Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B25/00—Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00
  • F25B25/005—Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00 using primary and secondary systems
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
  • F24D10/00—District heating systems
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
  • F24H15/00—Control of fluid heaters
  • F24H15/30—Control of fluid heaters characterised by control outputs; characterised by the components to be controlled
  • F24H15/375—Control of heat pumps
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B27/00—Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B30/00—Heat pumps
  • F25B30/02—Heat pumps of the compression type
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B30/00—Heat pumps
  • F25B30/06—Heat pumps characterised by the source of low potential heat
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
  • F24D2200/00—Heat sources or energy sources
  • F24D2200/11—Geothermal energy
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
  • F25B2313/004—Outdoor unit with water as a heat sink or heat source
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
  • F25B2313/031—Sensor arrangements
  • F25B2313/0315—Temperature sensors near the outdoor heat exchanger
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2339/00—Details of evaporators; Details of condensers
  • F25B2339/04—Details of condensers
  • F25B2339/047—Water-cooled condensers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
  • F25B2400/06—Several compression cycles arranged in parallel
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
  • F25B2400/06—Several compression cycles arranged in parallel
  • F25B2400/061—Several compression cycles arranged in parallel the capacity of the first system being different from the second
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
  • F25B2700/21—Temperatures
  • F25B2700/2103—Temperatures near a heat exchanger
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
  • F25B2700/21—Temperatures
  • F25B2700/2116—Temperatures of a condenser
  • F25B2700/21161—Temperatures of a condenser of the fluid heated by the condenser
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
  • F25B2700/21—Temperatures
  • F25B2700/2117—Temperatures of an evaporator
  • F25B2700/21171—Temperatures of an evaporator of the fluid cooled by the evaporator

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a heat pump system and a fluid distribution system.
• a heat pump system that is arranged to transfer heat to a fluid in a portion of a fluid distribution system that is in proximity to the heat pump system.
• Heat pumps are devices that use energy to actively transfer heat from a first space (which may be referred to as a heat source) to a second space (which may be referred to as a heat sink). Where it is desired to use a heat pump to heat a target space, the heat pump can be configured with the target space as the heat sink, and another space as the heat source. Accordingly, in moving heat from the heat source to the heat sink, the heat pump will heat the target space and cool the other space.
• the heat pump can be configured with the target space as the heat source, and the other space as the heat sink. Accordingly, in moving heat from the heat source to the heat sink, the heat pump will cool the target space and heat the other space.
• the other space with which heat is exchanged is the outside (or external) environment.
• heat pumps make use of a refrigeration cycle to effect the heat transfer.
• a refrigerant fluid will repeatedly cycle through the stages of compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation in turn, each of these stages being performed as the refrigerant fluid pass through a compressor, condenser, expander and evaporator respectively.
• the temperature of the refrigerant fluid is altered. Specifically, during the compression stage, as the refrigerant fluid passes through the compressor, the refrigerant fluid is compressed taking it from a low-pressure state to a high-pressure state. Accordingly, the temperature of the refrigerant fluid increases to a high-temperature.
• the refrigerant fluid passes through the expander, the refrigerant fluid is expanded taking it from a high-pressure state to a low-pressure state. Accordingly, the temperature of the refrigerant fluid drops to a low-temperature state.
• the condenser and evaporator are heat exchangers that function to exchange heat between the refrigerant fluid and the respective spaces in which they are located.
• the condenser receives the high-pressure, high-temperature refrigerant fluid from the compressor and allows the heat from the high-temperature refrigerant fluid to the be exchanged with the surrounding space (i.e. the heat sink) through the normal thermodynamic flow of heat from hot to cold.
• the refrigerant fluid will have a lower temperature as a result of losing heat to the space in which the condenser is located.
• the space (heat sink) in which the condenser is located is heated by the heat received from the refrigerant fluid.
• the evaporator receives the low-pressure, low-temperature refrigerant from the expander and allows heat from the surrounding space (i.e. the heat source) to be exchanged with the refrigerant fluid through the normal thermodynamic flow of heat from hot to cold. Accordingly, having passed through the evaporator, the refrigerant fluid will have a higher temperature as a result of gaining heat from the space in which the evaporator is located.
• the space (heat source) in which the evaporator is located is cooled by the removal of heat to the refrigerant fluid.
• heat pumps are reversible, meaning that they can be run to transfer heat in either direction. That is to say, they may transfer heat to a target space from another space in order to heat the target space or they may run in reverse and transfer heat from the target space to the other space in order to cool the target space.
• the heat exchangers that are arranged to transfer heat between the refrigerant fluid of the heat pump and each of the spaces may operate as either condenser or expander depending on which direction the heat pump is transferring heat.
• the external heat exchanger of the heat pump (that is, the one that exchanges heat with a space other than the target space) will be configured to exchange heat directly with the ground of the other space that is acting as the heat source and/or sink.
• the ground has a large thermal mass which means that it is capable of having a large amount of heat extracted or deposited before its temperature will be significantly changed.
• Such a ground source heat exchanger essentially consists of pipework running within the ground in the other space through which the refrigerant fluid is run. This pipework may also be referred to as a ground array.
• ground array that is needed to provide adequate heating and/or cooling may, in some cases, be prohibitively large. This may be, for example, due to there being insufficient amount of ground around a building available for the ground array to be installed horizontally. Meanwhile, installing the ground array pipework vertically may be overly expensive or impractical. It would therefore be desirable to enhance the heating or cooling capacity of a ground source heat pump in such situations.
• a heat pump system comprising: a heat exchanger installed in proximity to a portion of a fluid distribution system; a controller configured to: receive a control signal from a temperature controller of the fluid distribution system; and control the operation of the heat pump system in accordance with the control signal so as to control or limit an amount of heat transferred between a refrigerant fluid within the heat exchanger and the fluid distribution system.
• the heat pump system takes advantage of the thermal capacity of a fluid distribution system installed in proximity to the external heat exchanger (or ground array) of the heat pump system to enhance the heat transfer capabilities of the system.
• the heat pump system can transfer heat to a fluid flowing within the fluid distribution system. As the fluid flows within the fluid distribution system, it moves through the heat pump's area of operation during which heat may be transferred between the fluid and heat pump system. The fluid then flows onward through the fluid distribution system to an end user of the fluid distribution system.
• the heat pump system communicates with a temperature controller of the fluid distribution system to adjust its operation as appropriate to maintain the fluid within the fluid distribution system within a desired temperature range.
• the heat pump system may further comprise a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the fluid within the fluid distribution system proximate to the heat pump system, wherein the heat pump system is further configured to provide measurements from the temperature sensor to the temperature controller of the fluid distribution system.
• a fluid distribution system for delivering fluid from one or more sources to one or more end users via one or more pipes
• the fluid distribution system comprising: a temperature controller configured to: receive measurements of the temperature of the fluid at one or more locations within the fluid distribution system; analyse the measurements to determine whether remedial action needs to be taken to control the temperature of the fluid within the fluid distribution system; and transmit a control signal to a heat pump system in response to determining that remedial action needs to be taken, the heat pump system affecting the temperature of the fluid within a portion of the fluid distribution system in proximity to the heat pump system through the transfer of heat between the heat pump system and the fluid distribution system, the control signal controlling the operation of the heat pump system.
• the fluid distribution system may further comprise a flow control device that is configured to control the flow of the fluid within the fluid distribution system, wherein the temperature controller is further configured to transmit a control signal to the flow control device to control the temperature of the fluid within the fluid distribution system.
• the one or more pipes of the fluid distribution system may define a loop within the fluid distribution system, the heat pump system affecting the temperature of the fluid flowing through at least a portion of the loop; and the flow control device may control a rate of flow of fluid around the loop.
• the one or more pipes of the fluid distribution system may define one or more parallel branches for fluid to flow within the fluid distribution system, the heat pump system affecting the temperature of the fluid flowing through at least a portion of one of the parallel branches; and the flow control device may control the proportion of fluid flowing through each of the parallel branches.
• the fluid distribution system may further comprise one or more temperature sensors, each temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature of the fluid at a respective location inside the fluid distribution system and provide those measurements to the temperature controller.
• the temperature controller may receive measurements of the temperature of the fluid at a plurality of locations within the fluid distribution system and is further configured to determine an amount of heat being exchanged with the fluid within different parts of the fluid distribution system.
• the temperature controller may be further configured to transmit a respective control signal to each of one or more further heat pump systems in response to determining that remedial action needs to be taken, the one or more further heat pump systems each affecting the temperature of the fluid within a respective portion of the fluid distribution system in proximity to that heat pump system through the transfer of heat between that heat pump system and the fluid distribution system, each of the further heat pump systems being fluidically isolated from the fluid distribution system, each control signal controlling or limiting the operation of the respective heat pump to which it is transmitted.
• the respective control signals sent to the one or more further heat pump systems may control the operation of those one or more further heat pump systems to at least partially counteract the effect of the heat pump system on the temperature of the fluid within the fluid distribution system.
• the fluid distribution system may be a water distribution system for delivering water from one or more water sources to one or more end users, preferably wherein the water is potable water.
• the fluid distribution system may deliver fluid to a plurality of end users, preferably more than 500,000 end users.
• the fluid distribution system may deliver fluid over a large geographical area, preferably more than 1,000 km 2 .
• the heat pump system may be configured to regulate the temperature within a data centre.
• the heat pump system may be a ground source heat pump system that is configured to transfer heat energy to or from a portion of the fluid distribution system indirectly by transferring heat energy with the ground in proximity to the portion of the fluid distribution system.
• Figure 1A is a diagrammatic representation of an aerial view of an exemplary heat pump system 100 according to embodiments of the invention.
• Figure 1B provides a cross sectional view of the exemplary heat pump system 100 represented in figure 1A .
• the heat pump system 100 comprises a heat pump 110, a controller 115, an external heat exchanger 130 and an internal heat exchanger 135.
• the heat pump 110 comprises a compressor, an expander and a pump (not shown) for causing a refrigerant fluid to circulate through the compressor, expander, external heat exchanger 130 and internal heat exchanger 135 to undergo a refrigeration cycle (as described above) and transfer heat between an internal space within a building 120 in respect of which the internal heat exchanger 135 is installed and an external space in which the external heat exchanger 130 is installed.
• the building 120 in respect of which the heat pump system 100 is installed may be an industrial building, such as a data centre, and the heat pump system 100 may be configured to regulate the temperature of the internal space within that building by cooling the internal space to remove heat generated by the computer equipment within the data centre.
• the heat pump system 100 may be installed to regulate the temperate of the internal space of any kind of building by heating and/or cooling the internal space.
• the external heat exchanger 130 is installed in proximity to a portion 140 of a fluid distribution system, such that heat may be transferred between the refrigerant fluid flowing within the external heat exchanger 130 and a fluid flowing within the fluid distribution system.
• the external heat exchanger 130 may comprise a conventional ground array installed close to the nearby portion 140 of the fluid distribution system.
• the heat pump system 100 may be considered to be a ground source heat pump system. In such cases, the transfer of heat between the heat pump system 100 and the fluid within the nearby portion 140 of the fluid distribution system may be indirect.
• the heat pump system 100 transfers heat with the intervening ground between the external heat exchanger 130 and the nearby portion 140 of the fluid distribution system which in turn exchanges heat with the fluid within the fluid distribution system.
• heat may be taken from the ground in proximity to the portion 140 of the fluid distribution system by the external heat exchanger 130. This results in the temperature of the ground dropping, such that heat from the fluid within the water distribution system flowing within that portion 140 may in turn be transferred to the ground in proximity to that portion 140 through the conventional action of thermodynamic heat transfer.
• FIG 1B there is a separation between the portion 140 of the fluid distribution system and the pipework of the external heat exchanger 130.
• the heat pump system 100 shown in figures 1A and 1B is merely exemplary for the purposes of explaining the invention.
• the external heat exchanger 130 may be directly coupled to the portion 140 of the fluid distribution system.
• heat may be transferred substantially directly (or at least without the ground acting as an intermediary) between the refrigerant fluid within the external heat exchanger 130 and the fluid within the portion 140 of the fluid distribution system.
• the portion 140 of the fluid distribution system and the external heat exchanger 130 may be located above ground, rather than under ground as shown in figures 1A and 1B .
• FIG 2 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary fluid distribution system 200 (or network) according to embodiments of the invention.
• the fluid distribution system 200 is arranged to deliver fluid from one or more sources 210 to one or more end users 220 via one or more pipes 230.
• the heat pump system 100 is installed such that the external heat exchanger 130 of the heat pump system 100 is in proximity to a portion 140 of the fluid distribution system 200.
• heat pump system 100 Although, for simplicity, only a single heat pump system 100 is shown as being present in the vicinity of the pipes 230 of the fluid distribution system 200 shown in figure 2 , it will be appreciated that in some cases many such heat pump systems 100 may make use of the same fluid distribution system 200 (each at a respective different location within the distribution system) to enhance their cooling and/or heating capacity through the transfer of heat with the fluid within the fluid distribution system (that is in proximity to their respective locations). In some cases, therefore, one or more further heat pump systems may also make use of the fluid distribution system 200 in the manner described herein.
• the fluid distribution system 200 is a water distribution system for delivering water (preferably, though not necessarily, potable water) from one or more water sources 210 to the end users 220.
• the sources 210 for such a water distribution system may include a reservoir, or other body of water, from which water may be taken.
• the water may be treated by a water treatment plant 240 before reaching the end users 220 (although this may not be necessary in all cases).
• various other plant may be included in fluid distribution system 200 as will be familiar to those skilled in the art.
• the fluid distribution system 200 may include various pumping plant at one or more locations to move the fluid through the distribution system 200 to the end users 220.
• the invention may also be applied to other types of fluid distribution systems that are involved in the transport of other types of fluid other than water.
• the building 120 in respect of which the heat pump system 100 is installed may itself also be an end user 220 of the fluid distribution system 200. That is to say, the fluid distribution system 200 may be used both to facilitate the heating and/or cooling of the building 120 as well as to deliver fluid from the source to the building 120 for consumption by the occupants and/or systems within that building. Of course, it will be appreciated that even where this is the case, the fluidic isolation between the heat pump system 100 and the fluid distribution system 200 is still maintained.
• the fluid distribution system 200 comprises a temperature controller 250.
• the temperature controller 250 is communicatively coupled to the heat pump system 100 via one or more networks 260. Any suitable type of network(s) may be used to enable the temperature controller 260 to communicate with the heat pump system(s) 100, including, for example, the Internet.
• the temperature controller 250 is housed within the infrastructure 260 of the fluid distribution system 200, such as at the water treatment plant 240. However, this need not be the case and, in other examples, the temperature controller 250 may be located elsewhere, such as in cloud computing infrastructure.
• the temperature controller 250 is configured to receive measurements of the temperature of the fluid at one or more locations within the fluid distribution system 200. These measurements may be received via the network 260 (although, in some cases, the measurements may be received via a different network from that which is used to communicate with the heat pump system 100).
• the fluid distribution system 200 may, for example, comprise one or more temperature sensors 270 at various locations within distribution system 200. These temperature sensors 270 may be located internally within the pipework 230 of the fluid distribution system or otherwise thermally coupled to the pipework 230 to allow the temperature of the fluid to be determined. Additionally, or alternatively, the temperature measurements may be received from the heat pump system(s) 100.
• the heat pump system 100 may comprise a temperature sensor (not shown in figure 1 ) for determining the temperature of the fluid within the portion 140 of the fluid distribution system 200 proximate to the heat pump system 100.
• the heat pump system 100 may transmit measurements from that temperature sensor to the temperature controller 250 via the network(s) 260.
• the fluid distribution system 200 would comprise a sufficient number of temperature sensors 270 (or receive measurements from temperature sensors embedded in the heat pump systems 100 utilising the fluid distribution system 200 in accordance with embodiments of the invention) to enable a temperature of the fluid immediately before and after each heat pump system 100 to be determined. This can allow the individual heating effect of each heat pump system 100 on the fluid distribution system to be determined in a straightforward manner.
• the temperature controller 250 analyses the received measurements to determine whether remedial action needs to be taken to control the temperature of the fluid within the fluid distribution system 200. As will be appreciated, it may be desirable to maintain the temperature of the fluid within the fluid distribution system 200 within a certain predetermined range. There may be a variety of reasons for maintaining the temperature of the fluid within this range, including, for example, safety concerns, operational concerns for the fluid distribution system 200 and/or concerns for maintaining the usability of the fluid for the end users 220. In some cases, the temperature controller 250 may operate in a reactive manner. That is to say, it may determine whether the measured temperature at any point in the distribution system 200 exceeds a predetermined threshold and, if so, determine that remedial action needs to be taken.
• This predetermined threshold may be set at a level within the predetermined range to allow for the reaction time of the system 200 so as to prevent the predetermined range be exceeded.
• the temperature controller 250 may operate in a proactive manner. That is to say, the temperature controller 250 may use the measurements to predict whether (and when) the temperature of the fluid will exceed the predetermined range in the future. For example, various machine learning techniques may be used to train a machine learning model to predict whether the temperature of the fluid will breach the predetermined range.
• the temperature controller 250 may also use the measurements of the temperature of the fluid received from a plurality of locations within the fluid distribution system 200 to determine an amount of heat being exchanged with the fluid within different parts of the fluid distribution system 200.
• the temperature controller may determine a difference in temperature from the measurements received from pairs of temperature sensors 270 and may use the flow rate of the fluid flowing between those temperature sensors 270 to determine an amount of heat energy that has been transferred to or from the fluid in the space between those temperature sensors 270.
• the data derived from this analysis may be referred to herein as heat transfer data. This heat transfer data can be used for a variety of purposes.
• this information may be used to predict future demand for heating or cooling by the heat pump systems 100 that are utilising the fluid distribution system 200.
• the heat transfer data for the historical time periods may be used to train a machine learning model to predict future heat transfer requirements for each part of the fluid distribution system. These predictions may then be used by the temperature controller 250 to help control the temperature of the fluid within the fluid distribution system to account for these future heat transfer requirements.
• this heat transfer data may be useful for other purposes, such as providing an account of the usage that is being made of the fluid distribution system 200 by each heat pump system 100.
• temperature controller 250 it is not necessary for temperature controller 250 to produce heat transfer data and in some cases, control of the temperature of the fluid within the fluid distribution system 200 is performed without explicitly determining the amount of heat being exchanged with the fluid within different parts of the fluid distribution system 200.
• the temperature controller 250 transmits a control signal to the heat pump system 100 in order to carry out the remedial action.
• the control signal is transmitted to the heat pump system 100 via the network(s) 260.
• the control signal is received by a controller 115 of the heat pump system 100.
• the control signal instructs the controller 115 of the heat pump system 100 to control or limit an amount of heat that will be transferred to the fluid distribution system 200 during operation of the heat pump.
• control signal indicates either a specific amount of heat to be transferred or a limit on the amount of heat that can be transferred between the refrigerant fluid within the external heat exchanger 130 of the heat pump system and the portion 140 of the fluid distribution system 200 that is in proximity to the external heat exchanger 130 of the heat pump system 100.
• the controller 115 is configured to operate the heat pump system 100 in accordance with any such control signals that have been received from the temperature controller 250 of the fluid distribution system 200.
• the controller 115 of the heat pump system 100 controls the rate of the operation of the heat pump system to achieve (as closely as possible) that specified amount (or rate) of heat transfer.
• the controller 115 of the heat pump system 100 controls the rate of the operation of the heat pump system 100 to ensure that that specified amount (or rate) of heat transfer is not exceeded. This enables the heat pump system 100 to maintain a degree of autonomy over the operation of the heat pump system 100 whilst allowing the temperature controller 250 of the fluid distribution system 200 sufficient control to regulate the temperature of the fluid within the fluid distribution system 200.
• the limit specified in the control signal may be a limit on the amount (or rate) of heat transferred by the heat pump system 100 to the fluid within the fluid distribution system 200 (in those cases where the heat pump system 100 is configured to cool the building 120 in respect of which it is installed), in which case the controller 115 controls the operation of the heat pump system 100 to ensure that no more than that amount (or rate) of heat is transferred to the fluid by the heat pump system 100.
• the limit specified in the control signal may be a limit on the amount (or rate) of heat transferred by the heat pump system 100 from the fluid within the fluid distribution system 200 (i.e.
• the limit specified in the control signal may comprise an upper and lower limit on the amount (or rate) of heat that is transferred with the heat pump system 100 to the fluid within the fluid distribution system 200.
• the controller 115 may control the operation of the heat pump system 100 to ensure that the amount (or rate) of heat transferred by the heat pump system 100 to the fluid in the portion 140 of the fluid distribution system in proximity to the heat pump system 100 neither exceeds the upper limit nor falls below the lower limit.
• the operation of a heat pump system such as the heat pump system 100
• results in the temperature of the fluid in the fluid distribution system 200 increasing i.e. due to the heat pump cooling the building 120 by transferring heat to the fluid
• the operation of one or more other heat pump systems that are using the fluid in the fluid distribution system 200 for heating may be increased (either by directly controlling those heat pump systems to increase their operations or by setting a limit on their operation that permits the respective controllers of those heat pump systems to increase their operations as appropriate), thereby removing some or all of the heat from the fluid that was added by the heat pump system 100.
• the temperature controller 250 may determine what the available heat transfer capacity is for each heat pump system utilising the fluid distribution system 200. That is, how much (or what rate) of heat may be transferred to or from the fluid within the respective portion 140 of the fluid distribution system 100 proximate to each heat pump system whilst still allowing the temperature of the fluid to remain within the desired range. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, this heat transfer capacity may be determined from the flow rate of the fluid through that portion and the temperature difference between the upper and/or lower bound of the desired temperature range (depending on whether heating or cooling is being carried out by that heat pump system 100).
• the remedial action may therefore be to set (or limit) each heat pump system 100 at a level which does not exceed the respective amount of heat transfer capacity that has been determined for the portion 140 of the fluid distribution system in proximity to that heat pump system 100.
• the control signals may be programmatically determined from a set of predetermined rules for the fluid distribution system 200.
• a suitable machine learning technique may be employed to learn the characteristics of the heat transfer capacities of the portion(s) of the fluid distribution system 200 proximate to heat pump systems relative to the flow rates and the measured temperatures. Indeed, in some such cases, suitable machine learning techniques may also be used to determine what action(s) should be taken.
• a neural network may be trained to predict a temperature change that will occur in each part of the neural network as a result of setting (or limiting) the operation of each heat pump system at various levels given the current temperatures and flow rates within the system 200.
• other variables may be used as inputs for the neural network, such as time of day, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
• reinforcement learning may be used to train an autonomous agent to take actions (i.e. issue control signals) to control the temperature within the distribution system 200.
• the autonomous agent may be rewarded based on whether the temperature of the fluid within the distribution system 200 stays within the desired range (and penalised if the temperature of the fluid exceeds the desired range). This reward may be further adjusted based on the amount of overall heat transfer capacity (both heating and cooling) that is made available to the heat pump systems 100 utilising the fluid distribution system 200.
• a flow rate through one of the branches can be kept more consistent than would otherwise be the case.
• This more consistent flow is beneficial to any heat pump systems 100 that are utilising that branch 310 of the fluid distribution system 300 for the transfer of heat as it provides a more consistent heat transfer capacity for the heat pump system 100 to use.
• This in turn may allow the heat pump system 100 to be designed in a manner that relies more on the availability of that heat transfer capacity (e.g. by further reducing the size of the external heat exchanger 130).
• the fluid distribution system 300 may make use of flow loops within the fluid distribution system 300. That is to say, one or more of the pipes 230 of the system 300 may form a loop that allows the fluid to circulate within the fluid distribution system 300 (even in the absence of consumption of the fluid by the end users 220).
• a flow control device (such as a pump) may be included in the fluid distribution system 300 to control the rate of flow of the fluid around the loop within the system 300. Again, this flow control device (and therefore the rate of flow of the fluid around the loop) may be controlled by the temperature controller 240 of the fluid distribution system 300 through the transmission of control signals via the network(s) 260.
• adjusting the flow rate within the loop will adjust the heat transfer capacity of the fluid within the loop. That is to say, a particular amount (or rate) of heat exchanged between the heat pump system 100 and the fluid within the loop will result in a different temperature change in the fluid dependent on the flow rate. As will be appreciated, as the fluid circulates around the loop, the overall temperature of the fluid may increase each time it circulates.
• the heat exchanged between the fluid and the ground (or with other heat pump systems with external heat exchangers in proximity to the loop) as it circulates throughout the remainder of the loop that is not affected by the heat pump system 100 does not entirely counterbalance the heat exchanged with the heat pump system 100 in the portion of the loop that is proximate to the external heat exchanger 130 of the heat pump system 100, then the temperature of the fluid will gradually change over time.
• the longer the loop the less likely this is to happen because the fluid has longer to replace or release the heat (depending on whether the heat pump system 100 is operating to heat or cool the building 120) with the ground outside of the area covered by the external heat exchanger 130 of the heat pump system 100.
• the option to adjust the heat transfer capacity of the fluid within the portions 140 of the fluid distribution system 200 that are proximate to a heat pump system 100 by adjusting the flow rates of the fluid through that portion 140 may be taken into account by the temperature controller 140 when determining what remedial action to take. For example, rather than lowering a limit on the operation of a heat pump system 100 by issuing a control signal to that heat pump system 100, the flow rate of the fluid through the portion 140 of the fluid distribution system 200 proximate to that heat pump system 100 may instead be increased by issuing a control signal to the flow control device 320 instead.
• a combination of control signals may be issued to adjust both the operation of the heat pump system 100 and the flow control device 320.
• the flow rate of the fluid through the portion 140 of the fluid distribution system 300 proximate to the heat pump system 100 may be increased and the limit on the operation of the heat pump system may be lowered, albeit to a lesser extent than would otherwise be the case.
• reinforcement learning is used to teach an autonomous agent to take remedial actions to maintain the temperature of the fluid in the distribution system 300 within the desired range
• the option to control the flow rates of the flow control device(s) in the network may be included in the set of actions that are available to the autonomous agent being trained, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
• the size and complexity of the fluid distribution systems 200 and 300 discussed above in relation to figures 2 and 3 has been kept small and simple for the purposes of explaining the operation of the invention. It is anticipated (though not necessary) that the fluid distribution systems embodying the invention (and with which heat pump systems according to other embodiments of the invention may be used) will be large. In particular, it is anticipated that the fluid distribution systems embodying the invention will serve a relatively large number of end users 220, such as more than 500,000 end users 220. Similarly, the fluid distribution systems embodying the invention are anticipated to cover a relatively large geographical area, such as areas of more than 1,000 km 2 . With such sizes of distribution systems it is generally expected that the complexity of the systems will also increase.

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• 2024
  • 2024-02-26 EP EP24159622.0A patent/EP4607110A1/fr not_active Ceased

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