Broad Band District Heating Conduits for Bidirectional Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional district heating and cooling systems require multiple conduits for each temperature level, leading to inefficiencies in material usage and installation costs, as well as reliance on pressure differences for fluid circulation, which can be wasteful and complex.
Innovation Solution
A system with three or more conduits carrying fluids at different temperatures, where each consumer appliance is linked to pairs of conduits for heat exchange, allowing bidirectional flow and optional thermal energy storage, reducing the need for dedicated return lines and pressure differences, and enabling flexible use of thermal energy sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional district heating systems use separate supply and return lines for each temperature level, then heat transfer reliability is improved, but material usage and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the supply and return lines into a single conduit system where fluid flows bidirectionally. Instead of having separate supply and return conduits for each temperature level, the system uses one conduit per temperature level that can serve both supply and return functions through controlled bidirectional flow, thereby reducing material usage while maintaining heat transfer reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each conduit in the system is designed to serve multiple functions: it can act as both a supply line and a return line depending on the flow direction. The same conduit can supply heated fluid to consumers and simultaneously receive cooled return fluid from other consumers, making the system more efficient and reducing the total number of conduits needed.
2Ease of operation
If conventional systems use pressure differences for fluid circulation, then circulation is achieved, but system complexity and energy waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic flow control where the direction of fluid flow in each conduit can be changed based on operational requirements. Valves and control mechanisms allow the system to adapt flow directions dynamically, enabling the same conduit to function as supply or return line as needed, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining effective circulation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If dedicated return lines are used for each consumer, then hydraulic balance is maintained, but installation costs and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the return line function into the existing supply conduits by implementing bidirectional flow capability. Instead of installing separate return lines for each consumer, the system reuses the same conduits in reverse flow direction, thereby maintaining hydraulic balance through controlled flow distribution while significantly reducing installation costs and material requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the number of conduits required, lowers installation costs, and allows for efficient use of thermal energy sources, including renewable sources, by enabling flexible temperature management and energy storage, while maintaining hydraulic balance and supporting bidirectional flow within the system.
Implementation Method 1
each consumer appliance being linked to one of a plurality of pairs of conduits such that either: a consumer appliance is linked on a high temperature side to one of the conduits of a pair for receipt of fluid and for extraction of heat energy
Implementation Method 2
raise the temperature of the fluid from the lower temperature conduit of the pair to the temperature of the higher temperature conduit of the pair
Implementation Method 3
lower the temperature of the fluid of the higher temperature conduit of the pair to the lower temperature of the lower temperature conduit of the pair
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system is described that allows thermal energy to be supplied at different temperature levels to consumers (broad band district heating and cooling), whereby each consumer is provided with its desired temperature whenever that is necessary. The method or a system for supplying consumers with heat energy or with cooling energy is described, comprising: a set of three or more conduits for carrying a heat transfer fluid, each conduit carrying fluid at one of three or more different temperatures or temperature ranges, a plurality of heating and/or cooling consumer appliances distributed along the length of the conduits, each consumer appliance being linked to one of a plurality of pairs of conduits such that either: a consumer appliance is linked on a high temperature side to one of the conduits of a pair for receipt of fluid and for extraction of heat energy and being linked to another of the conduits of the pair at a lower temperature side to discharge the fluid into the another of the conduits, or a consumer appliance is linked on a low temperature side to one of the conduits of a pair for receipt of fluid for cooling and being linked to another of the conduits of the pair at a higher temperature side to discharge the fluid into the another of the conduits; a number of heat or cold generators, each pair of conduits being connected to at least one of the generators to either: raise the temperature of the fluid from the lower temperature conduit of the pair to the temperature of the higher temperature conduit of the pair, or lower the temperature of the fluid of the higher temperature conduit of the pair to the lower temperature of the lower temperature conduit of the pair.