Non-pressurized thermic accumulator with freon coil and wall comprising said thermic accumulator
The non-pressurized thermic accumulator with an immersed exchanger coil and optimized coil spacing enhances heat transfer efficiency by 20-30% and eliminates contamination risks, addressing inefficiencies in existing water heating systems.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-28
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing water heating systems using heat pumps with freon as a heating agent suffer from low efficiency of heat transfer due to limited freon flow and limescale deposits, leading to incomplete heat transfer and increased energy losses.
A non-pressurized thermic accumulator with a stiffened, thermally insulated casing containing an exchanger coil and a water coil, where the exchanger coil is immersed in the primary thermic agent, allowing direct thermal contact and optimized spacing for enhanced heat transfer, and a water coil for circulating water, positioned in a single vertical plane for efficient heat exchange.
The solution increases heat transfer efficiency by 20-30% compared to prior art, allowing for larger volumes of primary thermic agent to be heated or cooled, and eliminates the risk of contamination by immersing coils directly into the primary agent, while reducing the need for separate technical rooms and saving space.
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Abstract
Description
Field of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to water heating systems and methods by using heat pumps. In particular, the invention relates to a non-pressurized thermic accumulator comprising a freon coil of an external heat pump and to a building wall comprising said thermic accumulator. Moreover, the invention relates to a water heating system using said thermic accumulator comprising the freon coil of the heat pump and to water heating methods using said water heating system.Prior art
[0002] In the prior art, solutions are known for water heating systems and methods by using heat pumps utilizing freon as a heating agent and boilers.
[0003] The known solutions have the disadvantage of low efficiency of heat transfer between the freon flow of the heat pump and the working heating agent of the accumulator or boiler. In the prior art, the working heating agent is water for domestic consumption or space heating, wherein the working heating agent is leaving the boiler. One of the reasons of the mentioned low heat transfer efficiency is the following: the physical dimensions of the heat exchanger limit the heating agent flow of the heat pump, namely freon, which causes partial heat transfer from the heat pump's freon flow to the primary thermic agent; thus, the freon flow leaves the heat exchanger without having transferred to the primary thermic agent the full amount of its heat. Another reason for this low thermic transfer efficiency is the limescale deposits on the inner surface of the boiler in which the primary thermic agent is heated and / or on its coils, obstructing the heat transfer.
[0004] EPA24198169.5 describes a water heating system comprising a non-pressurized thermic accumulator comprising a primary thermic agent, the thermic accumulator serving to heat the primary thermic agent and to transfer the heat to a domestic hot water consumer and / or to the central heating of a building.The technical problem solved by the invention
[0005] The technical problem solved by the invention is to provide a thermic accumulator that performs high efficiency heat transfer between the freon flow of the heat pump and the primary thermic agent.Summary of the invention
[0006] In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, in a first object of the invention is disclosed a thermic accumulator AT configured to be mounted within or instead of a building wall; said thermic accumulator AT comprises: a stiffened, thermally insulated, closed parallelepipedal casing, configured to be filled with a permanently non-pressurized primary thermic agent, in the primary thermic agent being immersed: an exchanger coil (CHC or CHV), having an exchanger coil inlet end and an exchanger coil outlet end, arranged in the upper part of the thermic accumulator (AT), in a control zone located on a side face of the casing, along a vertical edge of that side face, and a water coil (CW1, CW2) having a water coil inlet end and a water coil outlet end arranged at the top of the thermic accumulator (AT), in the control zone.
[0007] In working position, the casing is configured to: to comprise in the middle part of the control zone one or more command and control means for the temperature of the thermic accumulator (AT), to allow to be filled with unheated primary thermic agent, through one or more filling means, up to a preset filling level, and to allow the expansion of the heated primary thermic agent up to a preset expansion level located between the preset filling level and an overflow port, said overflow port being located in the casing wall in the control zone between the preset expansion level and the top of the casing, to contain a safety air volume between the preset filling level and the upper face of the casing, to allow the evacuation of the safety air volume of the casing through the overflow port, in order to maintain the primary thermic agent in non-pressurized form.
[0008] The exchanger coil (CHC, CHV), through which the freon flows, is connected by the exchanger coil inlet end and by the exchanger coil outlet end to a first heat pump (PC1).
[0009] The exchanger coil (CHC, CHV) has a first plurality of exchanger coil turns arranged at the bottom of the casing, in a single vertical plane, the exchanger coil turns having a first preset distance between two consecutive exchanger coil turns and being configured to allow the flow of freon provided by the first heat pump (PC1).
[0010] The water coil (CW1, CW2), through which a circulating water flows, is connected via the water coil inlet end to a circulation water source (ARS, VEN), and via the water coil outlet end to a circulation water consumer (CC ACM 1, VEN).
[0011] The water coil (CW1, CW2) has a second plurality of water coil turns arranged over the full height of the thermic accumulator (AT), in a single vertical plane, the water coil turns having a second preset distance between two consecutive water coil turns and being configured to allow the flow of circulating water in a circulation water system comprising the circulation water source (ARS, VEN), the water coil (CW1, CW2) and the circulating water consumer (CC ACM 1, VEN).
[0012] The exchanger coil (CHC, CHV) is configured to perform a first thermic transfer between the freon flow of the exchanger coil and the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator (AT), and the water coil (CW1, CW2) is configured to perform a second thermic transfer between the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator (AT) and the circulating water of the water coil (CW1, CW2).
[0013] In a second object of the invention is disclosed a method of utilizing the thermic accumulator AT of the first object of the invention, the method comprising the following steps: Step 1 - opening the domestic hot water (ACM) tap followed by the water flow sensing by the first flow sensor in the first domestic hot water consuming circuit (CC ACM 1), Step 2 - checking the temperature of the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator (AT) with one or more command and control means, Step 3 - if the temperature of the primary thermic agent is lower than the preset temperature and the first flow sensor senses water flow, the first heat pump (PC1) supplies hot freon to the condenser coil (CHC), which gives off the heat to the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator (AT), Step 4 - the heated primary thermic agent transfers heat to the water coil (CW1) for obtaining domestic hot water (ACM) in the first domestic hot water consuming circuit (CC ACM 1). Advantages of the invention
[0014] The use of the invention provides the following advantages:
[0015] The main advantage of using the invention is the increased efficiency of heat transfer between the freon flow of the exchanger coil connected to the heat pump and the primary thermic agent in a thermic accumulator, for the following reasons: immersing the exchanger coil directly into the liquid medium to be heated or cooled, respectively, causes direct thermal contact between them, resulting in a more efficient heat transfer, the efficiency of the two heat transfers increases due to the positioning of the corresponding coils turns of the invention at respective preset spacing from each other, since the entire respective heat transfer surface area is utilized, unlike the prior art where the turns are in mechanical contact with each other.
[0016] The invention can be used both for domestic hot water, hot water for central heating the interior spaces of a building, as well as for cold water for cooling interior spaces of a building. Thus, the use for a large number of situations, i.e. the multifunctionality of the invention, is another advantage.
[0017] By placing the thermic accumulator in an accessible way within the building wall or instead of the building wall, the costs of constructing technical rooms or other spaces, absolutely necessary for the thermic accumulators of the prior art, are eliminated, thus saving space.
[0018] By immersing both the exchanger coil through which the freon flows and the circulating water coil directly into the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator, the danger of contamination of the circulating water with Freon - in the event of a failure of one or both of these coils (e.g. if one coil breaks) - is eliminated, since the circulating water is not in direct contact with the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator.List of figures
[0019] Fig. 1 shows the basic diagram of the claimed invention Fig. 2 shows a variant of the first embodiment of the thermic accumulator of the invention of Fig. 1, which additionally contains at least one heating coil CH1, CH2, CH3, connected to a heat source PS, CCG, CCL Fig. 3 shows the basic hydraulic diagram of the water heating system in the second variant of the first embodiment. Detailed description
[0020] With reference to Fig. 1, in a first object of the invention, a thermic accumulator AT is disclosed, configured to be mounted within or instead of a building wall, comprising a stiffened and thermally insulated, closed parallelepipedal casing, configured to be filled with a permanently non-pressurized primary thermic agent, in the primary thermic agent being immersed an exchanger coil (CHC, CHV) and a water coil (CW1, CW2).
[0021] The exchanger coil (CHC, CHV) has an exchanger coil inlet end and an exchanger coil outlet end, which are located in the upper part of the thermic accumulator (AT), in a control zone (not graphically shown), located on a side face of the casing, along a vertical edge of that side face.
[0022] The water coil (CW1, CW2) has a water coil inlet end and a water coil outlet end, said two ends of the water coil (CW1, CW2) being located in the upper part of the thermic accumulator (AT), in the control zone.
[0023] The parallelepipedal casing is closed, stiffened and thermally insulated in order to minimize heat losses, the thermal insulation method not being within the scope of this invention. A non-limiting example of the casing is disclosed in EPA24198169.5.
[0024] The casing, when in working position, is configured to: to comprise in the middle part of the control zone one or more command and control means (not graphically shown) of the temperature of the thermic accumulator AT, such as temperature sensors, thermometers and the like. to allow to be filled with unheated primary thermic agent through one or more filling means - such as taps and the like, up to a preset filling level, and to allow the expansion of the heated primary thermic agent up to a preset expansion level located between the preset filling level and an overflow port - not graphically shown, said overflow port being located on the casing wall in the control zone between the preset expansion level and the upper face of the casing, to contain a safety air volume located between the preset filling level and the top of the casing, to allow the evacuation of the safety air volume from the casing through the overflow port PP in order to maintain the primary thermic agent in non-pressurized form.
[0025] The thermic accumulator AT of the invention is placed in an accessible manner within a building wall, preferably an interior wall, or replaces a building wall, the phrase "in an accessible manner" meaning that at least the control zone must be accessible to the operator.
[0026] Both the exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) and the water coil (CW1 or CW2) are made of a stainless, good heat-conducting material such as stainless steel, copper or other noncorrosive materials.
[0027] The exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) is a freon circulation coil, which is connected by its inlet and outlet ends to a first heat pump PC1.
[0028] The exchanger coil (CHC, CHV) has a first plurality of exchanger coil turns arranged at the bottom of the casing, in a single vertical plane, the exchanger coil turns having a first preset distance between two consecutive exchanger coil turns and being configured to allow the freon flow provided by the first heat pump (PC1). The place where the inlet end of the exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) and the outlet end of the exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) pass through the casing in the upper part of the control zone is designed according to the available space. In Fig. 1, the inlet end of the exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) and the outlet end of the exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) are located at the most upper part of the casing, in the working position.
[0029] The first heat pump PC1 is configured according to general knowledge in the field, having freon as heating agent and comprising a condenser, an evaporator, a compressor and an expansion circuit comprising an expansion vent.
[0030] In one embodiment, as shown in Fig.2, the vertical plane of the exchanger coil turns (CHC or CHV) is parallel to one of the casing vertical walls of the thermic accumulator AT.
[0031] As will be detailed in the various embodiments of the invention, through the exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) can circulate either hot freon for heatingthe primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator AT or cold freon for cooling the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator AT .
[0032] The configuration of the exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) is made according to the coil material, the number and arrangement of the turns, and on the role of the coil, i.e. either for heating or cooling of the primary thermic agent.
[0033] The water coil (CW1 or CW2) is configured to allow the flow of a circulation water. For this purpose, the water coil (CW1 or CW2) is connected via the water coil inlet end to a circulation water source (ARS or VEN), and via the water coil outlet end to a circulation water consumer (CC ACM 1 or VEN).
[0034] The water coil (CW1 or CW2) has a second plurality of water coil turns arranged over the full height of the thermic accumulator (AT), in a single vertical plane, the water coil turns having a second preset distance between two consecutive water coil turns and being configured to allow the circulation of the circulating water in a water circulation system comprising the circulation water source (ARS or VEN), the water coil (CW1 or CW2) and the circulation water consumer (CC ACM 1 or VEN).
[0035] In an embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the vertical plane of the water coil turns is parallel to one of the vertical walls of the thermic accumulator AT casing.
[0036] In this first object of the invention, the exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) is configured to perform a first heat transfer between the freon flow of the exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) and the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator AT, and the water coil (CW1 or CW2) is configured to perform a second heat transfer between the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator AT and the circulation water in the water coil (CW1 or CW2). Thus: the first heat transfer refers to either heating or cooling of the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator AT; the second heat transfer refers to either heating or cooling of the circulating water in the water coil (CW1 or CW2); when the first heat transfer is the heating of the primary thermic agent by the freon flow of the exchanger coil CHC, then the second heat transfer is the heating of the circulating water in the water coil CW1 ; when the first heat transfer is the cooling of the primary thermic agent by the freon flow in the exchanger coil CHV, then the second heat transfer is the cooling of the circulating water in the water coil CW2.
[0037] The circulating water is a generic term for water subjected to any of the two heat transfer procedures, i.e. heating and cooling, namely: in case of the thermic accumulator that heats water - according to the first embodiment of the first object of the invention, the circulating water is the water that comes cold from the cold water source and heats up in the thermic accumulator to become domestic hot water. In the heating procedure, this circulating water is permanently consumed as domestic hot water and is constantly replaced by fresh cold water from the source. in case of the thermic accumulator that cools water - according to the second embodiment of the first object of the invention, the circulating water is the water that comes hot from the fan convectors and cools in the thermic accumulator. In this case, the circulating water is not consumed, but is recirculated in a closed cooling circuit of a fan convector system.
[0038] The main advantage of using the accumulator AT in the first object of the invention is the increased efficiency of the heat transfer between the freon flow from the first heat pump PC 1 and the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator AT, due to the direct immersion of the exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) in the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator AT, thereby significantly decreasing the energy losses between the exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) and the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator AT.
[0039] It is estimated that, due to the direct immersion of the exchanger coil CHC, CHV in the primary thermic agent, the efficiency of the first heat transfer is improved by about 20-30% compared to the prior art, the direct consequence of which being the advantage that a larger quantity of primary thermic agent can be heated, respectively cooled, compared to the prior art - up to 2000 litres of primary thermic agent.
[0040] The invention can be used both for domestic hot water, hot water for central heating the interior spaces of a building, as well as for cold water for cooling the interior spaces of a building. Thus, the use for a large number of situations, i.e. the multifunctionality of the invention, is another advantage.
[0041] As will be detailed below, the two different operations, namely heating or cooling the primary thermic agent and circulating water using the thermic accumulator AT of the invention, are obtained as a result of the different connection of the two ends of the exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) to the first heat pump PC1.
[0042] With reference to Fig. 1, in a first embodiment of the first object of the invention, which is the preferred embodiment of the thermic accumulator, said thermic accumulator AT is configured for heating the primary thermic agent, the component elements of which are specified as follows:
[0043] The exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) is a condenser coil CHC, through which freon circulates; the condenser coil CHC is configured to act as the condenser of the first heat pump PC1 and is connected as follows: the inlet end of the condenser coil, through which hot freon enters, is connected to the compressor of the first heat pump PC1, and the outlet end of the condenser coil, through which the cooled freon exits, is connected to the expansion circuit of the first heat pump PC1.
[0044] The circulating water is the water from a cold water source ARS.
[0045] The water circulation system comprises the cold water source ARS, a first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1, and the water coil CW1.
[0046] The water coil CW1 has the inlet end of the water coil connected to the cold water source ARS and the outlet end connected to the first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1, the water coil CW1 being configured to allow the circulation of the cold circulating water from the cold water source ARS for heating the cold circulating water , in order to obtain domestic hot water ACM.
[0047] The first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1 is equipped with a first flow sensor, the purpose of the first flow sensor being to sense the flow of domestic hot water from the first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1.
[0048] In this first embodiment of the first object of the invention, the condenser coil CHC is configured to transfer the heat of the freon flow from the condenser coil to the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator AT for heating the primary thermic agent up to a preset temperature, and the water coil CW1 is configured to receive the heat from said primary thermic agent, obtaining thereby domestic hot water ACM.
[0049] The preset temperature of the heating agent is known to the person skilled in the art, depending on the volume to be heated and the power of the heat pump PC1 used, wherein the values are generally between 50 and 80 degrees Celsius.
[0050] The primary thermic agent is permanently maintained in the casing of the thermic accumulator AT, without leaving the casing, except in situations where the primary thermic agent evaporates naturally.
[0051] The evaporated primary thermic agent is replaced using said one or more filling means.
[0052] The advantage of permanent maintaining the primary thermic agent in the casing of the thermic accumulator AT is the ease of operation, since only the evaporating volume needs to be refilled.
[0053] The location where the inlet end of the condenser coil CHC and the outlet end of the condenser coil CHC pass through the casing at the upper part of the control zone is designed according to the available space.
[0054] In Fig. 1, the inlet end of the condenser coil CHC and the outlet end of the condenser coil CHC are located at the highest part of the casing, in the working position.
[0055] With reference to Fig. 1, in a second embodiment of the first object of the invention, the thermic accumulator AT is configured for cooling the primary thermic agent, wherein the components of the thermic accumulator AT being specified as follows:
[0056] The exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) is an evaporator coil CHV, configured to act as the evaporator of the first heat pump PC1, wherein the evaporator coil CHV being connected as follows: the inlet end of the evaporator coil, through which the cold freon enters, is connected to the expansion circuit of the first heat pump PC1, and the outlet end of the evaporator coil, through which the heated freon exits, is connected to the compressor of the first heat pump PC1.
[0057] The circulating water is the water of a closed cooling circuit of a fan convector system VEN.
[0058] The water circulation system comprises the water coil CW2 and the fan convector system VEN, the water coil CW2 being configured to be connected via the inlet end of the water coil CW2 to the outlet of the fan convector system VEN and via the outlet end of the water coil CW2 to the inlet of the fan convector system VEN.
[0059] In this second embodiment of the first object of the invention, the circulating water source VEN is identical to the circulating water consumer VEN, since the circulating water of the fan convector system VEN circulates in a closed circuit. The primary thermic agent is recirculated between the thermic accumulator AT and the fan convector system VEN.
[0060] In this second embodiment of the first object of the invention, the evaporator coil CHV is configured to cool the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator AT, and the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator AT is configured to cool the water in the water coil CW2.
[0061] The location where the inlet end of the evaporator coil CHV and the outlet end of the evaporator coil CHV pass through the casing at the upper part of the control zone is designed according to the available space.
[0062] In Fig. 1, the inlet end of the CHV evaporator coil and the outlet end of the CHV evaporator coil are located at the highest part of the casing, in the working position.
[0063] For the first embodiment of the first object of the invention, the inventor has provided the possibility of various situations in which the heating need is temporarily increasing, exceeding the capabilities of the accumulator of the first embodiment described above, which correspond to a basic heating need. The various situations mentioned occur, for example, when the temperature of the primary thermic agent drops below certain values, or when the volume of water required is temporarily higher than usual, or a combination of these.
[0064] Accordingly, the inventor first designed the thermic accumulator AT of the first embodiment of the first object of the invention corresponding to the basic heating need as disclosed above, and then designed variants of the first embodiment of the first object of the invention, as described below, ordered according to the increasing heating need.
[0065] With reference to Fig. 2, in a first variant of the first embodiment of the first object of the invention, there is disclosed a thermic accumulator AT for heating the primary thermic agent, the thermic accumulator AT comprising, in addition to the first embodiment, at least one heating coil (CH1, CH2 or CH3 ), configured to allow the flow of a secondary heating agent, each of the at least one heating coil (CH1, CH2 or CH3) being connected to a respective heat source (PS, CCG or CCL) selected from PS solar panels, gas central heating CCG or wood central heating CCL.
[0066] Thus: the first heating coil CH1 is connected to the solar panels PS, the second heating coil CH2 is connected to the gas central heating CCG and the third heating coil CH3 is connected to the wood central heating CCL. At least one heating coil is used.
[0067] In the case of PS solar panels, the secondary heating agent can be, for example, glycol, and in the case of gas power plants CCG and wood power plants CCL, the secondary heating agent is water.
[0068] The heat source (PS, CCG, or CCL) is equipped with a sensor for monitoring the temperature of the secondary heating agent.
[0069] The heating coils (CH1, CH2 or CH3) supplement the heating function of the condenser coil CHC for heating the cold water from the source.
[0070] The selection of the number of heating coils (CH1, CH2 or CH3) depends on the availability of heat sources (PS, CCG or CCL) and the heating needs. For example, if there is no gas in the area, and no solar panels, but wood is available, the wood-fired heating plant CCL would be used. Several alternative, non-limiting examples of realization are indicated below: a first alternative example where the first heating coil CH1 is connected to the solar panels PS and the second heating coil CH2 is connected to the conventional gas-fired power plant CCG, a second alternative example where the first heating coil CH1 is connected to the solar panels PS and the third heating coil CH3 is connected to the conventional wood-fired power plant CCL, a third alternative example where the second heating coil CH2 is connected to the conventional gas-fired power plant CCG and the third heating coil CH3 is connected to the conventional wood-fired power plant CCL.
[0071] For situations where the heating need is temporarily higher, with reference to Fig. 3, in a second variant of the first embodiment of the first object of the invention there is disclosed a thermic accumulator AT further comprising the following openings configured to allow circulation of the primary thermic agent outside the casing in closed circuits: a discharging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent ODOUT, configured to be connected to a closed domestic hot water heating circuit CIA1, a discharging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent ODIN, configured to be connected to the closed domestic hot water heating circuit CIA1, a charging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent OIOUT, configured to be connected to a closed-heating circuit for the primary thermic agent, (CIT PS, CIT PC, CIT CCL or CIT CCG) a charging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent OINI, configured to be connected to the closed heating circuit for the primary thermic agent(CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL or CIT CCG).
[0072] The thermic accumulator AT is additionally configured to allow the circulation of the primary thermic agent outside the casing, by recirculation, as follows: between the thermic accumulator AT and a first heat exchanger SCH ACM via the closed domestic hot water heating circuit CIA1, and between the thermic accumulator AT and the second heat exchanger (SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG or SCH CCL) via the closed heating circuit for the primary thermic agent (CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL or CIT CCG).
[0073] Each heat source, namely the second heat pump PC2, the solar panels PS, the gas-fired power plant CCG and the wood-fired power plant CCL, has a heat exchanger that transfers the heat from the heat source to the primary thermic agent. More precisely: the second heat pump PC2 corresponds to the second heat exchanger for the second heat pump SCH PC2, the solar panels PS correspond to the second heat exchanger for solar panels SCH PS, the gas-fired power plant CCG corresponds to the second heat exchanger for the gas-fired power plant SCH CCG, the wood-fired power plant CCL corresponds to the second heat exchanger for the wood-fired power plant SCH CCL.
[0074] The circulation of the primary thermic agent outside the casing in the above-mentioned closed circuits, allows to maintain the same volume of primary thermic agent, unless the evaporation losses which are refilled as mentioned.
[0075] In a third variant of the first embodiment of the first object of the invention, there is disclosed a thermic accumulator AT wherein the primary thermic agent is distilled water. The use of distilled water as the heating agent can be combined with all variants of the first embodiment of the first object of the invention as well as with the second embodiment of the first object of the invention as previously disclosed.
[0076] Distilled water is used as the primary thermic agent rather than water from source, since the use of water from the source could lead to excessive limescales on the outside of the coils in the thermic accumulator AT, constituting a barrier to the efficiency of the first and second heat transfer. Limescales can lead over time to cracking of the coils and, in extreme cases, to breakage.
[0077] Distilled water used as primary thermic agent is a softened distilled water and treated against algae, whose use as a primary thermic agent has the advantage of maintaining the efficiency of the first and second heat transfer and of extending the life of the coils in the thermic accumulator AT.
[0078] In a fourth variant of the first embodiment of the first object of the invention, a building wall comprising at least one thermic accumulator AT is disclosed. The building wall may contain the at least one thermic accumulator AT according to any one of the variants of the first embodiment of the first object of the invention as well as according to the second embodiment of the first object of the invention, as disclosed above.
[0079] According to some examples of this fourth variant of the first embodiment of the first object of the invention, the wall may contain either a single thermic accumulator AT - used alternately for heating and cooling, or two thermic accumulators AT, one used for heating and the other for cooling.
[0080] There are two constructive possibilities for the wall in relation to the thermic accumulator AT respectively the thermic accumulators AT, namely: said building wall is entirely made of the thermic accumulator AT, or only a part of the mentioned building wall contains the thermic accumulator AT, respectively the AT thermic accumulator units, while the rest of the mentioned building wall comprises the classical wall structure.
[0081] The dimensions of the thermic accumulator AT are determined according to the dimensions of the mentioned building wall. A first non-limiting example of realization of the thermic accumulator AT is 50 mm wide, 2300 mm long, 1900 mm high and has a volume of 218,5 litres. A second non-limiting embodiment of the AT thermic accumulator is 250 mm wide, 600 mm long, 1900 mm high and has a volume of 285 litres. The width of the thermal insulation is not subject to the present invention.
[0082] With reference to Fig. 3, a domestic water heating system is disclosed, comprising: the thermic accumulator AT according to the second or third variant of the first embodiment of the first object of the invention, the domestic hot water heating circuit (CIA 1), through which the primary thermic agent circulates, the domestic hot water heating circuit (CIA 1) comprising: ∘ a first circulation pump (PR1) connected to the primary thermic agent discharge outlet (ODOUT) and to the first direction of a first three-way valve (VAO 1), ∘ the first three-way valve (VAO 1) connected by its second direction to the inlet of the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM), ∘ the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM), which is connected by its outlet to the discharge inlet opening for the primary thermic agent(ODIN), the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM) being configured to heat the cold water from the source in a second domestic hot water consuming circuit (CC ACM 2) provided with a second flow sensor, the heating circuit for the primary thermic agent (CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL, CIT CCG), through which the primary thermic agent circulates, the heating circuit for the primary thermic agent (CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL, CIT CCG) comprising: ∘ a second circulation pump (PR PC, PR PS, PR CCG, PR CCL) connected to the charging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent (OINI) and to the inlet of the second heat exchanger (SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG, SCH CCL), ∘ the second heat exchanger (SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG, SCH CCL) connected through its outlet to the charging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent (OIOUT), ∘ the second heat exchanger (SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG, SCH CCL), which is configured to receive heat from the heat source (PC2, PS, CCG, CCL) and to heat the primary thermic agent to the preset temperature, the second heat exchanger (SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG, SCH CCL) being connected through its outlet to the charging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent (OIOUT), a direct freon supply circuit (CIT FRE DIR), through which freon circulates, the direct freon supply circuit (CIT FRE DIR) being configured to supply freon to the condenser coil (CHC) and comprising: ∘ a second three-way valve (VAO 2) connected in its first direction to the outlet of the first heat pump (PC1) and in its third direction to the inlet of the condenser coil (CHC), ∘ the first heat pump (PC1) connected through its expansion circuit with the outlet of the condenser coil (CHC), and An electronic processing and control unit connected to one or more temperature command and control means and configured to control the operation of said water heating system,
[0083] The first heat exchanger SCH ACM is configured to heat cold water from the source when the conditions are simultaneously met: the first three-way valve VAO 1 is configured to direct the primary thermic agent to the first heat exchanger SCH ACM, and the second three-way valve VAO 2 is configured to direct the freon to the condenser coil CHC.
[0084] Both the first three-way valve VAO 1 and the second three-way valve VAO 2 are three-way diverter valves.
[0085] The directions of the three-way valves VAO 1 and VAO 2 are numbered anticlockwise.
[0086] The first heat exchanger SCH ACM for heating the cold water from the source and the second heat exchanger (SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG or SCH CCL) for heating the primary thermic agent are plate heat exchangers.
[0087] In Fig. 3, the inlet end of the condenser coil and the outlet end of the condenser coil are designed to pass through the casing at a level below the inlet and outlet ends of the heat sources (PS, CCG or CCL) in the working position.
[0088] The second domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 2 is provided with a second flow sensor, the purpose of the second flow sensor being to sense the hot water flow in the second domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 2.
[0089] The primary thermic agent passes through the first heat exchanger SCH ACM by means of circulation pump PR1, giving off heat to the cold water from the source and obtaining domestic hot water ACM in the circuit CC ACM 2.
[0090] For the domestic water heating system described above, a detail of the two circuits is disclosed as follows:
[0091] In the domestic hot water heating circuit CIA 1: The discharging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent (ODOUT) is arranged in the upper part of the casing in the control zone and is connected outside of the thermic accumulator AT via a first pipe to the first circulation pump (PR1), which is further connected by the first and second direction of the first three-way valve (VAO 1) to the inlet of the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM). The first pipe is branched into at least two branches evenly distributed inside the thermic accumulator AT. The discharging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent (ODIN) is arranged in the lower part of the casing in the control zone and is connected outside of the thermic accumulator AT via a second pipe to the outlet of the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM). The second pipe is branched into at least two branches evenly distributed inside the thermic accumulator AT.
[0092] In the heating circuit for the primary thermic agent (CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL or CIT CCG): The charging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent (OINI) is arranged in the middle part of the casing in the control zone, being connected via an external branch of a third pipe to the second circulation pump (PR PC, PR PS, PR CCL, PR CCG) and further to the inlet of the second heat exchanger (SCH PC, SCH PS, SCH CCL, SCH CCG). The third pipe is branched into at least two evenly distributed internal branches inside the thermic accumulator AT and into at least two external branches outside the thermic accumulator AT. The charging outlet opening for the primary heat agent (OIOUT) is arranged in the lower part of the casing in the control zone, being connected via an external branch of a fourth pipe to the outlet of the second heat exchanger (SCH PC, SCH PS, SCH CCL, SCH CCG). The fourth pipe is branched into at least two evenly distributed internal branches inside the thermic accumulator AT and at least two external branches outside the thermic accumulator AT.
[0093] The discharging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent ODOUT, the discharging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent ODIN, the charging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent OINI and the charging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent OIOUT are arranged on the same vertical axis in the control zone, in order to allow the operator to have access to these openings.
[0094] There are urgent situations where fast additional heating of the primary thermic agent to the preset temperature is required, for example, when the first heat pump PC1 has a low power, such as P=2KW in the case of domestic consumers or in vacation homes, when a higher power heat pump is not economically possible or advantageous. In this case, the first heat pump PC1 needs a certain time to heat the primary thermic agent up to the preset temperature, but the consumer does not want to wait for the time needed for the first heat pump PC1 to heat the primary thermic agent.
[0095] In order to fix this situation, in a first embodiment of the domestic hot water heating system, the domestic hot water heating system further comprises an instant electric device - not graphically shown, located between the first three-way valve VAO 1 and the first heat exchanger SCH ACM, the instant electric device being configured to instantaneously additionally heat the primary thermic agent when the temperature of the primary thermic agent inside the thermic accumulator is lower than the preset temperature.
[0096] The instant electric device starts operating at the user's command when the temperature of the primary thermic agent is lower than the preset temperature, and stops operating when the temperature of the primary thermic agent inside the thermic accumulator AT reaches the preset temperature.
[0097] For the above described domestic water heating system in all its embodiments, in a further embodiment, the domestic water heating system is also used for the central heating of a building.
[0098] In this respect, the domestic hot water heating system further comprises a base coil with the turns of the base coil lying in a single vertical plane and located in the lower part of the thermic accumulator AT, the base coil having the following configurations to allow circulation of circulating water in a closed circuit for the purpose of central heating of a building: the base coil is configured to perform a third heat transfer between the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator AT and the circulating water of the base coil, the base coil is connected by a base coil inlet end to the outlet of a central heating circuit of a building and by a base coil outlet end to the inlet of a central heating circuit of a building, the inlet end of the base coil and the outlet end of the base coil are located at the upper part of the thermic accumulator AT in the control zone.
[0099] Said central heating circuit is a closed circuit in which the water is recirculated.
[0100] For the domestic water heating system comprising the base coil for the purpose of central heating of a building, a detail of the central heating circuit of the building is disclosed.
[0101] Thus, the casing is additionally configured to allow the flow of the primary thermic agent through a series of additional casing openings arranged in the control zone and connected to a corresponding series of pipes, forming a water heating circuit for the central heating of the building.
[0102] Thus: a quaternary outlet opening for the primary thermic agent - not graphically shown, corresponds to the central heating circuit of the building, the quaternary outlet opening being arranged in the upper part of the control zone and configured to be connected to the inlet of a fourth heat exchanger - not graphically shown, via the fifth pipe - not graphically shown a quaternary inlet opening for the primary thermic agent - not graphically shown, corresponds to the central heating circuit of the building, the quaternary inlet opening being arranged in the lower part of the control zone and configured to be connected to the outlet of a fourth heat exchanger via the sixth pipe - not graphically shown.
[0103] In a second object of the invention, with reference to Fig. 3, a method of using the thermic accumulator AT of the first embodiment of the first object of the invention is disclosed.
[0104] The structure of the domestic hot water heating system being multi-functional, it includes from the beginning all the components of all the water consuming circuits as well as all the domestic hot water heating circuits, but the different circuits are used according to the user's options, as will be detailed below.
[0105] Thus, a method of using a domestic water heating system comprises the following steps: Step 1 - opening the tap of domestic hot water ACM followed by the water flow sensing by the first flow sensor in the first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1, Step 2 - checking the temperature of the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator AT with one or more command and control means, Step 3 - if the temperature of the primary thermic agent is lower than the preset temperature and the first flow sensor senses water flow, the first heat pump PC1 supplies hot freon to the condenser coil CHC, which transfers the heat to the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator AT, Step 4 - the heated primary thermic agent gives off its heat to the water coil CW1 in order to obtain domestic hot water ACM in the first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1.
[0106] Thus, in this method of using the thermic accumulator AT of the first embodiment of the first object of the invention: heating of domestic hot water ACM is made using the condenser coil CHC, the hot water consuming circuit is the first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1.
[0107] In a third object of the invention, with reference to Fig. 3, a first method of using the domestic hot water heating system corresponding to the domestic hot water heating system of the embodiments describing the manner of heating the domestic hot water, except for those embodiments comprising the instant electric device and the base coil, is disclosed.
[0108] This first method of using the domestic water heating system comprises the following 6 steps, of which the first 4 steps (i.e. Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 and Step 4) are the same as in the method of using the thermic accumulator AT in the first embodiment of the first object of the invention disclosed above: Step 1 - opening the tap of domestic hot water ACM followed by the water flow sensing by the first flow sensor of the first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1, Step 2 - checking the temperature of the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator AT with one or more command and control means, Step 3 - if the temperature of the primary thermic agent is lower than the preset temperature and the first flow sensor senses water flow, the first heat pump PC1 supplies hot freon to the condenser coil CHC, which gives off the heat to the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator AT, Step 4 - the heated primary thermic agent gives off its heat to the water coil CW1 obtaining domestic hot water ACM in the first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1 Step 3A simultaneously with Step 3: if the primary thermic agent temperature is lower than the preset temperature and the second flow sensor senses water flow, the heat source PS, PC2, CCG, CCL supplies hot secondary heating agent to the second heat exchanger SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG, SCH CCL, which gives off its heat to the primary thermic agent in the primary thermic agent heating circuit CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL, CIT CCG, Step 4A simultaneously with Step 4: the heated primary thermic agent from the domestic hot water heating circuit CIA 1 is directed through the first and second direction of the first three-way valve VAO 1 and then through the first heat exchanger SCH ACM, where it gives off its heat to the cold water of source in the second domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 2, obtaining domestic hot water ACM. Thus, in this first method of using the domestic water heating system: heating of domestic hot water ACM is made using the condenser coil CHC and the heating circuit for the primary thermic agent (CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL or CIT CCG) there are two domestic hot water consuming circuits: the first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1, and the second domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 2.
[0109] In a fourth object of the invention, with reference to Fig. 3, a second method of using the domestic water heating system as an alternative to the first method of using the domestic water heating system is disclosed. This fourth method of using the domestic hot water heating system corresponds to the domestic hot water heating system of the embodiments describing the manner of heating the domestic hot water, except those embodiments comprising the instant electrical device and the base coil.
[0110] This second method of using the domestic water heating system comprises the following 6 steps, of which the first four steps (i.e. Step 1, Step 2, Step 3 and Step 4) are the same as in the the first method described above: Step 1 - opening the tap of domestic hot water ACM followed by the water flow sensing by the first flow sensor in the first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1, Step 2 - checking the temperature of the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator AT with one or more command and control means, Step 3 - if the temperature of the primary thermic agent is lower than the preset temperature and the first flow sensor senses water flow, the first heat pump PC1 supplies hot freon to the condenser coil CHC, which transfers the heat to the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator AT, Step 4 - the heated primary thermic agent gives off its heat to the water coil CW1 obtaining the domestic hot water ACM in the first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1. Step 3B simultaneously with Step 3: if the temperature of the primary thermic agent is lower than the preset temperature and the second flow sensor senses water flow, the heat source (PS, CCG or CCL) supplies hot secondary heating agent to at least one heating coil (CH1, CH2 or CH3), which gives off its heat to the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator AT Step 4B simultaneously with Step 4: the heated primary thermic agent of the domestic hot water heating circuit CIA 1 is directed by the first and second direction of the first three-way valve VAO 1 and subsequently through the first heat exchanger SCH ACM, where it gives off its heat to the cold water of the source in the second domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 2, obtaining domestic hot water ACM.
[0111] Thus, in this second method of using the domestic water heating system: the heating of the domestic hot water ACM is made by using the condensing coil CHC and one of the heat sources, i.e. solar panels PS, gas-fired plant CCG or wood-fired plant CCL, there are two domestic hot water consuming circuits: the first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1, and the second domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 2.
[0112] There are also other urgent situations where fast additional heating of the primary thermic agent to the preset temperature is required and the first heat pump PC1 has a high power output, e.g. P=20KW, such as in hotel consumers, public institutions or industrial buildings. In such urgent situations, the first heat pump PC1 needs a certain time to heat the primary thermic agent up to the preset temperature, but the consumer does not want to wait for that time required for the first heat pump PC1 to heat the primary thermic agent.
[0113] In order to fix this situation, the inventor designed another variant of the domestic water heating system, which comprises a rapid additional water heating system. With reference to Fig. 3, the rapid additional water heating system comprises: the thermic accumulator AT according to the second and third variants in the first embodiment of the first object of the invention, the domestic hot water heating circuit CIA 1 through which primary thermic agent circulates, to which is attached, by the first and third directions of the first three-way valve VAO 1, a bypass circuit called rapid heating circuit of the primary thermic agent CIT URG comprising a third heat exchanger SCH FRE, as follows: the first three-way valve VAO 1 is connected via its third direction to the inlet of the third heat exchanger SCH FRE the output of the third heat exchanger SCH FRE is connected to the inlet of the first heat exchanger SCH ACM, a fast freon supply circuit CIT FRE URG supplying the third heat exchanger SCH FRE and comprising: the second three-way valve VAO 2 connected by its first direction to the outlet of the first heat pump PC1 and by its second direction to the inlet of the third heat exchanger SCH FRE the third heat exchanger SCH FRE connected via its outlet to the inlet of the expansion circuit of the first heat pump PC1, the primary thermic agent heating circuit (CIT PC2, CIT PS, CIT CCL, CIT CCG) through which the primary thermic agent circulates.
[0114] Thus, in this rapid additional water heating system, the third heat exchanger SCH FRE is configured to rapidly heating the primary thermic agent when are simultaneously met the followings: the first three-way valve VAO 1 is configured to direct the primary thermic agent to the third heat exchanger SCH FRE and the second three-way valve VAO 2 is configured to direct the freon to the third heat exchanger SCH FRE.
[0115] Thus, in case of an urgency, when the temperature of the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator AT is below the preset temperature, the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator AT first reaches the third heat exchanger SCH FRE, where it increases its temperature by receiving heat from the hot freon directed by the first pump PC1 in the first and second direction of the second three-way valve VAO 2. Then the primary thermic agent with the increased temperature enters the first heat exchanger SCH ACM where it gives off heat to the cold water from the source obtaining domestic hot water ACM in the circuit CC ACM 2.
[0116] With reference to Fig. 3, for the rapid additional water heating system, an additional method of using the water fast additional heating system is shown, which comprises the following steps carried out between two complete cycles of the first method of using the domestic water heating system if the temperature sensors sense that the temperature of the primary thermic agent is lower than the preset temperature and the second flow sensor senses that there is water flow, then the temperature sensors and the second flow sensor command the first heat pump PC1 to supply hot freon through the first and second direction of the second three-way valve VAO 2 to the third heat exchanger SCH FRE in the fast freon supply circuit CIT FRE URG, then the hot freon flow gives off heat in the third heat exchanger SCH FRE to the primary thermic agent of the rapid heating circuit of the primary thermic agent CIT URG, then the heated primary thermic agent gives off heat in the first heat exchanger SCH ACM to the cold water from the source, obtaining domestic hot water ACM in the second domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 2
[0117] Thus, in this alternative method: heating of domestic hot water CIA is made by using the rapid heating circuit of the primary thermic agent CIT URG the domestic hot water consuming circuit is the second domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 2.
[0118] Although certain embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, the person skilled in the art will recognize various alternative embodiments and non-limiting combinations for implementing the invention as defined in the claims.List of references
[0119] AT thermic accumulator The thermic accumulator coils: CHC, CHV exchanger coil CHC condenser coil CHV evaporator coil CW1, CW2 water coil CH1, CH2, CH3 heating coils PC1 first heat pump ARS "cold water source" and "circulating water source" VEN "fan convector system" and "circulating water consumer" and "circulating water source" CC ACM 1 "circulating water consumer" and "first domestic water consuming circuit" ACM domestic hot water PS, CCG, CCL heat source PS solar panels CCG gas central heating CCL wood central heating ODOUT discharging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent CIA1 domestic water heating circuit PR1 first circulation pump VAO 1 the first three-way valve SCH ACM first heat exchanger ODIN discharging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent OINI charging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL, CIT CCG heating circuit for the primary thermic agent PR PC, PR PS, PR CCG, PR CCL second circulation pump SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG, SCH CCL second heat exchanger OIOUT charging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent CC ACM 2 second domestic hot water consuming circuit CIT FRE DIR direct freon supply circuit VAO 2 second three-way valve PR PC, PR PS, PR CCG, PR CCL second circulation pump CIT URG fast heating circuit for primary thermic agent CIT URG third heat exchanger
Examples
first embodiment
[0042]With reference to Fig. 1, in a first embodiment of the first object of the invention, which is the preferred embodiment of the thermic accumulator, said thermic accumulator AT is configured for heating the primary thermic agent, the component elements of which are specified as follows:
[0043]The exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) is a condenser coil CHC, through which freon circulates; the condenser coil CHC is configured to act as the condenser of the first heat pump PC1 and is connected as follows:
the inlet end of the condenser coil, through which hot freon enters, is connected to the compressor of the first heat pump PC1, and the outlet end of the condenser coil, through which the cooled freon exits, is connected to the expansion circuit of the first heat pump PC1.
[0044]The circulating water is the water from a cold water source ARS.
[0045]The water circulation system comprises the cold water source ARS, a first domestic hot water consuming circuit CC ACM 1, and the water coil CW...
second embodiment
[0055]With reference to Fig. 1, in a second embodiment of the first object of the invention, the thermic accumulator AT is configured for cooling the primary thermic agent, wherein the components of the thermic accumulator AT being specified as follows:
[0056]The exchanger coil (CHC or CHV) is an evaporator coil CHV, configured to act as the evaporator of the first heat pump PC1, wherein the evaporator coil CHV being connected as follows:
the inlet end of the evaporator coil, through which the cold freon enters, is connected to the expansion circuit of the first heat pump PC1, and the outlet end of the evaporator coil, through which the heated freon exits, is connected to the compressor of the first heat pump PC1.
[0057]The circulating water is the water of a closed cooling circuit of a fan convector system VEN.
[0058]The water circulation system comprises the water coil CW2 and the fan convector system VEN, the water coil CW2 being configured to be connected via the inlet end of the...
Claims
1. Thermic accumulator (AT) configured to be mounted within or instead of a building wall, comprising: - a closed, stiffened, thermally insulated, parallelepipedal casing, configured to be filled with a permanently non-pressurized primary thermic agent, in the primary thermic agent being immersed: - an exchanger coil (CHC, CHV) having an exchanger coil inlet end and an exchanger coil outlet end located in the upper part of the thermic accumulator (AT) in a control zone located on a side face of the casing along a vertical edge of said side face, and - a water coil (CW1, CW2) having a water coil inlet end and a water coil outlet end located in the upper part of the thermic accumulator (AT) in the control zone, wherein: in working position, the casing is configured to: - to comprise in the middle part of the control zone one or more command and control means for the temperature of the thermic accumulator (AT), - to allow its filling with unheated primary thermic agent via one or more filling means, up to a preset filling level, and to allow the expansion of the heated primary thermic agent up to a preset expansion level located between the preset filling level and an overflow port, said overflow port being located in the wall of the casing in the control zone between the preset expansion level and the top of the casing, - to contain a safety air volume between the preset filling level and the upper face of the casing, - to allow the evacuation of the safety air volume from the casing via the overflow port in order to maintain the primary thermic agent in non-pressurized form, characterised in that: - the exchanger coil (CHC, CHV), through which freon circulates, is connected via the inlet end of the exchanger coil and via the outlet end of the exchanger coil to a first heat pump (PC1), - the exchanger coil (CHC, CHV) having a first plurality of exchanger coil turns arranged in the bottom part of the casing in a single vertical plane, the exchanger coil turns having a first preset distance between two consecutive turns of the exchanger coil (CHC, CHV) and being configured to allow the freon flow from of the first heat pump (PC1), - the water coil (CW1, CW2), through which a circulating water circulates, is connected by the inlet end of the water coil to a circulating water source (ARS, VEN) and by the outlet end of the water coil to a circulating water consumer (CC ACM 1, VEN), - the water coil (CW1, CW2) having a second plurality of water coil turns arranged over the full height of the thermic accumulator (AT) in a single vertical plane, the water coil turns having a second preset distance between two consecutive water coil turns and being configured to allow the circulation of circulating water in a water circulation system comprising the circulating water source (ARS, VEN), the water coil (CW1, CW2) and the circulating water consumer (CC ACM 1, VEN), and in that: the exchanger coil (CHC, CHV) is configured to perform a first thermic transfer between the freon flow of the exchanger coil and the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator (AT), and the water coil (CW1, CW2) is configured to perform a second thermic transfer between the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator (AT) and the circulating water of the water coil (CW1, CW2).
2. The thermic accumulator (AT) according to claim 1, wherein: - the exchanger coil (CHC, CHV) is a condenser coil (CHC) configured to act as the condenser of the first heat pump (PC1), the condenser coil (CHC) being connected as follows: - the inlet end of the condenser coil (CHC), through which hot freon enters, is connected to the compressor of the first heat pump (PC1), and - the outlet end of the condenser coil (CHC), through which cold freon exits, is connected to the expansion circuit of the first heat pump (PC1), - the circulating water is the water from a cold water source (ARS), - the water circulation system comprises the cold water source (ARS), a first domestic hot water consuming circuit (CC ACM 1) and the water coil (CW1), - the water coil (CW1) has the inlet end of the water coil connected to the cold water source (ARS), and the outlet end of the water coil connected to the first domestic hot water consuming circuit (CC ACM 1), the water coil (CW1) being configured to allow the circulation of cold circulating water from the cold water source (ARS) for heating the cold circulating water, in order to obtain domestic hot water (ACM), - the first domestic hot water consuming circuit (CC ACM 1) being provided with a first flow sensor, and wherein the condenser coil (CHC) is configured to transfer the freon flow heat from the condenser coil (CHC) to the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator (AT) for heating the primary thermic agent to a preset temperature, and the water coil (CW1) is configured to receive the heat from said primary thermic agent, and wherein the primary thermic agent is permanently maintained in the thermic accumulator (AT) casing.
3. The thermic accumulator (AT) according to claim 1, wherein: - the exchanger coil (CHC, CHV) is an evaporator coil (CHV), configured to act as an evaporator of the first heat pump (PC1), the exchanger coil (CHC, CHV) being connected as follows: - the inlet end of the evaporator coil, through which cold freon enters, is connected to the expansion circuit of the first heat pump (PC1) and - the outlet end of the evaporator coil, through which the heated freon exits, is connected to the compressor of the first heat pump (PC1), - the circulating water is the water of a closed cooling circuit of a fan convector system (VEN), - the water circulation system comprises the water coil (CW2) and the fan convector system (VEN), the water coil (CW2) being configured to be connected by the inlet end of the water coil to the outlet of the fan convector system (VEN) and by the outlet end of the water coil to the inlet of the fan convector system (VEN), and wherein the evaporator coil (CHV) is configured to cool the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator (AT), and the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator (AT) is configured to cool the water of the water coil (CW2).
4. The thermic accumulator (AT) according to claim 2, further comprising at least one heating coil (CH1, CH2, CH3) configured to allow the flow of a secondary heating agent, each of the at least one heating coil (CH1, CH2, CH3) being connected to a respective heat source (PS, CCG, CCL) selected from solar panels (PS), gas central heating (CCG), wood central heating (CCL).
5. The thermic accumulator (AT) according to claim 2 or 4, further comprising the following openings configured to allow the circulation of the primary thermic agent outside the casing, in closed circuits: - a discharging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent (ODOUT), configured to be connected to a closed domestic hot water heating circuit (CIA1), - a discharging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent (ODIN), configured to be connected to the closed domestic hot water heating circuit (CIA1), - a charging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent (OIOUT), configured to be connected to a closed heating circuit for the primary thermic agent (CIT PS, CIT PC, CIT CCL, CIT CCG), - a charging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent (OINI), configured to be connected to the closed heating circuitef for the primary thermic agent circuit (CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL, CIT CCG), the thermic accumulator (TA) being further configured to allow the circulation of the primary thermic agent outside the casing, by recirculation, as follows: - between the thermic accumulator (AT) and a first heat exchanger (SCH ACM) via the closed domestic hot water heating circuit (CIA1), and - between the thermic accumulator (AT) and the second heat exchanger (SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG, SCH CCL) via the closed heating circuit of for the primary thermic agent (CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL, CIT CCG).
6. The thermic accumulator (AT) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the primary thermic agent is distilled water.
7. Building wall comprising at least one thermic accumulator (AT) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
8. A domestic water heating system comprising: - the thermic accumulator (AT) according to claim 5 or 6; - the domestic hot water heating circuit (CIA 1), through which the primary thermic agent circulates, the domestic hot water heating circuit (CIA 1) comprising: ∘ a first circulation pump (PR1) connected to the discharging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent (ODOUT) and to the first direction of a first three-way valve (VAO 1), ∘ the first three-way valve (VAO 1) connected by its second direction to the inlet of the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM), ∘ the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM) connected via its outlet to the discharging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent (ODIN), the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM) being configured to heat the cold water from the source into a second domestic hot water consuming circuit (CC ACM 2) provided with a second flow sensor; - the heating circuit for the primary thernic agent (CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL, CIT CCG), through which the primary thermic agent circulates, the heating circuit for the primary thermic agent (CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL, CIT CCG) comprising: ∘ a second circulation pump (PR PC, PR PS, PR CCG, PR CCL) connected to the charging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent (OINI) and to the inlet of the second heat exchanger (SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG, SCH CCL), ∘ the second heat exchanger (SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG, SCH CCL) configured to receive the heat from the heat source (PC2, PS, CCG, CCL) and to heat the primary thermic agent up to the preset temperature, the second heat exchanger (SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG, SCH CCL) being connected via its outlet to the charging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent (OIOUT); - a direct freon supply circuit (CIT FRE DIR), through which freon circulates, the direct freon supply circuit (CIT FRE DIR) being configured to supply freon to the condenser coil (CHC) and comprising: ∘ a second three-way valve (VAO 2) connected by its first direction to the outlet of the first heat pump (PC1) and by its third direction to the inlet of the condenser coil (CHC), ∘ the first heat pump (PC1) connected through its expansion circuit with the outlet of the condenser coil (CHC); - an electronic processing and control unit connected to one or more temperature command and control means and configured to control the operation of said water heating system; wherein the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM) is configured to heat the cold water of the source when the following conditions are simultaneously met: ∘ the first three-way valve (VAO 1) is configured to direct the primary thermic agent to the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM), and ∘ the second three-way valve (VAO 2) is configured to direct the freon to the condenser coil (CHC).
9. The domestic water heating system according to claim 8, wherein: - the discharging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent (ODOUT) is located in the upper part of the casing in the control zone and is connected outside of the thermic accumulator AT, via a first pipe, to the first circulation pump (PR1), which is further connected by the first and second direction of the first three-way valve (VAO 1) to the inlet of the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM), ∘ the first pipe being branched into at least two branches evenly distributed inside the thermic accumulator AT; - the discharging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent (ODIN) is located at the lower part of the casing in the control zone and is connected outside of the thermic accumulator AT to the outlet of the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM) via a second pipe, ∘ the second pipe being branched into at least two branches evenly distributed inside the thermic accumulator AT; - the charging inlet opening inlet of the primary thermic agent (OINI) is located in the middle part of the casing in the control zone, being connected, via an external branch of a third pipe, to the second circulation pump (PR PC, PR PS, PR CCL, PR CCG) and further to the inlet of the second heat exchanger (SCH PC, SCH PS, SCH CCL, SCH CCG) ∘ the third pipe being branched into at least two inner branches evenly distributed inside the thermic accumulator AT and into at least two outer branches outside the thermic accumulator AT; - the charging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent (OIOUT) is arranged in the lower part of the casing in the control zone, being connected to the outlet of the second heat exchanger (SCH PC, SCH PS, SCH CCL, SCH CCG) via an external branch of a fourth pipe, ∘ the fourth pipe being branched into at least two inner branches evenly distributed inside the thermic accumulator AT and into at least two outer branches outside the thermic accumulator AT; wherein: - the discharging outlet opening for the primary thermic agent (ODOUT), the discharging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent (ODIN), the charging inlet opening for the primary thermic agent (OINI) and the charging outlet opening (for the primary thermic agent (OIOUT) are arranged on the same vertical axis in the control zone.
10. The domestic water heating system according to claim 8 or 9 further comprising an instant electrical device located between the first three-way valve (VAO 1) and the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM), the instant electrical device being configured to additionally instantaneously heat the primary thermic agent when the temperature of the primary thermic agent within the thermic accumulator is lower than the preset temperature.
11. The domestic water heating system according to any one of claims 8 to 10, further comprising a base coil having the base coil turns lying in a single vertical plane and arranged in the lower part of the thermic accumulator (AT), the base coil having the following configurations for allowing the circulation of circulating water in a closed circuit for the central heating of a building: - the base coil is configured to perform a third heat transfer between the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator (AT) and the circulating water in the base coil, - the base coil is connected with an inlet end of the base coil to the outlet of a building central heating circuit, and with an outlet end of the base coil to the inlet of the building central heating circuit, - the inlet end of the base coil and the outlet end of the base coil are located in the upper part of the thermic accumulator (AT).
12. The water heating system according to claim 11, wherein the casing is further configured to allow the flow of the primary thermic agent through a series of additional openings of the casing arranged in the control zone and connected to a corresponding series of pipes, forming a water heating circuit for central heating of the building, wherein: - one quaternary outlet opening for the primary thermic agent corresponds to the central heating circuit of the building, the quaternary outlet opening being arranged in the upper part of the control zone and configured to be connected to the inlet of a fourth heat exchanger via the fifth pipe, - a quaternary inlet opening for the primary thermic agent corresponds to the central heating circuit of the building, the quaternary inlet opening being arranged in the lower part of the control zone and configured to be connected to the outlet of a fourth heat exchanger via the sixth pipe.
13. A method of using the thermic accumulator (AT) according to claim 2 comprising the following steps: Step 1 - opening the tap of domestic hot water (ACM) followed by the water flow sensing by the first flow sensor in the first domestic hot water consuming circuit (CC ACM 1), Step 2 - checking the temperature of the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator (AT) with one or more command and control means, Step 3 - if the temperature of the primary thermic agent is lower than the preset temperature and the first flow sensor senses water flow, the first heat pump (PC1) supplies hot freon to the condenser coil (CHC), which transfers the heat to the primary thermic agent of the thermic accumulator (AT), Step 4 - the heated primary thermic agent gives off its heat to the water coil (CW1) obtaining the domestic hot water (ACM) in the first domestic hot water consuming circuit (CC ACM 1).
14. The method of using the domestic water heating system according to claim 8 or 9, the method comprising the following steps in addition to the steps of claim 13: Step 3A simultaneously with Step 3: if the primary thermic agent temperature is lower than the preset temperature and the second flow sensor senses water flow, then the heat source (PS, PC2, CCG, CCL) supplies hot secondary heating agent to the second heat exchanger (SCH PC2, SCH PS, SCH CCG, SCH CCL), which gives off its heat to the primary thermic agent for the primary thermic agent heating circuit (CIT PC, CIT PS, CIT CCL, CIT CCG), Step 4A simultaneously with Step 4: the heated primary thermic agent of the domestic water heating circuit (CIA 1) is directed through the first and second direction of the first three-way valve (VAO 1) and subsequently through the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM), where it gives off its heat to the cold source water of the second domestic hot water consuming circuit (CC ACM 2), obtaining domestic hot water (ACM).
15. The method of using the water heating system according to claim 8, the method comprising the following steps in addition to the steps of claim 13: Step 3B simultaneously with Step 3: if the temperature of the primary thermic agent is lower than the preset temperature and the second flow sensor senses water flow, the heat source (PS, CCG, CCL) supplies hot secondary heating agent to at least one heating coil (CH1, CH2, CH3), which gives off its heat to the primary thermic agent in the thermic accumulator (AT) Step 4B simultaneously with Step 4: the heated primary thermic agent of the domestic hot water heating circuit (CIA 1) is directed through the first and second direction of the first three-way valve (VAO 1) and subsequently through the first heat exchanger (SCH ACM), where it gives off its heat to the cold water source of the second domestic hot water consuming circuit (CC ACM 2), obtaining domestic hot water (ACM).
Citation Information
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