Thermodynamic domestic hot water heating system comprising a casing with a condensate drain lip
The device addresses condensation issues by using a removable box with a condensate drain lip, allowing for continuous external surfaces and simplified installation, while managing condensate internally, thus overcoming assembly constraints and maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ATLANTIC IND
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing thermodynamic domestic hot water heating devices with heat pumps face issues of condensation formation due to temperature differences, leading to discontinuities in the device's exterior and assembly constraints, especially in confined spaces, and aesthetic preferences for a continuous outer surface.
A thermodynamic domestic hot water heating device with a removable box and a condensate drain lip that guides condensate internally, eliminating the need for an external side wall covering and allowing for continuous external surfaces, facilitated by a lip extending from the box's inner surface to direct condensate towards the bottom of the bucket.
Enables assembly and disassembly without lifting the enclosure, maintains a continuous external surface, and addresses condensation management within the casing, ensuring seamless installation and aesthetic appeal.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Thermodynamic domestic hot water heating device comprising a casing with a condensate drain lip technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of building construction, particularly domestic hot water. In particular, the invention relates to a thermodynamic domestic hot water heating device comprising a casing with a condensate drain lip. Technological background
[0002] There are thermodynamic domestic hot water heating devices, i.e., comprising a heat pump for heating domestic hot water, in which the cold source for pumping is derived from a building's ventilation flow. They are thus called "combined" in that they allow for both the production of hot water and the ventilation of a building.
[0003] Generally, a heat exchanger of the heat pump is mounted above the storage tank in a bucket, closed by a box.
[0004] The presence of the heat pump in the box can generate a temperature difference between the inside of the box and the outside of it, promoting the formation of condensation on an inner wall of the box.
[0005] To manage this condensation, and prevent it from flowing outwards, it is known that a side wall of the bucket covers the bottom of the box from the outside so as to make it flow towards an internal network of the device, in the manner of a gutter.
[0006] However, this arrangement creates a discontinuity on the exterior of the device. This arrangement necessitates lifting the enclosure, even slightly, upwards for assembly or disassembly. This movement is not always possible when the device is installed in a confined space.
[0007] Moreover, for aesthetic reasons, a device with an uninterrupted outer surface is preferable.
[0008] There is therefore a need for a thermodynamic domestic hot water heating device with a heat pump to remedy the disadvantages presented above. Summary of the invention
[0009] The present invention meets these needs by means of a thermodynamic domestic hot water heating device comprising: - a water storage tank; - a bucket mounted on an upper part of the balloon, the bucket forming a base and comprising a peripheral wall extending from and around the base to form at least partially a receiving space; - a box mounted removably on the bucket and comprising a side wall of the box and a top surface of the box to form at least partially with the bucket the receiving space; - a water heating module including a heat pump, at least part of the heat pump being located in the reception area; - an air extraction module mounted inside the receiving space; characterized in that the box comprises a lip extending from an inner surface of the side wall of the box, the lip resting on an upper edge of the peripheral wall of the bucket, the lip forming a flow slope configured to allow the flow of condensate formed on the inner surface of the side wall of the box towards the bottom of the box.
[0010] By "a removablely mounted box", it is understood that at least part of the box, in particular the whole of the box, is removablely mounted on the bucket.
[0011] The term "extracted air" refers to air extracted from inside the building, particularly for the removal of stale air and / or the renewal of air in the building, air extracted from inside the building in the vicinity of the device, or air extracted from outside via ducts. In particular, the air extracted from the building is the heat input source for the heat pump that heats the water in the storage tank.
[0012] The presence of the lip, which forms a slope for drainage, guides the condensate formed on the inner surface of the side wall of the container towards the interior of the receiving space. Thus, it is no longer necessary to have a side wall of the bucket that covers the bottom of the container on the outside, as in the aforementioned prior art. Consequently, for the assembly and disassembly of the container, the directions of movement of the container are no longer constrained by the need to remove the bottom of the container from the bucket.
[0013] Furthermore, since condensate management takes place inside the casing, the device can be constructed without any discontinuity in its external surface. In particular, the external surface of the water storage tank can be continuous with the external surface of the casing.
[0014] More particularly, the water storage tank may include a tank covered at least on a peripheral surface by a side wall of a mantle, the side wall of the casing extending in line with the side wall of the mantle.
[0015] In particular, the outer surface of the side wall of said mantle preferably extends in continuity with an outer surface of the side wall of the box.
[0016] The balloon extends along a principal direction, in particular vertical.
[0017] The side wall of the mantle can surround the tank around the main direction.
[0018] The bottom of the bucket can extend in a plane perpendicular to the main direction.
[0019] The peripheral wall of the bucket can extend from the bottom around the main direction and substantially parallel to the main direction. Thus, the peripheral wall of the bucket forms a rim extending from the bottom along the main direction.
[0020] The side wall of the box can extend around the main direction and substantially parallel to the main direction.
[0021] The upper wall of the box can extend in a plane perpendicular to the main direction.
[0022] The water storage tank preferably has a circular cross-section transverse to the main direction.
[0023] The contour of the peripheral wall of the bucket and / or the contour of the side wall of the box taken transversely to the main direction is preferably circular.
[0024] The water storage tank preferably includes thermal insulation positioned between the tank and the jacket.
[0025] The side wall of the box can overlap, preferably totally, the peripheral wall of the bucket.
[0026] The lip of the box can extend from the inner surface of the side wall of the box to at least partially cover an edge of the peripheral wall of the bucket.
[0027] The lip of the box can extend from the inner surface of the side wall of the box beyond the edge of the peripheral wall of the bucket.
[0028] The lip may include a lower face intended to be in contact with the upper edge and an upper surface opposite the lower face, the flow slope being formed on the upper face of the lip.
[0029] The enclosure may comprise two shells removably fixed to each other, each shell forming a half-side wall of the enclosure and a half-upper surface of the enclosure, the half-side walls of the enclosure forming the side wall of the enclosure and the half-upper surfaces of the enclosure forming the upper surface of the enclosure; each shell comprising, on an inner surface of the lateral half-wall of the caisson, a half-lip, the half-lips together forming said lip of the caisson.
[0030] The shells can be configured to be elastically deformed when mounted on the device, in particular on the bucket.
[0031] Each of the side walls of the box can extend along an angular sector around the main direction, in particular an angular sector around the main direction of 180°.
[0032] The half-lip of at least one of the shells may have a configured interruption to facilitate the elastic deformation of said shell when mounted on the device, in particular on the bucket.
[0033] By "interruption," we mean a discontinuity in the half-lip leading at least to a reduction in its width. Thus, this interruption forms a preferential zone of deformation.
[0034] The deformation of the side half-wall required for its assembly includes bending around an axis parallel to the main direction to initiate a displacement of each of the end edges of the side half-wall. This allows the displacement of each end edge of the side half-wall to facilitate the attachment and positioning of the container on the bucket.
[0035] The interruption may be present at a central position of the half-lip.
[0036] The length of the interruption, measured along a direction of elongation of the half-lip, may be less than 20% of the length of the half-lip, measured along the direction of elongation of the half-lip.
[0037] By "interruption length" and "half-lip length" we mean the distances traveled by a point from one end to the other of the object concerned along the direction of elongation of the half-lip.
[0038] The bucket may include a network of surfaces and / or conduits for directing condensate flowing from the lip to a lower portion of the bucket housing a condensate reservoir. This network of surfaces and / or conduits may include one or more of a slope, a gutter, a guide, a conduit, and a ramp configured to direct the condensate to the condensate reservoir or a storage area.
[0039] The upper edge of the peripheral wall of the bucket can form a cavity receiving a sealing gasket, the lip resting on said sealing gasket.
[0040] The cavity receiving the sealing gasket may include at least one opening configured to evacuate any potential condensate present in said cavity.
[0041] Said at least one opening preferably leads into the receiving space. Thus, the condensate from the cavity can be guided to the condensate tank via the network of surfaces and / or pipes.
[0042] Alternatively, the upper edge of the peripheral wall of the bucket may include a chamfer or a fillet, in particular a fillet concave with respect to the receiving space.
[0043] The lip may be in a lower part of the housing.
[0044] The height of the peripheral wall of the bucket perpendicular to the bottom may be less than the height of the side wall of the box perpendicular to the bottom.
[0045] The heat pump may include a first water heating heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger being positioned in the receiving space, in particular on the bottom.
[0046] The enclosure may include an air inlet and an air outlet.
[0047] The extraction module can be configured to create an airflow through the second heat exchanger.
[0048] The extraction module may include a fan or is configured to be connected to a fan, the fan being configured to allow air circulation between the inlet and outlet.
[0049] The flow slope of the lip can be a downward slope from the inner surface of the side wall of the box towards the receiving space.
[0050] In a cross-section with respect to the main direction, the flow slope of the lip may form an angle between 0.5° and 20° with respect to an axis perpendicular to the main direction extending in the plane of said cross-section.
[0051] The storage tank can have a water storage volume between 50 l and 300 l.
[0052] The heating device is preferably configured to be suspended from a support, such as a wall, above the floor.
[0053] The lip may have a substantially flat lower surface resting directly on a flat portion of the upper edge of the bucket's peripheral wall. In a cross-section, the lower surface may form a non-zero angle with the flat portion of the upper edge so as to create a line of contact between the lip and the upper edge of the bucket's peripheral wall. This line of contact between the lip and the upper edge of the bucket's peripheral wall ensures a good airtight seal and good mechanical strength of the ferrule.
[0054] Preferably, the lip of the box extends from the inner surface of the side wall of the box beyond said contact line.
[0055] The lower surface of the lip and / or the flat portion of the upper edge is preferably sloping upwards from the side wall of the box towards the receiving space.
[0056] The lower surface of the lip is formed by the lower face of the lip. The upper surface of the lip is formed by the upper face of the lip. Brief description of the figures
[0057] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will clearly explain what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. In the accompanying figures:
[0058] [Fig-1] illustrates, in perspective, an example of a device according to the invention;
[0059] [Fig.2] illustrates, in perspective, an upper part of the device of [Fig.1], a shell of the caisson being omitted;
[0060] [Fig.3] illustrates, in perspective, partially, a shell of the device's housing the [Fig.l];
[0061] [Fig.4] is a longitudinal section of the device of [Fig.1] at the junction between the water storage tank and the container;
[0062] [Fig.5] illustrates, in perspective, partially, the bucket of the device of [Fig.1];
[0063] [Fig.6] is a view similar to that of [Fig.4] illustrating a variant of the device; And
[0064] [Fig.7] is an enlargement of [Fig.4] according to VII. Description of method(s) of implementation
[0065] In the following description, identical elements or elements with identical functions bear the same reference numeral. For the sake of brevity, they are not described opposite each figure; only the differences between the embodiments are described.
[0066] Figures 1 to 5 illustrate an example of a thermodynamic domestic hot water heating device 1 according to the invention.
[0067] The device 1 includes a domestic hot water storage tank 2 extending along a main vertical direction X. The tank 2 has, for example, a storage volume of 200 l.
[0068] The ball 2 thus comprises a lower part 3, which is intended to be directed towards the ground, and an upper part 4, opposite the lower part 3.
[0069] Device 1 includes a bucket 9 mounted on the upper part 4 of the balloon 2, as illustrated in particular in the view of [Fig.2].
[0070] The bucket 9 includes a bottom 8 which preferably extends in a substantially horizontal plane P, that is to say transversely to the main direction X of the balloon 2.
[0071] The bucket 9 also includes a peripheral wall 10 around the bottom 8 which extends substantially perpendicularly to the bottom 8.
[0072] The device 1 comprises a box 16 formed of two shells 17 and 18 mounted removably on the bucket 9. In this example, one of the shells is called the front shell 17, the other is called the rear shell 18.
[0073] The shells 17 and 18 each form a half of the side wall of the box 30 which together form, when the shells 17 and 18 are mounted on the bucket 9, a side wall of the box 32.
[0074] The shells 17 and 18 each form a top half surface of box 31 which together form, when the shells 17 and 18 are mounted on the bucket 9, a top surface of box 20.
[0075] The side wall of the box 32 and the upper surface of the box 20 together with the bucket 9 form a receiving space 33.
[0076] Device 1 comprises, as illustrated in the view of [Fig.2], a water heating module 5 comprising a heat pump 6.
[0077] The heat pump 6 includes a water heating heat exchanger (not shown) which is, for example, located inside the tank 2.
[0078] The heat pump 6 further comprises a second heat exchanger 7 positioned in the receiving space 33.
[0079] The device 1 also includes an air extraction module 15 mounted on the bottom 8.
[0080] The air extraction module 15 further includes a fan 21 mounted on the bottom 8 in the receiving space 33 allowing an airflow between an air inlet 22 and an air outlet 23.
[0081] The air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23 are positioned on the upper half surface 31 of the rear shell 18 of the box 16. The air extraction module 15 is configured so that the airflow passes through the second heat exchanger 7.
[0082] The air extraction module 15 may include branch connections at the inlet 22 and outlet 23.
[0083] The height Hp of the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9 taken perpendicular to the bottom 8, which is substantially constant, is less than the height He of the half-side wall of the box 30, and therefore of the side wall of the box 32, perpendicular to the bottom 8.
[0084] The balloon 2 comprises on a peripheral surface a mantle 37 having a lateral wall 36. The mantle 37 covers a tank, not visible in the figures.
[0085] As illustrated in particular in figures 1 and 4, the side wall of the caisson 31 extends in line with the side wall 36 of the mantle 37.
[0086] In particular, the outer surface of the side wall 36 of the mantle 37 preferably extends in continuity with the outer surface of the side wall of the caisson 32.
[0087] Each shell 17 and 18 is configured to be removably mounted on the bucket 9 by a movement along a mounting axis T substantially transverse to the main direction X. Thus, each shell is preferably configured to be mounted on the bucket in a substantially horizontal plane which allows for easier handling of the box in a very constrained environment, such as a cupboard or in the case where the heating device is located very close to the ceiling of the room.
[0088] For this mounting on the bucket 9, the shells 17 and 18 are configured to deform elastically by bending around an axis parallel to the main direction X to initiate a lateral displacement Dt of each of the end edges 35 of the lateral half-wall 30. The lateral displacement Dt is carried out along an axis substantially perpendicular to the main direction X and to the mounting axis T.
[0089] The side wall 36 of the mantle 37 can surround the tank around the main direction X.
[0090] The side wall of the box 32 can extend around the main direction X and substantially parallel to the main direction X.
[0091] The upper wall of the box 20 can extend in a plane perpendicular to the main direction X.
[0092] The water storage tank 2 preferably has a circular cross-section transverse to the main direction X.
[0093] The contour of the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9 and the contour of the lateral wall of the box 32 taken transversely to the main direction X is preferably circular.
[0094] As illustrated in particular in Figures 3 and 4, each shell 17 and 18 comprises a half-lip 41 which extends from a lower portion of an inner surface 40 of the half-side wall of the box 30. Each half-lip 41 extends in particular in a plane substantially transverse to the main direction X.
[0095] When the shells 17 and 18 are mounted on the bucket 9, the half-lips 41 together form a lip 42 of the box 16 which extends around the main direction X.
[0096] Each half-lip 41 has a lower surface 45, oriented downwards, which rests directly on a flat portion 48 of an upper edge 46 of the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9.
[0097] More particularly, as illustrated in the view of [Fig.7], in a cross-section, the lower surface 45 can form a non-zero angle D with respect to the flat portion 48 of the upper edge 46 so as to form a line of contact Le between each half-lip 41, and therefore between the lip 42, and the upper edge 46 of the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9.
[0098] The lower surface 45 and the flat portion 48 of the upper edge 46 are preferably sloping upwards from the side wall of the box 32 towards the receiving space 33.
[0099] Preferably, each half-lip 41, and therefore the lip 42, extends from the inner surface 40 of the half-side wall of the box 30, and therefore of the side wall of the box 32, beyond said contact line Le.
[0100] Opposite the lower surface 45, each half-lip 41, and therefore the lip 42, includes a flow slope 47 with a downward slope from the lateral half-wall of the box 30 towards the receiving space 33.
[0101] In particular, in a cross-section with respect to the main direction X, the flow slope 47 can form an angle B between 0.5° and 20° with respect to an axis Y perpendicular to the main direction X extending in the plane of said cross-section.
[0102] The flow slope 47 thus allows the flow of condensate formed on the inner surface 40 of the side wall of the box 32 towards the bottom 8 of the bucket 9.
[0103] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.4], each half-lip 41, and therefore the lip 42, extends beyond the edge 46 of the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9. In this way, at least part of the condensants flowing from the lip 42 fall directly into the bucket 9.
[0104] To add an additional guarantee of sealing, both against condensate and air, the edge 46 of the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9 can be provided with a cavity 50 open at the top and receiving a sealing gasket 51, the lip 42 resting on said sealing gasket 51.
[0105] The cavity 50 can extend transversely and around the main direction X.
[0106] As illustrated in the view of [Fig.5], the cavity 50 may include at least one opening 52, in this example three openings on each shell 17 and 18, configured to evacuate a potential condensate present in said cavity 50.
[0107] The opening 52 is formed between an inner peripheral wall 53 of the cavity 50 and the receiving space 33 to allow the condensant to flow towards the bottom 8 of the bucket 9.
[0108] The view of [Fig.5] also illustrates that the bucket 9 includes a network 55 of surfaces and / or conduits allowing the condensate flowing from the lip 42 or the openings 52 to be directed towards a lower part of the bucket 9 receiving a condensate reservoir (not visible in the figures).
[0109] In an alternative embodiment illustrated in [Fig.6], the edge 46 does not include a cavity for receiving a seal, but a fillet 56 concave with respect to the receiving space 33 at the level of an internal edge 57 of the edge 46.
[0110] In this example, the half-lip 41 completely covers the top of the fillet 56. However, the half-lip 41 could partially cover, or not at all, the top of the fillet 56. In this case, the condensate flowing from the slope 47 will flow into the fillet 56 before flowing into the bottom 8 of the bucket 9.
[0111] In the embodiments of Figures 4 and 5 and of [Fig.6], the bucket 9 includes an outer skirt 60, extending from the edge 46. This outer skirt 60 allows the insertion of an upper part 61 of the mantle 37 between the outer skirt 60 and the peripheral wall 10 of the bucket 9.
[0112] Furthermore, the edge 46 is provided with an external radial ridge 62 which is inserted between the half-lip 41 of each shell 17 and 18 and an internal rib 63 on the surface interior 40 of the side wall half of box 30. This insertion allows a locking of each half-shell 17 and 18 along the main direction X.
[0113] As illustrated in the view of [Fig.3], the half-lip 41 of at least one of the shells 17 and 18, in this example at least the rear shell 18, has a break 65 configured to facilitate the elastic deformation of said shell 17 or 18 and the lateral displacement Dt of each of the end edges 35 of the side half-wall 30 when mounted on the bucket 9.
[0114] The interrupt 65 is present at a central position of the half-lip 41. However, the interrupt 65 could be at another position between the two end edges 35 of the lateral half-wall 30. In an unillustrated variant, the half-lip 41 could comprise a plurality of interrupts 65.
[0115] In this example, the length Li of the interrupt 65, measured along an elongation direction E of the half-lip 41, is less than 20% of the length L1 of the half-lip 41, measured along the elongation direction E.
[0116] The interruption 65 is here formed by a reduction in width La of the half-lip 45, down to a width almost zero or zero.
Claims
Demands
1. A thermodynamic domestic hot water heating device (1) comprising: - a water storage tank (2); - a bucket (9) mounted on an upper part (4) of the tank (2), the bucket (9) forming a base (8) and comprising a peripheral wall (10) extending from and around the base (8) to form at least partially a receiving space (33); - a casing (16) removably mounted on the bucket (9) and comprising a casing side wall (32) and a casing top surface (20) to form at least partially with the bucket (9) the receiving space (33); - a water heating module (5) comprising a heat pump (6), at least a part of the heat pump (6) being disposed in the receiving space (33); - an air extraction module (15) mounted inside the receiving space (33);characterized in that the box (16) comprises a lip (42) extending from an inner surface (40) of the side wall of the box (32), the lip (42) resting on an upper edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9), the lip (42) forming a flow slope (47) configured to allow the flow of condensate formed on the inner surface (40) of the side wall of the box (32) towards the bottom (8) of the box (16).
2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lip (42) of the box (16) extends from the inner surface (40) of the side wall of the box (32) beyond the edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9).
3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lip comprises a lower face intended to be in contact with the upper edge (46) and an upper surface opposite the lower face, the flow slope (47) being formed on the upper face of the lip (42).
4. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lip (42) has a substantially flat lower surface (45) resting directly on a flat portion (48) of the upper edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9), and that, in a cross-section, the lower surface (45) forms a non-zero angle (D) with respect to the flat portion (48) of the upper edge (46) so as to form a line of contact (Le) between the lip (42) and the upper edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9).
5. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the box (16) comprises two shells (17; 18) removably fixed to each other, each shell (17; 18) forming a half-side wall of box (30) and a half-upper surface of box (31), the half-side walls of box (30) forming the side wall of box (30) and the half-upper surfaces of box (31) forming the upper surface of box (20); each shell (17; 18) comprising, on an inner surface (40) of the half-side wall of box (30), a half-lip (41), the half-lips (41) together forming said lip (42) of the box (16).
6. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the shells (17; 18) are configured to be elastically deformed when mounted on the device (1), in particular on the bucket (9), and in that the half-lip (41) of at least one of the shells (17; 18) has a break (65) configured to facilitate the elastic deformation of said shell (17; 18) when mounted on the device (1), in particular on the bucket (9).
7. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the interruption (65) is present at a central position of the half-lip (41).
8. Device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the length (Li) of the interruption (65), measured along an elongation direction (E) of the half-lip (41), is less than 20% of the length (Ll) of the half-lip (41), measured along the elongation direction (E) of the half-lip (41).
9. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bucket (9) comprises a network (55) of surfaces and / or conduits for directing a condensate flowing from the lip (42) towards a lower part of the bucket (9) receiving a condensate reservoir.
10. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9) forms a cavity (50) receiving a sealing gasket (51), the lip (42) resting on said sealing gasket (51).
11. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cavity (50) receiving the sealing gasket (51) comprises at least one opening (52) configured to evacuate a potential condensate present in said cavity (50).
12. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the upper edge (46) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9) includes a chamfer or fillet (56), in particular a fillet (56) concave with respect to the receiving space (33).
13. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lip (42) is in a lower part of the box (16).
14. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height (Hp) of the peripheral wall (10) of the bucket (9) perpendicular to the bottom (8) is less than the height (He) of the side wall of the box (32) perpendicular to the bottom (8).