Greenhouse Heat Cascade Layout for Serial Thermal Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for plant or animal growing devices, such as greenhouses, do not utilize heat energy efficiently, leading to waste and reduced usability, as the heat transfer fluid often operates outside the optimal temperature ranges of the heat users.
Innovation Solution
A serial arrangement of heat users is implemented, ensuring the heat transfer fluid operates within the efficient temperature range of each user, with additional heat users like thermal desalination units, salt production devices, and organic rankine cycle machines, and the use of a heat buffer for temporary storage and distribution, optimizing heat usage and reducing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If heat users are arranged in parallel, then each heat user can operate independently, but the heat transfer fluid temperature cannot be optimized for each user's efficient operating range
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer process is segmented into multiple serial stages, with each heat user operating at an optimized temperature level. The heat transfer fluid passes through heat users in sequence (e.g., high-temperature heat user first, then medium-temperature, then low-temperature), allowing each to operate within its efficient temperature range while fully utilizing the thermal energy at each stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the heat transfer fluid progressively through serial arrangement. By controlling the outlet temperature of each heat user to match the inlet temperature requirements of the next heat user, the system optimizes energy utilization across the entire heat transfer chain, ensuring minimal temperature difference losses and maximum exergy efficiency.
2Power
If the heat source size is increased, then more heat can be supplied to meet all heat user demands, but investment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The serial arrangement ensures continuous utilization of heat energy at progressively lower temperature levels. Rather than requiring a large heat source to simultaneously satisfy all heat users, the system continuously extracts energy at optimal temperature differentials through each heat user in sequence, maximizing the useful work obtained from a smaller heat source.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding low-temperature heat after use, the system recovers and utilizes it in subsequent heat users that operate at lower temperature ranges. This cascading utilization of thermal energy at decreasing temperature levels allows a smaller heat source to provide sufficient total heat supply by efficiently extracting energy at multiple temperature stages.
3Loss of energy
If heat transfer fluid temperature is not optimized for each heat user, then system operation is simpler, but heat energy is wasted or degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs temperature feedback control where the outlet temperature of each heat user is monitored and used to adjust the operation of subsequent heat users. This ensures that the heat transfer fluid maintains the optimal temperature differential for each heat user's efficient operation, minimizing energy waste while maintaining manageable operational complexity through automated temperature matching.
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 enhances energy efficiency, reduces the size and cost of the heat source, and allows for more effective use of solar-driven heat sources, achieving higher energy efficiency and lower investment costs while maintaining optimal operating conditions for all heat users.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transfer fluid in a fluid circuit of a heat source and a number of heat users, wherein the heat transfer fluid circulates through the heat source and the heat users in a closed fluid circuit in a serial arrangement
Implementation Method 2
a thermal desalination unit, in locations where seawater is abundant and fresh water is scarce
Implementation Method 3
The water, in the form of steam, produced in the collector is distributed to two heat users... and flows, after condensation, back to the heat source
Implementation Method 4
The heat source may obtain its energy in any manner, typically by burning fossil fuel or by catching solar power
Implementation Method 5
The heat source may obtain its energy in any manner, typically by burning fossil fuel or by catching solar power
Data Source
AI summary
A method for utilizing heat in a plant or animal growing device includes circulating a heat transfer fluid through a circuit forming a closed fluid loop, heating the heat transfer fluid by a heat source, supplying heat from the heat transfer fluid to a first heat user which may be a thermal desalination unit, and returning at least part of the heat transfer fluid that has been cooled down. The heat transfer fluid supplies heat to at least one additional heat user serially arranged before or after the thermal desalination unit. The temperature ranges of the heat transfer fluid are within the optimal operating temperature ranges of the respective heat users in the fluid circuit. A corresponding system and greenhouse by which the method of the invention may be implemented is also described.