The present invention relates to a method for controlling setting of reversible heat pump assemblies (100) of a district thermal energy distribution system (1) in either a heating mode or a cooling mode. The method comprises: determining, at a control server, a first set of the reversible heat pump assemblies (100) to be set in the heating mode during a future time period; determining, at the control server, a second set of the reversible heat pump assemblies (100) to be set in the cooling mode during the future time period, wherein the second set of the reversible heat pump assemblies (100) is separate from the first set of the reversible heat pump assemblies (100); sending, from the control server (200) to the reversible heat pump assemblies (100) of the first set of the reversible heat pump assemblies (100), a respective control message to set the respective reversible heat pump assembly (100) in the heating mode for the future time period; sending, from the control server (200) to the reversible heat pump assemblies (100) of the second set of the reversible heat pump assemblies (100), a respective control message to set the respective reversible heat pump assembly (100) in the cooling mode for the future time period; and setting the respective reversible heat pump assembly (100) in either the heating mode or the cooling mode for the future time period.

The present invention relates to a heat transfer system comprising a heating circuit having a feed conduit for an incoming flow of heat transfer fluid having a first temperature, and a return conduit for a return flow of heat transfer fluid having a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature. The heat transfer system also includes a cooling circuit having a feed conduit for an incoming flow of heat transfer fluid having a third temperature, and a return conduit for a return flow of heat transfer fluid having a fourth temperature, the fourth temperature being higher than the third temperature, and a heat pump including a first heat exchanger having a first circuit for circulating heat transfer fluid and a second circuit for circulating heat transfer fluid.

A stand-alone long-distance closed-loop heat energy capture, conveyance, and delivery system, comprises three closed-loop modules in serial communication. The first module is in communication with a first closed-loop piping infrastructure interconnected with a source of heat energy, and has a LBP liquid circulating therein whereby the LBP liquid is converted into its gas phase when flowing through the source of heat energy thereby capturing a portion of heat energy therefrom, and is converted into its liquid phase when flowing through a first heat exchanger that transfers the captured-heat energy to a second closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein also is circulating a LBP liquid. The second closed-loop module may extend for long distances. The captured-heat energy in the second module is transferred to a third closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein is also circulating a LBP liquid. The captured-heat energy is transferred from the third module to a delivery site.

A thermal energy extraction assembly is disclosed, the thermal energy extraction assembly is configured to extract heat and/or cold from a thermal energy distribution grid. The assembly may include a connection circuit connecting the assembly to the grid; a first heat exchanger configured to exchange heat from a heating circuit to the grid; a second heat exchanger configured to extract heat from the grid to a cooling circuit; and a plurality of heat pumps each having a condenser side connected to the heating circuit and an evaporator side connected to the cooling circuit, the heat pumps being configured to pump heat from the cooling circuit to the heating circuit.

A central controller for controlling power consumption in a thermal energy system is disclosed, the energy system may include a plurality of heat pump assemblies and a plurality of cooling machine assemblies, each heat pump assembly being connected to a thermal energy circuit comprising a hot conduit and a cold conduit via a thermal heating circuit inlet connected to the hot conduit and via a thermal heating circuit outlet connected to the cold conduit, each cooling machine assembly being connected to the thermal energy circuit via a thermal cooling circuit inlet connected to the cold conduit and via a thermal cooling circuit outlet connected to the hot conduit.

The disclosure relates to a method for controlling a thermal energy distribution system, the method comprising:—determining forecast data pertaining to expected overall outtake of heat and/or cooling over time from a distribution grid by local distribution systems connected to the distribution grid, and to expected production capacity of heat and/or cooling in one or more production plants,—determining, at a control server, a time resolved control signal, the control signal being based on forecast data and being associated with at least one local control unit,—sending the control signal from the control server to the associated local control unit,—receiving the control signal at the associated local control unit,—regulating over time, in response to the control signal, the outtake of heat and/or cooling of the local distribution system from the distribution grid. The thermal energy distribution system is also claimed

A stand-alone long-distance closed-loop heat energy capture, conveyance, and delivery system, comprises three closed-loop modules in serial communication. The first module is in communication with a first closed-loop piping infrastructure interconnected with a source of heat energy, and has a LBP liquid circulating therein whereby the LBP liquid is converted into its gas phase when flowing through the source of heat energy thereby capturing a portion of heat energy therefrom, and is converted into its liquid phase when flowing through a first heat exchanger that transfers the captured-heat energy to a second closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein also is circulating a LBP liquid. The second closed-loop module may extend for long distances. The captured-heat energy in the second module is transferred to a third closed-loop piping infrastructure wherein is also circulating a LBP liquid. The captured-heat energy is transferred from the third module to a delivery site.

A district energy system includes at least one energy provisioning unit, an energy management controller; a thermal distribution network coupled to the energy provisioning units and to a plurality of coupling interfaces connectable to the associated HVAC system of buildings within a district, and an electrical distribution network coupled to the energy provisioning units and to the coupling interfaces. The coupling interfaces may include both heat pumps and heat exchangers at each building, to provide heating, cooling and enable harvesting of normally wasted thermal energy from the buildings for re-distribution. The controller can manage the selection and number of energy provisioning units (and their operational set points) coupled to the district thermal distribution network and the electrical distribution network to meet the thermal and electrical demands of the district while satisfying other operational goals such as the minimization of greenhouse gas emissions.

A local energy distributing system includes a local feed conduit; a local return conduit; a central heat exchanger connected to a heating grid having a feed conduit for an incoming flow of heat transfer fluid having a first temperature in the range of 50-120° C., and a return conduit for a return flow of heat transfer fluid having a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature, wherein the central heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat from the incoming flow of heat transfer fluid to an outgoing flow of local heat transfer fluid in the local feed conduit. The system also includes a plurality of local heating systems, each having an inlet connected to the local feed conduit and an outlet connected to the local return conduit, wherein each local heating system is configured to provide hot water and/or comfort heating to a building.

A combined cooling and heating system including a district cooling grid having a feed conduit for an incoming flow of cooling fluid having a first temperature, and a return conduit for a return flow of cooling fluid having a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature; a local cooling system being configured to absorb heat from a first building and comprising a heat exchanger having a heat exchanger inlet and a heat exchanger outlet; and a local heating system being configured to heat the first or a second building and comprising a heat pump having a heat pump inlet and a heat pump outlet. The heat exchanger inlet is connected to the feed conduit of the district cooling grid; and the heat pump inlet is connected to the return conduit of the district cooling grid and to the heat exchanger outlet.