Patent EP-2198209-A1 (EP)
Title: Geothermal energy accumulator having a vapor barrier and method for utilizing vaporization heat in the geothermal energy accumulator
Inventor: OESTERWITZ KARL-HEINZ
IPC: F24J3/08
Filed: 2008-09-05
Abstract: The invention relates to a solar geothermal accumulator for household energy consumption, embodied as an unsaturated fluid-containing heat accumulator mass comprising at least one first partial system for entry and, at a defined distance, at least one second partial system for removal of heat energy, the partial systems being disposed with the corresponding partial systems entering and removing the heat in a storage space forming the solar geothermal accumulator and being open below and partially gas-tight. According to the invention, at least one bell-like upper seal and one circumferential side gas-tight seal (60O, 60S) of the storage space (40) of the solar geothermal accumulator (80) is made such that heat (10) can be fed into the storage medium comprising the unsaturated fluid of the solar geothermal accumulator (80) by the at least one first system, said heat causing the heating of the heat accumulator mass and the fluid within the solar geothermal accumulator (80) at substantially constant normal air pressure, and leading to evaporation of the fluid, whereby an amount of heat can be stored in the solar geothermal accumulator within the bell-like seal (60O, 60S) by means of the corresponding specific heat capacity / evaporation enthalpy of the liquid and gaseous fluid, said heat being removed by means of the at least one second system (20) by condensing the fluid and cooling the heat accumulator mass of the solar geothermal accumulator (80) and the fluid (80) present in the solar geothermal accumulator in order to utilize the heat in a central home energy system, wherein a humidification system (70) is disposed at least in the area of the upper seal (60O) and is intended to allow the heat storage capacity of the heat accumulator mass of the solar geothermal accumulator (80) in an optimal range for home energy usage by feeding in the fluid. An associated method ensures that heat (10) is supplied to the heat accumulator mass of the solar geothermal accumulator (80) comprising unsaturated fluid by the at least one first system, said heat heating the heat accumulator mass and the fluid within the solar geothermal accumulator (80) at substantially constant normal air pressure, and leading to evaporation of the fluid, whereby an amount of heat can be stored in the solar geothermal accumulator by means of the corresponding specific heat capacity / evaporation enthalpy of the liquid and gaseous fluid, said heat being removed by means of the at least one second system (20) by condensing the fluid and cooling the heat accumulator mass of the solar geothermal accumulator (80) and the fluid (80) present in the solar geothermal accumulator in order to utilize the heat in a central home energy system, wherein the heat storage capacity of the heat accumulator mass of the solar geothermal accumulator (80) is controlled and regulated in that fluid is fed into the solar geothermal accumulator (80) by means of a humidification system (70) in order to maintain the central home energy system in an optimal operating range, as a function of the physical boundary conditions acting on the solar geothermal accumulator (80).