Method and system for utilizing heat in a plant or animal growing device, and greenhouse

Abstract

A method for utilizing heat in a plant or animal growing device includes circulating a heat transfer fluid through a circuit forming a closed fluid loop, heating, via a heat source, the heat transfer fluid in the fluid circuit to a temperature within an efficient operating range of a first heat unit, supplying heat from the heat transfer fluid to a first heat unit, the first heat unit cooling down at least part of the heat transfer fluid to a temperature within an efficient operating range of at least one additional heat unit connected in serial arrangement with the heat source and the first heat unit, supplying heat from the heat transfer fluid from the first heat unit to the additional heat unit, the additional heat unit cooling down at least part of the heat transfer fluid, and returning the cooled down part of the heat transfer fluid from the additional heat unit to the heat source in the fluid circuit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for utilizing heat in a plant or animal growing device, comprising:
 circulating a heat transfer fluid through a circuit forming a closed fluid loop;   heating, via a heat source, the heat transfer fluid in the fluid circuit to a temperature within an efficient operating range of a first heat unit;   supplying heat from the heat transfer fluid to a first heat unit, the first heat unit cooling down at least part of the heat transfer fluid to a temperature within an efficient operating range of at least one additional heat unit connected in serial arrangement with the heat source and the first heat unit;   supplying heat from the heat transfer fluid from the first heat unit to the additional heat unit, the additional heat unit cooling down at least part of the heat transfer fluid; and   returning the cooled down part of the heat transfer fluid from the additional heat unit to the heat source in the fluid circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a heat fluid outlet temperature of one of the respective heat unit and the heat source equals a heat fluid inlet temperature of a following one of the respective heat unit and the heat source.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat unit includes a thermal desalination unit, the additional heat unit includes a heating device of a medium of the plant or animal growing device, and wherein the heat transfer fluid is cooled down further to a temperature equal to or lower than an outlet temperature of the thermal desalination unit. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the heating device includes a crop heating device and/or a space heating device. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat unit includes a thermal desalination unit, the additional heat unit includes a salt production device for producing salt from brine created in the thermal desalination unit, and wherein the heat transfer fluid is cooled down further to a temperature equal to or lower than an outlet temperature of the thermal desalination unit. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat unit includes a steam cycle machine, the additional heat unit includes a thermal desalination unit, and wherein the heat transfer fluid is cooled by the first heat unit down from a starting temperature lower than or equal to an outlet temperature of the heat source to a temperature lower than or equal to an inlet temperature of the thermal desalination unit. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the steam cycle machine includes an organic rankine cycle machine. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the heat transfer fluid is temporarily stored in a heat buffer for later use in at least one of the heat units. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat source includes a solar driven heat source which is driven by concentrated solar power. 
     
     
         10 . A system for utilizing heat in a plant or animal growing device, comprising:
 a fluid circuit including a pump and forming a closed fluid loop, wherein the pump is configured to circulate heat transfer fluid through the fluid circuit;   a heat source configured to add heat to the heat transfer fluid in the fluid circuit; and   a first heat unit configured to be heated by the heat transfer fluid in the fluid circuit to an efficient operating range of temperature of the first heat unit;   at least one additional heat unit connected in serial arrangement with the heat source and the first heat unit, configured to be heated by the heat transfer fluid in the fluid circuit from the first heat unit to an efficient operating range of temperature of the additional heat unit.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first heat unit includes a thermal desalination unit, the additional heat unit includes a heating device of a medium of the plant or animal growing device, and wherein the additional heat unit is disposed between an outlet of the thermal desalination unit and an inlet of the heat source. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the heating device includes a crop heating device and/or a space heating device of a greenhouse. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first heat unit includes a thermal desalination unit, the additional heat user includes a salt production device for producing salt from brine created in the thermal desalination unit. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the salt production device includes a salt pond. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first heat user includes a steam cycle machine, the additional heat unit includes a thermal desalination unit, and wherein the first heat unit is disposed between an outlet of the heat source and an inlet of the thermal desalination unit. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the steam cycle machine includes an organic rankine cycle machine. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a heat buffer having a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, wherein the fluid inlet is in direct fluid communication with the fluid circuit, and the at least one fluid outlet is in direct fluid communication with a fluid inlet of the heat unit and/or of the at least one additional heat unit. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the heat buffer includes a vertical tank, and wherein the vertical tank includes:
 the fluid inlet; and   at least one heat transfer fluid take-off outlet disposed at a height between a top end of the vertical tank and a bottom end of the vertical tank, wherein the at least one heat transfer fluid take-off outlet is in direct fluid communication with the fluid circuit, wherein the height between the top end of the vertical tank and the bottom end of the vertical tank is selected such that a temperature of the heat transfer fluid at a respective one of the at least one heat transfer fluid take-off outlet is equal to or approximate to a temperature of the heat transfer fluid in a respective heat unit at a location where the heat transfer fluid from the respective take-off outlet is added to the fluid through the respective heat unit.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the heat source includes a solar driven heat source. 
     
     
         20 . A greenhouse, comprising the system according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat unit includes a thermal desalination unit, the additional heat unit includes a heating device of a medium of the plant or animal growing device, a salt production device for producing salt from brine created in the thermal desalination unit, and/or a steam cycle machine. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein at least part of the heat transfer fluid is temporarily storable in a heat buffer for later use in at least one of the heat units, wherein the heat buffer includes a vertical tank, and wherein the vertical tank includes:
 a fluid inlet disposed at a top end of the vertical tank and connected to an outlet of the heat source;   at least one heat transfer fluid take-off outlet disposed at a bottom end of the vertical tank and connected to an inlet of the heat source; and   at least one fluid outlet connected to an inlet of a respective heat unit.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the heat transfer fluid is temporarily storable in a heat buffer for later use in at least one of the heat units, wherein the heat buffer includes a vertical tank, and wherein the vertical tank includes:
 a fluid inlet disposed at a top end of the vertical tank and connected to an outlet of the heat source;   at least one heat transfer fluid take-off outlet disposed at a bottom end of the vertical tank and connected to an inlet of the heat source; and   at least one fluid outlet connected to an inlet of a respective heat unit.   
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first heat unit includes a thermal desalination unit, the additional heat unit includes a heating device of a medium of the plant or animal growing device, a salt production device for producing salt from brine created in the thermal desalination unit, and/or a steam cycle machine. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein at least part of the heat transfer fluid is temporarily storable in a heat buffer for later use in at least one of the heat units, wherein the heat buffer includes a vertical tank, and wherein the vertical tank includes:
 a fluid inlet disposed at a top end of the vertical tank and connected to an outlet of the heat source;   at least one heat transfer fluid take-off outlet disposed at a bottom end of the vertical tank and connected to an inlet of the heat source; and   at least one fluid outlet connected to an inlet of a respective heat unit.