Portable construction site heat pump system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable construction site heat pump system, the heat pump system (10) comprising - a heat pump (20) configured to control temperature of a liquid medium - a storage tank (30) for storing the liquid medium, - a first portable fan air unit (41), wherein the storage tank (30), the heat pump (20) and the first portable fan air unit (41) are connected to each other by conduits (51, 52, 53) so that the liquid medium is able to flow in a closed loop through the heat pump (20), the storage tank (30) and the at least one first portable fan air unit (41).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable heat pump system for a construction site. The system is used to establish and maintain a suitable working temperature during construction work.BACKGROUND

[0002] On construction sites, workers are operating in outdoor climate for a prolonged time period until a building is finished. This means freezing temperatures in wintertime in colder climates and risk of heat stress in summertime in warmer climates that pose dangers to workers. There is also the risk of freezing, overheating or damp conditions for building materials and components.

[0003] To alleviate this, many construction sites use a heating system to provide heating or a cooling system to provide cooling. However, on a large site open to the air a very large volume of air must be treated continuously for long time periods. This requires large capacity in the system and is very costly.

[0004] To be suitable for use in a construction site, a heating or cooling system must be portable since no existing heating or cooling system is in place. Prior art solutions typically use a portable burner where fuel is burned to heat the air directly or to heat a fluid for a heat exchanger. There are also cooling systems that use ice or cold water for this purpose. One such system is known from KR101670625B1 where a burner is used in wintertime to heat water in a tank. In summertime, the burner is not used and instead ice is placed directly into the tank to cool the water.

[0005] Such systems are typically cumbersome to manage, in particular due to the need for transporting large quantities of ice in summer and the risk of burns in winter. They also add pollution with small particles that pose a health risk for workers, in particular in construction sites in cities where air quality is already poor. Furthermore, using fossil fuels is unsustainable from an environmental standpoint.

[0006] There is therefore a need for an improved system that solves these problems.SUMMARY

[0007] The object of the present invention is to eliminate or at least to minimize the problems discussed above. This is achieved by a portable construction heat pump system according to the appended independent claims.

[0008] The portable construction site heat pump system according to the invention comprises a heat pump configured to control temperature of a liquid medium and a storage tank for storing the liquid medium, and the system also comprises a first portable fan air unit. The storage tank, the heat pump and the first portable fan air unit are connected to each other by conduits so that the liquid medium is able to flow in a closed loop through the heat pump, the storage tank and the at least one first portable fan air unit.

[0009] The portable construction site heat pump system solves the problems of the prior art by using a heat pump and at least one portable fan air unit that can be placed anywhere within the construction site and provide a flow of heated or cooled air to achieve a desired heating or cooling. The system uses electrical power to eliminate the need for fossil fuels, and by using the liquid medium the transfer from the heat pump to the portable air fan unit is rendered efficient and convenient. Apart from creating a suitable temperature for workers in the construction site, the portable fan air unit also ensures that building materials and components are prevented from freezing or overheating and that substances such as recently poured concrete is able to dry quickly so that undesired delays in the building process are avoided.

[0010] Suitably, the system also comprises at least one additional portable fan air unit connected by conduits to a first branch connector arranged upstream of the first portable fan unit and to a second branch connector arranged downstream of the first portable fan unit such that the at least one additional portable fan air unit is connected in parallel with the first portable fan air unit. Thereby, the branch connectors enables coupling more than one portable fan air unit to the system and therefore enables heating or cooling of a larger area. Connecting the fan air heaters in parallel enables distributing them as desired in the construction site and also moving and rearranging one of them without having to consider the position of the others since each fan air unit has its own conduits connected to the system.

[0011] Also, the system may comprise at least two, preferably at least three, additional portable fan air units connected to the first branch connector and the second branch connector in parallel with the first portable fan air unit. Thereby, multiple fan air heaters can be connected in parallel and be arranged in different locations within the construction site so that the system is able to heat or cool an even larger area. It is also highly space efficient to be able to heat multiple fan air units using the same heat pump.

[0012] Suitably, the first and second branch connectors are configured to enable a releasable coupling of at least one additional portable fan air unit in the system. Thereby, additional portable fan air units can be added to or removed from the system as desired, to adapt the system to the heating or cooling requirements of a specific construction site.

[0013] In some embodiments, the system further comprises at least one additional portable fan air unit connected in series downstream of the first portable fan air unit. Thereby, more than one fan air unit can be used in the system, and by arranging them in series a simple and robust arrangement of conduits can be achieved. Also, by providing the fan air units in series, fewer components are needed in the system since no additional pump for circulating the liquid medium is needed.

[0014] In some embodiments, fan air units arranged in parallel are combined with fan air units arranged in series.

[0015] Suitably, the system also comprises a transport frame on which the heat pump and the storage tank are mounted. Thereby, a robust and convenient mounting of the system is achieved and transportation is facilitated. The transport frame may also comprises a holding area for housing the first portable fan air unit and optionally the at least one additional portable fan air unit during transport. Thereby, the fan air units can be transported together with the other components of the system and do not require separate transportation and mounting when the system is set up at the construction site.

[0016] In embodiments comprising the transport frame, said transport frame may comprise a lift portion for enabling lifting of the portable construction site heat pump system. This further facilitates transport and handling of the system.

[0017] Also, the system may comprise an inlet arranged in fluid communication with the storage tank for supply of liquid medium to the storage tank. Thereby, additional liquid medium can be supplied at any time to maintain a suitable volume in the system. This is particularly advantageous when adding or removing fan air units since this generally changes the volume available and / or the volume required to efficiently operate the system. Also, in case of any leakage or evaporation in the system, it is highly suitable to be able to refill to a desired level.

[0018] Suitably, the system also comprises a flow pump configured to pump the liquid medium in the system. Thereby, circulation of the liquid medium is further improved, in particular in embodiments where multiple fan air units are arranged in parallel.

[0019] In some embodiments, at least the first portable fan air unit, optionally also the at least one additional portable fan air units, comprise(s) wheels for facilitating movement along a floor of a construction site. Thereby, movement and distribution of the fan air units in the construction site is further facilitated.

[0020] The system may also comprise at least one filter for capturing particles in the liquid medium, said at least one filter preferably being arranged upstream of the heat pump. Thereby, the liquid medium is kept free from contaminants that could otherwise cause clogging or a decrease in efficiency.

[0021] Many additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood by the skilled person in view of the detailed description below.DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, wherein Fig. 1discloses a portable construction site heat pump system according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2discloses the portable construction site heat pump system according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3discloses schematically component of the portable construction site heat pump system mounted on a transport frame; and Fig. 4discloses a perspective view of a portable fan air unit.

[0023] All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the respective embodiments, whereas other parts may be omitted or merely suggested. Any reference number appearing in multiple drawings refers to the same object or feature throughout the drawings, unless otherwise indicated.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] A portable construction site heat pump system 10 according to the invention will now be described in a first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and a second embodiment shown in Fig. 2. The first and second embodiments differ from each other mainly in the arrangement of a first portable fan air unit 41 and an additional portable fan air unit 42 that are connected in parallel in the first embodiment and in series in the second embodiment. In other respects, the embodiments are similar or identical. Furthermore, since the system 10 can comprise a plurality of portable fan air units the embodiments can be combined, e.g. so that the additional fan air unit 42 of the second embodiment can be connected in series with one of the fan air units 41, 42 of the first embodiment.

[0025] As used herein, the terms "upstream" denotes a component or conduit arranged before another in view of a flow of liquid medium in the system 10. Thus, if a first component is upstream of a second this means that a given quantity of liquid medium will pass through the first component before reaching the second. Similarly, the term "downstream" denotes a component or conduit arranged after another so that a given quantity of liquid medium passes through a component upstream before reaching a component downstream.

[0026] Fig. 1 discloses the portable construction site heat pump system 10, comprising a heat pump 20 that is configured to use ambient air for heating or cooling a liquid medium in order to control its temperature. The liquid medium is preferably water but can in some embodiments be another liquid. One suitable heat pump for use with the present invention is the T-CAP (manufactured by Panasonic) but other heat pumps can also advantageously be used. For a larger construction site, a suitable output of the heat pump is 16kW.

[0027] The liquid medium is transported from the heat pump 20 to a storage tank 30 through a first conduit 51. The storage tank 30 suitably has a volume of 100 liters but can also be larger or smaller depending on how the system 10 is dimensioned. For a larger number of portable fan air units 41, 42 a larger volume of the storage tank 30 would be suitable, whereas only one portable fan air unit 41 would mean that a smaller storage tank 30 would suffice. Preferably, the storage tank 30 is dimensioned so that a circulating volume of liquid medium in the system is larger than the volume of the storage tank, preferably about 1.3 - 2 times the volume of the storage tank 30. An inlet 31 is preferably also provided for supplying additional liquid medium to the storage tank 30. This can be used if liquid medium is lost through leakage or evaporation, but it is particularly advantageous in embodiments where additional portable fan air units 42 are coupled to or removed from the system, since this changes the volume of circulating liquid medium when the system 10 is in use. The inlet 31 is in fluid communication with the storage tank 30 so that any liquid added to the inlet 31 is able to proceed into the storage tank 30 itself. Between the inlet 31 and the storage tank 30, a filling pump 32 can also be arranged to facilitate the addition of liquid medium to the system 10.

[0028] Also, an outlet 33 may be provided in fluid communication with the storage tank 30 for removing liquid medium.

[0029] A speed of the flow of liquid medium in the system 10 is preferably in the range of 20-35 liters per minute, more preferably 25-30 liters per minute. This ensures a desired heat transfer in the portable fan air units 41, 42 so that heating or cooling of the ambient air is rendered efficient.

[0030] A second conduit 52 is provided for transporting the liquid medium from the storage tank 30 to the first portable fan air unit 41. The first portable fan air unit 41 exchanges heat between the liquid medium and ambient air and generates an airflow to distribute the heating or cooling to a part of the construction site where the first portable fan air unit 41 is placed. A third conduit 53 transports liquid medium from the first portable fan air unit 41 back to the heat pump 20. Thus, the heat pump 20, storage tank 30 and first portable fan air unit 41 form a closed loop where the liquid medium circulates.

[0031] The first embodiment also comprises the additional portable fan air unit 42, but it is to be noted that the invention in some embodiments comprises only the first portable fan air unit 41.

[0032] In Fig. 1, the additional portable fan air unit 42 is connected in parallel to the first portable fan air unit 41, and the system 10 comprises a first branch connector 71 in the second conduit 52 to which the additional portable fan air unit 42 is coupled. Thus, at the first branch connector 71 the second conduit 52' is split into a first branch 52' leading to the first portable fan air unit 41 and a second branch 52" leading to the second portable fan air unit 42. The system 10 also comprises a second branch connector 72 upstream of the heat pump 20 so that a first branch 53' and a second branch 53" of the third conduit 53 are connected to the third conduit 53 that in turn leads to the heat pump 20.

[0033] In some embodiments, there are at least two, preferably at least three, additional portable fan air units 42 provided in the system 10. This enables a distribution of the portable fan air units 41, 42 over a very large construction site so that a large area can be heated or cooled. Each of the additional portable fan air units 42 are coupled to the system 10 by connecting to the first connector 71 and the second connector 72 so that they operate in parallel with the first portable fan air unit 41.

[0034] In some embodiments the number of fan air units 41, 42 is decided during manufacture of the system 10, but preferably the first and second connectors 71, 72 are configured to enable a releasable coupling of at least one of the additional portable fan air units 42. In this way, additional portable fan air units 42 can be added or removed as desired when the system 10 is to be used in a given location to allow for dimensioning of the system 10 to what is suitable for the area that is to be heated or cooled. The releasable coupling can be realized by a snap connection, screwed connection or any other connection that enables a leaktight addition of a new branch 52' of the second conduit and with a flap or seal for the first and second connectors 71, 72 so that the connectors 71, 72 can be reliably sealed after removal of the new branch 52' to prevent liquid medium from escaping.

[0035] Also shown in Fig. 1 are shut-off valves 61 provided so that components of the system 10 can be added and removed as desired and so that flow of liquid medium can be stopped when needed.

[0036] Preferably, there are also control valves 62 for each of the portable fan air units 41, 42 to enable control of the flow through the portable fan air units 41, 42. Also, air deflectors 63 may be provided to the storage tank 30 and the portable fan air units 41, 42.

[0037] Advantageously, a flow pump 54 can be provided in the second conduit 52 to pump the liquid medium to the portable fan air units 41, 42. In embodiments comprising only the first portable fan air unit 41 or where the portable fan air units 41, 42 are arranged in series (see Fig. 2), the heat pump 20 itself can serve as the only pump in the system 10, but where multiple portable fan air units 41, 42 are used and in particular where they are arranged in parallel, it is beneficial to provide the flow pump 54 as well to ensure a desired flow in the system 10. Furthermore, when the system 10 is used with at least one of the portable fan air units 41, 42 placed significantly higher than the storage tank 30 (e.g. more than 4 m above the storage tank 30), the flow pump 54 enables pumping of the liquid medium up to that height.

[0038] Furthermore, at least one filter 80 is preferably provided to capture particles and dirt that may enter the liquid medium during operation. Such filters 80 may be provided for each of the branches 53', 53" of the third conduit 53 downstream of the portable fan air units 41, 42 but alternatively only one filter 80 may be used downstream of the second connector 72 or at any other location in the conduits 51, 52, 53. It is advantageous to provide the filter 80 upstream of the heat pump 20 since this ensures that particles will not enter the heat pump 20. The at least one filter 80 is preferably a magnetic filter that is configured to remove any ferrous particles from the liquid medium. However, other types of filter can also be used in the system 10.

[0039] In Fig. 1, arrows in the second conduit 52 and third conduit 53 indicate an intended direction of flow of liquid medium. It is to be noted, however, that an opposite flow direction may alternatively be used. In such cases, any component stated above to be upstream or before another will instead be downstream or after that component, as will be readily understood by the skilled person. In particular where the system 10 is used for the dual purposes of heating and cooling (e.g. for heating during nighttime and cooling during daytime), the system 10 may be operated with one flow direction for enabling the heat pump 20 to heat the liquid medium and with the opposite flow direction for instead enabling the heat pump 20 to cool the liquid medium.

[0040] Fig. 2 discloses the second embodiment of the portable construction site heat pump system 10 and shows the additional portable fan air unit 42 connected in series to the first portable fan air unit 41. Thus, a fourth conduit 55 is arranged from a downstream end of the first portable fan air unit 41 to an upstream end of the additional portable fan air unit 42. Of course, the second embodiment may comprise any suitable number of fan air units 41, 42 so that further additional fan air units 42 may be provided downstream of the additional fan air unit 42 shown in the Figure.

[0041] Fig. 3 discloses the heat pump 20 and the storage tank 30 arranged on a transport frame 90. By mounting the heat pump 20 and the storage tank 30 together on the transport frame 90, the system 10 can be transported to the construction site and lifted into place in a convenient and reliable way, thereby lowering the risk of damage to components and also ensuring that the system 10 can be installed and operate within a very short time after delivery. The transport frame 90 preferably comprises a holding area 91 where the fan air units 41, 42 can be placed during transport. Also provided is at least one lift portion 92 attached to the transport frame 90, with the lift portion 92 being available for a crane or similar to lift the transport frame 90 into place. The lift portion 92 may comprise a loop suitable for gripping by the crane. Typically, a weight of the components of the system 10 arranged on the transport frame 90 is about 400 kg, so using the transport frame 90 and lifting it into place in the construction site highly convenient.

[0042] Fig. 4 discloses one of the portable fan air units 41, 42 that is preferably arranged with wheels 94 so that the portable fan air unit 41, 42 can be moved along a floor in a quick and convenient way. The portable fan air unit 41, 42 may have a weight of about 70 kg so lifting it is difficult for a worker at the construction site. Pushing it along on the wheels 94 on the other hand is manageable even for a worker of limited strength.

[0043] Set up and operation of the portable construction site heat pump system 10 will now be described with reference to Fig. 1-4.

[0044] To set up the system 10 in a construction site, the transport frame 90 holding the heat pump 20 and the storage tank 30, and optionally also the fan air units 41, 42, is transported to the site and lifted into place using a crane or similar. Preferably, the transport frame 90 is placed outside the construction site due to its size and weight. Next, the first portable fan air unit 41 and optionally also at least one additional portable fan air unit 42 are distributed across the construction site, and if desired additional portable fan air units 42 can be coupled to the system 10 using the first and second connectors 71, 72. If desired, additional liquid medium is added to the storage tank via the inlet 31. Also, the system 10 is connected to an electric power supply.

[0045] The second and third conduits 52, 53 for the portable fan air units 41, 42 may be very long, preferably at least 40 m, more preferably at least 60 m and even more preferably at least 80 m. Thereby, it is possible to distribute the portable fan air units 41, 42 very far from the other components of the system 10 and still ensure an efficient circulation of the liquid medium.

[0046] After arranging the portable fan air units 41, 42 in desired locations, the system 10 is started and by circulating the liquid medium through the portable fan air units 41, 42, the construction site is heated or cooled as desired. Suitably, the heat pump 20 also comprises an electric cartridge.

[0047] It is to be noted that features from the various embodiments described herein may freely be combined, unless it is explicitly stated that such a combination would be unsuitable.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0024]A portable construction site heat pump system 10 according to the invention will now be described in a first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and a second embodiment shown in Fig. 2. The first and second embodiments differ from each other mainly in the arrangement of a first portable fan air unit 41 and an additional portable fan air unit 42 that are connected in parallel in the first embodiment and in series in the second embodiment. In other respects, the embodiments are similar or identical. Furthermore, since the system 10 can comprise a plurality of portable fan air units the embodiments can be combined, e.g. so that the additional fan air unit 42 of the second embodiment can be connected in series with one of the fan air units 41, 42 of the first embodiment.

[0025]As used herein, the terms "upstream" denotes a component or conduit arranged before another in view of a flow of liquid medium in the system 10. Thus, if a first component is upstream of a second this means that a giv...

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable heat pump system for a construction site. The system is used to establish and maintain a suitable working temperature during construction work.BACKGROUND

[0002] On construction sites, workers are operating in outdoor climate for a prolonged time period until a building is finished. This means freezing temperatures in wintertime in colder climates and risk of heat stress in summertime in warmer climates that pose dangers to workers. There is also the risk of freezing, overheating or damp conditions for building materials and components.

[0003] To alleviate this, many construction sites use a heating system to provide heating or a cooling system to provide cooling. However, on a large site open to the air a very large volume of air must be treated continuously for long time periods. This requires large capacity in the system and is very costly.

[0004] To be suitable for use in a construction site, a heating or cooling system must be portable since no existing heating or cooling system is in place. Prior art solutions typically use a portable burner where fuel is burned to heat the air directly or to heat a fluid for a heat exchanger. There are also cooling systems that use ice or cold water for this purpose. One such system is known from KR101670625B1 where a burner is used in wintertime to heat water in a tank. In summertime, the burner is not used and instead ice is placed directly into the tank to cool the water.

[0005] Such systems are typically cumbersome to manage, in particular due to the need for transporting large quantities of ice in summer and the risk of burns in winter. They also add pollution with small particles that pose a health risk for workers, in particular in construction sites in cities where air quality is already poor. Furthermore, using fossil fuels is unsustainable from an environmental standpoint.

[0006] There is therefore a need for an improved system that solves these problems.SUMMARY

[0007] The object of the present invention is to eliminate or at least to minimize the problems discussed above. This is achieved by a portable construction heat pump system according to the appended independent claims.

[0008] The portable construction site heat pump system according to the invention comprises a heat pump configured to control temperature of a liquid medium and a storage tank for storing the liquid medium, and the system also comprises a first portable fan air unit. The storage tank, the heat pump and the first portable fan air unit are connected to each other by conduits so that the liquid medium is able to flow in a closed loop through the heat pump, the storage tank and the at least one first portable fan air unit.

[0009] The portable construction site heat pump system solves the problems of the prior art by using a heat pump and at least one portable fan air unit that can be placed anywhere within the construction site and provide a flow of heated or cooled air to achieve a desired heating or cooling. The system uses electrical power to eliminate the need for fossil fuels, and by using the liquid medium the transfer from the heat pump to the portable air fan unit is rendered efficient and convenient. Apart from creating a suitable temperature for workers in the construction site, the portable fan air unit also ensures that building materials and components are prevented from freezing or overheating and that substances such as recently poured concrete is able to dry quickly so that undesired delays in the building process are avoided.

[0010] Suitably, the system also comprises at least one additional portable fan air unit connected by conduits to a first branch connector arranged upstream of the first portable fan unit and to a second branch connector arranged downstream of the first portable fan unit such that the at least one additional portable fan air unit is connected in parallel with the first portable fan air unit. Thereby, the branch connectors enables coupling more than one portable fan air unit to the system and therefore enables heating or cooling of a larger area. Connecting the fan air heaters in parallel enables distributing them as desired in the construction site and also moving and rearranging one of them without having to consider the position of the others since each fan air unit has its own conduits connected to the system.

[0011] Also, the system may comprise at least two, preferably at least three, additional portable fan air units connected to the first branch connector and the second branch connector in parallel with the first portable fan air unit. Thereby, multiple fan air heaters can be connected in parallel and be arranged in different locations within the construction site so that the system is able to heat or cool an even larger area. It is also highly space efficient to be able to heat multiple fan air units using the same heat pump.

[0012] Suitably, the first and second branch connectors are configured to enable a releasable coupling of at least one additional portable fan air unit in the system. Thereby, additional portable fan air units can be added to or removed from the system as desired, to adapt the system to the heating or cooling requirements of a specific construction site.

[0013] In some embodiments, the system further comprises at least one additional portable fan air unit connected in series downstream of the first portable fan air unit. Thereby, more than one fan air unit can be used in the system, and by arranging them in series a simple and robust arrangement of conduits can be achieved. Also, by providing the fan air units in series, fewer components are needed in the system since no additional pump for circulating the liquid medium is needed.

[0014] In some embodiments, fan air units arranged in parallel are combined with fan air units arranged in series.

[0015] Suitably, the system also comprises a transport frame on which the heat pump and the storage tank are mounted. Thereby, a robust and convenient mounting of the system is achieved and transportation is facilitated. The transport frame may also comprises a holding area for housing the first portable fan air unit and optionally the at least one additional portable fan air unit during transport. Thereby, the fan air units can be transported together with the other components of the system and do not require separate transportation and mounting when the system is set up at the construction site.

[0016] In embodiments comprising the transport frame, said transport frame may comprise a lift portion for enabling lifting of the portable construction site heat pump system. This further facilitates transport and handling of the system.

[0017] Also, the system may comprise an inlet arranged in fluid communication with the storage tank for supply of liquid medium to the storage tank. Thereby, additional liquid medium can be supplied at any time to maintain a suitable volume in the system. This is particularly advantageous when adding or removing fan air units since this generally changes the volume available and / or the volume required to efficiently operate the system. Also, in case of any leakage or evaporation in the system, it is highly suitable to be able to refill to a desired level.

[0018] Suitably, the system also comprises a flow pump configured to pump the liquid medium in the system. Thereby, circulation of the liquid medium is further improved, in particular in embodiments where multiple fan air units are arranged in parallel.

[0019] In some embodiments, at least the first portable fan air unit, optionally also the at least one additional portable fan air units, comprise(s) wheels for facilitating movement along a floor of a construction site. Thereby, movement and distribution of the fan air units in the construction site is further facilitated.

[0020] The system may also comprise at least one filter for capturing particles in the liquid medium, said at least one filter preferably being arranged upstream of the heat pump. Thereby, the liquid medium is kept free from contaminants that could otherwise cause clogging or a decrease in efficiency.

[0021] Many additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood by the skilled person in view of the detailed description below.DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, wherein Fig. 1discloses a portable construction site heat pump system according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2discloses the portable construction site heat pump system according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3discloses schematically component of the portable construction site heat pump system mounted on a transport frame; and Fig. 4discloses a perspective view of a portable fan air unit.

[0023] All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the respective embodiments, whereas other parts may be omitted or merely suggested. Any reference number appearing in multiple drawings refers to the same object or feature throughout the drawings, unless otherwise indicated.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] A portable construction site heat pump system 10 according to the invention will now be described in a first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and a second embodiment shown in Fig. 2. The first and second embodiments differ from each other mainly in the arrangement of a first portable fan air unit 41 and an additional portable fan air unit 42 that are connected in parallel in the first embodiment and in series in the second embodiment. In other respects, the embodiments are similar or identical. Furthermore, since the system 10 can comprise a plurality of portable fan air units the embodiments can be combined, e.g. so that the additional fan air unit 42 of the second embodiment can be connected in series with one of the fan air units 41, 42 of the first embodiment.

[0025] As used herein, the terms "upstream" denotes a component or conduit arranged before another in view of a flow of liquid medium in the system 10. Thus, if a first component is upstream of a second this means that a given quantity of liquid medium will pass through the first component before reaching the second. Similarly, the term "downstream" denotes a component or conduit arranged after another so that a given quantity of liquid medium passes through a component upstream before reaching a component downstream.

[0026] Fig. 1 discloses the portable construction site heat pump system 10, comprising a heat pump 20 that is configured to use ambient air for heating or cooling a liquid medium in order to control its temperature. The liquid medium is preferably water but can in some embodiments be another liquid. One suitable heat pump for use with the present invention is the T-CAP (manufactured by Panasonic) but other heat pumps can also advantageously be used. For a larger construction site, a suitable output of the heat pump is 16kW.

[0027] The liquid medium is transported from the heat pump 20 to a storage tank 30 through a first conduit 51. The storage tank 30 suitably has a volume of 100 liters but can also be larger or smaller depending on how the system 10 is dimensioned. For a larger number of portable fan air units 41, 42 a larger volume of the storage tank 30 would be suitable, whereas only one portable fan air unit 41 would mean that a smaller storage tank 30 would suffice. Preferably, the storage tank 30 is dimensioned so that a circulating volume of liquid medium in the system is larger than the volume of the storage tank, preferably about 1.3 - 2 times the volume of the storage tank 30. An inlet 31 is preferably also provided for supplying additional liquid medium to the storage tank 30. This can be used if liquid medium is lost through leakage or evaporation, but it is particularly advantageous in embodiments where additional portable fan air units 42 are coupled to or removed from the system, since this changes the volume of circulating liquid medium when the system 10 is in use. The inlet 31 is in fluid communication with the storage tank 30 so that any liquid added to the inlet 31 is able to proceed into the storage tank 30 itself. Between the inlet 31 and the storage tank 30, a filling pump 32 can also be arranged to facilitate the addition of liquid medium to the system 10.

[0028] Also, an outlet 33 may be provided in fluid communication with the storage tank 30 for removing liquid medium.

[0029] A speed of the flow of liquid medium in the system 10 is preferably in the range of 20-35 liters per minute, more preferably 25-30 liters per minute. This ensures a desired heat transfer in the portable fan air units 41, 42 so that heating or cooling of the ambient air is rendered efficient.

[0030] A second conduit 52 is provided for transporting the liquid medium from the storage tank 30 to the first portable fan air unit 41. The first portable fan air unit 41 exchanges heat between the liquid medium and ambient air and generates an airflow to distribute the heating or cooling to a part of the construction site where the first portable fan air unit 41 is placed. A third conduit 53 transports liquid medium from the first portable fan air unit 41 back to the heat pump 20. Thus, the heat pump 20, storage tank 30 and first portable fan air unit 41 form a closed loop where the liquid medium circulates.

[0031] The first embodiment also comprises the additional portable fan air unit 42, but it is to be noted that the invention in some embodiments comprises only the first portable fan air unit 41.

[0032] In Fig. 1, the additional portable fan air unit 42 is connected in parallel to the first portable fan air unit 41, and the system 10 comprises a first branch connector 71 in the second conduit 52 to which the additional portable fan air unit 42 is coupled. Thus, at the first branch connector 71 the second conduit 52' is split into a first branch 52' leading to the first portable fan air unit 41 and a second branch 52" leading to the second portable fan air unit 42. The system 10 also comprises a second branch connector 72 upstream of the heat pump 20 so that a first branch 53' and a second branch 53" of the third conduit 53 are connected to the third conduit 53 that in turn leads to the heat pump 20.

[0033] In some embodiments, there are at least two, preferably at least three, additional portable fan air units 42 provided in the system 10. This enables a distribution of the portable fan air units 41, 42 over a very large construction site so that a large area can be heated or cooled. Each of the additional portable fan air units 42 are coupled to the system 10 by connecting to the first connector 71 and the second connector 72 so that they operate in parallel with the first portable fan air unit 41.

[0034] In some embodiments the number of fan air units 41, 42 is decided during manufacture of the system 10, but preferably the first and second connectors 71, 72 are configured to enable a releasable coupling of at least one of the additional portable fan air units 42. In this way, additional portable fan air units 42 can be added or removed as desired when the system 10 is to be used in a given location to allow for dimensioning of the system 10 to what is suitable for the area that is to be heated or cooled. The releasable coupling can be realized by a snap connection, screwed connection or any other connection that enables a leaktight addition of a new branch 52' of the second conduit and with a flap or seal for the first and second connectors 71, 72 so that the connectors 71, 72 can be reliably sealed after removal of the new branch 52' to prevent liquid medium from escaping.

[0035] Also shown in Fig. 1 are shut-off valves 61 provided so that components of the system 10 can be added and removed as desired and so that flow of liquid medium can be stopped when needed.

[0036] Preferably, there are also control valves 62 for each of the portable fan air units 41, 42 to enable control of the flow through the portable fan air units 41, 42. Also, air deflectors 63 may be provided to the storage tank 30 and the portable fan air units 41, 42.

[0037] Advantageously, a flow pump 54 can be provided in the second conduit 52 to pump the liquid medium to the portable fan air units 41, 42. In embodiments comprising only the first portable fan air unit 41 or where the portable fan air units 41, 42 are arranged in series (see Fig. 2), the heat pump 20 itself can serve as the only pump in the system 10, but where multiple portable fan air units 41, 42 are used and in particular where they are arranged in parallel, it is beneficial to provide the flow pump 54 as well to ensure a desired flow in the system 10. Furthermore, when the system 10 is used with at least one of the portable fan air units 41, 42 placed significantly higher than the storage tank 30 (e.g. more than 4 m above the storage tank 30), the flow pump 54 enables pumping of the liquid medium up to that height.

[0038] Furthermore, at least one filter 80 is preferably provided to capture particles and dirt that may enter the liquid medium during operation. Such filters 80 may be provided for each of the branches 53', 53" of the third conduit 53 downstream of the portable fan air units 41, 42 but alternatively only one filter 80 may be used downstream of the second connector 72 or at any other location in the conduits 51, 52, 53. It is advantageous to provide the filter 80 upstream of the heat pump 20 since this ensures that particles will not enter the heat pump 20. The at least one filter 80 is preferably a magnetic filter that is configured to remove any ferrous particles from the liquid medium. However, other types of filter can also be used in the system 10.

[0039] In Fig. 1, arrows in the second conduit 52 and third conduit 53 indicate an intended direction of flow of liquid medium. It is to be noted, however, that an opposite flow direction may alternatively be used. In such cases, any component stated above to be upstream or before another will instead be downstream or after that component, as will be readily understood by the skilled person. In particular where the system 10 is used for the dual purposes of heating and cooling (e.g. for heating during nighttime and cooling during daytime), the system 10 may be operated with one flow direction for enabling the heat pump 20 to heat the liquid medium and with the opposite flow direction for instead enabling the heat pump 20 to cool the liquid medium.

[0040] Fig. 2 discloses the second embodiment of the portable construction site heat pump system 10 and shows the additional portable fan air unit 42 connected in series to the first portable fan air unit 41. Thus, a fourth conduit 55 is arranged from a downstream end of the first portable fan air unit 41 to an upstream end of the additional portable fan air unit 42. Of course, the second embodiment may comprise any suitable number of fan air units 41, 42 so that further additional fan air units 42 may be provided downstream of the additional fan air unit 42 shown in the Figure.

[0041] Fig. 3 discloses the heat pump 20 and the storage tank 30 arranged on a transport frame 90. By mounting the heat pump 20 and the storage tank 30 together on the transport frame 90, the system 10 can be transported to the construction site and lifted into place in a convenient and reliable way, thereby lowering the risk of damage to components and also ensuring that the system 10 can be installed and operate within a very short time after delivery. The transport frame 90 preferably comprises a holding area 91 where the fan air units 41, 42 can be placed during transport. Also provided is at least one lift portion 92 attached to the transport frame 90, with the lift portion 92 being available for a crane or similar to lift the transport frame 90 into place. The lift portion 92 may comprise a loop suitable for gripping by the crane. Typically, a weight of the components of the system 10 arranged on the transport frame 90 is about 400 kg, so using the transport frame 90 and lifting it into place in the construction site highly convenient.

[0042] Fig. 4 discloses one of the portable fan air units 41, 42 that is preferably arranged with wheels 94 so that the portable fan air unit 41, 42 can be moved along a floor in a quick and convenient way. The portable fan air unit 41, 42 may have a weight of about 70 kg so lifting it is difficult for a worker at the construction site. Pushing it along on the wheels 94 on the other hand is manageable even for a worker of limited strength.

[0043] Set up and operation of the portable construction site heat pump system 10 will now be described with reference to Fig. 1-4.

[0044] To set up the system 10 in a construction site, the transport frame 90 holding the heat pump 20 and the storage tank 30, and optionally also the fan air units 41, 42, is transported to the site and lifted into place using a crane or similar. Preferably, the transport frame 90 is placed outside the construction site due to its size and weight. Next, the first portable fan air unit 41 and optionally also at least one additional portable fan air unit 42 are distributed across the construction site, and if desired additional portable fan air units 42 can be coupled to the system 10 using the first and second connectors 71, 72. If desired, additional liquid medium is added to the storage tank via the inlet 31. Also, the system 10 is connected to an electric power supply.

[0045] The second and third conduits 52, 53 for the portable fan air units 41, 42 may be very long, preferably at least 40 m, more preferably at least 60 m and even more preferably at least 80 m. Thereby, it is possible to distribute the portable fan air units 41, 42 very far from the other components of the system 10 and still ensure an efficient circulation of the liquid medium.

[0046] After arranging the portable fan air units 41, 42 in desired locations, the system 10 is started and by circulating the liquid medium through the portable fan air units 41, 42, the construction site is heated or cooled as desired. Suitably, the heat pump 20 also comprises an electric cartridge.

[0047] It is to be noted that features from the various embodiments described herein may freely be combined, unless it is explicitly stated that such a combination would be unsuitable.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0024]A portable construction site heat pump system 10 according to the invention will now be described in a first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and a second embodiment shown in Fig. 2. The first and second embodiments differ from each other mainly in the arrangement of a first portable fan air unit 41 and an additional portable fan air unit 42 that are connected in parallel in the first embodiment and in series in the second embodiment. In other respects, the embodiments are similar or identical. Furthermore, since the system 10 can comprise a plurality of portable fan air units the embodiments can be combined, e.g. so that the additional fan air unit 42 of the second embodiment can be connected in series with one of the fan air units 41, 42 of the first embodiment.

[0025]As used herein, the terms "upstream" denotes a component or conduit arranged before another in view of a flow of liquid medium in the system 10. Thus, if a first component is upstream of a second this means that a giv...

Claims

1. Portable construction site heat pump system, the heat pump system (10) comprising - a heat pump (20) configured to control temperature of a liquid medium - a storage tank (30) for storing the liquid medium, - a first portable fan air unit (41), wherein the storage tank (30), the heat pump (20) and the first portable fan air unit (41) are connected to each other by conduits (51, 52, 53) so that the liquid medium is able to flow in a closed loop through the heat pump (20), the storage tank (30) and the at least one first portable fan air unit (41).

2. Portable construction site heat pump system according to claim 2, further comprising at least one additional portable fan air unit (42) connected by conduits (52, 53) to a first branch connector (71) arranged upstream of the first portable fan unit (41) and a second branch connector (72) arranged downstream of the first portable fan unit (41) such that the at least one additional portable fan air unit (42) is connected in parallel with the first portable fan air unit.

3. Portable construction site heat pump system according to claim 2, further comprising at least two, preferably at least three, additional portable fan air units (42) connected to the first branch connector (71) and the second branch connector (72) in parallel with the first portable fan air unit (41).

4. Portable construction site heat pump system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first and second branch connectors (71, 72) are configured to enable a releasable coupling of at least one additional portable fan air unit (42) in the system (10).

5. Portable construction site heat pump system according to any previous claim, further comprising at least one additional portable fan air unit (42) connected in series downstream of the first portable fan air unit (41).

6. Portable construction site heat pump system according to any previous claim, further comprising a transport frame (90) on which the heat pump (20) and the storage tank (30) are mounted, wherein the transport frame (90) preferably comprises a holding area (91) for housing the first portable fan air unit (41) and optionally the at least one additional portable fan air (42) unit during transport.

7. Portable construction site heat pump system according to claim 6, wherein the transport frame (90) comprises a lift portion (92) for enabling lifting of the portable construction site heat pump system (10).

8. Portable construction site heat pump system according to any previous claim, further comprising an inlet (31) arranged in fluid communication with the storage tank (30) for supply of liquid medium to the storage tank (30).

9. Portable construction site heat pump system according to any previous claim, further comprising a flow pump (54) configured to pump the liquid medium in the system (10).

10. Portable construction site heat pump system according to any previous claim, wherein at least the first portable fan air unit (41), optionally also the at least one additional portable fan air units (42), comprise(s) wheels (94) for facilitating movement along a floor of a construction site.

11. Portable construction site heat pump system according to any previous claim, further comprising at least one filter (80) for capturing particles in the liquid medium, said at least one filter (80) preferably being arranged upstream of the heat pump (20).

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