Heating or cooling system featuring a split buffer tank

A heating/cooling system operating on the basis of a novel split buffer tank (1) comprising a separations disk (2), a guide bar (7) adapted inside the split buffer tank to freely allow the separation disk to move up and down along the guide bar to make room for hot and warm fluid storage on opposite sides of the disk, two disk flow bypasses (3a, 3b) for respective loop flow functionality between the split buffer tank and each of a heat source provider and a secondary system (14), and hydraulic connections (12), (15), (16), (19) to interconnect the heat source provider and the secondary system (14) to the split buffer tank (1), wherein the the split buffer tank (1) further comprises the following:

• a) a hot-outlet (8) hydraulically connected to a buffer system supply line (12) to convey stored hot fluid from the split buffer tank (1) to the secondary system (14) to satisfy demand for heat;
• b) a warm-inlet (9) hydraulically connected to a buffer system return line (15) to convey secondary system (14) return warm fluid to split buffer tank (1) for storage;
• c) a hot-inlet (10) hydraulically connected to a buffer heat source provider return line (19) to convey hot fluid from the heat source provider (18) to the split buffer tank (1) for storage;
• d) a warm-outlet (11) hydraulically connected to a buffer heat source provider supply line (16) to convey stored warm fluid from the split buffer (1) tank to the heat source provider (18) for reheating;
• e) the separation disk (2), which functions to hydraulically separate hot fluid inflow from the heat source provider (18) from warm fluid inflow from the secondary system (14), and to serve as an insulating wall for thermal separation between hot and warm sections of the tank, the separation disk comprising the following:
• i) an insulating core (2a) which functions to thermally insulate the hot section of the split buffer tank (1) from the warm section;
• ii) a separation disk warm-side bypass (3a) to allow a pump-1 (13) to recirculate fluid in a system loop during positioning of the disk in a top position;
• iii) a separation disk hot-side bypass (3b) to allow a pump-2 (17) to recirculate fluid in a heat source provider loop during positioning of the disk in a bottom position;
• and
• iv) a pressure release check valve (5) hydraulically connecting a hot face of the disk with a warm face of the disk in order to eliminate pressure differential between the hot and warm sections of the tank that may arise from a make-up fluid connection (20) on the split buffer tank;
• f) the guide bar, which is a center guide squared bar (7) to guide the separation disk up and down along the split buffer tank (1) and to prevent rotation of the disk from causing misalignment of the warm-side bypass (3a) with the hot outlet (8), or the hot-side bypass (3b) with the warm outlet (11), at an edge of the separation disk (2), the disk being displaceable up and down along the center guide bar (7) to allow hot and warm fluid accumulation during thermal recharging and discharging of the split buffer tank (1);
• g) a separation disk hub (6) to secure the separation disk to the center guide bar (7) and to accommodate a set of counterweight plates (4);
• h) the set of counterweight plates (4) balancing buoyancy of the separation disk to make the separation disk effectively weightless when placed inside the split buffer tank (1);
• i) a top position disk stopper (26) to limit displacement of the disk (2) when going to the top position lining up the warm-side bypass (3a) with the hot outlet (8);
• j) a bottom position disk stopper (27) to limit displacement of the disk (2) when going to the bottom position lining up the hot side bypass (3b) with the warm outlet (11);
• k) a guide bar attachment (21) to mechanically secure the guide bar (7) to a bottom of the split buffer tank (1);
• and
• l) a pressurized fluid make-up & air vent connection (20) to maintain continuous fluid supply to the system and to allow for allocation of air vent equipment in association with the split buffer tank.