Simultaneous hybrid heating system

Abstract

The system is for use with an occupiable space and comprises (i) a heat pumping arrangement including a refrigerant-containing circuit including an interior portion within the space and an exterior portion exterior to the space; (ii) a compression-expansion mechanism including a compressor and one or more expansion valves and operable in a heating mode to provide for compression of the refrigerant upstream of the exterior portion and downstream of the interior portion; and expansion of the refrigerant downstream of the exterior portion and upstream of the interior portion; (iii) a heater for producing a flow of heat; and (iv) distribution apparatus for, simultaneously: when the heater is producing, receiving its flow and transferring the received heat to air within the space; and when the compression-expansion mechanism is operating in the heating mode, absorbing heat from the interior portion of the circuit and transferring such heat to air within the space.

1 . A system for use with an occupiable space and a source of operational data, the operational data including electricity cost data, gas cost data, greenhouse gas intensity data associated with electricity production, greenhouse gas intensity data associated with gas production, outdoor temperature and utility load balancing data, the system comprising:
 a heat pumping arrangement including:
 a refrigerant-containing circuit including an interior portion within the space and an exterior portion outside of the space; 
 a compression-expansion mechanism including a compressor and one or more expansion valves and operable in a heating mode to provide for
 compression of the refrigerant upstream of the exterior portion and downstream of the interior portion; and 
 expansion of the refrigerant downstream of the exterior portion and upstream of the interior portion; 
 
   a heater adapted to combust gas to produce a flow of heat; and   distribution apparatus for, simultaneously:
 when the heater is producing, receiving its flow and transferring the received heat to air within the space; and 
 when the compression expansion mechanism is operating in the heating mode, absorbing heat from the interior portion of the circuit and transferring the absorbed heat to air within the space. 
   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the distribution apparatus has: a blower; a return upstream of the blower; and a supply downstream of the blower. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the absorbed heat is transferred in the return and the flow of heat is transferred in the supply. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the interior portion of the circuit includes a coil, the coil being disposed in the return. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the heater is a boiler and the apparatus includes a hydronic coil in the supply through which heated water from the boiler traverses. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior portion of the circuit and the compression-expansion mechanism form part of a combination device which further includes a fan. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the compression-expansion mechanism is further operable in a cooling mode which provides for:
 expansion of the refrigerant upstream of the exterior portion and downstream of the interior portion; and 
 compression of the refrigerant downstream of the exterior portion and upstream of the interior portion; 
   the distribution apparatus, when the compression-expansion mechanism is operating in the cooling mode, absorbs heat in the return and transfers the absorbed heat to the exterior.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller adapted to perform calculations.   
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein the calculations include:
 [GHG P ] a calculation made by the controller of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of electricity required to operate the heat pumping arrangement; and   [GHG B ] a calculation made by the controller of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the heater   
       and the controller is adapted to operate the heat pump arrangement and the heater in a sustainable mode to minimize [GHG P ]+[GHG B ]. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9 , where the greenhouse gas intensity data associated with electricity production is used in [GHG P ]. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein the calculations include:
 [C P ] a calculation of the cost associated with operation of the heat pumping arrangement; and   [C B ] a calculation of the cost associated with the operation of the heater   
       and the controller is adapted to operate the heat pumping arrangement and the heater in an economy mode to minimize [C P ]+[C B ]. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 11 , where the electricity cost data is used in [C P ]. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is adapted to automatically assume, when access to electricity cost data is unavailable, a basic mode wherein, when the outdoor temperature is above a set point, the heat needs of the space are met entirely by the heat pumping arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller is adapted to operate the heat pump arrangement and the heater, in response to utility load balancing data, in an override mode wherein the load on the heat pump arrangement is varied in response to load balancing needs of the electricity provider. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is adapted to automatically assume, when the space has a heat requirement and the heat pump arrangement is not operable in the heating mode, a defrost mode wherein the heat needs of the space are met by the heater.