EP0291619B1

EP0291619B1 - Cooling, heating and air-conditioning system for buildings employing the existing central heating installation and radiators

Info

Publication number: EP0291619B1
Application number: EP87600008A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Georges Mitropoulos
Original assignee: Mountzouridis Kostantinos Theodorou
Current assignee: MOUNTZOURIDIS, KOSTANTINOS THEODOROU
Priority date: 1987-05-20
Filing date: 1987-07-21
Publication date: 1995-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2007-07-21
Also published as: DE3751620D1; ATE130928T1; EP0291619A3; EP0291619A2; GR870787B

Abstract

The cooling-unit (1) is installed in parallel to the existing central heating boiler (2). Valves (4) are installed to cut off the circulation in the cooling or heating conduit, whichever is not in use. At the lower exit pipe of the radiators (7) is an installed air-recycling device (6,10), which operates under the pressure generated by the liquid cooling-agent circulating in the conduit, or alternatively by means of an electric fan.

Description

Technical field to which the invention relates

This is a brief description of a new process invention. This is a simple cool air conditioning system of considerable flexibility, of many applications and surprising effectiveness, all at extremely low cost.

Background art

At the core of the cooling system is the hydrothermal radiator central-heating installation, as found in most modern buildings. The central-heating system remains inactive for the greater part of spring, during the summer, and for the better part of autumn, in countries of temperate climate. During this warmer part of the year we may now actually employ the available central-heating installations for cooling and climatization. By means of this practical invention we are able to reduce the air-temperature to the desired low levels in all areas of the building which are normally heated in the winter. The new, simple, bolt-on system that fits on to the existing central heating installations requires no further modification.
From US-A-2,121,625 a heating and cooling system is known, utilizing the existing heat exchangers (radiators) through which either a cooling or a heating medium or a single medium for both purposes may be passed to properly condition the areas of a building. The heating medium used is steam which is supplied by any suitable source, as a furnace, whereas brine is used as a cooling medium supplied from a storage tank and cooled by a conventional cooling apparatus.
The accessories required for the installation of the cooling and climatization system according to the present invention are the following:

One electric cooling unit (low-temperature water refrigerator (1).
One main switch and fuse board (5).
Air-recycling units (6) to be adapted to each radiator.
The required liquid cooling agent (see tank (9)).

The cooling agent consists of water, antifreeze, as well as of other antithermolytic and anticorrosive agents. All fittings as well as the required type (composition) of the cooling agent are provided for any kind of central-heating system whether in detached houses, in appartment blocks, with central heating system on a condominium basis, in factories, schools, offices, e.t.c.
It is understood that the cooling system alone can be installed together with the appropriate piping conduit and radiators, without the boiler (heating) unit, should the latter not be required.

Description of one way of carrying out the invention by reference to the drawings

The necessary steps for installation of the new outfit are as follows :

a.- Install the proper cooling unit in parallel to the existing central heating boiler (2). Connect to the main switch-board (5).
b.- Connect with the existing piping of the central heating, at a point prior to the water-circulation pressure pump. Install sluice-gates to cut-off circulation at cooling or heating conduit, whichever is not in use (4).
c.- Drain all the pipe-lines of the system. Flush internally all conduits and radiators. Introduce special fluid agent to dissolve salts and to clean rust.
d.- Test pipe-lines under pressure for leaks. Flush with leakproofing agent. If the system is leakproof, pressurise with insulating agent.

Following this treatment, fill up the system with the liquid cooling agent we provide (see storage tank (9)). This liquid agent has certain properties:

a.- It reduces liquid temperatures near freezing point.
b.- When the heating is on in the winter months, the special liquid agent in the system allows substantial savings in consumption (of petrol, coal, electricity e.t.c.), because of certain properties of the agent, which is a good conductor of heat.

A side-effect of this is an expanded winter operation of the heating system at the same cost, or alternatively, savings in fuel consumption (and therefore in foreign exchange at an aggregate level for the national economy) and a subsequent reduction in the overalll level of air pollution. [For example: 100 CAL/H results in water temperature of 75°C in radiators. Using the special liquid agent instead, with the equivalent 100 CAL/H we obtain liquid temperature of 105° C, still below boiling point].
One cooling tower (9) is installed in an adjacent open-air space (open-air well) or alternatively on the roof of the building, for an air-treatment of the cooling liquid-agent.

Air circulation in cooled areas. Equipment of radiators

At the exit pipe of the radiator we install a hydraulic or an electric fan to recycle the air (6, 10). This may operate under the pressure generated by the liquid circulating in the conduit. In this case, air-recycling is effected by the principle of differential gravity of warm/cool air. An alternative unit can enhance air-circulation with an electric fan. The objective of the air-circulation unit is to filter and purify the air in the cooled room, and also to retain in the filter any dust, nicotine smoke, micro-particles, germs etc. The unit can operate when required, and can actually be switched-off. It enhances the available air-supply with the required relative humidity and ozon, as well as with any required scent. A small container for water, ozon and aromatic scent can emulate the conditions of climatization more generally recommended.Because of those features the unit is also ideal for all areas other than working and living quarters, e.g. for hospitals, clinics, hotels, scientific laboratories etc. And it can be very efficient to generate very low temperatures at a fraction only of the cost of a normal air-conditioning system.

General instructions for the operation of the system.

The administrator (or the concierge) of a building, with the heating switched-off can easily turn the central heating sluice-gate to the off position. Then open the cooling system sluice-gate and switch on the refrigerator unit.
For efficient cooling and climatization, doors and windows in the building should be closed and insulated, so that a temperature about the required level is maintained, regulated by a thermostat on the central board.
It is understood that the cooling system employs existing installations, but is used independently, as the heating boiler in cut off. The new cooling system is effective with ordinary radiators, serpentine radiators, as well as with any other type, irrespective of material or construction. It is efficient with all kinds of central-heating systems in appartment blocks, in hotels, factories, hospitals.

Refrigeration unit

The refrigerator unit itself can be one of several types. It may operate with all known cooling systems, e.g. water, sulphur- or carbon-dioxide, ammonia trihydrite, ethylene- or methylene-chloride, freon [22], calcium chloride (with ice at -40°C) or with liquid nitrogen etc.

Alternative use: Cool water supply

The refrigerator unit has dual inner side-wells, where water-supply from the tap can be directed. We can then obtain, by induction of the liquid agent through a steamer via the return conduit from the cooling units (radiators), the temperature differential, and we can thereby bring the water-supply to low temperature, and have cooled water for general use as well, for as long as the cooling unit remains operational (1).

Claims

A method of employing the existing hydrothermal radiator heating conduit as found in most buildings, for cooling and climatization, by installing supplementary accessory equipment on to the system, comprising the following steps:
a. Installing the proper cooling-unit (1) in parallel to the existing central heating boiler (2); connecting to the main switch-board (5);

b. Connecting with the existing piping of the central heating, at a point prior to the water-circulating pump; installing gate valves (4) to cut-off circulation at cooling or heating conduit, whenever it is not in use;

c. Draining all the pipe-lines of the system; flushing internally all conduits and radiators; introducing special fluid-agent to dissolve salts and to clean rust;

d. Testing pipe-lines under pressure for leaks; flushing with leak proofing agent; if the system is leakproof, pressurising with insulating agent;

e. Filling up the system with a special liquid cooling agent.

f. Equipping all the radiators with fans (6), filters and humidifiers in order to circulate, purify and humidify the air in the rooms;
wherein said special liquid cooling agent serves for cooling in summer and heating in winter and is characterised in that said liquid cooling agent
comprises water, antifreeze, antithermolytic and anticorrosive agents,
has a boiling point of not less than 105°C and
its thermal conductivity and thermal capacity characteristics allow that its temperature is raised to 105°C when heated with the equivalent amount of heat by which water obtains a temperature of 75°C, resulting thus to a significant
reduction of energy consumption compared with the corresponding energy consumption when water is used instead.
A cooling, heating and climatisation system that employs the existing hydrothermal radiator conduit as found in most buildings and which in addition comprises a cooling unit (1), gate valves (4), a switch-board (5) and fans (6) adapted to each radiator which is also equipped with air filters and humidifiers, and wherein the system is filled with a liquid cooling agent circulating therethrough and serving for cooling in summer and heating in winter characterised in that said liquid cooling agent
comprises water, antifreeze, antithermolytic and anticorrosive agents,
has a boiling point of not less than 105°C and
its thermal conductivity and thermal capacity characteristics allow that its temperature is raised to 105°C when heated with the equivalent amount of heat by which water obtains a temperature of 75°C, resulting thus to a significant reduction of energy consumption compared with the corresponding energy consumption when water is used instead.