Device and Method for Increasing the Heat Yield of a Heat Source

Abstract

Various embodiments include a device for increasing the heat yield of a heat source comprising: a heat sink; a heat pump with a condenser and an evaporator; and a heat sink feed and a heat sink return providing a thermal coupling to the heat source with a heat exchanger. The condenser is thermally coupled to the heat sink feed for emitting heat to the heat sink. The evaporator is thermally coupled to the heat sink return for absorbing heat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for increasing the heat yield of a heat source, the device comprising:
 a heat sink;   a heat pump with a condenser and an evaporator; and   a heat sink feed and a heat sink return providing a thermal coupling to the heat source by a heat exchanger;   wherein the condenser is thermally coupled to the heat sink feed for emitting heat to the heat sink; and   the evaporator is thermally coupled to the heat sink return for absorbing heat.   
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the heat source;
 wherein downstream of the evaporator of the heat pump, the heat sink return is thermally coupled to the heat source by the heat exchanger for absorbing heat.   
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the condenser of the heat pump is thermally coupled to the heat sink return by a bypass line. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat sink is part of a district heating network. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat source comprises a geothermal source and/or an industrial waste heat source. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat pump comprises a high-temperature heat pump. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the heat pump uses a working fluid comprising at least one of: R1233zd, R1336mzz, butane, cyclopentane, a fluoroketone, and a mixture of said substances. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat pump has an electrical power of at least one Megawatt. 
     
     
         9 . A method for increasing the heat yield of a heat source, the method comprising:
 transmitting heat from the heat source to a heat sink return using a heat exchanger;   transmitting heat from a condenser of a heat pump to a heat sink feed; and   transmitting heat from the heat sink return to an evaporator of a heat pump;   wherein the heat sink feed and the heat sink return provide a thermal coupling to the heat source by the heat exchanger;   wherein the condenser is thermally coupled to the heat sink feed for emitting heat to the heat sink; and   wherein the evaporator is thermally coupled to the heat sink return for absorbing heat.