JP2018091580A - Thermoacoustic engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a phase change-type thermoacoustic engine capable of stably exhibiting energy exchange performance.SOLUTION: A pipe member 20 of a thermoacoustic engine 1 is configured to form a sonic wave transmission passage for gas-phase working fluid, as the inside of the member pipe is filled with working fluid 10 that is a mixture of non-condensable fluid 11 and condensable fluid 12. In the pipe member 20, a liquid storage part 25 is provided, which is configured to collect, on an inclination surface 24, liquid-phase condensable fluid 12B condensed in the sonic wave transmission passage, and store it. The thermoacoustic engine 1 includes a supply unit 50 configured to supply, to a stack 31, the liquid-phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage part 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The technology disclosed herein relates to a thermoacoustic engine that uses a mixture of a non-condensable fluid and a condensable fluid as a working fluid.

  As a conventional technique, for example, there is a phase change type thermoacoustic engine disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. In this thermoacoustic engine, a mixture of a non-condensable fluid and a condensable fluid is used as a working fluid, and heat source energy at a low temperature can be utilized by a phase change of the condensable fluid.

JP 2009-74722 A

  However, in the above-described conventional thermoacoustic engine, there may be a case where the amount of the condensable fluid existing in the vicinity of the stack causing the thermoacoustic phenomenon is not appropriate. For example, if a large amount of condensable fluid condenses at a location other than the stack due to the influence of the environmental temperature of the engine, the amount of the condensable fluid existing in the vicinity of the stack decreases. In such a case, there is a problem that the effect of the phase change of the condensable fluid cannot be sufficiently exhibited and the energy exchange performance is deteriorated.

  The technology disclosed herein has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a phase-change-type thermoacoustic engine that can stably exhibit energy exchange performance.

In order to achieve the above object, in the disclosed thermoacoustic engine,
A pipe member (20) that is filled with a working fluid (10) that is a mixture of a non-condensable fluid (11) and a condensable fluid (12) to form a sound wave transmission path of the gaseous working fluid;
A heat absorber (32) provided on the pipe member and absorbing heat from the outside to the working fluid;
A radiator (33) provided on the pipe member and radiating heat from the working fluid to the outside;
A stack (31) provided on the pipe member, sandwiched between a heat absorber and a heat radiator, and performing energy conversion between thermal energy and acoustic energy of sound waves by a thermoacoustic effect;
A liquid storage part (25) for storing a liquid phase condensable fluid provided in the pipe member;
A liquid introduction part (24) that is provided in the pipe member and guides the condensable fluid that has become a liquid phase in the transmission path to the liquid storage part;
And a supply unit (50, 250, 350) for supplying the liquid phase condensable fluid stored in the liquid storage unit to the stack.

  According to this, the condensable fluid that has become a liquid phase in the transmission path can be guided to the liquid storage part by the liquid introduction part. The liquid phase condensable fluid stored in the liquid storage section can be supplied to the stack. Therefore, even if a large amount of condensable fluid is condensed outside the stack, the condensable fluid that has become a liquid phase can be collected in the liquid storage section and supplied to the stack. The effect of latent heat accompanying the gas-liquid phase change can be reliably exhibited. In this way, it is possible to stably exhibit energy exchange performance.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis described in a claim and this clause shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later as one aspect, Comprising: The range of an indication technique is limited It is not a thing.

It is a schematic block diagram of the thermoacoustic engine which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the II section expanded sectional view of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view of a modification, and has shown a portion corresponding to FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the thermoacoustic engine which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the thermoacoustic engine which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the thermoacoustic engine which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is the VII-VII sectional view taken on the line of FIG.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of modes for carrying out the disclosed technology will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, parts corresponding to the matters described in the preceding embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. In the case where only a part of the configuration is described in each embodiment, the other parts of the configuration are the same as those described previously. In addition to the combination of parts specifically described in each embodiment, the embodiments may be partially combined as long as the combination is not particularly troublesome.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment to which the disclosed technology is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

  A thermoacoustic engine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle, for example. The thermoacoustic engine 1 is mounted on a vehicle with a direction indicated by an arrow in the figure as a vertical direction. The thermoacoustic engine 1 includes a tube member 20, a sound wave generation unit 30, a cooler 40, and a supply unit 50. The tube member 20 includes a first loop tube 21 formed in a loop shape, a second loop tube 22 formed in a loop shape, and a connection as a resonance tube communicating the first loop tube 21 and the second loop tube 22. It has a tube 23.

  The tube member 20 is, for example, a stainless steel circular section tube. A working fluid 10 is sealed inside the tube member 20. Inside the tube member 20, a mixture of the non-condensable fluid 11 and the condensable fluid 12 is sealed as the working fluid 10. The non-condensable fluid 11 is always in a gas phase inside the pipe member 20. The non-condensable fluid 11 is helium, for example. The non-condensable fluid 11 is not limited to helium. As the non-condensable fluid 11, for example, an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon or air can be used. As the non-condensable fluid 11, the above-described gases can be used alone or in combination.

  The condensable fluid 12 undergoes a phase change between the gas phase state and the liquid phase state in accordance with the temperature and the saturated vapor pressure inside the tube member 20. The condensable fluid 12 is, for example, water. The condensable fluid 12 is not limited to water. As the condensable fluid 12, for example, carbonic acid or chlorofluorocarbon can be used. As the condensable fluid 12, the above-described fluids can be used alone or in combination.

  The working fluid 10 is filled in the pipe member 20 at a pressure of, for example, about 0.1 to 3.0 MPa. The pipe member 20 forms a sound wave transmission path of the gas-phase working fluid 10 therein. The thermoacoustic engine 1 is a so-called double loop type thermoacoustic engine.

  The first loop tube 21 is provided with a sound wave generator 30. The sound wave generation unit 30 is a prime mover in the thermoacoustic engine 1 and has a sound wave generation function for converting thermal energy into acoustic energy. The first loop pipe 21 has upper and lower horizontal pipes 211 and 212 and left and right vertical pipes 213 and 214 and is piped in a rectangular shape. In this example, the sound wave generator 30 is disposed in a vertical tube 214 extending in the vertical direction.

  The sound wave generation unit 30 includes a stack 31 as a heat accumulator housed inside the first loop pipe 21, a high-temperature side heat exchanger 32 provided at one end serving as a high temperature end of the stack 31, and a low temperature of the stack 31. And a low-temperature side heat exchanger 33 provided at the other end portion serving as an end. The high temperature side heat exchanger 32 is, for example, a heat absorber that absorbs waste heat from an internal combustion engine or a heat generating device mounted on a vehicle and heats the working fluid 10. In the high temperature side heat exchanger 32, for example, the working fluid 10 can absorb heat by exchanging heat between the working fluid 10 and a cooling medium that cools the internal combustion engine or the heat generating device. Further, the high temperature side heat exchanger 32 may be configured to cause the working fluid 10 to absorb heat by exchanging heat between the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine and the working fluid 10, for example.

  On the other hand, the low temperature side heat exchanger 33 is a radiator that radiates heat from the working fluid 10 to the heat transport medium by heat exchange with the heat transport medium to cool the working fluid 10. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the stack 31 sandwiched between the high temperature side heat exchanger 32 and the low temperature side heat exchanger 33 is configured by a structure in which a plurality of stainless metal meshes are stacked. As a result, fine working fluid 10 passages are formed in the stack 31 at minute intervals. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the stack 31 may be a honeycomb structure made of ceramics.

  A temperature gradient is generated on the passage wall in the stack 31 in the extending direction of the first loop pipe 21 by the functions of the heat absorber and the heat radiator disposed at both ends. When the working fluid 10 moves along the temperature gradient in the fine passage in the stack 31 where the temperature gradient occurs, self-excited pressure fluctuations are generated in the gas-phase working fluid 10 by the thermoacoustic effect. That is, the stack 31 causes the working fluid 10 to generate sound waves due to thermoacoustic self-excited vibration. In the stack 31, heat energy is converted into acoustic energy, and sound waves are generated in the gas phase working fluid 10, that is, the mixed gas of the non-condensable fluid 11 and the gas phase condensable fluid 12A that is the gas phase condensable fluid 12. generate. In the sound wave transmission path in the first loop tube 21, traveling wave and standing wave sound waves traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 from the high temperature end side of the sound wave generator 30 are generated.

  In the sound wave generation unit 30, the condensable fluid 12 of the working fluid 10 evaporates in the high temperature side heat exchanger 32 and condenses in the low temperature side heat exchanger 33. The condensable fluid 12 that has become a liquid phase in the low temperature side heat exchanger 33 passes through the stack 31 and moves to the high temperature side heat exchanger 32 side. With such a phase change of the condensable fluid 12, heat transfer in the stack 31 is promoted. Therefore, even when the temperature of the transport medium for transporting waste heat to the high temperature side heat exchanger 32 is relatively low and the temperature difference between the high and low temperatures of the stack 31 is small, the phase change of the condensable fluid 12 causes A large heat flow can be formed. Thereby, a relatively large work flow can be formed by energy conversion in the stack 31, and relatively large acoustic energy can be generated as sound waves.

  A part of the sound wave in the first loop tube 21 is propagated into the second loop tube 22 via the connecting tube 23. The connecting pipe 23 has an upstream end in the sound wave traveling direction connected to the first loop pipe 21 and a downstream end in the sound wave traveling direction connected to the second loop pipe 22. In the vertical tube 214 of the first loop tube 21, the sound wave generator 30 is disposed relatively near the connection portion of the connecting tube 23.

  A cooler 40 is provided in the second loop pipe 22. The cooler 40 is a passive machine in the thermoacoustic engine 1 and has a heat storage function for converting acoustic energy into thermal energy. The cooler 40 is an output unit that converts acoustic energy of sound waves from the sound wave generating unit 30 into heat energy and outputs heat energy. The second loop pipe 22 has upper and lower horizontal pipes 221 and 222 and left and right vertical pipes 223 and 224 and is piped in a rectangular shape. In this example, the cooler 40 is disposed in a vertical tube 224 that extends in the vertical direction.

  The cooler 40 includes a stack 41 serving as a regenerator housed inside the second loop pipe 22, a high-temperature side heat exchanger 42 provided at one end serving as a high-temperature end of the stack 41, and a low-temperature end of the stack 41. And a low temperature side heat exchanger 43 provided at the other end. The high temperature side heat exchanger 42 is a heat radiator that radiates heat of the working fluid 10 to the heat transport medium by heat exchange. The low temperature side heat exchanger 43 is a heat absorber that absorbs heat of the heat transport medium to the working fluid 10 by heat exchange.

  The stack 41 sandwiched between the high temperature side heat exchanger 42 and the low temperature side heat exchanger 43 is configured by a structure in which, for example, a plurality of stainless steel metal meshes are stacked. As a result, fine working gas passages are formed in the stack 41 at fine intervals. The stack 41 may be a honeycomb structure made of ceramics, for example.

  When a sound wave is propagated into the second loop pipe 22 through the connection pipe 23 and enters the fine passage in the stack 41 from the high temperature end side, acoustic energy is converted into thermal energy between the working fluid 10 and the passage wall. The conversion and the conversion from thermal energy to acoustic energy are repeated. In the process, heat transport is performed from the low temperature end of the stack 41 to the high temperature end. The cooler 40 is a heat pump that transports heat from the low temperature end to the high temperature end of the stack 41 using acoustic energy.

  In the vertical pipe 224 of the second loop pipe 22, the cooler 40 is disposed relatively near the connection part of the connecting pipe 23. The cooler 40 is disposed at a site upstream of the connection portion of the connection pipe 23 in the sound wave traveling direction in the second loop tube 22, and is in the order of the high temperature side heat exchanger 42, the stack 41, and the low temperature side heat exchanger 43. Has been placed.

  The cooler 40 converts acoustic energy into thermal energy that is energy other than acoustic energy and outputs the thermal energy. The cooler 40 outputs heat energy as cold heat from the low temperature side heat exchanger 43 provided at the low temperature end of the stack 41.

  The thermoacoustic engine 1 of this embodiment is an apparatus suitable for application to, for example, a vehicle air conditioner. For example, the vehicle interior can be cooled by circulating a heat transport medium cooled by heat exchange with the working fluid 10 in the low temperature side heat exchanger 43 of the cooler 40 to the cooler core. The cold output from the low temperature side heat exchanger 43 is transported to the cooler core by the heat transport medium, and the air blown into the passenger compartment is cooled in the cooler core.

  The pipe member 20 of the present embodiment is provided with a liquid storage part 25. In this example, the liquid storage part 25 is provided below the connection part between the horizontal pipe 212 and the vertical pipe 213 of the first loop pipe 21. The liquid storage part 25 has a cup-like shape in which the tube member 20 is expanded downward, and can store a liquid-phase condensable fluid 12B, which is a liquid-phase condensable fluid 12, inside. The liquid reservoir 25 is not limited to the one formed by expanding the tube member 20. The liquid storage part 25 may be a part that forms a concave part recessed downward and can store liquid in the concave part. For example, the liquid storage part 25 may be one in which a container body is attached to the tube member 20.

  In the pipe member 20, the horizontal pipe 212 of the first loop pipe 21 extends from one end portion in the extending direction of the connecting pipe 23, and the horizontal direction of the second loop pipe 22 extends from the other end portion in the extending direction of the connecting pipe 23. A tube 222 extends. In this example, the horizontal pipe 212, the connecting pipe 23, and the horizontal pipe 222 are formed as continuous pipes of the same diameter arranged coaxially. The continuous pipe composed of the horizontal pipe 212, the connecting pipe 23, and the horizontal pipe 222 is an inclined pipe that is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. In the continuous pipe composed of the horizontal pipe 212, the connecting pipe 23, and the horizontal pipe 222, the end on the liquid storage section 25 formation side on the right in the drawing is lower than the left end in the drawing. That is, the horizontal pipe 212, the connecting pipe 23, and the horizontal pipe 222 constitute an inclined pipe that is gradually positioned downward as it approaches the liquid storage part. Therefore, the lower surface portions of the horizontal tube 212, the connecting tube 23, and the horizontal tube 222 that face the sound wave transmission path form an inclined surface 24 that is gradually positioned downward as the liquid storage unit 25 is approached.

  In the thermoacoustic engine 1, when the condensable fluid 12 is condensed at a place other than the stack 31 and the low-temperature side heat exchanger 33 of the sound wave generation unit 30 due to the influence of the environmental temperature or the like, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B is generated There is. The liquid-phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B generated at a location other than the sound wave generator 30 in the tube member 20 flows downward along the inclined surface 24 and is collected in the liquid reservoir 25. The inclined surface 24 formed on the tube member 20 corresponds to a liquid introduction part that guides the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B that has become a liquid phase in the sound wave transmission path to the liquid storage part 25. The inclined surface 24 that functions as the liquid introduction unit is provided by an inclined tube including the horizontal tube 212, the connecting tube 23, and the horizontal tube 222.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the thermoacoustic engine 1 includes a supply unit 50 for supplying the liquid-phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 to the stack 31 of the sound wave generation unit 30. The supply unit 50 includes a supply pipe 51 and a pump device 52 provided in the supply pipe 51. The supply pipe 51 connects the liquid storage unit 25 and the stack 31. The upstream end of the supply pipe 51 opens at the bottom of the liquid storage unit 25 in this example. On the other hand, the downstream end of the supply pipe 51 is open to the height of the upper end of the stack 31 as shown in FIGS. Specifically, the downstream end of the supply pipe 51 opens to the side of the connection portion between the stack 31 and the low temperature side heat exchanger 33.

  The pump device 52 pumps the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 toward the stack 31 through the supply pipe 51. As a result, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B gathered in the liquid storage unit 25 is supplied to the stack 31. Pump device 52 is turned on when the amount of condensable fluid 12 in stack 31 is insufficient for a suitable amount based on energy conversion efficiency. When the pump device 52 is turned on and is in an operating state, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 is sent to the stack 31 by a predetermined amount. The liquid phase condensable fluid 12B supplied to the stack 31 enters the stack 31 by a capillary phenomenon, and spreads throughout the stack 31 by the capillary phenomenon and gravity.

  According to the thermoacoustic engine 1 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  The thermoacoustic engine 1 includes a tube member 20, a high-temperature side heat exchanger 32 as a heat absorber, a low-temperature side heat exchanger 33 as a radiator, a stack 31, a liquid storage unit 25, an inclined surface 24 as a liquid introduction unit, and A supply unit 50 is provided. The tube member 20 is filled with a working fluid 10 that is a mixture of the non-condensable fluid 11 and the condensable fluid 12 to form a sound wave transmission path of the gas-phase working fluid. The high temperature side heat exchanger 32 is provided in the pipe member 20 and absorbs heat from the outside to the working fluid 10. The low temperature side heat exchanger 33 is provided in the pipe member 20 and radiates heat from the working fluid 10 to the outside. The stack 31 is provided on the tube member 20 and is sandwiched between a heat absorber and a heat radiator, and performs energy conversion between thermal energy and acoustic energy of sound waves by a thermoacoustic effect. The liquid storage unit 25 is provided in the pipe member 20 and stores the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B. The inclined surface 24 is provided in the pipe member 20 and guides the liquid-phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B that has become a liquid phase in the sound wave transmission path to the liquid storage unit 25. The supply unit 50 supplies the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 to the stack 31.

  According to this, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B that has become a liquid phase in the sound wave transmission path can be guided to the liquid storage unit 25 by the inclined surface 24 that is the liquid introduction unit. Then, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 can be supplied to the stack 31. Therefore, even if a large amount of condensable fluid is condensed outside the stack 31, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B that has become a liquid phase is collected in the liquid storage unit 25, and the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B is supplied to the stack 31. be able to. Thereby, the effect of the latent heat accompanying the gas-liquid phase change of the condensable fluid 12 can be reliably exhibited in the stack 31. In this way, it is possible to stably exhibit energy exchange performance.

  The supply unit 50 includes a pump device 52 that pumps the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 to the stack 31. According to this, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 can be reliably supplied to the stack 31 by being pumped by the pump device 52.

  Moreover, the liquid introduction part of this embodiment is formed so as to face the sound wave transmission path on the lower side of the sound wave transmission path, and has an inclined surface 24 that is positioned gradually downward as the liquid storage part 25 is approached. According to this, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B that has become a liquid phase in the sound wave transmission path can be easily guided to the liquid storage unit 25 using the inclined surface 24.

  The inclined surface 24 is formed in a part of the pipe member 20 and is provided by a horizontal pipe 212, a connecting pipe 23, and a horizontal pipe 222 that constitute an inclined pipe that is positioned gradually downward as it approaches the liquid storage unit 25. The According to this, the inclined surface 24 for flowing the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B that has become a liquid phase in the sound wave transmission path toward the liquid storage unit 25 can be easily provided by the inclined pipe.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described based on FIG.

  2nd Embodiment differs in the structure of a supply part compared with the above-mentioned 1st Embodiment. In addition, about the part similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted. Components having the same reference numerals as those in the drawings according to the first embodiment and other configurations not described in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment and have the same effects.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the liquid storage unit 25 is provided below the connection portion between the horizontal tube 212 and the vertical tube 214 of the first loop tube 21. In the pipe member 20 of the present embodiment, the connecting pipe 23 and the horizontal pipe 222 are formed as a continuous pipe having the same diameter arranged coaxially. As is clear from FIG. 4, the continuous pipe composed of the connecting pipe 23 and the horizontal pipe 222 is an inclined pipe that is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. On the other hand, the horizontal pipe 212 connected to the connecting pipe 23 on the side opposite to the horizontal pipe 222 is an inclined pipe slightly inclined to the opposite side of the continuous pipe formed of the connecting pipe 23 and the horizontal pipe 222 with respect to the horizontal direction. Yes.

  In the continuous pipe composed of the connecting pipe 23 and the horizontal pipe 222, the end portion on the liquid storage portion 25 forming side on the right side in the drawing is lower than the left end portion in the drawing. On the other hand, in the horizontal tube 212, the end on the left side of the liquid storage section 25 is lower than the right end in the figure. That is, the horizontal pipe 212, the connecting pipe 23, and the horizontal pipe 222 constitute an inclined pipe that is gradually positioned downward as it approaches the liquid storage unit 25. Therefore, the lower surface part facing the sound wave transmission path of the horizontal pipe 212 and the lower surface part facing the sound wave transmission path of the connecting pipe 23 and the horizontal pipe 222 are both inclined surfaces 24 that are positioned gradually downward as they approach the liquid storage part 25. Form. Also in the present embodiment, the inclined surface 24 functioning as the liquid introduction unit is provided by an inclined tube made up of the horizontal tube 212 and an inclined tube made up of the connecting tube 23 and the horizontal tube 222.

  The thermoacoustic engine of this embodiment uses an electric heater 250 as an example of a heating device as a supply unit for supplying the liquid-phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 to the stack 31 of the sound wave generation unit 30. I have. The electric heater 250 is provided in the liquid storage part 25, and is provided so that the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage part 25 can be heated. When the electric heater 250 is energized and the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B of the liquid storage unit 25 is heated, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B is vaporized to become the gas phase condensable fluid 12A, and the generated gas phase condensable fluid is generated. 12A diffuses into the sound wave transmission path.

  When the amount of the condensable fluid 12 in the stack 31 is insufficient with respect to a suitable amount based on the energy conversion efficiency, the electric heater 250 is turned on and the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 is stored. Is supplied to the stack 31 as a gas-phase condensable fluid 12A. The electric heater 250 is a temperature adjustment device that adjusts the temperature by heating the liquid-phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25, and corresponds to a supply unit in the present embodiment.

  In the thermoacoustic engine of the present embodiment, the supply unit has a temperature adjusting device that heats and adjusts the temperature of the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25. According to this, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B is heated by heating the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 by the temperature control device, and the gas phase condensable fluid 12A is supplied to the stack 31. be able to. Moreover, the supply part of this embodiment can be made into the comparatively simple structure which does not have a movable part. The temperature adjusting device is not limited to the electric heater 250, and any device that can heat the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 may be used.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  3rd Embodiment differs in the structure of the temperature control apparatus used as a supply part compared with above-mentioned 2nd Embodiment. In addition, about the part similar to 1st, 2nd embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted. The components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the drawings according to the first and second embodiments, and other configurations not described in the third embodiment are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, and have the same effects. Is.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the thermoacoustic engine of the present embodiment uses a Peltier element 350 as a supply unit for supplying the liquid-phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 to the stack 31 of the sound wave generation unit 30. I have. The Peltier element 350 is provided on the bottom surface of the bottom of the liquid storage unit 25, and is provided so as to be able to heat and cool the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25. When the Peltier element 350 is energized and the surface on the liquid storage part side becomes a heat generating surface, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B of the liquid storage part 25 is heated, and the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B is vaporized to form the gas phase condensable fluid 12A. Become. Then, the generated gas-phase condensable fluid 12A diffuses into the sound wave transmission path. When the polarity of the current of the Peltier element 350 is reversed and the surface on the liquid storage part side becomes an endothermic surface, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B of the liquid storage part 25 is cooled, and the liquid phase condensable fluid stored in the liquid storage part 25 The gas phase condensable fluid 12A condenses on the surface of 12B.

  When the amount of the condensable fluid 12 in the stack 31 is insufficient with respect to a suitable amount based on the energy conversion efficiency, the Peltier element 350 is energized to generate heat, and the stored liquid phase condensable fluid 12B is heated. The mode is set. When the heating mode is set, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 becomes the gas phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> A and is supplied to the stack 31.

  When the amount of the condensable fluid 12 in the stack 31 is excessive with respect to a suitable amount based on the energy conversion efficiency, the Peltier element 350 is reversely energized to absorb heat and cool the stored liquid phase condensable fluid 12B. The cooling mode to be set is set. When the cooling mode is set, the gas-phase condensable fluid 12A in the pipe member 20 condenses as the temperature of the liquid-phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid reservoir 25 decreases, and the liquid reservoir 25 To be recovered. Thus, the Peltier element 350 can switch between the heating mode in which the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 is heated to adjust the temperature and the cooling mode in which it is cooled to adjust the temperature. The Peltier element 350 is a temperature adjustment device configured to be able to switch between a heating mode and a cooling mode, and corresponds to a supply unit in the present embodiment.

  In the thermoacoustic engine of the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the supply unit has a temperature adjustment device that heats and adjusts the temperature of the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25. . According to this, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B is heated by heating the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 by the temperature control device, and the gas phase condensable fluid 12A is supplied to the stack 31. be able to. Moreover, the supply part of this embodiment can be made into the comparatively simple structure which does not have a movable part.

  Further, the Peltier element 350 as a temperature control device cools the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 and the heating mode for heating the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25. The cooling mode for adjusting the temperature can be switched. According to this, the temperature adjusting device can easily adjust the amount of the condensable fluid existing in the stack 31 by switching between the heating mode and the cooling mode.

  Since the cooling mode can be set by the temperature control device, when the amount of the condensable fluid 12 in the stack 31 is excessive with respect to a suitable amount, a part of this can be recovered. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the excessive condensable fluid 12 from hindering heat exchange or the excessive condensable fluid 12 from blocking the fine passages in the stack. Moreover, it can suppress that the vapor phase condensable fluid 12A becomes excessive inside the pipe member 20 and heat energy loss is generated due to the heat pipe effect.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, 4th Embodiment is described based on FIG.6 and FIG.7.

  4th Embodiment differs in the attitude | position of a pipe member compared with the above-mentioned 1st Embodiment. In addition, about the part similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted. Components having the same reference numerals as those in the drawings according to the first embodiment and other configurations not described in the fourth embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and have the same effects.

  The thermoacoustic engine of this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle with the front and back directions in the drawing as the vertical direction. The front side of the paper corresponds to the upper side of the thermoacoustic engine, and the back side of the paper corresponds to the lower side of the thermoacoustic engine. As shown in FIG. 6, the liquid storage unit 25 of the present embodiment is provided in the vicinity of the low temperature side heat exchanger 43 of the cooler 40 in the second loop pipe 22.

  As shown in FIG. 7, at least a part of the second loop tube 22 is configured by an inclined tube slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. The second loop pipe 22 is inclined so that the position of the low temperature side heat exchanger 43 is slightly lower than the position of the high temperature side heat exchanger 42 at the portion where the cooler 40 is disposed. The second loop pipe 22 is provided with a liquid storage unit 25 at a site close to the low temperature side heat exchanger 43.

  The second loop pipe 22 is lower at the end of the liquid storage part 25 formation side on the left side in the drawing than at the right side end in the drawing at the site where the cooler 40 is disposed. That is, the cooler 40 arrangement site of the second loop pipe 22 constitutes an inclined pipe that is gradually positioned downward as the liquid storage section 25 is approached. Therefore, the lower surface portion facing the sound wave transmission path of this portion forms an inclined surface 24 that is positioned gradually downward as it approaches the liquid storage portion 25.

  Note that the second loop pipe 22 constitutes an inclined pipe that is positioned gradually below the liquid storage section 25 as the liquid storage section 25 also approaches the liquid storage section 25 on the left side in FIG. Therefore, the lower surface part facing the sound wave transmission path of this part also forms an inclined surface 24 that is positioned gradually downward as it approaches the liquid storage part 25. Also in the present embodiment, the inclined surface 24 that functions as the liquid introduction part is provided by the inclined pipe part of the second loop pipe 22.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the supply pipe 51 of the present embodiment has a downstream end opened to a high temperature end of the stack 31. Specifically, the downstream end of the supply pipe 51 opens at a connection site between the stack 31 and the high temperature side heat exchanger 32. The pump device 52 pumps the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 toward the stack 31 through the supply pipe 51. As a result, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B gathered in the liquid storage unit 25 is supplied to the stack 31.

  In the thermoacoustic apparatus of this embodiment, the low temperature side heat exchanger 43 arrangement | positioning site | part tends to become the lowest temperature. Therefore, the gas-phase condensable fluid 12A is likely to condense near the low-temperature side heat exchanger 43 and become the liquid-phase condensable fluid 12B. Part of the liquid phase condensable fluid 12 </ b> B generated by the low temperature side heat exchanger 43 enters the stack 41, and the remaining part is guided to the inclined surface 24 and reliably stored in the liquid storage unit 25. . Then, the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B stored in the liquid storage unit 25 is supplied to the stack 31 as necessary.

  In the thermoacoustic apparatus of the present embodiment, the second loop pipe 22 has an inclined pipe part that is slightly inclined, and the cooler 40 is disposed in the inclined pipe part. Therefore, it is easier to suppress the performance degradation due to the natural convection of the gas-phase working fluid than when the cooler 40 is provided in the upright pipe portion extending in the vertical direction.

(Other embodiments)
The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the embodiment for carrying out the disclosed technology, and can be implemented with various modifications. The disclosed technology is not limited to the combinations shown in the embodiments, and can be implemented in various combinations. Embodiments can have additional parts. The portion of the embodiment may be omitted. The parts of the embodiments can be replaced or combined with the parts of the other embodiments. The structure, operation, and effect of the embodiment are merely examples. The technical scope of the disclosed technology is not limited to the description of the embodiments. Some technical scope of the disclosed technology is indicated by the description of the claims, and should be understood to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the description of the claims. .

  In the said embodiment, although the passive machine as an energy output part was the cooler 40, it is not limited to this. The passive device may be anything that outputs anything other than acoustic energy. For example, a passive machine may be used as a heat pump to output heat. In addition, for example, a passive machine may be used as a generator to output electrical energy.

  In the first embodiment, the supply unit 50 supplies the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B to the upper end of the stack 31, and in the fourth embodiment, the supply unit 50 supplies the liquid phase condensable fluid 12B to the stack 31. Although it supplied to a high temperature end part, it is not limited to this. Any liquid-phase condensable fluid may be supplied so as to spread throughout the stack. For example, the liquid phase condensable fluid may be supplied to the central portion of the stack in the sound wave traveling direction.

  In the first and fourth embodiments, the supply unit pumps the liquid phase condensable fluid and supplies it to the stack. In the second and third embodiments, the supply unit heats the liquid phase condensable fluid. Thus, the condensable fluid in the gas phase is supplied to the stack, but the present invention is not limited to this. The supply unit may have both a pressure feeding function of the liquid phase condensable fluid and a heating function of the liquid phase condensable fluid.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the inclined surface 24 was provided by the inclination pipe | tube with which the pipe | tube itself inclined, it is not limited to this. An inclined surface may be provided on a part of the pipe member extending in the horizontal direction. Further, the liquid introduction part is not limited to the one in which the inclined surface is provided on at least a part of the pipe member. For example, you may employ | adopt the liquid introduction pipe | tube separate from the pipe member attached to the pipe member so that a pipe member may be followed.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the supply part supplied a condensable fluid to the stack | stuck 31 of a motor | power_engine, it is not limited to this. For example, the supply unit may supply a condensable fluid to the stack 41 of the passive machine.

  In the above embodiment, the pipe member 20 is a so-called double loop type thermoacoustic engine having the first loop pipe 21 and the second loop pipe 22, but is not limited thereto. For example, a sound wave generator and an output unit may be provided in one loop tube. Further, for example, a sound wave generation unit may be provided in the loop tube unit, and an output unit may be provided in a straight tube unit as a resonance tube connected thereto. Moreover, for example, a sound wave generation unit and an output unit may be provided in a straight pipe without a loop pipe part.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the thermoacoustic engine was applied to the air conditioner for vehicles, it is not limited to this. For example, it may be applied to a stationary air conditioner.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermoacoustic engine 10 Working fluid 11 Non-condensable fluid 12 Condensable fluid 20 Pipe member 24 Inclined surface (liquid introduction part)
25 Liquid storage part 31 Stack 32 High temperature side heat exchanger (heat absorber)
33 Low-temperature side heat exchanger (heatsink)
50 Supply unit 250 Electric heater (Supply unit)
350 Peltier element (supply unit)

Claims (6)

A pipe member (20) which is filled with a working fluid (10) which is a mixture of a non-condensable fluid (11) and a condensable fluid (12) and forms a sound wave transmission path of the gas-phase working fluid. When,
A heat absorber (32) provided in the pipe member and configured to absorb heat from the outside to the working fluid;
A radiator (33) provided in the pipe member and radiating heat from the working fluid to the outside;
A stack (31) provided in the pipe member, sandwiched between the heat absorber and the heat radiator, and performing energy conversion between thermal energy and acoustic energy of the sound wave by a thermoacoustic effect;
A liquid storage section (25) for storing the condensable fluid in a liquid phase, provided in the pipe member;
A liquid introduction part (24) provided in the pipe member and guiding the condensable fluid that has become the liquid phase in the transmission path to the liquid storage part;
A supply unit (50, 250, 350) for supplying the condensable fluid in the liquid phase stored in the liquid storage unit to the stack;
A thermoacoustic engine.   2. The thermoacoustic engine according to claim 1, wherein the supply unit includes a pump device (52) that pumps the condensable fluid in the liquid phase stored in the liquid storage unit to the stack.   The thermoacoustic according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supply unit includes a temperature adjustment device (250, 350) that adjusts the temperature by heating the condensable fluid in the liquid phase stored in the liquid storage unit. organ.   The temperature adjusting device (350) cools the condensable fluid in the liquid phase stored in the liquid storage unit and a heating mode for heating the condensable fluid in the liquid phase stored in the liquid storage unit. The thermoacoustic engine according to claim 3, wherein the thermoacoustic engine is configured to be switchable between a cooling mode for adjusting temperature.   The said liquid introduction part is formed so that it may face the said transmission path in the downward side of the said transmission path, and has an inclined surface (24) gradually positioned below as it approaches the said liquid storage part. The thermoacoustic engine according to any one of the above.   The said inclined surface is formed in at least one part of the said tube member, and is provided with the inclined pipe | tube (23,212,222,22) positioned gradually downward as approaching the said liquid storage part. Thermoacoustic engine.

Images