Heat exchanger assembly and method for transporting thermal energy

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly to be introduced into a sewage pipeline includes: at least one first heat exchanger adapted to thermally contact a heat source with sewage and at least one second heat exchanger adapted to thermally contact the sewage with a heat sink. The at least one second heat exchanger is arranged along the sewage flowing direction in the sewage pipeline and spaced from the at least one first heat exchanger, as well as to a method for transporting thermal energy.

1 . A heat exchanger assembly to be introduced into a sewage pipeline, the heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 a first heat exchanger configured to thermally conduct a heat source with sewage;   a second heat exchanger configured to thermally contact the sewage with a heat sink;   wherein the one second heat exchanger is arranged downstream along a sewage flowing direction in the sewage pipeline and spaced from the first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hot water forward-run line and a cold water return-run line, wherein a first heat exchange medium is heated by the heat source and supplied to the first heat exchanger by of the hot water forward-run line, and wherein the first heat exchange medium is cooled by the first heat exchanger and supplied to the heat source by the cold water return-run line. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cold water forward-run line and a hot water return-run line, wherein a second heat exchange medium cooled by the heat sink and supplied to the second heat exchanger by the cold water forward-run line, and wherein the second heat exchange medium is heated by the second heat exchanger and supplied to the heat sink by the hot water return-run line. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit is connected to a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor, wherein the first temperature sensor is arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the second heat exchanger, wherein the second temperature sensor is arranged downstream of the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second sewage pipeline hydraulically connectable to the sewage pipeline;   a third heat exchanger configured to thermally contact the sewage with a second heat sink;   wherein an amount of sewage flowing through the sewage pipeline and the second sewage pipeline is controllable.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 at least one blocking device configured to make sewage coming from the direction of the first heat exchanger flow to the second heat exchanger and to the third heat exchanger in predetermined proportions.   
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first flow control device, wherein the first flow control device is arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger;   a second flow control device, wherein the second flow control device is arranged downstream of the second heat exchanger; and   a third flow control device, wherein the third flow control device is arranged downstream of the third heat exchanger.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first measuring device configured to detect a level of the sewage in the sewage pipeline above the first heat exchanger and a temperature of the sewage proximal of the first heat exchanger;   a second measuring device configured to detect a level of sewage in the sewage pipeline above the second heat exchanger and a temperature of the sewage proximal of the second heat exchanger; and   a third measuring device configured to detect a level of sewage in the sewage pipeline above the third heat exchanger and a temperature of the sewage proximal of the third heat exchanger.   
     
     
         9 . A method for transporting thermal energy, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a hot first heat exchange medium;   supplying the hot first heat exchange medium into a first heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger is arranged in a sewage pipeline along a sewage flowing direction and thermally contacts the sewage;   heating the sewage with the first heat exchanger;   heating a second heat exchange medium in a second heat exchanger with a thermal energy of the sewage, wherein the second heat exchanger is arranged along the sewage flowing direction and is spaced from the first heat exchanger in the sewage pipeline, and wherein the second heat exchanger thermally contacts the sewage;   supplying the heated second heat exchange medium to a heat sink; and   cooling the second heat exchange medium with the heat sink.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 measuring a sewage temperature with a first temperature sensor arranged downstream of the first heat exchanger in the sewage pipeline; and   interrupting or reducing the supply of the heated first heat exchange medium into the first heat exchanger when the measured sewage temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum value.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 measuring a second sewage temperature with a second temperature sensor arranged downstream of the second heat exchanger in the sewage pipeline;   interrupting or reducing the supply of the heated first heat exchange medium into the first heat exchanger when the measured second sewage temperature exceeds a predetermined maximum value.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 measuring a second sewage temperature with a second temperature sensor arranged downstream of the second heat exchanger in the sewage pipeline;   interrupting or reducing a supply of a cold second heat exchange medium into the second heat exchanger when the measured sewage temperature falls below a predetermined minimum value.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 throttling or damming the sewage flowing through the sewage pipeline proximal of the first heat exchanger with a first flow control device;   throttling or damming the sewage flowing through the sewage pipeline proximal of the second heat exchanger with a second flow control device; and   throttling or damming the sewage flowing through a second sewage pipeline proximal of a third heat exchanger with a third flow control device.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
 opening the first flow control device when a level of the sewage above the first heat exchanger is at a predetermined level or when a temperature of the sewage proximal of the first heat exchanger is at a predetermined sewage temperature;   opening the second flow control device when a level of the sewage above the second heat exchanger is at a predetermined level or when a temperature of the sewage proximal of the second heat exchanger is at a predetermined sewage temperature; and   opening the third flow control device when a level of the sewage above the third heat exchanger is at a predetermined level or when a temperature of the sewage proximal of the third heat exchanger is at a predetermined sewage temperature.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the following steps:
 detecting a first thermal energy extracted by the heat sink via the second heat exchanger;   detecting a second thermal energy extracted by a second heat sink via a third heat exchanger;   controlling an amount of sewage flowing to the second heat exchanger and to the third heat exchanger, so that a first predetermined amount of thermal energy can be provided to the heat sink via the second heat exchanger, and a second predetermined amount of thermal energy can be provided to the second heat sink via the third heat exchanger.