FR2537256A1 - Apparatuses, intended for heating buildings or for producing hot water, which operate on solar energy according to the thermosyphon principle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatuses which allow the transfer of the thermal energy of the sun, from solar collectors 1 to radiators 2 or hot water storage tanks 12 by the circulation of heat-bearing fluid according to the thermosyphon principle (natural convection of the fluid), in other words without adding any other energy than that of the sun. These apparatuses are either combinations of solar collectors and radiators intended for heating, some of which have storage reservoirs 9 for the heat-bearing fluid, or combinations of solar collectors and hot water storage tanks intended for the production of sanitary hot water or hot water for heating.

Description

 The present invention relates to the technical field of installations, intended for the heating of buildings and for the production of domestic hot water, which make it possible to transfer the thermal energy of the sun from solar collectors to internal volumes using heat transfer fluids.

The points of the prior art which differentiate it from the present invention are the following @ - The circulation of the heat transfer fluid is done using
circulators that consume electric current for
turn.

- Supported equipments, for running the cir
culateurs, electric probes and regulating organs
electric tion.

- The installations cannot function during pan
nes or power cuts, which can be
serious on case of acute economic erection, - The solar collectors are not connected, directly,
on radiators. The heating circuits are more
long. The radiators are not independent one
others.

 The devices, concerned by the present invention and intended for the solar heating of buildings or for the production of solar domestic hot water, are either solar collectors (I) associated with radiators (2) which can be provided with storage tanks for the heated heat transfer fluid (9), or solar collectors associated, via heat exchangers, with hot water storage tanks (12) intended to supply heating installations or networks of hot water. These devices, whose operating principle is similar, are described in paragraphs a), b) and c).

The devices concerned by the present invention are characterized by the following properties: - The circulation of the heat transfer fluid, used for the trans
fert of the sun's thermal energy inward
of buildings, is done according to the principle of the thermosiphon
(circulation of the fluid in natural cover by vari
ation of the temperature of this fluid) by the sole effect
of solar collectors.

- The devices may not be equipped with any organ
electric.

- The solar collectors are connected directly to the
radiators (which can be fitted with
storage of heated heat transfer fluid) which can be
kill as many independent facilities between them.

The thermosyphon effect will occur if the sensors
solar panels are placed below, partial or total,
radiators, steak tanks for heated fluid and
hot water tanks. How ther @ osiphon works
is all the more effective as the solar collectors are
significantly lower than the other elements.

The present invention has, with respect to the technique
previous, the advantages following @ nt @@ - Transfer of solar calories, to the interior of the b
timents, s @ ns expenditure of energy other than the sun.

- No vulnerability to power cuts;
operation without electrical energy.

- Free calorific contributions, entirely and durably,
after depreciation of the equipment.

- Reliability and durability of the devices due to the
simplicity of their constitution and heavy operation.

- Silent operation.

- Installation of independent radiators between them and in
dependent on other installations, eliminating the reefs
generalized breakdowns, during repairs
on some radiators while the others function
nent.

- In addition to equipping new buildings, transformation of
existing buildings into solar buildings, installing
devices on the front, in possible locations, for example
everything where the sunshine is favorable.

- Possibility of equipping only the exposed bion facades or
certain accommodation or certain rooms, excluding
others. Facilities to proportion the devices
reils the energy needs and the sunshine of
facades.

- Equipment for collective housing in indi
of domestic hot water, completely independent
your collective networks.

- Creation of facade panels formed by the devices,
or integrating the devices.

The present invention also relates to the solar collectors, described in paragraph d), characterized, compared to the prior art, by the following properties: - They are more suitable for the devices, described in para.
graphs a), b) and c), and for surface mounting on the front,
because they may require the junction piping in
the thickness of the insulation.

- They are economical, being applied directly,
without interposition of a bottom panel which can be
deleted.

- They are more suitable for installation on the facade, being provided
a @ molded transparent shell (18) which is
glass and which is fixed to the wall using a j @ int
flexible compressed and interposed, all around, between the hull
and the facade.

 What has been said above, relating to solar collectors, does not exclude, of course, the use of existing equipment, in particular inclined solar collectors.

a) Appliances, operating as an energy thermosiphon
solar, composed of solar collectors and radia
ters (fig. I, 3 and 6)
A circuit, filled with non-freezing heat transfer fluid, consists of a sensor (1), a radiator (2) and connecting pipes (3 and 4). A thermal insulator (5) is placed behind the sensor and coats the junction pipes, as well as any other parts other than the radiator. Under the effect of the sunshine, the heated heat transfer fluid rises in the solar collector, by the top piping (3), invades the radiator, then, cooling in the radiator, descends, by the low piping (4), in the bottom of the solar collector, thus completing the circuit. An intake of calories is therefore made in the room where the radiator is located.

 An expansion vessel (6) absorbs the expansion of the heat transfer fluid. A thermostatic valve (7) regulates the temperature of the radiator. A backflow prevention device (8), consisting either of a valve which closes under the effect of its own weight and which opens under the effect of the pressure of the heated heat transfer fluid, or of a thermostatic valve which closes when the temperature of the heat transfer fluid is low, prevents the direction of circulation of the fluid from reversing in the circuit. The backflow preventer is calculated so that the heat transfer fluid heated in the sensor does not rise in the radiator until the temperature in the sensor is higher than the temperature in the radiator.

 A summer stop valve (I0 ') can be placed on the low junction piping (4) to prevent the rise, in summer, of the heat transfer fluid heated in the radiator.

 For the apparatus of fig. 6, the backflow prevention device (8) is eliminated, since the solar collector is entirely below the radiator, which makes it impossible for the heated heat transfer fluid to return from the radiator to the solar collector when the latter is cooled.

 Figs. I and 6 represent solar collectors fixed to the surface of the facades, FIG. 9 represents a front panel made up of the association solar collector - radiator.

 All combinations are possible with regard to the number of solar collectors and radiators connected together.

b) Appliances, operating as an energy thermosiphon
solar, composed of solar collectors, tanks
for storage of heated heat transfer fluid and radi
actors (fig. 2, 4 and 7)
The apparatus described in a) is completed by a thermally insulated reservoir for storing the heated heat transfer fluid (9).

An additional beautiful season shut-off valve (I0) can be placed on the high junction piping (3). The circulation of the heat transfer fluid is established through the tank, as previously through the radiator, which has the effect of accumulating heated heat transfer fluid in the tank. The radiatour (2) is supplied with heat transfer fluid heated from the tank to which it is connected by a high pipe, comprising a thermostatic valve (7), and by a low pipe.

 The summer season shut-off valves (I0 and I0 ') can be provided to eliminate the storage of the heated heat transfer fluid in the tank during the season when heating is unnecessary.

 For the apparatus of fig. 7, the backflow preventer (8) is eliminated, because the solar collector is entirely below the tank and radiator, which makes it impossible for the heated heat transfer fluid to return from the storage tank to the solar collector when the latter is cooled.

 Figs. 2 and 7 represent solar collectors fixed to the surface of the facades. Fig. 4 represents a front panel made up of the association of solar collector - storage tank for the heat-transfer fluid heated by a radiator.

 All combinations are possible with regard to the number of solar collectors, tanks and radiators connected together.

c) Apparatus, operating @n thermosiphon to ener @ ie
solar, composed of solar collectors and hot water storage tanks (fig. 5 and 8)
Fig. 5: The heat transfer fluid circuit is similar to that of the apparatus described in a), except that the radiator is replaced by a heat exchanger coil (II) which can be placed in an insulated water storage tank. hot (I2). The tank may contain domestic hot water or hot water from a heating network. In the first case, the tank has a hot water outlet (I3) and a cold water supply (I4). In the second case, it has a hot water outlet (13) and a cooled water return (15).

 The circuit is fitted with an expansion vaso (6), a backflow preventer (8), and, in the case of heating, a season shut-off valve (I0 ') intended to prevent the rise , in summer, heat transfer fluid heated in the hot water storage tank. The backflow preventer is calculated so that the heat transfer fluid heated in the solar collector does not rise in the exchanger coil until the temperature in the collector is higher than the temperature in the coil.

 Contrary to the arrangement of fig. 5, if the solar collector was placed completely opposite the hot water storage tank, which would make it impossible for the heated heat transfer fluid to return from the exchanger @erpentin to the collector, the antireflow device (8) would be eliminated.

Fig. 8; It represents a device, intended for the production of domestic hot water, which operates, like all the devices described above, with solar energy and according to the principle of the thermosiphon. This device is composed of a solar collector (I), high and low junction pipes (3 and 4), an insulator (5) which coats all the elements (except the glass of the collector), a expansion tank (6), of a heat exchanger serpontin (II) plased, in this case, in a hot water storage tank (I2), of a hot water outlet (I3) and a cold water supply (I4). Supplementary heating can be achieved by an electrical resistor (I6) controlled by a temperature sensor (I7).

 The anti-backflow device (8) is removed, because the solar collector is entirely in controba @ of the hot water storage tank, which makes it impossible for the heated heat transfer fluid to return from the exchanger coil will see the solar collector when it is cooled. The regulation of the transfer of calories, from the sensor to the balloon, does not take place naturally, the heated heat-transfer fluid does not romontant in the exchanger coil only from the moment when the temperature in the sensor is higher than the temperature in the coil.

 The summer season shut-off valves (I0 and I0 ') have been eliminated because the device operates throughout the year.

General information on the devices described in c)
Other models of exchangers can be used, such as exchangers with a compartment separate from the volume of water heated by a membrane.

 Figs. 5 and 8 represent solar collectors fixed to the surface of the facades. The solar collectors can also be integrated into facade panels or even form facade panels themselves.

 All combinations are possible with regard to the number of solar collectors and hot water storage tanks connected together.

d) Solar collectors suitable for the devices described in a),
b) and c), (fig. I, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
Solar collectors, intended for surface mounting on the facade, composed of a proper sensor (I) in which a heat transfer fluid circulates, a thermal insulator (5) placed between the sensor and the facade, high junction pipes ( 3) and low (4) which can pass through the thickness of the insulation, and a transparent molded shell (I8) with single or double wall, serving as a single or double window.

 The transparent molded shell is fixed, on the surface, on the facade, using screws or bolts, with interposition, all around (around its perimeter), of a flexible compressed gasket between the shell and the facade @.

 These solar collectors can be placed on the facades, directly, without the interposition of a bottom panel between the insulation and the facade.

General information on the devices described in a), b), c) and d)
The junction pipes (3 and 4) can be made of thermally insulating materials (plastics, for example), or can include insulating sogments (3 'and 4') in the traver @ ées of the facade wall, for example.

 The diameters of the junction pipes will be sufficiently large to avoid high pressure drops.

In order to further increase the transfer of calories, the junction pipes may be multiple (doubled, for example).

 In all cases, additional heating can be achieved by placing electrical resistances, at the bottom of the radiators, storage tanks for the heated heat transfer fluid and hot water storage tanks, controlled by immersed temperature sensors dens the top of radiators, tanks and tanks.

In order not to complicate the drawings, intended to explain the operation of the devices, certain organs, foreign to the principle of this operation, which would equip the devices, such as plugs or drain taps
cricuits, the valves used to isolate elements for
replacing them, etc., are not shown.

Fig. 9 shows an example of integration of ap
like described on front panels. These panels,
two storeys high, incorporate a solar collector
(I), a radiator (2) with or without storage tank
heated heat transfer fluid (located on the inside of the
panel), and a bay window (I9).

Industrial applications of the present invention
These applications are related to the manufacturing of devices,
described in paragraphs a), b), c) and d), intended for heating
solar fage of buildings, to the production of hot water sa
solar, for the production of solar hot water supplying industrial installations, thermal controllers
electric or electrical mics, etc.

In large installations by volume, the
hot water storage tanks can be replaced by large heat-insulated tanks (tanks, water chitches,
etc.) fitted with solar collectors. These installations which
accumulate thermal energy from the sun, free of charge, all year round, could be, outdoors, or integrated into solar buildings.

 The enumeration of the few previous applications cannot, in any case, limit the list of industrial applications of the present invention.

Claims (7)

 - low piping (4) - bottom of the sensor.  upper section (3) - top of radiator (2) - bottom of radiator  carrier circulates in the sen @: top of the sensor (I) - pipe  controbas, partol or total, of the radiator. Calo fluid  molar sensor. The solar collector is placed in  temperature of this fluid), after sunshine  tion of the fluid in natural cover by variation of the  ment), so done according to the principle of thormosiphon (circula  the radiator (from the outside to the inside of the frame  of the thermal energy of the sun, from the solar collector to  I) Apparatus, with a non-freezing heat transfer fluid circuit, intended for heating buildings using solar energy from the sun, consisting of a solar collector (1), a high junction piping ( 3), a low junction pipe (4), a radiator (2) and a thermal insulator (5). The solar collector is connected, via the connecting pipes, to the radiator. The thermal insulation, placed behind the colar collector, also coats the junction pipes. These devices are characterized by the following properties: - The circulation of the heat transfer fluid, used for transfer  no electrical component.  - To operate, the devices may not be equipped  than).  the same fluid circulating in both (united circuit - The solar collector is connected directly to the radia  autonomous and independent equipment between them. - In a heating installation, the devices are  2) Apparatus, with a non-freezing heat transfer fluid circuit, intended for heating buildings using solar energy from sunshine, consisting of a solar collector (I), a high junction pipe ( 3), a low junction pipe (4), a storage tank for the heated heat transfer fluid (9), a radiator (2) and its high and low pipes, and a thermal insulator ( 5). The solar collector is connected, via the junction pipes, to the tank, to which the radiator is also connected, via its high and low pipes. The thermal insulation, installed behind the solar collector, also covers the junction pipes and the tank. These devices are characterized by the following properties: - The circulation of the heat transfer fluid, used for transfer  thermal energy from the sun, from the solar collector to  the tank, then to the radiator (from the interior to  inside the building), is done according to the principle of  thermosiphon (circulation of fluid in natural cover  by variation of the temperature of this fluid), con  sequentially to the sunshine of the solar collector. The  solar collector is placed below, partial or total,  tanks and radiator. When the radiator is fitted  a thermostatic valve (7) and that this valve is for  mé, the heat transfer fluid flows in the upward direction of the  sensor (1) - high piping (3) - top of tank (9)  - low piping (4) - bottom of the sensor. When there is no  no thermostatic valve, or that therno valve  static is open, the heat transfer fluid circulates in the  direction: top of sensor (1) - high piping (3) - top of  tank (9) - top of radiator (2) - bottom of radiator  bottom of tank - bottom piping (4) - bottom of sensor.  no electrical component. - To operate, the devices may not be equipped  same fluid circulating in the three (single circuit).  see who is connected, directly, to the radiator, the - The solar collector is connected directly to the network  single circuit.  heated coolant ot this tank is part of the - The devices are fitted with a storage tank for  autonomous and independent equipment between them. - In a heating installation, the devices are  3) Apparatus, with a non-freezing heat transfer fluid circuit, intended for the production of domestic hot water or hot water for heating using solar energy from the sun, consisting of a solar collector (I), a high junction pipe (3), a low junction pipe (4), a heat exchanger (11) with coil (or member, etc.), a storage tank storage of hot water (12) and thermal insulation (5). The hot water storage tank can be replaced by a large tank, by a tank, by a water tower, etc. The solar collector is connected, via the connecting pipes, to the heat exchanger of the hot water storage tank. The thermal insulation, placed behind the solar collector, also covers the junction pipes and the tank. These devices are characterized by the following properties: - The circulation of the heat transfer fluid, used for trans  fert of thermal energy from the sun, from the solar collector  to the hot water storage tank (from outside  towards the interior of the building), is done according to the principle  of the thermosiphon (circulation of fluid in convection na  turelle by varying the temperature of this fluid),  following sunshine from the solar collector. The  solar collector is placed in centrobas, partial or total,  of the hot water storage tank. The heat transfer fluid  flows in the direction: top of sensor (1) - piping @  high (3) - heat exchanger (11) - low piping  (4) - bottom of the sensor.  no electrical organ, - To operate, the devices may not be equipped  4) Apparatus according to claims 1), 2) or 3), characterized in that they are provided with the following elements, or some of them: high and low junction pipes (3 and 4) made of insulating materials; pipe insulating segments (3 'and 4') @ thermal insulators (5) coating the elements: expansion tanks (6); thermostatic valves (7): entire pressure devices (8) consisting either of a valve which closes under the effect of its own weight and which opens under the pressure of the heated heat transfer fluid, or a thermostatic valve which closes when the temperature of the heat transfer fluid drops below a certain threshold, device preventing the direction of circulation of the fluid from reversing in the circuit; high and low season shut-off valves (I0 and I0 '); hot water outlets (I3); cold water supplies (I4); return of cooled water from the heating (I5); circuit drain plugs or valves; valves used to isolate elements to replace them; etc.  5) Apparatus according to claims I), 2), 3) or 4), characterized by the fact that some or all of their elements are multiple, such as solar collectors (I), radiators (2), piping high and low junction (3 and 4), pipe insulating segments (3 'and 4'), expansion vessels (6), thermostatic valves (7), backflow preventers (8), storage tanks for heated heat transfer fluid (9), high and low season shut-off valves (IO and I0 '), heat exchangers (II), hot water storage tanks (I2), hot water outlets (I3), cold water supplies (I4), cooled water return from the heating (15), circuit drain plugs or taps, valves used to isolate elements to replace them, etc.  6) Apparatus according to claims I), 2), 3), 4) or 5), characterized in that they are equipped with auxiliary heating devices, such as electrical resistors (16) and temperature probes ( 17) 9 dives in radiators, tanks for storage of heated heat transfer fluid, hot water storage tanks, etc.  7) Apparatus according to claims I), 2), 3), 4), 5) or 6), characterized in that they are integrated into facade panels or that they themselves form panels of facade.