JP2013090526A - Thermoelectric cogeneration apparatus and thermoelectric cogeneration method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively increase an energy utilization efficiency.SOLUTION: The thermoelectric cogeneration apparatus comprises a heat collection section that receives heat from a hot-temperature heat source in a contactless manner and collects heat; a thermoelectric conversion section whose one face is thermally joined to the heat collection section and the other face is thermally joined to a cold medium lower than a temperature of the collected heat to generate power by a temperature difference between both faces; and a heat exchange section that receives heat on one face of the thermoelectric conversion section and heat-exchanges heat passing through the other face of the thermoelectric conversion section between the other face and the cold medium.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a combined heat and power device and a combined heat and power method.

  The thermoelectric generator is an environment-friendly generator using non-fossil fuel that extracts electric power generated by making a temperature difference between both surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion module. It can be used for purposes such as collecting energy from heat sources such as factory effluent and hot springs, supplying power to on-site lighting and equipment as an independent power source, and storing power to a backup power source in case of power failure. For the practical application of thermoelectric generators, material technology for improving element performance, modularization technology for improving reliability, heat exchange technology for improving heat transfer performance in the system, etc. are important. .

Japanese Patent No. 3564274 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-190073 JP 2009-247050 A JP 2010-135543 A

  In general, a thermoelectric generator must be designed each time in accordance with the scale and form of a heat source, so that time and cost tend to increase. In particular, when the heat source is solid, it is conceivable to attach a thermoelectric conversion module to the heat source itself to recover the exhaust heat. However, the heat source and the thermoelectric conversion module are brought into thermal contact with low thermal resistance, or the thermoelectric conversion is performed. Measures such as devising a cooling mechanism to increase the amount of heat passing through the module are required, and there are many cases where it is necessary to design each order according to the heat source conditions. In such a direct contact method with a heat source, variations in heat transfer characteristics occur and the power generation performance of the thermoelectric power generation system is reduced, so that it takes a lot of time and cost to take countermeasures.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a combined heat and power device and a combined heat and power method capable of effectively increasing energy use efficiency.

  According to the embodiment, a heat collecting part that collects heat by receiving heat from a high-temperature heat source in a non-contact manner, one surface is thermally joined to the heat collecting part, and the other surface is the collected heat. A thermoelectric conversion part that is thermally bonded to a cold medium having a temperature lower than the temperature and generates electric power due to a temperature difference between the two surfaces, and heat received by one side of the thermoelectric conversion part and passed to the other side of the thermoelectric conversion part. A heat exchanging section for exchanging heat between the other surface and the cooling medium;

  According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively increase energy utilization efficiency.

The figure which shows the structural example of the cogeneration apparatus in 1st Embodiment. The figure explaining the principle of the heat pipe type vacuum tube heat collector of the cogeneration apparatus in 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows an example of the cogeneration operation | movement by the cogeneration apparatus in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of the water cooling type combined heat and power supply apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows an example of the cogeneration operation | movement by the water cooling type cogeneration apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of the air-cooling type combined heat and power supply apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows an example of the cogeneration operation | movement by the air-cooling type cogeneration apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of the heat collecting part of the cogeneration apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the structural example of the electric power generation part of the cogeneration apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows an example of the cogeneration operation | movement by the cogeneration apparatus in 4th Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
First, the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a cogeneration apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the heat pipe type vacuum tube collector of the cogeneration apparatus according to the first embodiment.
The cogeneration apparatus shown in FIG. 1 receives radiant heat received in a non-contact manner by a heat pipe type vacuum tube collector 12 from a high temperature heat source 11 that is a radiant heat source such as a high temperature radiant heat radiation device, a furnace, or solar heat. 13, and transfers heat to one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14, and a cooling medium from the cold heat source 16 obtained on-site is passed through the flow path 18 to the heat sink 15 on the other surface side of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14. The heat from the high-temperature hot bath 13 is directed toward one side and the other side of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 while generating power due to the temperature difference between the one side and the other side of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14. It is characterized in that the cold medium warmed in the flow path 18 is stored in the hot water storage tank 24 by opening and closing the valve 17 in the flow path 18 by heat exchange in the heat sink 15 by passing.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the heat pipe type vacuum tube collector 12 includes a heat pipe 12f in a vacuum tube 12a having a double glass structure having a vacuum layer 12c between an outer glass and an inner glass, for example. One end of the pipe is inserted so as to protrude from the opening of the vacuum tube 12a, a selective absorption film 12d as a heat collection layer is attached to the inner wall surface of the vacuum tube 12a, and heat collection is performed between the selective absorption film 12d and the heat pipe 12f. Aluminum heat transfer fins 12e, which are plates, are provided, and the opening of the vacuum tube 12a is sealed with a silicon gasket 12h. Further, the heat medium liquid 12g is vacuum-sealed in the heat pipe 12f.

  In this vacuum tube collector 12, the radiant heat from the high-temperature heat source is absorbed by the selective absorption film 12d and confined in the vacuum layer 12c in the vacuum tube 12a. The vacuum tube collector 12 conducts this heat to the heat pipe 12f through the aluminum heat transfer fins 12e, and vaporizes the heat transfer fluid 12g sealed in the heat pipe 12f into vapor.

  The protruding portion of the heat pipe 12f is thermally joined to the high temperature hot bath portion 13 shown in FIG. The high-temperature heat bath portion 13 is made of a highly heat conductive material such as copper, aluminum, or carbon, or a composite material of these or a metal. The high-temperature heat bath unit 13 may be of a sensible heat storage type as a solid block, or may be of a chamber type having a latent heat storage material inside the block.

  The heat transfer fluid 12g that has become steam in the heat pipe 12f is condensed (re-liquefied) by heat exchange with the high temperature hot bath portion 13, and the high temperature hot bath portion 13 is heated by the heat of condensation at this time. By repeating this phenomenon, the high-temperature heat bath 13 stores sensible heat and the temperature rises. Further, when there is a latent heat storage material in the high-temperature heat bath portion 13, the latent heat storage material is melted to store heat.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the heat pipe type vacuum tube collector 12 is placed around and in the vicinity of the high temperature heat source 11 and receives radiant heat from the high temperature heat source 11 in a non-contact manner. This radiant heat is collected in a non-contact manner by the heat pipe type vacuum tube collector 12 and supplied to the high temperature hot bath 13.

  The high-temperature heat bath 13 is thermally joined to one surface of the thermoelectric converter 14 with a high heat conductive grease, a high heat conductive sheet material, solder, or the like, and supplies high temperature heat to the thermoelectric converter 14. . In order to enhance the long-term heat retention effect, it is desirable to provide a latent heat storage material or a sensible heat storage material in the high-temperature heat bath portion 13 so that the high-temperature heat storage material can be maintained at a high temperature.

On the other hand, the other surface of the thermoelectric converter 14 is thermally joined to a heat sink 15 for passing a cooling medium such as water or antifreeze.
The cold heat source 16 stores, for example, cold heat obtained when vaporizing LNG in an LNG (liquefied nitrogen gas) plant in the cold heat medium by heat exchange with the cold heat medium, and this cold heat medium is stored, for example, in metal via the flow path 18. The other surface of the thermoelectric conversion part 14 is cooled by supplying it into the chamber type heat sink 15.

  In this way, heat is passed with a temperature difference between the surface of the thermoelectric converter 14 on the side of the high-temperature heat bath 13 that is one side described above and the surface on the side of the heat sink 15 that is the other side. Thus, thermoelectric power generation is performed by the thermoelectric converter 14.

  The electric power generated by the thermoelectric converter 14 is supplied to an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) controller 21, and this electric power is stored in the battery 23 or supplied to the load via the inverter 22.

  This cogeneration apparatus includes a cogeneration control apparatus 20 for controlling cogeneration by controlling whether or not a cooling medium is supplied from the cooling source 16 to the flow path 18. In this combined heat and power supply apparatus, a new supply of the cooling medium from the cold heat source 16 to the flow path 18 is stopped by the combined heat and power control apparatus 20 for a certain period of time, and cooling of the cold heat medium in the flow path 18 is suppressed. Heat exchange at the heat sink 15 caused by heat from the hot bath 13 passing from one surface of the thermoelectric converter 14 toward the other increases the temperature of the cooling medium in the flow path 18 and is combined with heat and power. By opening the valve 17 in the flow path 18 by the control device 20, the cold medium is stored in the hot water storage tank 24. After this hot water storage, the cogeneration control device 20 resumes the supply of the cooling medium from the cooling source 16 to the flow path 18, and the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 is cooled again, and the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 as described above. Power generation by is done again. Thereby, power generation and hot water supply are continued.

  Also, if the installation location of the combined heat and power supply device is a cold region, the temperature of the other surface is lowered by bringing the snow stored in the cold region into contact with the other surface, which is the low temperature side surface of the thermoelectric converter 14. The cooling source may be realized by maintaining the temperature at a low temperature or by supplying snowmelt water or spring water to the heat sink 15 on the low temperature side surface of the thermoelectric converter 14.

  In this combined heat and power supply apparatus, since the radiant heat from the high-temperature heat source 11 is transported by the vacuum tube collector 12, no power is required for heat transport. On the other hand, when the cold heat source 16 uses cold water circulating for vaporizing LNG or spring water flowing with potential energy, power for circulating the cold medium is unnecessary. When the flow rate of the cooling medium is absolutely insufficient, a low power consumption pump or the like may be incorporated as necessary in consideration of the energy balance of the entire system.

  When the cooling medium cannot flow through the heat sink 15, a tank is installed on the low temperature side surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14, and a cooling medium such as cold water or snow is supplied into the tank. When the inside of the tank is manually stirred as necessary until it melts due to the heat passing through the tank or rises to a desired temperature, and the example heat medium in the tank melts or rises to the desired temperature, the hot water storage tank 24 is reached. The hot water supply is performed by transferring the water, and then the above-described cold heat medium such as cold water or snow is manually supplied to the heat sink 15 again to continue the power generation and hot water supply in the thermoelectric conversion unit 14.

  The thermoelectric conversion part 14 is formed by arranging a plurality of thermoelectric conversion modules on the surface of the high-temperature hot bath part 13 at appropriate intervals. One surface of each thermoelectric conversion unit module is joined to the high-temperature heat bath unit 13. In order to reduce the contact thermal resistance, these are thermally bonded using a high thermal conductivity sheet, a wax material such as grease, solder and the like. The other surface of each thermoelectric conversion module is joined to the heat sink 15 in order to take a temperature difference from the one surface. At that time, similarly to the high temperature side, in order to reduce the contact thermal resistance, a high thermal conductivity sheet, a wax material such as grease, solder or the like is used for thermal bonding.

  When sandwiching a sheet or grease between the interfaces, a plurality of fastening jigs (not shown) may be attached. By attaching the fastening jig, the high-temperature heat bath portion 13 and the heat sink 15 press-contact each thermoelectric conversion module from both sides, so that the close contact state is maintained.

  In general, if the thickness of the thermoelectric conversion module varies under the pressure welding structure, the heat transfer is reduced. For example, each thermoelectric module can be inserted by sandwiching a highly thermally conductive material such as a highly thermally conductive sheet or grease. The adhesion between the conversion module, the high-temperature heat bath portion 13, and the heat sink 15 can be improved, and the contact thermal resistance can be reduced.

  The high thermal conductivity material may be a silicone resin-based high thermal conductivity sheet, thermal conductivity grease, or wax material (solder) if the module surface is insulated with an alumina plate or the like. May be. By providing such a high thermal conductivity material, variations in the thickness of each thermoelectric conversion module can be alleviated, and the surface pressure of each of the high temperature heat bath portion 13 and the heat sink 15 with respect to each thermoelectric conversion module can be made as uniform as possible. It becomes possible to improve transmission.

  The high temperature heat bath 13 and the heat sink 15 are made of a metal such as carbon steel, stainless steel, titanium, copper, or aluminum, for example. Further, a fin structure or a nanometer order fine structure that promotes heat transfer may be applied to the inner wall surface of the heat sink 15 in order to promote heat transfer between the fluid and the inner wall surface of the flow path. In addition, when a corrosive fluid is flowed or carbon steel is used, it is desirable to perform an anticorrosion treatment such as galvanization on the inner wall surface or the outer wall surface.

  Moreover, in the case where the surface temperature of the high-temperature heat bath part 13 is 200 ° C. or less, if a BiTe system is adopted as the thermoelectric conversion module of the thermoelectric conversion part 14, the efficiency and output can be increased. Further, an Fe2VAl-based Heusler alloy, which is a thermoelectric conversion material having a good thermoelectric conversion performance in a temperature environment of low-temperature exhaust heat similar to the BiTe-based material and being environmentally friendly, may be used.

  Moreover, you may make it employ | adopt a different material for the thermoelectric conversion module according to the temperature range of a thermal fluid. For example, in accordance with the temperature zone of the thermal fluid, two or more types of material elements or modules are overlapped via a high thermal conductivity material to form a material with enhanced thermoelectric conversion performance in the corresponding temperature zone, The output may be increased by appropriately distributing the temperature difference in the elements or modules.

  Moreover, it is desirable that the thermoelectric conversion module configures a circuit in a series-parallel combination so that a desired voltage or current can be obtained through the wiring. The ends of a plurality of series circuits composed of a plurality of thermoelectric conversion modules are connected to respective contacts of a switching device (not shown), and are directly connected by operating the contacts on the switching device side. The number of modules and the number of thermoelectric conversion modules connected in parallel are determined. The electric power generated in each thermoelectric conversion module is sent to the switching device through the wiring, is sent to the control device with a predetermined voltage / current, and is used by various loads after being charged and DC / AC converted.

Next, the procedure of the combined heat and power operation by the combined heat and power device shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the combined heat and power operation by the combined heat and power device according to the first embodiment.
First, as an initial state, it is assumed that a new cooling medium is supplied from the cooling source 16 to the flow path 18 and the valve 17 of the flow path 18 is closed. The radiant heat from the high temperature heat source 11 is collected in a non-contact manner by the heat pipe type vacuum tube collector 12 (step S1), and the collected heat is stored in the high temperature hot bath 13 (step S2). . The heat stored in the high-temperature heat bath unit 13 is transferred to one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14, and the cold medium supplied from the cold heat source 16 to the flow path 18 is supplied to the heat sink 15. Then, a temperature difference between one surface and the other surface of the thermoelectric converter 14 is generated, and electric power is generated by thermoelectric conversion (step S3), and the generated electric power is supplied to the MPPT controller 21, and this electric power is supplied to the battery. 23 or stored in the load via the inverter 22 (step S4).

  Then, the combined heat and power control device 20 stops the new supply of the cooling medium by the cooling source 16 at a predetermined time requiring hot water, for example, or at an arbitrary timing, so that the temperature of the cooling medium in the flow path 18 is reduced. After suppressing the decrease, the heat not transferred to the power conversion out of the heat transferred from the high-temperature heat bath unit 13 to one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 passes toward the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14. Thus, heat exchange with the cooling medium in the heat sink 15 is performed (step S5), and the temperature of the cooling medium is increased. Then, the combined heat and power control device 20 measures the temperature of the cooling medium in the flow path 18 using a temperature sensor, and opens the valve of the flow path 18 when the measured temperature reaches a predetermined temperature. The medium is supplied to the hot water storage tank 24, and the new supply of the cold medium from the cold source 16 to the flow path 18 is resumed (step S6).

  As described above, in the cogeneration apparatus according to the first embodiment, the heat from the high-temperature heat source 11 is collected by the heat collector 12 in a non-contact manner, and power is generated by the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 by this heat and the cold heat from the cold heat source. And the heat transferred to one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 passes toward the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 to exchange heat with the cooling medium in the heat sink 15. Since the temperature of the cooling medium is increased, and the heat of the cooling medium that has increased in temperature, that is, the heat that has passed through the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 is effectively used, high temperature exhaust heat, cold exhaust heat, unused heat, etc. It is possible to provide a combined heat and power supply apparatus that can be applied to various forms of heat sources while effectively increasing energy use efficiency.

  Specifically, first, since power is generated based on energy received in a non-contact manner from a high-temperature heat source, there is an effect that the selection range of the shape and type of the target heat source and the design flexibility on the power generation unit side are large. It is done. Secondly, since the heat collected by the vacuum tube collector is supplied to the thermoelectric converter via the high temperature heat bath, the energy of the circulation pump for transporting heat from the high temperature heat source to the thermoelectric converter is considered. It is not necessary to increase the heat transfer efficiency. Third, since hot and cold heat can be simultaneously supplied to the thermoelectric conversion unit on-site, the temperature difference between one surface and the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit can be increased to increase the amount of power generated by thermoelectric conversion. I can do it. Fourth, the energy recovery efficiency can be increased to, for example, 50% or more by recovering the thermal energy in both heat and electricity.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the configuration of is basically the same as that shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a water-cooled combined heat and power supply apparatus according to the second embodiment.
In this embodiment, a heat pipe type vacuum tube collector receives radiant heat from a high-temperature heat source, stores heat in the antifreeze liquid, circulates the antifreeze liquid to the high temperature side of the thermoelectric conversion unit, and cool water to the low temperature side of the thermoelectric conversion unit The hot water is generated by performing heat exchange with cold water based on the heat that has passed from the high temperature side to the low temperature side of the thermoelectric conversion part while generating electricity by thermoelectric conversion.

  In the present embodiment, a heat transfer plate 13a is thermally bonded to one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14, and a latent heat storage tank 13b such as a saccharide such as erythritol or a molten salt is thermally applied to the heat transfer plate 13a. The water-cooling jacket 15a is thermally joined to the other surface of the thermoelectric converter 14.

  In the present embodiment, the antifreeze liquid header portion 30 is thermally joined to the heat pipe type vacuum tube collector 12. An antifreeze liquid having a boiling point lower than the boiling point of the latent heat storage tank 13b flows through the antifreeze liquid header section 30. The temperature of the antifreeze liquid rises due to heat exchange with the antifreeze liquid header section 30 that has received heat from the vacuum tube collector 12. Then, it flows through the flow path 18 a and is supplied to the latent heat storage tank 13 b on the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 side and returns to the antifreeze liquid header unit 30.

  A cooling medium such as cold water from the cold water tank 32 is supplied to the water cooling jacket 15a through the flow path 18b. The cold medium is not limited to cold water but may be snow or the like. By opening the tap 31 of the water pipe by the combined heat and power control device 20, cold water is newly supplied into the cold water tank 32, and this cold water can be supplied to the water cooling jacket 15a via the flow path 18b. A hot water storage tank 34 is attached to the cold water tank 32 via a valve 33, and the hot water heated in the cold water tank 32 can be transferred to the hot water storage tank 34 by opening the valve 33 by the combined heat and power control device 20. It is like that.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the vacuum tube collector 12 may exchange heat with the antifreeze liquid at the header portion 30 or collect the antifreeze liquid through a U-shaped tube. In the present embodiment, the heat obtained by storing the sensible heat in the antifreeze liquid is supplied to the latent heat storage tank 13 b to store the heat, and this is used as the high temperature side heat source of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14.

  Further, cold water is supplied from the cold water tank 32 to the water cooling jacket 15a, the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 is set to a low temperature, the low temperature side heat source of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 is generated, and power is generated by the temperature difference between both surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14. Do.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the tap 31 of the water pipe is once closed by the combined heat and power control device 20 at a predetermined time requiring hot water or at an arbitrary timing so that cold water is not newly supplied to the cold water tank 32. Above, the heat collected by the vacuum tube collector 12 and passed from one surface of the thermoelectric converter 14 to the other surface is transferred to the cold water in the water cooling jacket 15a, and the desired cold water becomes a reference for hot water storage in the hot water storage tank 34. The cold water in the cold water tank 32 is circulated in the flow path 18b between the cold water tank 32 and the water cooling jacket 15a while stirring the cold water in the cold water tank 32 as necessary until the temperature rises to the temperature of.

  The combined heat and power control apparatus 20 measures the temperature of the cold water in the flow path 18b using a temperature sensor, and when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, opens the valve 33 to transfer the water in the cold water tank 32 to the hot water storage tank 34. In addition, the tap 31 of the water pipe is opened again, and new supply of cold water from the cold water tank 32 to the flow path 18b is resumed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the combined heat and power operation by the water-cooled combined heat and power supply apparatus according to the second embodiment.
First, as an initial state, fresh water is supplied from the cold water tank 32 to the flow path 18b with the tap 31 of the water pipe opened by the combined heat and power control device 20, and the cold water tank 32, the hot water storage tank 34, It is assumed that the valve 33 in between is closed. The radiant heat from the high-temperature heat source is collected in a non-contact manner by the heat pipe type vacuum tube collector 12 (step S11), and the collected heat is collected by the antifreeze in the flow path 18a via the antifreeze header 30. The heat is stored (step S12).

  The stored heat is transferred to the heat transfer plate 13a via the latent heat storage tank 13b on one surface of the thermoelectric conversion section 14, and the cold water supplied from the cold water tank 32 to the flow path 18b is converted into a water cooling jacket. By being supplied to 15a, a temperature difference between one surface and the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 is generated, and electric power is generated by thermoelectric conversion (step S13), and the generated electric power is an MPPT controller (not shown). The electric power is stored in the battery or supplied to the load via the inverter (step S14).

  Then, the combined heat and power control device 20 closes the faucet 31 of the water pipe and stops a new supply of cold water to the cold water tank 32 at a predetermined time requiring hot water or at an arbitrary timing, for example. The heat transferred from the heat transfer plate 13a to one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 passes toward the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 and water cooling after suppressing the decrease in the temperature of the water in the 18b. By performing heat exchange with the cold water in the jacket 15a (step S15), the temperature of the cold water rises.

  Then, the combined heat and power control device 20 measures the temperature of the water in the flow path 18b using a temperature sensor, and opens the valve 33 when the measured temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, thereby water in the cold water tank 32. Is further supplied to the hot water storage tank 24, and the tap 31 of the water pipe is opened to restart the new supply of cold water to the cold water tank 32 (step S16).

  As described above, in the combined heat and power supply apparatus according to the second embodiment, heat from the high-temperature heat source is collected in a non-contact manner by the heat collector 12, and power is generated by the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 using the heat and cold heat from the cold water. At the same time, the heat transferred to one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 passes toward the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 to exchange heat with the cold water in the water-cooling jacket 15a. Since the temperature is increased and the heat of the water whose temperature has been increased, that is, the heat that has passed through the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 without being used for power conversion is effectively used, high-temperature exhaust heat, cold exhaust heat, unused It is possible to provide a combined heat and power supply apparatus that can be applied to various forms of heat sources while effectively increasing energy use efficiency such as heat.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an air-cooled combined heat and power supply apparatus according to the third embodiment.
In this embodiment, a heat pipe type vacuum tube collector receives radiant heat from a high temperature heat source, stores heat in the antifreeze liquid, circulates the antifreeze liquid to the high temperature side of the thermoelectric conversion unit, and air cools the low temperature side of the thermoelectric conversion unit. By cooling with fins, power generation is performed without circulation of the cooling medium as described in the third embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, a heat transfer plate 13a is thermally bonded to one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14, and a latent heat storage tank 13b such as a saccharide such as erythritol or a molten salt is thermally applied to the heat transfer plate 13a. The air-cooling fin 35 is thermally bonded to the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14.

  In the present embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the heat obtained by storing the sensible heat in the antifreeze liquid is supplied to the latent heat storage tank 13b to store the heat, which is used as the high-temperature side heat source of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14.

  Further, the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 is cooled to a low temperature side by the heat radiation from the air cooling fins 35, and a low temperature side heat source of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 is generated.

  In this case, the heat collected by the vacuum tube collector 12 and passed from one surface of the thermoelectric converter 14 to the other surface is taken out from the air cooling fins 35 as hot air. Therefore, in order to raise the temperature of the atmosphere, if the installation location of the combined heat and power supply device is an enclosed space, an effect such as heating can be obtained.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the combined heat and power operation by the air-cooled combined heat and power supply apparatus according to the third embodiment.
First, the radiant heat from the high-temperature heat source is collected by the heat pipe type vacuum tube collector 12 (step S21), and the collected heat is stored by the antifreeze in the flow path 18a via the antifreeze header 30. (Step S22).

  The stored heat is transferred to the heat transfer plate 13a through the latent heat storage tank 13b on one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14, and the heat transferred to the heat transfer plate 13a is transferred to the thermoelectric conversion unit 14. The heat that has passed through the other surface to the other surface is dissipated by the air-cooling fin 35 (step S23), thereby causing a temperature difference between the one surface and the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14, thereby Electricity is generated by conversion (step S24), and the generated electric power is supplied to an MPPT controller (not shown), and this electric power is stored in a battery or supplied to a load via an inverter (step S25).

  As described above, in the combined heat and power supply apparatus according to the third embodiment, the heat from the high-temperature heat source is collected in a non-contact manner by the heat collector 12, and power is generated by the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 by this heat and cooling by the air cooling fins 35. In addition, the heat passing through the thermoelectric converter 14 without being used for power conversion is extracted as heat from the air-cooling fins 35, so that energy use efficiency such as high-temperature exhaust heat, cold exhaust heat, and unused heat is effective. Thus, it is possible to provide a combined heat and power supply apparatus that can be applied to various types of heat sources.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the heat collecting unit of the cogeneration apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8A, a gantry provided with an inclined surface with an inclination angle of, for example, 30 degrees with respect to the ground is provided, and the inclined surface of the gantry is shown in FIG. 8B. As described above, a plurality of or one heat pipe type vacuum tube collector 12 is installed side by side with respect to the inclined surface of the gantry 41, and a high thermal conductivity heat storage block 42 is installed on the inclined surface. As the protruding portion is inserted into the heat storage block 42, both are thermally bonded. The heat storage block 42 may be a plate-like member.

  One end of one or a plurality of heat pipes 43 for heat transport is inserted into the heat storage block 42, and the heat storage block 42 and the heat pipe 43 are thermally joined. The heat pipe 43 may be a heat plate. In the present embodiment, the number of vacuum tube heat collectors 12 inserted into one heat storage block 42 and the number of heat pipes 43 inserted into the same heat storage block 42 can be made different. Thereby, the freedom degree of adjustment between the quantity of the heat conveyed with the heat pipe 43 with respect to the quantity of the heat collected with the vacuum tube collector 12 can be made high.

  The heat collected by the vacuum tube collector 12 is temporarily stored in the heat storage block 42. Since this heat is transported by heat pipe 43 from one end to the other end, which is a joint with heat storage block 42, the heat from the other end of heat pipe 43 can be used in a desired form. For example, if you want to boil hot water, you can insert the other end of the heat pipe 43 into the water tank. If you want to make steam or gas, you can make water or liquid contact the other end of the heat pipe 43 little by little. .

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the power generation unit of the cogeneration apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9A, after installing the heat bath block 52 on the upper end of the support column 51 installed on the ground, the other end of the heat pipe 43 for heat transport shown in FIG. A heat bath block 52, which is a high heat conductive material such as aluminum, is thermally bonded, one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 is thermally bonded to the heat bath block 52, and a fin is bonded to the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14. The water tank 53 is thermally joined, and the tap water 31 is opened by the combined heat and power control device 20 to supply cold water to the water tank 53 with fins. Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion units 14 are provided in a grid pattern on the heat bath block 52.

  Like the heat sink described in the first embodiment, the finned water tank 53 has a chamber structure that allows a cooling medium to flow in a flow path formed of a metal material, and improves heat transfer performance on the inner wall surface of the chamber. For this purpose, the inner wall surface may be subjected to anticorrosion treatment, or BiTe-based or Fe2VAl-based Heusler alloy may be used as the material.

  The heat collected by the vacuum tube collector 12 is temporarily stored in the heat storage block 42. This heat is transported by the heat pipe 43 and collected in the heat bath block 52, and the heat bath block 52 becomes high temperature.

  Thereby, one surface of the thermoelectric conversion part 14 becomes high temperature, the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion part 14 becomes low temperature by pouring cold water into the water tank 53 with fins in a state where the tap 31 of the water pipe is opened, Power generation is performed by the temperature difference between both surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14.

  Moreover, if the tap 31 of a water pipe is closed by the heat / electric supply control apparatus 20 at the time which requires the heat from the water tank 53 with fins or arbitrary timing, the fall of the temperature of the water tank 53 with a fin will be suppressed, and the heat bath block 52 The temperature of the cold water in the finned water tank 53 rises and becomes hot water due to the heat that passes from one surface of the thermoelectric converter 14 toward the other surface. By transferring this hot water to a tank (not shown), the heat that has passed through the thermoelectric converter 14 can be used effectively. Moreover, the heat which passed the thermoelectric conversion part 14 from the heat bath block 52 as mentioned above is thermally radiated from the fin of the water tank 53 with a fin, and this heat can also be utilized as a warm temperature.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a combined heat and power operation by the combined heat and power device according to the fourth embodiment.
First, as an initial state, it is assumed that a new supply of cold water to the finned water tank 53 is performed with the tap 31 of the water pipe opened by the combined heat and power control device 20. The radiant heat from the high-temperature heat source is collected by the heat pipe type vacuum tube collector 12 (step S31), and the collected heat is stored by the heat storage block 42 (step S32).

  The stored heat is transferred to the heat bath block 52 via the heat pipe 43, and the transferred heat is transferred to one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 (step S33).

  Further, the cold water is supplied to the finned water tank 53 to cause a temperature difference between one surface and the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14, and power generation is performed by thermoelectric conversion (step S34). Electric power is supplied to an MPPT controller (not shown), and this electric power is stored in a battery or supplied to a load via an inverter (step S35).

  Then, after the combined heat and power control device 20 suppresses a decrease in the temperature of the water in the finned water tank 53 by closing the faucet 31 of the water pipe at, for example, a predetermined time requiring hot water, or at an arbitrary timing, The heat transferred to one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 passes toward the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 and heat exchange with the cold water in the finned water tank 53 is performed. Rises (step S36).

  Thereafter, the combined heat and power control device 20 measures the temperature of the water in the finned water tank 53 using a temperature sensor, and when the measured temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, the valve between the hot water storage tank and the tank. Is opened to supply the water in the water tank 53 with fins to the hot water storage tank, and the tap 31 of the water pipe is opened to restart the new supply of cold water to the water tank 53 with fins.

  As described above, in the cogeneration apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, heat is transferred between the heat storage block 42 on the vacuum tube collector 12 side and the heat bath block 52 on the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 side by the heat pipe 43 for heat transport. Thus, the heat storage block 42 can be further heated by increasing the number of the vacuum tube collectors 12 without changing the number of the heat pipes 43. Therefore, compared to other embodiments, the degree of freedom in adjusting the operating temperature range and the amount of power generation can be greatly improved, and there is no need for a power supply for heat transport, and the thermoelectric power is highly scalable and versatile. A co-feeder can be realized.

  In the present embodiment, the heat storage block 42 on the vacuum tube collector 12 side and the heat bath block 52 on the thermoelectric conversion unit 14 side are thermally connected one-to-one by a heat pipe 43 for heat transport. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of heat storage blocks 42 are provided for one heat bath block 52, and these heat storage blocks 42 and the heat bath block 52 are thermally joined by a heat pipe 43 for heat transport. It is good also as a structure. That is, the vacuum tube collector 12, the heat storage block 42 and the heat transporting heat pipe 43 may be thermally joined to form a unit, and a plurality of units may be thermally joined to the heat bath block 52. Thereby, the freedom degree concerning adjustment of a temperature zone or a power generation area can be improved.

According to each of these embodiments, it is possible to provide a combined heat and power apparatus and a combined heat and power method that can effectively increase energy utilization efficiency.
Although several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... High temperature heat source, 12 ... Heat pipe type vacuum tube collector, 13 ... High temperature heat bath part, 13a ... Heat-transfer plate, 13b ... Latent heat storage tank, 14 ... Thermoelectric conversion module, 15 ... Heat sink, 15a ... Water cooling jacket, 16 ... cold heat source, 17, 33 ... valve, 18 ... flow path, 20 ... cogeneration control device, 21 ... MPPT controller, 22 ... inverter, 23 ... battery, 24, 34 ... hot water storage tank, 32 ... cold water tank, 35 ... air cooling Fins, 41 ... frame, 42 ... heat collecting block, 43 ... heat pipe, 51 ... strut, 52 ... heat bath block, 53 ... water tank with fins.

Claims (8)

A heat collecting section for collecting heat by receiving heat from a high-temperature heat source in a non-contact manner;
A thermoelectric conversion unit that has one surface thermally bonded to the heat collecting unit, the other surface is thermally bonded to a cooling medium having a temperature lower than the temperature of the collected heat, and generates power by a temperature difference between the two surfaces; ,
A heat exchanging unit that exchanges heat between the other surface and the cooling medium that is received on one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit and passed to the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit; Combined heat and power device. A heat collecting section for collecting heat by receiving heat from a high-temperature heat source in a non-contact manner;
A heat storage section that is thermally joined to the heat collection section and stores heat collected by the heat collection section; and
A heat transport part thermally joined to the heat storage part;
A heat bath part thermally joined to the heat transport part;
One surface is thermally bonded to the heat bath portion, the other surface is thermally bonded to a cold medium having a temperature lower than the temperature of the collected heat, and a thermoelectric conversion portion that generates power by a temperature difference between the two surfaces. When,
A heat exchanging unit that exchanges heat between the other surface and the cooling medium that is received on one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit and passed to the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit; Combined heat and power device. A heat bath part that is thermally joined between the heat collecting part and the one surface of the thermoelectric conversion part and transmits heat collected by the heat collecting part to the one surface of the thermoelectric conversion part; The cogeneration apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The heat bath part is
The cogeneration apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a sensible heat storage material. The heat bath part is
The cogeneration apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a latent heat storage material. Units formed by thermally joining the heat storage part to the heat collecting part and thermally joining the heat transport part to the heat storage part are thermally joined to the heat bath part by a plurality of units. The combined heat and power device according to claim 2, wherein Receives heat from a high-temperature heat source in a non-contact manner at the heat collecting part,
One surface is thermally bonded to the heat collecting part, and the other surface is generated by a temperature difference between both surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion part thermally bonded to a cooling medium having a temperature lower than the temperature of the collected heat,
A combined heat and power method, wherein heat exchanged between the other surface and the cooling medium is received between the heat received by one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit and passed through the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit. Receives heat from the high-temperature heat source in a non-contact manner by the heat collecting part,
Storing the collected heat by a heat storage unit;
The heat storage heat transported to the heat bath part by the heat transport part,
Electric power is generated by a temperature difference between both surfaces of the thermoelectric conversion unit, one surface of which is thermally bonded to the heat bath portion and the other surface is thermally bonded to a cooling medium having a temperature lower than the temperature of the collected heat. And
A combined heat and power method, wherein heat exchanged between the other surface and the cooling medium is received between the heat received by one surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit and passed through the other surface of the thermoelectric conversion unit.

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