Method and device for inputting thermal energy into and removing thermal energy from a body of water

Abstract

A device for transferring heat between a body of water and the surrounding atmosphere includes a water heat exchanger disposed to lie beneath an air heat exchanger. A fan moves ambient air into and through the air heat exchanger, which includes pipes for circulating water from the body of water through the air heat exchanger. The air heat exchanger includes a partition that separates the water flowing through the air heat exchanger from the ambient air flowing through the air heat exchanger. The partition mediates the transfer of heat energy between the ambient air flowing through the air heat exchanger and the water flowing through the air heat exchanger.

1 . A device for introducing heat energy into a body of water and for extracting heat energy from the body of water, wherein the device comprises:
 a main body defining a hollow space, and therefore the device floats when placed in the body of water,   a water heat exchanger carried by the main body at one end thereof of the water heat exchanger and defining a discharge at an opposite end of the water heat exchanger and configured for conveying a heat transfer fluid, and therefore the heat transfer fluid can flow through the water heat exchanger and in doing so give off heat energy to the body of water or extract heat energy from the body of water,   an air heat exchanger carried by the main body and including an air inlet for taking in ambient air and an air outlet for discharging the ambient air previously having entered the air heat exchanger through the air inlet,   a fan carried by the main body and disposed and configured for displacing ambient air through the air inlet into the air heat exchanger and then through the air heat exchanger,   wherein the air heat exchanger further comprises an inlet for the water originating from the body of water and an outlet for the water fed in via the inlet, and therefore water from the body of water can flow through the air heat exchanger and then exit the air heat exchanger, and   wherein the air heat exchanger comprises at least one partition formed of material that readily conducts heat energy and configured and disposed to separate the water flowing through the air heat exchanger from the ambient air flowing through the air heat exchanger and via which the heat energy can be transferred between the ambient air flowing through the air heat exchanger and the water flowing through the air heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body is substantially made of concrete. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the water heat exchanger is immersed into the body of water below the main body of the device when the device is used as intended. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the water heat exchanger comprises at least one tube section through which the heat transfer fluid can flow and which is immersed in the body of water at least in sections when the device is used as intended. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a protective wall which is carried by the main body and configured and disposed to be immersed into the body of water and laterally protecting a section of the heat exchanger immersed into the body of water. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a plurality of projecting sections configured and disposed for protruding from the body of water when the device is used as intended, wherein the fan is disposed in the region of one of the projecting sections. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fan is disposed in the region of the air inlet or of the air outlet of the air heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a plurality of projecting sections protruding from the body of water when the device is used as intended and laterally delimit a volume of the body of water just below the surface of the body of water. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a cover section that extends between the projecting sections and is below the water surface of the body of water when the device is used as intended and is at least partially visible from above. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the outlet of the air heat exchanger extends in the region of the cover section and therefore water exiting the air heat exchanger via the outlet can flow across the cover section back into the body of water. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the cover section together with the projecting sections protruding from the body of water, forms a basin delimited at the bottom and at least in sections at the sides. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the water heat exchanger includes an intake for a heat transfer fluid and a discharge for the heat transfer fluid, wherein the water heat exchanger extends into the cover section and the basin, and therefore heat energy can be transferred between the heat transfer fluid and the water present in the basin. 
     
     
         13 . A system for introducing heat energy into a body of water and for extracting heat energy from the body of water, the system comprising:
 a device according to  claim 1  disposed floating in a body of water,   a heat pump disposed outside of the body of water, and   a pipe system with the aid of which the heat pump is connected to the device.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of devices according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the air heat exchangers is connected to one of the water heat exchangers to form a unit. 
     
     
         15 . A method for heating a structure having a heating circuit by means of a device according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the following steps:
 introducing the device into a body of water,   connecting the device to a heat pump present on land,   operating the fan at least intermittently for displacing ambient air through the air heat exchanger,   displacing water originating from the body of water through the air heat exchanger at least intermittently, wherein heat energy is transferred from the ambient air flowing through the air heat exchanger into the water flowing through the air heat exchanger and heats up the water, and therefore the heat energy originating from the ambient air is temporarily stored in the body of water, and   displacing a heat transfer fluid at least intermittently from the heat pump through the water heat exchanger and back to the heat pump, wherein heat energy from the water originating from the body of water is transferred to the heat transfer fluid in the region of the device and then transferred with the aid of the heat pump from the heat transfer fluid to a heating circuit of the structure in order to heat up the same.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein operating the fan, displacing the water originating from the body of water through the air heat exchanger, and displacing the heat transfer fluid through the water heat exchanger occur as a function of the heating demand of the structure and of the temperature of the ambient air and of the temperature of the body of water. 
     
     
         17 . A method for cooling a structure having a cooling circuit by means of a device according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the following steps:
 introducing the device into a body of water,   connecting the device to a cooling circuit of the structure located on land,   operating the fan at least intermittently for displacing ambient air through the air heat exchanger,   displacing water originating from the body of water through the air heat exchanger at least intermittently, wherein heat energy is transferred from the water flowing through the air heat exchanger into the ambient air flowing through the air heat exchanger, and therefore the water cools off, and   displacing a heat transfer fluid at least intermittently from the cooling circuit through the water heat exchanger, wherein heat energy is transferred from the heat transfer fluid flowing through the water heat exchanger into the water originating from the body of water in the region of the device, and therefore the heat transfer fluid cools off in the region of the device,   returning the cooled heat transfer fluid to the cooling circuit of the structure for cooling the structure.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein operating the fan, displacing water originating from the body of water through the air heat exchanger, and displacing the heat transfer fluid through the water heat exchanger occur as a function of the cooling demand of the structure and of the temperature of the ambient air and of the temperature of the body of water. 
     
     
         19 . A device for transferring heat between a body of water and the surrounding atmosphere, comprising:
 a main body defining an exterior surface and an interior surface, which defines a hollow space so that the device floats when placed in the body of water;   a water heat exchanger carried by the main body;   an air heat exchanger carried by the main body and disposed at least partially in the hollow space and including a tube section having pipes for circulating water from the body of water through the air heat exchanger; and   a fan carried by the main body and configured and disposed to move ambient air into and through the air heat exchanger; and   wherein the pipes are configured and disposed to mediate the transfer of heat energy between the ambient air flowing through the air heat exchanger and the water flowing through the air heat exchanger.