JP2005023833A - Temperature-difference power generation device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the size and cost of a device by applying a minimum temperature difference to hydrogen absorbing alloy, compressing working-fluid by pumping action utilizing fluctuation of hydrogen pressure, and converting mechanical motion to electric power after converting hydraulic action accompanying expansion action of the working fluid to the mechanical motion. <P>SOLUTION: This device includes a hydrogen absorbing and discharging means of a hydrogen absorbing alloy unit having rubberized hydrogen absorbing alloy installed, a working fluid compression means having the hydrogen absorbing and discharging means and a rotary piston engine in series, an electronic control means composed of one or a plurality of the working fluid compression means and executing electronic control of electric apparatus such as a heat medium circulation system, and a temperature difference reducing means circulating working fluid compressed by the working fluid compressing means in a sealed circulating passage composed of a check valve, a pressure regulating valve, a high pressure tank and a low pressure tank. And the device is constructed with a power generating means provided with a power collecting body connected and working together with a generator in the circulating passage of the temperature difference reducing means and executing electric conversion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention uses the function of the hydrogen storage alloy to give a temperature difference to the hydrogen storage alloy, compress the working fluid using the pump action due to the fluctuation of the hydrogen pressure, release it under a low pressure, and fluid by the fluid expansion The present invention relates to thermoelectric conversion capable of recovering motion as mechanical motion and performing electrical conversion, and more particularly to a temperature difference power generation device capable of performing electrical conversion from a low temperature difference in a normal temperature range.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Regarding related apparatuses using hydrogen storage alloys so far, Document 1 (JP, 2-11263), Document 2 (JP, 60-9839), Document 3 (JP, 2000-45926), Document 4 (JP, 63-161368). ), Reference 5 (JP-2528621), Reference 6 (US-4609038), Reference 7 (JP, 4-232202), Reference 8 (JP, 2-188401), etc., and high temperature gas heat and room temperature as a thermoelectric conversion device There is a power generation device using air as a heat source (Reference 9: JP, 08-240106).
[0003]
Conventional temperature difference power generation devices require a temperature difference of 100 ° C. or more from room temperature, and there is no proposal of efficient power generation technology at a temperature difference of 30 ° C. or less from room temperature.
[0004]
The present invention relates to the improvement of Document 10 (International Publication WO 02/068882 A1). In the thermoelectric conversion technique of Document 10, the power is recovered from the fluid motion using the compression of the working fluid and the expansion force of the compressed fluid. There is no technical proposal.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the power generation device with a low temperature difference in the normal temperature region, there is a problem that leads to a problem that the device becomes large and the cost becomes high.
[0006]
The object of the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned points, and the amount of use of the hydrogen storage alloy is minimized by propagating the reversible reaction heat of the hydrogen storage alloy in a short time, and the temperature difference of the heat source is reduced. It aims at the thermoelectric conversion apparatus which can utilize the function of a hydrogen storage alloy to the maximum even if it is small. Using a hydrogen storage alloy unit (Reference 10: International Publication WO 02/068882 A1) equipped with a rubberized hydrogen storage alloy devised by the inventor, the working fluid is compressed and released under low pressure, and its expansion motion An object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be reduced in size, maintenance-free, and reduced in cost by using power as a driving source of a generator.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Hydrogen storage / release means by a hydrogen storage alloy unit equipped with a rubberized hydrogen storage alloy;
Electronic control for electronically controlling an electric device such as a heat medium circulation system comprising the hydrogen storage / release means, a working fluid compression means by two oscillating piston engines, and a single or a plurality of the working fluid compression means. And a temperature difference reducing means for circulating the working fluid compressed by the working fluid compressing means with a circulation path including a check valve, a pressure control valve, a high-pressure tank and a low-pressure tank sealed, and the temperature difference It is characterized in that it comprises a power recovery means that performs electrical conversion by providing a power recovery body in which a generator is connected and linked to the circulation path of the reduction means.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The hydrogen storage / release means by the hydrogen storage alloy unit to which the rubberized hydrogen storage alloy is mounted is the “thermoelectric conversion device using the hydrogen storage alloy unit and the cooling / heating / refrigeration device (International Publication WO 02/068882 A1). ) "Hydrogen storage alloy unit, in particular, the time required for storage and release of hydrogen can be greatly reduced.
[0009]
Further, the working fluid compressing means seals a crank chamber in which two oscillating piston engines of a cylinder and a piston are linked and interlocked, and encloses the sealing material and saturates the hydrogen molecules between the molecules of the sealing material. That is, it is possible to prevent hydrogen in one cylinder from leaking and entering the other cylinder during operation.
[0010]
In addition, the electronic control means includes a heating and cooling electromagnetic valve provided in a heat medium nozzle of a hydrogen storage alloy unit composed of a single or a plurality of working fluid compression means, and a power source such as an electric device of a heat medium circulation system, Electronic control can be performed based on sensor measurement values such as temperature, flow rate, and level of each part and preset values. That is, the apparatus can operate stably.
[0011]
In addition, the temperature difference reducing means is configured such that the working fluid compressed by the dual engine of the working fluid compressing means seals a circulation path including a check valve, a pressure control valve, a high pressure tank and a low pressure tank, and By compressing and sealing the working fluid in advance so that the working fluid pressure of the hydrogen storage alloy unit is always higher than the hydrogen pressure during hydrogenation in the hydrogen storage alloy unit, the hydrogen storage temperature of the hydrogen storage alloy unit is stored at normal pressure. The hydrogenation reaction can be realized at a higher temperature than the temperature. In other words, by reducing the temperature difference between the heat sources and reducing the volume of hydrogen during hydrogen storage, the cylinder can be made compact and the hydrogen storage time can be shortened.
[0012]
Since the heat of the hydrogenation reaction of the temperature difference reducing means is higher than the heat generation temperature of the hydrogenation reaction heat from the hydrogen pressurization due to the atmospheric pressure reaction, Document 10 (International Publication WO 02/068822 A1) Thus, it is possible to easily generate heat as a heat source by recovering heat generation with a heat medium.
[0013]
In addition, the power generation means performs electrical conversion by providing a power recovery body in which a generator is connected to the working fluid circulation path. That is, electrical conversion can be performed by converting the expansion motion of the compressed working fluid into mechanical motion.
[0014]
【Example】
2, 3, and 4, one plate 30 is formed by opening a hydrogen hole 41, 41 a in a concave flat portion 40, 40 a in a rectangular metal plate, and forming a hydrogen guide groove 35 in the longitudinal center. And a corrugated groove 33 in which a plurality of rows are provided in parallel on the entire surface of the plate with a straight line in the direction of 45 degrees with respect to the hydrogen guide groove 35 so that a flat side surface portion obtained by bending both end faces on the long side can be formed. It is manufactured by press working using the mold.
[0015]
Further, the other plate 31 is formed by opening hydrogen holes 43 and 43a in flat portions 42 and 42a that are convex at both ends of a rectangular metal plate, a hydrogen guiding groove 36 in the longitudinal center, and a corrugated groove provided in the plate 30. A flat side surface portion in which a corrugated groove 34 in which a plurality of rows are provided in parallel on the entire surface of the plate with a straight groove in the direction of 45 degrees with respect to the hydrogen guiding groove 36 at an angle opposite to that of the hydrogen guiding groove 36 Are manufactured by press working using molds that can be formed respectively. In addition, this plane part can function only at one place in the center of the metal plate when it is not necessary to circulate hydrogen.
[0016]
Next, a brazing material thin film material is sandwiched between the plate 30 and the plate 31, and the surfaces and surfaces of the flat portions 40, 42 and 40a, 42a, the peaks and troughs 46 of the corrugated grooves 33, 34, by high-temperature processing in a vacuum furnace, 47. The plate cassette is manufactured by brazing each side surface of the side surface.
[0017]
After that, the hydrogen storage alloy paste is applied as a thin film on both sides of the plate cassette and then made into rubber by thermosetting, and the necessary number of plate cassettes are stacked and closely bonded together. A laminate of plate cassettes is manufactured by sealing the hydrogen storage alloy part by welding.
[0018]
The hydrogen storage alloy paste is selected according to the environmental heat source temperature, such as a hydrogen storage alloy (a titanium system such as Fe-Ti and Ti-Mn, a magnesium system such as Mg-Ni, and a rare earth system such as La-Ni). The type and process of the alloy are not limited. The hydrogen storage alloy stores hydrogen and the initial pulverization process adjusts the particle diameter to about 50 μm, or the surface of the powder is a hydrogen dissociable metal (catalyst). ), And a rubber agent or an adhesive is mixed and used as a hydrogen storage alloy paste.
[0019]
As a mounting condition of this hydrogen storage alloy, it can cope with a volume change due to expansion, prevents scattering of fine particles, and has good thermal conductivity. For example, a polymer of silicon rubber is optimal as a rubber agent. Even if unnecessary gas is mixed, only hydrogen is selected from the mechanism in which the periphery of the powdered hydrogen storage alloy is covered with a polymer material (silicon rubber material, etc.) and has a pore through which only hydrogen molecules can pass. Therefore, there is no cause of poisoning because it can be stored inside the alloy.
[0020]
In addition, caps with heat medium nozzles that open to the inside are attached to the left and right ends of the laminate, hydrogen pipes are attached to both hydrogen holes of the uppermost plate cassette, and reinforcing plates are bolted from the upper and lower sides of the laminate. The hydrogen storage alloy unit is pressure-proofed and manufactured by tightening and restraining.
[0021]
When the hydrogen storage alloy unit is configured in this manner, the rubberized hydrogen storage alloy 55 is degassed by evacuation from the hydrogen nozzle while passing a heating medium of about 80 ° C. from the heating medium nozzle, and then the heating medium Since hydrogen pressurization can be performed at about 30 kg / cm 2 while passing a cooling medium of about 20 ° C. from the nozzle, initial activation of the hydrogen storage alloy can be performed directly after installation of the apparatus without using a dedicated chamber.
[0022]
In addition, when the heat medium 102 passes from the heat medium nozzle to the heat medium flow path 53, the heat medium efficiently transfers the reversible reaction heat of the hydrogen storage alloy, and hydrogen flows between the hydrogen flow path 54 and the hydrogen nozzle. Can flow.
[0023]
Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the tip of the heat medium nozzle of the hydrogen storage alloy unit 2 branches into an inflow side and an outflow side, and is connected to a heating and cooling heat medium circulation system pipe through a solenoid valve, respectively. Has been.
[0024]
Further, the hydrogen nozzle of the hydrogen storage alloy unit 2 and the hydrogen nozzle of the cylinder 71 of the dual engine 70 are connected to each other through a hydrogen pipe.
[0025]
In addition, a sealing material that seals the inside of the crank 76 that connects and interlocks the two of the cylinder and the oscillating piston engine by the piston to prevent hydrogen from leaking into the other cylinder during operation is prevented. Is enclosed, and a dual engine is configured and operated. If necessary, it is also possible to operate by providing a plurality of dual engines 70 configured in the same manner.
[0026]
Further, in the case where the dual engine 70 is reversibly applied as a hydrogen compression pump, a check valve is provided in the cylinder 71, and when the working fluid is made liquid and the working liquid is fed into the cylinder 74 by the liquid pump, Compared to the diaphragm-type hydrogen compression pump of this type, the pressure boosting functionality is superior especially at high compression.
[0027]
The sealing material may be sealed under pressure after injecting a liquid for lubrication. Inert gas such as argon is optimal for the material, and by sealing under pressure in this way, hydrogen in the cylinder leaks into the crank chamber, and some hydrogen molecules enter between the molecules of the seal material until saturation. During operation, hydrogen, crank chamber, and working fluid pressures are balanced, and saturated hydrogen can be prevented from flowing into the other cylinder 74.
[0028]
The cylinder 74 is fitted with nozzles for the outflow and inflow of the working fluid via the check valve. The working fluid flowing out of the cylinder 74 passes through the high pressure tank 94, the pressure control valve 96, the power recovery body 98, and the low pressure tank 95. The pipe is hermetically sealed so that it can be circulated to the cylinder 74 again.
[0029]
In addition, the working fluid is sealed by compressing the working fluid in advance so that the working fluid pressure in the low-pressure tank is always higher than the hydrogen pressure during hydrogenation in the hydrogen storage alloy unit, and the hydrogen storage temperature of the hydrogen storage alloy unit The hydrogenation reaction is realized by making the temperature higher than the temperature of occlusion at normal pressure. By this means, the temperature difference of the heat source is reduced, the volume of hydrogen is reduced and the hydrogen storage time is shortened when storing hydrogen.
[0030]
Further, although the material of the working fluid is not specified, an inert gas such as argon is optimal in consideration of durability such as oxidation of the member.
[0031]
Further, the rotating shaft of the power recovery machine 98 of the turbine system or the swinging piston system is provided so as to be connected and interlocked with the rotating shaft of the generator 99 provided outside, and the working fluid inlet of the power recovery body 98 and The high-pressure tank, the other working fluid outlet and the low-pressure tank are connected to each other by piping through a pressure control valve 96.
[0032]
The difference in working fluid pressure between the cylinder 74 and the high-pressure tank 94 is equal to and high in the hydrogen release pressure of the hydrogen alloy unit, and the working fluid pressure that has passed through the pressure control valve 96 is the outlet of the power recovery body 98, the low-pressure tank 95. Since the inside is close to the hydrogen storage pressure of the hydrogen storage alloy unit, the power recovery body 98 is provided in the circulation path of the working fluid having this pressure difference, so that the power recovery body 98 is connected to the inlet and the outlet of the working fluid. The fluid expansion motion from the pressure difference between the two is converted into a rotational motion.
[0033]
In the medium circulation system 105, a heating heat medium circulates from the heat exchanger 90 through the hydrogen storage alloy unit 2 and the heating medium tank 91 via a pump.
[0034]
In the cooling medium circulation system 106, a cooling heat medium circulates from the heat exchanger 92 through the hydrogen storage alloy unit 2 and the cooling medium tank 93 via a pump.
[0035]
In addition, the heating and cooling heat medium solenoid valve provided in the heat medium nozzle of the hydrogen storage alloy unit 2 as well as the power source of the heat medium circulation system electric equipment, etc., the sensor measured values such as the temperature, flow rate, and level of each part The electronic control is performed according to a preset value.
[0036]
By configuring the apparatus in this manner, the working fluid compressing means can compress the working fluid by the hydrogen release pressure of the hydrogen storage alloy unit without crossing the working fluid and hydrogen by the sealing material, In the hydrogen occlusion process of the occlusion alloy unit, the hydrogen pressure during the occlusion of hydrogen by the temperature difference reducing means can be increased, so there is no noise, the cylinder is downsized, and the hydrogen occlusion is performed even when the temperature difference of the heat medium is about 20 ° C. And enabled the function of release.
[0037]
This functionality can be applied in many new areas. For example, the exhaust heat of a gasification melting furnace is 60 ° C, and power generation conversion has been impossible so far, and a huge amount of heat has been dissipated to the atmosphere, but it is cooled at an outdoor temperature of 30 ° C even in summer when the temperature difference is small. Temperature differential power generation. There are many other new market candidates with a temperature difference of 20 ° C, such as the Toshiyuki market.
[0038]
Further, by using a heat medium that recovers high-temperature heat generation during hydrogenation of the hydrogen storage alloy and applying the temperature reduction means of Document 10 (International Publication WO 02/068882 A1), a heat source is generated and used, so that the conversion efficiency is improved. Can be increased.
[0039]
The dual engine can be used reversibly as an ultra-high pressure filling device for an ultra-high pressure hydrogen storage tank of a fuel cell vehicle.
[0040]
Although the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be improved or modified within the scope of the purpose of the improvement or the idea of the present invention.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the power generation device using the hydrogen storage alloy unit to which the rubberized hydrogen storage alloy is attached enables not only power generation due to a low temperature difference in the low temperature range, but also miniaturization, maintenance-free, cost reduction, etc. In particular, there is an advantage that it can be applied to a hydrogen ultra-high compression pump. In the hydrogen society, it is effective for the global environment conservation from the global warming effect gas reduction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an embodiment of the present invention and shows an overall outline.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing two types of upper surfaces of the plates.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing two types of plate side surfaces.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing a cross section of a laminate of plate cassettes.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Temperature difference power generation apparatus 2 Hydrogen storage alloy unit 30, 31 Plate 32 Corrugated part 40, 40a Concave plane part 42, 42a Convex plane part 53 Heat medium flow path 54 Hydrogen flow path 55 Rubberized hydrogen storage alloy 71, 74 Cylinder 72, 75 Piston 76 Crank 94 High pressure tank 95 Low pressure tank 96 Pressure control valve 98 Power recovery body 99 Generator 100 Hydrogen 101 Working fluid 102 Heat medium 103 Sealing material 105 Heating medium circulation system 106 Cooling medium circulation system

Claims (6)

Hydrogen storage / release means by a hydrogen storage alloy unit equipped with a rubberized hydrogen storage alloy;
Electronic control for electronically controlling an electric device such as a heat medium circulation system comprising the hydrogen storage / release means, a working fluid compression means by two oscillating piston engines, and a single or a plurality of the working fluid compression means. Means,
A temperature difference reducing means for circulating the working fluid compressed by the working fluid compressing means by sealing a circulation path including a check valve, a pressure control valve, a high pressure tank and a low pressure tank;
A temperature difference power generator comprising: a power recovery unit that is connected to and linked to a generator in a circulation path of the temperature difference reduction unit, and that generates electricity. Provide a hydrogen hole in the flat part of the metal plate with the corrugated part, and configure the plate cassette by overlapping the plates,
2. The hydrogen storage / release means according to claim 1, wherein a rubberized hydrogen storage alloy is mounted in the corrugated grooves of the corrugated portions on both sides of the plate cassette, and the plate cassette is stacked. 2. The working fluid compressing means according to claim 1, wherein the crank chamber connected to and interlocking with the oscillating piston engine is hermetically sealed, a sealing material is enclosed, and hydrogen molecules are saturated between molecules of the sealing material. 2. The working fluid compressing means according to claim 1, wherein the working fluid compressing means is used reversibly as a hydrogen compression pump. 2. The temperature difference reducing means according to claim 1, wherein the working fluid is compressed and sealed in advance so that the working fluid pressure in the low-pressure tank is always higher than the hydrogen pressure during hydrogenation in the hydrogen storage alloy unit. . 2. The power generation means according to claim 1, wherein the power recovery body is a turbine system or an oscillating piston system engine.

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