A system of elements that enables better energy efficiency in existing heating installations

Abstract

A system of elements that enables better energy efficiency in existing heating installations is an invention which solves the problem of how to improve existing heating systems for buildings with such a system of elements that achieves better energy efficiency and thus less consumption of fossil fuels and electricity. The thermal installations comprise a domestic hot water boiler (B), a storage tank (Z), an outdoor air-conditioning unit (T6), an indoor heat pump unit (T1) and an outdoor heat pump unit (T2) – elements which are interconnected in a specific way. The advantage of this system is that the outdoor heat pump unit (T2) and the indoor heat pump unit (T1) heat only the water in the storage tank (Z) for space heating purposes and are not overloaded since the sanitary water in the boiler (B) is heated by the outdoor air-conditioning unit (T6), which extracts heat from air in the room. The sanitary water in the boiler (B) can also be heated by solar collectors (S) which are made of glass tubes (S1) containing copper spirals (S2) through which the water flows and which are connected to the upper manifold (S3) above and to the lower manifold (S5) below.

Description

[0001] A system of elements that enables better energy efficiency in existing heating installations

[0002] The subject of the invention is a system of elements which enables improved thermal or energy efficiency, therefore the ratio of energy input to energy output - i.e. the coefficient of performance - of existing thermal installations. Existing heating installations are boiler rooms with installed heat pumps, electric stoves, boilers fired by fuel oil, gas, solid fuels or other heating systems already installed at the premises of the users.

[0003] The invention solves the problem of how to improve existing heating systems for buildings with a system of elements that enables better energy efficiency and, thus, lower consumption of fossil fuels and electricity. For example, heat pumps and other systems mostly heat the (domestic) water in the boiler as a priority and only start heating the water for space heating once the water in the boiler has been heated to a set temperature. When the heat pump heats the water in the boiler, it does not heat the water for space heating purposes. This often results in a time delay in space heating and a lower temperature in the living spaces. The proposed invention eliminates such temperature fluctuations in living spaces and stabilises the heating system.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] Many inventions aim to improve the performance of heating systems. For example, if we focus only on heat pumps, there are several types of heat pumps, e.g. air-to-air heat pumps, air-to-water heat pumps and water-to-water heat pumps. Examples of inventions are described in patents DE102016113630, CN108266778 and EP2420746. The inventions are designed to improve the coefficient of performance (COP) of heat pumps.

[0006] The patent DE102016113630 describes a new heat pump heater and its method of operation. Patent CN108266778 describes a heat pump heating system and heating method using an intermediate water tank and a controller for direct use of internal heat. The invention reduces the number of starts of the heat pump, the noise of the heating system and saves energy. Patent EP2420746 describes how the COP of a heat pump can be improved even when a medium-temperature fluid is supplied. The disadvantage of these inventions is that the heating systems must be completely rebuilt, which can be very costly for the user, and the ecological rationality is also questionable since the heating system that is still working well has to be discarded and replaced by a new one which is supposed to have better energy efficiency.

[0007] In contrast, the proposed invention is a system of elements that can be easily added to existing heating systems.

[0008] Description of the invention

[0009] The invention will be illustrated by an embodiment model and drawings showing:

[0010] Figure 1 : Boiler for sanitary water

[0011] Figure 2: Hot water storage tank for space heating

[0012] Figure 3: Solar collector made of glass with copper spirals

[0013] Figure 4: An overview of the complete system

[0014] Figure 5: Trough with engine (side view)

[0015] Figure 6: Trough with engine (isometric projection)

[0016] The individual reference marks in the drawings mean:

[0017] B - Boiler for sanitary water (Figure 1)

[0018] Bl - The upper water spiral built into the boiler through which the water flows

[0019] B2 - Freon spiral

[0020] B3 - Coaxial spiral built into boiler B consisting of a top water spiral Bl carrying water and a freon spiral B2 which is carrying gas

[0021] B4 - The lower water spiral, which is joined to the upper water spiral Bl through which water flows

[0022] B5 - Circulation pump that drives water from the top of the boiler to the bottom inlet of boiler B

[0023] B6 - Connection between upper water spiral Bl and lower water spiral B4

[0024] B7 - Circulating pump driving water through the upper water spiral Bl and the lower water spiral B4 in the boiler B E - Expansion vessel

[0025] Z - Storage tank (Figure 2)

[0026] Z1 - Freon spiral

[0027] Z2 - Hot water supply from the indoor unit of heat pump T1

[0028] Z3 - Funnelled hot water discharge to the heating system

[0029] Z4 - Automatic venting pot

[0030] Z5 - Return water pipe from the heating system, which runs inside the Z1 spiral and has a funnel-shaped outlet p

[0031] Z6 - Temperature probe

[0032] Z7 - Funnel outlet pipe to drain water from the storage tank towards the indoor unit of the heat pump T1

[0033] S - Solar collector (Figure 3)

[0034] 51 - Glass tube

[0035] 52 - Spiral in glass tube SI

[0036] 53 - Upper manifold connected to S2 spiral

[0037] 54 - Hot water outlet

[0038] 55 - Lower manifold connected to S2 spiral

[0039] 56 - Chilled water inlet

[0040] 57 - Glass housing for upper manifold S3

[0041] 58 - Glass housing for lower manifold S5

[0042] 59 - Gasket - O-ring

[0043] 510 - Semicircular gutter with reflective inner surface on glass tubes SI

[0044] 511 - Ring gear attached to semicircular gutter S10

[0045] 512 - Gears on the axle S13

[0046] 513 - Axle (shaft)

[0047] 514 - Engine with S13 axle bearing S12 gears

[0048] T - Schematic representation of the complete system (Figure 4)

[0049] T1 - Indoor unit of a heat pump for space heating

[0050] T2 - Outdoor heat pump unit for space heating

[0051] T3 - Spiro funnel-shaped exhaust air guide pipe

[0052] T4 - Freon connection between outdoor unit T3 and three-way valve T5 T5 - Three-way valve

[0053] T6 - Outdoor air-conditioning unit installed in a room (room means a heated or unheated space: boiler room, garage, laundry, drying room, cellar, etc.)

[0054] T7 - Freon connection between the outdoor unit of the heat pump T2 and the indoor unit of the heat pump T1

[0055] T8 - Freon connection between the T5 three-way valve and boiler B

[0056] T9 - Freon connection between the T5 three-way valve and the Z storage tank T10 - Water connection between storage tank Z and indoor unit of heat pump T1 Til - Water connection between storage tank Z and solar collector S

[0057] The system according to the invention comprises a sanitary water boiler B, a storage tank Z, an outdoor air conditioning unit T6, an indoor heat pump unit T1 and an outdoor heat pump unit T2.

[0058] The indoor unit of heat pump T1 is connected via freon connection T7 to the outdoor unit of heat pump T2 and heats the living spaces via storage tank Z, so that the heated water from the indoor unit of heat pump T1 travels to storage tank Z via water link T10 and enters storage tank Z via hot water inlet Z2 and exits storage tank Z via hot water funnel outlet Z3 into the living space heating system. The water is returned from the living space and enters storage tank Z via the return pipes Z5, which have a funnel outlet and pass through the inside of the freon spiral Zl. The water is returned to the indoor unit of the heat pump T1 via the funnel outlet pipe Z7. When the temperature in the living space is reached and the flow of water through the living space is stopped, then the water is circulated through the storage tank Z (Figure 4).

[0059] The external part of the air conditioner T6 is used to heat the domestic water in boiler B and storage tank Z. The outdoor unit of the air-conditioning system T6 is placed inside the room and exhausts the room air through a spiro funnel-shaped pipe T3, thus utilising the heat of the indoor air and heating the domestic water in boiler B via a freon connection T4, a three-way valve T5 and a freon connection T8. Freon connection T8 enters boiler B by connecting to freon spiral B2, which travels inside upper water spiral Bl and thus heats the water in water spiral Bl, which flows to the bottom spiral B4 via circulation pump B7 and thus heats the entire domestic hot water boiler B. When the water in the boiler for sanitary water B is heated to the set temperature, then the three-way valve T5 switches from the DHW boiler B to the storage tank Z and diverts the flow of freon via the freon connection T9 to the freon spiral Zl, thus helping to heat the water for the living spaces in the storage tank Z.

[0060] The coaxial spiral B3, which is installed in boiler B, consists of an upper water spiral Bl, through which water flows, and an inner freon spiral B2, through which gas flows, so that in the event of a leakage of gas from the freon spiral B2, the domestic hot water is not contaminated.

[0061] The sanitary water in boiler B can also be heated by solar collectors S, shown in Figure 3, which are made of glass tubes SI containing copper spirals S2 through which the water flows and which are connected to the upper manifold S3 at the top and to the lower manifold S5 at the bottom. The upper manifold S3 is enclosed in a glass housing S7 and the lower manifold S5 is enclosed in a glass housing S8. The housings S7 and S8 may be of different materials, but glass is preferred.

[0062] The glass elements of the solar collector S are vacuum sealed, so O-rings S9 are fitted at the joints to ensure airtightness. The vacuum in the glass housings S7 and S8 improves the efficiency of the solar collector S and reduces heat losses. Water enters through inlets S6 into the lower manifold S5 and travels through spirals S2 into the upper manifold S3 and through hot water outlets S4 into the lower spiral B4 to heat the domestic water in boiler B.

[0063] A semicircular gutter S10 with a reflective inner surface is placed under each of the glass tubes SI and the glass enclosures S7 and S8 and allows heating of the spirals S2, the upper manifold S3 and the lower manifold S5 also from the underside. All the semicircular troughs S 10 are connected to an electric engine S14 with an axle S13 on which gears S 12 are mounted. The electric engine S14 can turn, when necessary, the trough S10 through gears Sil through 180 degrees, thus covering the entire glass tube SI and the glass housings S7 and S8. All this is controlled by automation: the glass tubes SI are overlapped when necessary to prevent the system from overheating. The electric engine S14 can, therefore, rotate all the semicircular gutters S10 in stages and thus regulate the heating efficiency of the water until the glass tubes SI are completely covered, thus preventing overheating of the glass tube SI, the spiral S2 and also the manifolds S3 and S5 and allowing protection against hail. It is also possible to install another spiral in the storage tank Z, connected to the solar collector S, which is not shown in the figures.

[0064] The system according to the invention therefore helps to heat rooms and sanitary water more efficiently. It has the advantage that the outdoor unit of the heat pump T2 and the indoor unit of the heat pump T1 heat only the water in the storage tank Z for space heating purposes and are not overloaded, since the sanitary water in the boiler B is heated by the outdoor unit of the air conditioner T6, which extracts heat from the room air. Therefore, the heat pump also has an extended lifetime. The heating of the living spaces is continuous because the heat pump does not need to heat the sanitary water in boiler B. Even in severe cold and increased heat demand, heating is continuous for the living spaces because the outdoor air-conditioning unit T6 can help to heat the water in the storage tank Z for space heating purposes via the three- way valve T5.

[0065] The invention is particularly suitable for multi -apartment buildings, where the dynamics of heating demand is greater than in single-apartment buildings.

[0066] In summer, when outside air temperatures are high and indoor cooling is needed, the heat pump can cool the water in the storage tank Z and is not burdened with heating the water in the boiler B, as this function is taken over by the outdoor unit of the T6 air conditioner. Thus, even during indoor cooling, the heat pump is not stressed and efficiently cools the water in the storage tank Z for the purpose of cooling the indoor spaces.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 31 May 2025 (31.05.2025)1. A system of components to improve the energy efficiency of existing heat installations, comprising a domestic hot water boiler (B), a storage tank (Z), an outdoor air-conditioning unit (T6), an indoor heat pump unit (Tl), an outdoor heat pump unit (T2), a first freon connection (T7), a second freon connection (T9), a water connection (T10), a space heating system, and return pipes (Z5), wherein the storage tank (Z) comprises a hot water inlet (Z2), a funnelled hot water outlet (Z3), a first freon spiral (Zl), and a funnel outlet pipe (Z7), wherein the indoor heat pump unit (Tl) is connected via the first freon connection (T7) to the outdoor heat pump unit (T2) and heats the living space via the storage tank (Z) so that the heated water from the indoor unit of the heat pump (Tl) passes into the storage tank (Z) through the water connection (T10) and enters the storage tank (Z) via the hot water inlet (Z2) and exits the storage tank (Z) via the funnelled hot water outlet (Z3) into the space heating system, from where it returns and enters the storage tank (Z) via the return pipes (Z5), passing inside the first freon spiral (Zl) and returning to the indoor heat pump unit (Tl) via the funnel outlet pipe (Z7), wherein the outdoor air-conditioning unit (T6) is used to heat the domestic hot water in the domestic hot water boiler (B) and to heat water for the living spaces in the storage tank (Z), wherein the system comprises a second freon connection (T9) and a three-way diverting valve (T5), wherein when the water in the domestic hot water boiler (B) is heated to a set temperature, it switches the three-way valve (T5) from the domestic hot water boiler (B) to the storage tank (Z) and diverts the freon flow via the second freon connection (T9) to the freon spiral (Zl) of the storage tank (Z), thus helping to heat the water for the living spaces in the storage tank (Z).

2. The system of components according to claim 1, characterised in that when the temperature in the living space is reached and the water flow through the space heating system stops, the water continues to circulate through the storage tank (Z).

3. The system of components according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the outdoor air-conditioning unit (T6) is used to heat the domestic hot water in the domestic hot water boiler (B) and the water in the storage tank (Z).

4. The system of components according to claim 3, characterised in that the outdoor air-conditioning unit (T6) is placed inside the room and exhausts air from the room through a funnel-shaped spiro pipe (T3), thus utilising the heat of the indoor air and heating the domestic water in the boiler (B) via a freon connection (T4), a three-way valve (T5) and a freon connection (T8), which enters the boiler (B) by connecting to the second freon spiral (B2) which travels inside the water spiral (Bl) and thus heats the water in the water spiral (Bl) which flows to the bottom spiral (B4) via the circulation pump (B7), thereby heating the entire domestic hot water boiler (B).

5. The system of components according to claims 3 and 4, characterised in that when the water in the domestic hot water boiler (B) is heated to a set temperature, the three-way valve (T5) switches from the domestic hot water boiler (B) to the storage tank (Z), diverting the freon flow via the second freon connection (T9) to the first freon spiral (Zl), thereby assisting in heating the water for the living spaces in the storage tank (Z).

6. The system of components according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the domestic hot water boiler (B) is fitted with a coaxial spiral (B3) comprising an upper water spiral (Bl) and a second freon spiral (B2), wherein the upper water spiral (Bl) carries water and the second freon spiral (B2) carries gas.

7. The system of components according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in thatthe domestic water in the boiler (B) can also be heated by solar collectors (S), whereby water enters through inlets (S6) into the lower manifold (S5) and travels through spirals (S2) into the upper manifold (S3) and heats the domestic water in the boiler (B) through the hot water outlets (S4) via the lower spiral (B4).

8. The system of components according to claim 7, characterised in that the solar collectors (S) are made of glass tubes (SI) containing copper spirals (S2) in which water flows and which are connected to the upper manifold (S3) above and to the lower manifold (S5) below, where the upper manifold (S3) is being enclosed in a preferably glass housing (S7) and the lower manifold (S5) in a preferably glass housing (S8).

9. The system of components according to claims 7 and 8, characterised in that the glass elements of the solar collector (S), including the housings (S7, S8), are vacuumed and the joints are provided with O-rings (S9) to ensure airtightness.

10. The system of components according to claims 7 to 9, characterised in that a semicircular gutter (S10) with a reflective inner surface is placed under each of the glass tubes (SI) and glass housings (S7, S8) and allows heating of the spirals (S2), the upper manifold (S3) and the lower manifold (S5) also from the underside.

11. The system of components according to claim 10, characterised in that all the semicircular gutters (S10) are connected to the electric engine (S14) by an axle (S13) on which the gears (S12) are mounted.

12. The system of components according to claims 10 and 11, characterised in that the electric engine (S14) can turn, when necessary, the trough or semicircular gutters (S10) for 180 degrees via the gears (Sil) when necessary, thus covering the entireglass tube (SI) and the glass housings (S7, S8), which is controlled by the automation - the glass tubes (SI) are thus covered when required.

13. The system of components according to claim 12, characterised in that the electric engine (S14) regulates the heating efficiency of the water by stepwise rotation of the semicircular gutters (S10) until the glass tubes (SI) are completely covered.

14. The system of components according to claims 1 to 13, characterised in that it is possible to install another spiral in the storage tank (Z), which is connected to the solar collector (S).

Images