System and method for heating a building, and method for installing a system for heating a building

Abstract

System for heating a building, comprising a heat source device having liquid input and output conduits, arranged to heat liquid from a first temperature at the input conduit to a higher second temperature at the output conduit; a heat delivery device having input and output conduits, arranged to receive liquid of a first temperature at the input conduit and optionally return said liquid to the system at a lower second temperature at the output conduit; the input and output conduits of the heat source and heat delivery devices connected to a liquid circuit, the liquid input conduits of the heat source and delivery devices being connected to the liquid circuit through a mixing valve that can selectively divert the circulating liquid towards the corresponding heat source and / or delivery device; said liquid circuit comprising a pump for circulating liquid in the circuit sequentially along the heat source and delivery devices.

Description

[0001] System and method for heating a building, and method for installing a system for heating a building

[0002] The invention relates to a system for heating a building, said system comprising: at least one heat source device, optionally wherein each heat source device is of a different type, wherein each heat source device has a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, wherein each heat source is arranged to heat a liquid from a first temperature TSDIOW at said liquid input conduit to a second temperature Tsnhigh at said liquid output conduit, wherein Tsnhigh > SDIOW; at least one heat delivery device, optionally wherein each delivery device is of a different type, wherein each heat delivery device has a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, wherein each heat delivery device is arranged to receive a liquid of a first temperature TnDhigh at said liquid input conduit and to return said liquid to the system at a second temperature TDDIOW at said liquid output conduit, wherein TDDIOW < Tunhigh.

[0003] Such systems are known, for instance from WO 2016 / 009418 Al, and may be a combined system for heating a building and tap water heating, wherein the heat source devices may for instance comprise a boiler unit, a solar panel system and a heat pump system, and the heat delivery devices may for instance comprise a radiator heating system and a floor heating system for heating the rooms in the building, and a hot water tap system for sanitary use, such as a shower, a bath or a kitchen tap.

[0004] Typically, according to prior art systems, the multitude of heat source devices heat returned and cooled water from the heating systems to a certain temperature, and said heated water is stored in a central buffer from which the heat is distributed to the various heat delivery systems, either by for instance directly pumping the hot water from the buffer to the radiators in the building, or by means of a heat exchanger, for instance in the form of a hot tap water conduit which is in contact with the hot water buffer. Often the heat source devices and heat delivery devices each comprise their own heat exchanger.

[0005] Some drawbacks of such systems are: all the conduits from the heat source devices and the heat delivery devices have to be laid to and connected to the central buffer; this is expensive, labour intensive, and leads to energy losses; the heat source devices and heat delivery devices have different characteristics, which cause them to operate at different optimum temperatures; however, the hot water in the central buffer has only one temperature; and changing the system with new types of heat source devices and / or heat delivery devices is difficult and expensive.

[0006] It is a goal of the invention to provide an improved system, which may address one or more of the above problems.

[0007] According to the invention the liquid output conduits and the liquid input conduits of each of said of heat source devices and the liquid input conduits and optionally the liquid output conduits of each of said heat delivery devices are connected to a single liquid circuit, wherein each of said liquid input conduits of each of said heat source devices and heat delivery devices are connected to said single liquid circuit by means of a mixing valve, such as a three way valve, such that each of said mixing valves can selectively divert, partially or fully, the circulating liquid in said liquid circuit towards the corresponding heat source device and / or heat delivery device; wherein said liquid circuit comprises a pump arranged to circulate liquid in said single liquid circuit sequentially along each of said heat source devices and each of said heat delivery devices.

[0008] This allows said heat source devices and heat delivery devices to be placed in an optimal configuration / order within said single liquid circuit (wherein the use of a heat buffer device is optional), whereby each device is allowed to operate under its own optimized operational conditions within the circuit, in particular regarding the temperatures Tsnhigh, SDIOW, DDIOW and Ti)i)high- However, also the flow rates may be optimized by controlling the mixing valves to achieve the optimal efficiency and / or temperature output for the system. Furthermore, since not all the heated water from the different heat source devices needs to flow to, and be collected in, a central heat buffer device before being distributed to the heat delivery devices, but instead may flow directly from the heat source devices to the heat delivery devices, electric pump energy and heat losses are reduced compared to systems where all the heated water passes through a heat buffer device.

[0009] Preferably the mixing valve is a three way valve.

[0010] Preferably said system comprises a multitude of heat source devices, preferably wherein each heat source device is of a different type.

[0011] Preferably a bypass conduit may be provided between a first location and a second location in the single liquid circuit, wherein the bypass is preferably comprises a controllable valve to control the flow rate through the bypass conduit. This allows, for instance, for output liquid from a certain heat source device to be delivered directly to a heat delivery device, or the like.

[0012] Preferably said system comprises a multitude of heat delivery devices, preferably wherein each heat delivery device is of a different type.

[0013] Preferably the liquid output conduits of each of said heat source devices and said heat delivery devices are connected to said single liquid circuit downstream from the mixing valves at the respective liquid input conduits of the respective same of said heat source devices and said heat delivery devices, and are connected to said single liquid circuit upstream from any of the other mixing valves.

[0014] The heat source devices are preferably arranged such that respective target values of the second temperature Tsnhigh at the liquid output conduits of each of said heat source devices connected to said single liquid circuit increases in the direction of said circulating liquid. Said target values of the second temperature Tsnhigh, and / or flow rates through the mixing valves, are for instance predetermined based on respective energy efficiencies or on physical heating limitations of said heat source devices. Furthermore, preferably the heat delivery devices are arranged such that respective target at said liquid input conduit of each of said heat delivery devices connected to said single liquid circuit decreases in the direction of said circulating liquid. Said target values of the first temperature TnDhigh, and / or flow rates through the mixing valves, are for instance predetermined based on respective energy efficiencies or on preferred delivered liquid temperatures of said heat delivery devices.

[0015] The system may preferably comprise a heat buffer, comprising a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit connected to said single liquid circuit, wherein said liquid input conduit is connected to said single liquid circuit by means of a mixing valve, such that said mixing valve can selectively divert the circulating liquid in said liquid circuit towards the heat buffer. This buffer may for instance in particular be used to store heat, from for instance solar thermal collector panels, when the demand for heated water in the system is low. Preferably the mixing valve of the liquid input conduit of said heat buffer is connected to said single liquid circuit downstream from the output conduits of the heat source devices, and the liquid output conduit of said heat buffer is connected to said single liquid circuit upstream from the mixing valves of the heat delivery devices. Said heat buffer comprises for instance a hot water storage tank. Said system is preferably provided with liquid flow sensors arranged to measure the flow rate in said single liquid circuit, said heat source devices, said heat delivery devices, and / or said heat buffer. Furthermore, said system is preferably provided with temperature sensors arranged to measure the temperature in said single liquid circuit between adjacent pairs of said heat source devices, said heat delivery devices, and / or said heat buffer. At least part of said heat source devices, said heat delivery devices, said heat buffer, said mixing valves, said flow sensors and / or temperature sensors are typically connected by communication means to a control module, which control module is arranged to operate each of said at least part of said heat source devices, said heat delivery devices, said heat buffer and / or said mixing valves in order to regulate the operation of, and the liquid flow rate through, said heat source devices, said heat delivery devices, and said heat buffer in an optimized manner.

[0016] Preferably said multitude of heat source devices comprises at least two different ones chosen from the group comprising a heat recovery unit, a heat pump, a solar thermal collector, a gas heater, an electric heater, an oil heater, a wood stove, a pellet burner. Preferably said at least one heat delivery device comprises one of or at least two different ones chosen from the group comprising a hot water radiator heating system, a low temperature radiator heating system, a floor heating system, an air heating system, a hot tap water heat exchange system. Typically the liquid in the conduit is water. Optionally, a heat source device and / or a heat delivery device may be formed of a plurality of heat source devices and / or heat delivery devices, that are connected in series and / or parallel between their respective liquid input conduit and liquid output conduit. Preferably, in case of a parallel connection, the flow rate through each of the plurality of devices may be controllable.

[0017] The invention also relates to a method for installing a system for heating a building, said method comprising: providing at least one heat source device, wherein each heat source device is preferably of a different type, wherein each heat source device has a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, wherein each heat source is arranged to heat a liquid from a first temperature Tsdiow at said liquid input conduit to a second temperature Tsdhigh at said liquid output conduit, wherein Tsdhigh > TSDIOW; providing at least one heat delivery device, wherein each heat delivery device has a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, wherein each heat delivery device is arranged to receive a liquid of a first temperature Tndhigh at said liquid input conduit and to return said liquid to the system at a second temperature Tndiow at said liquid output conduit, wherein Ti>(ii<, . < Tndhigh; connecting the liquid output conduits and the liquid input conduits of each of said of heat source devices and the liquid input conduits and optionally the liquid output conduits of each of said heat delivery devices to a single liquid circuit, wherein each of said liquid input conduits of each of said heat source devices and heat delivery devices are connected to said single liquid circuit by means of a mixing valve, such that each of said mixing valves can selectively divert, partially or fully, the circulating liquid in said liquid circuit towards the corresponding heat source device and / or heat delivery device; providing a pump in said single liquid circuit arranged to circulate liquid in said single liquid circuit sequentially along each of said heat source devices and each of said heat delivery devices.

[0018] The invention furthermore relates to a method for heating a building, said method comprising: providing at least one heat source device, wherein preferably each heat source device is of a different type, wherein each heat source device has a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, wherein each heat source heats a liquid in said system from a first temperature Tsdiow at said liquid input conduit to a second temperature Tsdhigh at said liquid output conduit, wherein sdhigh > Tsdiow; providing at least one heat delivery device, wherein each heat delivery device has a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, wherein each heat delivery device receives said liquid at a first temperature Tudiugh at said liquid input conduit and returns said liquid to the system at a second temperature Tndiow at said liquid output conduit, wherein Tndiow < Ti>di,iyh ; wherein the liquid output conduits and the liquid input conduits of each of said of heat source devices and the liquid input conduits and optionally the liquid output conduits of each of said heat delivery devices are connected to a single liquid circuit, wherein each of said liquid input conduits of each of said heat source devices and heat delivery devices are connected to said single liquid circuit by means of a mixing valve, such that each of said mixing valves selectively diverts, partially or fully, the circulating liquid in said liquid circuit towards the corresponding heat source device and / or heat delivery device; wherein said liquid circuit comprises a pump which circulates liquid in said single liquid circuit sequentially along each of said heat source devices and each of said heat delivery devices.

[0019] The invention will now be elucidated by means of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the figure, which schematically shows a system in accordance with the invention.

[0020] According to the figure a system for heating a building comprises a single water circuit 1 comprised of a conduit which connects a multitude of modulating three way mix valves 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and a pump 8 in series. The three way mix valves can divert the liquid flow in the circuit 1 selectively and proportionally to input conduits 9 of each of a plurality of devices 10A, 10B, 10C,

[0021] IOD, 10E, 10F in respective zones A, B, C, D, E, F, and each of said devices 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D,

[0022] IOE, 10F returns the diverted liquid to the circuit by means of output conduits 11. In this example three devices 10A, 1OB, IOC form heat source devices of different types, the device 10D forms a heat buffer device, and two devices 10E, 10F form heat delivery devices of different types of the system.

[0023] The circuit 1 is furthermore provided with temperature sensors 12 between each pair of adjacent zones, as well as between zone F and the pump 8 and between the pump 8 and zone A, which measure the respective temperatures Ta, Tb, Tc, Td, Te, Tf and Tp in the respective sections of the conduit 1. Each input conduit 9 is furthermore provided with a flow sensor 13, arranged to measure the flow to each of the devices 10A, 10B, IOC, 10D, 10E, 10F.

[0024] The pump 8, the devices 10A, 10B, IOC, 10D, 10E, 10F, the three way valves 4, the temperature sensors 12 and flow sensors 13 are connected to a control module (not shown) which is arranged to operate each of devices in order to regulate the operation of, and the liquid flow through the devices.

[0025] The below description is an example of operation conditions of the system, wherein the mentioned temperature values (in C) and flow rates (in %) are merely examples of a momentary situation, and which will vary depending on the operating circumstances of the system.

[0026] The pump 8 pumps water around in the circuit 1. Although the pump can be placed anywhere in the circuit 1, the preferred location is where the water temperature is at the lowest. The pump speed is controlled in dependence of the heat / energy demand in the system.

[0027] The heat source device 10A is a heat pump, requiring a low temperature input and a high flow rate. According to sensor 12 the temperature Tp in the input conduit is 25 °C. The valve 2 is set by the control module to divert 100% of the flow in the circuit 1 to the heat pump. The heat pump heats the water to 36 °C and returns the water to the circuit 1.

[0028] The heat source device 1 OB is a solar thermal collector, delivering heat in particular if the sun shines. A soon as the temperature of the solar thermal collector is higher than the water temperature Ta, the valve is set by the control module to divert water to it. According to sensor 12 the temperature Ta in the input conduit is 35 °C. The valve 3 is therefore set by the control module to divert 100% of the flow in the circuit 1 to the solar thermal collector. The solar thermal collector heats the water to 50 °C and returns the water to the circuit 1. The heat source device IOC is a wood stove heater, and has a preferred input water temperature of 50 °C. According to sensor 12 the temperature Tb in the input conduit is indeed 50 °C, as this is the set target temperature by the control module by regulating the pump 8 and the preceding heat sources devices 10A, 10B. The valve 4 is set by the control module to divert 90% of the flow in the circuit 1 to the wood stove heater. The wood stove heater heats the water to 80 °C and returns the water to the circuit 1.

[0029] The heat buffer device 10D comprises a water tank. According to sensor 12 the temperature Tc in the input conduit is 75 °C. Because of current heat demand by the heat delivery devices 10E, 10F, the control module in this example sets the target value for Td to 55 °C, and therefore the valve 5 is set by the control module to divert 50% of the flow in the circuit 1 to the water tank through a return valve 14, which is set by the control module to pass 100% of the diverted flow to the water tank, where the heated water is stored. The heated water is returned from the water tank to the circuit 1 via the return valve 14. The returned water has a temperature of 35 °C, for instance because a tap water heat exchanger is operated in the heat buffer device 10D. This results in a temperature of 55 °C in the circuit, as the 50% diverted and returned water of 35 °C is mixed with the water of 75 °C which passed directly through the valve 5 by the amount of 50%.

[0030] Since not all the heated water from the different heat source devices needs to flow to, and be collected in, the heat buffer device 10D, but instead may flow directly from the heat source devices to the heat delivery devices, electric pump energy and heat losses are reduced compared to systems where all the heated water passes through a heat buffer device. Stratification, i.e., vertical distribution of temperature in the buffer 10D may also be utilized.

[0031] Once the temperature of the returned water from the heat buffer device 10D reaches for instance 50 °C, which is sufficiently high for as input for the next heat delivery device 10E, selected heat source devices, such as the heat pump 10A, may be switched off by the control module and the corresponding valve 2 is switched in order not to divert water to said heat source device 10A. If also the other heat source devices 10B, 10C do not deliver any heat (meaning that there is no demand form the heat delivery devices 10E, 10F), the pump 8 is switched off by the control module. If the heat delivery devices 10E, 10F demand heat again, the control module may switch the pump 8 back on and divert water through the buffer device in such a manner that the target temperature for Td is reached. If the target temperature for Td cannot be reached in that manner, one or more heat source devices, such as the heat pump 10A, will be switched on by the control module. The system is flexible, in that if one of the devices 10A, 10B, IOC, 10D, 10E, 1OF fails, the control device will control the remaining devices to substitute the function of the failing device and reach a new maximum efficiency within the limited system, until the failing device is repaired or replaced at any given time.

[0032] The heat delivery device 10E is a LTV radiator system. According to sensor 12 the temperature Td in the input conduit is 55 °C. The valve 6 is set by the control module to divert 80% of the flow in the circuit 1 to the LTV radiator system, in order to keep a sufficiently high temperature (which in this example is set by the control module to 33 °C) for the heat delivery device 10F. In the LTV radiator system the water thus cools down to 33 °C and returns to the circuit 1.

[0033] The heat delivery device 10E is a floor heating system. According to sensor 12 the temperature Te in the input conduit is 33 °C. The valve 7 is set by the control module to divert 100% of the flow in the circuit 1 to the floor heating system, in order to maximize the output of the remaining heat energy in the water and obtain the lowest possible value for Tf. In the floor heating system the water cools down to a Tf of 26 °C and returns to the circuit 1, where it is forced again to circulate in the circuit 1 by the pump 8.

[0034] In case there is no heat demand by the heat delivery devices 10D, 10E, while there is still at least one heat source device 10 A, 10B, 10C delivering heat, the control module will send all the available heat energy from the heat source devices 10A, 10B, 10C to the heat buffer device 10D.

[0035] The invention has thus been described by means of a preferred embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that this disclosure is merely illustrative. Various details of the structure and function were presented, but changes made therein, to the full extent extended by the general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed, are understood to be within the principle of the present invention. The description and drawings shall be used to interpret the claims. The claims should not be interpreted as meaning that the extent of the protection sought is to be understood as that defined by the strict, literal meaning of the wording used in the claims, the description and drawings being employed only for the purpose of resolving an ambiguity found in the claims. For the purpose of determining the extent of protection sought by the claims, due account shall be taken of any element which is equivalent to an element specified therein. An element is to be considered equivalent to an element specified in the claims at least if said element performs substantially the same function in substantially the same way to yield substantially the same result as the element specified in the claims.

Claims

9Claims1. A system for heating a building, said system comprising: at least one heat source device, wherein each heat source device has a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, wherein each heat source is arranged to heat a liquid from a first temperature TSDIOW at said liquid input conduit to a second temperature Tsnhigh at said liquid output conduit, wherein Tsnhigh > TSDIOW; at least one heat delivery device, wherein each heat delivery device has a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, wherein each heat delivery device is arranged to receive a liquid of a first temperature Tnnhigh at said liquid input conduit and to return said liquid to the system at a second temperature TDDIOW at said liquid output conduit, wherein TDDIOW < Tnnhigh; wherein the liquid output conduits and the liquid input conduits of each of said of heat source devices and the liquid input conduits and optionally the liquid output conduits of each of said heat delivery devices are connected to a single liquid circuit, wherein each of said liquid input conduits of each of said heat source devices and heat delivery devices are connected to said single liquid circuit by means of a mixing valve, such that each of said mixing valves can selectively divert the circulating liquid in said liquid circuit towards the corresponding heat source device and / or heat delivery device; wherein said liquid circuit comprises a pump arranged to circulate liquid in said single liquid circuit sequentially along each of said heat source devices and each of said heat delivery devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system comprises a multitude of heat source devices, preferably wherein each heat source device is of a different type.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein said system comprises a multitude of heat delivery devices, preferably wherein each heat delivery device is of a different type.

4. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said liquid output conduits of each of said heat source devices and said heat delivery source devices are connected to said single liquid circuit downstream from the mixing valves at the respective liquid input conduits of the respective same of said heat source devices and said heat delivery devices, and are connected to said single liquid circuit upstream from any of the other mixing valves.

5. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat source devices are arranged such that respective target values of the second temperature Tsnhigh at the liquid outputconduits of each of said heat source devices connected to said single liquid circuit increases in the direction of said circulating liquid.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said target values of the second temperature TsDhigh, and / or flow rates through the mixing valves, are predetermined based on respective energy efficiencies or on physical heating limitations of said heat source devices.

7. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat delivery devices are arranged such that respective target at said liquid input conduit of each of said heat delivery devices connected to said single liquid circuit decreases in the direction of said circulating liquid.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said target values of values of the first temperature TnDhigh, and / or flow rates through the mixing valves, are predetermined based on respective energy efficiencies or on preferred delivered liquid temperatures of said heat delivery devices.

9. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises a heat buffer, comprising a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit connected to said single liquid circuit, wherein said liquid input conduit is connected to said single liquid circuit by means of a mixing valve, such that said mixing valve can selectively divert the circulating liquid in said liquid circuit towards the heat buffer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mixing valve of the liquid input conduit of said heat buffer is connected to said single liquid circuit downstream from the output conduits of the heat source devices, and the liquid output conduit of said heat buffer is connected to said single liquid circuit upstream from the mixing valves of the heat delivery devices.

11. The system of claim 9 or 10, wherein said heat buffer comprises a hot water storage tank.

12. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said system is provided with liquid flow sensors arranged to measure the flow rate in said single liquid circuit, said heat source devices, said heat delivery devices, and / or said heat buffer.

13. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said system is provided with temperature sensors arranged to measure the temperature in said single liquid circuit between adjacent pairs of said heat source devices, said heat delivery devices, and / or said heat buffer.1114. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least part of said heat source devices, said heat delivery devices, said heat buffer, said mixing valves, said flow sensors and / or temperature sensors are connected by communication means to a control module, which control module is arranged to operate each of said at least part of said heat source devices, said heat delivery devices, said heat buffer and / or said mixing valves in order to regulate the operation of, and the liquid flow through, said heat source devices, said heat delivery devices, said heat buffer.

15. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said multitude of heat source devices comprises at least two different ones chosen from the group comprising a heat recovery unit, a heat pump, a solar thermal collector, a gas heater, an electric heater, an oil heater, a wood stove, a pellet burner.

16. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one heat delivery device comprises one of or at least two different ones chosen from the group comprising a hot water radiator heating system, a low temperature radiator heating system, a floor heating system, an air heating system, a hot tap water heat exchanger system.

17. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said liquid is water.

18. A method for installing a system for heating a building, said method comprising: providing at least one heat source device, wherein each heat source device has a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, wherein each heat source is arranged to heat a liquid from a first temperature TSDIOW at said liquid input conduit to a second temperature TsDhigh at said liquid output conduit, wherein TsDhigh > TSDIOW; providing at least one heat delivery device, wherein each heat delivery device has a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, wherein each heat delivery device is arranged to receive a liquid of a first temperature TnDhigh at said liquid input conduit and optionally to return said liquid to the system at a second temperature TDDIOW at said liquid output conduit, wherein TDDIOW < TnDhigh; connecting the liquid output conduits and the liquid input conduits of each of said of heat source devices and the liquid input conduits and the liquid output conduits of each of said heat delivery devices to a single liquid circuit, wherein each of said liquid input conduits of each of said heat source devices and heat delivery devices are connected to said single liquid circuit by means of a mixing valve, such that each of said mixing valves can selectively divert the circulating liquid in said liquid circuit towards the corresponding heat source device and / or heat delivery device;12 providing a pump in said single liquid circuit arranged to circulate liquid in said single liquid circuit sequentially along each of said heat source devices and each of said heat delivery devices.

19. A method for heating a building, said method comprising: providing at least one heat source device, wherein each heat source device has a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, wherein each heat source heats a liquid in said system from a first temperature TSDIOW at said liquid input conduit to a second temperature Tsnhigh at said liquid output conduit, wherein Tsnhigh > TSDIOW; providing at least one heat delivery device, wherein each heat delivery device has a liquid input conduit and a liquid output conduit, wherein each heat delivery device receives said liquid at a first temperature TnDhigh at said liquid input conduit and optionally returns said liquid to the system at a second temperature TDDIOW at said liquid output conduit, wherein TDDIOW < TuDhigh; wherein the liquid output conduits and the liquid input conduits of each of said of heat source devices and the liquid input conduits and the liquid output conduits of each of said heat delivery devices are connected to a single liquid circuit, wherein each of said liquid input conduits of each of said heat source devices and heat delivery devices are connected to said single liquid circuit by means of a mixing valve, such that each of said mixing valves selectively diverts the circulating liquid in said liquid circuit towards the corresponding heat source device and / or heat delivery device; wherein said liquid circuit comprises a pump which circulates liquid in said single liquid circuit sequentially along each of said heat source devices and each of said heat delivery devices.

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