Heating installation notably for space heating and for sanitary hot water production

Claim 2

A heating installation for space heating and for the production of sanitary hot water comprising a heat source, a means for storing heat, a heat diffusion system, a tank for sanitary water, a selectively operable auxiliary heat source thermally associated with said sanitary water and a pipe forming a loop in which a fluid may flow in one direction, said loop comprising a first portion across the ends of which a first bypass is connected for permitting said fluid to be thermally associated with said heat source including means for selectively circulating said fluid either in said first portion or in said first bypass, a second portion located in the direction of flow of the fluid in said loop downstream of said first portion and across the ends of which a second bypass is connected for permitting the fluid to be thermally associated with said means for storing heat including means for selectively circulating said fluid either in said second portion or in said second bypass, a third portion located between said first and second portions downstream of said second portion and thermally associated with the sanitary water of said sanitary water tank for exchanging heat between the fluid circulating in said third portion and the sanitary water, a third bypass connected across the ends of said third portion and thermally associated with said heat diffusion system, whereby heat transfers may selectively be performed: a. with the fluid circulating in said third portion from said heat source or said storage means to the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank, b. with the fluid from said heat source or said storage means to said heat diffusion system, or d. with the fluid circulating in said third portion from the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank as heated by said auxiliary heat source to said heat diffusion system, according to demand and as conditions permit.

Claim 3

The installation as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a sanitary water circulation circuit external to said sanitary water tank that together with said third portion comprise a heat exchanger whereby heat transfers are permitted between the fluid and the sanitary water when the fluid flows through said third portion and the sanitary water flows through said circulation circuit.

Claim 4

The installation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third portion is located in said sanitary water tank to permit heat transfer between fluid and sanitary water in said tank, and further comprising a shunt across the ends of said third portion including means for selectively circulating the fluid in said third portion or said shunt.

Claim 5

The installation as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a first temperature probe for measuring the temperature of said heat source, a second temperature probe for measuring the temperature of said means for storing heat, a third temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the fluid in said loop just upstream of said first portion, a fourth temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the fluid at the inlet to said heat diffusion system and a fifth temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank, in order to enable control of elements of the installation so as to carry out the desired possible heat transfers.

Claim 6

A heating installation for space heating and for the production of sanitary hot water comprising: a heat source, a heat diffusion system, a means for storing heat, a heat pump having a condenser and an evaporator, the condenser associated thermally with the sanitary water in said tank, a pipe forming a loop in which a fluid may flow in one direction, said loop comprising a first portion across the ends of which a first bypass is connected for permitting the fluid to be thermally associated with said heat source including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said first portion or in said first bypass, a second portion located in the direction of flow of the fluid in said loop downstream of said first portion and across the ends of which a second bypass is connected for permitting the fluid to be thermally associated with said storage means including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said second portion or in said second bypass, a third portion located between said first and second portions downstream of said second portion and thermally associated with the sanitary water of said tank for exchanging heat between the fluid circulating in said third portion and the sanitary water, a third bypass connected across the ends of said third portion and thermally associated with said heat diffusion system, the evaporator of said heat pump being associated thermally with the fluid in the loop via a fourth bypass connected across the ends of said third portion and said third bypass, including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said fourth bypass or in said third portion, whereby heat transfers may selectively be performed: a. with the fluid circulating in the third portion from said heat source or said storage means to the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank, b. with the fluid from said heat source or said storage means to said heat diffusion system, c. through said heat pump from said heat source or said storage means to the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank, or d. through said heat pump and said sanitary water from said heat source or said storage means to said heat diffusion system, according to demand and as conditions permit.

Claim 7

A heating installation for space heating and for the production of sanitary hot water comprising: a heat source, a heat diffusion system, a means for storing heat, a heat pump having a condenser and an evaporator, the condenser associated thermally with the sanitary water in said tank, a pipe forming a loop in which a fluid may flow in one direction, said loop comprising a first portion across the ends of which a first bypass is connected for permitting the fluid to be thermally associated with said heat source including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said first portion or in said first bypass, a second portion located in the direction of flow of the fluid in said loop downstream of said first portion and across the ends of which a second bypass is connected for permitting the fluid to be thermally associated with said storage means including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said second portion or in said second bypass, a third portion located between said first and second portions downstream of said second portion and thermally associated with the sanitary water of said tank for exchanging heat between the fluid circulating in said third portion and the sanitary water, a third bypass connected across the ends of said third portion and thermally associated with said heat diffusion system, the evaporator of said heat pump being associated thermally with the fluid in the loop via a fourth bypass connected across the ends of said third portion and said third bypass, including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said fourth bypass or in said third portion, whereby heat transfers may selectively be performed: a. with the fluid circulating in the third portion from said heat source or said storage means to the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank, b. with the fluid from said heat source or said storage means to said heat diffusion system, c. through said heat pump from said heat source or said storage means to the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank, or d. through said heat pump and said sanitary water from said heat source or said storage means to said heat diffusion system, according to demand and as conditions permit.

Claim 8

The installation as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a sanitary water circulation circuit external to said sanitary water tank that together with said third portion comprise a heat exchanger whereby heat transfers are permitted between the fluid and the sanitary water when the fluid flows through said third portion and the sanitary water flows through said circulation circuit.

Claim 9

The installation as claimed in claim 6 wherein said third portion is located in said sanitary water tank to permit heat transfer between fluid in said third portion and sanitary water in said tank, and further comprising a shunt across the ends of said third portion including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said third portion or said shunt.

Claim 10

The installation as claimed in claim 5 wherein said condenser of said heat pump is located in said tank.

Claim 11

The installation as claimed in claim 7 wherein said sanitary water tank has two compartments partially separated by a partition, one of said compartments houses said condenser, the other said compartment houses said third portion, and said partition permits communication of water between said compartments.

Claim 12

The installation as claimed in claim 9 wherein said compartments are connected at the top and at the bottom.

Claim 13

The installation as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fourth bypass includes means for thermal association with said evaporator, said means has an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and outlet are provided with a direct return pipe therebetween having a valve controllable to maintain said evaporator at a suitable temperature, and a pump for forcing the fluid therethrough.

Claim 14

The installation as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a first temperature probe for measuring the temperature of said heat source, a second temperature probe for measuring the temperature of said means for storing heat, a third temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the fluid in said loop just upstream of said first portion, a fourth temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the fluid at the inlet to said heat diffusion system and a fifth temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank, in order to enable control of elements of the installation so as to carry out the desired possible heat transfers.

Claim 15

The installation as claimed in either of claims 1 or 5 wherein said heat source is a solar collector.

Claim 16

The installation as claimed in either of claims 2 or 6 wherein a pump is provided in said circulation circuit.

Claim 17

A heating installation for space heating and for the production of sanitary hot water comprising: a heat source including a solar collector, a heat diffusion system, a means for storing heat, a sanitary water tank having two compartments that are partially separated by a partition but that are in communication with each other at their tops and at their bottoms, a heat pump having a condenser and an evaporator the condenser of which is located within one compartment of said sanitary water tank, a pipe forming a loop in which a fluid may flow in one direction, said loop comprising a first portion across the ends of which a first bypass is connected for permitting the fluid to be thermally associated with said heat source including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said first portion or in said first bypass, a second portion located in the direction of flow of the fluid in said loop downstream of said first portion and across the ends of which a second bypass is connected for permitting the fluid to be thermally associated with said storage means including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said second portion or in said second bypass, a third portion between said first and second portions downstream of said second portion located in the other compartment of said sanitary water tank to permit heat transfer between fluid in said third portion and the sanitary water in said tank, a shunt across the ends of said third portion including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said third portion or said shunt, a third bypass connected across the ends of said third portion and thermally associated with said heat diffusion system, the evaporator of said heat pump being associated thermally with the fluid via a fourth bypass connected across the ends of said third portion and said third bypass including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said fourth bypass or in said third portion, said fourth bypass including means for thermal association with said evaporator, said means for thermal association having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and outlet provided with a direct return pipe therebetween, said direct return pipe having a valve controllable to maintain said evaporator at a suitable temperature, and a pump in the inlet between the direct return pipe and the means for thermal association for forcing the fluid therethrough, a first temperature probe for measuring the temperature of said heat source, a second temperature probe for measuring the temperature of said means for storing heat, a third temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the fluid in said loop just upstream of said first portion, a fourth temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the fluid at the inlet to said heat diffusion system and a fifth temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank, whereby heat transfers may selectively be performed: a. with the fluid circulating in the third portion from said heat source or said storage means to the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank b. with the fluid from said heat source or said storage means to said heat diffusion means, c. through said heat pump from said heat source or said storage means to the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank, or d. through said heat pump and said sanitary water from said heat source or said storage means to said heat diffusion system, according to demand and as conditions permit.

Claim 18

A heating installation for space heating and for the production of sanitary hot water comprising: a heat source including a solar collector, a heat diffusion system, a means for storing heat, a sanitary water tank having two compartments that are partially separated by a partition but that are in communication with each other at their tops and at their bottoms, a heat pump having a condenser and an evaporator the condenser of which is located within one compartment of said sanitary water tank, a pipe forming a loop in which a fluid may flow in one direction, said loop comprising a first portion across the ends of which a first bypass is connected for permitting the fluid to be thermally associated with said heat source including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said first portion or in said first bypass, a second portion located in the direction of flow of the fluid in said loop downstream of said first portion and across the ends of which a second bypass is connected for permitting the fluid to be thermally associated with said storage means including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said second portion or in said second bypass, a third portion between said first and second portions downstream of said second portion located in the other compartment of said sanitary water tank to permit heat transfer between fluid in said third portion and the sanitary water in said tank, a shunt across the ends of said third portion including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said third portion or said shunt, a third bypass connected across the ends of said third portion and thermally associated with said heat diffusion system, the evaporator of said heat pump being associated thermally with the fluid via a fourth bypass connected across the ends of said third portion and said third bypass including means for selectively circulating the fluid either in said fourth bypass or in said third portion, said fourth bypass including means for thermal association with said evaporator, said means for thermal association having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and outlet provided with a direct return pipe therebetween, said direct return pipe having a valve controllable to maintain said evaporator at a suitable temperature, and a pump in the inlet between the direct return pipe and the means for thermal association for forcing the fluid therethrough, a first temperature probe for measuring the temperature of said heat source, a second temperature probe for measuring the temperature of said means for storing heat, a third temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the fluid in said loop just upstream of said first portion, a fourth temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the fluid at the inlet to said heat diffusion system and a fifth temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank, whereby heat transfers may selectively be performed: a. with the fluid circulating in the third portion from said heat source or said storage means to the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank b. with the fluid from said heat source or said storage means to said heat diffusion means, c. through said heat pump from said heat source or said storage means to the sanitary water in said sanitary water tank, or d. through said heat pump and said sanitary water from said heat source or said storage means to said heat diffusion system, according to demand and as conditions permit.