Invention Title

HEATING SYSTEM USING AEROGENERATOR

Technical Field The present invention relates to a heating system, in particular, which uses an aerogenerator, so that the electric power generated by the aerogenerator is being used as an auxiliary heat source for a conventional heating system, which heats heating medium and stores the heat energy therein. The present invention minimizes the operation of the conventional heating system, thereby reducing total heating costs while maximizing heating efficiency.

Background Art

The heating system is generally used to produce heat and hot water to warm our places like residential

• houses, where the oil, gas and electric boilers are the most popular heating systems nowadays. The oil and gas boilers, which use fossil fuel, may increase heating costs when there is an unexpected price increase of the oil or the natural gas in accordance with the demand and supply changes of the international markets. For the electric boilers, we can operate a heater to heat heating medium and store the heat energy therein by using comparatively cheap electricity at midnight, and

use the hot heating medium to produce the hot air and hot water even in a time zone where the cheap midnight electricity is not available. However, it is difficult to maintain the heating medium as hot enough to heat the air and water for long time.

In order to solve this problem and save energy sources, so-called ^utility interactive photovoltaic systems,' which use both electricity and solar light, were introduced. However, solar energy has a low energy density and frequently changes according to the seasons and the timing. That is why these photovoltaic systems do not properly cope with winter weathers because of the short duration of the sunlight, intense cold or low temperatures, and thus heat collection efficiency is poor in comparison to a space where the solar collector is constructed on. Accordingly, the structural problems are that the photovoltaic systems are rarely utilized and tend to become a worry.

Aerogenerators are one type of generators that generates electric power by converting kinetic energy of the wind into electric energy with blades . The aerogenerators are in the limelight as a non-polluting alternative energy system that has almost no damage or impact on the environment.

Disclosure

Technical Problem

In consideration of the above-mentioned matters, the inventor has studied to develop a novel and advanced heating system that can properly solve the structural problems of conventional heating systems, and finally devised the present invention.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a heating system using an aerogenerator, in which electric power generated by the aerogenerator is associated with a conventional heating system in order to heat heating medium, which will be used to produce hot air or hot water, and store the heat energy therein, thereby maximizing energy efficiency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heating system using an aerogenerator, which can store the surplus electricity therein, and which the surplus electric power generated by the aerogenerator can be supplied to the commercial electricity system.

Technical Solution

According to an aspect of the invention, the heating system includes a pump forcibly circulating heating medium, heated by a heating apparatus including a boiler, to a heat radiator; a heat storage tank storing the heat energy in the heating medium for heating and boiling; an aerogenerator generating electric power using

blades rotated by the wind; an inverter converting direct current, generated by the aerogenerator, into a frequency of alternating current; a heater provided inside the heat storage tank to heat the heating medium in the heat storage tank using the electric power supplied through the inverter; a temperature sensor provided in the heat storage tank to detect the temperature of the heating medium; an electric condenser charging the electric power, supplied through the inverter, the electric condenser connected to the heater via a switch; and a controller controlling overall operations of the inverter, the heat source means, the heater and the switch, wherein the controller detects the amount of the electric power supplied to the inverter and the amount of electric power consumed in the heater and receiving a signal from the temperature sensor.

Advantageous Effects According to the invention as set forth above, electric power generated by the aerogenerator can be associated with a conventional heating system in order to heat heating medium or store the heat energy therein. This, as a result, makes it possible to minimize the energy consumption owing to the heating and the boiling from the heating system, thereby greatly reducing heating costs while maximizing the heating efficiency.

Furthermore, the surplus electricity from the aerogenerator, left after used for electric loads, can be stored or be provided to the commercial distribution system. Since the surplus electricity can be sold to the commercial distribution system such as a hydro market, it is possible to reduce the hydro cost as much as electric power generated by the aerogenerator and also create new profit by commercializing electricity.

Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a heating system using an aerogenerator according to an embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the heating system using an aerogenerator according to an embodiment of the invention. <Major Reference Numerals of the Drawings> 10: heating apparatus 20: pump 30: heat radiator 40: heat storage tank

50: aerogenerator 60: inverter

70: heater 80: temperature sensor

90: electric condenser 100: controller 110: switch 120: phase modifier

Best Mode

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments thereof are shown. First, it should be understood that the following terminologies used herein are defined in consideration of their functions in the present invention, and that the definitions of the terminologies should be construed based on the concept of the invention and their unique, generally-accepted meanings.

Detailed descriptions of the well-known functions and constructions will be omitted for clarity and conciseness when they are thought to obscure the invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a heating system using an aerogenerator according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the invention generally includes a heating apparatus 10, a pump 20, a heat radiator 30, a heat storage tank 40, an aerogenerator 50, an inverter 60, a heater 70, a temperature sensor 80, an electric condenser 90, a controller 100 and a phase modifier 130.

First, the heating apparatus 10 is a conventional heating -apparatus that heats the heating medium. Herein, the term "heating apparatus" is commonly used to refer any utilities, such as oil boilers using petroleum as fuel, gas boilers using gas as fuel, and electric boilers

using heat generated by electric resistance, which heats heating medium for the purpose of heating or boiling.

The heating apparatus 10 is provided with an actuation sensor 120 that senses the actuation of the heating apparatus 10 and transmits the detection signal to the controller 100.

The pump 20 is installed between the heating apparatus 10 and the heat radiator 30, and acts to control the flow of the heating medium. For example, the pump 20, in response to the control signal from the controller 100, forcibly circulates the heating medium heated by the heating apparatus 10.

The heat radiator 30 is located in between the pump 20 and the heat storage tank 40, and acts a heating function by radiating the heat, continuously circulated from the heating medium by the pump 20, into the house.

The heat storage tank 40 acts to store the heating medium ^' heated by the heating apparatus 10 and the heater

70. The heat storage tank 40 includes an exterior heat insulation layer (not shown) for preventing the hot heating medium from being cooled down by the outside air, so that the heat efficiency is not lowered; a check valve

(not shown) for replenishing the amount of the heating medium, which is naturally evaporated; and a drain valve (not shown) for facilitating the exchange of the heating medium.

The heat storage tank 40 is separately

manufactured, and can be attached to the conventional heating system, which is previously constructed in a place like a residential house, if additional heating is required. The aerogenerator 50 can be installed on top of the building or the windy area to generate the electric energy by turning an electric generator using natural wind. The power generation of the aerogenerator 50 is generally under the control of the controller 100. Since the aerogenerator 50 is required to turn at a predetermined speed regardless of the wind speed, it is preferable that the controller 100 simultaneously controls and changes the incline of the blades according to the wind speed. The inverter 60 is connected to the controller 100, and acts to convert the direct current, generated by the aerogenerator 50, into the alternating current having a predetermined frequency.

Electric power converted by the inverter 60 is used, under the control of the controller 100, as a heat source of the heater 70.

When heating is not necessary, electric power generated from the aerogenerator 50 is sent to and stored in the electric condenser 90. The heater 70 heats the heating medium, contained inside the heat storage tank 40, and is electrically connected to the alternating current that is supplied

through the inverter 60.

When the controller 100 receives an abnormal signal from the temperature sensor 80, the electric current to the heater 70 can be automatically cut off to prevent overheating.

The temperature sensor 80 is constructed inside the heat storage tank 40, and detects the temperature of the heating medium, and sends a detection signal to the controller 100. The temperature sensor 80 detects the temperature of the hot heating medium and sends detection signals to the controller 100, thereby allowing the temperature of heating and boiling to be set on the user selected temperature while preventing the heating medium and the heater 70 inside the heat storage tank 40 from being overheated.

The electric condenser 90 charges surplus electricity of the aerogenerator 50, supplied through the inverter 60. When power supply from the aerogenerator 50 is interrupted, the electric condenser 90 heats the heater 70 in response to a control signal from the controller 100. That is, the electric condenser 90 is connected to the heater 70 via a switch 110 to supply power to the heater 70 in response to an on/off operation of the switch 110.

The electric condenser 90 has intermediate features between the low energy density of a conventional

condenser and the low power density of a secondary cell. Preferably, the electric condenser 90 is implemented as a super electric condenser that can quickly charge and discharge power and has features such as high charge/discharge efficiency, with the semi-permanent lifetime and high power.

The controller 100 controls the overall operation of the heating system of the invention. That is, the controller 100 is electrically connected to each of the pump 20, the inverter 60, the heater 70, the temperature sensor 80, the electric condenser 90, the switch 110, and the actuation sensor 120. It responses to the signals from the temperature sensor 80 and the actuation sensor 120, and performs the corresponding functions. The phase modifier 130 transmits the surplus electricity of the aerogenerator 50, determined by the controller 100, to a commercial distribution system.

Since the surplus electricity can be sold to the commercial distribution system such as a power market through this type of phase modifier 130, it is possible to reduce the power rate as much as the electric power generated by the aerogenerator 50.

Now, the operation process of the heating system using an aerogenerator will be described as follows, according to the embodiment of the invention with reference to FIG. 2.

First, when the user inputs a power signal to operate the heating system, the controller 100 traces the temperature set for heating or boiling, corresponding to a user-set temperature, and detects the temperature of heating medium inside the heat storage tank 40 through the temperature sensor 80 (SlO) .

If the temperature of the heating medium detected at the step SlO is lower than the user-set temperature, it will detect whether or not the electric power is supplied from the aerogenerator 50 (S20) .

On the other hand, if the temperature of heating medium detected at the step SlO is the same as or higher than the user-set temperature, this procedure repeats.

If electric power is supplied from the aerogenerator 50 as the result of the step S20, the heater 70 performs heating and the pump 20 is actuated

(S30) . Then, the hot heating medium is forcibly circulated by the rotation of -the pump 20.

Then, it is determined whether or not the heating medium is heated up to the user-set temperature (S40) .

If the heating medium is heated up to the user-set temperature as the result of the step S40, the heating by the heater 70 is interrupted (S50).

On the other hand, if the heating medium is not heated up to the user-set temperature as the result of the step S40, the process returns to the step S30. If the electric power is not supplied from the

aerogenerator 50 as the result of the step S20, it is determined whether or not there is the charged electric current in the electric condenser 90 (S60) .

If there is the charged electric current in the electric condenser 90 as the result of the step S60, the switch 110 is turned on to set the heater 70 to provide heat to the heating medium and the pump 20 to actuate (S70, S80) . Then, the hot heating medium is forcibly circulated by the rotation of the pump 20. Then, it is determined whether or not the heating medium is heated up to the user-set temperature by the step S80 (S90) .

If it is determined that the heating medium is heated up to the user-set temperature as the result of the step S90, the switch 110 is turned off to interrupt the heating by the heater 70 (SlOO) .

On the other hand, if it is determined that the heating medium is not heated up to the user-set temperature as the result of the step S90, the process returns to the step S80.

If there is no charged electric current in the electric condenser 90 as the result of the step S60, the corresponding heating apparatus is actuated (SIlO). Then, the heating apparatus heats the heating medium by burning fuel, and the hot heating medium is forcibly circulated by the rotation of the pump 20, thereby heating corresponding areas.

Next, it is determined whether or not the heating medium is heated up to the user-set temperature by the step SIlO (S120) .

If it is determined that the heating medium is heated up to the user-set temperature as the result of the step S120, the actuation of the heating apparatus is interrupted (S130) .

On the other hand, if it is determined that the heating medium is not heated up to the user-set temperature a<s the result of the step S120, the process returns to the step SIlO.

By repeating the above procedures, it is possible to perform the heating functions while minimizing the fuel consumption of the heating apparatus. The scope of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments as set forth above and the drawings as attached. Rather, it is clearly understood that those skilled in the art will appreciate that various substitutes and equivalents to the embodiments are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.