Heat transfer device and method for transferring heat from a cooling medium to a heating medium

Abstract

A heat transfer device for transferring heat from a cooling medium for a heat-generating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system, comprising - a first pipe network (302; 402) having a first inlet (303; 403) for the cooling medium coming from the heat-generating system, and a first outlet (304; 404) for the cooling medium to the heat-generating system; - a second pipe network (305; 405) having a second inlet (306; 406) for the heating medium coming from the heat-consuming system, and a second outlet (307; 407) for the heating medium to the heat-consuming system; - a heat pump (308B; 408B) for an active heat transfer from the cooling medium in the first pipe network (302; 402) to the heating medium in the second pipe network (305; 405); and - a heat exchanger (308A; 408A) for a passive heat transfer from the cooling medium in the first pipe network (302; 402) to the heating medium in the second pipe network (305; 405), wherein the first pipe network (302; 402) is configurable such that the cooling medium coming from the heat-generating system, can be guided successively through the heat exchanger (308A; 408A) and the heat pump (308B; 408B) in series.

Description

[0001] Heat trans fer device and method for trans ferring heat from a cooling medium to a heating medium

[0002] The present invention relates to a heat trans fer device and method for trans ferring heat from a cooling medium for a heat-regenerating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system .

[0003] More speci fically, the invention relates to a heat trans fer device and method for trans ferring heat from a cooling medium for a heat-regenerating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system with an active heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium by means of a heat pump and a passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium by means of a heat exchanger .

[0004] In the following, a ' heat exchanger ' is understood to mean a device in which a passive heat trans fer takes place between two or more fluid flows , i . e . a heat trans fer without the intended addition of external energy . This passive heat trans fer can be achieved by both an indirect heat exchange in which the two or more fluid flows do not come into direct contact with each other, as well as a direct heat exchange in which the two or more fluid flows do come into contact with each other and optionally even mix with each other, as well as an at least partial mutual exchange of the cooling medium and heating medium in which the heat exchanger functions as a mass exchanger and the cooling medium and heating medium are interchangeable and therefore the same medium . Heat transfer devices are already known from the state of the art for transferring heat from a cooling medium for a heat-generating system, such as, for example, a compressor installation, to a heating medium for a heatconsuming system, such as, for example, a heating system for buildings or industrial processes.

[0005] In some of such heat transfer devices already known, heat transfer occurs solely by means of passive heat transfer from the cooling medium to the heating medium, whereby the cooling medium is at a higher temperature than the heating medium, resulting in a positive temperature difference between the cooling medium and the heating medium.

[0006] This positive temperature difference is a driving factor behind the heat transfer from the cooling medium to the heating medium, such that no external energy needs to be added to the heat transfer device to achieve the heat transfer. Hence, this type of heat transfer is referred to as passive heat transfer.

[0007] A disadvantage of this type of heat transfer devices which only achieve a passive heat transfer between the cooling medium and the heating medium, is that the cooling medium cannot be cooled sufficiently for reuse in cooling the heat-generating system if an initial temperature of the heating medium before the heat transfer is not low enough.

[0008] To sufficiently cool a compressor installation as heatgenerating system, a cooling medium at an initial temperature of at most 40 ° C is typically required before cooling the compressor installation, while the initial temperature of the heating medium of a heating system as a heat-consuming system is typically 50 ° C or higher .

[0009] As a result , not all the required heat can be trans ferred from the cooling medium to the heating medium, which makes additional cooling of the cooling medium necessary . With this additional cooling, additional thermal energy is extracted from the cooling medium at such a low temperature that this additional thermal energy is energetically too low to be able to be usefully used per se in certain heat-consuming applications . Usually, this additional thermal energy is therefore simply dumped in an environment of the heat trans fer device and lost without further useful use .

[0010] A heat pump can be used to upgrade and recover this energetically low thermal energy from the cooling medium as useful thermal energy in heat-consuming systems , as described, for example , in BE 1030667 Bl .

[0011] When using a heat pump, more or even all of the required thermal energy can be extracted from the cooling medium through active heat trans fer, thereby reducing or even completely eliminating unnecessary losses of thermal energy to the environment of the heat trans fer device .

[0012] However, a disadvantage of using a heat pump in the heat trans fer device is additional energy consumption and other operating costs by the heat pump to upgrade the energetically low thermal energy to high-quality thermal energy that can be usefully used to suf ficiently heat the heating medium for use in heat-consuming systems .

[0013] As a result , an active heat trans fer device with a heat pump is typically characteri zed by a coef ficient of performance that is lower than a coef ficient of performance for a passive heat trans fer device without a heat pump .

[0014] In this context , ' coef ficient of performance ' means a ratio of useful heat trans fer to the heating medium versus external energy consumption for the heat trans fer device .

[0015] The present invention aims to provide a solution to one or more of the above-mentioned and / or other disadvantages .

[0016] More speci fically, the present invention aims to provide a heat trans fer device and method for trans ferring heat from a cooling medium for a heat-generating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system with an improved coefficient of performance than existing active heat trans fer devices and a minimal dissipation of thermal energy to an environment .

[0017] To this end, the present invention relates to a heat trans fer device for trans ferring heat from a cooling medium for a heat-generating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system, comprising

[0018] - a first pipe network having a first inlet for the cooling medium, coming from the heat-generating system, and a first outlet for the cooling medium to the heat-generating system; - a second pipe network having a second inlet for the heating medium, coming from the heat-consuming system, and a second outlet for the heating medium to the heat-consuming system; and

[0019] - a heat pump for an active heat trans fer from the cooling medium in the first pipe network to the heating medium in the second pipe network, characteri zed in that the heat trans fer device further comprises a heat exchanger for a passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium in the f irst pipe network to the heating medium in the second pipe network, wherein the first pipe network is configurable such that the cooling medium, coming from the heat-generating system, can be guided successively through the heat exchanger and the heat pump in series .

[0020] It should be noted that the passive heat trans fer from the cool ing medium to the heating medium in the heat exchanger can take place either indirectly, where the cooling medium and the heating medium do not come into direct contact with each other, or directly, where the cooling medium and the heating medium do come into contact with each other and may even be mixed with each other, or by means of at least partial mutual exchange of the cooling medium and the heating medium, wherein the heat exchanger functions as a mass exchanger and the cooling medium and the heating medium are interchangeable and therefore the same medium .

[0021] It should further be noted that the cooling medium and the heating medium may be the same medium and may even be mixed with each other in the heat trans fer device according to the invention . An advantage , achieved by passing the cooling medium from the heat-generating system successively through the series-connected heat exchanger and heat pump is that

[0022] - a passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium first takes place by means of the heat exchanger without the addition of external energy, in order to recover thermal energy from the cooling medium at a temperature higher than an initial temperature of the heating medium before the heat trans fer to the heating medium; and

[0023] - an active heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium then takes place by means of the heat pump, in order to recover further thermal energy from the cooling medium to the heating medium at a lower cooling medium temperature than with passive heat trans fer .

[0024] Due to the passive heat trans fer of the cooling medium at a temperature , higher than the initial temperature of the heating medium in the heat exchanger, the heat trans fer device has a higher coef ficient of performance than already known heat trans fer devices that operate solely on the basis of active heat trans fer .

[0025] Due to the active heat trans fer from the cooling medium at the lower temperature to the heating medium in the heat pump, less or even no thermal energy needs to be dumped into an environment of the heat trans fer device without using this thermal energy in a useful way .

[0026] Since only part of the heat trans fer needs to be carried out as active heat trans fer, a smaller heat pump with lower installation costs is also required than i f the heat trans fer were to be carried out entirely as active heat trans fer .

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the heat trans fer device according to the invention, the first pipe network is provided with a first pump for moving a total flow rate of the cooling medium through the first pipe network from the first inlet to the first outlet , wherein the first pump preferably is a controllable pump for moving and adj usting the total flow rate of the cooling medium through the first pipe network from the first inlet to the first outlet .

[0028] By moving the cooling medium from the first inlet to the first outlet in the first pipe network using the first pump, the heat trans fer device provides

[0029] - the heat-generating system of cooling medium for suf ficient cooling the heat-generating system, for example a compressor installation in operation; and / or

[0030] - the heat exchanger and / or the heat pump of cooling medium for suf ficient heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium .

[0031] Even after switching of f the heat-generating system, stable operation of the heat pump can be achieved by moving the cooling medium from the first inlet to the first outlet in the first pipe network using the first pump . The cooling medium that is moved through the first pipe network forms a buf fer medium for thermal energy, which thermal energy can still be trans ferred from the cooling medium to the heating medium with a certain delay after switching of f the heat-generating system by means of active heat trans fer in the heat pump . In this case , a buf fer capacity of the cooling medium as a buf fer medium for thermal energy can be increased by providing the first pipe network with one or more buf fer tanks in order to increase a quantity of cooling medium for exchanging heat with the heating medium.

[0032] In a further preferred embodiment of the heat trans fer device according to the invention, the heat transfer device is provided with a bypass means for bypassing the heat exchanger with respect to the cooling medium and / or the heating medium .

[0033] By means of the bypass medium, a flow through the heat exchanger with cooling medium and / or heating medium can be at least partially switched of f by diverting the cooling medium and / or heating medium around the heat exchanger . Bypassing the heat exchanger with respect to the cooling medium and / or heating medium is relevant , for example , when an initial temperature of the heating medium before the heat trans fer is already higher than an initial temperature of the cooling medium before the heat trans fer, whereby a passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium is consequently not possible and, on the other hand, a reverse passive heat trans fer could take place from the heating medium to the cooling medium i f the cooling medium and / or heating medium were not diverted around the heat exchanger . This could lead to an unfavourable situation of heating the cooling medium by the heating medium . In this case , the bypass means i s , for example , a bypass line for bypassing the heat exchanger with respect to the cool ing medium or heating medium with a valve , with which, on the one hand, the bypass line for the cooling medium or the heating medium, respectively, can be closed and a flow of the cooling medium or the heating medium, respectively, through the heat exchanger can be achieved or, on the other hand, a flow of the cooling medium or the heating medium, respectively, through the bypass line and a bypassing of the heat exchanger with respect to the cooling medium or the heating medium, respectively, can be achieved .

[0034] In a further preferred embodiment of the heat trans fer device according to the invention, the first pipe network is provided with a first actuator means for setting a temperature of the cooling medium at a cooling medium inlet or cooling medium outlet of the heat pump .

[0035] Alternatively or additionally, the second pipe network of the heat trans fer device according to the invention is preferably provided with a second actuator means for setting a temperature of the heating medium at a heating medium inlet or heating medium outlet of the heat pump .

[0036] By means of the first actuator means and / or the second actuator means , stable operation of the heat pump can be ensured by setting the temperature of the cooling medium at the cooling medium inlet or cooling medium outlet of the heat pump and / or the temperature of the heating medium at the heating medium inlet or heating medium outlet of the heat pump, respectively . In this case, the first actuator means and / or second actuator means is , for example , a control valve or a controllable pump .

[0037] In a further preferred embodiment of the heat trans fer device according to the invention, the second pipe network is configurable in such a way that the heating medium can be guided in parallel through the heat pump and the heat exchanger .

[0038] Such a configuration of the second pipeline network is mainly relevant when :

[0039] - the initial temperature of the heating medium at the second inlet is lower than the initial temperature of the cooling medium at the first inlet , optionally reduced by a minimum required temperature di f ference for suf ficient passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium; and

[0040] - the initial temperature of the heating medium at the second inlet is higher than the final temperature of the cooling medium at the first outlet for suf ficient cooling of the heatgenerating system, optionally reduced by the minimum required temperature di f ference for suf ficient passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium .

[0041] The second pipe network is preferably provided with an actuator system for proportioning a first partial flow of the heating medium through the heat exchanger and a second partial flow of the heating medium through the heat pump . By means of the actuator system, a distribution of the heating medium in the second pipe network into the first partial flow through the heat exchanger and the second partial flow through the heat pump can be set in such a way that a final temperature of the first partial flow after the passive heat trans fer in the heat exchanger is equal to a final temperature of the second partial flow after the active heat trans fer in the heat pump, such that , for the final desired temperature of the heating medium at the second outlet , the merging of the first and second partial flows upstream of the second outlet no longer has to be taken into account .

[0042] The actuator system may, for example , comprise a system of valves and / or pumps for adj usting the distribution of the heating medium in the second pipe network into the first partial flow through the heat exchanger and the second partial flow through the heat pump .

[0043] By dynamically controlling the actuator system, it is also possible to respond to dynamic variations in an initial temperature of the heating medium at the second inlet before the heat trans fer from the cooling medium and / or the final desired temperature of the heating medium at the second outlet .

[0044] In a further preferred embodiment of the heat trans fer device according to the invention, the second pipe network is configurable in such a way that the heating medium, coming from the heat-consuming system, can be passed successively through the heat exchanger and the heat pump in series . Such a configuration of the second pipeline network is mainly relevant when

[0045] - the initial temperature of the heating medium at the second inlet is lower than the initial temperature of the cooling medium at the first inlet , optionally reduced by a minimum required temperature di f ference for suf ficient passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium; and

[0046] - the final desired temperature of the heating medium at the second outlet is higher than the initial temperature of the cooling medium at the first inlet , optionally reduced by the minimum required temperature di f ference for suf ficient passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium .

[0047] By first passing the total flow of the heating medium in the second pipe network through the heat exchanger, there is first a passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the total flow of the heating medium without any required supply of external energy .

[0048] Further heating of the heating medium to the final desired temperature at the second outlet then takes place in the heat pump by active heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium .

[0049] In a further preferred embodiment of the heat trans fer device according to the invention, the heat transfer device is provided with a control unit for controlling a ratio between the active heat trans fer and the passive heat trans fer .

[0050] By controlling the ratio between active heat trans fer and passive heat trans fer, the most energetically ef ficient heat trans fer possible between the cooling medium and the heating medium and, consequently, the most energetically ef ficient heat recovery possible from the heat-generating system to the heat-consuming system can be achieved .

[0051] For example , the control unit can also regulate a final temperature of the heating medium at the second outlet to a desired value by controlling one or more actuators or actuator systems in the heat trans fer device .

[0052] The present invention also relates to a compressor installation comprising a compressor device , wherein the compressor device is configured to be cooled with a coolant , characteri zed in that the compressor installation comprises a heat trans fer device according to one of the embodiments described above for trans ferring heat from the coolant as cooling medium for the compressor device as heat-generating system to the heating medium for the heat-consuming system .

[0053] It goes without saying that such a compressor installation enj oys the same advantages as those for a heat trans fer device according to one of the embodiments described above . Finally, the present invention also relates to a method for trans ferring heat from a cooling medium for a heatgenerating system to a heating medium for a heatconsuming system, wherein heat is actively trans ferred from the cooling medium to the heating medium by means of a heat pump, characteri zed in that heat is passively trans ferred from the cooling medium to the heating medium by means of a heat exchanger, and the cooling medium, coming from the heat-generating system, is passed successively through the heat exchanger and the heat pump in series when

[0054] - an initial temperature of the heating medium before the heat trans fer is higher than a first minimum threshold value and lower than a maximum threshold value ; or

[0055] - the initial temperature of the heating medium before the heat trans fer is lower than the maximum threshold value , and a final desired temperature of the heating medium after the heat trans fer is higher than a second minimum threshold value .

[0056] It should be noted that the passive heat trans fer from the cool ing medium to the heating medium in the heat exchanger can take place either indirectly, where the cooling medium and the heating medium do not come into direct contact with each other, or directly, where the cooling medium and the heating medium do come into contact with each other and may even be mixed with each other, or by means of at least partial mutual exchange of the cooling medium and the heating medium, where the heat exchanger functions as a mass exchanger and the cooling medium and the heating medium are interchangeable and therefore the same medium .

[0057] As explained above , one advantage achieved by passing the cooling medium from the heat-generating system successively through the in series connected heat exchanger and heat pump is that

[0058] - a passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium first takes place by means of the heat exchanger without the addition of external energy in order to recover thermal energy from the cooling medium at a temperature higher than an initial temperature of the heating medium before the heat trans fer to the heating medium; and

[0059] - an active heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium then takes place by means of the heat pump in order to recover further thermal energy from the cooling medium to the heating medium at a lower cooling medium temperature than with passive heat trans fer .

[0060] Due to the passive heat trans fer of the cooling medium at a temperature higher than the initial temperature of the heating medium in the heat exchanger, the method has a higher coefficient of performance than already known heat trans fer methods that operate solely on the basis of active heat trans fer .

[0061] Due to the active heat trans fer from the cooling medium at the lower temperature to the heating medium in the heat pump, less or even no thermal energy from the cooling medium needs to be dumped into an environment of the heat trans fer device without using this thermal energy in a useful way .

[0062] Since only a part of the heat trans fer needs to be carried out as active heat trans fer, a smaller heat pump with lower installation costs is also required than i f the heat trans fer were to be carried out entirely as active heat trans fer .

[0063] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the heating medium is passed in parallel through the heat pump and the heat exchanger when

[0064] - the initial temperature of the heating medium is higher than the first minimum threshold value and lower than the maximum threshold value ; and

[0065] - the final desired temperature of the heating medium is lower than the second minimum threshold value .

[0066] By splitting a total flow of the heating medium into a first partial flow through the heat exchanger and a second partial flow through the heat pump, a temperature of the heating medium at the heating medium inlet of the heat pump can be obtained, for a given final desired temperature of the heating medium, that is lower than when the heating medium would be guided in series through the heat exchanger and heat pump . The lower this temperature of the heating medium at the heating medium inlet o f the heat pump at the given final desired temperature of the heating medium, the higher the coef ficient of performance or COP of the heat pump and consequently the higher the coef ficient of performance of the heat trans fer device according to the invention as a whole . In an alternative preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the heating medium, coming from the heat-consuming system, is passed successively through the heat exchanger and the heat pump in series when

[0067] - the initial temperature of the heating medium is lower than the maximum threshold value ; and

[0068] - the final desired temperature of the heating medium is higher than the second minimum threshold value .

[0069] By first passing the total flow of the heating medium through the heat exchanger, there is first a passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the total flow of the heating medium without any required supply of external energy .

[0070] With the aim of better demonstrating the features of the invention, a number of preferred embodiments of the heat trans fer device and the method for trans ferring heat from a cooling medium for a heat-generating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system according to the invention are described hereinafter, by way of example without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings , wherein

[0071] Figure 1 shows a first conventional heat transfer device ;

[0072] Figure 2 shows a second conventional heat trans fer device ;

[0073] Figure 3 shows a first heat trans fer device according to the invention;

[0074] Figure 4 shows a second heat trans fer device according to the invention; Figure 5 shows an operating regime diagram for a heat trans fer device according to the invention .

[0075] Figure 1 shows a first conventional heat trans fer device 101 which merely ef fects passive heat trans fer from a cooling medium for a heat-generating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system .

[0076] The first conventional heat trans fer device 101 comprises

[0077] - a first pipe network 102 having a first inlet 103 for the cooling medium, coming from the heatgenerating system, and a first outlet 104 for the cooling medium to the heat-generating system;

[0078] - a second pipe network 105 having a second inlet 106 for the heating medium, coming from the heatconsuming system, and a second outlet 107 for the heating medium to the heat-consuming system; and

[0079] - a heat exchanger 108A for the passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium in the first pipe network 102 to the heating medium in the second pipe network 105 .

[0080] The first pipe network 102 is provided with a pump 109 for moving a total flow rate of the cooling medium through the first pipe network 102 from the first inlet 103 to the first outlet 104 .

[0081] Furthermore , the first pipe network 102 is provided with a bypass pipe 110A for bypassing the heat exchanger 108A with respect to the cooling medium, and an actuator 111A for switching on or o f f the bypassing of the heat exchanger 108A with respect to the cooling medium . In this case , the actuator 111A is configured as a valve , which can be used to ensure that the cooling medium flows through the bypass line 110A on the one hand or the heat exchanger 108A on the other hand .

[0082] The first pipe network 102 also comprises a third outlet 112 for the cooling medium to a cooling system and a third inlet 113 for the cooling medium, coming from the cooling system .

[0083] When a cooling system is coupled to the third outlet 112 and the third inlet 113 , the cooling medium, coming from the heat-generating system, can be passed successively through the heat exchanger 108A and the cooling system in series .

[0084] The first pipe network 102 is also provided with an additional bypass pipe 114 for bypassing the cooling system with respect to the cooling medium, and an additional actuator 115 for switching on or of f the bypassing of the cooling system with respect to the cooling medium .

[0085] In this case , the additional actuator 115 is configured as a valve , which can be used to ensure a flow of the cooling medium through the additional bypass line 114 on the one hand, or the cooling system on the other hand .

[0086] Figure 2 shows a second conventional heat trans fer device 201 which merely ef fects an active heat trans fer from a cooling medium for a heat-generating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system . The second conventional heat trans fer device 201 comprises

[0087] - a first pipe network 202 having a first inlet 203 for the cooling medium, coming from the heatgenerating system, and a first outlet 204 for the cooling medium to the heat-generating system;

[0088] - a second pipe network 205 having a second inlet 206 for the heating medium, coming from the heatconsuming system, and a second outlet 207 for the heating medium to the heat-consuming system; and

[0089] - a heat pump 208B for the active heat trans fer from the cooling medium in the first pipe network 202 to the heating medium in the second pipe network 205 .

[0090] The first pipe network 202 is provided with a pump 209 for moving a total flow rate of the cooling medium through the first pipe network 202 from the first inlet 203 to the first outlet 204 .

[0091] Furthermore , the first pipe network 202 is provided with a bypass pipe 210B for bypassing the heat pump 208B with respect to the cooling medium, and an actuator 211B for switching on or of f the bypassing of the heat pump 208B with respect to the cooling medium .

[0092] In this case , the actuator 211B is configured as a valve , which can be used to ensure that the cooling medium flows through the bypass line 210B on the one hand or the heat pump 208B on the other hand .

[0093] The first pipe network 202 also comprises a third outlet 212 for the cooling medium to a cooling system and a third inlet 213 for the cooling medium, coming from the cooling system .

[0094] When a cooling system is connected to the third outlet 212 and the third inlet 213 , the cooling medium, coming from the heat-generating system, can be passed successively through the heat pump 208B and the cooling system in series .

[0095] The first pipe network 202 is also provided with an additional bypass pipe 214 for bypassing the cooling system with respect to the cooling medium, and an additional actuator 215 for switching on or of f the bypassing of the cooling system with respect to the cooling medium .

[0096] In this case , the additional actuator 215 is configured as a valve , which can be used to ensure that the cooling medium flows through the additional bypass line 214 on the one hand or through the cooling system on the other hand .

[0097] Figure 3 shows a first heat trans fer device 301 according to the invention for trans ferring heat from a cooling medium for a heat-generating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system .

[0098] The heat trans fer device 301 comprises

[0099] - a first pipe network 302 having a first inlet 303 for the cooling medium, coming from the heatgenerating system, and a first outlet 304 for the cooling medium to the heat-generating system; - a second pipe network 305 having a second inlet 306 for the heating medium, coming from the heatconsuming system, and a second outlet 307 for the heating medium to the heat-consuming system;

[0100] - a heat exchanger 308A for passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium in the first pipe network 302 to the heating medium in the second pipe network 305 ; and

[0101] - a heat pump 308B for active heat trans fer from the cooling medium in the first pipe network 302 to the heating medium in the second pipe network 305 .

[0102] In this case, the passive heat trans fer in the heat exchanger 308A can be achieved by both an indirect heat exchange in which the cooling medium and the heating medium do not come into direct contact with each other, as well as a direct heat exchange in which the cooling medium and the heating medium do come into contact with each other and optionally even mix with each other, as well as an at least partial mutual exchange of the cooling medium and the heating medium in which the heat exchanger functions as a mass exchanger and the cooling medium and the heating medium are interchangeable and therefore the same medium .

[0103] The first pipe network 302 is configurable such that the cooling medium, coming from the heat-generating system, can be passed successively through the heat exchanger 308A and the heat pump 308B in series .

[0104] The first pipe network 302 is preferably provided with a first pump 309 for moving a total flow rate of the cooling medium through the first pipe network 302 from the first inlet 303 to the first outlet 304 .

[0105] More preferably, the first pump 309 is a controllable pump for moving and adj usting the total flow rate of the cooling medium through the first pipe network 302 from the first inlet 303 to the first outlet 304 .

[0106] Furthermore , the heat trans fer device 301 is optionally provided with a bypass means for bypassing the heat exchanger 308A with respect to the cooling medium, in this case a first bypass line 310A in the first pipe network 302 for bypassing the heat exchanger 308A with respect to the cooling medium, and a first actuator 311A for at least partially switching on or of f the bypassing of the heat exchanger 308A with respect to the cooling medium .

[0107] In this case , the first actuator 311A is configured as a valve , which can be used to ensure that the cooling medium f lows through the bypass line 310A on the one hand or the heat exchanger 308A on the other hand .

[0108] However, within the scope of the invention it is not excluded that the first actuator is configured in an alternative manner, for example as a control pump for moving cooling medium through the heat exchanger .

[0109] It is also not excluded, within the scope of the invention, that the heat trans fer device is not provided with a bypass means for bypassing the heat exchanger 308A with respect to the cooling medium, for example when the heat trans fer device is already provided with a bypass means for bypassing the heat exchanger 308A with respect to the heating medium, with which passive heat trans fer between the cooling medium and the heating medium can be excluded .

[0110] The heat transfer device 301 is preferably also provided with a first actuator means for setting a temperature of the cool ing medium at a cooling medium inlet or cooling medium outlet of the heat pump 308B .

[0111] In this case , the first pipe network 302 is provided with a second bypass pipe 310B for bypassing the heat pump 308B with respect to the cooling medium, and the first actuator means is a second pump 316 for moving and optionally setting a flow rate of cooling medium through the heat pump 308B .

[0112] To set the flow rate of cooling medium through the heat pump 308B, a pipe of the first pipe network 302 which leads the cooling medium through the heat pump 308B can also be additionally provided with a two-way control valve 317 .

[0113] When the second pump 316 is switched on, a portion of the cooling medium leaving the heat pump 308B will be recirculated to the heat pump 308B via the bypass line 310B .

[0114] It is not excluded, within the scope of the invention, that the first actuator means is configured in a di f ferent manner, as shown for example in Figure 4 and further explained in the description of Figure 4 .

[0115] The second pump 316 can also be used as a second actuator 311B for switching on or of f the bypassing of the heat pump 308B with respect to the cooling medium . I f the second pump 316 is switched of f , the total flow rate of the cooling medium in the first pipe network 302 will be guided via the bypass line 310B without being guided through the heat pump 308B .

[0116] The first pipe network 302 optionally also comprises a third outlet 312 for the cooling medium to a cooling system and a third inlet 313 for the cooling medium, coming from the cooling system .

[0117] When a cooling system is connected to the third outlet 312 and the third inlet 313 , the cooling medium, coming from the heat-generating system, can be passed successively through the heat exchanger 308A and / or the heat pump 308B in series on the one hand and the cooling system on the other hand .

[0118] In this case , the first pipe network 302 is optionally also provided with a third bypass pipe 314 for bypassing the cooling system with respect to the cooling medium, and additionally with a third actuator 315 for at least partially switching on or of f the bypassing of the cooling system with respect to the cooling medium .

[0119] In this case , the third actuator 315 is configured as a valve , which can be used to ensure a flow of the cooling medium through the third bypass line 314 on the one hand or the cooling system on the other hand .

[0120] However, within the scope of the invention, it is not excluded that the third actuator is configured in an alternative manner, for example as a control pump for moving cooling medium through the cooling system . In this case , the second pipe network 305 is configured such that the heating medium can be guided in parallel through the heat exchanger 308A and the heat pump 308B .

[0121] In this case , the second pipe network 305 is preferably provided with an actuator system for proportioning a first partial flow of the heating medium through the heat exchanger 308A and a second partial flow of the heating medium through the heat pump 308B .

[0122] In this case , the actuator system is configured as a valve system with a first control valve 318A for setting a flow rate of the first partial flow and a second control valve 318B for setting a flow rate of the second partial flow .

[0123] However, within the scope of the invention, it is not excluded that the actuator system is configured alternatively, for example as a pump system with a first control pump for setting the flow rate of the first partial flow and a second control pump for setting the flow rate of the second partial flow .

[0124] Figure 4 shows a second heat trans fer device 401 according to the invention for trans ferring heat from a cooling medium for a heat-generating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system .

[0125] The heat trans fer device 401 comprises

[0126] - a first pipe network 402 having a first inlet 403 for the cooling medium, coming from the heatgenerating system, and a first outlet 404 for the cooling medium to the heat-generating system; a second pipe network 405 having a second inlet 406 for the heating medium, coming from the heat- consuming system, and a second outlet 407 for the heating medium to the heat-consuming system;

[0127] - a heat exchanger 408A for passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium in the first pipe network 402 to the heating medium in the second pipe network 405 ; and

[0128] - a heat pump 408B for active heat trans fer from the cooling medium in the first pipe network 402 to the heating medium in the second pipe network 405 .

[0129] In this case, the passive heat trans fer in the heat exchanger 408A can be achieved by both an indirect heat exchange in which the cooling medium and the heating medium do not come into direct contact with each other, as well as a direct heat exchange in which the cooling medium and the heating medium do come into contact with each other and optionally even mix with each other, as well as an at least partial mutual exchange of the cooling medium and the heating medium in which the heat exchanger functions as a mass exchanger and the cooling medium and the heating medium are interchangeable and therefore the same medium .

[0130] The first pipe network 402 is configurable such that the cooling medium, coming from the heat-generating system, can be passed successively through the heat exchanger 408A and the heat pump 408B in series .

[0131] The first pipe network 402 is preferably provided with a first pump 409 for moving a total flow rate of the cooling medium through the first pipe network 402 from the first inlet 403 to the first outlet 404 . More preferably, the first pump 409 is a controllable pump for moving and adj usting the total flow rate of the cooling medium through the first pipe network 402 from the first inlet 403 to the first outlet 404 .

[0132] Furthermore , the heat trans fer device 401 is optionally provided with a bypass means for bypassing the heat exchanger 408A with respect to the cooling medium, in this case a first bypass line 410A in the first pipe network 402 for bypassing the heat exchanger 408A with respect to the cooling medium, and a first actuator 411A for at least partially switching on or of f the bypassing of the heat exchanger 408A with respect to the cooling medium .

[0133] In this case , the first actuator 411A is configured as a valve , which can be used to ensure the flow of the cooling medium through the bypass line 410A on the one hand or the heat exchanger 408A on the other hand .

[0134] However, within the scope of the invention, it is not excluded that the first actuator is configured in an alternative manner, for example as a control pump for moving cooling medium through the heat exchanger .

[0135] It is also not excluded, within the scope of the invention, that the heat trans fer device is not provided with a bypass means for bypassing the heat exchanger 408A with respect to the cooling medium, for example when the heat trans fer device is already provided with a bypass means for bypassing the heat exchanger 408A with respect to the heating medium, with which passive heat trans fer between the cooling medium and the heating medium can be excluded . The heat transfer device 401 is preferably also provided with a first actuator means for setting a temperature of the cool ing medium at a cooling medium inlet or cooling medium outlet of the heat pump 408B .

[0136] In this case , the first pipe network 402 is provided with a second bypass pipe 410B for bypassing the heat pump 408B with respect to the cooling medium and the second actuator means is a second pump 416 for moving and optionally setting a flow rate of heating medium through the heat pump 408B .

[0137] To adj ust the flow rate of heating medium through the heat pump 408B, the f irst pipe network 402 may be provided with a three-way control valve 417 , the three- way control valve 417 having a first inlet for cooling medium, coming from the heat exchanger 408A or the first bypass line 410A and a second inlet for a portion of the cooling medium, coming from the heat pump 408B .

[0138] It is not excluded, within the scope of the invention, that the first actuator means is configured in a di f ferent way, as shown for example in Figure 3 and already explained in the description of Figure 3 .

[0139] The second pump 416 can also be used as a second actuator 411B for switching on or of f the bypassing of the heat pump 408B with respect to the cooling medium . I f the second pump 416 is switched of f , the total flow rate of the cooling medium in the first pipe network 402 will be guided via the bypass line 410B without being guided through the heat pump 408B . The first pipe network 402 preferably also comprises a third outlet 412 for the cooling medium to a cooling system and a third inlet 413 for the cooling medium, coming from the cooling system .

[0140] When a cooling system is connected to the third outlet 412 and the third inlet 413 , the cooling medium, coming from the heat-generating system, can be passed successively through the heat exchanger 408A and / or the heat pump 408B in series on the one hand and the cooling system on the other hand .

[0141] In this case , the first pipe network 402 is preferably also provided with a third bypass pipe 414 for bypassing the cooling system with respect to the cooling medium, and additionally, even more preferably, a third actuator 415 for switching on or of f the bypassing of the cooling system with respect to the cooling medium .

[0142] The third actuator 415 in this case is configured as a valve , which can be used to ensure a flow of the cooling medium through the third bypass line 414 on the one hand or the cooling system on the other hand .

[0143] However, within the scope of the invention it is not excluded that the third actuator is configured in an alternative manner, for example as a control pump for moving cooling medium through the cooling system .

[0144] In this case , the second pipe network 405 is configured such that the heating medium, coming from the heatconsuming system can be passed successively through the heat exchanger 408A and the heat pump 408B in series . Furthermore , the heat trans fer device 401 is optionally provided with a bypass means for bypassing the heat exchanger 408A with respect to the heating medium, in this case a fourth bypass line 418 in the second line network 405 for bypassing the heat exchanger 408A with respect to the heating medium and a fourth actuator 419 for at least partially switching on or of f the bypassing of the heat exchanger 408A with respect to the heating medium .

[0145] In this case , the fourth actuator 419 is configured as a valve , which can be used to ensure that the heating medium flows through the fourth bypass line 418 on the one hand or the heat exchanger 408A on the other hand . However, within the scope of the invention it is not excluded that the fourth actuator is configured in an alternative manner, for example as a control pump for moving heating medium through the heat exchanger .

[0146] It is also not excluded within the scope of the invention that the heat trans fer device is not provided with a bypass means for bypassing the heat exchanger 408A with respect to the heating medium, for example when the heat trans fer device is already provided with a bypass means for bypassing the heat exchanger 408A with respect to the cooling medium, with which passive heat trans fer between the cooling medium and the heating medium can be excluded .

[0147] The heat transfer device 401 is preferably also provided with a second actuator means for setting a temperature of the heating medium at a heating medium inlet or heating medium outlet of the heat pump 408B . In this case , the second pipe network 405 is provided with a fi fth bypass pipe 420 for bypassing the heat pump 408B with respect to the heating medium and the second actuator means is a third pump 421 for moving and optionally setting a flow rate of heating medium through the heat pump 408B .

[0148] To adj ust the flow rate of heating medium through the heat pump 408B, the second pipe network 405 may be provided with a three-way control valve 422 , the three- way control valve 422 having a first inlet for heating medium, coming from the heat exchanger 408A or the fourth bypass line 418 and a second inlet for a portion of the heating medium, coming from the heat pump 408B .

[0149] It is not excluded within the scope of the invention that the second actuator means is configured in a di f ferent way .

[0150] The second pipe network 405 is in this case also provided with a fi fth actuator 423 for switching on or of f the bypassing of the heat pump 408B with respect to the heating medium .

[0151] In this case , the fi fth actuator 423 is configured as a valve , which can be used to ensure a flow of the heating medium through the fi fth bypass line 420 on the one hand or the heat pump 408B on the other hand .

[0152] However, within the scope of the invention, it is not excluded that the fi fth actuator is configured in an alternative manner .

[0153] A method according to the invention for trans ferring heat from a cooling medium for a heat-generating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system can be described using the operating regime diagram for a heat trans fer device according to the invention in Figure 5 .

[0154] In the operating regime diagram in Figure 5 , various operating regimes of the heat trans fer device according to the invention shown as a function of

[0155] - an initial temperature X of the heating medium coming from the heat-consuming system, before the heat trans fer ; and

[0156] - a final desired temperature Y of the heating medium after the heat trans fer to supply suf ficient heat to the heat-consuming system .

[0157] In the method according to the invention, heat is actively trans ferred by means of a heat pump and heat is passively trans ferred from the cooling medium to the heating medium by means of a heat exchanger, whereby the cooling medium, coming from the heat-generating system is successively passed through the heat exchanger and the heat pump in series , provided that

[0158] - the initial temperature X of the heating medium, coming from the heat-consuming system before the heat trans fer, is higher than a first minimum threshold value Xminand lower than a maximum threshold value Xmax; or

[0159] - the initial temperature X of the heating medium, coming from the heat-consuming system before the heat trans fer, is lower than the maximum threshold value Xmaxand the final desired temperature Y of the heating medium after the heat trans fer is higher than a second minimum threshold value Ymin. In the operating regime diagram in Figure 5 , this condition corresponds to zone B, zone C and zone D .

[0160] In the method according to the invention, the heating medium can be passed in parallel through the heat pump and the heat exchanger when

[0161] - the initial temperature X of the heating medium, coming from the heat-consuming system before the heat trans fer, is higher than the first minimum threshold value Xminand lower than the maximum threshold value Xmax; and

[0162] - the final desired temperature Y of the heating medium after the heat trans fer is lower than the second minimum threshold value Ymin.

[0163] In the operating regime diagram in Figure 5 , this condition corresponds to zone B .

[0164] Alternatively, the heating medium, coming from the heatconsuming system, can be passed successively through the heat exchanger and the heat pump in series when

[0165] - the initial temperature X of the heating medium, coming from the heat-consuming system before the heat trans fer, is lower than the maximum threshold value Xmax; and

[0166] - the final desired temperature Y of the heating medium after the heat trans fer is higher than the second minimum threshold value Ymin.

[0167] In the operating regime diagram in Figure 5 , this condition corresponds to zone C and zone D . In zone A, the entire heat trans fer can take place passively, since

[0168] - the initial temperature X of the heating medium, coming from the heat-consuming system before the heat trans fer, is equal to or lower than a final temperature of the cooling medium at the first outlet of the heat trans fer device for suf ficient cooling of the heat-generating system, optionally reduced by a minimum required temperature di f ference for suf ficient passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium; and

[0169] - the final desired temperature Y of the heating medium after the heat trans fer is equal to or lower than an initial temperature of the cooling medium, coming from the heat-generating system before the heat trans fer, optionally reduced by a minimum required temperature di f ference for suf ficient passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium .

[0170] In zone E , the entire heat trans fer must take place in an active manner, since the initial temperature of the heating medium, coming from the heat-consuming system before the heat trans fer, is already higher than the initial temperature of the cooling medium, coming from the heat-generating system before the heat trans fer, optionally reduced by a minimum required temperature di f ference for suf ficient passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium, such that there i s nowhere in the heat transfer device a suf ficiently high positive temperature di f ference between the cooling medium and the heating medium and therefore nowhere a suf ficient driving factor for passive heat trans fer from the cooling medium to the heating medium .

[0171] The terminology used in the speci fication is intended to describe particular embodiments of the invention as defined in the claims , and i s therefore not to be construed as limiting . The terms "a" and "the" may also denote plural forms unless clearly indicated otherwise . When the verb "comprise" is used in the speci fication, it indicates the presence of the explicitly stated elements , but does not exclude the presence of one or more other elements .

[0172] The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments , described by way of example and shown in the drawings , but a heat trans fer device and a method for trans ferring heat according to the invention can be reali zed in all kinds of variations without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims .

Claims

Claims1.- Heat transfer device for transferring heat from a cooling medium for a heat-generating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system, comprising- a first pipe network (302; 402) having a first inlet (303; 403) for the cooling medium coming from the heat-generating system, and a first outlet (304; 404) for the cooling medium to the heat-generating system;- a second pipe network (305; 405) having a second inlet (306; 406) for the heating medium coming from the heat-consuming system, and a second outlet (307; 407) for the heating medium to the heatconsuming system; and- a heat pump (308B; 408B) for an active heat transfer from the cooling medium in the first pipe network (302; 402) to the heating medium in the second pipe network (305; 405) , characterized in that the heat transfer device further comprises a heat exchanger (308A; 408A) for a passive heat transfer from the cooling medium in the first pipe network (302; 402) to the heating medium in the second pipe network (305; 405) , wherein the first pipe network (302; 402) is configurable such that the cooling medium coming from the heatgenerating system can be guided successively through the heat exchanger (308A; 408A) and the heat pump (308B; 408B) in series.2.- The heat transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first pipe network (302; 402) is provided with a first pump (309; 409) for moving a total flow rate of the cooling medium through the first pipe network (302; 402) from the first inlet (303; 403) to the first outlet (304; 404) , wherein the first pump (309; 409) preferably is a controllable pump for moving and adjusting the total flow rate of the cooling medium through the first pipe network (302; 402) from the first inlet (303; 403) to the first outlet (304; 404) .3.- The heat transfer device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heat transfer device (301; 401) is provided with a bypass means for bypassing the heat exchanger (308A; 408A) with respect to the cooling medium and / or the heating medium.4.- The heat transfer device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first pipe network (302; 402) is provided with a first actuator means for setting a temperature of the cooling medium at a cooling medium inlet or cooling medium outlet of the heat pump (308B; 408B) .5.- The heat transfer device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second pipe network (305; 405) is provided with a second actuator means for setting a temperature of the heating medium at a heating medium inlet or heating medium outlet of the heat pump (308B; 408B) .6.- The heat transfer device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second pipenetwork (305; 405) is configurable in such a way that the heating medium can be guided in parallel through the heat pump (308B; 408B) and the heat exchanger (308A; 408A) .7 The heat transfer device according to claim 6, characterized in that the second pipe network (305; 405) is provided with an actuator system for proportioning a first partial flow of the heating medium through the heat exchanger (308A; 408A) and a second partial flow of the heating medium through the heat pump (308B; 408B) .8.- The heat transfer device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second pipe network (305; 405) is configurable in such a way that the heating medium coming from the heat-consuming system can be guided successively through the heat exchanger (308A; 408A) and the heat pump (308B; 408B) in series.9.- The heat transfer device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat transfer device (301; 401) is provided with a control unit for controlling a ratio between the active heat transfer and the passive heat transfer.10.- A compressor installation comprising a compressor device, wherein the compressor device is configured to be cooled with a coolant, characterized in that the compressor installation comprises a heat transfer device (301; 401) according to any one of the preceding claims for transferring heat from the coolant as cooling medium for the compressordevice as heat-generating system to the heating medium for the heat-consuming system .11 . - Method for trans ferring heat from a cooling medium for a heat-generating system to a heating medium for a heat-consuming system, wherein heat is actively trans ferred from the cooling medium to the heating medium by means of a heat pump ( 308B ; 408B ) , characterized in that heat is passively trans ferred from the cooling medium to the heating medium by means of a heat exchanger ( 308A; 408A) , and the cooling medium coming from the heat-generating system is guided successively through the heat exchanger ( 308A; 408A) and the heat pump ( 308B ; 408B ) in series when- an initial temperature (X ) of the heating medium before the heat trans fer is higher than a first minimum threshold value (Xmin) and lower than a maximum threshold value (Xmax) ; or- the initial temperature (X ) of the heating medium before the heat transfer is lower than a maximum threshold value (Xmax) , and a final desired temperature (Y) of the heating medium after the heat trans fer is higher than a second minimum threshold value (Ymin) .12 . - The method according to claim 11 , characterized in that the heating medium is guided in parallel through the heat pump ( 308B ; 408B ) and the heat exchanger ( 308A; 408A) when- the initial temperature (X ) of the heating medium is higher than the first minimum threshold value (Xmin) and lower than the maximum threshold value (Xmax) ; and - the final desired temperature (Y) of the heating medium is lower than the second minimum threshold value (Ymin) .13 . - The method according to claim 11 , characterized in that the heating medium coming from the heat-consuming system is guided successively through the heat exchanger ( 308A; 408A) and the heat pump ( 408B ) in series when- the initial temperature (X ) of the heating medium is lower than the maximum threshold value (Xmax) ; and- the final desired temperature (Y) of the heating medium is higher than the second minimum threshold value (Ymin) .

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