METHOD FOR INSTALLING A HEAT PUMP SYSTEM, AND HEAT PUMP SYSTEM

The invention relates to a method for installing a heat pump system, wherein a heat exchanger is placed in the ground or in water and a heat pump is connected to the heat exchanger.

This method is a standard application in the installing of a heat pump system. According to the prior art, for instance in a new housing development, the heat exchanger is placed at an early stage in or close to a building because the ground layer in which the heat exchanger must be arranged is then still readily accessible. The heat pump is placed only at a late stage in order to prevent it being stolen or damaged. The drawback is that this involves installation work in an almost completed building, wherein it is not possible to preclude damage to the building.

The method according to the invention obviates this drawback to a significant extent and has the feature that the heat exchanger is formed integrally with a frame, that the heat exchanger is anchored at least partially in the ground or in the water, wherein the frame protrudes at least partially above the ground or above the water, and that the heat pump is subsequently placed in the part of the frame protruding above the ground or above the water, after which the heat exchanger is connected to the heat pump. The installation work thus consists here only of placing the heat pump in the frame, which involves little risk. An important additional advantage is that the heat pump can be placed very closely to the heat exchanger, whereby no conduits need be laid and the thermal losses are small. The pump capacity can moreover be considerably smaller than in a conventional heat pump installation, thereby improving efficiency.

A favourable realization of the inventive method has the feature that the heat pump is slid into the frame and locked.

A further favourable realization has the feature that when the heat pump is slid into the frame the heat pump and the heat exchanger are connected with rapid-action couplings, thereby limiting the installation work to a minimum.

The invention also relates to a heat pump system comprising a heat pump and a heat exchanger placed in a position of use in the ground or in water. A heat pump

system can for instance be used to heat or cool a building, a piece of agricultural farmland or a swimming pool, or to provide hot or cold water.

According to an aspect of the invention, the inventive heat pump system has the feature that it also comprises a frame, that the heat exchanger and the frame are formed at least substantially integrally and that the frame is provided with a recess in which the heat pump can be placed. The frame with the heat exchanger can for instance then be placed simultaneously with laying of the foundations of a building and the heat pump added only shortly before being taken into use, thereby precluding that the heat pump is stolen or damaged during the construction stage. An important additional advantage is that the heat pump is placed very close to the heat exchanger, whereby no conduits need be laid and the thermal losses are small. The pump capacity can moreover be considerably reduced, thereby improving efficiency.

A favourable embodiment of the heat pump system according to the invention has the feature that two first halves of two rapid-action couplings which are connected to the heat exchanger are received in the recess, and that the heat pump is provided with two second halves of the two rapid-action couplings which can co-act with the two first halves, whereby the heat pump can be easily pushed into place and is then ready for use.

A further favourable embodiment of the heat pump system according to the invention has the feature that the heat exchanger comprises a system of pipes fixed to an underside of the frame. During installation a hole of sufficient depth can then be excavated or drilled, the heat exchanger placed therein and the hole filled with for instance gravel. At a peak load the groundwater surrounding the heat exchanger can then relinquish heat to the heat exchanger, while in the longer term the groundwater around the heat exchanger is replaced by the small flow always present in the groundwater. Because the frame lies substantially on the ground, conduits cannot be damaged. It is moreover generally unnecessary to add antifreeze to the liquid carried through the heat exchanger, whereby there is no chance of ground pollution.

A favourable alternative embodiment has the feature that the heat exchanger comprises a system of plates fixed to an underside of the frame. It is here also the case that the frame lies substantially on the ground, whereby conduits cannot be

damaged. It is moreover generally unnecessary to add antifreeze to the liquid carried through the heat exchanger, whereby there is no chance of ground pollution.

A further favourable alternative embodiment of the heat pump system according to the invention has the feature that the plates are given an at least substantially solid form, so that ground pollution is precluded.

A further favourable embodiment of the heat pump system according to the invention has the feature that the heat exchanger has a height of fifty centimetres to ten metres. The height of the heat exchanger can now almost always be chosen such that a significant part thereof lies in the groundwater, this being essential in order to realize a sufficient heat transport, while in view of the small depth it is generally not necessary to apply for a permit for the placing because there is no drilling through water-barrier layers.

A further favourable embodiment of the heat pump system according to the invention has the feature that the.frame is provided with an additional recess between the recess and the heat exchanger. This additional recess can form or receive a floating body in order to realize a neutral buoyancy in the case of installation on water, after which it is sufficient to anchor the frame with several chains.

In the case of installation on land the additional recess is preferably used partly as keep-warm compartment and partly as cooling compartment.

The keep-warm compartment is provided with an insulating inner wall and an additional heat exchanger for heating food. The cooling compartment is provided with an insulating inner wall and an additional coolant evaporator and a cooling element for cooling food and water, wherein water (brine) from the ground heat exchanger or from the heat exchanger of the heat pump flows to the cooling compartment.

The invention will now be further elucidated on the basis of the following figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic front view of a possible embodiment of a heat pump system according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of this embodiment;

Fig. 3A shows a schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of a heat pump system according to the invention;

Fig. 3B shows a front view of the heat exchanger for this embodiment; Fig. 4A shows a schematic side view of a further alternative embodiment of a heat pump system according to the invention;

Fig. 4B shows a front view of the heat exchanger for this embodiment; Fig. 5A shows a schematic side view of a further alternative embodiment of a heat pump system according to the invention; Fig. 5B shows a front view of the heat exchanger for this embodiment; and Fig. 6 and 7 show a 3-D impression of the heat pump system according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic front view of a possible embodiment of a heat pump system according to the invention, consisting of a frame 1 to which is fixed a heat exchanger 2 assembled from pipes. Heat exchanger 2 is manufactured from metal or plastic, has a length of for instance eight metres and is placed in a drilled or excavated hole, after which this hole is filled with coarse sand or with gravel, this such that frame 1 protrudes above the ground surface. Frame 1 is closed with panels or doors 3a, 3b and is at this stage empty. Shortly before the heat pump system is taken into use a heat pump 4 is slid into frame 1 , wherein heat exchanger 2 is connected via two rapid-action couplings 5a, 5b to an evaporator 6 of heat pump 4, and wherein a condenser 7 of heat pump 4 is connected via two rapid-action couplings 8a, 8b to for instance a central heating circuit. A compressor 9 provides for the circulation of a coolant in heat pump 4 and a pump 10 provides for the circulation of water through heat exchanger 2. As known in the field, the heat pump system can also be used for cooling purposes; a four-way valve or non-return valve placed in the heat pump is here activated, whereby condenser 7 in effect becomes the evaporator and evaporator 6 in effect becomes the condenser. Available under heat pump 4 is a thermally insulated space 11 which is connected to the condenser, for instance using water-carrying pipes, whereby a relatively high temperature prevails in space 11 so that food can be kept warm. It is also possible to incorporate two compartments in thermally insulated space 11 , wherein a relatively high temperature prevails in one compartment while the other compartment can be used as refrigerator.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of this embodiment, with frame 1 , heat exchanger 2, panels or doors 3a,3b and heat pump 4 slid into frame 1. Also shown are rapid-action coupling 5b with which evaporator 6 is connected to heat exchanger 2 and rapid-action coupling 8b with which condenser 7 is connected to a heat exchanger 12 which here forms part of an air heating, but which can of course also form part of a floor heating or of a boiler. Further shown are compressor 9, a connector 13 with which heat pump 4 is connected to the mains electricity and thermally insulated space 11 in which food can be kept warm or cool.

Fig. 3A shows a schematic side view of an alternative embodiment of a heat pump system according to the invention which almost wholly corresponds to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, but wherein heat exchanger 2 is embodied with hollow cooling plates 14a,..., 14f through which cooling water flows and which are mutually connected using two pipes 15a, 15b. This heat exchanger can also be applied extremely well on land, wherein plates 14a,...,14f must be oriented such that the natural flow causes the groundwater to flow between the plates. In Fig. 3A frame 1 is provided with chains 16 with which the heat pump system can be anchored in the water, wherein space 1 1 contributes toward the buoyancy of frame 1. Fig. 3B shows a front view of heat exchanger 2 for this embodiment, with plates 14a,...,14f, connecting pipes 15a, 15b and couplings 5a,5b with which heat exchanger 2 can be connected to evaporator 6.

Fig. 4A shows a schematic side view of a further alternative embodiment of a heat pump system according to the invention which almost wholly corresponds to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, but wherein heat exchanger 2 is embodied with solid cooling plates 17a,...,17h of aluminium which are connected to a solid aluminium connecting plate 18 to which is fixed a heat exchanger 19 in meander form through which cooling water flows. This heat exchanger can also be applied extremely well on land, wherein plates 17a,...,17h must be oriented such that the natural flow causes the groundwater to flow between the plates. Fig. 4B shows a front view of heat exchanger 2 for this embodiment, with plates 17a,...,17h, connecting plate 18 and heat exchanger 19 in meander form, in addition to couplings 5a,5b with which heat exchanger 2 can be connected to evaporator 6.

Fig. 5A shows a schematic side view of a further alternative embodiment of a heat pump system according to the invention which almost wholly corresponds to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B, but wherein the heat exchanger 19 in

meander form is omitted. Evaporator 6 is instead mounted directly on connecting plate 18 and couplings 5a, 5b are used to connect evaporator 6 to the other parts of the heat pump. Fig. 5B shows a front view of the heat exchanger for this embodiment, with plates 17a,...,17h, evaporator 6 and couplings 5a,5b.

Fig. 6 and 7 show a 3-D impression of the heat pump system according to the invention. Figure 6 shows and embodiment suitable for installation in water. This embodiment comprises a float section 20 for receiving an external float 20a and/or an internal float 20b.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment suitable for installation in the ground, for instance in a building. In this embodiment compartment 11 comprises a keep-warm compartment 11a and a cooling compartment 11b.

Cooling compartment 11 b comprises a sub-compartment 11c (freezer section) incorporating a coolant evaporator. Coolant preferably coming from heat pump condenser 7 flows into the coolant evaporator. A cooling element is also accommodated in cooling compartment 11 b. Cold water (brine) from heat exchanger 2 or from heat pump evaporator 6 flows through the cooling element. This creates the option of free cooling of the cooling compartment in addition to mechanical cooling (as described above by means of switching of valves). The free cooling can also be utilized for the whole building, such as a house, for instance by means of using an additional heat exchanger through which flows water (brine) from heat exchanger 2.

Both embodiments comprise a distributor 21 for distributing warm water from heat pump section 4a to the various installations. Both embodiments further comprise a connecting section 22 in which the distributor and rapid-action couplings are accommodated.

The invention relates to an innovative heat pump system which provides a combination of household equipment and space heating and/or space cooling.

The invention is of course not limited to the described and shown preferred embodiments, but extends to all possible combinations thereof.

The invention generally comprises any embodiment falling within the scope of protection as defined in the claims, as seen in the light of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings.