Water-heating system

A liquid-heating system comprising:

• a solar energy collector exposed to solar radiation;
• a geothermal heat exchanger buried in the ground at a depth between 0.5 m and 5 m;
• a heater through which a liquid to be heated passes;
• a heat pump having a sink side connected to the heater and a source side connected to the heat exchanger or to the collector;
• first valve means connected to the collector, the heat exchanger, and the heater for:
• in one position connecting the collector to the heater such that heat collected by the collector is applied to the heater, and
• in another position connecting the collector to the heat exchanger such that heat collected by the collector is applied to the ground surrounding the heat exchanger;
• second valve means connected to the collector, to the heat exchanger, and to the source side of the heat pump for:
• in one position connecting the collector to the heat pump such that heat collected by the collector is applied to the heat pump, and
• in another position connecting the heat exchanger to the heat pump such that heat is extracted from the ground surrounding the geothermal heat exchanger and applied to the heat pump;
• a distributor set in the ground, holding the valve means, and forming part of the geothermal heat exchanger;
• a first set of tubes set in the ground and connectable to the collector;
• and
• a second set of tubes set in the ground and connectable to the source side of the heat pump, both sets of tubes surrounding the distributor and extending radially and horizontally therefrom.

The liquid-heating system comprising:

• a solar energy collector exposed to solar radiation;
• a geothermal heat exchanger buried in the ground at a depth between 0.5 m and 5 m;
• a heater through which a liquid to be heated passes;
• a heat pump having a sink side connected to the heater and a source side connected to the geothermal heat exchanger or to the collector;
• and
• first valve means connected to the collector, the exchanger, and the heater for:
• in one position connecting the collector to the heater such that heat collected by the collector is applied to the heater, and
• in another position connecting the collector to the geothermal heat exchanger such that heat collected by the collector is applied to the ground surrounding the geothermal heat exchanger;
• a distributor in the heat exchanger;
• a first set of tubes connectable to the collector;
• and
• a second set of tubes connectable to the source side of the heat pump, both sets of tubes lying in a plane and surrounding the distributor, each set of tubes having at least one clip holding the tubes at a spacing generally parallel to one another and formed with seats for the respective tubes, each tube being provided with at least one element holding the respective tubes in the respective seats.