JP2020026949A - Heat exchange means with elastocaloric element, which surrounds fluid line - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide heat exchange means including at least one elastic element, at least one actuator and at least one fastening element.SOLUTION: Heat exchange means 100 is configured to surround a fluid line 3 which guides a heat transport fluid. The heat exchange means 100 includes at least one elastocaloric element 2, which is connected to the fluid line 3, and at least one actuator 1, which acts on the elastocaloric element 2 and is configured so as, when actuated, to exert a force on the at least one elastocaloric element 2 to deform the at least one elastocaloric element 2. The heat exchange means further includes at least one fastening element 4, which is configured to fasten the heat exchange means 100 to the fluid line 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat exchange means surrounding a fluid conduit for guiding a heat transport fluid and comprising at least one elastic calorific element, at least one actuator and at least one mounting element. The invention further relates to a heat exchange system comprising a fluid line, at least one heat exchange means, and an electronic controller for controlling at least one actuator.

2. Description of the Related Art The elastic caloric effect represents a change in adiabatic temperature of a material when a material is subjected to a mechanical force and deformed, for example. The mechanical force or deformation causes a transition of the crystal structure (also called phase) in the material. The phase transition leads to an increase in the temperature of the material. As the heat released is derived, the temperature decreases and the entropy decreases. Thereafter, when the mechanical force is removed, an opposite phase transition (reverse transition) is again induced, which leads to a decrease in the temperature of the material. Thereafter, when heat is again supplied to the material, the entropy increases again.

  After the phase transition in a substantially adiabatic environment, the temperature exceeds the initial temperature. The heat generated in that case can be, for example, drawn off to the surroundings, and the material then assumes the ambient temperature. Thus, when the reversal transition is initiated by reducing the mechanical force to zero, a temperature below the initial temperature occurs. Temperature differences of up to 40 ° C. between the maximum temperature after the phase transition and the minimum temperature after the reverse transition (when heat is pre-emitted) are feasible.

  Materials for which the elastic caloric effect has been proven are called elastic caloric materials. Such an elastic calorific material is, for example, a shape memory alloy having superelasticity. Superelastic alloys are characterized by automatically returning to their original shape after strong deformation. Superelastic shape memory alloys have two distinct phases (crystal structures): austenite is a stable phase at room temperature and martensite is stable at lower temperatures. Mechanical deformation causes a phase transition from austenite to martensite, which results in an adiabatic temperature increase. This elevated temperature can then be released to the environment in the form of heat, which leads to a reduction in entropy. When the elastic calorific material is unloaded again, a reverse transition from martensite to austenite and a concomitant decrease in adiabatic temperature occur.

  An elastic calorie element made of such an elastic calorific material is used for cooling and heating. In this case, a fluid line filled with a heat transport fluid is typically used, and heat is transferred through the fluid line. More precisely, the heat transport fluid carries heat from the component to be cooled to the resilient caloric component, or removes heat from the resilient caloric component and carries it to the component to be heated.

  Conventionally, the elastic calorific element is located in one central unit that generates cold or warm heat, from which the fluid line exits and extends to the component. Since heat exchange with the surroundings is performed along the fluid line, heat loss occurs, and cooling output or heating output decreases. The central unit typically has a motor, often an electric motor, to deform the elastic calorific element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A heat exchange means is proposed which is configured to surround a fluid conduit for guiding a heat transport fluid, for example a cooling medium / coolant. The heat exchange means comprises at least one elastic caloric element, at least one actuator acting on the at least one elastic caloric element, and at least one mounting element.

  The at least one elastic calorific element can be connected to the fluid line, connected to the fluid line, or can be arranged in the fluid line. In this case, a thermal coupling takes place between the at least one elastic calorific element and the fluid line. The at least one resilient caloric element can be attached directly to the fluid line or, preferably, can be held connected via at least one attachment element.

  The at least one actuator is configured to exert a force on the at least one elastic calorimetric element when the actuator is activated. The actuator may be, for example, a piezoelectric element that expands and exerts a pressure on the at least one elastic calorific element during expansion, or may be an electric or magnetic actuator, such as a solenoid.

  At least one attachment element is configured to attach the heat exchange means to the fluid line. The at least one attachment element is preferably a sleeve or a jacket. Preferably, at least one mounting element is coupled to at least one actuator and holds at least one actuator. In other words, the at least one actuator is fastened on one side to the at least one mounting element. This allows the at least one actuator to be fixed on one side and to exert a force on the at least one elastic caloric element without moving, thus deforming the at least one elastic caloric element Can be.

Placing the elastic calorific element directly in the fluid line as described above offers, inter alia, the following advantages over a conventional heat exchanger in which the elastic caloric element is arranged in one central unit: :
The heat exchange by the at least one elastic calorific element can be performed directly in the fluid line. The heat can therefore be supplied directly to the heat transport fluid at the required points or extracted from it, and only the heat actually used is transferred. By arranging directly in the fluid line, the heat exchange means can be arranged as close as possible to the consumer in the fluid line, whereby the heat loss of the heat transport fluid through the fluid line is reduced by the heat exchange means. Based on the short distance to the consumer, it is greatly reduced and therefore the output of the heat exchange system can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the heat exchange means is locally arranged, the central unit in which the elastic calorific value element is arranged can be omitted. Such a central unit usually has a motor, for example an electric motor, which is clearly larger compared to the actuator of the heat exchange means. This motor can be omitted, so that the space required for the heat exchange system is reduced.

  Preferably, the at least one heat transport means has a fluid conduit section in which the fluid conduit extends "straight" at least by the width of the heat transport means, i.e. has no or little curvature. Not located in the fluid line section.

  Advantageously, the at least one elastic caloric element, the at least one actuator and the at least one mounting element may each be formed in the form of a ring disk. In this configuration, the listed components may be arranged in a ring shape to surround a generally tubular fluid conduit, so that the heat exchange means surrounds the fluid conduit. It should be pointed out that the ring disc may have an opening in the ring of the ring disc and / or so that the ring disc can be opened when assembled to the fluid line. A mechanism may be provided for the ring of the ring disc. The ring-shaped mounting element may be formed, for example, in the form of a sleeve which is mounted around a fluid line and then tightened.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the heat exchange means, two actuators are arranged next to one elastic calorific element in the longitudinal direction of the fluid line. The longitudinal direction of the fluid line is considered to be the longitudinal direction of the mostly cylindrical tube in each section of the fluid line, in other words the direction parallel to the flow direction of the heat transport fluid. An elastic calorific value element is arranged between the two actuators. In the case of a ring-shaped component, the elastic calorific value element is arranged between the end faces of both actuators. If both actuators simultaneously elongate in the longitudinal direction when the actuators are actuated, they both exert a force on the elastic calorific element, in particular from different sides. As a result, the elastic calorific value element is deformed.

  In addition, each of the two actuators may be connected to a respective one of the mounting elements arranged in the longitudinal direction of the fluid line. In this case, the mounting elements are respectively connected to the actuator on the side opposite to the elastic calorific value element (in the case of a ring-shaped component, the end face). Each of the two actuators can each be held by one mounting element. The actuator is thus fixed to the fluid line via a mounting element. Thus, when both actuators simultaneously elongate in the longitudinal direction during actuation of the actuators, elongation in the direction toward the mounting element is prevented, and the actuator only elongates in the direction toward the elastic calorific element, Both actuators each exert a force on the elastic calorific value element.

  Preferably, at least two actuators may share one common mounting element. The common mounting element is coupled to at least two actuators and holds these actuators simultaneously. Particularly preferably, exactly two actuators share one common mounting element. In the case described above, in which a plurality of actuators are longitudinally connected to the mounting element, exactly one actuator is provided on each side of the common mounting element transverse to the longitudinal direction (hence each end face). Advantageously, they are connected.

  As already explained, the at least one elastic calorific element is thermally connected to the fluid line. In order to improve this thermal coupling, i.e. to increase the heat transfer through this thermal coupling, a thermally conductive layer may be provided in the fluid line between the at least one elastic calorific element. The thermally conductive layer advantageously provides an enlarged contact surface to the fluid line and / or provides an enlarged contact surface to the at least one resilient caloric element, whereby it is higher. It is formed so that heat transfer can take place.

  On the other hand, it is advantageous if the at least one actuator is insulated from the fluid line and the at least one elastic caloric element. For this purpose, a heat-insulating layer may be provided between at least one actuator and at least one elastic calorific element and between at least one actuator and the fluid line. Due to this insulating layer, no heat transfer can take place between the elastic calorie element and / or the heat transport fluid to be heated or cooled and the actuator. In addition, the insulating layer may surround the outer surface of the heat transport means away from the fluid line, in particular the outer surface of the elastic calorific element, so that no heat transfer to the surroundings takes place. The insulating layer therefore offers the advantage of reducing heat losses in the heat exchange means and to the surroundings, thus increasing efficiency.

  Furthermore, a heat exchange system is proposed, comprising at least one heat exchange means as described above, a fluid line and an electronic control unit. As already explained, at least one heat exchange means is arranged in the fluid line. Furthermore, the electronic control device is configured to control at least one actuator of the at least one heat exchange means. The heat exchange system can take over the advantages of the heat exchange means.

  Advantageously, a plurality of such heat exchange means are arranged in the fluid line. In this case, the electronic control device is configured to control at least one actuator of each of the plurality of heat exchange means. The more heat exchange means arranged in the fluid line, the greater the maximum possible heat flow.

  Preferably, each heat transport means is a fluid conduit section in which the fluid conduit extends "straight" at least by the width of the heat transport means, i.e. a fluid having no or only a small curvature It is located in the pipeline section.

  According to one particularly preferred configuration, the plurality of heat exchange means are connected to each other in a cascade. That is, the heat exchange means are arranged one after the other in abutment or at a slight distance from one another and act on the same fluid volume of the heat transport fluid successively. In addition, the control device is preferably such that the actuators of the plurality of heat exchange means are controlled in time according to the flow characteristics of the heat transport fluid such that the same fluid volume of the heat transport fluid is in the cascade. It is configured to be increasingly cooled or heated after passing through the elastic calorific value element.

  Additionally, a reservoir in which the heat transport fluid is stored and at least one return line between the fluid line and the reservoir may be provided in the heat exchange system. By means of the at least one return line, the heat transport fluid is guided back to the reservoir from the end of the fluid line and / or after flowing through the consumer. On the other side, a heat transport fluid is supplied from the reservoir to the beginning of the fluid line.

  Optionally or additionally, there is at least one internal return line connecting the end of the fluid line to the beginning of the fluid line, without a consumer or reservoir being located between them. Is also good. By means of at least one internal return line, the heat transport fluid is returned directly to the beginning of the fluid line without bypassing or intermediate storage and without flowing through the consumer. In this case, at least one heat exchange means is arranged between the beginning of the fluid line and the end of the fluid line.

  In order to control the flow of the heat transport fluid, especially when return and / or internal return guides are present, the heat exchange system includes valves at least at the beginning of the fluid line and at the end of the fluid line. I have.

  Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and are described in detail in the following description.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the heat exchange means having one elastic calorific value element according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the heat exchange means shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a heat exchange means having a plurality of elastic calorific elements according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic isometric view of a part of a heat exchange system according to one embodiment of the invention, comprising a plurality of heat exchange means according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3. 1 is a schematic diagram of a heat exchange system according to one embodiment.

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a heat exchange means 100 according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 is an isometric view and FIG. 2 is a sectional view. ing. The heat exchange means 100 is arranged directly in the fluid line 3 through which the heat transport fluid flows and surrounds the fluid line 3. The heat exchange means 100 includes two actuators 1, for example, piezo actuators, one elastic calorific element 2 made of an elastic calorific material, and two mounting elements 4. The actuator 1, the elastic caloric element 2 and the mounting means 4 are each formed in the form of a ring disk arranged around the fluid line 3 and surrounding the fluid line 3. The elastic calorific value element 2 is surrounded by both actuators 1 in the longitudinal direction of the fluid conduit 3, and each end face of the elastic caloric value element 2 is in contact with one end face of each actuator 1. Since the other end face of each actuator 1 is longitudinally connected to one end face of each mounting element 4, the actuator 1 is held by the mounting element 4 (the end face is not visible in this figure). The mounting element 4 is in the present embodiment formed as a jacket for the fluid line 3 and is mounted around the fluid line 3. In another embodiment, not shown here, the mounting element 4 is formed as a sleeve which is mounted around the fluid line 3 and then tightened. In that case, the actuator 1 and the elastic calorific element 2 may also have openings in the ring of the actuator 1 and the elastic caloric element 2 and / or connect the actuator 1 and the elastic caloric element 2 to the fluid line 3. An opening mechanism may be provided for the ring of the actuator 1 and the elastic calorific value element 2 so that it can be opened at the time of assembly. Thereby, the heat exchange means 100 is attached to the fluid line 3 by the attachment element 4 and the actuators 1 are each fixed on one side.

  FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the heat exchange means 100. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated. A heat conductive layer 5, for example, a layer 5 made of copper is provided between the elastic caloric element 2 and the fluid conduit 3. To the fluid line 3. Due to the thermally conductive layer 5, on the one hand, the contact surface in the fluid line 3 is enlarged, in the example shown in FIG. 2, to approximately the combined size of the elastic caloric element 2 and the two actuators 1, and The contact surface of the elastic calorific element 2 is enlarged by the thermally conductive layer 5 substantially completely surrounding the elastic caloric element. On the other hand, heat transport is enhanced by the material properties of the thermally conductive layer 5. Further, a heat insulating layer 6 is provided, which is arranged so as to surround the actuator, and insulates the actuator 1 from the heat conductive layer 5 and the fluid line 5. . In addition, the heat-insulating layer 6 is arranged over the entire outer surface of the heat exchange means 100 (the outer surface is the outer peripheral surface of the components 1, 2, 4 and therefore the fluid of these components 1, 2, 4). The surface facing away from the line 3 and also the end surface of the mounting element 4 facing away from the actuator 1), which prevents heat losses to the surroundings.

  To control the operation of the actuator 1, an electronic control device 8 is provided. The control device 8 is connected to a current / voltage supply unit 9, and is connected to the current / voltage supply unit 9 via a current line 7. The current flowing to the actuator 1 is controlled. When a current is supplied to the actuator 1, the actuator 1 extends at the same time. Since both actuators 1 are each fixed on one side by a mounting element 4, the actuators can only extend in a direction towards the elastic caloric element 2, thereby exerting a force on the elastic caloric element 2 from each side, The elastic calorie element 2 is compressed by both forces and deforms at that time. Based on the elastic caloric effect, heat is generated by the deformation of the elastic caloric element 2, and this heat is released to the fluid line 3 through the heat conductive layer 5, where the heat is applied to the fluid line 3. The heat transport fluid flowing in the inside is heated. Depending on whether the consumer, not shown here, is to be heated or cooled, the heat is guided to the consumer or the heat is completely drawn off from the elastic calorific element 2 It is carried out until it becomes. Thus, when current is no longer supplied to both actuators 1, both actuators 1 return to their initial state, so that the force is no longer exerted on elastic caloric element 2, and elastic caloric element 2 is restored as well. . During restoration, the elastic calorific value element 2 absorbs heat. Heat is now extracted from the heat transport fluid flowing through the fluid line 3 via the thermally conductive layer 5, thereby cooling the heat transport fluid. The cooled heat transport fluid is then withdrawn or supplied to a consumer depending on the application. The heating output or the cooling output can be controlled via electrical energy (current / voltage) which is applied and converted into mechanical energy by the actuator 1. The transport of the heat transport fluid and its control will be described in detail in connection with FIG. 5, which shows a heat exchange system according to the invention.

  FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of a heat exchange means 110 comprising a plurality of actuators 1, a plurality of elastic calorific elements 2 and a plurality of mounting elements 4. Also in the case of the first embodiment, if a plurality of heat exchange means 100 are arranged one after another in the longitudinal direction of the fluid conduit 3, a plurality of actuators 1, a plurality of elastic calorific elements 2, and a plurality of attachments Element 4 can be provided. On the other hand, in the case of the second embodiment, the actuator 1, which is located on the inside, ie, which is not arranged as the first or last actuator in the row, has one common mounting element for every two actuators. 4 are shared. That is, since one end face of the mounting element 4 is connected to one actuator 1 and the other end face of the mounting element 4 is connected to the other actuator 1, the mounting element 4 connects the two actuators 1 in this case. Hold and fix. The heating output or the cooling output is variable depending on the number of heat exchange means 100 and 110 used and operation-controlled.

  FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a portion of a heat exchange system according to one embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of heat exchange means 110 according to the second embodiment are arranged in a common fluid line 3 as a cascade. The heat transport means 110 is arranged in a “straight” section of the fluid line 3 where the fluid line 3 has no or only a small curvature. The plurality of heat transport means 110 are controlled by the common control device 8 via the electric line 7 and supplied with power by the common current / voltage supply unit 9. The operation of the actuator 1 is controlled successively in time, and more specifically, the operation of the elastic calorie element 2 is controlled such that the elastic calorie element 2 always acts on the same fluid volume of the heat transport fluid flowing through the fluid conduit 3. . For this purpose, the operation of the actuator 1 is sequentially controlled according to the time required for the fluid volume which has already absorbed or released heat to reach the next elastic calorific value element 2. This time can be calculated from the flow characteristics such as the flow velocity, the distance between the elastic calorific elements 2, or can be determined empirically. By this operation control, the fluid volume that has already absorbed or released heat is further heated or cooled by the next elastic calorific element 2. As a result, the fluid volume is increasingly heated or cooled each time it passes through the elastic calorie element 2.

  FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the entire heat exchange system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The plurality of heat exchange means 110, the fluid line 3, the electronic control unit 8, the current / voltage supply unit 9, and the electric line 7 correspond to those shown in FIG. 4 and refer to the description of FIG. I want to. In addition to the components already described, this figure also shows a reservoir 11 for storing a heat transport fluid, a consumer 17, a feed pump 18, and separate pipelines 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, A return pump 20 and valves 10, 21 for controlling the flow of the heat transport fluid are shown. The valve 10 is arranged at the end of the fluid line 3, and the valve 21 is arranged at the beginning of the fluid line 3. The valves 10, 21 are formed as directional control valves.

  In the following, it is assumed, for ease of explanation, that the consumer 17 is to be cooled. The heat transport fluid is pumped from the reservoir 11 to the fluid line 3 via the inflow line 19 by the feed pump 18. Within the fluid line 3, the heat exchange means 110 acts on the heat transport fluid in the manner already described in detail above. The heat transport fluid (volume) heated by the elastic calorific element 2 is guided back via the valve 10 through the first outlet line 14 directly to the reservoir 11 without passing through the consumer. The first outlet line therefore corresponds to the return line to the reservoir 11. Subsequently, the valve 10 is switched, and the heat transport fluid (volume), which is then cooled by the elastic calorific element 2, is directed to the consumer 17 through the second outlet line 15 and absorbs heat from the consumer 17. . In order to keep heat losses low, the second outlet line 15 between the end of the fluid line 3 with the heat exchange means and the consumer 17 is kept as short as possible. Subsequently, the heat transport fluid is guided back to the reservoir 11 via another return line 16. In the reservoir 11, the heated heat transport fluid and the heat transport fluid supplied to the consumer 17 are mixed.

  If it is desired that the heat transport fluid be further cooled before being directed to the consumer 17 and the reservoir 11, internal return lines 12, 13 are provided between the valves 10 and 21. A return pump 20 is provided in the internal return lines 12, 13, and the return pump 20 heats after the heat transport fluid flows through the fluid line 3 and is cooled by the elastic calorie element 2. The transport fluid is returned from the valve 10 provided at the end of the fluid line 3 to the valve 21 provided at the beginning of the fluid line 3 without the heat transport fluid flowing through the consumer 17 and / or the reservoir 11. Pump. The cooled heat transport fluid again flows through the fluid line 3 and is again cooled by the elastic calorific element 2. In this embodiment, two internal return lines 12 and 13 are provided, through which the cooled heat transport fluid is passed to the other internal return line. , The heated heat transport fluid flows.

  The same heat exchange system can be used to heat the consumer. For this purpose, only the heated heat transport fluid needs to be guided to the consumer 17 during the above-described operation control, and the heated heat transport fluid releases heat to the consumer 17 and the cooled heat transport fluid. The transport fluid is led directly to the reservoir 11.

  In another embodiment, not shown here, two consumers are provided, one in each of the outlet lines 14, 15; one of the two consumers is provided with cooling. And the other is heated. Instead of directing the heated heat transport fluid to the reservoir 11, the heated heat transport fluid flows through the other consumer to be heated, releasing heat there, and then being further directed to the reservoir 11. The cooled heat transport fluid subsequently flows through the consumer 17 to be cooled and is led to the reservoir 11.

Claims (14)

Heat exchange means (100, 110) configured to surround a fluid conduit (3) for guiding a heat transport fluid,
At least one elastic caloric element (2) connectable to or positionable in said fluid line (3);
At least configured to interact with the elastic caloric element (2) to exert a force upon actuation to the at least one elastic caloric element (2) and to deform the at least one elastic caloric element (2); One actuator (1),
At least one attachment element (4) configured to attach the heat exchange means (100, 110) to the fluid line (3);
Heat exchange means (100, 110) comprising:   Two actuators (1) are arranged on one elastic caloric element (2) in the longitudinal direction of the fluid line (3), and both actuators (1) act upon the elastic caloric element ( Heat exchange means (100, 110) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchange means (2) is adapted to deform the elastic caloric element (2).   Each of said actuators (1) is coupled to and held by a respective one of the mounting elements (4) which can be arranged in the longitudinal direction of said fluid line (3). The heat exchange means (100, 110) according to claim 2, wherein:   Heat exchange means (110) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that at least two actuators (1) share a common mounting element (4) and are held by said mounting element (4). ).   The at least one elastic caloric element (2), at least one of the actuators (1) and at least one of the mounting elements (4) are each formed in the form of a ring disk, and the fluid line in a ring shape Heat exchange means (100, 110) according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it can be arranged so as to surround (3).   6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a thermally conductive layer (5) capable of thermally coupling the at least one elastic caloric element (2) to the fluid line (3). 7. Heat exchange means (100, 110) according to claim 1.   2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer that insulates at least one of the actuators from the at least one elastic caloric element and the fluid line. 3. The heat exchange means (100, 110) according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A heat exchange system,
A fluid line (3);
At least one heat exchange means (100, 110) according to one of the preceding claims, arranged in the fluid line (3);
An electronic control device (8) configured to control at least one of said actuators (1) of at least one of said heat exchange means (100, 110);
A heat exchange system comprising:   A plurality of heat exchange means (100, 110) according to one of the claims 1 to 7 is arranged in the fluid line (3), and the electronic control device (8) comprises: The heat exchange system according to claim 8, characterized in that it is configured to control at least one of said actuators in each of a plurality of said heat exchange means (100, 110).   10. The heat exchange system according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of heat exchange means (110) are connected to each other in a cascade.   The control device (8) is configured to control the actuators (1) of the plurality of heat exchange means (110) in time sequence according to the flow characteristics of the heat transport fluid. The heat exchange system according to claim 9, wherein:   The heat transport fluid is guided from the fluid line (3) to the reservoir (11) through at least one return line (14, 16), and the heat transport fluid is transferred from the reservoir (11) to the fluid line. The heat exchange system according to claim 8, wherein the heat exchange system is supplied to (3). At least one internal return line (12, 13) connecting the end of said fluid line (3) to the beginning of said fluid line (3);
At least one of the heat exchange means (100, 110) is arranged between the beginning of the fluid line (3) and the end of the fluid line (3);
The heat exchange system according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that:   14. The fluid line (3) according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that a valve (10, 21) is provided at the beginning of the fluid line (3) and at the end of the fluid line (3). Heat exchange system.