JP2000213415A - External combustion type heat gas engine and starting method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an external combustion type heat gas engine and starting method thereof in which a heater is not liable to be in a overheat state even in the case where a low torque motor is used. SOLUTION: In an external combustion type heat gas engine, at a time of starting, a crank 10 to which a high temperature chamber side displacer 2 disposed to a high temperature chamber 12 and a low temperature side displacer 3 disposed to a low temperature chamber 15 are connected is driven by a motor 9 for starting, while working gas passing through a heater 16 is heated by a combustor 11. When a low torque motor is selected for the motor 9 and the low torque motor 9 drives the crank 10, a control means 93 for intermittently operating the combustor 11 is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an external combustion type hot gas engine suitable as a heat source for a cooling / heating device, a hot water supply device, and the like, and more particularly, to a technique of a combustor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a device for cooling, heating and hot water supply,
A heat pump using a Vermier cycle, which is an external combustion type hot gas engine (hereinafter referred to as VMHP: Vuilleumier Cycle Hea)
t Pump) has been developed.

[0003] The VMHP causes a pressure change only by a change in the temperature distribution of He (helium) gas as a sealing medium (working gas), thereby enabling direct heating / cooling / hot water supply (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. H05-115,995). No. 65777).

The VMHP includes a high-temperature displacer provided in a high-temperature chamber, a low-temperature displacer provided in a low-temperature chamber, a crank to which rods of each displacer are connected, and a motor for driving the crank at the time of starting. The external combustion type hot gas engine which shifts to self-sustaining operation later.

In order to reduce the size of the motor, a method has been proposed in which a low-torque motor is used and the crank is slowly driven at a low speed of about several rpm by a low-torque motor at the time of starting.

[0006]

However, in the external combustion type hot gas engine described above, the starting gas is started while the working gas passing through the heater is heated by the combustor at the time of starting. In this case, the working gas stays inside the heater, heat hardly enters into the heater, and the heater may be overheated. Further, if heat hardly enters the inside of the heater in this way, there is a problem that a temperature difference is hardly generated in each working chamber, and it is difficult to obtain a shaft output of the external combustion type hot gas engine.

In the above-described external combustion type hot gas engine, the main body may be preheated before the motor is driven. In this case, however, it is difficult for heat to enter the inside of the heater at the time of start-up. This causes a problem in that the chamber becomes overheated, a temperature difference is hardly generated in each working chamber, and a shaft output is hardly obtained.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an external combustion type hot gas engine which does not overheat the heater even when driven by using a low torque motor or preheated before starting. It is to provide a starting method.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
At the time of startup, while the working gas passing through the heater is heated by the combustor, the crank connected to the high-temperature displacer provided in the high-temperature chamber and the low-temperature displacer provided in the low-temperature chamber is driven by the motor for starting. In the external combustion type hot gas engine described above, a control means for intermittently operating the combustor at the time of the start is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, at the time of starting, the high temperature side displacer provided in the high temperature chamber and the low temperature side displacer provided in the low temperature chamber are connected while the working gas passing through the heater is heated by the combustor. In the external combustion type hot gas engine that drives the selected crank with a starting motor, a low torque motor is selected for this motor, and when the crank is driven by this low torque motor, the combustor is operated intermittently. A control means is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the high temperature side displacer provided in the high temperature chamber and the low temperature side displacer provided in the low temperature chamber are connected while the working gas passing through the heater is heated by the combustor at the time of starting. In the external combustion type hot gas engine in which the crank is driven by a starting motor, a low torque motor is selected for this motor, and when the crank is driven by this low torque motor, the temperature of the heater surface temperature or the like is reduced. When the temperature of the high temperature section reaches the set temperature, the combustion of the combustor is temporarily stopped, and when the temperature of the high temperature section such as the heater surface temperature decreases to a predetermined temperature, the combustor is re-ignited. Thus, a control means for intermittently operating the combustor is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the high temperature side displacer provided in the high temperature chamber and the low temperature side displacer provided in the low temperature chamber are connected while the working gas passing through the heater is heated by the combustor at the time of starting. When a low-torque motor is selected for this motor in an external combustion type hot gas engine that drives the crank set by a starting motor and the crank is driven by this low-torque motor, the operation after passing through the heater is performed. When the temperature of the gas reaches the set temperature, the combustion of the combustor is temporarily stopped, and when the temperature drops to a predetermined temperature,
Control means for intermittently operating the combustor by re-igniting the combustor is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the high temperature side displacer provided in the high temperature chamber and the low temperature side displacer provided in the low temperature chamber are connected while the working gas passing through the heater is heated by the combustor at the time of starting. In the method for starting an external combustion type hot gas engine in which the crank is driven by a starting motor, a low torque motor is selected for this motor, and the crank is driven by the low torque motor while the combustor is operated intermittently. It is characterized by being driven.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, at the time of startup, the high temperature side displacer provided in the high temperature chamber and the low temperature side displacer provided in the low temperature chamber are connected while the working gas passing through the heater is heated by the combustor. In the starting method of the external combustion type hot gas engine in which the set crank is driven by the starting motor, a low torque motor is selected as the motor, and the temperature of the high temperature portion such as the heater surface temperature reaches the set temperature. When the combustion of the combustor is temporarily stopped, and when the temperature drops to a predetermined temperature, the crank is driven by the low-torque motor while the combustor is intermittently operated by re-igniting the combustor. It is characterized by the following.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the high temperature side displacer provided in the high temperature chamber and the low temperature side displacer provided in the low temperature chamber are connected while the working gas passing through the heater is heated by the combustor at the time of starting. In the method for starting an external combustion type hot gas engine in which the crank is driven by a starting motor, when a low torque motor is selected as the motor and the temperature of the working gas after passing through the heater reaches a set temperature. ,
The combustion of the combustor is temporarily stopped, and when the temperature decreases to a predetermined temperature, the combustor is reignited to drive the crank with the low torque motor while the combustor is operated intermittently. It is assumed that.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cold / hot water supply circuit of an air conditioner, which employs a hot gas engine 1 (FIG. 2) of the Vilmier cycle.

The hot gas engine 1 includes a high-temperature displacer 2 and a low-temperature displacer 3 arranged orthogonally to each other, and these are housed in a container filled with a working gas such as helium. The inside of the container is partitioned into a high-temperature chamber 12, medium-temperature chambers 13 and 14, and a low-temperature chamber 15. Further, a heater 16 is provided at an end of the high temperature chamber 12, and the heater 16 is heated by the combustor 11.

The two displacers 2, 3 are 90 ° apart from each other so that, for example, when the high temperature side displacer 2 reaches an intermediate position between the top dead center and the bottom dead center, the low temperature side displacer 3 is located at the top dead center. To operate out of phase,
It is connected via a crank 10 driven by a motor 9. When the high-temperature side displacer 2 and the low-temperature side displacer 3 operate, the sealed working gas passes through the high-temperature regenerator 4 and the low-temperature regenerator 7 to form the respective chambers 12, 13, 14, 15.
Move between. The working gas is supplied to these regenerators 4,
When passing through 7, heating or cooling is performed, and the pressure in the closed container is increased or reduced.
For example, when the working gas in the high-temperature chamber 12 moves to the middle-temperature chamber 13 through the high-temperature regenerator 4, the heat energy of the working gas is stored in the high-temperature regenerator 4, and the pressure of the working gas decreases. Conversely, when the working gas recirculates from the medium temperature chamber 13 to the high temperature chamber 12, the thermal energy stored in the high temperature regenerator 4 is released to the working gas, and the pressure of the working gas increases. When the working gas in the low-temperature chamber 15 moves to the medium-temperature chamber 13 through the low-temperature regenerator 7, the working gas is supplied with the thermal energy of the high-temperature regenerator 4, and the pressure of the working gas also increases. Conversely, when the working gas recirculates from the medium temperature chamber 13 to the low temperature chamber 15, the heat energy of the working gas is absorbed by the low temperature regenerator 4, and the pressure of the working gas decreases.

The exchange of heat energy with the outside is performed by the medium temperature heat exchangers 5 and 6 connected to the medium temperature chambers 13 and 14 and the low temperature heat exchanger 8 connected to the low temperature chamber. For example, when the heater 16 gives thermal energy to the working gas in the high temperature chamber 12, the working gas in the medium temperature chambers 13 and 14 emits heat energy to the external heat medium via the medium temperature heat exchangers 5 and 6, and The working gas in the low-temperature chamber 15 absorbs heat energy from the external heat medium through the low-temperature heat exchanger 8.

That is, in the hot gas engine 1 of the present embodiment, the low-temperature heat exchanger 8 and the low-temperature chamber 15 constitute a heat absorbing portion, while the medium-temperature heat exchangers 5 and 6 and the medium-temperature chambers 13 and 14 radiate heat. The air conditioner 100 which constitutes a part and uses the low temperature heat exchanger 8 and the medium temperature heat exchangers 5 and 6 of the hot gas engine 1 is provided.

The air conditioner 100 includes a hot gas engine 1, an indoor unit 200, and an outdoor unit 300. An indoor heat exchanger 201 is provided in the indoor unit 200, and the outdoor unit 3
00, an outdoor heat exchanger 300 is provided. 20
3 is an indoor fan and 303 is an outdoor fan. The low-temperature heat exchanger 8 and the indoor heat exchanger 201 are connected to the pipe 21 and the four-way valve 36.
And the pipe 22, and furthermore, the indoor heat exchanger 20.
1 and the low-temperature heat exchanger 8 are connected to the pipe 23, the four-way valve 37 and the pipe 2
4 and connected. The medium temperature heat exchanger 5 and the outdoor heat exchanger 301 are connected to the pipe 31, the four-way valve 36 and the pipe 32.
Further, the outdoor heat exchanger 301 and the intermediate temperature heat exchanger 6 are connected by a pipe 33, a four-way valve 37, and a pipe 34. The medium-temperature heat exchangers 5 and 6 are connected to the pipeline 3
5 and connected. Water (hereinafter, referred to as liquid refrigerant) is used as an external heat medium circulating in the pipeline.

During the cooling operation, the hot gas engine 1 is operated by the ignition of the combustor 11, and the heat energy of the working gas is released to the liquid refrigerant through the medium temperature heat exchangers 5, 6, while the low temperature heat exchanger is operated. The heat energy of the liquid refrigerant is absorbed by the working gas through the pipe 8. At this time, the four-way valves 36 and 37 are switched as shown by a solid line in FIG. 1, and the liquid refrigerant that has released the heat energy in the low-temperature heat exchanger 8 is supplied to the pipeline 21 and the four-way valve 3.
6. It flows to the indoor heat exchanger 201 via the pipe 22.
In the indoor unit 200, the indoor heat exchanger 201 which has become low temperature
Is blown from the indoor fan 203, cool air is blown into the room (cooling is performed), and the liquid refrigerant that has absorbed the heat energy of the room air passes through the pipe 23, the four-way valve 37, and the pipe 24. It recirculates to the low-temperature heat exchanger 8.

At this time, the liquid refrigerant having absorbed the heat energy in the intermediate temperature heat exchanger 5 is supplied to the pipe 31, the four-way valve 36, and the pipe 32.
Through the outside fan 303, where it is cooled by the air blown from the outdoor fan 303, flows through the pipe 33, the four-way valve 37, and the pipe 34 to the middle-temperature heat exchanger 6, and further through the pipe 35 to exchange medium-temperature heat Reflux to vessel 5.

Also, during the heating operation, the hot gas engine 1 is operated by the ignition of the combustor 11, and the heat energy of the working gas is absorbed by the liquid refrigerant via the medium-temperature heat exchangers 5 and 6, while the low-temperature The heat energy of the liquid refrigerant is released to the working gas via the heat exchanger 8, and at this time, the four-way valves 36 and 37 are switched as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. In this case, the liquid refrigerant that has absorbed the heat energy in the medium-temperature heat exchangers 5, 6 is:
It flows to the indoor heat exchanger 201 via the pipe 31, the four-way valve 36, and the pipe 22.

In the indoor unit 200, air is blown from the indoor fan 203 to the indoor heat exchanger 201, which has become relatively high temperature, so that warm air is blown into the room (heating is performed). The liquid refrigerant that has released energy is connected to line 2
3, the intermediate temperature heat exchanger 5 via the four-way valve 37 and the pipe 34
Reflux to 6.

At this time, the liquid refrigerant that has released the thermal energy in the low-temperature heat exchanger 8 is supplied to the pipe 21, the four-way valve 36, and the pipe 32.
Then, after flowing into the outdoor heat exchanger 301 through the outdoor fan 303 to absorb the heat energy of the outside air, the air flows back to the low-temperature heat exchanger 8 via the pipe 33, the four-way valve 37, and the pipe 24.

By the way, in this external combustion type hot gas engine, the combustion of the combustor 11 is started at the time of starting, and at the same time,
Alternatively, after the temperature of the heater 16 has risen to a predetermined temperature or higher, the motor 9 is driven to continuously rotate the crank 10, and after starting, the combustion unit 11 is shifted to a self-sustaining operation by combustion.

Normally, a motor having a torque larger than the total torque of the pressure fluctuation torque due to the compression and expansion by the rods 2a and 3a and the mechanical friction torque including the crank 10 is selected as the starting motor 9. However, it is common to start with this motor. However, there is a problem that the starting motor according to this selection has a large capacity and a large size and a large power consumption.

In this embodiment, in the actual machine, between the crank chamber 80 and the middle temperature chamber 13 and between the middle temperature chamber 14 and the crank chamber 80, the sealing portions 9 of the rods 2a and 3a are provided.
0, a slight leak is generated in the working gas, and the displacer 2,
3 was moved. The seal portion 90 is a ring-shaped member and is fixed to the inner periphery of the crankcase, and the rods 2a and 3a slide on the inner periphery of the seal portion 90.

According to this configuration, theoretically, at the time of starting, the pressure fluctuation torque due to the compression and expansion by the rods 2a, 3a can be ignored.

That is, if the motor has a torque larger than the mechanical friction torque, the hot gas engine 1 can be started.

However, since the operation is shifted to the self-sustaining operation by the combustion of the combustor 11 after the start, the motor in this case is a motor whose rated speed is higher than the minimum speed during the self-sustaining operation. Selected.

As shown in FIG. 3, each rod 2
In the case where the total torque T of the pressure fluctuation torque due to compression and expansion due to compression and expansion by 3a and the mechanical friction torque including the crank 10 is taken and the vertical axis represents the rotation speed rpm of the crank 10, the above-described leakage of the working gas is obtained. It has been found that, although slowly (for example, several rpm), a motor having a torque larger than the mechanical friction torque can start the hot gas engine 1. According to the verification test, the mechanical friction torque of the hot gas engine is about 1/10 of the total torque T described above. The more the motor is selected, the smaller the motor can be. Thus, power consumption by the motor can be reduced.

In accordance with this concept, the starting motor 9 is provided with 1/5 of the total torque of the pressure fluctuation torque due to the compression and expansion by the rods 2a and 3a and the mechanical friction torque.
It is economical to select a motor having a torque smaller than about (point a in FIG. 3), larger than the mechanical friction torque, and whose rated speed is higher than the minimum speed during the self-sustaining operation. It has been found.

As described above, in order to reduce the size of the motor,
When the low torque motor 9 is used, the crank 10 is slowly driven by the low torque motor 9 at a low speed of about several rpm at the time of starting.

However, in this external combustion type hot gas engine, the working gas passing through the heater 16 is supplied to the combustor 11 at the time of starting.
When the motor is driven at a low rotation speed, the working gas stays inside the heater 16 and heat hardly enters the inside of the heater 16, and the heater 16 may be overheated. There is. Further, if heat hardly enters the inside of the heater 16, a temperature difference between the working chambers 12 to 15 is hardly generated, and it becomes difficult to obtain the shaft output of the external combustion type hot gas engine.

In this embodiment, a sensor 91 for detecting the surface temperature of the heater is attached to the heater 16, and the sensor 91 is connected to the control means 93. The combustor 11 is connected to the control means 93. Have been.

When the crank 10 is driven at a low speed by the low torque motor 9 at the time of starting, the heater surface temperature from the sensor 91 is always taken into the control means 93. The control means 93 determines whether or not the heater surface temperature has reached the set temperature t1. When the heater surface temperature has reached the set temperature t1, as shown in FIG. Then, the combustion of the combustor 11 is stopped (extinguished).

When the surface temperature of the heater decreases to the predetermined temperature t2 due to the fire extinguishing, the control means 93 causes the combustor 11 to re-ignite. Thus, the combustor 11 is operated intermittently by the control means 93. This control is controlled by the control means 93. In this embodiment, even if the crank 10 is slowly driven by the low-torque motor 9 at a low speed rotation of about several rpm, the combustor 11 is intermittently operated by the control means 93.
1 and a predetermined temperature t2. Therefore, heat does not easily enter the inside of the heater 16 and the heater 16
Never overheat.

If heat does not easily enter the inside of the heater 16 in this manner, a temperature difference does not easily occur in each of the working chambers 12 to 15, and the shaft output of the external combustion type hot gas engine is reduced. Can be obtained sufficiently.

In the above embodiment, the case of driving by the low torque motor 9 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
It is apparent that the technique of intermittently operating the combustor 11 can be applied even when performing preheating before starting.

In this embodiment, the surface temperature of the heater 16 is detected, and the combustor 11 is stopped based on the detected temperature.
Although re-ignition is performed, the invention is not limited to this. For example, the temperature of a high-temperature portion other than the heater 16 may be detected, and the combustor 11 may be stopped and re-ignited based on this temperature. . Further, the temperature of the working gas after passing through the heater 16 may be detected, and the combustor 11 may be stopped and re-ignited based on the detected temperature. It is clear that the stop may be stopped and re-ignited.

Further, the present invention can be applied to an external combustion type hot gas engine other than the Vermier cycle, such as a Stirling engine.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a low torque motor is used to drive a crank or the like,
The overheating state of the heater can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a heat pump type air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective view showing a structure of a hot gas engine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating motor selection criteria.

4A is a diagram showing control of a heater surface temperature, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing control of a combustor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hot gas engine 2 High temperature side displacer 3 Low temperature side displacer 10 Crank 11 Combustor 12 High temperature room 13, 14 Medium temperature room 15 Low temperature room 16 Heater 91 Sensor 93 Control means

Claims (7)

[Claims] At the time of starting, while a working gas passing through a heater is heated by a combustor, a crank connected to a high-temperature side displacer provided in a high-temperature chamber and a low-temperature side displacer provided in a low-temperature chamber is started. An external combustion type hot gas engine driven by a motor for use, wherein control means for intermittently operating the combustor at the start is provided. 2. A crank connected to a high-temperature displacer provided in a high-temperature chamber and a low-temperature displacer provided in a low-temperature chamber while starting the working gas passing through the heater with a combustor at the time of starting. When a low-torque motor is selected for this motor and the crank is driven by this low-torque motor,
An external combustion type hot gas engine, further comprising control means for intermittently operating the combustor. 3. A crank connected to a high-temperature side displacer provided in a high-temperature chamber and a low-temperature side displacer provided in a low-temperature chamber while starting the working gas passing through the heater with a combustor at the time of starting. When a low-torque motor is selected for this motor and the crank is driven by this low-torque motor,
When the temperature of the high-temperature portion such as the heater surface temperature reaches a set temperature, the combustion of the combustor is temporarily stopped, and when the temperature of the high-temperature portion such as the heater surface temperature decreases to a predetermined temperature, An external combustion type hot gas engine, further comprising control means for intermittently operating the combustor by re-igniting the combustor. 4. When starting, a crank connected to a high-temperature displacer provided in a high-temperature chamber and a low-temperature displacer provided in a low-temperature chamber is started while heating a working gas passing through a heater with a combustor. When a low-torque motor is selected for this motor and the crank is driven by this low-torque motor,
When the temperature of the working gas after passing through the heater reaches a set temperature, the combustion of the combustor is temporarily stopped, and when the temperature drops to a predetermined temperature, the combustor is re-ignited. An external combustion type hot gas engine characterized by comprising control means for intermittently operating the engine. 5. When starting, a crank connected to a high-temperature displacer provided in a high-temperature chamber and a low-temperature displacer provided in a low-temperature chamber is started while heating a working gas passing through a heater with a combustor. In the method for starting an external combustion type hot gas engine driven by a motor for use, a low torque motor is selected for this motor, and the crank is driven by the low torque motor while the combustor is operated intermittently. To start an external combustion type hot gas engine. 6. A crank connected to a high-temperature displacer provided in a high-temperature chamber and a low-temperature displacer provided in a low-temperature chamber while starting the working gas passing through the heater with a combustor at the time of starting. In the method for starting an external combustion type hot gas engine driven by a motor for use, a low torque motor is selected as this motor, and when the temperature of the high temperature portion such as the heater surface temperature reaches a set temperature, Stopping the combustion of the combustor and, when the temperature drops to a predetermined temperature, driving the crank with the low-torque motor while intermittently operating the combustor by re-igniting the combustor. How to start a hot gas engine. 7. When starting, a crank connected to a high-temperature displacer provided in a high-temperature chamber and a low-temperature displacer provided in a low-temperature chamber is started while heating a working gas passing through a heater by a combustor. In the method for starting an external combustion type hot gas engine driven by a motor for use, a low torque motor is selected as this motor, and when the temperature of the working gas after passing through the heater reaches a set temperature, the combustion is temporarily stopped. External combustion type wherein the low-torque motor drives the crank while the combustor is intermittently operated by re-igniting the combustor when the combustion of the burner is stopped and the temperature drops to a predetermined temperature. How to start a hot gas engine.