FR3033033A1 - HOT WATER BALLOON DEVICE HAVING A HEAT EXCHANGER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a hot water storage device comprising a hot water storage volume (1), means for heating (11) the water contained in this volume, this storage volume (1) comprising a a hot water outlet (12) and an outer thermal insulation layer (17), the device further comprising an outer jacket (18) configured to hold water and in thermal communication with said thermal insulation layer ( 17) to recover thermal energy emanating from said insulation layer (17). The invention is remarkable in that it comprises a heat exchanger (20, 30) disposed inside said outer jacket (18), in order to recover the thermal energy emanating from the water contained in said jacket ( 18).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention is in the field of hot water balloon devices.

The present invention more specifically relates to a hot water tank device comprising a hot water storage volume, means for heating the water contained in this volume, an outer thermal insulation layer of this volume and a jacket. external container adapted to contain water and which is in thermal communication with said thermal insulation layer of the balloon. The invention also relates to a method of renovating an existing hot water tank. STATE OF THE ART It is already known from document FR 2 953 000, a water heater device, as shown in Figure 1 attached. This device comprises a hot water storage volume 1 and means 11 for heating the water contained in this volume. In addition, this volume 1 is connected on the one hand to a hot water outlet 12, generally connected to a domestic hot water use circuit 13, and on the other hand, to a cold water inlet 14 it is itself connected to a cold water inlet 15. The storage volume 1 is delimited by a wall 16, surrounded by an outer layer 17 of thermal insulation (made of a suitable insulating material), so that that the energy expended for heating the water via the heating means 11 is not lost quickly by heat dissipation of the wall 16 of the hot water storage volume 1. In addition, in order to further improve the recovery of the losses 1, the thermal insulation layer 17 is itself surrounded by an insulating jacket 18, filled with water and in thermal communication with the layer 17. The jacket 18 is connected, preferably to its lower part, at an inlet of cold water 181, itself connected the cold water supply 15.

In addition, the jacket 18 is also connected, preferably at its upper part, to a water outlet 182, itself connected to a mixer 19, arranged on the hot water outlet 12 of the storage volume 1. The water contained in the jacket 18 thus makes it possible to recover the residual thermal losses 5 from the storage volume 1 despite the existence of the insulation layer 17. The water thus heated is then mixed with the hot water leaving Volume 1, which increases the overall efficiency of the water heater. However, this device of the state of the art has the disadvantage that the jacket 18 must withstand the pressure of the cold water supply network, which can reach a maximum of 7 bars (7.105 Pa). Accordingly, such a jacket must be made of a material resistant to such pressures, so that it is relatively expensive. As a result, the overall financial saving achieved through the recovery of residual heat losses is modest. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is therefore to solve the aforementioned drawbacks of the state of the art. It aims in particular to provide a hot water tank device which, while allowing to recover the residual thermal losses of the hot water storage volume, is resistant to the pressure of the cold water supply network and this , without increasing costs significantly.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a hot water tank device comprising a hot water storage volume, means for heating the water contained in this volume, this storage volume comprising a water outlet. and an outer thermal insulation layer, the device further comprising an outer jacket configured to contain water and in thermal communication with said thermal insulation layer, for recovering heat energy emanating from said thermal insulation layer. 'insulation. According to the invention, this device comprises a heat exchanger disposed inside said outer jacket, in order to recover the thermal energy emanating from the water contained in said jacket.

According to other advantageous and nonlimiting features of the invention, taken alone or in combination: the inlet of said heat exchanger is connected to an inlet of sanitary cold water; the outlet of the heat exchanger is connected to said storage volume; The outlet of the heat exchanger is connected via a mixing valve to the hot water outlet of the storage volume; the mixing valve is controlled by a control unit comprising as input information relating to the temperature of the water contained in or leaving said storage volume and / or information relating to the temperature of the water contained in or leaving said heat exchanger ; - The heat exchanger is a coil of thermally conductive material; the heat exchanger is a finned tube of thermally good material; the heat exchanger is a panel-shaped heat exchanger; the heat exchanger is disposed at least partly in the upper part of the jacket which extends above the storage volume; and 20 - the jacket has an inlet, preferably located at its upper part. The invention also relates to a method for renovating a hot water tank device which comprises a hot water storage volume, means for heating the hot water contained in this volume, this volume comprising an outlet of hot water, and being surrounded by an outer layer of thermal insulation, this method comprising the following steps: the placing on the outside of said thermal insulation layer of a jacket configured to contain the water, this jacket being in thermal communication with said insulation layer and containing a heat exchanger, the filling of the jacket in water, the connection of the inlet of this heat exchanger to a cold water inlet and the connection of the outlet of this exchanger to said water storage volume, or a domestic hot water use circuit, preferably via a mixer 3 itself connected to the hot water outlet of said volume of stock age.

PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which will now be made with reference to the appended drawings, which represent, by way of indication but without limitation, various possible embodiments. In these drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a hot water tank device according to the state of the art, FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a hot water tank device according to a first Embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the heat exchanger of the hot water tank device in a cross-sectional plane shown as line III-III in Fig. 2; 4 is a schematic representation of a hot water tank device according to another possible embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the heat exchanger. of the hot water tank device according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A first embodiment of the hot water tank according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. The elements common with the known device of the state of the art, and previously described in FIG. reference to Figure 1, bear the same numerical references. This device comprises a hot water storage volume 1, 35 in which are arranged means 11 for heating the water contained in said storage volume. The heating means 11 may be of any nature since they allow the supply of thermal energy to the water contained in the volume 1 in order to heat it. By way of nonlimiting example, these heating means 1 may be electrical (electrical resistance), hydraulic (coil in which circulates a heat transfer fluid heated by a gas boiler, fuel or wood, for example, or by a pump to heat or any other heat source), solar (coil in which circulates a heat transfer fluid heated by a solar collector). The term "storage volume" 1 designates the hot water tank itself, delimited by a wall 10. This volume 1 is surrounded by a layer 10 of insulation 17. The hot water storage volume 1 is generally of cylindrical geometry with a circular or substantially circular cross section. However, any other geometry can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

The outer insulation layer 17 is made of any material which makes it possible to achieve thermal insulation between the water contained in the storage volume 1 and the outside of the device. Such a thermal insulation layer 17 is well known in the state of the art and will not be described in more detail.

The storage volume 1 also comprises a hot water outlet 12, connected for example to a domestic hot water utilization network 13. Preferably, the hot water outlet 12 opens into the upper part of the volume of the hot water. storage 1, where the hottest water is.

The jacket 18 is both able to contain water and to be in thermal communication with the thermal insulation layer 17. Consequently, this jacket 18 is advantageously made in any type of material allowing absorption of the thermal energy emanating from the insulating layer 17, so as to heat the water that is inside this jacket. The jacket 18 also has a geometry such that it can adapt to the volume of hot water 1, more precisely to the contour of the outer walls 10 of the insulation layer 17. Advantageously, the jacket 18 comprises a membrane 183 which constitutes the envelope of the jacket and within which is contained the water of the jacket.

Advantageously, this membrane 183 is both watertight, sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape of the thermal insulation layer 17, resistant to puncture and tear, and finally adhering to metals. and / or the plastics, so as to allow its attachment to the outside of the insulation layer 17. Advantageously, the membrane 183 is made of a material having a good resistance to bending and traction, as well as a good aging. Preferably, the membrane 183 of the jacket is made of elastomeric material or thermoplastic material, such as for example polypropylene or flexible PVC whose properties are close to those of elastomers. The jacket 18 is provided with a water inlet 187, with a closure cap, preferably located at the upper portion 185 of the jacket. The filling of the jacket 18 is thus done by this inlet 187, by gravity, without using the cold water network so as not to increase the pressure in the jacket. Also preferably, the jacket 18 is provided with a drainage device 184, preferably located at its lower part, in order to proceed with the evacuation of the water contained in the jacket, if necessary. As explained above, the water contained in the jacket 18 heats up thanks to the heat losses from the heat which passes through the thermal insulation layer 17. In accordance with the invention, a heat exchanger is disposed at 25 ° C. Inside said outer jacket 18. According to a first embodiment of the invention, this heat exchanger is tubular and has the reference numeral 20. According to a first variant embodiment, the tubular heat exchanger 20 consists of a coil made of a heat-conducting material, for example of copper, disposed between the membrane 183 and the thermal insulation layer 17. Preferably, the coil 20 circulates in the upper part 185 of the jacket 18, that is to say, that which extends above the volume 1 covered with the insulating layer 17. This part 185 also corresponds to the zone of the jacket 18, in which is the e at the highest temperature, taking into account the stratification of the water in the jacket. This particular arrangement of the coil 20 is shown in FIG. 3. However, it should be noted that the coil 20 could also extend partially or totally in the vertical annular portion 186 of the jacket surrounding the volume 1 over its entire height. The tubular heat exchanger 20 has a cold water inlet 201 connected to the domestic cold water inlet 15 and a sanitary water outlet 202. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, this outlet 202 is connected to inside the storage volume 1, preferably at the lower part thereof. According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the tubular heat exchanger 20 may also be a coil of good heat conducting material, surrounded by fins which further increase its heat exchange surface.

The heat exchange takes place between the water contained in the jacket 18 and the cold sanitary water circulating in the coil 20, so that the water contained in the jacket 18 transfers calories to the water circulating in the water. The heat exchanger 20 thus makes it possible to preheat the water it contains before introducing it inside the volume 1.

According to another alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the heat exchanger may be a panel consisting of two plates of thermally good conducting materials, for example of metal, for example of aluminum welded together, except to delimit a circuit 300, for example in the form of a coil, inside which the cold sanitary water can circulate. Such a heat exchanger is referenced 30. It may for example be manufactured by a method known under the trademark Roll-Bond. This exchanger 30 is advantageously arranged in the upper part 185 of the jacket 18. Its inlet 301 is connected to the domestic cold water supply 15, 30 while its outlet 302 is connected for example to the interior of the storage volume 1. The exchanger 20, 30 is further designed to withstand the high pressures prevailing inside the sanitary cold water supply network 15 and which can reach 7 bars (7.105 Pa).

A second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 4. The elements common to the hot water tank device of FIG. 2 bear the same numerical references and will therefore not be described. again in detail. This hot water tank device differs from the previous one in that the storage volume 1 comprises a cold water inlet 14, connected to the cold water inlet 15, this inlet 14 being preferably located in the lower volume 1. The device also differs from that of Figure 2 in that the hot water outlet 12 is connected to the domestic hot water use circuit 13, via a mixer 3, and finally in that the outlet 202 or 302 of the heat exchanger 20, respectively 30, is also connected to this mixer 3. The mixer 3 is thus fed with hot water from the storage volume 1 and with preheated water of the heat exchanger 20 or 30.

Advantageously, the mixing valve 3 is controlled by a control unit 4, such as for example a computer, via information transmission means 45 which can be wired, wireless or any other known means of the state of the art. the technique. Advantageously, the control unit 4 receives, as input, information relating to the temperature of the water contained in or leaving the heat exchanger 20, 30. To do this, a temperature sensor 41 is placed on the outlet 202, respectively 302 or at any point of the heat exchanger 20, respectively 30. This temperature sensor 41 is connected to the control unit 4 by an information transmission means 42.

Advantageously, a temperature sensor 43 may also be disposed either at the outlet 12 of the storage space (as shown in FIG. 4) or inside this storage space 1. The temperature sensor 43 is connected to the control unit 4 by an information transmission means 44. The information transmission means 42, 44 may be wired, wireless or any other means known from the state of the art. According to information concerning the desired temperature in the domestic hot water use network 13, the control unit 4 controls the mixer 3, so that the latter adds to the water coming from the outlet 35 of hot water 12, one or more or less of the water from the heat exchanger 20, respectively 30.

This is possible because the temperature of the hot water produced by the hot water tank is generally higher (for example close to 60 ° C.) than the temperature of the domestic hot water from the heat exchanger. heat 20, 30, which is generally at most 30 ° C for example. As a purely illustrative example, for a 300 liter flask, it is possible to use a jacket containing between 3 and 20 liters and a tubular exchanger with a capacity ranging from 0.2 liter to 4 liters. Advantageously, it will be noted that the hot water tank device according to the invention, which has just been described, can be adapted to the renovation of existing hot water tanks which comprise a storage volume of hot water, means for heating the hot water contained in this volume, a hot water outlet, and an outer layer of thermal insulation. Such a renovation process then comprises the following steps: - the placing on the outside of said thermal insulation layer 17 of a jacket 18 provided with an exchanger 20, 30, - the filling of the jacket 18 with water connecting the inlet 201, 301 and the outlet 202, 302 of the exchanger 20, respectively to the domestic cold water inlet 15 and either to the volume 1 or to the circuit 13, preferably via the mixer 3.

Claims (11)

REVENDICATIONS1. Hot water tank device comprising a hot water storage volume (1), means (11) for heating the water contained in this volume, this storage volume (1) comprising a hot water outlet (12) and an outer thermal insulation layer (17), the device further comprising an outer jacket (18) configured to hold water and in thermal communication with said thermal insulation layer (17), in order to recovering thermal energy emanating from said insulation layer (17), characterized in that it comprises a heat exchanger (20, 30) disposed inside said outer jacket (18), in order to recover the thermal energy emanating from the water contained in said jacket (18). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inlet (201, 301) of said heat exchanger (20, 30) is connected to a sanitary cold water inlet (15). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outlet (202, 302) of the heat exchanger (20, 30) is connected to said storage volume (1). 4. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outlet (202, 302) of the heat exchanger (20, 30) is connected via a mixer (3) to the hot water outlet of the volume storage (1). 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the mixer (3) is controlled by a control unit (4) comprising input information relating to the temperature of the water contained in or out of said storage volume (1) and / or information relating to the temperature of the water contained in or leaving said heat exchanger (20, 30). 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat exchanger (20) is a metal coil. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the heat exchanger (20) is a finned tube of metal. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the heat exchanger (30) is a heat exchanger panel. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat exchanger (20, 30) is arranged at least partly in the upper portion (185) of the jacket (18) which extends above the storage volume (1). 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the jacket (18) is provided with an inlet (187), preferably located at its upper part (185). 11. A method of renovating a hot water tank device which comprises a hot water storage volume (1), means (11) for heating the hot water contained in this volume, this volume (1). ) comprising a hot water outlet (12), and being surrounded by an outer layer of thermal insulation (17), this method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - setting up the outside said thermal insulation layer (17) of a jacket (18) configured to hold water, said jacket (18) being in thermal communication with said insulation layer (17) and containing a heat exchanger heat pump (20, 30), - filling the jacket (18) with water, - connecting the inlet (201, 301) of this heat exchanger (20, 30) to a cold water inlet (15) and the connection of the outlet (202, 302) of this exchanger is to said water storage volume 20 (1), or to a circuit for using domestic hot water (13), preferably via a mixer (3) itself connected to the hot water outlet (12) of said storage volume (1).