Central heating method and plant

A central heating plant for supplying a heat transfer fluid to an exchanger network, said plant including at least one thermodynamic device, comprising

• an exchanger-accumulator tank including at least one circuit connected to said thermodynamic device for circulating a cooling fluid, the heat released in said circuit by the condensation of said cooling fluid being recovered in a portion of said heat transfer fluid contained within said exchanger-accumulator tank;
• first conduit means for connecting said exchanger-accumulator tank to said exchanger network, said first conduit means having a discharge portion for conducting said heat transfer fluid from said exchanger-accumulator tank to said exchanger network and a return portion for conducting said fluid from said exchanger network to said exchanger-accumulator tank;
• an auxiliary boiler containing another portion of said heat transfer fluid;
• second conduit means for connecting said auxiliary boiler to said exchanger network, said second conduit means having a discharge portion for conducting said heat transfer fluid from said auxiliary boiler to said exchanger network and a return portion for conducting said fluid from said exchanger network to said auxiliary boiler;
• and
• control means coupled to said first and second conduit means to initiate flow of said heat transfer fluid from said exchanger-accumulator tank to said exchanger network when the temperature of the heat transfer fluid within said exchanger-accumulator tank reaches a predetermined value and to simultaneously discontinue the flow of heat transfer fluid from said auxiliary boiler to said exchanger network, said control means further permitting flow of said heat transfer fluid from said auxiliary boiler to said exchanger network when the temperature of the heat transfer fluid within said exchanger-accumulator tank is below said predetermined value and to simultaneously discontinue the flow of heat transfer fluid from said exchanger-accumulator tank to said exchanger network, said thermodynamic device operating independently of the heating requirements of said exchanger network.