Prefabricated module for coupling a heating module to a central heating network

Abstract

The invention relates to a coupling module (C) suitable for placement between a heating module (A) and a central heating network (R), the coupling module (C) receiving heat produced by the heating module (A) and transmitting it to the central heating network (R), where said coupling module (C) is prefabricated in a factory. Method of installing such a coupling module (C). Central heating system comprising such a coupling module (C). Abstract figure: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Prefabricated module for coupling a heating module to a central heating network. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a central heating system and more particularly to the prefabrication of a coupling module between a heating module and a central heating network. Previous technique

[0002] In a known manner, in a central heating system, a heating module is capable of heating a heat transfer fluid, preferably water, and of circulating it in a central heating network comprising one or more generally a plurality of terminal heating units (radiator or underfloor heating).

[0003] A central heating system comprises a heating module, a coupling module, and a central heating network. The heating module is responsible for producing heat. The coupling module is responsible for transferring heat to the central heating network, adjusting flow rates and / or pressures as necessary.

[0004] Usually, the heating installer carries out an installation by building, piece by piece, the coupling module, in the customer's boiler room and assembling it with the heating module and connecting it to the central heating network.

[0005] Thus, for a coupling module, comprising: a mixing bottle, at least one circulator, an expansion vessel, a dirt pot or a filter and a disconnector, the heating installer sets up each of the components: mixing bottle, circulator, expansion vessel, dirt pot and disconnector, makes all the interconnecting pipework, by bending, welding or crimping, fixes and connects them together, at the final installation site.

[0006] Such a craft-based approach is long, costly and requires a very high level of technical skill and professionalism on the part of the heating installer.

[0007] Therefore, an alternative approach is sought. Summary of the invention

[0008] For this purpose, the invention relates to a coupling module suitable for being placed between a heating module and a central heating network, the coupling module receiving heat produced by the heating module and transmitting it to the central heating network, where said coupling module is prefabricated in the factory.

[0009] Specific features or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are:

[0010] - the coupling module includes a heat exchanger between a primary circuit which runs through the heating module and carries a first heat transfer fluid heated by the heating module and a secondary circuit which carries a second heat transfer fluid,

[0011] - the coupling module further includes a mixing bottle between the circuit secondary and a tertiary circuit that runs through the central heating network,

[0012] - the second heat transfer fluid is a liquid, preferably water, even actually additive,

[0013] - the secondary circuit includes a filter or mud pot,

[0014] - the tertiary circuit includes an expansion vessel, at least one circulator, a dis connector

[0015] - the coupling module further includes a support frame suitable for accommodating the various components of the coupling module and interconnecting pipes, as well as the fittings intended to connect the coupling module to the heating module and the central heating network,

[0016] - the coupling module further includes a safety group and a valve thermostatic changing machine,

[0017] - the heating module is capable of heating the first heat transfer fluid,

[0018] - the heating module is a heat pump, and the first heat transfer fluid is a refrigerant fluid.

[0019] According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for installing such a coupling module comprises the following steps: setting up the coupling module, connecting the coupling module with the central heating network by means of two custom-made fittings so as to form / close the tertiary circuit, and connecting the heating module or the heat exchanger with the coupling module by means of two custom-made fittings so as to form / close the primary circuit.

[0020] According to a third aspect of the invention, a central heating system comprising such a coupling module.

[0021] Thus, for a coupling module comprising a number of elements such as, among others: a mixing vessel, an expansion vessel, at least one circulator, a filter or dirt separator, and a backflow preventer, as well as connections adapted to the distances between these elements, the heating installer, in their own premises, installs and secures each of the components—mixing vessel, expansion vessel, circulator, filter or dirt separator, and backflow preventer—onto a frame, and fabricates all the connecting pipework between these elements, to a length adapted to the distances between them. All these fittings and pipework are also manufactured and fixed by the heating installer to the coupling module in their own premises. They are obtained by bending, welding, or crimping, and secured, in fact, incorporate all the adaptations that the distances between the different elements imply and are mounted on the coupling module in the heating engineer's own premises. Finally, the frame containing all these elements can be transported to the final installation site, where the only hydraulic operation to be carried out consists of directly connecting, at the final installation site, the coupling module respectively to the heating module and to the central heating network and where applicable a connection to a cold water supply for filling the central heating network and a connection to a cold and hot water supply in the case of a combined domestic hot water production. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the figures in the appendix in which:

[0023] [Fig.1] shows, in schematic view, a central heating system according to the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0024] With reference to [Fig. 1], the invention relates to a coupling module C between a heating module A and a central heating network R. A heating module A is capable of producing heat, generally in the form of a heat transfer fluid, and of transmitting this heat in a central heating network R. A heat transfer fluid circulates in a closed circuit comprising all the terminal heating units of the central heating network R. Said central heating network R comprises at least one terminal heating unit: radiator or underfloor heating coil.

[0025] A terminal heating unit is a heat exchanger between the heat transfer fluid and the ambient air. The heat transfer fluid, circulating within the terminal heating unit, is heated directly or indirectly by the heat produced by the heating module. Within the terminal heating unit, it cools down by heating the ambient air around the unit. This heats the ambient air of the building housing the terminal heating unit. The cooled heat transfer fluid then returns to the heating module to be heated again.

[0026] The heating module A is designed to heat a heat transfer fluid. To achieve this, it can take various forms depending on the technology and / or energy source used to produce the heat. It can be a combustion heating module (wood, fuel oil, gas, etc.), an electric / ohmic heating module, a solar heating module, or a thermal heating module (heat pump, geothermal, etc.).

[0027] The coupling module C has the function of making any necessary adaptations between the heating module A and the central heating network R.

[0028] The coupling module C, in that it isolates, via a heat exchanger 4, a primary circuit 1 A secondary circuit 2 allows the circulation characteristics of the primary circuit 1 to be modified in the secondary circuit 2. A heat exchanger 4 creates a sealed separation between the primary circuit 1 and the secondary circuit 2. This allows, among other things, the heat transfer fluid to be changed between the primary circuit 1 and the secondary circuit 2.

[0029] The heat exchanger 4 is required for operation. Depending on the configuration, it can be included in the coupling module C or in the heating module A.

[0030] The exchanger 4 thus allows here a change of heat transfer fluid between the primary circuit 1 and the secondary circuit 2.

[0031] The coupling module C, by virtue of including a mixing vessel 5, allows the circulation characteristics of the secondary circuit 2 to be modified in the tertiary circuit 3. These two circuits, secondary 2 and tertiary 3, carry the same heat transfer fluid. However, the mixing vessel 5 allows the physical characteristics, such as the flow rate, of this heat transfer fluid to be modified between the secondary circuit 2 and the tertiary circuit 3.

[0032] Thus, the secondary circuit 2 transports a second heat transfer fluid between the heat exchanger 4 and the inlet (upstream) of the mixing tank 5, at a high flow rate, for example 2.7 m3 / h. Conversely, the tertiary circuit 3 transports the heat transfer fluid between the outlet (downstream) of the mixing tank 5 and the central heating network R at a lower flow rate, for example 0.1 m3 / h per terminal heating unit, when it is a radiator, more when it is a heated floor.

[0033] The coupling module C allows for decoupling, which may include a change of heat transfer fluid and / or a change in flow rate and / or pressure. The mixing bottle 5 acts here as a "pressure reducer".

[0034] This is known to those skilled in the art. However, the heating installer still carries out an installation to date by building, piece by piece, the coupling module, on the final site, in the customer's boiler room.

[0035] Thus, for a coupling module C, classically comprising: a mixing bottle, an exchanger, and optionally an expansion vessel, at least one circulator, a filter or mud pot and a disconnector, the heating installer sets up each of the components: exchanger, mixing bottle, expansion vessel, circulator, filter or mud pot and disconnector, makes all the interconnecting pipework, by bending, welding or crimping, fixes and connects them, at the final installation site.

[0036] Such an artisanal approach is long, costly and requires a very high level of technical skill and professionalism on the part of the heating installer.

[0037] Also, according to an advantageous and unprecedented approach, the invention proposes to prefabricate the coupling module C in the factory.

[0038] The coupling module C requires at least one heat exchanger 4. This Heat exchanger 4 may or may not be integrated into the coupling module C. The upstream circuit of this heat exchanger 4 is a closed circuit, called primary circuit 1, which runs through the heating module A. It carries a first heat transfer fluid. This first heat transfer fluid is heated as it passes through the heating module A.

[0039] The downstream circuit of the heat exchanger 4 is a closed circuit, called secondary circuit 2. It transports a second heat transfer fluid between the exchanger 4 and the inlet of a mixing bottle 5.

[0040] The coupling module C further includes a mixing bottle 5. Its input is connected to the secondary circuit 2 and its output is connected to a tertiary circuit 3.

[0041] The tertiary circuit 3 runs through the central heating network R. It transports the second heat transfer fluid.

[0042] The second heat transfer fluid is advantageously a liquid. Conventionally, this liquid is water, possibly augmented with at least one additive. A typical additive is an antifreeze, of the glycol type.

[0043] The tertiary circuit 3 advantageously includes at least one circulator 6 allowing the circulation of the second heat transfer fluid in the tertiary circuit 3 and thus in the terminal heating units of the central heating network R.

[0044] The tertiary circuit 3 also includes, optionally, an expansion vessel 7. Such an expansion vessel 7 allows to absorb a variation in pressure / volume of the second heat transfer fluid.

[0045] The secondary circuit 2 or the tertiary circuit 3 also optionally includes a sludge trap or filter. The function of this sludge trap or filter is to retain, by sedimentation or filtration, any residues that may circulate in circuit 2 or 3. This sludge trap or filter is preferably mounted on the return branch of circuit 2 or 3.

[0046] The secondary circuit 2 or the tertiary circuit 3 optionally includes a disconnector. This disconnector is located on a connection of circuit 2 or 3 to an optional water supply, allowing the filling of the secondary circuit 2 and the tertiary circuit 3. The disconnector includes a check valve function to prevent contamination of the water supply in the event of a pressure reversal.

[0047] The prefabrication of the coupling module C typically includes the construction of a common support frame 8. The various components are fixed to this common support frame 8: heat exchanger 4, mixing vessel 5, circulator 6, expansion vessel 7, dirt separator or filter, and backflow preventer. All internal piping within the coupling module C is installed. It is then connected to components 4-7.

[0048] It follows that the heating installer advantageously arrives at the customer's premises with a prefabricated coupling module C, pre-connected internally. All that remains for him is to install the coupling module C, typically by fixing the common support frame 8, for example on a wall of the boiler room or placed on the floor on feet.

[0049] Next, the heating installer only needs to make the connections of the coupling module C to the outside: a connection to the heating module A or to the heat exchanger 4 if the latter is not included in the coupling module C, a connection to the central heating network R and possibly a connection to a water supply. These connections, made specifically to suit the interfaces of the central heating network R and the heating module A, are preferably made at the end customer's premises.

[0050] The concept is applicable to any type of heating module A, regardless of its technology and / or heating energy.

[0051] A particular embodiment for a heat pump type heating module will be described.

[0052] In the case of a heat pump, the heating module A is typically located outside the building to be heated. It is capable of extracting heat from the environment in order to heat the first heat transfer fluid. This heat transfer fluid is typically a refrigerant.

[0053] Having a prefabricated C coupling module simplifies and reduces the time spent by the heating installer on-site at the customer's premises. It also allows them to benefit from the precision and reliability of factory production and testing, thus improving overall quality. This also enables faster manufacturing by leveraging repeat production runs. This improves the quality of the most delicate operations by leaving the heating installer only responsible for the more specific connections required by the customer's configuration.

[0054] These external connections are most often simpler, less technical, advantageously allowing their implementation to be entrusted to a less qualified operator.

[0055] The invention further relates to a method for installing such a coupling module. This method comprises the following steps: installation of the coupling module C and external connection of the coupling module C.

[0056] The coupling module C can integrate the exchanger 4 or include a specific support allowing the fixing of the exchanger 4.

[0057] The external connection step includes the making of the external conduits to the coupling module C and the connection of said conduits.

[0058] Thus, the external connection step systematically includes the connection of the coupling module C with the central heating network R. Such a connection is made by means of two pipes / fittings, shaped so as to form / close the tertiary circuit 3.

[0059] The external connection step also includes the connection of the heating module A, with the coupling module C. Such a connection is made by means of two conduits / fittings, shaped so as to form / close the primary circuit 1.

[0060] The coupling module C can vary from one central heating system to another depending on the boiler capacity or the number of radiators in the network, or depending on the desired options: with or without circulator(s), with or without expansion vessel, with or without dirt separator or filter, with or without backflow preventer. Furthermore, several coupling module C options can be selected and prefabricated to meet the needs of heating installers.

[0061] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This description is to be considered illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this single description. Numerous embodiments are possible.

[0062] Thus, for example, it is possible to integrate a domestic hot water production system which optionally requires a safety group and a thermostatic mixing valve. List of reference signs

[0063] 1: primary circuit,

[0064] 2: secondary circuit,

[0065] 3: tertiary circuit,

[0066] 4: exchanger,

[0067] 5: mixing bottle,

[0068] 6: circulator,

[0069] 7: expansion vessel,

[0070] 8: support frame,

[0071] A: heating module,

[0072] C: coupling module,

[0073] R: central heating network.

Claims

Claims

1. Coupling module (C) for connecting a heating module (A) to a central heating network (R), the coupling module (C) receiving heat produced by the heating module (A) and transmitting it to the central heating network (R) after the coupling module has been connected by tailor-made fittings to the heating module and to the central heating network, characterized in that the coupling module (C) is prefabricated in the factory.

2. Coupling module (C) according to the preceding claim, comprising a heat exchanger (4) between a primary circuit (1) which runs through the heating module (A) and transports a first heat transfer fluid heated by the heating module (A) and a secondary circuit (2) which transports a second heat transfer fluid.

3. Coupling module (C) according to claim 2, further comprising a mixing bottle (5) arranged between the secondary circuit (2) and a tertiary circuit (3) which runs through the central heating network (R).

4. Coupling module (C) according to claim 2 or claim 3, where the second heat transfer fluid is a liquid, preferably water, optionally with additives.

5. Coupling module (C) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the tertiary circuit (3) comprises an expansion vessel (7), at least one circulator (6), a filter mud pot and a disconnector.

6. Coupling module (C) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a support frame (8) capable of accommodating all of the components (4-7) of the coupling module (C) and the interconnecting pipes, as well as the fittings intended to connect the coupling module (C) to the heating module (A) and to the central heating network (R).

7. Coupling module (C) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a safety group and a thermostatic mixing valve.

8. Coupling module (C) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the heating module (A) is a heat pump and the first heat transfer fluid is a refrigerant.

9. Method for installing a coupling module (C) according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: installation of the coupling module (C), connection of the coupling module (C) with the central heating network (R) by means of two custom-made fittings so as to form / close the tertiary circuit (3), and connection of the heating module (A) or the exchanger (4) with the coupling module (C) by means of two custom-made fittings so as to form / close the primary circuit (1).

10. Central heating system characterized in that it comprises a coupling module (C) according to any one of claims 2 to 7.

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