Method for pooling thermal energy, and heat exchange loop system between industrial and tertiary sites

Abstract

The invention concerns a system for exchanging heat by means of a loop in which a heat transfer fluid circulates, between a plurality of industrial and tertiary sites, each site possibly being a producer and/or consumer with the aim of reducing the energy factor on the district scale. The invention also concerns a method for pooling thermal energy on the district scale using a loop connecting at least one thermal energy consumer site and at least one thermal energy producer site, in which a heat transfer fluid circulates.

1 . A method for pooling heat on the district scale, in which a heat exchange loop is employed which connects at least one thermal energy consumer site and at least one thermal energy producer site, said loop comprising a heat transfer fluid the flow rate of which is adjusted so that at any point of the loop the temperature differences are less than 20° C., said consumer site or sites taking the energy necessary at one point of the loop by means of heat exchange and the producer site or sites discharging the surplus energy produced by means of heat exchange. 
     
     
         2 . A method for pooling heat as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the temperature of the loop is kept constant by means of an additional heating unit. 
     
     
         3 . A method for pooling heat as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a thermal battery type heat buffer store is used to store surplus thermal energy in the loop. 
     
     
         4 . A method for pooling heat as claimed in  claim 1 , in which an organic Rankine cycle is introduced into the loop in order to utilize the surplus thermal energy in the form of electricity. 
     
     
         5 . A method for pooling heat as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the heat transfer fluid is selected from water, aqueous mixtures, alcohols, hydrocarbons or ionic liquids. 
     
     
         6 . A method for pooling heat as claimed in  claim 1 , in which heat transfer fluid comprises particles of a phase change material. 
     
     
         7 . A system for pooling heat on the district scale, comprising:
 at least one thermal energy consumer site;   at least one thermal energy producer site;   a heat exchange loop which connects said thermal energy consumer sites and said thermal energy producer sites together, and which comprises heat exchangers and a heat transfer fluid the flow rate of which is adjusted by means of a pump.   
     
     
         8 . A system for pooling heat on the district scale as claimed in  claim 7 , in which the loop comprises an additional heating unit.