DE102007053382A1 - Electromechanical actuator for lift valves of heating and/or refrigeration plant, includes carbon nanotubes in layered polymer composite - Google Patents

Abstract

The actuator (6) includes carbon nanotubes. These are layered to form a stacked actuator. The electricity supplied to the stack is converted directly into lifting motion. The carbon nanotubes are bonded in a polymer composite. One layer of this contains the carbon nanotubes. Another layer contains solid electrolyte. The actuator remains functional at temperatures of up to 500[deg] C.

Description

The The invention relates to an electromechanical actuator for Lifting valves of heating and / or cooling systems with an actuator, which supplied electrical energy in a lifting movement transforms.

Such an electromechanical actuator is from the DE 39 00 866 C2 known. This electromechanical actuator has as an actuator on an electric motor with downstream, multi-stage transmission and with an adjoining device for converting the rotational movement of the transmission output shaft in a lifting movement.

This known, electromechanical actuator has the disadvantage, that the actuator is a complicated mechanical construction, which leads to high production costs and a large, required space leads.

From the Fraunhofer TEG Annual Report 2006, p. 30-31 , together with the data sheet Carbonnanotubes actuators, date of creation 11.12.2006, it is known to use so-called Carbonnanotubes generally as actuators. These carbon nanotubes are nanoscopic small particles that are a modification of the carbon. Like natural muscle fibers, these actuators are made up of billions of molecules that can do mechanical work. Therefore, such actuators are often referred to as artificial muscles.

The concrete application of such carbon nanotubes as an actuator for However, various uses are still pending, because the realizable Positioning times are too long for many applications. Also the travel paths Such actuators based on carbon nanotubes are so far severely limited, so many uses for Such actuators, at least according to the current state of development excluded are.

The Invention has the task of an electromechanical actuator for lifting valves of heating and / or cooling systems whose actuator has a simplified mechanical construction to reduce the manufacturing effort and reduce the having required space.

These Task is solved by such a electromechanical actuator the actuator Carbonnanotubes having.

As already explained, allow such Carbonnanotubes generally the direct conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy Move. Such actuators have a simple macro-mechanical Build up. The actual movement is generated in micromechanical or molecular range. Due to the direct conversion of the electrical Energy in mechanical motion is the achievable energy efficiency very good compared to the previously known solutions.

For the claimed application of the carbon nanotubes as an actuator in an electromechanical actuator for globe valves of Heating and / or cooling systems represents the comparatively slow Travel time and the comparatively small travel in comparison to other actuators no problem because heating or cooling systems for building applications comparatively sluggish Control systems are in which operating times of several seconds no pose a fundamental problem. The realizable stroke of such electromechanical actuator moves in the range of about 3 mm, so that even small travel for the operation Such lift valves are quite sufficient.

When significant advantage of the use of Carbonnanotubes arises Thus, the simple mechanical structure of the actuator, connected with a very favorable energy efficiency, so a simple, long-lasting power supply of such an actuator, for example, by means of a battery is possible.

advantageous Refinements and developments of the invention will become apparent The dependent claims and will be described in more detail below explained.

So This is particularly advantageous when the Carbonnanotubes to a stacked so called stack actuator, which supplied the converting electrical energy directly into a lifting movement. With these Measures become conversion losses through a conversion an original movement in a lifting movement, which for the Valve actuation of the lift valve is required, avoided.

to Activation of the carbon nanotubes is the arrangement of the carbon nanotubes required in an electrolyte. It has proven to be particularly beneficial proved to bind the carbon nanotubes in a polymer composite, whose one layer contains the carbon nanotubes and whose other layer is a solid electrolyte, so on the use of liquid electrolytes and their associated Problems with the tightness of such an actuator omitted can be.

Finally, it is particularly advantageous if the actuator is functional up to temperatures of 500 ° C. This is usually ensured because the molecular structure of the carbon nanotube even allows significantly higher temperatures without zer to be disturbed.

One Embodiment of an electromechanical actuator for lifting valves of heating and / or cooling systems is shown in the drawing and is in the following appendix of Drawing explained in more detail.

The single figure shows an electromechanical actuator mounted on a lift valve for a heating and / or cooling system.

In the figure, the valve is ( 1 ) of an inventive arrangement shown partially cut. The valve ( 1 ) has a valve housing ( 2 ), in which a valve seat ( 3 ) is incorporated. In the figure above the valve seat ( 3 ) is a valve seal ( 4 ) arranged on a valve spindle ( 5 ) is attached. The valve seal ( 4 ) or the valve spindle ( 5 ) are in the figure in the closed position relative to the valve seat ( 3 ) or the valve housing ( 2 ). In the figure sits the valve seal ( 4 ) on the valve seat ( 3 ), so that the valve is closed and the valve spindle ( 5 ) has taken its lowest position relative to the valve housing.

Above the valve stem ( 5 ) or the valve housing ( 2 ) is a carbon nanotube actuator ( 6 ), which is connected via a supply line ( 8th ) converts supplied electrical energy into a lifting movement.

The Carbonnanotube actuator ( 6 ) is formed in the present embodiment as a so-called stack actuator, so that the sum of stacked in the valve actuation direction actuator parts without further mechanical transmission means the required stroke of the valve seal ( 4 ) opposite the valve seat ( 3 ) in the order of about 3 mm.

The Carbonnanotube actuator ( 6 ) by means of a strong helical compression spring ( 9 ) between an actuator housing ( 7 ) and the valve stem ( 5 ) are positioned axially such that, on the one hand, the direct actuation of the valve spindle ( 5 ) through the carbon nanotube actuator ( 6 ). On the other hand, the strong helical compression spring ( 9 ) an axial displacement of the carbon nanotube actuator ( 6 ) if the valve spindle ( 5 ), for example by foreign bodies in the heating or cooling medium, is blocked in their movement.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 3900866 C2 [0002]

Cited non-patent literature

• - Fraunhofer TEG Annual Report 2006, pp. 30-31 [0004]

Claims (4)

Electromechanical actuator for globe valves of heating and / or cooling systems with an actuator, which converts supplied electrical energy into a lifting movement, characterized in that the actuator has Carbonnanotubes. Electromechanical actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that the carbon nanotubes become a stacking actuator layered, which is the supplied electrical energy converted directly into a stroke movement. Electromechanical actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that the carbon nanotubes in a polymer composite are bound, one layer of which contains the carbon nanotubes and the other layer contains a solid electrolyte. Electromechanical actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator up to temperatures of 500 ° C is functional.