[0001] This invention relates to a method for operating a total energy apparatus comprising
a high-pressure vapor reservoir and a condenser reservoir provided with a heat exchanger,
the high-pressure vapor reservoir being connected via a first fluid connection with
the condenser reservoir, while in the fluid connection an energy conversion device
is included for at least partly converting the energy contained in the vapor being
under high pressure into a different form of energy, such as, for instance, mechanical
energy or a local reduced pressure, the method comprising at least the following step
in a heat generation phase of the total energy apparatus:
- supplying heat to a medium in liquid form which is contained in the high-pressure
vapor reservoir and transporting the medium in vapor form from the high-pressure vapor
reservoir through the first fluid connection via the energy conversion device to the
condenser reservoir, whereafter the medium condenses against the heat exchanger, while
the heat of condensation absorbed by the heat exchanger is removed to a heat consuming
process.
[0002] This invention further relates to a total energy apparatus comprising a high-pressure
vapor reservoir, a heating source for heating medium contained in the high-pressure
vapor reservoir, and a condenser reservoir, the high-pressure vapor reservoir being
connected via a first fluid connection with the condenser reservoir, while the high-pressure
vapor reservoir and the condenser reservoir are arranged to comprise a medium in vapor
form and liquid form, the condenser reservoir being provided with a heat exchanger
for the purpose of removing the heat released by condensation of vapor to a heat consuming
process, while in the first fluid connection an energy conversion device is included
for at least partly converting the energy contained in the vapor being under high
pressure into a different form of energy, such as, for instance, mechanical energy
or a local reduced pressure.
[0003] Such a method and apparatus are known from practice, for instance for use in total
energy plants where by means of the energy conversion device electricity is generated
and where the heat is used for heating processes and buildings. In these known apparatuses,
during operation, the medium in liquid form in the high-pressure vapor reservoir is
continuously replenished with the aid of a feed pump. For this purpose, high-pressure
pumps are used because the water must be supplied against the pressure prevailing
in the high-pressure vapor reservoir. For the use of a total energy apparatus in a
house or a small office, where typically a thermal power of less than about 20 kW
suffices, it is necessary, to obtain a reasonable efficiency, to work with very high
pressures in the high-pressure vapor reservoir. To be considered here are pressures
of 30 bars and more, preferably more than 50 bars. For such pressures, no small high-pressure
pumps are available. Multistage centrifugal pumps are not available for such small
capacities and plunger pumps are expensive, are subject to wear and produce noise.
[0004] The invention contemplates meeting the problem mentioned and to that end provides
a method which is characterized in that between successive heat generation phases,
in a high-pressure vapor reservoir filling phase, at least the following step is carried
out:
- increasing the pressure in the condenser reservoir by stopping the removal of heat
of condensation via the heat exchanger in the condenser reservoir and/or lowering
the pressure in the high-pressure vapor reservoir by stopping the heating of the medium
in the high-pressure vapor reservoir and actively cooling the medium being in vapor
form in the vapor reservoir, such that the medium in liquid form flows back from the
condenser reservoir to the high-pressure vapor reservoir.
[0005] In this way, it is possible to fill the high-pressure vapor reservoir with the medium
in liquid form without using a high-pressure pump. The method according to the invention
therefore comprises two phases: a heat generation phase and a high-pressure vapor
reservoir filling phase.
[0006] In the heat generation phase of the total energy apparatus, the medium in liquid
form in the high-pressure vapor reservoir is evaporated and subsequently transported
in vapor form to the condenser reservoir. In the energy conversion device, the energy
contained in the hot vapor under high pressure is converted into a different form
of energy, such as, for instance, mechanical energy, by means of a steam engine or
steam turbine, or into a local reduced pressure using an ejector. The medium in vapor
form condenses against a heat exchanger in the condenser reservoir, and the heat of
condensation thereby absorbed by the heat exchanger is removed from the condenser
reservoir to a heat consuming process.
[0007] In the high-pressure vapor reservoir filling phase, the high-pressure vapor reservoir
is filled with medium in liquid form. To that end, medium in liquid form is recycled
from the condenser reservoir to the high-pressure vapor reservoir. This is achieved
according to the invention by increasing the pressure in the condenser reservoir by
stopping the removal of heat in the condenser reservoir and/or by lowering the pressure
in the high-pressure vapor reservoir by stopping the heating of the medium in the
high-pressure vapor reservoir and actively cooling the medium being in vapor form
in the vapor reservoir. As a result, a reduced pressure is generated in the high-pressure
vapor reservoir, and the medium in liquid form will automatically flow from the condenser
reservoir to the high-pressure vapor reservoir. The removed heat of condensation from
the high-pressure vapor reservoir can here be conducted to a heat consuming process.
[0008] The high-pressure vapor reservoir filling phase can be started after the medium in
liquid form in the high-pressure vapor reservoir has reached a predetermined minimum
level. That the minimum level has been reached can be signaled by a warning device
which proceeds to deliver a 'minimum level signal' to the total energy apparatus.
[0009] As has already been indicated hereinbefore, the energy conversion device can comprise
an ejector with the aid of which the energy stored in the vapor being under high pressure
is converted into a local reduced pressure with the aid of an ejector or thermocompressor.
The high-pressure vapor reservoir then constitutes a primary vapor source.
[0010] According to a further elaboration of the invention, the local reduced pressure in
the ejector can be used for sucking vapor from a secondary vapor source, such as,
for instance, an evaporation heat exchanger which is disposed in a flue duct, in the
bottom, on the roof in the form of a solar collector, in a ventilating air duct for
extracting heat from spent ventilating air or for cooling fresh ventilating air to
be supplied. With this last option, therefore, an air conditioning is obtained. Thus,
medium in vapor form can be sucked in which already possesses a certain residual heat.
The sucked-in medium is further heated by mixing it with medium in vapor form coming
from the primary vapor source, and the thus obtained vapor mixture condenses in the
condenser reservoir at a higher pressure and temperature than those of the secondary
vapor source. Thus, renewable energy coming from the secondary vapor source can be
utilized by the total energy apparatus, without necessitating the use of auxiliary
energy and/or further aids. Indeed, there is no electricity needed for keeping a pump
running. If the secondary vapor source is used for cooling purposes, for instance
for air conditioning, the heat absorbed and the heat generated by combustion will
have to be removed, for instance by emitting it to the outside air.
[0011] The methods mentioned hereinbefore can be used in total energy apparatuses for the
purpose of providing heat to central heating installations and for extracting heat
in air conditioning installations for households and offices.
[0012] The total energy apparatus of the type described in the preamble is characterized,
according to the invention, by a second fluid connection which extends between the
condenser reservoir and the high-pressure vapor reservoir, while in the second fluid
connection a non-return valve is arranged which prevents flow of medium from the high-pressure
vapor reservoir to the condenser reservoir, while for the purpose of the transport
of the medium in liquid form from the condenser reservoir to the high-pressure vapor
reservoir, the apparatus is provided with a control which is arranged for periodically
increasing the pressure in the condenser reservoir by stopping the removal of heat
of condensation via the heat exchanger in the condenser reservoir and/or lowering
the pressure in the high-pressure vapor reservoir by stopping the heating of the medium
in the high-pressure vapor reservoir and actively cooling the medium being in vapor
form in the vapor reservoir, such that the medium in liquid form flows from the condenser
reservoir via the second fluid connection back to the high-pressure vapor reservoir.
[0013] The total energy apparatus according to the invention therefore does not utilize
a pump for recycling medium in liquid form from the condenser reservoir to the high-pressure
vapor reservoir. This is of interest in particular for smaller vapor and steam systems
involving work at a vapor pressure of 30 bars and higher, because for such systems
no suitable high-pressure feed pump is available.
[0014] According to a further elaboration of the invention, the total energy apparatus is
characterized in that the first connection too is provided with a non-return valve,
while, in use, the non-return valve in the first connection is in the closed condition
if the vapor pressure in the condenser reservoir is higher than the vapor pressure
in the high-pressure vapor reservoir. If the vapor pressure in the condenser reservoir
is higher than the vapor pressure in the high-pressure vapor reservoir, the medium
in liquid form can flow back from the condenser reservoir to the high-pressure vapor
reservoir exclusively through the second fluid connection.
[0015] In a further elaborated embodiment of the total energy apparatus according to the
invention, in the high-pressure vapor reservoir, a heat exchanger is arranged for
removing heat of condensation to a heat consuming process. As a result, for a limited
time, the total energy apparatus can simultaneously remove heat of condensation via
the heat exchanger in the high-pressure vapor reservoir and heat of condensation via
the heat exchanger in the condenser reservoir to a heat consuming process. Thus, a
relatively high thermal power can be provided by the total energy apparatus.
[0016] A still further elaborated embodiment of the total energy apparatus according to
the invention is characterized in that the total energy apparatus comprises a circuit
for a liquid for the heat transport from the total energy apparatus to the heat consuming
process, which circuit is provided with a valve system, whereby, in use, in a first
position of the valve system liquid in the circuit flows through the heat exchanger
in the condenser reservoir, while hardly any or no liquid flows through the heat exchanger
in the high-pressure vapor reservoir, and in a second position of the valve system
liquid in the circuit flows through the heat exchanger in the high-pressure vapor
reservoir and hardly any or no liquid flows through the heat exchanger in the condenser
reservoir.
[0017] According to a still further elaboration, in a third position of the valve system
liquid in the circuit can flow through the heat exchanger of the high-pressure vapor
reservoir, while at the same time liquid in the circuit can flow through the heat
exchanger of the condenser reservoir.
[0018] The first position of the valve system can be used in the heat generation phase of
the total energy apparatus and the second position of the valve system can be used
in the high-pressure vapor reservoir filling phase. Further, it is possible to set
the valve system in the third position in order to provide, with the burner switched
on, a maximum power in a heat generation phase.
[0019] According to a further elaboration of the invention, the energy conversion device
can be a steam engine, a steam turbine or an ejector or thermocompressor, while in
the case of an ejector, the ejector is connected via a vapor supply pipe to a secondary
vapor source such as an evaporation heat exchanger or a solar collector.
[0020] A further elaborated embodiment of a total energy apparatus according to the invention
is characterized in that the high-pressure vapor reservoir is provided with means
for delivering a signal when reaching a predetermined minimum level of the medium
in liquid form in the high-pressure vapor reservoir.
[0021] According to a further elaboration of the invention, the total energy apparatus can
be characterized by a second high-pressure vapor reservoir and a second condenser
reservoir, which are connected with each other via a third fluid connection in which
the energy conversion device is included, while a fourth fluid connection extends
between the second condenser reservoir and the high-pressure vapor reservoir, and
in the fourth fluid connection a non-return valve is arranged, which prevents flow
of medium from the second high-pressure vapor reservoir to the second condenser reservoir,
while the control is arranged, in use, during the generation of vapor in the first
high-pressure vapor reservoir, to fill the second high-pressure vapor reservoir from
the second condenser reservoir and, during the generation of vapor in the second high-pressure
vapor reservoir, to fill the first high-pressure vapor reservoir from the first condenser
reservoir, such that, continuously, vapor under high pressure is available for energizing
the energy conversion device. With such an apparatus, therefore, converted energy,
such as electricity, mechanical work or local partial vacuum is continuously available
without this necessitating the use of a high-pressure pump.
[0022] Moreover, in the vapor-carrying pipe system, no operable valves need to be present
to enable the apparatus according to the invention to function. The use of such operable
high-pressure valves is undesired in view of the high costs of such valves.
[0023] The invention will presently be further elucidated with reference to the drawing.
In the drawing:
Fig. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a total energy apparatus;
Fig. 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of a total energy apparatus according
to the invention; and
Fig. 3 shows a total energy apparatus according to the invention, provided with an
ejector.
[0024] Fig. 1 shows a total energy apparatus according to the invention. The total energy
apparatus shown comprises a high-pressure vapor reservoir 1 arranged to contain a
medium in liquid form ML and a medium in vapor form MD. The total energy apparatus
is further provided with a heating source 2 for heating the high-pressure vapor reservoir
1. The heating source 2 in this example is a gas burner. It will be clear that a different
heating source can be utilized as well, for instance an electric heating element.
The high-pressure vapor reservoir 1 is connected via a first fluid connection 3 with
an energy conversion device 4 and a condenser reservoir 5. The fluid connection 3
is provided with a non-return valve 6. This non-return valve 6 prevents the medium
from flowing back from the condenser reservoir 5 through the energy conversion device
4 to the high-pressure vapor reservoir 1 when the pressure in the condenser reservoir
5 is higher than the pressure in the high-pressure vapor reservoir 1. The condenser
reservoir 5 is further connected via a second fluid connection 7 with the high-pressure
vapor reservoir 1. The second fluid connection 7 is provided with a non-return valve
8 to prevent medium flowing through the second fluid connection 7 from the high-pressure
vapor reservoir 1 to the condenser reservoir 5 when the pressure in the high-pressure
vapor reservoir 1 is higher than the pressure in the condenser reservoir 5.
[0025] Hereinbelow, the heat generation phase is described, in which, in operation, the
total energy apparatus generates heat and removes it to a heat consuming process.
In the heat generation phase, the gas burner 2 heats the medium in the high-pressure
vapor reservoir 1, so that medium in liquid form ML in the high-pressure vapor reservoir
1 evaporates. As a result, the vapor pressure in the high-pressure vapor reservoir
1 will rise. This has as a consequence that medium in vapor form MD flows via the
first fluid connection 3 through the energy conversion device 4 to the condenser reservoir
5. In the condenser reservoir 5, this medium in vapor form will condense against the
heat exchanger 9 incorporated in the condenser reservoir. The condensate is subsequently
collected in the condenser reservoir 5 and the heat of condensation released is absorbed
via the heat exchanger 9. The heat exchanger 9 is connected to a pipe 10 of a circuit
in which a liquid is pumped round by a circulation pump 11. The heat exchanger 9 delivers
the absorbed heat of condensation to the liquid in the circuit, after which the heat
of condensation is transported in the circuit to a heat exchanger 12. The heat exchanger
12 delivers the transported heat of condensation to a second circuit 13. This second
circuit 13, finally, removes the heat of condensation to a heat consuming process.
It should be noted that the pipe 10 can also form part of the heating circuit of a
house or office, in which case the heat exchanger 12 and the circuit 13 can be omitted.
[0026] The circuit of the total energy apparatus in Fig. 1 comprises a three-way valve 14
which has three positions. Also, a heat exchanger 15 is connected to the circuit.
The heat exchanger 15 is incorporated in the high-pressure vapor reservoir 1. When
the circulation pump 11 is switched on, in a first position of the three-way valve
14, liquid in the circuit flows through the heat exchanger 9 while no liquid flows
through the heat exchanger 15. In the second position of the three-way valve 14, liquid
in the circuit flows through the heat exchanger 15 while no liquid flows through the
heat exchanger 9. The third position of the three-way valve 14 is a position in which
liquid flows both through the heat exchanger 9 and through the heat exchanger 15.
[0027] In the heat generation phase described, the level of the medium in liquid form ML
decreases, while the level of the medium in liquid form ML in the condenser reservoir
5 rises. As soon as the level of the medium in liquid form ML in the high-pressure
vapor reservoir 1 falls below a particular minimum level, this will be signaled by
the level sensor 16. Thereupon, the heat generation phase will be discontinued, whereafter
the high-pressure vapor reservoir filling phase is started.
[0028] In the high-pressure vapor reservoir filling phase, the gas burner 2 is switched
off, so that less medium in liquid form ML evaporates in the high-pressure vapor reservoir
1. Further, the three-way valve 14 will be set in the second position, so that the
removal of the heat of condensation via the heat exchanger 9 is discontinued, as a
result of which the pressure will run up. Also, the circulation pump 11 is switched
off for a short time. After that, the circulation pump 11 is switched on again, and
the removal of the heat of condensation via the heat exchanger 15 in the high-pressure
vapor reservoir 1 is started. As a result of these measures, the pressure in the high-pressure
vapor reservoir 1 will rapidly decrease. At the moment when the pressure in the condenser
reservoir 5 is higher than the pressure in the high-pressure vapor reservoir 1, medium
in liquid form ML will flow from the condenser reservoir 5 via the second fluid connection
7 through the non-return valve 8 to the high-pressure vapor reservoir 1. As a result,
the high-pressure vapor reservoir 1 will be filled with medium in liquid form ML,
while the condenser reservoir 5 is drained. As soon as the high-pressure vapor reservoir
1 is sufficiently filled with the medium in liquid form ML, the high-pressure vapor
reservoir filling phase will be stopped. The total energy apparatus can then switch
to the heat generation phase, whereby heat is supplied to the second circuit 13 and
energy is converted in the energy conversion device 4.
[0029] When the three-way valve 14 is switched to the third position, then, if the total
energy apparatus is in operation, at the same time heat of condensation will be removed
via the heat exchanger 9 and heat of condensation will be removed via the heat exchanger
15. As a result, the total energy apparatus in Fig. 1 can briefly furnish a relatively
high power of heat to a heat consuming process.
[0030] The energy conversion device 4 which is incorporated in the total energy apparatus
is driven by the medium which, in the heat generation phase, flows in vapor form via
the first fluid connection 3 to the condenser reservoir 5. The energy conversion device
4 can be a steam engine, a steam turbine, an ejector or thermocompressor or a like
appliance energized by expansion of the vapor, or a combination thereof. With the
aid of a steam engine or a steam turbine, for instance electric current can be generated,
or a machine, for instance a water pump or compressor, can be driven directly. Thus,
with the energy conversion device, thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy.
[0031] In Fig. 2 another embodiment of the total energy apparatus according to the invention
is shown. For parts corresponding to the parts of the total energy apparatus in Fig.
1, identical reference numerals have been used. The total energy apparatus in Fig.
2 is a micro-total energy system which is alternately in a heat generation phase and
a high-pressure vapor reservoir filling phase, as already described in relation to
Fig. 1. In the total energy apparatus of Fig. 2, the energy conversion device is a
turbine 4', by which, in the heat generation phase, flow energy of the medium flowing
in vapor form via the fluid connection 3 through the turbine 4' is converted into
mechanical energy. Thereupon, this mechanical energy is converted, in a generator
17 coupled to the turbine, into electricity which is supplied via the cable 18 to
the electricity grid. After the medium in vapor form has expanded in the turbine 4',
the medium flows to the condenser reservoir 5 where it condenses while delivering
heat of condensation to the heat exchanger 9.
[0032] In the heating apparatus in Fig. 2, the residual heat of the flue gases R of the
gas burner 2 is utilized, so that an optimum efficiency of the apparatus is obtained.
This is achieved by allowing these flue gases R to flow along a heat exchanger 19
and a heat exchanger 20 of the circuit. Thus, the liquid in the circuit is after-heated.
By cooling the flue gases R, as shown in Fig. 2, in the heat exchanger 20 countercurrently
to the coldest water of a supply pipe of the circuit, a highly favorable efficiency
can be achieved. It should be noted that the controllable three-way valve 14 of Fig.
1 has been replaced in Fig. 2 with two loose control valves 14A, 14B, with which the
same three-position control can be realized.
[0033] In the exemplary embodiment of Fig. 3, corresponding parts have again been provided
with the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1 and 2. The energy conversion device
4 in this example is designed as an ejector 4".
[0034] The high-pressure vapor reservoir 1 is a primary vapor source which can be heated
by the heating source 2. The heating source 2 can be, for instance, a gas burner or
electric heating element. Connected to the pressure reservoir 1 is an ejector 4" which
terminates in a venturi 21. The venturi 21 is provided with a diverging portion 21"
and a converging portion 21'. In the outlet of the diverging portion 21", or downstream
thereof, a heat exchanger 9 designed as a condenser 9 is arranged. In use, vapor coming
from the pressure reservoir 1 (primary vapor source) will flow at high velocity via
the ejector 4" through the converging part 21' of the venturi 21. This high flow velocity
creates a reduced pressure in an area in the venturi to which a vapor supply pipe
22 is connected. The vapor supply pipe 22 in this case is connected to two secondary
vapor sources 23 and 24. Due to the partial vacuum generated, vapor coming from the
secondary vapor sources 23 and 24 is sucked towards the venturi 21. This sucked-in
vapor will subsequently mix in the venturi 21 and in the condenser reservoir 5 with
vapor coming from the pressure reservoir 1 (primary vapor source). Due to the increase
of the pressure in the diverging part 21" of the venturi 21, the temperature of the
vapor mixture will rise. The mixture will then condense against the heat exchanger
9, whereby the heat of condensation released is absorbed by the heat exchanger 9.
The heat of condensation absorbed by the heat exchanger 9 is delivered to a circuit
10, after which the circuit 10 transfers the heat to a heat consuming process.
[0035] The temperature of the vapor to be condensed in the condenser reservoir 5 can be,
for instance, 20-40 °C higher than the temperature of the vapor in the secondary vapor
sources 23, 24. This means that the vapor coming from the secondary vapor sources
23 and 24 (by compressing it in the diverging part 21" of the venturi 21) is heated
such that the residual heat of this vapor can be utilized by the total energy apparatus.
[0036] The liberated heat of condensation is passed from the condenser reservoir 5 to the
heat consuming process via the circuit 10. For this purpose, a primary side of the
heat exchanger 9 forms part of the circuit 10. In the circuit 10, a liquid is pumped
round by a circulation pump 11, so that the heat of condensation absorbed by the liquid
in the heat exchanger 9 is transported through the circuit 10. Often, the heat of
condensation will be removed to a central heating installation for heating houses
or offices. Other possible applications are, for instance, the heating of tap water
or process water for the purpose of a chemical process.
[0037] The first secondary vapor source 23 is a solar collector which is arranged to vaporize
medium in liquid form. For this purpose, solar energy 5 is collected by the solar
collector 23. The vapor generated is sucked by the ejector 4" via the vapor supply
pipe 22 to the condenser reservoir 5. Thus, the total energy apparatus can utilize
residual energy (renewable energy) without necessitating the use of auxiliary energy
and auxiliary pumps.
[0038] The second vapor source 24 is a heat exchanger which is in thermal contact with flue
gases R of the gas burner 2 that are discharged via the flue duct 25. Using the absorbed
heat from the flue gases R, medium in liquid form ML is evaporated in the vapor source
24, whereafter the vapor MD is passed via the vapor supply pipe 22' to the heat exchanger
9 in the condenser reservoir 5. The flue gases R of the gas burner 2 can be cooled
to a temperature below the condensation temperature to achieve a favorable efficiency.
Any condensate in the flue duct 25 is removed via a siphon 26.
[0039] The total energy apparatus in Fig. 3 is further provided with a fluid connection
27, 27' between the condenser reservoir 5 and the secondary vapor sources 23 and 24.
Via this fluid connection 27, 27', the secondary vapor sources 23 and 24 can be provided
with medium in liquid form ML, whereafter this medium can subsequently evaporate in
the respective vapor sources.
[0040] For a proper operation of the total energy apparatus, it is required that air and
other non-condensable gases be removed from the heating installation. To that end,
the condenser reservoir 5 is provided with a degassing valve 28. Optionally, the total
energy apparatus can be automatically degassed with the aid of the ejector 4" without
making use of auxiliary equipment.
[0041] In the total energy apparatus according to the invention, various liquids, or mixtures
of liquids, can be used as medium. To be considered here are, for instance, alcohol
or propane. The use of other liquids is also possible when the requirement is met
that these liquids have a useful vapor pressure and vapor volume in the desired temperature
range. When using water as medium, the vapor pressures in the high-pressure vapor
reservoir 1 and in the condenser reservoir 5 will mostly be lower than 1 bar absolute,
corresponding to a temperature of 100°C, so that these processes will take place at
a partial vacuum.
[0042] The invention has been described on the basis of a few preferred embodiments. However,
as will be evident to one skilled in the art, various embodiments are possible which
also fall within the scope of the invention. Finally, it is noted that it is also
possible to use an assembly of two total energy apparatuses according to the invention.
It is then possible to have these total energy apparatuses cooperate in such a manner
that when one total energy apparatus is in the heat generation phase, the other is
in the high-pressure vapor reservoir filling phase. It is then advantageous that the
two total energy apparatuses share a single energy conversion device, so that this
typically expensive part does not need to be made of double design. It is thus possible,
with a total energy apparatus according to the invention, to continuously provide
heat to heat consuming processes and/or, with a total energy apparatus according to
the invention, to continuously convert thermal energy into mechanical energy.
1. A method for operating a total energy apparatus comprising a high-pressure vapor reservoir
(1) and a condenser reservoir (5) provided with a heat exchanger (9), while the high-pressure
vapor reservoir (1) is connected via a first fluid connection (3) with the condenser
reservoir (5), and in the fluid connection (3) an energy conversion device (4, 4',
4") is included for at least partly converting the energy contained in the vapor being
under high pressure into a different form of energy, such as, for instance, mechanical
energy or a local reduced pressure, the method comprising at least the following step
in a heat generation phase of the total energy apparatus:
• supplying heat to a medium in liquid form (ML) which is contained in the high-pressure
vapor reservoir (1) and transporting the medium in vapor form (MD) from the high-pressure
vapor reservoir (1) through the first fluid connection (3) via the energy conversion
device (4, 4', 4") to the condenser reservoir (5), whereafter the medium condenses
against the heat exchanger (9), while the heat of condensation absorbed by the heat
exchanger (9) is removed to a heat consuming process,
characterized in that
between successive heat generation phases, in a high-pressure vapor reservoir filling
phase, at least the following step is carried out:
• increasing the pressure in the condenser reservoir (5) by stopping the removal of
heat of condensation via the heat exchanger (9) in the condenser reservoir (5) and/or
lowering the pressure in the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1) by stopping the heating
of the medium in the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1) and actively cooling the medium
being in vapor form in the vapor reservoir (1), such that the medium in liquid form
(ML) flows back from the condenser reservoir (5) to the high-pressure vapor reservoir
(1).
2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step in the high-pressure vapor reservoir filling phase is carried out after
the medium in liquid form (ML) in the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1) reaches a
predetermined minimum level.
3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the high-pressure vapor reservoir filling phase, the cooling of the vaporous medium
(MD) in the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1) is carried out by passing cooling medium
through a heat exchanger (15) disposed in the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1).
4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the heat which is removed via the heat exchanger (15) in the high-pressure vapor
reservoir (1) is passed to the heat consuming process.
5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the energy conversion device (4, 4') the energy stored in the vapor being under
high pressure is converted into mechanical energy with the aid of a steam engine or
a steam turbine (4').
6. A method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that in the energy conversion device (4, 4') the energy stored in the vapor being under
high pressure is converted into a local reduced pressure with the aid of an ejector
or thermocompressor (4").
7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the local reduced pressure in the ejector (4") is used for sucking vapor from a secondary
vapor source (23, 24), such as, for instance, an evaporation heat exchanger (23, 24),
which is disposed in a flue duct (25), in the bottom, on the roof in the form of a
solar collector (23), in a ventilating air duct for extracting heat from spent ventilating
air or for cooling fresh ventilating air to be supplied.
8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that use is made of at least two high-pressure vapor reservoirs (1) and two condenser
reservoirs (5), while at any particular time a high-pressure vapor reservoir (1) is
in the heat generation phase while another high-pressure vapor reservoir (1) is in
the high-pressure vapor reservoir filling phase.
9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that with the total energy apparatus heat is supplied to a central heating installation.
10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the medium is water.
11. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the heat generation phase in the high-pressure vapor reservoir a vapor pressure
of 30 bars is achieved.
12. A total energy apparatus comprising a high-pressure vapor reservoir (1), a heating
source (2) for heating medium contained in the high-pressure vapor reservoir, and
a condenser reservoir (5), the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1) being connected via
a first fluid connection (3) with the condenser reservoir (5), while the high-pressure
vapor reservoir (1) and the condenser reservoir (5) are arranged to comprise a medium
in vapor form (MD) and liquid form (ML), the condenser reservoir (5) being provided
with a heat exchanger (9) for the purpose of removing the heat released by condensation
of vapor to a heat consuming process, while in the first fluid connection (3) an energy
conversion device (4, 4', 4") is included for at least partly converting the energy
contained in the vapor being under high pressure into a different form of energy,
such as, for instance, mechanical energy or a local reduced pressure, characterized in that a second fluid connection (7) extends between the condenser reservoir (5) and the
high-pressure vapor reservoir (1), while in the second fluid connection a non-return
valve (8) is arranged which prevents flow of medium from the high-pressure vapor reservoir
(1) to the condenser reservoir (5), while for the purpose of the transport of the
medium in liquid form (ML) from the condenser reservoir (5) to the high-pressure vapor
reservoir (1), the apparatus is provided with a control (28) which is arranged for
periodically increasing the pressure in the condenser reservoir (5) by stopping the
removal of heat of condensation via the heat exchanger (9) in the condenser reservoir
(5) and/or lowering the pressure in the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1) by stopping
the heating of the medium in the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1) and actively cooling
the medium being in vapor form in the vapor reservoir (1), such that the medium in
liquid form (ML) flows back from the condenser reservoir (5) via the second fluid
connection (7) to the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1).
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the first connection (3) too is provided with a non-return valve (6), while, in use,
the non-return valve (6) in the first connection (3) is in the closed condition if
the vapor pressure in the condenser reservoir (5) is higher than the vapor pressure
in the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1).
14. An apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that in the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1) a heat exchanger (15) is disposed for removing
heat of condensation to a heat consuming process.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the total energy apparatus comprises a circuit (10) for a liquid for the heat transport
from the total energy apparatus to the heat consuming process, which circuit is provided
with a valve system (14, 14A, 14B) whereby, in use, in a first position of the valve
system (14, 14A, 14B), liquid in the circuit flows through the heat exchanger (9)
in the condenser reservoir (5) while hardly any or no liquid flows through the heat
exchanger (15) in the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1), and in a second position
of the valve system (14, 14A, 14b), liquid in the circuit (10) flows through the heat
exchanger (15) in the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1) and hardly any or no liquid
flows through the heat exchanger (9) in the condenser reservoir (5).
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that, in a third position of the valve system (14, 14A, 14B), liquid in the circuit flows
through the heat exchanger (15) of the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1), while at
the same time liquid in the circuit flows through the heat exchanger (9) of the condenser
reservoir (5).
17. An apparatus according to any one of claims 12-16, characterized in that the energy conversion device (4) is a steam engine.
18. An apparatus according to any one of claims 12-16, characterized in that the energy conversion device (4) is a steam turbine (4').
19. An apparatus according to any one of claims 12-16, characterized in that the energy conversion device (4) is an ejector or a thermocompressor (4"), which
is connected via a vapor supply pipe (22) to a secondary vapor source (23, 24), such
as, for instance, an evaporation heat exchanger which is disposed in a flue duct (25),
in the bottom, on the roof in the form of a solar collector, in a ventilating air
duct for extracting heat from spent ventilating air or for cooling ventilating air
to be supplied.
20. An apparatus according to any one of claims 12-19, characterized in that the high-pressure vapor reservoir (1) is provided with means (16) for delivering
a signal when a predetermined minimum level of the medium in liquid form in the high-pressure
vapor reservoir is reached.
21. A total energy apparatus according to any one of claims 12-20, characterized by a second high-pressure vapor reservoir and a second condenser reservoir, which are
connected with each other via a third fluid connection in which the energy conversion
device (4) is included, while a fourth fluid connection extends between the second
condenser reservoir and the high-pressure vapor reservoir, and in the fourth fluid
connection a non-return valve is arranged which prevents flow of medium from the second
high-pressure vapor reservoir to the second condenser reservoir, while the control
is arranged, in use, during the generation of vapor in the first high-pressure vapor
reservoir, to fill the second high-pressure vapor reservoir from the second condenser
reservoir, and, during the generation of vapor in the second high-pressure vapor reservoir,
to fill the first high-pressure vapor reservoir from the first condenser reservoir,
such that continuously vapor under high pressure is available for energizing the energy
conversion device.