U.S. patent application number 15/780930 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-13 for method and device for inputting thermal energy into and removing thermal energy from a body of water.
The applicant listed for this patent is NATURSPEICHER GMBH. Invention is credited to LUIS DEROI, ALEXANDER SCHECHNER.
Application Number | 20180356163 15/780930 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57588962 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180356163 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCHECHNER; ALEXANDER ; et
al. |
December 13, 2018 |
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INPUTTING THERMAL ENERGY INTO AND REMOVING
THERMAL ENERGY FROM A BODY OF WATER
Abstract
A device for transferring heat between a body of water and the
surrounding atmosphere includes a water heat exchanger disposed to
lie beneath an air heat exchanger. A fan moves ambient air into and
through the air heat exchanger, which includes pipes for
circulating water from the body of water through the air heat
exchanger. The air heat exchanger includes a partition that
separates the water flowing through the air heat exchanger from the
ambient air flowing through the air heat exchanger. The partition
mediates the transfer of heat energy between the ambient air
flowing through the air heat exchanger and the water flowing
through the air heat exchanger.
Inventors: |
SCHECHNER; ALEXANDER; (ULM,
DE) ; DEROI; LUIS; (UNTERGROENINGEN, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NATURSPEICHER GMBH |
ULM |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
57588962 |
Appl. No.: |
15/780930 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
December 1, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2016/079481 |
371 Date: |
June 1, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24V 50/00 20180501;
F28D 1/022 20130101; F28D 1/0408 20130101; F28D 20/0043 20130101;
F28D 1/0435 20130101; Y02E 60/142 20130101; F28D 1/0452 20130101;
F28D 2020/0078 20130101; Y02E 60/14 20130101; F28D 1/024
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28D 20/00 20060101
F28D020/00; F28D 1/02 20060101 F28D001/02; F28D 1/04 20060101
F28D001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 4, 2015 |
DE |
10 2015 121 177.7 |
Claims
1. A device for introducing heat energy into a body of water and
for extracting heat energy from the body of water, wherein the
device comprises: a main body defining a hollow space, and
therefore the device floats when placed in the body of water, a
water heat exchanger carried by the main body at one end thereof of
the water heat exchanger and defining a discharge at an opposite
end of the water heat exchanger and configured for conveying a heat
transfer fluid, and therefore the heat transfer fluid can flow
through the water heat exchanger and in doing so give off heat
energy to the body of water or extract heat energy from the body of
water, an air heat exchanger carried by the main body and including
an air inlet for taking in ambient air and an air outlet for
discharging the ambient air previously having entered the air heat
exchanger through the air inlet, a fan carried by the main body and
disposed and configured for displacing ambient air through the air
inlet into the air heat exchanger and then through the air heat
exchanger, wherein the air heat exchanger further comprises an
inlet for the water originating from the body of water and an
outlet for the water fed in via the inlet, and therefore water from
the body of water can flow through the air heat exchanger and then
exit the air heat exchanger, and wherein the air heat exchanger
comprises at least one partition formed of material that readily
conducts heat energy and configured and disposed to separate the
water flowing through the air heat exchanger from the ambient air
flowing through the air heat exchanger and via which the heat
energy can be transferred between the ambient air flowing through
the air heat exchanger and the water flowing through the air heat
exchanger.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the main body is
substantially made of concrete.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the water heat
exchanger is immersed into the body of water below the main body of
the device when the device is used as intended.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the water heat
exchanger comprises at least one tube section through which the
heat transfer fluid can flow and which is immersed in the body of
water at least in sections when the device is used as intended.
5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a protective
wall which is carried by the main body and configured and disposed
to be immersed into the body of water and laterally protecting a
section of the heat exchanger immersed into the body of water.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises
a plurality of projecting sections configured and disposed for
protruding from the body of water when the device is used as
intended, wherein the fan is disposed in the region of one of the
projecting sections.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the fan is disposed in
the region of the air inlet or of the air outlet of the air heat
exchanger.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises
a plurality of projecting sections protruding from the body of
water when the device is used as intended and laterally delimit a
volume of the body of water just below the surface of the body of
water.
9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising a cover
section that extends between the projecting sections and is below
the water surface of the body of water when the device is used as
intended and is at least partially visible from above.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the outlet of the air
heat exchanger extends in the region of the cover section and
therefore water exiting the air heat exchanger via the outlet can
flow across the cover section back into the body of water.
11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the cover section
together with the projecting sections protruding from the body of
water, forms a basin delimited at the bottom and at least in
sections at the sides.
12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the water heat
exchanger includes an intake for a heat transfer fluid and a
discharge for the heat transfer fluid, wherein the water heat
exchanger extends into the cover section and the basin, and
therefore heat energy can be transferred between the heat transfer
fluid and the water present in the basin.
13. A system for introducing heat energy into a body of water and
for extracting heat energy from the body of water, the system
comprising: a device according to claim 1 disposed floating in a
body of water, a heat pump disposed outside of the body of water,
and a pipe system with the aid of which the heat pump is connected
to the device.
14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a
plurality of devices according to claim 1, wherein one of the air
heat exchangers is connected to one of the water heat exchangers to
form a unit.
15. A method for heating a structure having a heating circuit by
means of a device according to claim 1, the method comprising the
following steps: introducing the device into a body of water,
connecting the device to a heat pump present on land, operating the
fan at least intermittently for displacing ambient air through the
air heat exchanger, displacing water originating from the body of
water through the air heat exchanger at least intermittently,
wherein heat energy is transferred from the ambient air flowing
through the air heat exchanger into the water flowing through the
air heat exchanger and heats up the water, and therefore the heat
energy originating from the ambient air is temporarily stored in
the body of water, and displacing a heat transfer fluid at least
intermittently from the heat pump through the water heat exchanger
and back to the heat pump, wherein heat energy from the water
originating from the body of water is transferred to the heat
transfer fluid in the region of the device and then transferred
with the aid of the heat pump from the heat transfer fluid to a
heating circuit of the structure in order to heat up the same.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein operating the fan,
displacing the water originating from the body of water through the
air heat exchanger, and displacing the heat transfer fluid through
the water heat exchanger occur as a function of the heating demand
of the structure and of the temperature of the ambient air and of
the temperature of the body of water.
17. A method for cooling a structure having a cooling circuit by
means of a device according to claim 1, the method comprising the
following steps: introducing the device into a body of water,
connecting the device to a cooling circuit of the structure located
on land, operating the fan at least intermittently for displacing
ambient air through the air heat exchanger, displacing water
originating from the body of water through the air heat exchanger
at least intermittently, wherein heat energy is transferred from
the water flowing through the air heat exchanger into the ambient
air flowing through the air heat exchanger, and therefore the water
cools off, and displacing a heat transfer fluid at least
intermittently from the cooling circuit through the water heat
exchanger, wherein heat energy is transferred from the heat
transfer fluid flowing through the water heat exchanger into the
water originating from the body of water in the region of the
device, and therefore the heat transfer fluid cools off in the
region of the device, returning the cooled heat transfer fluid to
the cooling circuit of the structure for cooling the structure.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein operating the fan,
displacing water originating from the body of water through the air
heat exchanger, and displacing the heat transfer fluid through the
water heat exchanger occur as a function of the cooling demand of
the structure and of the temperature of the ambient air and of the
temperature of the body of water.
19. A device for transferring heat between a body of water and the
surrounding atmosphere, comprising: a main body defining an
exterior surface and an interior surface, which defines a hollow
space so that the device floats when placed in the body of water; a
water heat exchanger carried by the main body; an air heat
exchanger carried by the main body and disposed at least partially
in the hollow space and including a tube section having pipes for
circulating water from the body of water through the air heat
exchanger; and a fan carried by the main body and configured and
disposed to move ambient air into and through the air heat
exchanger; and wherein the pipes are configured and disposed to
mediate the transfer of heat energy between the ambient air flowing
through the air heat exchanger and the water flowing through the
air heat exchanger.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to International
Application Serial No. PCT/EP2016/079481, filed Dec. 1, 2016, which
claims priority to German Application No. 110 2015 121 1777, filed
Dec. 4, 2015. International Application Serial No.
PCT/EP2016/079481 is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety for
all purposes by this reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a device and to a system
comprising the device for introducing heat energy into a body of
water and for extracting heat energy from the body of water.
[0003] Furthermore, a method for heating and cooling a structure by
means of a corresponding device is described.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Due to rising energy costs and due also to ecological
aspects, it is becoming increasingly important to utilize natural
energy sources, such as wind or solar energy, in order to minimize
the use of fossil fuels. Since energy sources of this type often
deliver the necessary energy only for certain periods of time,
however (solar cells deliver no power at night; wind turbines stand
still in still air), energy generated by means of natural energy
sources is temporarily stored in times of an energy surplus in
order to be able to utilize the energy at a later point in time,
for example, at night.
[0005] So-called pumped-storage power plants, for example, have
proven particularly suitable for this purpose. In this case, water
is pumped into a storage basin at a higher elevation, for example,
with the aid of power generated by means of wind turbines. If
energy is required, the potential energy of the water can be
utilized during the release of the water into a storage basin at a
lower elevation for driving generators and, therefore, for
generating electric current.
[0006] It has also been already proposed to temporarily store heat
energy in water tanks in order to subsequently extract the heat
energy from the water tank by means of a heat exchanger and utilize
the heat energy.
[0007] The previously known methods undoubtedly have advantages
over the utilization of exclusively fossil energy sources without a
second thought. There is room for improvement here as well,
however.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The problem addressed by the present invention is therefore
that of providing a device and a system, as well as a method, with
the aid of which a particularly efficient utilization of naturally
occurring energy is possible.
[0009] The problem is solved by a device, a system, and the method
having the features described below.
[0010] The device according to the invention is used, in principle,
for introducing heat into a body of water and for extracting heat
energy from the body of water, wherein the body of water can be,
for example, an artificial pond or lake or a pumped-storage basin
which is operatively connected to one or multiple wind
turbines.
[0011] The device generally comprises a main body including an
interior hollow space which is completely or partially closed,
wherein the hollow space is dimensioned in such a way that the
device floats when placed in the body of water. Preferably, the
device comprises attachment points, via which the device can be
fixed in position in the body of water.
[0012] Furthermore, the device comprises a water heat exchanger
which is at least partially immersed in the body of water after the
device has been placed into the body of water, and therefore the
heat transfer fluid flowing through the heat exchanger is in
thermally conductive contact with the body of water via one or
multiple heat exchanger walls in order to enable an exchange of
heat energy between the heat transfer fluid and the water of the
body of water.
[0013] The water heat exchanger comprises an intake for the heat
transfer fluid which can be, for example, glycol or another known
heat transfer fluid, and a discharge for the heat transfer fluid.
If the device is now connected, via a pipe system, to a heat pump
located on land before the use of the device, heat transfer fluid
can flow from the heat pump to the device via the pipe system. In
the device, the heat transfer fluid enters the water heat exchanger
through the intake, flows through the water heat exchanger and,
finally, flows back to the heat pump via the pipe system. If the
water of the body of water has a temperature which is higher than
the temperature of the heat transfer fluid, the heat transfer fluid
extracts heat energy from the body of water while passing through
the water heat exchanger and conducts the heat energy to the heat
pump which, in turn, extracts heat energy from the heat transfer
fluid (in order to heat a building, for example).
[0014] Depending on the temperature of the heat transfer fluid and
on the water temperature, it is possible (in the winter months, in
particular) that the water surrounding the device changes its
physical state and freezes into ice, wherein a particularly large
amount of heat energy can be extracted from the water in this case.
The body of water acts as an "ice accumulator" in this case.
[0015] In order to now supply the body of water with natural heat
energy simultaneously or with delay, and, therefore, to heat the
body of water again and melt any ice which may have formed, the
device further comprises an air heat exchanger, by means of which
heat energy from the ambient air can be introduced into the body of
water. For this purpose, the air heat exchanger comprises an air
inlet for taking in ambient air and an air outlet for discharging
the ambient air previously having entered the air heat exchanger
through the air inlet, and therefore the ambient air can flow
through the air heat exchanger. In order to force this flow, if
necessary, it is provided that the device comprises at least one
fan, by means of which ambient air can be displaced through the air
inlet into the air heat exchanger and then through the air heat
exchanger. The fan is a ventilator or a blower. The air heat
exchanger further comprises an inlet for water originating from the
body of water and an outlet for the water fed in via the inlet, and
therefore water from the body of water can flow through the air
heat exchanger and then exit the air heat exchanger.
[0016] While the aforementioned water heat exchanger is therefore
utilized for extracting heat energy from the body of water and
conducting the heat energy to a heat pump placed on land, the task
of the air heat exchanger is to extract heat energy from the
ambient air surrounding the device and introduce the heat energy
into the water of the body of water. For this purpose, the air heat
exchanger comprises one or multiple partitions, by means of which
the water passing through the air heat exchanger is spatially
separated from the ambient air which is also passing through the
air heat exchanger, wherein the transfer of the heat energy from
the ambient air to the water takes place via the partition or the
partitions.
[0017] While the aforementioned utilization is useful in times in
which the structure (school, gymnasium, apartment building,
industrial building, etc.) connected to the device is to be heated,
the device can also be utilized for cooling a structure, preferably
in the summer. In this case, it is possible to operate the fan when
the temperature of the ambient air is lower than the temperature of
the water of the body of water surrounding the device. As a result,
heat energy is transferred from the water to the ambient air and,
therefore, the body of water cools down. If a heat transfer fluid
which is delivered from the structure and has a temperature which
is higher than the temperature of the body of water is now pumped
through the water heat exchanger, preferably during the day, heat
energy from the heat transfer fluid is given off to the body of
water. The cooled heat transfer fluid can finally be pumped back to
the structure and, therefore, can be fed to a cooling circuit of
the structure.
[0018] It is advantageous when the device comprises a main body
forming the hollow space. The device is designed, in principle, as
a pontoon and preferably comprises a power connector for the power
supply of the ventilator and comprises connection points to the
intake and to the discharge for the connection of a pipe system,
via which the water heat exchanger can be supplied with a heat
transfer fluid. Preferably, the main body is completely or at least
mostly made of concrete in order to provide for a low-cost, stable,
and durable design. The heat exchanger sections of the air heat
exchanger, which are designed to be tubular, in particular,
preferably extend within the main body, in particular within the
aforementioned hollow space, wherein water originating from the
body of water flows through the aforementioned heat exchanger
sections during the operation of the device. For this purpose, the
device itself comprises a pump. Alternatively, the device can also
be connected via the aforementioned intake to a corresponding line,
via which water can be fed to the water heat exchanger by means of
an external pump.
[0019] It is advantageous when the water heat exchanger is immersed
into the body of water below the main body of the device when the
device is used as intended. The immersed sections of the water heat
exchanger (which should be sections, of course, through which the
heat transfer fluid can flow) come into direct contact with the
water below the device in this case, wherein the transfer of the
heat energy between the water and the heat transfer fluid takes
place via corresponding walls of the immersed sections of the water
heat exchanger. Since the immersed sections are preferably located
exclusively below the device or the main body thereof, damage
caused by passing boats/ships is nearly entirely ruled out.
[0020] Particular advantages result when the water heat exchanger
comprises one or multiple tube sections through which the heat
transfer fluid can flow and which are immersed into the body of
water at least in sections when the device is used as intended and,
therefore, form the aforementioned sections. Preferably, the tube
sections are designed in a meander shape, a spiral shape, or a
serpentine shape in order to provide a heat exchanger surface which
is as large as possible, on the smallest possible space. The tube
sections can be formed by several tubes or, jointly, can form one
tube through which the heat transfer fluid flows. In any case, the
tube sections are connected to the intake and to the discharge of
the water heat exchanger, and therefore the heat transfer fluid can
flow into the tube sections and exit the tube sections.
[0021] It is advantageous when the device comprises a protective
wall which is immersed into the body of water and laterally
protects the heat exchanger element(s) immersed into the body of
water. The protective wall can extend, apron-like, from the main
body downward into the body of water and prevents flotsam from
impacting laterally against the sections of the water heat
exchanger protruding into the water and damaging the water heat
exchanger. The protective wall is preferably provided as a separate
component which is connected to the main body and, for example,
laterally partially or completely surrounds the main body (as
collision protection).
[0022] Particular advantages result when the device comprises
sections which protrude from the body of water when the device is
used as intended. The device is therefore designed, in particular,
in such a way that one part of the device is located above and one
part of the device is located below the water level of the body of
water. In particular, it is advantageous when the fan (several of
which can also be present, in general) is disposed in the region of
a section protruding from the body of water in order to allow for a
particularly simple maintenance of the fan. Alternatively, the fan
can also be placed within the device, of course, wherein the fan is
more difficult to access in this case.
[0023] It is also advantageous when the fan is disposed in the
region of the air inlet or of the air outlet. The fan is visible
from above, in particular during the operation of the device, and,
for example, is covered by a grid. Furthermore, the fan should
comprise a connector for an electrical power supply, in particular
for a power cable, in order to enable the fan to be connected to an
external power source which is preferably disposed on land.
[0024] Particular advantages result when the device comprises
sections which protrude from the body of water when the device is
used as intended and laterally delimit a surface section of the
body of water at least in sections. As a result, a volume of water,
which is closed toward the side to a more or less extreme extent,
is delimited. The water present in this region can be heated
particularly intensively by sunlight and can finally give off its
heat energy to the device located therebelow and, in particular to
the air heat exchanger, and therefore the water flowing through the
air heat exchanger can be additionally heated.
[0025] In this context, it is of particular advantage when a cover
section of the device extends between the aforementioned sections
and is below the water surface of the body of water when the device
is used as intended and is at least partially visible from above
The cover section can delimit, in particular, the interior hollow
space toward the top. The interior hollow space, in turn, entirely
or partially encloses the air heat exchanger. The region of the
hollow space disposed above the cover section, which is covered by
a certain volume of water, can therefore be heated by the water. If
ambient air is now transported through the hollow space via the air
inlet and the air outlet, this ambient air is additionally heated
by the heated cover section, and therefore a particularly large
amount of heat energy can be introduced into the water of the body
of water.
[0026] It is also advantageous when the outlet of the air heat
exchanger extends in the region of the cover section, and therefore
water exiting the air heat exchanger via the outlet can flow across
the cover section back into the body of water. In particular, the
cover section or a section thereof enclosing the outlet thereof
should be located above the water surface when the device is used
as intended (i.e., after having been placed into a body of water).
In any case, a placement of the outlet in the region of the cover
section, which is visible from above, in principle, has the
advantage that the exiting water can be additionally heated by
solar energy on the surface of the device after having exited the
air heat exchanger. The introduction of natural heat energy is the
maximum in this case.
[0027] Particular advantages result when the cover portion,
together with the sections protruding from the body of water, forms
a basin which is delimited toward the bottom and, at least in
sections, also toward the side. Preferably, the basin is delimited
toward all sides by sections protruding correspondingly from the
body of water and is open toward the top. The water located in the
basin, which can flow into the basin via the outlet of the air heat
exchanger, can be intensively exposed to sunlight in this case and,
therefore, can be additionally heated (the aforementioned outlet is
preferably located in the region of the cover section or in the
region of inwardly directed side walls of the sections of the
device protruding from the body of water).
[0028] It is advantageous when the aforementioned water heat
exchanger, preferably its tube sections through which the heat
transfer fluid can flow, extends into the cover section and/or into
the basin, and therefore heat energy can be transferred between the
heat transfer fluid and the water located in the basin. If heat
transfer fluid is now pumped through the water heat exchanger, the
temperature of which is below 0.degree. C., the water located in
the basin cools rapidly and then freezes, and therefore a
relatively large amount of heat energy can be transferred to the
heat transfer fluid in a relatively short time. In this way,
greater amounts of heat can be rapidly provided to the structure
connected to the device, wherein this is of particular advantage at
certain times of the day (for example, in the morning, in order to
rapidly heat the structure).
[0029] Additionally or alternatively, a second water heat exchanger
can also be provided, which also comprises an intake for a heat
transfer fluid and a discharge for the heat transfer fluid (wherein
the intake and the discharge are connected or can be connected to
the first water heat exchanger or to a separate pipe system). For
example, it would be conceivable that the first water heat
exchanger or its tube sections extend exclusively into the water of
the body of water under the main body, while the second water heat
exchanger or its tube sections, through which a heat transfer fluid
can flow, extend exclusively into the basin and/or the cover
section of the device and/or into the sections thereof protruding
from the water.
[0030] The system according to the invention finally comprises a
device floating in a body of water, according to the preceding or
the following descriptions, wherein the individual features can be
implemented individually or in any combination (provided the
features of claim 1 have been implemented). Furthermore, the system
comprises a heat pump which is disposed outside the body of water,
i.e., on land, and is connected to the device via a pipe system
(preferably comprising a supply line and a return line), wherein
the heat pump can be placed, for example, in a structure (a
building, or the like). The heat pump is used for extracting heat
energy from the heat transfer fluid flowing back from the device
via the pipe system in order to heat the structure. In particular,
the heat pump and the device are connected as a circuit via the
pipe system, and therefore the heat transfer fluid can circulate
between the heat pump and the device.
[0031] Particular advantages result when the system comprises
multiple devices according to the preceding or the following
descriptions. The individual devices can be placed independently of
each other in the body of water and can each be connected to one or
multiple heat pumps via a separate line network or the same line
network. Preferably, however, multiple devices are connected to
each other to form one floating unit. In particular, in this case,
the particular air heat exchanger and/or water heat exchanger
should also be coupled to each other, and therefore ambient air
and/or heat transfer fluid and/or water from the body of water can
flow through multiple devices in a parallel or series
connection.
[0032] The method, which has already been described in part, for
heating a structure by means of a device according to the preceding
or the following description therefore includes the following
steps:
[0033] Initially, the device is placed in a previously selected
body of water, for example, a (pumped-) storage lake and, there, is
fixed to the bottom of the body of water, if necessary.
Subsequently, the device is connected to a heat pump located on
land, and therefore, in the end, the above-described system is
obtained.
[0034] In order to now introduce heat energy from the ambient air
surrounding the device into the water of the body of water and
therefore temporarily store the heat energy, the aforementioned fan
is set into operation, and therefore ambient air is displaced
through the air heat exchanger. Preferably simultaneously or with
delay, a pump is activated (which does not need to be part of the
device) in order to pump water out of the body of water and feed
the water to the air heat exchanger.
[0035] Given that the region through which the water flows and the
region of the air heat exchanger through which the ambient air
flows are separated from each other merely by a partition, heat
energy from the ambient air is transferred to the water (provided,
of course, that the temperature of the ambient air is higher than
the temperature of the water passing through the air heat
exchanger).
[0036] Simultaneously or preferably at least partially with delay
(for example, at night), the heat transfer fluid is finally also
pumped through the water heat exchanger and thereby extracts heat
energy from the water of the body of water, which can be finally
given off by the heat pump to a heating circuit of the structure to
be heated. In this case, the heat transfer fluid is pumped from the
heat pump, through the water heat exchanger, and back to the heat
pump, wherein heat energy from the water originating from the body
of water is transferred to the heat transfer fluid in the region of
the device and then transferred with the aid of the heat pump from
the heat transfer fluid to a heating circuit of the structure in
order to heat up the structure.
[0037] Advantages result when operating the fan, displacing the
water originating from the body of water through the air heat
exchanger, and/or displacing the heat transfer fluid through the
water heat exchanger occur as a function of the heating demand of
the structure and/or of the temperature of the ambient air and/or
of the temperature of the body of water. In particular, the fan can
be controlled and/or regulated by means of a control and/or
regulating unit. For example, it would be useful to operate the fan
only when the temperature of the ambient air is higher than the
temperature of the water surrounding the device, if heat energy
from the ambient air is to be fed to the body of water.
[0038] Alternatively, the device can also be used for cooling a
structure, i.e., for extracting heat energy from the structure and
introducing the heat energy into the body of water. The
corresponding method comprises the following steps:
[0039] Initially, in this case as well, the device (having the
features described in the preceding or in the following) must be
introduced into a body of water (provided this has not already
happened, since the device has already been used for the method
described above). The device must also be connected to a cooling
circuit--which is located on land--of the structure to be cooled
(if this has not already taken place within the scope of the method
described above, wherein the cooling circuit can be connected to
the aforementioned heat pump).
[0040] In order to now bring about a cooling of the body of water,
the fan is operated, and therefore ambient air is displaced through
the air heat exchanger. In this case, the fan should be operated
only when the temperature of the ambient air is lower than the
temperature of the water of the body of water surrounding the
device, however, since heat energy can be transferred from the
water to the ambient air only in this case. The fan should
therefore be operated preferably at night.
[0041] At the same time, water should be pumped through the air
heat exchanger in order to provide for the desired transfer of heat
energy from the water to the ambient air. The body of water cools
down in this way. If a heat transfer fluid is now pumped through
the water heat exchanger, the temperature of which is higher than
the temperature of the water surrounding the device, the heat
transfer fluid can give off the heat energy, which was previously
taken up in the structure, to the body of water via the water heat
exchanger and, therefore, cools down. The cooled heat transfer
fluid, after having passed through the water heat exchanger, is
finally pumped back to the building via the pipe system and can
cool the building via its cooling circuit.
[0042] It is also advantageous in this context when operating the
fan, displacing the water originating from the body of water
through the air heat exchanger, and/or displacing the heat transfer
fluid through the water heat exchanger occur as a function of the
cooling demand of the structure and/or of the temperature of the
ambient air and/or of the temperature of the body of water.
[0043] Furthermore, the aforementioned methods can also be
combined, of course, wherein the initially mentioned method should
be carried out in times in which the structure is to be heated (for
example, in the winter months), while the method described second
should be implemented when the building is to be cooled
(preferably, therefore, in the summer months).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] Further advantages of the invention are described in the
following exemplary embodiments. Schematically:
[0045] FIG. 1 shows a representation of a system according to the
invention,
[0046] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a
device according to the invention,
[0047] FIG. 3 shows a sectional representation of the device shown
in FIG. 2 along the dashed line in FIG. 2 and with a view from the
bottom right to the upper left (based on FIG. 2),
[0048] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of a device according to the invention, and
[0049] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of the device shown in FIG. 4
along a plane extending vertically through the air outlets shown on
the left and the right and based on the alignment of the
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0050] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a system according to the
invention, which is used for introducing heat energy into or
extracting heat energy from a body of water 2.
[0051] The body of water 2 is, in principle, a standing, preferably
artificial body of water 2, such as a reservoir which can be
connected to one or multiple wind turbine towers via an incoming
line 20 and an outgoing line 21, with the aid of which water 25 can
be pumped into the body of water 2 or out of the body of water, and
therefore the body of water 2 can be utilized as a pumped-storage
lake.
[0052] The device 1 utilized according to the invention is
designed, in principle, to float, and therefore, as shown in FIG.
1, the device is located only partially under water 25 (the water
level is indicated by reference sign 24).
[0053] Furthermore, the device 1 is connected to a pipe system 16
(which preferably comprises at least two pipes) which, in turn, is
connected to a heat pump 15 of a structure 17, for example, an
office or apartment building, located on the land 22. The heat pump
15, in turn, can be connected to a heating circuit 18 and/or a
cooling circuit 19, via which the structure 17 can be finally
supplied with heat energy or can be cooled.
[0054] The device 1 itself will now be explained in greater detail
with reference to FIG. 2 (perspective) and FIG. 3 (section along
the dashed line in FIG. 2);
[0055] In principle, the device 1 comprises a main body 31 which is
made, preferably entirely or in part, of concrete and delimits a
hollow space 3 in order to provide the device 1 with the necessary
buoyancy in the water 25 of the body of water 32.
[0056] Extending within the hollow space 3 is an air heat exchanger
7 which preferably comprises one or multiple heat exchanger tubes
32, through which water 25 of the body of water 2 can flow. For
this purpose, the air heat exchanger 7 comprises an inlet 11 which
is connected to a line 28 which is only incompletely represented
and, in turn, is connected to a pump, with the aid of which water
25 can be pumped from the body of water 2 into the water heat
exchanger 4. The water 25 flows through the heat exchanger tubes 32
and finally exits the water heat exchanger 4 via an outlet 12. The
outlet 12 is preferably located in the region of a cover section 26
of the device 1, which faces upward and preferably extends below
the water level 24, and therefore the exiting water 25 can be
additionally heated with the aid of sunlight.
[0057] The main heat input into the body of water 2 takes place via
the air heat exchanger 7, however, the fan 10 of which draws in
ambient air via an air inlet 8 and conducts the air into the hollow
space 3 during the operation of the device 1. In the hollow space
3, the air comes into contact with the outer wall of the heat
exchanger tubes 32 acting as a partition 13, and therefore heat
energy from the ambient air can be transferred to the water 25
flowing through the heat exchanger tubes 32. The body of water 2 is
heated as a result (reference is made to the description provided
above with respect to the second possible use of the device 1, in
which the body of water 2 is cooled by giving off heat energy to
the ambient air).
[0058] Finally, the cooled ambient air exits the device 1 via an
air outlet 9, wherein the air inlet 8 and the air outlet 9 should
be located in the region of a section 27 of the device 1 protruding
from the water 25.
[0059] While the air heat exchanger 7 is utilized, in the described
case, for introducing heat energy from the surroundings into the
body of water 2, the water heat exchanger 4, which is also
represented, is utilized for extracting heat energy from the body
of water 2 in order to conduct the heat energy to the building (in
the opposite application, which is not explicitly described here,
the air heat exchanger 7 is utilized for cooling the body of water
2 and the water heat exchanger 4 is utilized for introducing heat
energy into the body of water 2).
[0060] The water heat exchanger 4 comprises one or multiple tube
sections 29 which are immersed, entirely or partially, into the
water 25 of the body of water 2. The water heat exchanger 4 also
comprises an intake 5, via which a heat transfer fluid (for
example, glycol) can be pumped from the heat pump 15 via the pipe
system 16 into the water heat exchanger 4. The heat transfer fluid
flows through the tube sections 29 and returns, via an outlet 6,
into the pipe system 16 and, finally, back to the heat pump 15. If
the heat transfer fluid flowing in via the intake 5 has a
temperature which is lower than the temperature of the water 25
surrounding the tube sections 29, heat energy from the water 25 is
transferred to the heat transfer fluid and can finally be utilized
for heating the structure 17 via the heat pump 15. At the same
time, the water 25 in the body of water 2 cools down, wherein,
depending on the starting temperature of the body of water 2 and
the temperature of the heat transfer fluid, this can even result in
the water 25 surrounding the tube sections 29 freezing.
[0061] As is also finally clear from FIGS. 1 and 2, the device 1
can comprise a second water heat exchanger 4, through which a heat
transfer fluid can also flow and which extends, for example,
through upwardly protruding ribs 23 of the cover section 26
(several ribs 23 can be provided, of course).
[0062] This second water heat exchanger 4 is therefore located in a
region, in which it can extract heat energy from the water 25 of
the body of water 2 located above the cover section 26. In this
case, the cover section 26, together with the sections 27 of the
device 1 protruding from the water, forms a type of basin 14 which
at least partially delimits a volume of water.
[0063] If heat energy is extracted from this water 25 via the
second water heat exchanger 4, this volume of water can freeze
rapidly, depending on the particular conditions, and therefore, due
to the phase transition, a particularly large amount of heat energy
per volume of water 25 can be extracted.
[0064] A second possible embodiment is shown in FIG. 4
(perspective) and FIG. 5 (section through the left and the right
air outlets 9 in FIG. 4).
[0065] In contrast to the embodiment shown in the previous figures,
the main body 31 of the device 1 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is designed
to be round as seen in a top view. The tube sections 29 of the
water heat exchanger 4 protruding downward into the body of water
2, the tube sections 29 of the water heat exchanger 4 protruding
into the upper basin 14, and the heat exchanger tubes 32 of the air
heat exchanger 7 are designed in the shape of a spiral in this case
and wind around an imaginary central axis which extends through the
center point of the circular air inlet 8.
[0066] Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows that the tube sections 29 of the
water heat exchanger 4 protruding downward into the body of water 2
can be enclosed, toward the side, by an apron-like protective wall
30 which is not represented in FIG. 4 for the sake of clarity.
[0067] FIG. 5 also shows that the outlet 12 of the air heat
exchanger 7 preferably opens into the basin 14, and therefore the
water 25 flowing out via the outlet 12 flows back into the body of
water 2 via the basin 14 and, in so doing, is further heated with
the aid of incident sunlight.
[0068] Moreover, as shown, the second water heat exchanger 4
disposed in the basin 14 can comprise a separate intake 5 and a
separate discharge 6 for a heat transfer fluid. In principle, the
aforementioned water heat exchanger 4 and the water heat exchanger
4 protruding downward into the body of water 2 can also be coupled,
of course, and therefore the heat transfer fluid can flow through
both water heat exchangers 4 in the manner of a series or parallel
circuit.
[0069] The present invention is not limited to the exemplary
embodiments which have been represented and described.
Modifications within the scope of the claims are possible, as is
any combination of the described features, even if they are shown
and described in different parts of the description or the claims
or in different exemplary embodiments.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0070] 1 device for introducing heat into a body of water and for
extracting heat from the body of water
[0071] 2 body of water
[0072] 3 hollow space
[0073] 4 water heat exchanger
[0074] 5 intake of the water heat exchanger
[0075] 6 discharge of the water heat exchanger
[0076] 7 air heat exchanger
[0077] 8 air inlet of the air heat exchanger
[0078] 9 air outlet of the air heat exchanger
[0079] 10 fan
[0080] 11 inlet of the air heat exchanger for the water originating
from the body of water
[0081] 12 outlet of the air heat exchanger for the water
originating from the body of water
[0082] 13 partition
[0083] 14 basin
[0084] 15 heat pump
[0085] 16 pipe system
[0086] 17 structure
[0087] 18 heating circuit of the structure
[0088] 19 cooling circuit of the structure
[0089] 20 incoming line
[0090] 21 outgoing line
[0091] 22 land
[0092] 23 rib
[0093] 24 water level
[0094] 25 water
[0095] 26 cover section
[0096] 27 section protruding from the body of water
[0097] 28 line
[0098] 29 tube section
[0099] 30 protective wall
[0100] 31 main body
[0101] 32 heat exchanger tube
* * * * *