Combined heating and cooling system

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A combined cooling and heating system, comprising: a district cooling grid used to satisfy comfort cooling demands, the district cooling grid having: a feed conduit conducting an incoming flow of a cooling fluid in the form of water or water with an anti-freezing agent added thereto, the incoming flow of cooling fluid having a first temperature in the range of 4-12° C., and a return conduit conducting a return flow of the cooling fluid having a second temperature, the second temperature being in the range of 10-18° C. and the second temperature being higher than the first temperature; a district cooling plant which cools incoming cooling fluid of the return conduit from the second temperature to the first temperature, and a plurality of cooling devices each configured to absorb heat from its surroundings and deposit the absorbed heat into cooling fluid entering the cooling device from the feed conduit, the heated cooling fluid being returned to the return conduit, wherein the cooling fluid is circulated in the district cooling grid by means of a pressure difference between the feed conduit and the return conduit, wherein the pressure in the feed conduit is higher than the pressure in the return conduit; 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; wherein the heat exchanger inlet of the heat exchanger of the local cooling system is connected to the feed conduit of the district cooling grid, and wherein the heat pump inlet of the heat pump of the local heating system is connected to the return conduit of the district cooling grid and to the heat exchanger outlet of the heat exchanger of the local cooling system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the heat pump inlet, the heat exchanger outlet, and the return conduit are interconnected.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger inlet is further connected to the heat pump outlet.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the heat exchanger inlet, the heat pump outlet, and the feed conduit are interconnected.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein a pump is arranged in the heat pump inlet or in the heat pump outlet, and is configured to overcome the pressure difference between the return conduit and the feed conduit.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the local heating system further comprises a first controller configured to control the pump to regulate the flow of cooling fluid flowing through the heat pump.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the local heating system further comprises a temperature sensor configured to determine data pertaining to a temperature of the cooling fluid in the outlet of the heat pump, wherein the first controller is configured to control the pump based on the data pertaining to the temperature of the cooling fluid in the outlet of the heat pump.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the local heating system further comprises a heat emitter and a heat demand sensor configured to determine data pertaining to heating demands of the heat emitter, wherein the first controller is configured to control the pump based on the data pertaining to heating demands of the heat emitter.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the first controller is further configured to control operation of the heat pump.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the local cooling system further comprises a flow valve arranged in the heat exchanger inlet or in the heat exchanger outlet, and is configured to regulate the flow of cooling fluid flowing through the heat exchanger.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the local cooling system further comprises a second controller configured to control the flow valve to regulate the flow of cooling fluid flowing through the heat exchanger.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the local cooling system further comprises a temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature of the cooling fluid in the outlet of the heat exchanger, wherein the second controller is configured to control the flow valve based on the temperature of the cooling fluid in the outlet of the heat exchanger.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein a pump arranged in the heat pump inlet or in the heat pump outlet, and configured to overcome the pressure difference between the return conduit and the feed conduit, wherein the local heating system further comprises a first controller configured to control the pump to regulate the flow of cooling fluid flowing through the heat pump, wherein the local cooling system further comprises a flow valve arranged in the heat exchanger inlet or in the heat exchanger outlet, and configured to regulate the flow of cooling fluid flowing through the heat exchanger, wherein the local cooling system further comprises a second controller configured to control flow valve to regulate the flow of cooling fluid flowing through the heat exchanger, and wherein the first and second controllers are combined as a single controller.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the combined cooling and heating system further comprises a further local heating system being configured to heat a third building and comprising a further heat pump having an inlet connected to the return conduit of the district cooling grid and an outlet connected to the feed conduit of the district cooling grid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing embodiments of the invention. The figures are provided to illustrate the general structures of embodiments of the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art district cooling grid interacting with buildings, each having a local cooling system.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the inventive combined heating and cooling system.

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the inventive combined heating and cooling system comprising a further local heating system arranged in a separate building.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and to fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person.

(6) In connection with FIG. 1 a district cooling grid 1 according to prior art will be discussed. The district cooling grid 1 is formed by one or several hydraulic networks (not disclosed) that deliver a cooling fluid to local cooling systems 3 which are arranged in buildings 2 such as office buildings, business premises, residential homes and factories in need for cooling. A typical district cooling grid 1 comprises a district cooling plant 4 which cools the cooling fluid. The district cooling plant may by way of example be a power plant using lake water. The cooled cooling fluid is transported via a feed conduit 5 forming part of a conduit net work 6 to locally distributed consuming cooling devices 7 which are arranged in the buildings 2. It goes without saying that one and the same building 2 may comprise several consuming cooling devices 7. Examples of consuming cooling devices 7 are air-conditioners and refrigerators.

(7) When the cooling of the cooled cooling fluid is consumed in the consuming cooling devices 7 the temperature of the cooling fluid is raised and the thus heated cooling fluid is returned to the district cooling plant 4 via a return conduit 8 forming part of the conduit net work 6.

(8) District cooling grids 1 are used to satisfy comfort cooling demands. The temperature of the cooling fluid in the feed conduits 5 is typically between 4-12° C. The return temperature in the return conduits 8 is typically between 10-18° C.

(9) The driving pressure difference between feed conduits and return conduits of the hydraulic network always creates a so called “pressure cone” whereby the pressure in the feed conduits 5 is higher than the pressure in the return conduits 8. This pressure difference circulates the cooling fluid in the hydraulic network between the district cooling plant and the cooling consumption devices.

(10) The conduits used in a district cooling grid 1 are normally plastic un-insulated conduits designed for a maximum pressure of either 0.6 or 1 MPa and maximum temperature of about 50° C. Also, the cooling fluid and hence energy carrier is typically water, although it is to be understood that other fluids or mixture of fluids may be used. Some non-limiting examples are ammonia, anti-freezing liquids (such as glycol), oils and alcohols. A non-limiting example of a mixture is water with an anti-freezing agent, such as glycol, added thereto. The energy content of the returned cooling fluid is according to prior art considered as waste energy.

(11) Reference is now made to FIG. 2 which schematically discloses the inventive combined cooling and heating system 100. In its broadest sense the combined cooling and heating system comprise a local heating system 200 and a local cooling system 300. The two local systems 200, 300 can be arranged in one and the same building 2, as is disclosed in FIG. 2, or in separate buildings. The two systems 200, 300 are connected to a district cooling grid 1. To ease the understanding, the district cooling grid 1 is disclosed by a portion of a feed conduit 5 and a portion of a return conduit 8. The local cooling system 300 interconnects with the district cooling grid 1 via a heat exchanger 9. The local heating system 200 interconnects with the district cooling grid via a heat pump 10.

(12) The district cooling grid 1 has the same design as previously described with reference to FIG. 1 and to avoid undue repetition, reference is made to the sections above describing the district cooling grid 1. However, in connection with the present invention the district cooling system 1 is not solely used for cooling purposes.

(13) The local cooling system 300 comprises a cooler 11. Coolers 11 are as such well known in the art and may be used e.g. for comfort cooling in buildings such as office buildings, business premises, residential homes and factories in need for cooling.

(14) The cooler 11 is connected to the district cooling grid 1 via a heat exchanger 9. Heat exchangers as such are well known in the art and can basically be described as comprising an arrangement of a first closed circuit 9a circulating a first fluid having a first temperature, and a second closed circuit 9b circulating a second fluid having a second temperature. By the two circuits 9a, 9b along an extension closely abutting each other a heat transfer takes place between the two fluids. In the local cooling system 300 connected to the district cooling grid, the first circuit 9a is locally arranged in the building 2 and the second circuit 9b forms part of the district cooling grid 1. Heat exchangers to be used for local cooling systems of buildings are typically situated in air ducts of ventilation or distributed through fan-driven air-coil collectors or ceiling mounted cooling batteries in individual spaces of a building. Process cooling may however be directly connected to the heat exchanger itself.

(15) In the context of the invention the term “an inlet 14a of the heat exchanger 9” is to be interpreted as the inlet via which the heat exchanger 9 is fed with cooling fluid from the district cooling grid 1. Likewise, the term “14b outlet of the heat exchanger 9” is to be interpreted as the outlet via which the heat exchanger 9 returns cooling fluid to the district cooling grid 1.

(16) The local heating system 200 comprises a heat emitter 12. Heat emitters 12 are as such is well known in the art and may be used e.g. for comfort heating buildings such as office buildings, business premises, residential homes and factories, and/or to heat tap water.

(17) The heat emitter 12 is interconnected to the district cooling grid 1 via the heat pump 10. Heat pumps 10 as such are well known in the art and basically comprises a closed circuit 13 in which a brine is circulated between a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger has an inlet 15a and an outlet 15b via which the heat pump 10 is connected to a first circuit 13a circulating a flow of a first fluid, in this case the cooling fluid of the district cooling grid 1. Likewise, the second heat exchanger has an inlet and an outlet via which the heat pump 10 is connected to a second circuit 13b circulating a flow of a second fluid, in this case the heating fluid of the local heating system 200. The heating fluid in the local heating system is typically water, although it is to be understood that other fluids or mixture of fluids may be used. Some non-limiting examples are ammonia, anti-freezing liquids (such as glycol), oils and alcohols. A non-limiting example of a mixture is water with an anti-freezing agent, such as glycol, added thereto.

(18) In the context of the invention the term “inlet 15a of the heat pump 10” is to be interpreted as the inlet in the first circuit 13a via which the heat pump 10 is supplied with the cooling fluid of the district cooling grid 1. Likewise, the term “outlet 15b of the heat pump 10” is to be interpreted as the outlet in the first circuit 13a, via which the heat pump 10 returns cooling fluid to the district cooling grid 1.

(19) In the following the connection between the district cooling grid 1 and the heat exchanger 9 and the heat pump 10, respectively, will be disclosed.

(20) The inlet 14a of the heat exchanger 9 is connected to the feed conduit 5 of the district cooling grid 1. Also, the inlet 14a of the heat exchanger 9 is connected to the outlet 15b of the heat pump 10.

(21) The outlet 14b of the heat exchanger 9 is connected to the return conduit 8 of the district cooling grid 1. Also, the outlet 14b of the heat exchanger 9 is connected to the inlet 15a of the heat pump 10.

(22) The inlet 15a of the heat pump 10 is connected to the return conduit 8 of the district cooling grid 1. Also, the inlet 15a of the heat pump 10 is connected to the outlet 14b of the heat exchanger 9.

(23) The outlet 15b of the heat pump 10 is connected to the feed conduit 5 of the district cooling grid 1. Also, the outlet 15b of the heat pump 10 is connected to the inlet 14a of the heat exchanger 9.

(24) In the disclosed embodiment the inlet 15a of the heat pump 10, the outlet 14b of the heat exchanger 9, and the return conduit 8 are interconnected. Also, the inlet 14a of the heat exchanger 9, the outlet 15b of the heat pump 10, and the feed conduit 5 are interconnected.

(25) By this interconnection between the heat exchanger 9 and the heat pump 10 and the district cooling grid 1, respectively, the energy content that is resulting from the operation of the heat pump 10 and the heat exchanger 9, respectively, and which energy content according to prior art is considered as waste energy, is used as valuable input energy when operating the heat pump 10 and the heat exchanger 9, respectively.

(26) More precisely, the waste heat resulting from the heat exchanger 9 cooling the cooling fluid in the local cooling system 300 may be transferred to the cooling fluid that is fed as input to the heat pump 10. Likewise, the waste cooling resulting from the heat pump 10 heating the heating fluid in the local heating system 200 may be transferred to the cooling fluid that is fed as input to the heat exchanger 9.

(27) The local heating system 200 may further comprises a pump 16. The pump 16 is configured to overcome the pressure difference between the return conduits 8 and the feed conduit 5. The pump 16 is further configured to regulate the flow of cooling fluid flowing through the heat pump 10. By regulating the flow of cooling fluid trough the heat pump 10, and at the same time optionally control the operation of the heat pump 10, the temperature of the cooling fluid outputted from the heat pump 10 may be controlled. The pump 16 may be controlled by a first controller 17. The first controller 17 may control the pump 16 based on data pertaining to heating demands of the heat emitter 12 and/or data pertaining to the temperature of the cooling fluid in the outlet 15b of the heat pump 10. Data pertaining to heating demands of the heat emitter 12 may be determined by means of a heat demand sensor 21 connected to the heat emitter 12. Data pertaining to the temperature of the cooling fluid in the outlet 15b of the heat pump 10 may be determined by means of a temperature sensor T1 connected to the outlet 15b. In the in FIG. 2 shown embodiment the pump 16 is arranged in the inlet 15a of the heat pump 10. However, the pump 16 may alternatively be arranged in the outlet 15b of the heat pump 10.

(28) The local cooling system 300 may further comprises a flow valve 18. The flow valve 18 is configured to regulate the flow of cooling fluid flowing through the heat exchanger 9. By regulating the flow of cooling fluid trough the heat exchanger 9, and at the same time optionally control the operation of the heat exchanger 9, the temperature of the cooling fluid outputted from the heat exchanger 9 may be controlled. The flow valve 18 may be controlled by a second controller 19. The second controller 19 may control the flow valve 18 based on data pertaining to cooling demands of the cooler 11 and/or data pertaining to the temperature of the cooling fluid in the outlet 14b of the heat exchanger 9. Data pertaining to cooling demands of the cooler 11 may be determined by means of a cooling demand sensor 20 connected to the cooler 11. Data pertaining to the temperature of the cooling fluid in the outlet 14b of the heat exchanger 9 may be determined by means of a temperature sensor T2 connected to the outlet 14b. In the in FIG. 2 shown embodiment the flow valve 18 is arranged in the outlet 14b of the heat exchanger 9. However, the flow valve 18 may alternatively be arranged in the inlet 14a of the heat exchanger 9.

(29) In the in FIG. 2 shown embodiment the first and second controllers 17, 19 are illustrated as separate controllers. However, alternatively the first and second controllers 17, 19 may be combined into a single controller.

(30) Now turning to FIG. 3, the combined cooling and heating system 100 may further comprise a further local heating system 400 arranged in a third building 2′, separate from the other building/-s 2. The third building 2′ may by way of example by a residential building. Except from the further local heating system 400 the combined cooling and heating system 100 is identical with that as previously described with reference to FIG. 2. To avoid undue repetition only the further local heating system 400 is described in detail below.

(31) The specific embodiment to be described below resides in the surprising discovery to use the waste energy accessible in the return conduit 8 of the district cooling grid 1 as a heating source of a building 2′, no matter if it is for comfort heating or heating tap water.

(32) The further local heating system 400 has the same overall design as that forming part of the combined cooling and heating system 100 and which has been described in detail with reference to FIG. 2. Hence, the additional local heating system 400 comprises a heat emitter 12′ which is arranged in the building 2′. The heat emitter 12′ is connected to the district cooling grid 1 via a heat pump 10′. In the context of the invention, the term “inlet 15a′ of the heat pump 10′” is to be interpreted as the inlet in the first circuit 13a′ via which the heat pump is fed with the cooling fluid of the district cooling grid 1. Likewise, the term “outlet 15b” of the heat pump 10′″ is to be interpreted as the outlet in the first circuit 13a′, via which the heat pump returns cooling fluid to the district cooling grid 1.

(33) The inlet 15a′ of the heat pump 10′ is connected to the return conduit 8 of the district cooling grid 1 and the outlet 15b′ of the heat pump 10′ is connected to the feed conduit 5 of the district cooling grid 1. Accordingly, by this arrangement the inlet 15a′ of the heat pump 10′ may be supplied with heated cooling fluid from the return conduit 8 of the district cooling grid 1. Thus, the heat of the heated cooling fluid in the return conduit 8 that according to prior art is considered as waste energy is used as input to the heat pump 10′. Also since, by this arrangement, the outlet 15b′ of the heat pump 10′ is connected to the feed conduit 5 of the district cooling grid 1, the cooled cooling fluid delivered as output from the heat pump 10′ is supplied to the feed conduit 5 of the local district cooling grid 1 where it intermixes with the flow of cooled cooling fluid.

(34) Accordingly, the additional local heating system 400 uses heat that is accessible in the return conduit 8 of the district cooling grid 1 and which according to prior art is considered as waste energy. The waste energy is used as input to the heat pump 10′. The heat pump 10′ is thereby supplied with a pre-heated fluid whereby the energy consumption of the heat pump 10′ may be reduced. This lowers the overall energy cost to operate the building 2′, and also the overall investment in the building. The reduced investments reside in the fact that the required capacity of the heat pump may be reduced. Likewise, the expected life length of the heat pump may be prolonged due to reduced load. Also, the invention allows an existing infrastructure of a district cooling grid to be used not only for cooling but also for heating.

(35) The local heating system 400 may further comprises a pump 16′. The pump 16′ is configured to overcome the pressure difference between the return conduits 8 and the feed conduit 5. The pump 16′ is further configured to regulate the flow of cooling fluid flowing through the heat pump 10′. By regulating the flow of cooling fluid trough the heat pump 10′, and at the same time optionally control the operation of the heat pump 10′, the temperature of the cooling fluid outputted from the heat pump 10′ may be controlled. The pump 16′ may be controlled by a controller 17′. The controller 17′ may control the pump 16′ based on data pertaining to heating demands of the heat emitter 12′ and/or data pertaining to the temperature of the cooling fluid in the outlet 15b′ of the heat pump 10′. Data pertaining to heating demands of the heat emitter 12′ may be determined by means of a heat demand sensor 21′ connected to the heat emitter 12′. Data pertaining to the temperature of the cooling fluid in the outlet 15b′ of the heat pump 10′ may be determined by means of a temperature sensor T1′ connected to the outlet 15b′. In the in FIG. 3 shown embodiment the pump 16′ is arranged in the inlet 15a′ of the heat pump 10′. However, the pump 16′ may alternatively be arranged in the outlet 15b′ of the heat pump 10′.

(36) Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

(37) The combined cooling and heating system has been exemplified with two temperature sensors T1-T2. It is to be understood that the number of sensors and their positions may change. It is also to be understood that additional sensors may be introduced to the system depending on desired input to the first and second controllers 17, 19 and desired complexity. Especially, the first and second controllers 17, 19 may be arranged to communicate with the heat emitters 12 and coolers 11 locally arranged in the buildings 2 to take local settings into account.