System for supplying a plurality of consumer units arranged in a building with exergy

Description

GEBIET DER ERFINDUNG

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for supplying several consumer units arranged in a building with exergy for heating and / or cooling, the system comprising the several consumer units, wherein each consumer unit has a first high-temperature circuit and a low-temperature circuit with a heat transfer medium, which low-temperature circuit is configured to extract energy in the form of low-temperature heat from a low-temperature energy source, wherein each consumer unit is assigned a heat pump which is configured to supply the first high-temperature circuit of the consumer unit with exergy in the form of heat or cold, and wherein the low-temperature circuit is configured to supply the primary side of each heat pump with low-temperature heat, wherein

[0002] the low-temperature circuit includes a main supply line, via which the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit can be transported from the low-temperature energy source to the consumer units, in particular to the primary sides of the heat pumps, by means of a first group of branch lines. wherein the first group of branch lines is arranged within the building, and wherein the low-temperature circuit comprises a main return line to which the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit can be transported from the heat pumps via a second group of branch lines and via which main return line the heat transfer medium can be transported to the low-temperature energy source, wherein the second group of branch lines is arranged within the building.

[0003] Systems that utilize a low-temperature energy source are often referred to as anergy systems. It's important to note that anergy refers to the portion of energy that is unusable within a given system. Exergy, on the other hand, refers to the portion of energy that is usable within a given system. For example, electric current consists entirely of exergy in any system, while air at ambient temperature within the system consists entirely of anergy, whereas cooler or warmer air within the system contains exergy.

[0004] For the purposes of this description, the term anergy is not used, but instead low-temperature heat, in order to remain independent of the reference system on the one hand, and on the other hand to clarify that low-temperature sources which are low exergetic in relation to their surroundings are also included in the designation.

[0005] The low-temperature energy source can therefore typically be ambient air or geothermal energy. It is also conceivable that it could be waste heat, for example from an industrial process.

[0006] It is known to extract low-temperature heat from a low-temperature energy source by means of a heat transfer medium circulating in a low-temperature circuit and to use it to heat the refrigerant of a central heat pump on its primary side, usually to superheat it, i.e. to evaporate it.

[0007] It is also known to further superheat the usually already evaporated refrigerant of the central heat pump by supplying exergy (electricity) and thus raising it to an even higher temperature level, whereby it releases the high-temperature heat (exergy) generated in this way back to a heat transfer medium of a high-temperature supply circuit, which serves to supply several consumer units of a building with exergy in the form of heat, wherein each consumer unit has at least one high-temperature circuit, which is typically a heating circuit or a domestic hot water circuit (or both).

[0008] In these known systems, the consumer units of a building are therefore supplied with exergy in the form of heat via a high-temperature supply circuit.

[0009] A disadvantage of this approach is that exergy, in the form of heat, is supplied centrally via a high-temperature supply circuit. This results in exergy losses due to the necessary transport within the building to the consumer units. The larger the building and the longer the transport routes—i.e., the larger the high-temperature supply circuit—the greater the exergy losses associated with these systems.

[0010] Furthermore, heat losses are directly proportional to the temperature difference between the heat transfer medium of the high-temperature supply circuit and its surroundings. The greater the temperature difference between the heat transfer medium of the high-temperature supply circuit and its surroundings, the greater the heat losses. Therefore, to minimize these losses, the high-temperature supply circuit must be insulated accordingly.

[0011] Finally, it is also necessary to constantly provide sufficient exergy in the form of heat at the required temperature via the high-temperature supply circuit, as demanded by the consumer unit with the highest temperature requirement, to prevent these consumer units from being undersupplied with heat. This also means that the entire building must be continuously supplied with a high-temperature heat transfer medium at a sufficient flow rate, even if the individual consumer units do not constantly require it.

[0012] From EP 2 322 880 A1, a generic system is known which solves the described problem by not providing a central high-temperature supply circuit, but several decentrally arranged heat pumps which are supplied with low-temperature heat via a low-temperature circuit and each supply a high-temperature circuit of a consumer unit with exergy.

[0013] However, a disadvantage of this system is the inefficient design of the low-temperature circuit, whose heat transfer medium flows through all heat pumps. TASK OF INVENTION

[0014] The object of the invention is therefore to avoid the described disadvantages and to provide a system for supplying several consumer units in a building with exergy in the form of heat, which makes optimal use of available low-temperature heat.

[0015] Another objective of the present invention is to minimize flow resistance in the low-temperature circuit.

[0016] Another objective of the present invention is to minimize the exergy consumption required to operate the system. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] According to the invention, this problem is solved in the system described above by the fact that each branch line of the first group of branch lines and / or each branch line of the second group of branch lines, or at least one branch line of the first group of branch lines and at least one branch line of the second group of branch lines, comprises at least one fitting selected from the following fittings: control valve, pressure-independent control valve, shut-off valve, or 3-way zone valve.

[0018] For the purpose of understanding the invention, it is first necessary to state or define in general terms as follows: The consumer units can be individual residential units of a building, whereby a residential unit can extend over one or more floors of the building.

[0019] From a technical point of view, a residential unit consists of at least one high-temperature circuit or an interconnection of high-temperature circuits, which is supplied with exergy in the form of heat at least at one point in this interconnection.

[0020] Alternatively, a consumer unit could also be, for example, one or more floors of a building, with each floor having one or more high-temperature circuits, and in this case, several residential units could be located on one floor.

[0021] Regardless of whether the consumer units are residential units in a building or floors of a building, each consumer unit includes at least one high-temperature circuit, which, for example, forms a heating circuit for the consumer unit.

[0022] Alternatively, each consumer unit can also have a second high-temperature circuit, which can be a circuit for domestic hot water heating (domestic hot water or drinking water circuit).

[0023] Assigning a heat pump to each consumer unit results in multiple heat pumps being installed in the building. Ideally, each heat pump should be positioned as close as possible to its respective consumer unit.

[0024] For example, in cases where a consumer unit is a residential unit, it may be intended that the associated heat pump is located within the residential unit.

[0025] Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the heat pump assigned to a consumer unit is located at least on the same floor of a building as the consumer unit, in order to allow maintenance even when access to the residential unit is not possible.

[0026] It should be noted at this point that the present invention does not preclude the possibility that a building may also contain consumer units that are not part of the system according to the invention. It is entirely conceivable that a building may have ten consumer units, eight of which are part of the system according to the invention, and two of which are supplied with exergy for heating and / or cooling by other means.

[0027] Compression heat pumps, for example, can be used as heat pumps. In principle, it is also conceivable, for instance, to use thermoacoustic or thermoelectric heat pumps without deviating from the concept of the invention. Reversible heat pumps are also possible, meaning heat pumps that can be operated in two directions and therefore used either for heating or cooling.

[0028] The transport of low-temperature heat from the low-temperature source to the decentralized heat pumps is carried out by means of a low-temperature circuit in which a heat transfer medium (brine) circulates.

[0029] The low-temperature circuit comprises a pumping station with a pump that circulates the heat transfer medium in the low-temperature circuit, as well as two sections, one section running between the pumping station and the low-temperature source and the other section between the pumping station and the heat pumps distributed throughout the building.

[0030] The low-temperature circuit consists of at least one main supply line, through which the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit is transported from the low-temperature energy source to the decentralized consumer units or to the decentralized heat pumps, and at least one main return line, through which the heat transfer medium can be transported back to the low-temperature energy source.

[0031] Preferably, the pump is arranged in at least one main supply line of the low-temperature circuit.

[0032] Furthermore, it is planned that the distribution of the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit to the heat pumps or consumer units distributed throughout the building is carried out from at least one main supply line of the low-temperature circuit via a first group of branch lines. The return transport from the heat pumps or consumer units distributed throughout the building to at least one main return line of the low-temperature circuit is carried out via a second group of branch lines.

[0033] The inclusion of branch lines allows for flexibility in the placement of decentralized heat pumps and better adaptation to local conditions. These branch lines can have a smaller diameter than the main supply and return lines, enabling a more precise distribution of the heat transfer medium in the low-temperature circuit throughout the building.

[0034] The first group of branch lines and / or the second group of branch lines are located inside the building.

[0035] In this way, at least one main supply line and at least one main return line of the low-temperature circuit can also run outside the building and be intended to supply other buildings, while the branch lines to the consumer units run inside the building. It should be noted in this context that "running inside the building" is to be understood as an arrangement that does not preclude the final section of the branch lines, which serves only to connect to at least one main supply line or at least one main return line, from running outside the building.

[0036] It is also conceivable that in larger buildings, at least one main supply line and therefore at least one main return line may have several strands through which the heat transfer medium can be transported to the decentralized heat pumps or consumer units.

[0037] Taking this into account, the arrangement of the fittings defined above in the branch lines according to the invention offers the advantage that the flow rates to the heat pumps of the consumer units can be specifically controlled, even to the point of complete shut-off in the simplest embodiment of the invention, which shut-off can, in principle, be achieved by all the fittings mentioned. The (pressure-independent) control valve additionally enables very precise control of the flow rate, and the 3-way zone valve also makes it possible to divide the flow rate into two zones.

[0038] This makes it possible to supply the heat pumps with a specific amount of low-temperature heat or to bypass the heat pump completely.

[0039] As will be explained in more detail below, the invention, in its simplest embodiment, provides for only one fitting in the branch lines. In further embodiments, several of the aforementioned fittings can also be provided simultaneously in the branch lines.

[0040] While for the invention it initially makes no difference whether the at least one fitting is arranged in the first or second group of branch lines, or possibly in the first group of branch lines for one group of consumer units and in the second group of branch lines for another group of consumer units, a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the at least one fitting is arranged in the second group of branch lines, i.e., in the respective return lines from the heat pumps to the main return line.

[0041] By arranging the valves in the return lines from the heat pumps, finer control of the flow rate is possible, as the pressures in the second group of branch lines are lower than in the first group. This is particularly true for the use of control valves or pressure-independent control valves, which allow for very precise control of the flow rate, even down to complete shut-off.

[0042] By using pressure-independent control valves, the need for additional pumps in the branch lines can be eliminated. This makes the system hydraulically more stable and ensures a constant flow of the heat transfer medium from the low-temperature circuit to the heat pumps via the branch lines. The combination of one pump (main pump) in the low-temperature circuit with one pressure-independent control valve in each of the branch lines to a heat pump also prevents multiple pumps in the circuit from negatively impacting each other hydraulically, which would lead to instability in the low-temperature circuit and increased energy consumption.

[0043] According to the invention, the at least one fitting is designed to interrupt the transport / volume flow of the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit in the first group of branch lines and / or in the second group of branch lines when the heat pump is stationary, and / or depending on the arrangement of the at least one fitting, possibly both in the first group of branch lines and in the second group of branch lines.

[0044] A heat pump is primarily inactive when there is no heat demand from an associated consumer unit. This is typically the case when, for example, the electronic control system of a consumer unit detects that the actual value of one or more room temperatures matches a setpoint, and therefore the heat pump can be deactivated.

[0045] In this case, the fitting according to the invention blocks the flow of the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit in the branch lines. As already described above, all the fittings mentioned allow the complete blocking of the volume flow.

[0046] This is particularly important if the system according to the invention comprises a large number of consumer units.

[0047] In municipal housing projects, for example, a building may contain a two- or three-digit number of consumer units.

[0048] This also entails a corresponding number of branch lines, which together have a corresponding length. By shutting off the branch lines to those consumer units whose heat pumps are not in operation, as described in the invention, heat losses in these branch lines are prevented, as are flow losses in the heat exchangers of the heat pumps.

[0049] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the main supply line and the main return line of the low-temperature circuit are also arranged at least partially, preferably at least from or to the pump of the low-temperature circuit, within the building. For this purpose, both the main supply line and the main return line are routed to different floors of the building.

[0050] Preferably, the temperature of the heat transfer medium in the main supply line of the low-temperature circuit is between -15°C and 25°C, particularly preferably between 5°C and 25°C, since water can then be used as the heat transfer medium. In cases where temperatures below freezing (0°C) are expected at any point in the low-temperature circuit, glycol, monoethylene glycol, propylene glycol, methanol, or similar antifreeze agents are preferably used as the heat transfer medium.

[0051] The temperature of the heat transfer medium in the low-temperature circuit in the main return line is between -20°C and 20°C, particularly preferably between 1°C and 20°C.

[0052] According to a further embodiment of the invention, each consumer unit can be assigned a first heat exchanger, which can be supplied on one side with the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit and on the other side with a heat transfer medium of the first high-temperature circuit. Preferably, this first heat exchanger is supplied by branch lines of the first group of branch lines, as will be described in detail below.

[0053] In this way, the high-temperature circuit can be supplied with low-temperature heat, whereby, depending on the temperature of the heat transfer medium of the high-temperature circuit, heat (waste heat) can be extracted from it, thus enabling cooling of the consumer unit.

[0054] When using a reversible heat pump, heat can be extracted from the high-temperature circuit at two points: in the first heat exchanger (passive cooling) and / or by the heat pump (active cooling).

[0055] When the heat pump is operating, the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit can also be preheated by the heat transfer medium of the high-temperature circuit to optimize the exergy efficiency of the heat pump's operation under certain operating conditions. When the heat pump is not operating, the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit, heated by the first heat exchanger, can be transported to the main return line, bypassing the heat pump, where it is then available to other consumer units.

[0056] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a 3-way zone valve can also be provided, which can be switched such that the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit can be transported to the main return line via the first heat exchanger assigned to the same consumer unit and preferably via the heat pump assigned to the same consumer unit. In this way, the first heat exchanger can either be supplied with the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit or the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit can be transported directly to the primary side of the heat pump, bypassing the first heat exchanger.

[0057] Similarly, by using two 3-way zone valves, only the first heat exchanger can be supplied with the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit, or the first heat exchanger and the heat pump can be supplied one after the other.

[0058] According to the invention, a consumer unit can also have a second heat exchanger which can be supplied on one side by the first high-temperature circuit and on the other side by a second high-temperature circuit, so that a consumer unit can be supplied with heat for heating purposes on the one hand and with heat for domestic hot water preparation on the other hand by means of the first and second high-temperature circuits.

[0059] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the main supply line and / or the main return line for consumer units arranged on different floors in the building run vertically at least from the pump in the main supply line in order to maintain the shortest possible distribution paths when distributing the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit in the building.

[0060] Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that a diverter valve, preferably a three-way mixing valve, is provided in the main supply line to mix the heat transfer medium from the main return line of the low-temperature circuit into the main supply line. In this way, when exergy demand in the form of heat from the consumer units is low, or when sufficient waste heat from the consumer units is available, the temperature of the heat transfer medium in the supply line of the low-temperature circuit can be raised accordingly, thereby making more low-temperature heat available for the primary sides of the heat pumps.

[0061] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one heat pump of a consumer unit and the at least one fitting and / or the first heat exchanger and / or the second heat exchanger of the same consumer unit associated with this heat pump are arranged in a common housing, which makes it possible to modernize an existing system quickly and easily by replacing the aforementioned components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0062] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawings.

[0063] This shows: Fig. 1 A system for supplying several consumer units arranged in a building with a high-temperature exergy circuit for heating and / or cooling. Fig. 2 A system for supplying several consumer units arranged in a building with two high-temperature exergy circuits for heating and / or cooling. Fig. 3 A system for supplying several consumer units arranged in a building with exergy for heating and / or cooling, with two high-temperature circuits and a first heat exchanger for heating or cooling. Fig. 4 A system for supplying several consumer units arranged in a building with exergy for heating and / or cooling, with a high-temperature circuit and a first heat exchanger for heating or cooling. Fig. 5 A system for supplying several consumer units arranged in a building with different exergy sources.

[0064] Fig.1 Figure 1 shows a system according to the invention for supplying several consumer units 1 arranged in a building 6 with exergy in the form of heat or cold (the latter in the case of a reversible heat pump).

[0065] The system consists of a low-temperature circuit 3, several consumer units 1, each of which has at least one first high-temperature circuit 5, and decentralized heat pumps 4, wherein each consumer unit 1 is assigned a heat pump 4.

[0066] In the present embodiment according to Fig.1 Each consumer unit 1 within building 6 is assigned a heat pump 4. However, it is also conceivable that only two of the three consumer units 1 are each assigned a heat pump 4, and the third consumer unit 1 is supplied with exergy for heating (or cooling) in another way, as is the case, for example, with... Fig.5 This is evident. Therefore, "multiple consumer units" does not necessarily refer to all consumer units in a building, but may also refer to only a subset of them.

[0067] Furthermore, it is not excluded that each consumer unit 1 is assigned another heat pump. However, according to the invention, at least one heat pump 4 is provided, which is assigned to each consumer unit 1.

[0068] The heat pump can be a reversible heat pump, i.e., it can be used to add or remove exergy in the form of heat from the high-temperature cycle 5.

[0069] The low-temperature circuit 3 of the system according to the invention comprises at least one pump 16, which in the present embodiment is arranged in the basement 6a of the building 6, and a heat transfer medium circulating in the low-temperature circuit 3 in order to extract low-temperature heat from a low-temperature energy source 2.

[0070] In the present embodiment, the low-temperature circuit 3 is formed by a main supply line 7 and a main return line 9, wherein the pump 16 is arranged in the main supply line 7 and transports the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 to the heat pumps 4 of the consumer units 1 and supplies their primary sides with low-temperature heat.

[0071] It is also advantageous, and as is known per se, to provide, as shown in the figures, that a hydraulic separator 24 connects the main supply line 7 with the main return line 9. In this case, it is also advantageous to arrange another pump 25 in the main return line 9.

[0072] Likewise, as is also shown in the figures, a fitting 26 in the form of a control, shut-off or overflow valve can be provided at the upper end of the main supply line 7, which is designed as a riser.

[0073] As already mentioned, in the present embodiment, the main supply line 7 and the main return line 9 run vertically within the building (thus as a riser) and lead to each floor. The direct supply of the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 from the main supply line 7 to the respective consumer units 1 and thus to the individual heat pumps 4 is carried out via a first group of branch lines 8, which are correspondingly smaller in dimension than the main supply line 7. The same applies to a second group of branch lines 10, via which the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 is transported again from the respective consumer units 1 or the heat pumps 4 assigned to them to the main return line 9.

[0074] The primary side of each heat pump 4 of a consumer unit 1 is therefore supplied with the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 via a branch line 8 from the first group of branch lines. After the low-temperature heat has been transferred to the heat pumps 4, the heat transfer medium flows back into the low-temperature circuit 3 via a branch line 10 of the second group of branch lines.

[0075] As mentioned, the main supply line 7 and the main return line 9 are located partially within building 6, specifically from pump 16 (located in basement 6a) and hydraulic separator 24, and from the additional pump 25. The same applies to the first group of branch lines 8 and the second group of branch lines 10. The distribution of the heat transfer medium from the low-temperature circuit 3 via the main supply line 7 and the branch lines 8 to the heat pumps 4, as well as the return via the branch lines 10 to the main return line 9, therefore takes place entirely within the building.Since the heat transfer medium has temperatures between -15°C and 25°C in the main supply line and temperatures 2K to 20K lower in the main return line, and is not heated before being transported to the consumer units, exergy losses during transport can be kept low due to the small temperature difference to the temperature inside the building.

[0076] In the present embodiment, compression heat pumps are used purely as an example.

[0077] In the heat pumps 4, heat is therefore extracted from the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 on their primary sides, as is known per se, so that the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 cools down and the refrigerant of the heat pumps 4 is heated or superheated. By supplying exergy in the form of electricity, the refrigerant of the heat pumps 4 is further heated or superheated, so that exergy in the form of heat can be transferred to the first high-temperature circuits 5 of the consumer units 4 on the secondary sides of the heat pumps 4.

[0078] In this context, the term high-temperature circuit 5 should not necessarily be understood as a circuit whose heat transfer medium has a "high" temperature, but rather serves to distinguish it from the low-temperature circuit 3. The supply temperature of the heat transfer media in the first high-temperature circuit 5 is, in any case, higher than the supply temperature of the heat transfer medium in the low-temperature circuit 3.

[0079] Depending on the purpose of the first high-temperature circuits 5, their flow temperature can range between 20°C and 70°C, and in special cases even higher. For example, a first high-temperature circuit 5 could be an underfloor heating system, so that the flow temperature of the heat transfer medium in such a first high-temperature circuit 5, which is circulated by a pump 18, could be between 28°C and 35°C. Alternatively, a first high-temperature circuit 5 could also be a radiator circuit or a domestic hot water circuit, with correspondingly higher flow temperatures for the heat transfer medium in the first high-temperature circuit 5.

[0080] In the Fig.1 In the illustrated embodiment, the first high-temperature circuits 5 are typically underfloor heating systems operated with a maximum flow temperature of the heat transfer medium of approximately 35°C. This ensures that the difference between the flow temperature of the heat transfer medium in the low-temperature circuit 3 and the flow temperatures of the heat transfer medium in the first high-temperature circuits 5 of the consumers 1 is not too large, allowing the heat pumps 4 to be operated economically. The heating loops of the underfloor heating systems are designated with the reference numeral 23. If the first high-temperature circuit 5 is a heating circuit with radiators, the symbol designated with the reference numeral 23 represents one or more radiators.

[0081] According to the invention, for the regulation and supply of the individual consumer units 1 with the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3, it is provided that at least one fitting 11 is arranged in each of the branch lines 10, via which at least the flow of the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 to the respective consumer units 1 can be regulated.

[0082] In the present embodiment, the fitting 11 is a control valve, preferably a pressure-independent control valve, which guarantees a defined volume flow in the branch line 10 that is independent of the pressure and can also completely shut off the volume flow.

[0083] Preferably, the pressure-independent control valve 11 is part of a control loop (not shown) and is controlled, for example, depending on the load requirement of the associated heat pump 4. That is, depending on the load requirement of the associated heat pump, the pressure-independent control valve 11 enables a larger or a lower flow rate in the corresponding branch line 10. As mentioned at the outset, an arrangement of the pressure-independent control valve 11 in the respective branch line 8 is also possible, or, for example, with two consumer units in branch line 8 and one consumer unit in branch line 10, without deviating from the inventive concept.

[0084] However, the arrangement in the branch lines 10, i.e. after the heat pumps 4, is advantageous because in this case the pressure is already reduced by the consumers of the consumer units 1 and is therefore lower at the valve 11, which allows for finer control due to the lower force required, than if these were arranged in the branch lines 8.

[0085] Alternatively, it could be fitting 11 in the Fig.1 It could also be a simple shut-off valve, which is only able to allow or block the flow of volume to or from the associated consumer unit 1 (branch line 8).

[0086] In principle, requirements concerning the control of the valve 11 can arise from the first 5 and / or second high-temperature circuit 15 (see Fig.2 and 3). However, it is not excluded that other parameters may also serve as the basis for requirements.

[0087] For example, the following control variables (not exhaustive) can be used to control the valve 11 (control / shut-off of the volume flow): • Switching contact request from at least the first high-temperature circuit 5 • Continuous control signal based on a request from at least the first high-temperature circuit 5 • Supply or return temperature of the low-temperature circuit 3 • Supply or return temperature of the first high-temperature circuit 5 • Temperature difference between the supply and return temperatures of the first high-temperature circuit 5 • Amount of heat released in the first high-temperature circuit 5 • Amount of heat released in the low-temperature circuit 3 • Flow velocities of the heat transfer media in the low-temperature circuit 3 and / or at least in the first high-temperature circuit 5

[0088] Similarly, predictive control signals can be used to optimize the system and control valve 11.

[0089] Regardless, as in Fig.1 As shown, a mixing valve 17, preferably a three-way mixing valve, is provided in the main supply line 7, preferably upstream of the first consumer unit 1, through which the cooled heat transfer medium located in the main return line 9 can be mixed into the main supply line 7. This allows, as will be shown below, the waste heat from consumer units 1 with lower heat requirements to be used to heat the heat transfer medium of the main supply line 7.

[0090] Fig.2 shows a system according to the invention for supplying several consumer units 1 arranged in a building with exergy in the form of heat or cold, as is the case in Fig.1 shown, however with two high-temperature circuits 5.15 per consumer unit 1.

[0091] The first high-temperature circuit 1 is, as already mentioned in Fig.1 The first is a heating circuit including pump 18. The second high-temperature circuit 15 is a domestic hot water and / or drinking water circuit, which also has a pump 18 and can transfer heat to a hot water storage tank 22.

[0092] Unlike in the embodiment according to Fig.1 In the supply line of the first high-temperature circuit 5, a fitting 20 in the form of a 3-way zone valve is arranged, through which the heat transfer medium of the first high-temperature circuit 5 can be directed to a second heat exchanger 14, where it can transfer heat to the second high-temperature circuit 15 and then be directed back into the return line of the first high-temperature circuit 5.

[0093] In contrast to the in Fig.1 The system according to the invention, as depicted, is used in the Fig.2 In the system shown according to the invention, the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 is used to supply the heating circuits 5 and domestic hot water / drinking water circuits 15 of the consumer units 1 jointly with exergy in the form of heat via the respective associated heat pumps 4, while in the case of the in Fig.1 In the depicted system, only one high-temperature circuit 5 (heating circuit) per consumer unit 1 is supplied with exergy in the form of heat via the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 and the heat pumps 4.

[0094] The two systems according to Fig.1 and 2 They are therefore identical with regard to the supply of low-temperature heat from the low-temperature circuit 3 to the primary sides of the heat pumps 4, but differ with regard to the consumers per consumer unit 1. The same applies to the arrangement of the fitting 11 as to Fig.1 Said.

[0095] Fig.3 Shows a further embodiment of a system according to the invention for supplying several consumer units 1 arranged in a building with exergy in the form of heat or cold. In contrast to the systems described in the Fig.1 and 2 The systems shown make it possible to Fig.3 The system shown also passively supplies the consumer units with exergy in the form of cold.

[0096] For this purpose, a first heat exchanger 12 is provided for each consumer unit 1, which can be supplied on one side with low-temperature heat from the low-temperature circuit 3 and on the other side with the heat transfer medium of the first high-temperature circuit 5 of the consumer unit 1.

[0097] The first heat exchanger 12 is in the present embodiment according to Fig.3 supplied with the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 via the branch line 8.

[0098] In addition to the valve 11 in the branch line 10, two further valves 13 and 27 are provided in the branch line 8. In this embodiment, valve 11 is a pressure-independent control valve with which the flow rate in the branch line 10 can be controlled very precisely. Valves 13 and 27 are 3-way zone valves, each with one inlet and two outlets.

[0099] Fitting 13 makes it possible to direct the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3, transported via the respective branch line 8, to the first heat exchanger 12 via a first zone of the branch line 8.

[0100] Alternatively, the fitting 13 can completely shut off this supply, thereby reducing the volume flow of the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 transported via the branch line 8, as in the case of the system according to Fig.2 , can be transported via a second zone of the two-pipe 8 to the heat pump 4 assigned to the respective consumer unit 1.

[0101] If necessary, fitting 13 can also completely block the flow of water.

[0102] On the consumer side 1, the first high-temperature circuit 5 is opposite the one in Fig.2 The system shown is extended such that it is routed via the first heat exchanger 12. Specifically, the first high-temperature circuit 5 feeds the heat exchanger 12 via a heat dissipation section 5a, which forms part of the high-temperature circuit 5. This allows, for example, in summer when the high-temperature circuit 5 is not needed for heating purposes, the heat transfer medium of the high-temperature circuit 5 to absorb heat via its heating surfaces 23. It can then be transported via a branch from the return line of the first high-temperature circuit 5 to the first heat exchanger 12, where it can transfer heat to the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3. Subsequently, after cooling, it is directed back to the heating surfaces 23 in the supply line of the high-temperature circuit 5, which is protected by a check valve 21. In this case, the heating surfaces 23 act as cooling surfaces because the heat transfer medium has a lower temperature than the ambient temperature.

[0103] The heat transferred via the first heat exchanger 12 to the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 can increase its temperature in the branch line 8 supplying the consumer unit 1, so that the associated heat pump 4 can be supplied on its primary side with warmer heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 and thus less exergy in the form of electricity is required to supply the high-temperature circuit 5 with exergy in the form of heat.

[0104] In the event that no heat is required for heating the high-temperature circuit 5 of a consumer unit 1 and the heat pump 4 assigned to this consumer unit 1 is not in operation, the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3, heated by means of the first heat exchanger 12, is transported without transferring heat to the heat pump 4 via the bypass line 29 and via the branch line 10, bypassing the heat pump 4, into the main return line 9, where it contributes to the general temperature increase of the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3, thereby enabling other consumer units 1 that require heat to save exergy.

[0105] In this way, the waste heat from one of the consumer units 1, which enables the cooling of this consumer unit 1, can be used to operate the heat pumps 4 of other consumer units 1 more exergy-efficiently, since less exergy needs to be supplied via these heat pumps to supply the respective first high-temperature circuit 5 (indirectly the respective second high-temperature circuit 15) with the required heat.

[0106] The fitting 27, which is also designed here as a 3-way zone valve, enables this described switching, so that the heat transfer medium after the first heat exchanger 12 can either be transported further into the second zone of the branch line 8 to the heat pump 4 or can flow via the bypass line 29 into the associated branch line 10.

[0107] In this case, the introduction into the branch line 10 preferably takes place upstream of the fitting 11, which in this embodiment is arranged in the branch line 10 in order to be able to control the volume flow.

[0108] It should be noted at this point, however, that the fitting 11 does not necessarily have to be provided in the branch line 10, as already mentioned at the beginning, but can also be provided in the branch line 8, e.g. upstream before the fitting 13.

[0109] In general terms, it can be stated at this point that in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig.3 A pressure-independent control valve 11 is not necessarily required if the flow rate in branch lines 8 and 10 is to be completely stopped and passive cooling is neither desired nor possible. In this case, the entire flow rate can be blocked in branch line 8 via the 3-way zone valve 13 (or the 3-way zone valve 27 if the fitting 13 is configured accordingly).

[0110] In practice, however, the system is used according to Fig.3 The system includes both a control valve, in particular a pressure-independent control valve 11, and the aforementioned 3-way zone valves, in order to be able to control the volume flow effectively on the one hand and to control the passive cooling via the first heat exchanger 12 effectively on the other.

[0111] When using a reversible heat pump, depending on the temperature difference between the heat transfer medium in the first high-temperature circuit 5 and the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3, the switching valve 13 can also be switched in such a way that the first heat exchanger 12 is not supplied with the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3, but the respective heat pump 4 is in operation, thus enabling active cooling of the heat transfer medium of the first high-temperature circuit 5. This in Fig.3 The described system thus enables passive cooling via the first heat exchanger 12 (when the heat pump 4 is stationary) and active cooling with the heat pump 4 running but the first heat exchanger 12 is not being used. Depending on the temperature conditions, a mixed operation is also conceivable in order to operate the respective heat pump 4 efficiently. In this case, the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit 3 first flows through the first heat exchanger 12 and then absorbs additional heat from the first high-temperature circuit 5 at the primary side of the associated, reversibly operated heat pump 4.

[0112] It should also be mentioned here that passive cooling will be used in practice when there is no need to heat the consumer unit 1 via the high-temperature circuit 5. However, it must be taken into account that the high-temperature circuit 5 is also used to heat the domestic hot water 22 via the second heat exchanger 14. Therefore, it makes sense to supply the heat transfer medium from the low-temperature circuit 3, heated via the first heat exchanger 12, to the primary side of the heat pump in order to heat the high-temperature circuit 5 and subsequently the second high-temperature circuit 15.

[0113] Fig.4 Ultimately, it shows a system like in Fig.1 shown, however with a heat dissipation section 5a and a first heat exchanger 12 as in Fig.3 depicted. With the in Fig.4 The system shown allows for simple active and passive cooling of the consumer units.

[0114] In summary, the following configuration and operating possibilities of the system according to the invention result: The possibility of supplying consumer units 1 within a building 6 with exergy in the form of heat or cold to supply a first high-temperature circuit 5 for each consumer unit 1, which first high-temperature circuit 5 is designed as a heating or cooling circuit (active cooling by means of a reversible heat pump 4). Such a system is in Fig.1 depicted.

[0115] A second high-temperature circuit 15, designed as a domestic hot water circuit (domestic hot water / drinking water circuit), can be supplied with exergy to each consumer unit 1 via the first high-temperature circuit 5. Such a system is in Fig.2 depicted.

[0116] Possibility of supplying consumer units 1 within a building 6 with exergy in the form of heat to supply a high-temperature circuit for each consumer unit 1, which is designed as a circuit for domestic hot water heating (domestic hot water / drinking water circuit). Such a system is not shown in the figures, but it must be in Fig.1 only the first high-temperature circuit 5 through the second high-temperature circuit 15 Fig.2 be replaced.

[0117] Additional care for those in the Fig.1 and 2 The systems shown utilize exergy in the form of cold to cool the high-temperature circuit 5 (passive cooling when the heat pump is off). Such a system is in Fig.3 As shown. In this system, the first high-temperature circuit 5 can also be used to preheat the heat transfer medium in the low-temperature circuit before it is supplied to the primary side of the heat pump.

[0118] The system according to Fig.4 corresponds to the one from Fig.3 however without a second high-temperature circuit 15 or the one from Fig.1 however, with passive cooling.

[0119] Since most consumer units 1 in practice each have a high-temperature circuit 5 for heating purposes and a high-temperature circuit 15 for domestic hot water heating, the system in Fig.2 and 3 The systems presented and the procedures that can be carried out with them are very practical systems that can also be easily implemented retroactively in existing buildings.

[0120] According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, in a system according to Fig.1 It is provided that the fitting 11, in particular designed as a pressure-independent control valve 11, and the heat pump 4 are arranged in a common housing.

[0121] In a system like in Fig.2 As shown, according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the fitting 11, in particular designed as a pressure-independent control valve 11, the heat pump 4 and the second heat exchanger 14 are arranged in a common housing.

[0122] In a system like in Fig.3 As shown, according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the fitting 11, in particular designed as a pressure-independent control valve 11, the heat pump 4, as well as the first heat exchanger 12 and the second heat exchanger 14, as well as the fittings 13 and 27, in particular designed as a 3-way zone valve, are arranged in a common housing.

[0123] In a system like in Fig.4 As shown, according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the fitting 11, in particular designed as a pressure-independent control valve 11, the heat pump 4 and the first heat exchanger 12 are arranged in a common housing.

[0124] This makes retrofitting / upgrading existing systems easy to implement, especially in buildings with a large number of consumer units.

[0125] Fig.5 Finally, a building with several consumer units is shown schematically (1), with two consumer units as in Fig.4 The consumer units are represented as being supplied with exergy, and one of the consumer units is supplied by means of an alternative exergy source, for example a fireplace / stove or a gas boiler.

[0126] The system according to Fig.5 This is merely intended to illustrate that in a building 6 both systems according to the invention and conventional systems (for example in the form of a boiler 28) can be provided for supplying the consumer units with exergy. BEZUGSZEICHENLISTE

[0127] 1 Consumer units 2 Low-temperature energy source 3 Low-temperature circuit 4 Heat pump 5 First high-temperature circuit 5a Heat distribution section (of the first high-temperature circuit) 6 Building 6a Basement 7 Main supply line 8 First group of branch lines 9 Main return line 10 Second group of branch lines 11 Control valve 12 First heat exchanger 13 Diverter valve 14 Second heat exchanger 15 Second high-temperature circuit 16 Pump (low-temperature circuit) 17 Mixing valve 18 Pump (first and second high-temperature circuits) 19 Flow direction of the main supply line 20 Valve 21 Check valve 22 Hot water storage tank 23 Heating surfaces 24 Hydraulic separator 25 Pump 26 Valve 27 Valve 28 Boiler 29 Bypass line

Claims

1. System for supplying multiple consumer units (1) arranged in a building (6) with exergy for heating and / or cooling, the system comprising • the building (6), • the multiple consumer units (1), each consumer unit having a first high-temperature circuit (5), • a low-temperature circuit (3) with a heat transfer medium, which low-temperature circuit (3) is able to extract energy in form of low-temperature heat from a low-temperature energy source (2), whereby each consumer unit (1) is associated a heat pump (4) which is configured to supply the first high-temperature circuit (5) of the consumer unit (1) with exergy in form of heat, and whereby the low-temperature circuit (3) is configured to supply the primary side of each heat pump (4) with low-temperature heat, whereby the low-temperature circuit (3) comprises a main supply pipe (7) via which the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit (3) is transportable from the low-temperature energy source (2) to the consumer units (1), in particular to the primary sides of the heat pumps (4), via a first group of branch pipes (8), whereby the first group of branch pipes (8) is arranged within the building (6), whereby the low-temperature circuit (3) comprises a main return pipe (9) to which the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit (3) is transportable from the heat pumps (4) via a second group of branch pipes (10), and via which main return pipe (9) the heat transfer medium is transportable to the low-temperature energy source (2), whereby the second group of branch pipes (10) is arranged within the building (6), characterised in that each branch pipe (8) of the first group of branch pipes and / or each branch pipe (10) of the second group of branch pipes (10) or at least one branch pipe (8) of the first group of branch pipes and at least one branch pipe (10) of the second group of the branch pipes comprises at least one valve (11, 13, 27) which is chosen from the following valves: control valve or pressure-independent control valve or stop valve or three-way zone valve, whereby the at least one valve (11, 13, 27) is configured to interrupt the transport of the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit in the first group of branch pipes (8) and / or in the second group of branch pipes (10), or in branch pipes (8) of the first group of branch pipes as well as in branch pipes (10) of the second group of branch pipes, when the heat pump (4) is at a standstill, whereby a heat pump (4) is at a standstill when no heat demand is received from the associated consumer unit (1).

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the main supply pipe (7) and / or the main return pipe (9) are arranged at least partly within the building (6).

3. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each consumer unit (1) comprises a first heat exchanger (12) which is suppliable on the one side with the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit (3) and on the other side with a heat transfer medium of the first high-temperature circuit (5).

4. System according to claim 3, characterised in that the at least one valve (11, 13, 27) is switchable in such a way that the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit (3) is transportable via the first heat exchanger (12) and, optionally, via the heat pump (4) associated to this consumer unit (1) to the main return pipe (9).

5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each consumer unit (1) comprises a second heat exchanger (14) which is suppliable on the one side by the first high-temperature circuit (5) and on the other side by a second high-temperature circuit (15).

6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first high-temperature circuit (5) is a heating circuit.

7. System according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the second high-temperature circuit (15) is a domestic water circuit.

8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the low-temperature circuit (3) comprises a pump (16) arranged in the main supply pipe (7) which pump (16) is arranged within the building (6).

9. System according to claim 8, characterised in that the main supply pipe (7) and / or the main return pipe (9) is arranged to extend vertically from the pump (16) arranged in the main supply pipe (7) for consumer units (1) arranged in the building (6) on different floors and above each other.

10. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a mixing valve, preferably a three-way mixing valve (17), is arranged in the main supply pipe (7) to mix the heat transport medium from the main return pipe (9) of the low-temperature circuit (3) into the main supply pipe (7).

11. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one heat pump (4) of a consumer unit (1) and at least one valve (11, 13, 27) associated to this heat pump and / or the first heat exchanger (12) of the same consumer unit (1) and / or the second heat exchanger (14) of the same consumer unit (1) are arranged in a common housing.

12. Method to supply multiple consumer units (1) arranged in a building (6) with exergy for heating and / or cooling, whereby each consumer unit (1) is associated a heat pump (4) configured to supply a first high-temperature circuit (5) of the associated consumer unit (1) with exergy in form of heat and / or cold, and whereby a first group of branch pipes (8) is provided, by which a heat transfer medium is supplied to the primary side of each heat pump (4) from a main supply pipe (7) of a low-temperature circuit (3), and a second group of branch pipes (10) is provided, by which the heat transfer medium is transported, after heat release / heat absorption in the heat pumps (4), into a main return pipe (9) of the low-temperature circuit (3), characterised in that the volume flows of the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit (3) for supplying the heat pumps (4) in the branch pipes (8) of the first group of branch pipes and / or in the branch pipes (10) of the second group of branch pipes, or in branch pipes (8) of the first group of branch pipes as well as in branch pipes (10) of the second group of branch pipes are controlled by at least one valve (11, 13, 27), which is chosen from the following valves: control valve or pressure-independent control valve or stop valve or three-way zone valve, whereby, when a heat pump (4) is at a standstill, the at least one valve (11, 13, 27) associated to this heat pump interrupts the volume flow of the heat transfer medium to or from this heat pump (4), whereby a heat pump (4) is at a standstill when no heat demand is received from the associated consumer unit (1).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterised in that the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit (3) is circulated by a pump (16) and the transport of the heat transfer medium takes place, from the pump (16), within the building (6).

14. Method according to any one of claims 12 or 13, characterised in that the heat transfer medium of the low-temperature circuit (3) is supplied to a first heat exchanger (12) of a consumer unit (1), through which a heat transfer medium of a first high-temperature circuit (5) of the consumer unit (1) flows.

15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that the heat transfer medium of the first high-temperature circuit (5) flows through the first heat exchanger (12) and / or a second heat exchanger (14), which second heat exchanger (14) being flowed through by a heat transfer medium of a second high-temperature circuit (15) of the consumer unit (1).

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