JP2011002119A - Thermoacoustic engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermoacoustic engine which can be easily assembled and from which heat hardly escapes.SOLUTION: In this thermoacoustic engine provided with motors 3 converting heat energy into acoustic energy in a loop pipe 2, and each constituted of a heater 4, a heat accumulator 5 and a cooler 6, in the loop pipe 2, the loop pipe 2 is formed in a state of being wound several rounds, the motors 3 are respectively disposed on a part where the round parts are adjacent to each other, and the heater 4 and the cooler 6 of each motor 3 are integrally formed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a loop tube type thermoacoustic engine, and more particularly, to a thermoacoustic engine that is easy to assemble and hardly releases heat.

  In order to extract energy from waste heat, research and development of Stirling engines have been actively conducted. Stirling engine types include α type, β type, γ type, and free piston type. On the other hand, recently, research and development of thermoacoustic engines having no moving parts such as pistons have been actively conducted.

  When a heat accumulator in which thin plates or thin tubes are bundled in a tube and a heater and a cooler are installed at both ends to give a temperature difference, part of the heat energy is converted into mechanical energy, and the air in the tube The column causes self-excited vibration, and sound waves (acoustic vibration) are generated. This action can be seen thermodynamically as a prime mover. A thermoacoustic engine uses this phenomenon.

  Conversely, when a sound wave is applied to one end of the tube, a temperature difference occurs between both ends of the heat accumulator sandwiched between the heater and the cooler. By utilizing this phenomenon, a refrigeration apparatus and a temperature raising apparatus can be realized.

  As a conventional thermoacoustic engine, one having a set of prime movers consisting of a cooler (low temperature side heat exchanger), a heat accumulator (regenerator, stack), and a heater (high temperature side heat exchanger) in a loop pipe is common. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). If a passive machine (refrigerator, cooler) that converts vibrations of the air column into thermal energy is incorporated in this thermoacoustic engine, a refrigeration apparatus (cooling apparatus) is configured.

  The thermoacoustic engine is applied to a cooling device for a living room and a refrigeration / freezing device for articles in a building or a moving body. For example, when a thermoacoustic engine is mounted on a vehicle, the engine exhaust heat is supplied to the motor heater as a high temperature source, the atmosphere is supplied to the motor cooler as a low temperature source, and the high temperature side heat exchanger of the passive machine is supplied. By supplying the atmosphere as a high temperature source, it is possible to extract a cold output having a temperature lower than that of the atmosphere from the low temperature side heat exchanger side of the passive machine. Using this cold output, for example, various coolers mounted on the vehicle (for example, a cooling air conditioner, an oil cooler, a canister, etc.) can be functioned.

Japanese Patent No. 3050543 JP 2006-149176 A

  In the conventional thermoacoustic engine, as described above, the number of prime movers provided in the loop pipe is one. In contrast, the present inventors have already proposed a thermoacoustic engine in which the number of prime movers provided in the loop tube is two or more, lowering the oscillation start temperature and exciting a large acoustic intensity in the loop tube. Yes.

  Furthermore, the present inventors have shown in FIG. 5 (a) in order to shorten the length of the piping connecting the coolers of the plurality of prime movers and the piping connecting the heaters to improve the thermal efficiency and reduce the size. Furthermore, a thermoacoustic engine 51 formed by rotating the loop tube 52 a plurality of times is being proposed.

  In the thermoacoustic engine 51 shown in FIG. 5A, the loop tube 52 is formed by rotating twice, and a prime mover 53 is provided at an adjacent portion of both the revolution parts, and a high-temperature engine is provided in the heater 54 of both prime movers 53. The cooling water is supplied to the coolers 55 of both prime movers 53 as a low temperature source.

  However, in the above-mentioned thermoacoustic engine 51, since the heater 54 and the cooler 55 are each arrange | positioned independently, as shown in FIG.5 (b), heaters 54 and coolers 55 are connected, respectively. A connecting channel 56 is required. The heater 54, the cooler 55, and the connection flow path 56 are manufactured by brazing or a welding structure because a high-temperature working fluid such as exhaust gas from the engine passes therethrough. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to manufacture by aligning the positions of the components, and the structure becomes complicated.

  Furthermore, in the thermoacoustic engine 51, since the heaters 54 or the coolers 55 are connected by the connection flow path 56, there exists a problem that a surface area becomes large and heat | fever tends to escape outside.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and provide a thermoacoustic engine that is easy to assemble and does not easily escape heat.

  The present invention was devised to achieve the above object, and a thermoacoustic provided with a prime mover comprising a heater, a heat accumulator, and a cooler that converts thermal energy into acoustic energy in the loop tube. In the engine, the loop tube is formed by rotating a plurality of times, and the prime movers are provided in adjacent portions of the circulation portion, and the heater and the cooler of each prime mover are integrally formed, respectively. Is an institution.

  The heater and the cooler are heat exchange between a metal block provided so as to cross a looped portion of the loop pipe, and the metal block provided in the metal block and a heat medium supplied from the outside. A heat exchanging part for a heat medium for carrying out heat and a plurality of working fluid heat exchanging parts provided in the metal block for exchanging heat between the metal block and the working fluid in the loop pipe. Good.

  The heat exchanger for heat medium is provided in the heat medium flow path for flowing the heat medium formed in the metal block, and is provided in the heat medium flow path. It may consist of a heat medium fin for exchanging heat between them.

  The heat medium flow path may be formed in the metal block along a transverse direction that traverses a circumferential portion of the loop pipe.

  The working fluid heat exchanging section may be formed of a working fluid fin formed by forming a plurality of slits penetrating the metal block in the metal block located in the loop pipe.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thermoacoustic engine that is easy to assemble and hardly releases heat.

1 is a perspective view of a thermoacoustic engine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view (partially broken sectional view) seen from the other direction of the thermoacoustic engine of FIG. It is the perspective view (partially broken sectional view) seen from the other direction of the thermoacoustic engine of FIG. It is a figure which shows the motor module used for the thermoacoustic engine of FIG. 1, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a perspective view (partially broken sectional view) when arrange | positioning to a loop pipe | tube. It is a figure which shows the conventional thermoacoustic engine, (a) is a schematic block diagram, (b) is the principal part enlarged view.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermoacoustic engine according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views (partially broken sectional views) seen from another direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the thermoacoustic engine 1 is provided with a prime mover 3 that converts thermal energy into acoustic energy in the loop tube 2 in the loop tube 2. The prime mover 3 includes a heater 4, a heat accumulator 5, and a cooler 6 arranged in the tube axis direction of the loop tube 2. 2 and 3, the heat accumulator 5 is omitted for simplification of the drawings.

  The loop tube 2 is formed by a plurality of turns. The prime movers 3 are respectively provided at adjacent portions of the loop portion of the loop pipe 2. In the present embodiment, the loop pipe 2 is rotated four times, and a total of four prime movers 3 are arranged at adjacent portions of the respective circular portions. The number of turns of the loop pipe 2 and the number of prime movers 3 are not limited to this.

  In the present embodiment, the loop tube 2 is configured by a spiral portion 2a formed in a spiral shape (coil shape) and a connection portion 2b that connects both ends of the spiral portion 2a. You may form in a spiral.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the loop pipe 2 is formed by combining a straight straight pipe and an elbow pipe bent at a right angle with a predetermined radius, and the overall appearance is formed in a rectangular shape with rounded corners. Alternatively, it may be rounded.

  Now, in the thermoacoustic engine 1 which concerns on this Embodiment, the heater 4 and the cooler 6 of each motor | power_engine 3 are each formed integrally.

  Specifically, a heater module 40 in which the heaters 4 of the respective prime movers 3 are integrally formed and a cooler module 41 in which the coolers 6 of the respective prime movers 3 are integrally formed are formed. A plurality of heat accumulators 5 in which thin plates and thin tubes are bundled are arranged between the heat exchanger modules 41.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the heater module 40 and the cooler module 41 are provided with a metal block 7 provided so as to traverse the circumferential portion (spiral portion 2a) of the loop tube 2, and the metal block. A heat exchanger 8 for heat medium for exchanging heat between the metal block 7 and a heat medium supplied from the outside (a high-temperature fluid such as exhaust gas or a low-temperature fluid such as cooling water); A plurality of (four in FIG. 4 (a)) working fluid heat exchanging portions 9 for exchanging heat between the metal block 7 and the working fluid in the loop tube 2 are provided on the metal block 7.

  The heat medium heat exchanger 8 is provided in the heat medium flow path 10 for flowing the heat medium formed in the metal block 7 and between the metal block 7 and the heat medium. And the heat medium fin 11 for heat exchange.

  The heat medium flow path 10 is formed in the metal block 7 along a transverse direction (a direction from the left front side to the right back side in FIG. 4A) that crosses the loop portion of the loop pipe 2. In the present embodiment, the heat medium flow path 10 is formed on both sides of the metal block 7.

  The heat medium fins 11 are made of an elongated plate-like metal, and are arranged in the heat medium flow path 10 along the heat medium flow path 10. The heat medium fin 11 is formed integrally with the metal block 7.

  The working fluid heat exchanging section 9 is composed of working fluid fins 12 formed by forming a number of slits penetrating the metal block 7 in the metal block 7 located in the loop tube 2. A plurality (four in FIG. 4A) of the working fluid fins 12 are formed along the transverse direction at the center in the width direction of the metal block 7.

  In the heater module 40, a high-temperature fluid such as exhaust gas is supplied to the heat medium flow path 10, and the heat of the high-temperature fluid is received by the heat medium fins 11 and transmitted to the metal block 7. The heat of the metal block 7 is transmitted to the working fluid fins 12, and the working fluid in the loop pipe 2 is heated by the working fluid fins 12.

  On the other hand, in the cooler module 41, a low-temperature fluid such as cooling water is supplied to the heat medium flow path 10, and the cold heat of the low-temperature fluid is received by the heat medium fins 11 and transmitted to the metal block 7. The cold heat of the metal block 7 is transmitted to the working fluid fins 12, and the working fluid in the loop pipe 2 is cooled by the working fluid fins 12.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of (four in FIG. 4A) heat accumulators 5 are arranged between the heater module 40 and the cooler module 41, and the prime mover module 42 is formed in advance. The module 42 is attached to the loop tube 2. More specifically, each straight tube of the spiral portion 2a of the loop tube 2 is divided into two, one is connected to the position where the working fluid fins 12 of the heater module 40 are formed, and the other is operated of the cooler module 41. The fluid fins 12 are connected to the formed positions.

  As described above, in the thermoacoustic engine 1 according to the present embodiment, the loop tube 2 is formed by rotating around a plurality of times, and the prime movers 3 are provided in adjacent portions of the circumference portion. The heater 4 and the cooler 6 are integrally formed.

  By forming the heater 4 and the cooler 6 integrally to form the heater module 40 and the cooler module 41, there is no need to manufacture a connecting flow path or the like by brazing or welding structure as in the conventional case. Easy to assemble. In addition, since the plurality of heaters 4 or the plurality of coolers 6 are integrally formed, the configuration is simplified and the size can be reduced.

  Furthermore, in the thermoacoustic engine 1, the loop tube 2 is formed to circulate, so that the occupied area and the occupied volume can be reduced as compared with the entire length of the loop tube 2.

  In the thermoacoustic engine 1, the heater 4 and the cooler 6 are placed between the metal block 7 provided so as to cross the loop portion of the loop tube 2, and the metal block 7 and a heat medium supplied from the outside. Since the heat exchanger 8 for heat exchange for heat exchange and a plurality of heat exchangers 9 for working fluid for exchanging heat between the metal block 7 and the working fluid in the loop tube 2 are used. The surfaces of the heater 4 and the cooler 6 are flattened and the surface area is reduced, so that heat is difficult to escape (not easily leaked to the outside). Therefore, the thermal efficiency of the thermoacoustic engine 1 can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, the position where each prime mover 3 is arranged is not described. However, the position where each prime mover 3 is arranged is a position where the loop length of the loop tube 2 is equally divided by a natural number according to the mode in which the sound oscillates. It is desirable to arrange them respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermoacoustic engine 2 Loop pipe 3 Engine 4 Heater 5 Heat accumulator 6 Cooler 7 Metal block 8 Heat exchange part for heat medium 9 Heat exchange part for working fluid 10 Flow path for heat medium 11 Fin for heat medium 12 Working fluid Fin 40 Heater module 41 Cooler module 42 Motor module

Claims (5)

In a thermoacoustic engine provided with a prime mover composed of a heater, a heat accumulator, and a cooler that converts heat energy into acoustic energy in the loop tube,
The loop tube is formed by making a plurality of turns, and the prime mover is provided at each of the adjacent portions of the turn part,
A thermoacoustic engine in which a heater and a cooler of each prime mover are integrally formed. The heater and the cooler are:
A metal block provided so as to cross the circumferential portion of the loop tube;
A heat exchanger for heat medium provided in the metal block for exchanging heat between the metal block and a heat medium supplied from the outside;
2. The thermoacoustic engine according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of working fluid heat exchanging portions provided on the metal block for exchanging heat between the metal block and the working fluid in the loop pipe.   The heat exchanger for heat medium is provided in the heat medium flow path for flowing the heat medium formed in the metal block, and is provided in the heat medium flow path. The thermoacoustic engine according to claim 2, further comprising a heat medium fin for exchanging heat between the two.   The thermoacoustic engine according to claim 3, wherein the heat medium flow path is formed in the metal block along a transverse direction that traverses a loop portion of the loop pipe.   5. The working fluid heat exchanging portion is formed of a working fluid fin formed by forming a plurality of slits penetrating the metal block in the metal block located in the loop pipe. Thermoacoustic engine.

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