Patent Application
20240247836
The present disclosure relates to a device having an air cushion for heating room air and a liquid.
In the prior art, it is known to produce thermal energy from the combustion of propane, butane or Diesel fuel converted into the gaseous state, for example, and to transfer it to a liquid, for example raw water or room air, by means of at least one heat exchanger. It is also known to heat room air and liquid (see US 2019/0212033 A1, for example).
The object on which the present disclosure is based is to propose a device for heating room air and a liquid which constitutes an alternative to the prior art.
Example embodiments relate to a device for heating room air and a liquid, comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, an energy unit, a heat transfer device, a medium container, a medium line, a conveying device, and a control unit, wherein room air to be heated enters the device via the air inlet, wherein heated room air exits the device via the air outlet, wherein liquid to be heated enters the device via the liquid inlet, wherein heated liquid exits the device via the liquid outlet, wherein the energy unit produces thermal energy, wherein the heat transfer means transfers the thermal energy produced by the energy unit to the room air and/or the liquid, wherein the medium container serves to receive liquid and air, wherein the medium line serves to conduct liquid and air, wherein the heat transfer means and the medium line are configured and arranged relative to each other such that the heat transfer means transfers thermal energy to liquid present in the medium line, wherein the conveying device serves to move liquid and/or air from the medium container to the medium line, and from the medium line to the medium container, wherein the control unit controls the conveying device, and wherein in case the device is intended to heat only room air in an air mode, the control unit, in a preparation step, controls the conveying device such that the conveying device moves air from an air cushion in the medium container through the medium line.
The device according to the present disclosure has inlets and outlets for the room air to be heated and a liquid to be heated or to be warmed up such as raw water, for example. The liquid and air can be stored in a medium container. This air is different from the room air to be heated and may also be referred to as working air or displacement air, for example. During operation, the liquid and the air are thus in an air cushion in the medium container. Furthermore, both the liquid and the air can be conducted through a medium line. A conveying device is present for the transfer of liquid and air between the medium container and the medium line. This air is conducted in the device and is used for the operation thereof. A heat transfer device transfers thermal energy to the room air and/or the liquid. The liquid conducted through the medium line is heated. The heat transfer device and the medium line are arranged relative to each other accordingly. As shown in the configurations below, the device allows for example to purposefully switch between the media to be heated, i.e. the liquid and room air. Before an air mode in which the device is intended to heat only room air, the medium line is drained with respect to the liquid. This is carried out in that the control unit, in a preparation step, i.e. prior to the actual air mode, controls the conveying device such that the conveying device moves air—i.e. the working air—from the air cushion of the medium container through the medium line. This serves to drain the medium line. Due to the movement of the air, the liquid is quasi pushed out or displaced.
One configuration is characterized in that the medium container, die conveying device and the medium line are configured and adapted to each other such that an amount of air in the medium container, the conveying device and the medium line remains substantially constant. The arrangement of the medium container, the conveying device and the medium line is thus so compact that no air escapes and this air circulates in this arrangement. In one configuration, the type of liquid removal from the medium container in the direction of the liquid outlet is configured such that the amount of air remains constant. In one alternative configuration, there is an access to the medium container through which air can enter the medium container.
One configuration provides that in the preparation step, the conveying device removes air from the air cushion and supplies it back to the medium container after the passage through the medium line. In this configuration, the air of the air cushion serves to discharge liquid from the medium line. The air is then again guided into the medium container so that the amount of air in the air cushion remains substantially constant.
One configuration consists in that in case the device is intended to heat either only liquid or liquid and room air, the control unit controls the conveying device such that liquid flows from the medium container to the medium line, and from the medium line to the medium container. During this passage of the liquid through the medium line, the heat transfer device transfers thermal energy to the liquid.
One configuration provides that in case the device is intended to heat either only room air or a liquid and room air, the control unit controls the air inlet and/or the air outlet such that room air flows from the air inlet via the heat transfer device to the air outlet. For this purpose, an appropriate fan is provided in one configuration. This fan conveys room air such that the heat transfer device transfers thermal energy to the room air and thus heats this air. In one configuration, the control unit therefore controls the fan accordingly.
One configuration consists in that the energy unit produces thermal energy by the combustion of a fuel-air-mixture and/or by converting electrical energy.
More specifically, there are a large number of possibilities to configure and further develop the device according to the invention. To this end, reference is made, on the one hand, to the claims subordinated to claim 1, and, on the other hand, to the description below of example embodiments in conjunction with the drawing, in which:
The room air enters the device through the air inlet 1 and exits it in a heated state through the air outlet 2. The liquid, water, for example, enters the device via the liquid inlet 3 and leaves it in a warmed up (heated) state via the liquid outlet 4. In the variant shown, the thermal energy for heating is generated by the energy unit 5 by the combustion of a fuel-air-mixture. Depending on the mode, the heat transfer device 6 transfers the thermal energy to the room air or to the liquid or, for example, both to the room air and the liquid. To this end, the room air is guided from the air inlet 1 through the fan, along or past the heat transfer device 6 to the air outlet 2. A medium container 7 is provided for the liquid, which is connected to the liquid inlet 3 and to the liquid outlet 4 and a medium line 8. The liquid flowing through the medium line 8 can absorb thermal energy from the heat transfer device 6. The flow of the liquid is generated by the conveying device 9 which comprises at least one pump, for example. The conveying device 9 is controlled by the control unit 10, which in this configuration also switches between the different modes of operation based on a user setting.
An air cushion 11 is provided in the medium container 7 for switching between the modes. The medium container 7 is thus not entirely filled with the liquid, rather, an area remains for the air. The medium line 8 is first largely emptied with respect to the liquid before only the room air is heated in the air mode. For this purpose, air from the air cushion 11 is guided through the medium line 8 by the conveying device 9. This involves that the conveying device 9 can convey not only liquid, but also air. After the preparation step, the air is heated in an air mode.
While the disclosure has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102021005383.4 | Oct 2021 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/000100 | 10/28/2022 | WO |
