WO2012140591A1

WO2012140591A1 - Apparatus for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like

Info

Publication number: WO2012140591A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/051792
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angelo D'anzi
Original assignee: AVANTHIA Srl
Current assignee: AVANTHIA Srl
Priority date: 2011-04-14
Filing date: 2012-04-12
Publication date: 2012-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2013-10-14
Also published as: EP2697496A1; ITBO20110198A1

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like, of the type comprising a heat engine (2) associated with a respective fuel tank (3), a converter (6) for converting mechanical energy into electric power which is functionally associated with the heat engine (2) and at least one respective electric circuit (7) which is connected to the electrical mains (8) of the corresponding element. The heat engine (2) comprises a hydraulic circuit (9) for forced cooling; along the circuit (9) there is at least one first heat exchanger (13), which is associated with a duct (14) which leads to a system of the corresponding element selected from the hydraulic system for water for sanitary use and the heating system.

Description

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRIC POWER FOR ELEMENTS FOR HUMAN AND/OR ANIMAL USE SUCH AS WATERCRAFT, BOATS, CAMPERS, CARAVANS, BUNGALOWS, CAMPING TENTS, VEHICLES, KIOSKS, DWELLING UNITS AND THE LIKE

The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like and to the corresponding control and management unit.

It is known to use electric power generators to supply electric power to all user devices that are not connected to the electrical mains (even only temporarily).

These machines are constituted by a heat engine coupled to an electric generator adapted to convert mechanical energy into electric power.

Electric power generators can be marine or ground-based. The former are distinguished by their typical application on small, medium and large boats, because they are usually provided with cooling systems constituted by water/air heat exchangers and by corrosion-resistant treatments in all of their parts.

The most common power generators deliver an alternating current (they comprise, therefore, an alternator keyed on the shaft of the heat engine) at low single-phase or three-phase voltage.

This type of electromechanical device has several drawbacks.

First of all, overall efficiency is particularly low, due to the fact that the heat engine and the generator are in a cascade arrangement and therefore the overall efficiency is the product of the two efficiencies of each individual device. It is known that internal combustion engines dissipate a large amount of energy as heat, compromising the energy efficiency of the device.

It is furthermore important to point out that the starting and stopping of this type of device are set by the user call following a verification, for example, of the level of the charge of the battery and/or the need to supply power to a particularly important electrical load.

For example, the need may arise to use the electric power generator when it is necessary to heat the cabin of a camper or caravan: it is known that devices for generating heat or for generating a flow of warm air entail high energy consumption.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above by proposing an apparatus for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like with high energy efficiency.

Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to propose an apparatus for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like which is adapted to ensure the heating of an enclosed space with minimal energy consumption.

Another object of the invention is to propose a control and management unit for apparatuses for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like which is suitable for controlling and adjusting the apparatus as a function of the requirements observed in the watercraft, boat, camper, caravan, bungalow, camping tent, vehicle, kiosk, dwelling unit and the like in which it is installed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like and a corresponding control and management unit which are low-cost, relatively simple to provide in practice and safe in application.

This aim and these objects are achieved by an apparatus for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like, of the type comprising a heat engine which is associated with a respective fuel tank, a converter for converting mechanical energy into electric power which is functionally associated with said heat engine and at least one respective electric circuit which is connected to the electrical mains of the corresponding element, characterized in that said heat engine comprises a hydraulic circuit for forced cooling, along said hydraulic circuit at least one first heat exchanger being arranged which is associated with a duct which leads to a system of the corresponding element selected from the hydraulic system for water for sanitary use and the heating system.

This aim and these objects are also achieved by a unit for controlling and managing the apparatus, characterized in that it is connected to at least one sensor designed to detect a specific value such as the internal temperature of the element for human and/or animal use, the temperature outside it, the charge level of a set of electric batteries, the relative humidity inside the element for human and/or animal use, the relative humidity outside it, the amount of fuel present in said tank and the like, said unit comprising at least one output line which leads to a device selected from control, actuation, signaling, display, power-on/power-off devices, which is functionally associated with at least one component among said heat engine, said tank, said set of batteries, a converter for converting mechanical energy into electric power.

This aim and these objects are furthermore achieved by adopting a process for the control and management of a unit according to claim 5, which consists in - comparing a value detected by the at least one sensor with a stored predefined reference value/interval for that unit;

- starting said heat engine and any specific components associated therewith which are designed to modify said unit until its value is restored in accordance with the reference value/interval.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the apparatus for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like and of the corresponding control and management unit according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of a process for the control and management of an apparatus for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like according to the invention.

With particular reference to the above-mentioned figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an apparatus for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like.

The apparatus 1 comprises a heat engine 2 which is associated with a respective fuel tank 3 by means of a specific pipe 4.

If the tank 3 is of the type suitable for containing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG in acronym), it is necessary to provide along the pipe 4 a pressure regulator 5 which adapts the pressure to the values provided for supplying the engine 2.

The engine 2 is connected to a converter 6 for converting mechanical energy into electric power, which is functionally associated with the heat engine 2: in particular, the rotor of the converter 6, which can be preferably of the type of an alternator, dynamo and the like, is keyed to (or otherwise rigidly associated with) the driving shaft of the heat engine 2.

Downstream of the converter 6 there is at least one respective electric circuit 7, which is connected to the electrical mains 8 of the corresponding element.

It is specified that in particular the heat engine 2 comprises a hydraulic circuit 9 for forced cooling.

The circuit 9 comprises an accumulation tank 10 and a specific pipe 1 1 which, in at least one of its portions, skims the engine 2: the pipe 1 1 is affected by a pump 12 which is designed to recirculate the liquid with consequent removal of heat from said engine 2.

At least one first heat exchanger 13 is arranged advantageously along the hydraulic circuit 9 and is associated with a duct 14 which leads to a system of the corresponding element.

In particular, the duct 14 can be the one intended to convey sanitary hot water.

However, the adoption of a heat exchanger associated with a duct designed to supply the heating devices of the element is not excluded.

According to a particular constructive solution of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, the exhaust pipe 15 (i.e., the pipe through which the burnt and unburnt gases are delivered) of the heat engine 2 is affected by at least one second heat exchanger 16, which is associated with at least one of the hydraulic circuit 9 for the forced cooling of the engine 2 and a duct which leads to a system of the corresponding element selected from the hydraulic system for water for sanitary use (in this case, the duct 14) and the heating system.

It is important to point out that the second heat exchanger 16 preferably affects the hydraulic circuit 9 for forced cooling of the heat engine 2 upstream of the at least one first heat exchanger 13 : this ensures a further heating of the liquid that circulates in the hydraulic cooling circuit 9 before it enters the at least one first heat exchanger 13, with consequent increase of the heat energy (and of the heat) that it can effectively transfer to the liquid that circulates in the duct 14 for sanitary use and/or to the liquid that will be used by the heating system of the element.

According to a possible constructive solution of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, at least one radiator 17 or 18 is arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger 13 along the hydraulic circuit 9 for forced cooling.

In this constructive configuration, the radiator 17 or 18 faces and is proximate to a device 19 or 20 for the forced conveyance of air onto its surfaces: the conveyed air, by skimming the surfaces of the radiator 17, removes heat from the cooling liquid.

This constructive solution is particularly interesting in terms of heating of the element (for example of the internal cabin if said element is a camper, a watercraft or a dwelling unit): the air jet generated by the device

19 (for example an electrically driven fan) can skim the radiator 17 and be subsequently conveyed (at high temperature) into said element whenever the internal temperature (for example detected with a specific temperature sensor 21 ) drops below a certain preset threshold.

The radiator 18 might also be used to simply reduce the temperature of the cooling liquid that circulates in the circuit 9: in this case, the device

20 (which in this case also might be a fan) merely forces a jet of air onto the radiator 18, removing heat from the liquid that circulates therein. The starting of the device 20 might be dependent upon detection (performed for example by means of an external temperature sensor 22 and a sensor 23 for the temperature of the engine 2) that critical operating conditions, with corresponding possible overheating of said engine 2, have been reached.

In order to ensure the optimum operation of the apparatus 1 according to the invention, it is necessary to provide for the presence of a control and management unit, which is connected to at least one sensor designed to detect a specific value, such as the internal temperature of the element for human and/or animal use, the temperature outside it, the charge level of a set of electric batteries, the relative humidity inside the element for human and/or animal use, the relative humidity outside it, the amount of fuel present in the tank 3, and the like.

In this case, the unit comprises at least one output line, which leads to a device selected from control, actuation, signaling, display, power- on/power-off devices, which is functionally associated with at least one component among the heat engine 2, the tank 3, a set of batteries 24, a converter 6 for converting mechanical energy into electric power.

The process for the control and management of a unit of the type of the one described above provides for the comparison of a value detected by the at least one sensor with a predefined reference value/interval for that unit: the value is stored in the unit or in a component associated therewith.

If this comparison indicates that the detected value is not within the allowed interval (or is below/above the threshold value), it is necessary to start the thermal engine 2 and any specific components associated therewith.

These components are designed to modify said unit until its value is restored in accordance with the reference value/interval.

More specifically, the process can consists in checking that the charge level of the set of batteries 24 does not drop below a predefined value by means of a voltage measurement device which is arranged across it and is connected to the unit.

If the unit automatically detects the presence of a charging level of the battery set 24 that is lower than the minimum level, it becomes necessary to start the heat engine 2 designed to move the converter 6 for converting mechanical energy into electric power.

From the point of view of application, the process according to the invention, if it is adopted to control and manage the temperature inside the cabin of an element, can require verification that the internal temperature of the element for human and/or animal use does not drop below a predefined value. This is achieved by means of a temperature sensor 22, which is arranged outside said element and is connected to the unit.

If this occurs, the unit starts the heat engine 2.

The starting of the engine 22 entails the subsequent starting of a device 19 for the forced conveyance of air onto the surfaces of a radiator 17 arranged along the hydraulic circuit 9 for cooling the heat engine 2: the forced conveyance of air causes the removal of heat from the cooling liquid and its transfer to said air stream. Said air stream, conveniently guided within a duct which leads into the element for human and/or animal use, heats it.

According to a further possibility of operation of the unit and the apparatus 1 according to the invention, it might be necessary to check that the internal temperature of the element for human and/or animal use does not rise above a predefined value by means of a temperature sensor 21 , which is arranged inside the element and is connected to the unit.

If the unit detects this condition, it starts the heat engine 2 designed to move the converter 6 for converting mechanical energy into electric power so as to generate electric power.

The generated electric power can then be delivered to a conditioning unit to start it.

Likewise, according to a further possibility of operation of the unit and of the apparatus 1 according to the invention, it might be necessary to check that there is a demand for hot water for sanitary use inside the element for human and/or animal use.

In this case also, the unit starts the heat engine 2 designed to move the converter 6 for converting mechanical energy into electric power, consequently generating electric power.

Verification of the need for sanitary hot water certainly depends on the starting of a pump for circulating the water toward a respective delivery faucet: along the water circulation duct 14, as specified earlier, there is at least one first heat exchanger 13, which interferes with a hydraulic circuit 9 for cooling the heat engine 2 so as to remove heat from the cooling liquid and transfer it to the water that circulates in the duct 14.

It is convenient to specify that the unit associated with the apparatus 1 according to the invention is capable of controlling and managing all the activities of the apparatus 1 automatically and independently; in particular, the starting of the heat engine 2 can be performed in accordance with the following sequence of operations.

First of all, the unit checks that the amount of fuel that is present inside the at least one tank 3 associated with the engine 2 is greater than a preset threshold: this check is performed by means of a specific sensor which, in the case that is simplest to provide, is constituted by a load cell 25 (or other equivalent device) which determines the amount of fuel that is present as a function of the detected weight (if the weight of the empty tank is known).

After checking the presence of fuel, the unit causes the opening of specific controlled valves 26 arranged along the supply ducts 4 interposed between the heat engine 2 and the tank 3 : the flow of fuel to the engine 2 is thus allowed.

Not until now does the unit proceed with the activation of the electric starter motor of the heat engine for a predefined time (for example 2 seconds) until the heat engine 2 operates correctly (regular start).

If, during the last step of activation of the heat engine 2 by means of the respective electric starter motor, the correct operation of the heat engine 2 does not occur within the predefined time (in the cited example, 2 seconds), it becomes necessary to repeat this last step for a preset number of times (for example four successive attempts).

The unit then provides an alarm indication to the user (a specific luminous and/or acoustic indicator or a graphical indication on a display and/or screen) if correct operation of the heat engine 2 does not occur within this preset number of times.

Once the heat engine has started, the unit is furthermore preset to check for any demand for heat energy for heating and sanitary water within the element.

In this case, if any of these requirements are present, it starts the circulation of liquids, for example a liquid of the heating circuit and/or the hot water for sanitary use, through at least one component, selected from a heat exchanger 13 and a radiator 17, arranged along the hydraulic circuit 9 for cooling the heat engine 2.

If the temperature outside the element is lower than a specific threshold, the unit furthermore automatically operates an electric heater 27 and/or 28 to further increase the temperature of the liquid that flows in the duct associated therewith.

Of course, for the purpose of the regular operation of the apparatus 1 , downstream of the converter 6 and upstream of the sets of batteries 24 there is an inverter 29 (static current converter) for changing the intensity of the voltage and the type (alternating), adapting it to the characteristics of the battery 24 (i.e., generally 12 V DC).

The arrangement of an additional inverter 29 downstream of the converter 6, preset to change the characteristics of the voltage delivered by the converter 6, adapting it, for example, to the typical standards of the electrical appliances and other electrical user devices used in that particular geographical area (for example, in continental Europe a voltage equal to 230 V AC with a frequency of 50 Hz), is not excluded.

The apparatus 1 according to the invention is therefore a co-generator of electric power and heat. It is constituted by a heat engine 2 which is liquid-cooled and preferably fueled with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). According to a particular constructive solution of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, it is possible to insert the converter 6 (an alternator), the heat exchanger 13 and the radiator 17 of the heating circuit and of the sanitary water circuit in the block of the engine 2. These two circuits are independent. The apparatus 1 has been conceived to be the central power unit of the element (vehicle or watercraft or dwelling unit), generating both electric power and heat for heating and for sanitary hot water.

The apparatus 1 is controlled automatically (thanks to the presence of the control and management unit, which implements the processes described earlier) and intervenes if there is a demand for heat or electric power. In the control of the apparatus 1 , all the vital functions of the living unit have been implemented, constituting in practice a true domotic controller.

Preferably, there is an operator interface panel on which all the functions for displaying measurable quantities of the element have been implemented. These functions also provide for the adoption of a chronothermostat with "summer" and "winter" functions, capable of managing the climate control of the enclosed space at the various times of day.

By means of the interface panel it is possible to access an "information" area in which a series of useful information items for the user, such as camping sites or harbors, parking areas and help centers at the continental level, are entered. The possibility of providing the unit with connectivity functions that allow access to the Internet and therefore to an additional series of items of information useful to the user is not excluded.

By means of a button that is present on the interface panel (preferably constituted by a touch display) it is possible to switch on the control and management unit, which according to a particular constructive solution of unquestionable interest in practice and in application can be constituted by a personal computer, and accordingly the complete management of the element and of the apparatus 1 is started. If the unit is off, it is not possible to access the functions described so far, since they are all controlled by it.

If the unit operates correctly, the display of all the values and the information acquired by the element occurs immediately and it is possible to act by means of specific manual commands, such as for example:

1. Indoor lights on and off;

2. Outdoor lights on and off;

3. Sanitary water pump start;

4. Alarm clock start;

5. Manual start of engine 2.

If the function of starting the heat engine 2 and the corresponding converter 6 is selected, it remains on always until its power-off is selected (for example by means of a specific ON/OFF switch).

Following the power-on of the control and management unit, barring other external commands, a state of passive operation is provided which can be identified as a standby state as regards the automatic functions where automatic intervention of the heat engine 2 is required.

Electric power generation and heat generation start automatically if the following events occur:

1. Low level of battery 24: if voltage remains below a set threshold for a certain time interval, the engine 2 starts to charge it. It stops as soon as the battery 24 is found to be charged.

2. Need for sanitary hot water: when the user opens a hot water faucet, a pressure-controlled switch on the line issues a start signal, which is matched by the starting of the engine 2. By closing the water faucet, the pressure-controlled switch shifts to an OFF state and the engine 2 is turned 3. Need to heat the cabin: if the winter season is selected on the display screen/interface panel (the touch display in the cited example), if the timer of the chronothermostat is in the active state (ON state), if required by the set ambient temperature (for example if this temperature is lower than a preset value), the unit starts the engine 2 to generate heat. The unit determines the shutdown of the engine 2 (with any delays and/or acceleration correlated to these particular and specific requirements of application) as soon as the required ambient temperature has been reached.

The control and management unit can therefore manage all the requirements both of an electrical nature and of a thermal nature of the element in which it is installed.

It in fact starts the appropriate component controlled thereby if it is necessary to meet a sanitary or heating electrical or thermal demand.

If the control and management unit and the components that it controls have been started due to a demand for heating, it is possible, by means of the electric heater 27, to generate the maximum possible heat as the sum of the heat produced by thermal combustion and the heat derived from the electric heater 27 which is arranged upstream of the radiator 17.

If a demand for sanitary hot water arises during the operation of the heating system, a second electric heater 28 can be supplied with power to generate the maximum possible heat on the hot water line.

As already mentioned earlier, starting the engine 2 is dependent on a specific sequence of operations. As a preliminary step, it is convenient to check the quantity of fuel that is present in the tank 3. If the quantity is sufficient and there are no active engine alarms (due to any type of fault detected previously), one proceeds.

It is thus possible to activate the valve 26, wait for a preset time and activate the start command (supply of power to the electric starter motor of the engine 2) for a preset time. If the converter 6 begins to deliver current correctly (and this can be detected by means of the sensors that are present along the electric circuit of the element and are connected to the unit) the engine 2 has started; if no delivery of electric power from the converter 6 is detected, it becomes necessary to repeat the sequence a certain number "n" of times. If after the n-th time the engine 2 has not started, the unit emits a specific alarm.

The alarm can be reset manually.

In the standby state, checking/verification of the value of the voltage of the set of batteries 24 occurs constantly at specific time intervals. If the voltage of the battery set 24 remains below a preset value, the unit starts the heat engine 2 and the corresponding converter 6. It supplies power, by means of its output, to a battery charger, which is constituted for example by an inverter 29. As soon as the charging voltage reaches stably a voltage value that corresponds to the charged battery (set point value which varies as a function of the type of battery), the unit shuts down the engine 2. The apparatus 1 can continue to run if the heating or sanitary water functions are active.

When the water pump 29 is on, on the hot water line a pressure- controlled switch 30 is in the closed state (normally closed) due to the pressure of the water. When a hot water faucet is opened, the pressure drops below a certain threshold value, which is detected by the pressure-controlled switch, which shifts to the ON state. Upon the simultaneous presence of the signal that corresponds to the water pump 29 on and of the pressure control switch 30 in the ON state, the unit starts the engine 2 according to the previously described procedures.

For producing the maximum possible heat, once the engine 2 has started, the unit checks the electrical loads at the user devices. If the electrical load at the user devices is less than 1 kW (i. e. low-intensity consumption), the unit switches on the electric heater 28, driving it by means of a specific logic system (for example of the PWM type) so as to achieve delivery of 1 electric kW.

In this manner it is possible to obtain the sum of the maximum heat generated by the engine 2 and of the heat generated by the electric heater 28, since said heater is arranged on the sanitary hot water line.

When the delivery of hot water is interrupted, the unit removes power from the electric heater 28 and the engine 2.

The engine 2 remains on if the functions of charging the battery 24 or heating are active.

Also when the unit is in standby conditions, after the winter/summer selector has been set to winter, and after a certain ambient temperature has been set, if the timer is in the ON state and if the ambient temperature is lower than a specific value, the unit starts the motor 2 according to the previously described procedures.

For generating the maximum possible heat, the unit checks the electrical loads at the user devices. If the electrical load at the user devices is lower than 1 kW, the unit switches on the electric heater 27, driving it by means of a specific logic system (for example a PWM logic), with the goal of achieving 1 electric kW delivered.

In this manner it is possible to obtain the sum of the maximum heat generated by the engine 2 and of the heat generated by the electric heater 27.

At the same time, the air conveyor 19 (fan) is started at the lowest speed until the temperature of the engine 2 reaches a preset value.

Once this threshold has been exceeded, the conveyor 19 goes to the maximum speed. If the temperature of the engine 2 drops below the set limit, the conveyor 19 goes again to the minimum speed.

When the internal ambient temperature reaches a value that is close to the set temperature, the unit removes power from the heater 27 and the conveyor 19 shifts to the minimum speed. When the set ambient temperature is reached, the apparatus 1 returns to standby conditions (unless there are other demands on the part of the element, such as hot water for sanitary use and/or electric power).

When the ambient temperature again drops below a certain value with respect to the set point value, the apparatus 1 restarts without the heater 27 and at the minimum speed of the conveyor 19. Only if the ambient temperature drops below a certain threshold the electric heater 27 is activated, as described earlier, with the conveyor 19 operating at maximum speed.

When the desired value for the ambient temperature has been reached, the engine 2 can remain on if at that moment the functions of charging the battery 24 or sanitary water are active.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept: all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In the examples of embodiment shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other examples of embodiment.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application no. BO201 1A000198, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating electric power for elements for human and/or animal use such as watercraft, boats, campers, caravans, bungalows, camping tents, vehicles, kiosks, dwelling units and the like, of the type comprising a heat engine (2) which is associated with a respective fuel tank (3), a converter (6) for converting mechanical energy into electric power which is functionally associated with said heat engine (2) and at least one respective electric circuit (7) which is connected to the electrical mains (8) of the corresponding element, characterized in that said heat engine (2) comprises a hydraulic circuit (9) for forced cooling, along said hydraulic circuit (9) at least one first heat exchanger (13) being arranged which is associated with a duct (14) which leads to a system of the corresponding element selected from the hydraulic system for water for sanitary use and the heating system.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the exhaust pipe (15) of said heat engine (2) is affected by at least one second heat exchanger (16), which is associated with at least one of said hydraulic circuit (9) for the forced cooling of the engine (2) and a duct which leads to a system of the corresponding element selected from the hydraulic system for water for sanitary use and the heating system.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said second heat exchanger (16) affects said hydraulic circuit (9) for forced cooling of the heat engine (2) upstream of the at least one first heat exchanger (13) so as to heat the liquid that circulates in the hydraulic cooling circuit before it enters said at least one first heat exchanger (13).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least one radiator (17, 18) is arranged along said hydraulic circuit (9) for forced cooling, downstream of said first heat exchanger (13), said radiator (17, 18) facing and being proximate to a device (19, 20) for the forced conveyance of air onto its surfaces to remove heat from the cooling liquid.

5. A unit for the control and management of an apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that it is connected to at least one sensor designed to detect a specific value such as the internal temperature of the element for human and/or animal use, the temperature outside it, the charging level of a set of electric batteries (24), the relative humidity inside the element for human and/or animal use, the relative humidity outside it, the quantity of fuel that is present in said tank (3) and the like, said unit comprising at least one output line which leads to a device which is selected from control, actuation, signaling, visualization, power-on/power-off devices and functionally associated with at least one component of said heat engine (2), said tank (3), said set of batteries (24) and said converter (6) for converting mechanical energy into electric power.

6. A process for the control and management of a unit according to claim 5, comprising the steps that consist in

- comparing a value detected by the at least one sensor with a predefined stored reference value/interval for that unit;

- starting said heat engine (2) and any specific components associated therewith which are designed to modify said unit until its value is restored in accordance with the reference value/interval.

7. The process according to claim 6, furthermore comprising the steps that consist in

- checking that the charge level of the set of batteries (24) does not drop below a predefined value by means of a voltage measurement device which is arranged across it and is connected to said unit;

- starting said heat engine (2) designed to move said converter (6) for converting mechanical energy into electric power in order to charge the battery (24).

8. The process according to claim 6, furthermore comprising the steps that consist in

- checking that the internal temperature of the element for human and/or animal use does not drop below a predefined value by means of a temperature sensor (21) which is arranged inside said element and is connected to said unit;

- starting said heat engine (2) designed to move said converter (6) for converting mechanical energy into electric power;

- starting a device (19) for the forced conveyance of air onto the surfaces of a radiator ( 17) arranged along a hydraulic circuit (9) for cooling the heat engine (2) in order to remove heat from the cooling liquid and convey it into a duct which leads into said element for human and/or animal use.

9. The process according to claim 6, further comprising the steps that consist in

- checking that the internal temperature of the element for human and/or animal use does not rise above a predefined value by means of a temperature sensor (21) which is arranged inside said element and is connected to said unit;

- delivering electric power to a conditioning unit in order to start it.

10. The process according to claim 6, furthermore comprising the steps that consist in

- checking that hot water for sanitary use is in demand inside the element for human and/or animal use;

- starting a pump (29) for circulating water toward a respective delivery faucet, at least one first heat exchanger (13) being arranged along said water circulation duct (14) and interfering with a hydraulic circuit (9) for cooling the heat engine (2) so as to remove heat from the cooling liquid and transfer it to the water that circulates in said duct (14).

1 1. The process according to claim 6, furthermore comprising the steps that consist in starting said heat engine (2) according to the following sequence of operations:

- checking that the quantity of fuel that is present inside the at least one tank (3) associated with said engine (2) is above a preset threshold;

- opening controlled valves (26) arranged along the fuel supply ducts (4) interposed between said heat engine (2) and said tank (3);

- starting the electric starter motor of the heat engine (2) for a preset time until the heat engine (2) runs correctly.

12. The process according to claim 1 1 , comprising the step that consists, if in the last step for starting the heat engine (2) by means of the respective electric starter motor the correct operation of the heat engine (2) does not occur within the predefined time, in

- repeating this last step for a preset number of times, providing an alarm indication to the user if the correct operation of the heat engine (2) does not occur within said preset number of times.

13. The process according to claim 6, comprising the steps that consist, once the heat engine (2) has started, in checking any demand for heat energy, for heating and for sanitary water, within the element and starting the circulation of liquids, liquid of the cooling circuit and hot water for sanitary use, through at least one component, selected from a heat exchanger (13) and a radiator (17), arranged along the hydraulic circuit (9) for cooling said heat engine (2).

14. The process according to claim 13, comprising the step that consists, if the external temperature is lower than a specific threshold, in operating an electric heater (27, 28) to further increase the temperature of the liquid that flows in the hydraulic circuit associated therewith.