DE3446130A1 - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger (1) in which a housing (2) is filled both with a preferably liquid heat transfer medium (4) and a granular heat transfer medium, preferably metal spheres (3). A partition wall (5) divides the housing (2) into a cooling chamber (6) and a heating chamber (7). Disposed in the heating chamber (7) are heating tubes (9), and disposed in the cooling chamber (6) are cooling tubes (8). The housing (2) can be rotated by 180 DEG , so that at one time the heating chamber (7) with the heating tubes (9) comes within the range of the metal spheres (3), and after rotation, correspondingly, the cooling chamber (6) with the cooling tubes (8) moves there. Because of the wall (5), the liquid (4) is squeezed through between the metal spheres (3) during the movement. The filling liquid (4) thus periodically changes its temperature, according to the swing period. If the filling liquid (4) has a high thermal expansion coefficient, the change in volume or pressure can be utilised as usable mechanical energy. <IMAGE>

Description

PATENT ADVOCATE

DIPL-PHYS. HANS-J. NEUBAUER 3446130

EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEY

_{Her> r} Fauststrasse 30

D-8070 Ingolstadt Hermann Schmidt

Franz-Marc-Str. 13 Telephone (08 41) 7 24

_βΠ7Π τ- -. ._ .. Telegram neupat Ingolstadt

8070 Ingolstadt Telex 5 5809 pad

P 35SCH 84/62

Heat exchanger

The invention relates to a heat exchanger according to the preamble of claim 1.

The fuel reserves are limited worldwide and are decreasing to a threatening extent. At the same time, the exhaust gas pollution increases the environment. Attempts have therefore already been made several times to use mechanical work from heat reservoirs (groundwater, Sea water, ambient air) or to extract heat energy from the environment and to a higher temperature level to pump, on which the energy obtained can be used in practice.

A method is known (DE-OS 3 209 324) in which the change in the length or the volume of in particular solid or liquid bodies by converting them into rapid motion for technical use electrical or friction generators is processed. This is intended to provide energy at the same level that it is suitable for space heating or electricity generation. For the length or volume change should the temperature expansion can be used, whereby the temperature fluctuations of the environment should be exploited.

These weather-related ambient temperature fluctuations are very slow, so that the arrangement is also only very works slowly and therefore the energy yield is very low can be. If the temperature conditions remain the same for a long time, no mechanical energy is available at all posed. In practice, therefore, such an arrangement has not yet been able to establish itself.

With the known heat pumps, heat energy is extracted from the environment (ambient IQ air, groundwater, etc.) and pumped to a higher usable temperature level. This requires external drive energy for the heat pump, which, depending on the boundary conditions, can be quite high. Heat pumps are therefore usually operated from the power supply.

A method is also known (DE-OS 2 358 959) in which Thermal energy from sewage or other substances is to be converted into mechanical energy in that pressure liquefied Working materials are used as working media in the critical temperature range. Preferably the spatial expansion of carbon dioxide and ethane can be used for work performance. It is also known to be liquid Submitting working materials to a cycle by cooling down after the work has been completed. One problem with that is the provision of a suitable heat exchanger, which is particularly suitable for smaller systems is.

Based on the above prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger with which a medium can alternately be brought to different temperature levels.

For a further development of the invention, there is a further object with the aid of the heat exchanger according to the invention to show an arrangement with the usable energy

^ 3A46130

can be obtained from the environment.

The object of the invention is achieved with a generic heat exchanger with the characterizing features of the claim 1 solved.

According to claim 1, the heat exchanger housing to a horizontal Axis rotatably mounted and driven by a housing drive. The housing is equipped with two heat transfer devices ^ O dien filled, one of which is preferably liquefied under pressure Is a medium that is in the range of the critical temperature during operation. The second medium, on the other hand, should be an insoluble, be granular medium with great thermal conductivity. There are also heating elements in two areas in the container and cooling elements, the areas being separated by a sliding wall. The sliding wall runs roughly parallel to the axis of rotation and from a housing wall in the direction of the counterv / and so that a cooling chamber and heating chamber are created, which are connected by an overflow opening.

The heat exchanger has the following puncture: In the starting position If the granular medium lies in the heating chamber, the sliding wall is roughly horizontal. This will make that granular medium heated. The other, preferably liquid, medium in the area of the heating chamber (between the granular parts) is largely prevented from climbing up by the horizontally positioned sliding wall. An increase in temperature thus happens almost exclusively in the heating chamber that is currently below. In the upper cooling chamber this is remaining liquid medium cooled.

The next step is to rotate the heat exchanger. The granular medium remains on the due to gravity Underside of the container and flows through the overflow opening into the cooling chamber, which now comes down. Simultaneously the cold liquid previously lying in the upper area will pass through the sliding wall during rotation

the area of the grain is forcibly moved. In doing so, the liquid heats up and returns to the one that is now on top Pushed the heating chamber, where it heats up even further through contact with the heating elements. Gets in this state the liquid (first heat transfer medium) has its highest temperature. With the appropriate choice of liquid with With a high coefficient of thermal expansion, this condition also creates the highest internal pressure that can be used Pressure, for example to move a piston, can be used.

Then the housing is rotated again, whereby the Liquid is pressed because of the sliding wall through the balls, which have cooled down again in the meantime. Thus takes place a cooling of the liquid and further cooling in the cooling chamber which is now on top again, whereby the pressure is reduced again and, for example, a piston could be moved back again.

A major advantage of this arrangement is that that the heating and cooling process is stationary and, in spite of the intermittent decrease in pressure, not likewise intermittently must be done. However, the cooling elements for the Time in which they have contact with the granular medium.

The speed of rotation must be adapted to the selected container size and use.

The heat exchanger according to the invention is very general a good and fast heat exchange between the heating elements and the cooling elements is achieved, in particular, when the entire arrangement is operated under high pressure and the components are thick-walled and have high heat capacities are occupied. The heat exchanger also works effectively with small temperature differences between the heating and the Cooling elements.

In addition to the possibility of using the pressure increase of the filling medium as mechanical energy, a connected Pistons can be used as control pistons because, depending on the rotation of the heat exchanger, a reproducible Pressure and thus a reproducible position of the piston is achieved.

It is useful to form the heat exchanger housing according to claim 2 cylindrical, since then the granular Medium can pass from one chamber to the other easily and in an energy-saving manner.

For larger systems in particular, it is advantageous to mount the rotatable heat exchanger housing on rollers. For For precise guidance, gears can also be used.

According to claim 4, the heat exchanger housing should perform pivoting movements so that the sliding wall in the is essentially only moved in the area of the first medium (liquid). In addition, there is only a relatively small one Work required. Depending on the application, it could also be useful to multiply the liquid by several quicker and / or shorter swivel movements between the granular Push material through and hold it in this area for a relatively long time.

As an easily manageable and inexpensive material, metallic material is used as the second, granular material Proposed heat transfer medium. The metallic material can also withstand high system pressures and its temperature expansion can be practically neglected in comparison to the large expansion of the other medium. 35

Advantageously, according to claim 6, a spherical shape or, for an improvement of the heat transfer, small bodies with

selected flat contact surfaces. The size or the size ratio to the heat exchanger is to be determined depending on the application.

With claim 7 an appropriate dimensioning rule is given.

Claims 8 to 10 specify how the pressure increase due to expansion of the first heat transfer medium is to be converted into mechanical and electrical energy.

In an advantageous arrangement, the heat exchanger is operated in connection with a heat pump. The heat pump provides on the one hand the heating for the heating elements (claim 13) and at the same time is that of the heat exchanger downstream power generation device connected to the heat pump and supplies the Auxiliary power. At the same time, the energy for the housing drive and pump drives can also be used. Such an arrangement only requires external auxiliary energy to start up. In the stationary case, the arrangement runs independently without auxiliary energy. The energy balance is with a favorable design and correspondingly favorable boundary conditions positive, so that further usable energy of the heat pump is available. It should be emphasized that the entire arrangement consists of no energy Fuels, d. H. works completely emission-free.

Particularly when using a heat pump, it is advisable to use the heating and cooling elements as pipes through which there is a flow to form, which are preferably flowed through in countercurrent (claim 12).

By connecting several according to the invention in series Heat exchanger, the pressure level can be increased (claim 14).

\ 3A46130

With claim 15 it is proposed that the printing cylinder in to integrate the heat exchangers so that a compact unit is created.

The invention with further features, details and advantages is explained in greater detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments described.

Show it

Fig. 1 shows a cross section through a heat exchanger in different operating positions,

2 shows a longitudinal section through a heat exchanger,

3 shows a longitudinal section through a further embodiment of a heat exchanger,

4 shows a schematic representation of a cascade connection of several heat exchangers.

1 and 2, a heat exchanger 1 is shown with a cylindrical housing 2, which is in the lower Half is filled with metal balls 3 and otherwise with a liquid 4. In the cylindrical housing A wall 5 extends up to the cylinder axis and divides the housing into a cooling chamber 6 and a heating chamber 7. In the cooling chamber 6 run in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2 cooling tubes 8 through which a cooling liquid (K) flows are. In the heating chamber 8, corresponding heating tubes run in the opposite direction from one warmer liquid (W) are flowing through.

The heat exchanger 1 and the housing 2 are at an angle can be swiveled by 180 °. For this purpose, the housing 2 rests on rollers 10, which are mounted in brackets 11, which are in turn support them on the ground. Next is a drive

provided, which engages either on the housing 2 or on the rollers 10, and not for the sake of clarity is shown. Cooling and heating pipes 8, 9 are outside the heat exchanger 1 with flexible, pressure-resistant lines continued so that the pivoting movement is not hindered.

The heat exchanger 1 shown has the following puncture:

In Fig. La) the starting position is shown in which the Heating pipes (W) are in the lower area and are surrounded by metal balls 3. The wall 5 is horizontal as a partition opposite the cooling chamber 6 located above, in which the cooling pipes are located, which are covered by the liquid 4 are surrounded. There is also a small amount of the liquid 4 between the metal balls 3 In this state, the metal balls 3 are heated by contact with the heating tubes 9. Even the liquid between the metal balls heats up and pushes them upwards. This upward movement is on the one hand by the relatively small spaces between the metal balls and the horizontally lying wall 5 largely prevented. As a result, only a little warmed up liquid gets from the lower heating chamber into the upper cooling chamber, so that an overall temperature increase takes place essentially in the lower heating chamber. In the above lying cooling chamber 6, the majority of the liquid 4 is cooled by the contact with the cooling tubes 8. the Metal balls have a relatively small coefficient of thermal expansion, so that only a slight increase in the volume of the metal balls occurs when they are heated. on the other hand the thermal conductivity and the heat capacity are desired to be high.

As a second step (Fig. Ib)) the heat exchanger 1 rotated so that the cooling tubes 8 are rotated in the area of the metal balls 3 and the heating tubes 9 in the upper,

get liquid-filled part (Fig. Ic)). In the The wall 5 rotates the cold liquid 4, which was previously on top, through the area of the metal balls 3 forcibly moved. The liquid 4 is heated up in the process. The heat transfer is through the large, on the metal balls available surface facilitated. After the pivoting movement, the heating pipes 9 are in the upper part Area and the liquid 4 is heated even further.

In this state, the liquid 4 gets its highest temperature. With a suitable choice of the liquid 4, for example of liquid carbon dioxide in the range of the critical temperature, the highest internal pressure arises in the Heat exchanger, which is used as a usable pressure, for example to move a connected piston (not shown) , can be used.

The heat exchanger 1 is then turned back again (FIG. 1d)), with the liquid 4 because of the wall 5 is again pressed through the metal balls 3, which have cooled down in the meantime. This will make the liquid 4 cooled down again and the internal pressure reduced. A connected piston could be moved back again will. The initial state is now reached again and the process can be repeated. The heating and cooling pipes 8, 9 do not need to be controlled, but can be continuously flown through. But it can be useful to interrupt the cooling tube flow for the time during which the cooling tubes 8 in the lower region of the metal balls 3 so that they are not cooled down too much.

In Fig. 3 an embodiment with two heat exchangers 12, 13 is shown. Here, too, are the housings 14, 15, the metal ball filling 16, 17 and (schematic) cooling pipes 18, 19, as well as heating pipe 20, 21 can be seen. The heat exchange

shear 12, 13 are rigidly connected via a pipe 22 that in the event that the heat exchanger 12, the cooling pipes are on top, the cooling pipes 19 on the heat exchanger 13 are located at the bottom in the area of the metal ball filling 17. 5

In this embodiment, radially standing and axially offset lamella walls 23 are provided for improve the heat transfer. Furthermore, both heat exchanger housings 14, 15 are arranged coaxially and connected by a centrally extending cylinder 24. Two pistons 25, 26 are slidable and through in the cylinder a piston rod 27 connected. The piston rod 27 is so long that both pistons 25, 26 each from one Housing side can be moved to the other. The piston rod 27 is in the middle of the cylinder 24 of a Seal 28 enclosed. On both sides of the seal 28 are two connections 29, which lead to downstream devices to lead.

There are communication openings on both end sides of the cylinder 24 to the liquid content of the heat exchangers 12, 13, which by grids 30, 31 with a grid width smaller than the metal ball diameter are covered.

In the embodiment described above (Fig. 3) operate the individual heat exchangers 12, 13 according to the first embodiment. That means that with everyone Pivoting movement increases the pressure in a heat exchanger 12 and in the other heat exchanger 13 because of the opposite Arrangement of the cooling or heating pipes a pressure reduction takes place. These pressure fluctuations act so on the Pistons 25, 26 that they are thereby moved back and forth. The. Pistons 25, 26 are effective on both sides, so that the differential pressures also occur at the connections 29 and are available as mechanical energy.

4 shows a series connection of four heat exchangers 32 to 35, with the cooling

and heating chambers through control valves 36, 37, 38 and pump circuits 39, 40, 41 are connected. The cooling chamber of the first heat exchanger 32 is provided with a cooling circuit 42 and the heating chamber of the last heat exchanger 35 is connected to a heat pump circuit 43.

The arrangement serves to increase the pressure between the individual heat exchangers 32 to 35:

The cooling circuit 42 contains a refrigerant which, for example, should have -10 ° C. in winter due to a heat exchange with the ambient air. In the heating chamber of the same Heat exchanger 32, for example, is around 10 to 20 ° C higher temperature (corresponding to the cooling temperature from the next heat exchanger 33) · With the Thermal expansion of the fill liquid from the heat exchanger 32 increases the pressure via the open valve 36 into the heat exchanger 33 allowed through, which is then closed with the valve 37. In the heat exchangers 32, 33 can therefore develop the same pressure level. The same state exists between the heat exchangers 34, 35, however a higher temperature level (for example in the pump circuit 41 about 40 ° C), so that there is also a pressure equalization in between can be done.

In the next step, the valves 36, 38 are closed, the arrangement rotated in the above manner by 180 ° and the valve 37 opened. This is in the heat exchanger 33, starting from a higher pressure level, the internal pressure increases again and is also passed on to the heat exchanger 34. In this way, the system pressure can be increased in steps starting from the heat exchanger 32 up to the heat exchanger 35 so that a usable higher pressure (connections not shown) is available accordingly. With A machine can be operated at this pressure to convert it into electrical energy, which in turn converts the Generates electrical energy for the heat pump (W).

Embodiments are also conceivable in which several heat exchangers are connected in series and used for Increasing effectiveness are filled with various working media, which in turn are critical with regard to them Temperature are suitable for the temperatures occurring.

In summary, it is stated that the inventive Heat exchanger effective for periodic heating and cooling of a working medium with continuous Heating and cooling capacity is working.

- blank page -

Claims (15)

PATENT EVENT DIPL-PHYS. HANS-J. NEUBAUER 344513g EUROPEAN PATENTATTORNEY Fauststrasse 30 D-8070 Ingolstadt Mr "^. _yes Telephone (08 41) 7 24 Hermann Schmidt Telegram neupat Ingolstadt Franz ~ Marc-Str. 13 Telex 5 5809 nepa d Ingolstadt P 35 SCH 84/62 Expectations
1.) Heat exchanger with a housing in which a heat energy source of higher temperature in one area and in one another area has a lower temperature absorption of heat energy, with a housing filling with a heat transfer medium (liquid, gas or steam), 10 characterized, that the housing (2; 14, 15) rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis and by a housing drive is driven., that the housing (2; 14, 15) is partially covered with a solid, non-detachable in the first heat transfer medium (4), granular second heat transfer medium (3; 16,17) great thermal conductivity is filled, and that the two areas (cooling chamber 6, heating chamber 7) through a wall (5) which is approximately parallel to the axis of rotation is and which starting from a housing wall into the interior of the housing (2; 14, 15) in the direction of the Opposite wall protrudes, divided, but connected by an overflow opening. 2. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (2; 14, 15) is cylindrical and around the Cylinder axis is rotatable. 3- Heat exchanger according to claim 2, characterized in that the cylindrical housing (2; 14, 15) is mounted on rollers (10).
15th 4. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 3> characterized in that the housing drive pivoting movements executes, so that the wall (5) moves back and forth in the region of the first heat transfer medium (4) will. 5. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second heat transfer medium (3; 16, 17) is made of metallic material. 6. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second heat transfer medium (3; 16, 17) from small balls or small ones Bodies with flat contact surfaces consists. 30th 7. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the housing (2; 14, 15) is approximately is filled up to halfway with the second heat transfer medium (3; 16, 17) and the wall (5) up to the middle of the container enough. 8. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first heat transfer medium (4) is a medium of great thermal expansion and that the medium (4) via a housing connection as Working medium can be fed to a mechanical device. 9. Heat exchanger according to claim 8, characterized in that the mechanical device is a cylinder-piston unit or is a hydraulic motor. 10. Heat exchanger according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that an electrical power generating device is connected to the mechanical device. 11. Heat exchanger according to claim 10, characterized in that the power generating device with a heat pump (W) is connected and supplies the auxiliary energy for this and / or with an electrical housing drive connected is. 12. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the heat energy source and / or take-up from tubes through which the flow passes in the longitudinal direction and in countercurrent (cooling tubes 8; 18, 19, heating tubes 9; 20, 21). 13. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the heat energy source of the Output of a heat pump (W) is. 14. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 13> characterized in that several heat exchangers (32-35) are connected in series, each of which cold and warm sides of each heat exchanger are connected via control valves (36, 37, 38). 15. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that that at least two heat exchangers (12, 13) are connected in series and the area around the axis of rotation is designed as a cylinder (24) with end-side cylinder openings (30, 3D for connection to the Working medium, that in the cylinder (24) in the area of each heat exchanger (12, 13) there is a piston (25, 26) and both pistons (25, 26) are connected by a piston rod (27), ^and that in the area between the heat exchangers (12, 13) the piston rod (27) is sealed by a seal (28) is and on both sides of the seal (28) connections (29) are.