A method for providing efficiency with an earth air heat exchanger (EAHE) for use in heat pumps and a system operating according to this method

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing efficiency with an earth air heat exchanger (EAHE) for use in heat pumps, and a heat pump heating / cooling system (1) operating according to this method.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] A METHOD FOR PROVIDING EFFICIENCY WITH AN EARTH AIR HEAT EXCHANGER (EAHE) FOR USE IN HEAT PUMPS AND A SYSTEM OPERATING ACCORDING TO THIS METHOD

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The invention relates to a method for providing efficiency with an earth air heat exchanger (EAHE) for use in heat pumps, and a system operating according to this method.

[0005] State of the Art

[0006] Heat pumps are considered one of the climate control technology products of the future. As the adverse effects of global climate change continue to impact the world, heat pump technology stands out as the most effective climate control solution. The primary reason is that, while fossil fuel-based heating products generate heat through chemical reactions, heat pumps obtain heat by transferring the existing heat available on Earth. Heat pumps combine heating, cooling, and hot water usage in a single device, thereby offering higher energy savings compared to other heat sources. Heat pumps can supply the energy they transfer not only from air but also from different mediums such as ground and water. Additionally, by transferring the potential heat energy in air, earth, and water to our homes, heat pumps provide temperature comfort without emitting any harmful gases into the environment. In the state of the art, external air is used as an evaporator for the cooling fluid in heat pump cycles. In earth-source heat pumps, however, a water-antifreeze mixture is used as the evaporator. For this reason, daily fluctuations in air temperature negatively affect the efficiency of air-source heat pumps and causing their performance to fall below expectations. In the present art, this prevents adequate cooling as outdoor temperatures increase. Accordingly, the efficiency of heat pumps decreases, leading to electricity consumption exceeding the expected levels of the installed capacity of the facility. In the present art, increases in energy consumption in the heat pump systems due to rising or falling outdoor temperatures negatively affect comfort conditions and electricity consumption values. Additionally, the present art fails to address issues such as extended payback periods and significant efficiency drops in facilities during the summer months, as revealed in lifetime analyses of heat pumps. For this reason, sufficient heating cannot be achieved during winter months, additional heating / cooling loads are required, and it is not possible to exceed a certain power level with the existing technological cycle.

[0007] Due to the limitations and inadequacies of the solutions in the present art, it has become necessary to develop a method to improve the efficiency of heat pumps.

[0008] Summary of the Invention

[0009] One object of the invention is to shorten the seasonal startup times of heat pumps cooled with air that has been cooled using an EAHE and to improve the efficiency of the heat pumps.

[0010] Description of the Drawings

[0011] Fig. 1 : Representative view illustrating the operating method of the system subject to the invention.

[0012] Description of the References in the Figures

[0013] For a better understanding of the invention, the corresponding meanings of the numbers in the figures are given below:

[0014] 1 . Heat pump heating / cooling system

[0015] 1.1 Fan

[0016] 1.2 EAHE

[0017] 1 .3 Heat pump

[0018] 1.4 Exhaust

[0019] 1 .5 Air inlet

[0020] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0021] The invention relates to a heat pump heating / cooling system (1) developed to provide efficiency using an earth air heat exchanger (EAHE) and an operating method of this system. The heat pump heating / cooling system (1 ) of the invention comprises at least one fan (1.1 ) which provides external air inlet into the system, at least one EAHE (earth air heat exchanger) (1.2) through which the external air passes to transfer its energy to the cooling fluid used in the heat pump, at least one heat pump (1.3) through which the cooling fluid passes to provide cooling, and at least one exhaust (1.4) which releases the hot air resulting from the cooling process. In addition, said heating / cooling system (1 ) includes at least one air inlet (1.5) that allows the hot air which is exhausted by the exhaust (1 .4) to re-enter the system. Said EAHE (1.2) is buried in a pipeline at least 3 meters and at most 5 meters below the earth to prevent being affected by temperature changes in the earth and to provide effective heating / cooling. Particularly, in areas with extreme summer or winter climates, atmospheric air, i.e., external air, is taken through the EAHE (1.2) buried at this depth using a fan (1.1) for heating / cooling. The air passing through the EAHE (1.2) is then directed through the heat pump (1.3), cooling the heat pump (1.3) and finally, the air circulated within the heat pump cooling system (1 ) subject to the invention is released to the atmosphere. Thus, heating -related inefficiencies are reduced and / or eliminated.

[0022] The operating method of the heat pump heating / cooling system (1 ) subject to the invention comprises the following process steps: i. taking air from the external environment with the aid of a fan (1.1 ), ii. transferring the energy of the external air to the cooling fluid used in the heat pump (1 .3) by passing through the EAHE (1 .2), iii. heating / cooling the heat pump (1 .3) where the cooling fluid mentioned in the process step (ii) passes through the heat pump (1 .3), iv. exhausting the air resulting from heating / cooling through the exhaust (1.4) or circulating the air with the aid of a fan (1.1) in a closed EAHE (1 .2) cycle.

[0023] Industrial Applicability of the Invention

[0024] The invention relates to a method for providing efficiency with an earth air heat exchanger (EAHE) for use in heat pumps and a heat pump heating / cooling system (1 ) operating according to this method, and is applicable to industry. The invention is not limited to the above descriptions, and a person skilled in the art can easily come up with different embodiments of the invention. These should be considered within the scope of protection requested by the claims of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A heat pump heating / cooling system (1 ), wherein it comprises at least one fan (1.1) which provides external air inlet into the system, at least one EAHE (earth air heat exchangers) (1.2) through which the external air passes to transfer its energy to the cooling fluid used in the heat pump, at least one heat pump (1 .3) through which the cooling air passes to enable cooling, and at least one exhaust (1.4) which releases the hot air resulting from the cooling process.

2. A heat pump heating / cooling system (1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises at least one air inlet (1.5) that allows the hot air which is exhausted by the exhaust (1 .4) to re-enter the system.

3. A heat pump heating / cooling system (1) according to claim 1 , wherein said EAHE (1 .2) is buried at least 3 meters and at most 5 meters below the earth.

4. An operating method of a heat pump heating / cooling system (1 ) according to any of claims 1 -3, wherein it comprises the following process steps: i. taking air from the external environment with the aid of a fan (1.1 ), ii. transferring the energy of the external air to the cooling fluid used in the heat pump (1 .3) by passing through the EAHE (1 .2), iii. heating / cooling the heat pump (1 .3) where the cooling fluid mentioned in the process step (ii) passes through the heat pump (1 .3), iv. exhausting the air resulting from heating / cooling through the exhaust (1.4) or circulating the air with the aid of a fan (1.1) in a closed EAHE (1 .2) cycle.

5. The operating method of a heat pump heating / cooling system (1 ) according to claim 4, wherein said EAHE (1.2) is buried at least 3 meters and at most 5 meters below the earth.

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