0012] It goes without saying that the fan can also be located between the heat exchanger and the coupling unit. In this respect, the fan is considered part of the heat exchanger.

[0013] The solar unit preferably comprises an upper plate and a lower plate, each having corresponding bores. The bores are connected by pipes, wherein the pipes form part of the air path. Corresponding bores are understood in particular to mean that a bore in the upper plate is connected by a pipe to a bore in the lower plate. By designing the solar unit with an upper plate and a lower plate, each connected by bores, an inner surface of the air path can be increased. Improved heat transfer from the solar unit to the air flowing around or through the solar unit can be achieved.

[0014] Particularly preferably, the solar unit is at least partially filled with a mixture of water and glycol, alternatively propylene glycol. The pipes are at least partially surrounded by the mixture of water and glycol. This can increase the heat capacity of the solar unit. More heat can be stored in the solar unit. In particular, this can ensure that when the heat pump is not active and solar radiation still falls on the solar support module, the energy of the sun's rays can be stored more effectively. When the heat pump is in operation, this stored energy can be released into the air flowing through it. The efficiency of the heat pump can be further increased. In particular, energy from sunlight can be used and stored even at times when the heat pump is not in operation. The space between the solar support module and the heat pump, which is filled with the glycol mixture,The solar unit can be additionally protected against excessive pressure increases with an expansion vessel, particularly when the heat pump is not in operation.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, an upper side of the housing is formed by a transparent plate, in particular a solar glass plate. A lower side of the housing is formed by the solar unit. In addition, a gap is formed between the transparent plate and the solar unit, wherein the gap forms at least partially part of the air path. The formed gap can lengthen an air path and consequently increase the area available for transferring heat from the solar support module to the air flowing through. A larger amount of heat can be transferred to the air flowing through. The efficiency of the heat pump can ultimately be further increased by such a solar support module.

[0016] Particularly preferably, the upper side of the solar unit is coated with a solar coating. This advantageous coating increases the amount of heat absorbed from incoming solar rays, thus transferring more heat from the sunlight to the air flowing through it, which can ultimately be utilized by the heat pump.

[0017] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the tubes are provided with fins on the inside and / or outside and are preferably made of copper tubing. This allows for improved heat transfer from the tubes to the air flowing through them. In particular, the fins on the outside of the tubes enable faster heat conduction from a water-glycol mixture surrounding the tubes into the tubes. Similarly, inward-facing fins on the tubes increase the warm surface area around which the air flows, leading to improved heat transfer to the air flowing through them.

[0018] Advantageously, the upper plate of the solar unit is made of copper and the lower plate of the solar unit is made of aluminum sheet, wherein preferably a surrounding housing wall and an underside of the housing are thermally insulated. The terms upper and lower plate are to be understood in particular that the upper plate is the plate of the solar unit facing the sun. By forming the upper plate from copper, the sun's rays can efficiently transfer heat into the solar unit. By manufacturing the lower plate from aluminum sheet, a weight-optimized solar unit can be created. In particular, a cost-effective solar unit can be created because expensive copper material is efficiently used on the side facing the sun, i.e. the upper plate.It goes without saying that the housing can also be made entirely of copper sheet or stainless steel sheet, so that the components essentially have a uniform coefficient of thermal expansion and greater stability during operation can be achieved.

[0019] A fin preferably serves to enlarge the surface area of ​​a component and is arranged on and / or connected to the component. A fin can, in particular, be designed in the manner of a cooling fin and increase the heat absorption and / or heat dissipation of the component. The fin is preferably a plate-shaped component made of a material with high thermal conductivity, in particular metal, and extends away from the component to which it is assigned.

[0020] A person skilled in the art will recognize that the teaching disclosed here contributes to the reduction of fossil fuels and enables a reduction in CO2 emissions when heating living spaces or buildings.

[0021] The theory is based on the idea of ​​making the best possible use of solar heat radiation by means of a solar support module in combination with a heat pump for cost-optimised and energy-efficient building heating.

[0022] According to the invention, solar support for a commercially available finned air heat exchanger is preferably achieved by a glass cover and a metal housing made of two soldered copper sheets, which can in particular be spaced apart by a distance of 30 to 50 millimeters. Propylene glycol, known as solar fluid, can be filled into a space formed by the two soldered copper sheets. To improve heat transfer, pipe sections can be soldered between the sheets, through which the flowing air reaches a heat exchanger located below. Particularly preferably, the metal housing is arranged in contact with the fins of the air heat exchanger.

[0023] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the metal housing and the glass plates protrude laterally beyond the dimensions of the air heat exchanger in order to cover a larger area and form a larger area irradiated by the sun.

[0024] The aim of the present invention is to raise the air conveyed by the solar support module to a higher temperature inlet level for an air heat exchanger. This makes the heat pump's operating process more efficient. For example, an evaporation temperature increase of one degree Kelvin can lead to approximately two to three percent lower electrical energy consumption by the heat pump. In particular, further savings can result from the fact that solar heating significantly reduces electrical defrost cycles, which may be necessary for the air heat exchanger during operation, and in some cases can even eliminate them entirely.

[0025] An exemplary embodiment might look like this: An aluminum sheet metal box base measuring approximately 1200 x 800 x 100 millimeters is tightly soldered to a copper sheet cover, with side panels extending approximately 30 to 50 millimeters beyond the copper sheet cover. A cover with solar glass is sealed onto the upper edge of the housing to close the housing, creating a sealed air gap above the copper sheet cover and below the glass cover.

[0026] Preferably, the upper surface of the copper sheet can be coated with a solar paint. Furthermore, the copper sheet and the housing base preferably comprise opposing holes arranged along a vertical axis, with a diameter of, for example, 25 millimeters. These holes are each soldered to a copper tube web, preferably ribbed on the inside and outside.

[0027] Particularly preferably, additional copper sheets, for example with a height of 30 millimeters, can be placed between the webs and soldered to the webs of the copper sheet cover.

[0028] The housing can be permanently filled with a water-glycol mixture so that the base plates, side plates, copper sheet cover as well as the copper pipe sections and copper sheets are completely enclosed.

[0029] In other words, the solar housing is preferably fully covered with glass. When exposed to sunlight, the air between the solar glass cover and the coated copper sheet cover heats up. This heat is absorbed by the solar coating surface and warms the water-glycol mixture inside the housing.

[0030] The ambient air is drawn through the solar support module through the holes by a fan or heat pump fan. For example, the air can be directed from a lower floor section upwards into the space between the solar glass cover and the copper sheet cover. The forced airflow is guided through the air gap and the solar support module to the air evaporator, or heat exchanger, below. The air flow is heated by solar radiation and by flowing through the solar support module until it enters the air heat exchanger, preferably located below.

[0031] Consequently, heating of the air flowing through the solar support module can be achieved such that the air flowing through has a higher air outlet temperature than the air inlet temperature.

[0032] To protect the heat pump, a refrigerant injection control with an MOP function can be selected to protect the compressor on the suction side from overload and overheating. This may be particularly necessary since heat pumps are designed for lower temperatures and do not have the pre-treated air described above.

[0033] It goes without saying that to protect the entire system, i.e., the solar support module including the heat pump, a self-contained mechanical shading system can be provided. This can, for example, be designed like a roller blind or a Venetian blind.

[0034] A solar support module can be created as a central element for preheating the inlet air into an air heat exchanger. In particular, the solar support can also be used decoupled from the air heat exchanger as an upstream element for existing air-to-water heat pumps by installing the solar support module upstream of the intake air stream of a heat pump via an air intake duct or coupling unit.

[0035] The invention is described and explained in more detail below using selected embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a simplified schematic representation of a system according to the invention comprising a solar support module and a heat pump; Fig. 2 a schematic plan view of a solar unit of a solar support module according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a solar unit; Fig. 4 a schematic representation of another preferred embodiment of a solar unit; Fig. 5 a schematic representation of a system according to the invention comprising a solar support module, a heat exchanger of a heat pump and a fan; Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of a solar unit without a top plate; Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of a solar unit without a top plate; and Fig. 8 schematically shows the steps of a method according to the invention.

[0036] In Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a system 10 comprising a solar support module 11 with a housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 12 has two inlets 14 and one outlet 16. An air path is formed from the inlets 14 to the outlet 16 via a solar unit 18.

[0037] The outlet 16 can be connected to an inlet of a heat exchanger of a heat pump by means of a coupling unit 20. The solar unit 18 can be heated by the schematically illustrated solar rays 22, so that air flowing through the air path from the inlet 14 to the outlet 16 is also heated by the solar unit 18 heated by the solar rays 22. This heat can be made available to the air heat exchanger of the heat pump.

[0038] In Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows a solar unit 18 in a side sectional view and a top view. The solar unit 18 has an upper plate 24 and a lower plate 26, each connected by pipes 28. To allow air to flow through the solar unit 18, the upper plate 24 and the lower plate 26 each have corresponding holes, i.e., holes 30, that lie one above the other. Each pair of corresponding holes 30 is connected by a pipe 28.

[0039] The connection between bore 30 and tube 28 can preferably be a soldered connection. It is understood that other connections, such as adhesive or screwing, are also conceivable, with the bores 30 and tubes 28 having a thread in the latter case.

[0040] In Fig. 3 is analogous to Fig. 2 shows a further preferred embodiment of a solar unit 18. In contrast to the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the housing of the solar unit 18, formed by the upper plate 24 and the lower plate 26, as well as two side walls not shown in more detail, is filled with a water-glycol mixture 32. The water-glycol mixture 32 thus surrounds the tubes, at least in sections. In the embodiment shown, the resulting space is approximately half full. It is understood that other fill levels are also conceivable.

[0041] In Fig. 4 is analogous to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shows a further particularly preferred embodiment of a solar unit 18. In contrast to the Fig. 3, the solar unit 18 comprises a transparent plate 34 arranged above the upper plate 24, wherein an air gap is formed between the upper plate 24 and the transparent plate 34.

[0042] In Fig. 5 shows a system 10 according to the invention comprising a solar support module 11, a heat exchanger 36 of a heat pump (not shown in detail), and a fan 38. In the embodiment shown, the housing of the solar support module 11 is formed by the transparent plate 34, the lower plate 26, and side plates (not shown in detail). The solar support module 11 thus forms, at least in sections, a housing of the solar unit 18. Particularly preferably, the solar support module 11 is analogous to the solar unit 18 according to Fig. 4. For reasons of clarity, the coupling unit and the inputs and outputs of the solar support module 11 have not been shown.

[0043] The fan 38 draws air from the inlets through the unspecified holes and pipes 28 and heats it by the solar unit 18. Furthermore, the air is drawn through the heat exchanger 36 by the fan 38. The heat exchanger 36 is thus supplied with preheated air, ultimately increasing the efficiency of the heat pump.

[0044] In Fig. 6 is analogous to the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 shows a solar unit 18 in plan view without the upper plate 24. In contrast to the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the tubes 28 have fins both inside and outside to increase the surface area for heat transfer. It is understood that the fins are only shown schematically and, in particular, their dimensions may vary.

[0045] In Fig. 7 is analogous to Fig. 6 shows a further preferred embodiment of a solar unit 18. In contrast to the Fig. 6, the solar unit 18 additionally has fins 40 which run between the tubes in order to enable improved heat transfer from the solar unit 18 into the air flowing through.

[0046] It is understood that the Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 shown individual measures can be advantageously combined as desired.

[0047] In Fig. Figure 8 schematically illustrates steps of a method according to the invention for increasing the efficiency of a heat pump. The method can preferably be carried out with a solar support module 11 as described above or a system 10 as described above.

[0048] In a first step S1, air is guided along an air path from an inlet of a housing of a solar support module through the housing to an outlet of the housing.

[0049] In a step S2, a solar unit of the solar support module is heated by solar radiation.

[0050] In a step S3, the heat from the solar unit is transferred to the guided air.

[0051] Finally, in a fourth step S4, the air preheated by the solar support module is directed to a heat exchanger of the heat pump.

[0052] The invention has been comprehensively described and explained with reference to the drawings and the description. The description and explanation are to be understood as exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other embodiments or variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon use of the present invention and upon careful analysis of the drawings, the disclosure, and the following claims.

[0053] In the claims, the words "comprising" and "having" do not exclude the presence of further elements or steps. The undefined article "a" or "an" does not exclude the presence of a plurality. A single element or unit can perform the functions of several of the units recited in the claims. The mere reciting of some measures in several different dependent claims should not be understood to mean that a combination of these measures cannot also be used advantageously. Reference signs in the claims are not to be understood as limiting. List of reference symbols 10 systems 11 Solar support module 12 housings 14 Entrance 16 Exit 18 solar units 20 coupling unit 22 sunbeams 24 Upper plate 26 Lower plate 28 pipes 30 holes 32 Water-glycol mixture 34 Transparent plate 36 heat exchangers 38 fans 40 ribs S1 to S4 process steps

Claims

[1] Solar support module (11) for a heat pump with: a housing (12) comprising an inlet (14) and an outlet (16), wherein the housing (12) forms an air path configured to conduct air from the inlet (14) of the housing (12) through the housing (12) to the outlet (16); a solar unit (18) which is heated by solar radiation and is designed to transfer this heat to the air passed through the air path; and a coupling unit (20) for connecting the outlet (16) of the housing (12) to a heat exchanger (36) of the heat pump in order to direct the air preheated by means of the solar support module (11) to the heat exchanger (36). [2] Solar support module (11) according to the preceding claim, wherein the solar unit (18) comprises an upper plate (24) and a lower plate (26) each having corresponding bores (30), the bores (30) being connected by tubes (28), the tubes (28) forming part of the air path. [3] Solar support module (11) according to the preceding claim, wherein the solar unit (18) is at least partially filled with a mixture of water and glycol and the tubes (28) are at least partially surrounded by the mixture of water and glycol. [4] Solar support module (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an upper side of the housing (12) is formed by a transparent plate (34), in particular a solar glass plate; a lower side of the housing is formed by the solar unit (18); a gap is formed between the transparent plate (34) and the solar unit (18); and the gap forms at least part of the air path. [5] Solar support module (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an upper side of the solar unit (18) is coated with a solar paint. [6] Solar support module (11) according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the tubes (28) have ribs on the inside and / or outside and are made of copper tube. [7] Solar support module (11) according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the solar unit (18) comprises fins (40) between the tubes (28), which are preferably made of copper. [8] Solar support module (11) according to one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the upper plate (24) of the solar unit (18) is made of copper; the lower plate (26) of the solar unit (18) is made of aluminum sheet; and preferably a circumferential housing wall and a bottom side of the housing (12) are thermally insulated. [9] System (10) comprising: a solar support module (11) according to one of the preceding claims, a fan (38); and a heat pump with a heat exchanger (36), wherein the coupling unit (20) is connected to the heat exchanger (36) of the heat pump; and the fan (38) is designed to convey air through the air path. [10] A method for increasing the efficiency of a heat pump, which method can preferably be carried out with a solar support module (11) according to one of claims 1 to 8 or a system (10) according to the preceding claim, comprising the steps: - guiding (S1) air along an air path from an inlet (14) of a housing (12) of a solar support module (11) through the housing (12) to an outlet (16) of the housing (12); - heating (S2) a solar unit (18) of the solar support module (11) by solar radiation; - releasing (S3) the heat of the heated solar unit (18) to the conducted air; and - Directing (S4) the air preheated by means of the solar support module (11) to a heat exchanger (36) of the heat pump.

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