CA1130676A - Apparatus for feeding a liquid heat exchanger medium into the heat accumulator medium of a latent heat accumulator - Google Patents
Apparatus for feeding a liquid heat exchanger medium into the heat accumulator medium of a latent heat accumulatorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1130676A CA1130676A CA368,639A CA368639A CA1130676A CA 1130676 A CA1130676 A CA 1130676A CA 368639 A CA368639 A CA 368639A CA 1130676 A CA1130676 A CA 1130676A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- medium
- overflow pipe
- heat exchanger
- pipe
- heat
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D20/00—Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00
- F28D20/02—Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00 using latent heat
- F28D20/025—Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00 using latent heat the latent heat storage material being in direct contact with a heat-exchange medium or with another heat storage material
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/14—Thermal energy storage
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention provides an apparatus for feeding a liquid heat exchanger medium into the heat accumulator medium of a latent heat accumulator comprising a main outlet pipe for the heat exchanger medium, said main outlet pipe extending into the heat accumulator medium and being provided with outlet openings in this region, and an overflow pipe, which extends through the heat accumulator medium so close to the main pipe that heat exchanger medium flowing therein causes a crystalline heat accumulator substance to melt in the main pipe, the inlet and outlet of the overflow pipe being disposed outside the heat accumulator medium, characterized in that the overflow pipe is adapted to be closed.
The present invention provides an apparatus for feeding a liquid heat exchanger medium into the heat accumulator medium of a latent heat accumulator comprising a main outlet pipe for the heat exchanger medium, said main outlet pipe extending into the heat accumulator medium and being provided with outlet openings in this region, and an overflow pipe, which extends through the heat accumulator medium so close to the main pipe that heat exchanger medium flowing therein causes a crystalline heat accumulator substance to melt in the main pipe, the inlet and outlet of the overflow pipe being disposed outside the heat accumulator medium, characterized in that the overflow pipe is adapted to be closed.
Description
:~3~i7~
The present invention relates to an apparatus for passing a liquid heat exchanger medium into the heat accumulator medium of a latent heat accumulator which apparatus comprises a main outlet pipe for the heat exchanger medium, said main out-let pipe extending into the heat accumulator medium and being provided with outlet openings in this region, and an overflow pipe which extends through the heat accumulator medium so close to the main pipe that heat exchanger medium flowing therein causes a crystalline heat accumulator substance to melt in the main pipe, the inlet and outlet of said overflow pipe being out-side the heat accumulator medium.
This type of apparatus is disclosed, for example, in the German Published Patent Applications 2,607,168 and 2,805,295 published September 1, 1977 and August 24, 1978 respectively.
For charging and discharging the heat accumulator medi!um, which is preferably an incongruously melting substance such as Glauber's salt, in these latent heat accumulators a liquid heat exchanger medium which does not mix with the heat accumulator medium is passed through the latter medium, resulting in an intimate con-tact with the heat accumulator medium and in the desired heatexchange. In order to feed the heat exchanser medium into this type of apparatus, a pipe extending into the heat accumulator medium is used. For example, in the region of the accumulator bottom said pipe has a plurality of openings through which the heat exchanger medium can pass into the heat accumulator medium.
It then bubbles therethrough and accumulates above the heat accumulator medium in a liquid heat exchanger medium layer, from which the heat exchanger medium is drawn off again in order to heat it up or cool it as required. In this manner, the heat exchanger medium is recirculated.
In order to avoid the entire apparatus becoming useless after the solidification of the heat accumulator medium and the heat exchanger medium pipe becoming clogged, such apparatus ~b 7~
are provided with an overflow pipe extending parallel to tne heat exchanger pipe and in heat contact therewith. This overf low pipe branches off from the heat exchanger pipe prior upstream of its entering into the heat exchanger medium and above the heat accumulator medium it opens into the liquid heat exchanger medium layer. This overflow pipe has no openings for the dis-charge of the heat exchanger medium into the heat accumulator medium.
In the operation of this apparatus the liquid heat exchanger medium usually flows through the heat exchanger pipe directly into the heat accumulator medium as long as the heat exchange pipe is not clogged. I~hen the heat accumulator medium is solid the heat exchanger medium can no longer pass through the heat exchanaer pipe and through the openings since they are clogged. The heat exchanger medium then flows through the overflow pipe and causes the adjacent heat exchanger pipe to be melted free from solid heat accumulator medium and also causes a channel to be melted through the solid heat accumulator medium into the liquid heat exchanger medium layer so that the heat exchanger medium leaving the heat exchanger pipe can pass through the entire heat accumulator medium into the heat exchanger medium layer.
This arrangement proved to be altogether satisfactory.
However, it has been found that after lengthy operation the overflow pipe is clogged by solid heat accumulator medium to an increasing extent. The reason for this lies in the fact that the heat exchanger medium, which flows through heat exchanger pipe and overflow pipe, always carries along a small amount of the heat accumulator medium on passlng therethrough. Thls carried-along heat accumulator medium then is deposited as a solidsu~stance in the overflow pipe when the heat exchanger medium flows through sa~d overflow pipe. The fact that as a rule a ~l 3~67~
high value for the resistance to flow in the overflow pipe is chosen deliberately in order to pass the heat exchanyer medium preferably through the heat e~changer pipe is a particular disadvantage. Thls increases the tendency to deposit heat accumulator medium in the overflow pipe.
Because of this deposite the entire apparatus will become useless after a specific time of operation and the overflow plpe must be cleaned.
The present invention is directed to an improvement in this type of apparatus in which clogging of the overflow pipe by the heat accumulator medium is avoided to a great extent.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for feeding a liquid heat exchanger medium into the heat accumulator medium of a latent heat accumulator comprising a main outlet pipe for the heat exchanger medium, said main outlet pipe extending into the heat accumulator medium and being provided with outlet openinqs in this region, and an overflow pipe, which extends through the heat accumulator medium so close to the main plpe that heat exchanger medium flowing therein causes a crystalline heat accumulator substance to melt in the . .
:~ main pipe, the inlet and outlet of the overflow pipe being disposed outside the heat accumulator medium, characterized ; in that the overflow pipe is adapted to be closed.
Thus, according to the present invention, an apparatus of the type initially described, the overflow pipe is adapted to be closed.
In this type of apparatus ~he overflow pipe is adapted to always be closed when -the heat exchanger pipe is not closed, i.e., when the heat exchangcr mcdium can pass directly through the heat exchanger pipe and the openings into the heat accumulator medium. Conversely, the overflow pipe is opened when the heat exchanyer pipe is cloqged by solid heat accumulator medium.
~.3~ 7~
This is particularly -the case at the start of the operation of an uncharged heat accumulator. In this phase of operation the heat exchanger medium accumulated above the heat accumulator medium is very clean, this means that carried-along heat accumulator medium usually has been deposited after a lengthy period of non-operation. When passing the heat exchanger medium, which has been substantially freed from heat accumulator medium, through the overflow pipe in this phase of operation, there exists no danger of depositing heat accumulator medium.
As soon as the heat exchanger medium gets again in intimate contact with the heat accumulator medium and thus carries along heat accumulator medium the overflow pipe may be closed since in this phase of operation, the heat exchanger medium can pass again through the heat exchanger pipe and the openings, which have been freed from solid heat accumulator medium in the . meantime. Thus, in this manner, heat exchanger medium enriched with heat accumulator medium is prevented from flowing through the overflow pipe.
In a first embodiment of the invention, an electrically ; operated valve may be provided and installed in the overflow pipe. However, it is particularly favourable when the overflow pipe can be closed by an arrangement of valves which permits the heat exchanger medium to flow through only when the pressure of the heat exchanger medium in the overflow pipe is higher than the peripheral pressure in the arrangement of valves. This automatically assures, without the necessity of separate excitation, that the overflow pipe is always closed when the heat exchanger medium flow through the heat exchanger pipe and the non-clogged openings without substantial resistance to flow while the overflow pipe automatically starts to operate when the heat e~changer pipe and the openings are clogged.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the ~ 3~7~
overflow pipe is closed at its end and is ,at least partially formed by a perforated e]astic tube. The perfora~ion is closed when the tube 's not stretched and opens only when the tube is stretched due to an internal excess pressure.
It is also preferable to provide the overflow pipe with a flexible wall region. In this reyion the overflow pipe is acted upon by an inwardly directed initial pressure, which elastically compresses the flexible wall region and thus closes the overflow pipe.
It is desirable that the overflow pipe has a region ; in which the wall is thickened and that the thickened wall regions normally are sealingly adjoining but can be elastically separated in case of excess pressure inside the overflow pipe.
In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, an elastically deformable valve body may be disposed ~ in the overflow plpe. Said valve body normally closes the - overflow pipe but in case of excess pressure of the heat exchanger medium it permits the latter to pass.
Again, it is also possible that the overflow pipe is closed by a weight- or spring-loaded check valve.
7~
Furthermore mechanical valves which respond to differ-ential pressures may also be used for example, the differential pressure occurring in the heat exchanger circulation between the inlet to the heat exchanger pipe and the outlet in the latent heat accumulator can be used for this purpose. This diffenertial pressure is high only when the main pipe is clogged, i.e., always when the overflow pipe must be open and when the heat exchanger medium is relatively free from heat accumulator medium in the manner mentioned hereinbefore.
Conversely the-differential pressure is always low when the heat exchanger pipe and its openings are free from heat accumulator medium so that in this case the overflow pipe can be closed.
The present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a latent heat accumula-tor having an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention for feeding in a liquid heat exchanger medium.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a differential pressure valve for use in the overflow pipe of the accumulator of Figure ~. ' 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a pressure-actuated valve for use in the overflow pipe of the accumulator of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of a gravity-actuated check valve for use in the overflow pipe of the accumulator of Figure 1.
Fiyure 5 is a sectional view of a spring-actuated check valve for use in the overflow pipe of the accumulator of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of a tube of elastic material with annular closure for use in the overflow pipe of ~3~
the accumulator of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a similar view of a tube similar to Figure 6 with spring means embedded in the annular closure.
Figure 8 is a similar view of a tube similar to Figure 6, the tube being encompassed by spring means in the region of the closure, and Figure 9 is a sectional view of a detail of the accumulator shown in Figure 1 with a perforated tube closing tne overflow pipe.
Referring to Figure 1 a tank 1 has a pair of openings
The present invention relates to an apparatus for passing a liquid heat exchanger medium into the heat accumulator medium of a latent heat accumulator which apparatus comprises a main outlet pipe for the heat exchanger medium, said main out-let pipe extending into the heat accumulator medium and being provided with outlet openings in this region, and an overflow pipe which extends through the heat accumulator medium so close to the main pipe that heat exchanger medium flowing therein causes a crystalline heat accumulator substance to melt in the main pipe, the inlet and outlet of said overflow pipe being out-side the heat accumulator medium.
This type of apparatus is disclosed, for example, in the German Published Patent Applications 2,607,168 and 2,805,295 published September 1, 1977 and August 24, 1978 respectively.
For charging and discharging the heat accumulator medi!um, which is preferably an incongruously melting substance such as Glauber's salt, in these latent heat accumulators a liquid heat exchanger medium which does not mix with the heat accumulator medium is passed through the latter medium, resulting in an intimate con-tact with the heat accumulator medium and in the desired heatexchange. In order to feed the heat exchanser medium into this type of apparatus, a pipe extending into the heat accumulator medium is used. For example, in the region of the accumulator bottom said pipe has a plurality of openings through which the heat exchanger medium can pass into the heat accumulator medium.
It then bubbles therethrough and accumulates above the heat accumulator medium in a liquid heat exchanger medium layer, from which the heat exchanger medium is drawn off again in order to heat it up or cool it as required. In this manner, the heat exchanger medium is recirculated.
In order to avoid the entire apparatus becoming useless after the solidification of the heat accumulator medium and the heat exchanger medium pipe becoming clogged, such apparatus ~b 7~
are provided with an overflow pipe extending parallel to tne heat exchanger pipe and in heat contact therewith. This overf low pipe branches off from the heat exchanger pipe prior upstream of its entering into the heat exchanger medium and above the heat accumulator medium it opens into the liquid heat exchanger medium layer. This overflow pipe has no openings for the dis-charge of the heat exchanger medium into the heat accumulator medium.
In the operation of this apparatus the liquid heat exchanger medium usually flows through the heat exchanger pipe directly into the heat accumulator medium as long as the heat exchange pipe is not clogged. I~hen the heat accumulator medium is solid the heat exchanger medium can no longer pass through the heat exchanaer pipe and through the openings since they are clogged. The heat exchanger medium then flows through the overflow pipe and causes the adjacent heat exchanger pipe to be melted free from solid heat accumulator medium and also causes a channel to be melted through the solid heat accumulator medium into the liquid heat exchanger medium layer so that the heat exchanger medium leaving the heat exchanger pipe can pass through the entire heat accumulator medium into the heat exchanger medium layer.
This arrangement proved to be altogether satisfactory.
However, it has been found that after lengthy operation the overflow pipe is clogged by solid heat accumulator medium to an increasing extent. The reason for this lies in the fact that the heat exchanger medium, which flows through heat exchanger pipe and overflow pipe, always carries along a small amount of the heat accumulator medium on passlng therethrough. Thls carried-along heat accumulator medium then is deposited as a solidsu~stance in the overflow pipe when the heat exchanger medium flows through sa~d overflow pipe. The fact that as a rule a ~l 3~67~
high value for the resistance to flow in the overflow pipe is chosen deliberately in order to pass the heat exchanyer medium preferably through the heat e~changer pipe is a particular disadvantage. Thls increases the tendency to deposit heat accumulator medium in the overflow pipe.
Because of this deposite the entire apparatus will become useless after a specific time of operation and the overflow plpe must be cleaned.
The present invention is directed to an improvement in this type of apparatus in which clogging of the overflow pipe by the heat accumulator medium is avoided to a great extent.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for feeding a liquid heat exchanger medium into the heat accumulator medium of a latent heat accumulator comprising a main outlet pipe for the heat exchanger medium, said main outlet pipe extending into the heat accumulator medium and being provided with outlet openinqs in this region, and an overflow pipe, which extends through the heat accumulator medium so close to the main plpe that heat exchanger medium flowing therein causes a crystalline heat accumulator substance to melt in the . .
:~ main pipe, the inlet and outlet of the overflow pipe being disposed outside the heat accumulator medium, characterized ; in that the overflow pipe is adapted to be closed.
Thus, according to the present invention, an apparatus of the type initially described, the overflow pipe is adapted to be closed.
In this type of apparatus ~he overflow pipe is adapted to always be closed when -the heat exchanger pipe is not closed, i.e., when the heat exchangcr mcdium can pass directly through the heat exchanger pipe and the openings into the heat accumulator medium. Conversely, the overflow pipe is opened when the heat exchanyer pipe is cloqged by solid heat accumulator medium.
~.3~ 7~
This is particularly -the case at the start of the operation of an uncharged heat accumulator. In this phase of operation the heat exchanger medium accumulated above the heat accumulator medium is very clean, this means that carried-along heat accumulator medium usually has been deposited after a lengthy period of non-operation. When passing the heat exchanger medium, which has been substantially freed from heat accumulator medium, through the overflow pipe in this phase of operation, there exists no danger of depositing heat accumulator medium.
As soon as the heat exchanger medium gets again in intimate contact with the heat accumulator medium and thus carries along heat accumulator medium the overflow pipe may be closed since in this phase of operation, the heat exchanger medium can pass again through the heat exchanger pipe and the openings, which have been freed from solid heat accumulator medium in the . meantime. Thus, in this manner, heat exchanger medium enriched with heat accumulator medium is prevented from flowing through the overflow pipe.
In a first embodiment of the invention, an electrically ; operated valve may be provided and installed in the overflow pipe. However, it is particularly favourable when the overflow pipe can be closed by an arrangement of valves which permits the heat exchanger medium to flow through only when the pressure of the heat exchanger medium in the overflow pipe is higher than the peripheral pressure in the arrangement of valves. This automatically assures, without the necessity of separate excitation, that the overflow pipe is always closed when the heat exchanger medium flow through the heat exchanger pipe and the non-clogged openings without substantial resistance to flow while the overflow pipe automatically starts to operate when the heat e~changer pipe and the openings are clogged.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the ~ 3~7~
overflow pipe is closed at its end and is ,at least partially formed by a perforated e]astic tube. The perfora~ion is closed when the tube 's not stretched and opens only when the tube is stretched due to an internal excess pressure.
It is also preferable to provide the overflow pipe with a flexible wall region. In this reyion the overflow pipe is acted upon by an inwardly directed initial pressure, which elastically compresses the flexible wall region and thus closes the overflow pipe.
It is desirable that the overflow pipe has a region ; in which the wall is thickened and that the thickened wall regions normally are sealingly adjoining but can be elastically separated in case of excess pressure inside the overflow pipe.
In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, an elastically deformable valve body may be disposed ~ in the overflow plpe. Said valve body normally closes the - overflow pipe but in case of excess pressure of the heat exchanger medium it permits the latter to pass.
Again, it is also possible that the overflow pipe is closed by a weight- or spring-loaded check valve.
7~
Furthermore mechanical valves which respond to differ-ential pressures may also be used for example, the differential pressure occurring in the heat exchanger circulation between the inlet to the heat exchanger pipe and the outlet in the latent heat accumulator can be used for this purpose. This diffenertial pressure is high only when the main pipe is clogged, i.e., always when the overflow pipe must be open and when the heat exchanger medium is relatively free from heat accumulator medium in the manner mentioned hereinbefore.
Conversely the-differential pressure is always low when the heat exchanger pipe and its openings are free from heat accumulator medium so that in this case the overflow pipe can be closed.
The present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a latent heat accumula-tor having an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention for feeding in a liquid heat exchanger medium.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a differential pressure valve for use in the overflow pipe of the accumulator of Figure ~. ' 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a pressure-actuated valve for use in the overflow pipe of the accumulator of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of a gravity-actuated check valve for use in the overflow pipe of the accumulator of Figure 1.
Fiyure 5 is a sectional view of a spring-actuated check valve for use in the overflow pipe of the accumulator of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of a tube of elastic material with annular closure for use in the overflow pipe of ~3~
the accumulator of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a similar view of a tube similar to Figure 6 with spring means embedded in the annular closure.
Figure 8 is a similar view of a tube similar to Figure 6, the tube being encompassed by spring means in the region of the closure, and Figure 9 is a sectional view of a detail of the accumulator shown in Figure 1 with a perforated tube closing tne overflow pipe.
Referring to Figure 1 a tank 1 has a pair of openings
- 2 and 3, one of which is closed by a lid 4. Through said lid 4 a heat exchanger pipe 5 and an overflow pipe 6 disposed parallel thereto extend to the inside of the tank, which is filled with a heat-accumulator medium 7. The heat exchanger pipe 5 extends substantially parallel to the bottom 8 of the tank 1 and is closed at its end 9. The heat exchanger pipe 5 has a plurality of openings 10. The overflow pipe 6 extends beyond the end 9 of the heat exchanger pipe 5 to the top of the tank 1 through the second opening 3 into an expansion tank 11, which is tightly connected to the opening 3 and to a circulating pipe 12 for a liquid heat exchanger medium 13 disposed above the heat accumulator medium 7. The overflow pipe 6 terminates above the level 14 of the heat exchanger medium 13. The circulating pipe 12 is connected (in a manner not shown) via a heat exchanger to a pump 15, whose outlet is in a communication with the heat exchanger pipe 5 and the ov~rflow pipe 6 branching off therefrom. According to th~ invention a selectivly loc]~ai~levalve 16 is installed in the overflow pipe 6 down streal!l of the point where the heat exchange pipe 5 branches off.
The heat accumulator medium prefera~ly consists of an incongruously melting medium, particularly a saturated Glauber's sal~ solution. The heat exchanger medium is a liquid ~hich not ~"~3i~ 7~
miscible with the heat accumlator medium and preferably has a density lower than that of the heat accumulator medium so that it accumulates above the heat accumulator medium. For example, the heat exehanger medium can be a mineral oil.
In operation cool heat exchanger medium is passed through the heat exchanger pipe 5 during the discharge step, i.e., during the withdrawal of heat, while the valve 16 in the overflow pipe 6 is closed. The entire heat exchanger medium flows through the openings 10 in the heat exchanger tube 5 into the heat aecumulator medium 7 and therethrough in an upward direction, collecting above the heat aceumulator medium 7.
The cool heat exchanger medium 13 absorbs heat from the heat accumulator medium 7 until the latter is eventually converted into a solid state by the withdrawal of heat. In speeifie heat aeeumulator media this transition can be a crystallization at-the melting point. In other media, fo~ example, in the saturated Glauber's salt solution referred to hereinhefore the solidification is caused by preeipitation of the solid deeahydrate from the solution, whieh thus is diluted. As the result a solidification of the heat aecumulator medium 7 is obtained while diseharging.
When after discharging the heat aeeumulator it is to be eharged again, the solidified heat aeeumulator medium 7 has clogged the openings 10 in the heat exchanger pipe 5 and also has penetrated the heat exchanger pipe 5 to some extent and thus obstructed the entire pipe 5. Therefore, the heated heat exchanger medium 13 eannot pass into the solidified heat aecumulator substanee. Aeeording to the invention -the valve 16 is opened during thisphase of operation. The heated heat exeh~nger 13 medium thus flows through the overflow pipe into the expansion tallk 11. By direct heat contact witll the heat exehanger pipe the solid heat aeeumulator medium 7 is melted in said pipe 5. Furthermore, a ehannel is melted throu~h the solid ~342~7~
heat accumulator rnedium 7 along the overflow pipe 6. The channel extends into theliquid heat exchanger medium 13 above the solid heat accumulator medium 7. Because of this melting process the heat exchanger medium 7 can now pass through the heat exchanger pipe 5 and through the openings 10 directly into the heat accumulator medium 7 from where it first flows along the channel extending parallel to the overflow pipe 6 and then into the layer of the liquid heat exchanger medium 7. In this state the valve 16 can be closed again since the heat exchanger medium 13 can now be circulated throu~h the heat exchanger pipe 5.
; It is important that on putting the uncharged heat accumulator into operation in order to charge it the heat exhanger ; medium 13 contains hardly any heat accumulator medium 7 since the heat accumulator medium 7 was deposited when the heat accumulator was not in operation. The heat exchanger medium 13 flowing through the overflo~ pipe 6 thus is very pure so that there exists no danger that the overflow pipe 6 woul~ be clogged.
However, in continuous operation the heat exchanger medium 13 contains a fairly substantial amount of the heat accumulator medium 7, but in this phase of operation the valve 16 is closed so that the contaminated heat exchanger medium 13 cannot flow through the overflow pipe 6. In particular this has the result that even when the heat accumulator is not in operation the heat exchanger medium 13 in the overflow pipe 6 is very poor in heat accumulator medium 7 so that the heat exchanger medium cannot be frozen in the overflow pipe.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the valve 16 is xepresented only diagrammatically. Fundamentally this valve can only be a manually adjustable or an electrically operated valve, which is controlled corresponding to the various operating conditions of the accurnulator. `llo~ever, the use of an automatic ~3~'~7~
valve is advantagcous.
By means of the valve shown in Figure 2 this kind of automatic control is possible without the necessity of a separate signal or of separate energy. This valve has a valve housing 20, which is divided by a partition 21 into a pair of chambers, which are provided with pipe connections 22 and 23, respectively, by means of which the housing is connected to the overflow pipe 6. The partition 21 contains a valve opening 24 with a valve seat 25. A valve disk 26 is movably supported inside the housing between a first position closing the opening and into a second position opening the opening. For this purpose a push rod 27 carrying the valve disk is connected between a pair of ~ello~s 2 and 29, into which pipes 30 and 31 open. The bellows 28 and 29 ' are pressure elements. In order to actuate the valve, the pipe 30 is connected, for example, to the outlet of the pump 15 and the pipe 31 is connected for example, to the expansion tank 11. When the heat exchanger pipe 5 is not clogged the heat exchange medium 13 flows through this pipe 5 without sufficient resistance so that the differential pressure in the two pressure elements is low. In this position the valve disk 26 closes the opening 24. However, when the heat exchanger pipe 5 is clogged by solidifyied heat accumulator medium 7 the differential pressure i.e., the pressure in the pressure element 29 increases relative to the pressure in the pressure element 28, so that the valve disk 25 is moved into the open position. In this phase of operation the heat exchanger medium 13 can flow through the overflow pipe 6. Its resistance to passage can be sèlected to be relatively high so that the differential pressure for opening is maintai,ned.
In this manner the overflow can always be closed when the heat exchanger medium 13 can pass with relati~e ease through the heat exchanger pipe 5 and the openings 10 into the heat 7~
accumulator medium 7.
For the embodiment shown in Figure 3 which is a modification of the embodiment shown in Figure 2 corresponding parts have the same reference numbers. This embodiment differs only in that only a single pressure element 29a is provided and connected via a pipe 30 to the outlet of the pump 15. When the pressure at the outlet of the pump 15 is low, i.e., when the resistance to flow in the heat exchanger pipe 5 is low, the valve disk 26 remains in the closed position. As soon as clogging of the heat exchanger pipe 5 causes the pressure at the outlet of ~ the pump 15 to increase the valve opens.
; The gravity-biassed check valve of Figure 4 may also be used. The valve has a housing 40 with an inlet 41 and an outlet 42, the inlet 41 being a valve seat 43. On said valve seat 43 there is disposed a conical valve body 44, which seats sealingly on the valve seat 43 under its own weight. The housing 40 is installed in the overflow pipe 6. When the heat exchanger pipe 5 is open the pressure at the outlet 41 is relatively low and does not suffice to raise the valve body 44 from the valve seat 43. In this case the overflow pipe 6 remains closed and the entire heat exchanger medium 13 flows through the heat exchanger pipe S. However, when the latter pipe 6 is closed the pressure at the outlet 41 increases so that the heat exchanger medium 13 raises the valve body 44 from the valve seat 43 and can flow through the valve housing 40 and thus through the overflow pipe 6.
The embodiment of the valve of Figure 5 corresponds substantially to that of Figure 4 and thus identical parts have the same reference numbers. In contrast to the embodiment o Figure 4 the valve body 44 in Figure 5 is pressed against the valve seat 44 by means o a compression spring 45 so that there is an initial spring tension. The differential pressure between .7~
the pump ou-~let on the one hand and the expansion tank or the end of the overflow pipe on the other can also be utilized in an other manner in order to open the overflow pipe on exceeding a specific difference value. This can be attained by an elastic deformation of a portion of the overflow pipe itself, which is closed at low pressure but is opened at increased differential pressure by elastic deformation.
An elastic portion 50 of an overflow pipe is shown in Figure 6 which portion carries an annular shoulder 51 facing towards the inside. Said annular shoulder 51 fills the entire cross section of the portion 50 and thus closes the overflow pipe. However! as soon as the differential pressure of the con-tguous exchanger medium 13 exceeds a specific value, the heat exchanger medium 13 can expand the portion elastically, i.e., the annular shoulder is elastically pressed outwards so that the heat exchanger medium 13 can flow through the opening thus formed.
A similar arrangment is shown in Figure 7, in which an annular spring 52 is embedded in the annular shoulder 51 to support the closing actionO
In the embodiment shown in Figure 8 the closing action is supported by an annular spring 53, which encompasses the elastic portion on its outside.
Finally, a further preferred embodiment is shown in Figure 9. By means of this embodiment it is possible to open the overflow pipe only in the phases of operation in which the heat exchanger pipe 5 is clogged. For this purpose no valve 16 is installed in the overflow pipe 6. Instead, the end of the overflow pipe 6 on the inside of the expansion tank 11 is formed by an elastic tube 60, which is closed at its free end and whose walls are perforated. The openings 61 in the tube wall have a very small diameter so that they remain closed as long as thcre is no high pressure inside the tube. Ilowever, as soon ~3~67~
as the pressure on the inside risesthe entire tube 60 is stretched elastically so that the openings 61 permit the passage of the heat exchanger medium 13 from the inside to the outside. This arrangement also functions in the desired manner. As long as the heat exchanger pipe 5 is open the pressure inside the overflow pipe 6 remains low. ilowever, when the heat exchanger pipe 5 is clogged the pressure inside the overflow pipe 6 rises so that the tube 60 is stretched in the manner described and the heat exchanger medium 13 passes the expanded openings 61.
The perforated region may even begin in the heat accumulator medium 7. Intensive melting may then start in this region as soon as the openings 61 are free.
Furthermore, it is possible to install on the inside of a pipe section an elastically deformably valve body, for exam-ple a gas-filled cavity, which can be so deformed under the action of a heat exchange medium 13 under increased pressure that the heat exchang~ medium 13 can flow through the pipe which otherwise is closed.
The heat accumulator medium prefera~ly consists of an incongruously melting medium, particularly a saturated Glauber's sal~ solution. The heat exchanger medium is a liquid ~hich not ~"~3i~ 7~
miscible with the heat accumlator medium and preferably has a density lower than that of the heat accumulator medium so that it accumulates above the heat accumulator medium. For example, the heat exehanger medium can be a mineral oil.
In operation cool heat exchanger medium is passed through the heat exchanger pipe 5 during the discharge step, i.e., during the withdrawal of heat, while the valve 16 in the overflow pipe 6 is closed. The entire heat exchanger medium flows through the openings 10 in the heat exchanger tube 5 into the heat aecumulator medium 7 and therethrough in an upward direction, collecting above the heat aceumulator medium 7.
The cool heat exchanger medium 13 absorbs heat from the heat accumulator medium 7 until the latter is eventually converted into a solid state by the withdrawal of heat. In speeifie heat aeeumulator media this transition can be a crystallization at-the melting point. In other media, fo~ example, in the saturated Glauber's salt solution referred to hereinhefore the solidification is caused by preeipitation of the solid deeahydrate from the solution, whieh thus is diluted. As the result a solidification of the heat aecumulator medium 7 is obtained while diseharging.
When after discharging the heat aeeumulator it is to be eharged again, the solidified heat aeeumulator medium 7 has clogged the openings 10 in the heat exchanger pipe 5 and also has penetrated the heat exchanger pipe 5 to some extent and thus obstructed the entire pipe 5. Therefore, the heated heat exchanger medium 13 eannot pass into the solidified heat aecumulator substanee. Aeeording to the invention -the valve 16 is opened during thisphase of operation. The heated heat exeh~nger 13 medium thus flows through the overflow pipe into the expansion tallk 11. By direct heat contact witll the heat exehanger pipe the solid heat aeeumulator medium 7 is melted in said pipe 5. Furthermore, a ehannel is melted throu~h the solid ~342~7~
heat accumulator rnedium 7 along the overflow pipe 6. The channel extends into theliquid heat exchanger medium 13 above the solid heat accumulator medium 7. Because of this melting process the heat exchanger medium 7 can now pass through the heat exchanger pipe 5 and through the openings 10 directly into the heat accumulator medium 7 from where it first flows along the channel extending parallel to the overflow pipe 6 and then into the layer of the liquid heat exchanger medium 7. In this state the valve 16 can be closed again since the heat exchanger medium 13 can now be circulated throu~h the heat exchanger pipe 5.
; It is important that on putting the uncharged heat accumulator into operation in order to charge it the heat exhanger ; medium 13 contains hardly any heat accumulator medium 7 since the heat accumulator medium 7 was deposited when the heat accumulator was not in operation. The heat exchanger medium 13 flowing through the overflo~ pipe 6 thus is very pure so that there exists no danger that the overflow pipe 6 woul~ be clogged.
However, in continuous operation the heat exchanger medium 13 contains a fairly substantial amount of the heat accumulator medium 7, but in this phase of operation the valve 16 is closed so that the contaminated heat exchanger medium 13 cannot flow through the overflow pipe 6. In particular this has the result that even when the heat accumulator is not in operation the heat exchanger medium 13 in the overflow pipe 6 is very poor in heat accumulator medium 7 so that the heat exchanger medium cannot be frozen in the overflow pipe.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the valve 16 is xepresented only diagrammatically. Fundamentally this valve can only be a manually adjustable or an electrically operated valve, which is controlled corresponding to the various operating conditions of the accurnulator. `llo~ever, the use of an automatic ~3~'~7~
valve is advantagcous.
By means of the valve shown in Figure 2 this kind of automatic control is possible without the necessity of a separate signal or of separate energy. This valve has a valve housing 20, which is divided by a partition 21 into a pair of chambers, which are provided with pipe connections 22 and 23, respectively, by means of which the housing is connected to the overflow pipe 6. The partition 21 contains a valve opening 24 with a valve seat 25. A valve disk 26 is movably supported inside the housing between a first position closing the opening and into a second position opening the opening. For this purpose a push rod 27 carrying the valve disk is connected between a pair of ~ello~s 2 and 29, into which pipes 30 and 31 open. The bellows 28 and 29 ' are pressure elements. In order to actuate the valve, the pipe 30 is connected, for example, to the outlet of the pump 15 and the pipe 31 is connected for example, to the expansion tank 11. When the heat exchanger pipe 5 is not clogged the heat exchange medium 13 flows through this pipe 5 without sufficient resistance so that the differential pressure in the two pressure elements is low. In this position the valve disk 26 closes the opening 24. However, when the heat exchanger pipe 5 is clogged by solidifyied heat accumulator medium 7 the differential pressure i.e., the pressure in the pressure element 29 increases relative to the pressure in the pressure element 28, so that the valve disk 25 is moved into the open position. In this phase of operation the heat exchanger medium 13 can flow through the overflow pipe 6. Its resistance to passage can be sèlected to be relatively high so that the differential pressure for opening is maintai,ned.
In this manner the overflow can always be closed when the heat exchanger medium 13 can pass with relati~e ease through the heat exchanger pipe 5 and the openings 10 into the heat 7~
accumulator medium 7.
For the embodiment shown in Figure 3 which is a modification of the embodiment shown in Figure 2 corresponding parts have the same reference numbers. This embodiment differs only in that only a single pressure element 29a is provided and connected via a pipe 30 to the outlet of the pump 15. When the pressure at the outlet of the pump 15 is low, i.e., when the resistance to flow in the heat exchanger pipe 5 is low, the valve disk 26 remains in the closed position. As soon as clogging of the heat exchanger pipe 5 causes the pressure at the outlet of ~ the pump 15 to increase the valve opens.
; The gravity-biassed check valve of Figure 4 may also be used. The valve has a housing 40 with an inlet 41 and an outlet 42, the inlet 41 being a valve seat 43. On said valve seat 43 there is disposed a conical valve body 44, which seats sealingly on the valve seat 43 under its own weight. The housing 40 is installed in the overflow pipe 6. When the heat exchanger pipe 5 is open the pressure at the outlet 41 is relatively low and does not suffice to raise the valve body 44 from the valve seat 43. In this case the overflow pipe 6 remains closed and the entire heat exchanger medium 13 flows through the heat exchanger pipe S. However, when the latter pipe 6 is closed the pressure at the outlet 41 increases so that the heat exchanger medium 13 raises the valve body 44 from the valve seat 43 and can flow through the valve housing 40 and thus through the overflow pipe 6.
The embodiment of the valve of Figure 5 corresponds substantially to that of Figure 4 and thus identical parts have the same reference numbers. In contrast to the embodiment o Figure 4 the valve body 44 in Figure 5 is pressed against the valve seat 44 by means o a compression spring 45 so that there is an initial spring tension. The differential pressure between .7~
the pump ou-~let on the one hand and the expansion tank or the end of the overflow pipe on the other can also be utilized in an other manner in order to open the overflow pipe on exceeding a specific difference value. This can be attained by an elastic deformation of a portion of the overflow pipe itself, which is closed at low pressure but is opened at increased differential pressure by elastic deformation.
An elastic portion 50 of an overflow pipe is shown in Figure 6 which portion carries an annular shoulder 51 facing towards the inside. Said annular shoulder 51 fills the entire cross section of the portion 50 and thus closes the overflow pipe. However! as soon as the differential pressure of the con-tguous exchanger medium 13 exceeds a specific value, the heat exchanger medium 13 can expand the portion elastically, i.e., the annular shoulder is elastically pressed outwards so that the heat exchanger medium 13 can flow through the opening thus formed.
A similar arrangment is shown in Figure 7, in which an annular spring 52 is embedded in the annular shoulder 51 to support the closing actionO
In the embodiment shown in Figure 8 the closing action is supported by an annular spring 53, which encompasses the elastic portion on its outside.
Finally, a further preferred embodiment is shown in Figure 9. By means of this embodiment it is possible to open the overflow pipe only in the phases of operation in which the heat exchanger pipe 5 is clogged. For this purpose no valve 16 is installed in the overflow pipe 6. Instead, the end of the overflow pipe 6 on the inside of the expansion tank 11 is formed by an elastic tube 60, which is closed at its free end and whose walls are perforated. The openings 61 in the tube wall have a very small diameter so that they remain closed as long as thcre is no high pressure inside the tube. Ilowever, as soon ~3~67~
as the pressure on the inside risesthe entire tube 60 is stretched elastically so that the openings 61 permit the passage of the heat exchanger medium 13 from the inside to the outside. This arrangement also functions in the desired manner. As long as the heat exchanger pipe 5 is open the pressure inside the overflow pipe 6 remains low. ilowever, when the heat exchanger pipe 5 is clogged the pressure inside the overflow pipe 6 rises so that the tube 60 is stretched in the manner described and the heat exchanger medium 13 passes the expanded openings 61.
The perforated region may even begin in the heat accumulator medium 7. Intensive melting may then start in this region as soon as the openings 61 are free.
Furthermore, it is possible to install on the inside of a pipe section an elastically deformably valve body, for exam-ple a gas-filled cavity, which can be so deformed under the action of a heat exchange medium 13 under increased pressure that the heat exchang~ medium 13 can flow through the pipe which otherwise is closed.
Claims (8)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An apparatus for feeding a liquid heat exchanger medium into the heat accumulator medium of a latent heat accumulator comprising a main outlet pipe for the heat exchanger medium, said main outlet pipe extending into the heat accumulator medium and being provided with outlet openings in this region, and an overflow pipe, which extends through the heat accumulator medium so close to the main pipe that heat exchanger medium flowing therein causes a crystalline heat accumulator substance to melt in the main pipe, the inlet and outlet of the overflow pipe being disposed outside the heat accumulator medium, characterized in that the overflow pipe is adapted to be closed.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which a valve which can be operated electrically is disposed in the overflow pipe.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the overflow pipe is adapted to be closed by means of an arrangement of valves which permits the passage of the heat exchanger medium only when the pressure of the heat exchanger medium in the overflow pipe is higher than the peripheral pressure in the arrangement of valves.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which the overflow pipe is closed at its end and is at least partially formed by a perforated elastic tube and each perforation is closed when the tube is not stretched and opens only when the tube is stretched due to an internal excess pressure.
5. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which the overflow pipe has a flexible wall region and in this region the overflow pipe is acted upon by an inwardly directed initial pressure which elastically compresses the flexible wall region and thus closes the overflow pipe.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, in which the overflow pipe has a region in which the wall is thickened and the thickened wall regions normally are sealingly adjoining and may be elastically separated with excess pressure inside the overflow pipe.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which an elastically deformable valve body is disposed in the overflow pipe and said valve body normally closes the overflow pipe and with excess pressure of the heat exchanger medium it permits the latter to pass.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the overflow pipe is closed by a weight-or spring- biassed check valve.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE3001725A DE3001725C2 (en) | 1980-01-18 | 1980-01-18 | Latent heat storage |
DEP3001725.5 | 1980-01-18 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA1130676A true CA1130676A (en) | 1982-08-31 |
Family
ID=6092387
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA368,639A Expired CA1130676A (en) | 1980-01-18 | 1981-01-16 | Apparatus for feeding a liquid heat exchanger medium into the heat accumulator medium of a latent heat accumulator |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
CA (1) | CA1130676A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3001725C2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102013221129B4 (en) * | 2013-10-17 | 2022-08-11 | Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. | Heat storage device and method for storing heat |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2607168C3 (en) * | 1976-02-21 | 1981-04-09 | Deutsche Forschungs- und Versuchsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V., 5300 Bonn | Device for exchanging heat |
DE2805295C2 (en) * | 1977-02-17 | 1983-04-14 | Deutsche Forschungs- und Versuchsanstalt für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V., 5300 Bonn | Device for exchanging heat between a liquid and a crystallizable substance |
-
1980
- 1980-01-18 DE DE3001725A patent/DE3001725C2/en not_active Expired
-
1981
- 1981-01-16 CA CA368,639A patent/CA1130676A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE3001725A1 (en) | 1981-08-13 |
DE3001725C2 (en) | 1983-06-16 |
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