A liquid preheating system connectable to a heating device, such as a boiler, in a building, as well as an assembly comprising such a system.
The preheating installation with a buried tank and bypass circuit addresses the complexity and size issues of existing systems, enhancing thermal efficiency and reducing energy consumption through selective fluid control and solar absorption.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023003320
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-04-04
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-18
- Estimated Expiration
- 2033-04-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing liquid preheating installations for heating devices, such as boilers, are expensive and have a large footprint due to their complex design, which affects thermal efficiency.
A preheating installation with a buried tank, a solar thermal sensor, and a bypass circuit with a shutter system, utilizing a black-colored pavement coating as an absorber, and a serpentine third circuit for thermal exchange, allowing selective fluid communication based on temperature conditions.
The design achieves efficient preheating with reduced size and complexity, optimizing thermal transfer and energy use, while maintaining thermal yield and reducing energy consumption.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Liquid preheating installation connectable to a heating device, such as a boiler, of a construction as well as an assembly comprising such an installation
[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid preheating installation connectable to a heating device, such as a boiler, of a construction as well as an assembly comprising such an installation.
[0002] It relates in particular to a liquid preheating installation connectable to a heating device, such as a boiler, in a building, said preheating installation comprising: - a tank, - a solar thermal collector comprising at least one solar energy absorber, - a first liquid circuit suitable for connecting a liquid supply source to the heating device, - a second forced liquid circulation circuit extending partially into the tank and forming a closed liquid circulation loop between the solar collector and the tank.
[0003] Preheating, in particular of domestic hot water, is known. However, the systems developed to date are expensive due to their complex design and have a significant footprint, particularly in terms of construction.
[0004] An object of the invention is to propose a liquid preheating installation of simple design and small size, without affecting the thermal efficiency of the heating device formed for example by a boiler.
[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a liquid preheating installation connectable to a heating device, such as a boiler, in a building, said preheating installation comprising: - a tank, - a solar thermal collector comprising at least one solar energy absorber and at least one liquid circulation pipe, - a first liquid circuit suitable for connecting a liquid supply source to the heating device, - a second forced liquid circulation circuit extending partially into the tank and forming a closed liquid circulation loop between at least one liquid line from the solar collector and the tank, characterized in that the tank is an outdoor tank intended to be buried, and in that the installation includes a branching of the first circuit forming a third liquid circuit, in that this third circuit, which originates at a zone of the first circuit called the branch zone of the first circuit, passes through the interior of the tank, and returns to the first circuit at a zone of the first circuit called the connection zone to the first circuit to form a bypass of the portion of the first circuit located between the branch and connection zones, in that this third circuit and the second circuit have a heat exchange zone located in the tank, in that the installation includes a circuit shut-off system located at the branch zone of the first circuit, in that the shut-off system has two selectively activatable configurations, one,in which the sealing system prevents access to the portion of the first circuit extending between the branch and connection zones and allows fluid communication from the third circuit with the first circuit, the other, in which the sealing system allows access to the portion of the first circuit extending between the branch and connection zones and prohibits fluid communication from the third circuit with the first circuit, and in that the absorber is a black-colored pavement surface.
[0006] The proposed design eliminates the need for any temperature control system between the tank and the heating device, as temperature regulation occurs at the outlet of the heating device. This design also allows for the preheating of a significant quantity of liquid with a reduced footprint. With a summer and a winter configuration, this design limits the use of the preheating system to periods of the year when such a system is effective, ensuring that the liquid to be preheated only passes through the tank during periods when the tank temperature is higher than that of the liquid being preheated. Using a road surface as an absorber optimizes the use of traffic areas.These pedestrian or car circulation areas are very common in collective buildings such as hotels, restaurants, and the like.
[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the black-colored road surface comprises a bituminous coating.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the absorber covers and is in contact with at least a portion of at least one liquid circulation pipe of the solar collector. This results in simplified heat transfer.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the or part of the at least one liquid circulation conduit of the solar collector covered by at least a part of the absorber is disposed in or below the absorber.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second forced liquid circulation circuit comprises a solar pump. Here, a solar pump is conventionally understood to be a pump driven by an electric motor that draws its energy from sunlight via photovoltaic cells arranged on solar panels. Thus, the pump operates optimally when the solar collector is able to absorb solar energy to heat the second circuit.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the liquid in the second forced circulation circuit is water. Since the tank is buried, the risk of freezing is reduced, and savings can be made by eliminating the need for antifreeze in the liquid of the second forced circulation circuit.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the portion of the third circuit located in the tank is immersed in the liquid of the second circuit. Thus, the heat exchange area can be increased.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the part of the third circuit disposed in the tank is in the form of a coil.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the shut-off system comprises a two-outlet plug valve or two valves configured to operate in synchronicity.
[0015] The invention further relates to an assembly comprising a heating device and a liquid preheating installation connectable to the heating device characterized in that the liquid preheating installation conforms to that described above. Brief description of the drawings
[0016] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0017] [Fig-1] represents a schematic view of an assembly comprising an installation preheating in a so-called summer configuration of the shutter system;
[0018] [Fig.2] represents a schematic view of an assembly comprising an installation preheating in a so-called winter configuration of the shutter system.
[0019] The invention relates to a liquid preheating installation, in particular for domestic hot water, as shown in [Fig. 1]. This preheating installation can be connected to a heating device 20 in a building 21.
[0020] The heating device 20 is here in the form of a boiler and the structure 21 can be any type of structure. It is represented here as a residential building.
[0021] The heating device 20 delivers domestic hot water at the desired temperature. The preheating of the domestic hot water entering the device 20 of heating allows to limit the energy consumption at the level of the heating device 20.
[0022] The preheating installation 1 comprises, as illustrated in [Fig.1], a tank 2, a solar thermal collector 3 comprising at least one solar energy absorber 4, and at least one liquid circulation line 41 whose liquid is suitable for being heated by means of the heat resulting from the action of the energy absorber 4, and liquid circulation circuits.
[0023] The tank 2, which can be made of any material, ideally a synthetic material, is an outdoor tank. This tank 2 is intended to be buried. Thus, its size is limited.
[0024] The solar energy absorber 4 of the solar collector 3 is a black pavement surface. Ideally, this pavement surface comprises a bituminous coating. Thus, the solar collector 3 is directly integrated into the ground, reducing its footprint. The pavement surface that forms this solar energy absorber 4 can be used as a pedestrian and / or vehicle traffic area extending outside the structure. This again results in a reduced footprint.
[0025] Ideally, the circulation surface used to form the solar energy absorber 4 of the solar collector 3 can be that reserved for the parking lot of the building or for the access road(s) to the building 21.
[0026] This solar collector 3 further comprises at least one liquid circulation conduit 41 positioned relative to the solar energy absorber 4, such that the heat resulting from the solar radiation absorbed by the absorber 4 is transferred to the liquid in said at least one conduit 4L
[0027] This at least one pipe 41 can be arranged in a network, in the manner of the pipes of a heated floor, with the network comprising a fluid inlet and outlet. Regardless of the shape and length of the at least one pipe 41, at least a portion of said at least one liquid circulation pipe 41 is covered and in contact with at least a portion of the absorber 4.
[0028] Generally, at least one liquid circulation line of the solar collector 3 covered by at least a part of the absorber 4 is disposed in or below the said absorber 4.
[0029] Ideally, when the black pavement surface is a bituminous asphalt, at least one pipe 41 is at least partially embedded in said surface. Generally, this at least one pipe 41 is made of polyethylene.
[0030] The preheating installation 1 further comprises various fluid circulation circuits. Thus, the preheating installation 1 includes a first liquid circuit 5 suitable for connecting a liquid supply source 22 to the heating device 20. The liquid supply source 22 may be the domestic hot water network which supplies the site on which the building is located. Traditionally, this domestic water network is a pressurized water network. The first liquid circuit 5 therefore provides a link between this pressurized water network and the heating device 20.
[0031] The preheating installation 1 further includes a second forced liquid circulation circuit 6 extending partially into the tank 2 and forming a closed liquid circulation loop between at least one liquid line from the solar collector and the tank 2.
[0032] This second forced liquid circulation circuit 6 includes a supply branch extending from an outlet of at least one liquid circulation line 41 of the solar collector 3 to the tank 2 to open into the tank 2 and a return branch extending from an orifice, called the outlet, provided in the tank 2 to an inlet of at least one liquid circulation line 41 of the solar collector 3.
[0033] To allow forced circulation of liquid in this second circuit 6, the second forced liquid circulation circuit 6 includes a solar pump 13, that is, a pump powered by at least one solar collector. It should be noted that this second forced liquid circulation circuit 6 allows free circulation of the liquid it contains in the tank 2 and does not force this liquid to follow a predetermined path in the tank 2.
[0034] Ideally, the liquid in the second forced liquid circulation circuit 6 is water. Thus, the water is heated by heat transfer with the solar energy absorber 4 of the solar collector 3, and is brought into the tank 2 and exits from the tank 2 to return to the solar collector 3 where it can be heated again.
[0035] Installation 1 further includes a branch of the first circuit 5 forming a third liquid circuit 7.
[0036] The first circuit 5 has a zone called the branch zone, which is shown in 8 in the figures. The third circuit 7 originates at this branch zone 8 of the first circuit, passes through the interior of the tank 2 and returns to the first circuit 5 at a zone of the first circuit 5, called the connection zone 9 to the first circuit 5, to form a bypass of the portion 12 of the first circuit 5 located between the branch zone 8 and the connection zone 9.
[0037] The part of the third circuit 7 located in the tank 2 is in the form of a coil 14. The part of the third circuit 7 located in the tank 2 is immersed in the liquid of the second circuit 6. Thus, the third circuit 7 and the second circuit 6 have a heat exchange zone 10 located in the tank 2.
[0038] At this heat exchange zone 10, the liquid in the second circuit 2, heated by the action of the solar energy absorber 4 of the solar collector 3, is cooled by heat exchange with the liquid circulating in the third circuit 7. The temperature Conversely, the temperature of the liquid circulating in the third circuit 7 rises. The liquid in the third circuit 7 thus exits tank 2 at a temperature higher than when it entered the tank, at which point heat transfer with the liquid in the second circuit could occur.
[0039] Ideally, the liquid from the second circuit enters the tank at a temperature between 20 and 60°, and the liquid from the third circuit, which enters the tank at a temperature generally between 10 and 25°, exits the tank at a temperature between 20 and 50°.
[0040] This third liquid circuit 7 allows, when it returns to the first circuit 5 at the connection zone 9 to the first circuit 5, to supply the heating device 20 with a liquid at a temperature higher than that of the liquid at the liquid supply source 22 of the first liquid circuit 5.
[0041] The circulation of a liquid in this third circuit 7 is of interest during periods when the outside temperature is high, i.e. spring, summer and early autumn.
[0042] To avoid heat exchange which could be detrimental to the efficiency of the heating device 20, particularly in winter, the preheating installation 1 includes a circuit closure system 11 located at the branch zone 8 of the first circuit 5.
[0043] This sealing system 11 has two selectively activatable configurations, one, called summer configuration, and shown in [Fig.1], in which the sealing system 11 prevents access to the portion 12 of the first circuit 5 extending between the branch 8 and connection 9 zones, and allows fluidic communication from the third circuit 7 with the first circuit 5, the other, called winter configuration, shown in [Fig.2], in which the sealing system 11 allows access to the portion 12 of the first circuit 5 extending between the branch 8 and connection 9 zones, and prohibits fluidic communication from the third circuit 7 with the first circuit 5.
[0044] The summer configuration is the one chosen during the period when the outside temperature is relatively high compared to the temperature of the first circuit.
[0045] The winter configuration is the one chosen for periods when the outside temperature is low. In this configuration, no liquid is supplied to the coil of tank 2 from the bypass zone 8.
[0046] To avoid any presence of liquid in this third circuit 7 in winter configuration, a non-return valve can be placed on the third circuit 7 at the connection zone 9 to the first circuit 5. In the same way, the first circuit 5 can, just at its connection zone 9 to the third circuit 7, have a non-return valve.
[0047] In the examples shown, the shut-off system 11 includes a two-outlet plug valve. Switching from one configuration to another is thus achieved by manually or automatically operating the valve. Alternatively, the shut-off system 11 may include two valves operating synchronously. One of the valves is located at the branch zone 8 and opens or closes access to the portion 12 of the first circuit 5 extending between the branch zone 8 and the connection zone 9, while the other valve opens or closes access to the third circuit 7 from the first circuit 5; when one of the valves is open, the other is closed, and vice versa. These valves operate synchronously.
[0048] In winter, the domestic hot water from the supply source 22 of the first liquid circuit 5 reaches the heating device 20 directly, without passing through the third circuit 7, which avoids an undesired cooling of the liquid at the level of the tank 2.
[0049] The preheating installation 1, as described above, and the resulting assembly, in the connected state of the preheating installation 1 to the heating device 20, are characterized by their simplicity of design and use.
Claims
Claims
1. Liquid preheating installation (1) connectable to a heating device (20), such as a boiler, of a building (21), said preheating installation (1) comprising: - a tank (2), - a solar thermal collector (3) comprising at least one solar energy absorber (4) and at least one liquid circulation pipe (41), - a first liquid circuit (5) capable of connecting a liquid supply source (22) to the heating device (20), - a second forced liquid circulation circuit (6) extending partially into the tank (2) and forming a closed liquid circulation loop between the at least one liquid pipe of the solar collector (3) and the tank (2), characterized in that the tank (2) is an outdoor tank intended to be buried, in that the installation (1) comprises a branch of the first circuit (5) forming a third liquid circuit (7), in that this third circuit (7),which originates at a zone of the first circuit (5) called the bypass zone (8) of the first circuit (5), passes through the interior of the tank (2), and returns to the first circuit (5) at a zone of the first circuit (5) called the connection zone (9) to the first circuit (5) to form a bypass of the portion (12) of the first circuit (5) arranged between the bypass (8) and connection (9) zones, in that this third circuit (7) and the second circuit (6) have a heat exchange zone (10) arranged in the tank (2), in that the installation (1) comprises a circuit closure system (11) arranged at the bypass zone (8) of the first circuit (5), in that the closure system (11) has two selectively activatable configurations, one,in which the closure system (11) prevents access to the portion (12) of the first circuit (5) extending between the bypass (8) and connection (9) zones and allows fluid communication of the third circuit (7) with the first circuit (5), the other, in which the closure system (11) allows access to the portion (12) of the first circuit (5) extending between the bypass (8) and connection (9) zones and prevents fluid communication of the third circuit (7) with the first circuit (5), and in that the absorber (4) is a black road surface.,
2. Liquid preheating installation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the road surface, black in color, comprises a bituminous coating.
3. Liquid preheating installation (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a part of the absorber (4) covers and is in contact with at least a part of the at least one liquid circulation pipe (41) of the solar collector (3).
4. Liquid preheating installation (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the or a part of the at least one liquid circulation pipe (41) of the solar collector (3) covered by at least a part of the absorber (4) is arranged in the absorber (4) or below said absorber (4).
5. Liquid preheating installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second circuit (6) for forced circulation of liquid comprises a solar pump (13).
6. Liquid preheating installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the liquid of the second forced liquid circulation circuit (6) is water.
7. Liquid preheating installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the part of the third circuit (7) arranged in the tank (2) is immersed in the liquid of the second circuit (6).
8. Liquid preheating installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the part of the third circuit (7) arranged in the tank (2) is in the form of a coil (14).
9. Liquid preheating installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the shut-off system (11) comprises a two-outlet ball valve or two valves configured to operate in synchronism.
10. Assembly comprising a heating device (20) and a liquid preheating installation (1) connectable to the heating device (20), characterized in that the liquid preheating installation (1) conforms to one of claims 1 to 9.