JP2021148304A - boiler - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a boiler which can properly transmit heat from a heat generation body within a container to a heat object.SOLUTION: A boiler includes a heat generation body, a container within which the heat generation body is provided and which can be filled with gas having a specific heat higher than that of air, and a heat exchanger which is provided outside the container and through which the gas heated by the heat generation body or a heat medium heat-exchanged with the gas passes in a heating side thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a boiler.

Conventionally, boilers have been widely used for various purposes including industrial and commercial use. The boiler will be provided with a heat generating means for heating.

Various specific forms of the heat generating means can be mentioned, and one example thereof is one in which a reactant (heating body) in which a plurality of metal nanoparticles made of a hydrogen storage metal or a hydrogen storage alloy are formed on the surface is provided inside the container. , Disclosed in Patent Document 1 as a heat generating system. According to Patent Document 1, in this heat generation system, hydrogen atoms are occluded in metal nanoparticles by supplying a hydrogen-based gas that contributes to heat generation into a container, and excessive heat is generated.

As explained in Patent Document 1, an exothermic reaction occurred by heating the inside of the container while supplying deuterium gas to the inside of the container by providing a heating element made of palladium inside the container. An announcement has been made. In addition, regarding the exothermic phenomenon that generates excess heat (output enthalpy higher than input enthalpy) using hydrogen storage metal or hydrogen storage alloy, the details of the mechanism of generating excess heat are being discussed among researchers in each country. , It has been reported that a heat generation phenomenon has occurred.

Japanese Patent No. 6448074 U.S. Pat. No. 9,182,365

The heat generating means provided with the heating element in the container can also be adopted in the boiler as a means for heating. However, when constructing a boiler that employs such heat generating means, it is important to take care so that the heat of the heating element is appropriately transferred to the heating target.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a boiler capable of appropriately transferring the heat of a heating element in a container to a heating target.

The boiler according to the present invention is provided with a heating element, a container provided with the heating element inside and capable of filling a gas having a specific heat higher than that of air inside, and a container provided outside the container and heated by the heating element. The configuration includes the gas or a heat exchanger through which the heat medium exchanged with the gas passes through the heating side. According to this configuration, it is possible to appropriately transfer the heat of the heating element in the container to the heating target.

More specifically, the gas circulation path includes the container and a circulation path including a gas path arranged outside the container, and the heat exchanger is provided in the gas path. It may be configured as such. More specifically, the above configuration may be such that the calorific value of the heating element is adjusted based on the pressure of the steam supplied from the heat exchanger to the outside.

More specifically, the gas is a hydrogen-based gas, and the heating element is provided with metal nanoparticles made of hydrogen storage metals on the surface of the heating element, and the hydrogen-based gas is placed in the container. In the supplied state, the hydrogen atom may be occluded in the metal nanoparticles to generate excess heat. The hydrogen-based gas in the present application is a deuterium gas, a light hydrogen gas, or a mixed gas thereof. Further, the "hydrogen storage metal" in the present application means a hydrogen storage metal such as Pd, Ni, Pt, Ti, or a hydrogen storage alloy containing one or more of these.

According to the boiler according to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately transfer the heat of the heating element in the container to the heating target.

It is a schematic block diagram of the boiler 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the boiler 2 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the boiler 3 which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing about the path of the heat medium passing through a heat transfer tube.

The boiler according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to each drawing.

1. 1. First Embodiment First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the boiler 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in this figure, the boiler 1 includes a container 11, a reactant 12, a heater 13, a gas path 14, a gas receiving unit 15, a gas pump 16, a gas filter 17, a heat exchanger 50, a pressure sensor 51, and the like. ..

The state of the container 11 and its inside in FIG. 1 (the same applies to FIGS. 2 and 3 described later) is shown as a schematic cross-sectional view when the container 11 is cut by a plane that substantially divides the container 11, and is shown vertically and horizontally. The direction of (the vertical direction corresponds to the vertical direction) is as shown in this figure.

The container 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape having bottoms at both upper and lower ends with the upper and lower sides as the axial direction as a whole, and is formed so as to be able to seal the gas inside. More specifically, the container 11 has a cylindrical side wall 11a, the upper side of the side wall 11a is closed by the upper bottom portion 11b, and the lower side of the side wall 11a is closed by the lower bottom portion 11c. In the present embodiment, as an example, the side wall 11a of the container 11 has a cylindrical shape, but it may be formed in another cylindrical shape. Further, the can body cover may be installed on the outer periphery of the side wall 11a, or a heat insulating material may be provided between the side wall 11a and the can body cover.

The reactant 12 is configured by providing a large number of metal nanoparticles on the surface of a carrier which is formed in a fine mesh shape as a whole. A hydrogen storage alloy (hydrogen storage metal or hydrogen storage alloy) is applied to this carrier as a material, and it is formed in a cylindrical shape having bottoms at both upper and lower ends in the vertical direction. The upper surface of the reaction body 12 is connected to the gas path 14, and the gas that has flowed into the reaction body 12 through the mesh-like gap of the reaction body 12 can be sent out into the gas path 14. In the example of this embodiment, three reactants 12 are provided so as to be arranged in the left-right direction inside the container 11.

The heater 13 is spirally wound around the side surface of the reactant 12 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and is formed so as to generate heat by using the supplied electric power. As the heater 13, for example, a ceramic heater can be adopted. The heat generated by the heater 13 heats the reactant 12, and the temperature of the reactant 12 can be raised to a predetermined reaction temperature at which a reaction for generating excess heat, which will be described later, is likely to occur. The temperature of the heater 13 can be adjusted by controlling the power supplied to the heater 13.

The gas path 14 is provided outside the container 11 and forms a gas circulation path including the inside of the container 11 as a part, and one end is connected to the upper surface of each reactant 12 and the other. The end is connected to the inside of the container 11. More specifically, the portions of the gas paths 14 connected to the upper surface of each reactant 12 merge in the container 11, form a single path, penetrate the upper bottom portion 11b, and then the heat exchanger 50, The gas receiving portion 15, the gas pump 16, and the gas filter 17 pass through the lower bottom portion 11c in this order and are connected to the inside of the container 11.

The gas receiving unit 15 receives a hydrogen-based gas (deuterium gas, a light hydrogen gas, or a mixed gas thereof) from an external supply source, and supplies the supplied hydrogen-based gas into the gas path 14. Inflow to. For example, when hydrogen-based gas is supplied from a tank in which hydrogen-based gas is stored in advance to the gas receiving unit 15, this tank serves as a supply source of hydrogen-based gas.

The rotation speed of the gas pump 16 is controlled by, for example, inverter control, and the gas in the gas path 14 flows from the upstream side to the downstream side (that is, in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in FIG. 1) at a flow rate corresponding to the rotation speed. To do so. The amount of gas circulated in the circulation path including the gas path 14 can be adjusted by controlling the rotation speed of the gas pump 16.

The gas filter 17 removes impurities contained in the gas in the gas path 14 (particularly those that hinder the reaction that generates excess heat in the reactant 12).

The heat exchanger 50 is configured so that a part of the gas path 14 (a part on the upstream side of the gas receiving portion 15) is arranged and water that is a source of steam is supplied. As a result, the heat exchanger 50 can heat the water to generate steam by exchanging heat between the gas in the gas path 14 and the supplied water, and supply the steam to the outside of the boiler 1. Is. The heat exchanger 50 of the present embodiment has a specification of heating water to generate steam, but instead, a heat exchanger 50 having a specification of heating water to generate hot water may be adopted.

As the heat exchanger 50, for example, a plate type or shell-and-tube type heat exchanger may be adopted, or various types of steam generators may be adopted. As an example of this steam generator, it has a storage space for storing the supplied water and a gas path 14 arranged in the storage space, and the heat of the gas in the gas path 14 is transmitted to the stored water. Things can be mentioned.

The pressure sensor 51 continuously detects the pressure (steam pressure) of steam supplied from the heat exchanger 50 to the outside. In a situation where the amount of steam supplied from the heat exchanger 50 is larger than the amount of steam (steam load) required from the outside, the detected value (steam pressure value) of the pressure sensor 51 becomes higher, and vice versa. In a situation where the amount of steam supplied from the heat exchanger 50 is small, the detected value of the pressure sensor 51 becomes low.

Next, the operation of the boiler 1 will be described. In the boiler 1, hydrogen-based gas is supplied from an external supply source to the gas receiving unit 15, and the inside of the container 11 and the gas circulation path including the gas path 14 are filled with hydrogen-based gas. The filled hydrogen gas is circulated in this circulation path in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in FIG. 1 by the action of the gas pump 16.

At this time, inside the container 11, the hydrogen-based gas flows into the inside of the reactant 12 through the mesh-like gap, and then is sent out into the gas path 14 connected to the upper part of the reactant 12. At the same time, the reactant 12 is heated by the action of the heater 13. In this way, when the reactant 12 is heated by the heater 13 while the hydrogen-based gas is supplied to the inside of the container 11, hydrogen atoms are occluded in the metal nanoparticles provided in the reactant 12, and the reactant 12 is the heater 13. Generates excess heat above the heating temperature of.

As described above, the reaction element 12 functions as a heating element by performing a reaction that generates excess heat. The principle of the reaction for generating excess heat is the same as the principle of the reaction for generating excess heat disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

Impurities are removed from the hydrogen-based gas in the circulation path including the inside of the container 11 when passing through the gas filter 17. Therefore, a high-purity hydrogen-based gas from which impurities have been removed is continuously supplied to the inside of the container 11. As a result, it is possible to stably apply a high-purity hydrogen-based gas to the reactant 12 and maintain a state in which it is easy to induce an output of excess heat, thereby effectively causing the reactant 12 to generate heat.

Further, when the hydrogen-based gas passes through the inside of the container 11, it is heated by the heat generated by the reactant 12 and becomes high in temperature. Then, the high-temperature hydrogen-based gas is sent to the heat exchanger 50 via the gas path 14. As a result, the water supplied to the heat exchanger 50 is heated by heat exchange with the high-temperature hydrogen-based gas to become steam, and this steam is supplied to the outside from the heat exchanger 50.

The amount of steam supplied from the heat exchanger 50 to the outside may be adjustable based on the information of the detected value of the pressure sensor 51. Such adjustment increases the calorific value of the reactant 12 to increase the amount of steam generated when the detected value of the pressure sensor 51 is smaller than the appropriate value, and increases the amount of steam generated when the detected value of the pressure sensor 51 is larger than the appropriate value. , It can be realized by reducing the calorific value of the reactant 12 to reduce the amount of steam generated.

The calorific value of the reactant 12 can be controlled by adjusting the temperature of the heater 13 or the gas circulation amount described above, and the calorific value of the reactant 12 increases as the temperature of the heater 13 increases or the circulation amount increases. Can be increased. Further, in the heat exchanger 50, water is sequentially supplied by the amount of steam supplied to the outside, that is, by the amount of water decreased, and it is possible to continuously generate steam and supply it to the outside. It is possible.

As described above, in the boiler 1, the reactant 12 and the container 11 in which the heating element 12 is provided and can be filled with a gas (hydrogen-based gas) having a specific heat higher than that of air, and the hydrogen-based gas circulate. A circulation path including the container 11 and the gas path 14 and a heat exchanger 50 for heating water to generate steam by heat exchange with the hydrogen-based gas in the gas path 14 are provided. Therefore, according to the boiler 1, the heat possessed by the circulating gas can be efficiently used for heating water, and the heat can be used more effectively.

Furthermore, since the temperature of the gas in the gas path 14 drops when passing through the heat exchanger 50, an apparatus arranged on the downstream side of the heat exchanger 50 (in the example of the present embodiment, the gas pump 16 and the like). The temperature of the gas when passing through the gas filter 17) can be lowered. Therefore, it is possible to lower the heat resistant temperature (required heat resistant temperature) required for the device.

2. Second Embodiment Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment except for the form of the heating element and the points related thereto. In the following description, emphasis will be placed on the explanation of matters different from those of the first embodiment, and explanations of matters common to the first embodiment may be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the boiler 2 according to the second embodiment. In the boiler 1 of the first embodiment, the reactant 12 is adopted as a heating element, but in the second embodiment, a general heating element 12a is adopted instead. As an example, the heat generating element 12a here is assumed to be a halogen heater that generates heat when electric power is supplied. Further, the shape and dimensions of the heat generating element 12a are assumed to be the same as those of the reactant 12 for convenience.

When the heating element 12a is applied as the heating element, it is not necessary to generate excess heat as in the first embodiment, and the heater 13 is not required, so the installation is omitted. Further, the upstream end of the gas path 14 in the second embodiment is connected to the upper bottom portion 11b instead of the heat generating element 12a, and is connected to the space inside the container 11.

In the boiler 2, the gas (hydrogen-based gas) in the container 11 is heated by the heat generated from the heating element 12a instead of the reactant 12, and the high-temperature gas is passed through the gas path 14 to the heat exchanger 50. Is sent to. As a result, the water supplied to the heat exchanger 50 is heated by heat exchange with the hot gas to become steam, and this steam is supplied to the outside from the heat exchanger 50. Further, in the second embodiment, the reaction for generating the excess heat described above is not required, and the temperature of the heating element (heating element 12a) can be directly controlled by the electric power control.

3. 3. Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, emphasis will be placed on the explanation of matters different from those of the first embodiment, and explanations of matters common to the first embodiment may be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the boiler 3 according to the third embodiment. As shown in this figure, the boiler 3 is provided with a heat medium path 22 as a path for circulating the heat medium X. The heat medium X is supplied to the heat medium path 22 in advance, and the heat medium X is directed from the upstream side to the downstream side in the heat medium path 22 by the action of a pump (not shown) (that is, the solid line arrow in FIG. 3). It flows and circulates (in the direction indicated by).

A part of the heat medium path 22 is formed as a heat transfer tube 22a. The heat transfer tube 22a spirally extends from the lower bottom portion 11c toward the upper bottom portion 11b so as to form the cylindrical side wall 11a of the container 11. The heat transfer tube 22a spirally extends so as to proceed in the axial direction (vertical direction) of the tubular side wall 11a so that there is no gap between the portions of the heat transfer tubes 22a adjacent to each other on the upper and lower sides.

Further, the heat exchanger 50 of the third embodiment is configured so that a part of the heat medium path 22 is arranged and water as a source of steam is supplied. As a result, the heat exchanger 50 heats the water to generate steam by exchanging heat with the heat medium X in the heat medium path 22, and supplies the steam to the outside of the boiler 3. It is possible.

The boiler 3 of the present embodiment is adapted to circulate the heat medium X in the heat medium path 22 in parallel with the operation of generating heat of the reactant 12. The heat medium X is heated by the heat generated by the reactant 12 as it passes through the heat transfer tube 22a forming the side wall 11a of the container 11. That is, the heat generated by the reactant 12 is transferred to the heat transfer tube 22a by convection (heat transfer), heat conduction and radiation by the hydrogen-based gas in the container 11, and the heat medium flowing inside the heat transfer tube 22a becomes hot due to this. X is heated. In this way, the heat medium X is heated by at least heat exchange with the hydrogen-based gas heated by the reactant 12.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the path of the heat medium X passing through the heat transfer tube 22a with a solid arrow. As shown in this figure, the heat medium X that has reached the inlet α of the heat transfer tube 22a (the lowermost part of the heat transfer tube 22a) proceeds along the inside of the spirally extending heat transfer tube 22a, and the outlet β of the heat transfer tube 22a ( It reaches the uppermost part of the heat transfer tube 22a). At this time, the heat medium X passing through the heat transfer tube 22a transfers the heat from the heat transfer tube 22a heated by the heat generated by the reactant 12, and the temperature rises.

In this way, the heat medium X flowing through the heat medium path 22 is heated when passing through the heat transfer tube 22a, the temperature rises, and the heat medium X is sent to the heat exchanger 50. As a result, the water supplied to the heat exchanger 50 is heated by heat exchange with the heat medium X that has become hot and becomes steam, and this steam is supplied to the outside from the heat exchanger 50.

Further, since the heat transfer tube 22a forms the entire circumference of the side wall 11a formed in a cylindrical shape, the heat generated by the reactant 12 can be efficiently transferred to the heat medium X. Since the heat transfer tube 22a is arranged so as to surround the reactant 12, it covers almost the entire circumference of the side wall 11a, and the heat generated by the reactant 12 can be transferred to the heat medium X as little as possible. be. In the present embodiment, the heat transfer tubes 22a extend spirally and are arranged so as to surround the reactant 12, but the form surrounding the reactant 12 is not limited to this, and for example, a plurality of heat transfer tubes extending in the vertical direction. May be adopted, such as a form in which the reactor 12 is arranged so as to surround the reactant.

Further, in the present embodiment, the side wall 11a for sealing the gas in the container 11 is formed by the heat transfer tube 22a, but instead, the side wall 11a is provided separately from the heat transfer tube 22a and inside the side wall 11a. The heat transfer tube 22a may be provided (that is, inside the container 11). In this case, the heat transfer tube 22a does not need to serve as the side wall 11a, and it is preferable that there is a gap between the vertically adjacent heat transfer tubes 22a so that the heat from the reactant 12 can be further received.

4. Others The boilers 1 to 3 of each of the above-described embodiments are heated by the heat of the heating element, the container 11 provided with the heating element inside and capable of filling the inside with a gas having a specific heat higher than that of air, and the heat of the heating element. It is configured to include a heat exchanger 50 that heats the supplied water by heat exchange with the fluid. Therefore, according to the boilers 1 to 3 of each embodiment, the heating element in the container 11 is heated with respect to the water supplied by using the fluid directly or indirectly heated by the heating element in the container 11. It is possible to transfer heat properly.

The heat exchanger 50 in each embodiment is provided outside the container 11, and a hydrogen-based gas heated by a heating element or a heat medium heat-exchanged with the gas passes through the heating side. .. The heat exchanger 50 has a heating side (a portion through which a relatively high temperature fluid passes) and a heated side (a portion through which a relatively low temperature fluid passes), and transfers heat from the heating side fluid to the heated side fluid. It is formed to heat.

Further, in the boilers of the first and second embodiments, a hydrogen-based gas having a higher specific heat than air is applied as the gas used for heat exchange with water in the heat exchanger 50. For example, under the condition of 1 atm at 200 ° C, the specific heat of air is about 1,026 J / Kg ° C, while the specific heat of hydrogen is about 14,528 J / Kg ° C, which is much higher than the specific heat of air. ing.

By applying such a gas having a high specific heat, the temperature of the gas used for heat exchange is less likely to fluctuate, and heat can be transferred to water more stably. In the boiler of each embodiment, a hydrogen-based gas is used as a gas having a higher specific heat than air, but the boiler 2 of the second embodiment does not require a reaction to generate excess heat, and thus described above. A gas other than hydrogen-based gas may be used as the gas having a higher specific heat than air.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. That is, the above embodiment should be considered to be exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. For example, the boiler according to the present invention can be applied to a hot water boiler, a heat medium boiler, and the like, in addition to the boiler that generates steam as in the above embodiment. The technical scope of the present invention is shown not by the description of the above embodiment but by the scope of claims, and is understood to include all modifications belonging to the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims. Should be.

The present invention can be used in boilers for various purposes.

1, 2, 3 Boiler 11 Container 11a Side wall 11b Upper bottom 11c Lower bottom 12 Reactor 12a Heat generating element 13 Heater 14 Gas path 15 Gas receiving part 16 Gas pump 17 Gas filter 22 Heat medium path 22a Heat transfer tube 50 Heat exchanger 51 Pressure sensor

Claims (4)

With a heating element
A container in which the heating element is provided and can be filled with a gas having a specific heat higher than that of air.
A boiler provided outside the container, comprising: the gas heated by the heating element or a heat exchanger through which a heat medium heat-exchanged with the gas passes through the heating side. As a path for circulating the gas, a circulation path including the container and a gas path arranged outside the container is provided.
The boiler according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is provided in the gas path. The boiler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the calorific value of the heating element is adjusted based on the pressure of steam supplied from the heat exchanger to the outside. The gas is a hydrogen-based gas and
The heating element is
Metal nanoparticles made of hydrogen storage metals are provided on the surface,
Any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hydrogen atom is a reactant that occludes hydrogen atoms in the metal nanoparticles and generates excess heat in a state where the hydrogen gas is supplied into the container. The boiler described in.

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