Device for heating domestic water
The domestic hot water heating device with a non-zero curvature filter addresses seal and airflow challenges, enhancing system performance and compliance with ventilation standards through a removable design.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ATLANTIC IND
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing domestic hot water heating systems with heat pumps face challenges in achieving a good seal and simplified airflow design due to the complex configuration of components, particularly when a removable filter is positioned at the bottom, complicating airtightness and ventilation compliance.
A domestic hot water heating device with a filter having a non-zero curvature, positioned across the airflow, allowing optimal positioning within the airflow while ensuring a good seal, and a removable design for easy maintenance, compatible with different system architectures.
The solution achieves an optimal balance between simplified airflow and aerodynamic performance, ensuring compliance with building ventilation standards and reducing fouling intervals while facilitating filter maintenance.
Smart Images

Figure IMGAF001_ABST
Abstract
Description
technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of building construction, particularly domestic hot water. In particular, the invention relates to a domestic hot water heating device. Previous technique
[0002] There are domestic hot water heating systems with heat pumps in which the cold source for pumping is taken from a building's ventilation flow. They are therefore called "combined" because they provide both hot water production and building ventilation.
[0003] Since the air extracted from the building can be stale, for example laden with dust, grease particles or moisture, it is known to filter this air before its use in the heat pump.
[0004] Typically, a heat exchanger for a heat pump is mounted vertically above the storage tank in a bucket, closed by a lid, or between two shells. The filter is usually placed in the lower part of the bucket or shell to allow for removal and cleaning. This filter is mounted in a removable way so that it can be extracted through a wall of the bucket or shell. This removable feature allows for filter maintenance or replacement. The filter is generally a rigid cartridge.
[0005] Furthermore, the ventilation of a building is subject to significant regulatory constraints, particularly in terms of airtightness, to ensure proper removal of stale air.
[0006] In some cases, a more specific design is used to enclose the heat pump, which may involve a series of components, for example, using a half-bucket and two shells. In this case, the number of components that must be passed through to position the filter at the bottom complicates achieving a good seal. Description of the invention
[0007] There is a need for a domestic hot water heating system comprising a tank and a heat pump with a filter to ensure good sealing in different heat pump reception configurations. Summary of the invention
[0008] The present invention addresses this need by means of, according to one of its aspects, a domestic hot water heating device comprising: a water storage tank; a water heating module comprising a heat pump, the heat pump comprising a first water heating heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger being positioned on a base mounted on an upper part of the tank, the second heat exchanger extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the base; a building air extraction module mounted on the base and comprising a casing, an air inlet and an air outlet, the air inlet being positioned on an upper surface of the casing, the extraction module being configured to create an airflow through the second heat exchanger, the extraction module including a fan or is configured to be connected to a fan, the fan being configured to allow air circulation between the inlet and outlet; the extraction module comprising a filter mounted on the casing and positioned across the airflow created by the fan between the air inlet and the second heat exchanger, the filter being removable from the casing so as to allow the mounting and dismounting of the filter, characterized in that the filter has at least one non-zero curvature when mounted on the casing.
[0009] Providing a removable filter with a non-zero curvature allows the filter to be optimally positioned within the airflow while ensuring a good seal. This achieves an optimal balance between a simplified airflow design and the device's aerodynamic performance.
[0010] The filter may include a filtering surface, said at least one non-zero curvature being formed at the level of the filtering surface.
[0011] The filter can exhibit at least one non-zero curvature when the filter is mounted on the housing so that the filter defines at least two distinct planes tangent to the filtering surface.
[0012] These at least two distinct planes are notably tangent to the development surface of the filtering surface.
[0013] Said at least two distinct planes are taken on the development surface of the filtering surface at a distance from the edges of the filtering surface.
[0014] By "development surface" we mean the curved three-dimensional surface of the filtering surface.
[0015] The filtering surface may have a general external S-shape.
[0016] The filter surface may, when mounted on the box, have a downward slope from the center of the box towards the outside of the box.
[0017] The filter surface is a curved surface when the filter is mounted on the housing, i.e. the filter surface is not flat when the filter is mounted on the housing.
[0018] The at least two distinct tangent planes may form an angle greater than or equal to 0.5°, or greater than or equal to 5°, with respect to each other. The at least two distinct tangent planes may form an angle less than or equal to 90° with respect to each other, in particular less than or equal to 40°.
[0019] The filter can be moved in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom of the housing to allow for its assembly and disassembly. This mobility allows for filter positioning compatible with system architectures involving different layers and / or components within the air extraction module, while ensuring a simple seal that meets building ventilation standards.
[0020] Alternatively, the filter can be movable in a plane substantially perpendicular to the bottom so as to allow the filter to be mounted and dismounted
[0021] The balloon can expand along a main axis, notably vertically.
[0022] The bottom can be a substantially flat surface perpendicular to the main axis of the tank, with the second heat exchanger being perpendicular to this flat surface. The air inlet can be perpendicular to this flat surface.
[0023] The air inlet can define an air intake axis, with the filter moving relative to the housing in a plane substantially perpendicular to the air intake axis. Orienting the filter in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom of the housing allows the filter surface to face the air inlet.
[0024] Preferably, the filter surface has a first curvature in a first plane of section and a second curvature in a second plane of section, the first plane of section being perpendicular to the second plane of section.
[0025] Preferably, in an orthonormal coordinate system ABC in which axis A corresponds to the air inlet axis and axis B corresponds to an insertion axis of the filter on the housing, the first cutting plane being parallel to plane AB and the second cutting plane being parallel to plane AC.
[0026] Alternatively, axis A corresponds to the main axis of the balloon and axis B corresponds to an insertion axis of the filter on the casing, the first cutting plane being parallel to plane AB and the second cutting plane is parallel to plane AC.
[0027] The air inlet axis can be parallel to the main axis of the balloon.
[0028] The casing can cover the second heat exchanger. In particular, the casing can form a cavity with the bottom to accommodate the second heat exchanger.
[0029] The housing may include an opening through which the filter is inserted, the opening being configured to allow the filter to be mounted and removed.
[0030] The container may have an upper section with a top surface, the opening being positioned in the upper part of the container. This configuration is particularly advantageous when a half-bucket is positioned at the bottom. Indeed, in this case, the lower section, opposite the upper section, has a succession of layers that complicates sealing an opening at that level.
[0031] The device may include a half-bucket forming the base, with a peripheral wall around the base. The height of the peripheral wall perpendicular to the base is less than the height of the second heat exchanger perpendicular to the base. In other words, the half-bucket does not encompass the entire height of the second heat exchanger. It can also be referred to as a bucket or a base.
[0032] The half-bucket can be placed inside the container.
[0033] The enclosure may consist of two shells fixed to each other, forming a side wall of the enclosure and the upper surface of the enclosure. The two shells, together with the bottom, thus form the said cavity.
[0034] In one embodiment, the half-bucket is placed between the two shells.
[0035] The filter may have a handle. The handle may extend to the opening of the housing when the filter is mounted on the housing. The filter handle may be rigid, meaning it is difficult for a user to deform without tools.
[0036] The average plane of the handle taken parallel to the bottom preferably extends at a distance from the average plane of the filter surface taken parallel to the bottom.
[0037] The filter may include a filtering surface.
[0038] The filter surface can be washed with water without degradation.
[0039] The filtering surface may include a sieve.
[0040] The filter can be connected to a solid rim that at least partially surrounds the filter surface. The rim provides slight rigidity to the filter at the level of the filter surface.
[0041] The housing may include at least one, and in particular at least two, guide ridges for the filter surface, configured to guide and position the filter surface in a predetermined manner during filter mounting. The solid rim may be in contact with the guide ridge(s) when the filter is mounted.
[0042] Said at least one guide relief may be a guide rail.
[0043] Said at least one guide relief can be configured to position the filter surface in an operating position in which the airflow passes through the filter.
[0044] When the filter is mounted on the housing, the filtering surface may have at least one non-zero curvature.
[0045] All or part of the filter surface can be configured to be elastically and / or plastically deformed between a rest state, when the filter is not in contact with the housing, and a deformed state, when the filter is mounted on the housing through the airflow.
[0046] The filter may include a frame or body carrying the filtering surface. In this case, all or part of the frame or body may be configured to be elastically and / or plastically deformed between the rest state and the deformed state.
[0047] Said at least one guide relief can be configured to elastically and / or plastically deform the filter when the filter is mounted on the housing.
[0048] At least 50% of the filter surface can be substantially flat in the rest state.
[0049] The filter surface may have at least one non-zero curvature, in particular several non-zero curvatures, in the deformed state. In particular, the filter may have a first and a second non-zero curvature in a first and a second direction respectively when the filter is mounted on the housing, the filter defining at least two distinct first planes tangent to the filter surface to form said first non-zero curvature and at least two distinct second planes tangent to the filter surface to form said second non-zero curvature.
[0050] By "distorted state" we mean a state in which at least one external force other than gravity deforms or has deformed the filter.
[0051] The first and second directions extend along the filtering surface. The first and second directions are, for example, perpendicular to each other.
[0052] This curvature can increase the portion of the filter surface through which the flow passes, which limits fouling at this level and reduces the intervals between two washes and / or filter replacements.
[0053] The housing may include a sealing relief configured to cooperate with an outer edge of the filter surface when the filter is mounted on the housing to limit the airflow passing between the housing and the outer edge of the filter surface.
[0054] An upper portion of the second heat exchanger may be located between the airflow inlet and the filter. In this case, the extraction module may include an obstruction surface covering said portion of the second heat exchanger located between the airflow inlet and the filter so as to prevent unfiltered airflow into the second heat exchanger at the level of the upper portion of the second heat exchanger.
[0055] The heat pump in the water heating module may include a compressor. The filter preferably extends at least partially above the compressor when positioned across the airflow created by the fan. In a preferred configuration, one portion of the filter extends above the compressor, and a second portion extends beyond the compressor through the airflow created by the fan.
[0056] The storage tank can have a domestic hot water storage volume of between 50 l and 200 l.
[0057] The invention also relates, according to another of its aspects, in combination with the above, to a method of mounting or dismounting a filter of a device as described above, comprising the movement of the filter by a user in a substantially horizontal plane. Brief description of the drawings
[0058] The invention will be better understood upon reading the detailed description that follows, the non-limiting examples of its implementation, and upon examination of the attached drawing, in which [ Fig 1 ] illustrates, in perspective, schematically, an example of a device according to the invention, [ Fig 2 ] illustrates, in exploded view, schematically, part of the device of the figure 1 , [ Fig 3 ] illustrates part of the device of the figure 1 in which a shell of the caisson is removed, and [ Fig 4 ] is a view similar to the figure 3 illustrating the curvatures of the filter surface of the device's filter figure 1 . Detailed description
[0059] In the following description, identical elements or elements with identical functions are marked with the same reference numeral. For the sake of brevity, they are not described alongside each figure; only the differences between the embodiments are described.
[0060] In the figures, the actual proportions have not always been respected, for the sake of clarity.
[0061] We illustrated on the figures 1 to 4 an example of a domestic hot water heating device 1 according to the invention.
[0062] Device 1 includes a domestic hot water storage tank 2 extending along a vertical principal axis X. Tank 2 has, for example, a storage volume of 200 l.
[0063] The ball 2 thus comprises a lower part 3, which will be close to the ground, and an upper part 4, opposite the lower part 3.
[0064] Device 1 also includes a water heating module 5 comprising a heat pump 6.
[0065] Heat pump 6 includes a water heating heat exchanger (not shown) which is, for example, located inside tank 2.
[0066] The heat pump 6 also includes a second heat exchanger 7 positioned in the bottom 8 of a half-bucket 9 mounted on the upper part 4 of the tank 2, as illustrated in the exploded view of the figure 2 .
[0067] The bottom 8 is substantially flat and preferably extends in a horizontal plane H and perpendicular to the main axis X of the balloon 2.
[0068] The second heat exchanger 7 extends in a plane perpendicular V to the bottom 8. The plane V is thus a substantially vertical plane V.
[0069] The half-bucket 9 has a peripheral wall 10 around the bottom 8 which extends substantially perpendicularly to the bottom 8.
[0070] The height Hp of the peripheral wall 10 taken perpendicular to the bottom 8, which is substantially constant, is less, in this example less by 25%, than the height He of the second heat exchanger 7 taken perpendicular to the bottom 8.
[0071] Device 1 also includes an air extraction module 15 from a building mounted on the bottom 8.
[0072] The air extraction module 15 includes a box 16, formed of two shells 17 and 18. The box 16 forms, with the bottom 8, a closed cavity in which the second heat exchanger 7 extends in its entirety.
[0073] Each of the shells 17 and 18 has a peripheral surface 19 and a superior surface 20.
[0074] The air extraction module 15 also includes a fan 21 mounted on the bottom 8 allowing an airflow between an air inlet 22 and an air outlet 23.
[0075] The air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23 are positioned on the upper surface 20 of the shell 18 of the box 16. The air extraction module 15 is configured so that the airflow passes through the second thermal 7.
[0076] The air extraction module 15 may include branch connections 25 at the inlet 22 and outlet 23.
[0077] The air extraction module 15 also includes a filter 30 having a filtering surface 31, in the form of a sieve, and a handle 32.
[0078] The filter surface 31 is connected to a solid rim 350 and solid ribs 38, allowing slight rigidity of this part of the filter 30.
[0079] The filter 30 is mounted movably and removably on the shell 17 so that the airflow between the air inlet 22 and the second heat exchanger 7 passes through the filter surface 31, as illustrated in particular on the figures 3 to 4 .
[0080] Filter 30 is movable in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom 8 so as to allow the assembly and disassembly of filter 30.
[0081] The housing 16 includes a plate 35 mounted on the upper surface 20 of the shell 17 which forms an opening 36 through which the filter 30 can be inserted for mounting.
[0082] The upper surface 20 of the shell 17 also has a slot 37 on the upper surface 20 into which a guide piece 40 of the filter 30 is inserted.
[0083] The guide piece 40 forms a cavity 41 through which the filter 30 slides during assembly and disassembly.
[0084] This guide piece 40 allows, during assembly, the filter surface 31 to be brought onto guide rails 42 and 43.
[0085] The guide rails 42 and 43 position the filter surface 31 in an operating position, illustrated in figures 3 to 5, in which the airflow passes through the filter when the filter 30 is mounted.
[0086] In particular, part of the rim 350 is engaged in the guide rails 42 and 43.
[0087] The guide rails 42 and 43 allow the filter surface 31 to be elastically and / or plastically deformed relative to a rest state when the filter 30 is not in contact with the housing, as illustrated in particular on the figure 2 .
[0088] In the resting state, at least 50% of the filter surface 31 is substantially flat.
[0089] As illustrated on the figure 4 , filter 30 exhibits several non-zero curvatures when mounted on box 16.
[0090] In particular, the filter 30 defines at least two distinct planes tangent to the filter surface 31. Said at least two distinct planes are in particular tangent to the development surface of the filter surface 31 and are taken on the development surface of the filter surface at a distance from the edges of the filter surface 31.
[0091] Preferably, in an orthonormal coordinate system ABC in which the axis A corresponds to the principal axis X and the axis B corresponds to an insertion axis of the filter 30 on the housing 16, the filtering surface 31 has a first curvature in a first plane of section parallel to the plane AB and a second curvature in a second plane of section parallel to the plane AC.
[0092] The filter 30 defines a first direction L and a second direction T extending along the filtering surface 31. The filter 30 has a first curvature along the direction L and a second curvature along the second direction T.
[0093] In this example, the second direction T is perpendicular to the first direction L.
[0094] These curves in the filter surface 31 widen the airflow cone from the inlet 22, thus increasing the portion of the filter surface 31 through which the flow passes. This limits the fouling of the filter 30 and reduces the intervals between two cleanings and / or replacements of the filter 30.
[0095] The shell 18 may include a sealing relief, not shown, configured to cooperate with a part 50 of the rim 350 not engaged with the guide rails 42 and 43 when the filter 30 is mounted; to limit the airflow passing between the box 16 and the rim 350.
[0096] In addition, the guide rail 42 also makes it possible to form an obstruction surface 51 which covers a part 53 of the second heat exchanger 7 located between the air flow inlet 22 and the filter 30 so as to prevent an unfiltered air flow into the second heat exchanger 7 at the level of the upper part 53 of the second heat exchanger 7.
[0097] The invention is not limited to the example just described.
[0098] In particular, the 16-unit housing may be different, for example formed from a single shell.
[0099] The curvatures of the filtering surface can be deferent so that any tangent of the filtering surface forms an angle with a horizontal plane less than or equal to 45°.
Claims
1. Domestic water heating device (1) comprising: - a water storage tank (2); - a water heating module (5) comprising a heat pump (6), the heat pump (6) comprising a first water heating heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger (7), the second heat exchanger (7) being positioned on a base (8) mounted on an upper part (4) of the tank (2), the second heat exchanger (7) extending in a plane (V) substantially perpendicular to the base (8);- an air extraction module (15) of a building mounted on the bottom (8) and comprising a box (16), an air inlet (22) and an air outlet (23), the air inlet (22) being positioned on an upper surface (20) of the box (16), the extraction module (15) being configured to create an airflow through the second heat exchanger (7), the extraction module (15) comprising a fan (21) or is configured to be connected to a fan (21), the fan (21) being configured to allow air circulation between the inlet (22) and the outlet (23);the extraction module (15) comprising a filter (30) mounted on the casing (16) and positioned across the airflow created by the fan (21) between the air inlet (22) and the second heat exchanger (7), the filter (30) being removable from the casing (16) so as to allow the mounting and dismounting of the filter (30), the filter (30) having at least one non-zero curvature when mounted on the casing (16); characterized in that the filter (30) comprises a filtering surface (31), said at least one non-zero curvature being formed at the level of the filtering surface (31) and in that the filter (30) has at least one non-zero curvature when the filter (30) is mounted on the box (16) so that the filter (30) defines at least two distinct planes tangent to the filtering surface (31).
2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least two distinct tangent planes form an angle greater than or equal to 0.5° with respect to each other.
3. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least two distinct tangent planes form an angle less than or equal to 90° with respect to each other, in particular less than or equal to 40°.
4. Device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the filter (30) has a first and a second non-zero curvature respectively along a first and a second direction when the filter (30) is mounted on the housing (16), the filter (30) defining at least two first distinct planes tangent to the filtering surface (31) to form said first non-zero curvature and at least two second distinct planes tangent to the filtering surface (31) to form said second non-zero curvature.
5. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the housing (16) comprising at least one, in particular at least two, guide relief (42; 43) of the filter surface (31) configured to guide and position the filter surface (31) in a predetermined manner during the mounting of the filter (30).
6. Device (1) according to claim 5, wherein said at least one guide relief (42; 43) is configured to position the filter surface (31) in an operating position in which the airflow passes through the filter (30).
7. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the filter surface (31) is configured to be elastically and / or plastically deformed between a rest state, when the filter (30) is not in contact with the housing (16), and a deformed state, when the filter (30) is mounted on the housing (16) through the airflow.
8. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an upper part (53) of the second heat exchanger (7) is included between the airflow inlet (33) and the filter (30), the extraction module having an obstruction surface (42) covering said part of the second heat exchanger (7) included between the airflow inlet (22) and the filter (30) so as to prevent unfiltered airflow into the second heat exchanger (7) at the level of the upper part (53) of the second heat exchanger (7).
9. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter (30) is movable in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom (8) so as to allow the assembly and disassembly of the filter (30).
10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a half-bucket (9) forming the bottom and comprising a peripheral wall (10) around the bottom (8), the height (Hp) of the peripheral wall (10) perpendicular to the bottom (8) being less than the height (He) of the second heat exchanger (7) perpendicular to the bottom (8), the box (16) comprising two shells (17;18) fixed to each other and forming a side wall of the box (16) and the upper surface of the box (16).
11. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filtering surface (31) has a first curvature in a first plane of section and a second curvature in a second plane of section, the first plane of section being perpendicular to the second plane of section.
12. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which, in an orthonormal frame ABC in which the axis A corresponds to a principal axis (X) of the balloon (2) and the axis B corresponds to an insertion axis of the filter (30) on the box (16), the first cutting plane is parallel to the plane AB and the second cutting plane is parallel to the plane AC.
13. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least two distinct planes are taken on the development surface of the filtering surface (31) at a distance from the edges of the filtering surface (31).
14. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter surface (31) has, when mounted on the box (16), a downward slope from the center of the box (16) to the outside of the box (16).
15. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter (30) comprises a handle (32), the mean plane of the handle (32) taken parallel to the bottom (8) extends at a distance from the mean plane of the filtering surface (31) taken parallel to the bottom (8).
Citation Information
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