Method for regulating the temperatures and the production of domestic hot water and facility for carrying out said method
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The wine industry faces high energy costs and significant greenhouse gas emissions due to traditional reliance on fuel oil for temperature regulation and domestic hot water production in wine cellars, necessitating a more efficient and environmentally friendly solution.
Innovation Solution
A method and installation utilizing geothermal and aerothermal heat pumps, along with a buffer tank and optional solar energy, to efficiently regulate temperatures and produce domestic hot water, with a focus on reducing energy consumption and emissions by recycling heat and using renewable energy sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If fuel oil is used to meet energy needs of the wine cellar, then thermal needs are covered, but energy costs increase and greenhouse gas emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energy source parameter from fossil fuel (fuel oil) to renewable energy (geothermal and solar energy). The heat pumps utilize geothermal energy from the ground, and solar panels capture solar radiation, fundamentally altering the energy input parameter to eliminate harmful emissions while reducing operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the combustion-based thermal system with a heat pump system that uses electrical power to drive heat transfer. The heat pumps extract heat from geothermal sources and transfer it to the wine cellar, substituting the chemical combustion process with an electro-thermal system that has no direct emissions.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If traditional heating and cooling systems are used separately, then thermal needs are met, but energy efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating and cooling systems into a single integrated heat pump system. The same heat pump can operate in reverse to provide either heating or cooling, eliminating the need for separate systems and reducing energy waste through shared infrastructure and coordinated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a centralized control unit that monitors temperature conditions in real-time and automatically adjusts the heat pump operation. The control system receives feedback from temperature sensors and modulates the heat pump output to match actual thermal demands, preventing energy waste from over-heating or over-cooling.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If geothermal heat pumps are used to regulate temperatures, then energy efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pump system is designed to perform multiple functions: heating the wine cellar, cooling the wine cellar, and providing domestic hot water. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems, thereby managing complexity while delivering comprehensive thermal solutions with high efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized control unit as an intermediary that manages the complexity of coordinating multiple heat pumps and thermal storage tanks. This control system acts as a mediator between the various components, automating the coordination and simplifying operation despite the underlying system complexity.
4Reliability
If thermal energy is stored in buffer tanks, then energy availability is improved, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements thermal storage with buffer tanks that store energy partially, only to the extent needed for load balancing and peak demand management. The storage capacity is sized to handle typical variations in thermal demand rather than providing excessive storage, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing the volume of storage tanks required.
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
The solution significantly reduces energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions, achieving a high coefficient of performance and rapid return on investment while meeting all thermal needs of a wine cellar, making it environmentally sustainable.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first heat pump and at least one second heat pump, one of them at the being of the geothermal type and being connected to at least one source of geothermal energy
Implementation Method 2
calories are taken from within at least one volume of said structure by means of said first heat pump and/or of said second heat pump to cause a drop in temperature within said at least one volume of said structure
Implementation Method 3
said calories taken from said at least one volume are recovered and temporarily stored in at least one buffer tank
Implementation Method 4
solar energy can be used as an additional energy source
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The method involves providing a set of heat pumps (2, 3) e.g. geothermic type heat pump, and recovering temporarily stored calories within a set of volumes (V1, V2) in a surge tank (5) of a structure i.e. viticultural cellar. A part of stored calories is transferred to geothermic energy sources (4a, 4b). A set of negative kilocalories generated by the set of heat pumps and stored in the surge tank is recovered. A part of the negative kilocalories stored temporarily in the surge tank is transferred from the set of heat pumps to the geothermic energy sources. An independent claim is also included for an installation for regulation of temperatures and production of domestic hot water within a structure.