CA1300901C - Method and apparatus for the utilization of the heat of melting of water - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for the utilization of the heat of melting of water

Info

Publication number
CA1300901C
CA1300901C CA000528494A CA528494A CA1300901C CA 1300901 C CA1300901 C CA 1300901C CA 000528494 A CA000528494 A CA 000528494A CA 528494 A CA528494 A CA 528494A CA 1300901 C CA1300901 C CA 1300901C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
water
container
medium
heat
turbine
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 - Fee Related
Application number
CA000528494A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Gustav Wallen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Imatran Voima Oy
Original Assignee
Imatran Voima Oy
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Imatran Voima Oy filed Critical Imatran Voima Oy
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1300901C publication Critical patent/CA1300901C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25BREFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B9/00Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
    • F25B9/06Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point using expanders
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24VCOLLECTION, PRODUCTION OR USE OF HEAT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F24V50/00Use of heat from natural sources, e.g. from the sea
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25BREFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B30/00Heat pumps

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
  • Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
  • Jet Pumps And Other Pumps (AREA)

Abstract

(57) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

This publication describes a method and an apparatus for the utilization of the heat of melting of water. In accordance with the method, the gaseous heat transfer medium is led into a turbine (2) where the medium is expanded to a lower pres-sure. The heat medium is led to a container (5) where water is conveyed via a pipe (6), the heat medium with heat energy stored into it from the water is led from an upper part (14 of the container (5) to a compressor (16) where the medium is compressed to a higher pressure by means of energy obtained from the turbine (2) via a turbine shaft (3) and from a motor (18) via a shaft (17), and the heated medium is led out from the system. In accordance with the invention, the heat trans-fer medium is expanded in the turbine (2) to such a low pres-sure that its temperature falls below the freezing point of water, a major part of the water conveyed to the container (5) is sprayed in small droplets into a spray chamber (8) where the heat of melting of water is transferred into the medium, part of the water is sprayed directly on the walls of the container (5) in order to prevent their freezing, and water with icelets falling to a bottom space (9) of the container is forced into a rotating movement in order to prevent clog-ging. Water with icelets forced into movement is sucked out with a pump (10) from the container bottom space (9). Accord-ing to the method, heat energy can be extracted from freezing water by means of a continuous process.

Description

13~Q901 Method and apparatus for ~he utilization of the heat of melting of water The present invention relates to a method for the uti-S lization of the heat of melting of water.

The invention also concerns an apparatus for the imple-mentation of the method.

Waterways are the most important stores of solar energy. However, in the winter, when the energy demand is highest, the low temperature of water discourages the utilization of this heat source.

In prior art solutions of commercial nature, it has only been possible to cool the water utilized as a heat source down to the vicinity of the freezing point.
Freezing would cause ice layers to develop on the heat exchanger surfaces, which might hinder heat transfer.
The present invention aims to overcome the disadvan-tages of the aforementioned technique and to achieve a completely novel type of air heat pump utilizing the heat of melting of water.
According to the invention, air is used as the heat pump medium directly contacting water, which is the heat source.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for the implementation of the heat of melting of water in which:
B

13U(~90~

- a gaseous heat transfer medium is led via a first pipe to a turbinei - by means of the turbine, the heat medium is expanded to lower pressure, thereby transferring the expansion S work via a turbine shaft ~orward;
- the expanded medium of lower pressure is led via a second pipe to a container;
- water is led via a third pipe to the container;
- the medium with heat energy stored into it from the water is led from an upper part of the container via a fourth pipe to a compressor;
- the heat transfer medium is compressed in the com-pressor to a higher pressure by help of energy imparted by the turbine via the turbine shaft and by a motor via a motor shaft, and - the heated medium is led out from the system via a fifth pipe, charactèriæed in that - the heat transfer medium is expanded in the turbine to such a low pressure that its temperature falls below the freezing point of water;
- a major part of water led via the third pipe into the container is sprayed from nozzles in small droplets to a spray chamber, where the heat of melting of water is transferred to the heat medium;
- part of the water is sprayed directly on the walls of the container in order to prevent their freezing;
- the water mixed with icelets falling on the bottom space of the container is brought into a rotating movement in order to prevent clogging, by, for instance, contouring the bottom of the container eccentrically or feeding the heat transfer medium 130~901 lb into the container from the second pipe eccentri-cally, and - water mixed with icelets and forced into movement is sucked with a pump via a sixth pipe out from the bot-s tom space of the container.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there isprovided an apparatus for the utilization of heat of melting of water which comprises a first pipe via which lo the heat transfer medium can be fed into a turbine, the turbine in which the expansion work of the medium can be made available. The apparatus also comprises a second pipe via which the medium can be led from the turbine to the container, a third pipe via which water can be fed into the container, a droplet separator with which droplets can be separated from the heat transfer medium, a fourth pipe via which the medium can be led from the container to a compressor, the compressor by means of which the heat medium pressure and simultane-ously its temperature can be elevated, a motor fordriving the compressor, 5hafts via which power can be transmitted from the turbine and the motor to the com-pressor. The apparatus is characterized by nozzles from which water can be fed in dispersed form into a spray chamber, members with which part of the water can be directed on the walls of the container in order to prevent their freezing, an eccentrically contoured bottom space of the container for generating a vortical exit flow, and a pump with which water can be sucked from the bottom space via a sixth pipe out from the container.

130~90~

The invention provides appreciable benefits.

Compared with previous heat pump inventions utilizing water as a heat source, the most significant advantage is that the freezing water does not hinder heat transfer. In addition, water with a temperature close to the freezing point can be used for extracting an abundant amount of heat energy by utiliz-ing the heat of melting (considering that the heat of melting is equivalent to a temperature change of about 80 C in the same amount of water). The utilization of heat of melting can be implemented by means of direct heat transfer without separating walls, which results in savings in material costs from lack of heat transfer interfaces. Neither will systems for ice removal from heat transfer surfaces be needed. The heat pump operation can be continuous because operational breaks are not needed for ice removal or melting. Since the heat transfer mediùm of the heat pump is nontoxic air, disad-vantages involved in the use of refrigerants (halogenated hydro-carbons) are removed. Use of air as the heat transfer medium facilitates an open circulation in which the medium can be used as such, e.g. for the heating of premises.

In the following, the invention will be examined in detail by means of exemplifying embodiments illustrated in the enclosed drawing.

The drawing shows diagrammatically in a partly cross-sectioned side view an air heat pump utilizing the heat of melting of water.

The apparatus is described in the following by proceeding along the flow direction of the heat transfer medium.

The air to be heated, simultaneously operating as the heat pump medium, flows via a pipe 1 to a turbine 2. The air is expanded to a lower pressure in the turbine 2. The expansion work is transferred to a turbine shaft 3, During the expan-sion process, the air temperature falls below the freezing 130C~0~

point of water when the inlet air temperature and the turbine pressure ratio are properly designed (e.g., by using an inlet air temperature of +5 C and a pressure ratio Of Pl/P4 = 2).

The cold air is routed via a pipe 4 to a container 5. The water flow operating as the heat source is led via a pipe 6 to a heat exchanger and sprayed via nozzles 7 into a spray chamber 8. The water drops fall under gravity downwards counter to the air flow. The small water droplets form an extremely large heat transfer surface, which is in direct contact with the cold air. Because the inlet air temperature is below O C, some of the drops will freeze into the solid-state phase and the heat of melting is released into the air.

Water droplets, which are converted into ice or snow, fall down to a bottom water space 9 together with other water drop-lets. Part of the water is sprayed against the wall of the container by members not shown and the water flows along the wall down to the bottom water space 9, thus preventing ice formation on the wall. The mixture of ice and water is pumped out with a pump 10 via a pipe 11.

The bottom of the water space 9 and the pipe joint 11 at the bottom of water space are contoured so as to develop a vortex in the water +container. The ice hails and snowflakes, which would otherwise concentrate on the surface of the water con-tainer, are forced with the vortex to run to the inlet of the pipe 11. The vortex formation can also be achieved by feeding the inlet air eccentrically via the pipe 4 to the container 5.

The container 5 has a droplet separator 12 next to the water nozzles. Air flows in the droplet separator 12 along curved trajectories. Due to the centrifugal force, small water drop-lets carried by the air flow are driven to the walls, thus forming water films or large drops that flow downward under gravity. The droplet ~eparator 12 improves the operating efficiency of the heat pump because water droplets carried 130ce~

in the air flow would otherwise be vaporized at a later stage, thus consuming energy.

A heat exchanger 13 located next to the droplet separator 12 will be later described in conjunction with alternative embodiments.

Air is routed from an upper part 14 of the container 5 via a pipe 15 to a compressor 16.

In the compressor 16, the air pressure is elevated to the same level as the inlet air pressure in the pipe 1. Due to the compression work performed in the compressor, the air temperature increases. Energy required for compression is fed to the compressor via a shaft 17 from a motor 18, and via a shaft 3 from the turbine 2.

The warm or hot air produced by the heat pump flows in a pipe 19 rom the compressor to the point of use. The temperature of produced air depends on the temperature of the heat source and the compressor pressure ratio. For instance, if the temper-ature of the heat source water is +S C and the pressure ratio is Plg/PlS = 2, the temperature of produced air is about 80 C.

The heat pump output and power taken from the motor depend on the temperatures and pressure ratios. In the foregoing description, the process operating with the given values trans-fers, per each motor power unit consumed, a 1.5-fold heat power. For instance, a heat power of 150 kW from the heat ~ource and a motor drive power of 100 kW together produce a heat power of 250 kW. At this power level, the air mass flow is about 3.3 kg/s and the water mass flow 1.7 kg/s.
The mass flow ratio of water-to-air is constant irrespective of the power transferred.

The container can also be provided with nozzles at different levels. The droplet separator 12 can be followed by a heat exchanger 13 in which heat energy is transferred from a warm liquid or gas to the air flow of the heat pump. The droplet separator 12 and the heat exchanger 13 may also be arranged in reverse order so that air first flows through the heat exchanger. In addition, the heat exchanger can be constructed for a simultaneous operation as a droplet separator.

In accordance with the drawing, heat is transferred from a heat source, or sources, to the heat transfer medium of the heat pump according to the counter flow principle. Concerning the spray heat exchanger (space 8), the medium can also be controlled to flow in the same direction. The entire heat transfer unit (container 5), which is shown in the drawing in the upright position, can also be positioned horizontally, and the medium can be controlled to flow crosswise.

Claims (6)

1. A method for the implementation of the heat of melting of water, in which method - a gaseous heat transfer medium is led via a pipe (1) to a turbine (2), - by means of the turbine (2), the heat medium is expand-ed to lower pressure, thereby transferring the expansion work via a turbine shaft (3) forward, - the expanded medium of lower pressure is led via a pipe (4) to a container (5), - water is led via a pipe (6) to the container (5), - the medium with heat energy stored into it from the water is led from an upper part (14) of the container (5) via a pipe (15) to a compressor (16), - the heat transfer medium is compressed in the compres-sor (16) to a higher pressure by help of energy impart-ed by the turbine (2) via the turbine shaft (3) and by a motor (18) via a motor shaft (17), and - the heated medium is led out from the system via a pipe (19), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that - the heat transfer medium is expanded in the turbine (2) to such a low pressure that its temperature falls below the freezing point of water, - a major part of water led via the pipe (6) into the container (5) is sprayed from nozzles (7) in small drop-lets to a spray chamber (8), where the heat of melting of water is transferred to the heat medium, - part of the water is sprayed directly on the walls of the container (5) in order to prevent their freezing, - the water mixed with icelets falling on the bottom space (9) of the container is brought into a rotating movement in order to prevent clogging by, for instance, contouring the bottom (9) of the container eccentrically or feeding the heat transfer medium into the container (5) from the pipe (4) eccentrically, and - water mixed with icelets and forced into movement is sucked with a pump (10) via a pipe (11) out from the bottom space (9) of the container.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that air is used as the heat transfer medium.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a turbine (2) is fed with a heat transfer medium having a temperature of 3.. 7 °C, prefer-ably 5 °C, and the pressure ratio of the turbine (2) is select-ed as 1.5...3.0, preferably as about 2.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the pressure ratio of the compressor (16) is selected as 1.5...3.0, preferably as about 2.
5. A method as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the ratio of the air mass flow to the water mass flow is 1.2...3.1, preferably about 1.9.
6. An apparatus for the utilization of heat of melting of water comprising - a pipe (1) via which the heat transfer medium can be fed into a turbine (2), - the turbine (2) in which the expansion work of the medium can be made available, - a pipe (4) via which the medium can be led from the turbine (2) to the container (5), - a pipe (6) via which water can be fed into the con-tainer (5), - a droplet separator (12) with which droplets can be separated from the heat transfer medium, - a pipe (15) via which the medium can be lead from the container (5) to a compressor (16), - the compressor (16) by means of which the heat medium pressure and simultaneously its temperature can be elevat-ed, - a motor (18) for driving the compressor, - shafts (3, 17) via which power can be transmitted from the turbine and the motor to the compressor (16), c h a r a c t e r i z e d by - nozzles (7) from which water can be fed in dispersed form into a spray chamber (8), - members with which part of the water can be directed on the walls of the container (5) in order to prevent their freezing, - an eccentrically contoured bottom space (9) of the container (5) for generating a vortical exit flow, and - a pump (10) with which water can be sucked from the bottom space (9) via a pipe (11) out from the container.
CA000528494A 1986-01-29 1987-01-29 Method and apparatus for the utilization of the heat of melting of water Expired - Fee Related CA1300901C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI860429 1986-01-29
FI860429A FI75924C (en) 1986-01-29 1986-01-29 FOERFARANDE OCH ANORDNING FOER UTNYTTJANDE AV FRYSVAERMET HOS VATTEN.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1300901C true CA1300901C (en) 1992-05-19

Family

ID=8522059

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000528494A Expired - Fee Related CA1300901C (en) 1986-01-29 1987-01-29 Method and apparatus for the utilization of the heat of melting of water

Country Status (3)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1300901C (en)
FI (1) FI75924C (en)
SE (1) SE461055B (en)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI860429A (en) 1987-07-30
SE8700271L (en) 1987-07-30
SE8700271D0 (en) 1987-01-23
FI860429A0 (en) 1986-01-29
FI75924B (en) 1988-04-29
SE461055B (en) 1989-12-18
FI75924C (en) 1988-08-08

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