Feed water supplementary thermal exchange apparatus, system and method

Abstract

A heat exchange system for transferring heat energy to control the temperature of a building, comprising a first heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between waste water and a first water supply, a second heat exchanger connected to the first heat exchanger for transferring heat energy between the thermally treated first water supply and a second water supply, and a heat pump operatively arranged to supply the first water supply to the first heat exchanger, fluidly arranged between the building and the first heat exchanger, and fluidly arranged between the building and the second heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchange system for transferring heat energy to control the temperature of a building, comprising:
 a first heat exchanger, including:
 a first inlet; 
 a second inlet; 
 a first outlet; and 
 a second outlet, wherein waste water flows through the first inlet and out the first outlet while a first water supply flows through the second inlet and out the second outlet so as to transfer heat energy between the waste water and the first water supply; 
   a second heat exchanger, including:
 a third inlet; 
 a fourth inlet; 
 a third outlet; and 
 a fourth outlet, wherein a second water supply flows through the third inlet and out the third outlet while the first water supply from the second outlet flows through the fourth inlet and out the fourth outlet so as to further transfer heat energy between the second water supply and the water supply from the second outlet and control the temperature of the building; 
   a diverter valve for diverting the second water supply to the second heat exchanger; and   at least one valve and at least one pump for selectively delivering a first circuit for cooling the temperature of the building, wherein the waste water is cooler than the first water supply for cooling the first water supply through the first heat exchanger, and for further cooling the first water supply through the second heat exchanger so as to cool the building.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one valve and the at least one pump selectively deliver at least a second circuit for heating the temperature of the building; and   the waste water is warmer than the first water supply for heating the first water supply through the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger is bypassed so as to heat the building.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchanger comprises a plate frame heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor for controlling the temperature of the second water supply supplied to the building. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the diverter valve is operatively arranged to selectively divert the second water supply supplied from a second water supply source to one of the second heat exchanger and the building. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pump is fluidly arranged between the building and at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . A heat exchange system for transferring heat energy to control the temperature of a building, comprising:
 a first heat exchanger, including:
 a first inlet; 
 a second inlet; 
 a first outlet; and 
 a second outlet, wherein waste water flows through the first inlet and out the first outlet while a first water supply flows through the second inlet and out the second outlet so as to transfer heat energy between the waste water and the first water supply; 
   a second heat exchanger, including:
 a third inlet; 
 a fourth inlet; 
 a third outlet; and 
 a fourth outlet, wherein a second water supply flows through the third inlet and out the third outlet while the first water supply from the second outlet flows through the fourth inlet and out the fourth outlet so as to further transfer heat energy between the second water supply and the water supply from the second outlet and control the temperature of the building; 
   a diverter valve for diverting the second water supply to the second heat exchanger; and   at least one valve and at least one pump for selectively delivering a circuit for heating the temperature of the building, wherein the waste water is warmer than the first water supply for heating the first water supply through the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger is bypassed so as to heat the building.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the second heat exchanger comprises a plate frame heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a temperature sensor for controlling the temperature of the second water supply supplied to the building. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the diverter valve is operatively arranged to selectively divert the second water supply supplied from a second water supply source to one of the second heat exchanger and the building. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one pump is fluidly arranged between the building and at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . A heat exchange system for transferring heat energy to control the temperature of a building, comprising:
 a first heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between waste water and a first water supply;   a second heat exchanger connected to the first heat exchanger for transferring heat energy between the thermally treated first water supply and a second water supply; and   a heat pump:
 operatively arranged to supply the first water supply to the first heat exchanger; 
 fluidly arranged between the building and the first heat exchanger; and 
 fluidly arranged between the building and the second heat exchanger. 
   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the heat pump supplies the first water supply to the first heat exchanger from the building. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the heat pump supplies the thermally treated first water supply from the first heat exchanger to the building. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the heat pump supplies the supplemented thermally treated first water supply from the second heat exchanger to the building. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the heat pump supplies:
 the thermally treated first water supply from the first heat exchanger to the building; and   the supplemented thermally treated first water supply from the second heat exchanger to the building.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a diverter valve operatively arranged to selectively divert the second water supply supplied from a second water supply source to at least one of the second heat exchanger and a destination. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the destination is the building. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising a temperature sensor fluidly arranged between the diverter valve and the destination. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchange system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the waste water is supplied to the first heat exchanger from a sewer line.