Inertial energy storage device

Abstract

The invention concerns a device wherein the coil tube ( 12 ) forming the condenser of a first heat pump assembly and the coil ( 13 ) which forms a second assembly are each fixed on vertical grids ( 28, 29 ). Said grids are arranged parallel to each other and are embedded in the concrete block ( 3 ) which forms one of the energy storage units incorporated in the system. The grids consist of concrete iron bars welded together into a network with square and rectangular meshes. The means fixing the tubes at certain intersetions of the grid are clamps of a particular type. The grids, the tubes and the clamps are embedded in the concrete block ( 3 ).

1 . An energy accumulation device of the inertia type, in particular for a heating and/or air conditioning system for premises, comprising at least one block ( 3 ) of solid or semi-solid material, and at least one heat-transfer fluid circuit ( 12 ,  13 ) embedded in each block, characterised in that at least one grille ( 28 ,  29 ) is embedded in each block ( 3 ) and in that each of the said circuits consists of a continuous circuit, curved in a coil, mounted on one of the grilles so as to allow differential expansion/contraction of the pipes with respect to the grille.  
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that at least one circuit is integrated in a heat-transfer fluid loop with phase change of a heat pump ( 14 ,  15 ).  
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , characterised in that each block ( 3 ) has two assemblies ( 12 ,  28 ;  13 ,  29 ) of a grille and a circuit, the grilles being plane and placed parallel in the block.  
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the block ( 3 ) has the shape of a polyhedron whose base is rectangular and placed horizontally and which has a top face which is also plane and parallel to the base, the grille or grilles ( 28 ,  29 ) being vertical.  
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 2 , in which the two circuits ( 12 ,  13 ) of a block are integrated in different heat exchange loops, characterised in that the device is associated with two sets of heat pumps ( 14 ,  15 ), one of the said circuits functioning as an evaporator and the other as a condenser.  
     
     
         6 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the block or blocks ( 3 ) are in the shape of a prism with a triangular vertical section.  
     
     
         7 . A device according to one of  claims 1  to  5 , characterised in that the block or blocks ( 3 ) are in a T shape.  
     
     
         8 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the material of the block or blocks is concrete.  
     
     
         9 . A device according to any one of  claims 1  to  7 , characterised in that the material of the block or blocks is a gel.  
     
     
         10 . A device according to any one of  claims 4  to  9 , characterised in that the block or blocks are embedded in the soil, their faces being directly in contact with the ground.  
     
     
         11 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a circuit, in at least one block, is connected to an ancillary heat source without connection with a heat pump, the ancillary heat source being a solar panel ( 9 ), a recuperator for the heat in a flue ( 10 ), a high-temperature solar furnace, etc.  
     
     
         12 . A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the grille is formed from metallic bars connected together at junction points.  
     
     
         13 . A device according to one of  claims 1  to  11 , characterised in that the grille is made from synthetic material.  
     
     
         14 . A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pipes are metallic tubes.  
     
     
         15 . A device according to one of  claims 1  to  13 , characterised in that the pipes are tubes made from synthetic material.  
     
     
         16 . A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the angled portions of conduit forming the coil are provided with a device allowing differential expansion/contraction of the pipe with respect to the concrete.  
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 16 , characterised in that the angled portions of the conduit are provided with sleeves ( 31 ) made from compressible polyurethane foam.  
     
     
         18 . An assembly formed by at least one grille and comprising at least one continuous pipe bent in a coil, anchored to the said grille, as part of the device according to one of the preceding claims.