Fan convector

Abstract

A fan coil unit for a dwelling's heating system, the heating system comprising a circuit (17) of a heat transfer fluid, the fan coil unit comprising: - at least one heat exchanger (11) to ensure heat exchange between said heat transfer fluid and an airflow (18) and - at least one fan (12) to force movement of said airflow (18) through said at least one heat exchanger (11). According to the invention, the fan coil unit further comprises one or more hydraulic turbines (13) generating electricity to supply electricity (16) to at least said fan(s) (12).

Description

Technical field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of radiators and more particularly to ventilated radiators or fan-coils. Prior art

[0002] A fan coil unit typically includes a heat exchanger to ensure heat exchange between a heat transfer fluid and an air flow. The air, once heated in the heat exchanger by the heat transfer fluid, then ensures the heating of a room in which the fan coil unit is installed. Typically, such a fan coil unit also includes a fan to force the movement of the air flow through the heat exchanger.

[0003] It is known that such a fan coil unit requires connection to a power supply line. However, while it is relatively easy to anticipate the position of fan coil units in a new building, it is much more complicated to position fan coil units when it comes to building renovation since then the installation of a fan coil unit in a thermally strategic location may prove impossible due to the fact that access to a power line is not directly possible. To connect the fan coil unit, renovation work must in this case also include the installation of a new power line close to it, increasing costs and time of the work.

[0004] Document D 1 (CN 109 595 684 A) discloses a fan coil unit for a thermal system of a dwelling corresponding to the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] Document D 2 (IT UB20 155 323 A) discloses a ventilation system for an electric radiator. Document D 3 (DE 31 06 742 C1) discloses a radiator, in particular a floor convector, equipped with a fan for generating an air current and document D 4 (CZ 304 989 B6) a convector-type heating element equipped with an independent power supply.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is to improve the situation. Summary

[0007] For this purpose, the present disclosure relates to a fan coil equipped with a turbine on the hydraulic flow, generating the electrical energy necessary for its operation. This fan coil does not need to be connected to an electrical line.

[0008] In addition, this fan coil unit uses a fan arrangement that makes it more compact.

[0009] According to a first aspect, there is therefore proposed in claim 1 a fan coil unit for a thermal system of a dwelling, the thermal system comprising a circuit of a heat transfer fluid, the fan coil unit comprising: at least one heat exchanger to ensure heat exchanges between said heat transfer fluid and an air flow and at least one fan to force a movement of said air flow in said at least one heat exchanger, one or more hydraulic turbines generating electricity to supply electricity to at least said fan(s), the fan coil further comprising an electric battery powered by said or at least one of the turbines, this electric battery also being connected to said fan to supply, in part or in full, this fan with energy, when said hydraulic turbine(s) no longer generate enough electricity for nominal operation of the fan coil.

[0010] The features set out in the following paragraphs may, optionally, be implemented, independently of each other or in combination with each other: the fan coil unit comprises a control device, said device being electrically powered by said or at least one of said turbines; the fan coil unit comprises two heat exchangers, the first of said heat exchangers being connected to said circuit of a hot heat transfer fluid and the other exchanger being connected to a circuit of a cold heat transfer fluid; said fan(s) are axial fans; said turbine(s) are sized to remain below a noise level of 30 dB during nominal operation. the heat transfer fluid is hot or cold water. It can be coupled with one or more additives, such as glycol, to improve heat exchanges, prevent freezing or limit the formation of deposits in the hydraulic circuit.

[0011] According to a second aspect, a thermal system for a dwelling is proposed comprising at least one fan coil in one of the embodiments presented above.

[0012] In one embodiment, the thermal system of a dwelling further comprises a circulator ensuring a minimum flow rate of heat transfer fluid in said at least one fan coil. Brief description of the drawings

[0013] Other features, details and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description below, and upon analyzing the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 [ Fig. 1 ] shows a diagram of a fan coil unit comprising a single heat exchanger, a fan, a turbine, a battery, and a control device, as well as the flows connecting these components, according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 [ Fig. 2] shows a diagram of a fan coil unit comprising two heat exchangers, a fan, two turbines, a battery, and a control device, as well as the flows connecting these components, according to a second embodiment. Fig. 3 [ Fig. 3 ] schematically shows a thermal system of a dwelling comprising a fan coil in a third embodiment and a circulator. Description of the embodiments

[0014] Building heating systems often include fan coil units. By heating the air passing through it, a fan coil unit can efficiently heat a room and / or maintain it at a set temperature. To achieve this, it necessarily includes a heat exchanger that transfers heat between a heat transfer fluid that flows through it inside (which circulates through its pipes) and the air in contact with it outside.

[0015] Usually, the heat transfer fluid that flows through the heat exchanger in question is water.

[0016] To enable efficient heat exchange, a fan coil unit circulates the air surrounding the heat exchanger with a fan.

[0017] Such a fan coil unit configured to heat a room is therefore connected to a hot water circuit to provide the heat exchanger with constantly hot water, but also connected to an electrical circuit to supply electricity to the fan and other electronic components it includes.

[0018] Symmetrically, a fan coil configured to cool a room is conventionally connected to a cold water circuit and an electrical circuit.

[0019] However, connecting to the electrical circuit is a constraint, particularly on renovation sites, when a fan coil unit is installed in a location far from the electrical circuit.

[0020] This disclosure therefore discloses a fan coil unit requiring no electrical connection. Reference is now made to the figure 1 , schematically representing such a fan coil unit with all of its components in a first embodiment.

[0021] According to the invention, this fan coil unit comprises an exchanger 11, a fan 12 and a hydraulic turbine 13 generating electricity.

[0022] Advantageously, the hydraulic turbine 13 is placed in the hot water hydraulic circuit 17 supplying the heat exchanger 11. When the water circulates in the circuit, it drives the blades with it, causing the rotor of the hydraulic turbine 13 to rotate. This rotation thus generates electricity intended to supply an electrical circuit 16, comprising the fan 12. The fan 12, once supplied with energy, begins to rotate and creates an air flow 18 stirring the air through the heat exchanger 11.

[0023] The hydraulic turbine 13 is advantageously placed in the water circuit 17 upstream of the heat exchanger 11.

[0024] Alternatively, the hydraulic turbine 13 could be placed downstream of the heat exchanger 11.

[0025] The fan coil unit includes a battery 14 in the electrical circuit 16 supplied with electricity by the hydraulic turbine 13. This battery 14 stores the surplus electricity when the hydraulic turbine 13 generates more electricity than the fan coil unit consumes.

[0026] According to the invention, this battery 14 can also power the fan 12 instead of or in addition to the hydraulic turbine 13 when the latter no longer generates enough electricity for nominal operation of the fan coil. Indeed, the quantity of electricity generated by the hydraulic turbine 13 depends directly on the flow rate of water in the hydraulic circuit 17. Depending on the configurations of the heating system in which the fan coil is installed, this flow rate may vary, and the quantity of electricity generated by the hydraulic turbine 13 as well.

[0027] The fan coil also includes a control panel 15 connected to the electrical circuit 16, allowing in particular an operator to control the operating parameters of the fan coil. Depending on the size of a room, its thermal insulation or its occupancy level for example, the force with which the fan coil heats the room can thus be adjusted. By modifying in particular the average voltage at which the fan 12 is supplied, its rotation speed and air circulation 18 can be controlled, and therefore the force with which the fan coil will heat the room in question.

[0028] In a variant not illustrated, the fan coil unit further comprises one or more integrated or remote temperature sensors placed in the same room as the fan coil unit. This or these sensors communicate their measured temperature to the fan coil unit which further comprises a computer for processing the signals received from this or these temperature sensors. The control panel 15 further allows an operator to set a set temperature and allows the fan coil unit to operate at a suitable speed so that the temperature measured by the sensor reaches or maintains the set temperature.

[0029] In this variant, the control panel also includes a display screen, on which the temperature of the water in the hydraulic circuit and the air in the room is displayed.

[0030] Alternatively, the control panel allows the user to set two set temperatures and define the user's usual "presence" and "absence" time slots, in which each set temperature is respectively effective.

[0031] This control device can be controlled remotely, for example via a wireless communication network.

[0032] Some fan coil units are equipped with a second heat exchanger connected to a second circuit of a heat transfer fluid. Typically, while the first circuit is a hot water circuit, the second is a cold water circuit. This arrangement allows a fan coil unit to both heat and cool a room, especially when it is too hot. Such a fan coil unit is then called "reversible."

[0033] Reference is now made to the figure 2, schematically showing a reversible fan coil unit and all of its components, in a second embodiment.

[0034] The fan coil thus comprises a second heat exchanger 21 through which cold water flows from a second hydraulic circuit 27.

[0035] Advantageously, the fan coil is provided with a second hydraulic turbine 23 in the second hydraulic circuit 27. In fact, the two hydraulic circuits operate alternately (heating is not carried out at the same time as cooling) and the second hydraulic turbine 23 provides an electricity supply to the electrical circuit 16.

[0036] Advantageously, this embodiment allows a power supply to the components placed on the electrical circuit 16, regardless of the operating mode (hot or cold) selected.

[0037] In a non-illustrated variant, the fan coil unit comprises a second fan intended to circulate the air around the second heat exchanger 21.

[0038] But advantageously, as illustrated in the figure 2 , the circuits operating alternately, the same fan 12 can be arranged so as to mix the air from the two heat exchangers. Preferably, the heat exchangers can then be placed side by side along the same first axis and the fan is then arranged so that its axis of rotation is collinear with this first axis.

[0039] In another variant not shown, the fan coil unit comprises a set of fans 12 ensuring the mixing of the air around the heat exchangers. This can be the case when a fan is replaced by several smaller fans, advantageously allowing greater compactness for the fan coil unit.

[0040] For example, the fans 12 may comprise a wheel comprising a plurality of blades extending from the latter, these blades being arranged so that the air flow created by their rotation passes through the fans 12 along their axis of rotation: they are said to be “axial”.

[0041] Alternatively, the blades can be arranged so that the air flow bypasses the fan(s) 12, which are then called “tangential” and advantageously ensure good mixing of the air in the heat exchangers while making the arrangement of the components of the fan coil more compact.

[0042] Depending on the embodiment, the hydraulic turbine(s) are sized to be able to supply the components that require it in the fan coil.

[0043] Advantageously, for reasons of sound comfort, hydraulic turbines can still be sized to remain below a sound level of 30 dB and preferably 25 dB.

[0044] Reference is now made to the figure 3 , schematically representing a thermal system of a dwelling comprising a fan coil in a third embodiment.

[0045] The elements of the fan coil unit of the figure 3 bearing the same references as those of the fan coil illustrated in figure 1 represent the same objects, which will not be described again below.

[0046] Advantageously, this thermal system comprises a circulator 39 which ensures a forced minimum flow in the hydraulic circuit 17. This flow is sufficient to drive the rotation of the blades of the hydraulic turbine 13 present in the same circuit.

[0047] This allows, when the fan coil is inactive, to generate a minimum of electricity in the electrical circuit 16 and thus to recharge the battery 14 and to power the control panel 15 of the fan coil.

[0048] This fan coil illustrated in the figure 3 further comprises a communication system 35, allowing it to communicate the level of its battery to the circulator 39. The circulator can thus adapt its activity: for example, if the battery 14 is full, it is not necessary to ensure the minimum flow rate for its recharge.

[0049] In one variant, the system includes as many circulators as there are hydraulic circuits, so as to ensure a minimum flow rate in all circuits.

Claims

1. A fan-coil for a thermal system of a housing, the thermal system comprising a circuit (17) of a heat transfer fluid, the fan-coil comprising: - at least one heat exchanger (11) to ensure heat exchanges between said heat transfer fluid and an air flow (18) and - at least one fan (12) for forcing a movement of said air flow (18) into said at least one heat exchanger (11), - one or more hydraulic turbines (13) generating electricity to supply at least said fan(s) (12) with electricity (16), characterised in that it further comprises: - an electric battery (14), supplied by said or at least one of said turbines (13), this electric battery (14) also being connected to said fan (12) to partially or totally supply this fan (12) with energy, when said hydraulic turbine(s) (13) no longer generate sufficient electricity for nominal operation of the fan-coil (14).

2. The fan-coil according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a control device (15), said device (15) being electrically supplied (16) by said one or at least one of said turbines (13).

3. The fan-coil according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it further comprises a communication system (35).

4. The fan-coil according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises two heat exchangers (11, 21), the first (11) of said heat exchangers being connected to said circuit (17) of a hot heat transfer fluid and the other exchanger (21) being connected to a circuit (27) of a cold heat transfer fluid.

5. The fan-coil according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said fan(s) (12) are tangential fans.

6. A thermal system for a housing including at least one fan-coil according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The thermal system for a housing according to the preceding claim, further comprising a circulator (39) ensuring minimum flow rate of heat transfer fluid in said at least one fan-coil.

8. The thermal system according to claim 7, characterised in that said fan-coil comprises a communication system (35) for communicating state of its electric battery (14) to said circulator (39) so that this circulator is able to adapt its minimum flow rate.

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