Broad band district heating and cooling system
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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 continuous flow, which can be wasteful and inflexible in managing thermal energy distribution at different temperature levels.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing three or more conduits at different temperature levels, where each consumer appliance is connected to pairs of conduits for heat exchange, with optional thermal energy storage and generators to maintain temperature ranges and hydraulic balance, allowing bidirectional flow and reducing the need for dedicated return lines and pressure differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional district heating systems use multiple conduits for each temperature level, then temperature control is achieved, but material usage and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each conduit in the invention serves multiple temperature levels simultaneously. The first conduit carries fluid at a first temperature level, the second conduit at a second temperature level, and the third conduit at a third temperature level, with each conduit functioning as both supply and return for different temperature zones. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated supply and return conduits for each temperature level, reducing total material usage while maintaining precise temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the supply and return functions into a single integrated three-conduit system. Instead of having separate supply and return conduits for each temperature level (which would require 6 conduits for 3 temperature levels), the system combines these functions into just 3 conduits where each conduit handles multiple temperature levels bidirectionally, significantly reducing material requirements.
2Speed
If pressure differences are used to maintain continuous flow, then fluid circulation is achieved, but energy waste and system inflexibility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic flow control where each consumer appliance has an associated circulation pump that operates independently based on actual thermal demand. Rather than maintaining continuous pressure-driven flow throughout the system, pumps are activated only when and where heat or cooling is required, enabling dynamic adjustment of fluid circulation to match actual system needs and eliminate energy waste from continuous flow.
Solution Approach 2:
Each consumer appliance serves itself by having its own circulation pump that activates only when thermal energy is needed. This self-service approach eliminates the need for a centralized pressure system that continuously circulates fluid through the entire network, allowing each appliance to draw fluid from appropriate conduits and return it when needed, thereby reducing energy waste from unnecessary circulation.
3Loss of energy
If dedicated return lines are used for each temperature level, then thermal energy recovery is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each conduit serves multiple functions across different temperature levels and directions. The first conduit can supply fluid at a first temperature level to some consumers while receiving fluid at the same temperature level from others. The second and third conduits similarly handle second and third temperature levels respectively, with each conduit acting as both supply and return for different portions of the system, eliminating the need for dedicated return lines while maintaining thermal energy recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments thermal energy recovery by temperature level rather than requiring separate return lines for each temperature. Fluid at different temperature levels is handled by different conduits (first conduit for first temperature level, second for second, third for third), allowing thermal energy recovery to be achieved through temperature-level segmentation rather than through complex dedicated return line infrastructure.
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, optimizes the use of thermal energy sources, and enhances flexibility in thermal energy distribution, making it more efficient and cost-effective while supporting the integration of renewable energy sources and sustainable heating and cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
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
Implementation Method 2
consumers of heat energy or of cooling energy take heating or cooling fluid from the supply lines and return it back to the source via the return lines
Implementation Method 3
Each pair of conduits can be terminated by a thermal energy storage and/or be connected to a thermal energy storage at any intermediate position along the conduits
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system that allows thermal energy to be supplied at different temperature levels to consumers, where 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 includes 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, or a consumer appliance is linked on a low temperature side; a number of heat or cold generators, each pair of conduits being connected to at least one of the generators.