JP2000314524A - Combustor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent heat exchanging efficiency of a heat exchanging means from being lowered with bubbles generated in a heat carrier through evaporation thereof by collecting them through a bubble collecting means. SOLUTION: Since a forcible heat carrier circulation means 11 is driven through use of thermal electromotive force of a thermoelectric converting means 14, a battery is not required and the size of a combustor can be reduced along with the running cost. Furthermore, since a bubble collecting means 17 collects bubbles generated in a heat carrier, the bubbles are prevented from entering into the forcible heat carrier circulation means 11, and heat carrier circulation power can be ensured. The bubble collecting means 17 comprises a heat receiving part, constituting one surface of an enclosed case, and the heat receiving part receives heat of combustion exhaust gas and exchanges heat with heat carrier in the enclosed case. Since heat of combustion exhaust gas is utilized effectively, an extra heat exchanging means is not required, and high heat exchanging efficiency is realized while saving space.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combustion apparatus which can use heat obtained by catalytic combustion in a wide range.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A hand warmer using combustion heat of petroleum-based fuel such as benzene has been well known as a heat source used for portable heating. As disposable hand warmers, those utilizing a chemical reaction between a metal such as iron and an oxidizing agent are also widely used.

However, the conventional hand warmer described above has a small heating value and can only perform local heating. Therefore, it is impossible to heat the entire body by itself. A heating effect cannot be obtained. In order to solve this drawback, in recent years, there has been considered a combustion apparatus that heats a heat medium by combustion with a large amount of generated heat and conveys the heat medium to heat a wide area. This type of combustion device has a configuration as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described.

[0004] Reference numeral 101 denotes a combustion means used for a small catalyst burner or a small flame combustion device made of a metal such as an aluminum block. The combustion means 101 includes a fuel injection nozzle 102, an air supply port 103, and a combustion exhaust gas outlet 10
4 and an ignition means 105. Reference numeral 106 denotes a fuel tank for storing fuel such as butane and propane necessary for combustion. 107 denotes a fuel tank 106 and a fuel injection nozzle 102
And a tube-shaped fuel passage provided between the fuel cell and the valve, and has an on-off valve 108 in the middle. Reference numeral 109 denotes a piezoelectric element, which is electrically connected to the ignition means. When the piezoelectric element 109 is hit, a spark is formed by the ignition means 105. Reference numeral 110 denotes a heat exchange unit attached to a side surface of the combustion unit 101, and transfers heat generated by the combustion unit 101 to a heat medium such as water or alcohol filled therein by heat exchange. Reference numeral 111 denotes a heat medium forced circulation means such as an electric pump or the like.
2 through which the heat medium is forcibly circulated. Reference numeral 113 denotes a heat radiating unit that includes a part of the heat medium passage 112 and radiates heat in the heat medium passage 112 to the outside. Reference numeral 114 denotes a battery for driving the heat medium forced circulation unit 111, and the drive switch 11
5, and is electrically connected to the heat medium forced circulation means 111. Reference numeral 116 denotes a casing of the combustion device that includes the above-described components. The activation lever 1 is provided on the surface of the housing 116.
17 are provided. When the user pulls, the activation lever 117 opens the on-off valve 108 and simultaneously strikes the piezoelectric element 109 to turn on the drive switch 115.

[0005] With the above configuration, the operation is as follows. When the start lever 117 is pulled in the direction of the arrow, the on-off valve 108 is opened, and the fuel in the fuel tank 106 is injected from the fuel injection nozzle 102 through the fuel passage 107.
The injected fuel sucks combustion air from the air supply port 103 to be a mixture, and is sent into the combustion means 101.
At this time, since the starting lever 117 is hitting the piezoelectric element 109, a spark is formed in the ignition means 105 and the combustion means 1
The mixture in 01 is ignited. Further, the flue gas after burning in the combustion means 101 is discharged from the flue gas discharge port 104. At the same time, the activation lever 117 turns on the drive switch 115, so that the electricity of the battery 114 is supplied to the heat medium forced circulation means 111. Heat medium forced circulation means 1
Numeral 11 is constituted by a pump, and the heat medium is conveyed. When the transported heat medium passes through the heat exchange means 110, it receives the heat generated by the combustion means 101, and receives heat from the heat medium passage 1.
12 is sent. The heat of the heat medium conveyed to the heat medium passage 112 is radiated to the outside from the surface of the heat radiating means 113. By using the heat radiating means 113 as a heating source, the entire heat radiating means 113 can be used as a heat source.

[0006]

However, the conventional structure requires a battery in addition to fuel such as butane and propane as energy, so that the overall weight increases, or the heat medium evaporates. There is a problem that bubbles generated in the heat medium reduce the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange means.

[0007]

The present invention utilizes a thermoelectromotive force generated by a thermoelectric converter as a power source, and collects bubbles generated in a heat medium by a bubble collector, thereby eliminating the need for a battery. Thus, the combustion apparatus has a high heat exchange efficiency.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the thermo-electromotive force generated by the thermoelectric conversion means is used as a power source, and the air bubbles generated in the heat medium are collected by the air bubble collection means. The battery is unnecessary, and the combustion device has high heat exchange efficiency.

In the invention described in claim 2, the bubble collecting means is arranged near the exhaust gas discharge port so that the heat receiving portion provided in a part of the closed case receives the heat of the combustion exhaust gas received. In addition, the air bubble collecting means can also serve as the heat exchange means, thus providing a compact combustion device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the air bubble collecting means is configured to receive the heat of the combustion means transmitted through the thermoelectric conversion means having received the heat by the heat receiving portion provided in a part of the closed case. The combustion device is arranged on the low-temperature side of the combustion device to improve heat exchange efficiency.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the air bubble collecting means includes a heat exchange fin connected to the inside of the closed case, and efficiently supplies the amount of heat transmitted from the heat exchange fin to the heat medium to improve the heat exchange efficiency. It is a combustion device with a higher level.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a heat exchange fin is provided between a heat medium inlet and a heat medium outlet.
The combustion device has a high heat exchange efficiency by prolonging the time in which the heat medium stays in the bubble collecting means.

According to the invention described in claim 6, the heat exchange fin has a bubble hole so that bubbles can be reliably collected.
The combustion device is capable of stable operation.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the closed case is made of metal, and the closed case itself can be used as a heat exchange fin, thereby providing a combustion device with high heat exchange efficiency.

[0015]

(Embodiment 1) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the combustion device of the present embodiment as viewed from the front. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a heat exchange unit of the combustion device shown in FIG. Is what I saw. Reference numeral 1 denotes a combustion means such as a small catalyst burner or a small flame combustion device made of a metal material such as an aluminum block, and includes a fuel injection nozzle 2, an air supply port 3, a combustion exhaust gas outlet 4, and an ignition means 5. Reference numeral 6 denotes a fuel tank for storing a liquefied gas fuel such as butane or propane necessary for combustion. Reference numeral 7 denotes a tubular fuel passage provided between the fuel tank 6 and the fuel injection nozzle 2 and has an on-off valve 8 in the middle. Reference numeral 9 denotes a piezoelectric element, which is electrically connected to the ignition means 5. By hitting the piezoelectric element 9, a spark is formed by the ignition means 5.

Numeral 14 denotes thermoelectric conversion means provided on the side surface of the combustion means 1 and is constituted by a Peltier element or the like. Reference numeral 10 denotes a heat exchange means provided in contact with the thermoelectric conversion means 14, which uses a metallic pipe having a high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum, through which a heat medium such as water or alcohol flows. Is what it is. The shape does not need to be limited to a pipe. That is, the thermoelectric conversion means 14
The hot side 24 is in contact with the combustion means 14 and the cold side 2
5 is in contact with the heat exchange means 10 through which the heat medium flows, so that there is a temperature difference between the two surfaces. The thermoelectric converter 14 generates a thermoelectromotive force according to the temperature difference, and supplies the thermoelectromotive force to the heat medium forced circulation unit 11. The heat medium forced circulation means 11 is driven by this thermoelectromotive force.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a heat medium forced circulation means constituted by an electric pump or the like, which is connected to the heat exchange means 10 via a heat medium passage 12. Therefore, the heat medium is forcibly circulated in the heat medium passage 12. A part of the heat medium passage 12 serves as a heat radiating unit 13. That is, the heat radiation means 13
Is a part that includes a part of the heat medium passage 12 and radiates the heat of the heat medium to the outside. Reference numeral 15 denotes a casing of the combustion apparatus of the present embodiment, which has a starting lever 16 on the surface. When the start lever 16 is pushed or pulled, the on-off valve 8 opens, and fuel such as liquefied petroleum gas in the fuel tank 6 is injected from the fuel injection nozzle 2 through the fuel passage 7.

Reference numeral 17 shown in FIG. 2 denotes bubble collecting means for collecting bubbles generated in the heat medium passage 12 due to evaporation of the heat medium or the like, and has a heat medium inlet 19 and a heat medium outlet 20. And a closed case 18. The heat medium outlet 20 is configured to extend to near the center of the closed case 18. In the present embodiment, one surface of the closed case 18 is a heat receiving portion 21. The heat receiving section 21 is made of a metal material having a high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum. The heat receiving section 21 is provided so as to face the combustion exhaust gas outlet 4 of the combustion means 1. In addition, the sealed case 18
A heat medium filling port 22 is provided on the side surface. The heat medium filling port 22 is sealed by a sealing stopper 23.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. When the start lever 16 is pulled or pushed in the direction of the arrow, the on-off valve 8 is opened.
Is opened, and the fuel in the fuel tank 6 is injected from the fuel injection nozzle 2 through the fuel passage 7. When the injected fuel flows at a high speed, the combustion air is sucked from the air supply port 3 by the ejector effect, and reaches the combustion means 1 as an air-fuel mixture. At this time, since the activation lever 16 is hitting the piezoelectric element 9, a spark is formed in the ignition means 5. For this reason,
The mixture in the combustion means 1 is ignited. Further, the combustion exhaust gas after burning in the combustion means 1 is discharged from the combustion exhaust gas outlet 4.

In the present embodiment, the combustion exhaust gas comes into contact with the heat receiving portion 21 which forms one surface of the closed case 18. That is, the amount of heat of the combustion exhaust gas is diffused around the heat receiving unit 21. Therefore, the heat receiving portion 21 is heated, and the amount of heat is transmitted to the heat medium in the closed case 18. On the other hand, the heat of combustion in the combustion means 1 is transmitted to the heat medium in the heat exchange means 10 via the thermoelectric conversion means 14. The thermoelectric conversion means 14 indicates that the temperature of the high-temperature side surface 24 has increased with the combustion,
And a temperature difference has occurred. That is, a thermoelectromotive force is generated by this temperature difference. This thermoelectromotive force is supplied to the heat medium forced circulation means 11 and the heat medium forced circulation means 1
1 operates to circulate the heat medium filled therein. The circulation of the heat medium is performed so as to pass through the heat exchange means 10, the heat medium passage 12, the heat radiation means 13, the closed case 18 forming the bubble collecting means 17, and the heat exchange means 10. This circulation does not cause any problem even if the direction is reversed.

In this manner, the amount of heat contained in the heat medium is radiated from the surface of the radiating means 13 to the outside. For this reason, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to heat the heat radiating means 13 over a wide area.

At this time, in this embodiment, the bubble collecting means 17 is used.
It has. When bubbles are generated in the heating medium,
The heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange means 10 is reduced.
The bubble collecting means 17 collects bubbles generated in the heat medium passage 12. That is, the generated bubbles move in the heat medium passage 12 with the flow of the heat medium, and enter the bubble collection means 17 from the heat medium inlet 19. Since the heat medium outlet 20 is located near the center in the closed case 18, the bubble collecting means 17 is controlled until the amount of the heat medium in the closed case 18 becomes about half or less of the volume of the closed case 18. However, only the heat medium passes through the heat medium outlet 20 and the air bubbles always remain in the upper portion in the closed case 18 even if the heat medium is oriented in a different direction. Sealed case 18
When the heat medium in the inside is reduced to almost half, the sealing plug 23 is opened, and the heat medium may be poured into the closed case 18 from the heat medium charging port 22.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the thermoelectric conversion means 1
Since the heating medium forced circulation means 11 is driven by using the thermoelectromotive force of No. 4, a battery is not required, and the size and weight of the apparatus can be reduced, and the running cost can be reduced. In addition, by collecting bubbles generated in the heat medium by the bubble collecting means 17, it is possible to prevent air bubbles from entering the heat medium forced circulating means 11 and secure the heat medium circulating ability. Further, the air bubble collecting means 17 is configured such that one surface of the closed case 18 is constituted by the heat receiving portion 21 and receives heat of the combustion exhaust gas and exchanges heat with the heat medium in the closed case 18. There is no need to newly provide heat exchange means for effective use, and high heat exchange efficiency and space saving can be realized.

In this embodiment, the heat medium forced circulation means 11
Is provided on the downstream side of the bubble collecting means 17 and the heat exchanging means 10. However, it is apparent that it may be provided between the bubble collecting means 17 and the heat exchanging means 10, for example.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the combustion device of the present embodiment as viewed from the front. 1 to 9, 11 to 1 in FIG.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a component similar to that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment,
The bubble collecting means 17 is connected to the low temperature side 25 of the thermoelectric conversion means 14.
It is provided in close contact with. In other words, the amount of heat of the combustion unit 1 that has been received by the heat receiving unit 21 and transmitted through the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 is transmitted to the heat medium in the closed case 18.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. When the starting lever 16 is pushed or pulled in the direction of the arrow, the on-off valve 8 is opened.
Is opened, and the fuel in the fuel tank 6 is injected from the fuel injection nozzle 2 through the fuel passage 7. At this time, the fuel injected by the ejector effect sucks the combustion air from the air supply port 3 and reaches the combustion means 1 as an air-fuel mixture.
At this time, since the starting lever 16 is hitting the piezoelectric element 9, a spark is formed in the ignition means 5. Thus, the mixture in the combustion means 1 is ignited. Further, the combustion exhaust gas after burning in the combustion means 1 is discharged to the outside through a combustion exhaust gas outlet 4. The heat of combustion generated by the combustion means 1 is exchanged with the heat medium in the closed case 18 by the heat receiving section 21 provided in the bubble collecting means 17 via the thermoelectric conversion means 14. The thermoelectric conversion means 14 generates a thermoelectromotive force due to a temperature difference between the high-temperature side surface 24 and the low-temperature side surface 25 caused by the combustion. This thermoelectromotive force is supplied to the heat medium forced circulation means 11.
Is driven, and the heat medium filled therein is circulated in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In the course of this circulation, the heat medium receives the amount of heat generated by the combustion unit 1 from the heat receiving unit 21 from the low-temperature side surface 20 of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14. The amount of heat of the heat medium conveyed to the heat medium passage 12 is radiated to the outside from the surface of the heat radiating means 13. Therefore, according to the present embodiment,
A wide range of heating over the heat dissipating means 13 is possible. In the heat medium passage 12, bubbles generated by evaporation of the heat medium and the like move in the heat medium passage 12 with the flow of the heat medium and enter the bubble collection means 17 from the heat medium inlet 19.

The closed case 18 provided in the bubble collecting means 17 has a heat medium inlet 19 and a heat medium outlet 20 similar to those described in the first embodiment. Since the heat medium outlet 20 is located near the center of the closed case 18, the closed case 18
Until the amount of the heat medium in the inside becomes about half of the volume of the closed case 18, only the heat medium passes through the heat medium outlet 20 regardless of the direction of the air bubble collecting means 17, and the air bubbles are always sealed. It stays at the upper part in the case 18. When the heat medium in the closed case 18 is reduced to almost half, the heat medium may be poured into the closed case 18 from the heat medium filling port 22.

As described above, the combustion apparatus according to the present embodiment functions as a heating apparatus capable of heating a wide area similarly to the first embodiment.

At this time, in this embodiment, the bubble collecting means 17
Is provided in close contact with the low-temperature side surface 25 of the thermoelectric conversion means 14. That is, the thermoelectric conversion unit 1 received by the heat receiving unit 21
The amount of heat of the combustion means 1 transmitted through the heat exchanger 4 is transmitted to the heat medium in the closed case 18. In other words, the bubble collecting means 17 has both a bubble collecting function and a heat exchange function. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the heat exchange means 10 described in the first embodiment becomes unnecessary, and the size of the combustion apparatus can be reduced.

(Embodiment 3) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the combustion device of the present embodiment as viewed from the front. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of 17 shown in FIG. 4 and 5 are the same components as in the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the heat exchange fins 26 are provided in the bubble collecting means 17. The heat exchange fins 26 are made of a metal material having high thermal conductivity such as copper or aluminum. The heat exchange fins 26 are integrated with the heat receiving unit 21, and two heat exchange fins 26 are provided along the flow of the heat medium from the heat exchange surface of the heat reception unit 2 with the heat medium toward the inside of the closed case 18.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. When the start lever 16 is pulled or pushed in the direction of the arrow, the on-off valve 8 is opened.
Is opened, and the fuel in the fuel tank 6 is injected from the fuel injection nozzle 2 through the fuel passage 7. As in the case of the first embodiment or the second embodiment, the combustion air sucked from the air supply port 3 is mixed with the fuel gas, and is sent to the combustion means 1 as a mixture. At this time, since the starting lever 16 is hitting the piezoelectric element 9, a spark is formed in the ignition means 5, and the air-fuel mixture in the combustion means 1 is ignited. Further, the combustion exhaust gas after burning in the combustion means 1 is discharged to the outside through a combustion exhaust gas outlet 4. The heat of combustion of the combustion means 1 is exchanged by the heat receiving part 21 provided in the bubble collecting means 17 via the thermoelectric conversion means 14, transmitted through the heat exchange fins 26 and transmitted to the heat medium in the closed case 18. The thermoelectric converter 14 generates a thermoelectromotive force according to the temperature difference between the high temperature side surface 24 and the low temperature side surface 25. This thermoelectromotive force is supplied to the heat medium forced circulation means 11, and the heat medium forced circulation means 11 circulates the heat medium filled therein as in the first or second embodiment. In the course of this circulation, when the heat medium passes through the bubble collecting means 17, the heat receiving portion 21 and the heat exchange fins 26
Therefore, the heat generated by the combustion means 1 is reliably received from the low-temperature side surface 20 of the thermoelectric conversion means 14 and sent to the heat medium passage 12 again. The heat of the heat medium conveyed to the heat medium passage 12 is radiated to the outside from the surface of the heat radiating means 13, and a wide range of heating over the entire heat radiating means 13 is enabled.

At this time, according to the present embodiment, the heat medium passage 12
The heat medium that has passed through the inside of the closed case 18 constituting the bubble collecting means 17 moves under the influence of the heat exchange fins 26. That is, the heat medium entered from the heat medium inlet 19 once moves along the surface of the heat exchange fin 26,
The circulation from the heat medium outlet 20 through the heat medium passage 12 is performed. Since the heat exchange fins 26 are directly connected to the heat receiving unit 21 and are made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity, the heat medium is transmitted through the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 with the amount of heat of the combustion unit 1. Moreover, at this time, as described above, the heat medium stays in the sealed case for a long time due to the arrangement of the heat exchange fins 26, and thus receives a large amount of heat.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the bubble collecting means 1
7, the heat exchange fins 26 are provided from the heat receiving portion 21 toward the inside of the closed case 18. Therefore, the heat exchange area in the bubble collecting means 17 is increased, and the heat medium is kept in the closed case 1 for a long time.
The heat exchange efficiency is greatly improved by staying in the inside 8.

(Embodiment 4) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the bubble collecting means 17 used in this embodiment. In this embodiment, as the heat exchange fins described in the third embodiment,
Heat exchange fins 30 are used. In this embodiment, the heat exchange fins 30 are also integrated with the heat receiving portion 21 and have a U-shape.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the heat medium inlet 19
Since the heat medium having entered through the flow path is partitioned by the U-shaped heat exchange fins 30, the heat medium follows the path shown by the arrow before exiting from the heat medium outlet 20. That is, it takes a long time.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the amount of heat that the heat medium receives from the combustion means 1 through the heat exchange fins 30 is larger than that described in the third embodiment.

As described above, in this embodiment, the bubble collecting means 1
7, the heat exchange fins 30 are provided from the heat receiving portion 21 to the inside of the closed case 18. Therefore, the heat exchange area in the bubble collecting means 17 is increased, and the heat medium is kept in the closed case 1 for a long time.
The heat exchange efficiency is greatly improved by staying in the inside 8.

(Embodiment 5) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the structure of the bubble collecting means used in the present embodiment. In this embodiment, the heat exchange fins 30 having a U-shape are provided with the bubble holes 30a. The bubble holes 30a are provided on the upper side and the lower side forming a U-shape, avoiding a straight line connecting the heat medium inlet 19 and the heat medium outlet 20. Therefore, the bubbles in the heat medium always move to the upper part in the bubble collecting means 17 regardless of the direction of the bubble collecting means 17. As described in the fourth and fifth embodiments, the flow of the heat medium from the heat medium inlet 19 to the heat medium outlet 20 does not take the shortest path.

As described above, in this embodiment, the heat exchange fins 3
Since the bubble holes 30a for allowing bubbles to pass through the hole 0 are provided so as not to be on the straight line connecting the heat medium inlet 19 and the heat medium outlet 20, the closed case 18 is provided no matter what direction the bubble collecting means 17 faces. Gather at the top of the In other words, this embodiment is
By eliminating obstruction of the movement of the bubbles, the bubbles can be reliably collected, a stable circulation of the heat medium can be ensured, and the combustion device has high heat exchange efficiency.

In the present embodiment, the bubble hole 30a is formed in a long hole shape. However, for example, a plurality of round holes or a slit-shaped structure in which the heat exchange fin 30 is cut from the root to the tip. Obviously, it may be.

(Embodiment 6) Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the sealed case 18 described in each of the above embodiments is made of a metal material having good heat conductivity, such as copper or aluminum. Further, the heat receiving portion 21 described in each of the above embodiments is joined by a heat conducting material such as a heat conducting compound or joining means such as brazing.

With the above configuration, the sealed case 18 also functions as a heat exchange fin for the heat medium. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the heating of the heat medium can be performed more efficiently, and an efficient heating device can be realized.

[0043]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combustion means, a thermoelectric conversion means for receiving heat of the combustion means on a high-temperature side and generating a thermoelectromotive force by a temperature difference between the low-temperature side and the thermoelectric conversion means. Heat exchange means for receiving the heat of the combustion means transmitted through the electric conversion means from the low-temperature side of the thermoelectric conversion means and exchanging heat with the heat medium,
A heat medium forced circulation means for forcibly circulating the heat medium by the thermoelectromotive force generated by the thermoelectric conversion means, a closed case having a heat medium inlet and a heat medium outlet for accommodating the heat medium, and a closed case. A structure that includes a bubble collection unit that collects bubbles generated in the heat medium and a heat radiation unit that radiates heat from the circulating heat medium realizes a combustion device that does not require a battery and has high heat exchange efficiency. Is what you do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the air bubble collecting means is arranged near the exhaust gas discharge port so that the heat receiving portion provided in a part of the closed case receives the heat of the received combustion exhaust gas. As a result, the bubble collecting means can also serve as the heat exchanging means, thereby realizing a compact combustion device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the air bubble collecting means is configured to receive the heat of the combustion means transmitted through the thermoelectric conversion means having received the heat by the heat receiving portion provided in a part of the closed case. As a configuration arranged on the low-temperature side, a combustion device with improved heat exchange efficiency is realized.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the air bubble collecting means is provided with heat exchange fins connected to the inside of a closed case, thereby realizing a combustion apparatus with improved heat exchange efficiency.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the heat exchange fins are arranged so as to be interposed between the heat medium inlet and the heat medium outlet, so that the heat medium stays in the bubble collecting means for a long time. Thus, a combustion device with high heat exchange efficiency is realized.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the heat exchange fin has a bubble hole through which the air bubbles pass, thereby realizing a combustion device capable of reliably collecting the air bubbles and performing a stable operation.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the closed case is made of metal, and the closed case itself can be used as a heat exchange fin, thereby realizing a combustion device with high heat exchange efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a combustion apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the heat exchange unit.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a combustion apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a combustion apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the bubble collecting means.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a bubble collecting means of a combustion apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a bubble collecting unit of a combustion apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional combustion device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Combustion means 4 Combustion exhaust gas discharge port 6 Fuel tank 7 Fuel passage 8 On-off valve 9 Piezoelectric element 10 Heat exchange means 11 Heat medium forced circulation means 12 Heat medium passage 13 Heat radiating means 14 Thermoelectric conversion means 17 Bubble collection means 18 Closed case 19 Heat medium inlet 20 Heat medium outlet 21 Heat receiving part 24 High temperature side 25 Low temperature side 26 Heat exchange fin 30 Heat exchange fin 30a Bubble hole

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hidetaka Yabuuchi 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Company F term (reference) 3K005 VA18

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A combustion means, a thermoelectric conversion means for receiving heat of the combustion means on a high temperature side and generating a thermoelectromotive force by a temperature difference from a low temperature side, and a combustion means transmitted through the thermoelectric conversion means Heat exchange means for receiving heat from the low-temperature side of the thermoelectric conversion means and exchanging heat with the heat medium; and heat medium forced circulation means for forcibly circulating the heat medium by the thermoelectromotive force generated by the thermoelectric conversion means. A sealed case having a heat medium inlet and a heat medium outlet for accommodating the heat medium, a bubble collecting means for collecting bubbles generated in the heat medium disposed in the closed case, and radiating heat of the circulating heat medium. A combustion device provided with a heat radiating means. 2. The combustion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air bubble collecting means is arranged near the exhaust gas discharge port such that the heat receiving portion provided in a part of the closed case receives the heat of the received combustion exhaust gas. . 3. The air bubble collecting means is disposed on a low temperature side of the thermoelectric conversion means so that a heat receiving portion provided in a part of the closed case receives heat of the combustion means transmitted through the received thermoelectric conversion means. Item 2. The combustion device according to Item 1. 4. The combustion device according to claim 1, wherein the air bubble collecting means includes a heat exchange fin connected inside the closed case. 5. The combustion device according to claim 3, wherein the heat exchange fins are disposed so as to be interposed between the heat medium inlet and the heat medium outlet. 6. The combustion device according to claim 4, wherein the heat exchange fin has a bubble hole through which the bubble passes. 7. The combustion device according to claim 1, wherein the closed case is made of metal.