Comfort Mat Heat Recovery for Stable Livestock Hot Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot water production systems for animal breeding enclosures, particularly those using thermodynamic water heaters with air-water heat pumps, suffer from low energy performance due to variations in ambient temperature, leading to increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A thermodynamic water heater system incorporating a water-water heat pump connected to a collection circuit with a comfort mattress that captures thermal energy from animals, using a heat transfer fluid to circulate through sealed cavities in the mattress, optimizing energy performance by stabilizing thermal energy collection and providing thermal comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If air-to-water heat pump is used to heat water, then hot water production capability is achieved, but energy performance deteriorates due to low ambient temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary component between the animals and the water-to-water heat pump. The heat exchanger captures thermal energy from the animals' bodies and transfers it to the heat transfer fluid, which then feeds the heat pump. This intermediary system stabilizes the thermal energy source regardless of ambient temperature variations, resolving the contradiction between maintaining energy performance and dealing with unstable ambient conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the animals' own body heat as a free thermal energy source. The heat exchanger positioned in the livestock enclosure captures the thermal energy naturally emitted by the animals without requiring external energy input. This self-service approach provides stable thermal energy for the heat pump while eliminating dependence on ambient air temperature, thereby improving energy performance.
2Loss of energy
If thermodynamic water heater is used, then energy consumption is reduced compared to electric heater, but COP deteriorates due to insufficient thermal energy collection
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger serves multiple functions simultaneously: it captures thermal energy from animals, preheats the water fed to the heat pump, and maintains animal comfort by regulating enclosure temperature. This multi-functionality increases the overall productivity of the system by maximizing hot water production efficiency while minimizing energy consumption, as the same component contributes to both energy recovery and animal welfare.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the water entering the heat pump by preheating it through the heat exchanger. This parameter change increases the efficiency of the heat pump operation, thereby improving the COP. The heat exchanger raises the inlet water temperature using captured thermal energy from animals, reducing the work required by the heat pump to achieve the desired hot water temperature.
3Quantity of substance
If heat transfer fluid circulates through comfort mattress, then thermal energy capture is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible comfort mattress containing the heat transfer fluid circuitry. This flexible shell approach simplifies the collection circuit by integrating the fluid channels directly into the mattress structure rather than using rigid piping. The mattress can be easily positioned around animals and maintains contact for efficient thermal energy capture, reducing overall system complexity while maximizing the quantity of thermal energy captured.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the comfort mattress function with the thermal energy collection function. The same mattress that provides comfort to animals also serves as the heat exchanger medium, eliminating the need for separate collection devices. This merging reduces device complexity by consolidating multiple functions into a single integrated component while maintaining effective thermal energy capture.
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 system achieves improved energy performance with a coefficient of performance (COP) of 2.5, producing approximately 9 m³ of hot water at 65°C per day while contributing to animal thermal comfort by cooling the heat transfer fluid, thus reducing animal body temperature.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transfer fluid circulates... to capture thermal energy
Implementation Method 2
circulation of said heat transfer fluid within said collection circuit... for generating circulation
Implementation Method 3
water-to-water heat pump which is connected to at least one collection circuit, to capture thermal energy... producing approximately 9 m³ of hot water at 65°C per day
Implementation Method 4
the comfort mattresses are then also cooled on the surface by the heat transfer fluid, so as to cool the animal in the presence and thus limit the increase in the latter's body temperature
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system for producing hot water in a livestock enclosure. The system (1) comprises a thermodynamic water heater (2) comprising a water – water heat pump (4) which is connected to at least one collection circuit (5, 6) having: (a) at least one comfort mat (5) comprising several fluidtight cavities (77) which are intended to contain the heat-transfer fluid, which fluidtight cavities (77) lie underneath at least part of at least one accommodating zone (71), and (b) circulating means (8, 51) for causing the heat-transfer fluid to circulate in the collection circuit (5, 6) through the at least one comfort mat (7).