Coupling system for a hybrid energy plant

Abstract

A coupling system for a hybrid energy plant including a heat-pump unit and a combined heat and power generation unit, having at least one coupling device for coupling the heat-pump unit and the combined heat and power generation unit. A device and a method provide a coupling for a heat-pump unit and a combined heat and power generation unit, in doing which, the highest possible overall efficiency and the lowest possible consumption of resources relative to already known uncoupled plants is ensured. At least one coupling device has an electrical coupling unit and/or a hydraulic coupling unit which are designed to be switchable for a coupling of the heat-pump unit and the combined heat and power generation unit. An energy-transformation system for generating heat and/or cold and a method for energy transformation having a coupling system are also provided.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A coupling system for a hybrid energy plant, the hybrid energy plant including a heat-pump unit, and a combined heat and power generation unit, the coupling system comprising:
 at least one coupling device to couple the heat-pump unit and the combined heat and power generation unit, the at least one coupling device having at least one of an electrical coupling unit and a hydraulic coupling unit which are configured to be switchable for coupling the heat-pump unit and the combined heat and power generation unit.   
     
     
         18 . The coupling system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the coupling device includes a fuel-fired motor. 
     
     
         19 . The coupling system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the coupling device includes a gear unit coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         20 . The coupling system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the coupling device includes an electric machine coupled to the gear unit driven via the motor to transmit a geared power to and from the electric machine. 
     
     
         21 . The coupling system as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the coupling device includes a compressor coupled to the gear unit to transmit a geared power to the compressor. 
     
     
         22 . The coupling system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the coupling device includes a control device to switch the coupling system. 
     
     
         23 . The coupling system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the control device includes a motor-control unit to control the motor. 
     
     
         24 . The coupling system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the control device includes a power-electronics unit for power-dependent closed-loop control of the coupling system. 
     
     
         25 . The coupling system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the control device includes an interface unit to connect to further components. 
     
     
         26 . An energy-transformation system, comprising:
 a heat-pump unit to generate at least one of heat and cold; and   a combined heat and power generation unit to generate at least one of current and heat;   wherein the heat-pump unit and the combined heat and power generation unit are coupled to each other via at least one coupling system, the coupling system including at least one coupling device to couple the heat-pump unit and the combined heat and power generation unit, wherein the at least one coupling device has at least one of an electrical coupling unit and a hydraulic coupling unit, which are configured to be switchable for coupling the heat-pump unit and the combined heat and power generation unit.   
     
     
         27 . The energy-transformation system as recited in  claim 26 , wherein the heat-pump unit is switchably coupled to at least one of the motor and the electric machine, via at least one of the compressor and the gear unit. 
     
     
         28 . A method for energy transformation, comprising:
 operating a heat-pump unit; and   operating a combined heat and power generation unit, wherein the heat-pump unit and the combined heat and power generation unit are switchably coupled to each other, and energy of one unit is made available optionally for the respective other unit.   
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the switching includes a change-over switching between different operating modes. 
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the change-over switching of the operating modes includes a change-over of the following operating modes selected from: electric-power generation, heat generation, and cold generation. 
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the coupling is accomplished one of electrically, or electrically and hydraulically. 
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the coupling is implemented reversibly, so that a change-over is made from an energy-generating operating mode to an energy-consuming operating mode.