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Title:
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONNECTING A BRANCH TO A HEAT TRANSPORT NETWORK
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/048134
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Described is a method for connecting a branch network (20) to a distribution network (100) for transporting a heat medium (13, 14), wherein the branch network (20) is coupled to a main supply conduit (11 ) of the distribution network (100) by means of at least one branch heat exchanger (30). A branch network (20) to be coupled to a distribution network (100) for transporting a heat medium (13, 14) is provided with at least one branch heat exchanger (30) to be coupled to a main supply conduit (11 ) of the distribution network (100). A branch heat exchanger (30) for coupling a branch network (20) to a main supply conduit (11 ) of a distribution network (100) for transporting a heat medium (13, 14) is provided with a half-cylinder shaped recess (32) whose radius matches the radius of the wall of the main supply conduit (11 ).

Inventors:
GOVERS ROBERTUS JAN MARIA (NL)
KEMMERE CORNELIS MARTINUS ADRIANUS (NL)
Application Number:
PCT/NL2015/000031
Publication Date:
March 31, 2016
Filing Date:
September 21, 2015
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
R EN R INNOVATIONS B V (NL)
International Classes:
F24D10/00; F28D7/00; F28F1/04
Foreign References:
US20040206485A12004-10-21
US4497365A1985-02-05
DE202011101154U12011-10-17
EP2182296A22010-05-05
Other References:
None
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
GRIEBLING, Onno (Sportweg 10, 5037 AC Tilburg, NL)
Download PDF:
Claims:
1 . A method for connecting a branch network (20) to a distribution network (100) for transporting a heat medium (13, 14), wherein the branch network (20) is coupled to a main supply conduit (1 1 ) of the distribution network (100) by means of at least one branch heat exchanger (30).

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one branch heat exchanger (30) is placed in heat exchanging contact against the outer surface area of the main supply conduit (1 1 ). 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein heat received in the branch heat exchanger (30) through the contact with the main supply conduit (1 1 ) is transferred to a secondary heat transport medium (24) of the branch network (20) which is entirely separate from the heat medium (13, 14) of the distribution network (100). 4. A branch network (20) to be coupled to a distribution network (100) for transporting a heat medium (13, 14), which branch network (20) is provided with at least one branch heat exchanger (30) to be coupled to a main supply conduit (1 1 ) of the distribution network (100). 5. A branch network according to claim 4, wherein the at least one branch heat exchanger (30) is adapted to be placed in heat-exchanging contact against the outer surface of the main supply conduit (1 1 ).

6. A branch network according to claim 5, wherein the at least one branch heat exchanger (30) comprises at least one block (31 ), which is provided with a half- cylinder shaped recess (32) whose radius matches the radius of the wall of the main supply conduit (1 1 ).

7. A branch network according to claim 6, wherein the block (31 ) is made of a material well transferring heat, for example aluminium or stainless steel.

8. A branch network according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the block (31 ) comprises at least one channel for passing a secondary medium (24).

9. A branch heat exchanger (30) for coupling a branch network (20) to a main supply conduit (1 1 ) of a distribution network (100) for transporting a heat medium (13, 14). 10. A branch heat exchanger according to claim 9, wherein the branch heat exchanger (30) is adapted to be placed in heat-exchanging contact against the outer surface of the main supply conduit (1 1 ).

1 1. A branch heat exchanger according to claim 10, wherein the branch heat exchanger (30) comprises at least one block (31 ), which is provided with a half- cylinder shaped recess (32) whose radius matches the radius of the wall of the main supply conduit (1 1 ).

12. A branch heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein the block (31 ) is made of a material well transferring heat, for example aluminium or stainless steel.

13. A branch heat exchanger according to claim 1 1 or 12, wherein the block (31 ) comprises at least one channel for passing a secondary medium (24).

Description:
TITLE: Method and device for connecting a branch to a heat transport network

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a heat transport network. In particular, the invention relates to a heating network, wherein the heat transport may take place both in horizontal direction and in vertical direction, in a home or an apartment building, for example. More particularly, the invention relates to a district heating network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For heating living spaces in homes, for example, it is traditionally known to place a heat source such as a fireplace in the relevant living space. A later development is the so-called central heating system, wherein a heating source is placed at a central location, which heats a transport medium (typically water), which is transported by means of conduits to a delivery unit (radiator) in the living space. Then, there is a supply conduit for transporting hot water to the radiators, and a return conduit for transporting cooled or cold water back to the heating source.

Of a more recent time is this system developed on a larger scale, wherein the central location is located at a great distance of a group of homes, a city, or a city district, and wherein the heat from the central location is first transported to the group of homes through main conduits. Then, for each home, there is a branch conduit transporting the hot transport medium from the main conduit to the home, where the heat is used for heating that home or at least a space in that home. Also, that heat can be used for heating tap water. There are also systems that allow for heat to be delivered back to the main network. Such a system is referred to as "district heating", and makes direct use, for example, of heat of a power plant released at the central location.

A significant problem arises if subsequently, for any reason, a connection needs be added. This problem arises on a small scale for in-house installations, and the invention is hence directed to this field, but the problem is felt especially in district heating networks. In addition, certain aspects of the problem already arise in constructing the installation.

A significant problem in fitting an additional connection, because of an additional home that was built, for example, is that it is necessary to interrupt the main supply conduit and the main return conduit for fitting a branch conduit. Accordingly, the heat transport in the respective main conduits has to be interrupted, so that whole streets, and/or city districts get stuck without heat for some time.

In the main supply conduits of district heating networks, the transport medium is contained at high pressure and high temperature. Connecting a branch conduit therefore is work for highly-qualified personnel, because the slightest mistake can lead to a leakage in the network, in which case a hot medium is pressed out under high pressure.

Furthermore, it is a problem that for transporting the transport medium in the main conduits and in the branch conduits, a relatively heavy high power pump is required, which is already relatively expensive as a pump, but which also consumes quite a lot of energy during operation.

Furthermore, it is a problem that relatively a lot of heat loss occurs in the branch conduits, which loss is borne by the supplier. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to eliminate or at least alleviate all or at least some of the mentioned problems.

To this end, the present invention proposes to connect a branch conduit to a main supply conduit by means of a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is externally fitted against the main supply conduit, so that the latter does not need to be opened and the heat transport in the main supply conduit does not need to be put to a stop. Fitting the heat exchanger requires only the removal of the insulation of the main supply conduit, no intervention occurs with the main return conduit. Fitting the heat exchanger can be carried out by less qualified personnel, after all, the probability that errors lead to failure of the main supply conduit is not high.

Then, the transport between the main supply conduit and the home thus takes place in a secondary circuit, which is separated from the main network. Losses in the secondary circuit are borne by the home owner. For the transport in that secondary circuit, a separate pump per home is used, and the main pump needs to be dimensioned only for circulating the medium in the main network, so that a smaller and more cost efficient pump suffices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further clarified by the following description of one or more exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote identical or similar parts, in which indications "below/above", "higher/lower", "left/right" etc only relate to the orientation shown in the figures, and in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows the principle of a connection of a home to a district heating network according to the prior art;

Figure 2 schematically shows the principle of a connection of a home to a district heating network according to the present invention;

Figures 3 and 4 schematically illustrate a possible embodiment of a branch heat exchanger according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 schematically shows the principle of a connection of a home 1 to a district heating network 10 according to the prior art. The district heating network 10 comprises a main supply conduit 1 1 and a main return conduit 12 with respectively a hot medium 13 and a cold (or at least less hot) medium 14 at high pressure. In the example shown, a heat exchanger 3 is arranged in the home 1 , which is in contact with the network of radiators in the home. A branch supply conduit 15 connected to the main supply conduit 1 1 and a branch return conduit 16 connected to the main return conduit 12 are connected to the heat exchanger 3 and transport part of the hot medium 13 to the home 1 and back as cooled medium 14. As an alternative, the branch supply conduit 15 and branch return conduit 16 may be directly connected to the network of radiators in the home. As a possibility, a buffer tank (not shown) may be present in the home.

Figure 2 schematically shows the principle of a connection of a home to a district heating network 100 according to the present invention. Against the outer wall of the main supply conduit 1 1 , a branch heat exchanger 30 has been fitted, wherein the integrity of the main supply conduit 1 1 has been retained, with the exception of the local removal of the insulation. Branch conduits 22 and 23 connect the branch heat exchanger 30 with the heat exchanger 3 in the home 1 . The two heat

exchangers 3 and 30 and the branch conduits 22 and 23 form a secondary branch network 20 in which circulates a secondary medium 24, driven by a secondary circulation pump 25 and completely separated from the medium 13 in the main supply conduit 1 1 . Also in this case, as an alternative, the conduits 22 and 23 may be directly connected to the network of radiators in the home, that is to say that the conduits 22 and 23 directly feed the hot water circuit in the home, and that thus the heat exchanger 3 has been omitted. According to one's needs, cold water is then fed from the home through the conduit 23 to the branch heat exchanger 30 and hot water is returned to the home through the conduit 22. Then, the branch conduits 22 and 23 are actually part of the hot water circuit of the home, and the heat transport medium 24 is tap water.

Figures 3 and 4 schematically illustrate a possible embodiment of a branch heat exchanger 30 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the branch heat exchanger 30 comprises two blocks 31 , which are provided with a half- cylinder shaped recess 32 whose radius matches the radius of the wall of the main supply conduit 1 1 . The blocks 31 are made of a material well transferring heat, for example aluminium or stainless steel. Within each block 31 , a channel is present for passing secondary medium 24, which channel may meander in a manner known per se, in order to obtain a sufficiently large contact surface, but for the sake of simplicity, this channel is not shown. Said channel has end terminals 33 and 34. In Figure 4, it is shown that a first block 31 is fitted against the main supply conduit 1 1 , while a second block 31 B is shown at a distance from the supply conduit 1 1 . A connecting conduit connects an end terminal 34A of the first block 31 A with an end terminal 34B of the second block 31 B. The branch conduits 22 and 23 are connected to the other end terminals 33A and 33B.

It will be clear to a skilled person that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments discussed in the foregoing, but that several variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, two or more functions can be fulfilled by a single entity. For example, a branch heat exchanger with a different design can be applied. It is not necessary that the two discussed blocks 31 A and 31 B have mutually the same design, although that is preferred. It is not necessary that the branch heat exchanger consists of two separate blocks. The invention is also applicable in connecting an additional radiator to an existing central heating system. The invention is also applicable for coupling a heat source to a transport conduit, for thus

transferring heat to the network. The invention is also applicable in cold transport networks (negative heat).

Even if certain features are shown in different dependent claims, the present invention also relates to an embodiment which has these features together. Features that are not explicitly described as being essential may also be omitted. Any reference numerals used in a claim should not be construed as limiting the scope of that claim.