Heatpump

Claim 1

A system for extracting heat, more specifically from low temperature water, comprising: elements sized, designed and/or arranged for extracting heat from a source of water, at a temperature between approximately 0° C. and 10° C., such as groundwater, surface water, brackish water, or sea water, to serve as a heat source including a heat pump of the compression or absorption type, having a closed circuit containing a heat transport fluid; a condenser means for delivering heat to an outside medium at a higher temperature level; an evaporator means designed for receiving heat at a lower temperature level, in particular designed for receiving heat at a working temperature below 0° C.; means for circulating said fluid from said evaporator means to said condenser means for transporting heat therebetween; a vacuum vessel designed to withstand a sub-pressure below 0.006 ata (triple point of water at a temperature of 0° C); means for supplying said water, as a heat source, to said vacuum vessel; a vacuum pump connected to said vessel for evaporating water with the concomitant formation of ice; a stirring means sized and positioned in said vessel for promoting the evaporation of said water and for keeping the resultant water/ice crystal suspension in continuous movement; and at least one pump for the extraction of water/ice crystal suspension from said vessel, wherein said evaporator means are positioned in said vacuum vessel out of direct contact with said water/ice crystal suspension for absorbing heat from the evaporated water vapor, which is desublimating into ice on it, such that said heat transport fluid transports the absorbed heat to said condenser for extraction thereof.

Claim 2

A system for extracting heat, more specifically from low temperature water, comprising: elements sized, designed and/or arranged for extracting heat from a source of water, at a temperature between approximately 0° C. and 10° C., such as groundwater, surface water, brackish water, or sea water, to serve as a heat source including a heat pump of the compression or absorption type, having a closed circuit containing a heat transport fluid; a condenser means for delivering heat to an outside medium at a higher temperature level; an evaporator means designed for receiving heat at a lower temperature level, in particular designed for receiving heat at a working temperature below 0° C.; means for circulating said fluid from said evaporator means to said condenser means for transporting heat therebetween; a vacuum vessel designed to withstand a sub-pressure below 0.006 ata (triple point of water at a temperature of 0° C); means for supplying said water, as a heat source, to said vacuum vessel; a vacuum pump connected to said vessel for evaporating water with the concomitant formation of ice; a stirring means sized and positioned in said vessel for promoting the evaporation of said water and for keeping the resultant water/ice crystal suspension in continuous movement; and at least one pump for the extraction of water/ice crystal suspension from said vessel, wherein said evaporator means are positioned in said vacuum vessel out of direct contact with said water/ice crystal suspension for absorbing heat from the evaporated water vapor, which is desublimating into ice on it, such that said heat transport fluid transports the absorbed heat to said condenser for extraction thereof.