DE102014009279A1 - Improved melting chamber for snow - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides for the first time a melting chamber in which snow is fed separately in countercurrent to hot gases, melted to water and discharged directly in continuous flow. By heat storage in the field of heat transfer heat peaks and varying energy inputs can be compensated, used and snow significantly faster and more effective melted. Due to the increased efficiency and efficiency, the melting of snow becomes commercially and economically exploitable for the first time at an acceptable price.

Description

TECHNICAL PART

The present invention relates to melting chambers according to the preamble of the independent claims and is located in the field of snow clearing and melting devices.

On the inventor go in the documents DE 10 2011 100 855 B4 such as DE 20 2011 100 371 U1 revealed innovations back. An assembly disclosed therein is a melting chamber in which a stream of ice and / or snow is at least partially melted. The measures disclosed in these documents and additional advantageous features are fully claimed as possible additional measures and features by reference.

In practice, however, it has been found that many of the prior art approaches and proposed designs as a melting chamber are too slow for a continuous flow or too expensive in energy terms.

Thus, in general, technical field of snow removal approaches known, in which the surface to be cleared is directly irradiated with heat and warmed up with. Such approaches can be found in documents such as the DE 406257 A or the DE 1 827 853 U , However, a lot of energy has to be expended in order to bring all snow, including the soil, to temperatures above zero degrees. As a solution suggests the DE 10 2012 025 598 A For this purpose, only after mechanical large-scale clearance to evaporate remaining adhering to the ground ice. In addition, the teaches DE 195 39 720 A for heat storage, which can store heat in a liquid and pass it through heat exchangers to keep them homogeneous with motor mixers, so that a uniform heat flow is always guaranteed. However, the necessary amount of energy is still enormous, since the hardy ground has to be warmed up and subsequently dried.

From the DE 20 2010 004 516 U is a funnel-shaped container is known, which has heated side plates in the upper conical region and allows a discharge on the bottom side of the molten snow. Such designs have the disadvantage that hot melt water can collect whether its lower density in the heating plates, while ice and snow are present as a mixture near the drain.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Generic assemblies are designed in their construction to melt the snow in chambers in countercurrent to hot gases. The DE 6 939 264 U proposes for this purpose to heat a stepped V-shaped downwardly tapered chamber laterally with burners. The hot exhaust gases are introduced in the upper area directly into the snow to be melted. The DE 1 658 388 B In addition, motor-driven cutting discs crush snow and ice, while in direct countercurrent hot gases are supplied from a water-cooled combustion chamber.

The DE 40 16 379 additionally teaches that meltwater produced is additionally heated, returned to the chamber and intimately mixed with snow to facilitate and accelerate the melting of the snow.

In the practical implementation in the context of the construction of a prototype of a snow clearing and melting machine proved just the last measure, namely the supply / return of melt water into the inner chamber of a melting chamber, as extremely disadvantageous: The melting performance in one with Snow-filled, double-walled metal containers, whose hollow wall was supplied with hot gas, collapsed by about 30%. Furthermore, the introduction of hot gases in internally coiled heating tubes turned out to be equally unhelpful: While snow in direct contact with the heating tube literally overcooked compacted snow at a distance of a few centimeters under water absorption to coarse-crystalline wet powder, which hardly melted.

The object of the present invention was therefore to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide an improved melting chamber for snow, which despite a very low energy consumption as possible can provide a rapid and efficient melting.

The solution of this object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

• – Schneestrom und heiße Gase durch eine zumindest abschnittsweise metallisch wärmeleitende Wand durchgehend getrennt sind und
• – ein Einleitungsbereich (a, b) des heißen Gases direkt im Gegenstrom zum Abflussbereich (c) angeordnet ist.

According to the invention, the improved melting chamber for snow, into which a snow stream can be introduced into a chamber via an upper-side opening, can be acted upon with heat in countercurrent to hot gases and melted snow via at least one bottom side in a drain region (c) arranged discharge is routable, characterized in that

• - Snow flow and hot gases are continuously separated by an at least partially metallic heat-conducting wall and
• - An inlet region (a, b) of the hot gas is arranged directly in counterflow to the discharge region (c).

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGEOUS CHARACTERISTICS

Through the continuous separation of hot gas and snow alone heat is released to the snow inside the chamber, which is thereby melted. The melted snow flows directly over the drain of the inner chamber. The discharge of hot gas into the discharge area ensures that the drain can not cool down; the drain will always have the highest temperature due to this structural measure. With such structural alignment, significantly faster and faster reflow speeds have been achieved. The inventors assume that energy is superfluously wasted on several levels in the established devices by the direct introduction of hot gas / exhaust gas into a snow-water mixture: On the one hand, water shields the snow thermally against heat. The poorly heat-conducting water only allows a greatly reduced heat flow into the ice and heat is not fully utilized; Furthermore, the water is additionally vaporized in the case of very hot and / or dry hot gases, as a result of which considerable amounts of heat are wasted for changing the state of aggregation. This can conclusively explain why the re-feeding of melt water into a melting tank caused the melting performance to collapse and why snow, close to very hot heating coils, wet-compacted snow and hardly melted. Just the last effect, the inventors for the disadvantages observed in drains outside a heated zone responsible: A melting chamber of conventional, stainless alloy, in which a heating is not directly and counter-current at the outflow, snow and water will accumulate in the discharge area. The melting performance is deteriorated here as described above. Against this background, it can be reasonably explained why heating directly and in countercurrent at the outflow offers a considerable leap in performance: Heat can be passed on directly to ice here for the first time, causing direct melting, whereby the resulting water is immediately discharged through a hot drain. Cold or wet zones with moist compacting snow can no longer form in the inflow area of the drain and reduce the melting performance.

According to the invention, the improved melting chamber for snow, into which a snow stream can be introduced into a chamber via an upper-side opening, countercurrent to hot gases can be acted upon with heat, and molten snow can be diverted via at least one outflow arranged on the underside in an outflow region (c) the design features that snow stream and hot gases are separated throughout. Thus, at least two separate volumes are given, in which on the one hand heat is conducted from bottom to top, while in the other volume, the inner chamber, snow is passed from top to bottom and discharged as water directionally equal to gravity final. The transition of the heat from the outer volume into the interior of the chamber takes place through an at least partially metallic heat-conducting wall. Particularly preferably, the heat is transmitted via extremely well-conducting structures such as copper sheets and / or composite structures with directional, metallically heat-conducting reinforcing fibers.

By arranging the introduction region (a, b) of the hot gas directly in countercurrent to the outside outflow region (c) of the inner chamber, it is ensured that the outflow always provides the hottest part of the snow stream and no water-snow mixtures can accumulate there. It goes without saying that the drain also forms the deepest and lowest point of the snow stream, so that water can flow away continuously. Retention facilities such as screens or crossbars can advantageously ensure that there is no more snow on the discharge side to the outflow. Preferably, foreign bodies or contaminants are removed on the inflow side to the melting chamber and / or on the inflow side to the outflow of the inner chamber via a body trap and separated in a separate body stream.

• – ein mit Abstand umschließend angeordneter Mantel einen Spaltraum zur inneren Kammer ausbildet, wobei der Spaltraum in Strömungsrichtung des heißen Gases betrachtet unterseitige Einleitungsbereiche (a, b), den Abflussbereich der Schmelzkammer (c), unterseitig seitliche Bereiche (d, e) und oberseitig seitliche Bereiche (f) umfasst. Die Präpositionen 'oben' und 'unten' definieren im Rahmen der vorliegenden Erfindung relative Positionen in Bezug zur konstruktiven Führung des Schneestromes: Schnee wird von 'oben' zugeführt und als Schmelzwasser richtungsgleich zur Schwerkraft nach 'unten' abgeführt. Die Schmelzkammer weist somit ein 'oben' und ein 'unten' auf. Seitliche Bereiche können mithin näher zum Abfluss oder näher zum Zufluss des Schneestromes angeordnet sein und sind als 'oberseitig seitliche' Bereiche oder eben 'unterseitig seitliche Bereiche' konkreter in ihrer konstruktiven Anordnung klassifizierbar. Durch einen Spaltraum, welcher im Gegenstrom zum Schneestrom heißen Gasen in Strömungsrichtung der Gase betrachtet sukzessive den Kontakt mit dem Abfluss-Bereich c, dem unterseitigen, seitlichen Bereich d, e und dem oberseitigen, seitlichen Bereich f einer Schmelzkammer ermöglicht, wird eine flächige, kontinuierliche Wärme-Abgabe über Boden- und Wand-Bereiche der inneren Kammer erreicht, wobei der Abflussbereich stets die höchste Temperatur aufweisen wird. Auch größere Energiemengen/heißere Gase können so vollständig aufgenommen/verwertet und als Wärme-Energie über metallisch Wärme leitende Bereiche an den innenseitig in der inneren Kammer anliegenden Schnee abgegeben werden.

Preferably, the melting chamber is characterized in that

• - A circumferentially arranged arranged enclosing shell forms a gap to the inner chamber, the gap space in the flow direction of the hot gas considered underside introduction areas (a, b), the discharge area of the melting chamber (c), side areas lateral (d, e) and the upper side Includes areas (f). In the context of the present invention, the prepositions 'top' and 'bottom' define relative positions in relation to the constructive guidance of the snow flow: Snow is supplied from 'above' and discharged to the bottom as meltwater in the same direction as gravity. The melting chamber thus has a 'top' and a 'bottom' on. Lateral areas can therefore be arranged closer to the outflow or closer to the inflow of the snow stream and are as' upper side lateral 'areas or even' underside lateral areas' concretely classified in their constructive arrangement. As a result of a gap space, which, viewed in countercurrent to the snow stream of hot gases in the flow direction of the gases, successively makes contact with the outflow region c, the lower-side, lateral region d, e and the upper-side, lateral region f of a melting chamber, becomes a flat, continuous one Heat output via bottom and wall areas of the inner chamber reached, the outflow area will always have the highest temperature. Even larger amounts of energy / hotter gases can be so completely absorbed / recycled and discharged as heat energy through metallic heat conductive areas on the inside of the inner chamber adjacent snow.

The claimed melting chamber is preferably characterized in that the jacket is designed as an enclosing container which forms a gap space completely surrounding the inner chamber and via a top-side feed line passing through the gap space, the introduction of snow into the melting chamber and at least one in Outflow area (c) to the outside carried out, discharge underneath the drainage of meltwater provides. Such an embodiment completely encapsulates the inner chamber so that heat can still be supplied to the upper side in the region of a ceiling closing off the melting chamber in order to be able to absorb and pass through last heat residues. This design offers the additional advantage that a thermal insulation to the outside can be provided particularly advantageous and simple as enveloping, additional coat and / or additional, outside coating.

The claimed melting chamber is preferably characterized in that the jacket formed as an enclosing container has at least one top-side outlet for hot gases in an exhaust gas area (g) and at least one bottom outlet for condensate in a condensate area (f2). Such additional connections allow the improved use of exhaust gases as a heat source. Exhaust gases of internal combustion engines are preferably used in engine-operated clearing equipment, particularly preferably in combination with switchable fuel burners, as a source for the hot gases used. Such hot gases naturally contain water and unavoidable impurities which can be removed via a condensate outlet; remains at high engine speeds still residual heat in the rapidly flowing exhaust gas, it can be supplied by targeted removal and / or forwarding of the gas stream at the exhaust gas region g of a further use.

Preferably, a melting chamber is characterized in that the metallic heat-conducting wall is connected on the side of the hot gas at least partially with heat-storing devices. 'Connected' here refers to a thermally effective, surface connection, which allows the direct exchange of heat over a continuous layer of material. Established tools for thermal contacting are, for example, heat-conductive pastes or gels and hot-curable bonding compounds with a high proportion of graphite and / or metal particles. By thus made contact the separating wall with a heat storage, the buffering capacity for heat is increased and intermittently supplied heat can be effectively absorbed, stored and subsequently supplied to the snow stream.

Preferably, the melting chamber is characterized in that at least one heat-storing device comprises at least one granulate selected from the group consisting of metal granules, copper granules, ceramic granules, PCM granules, mineral granules, granular rock, composite granules, supported granules. Metal granules offer good thermal conductivity and, depending on the type of hot gases used, their composition can be made up of suitable corrosion-resistant alloys. Copper granules offer the advantage of extremely high thermal conductivity; especially heat peaks can be effectively compensated with copper granules and a uniform gas and granulate temperature can be ensured. Ceramic granules offer the advantage of high density and chemical stability; certain oxides also have good, long-term storage properties and / or neutralizing properties. With ceramic granules a good mixing / neutralization can be achieved with aggressive exhaust gases and continue to provide a slower, more stable heat storage. A PCM granulate comprises materials which can store additional heat by phase transition (PCM = 'phase change materials', customary abbreviation for materials which undergo phase transitions upon absorption / release of heat); The classic example is gypsum granules with wax filling: The wax melts in the presence of heat and can subsequently release the enthalpy of fusion again by solidification. Such granules thus offer the possibility to significantly increase the heat capacity of a heat storage. Mineral granules offer the advantage of providing active, porous or filtering structures via natural minerals; Thus, an increased amount of lime or carbonate minerals can neutralize the acid gases of an internal combustion engine while volcanic, open-porous rock can provide better mixing and homogenization. A granular rock offers the The advantage of using high density natural rocks such as basalt as heat storage.

A composite granulate is composed of various components such as those described above; Thus, the individual granules consist of various interconnected fractions. With homogeneous composition and particle size of the grains, such composite granules have the advantage that more precisely adjustable grain properties are always kept the same across a bed. Supported granules are advantageously fixed in a carrier matrix and can no longer be damaged or further comminuted by friction or vibration; open porous framework structures such as pumice stone, graphite foam, open-cell polymer foams, glass foams or aerogels are examples of such carriers in which granule grains can be fixed and submitted. The coating of a granulate with a thermosetting builder and subsequent fixing of a bed are also possible in order to provide advantageous fixed granulate structures via continuous volumes.

Preferably, the melting chamber is characterized in that the melting chamber has a bottom inclined to the at least one drain bottom. A sloping bottom to the drain will always discharge melted water directly; Preferably, the floor is provided for this purpose with additional grooves or partially concealed guide grooves in which melt water is discharged from the overhanging snow and discharged via the drain.

Preferably, the melting chamber is characterized in that the melting chamber has on the underside an at least a lowest lying arranged drain arranged continuously inclined bottom. An over its entire surface inclined to an outflow, preferably concavely curved toward the snow flow formed, with advantageously varied ausgestalteter slope predetermine a predetermined proportional to the distribution of heat of fusion slope, which ensures that in areas with high heat output in the same direction Gradient ensures a suitable rapid discharge of melt water advantageous.

The melting chamber is preferably characterized in that the melting chamber consists of copper at least in the inside bottom area and a jacket forming a completely enclosing gap space consists at least on the inside of exhaust-resistant, stainless steel. As an extremely good heat conductor, copper ensures that heat is absorbed and utilized evenly throughout the entire interior volume of the melting chamber, while stainless steel alloys such as V2A steel provide extra durable and less heat-absorbing shells / housings.

A melting chamber is preferably characterized in that an inner chamber and an outer jacket can be inserted into one another in a modular manner, preferably composed of plug-in plate elements. Modular in design, such a melting chamber can be much easier maintained and renewed in severe wear in individual parts. Advantageously granulate beds in the gap between the chamber and the jacket can be proportionately or completely exchanged, particularly preferably blended and exchanged in a controlled manner depending on the operating conditions. Against this background, the present invention also discloses a method for adjusting a granular heat storage by controlled, at least partial replacement of heat-storing granules and the use of a melting chamber for receiving heat from a gas stream and the use of heat in a countercurrent flow under transfer the heat on said stream.

Further advantages emerge from the exemplary embodiments. It is understood that the above-described features and advantages and subsequent embodiments are not restrictive. Advantageous, additional features and additional combinations of features, as explained in the description and in the prior art, can be realized within the scope of the independent claims in the claimed subject-matter both individually and deviating combined, without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The figures illustrate on the basis of schematic diagrams ...

1 advantageous embodiment of a modular composite melting chamber before assembly;

2 Assembly of the outer jacket according to 1

3 Assembly of the inner chamber according to 1

4 Insert the inner chamber into the outer jacket

5 Flow path of the snow stream through the inner chamber

6 opposite flow of hot gases

7 modular construction of an advantageous inner chamber

8th Modular construction of an outer jacket

9 Installation position of an inner chamber according to 7 in a coat according to 8th

10 Flow path of the snow stream through the inner chamber according to 9

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION BY HAND OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In a preferred advantageous embodiment according to 1 comprises a modular composite melting chamber before assembly from top to bottom viewed a lid with access opening and seals (shown in phantom), an inner tubular chamber with an oblique bottom, a derivative and a bottom plate. The bottom plate is in turn on a same direction obliquely configured receiving the shell, the recording is flush in a cylindrical, open-topped jacket with lateral drains and openings can be used. According to 2 is for the purpose of assembling the outer shell according to 1 the receptacle flush inserted into the interior of the shell and the outside gas-tight tube connected gas-tight; Preferably, the gas inlet tube has at least one protruding into the interior of the shell molding, which engages the recording engaging and at the same time connects the gas flow to an internal volume of the receptacle. According to 3 is used for the purpose of assembling the inner chamber according to 1 the underside obliquely ending chamber with a bottom plate and a drain line tightly connected. According to 4 will the modules according to the 2 and 3 coupled by insertion of the inner chamber in the outer shell. Preferably, the drain line is inserted and fixed in a positive breakthrough in the jacket and gas supply line. Finally, upper-side covers are fixed under mechanical tension on the assembled modules in a sealing and thermally insulating manner. Thus results according to 5 a flow path of the snow stream through the inner chamber, which leads via an upper-side opening in the lid into the interior of the chamber. Here, the snow hits the consistently sloping base plate. Meltwater is discharged along the slope through the drainage pipe to the outside. According to 6 the countercurrent flow guidance of hot gases takes place over a plurality of regions: gas is supplied in an introduction region a, b and flows around the outflow region d of the inner chamber in direct countercurrent flow. Within the receptacle, the gas flow is then led slowly rising over lower side areas to be finally passed over the top side area f in the exhaust gas region g. The regions d and e, particularly preferably d to f, are preferably filled with fluidizing and / or heat-storing structures, for example granules, in order to ensure optimum absorption and transfer of the heat.

In a further, advantageous embodiment according to 7 comprises a modular construction of an advantageous inner chamber viewed from top to bottom, an inlet pipe piece for snow, a top lid, a tubular chamber wall open upwards and downwards, a floor with convex inside the chamber and two lowermost discharge openings, a form-fitting adjoining, flat partition with openings and two discharge pipe sections for the discharge of melt water.

According to 8th includes an advantageous embodiment of a modular outer shell from top to bottom eight Gasausleitungsrohre, a top cover, a spacer ring for fixing the inner chamber, a tubular enclosing shell, a ring insert with openings, a bottom-closing bottom plate with two lateral openings for drainage Pipes and a central opening for a deepest gas inlet pipe. 9 illustrates the installation position of an inner chamber according to 7 in a coat according to 8th , wherein the thus composed melting chamber is illustrated in isometric view, in a side view and along the plane BB. As 10 3 illustrates the flow path of snow flow through the inner chamber as indicated by dashed arrows 9 according to the principle 5 match; hot gases are here in the same direction over the areas a to g 6 conducted in countercurrent.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides for the first time a melting chamber in which snow is fed separately in countercurrent to hot gases, melted to water and discharged directly in continuous flow. By heat storage in the field of heat transfer heat peaks and varying energy inputs can be compensated, used and snow significantly faster and more effective melted. Due to the increased efficiency and efficiency, the melting of snow with exhaust gases of a broaching machine commercially and economically exploitable for the first time at an acceptable price.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

• a

  Introduction area

  b

  Introduction area

  c

  drainage area

  d

  lower side area

  e

  lower side area

  f

  upper side area

  f2

  condensate field

  G

  exhaust area

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102011100855 B4 [0002]
• DE 202011100371 U1 [0002]
• DE 406257A [0004]
• DE 1827853 U [0004]
• DE 102012025598 A [0004]
• DE 19539720 A [0004]
• DE 202010004516 U [0005]
• DE 6939264 U [0006]
• DE 1658388 B [0006]
• DE 4016379 [0007]

Claims (10)

Improved melting chamber for snow, in which a snow stream can be introduced into a chamber via an upper-side opening, countercurrent to hot gases can be acted upon with heat and melted snow via at least one outflow in an outflow area (c) discharge is arranged, characterized in that - Snow stream and hot gases are continuously separated by an at least partially metallic heat-conducting wall and - an inlet region (a, b) of the hot gas is arranged directly in counterflow to the drain region (c). Melting chamber according to the preceding claim, characterized in that - a jacket arranged at a distance enclosing forms a gap to the inner chamber, wherein the gap space in the flow direction of the hot gas considered underside introduction areas (a, b), the discharge area of the melting chamber (c), underside includes lateral areas (d, e) and upper side areas (f). Melting chamber according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the jacket is formed as enclosing container, which forms a gap completely surrounding the inner chamber and via an externally through the gap performed by the upper side lead the introduction of snow into the melting chamber and at least one in the discharge area (c) to the outside carried out, discharge underneath the drainage of melt water provides. Melting chamber according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the jacket formed as an enclosing container has at least one top-side outlet for hot gases in an exhaust gas region (g) and at least one bottom outlet for condensate in a condensate region (f2). Melting chamber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metallic heat-conducting wall is connected on the side of the hot gas at least partially with heat-storing devices. Melting chamber according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one heat-storing device comprises at least one granulate selected from the group consisting of metal granules, copper granules, ceramic granules, PCM granules, mineral granules, granular rock, composite granules, supported granules. Melting chamber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner chamber has a bottom inclined to the at least one drain bottom. Melting chamber according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lower side of the inner chamber has a bottom formed to be inclined at least to a lowest lying outflow. Melting chamber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner chamber consists of copper at least in the bottom region and a jacket which forms a completely enclosing gap space consists, at least on the inside, of exhaust-resistant, stainless steel. Melting chamber according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the inner chamber and jacket can be inserted into one another in a modular manner, preferably composed of plug-in plate elements.

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