JP2021148307A - boiler - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a boiler that can supply power using a heat exchange element without the need of cooling water and the like additionally.SOLUTION: A boiler includes: a heat transfer pipe; a heat generator; and a container in which the heat transfer pipe and the heat generator are installed and gas having a specific heat which is higher than air can be filled. The boiler heats the heat transfer pipe using heat emitted by the heat generator. The boiler includes a thermoelectric transducer which generates power with a temperature difference between a low-temperature side where water is supplied to the boiler and a high-temperature side which is heated using the heat emitted by the heat generator in a condition where the container is filled with the gas.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 is provided with a heat generating means for heating, and one form of the heat generating means is a boiler in which a heating element is provided inside the container.

In addition, various specific forms of such heat generating means can be mentioned, and as an example, 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 placed inside the container. Is 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

In a boiler that heats by a heating means provided with a heating element inside the container, it is necessary to raise the temperature of the heating element. For example, in a boiler that employs the above-mentioned reactant as a heating element, it is necessary to supply hydrogen-based gas to the reactant and appropriately heat the reactant in order to appropriately generate a reaction that generates excess heat.

Therefore, in the boiler, a heater (for example, a ceramic heater) for heating the reactant is used to raise the temperature of the reactant, and electric power is supplied to drive the heater. On the other hand, when a general heating element (for example, a halogen heater) is adopted as the heating element, electric power is supplied to raise the temperature of the heating element.

For such power supply, in order to realize self-sufficiency in the boiler or reduction of dependence on external power (for example, commercial power supply), it is conceivable to use a thermoelectric exchange element that generates electricity by the temperature difference between the low temperature side and the high temperature side. .. However, in this case, cooling water or the like for cooling the low temperature side corresponding portion of the thermoelectric exchange element is required separately, which may cause a problem such as an increase in operating cost.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a boiler capable of supplying electric power using a thermoelectric exchange element without separately requiring cooling water or the like.

The boiler according to the present invention includes a heat transfer tube, a heating element, and a container in which the heat transfer tube and the heating element are provided and can be filled with a gas having a specific heat higher than that of air. A boiler that heats the heat transfer tube using the heat generated, and warms using the heat generated by the heating element on the low temperature side where water is supplied to the boiler and in a situation where the gas fills the inside of the container. The configuration is provided with a thermoelectric conversion element that generates electricity due to the temperature difference between the high temperature side and the hot side. According to this configuration, it is possible to supply electric power using a thermoelectric exchange element without separately requiring cooling water or the like.

More specifically, as the above configuration, the gas circulates with a circulation path including the inside of the container as a part, and the thermoelectric conversion element is provided on the low temperature side where water is supplied to the boiler and the circulation. It may be configured to generate electricity by the temperature difference from the high temperature side which is the path. According to this configuration, it is possible to raise the temperature of the heating element by utilizing the temperature difference between the place where water is supplied and the circulation path.

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 situation, it is a reactant that hydrogen atoms are stored in the metal nanoparticles to generate excess heat, and the power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element is supplied to the heater that heats the reactant. Is also good. 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.

Further, more specifically, the above configuration may be configured to raise the temperature of the heating element by using the electric power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element. According to this configuration, it is possible to raise the temperature of the heating element by using the thermoelectric exchange element without separately requiring cooling water or the like.

According to the boiler according to the present invention, it is possible to supply electric power using a thermoelectric exchange element without separately requiring cooling water or the like.

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

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 section 15, a gas pump 16, a gas filter 17, a separator 21, a water path 22, a water receiving section 23, and a water pump. 24 and a thermoelectric conversion element 31 are provided.

The state of the container 11 and its inside in FIG. 1 (the same applies to FIGS. 3 to 5 described later) is shown as a schematic cross-sectional view when the container 11 is cut by a plane that roughly 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. Further, the dotted line in the container 11 of FIG. 1 (the same applies to FIGS. 3 to 5) schematically shows the arrangement of the heat transfer tube 22a.

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 formed by a heat transfer tube 22a described later, the upper side of the side wall 11a is closed by an upper bottom portion 11b, and the lower side of the side wall 11a is lower. It is closed by the bottom 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 power supplied from the thermoelectric conversion element 31. When the amount of power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element 31 is insufficient, external power (for example, a commercial power source) (not shown) can be used in combination with the power supply to the heater 13.

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 path 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 gas receiving portion 15, The lower bottom portion 11c is further penetrated through the gas pump 16 and the gas filter 17 in order, and is 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 separator 21 receives steam generated by heating water when passing through the heat transfer tube 22a, and causes brackish water separation (separation of drain contained in the steam) from the steam. The steam separated by steam in the separator 21 can be supplied to the outside of the boiler 1.

The water path 22 is a water path connecting the water receiving portion 23 to the separator 21. A part of the water path 22 is a heat transfer tube 22a forming the side wall 11a described above. Further, in the middle of the water path 22, a water pump 24 is arranged at a position closest to the downstream side of the water receiving portion 23. Of the water paths 22, in the path upstream of the heat transfer tube 22a, the liquid water supplied from the water receiving portion 23 flows, and the path downstream of the heat transfer tube 22a (between the container 11 and the separator 21). Then, the water (steam) heated and vaporized by the heat transfer tube 22a flows.

The water receiving unit 23 is adapted to appropriately receive water that is a source of steam from the outside, and causes the supplied water to flow into the water path 22. The water pump 24 causes the water in the water path 22 to flow from the upstream side to the downstream side (that is, in the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 1).

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. That is, 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. In the example of this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the inner wall of the heat transfer tube 22a is quadrangular, but it may be circular or other shape.

The thermoelectric conversion element 31 has a low temperature side corresponding portion arranged on the low temperature side and a high temperature side corresponding portion arranged on the high temperature side which is higher than the low temperature side, and utilizes the Seebeck effect to provide the low temperature side and the high temperature side. Power is generated by the temperature difference between the above and the generated power, and the generated power is supplied to the heater 13 as driving power. More specifically, the thermoelectric conversion element 31 is located on the low temperature side, which is a predetermined position (the position indicated by a white circle in FIG. 1) on the upstream side of the heat transfer tube 22a in the water path 22, and from the heat transfer tube 22a in the water path 22. Power is generated by the temperature difference from the high temperature side, which is the predetermined position on the downstream side (the position indicated by the black circle in FIG. 1).

As a result, the thermoelectric conversion element 31 can supply the driving power of the heater 13 by utilizing the temperature difference between the water before heating and the water after heating due to the heat of the reactant 12. The operating principle and specific form of the thermoelectric conversion element 31 are not particularly limited as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

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 generated power of the thermoelectric conversion element 31 is mainly supplied to the heater 13 as driving power. As a result, the heater 13 generates heat and the reactant 12 is heated.

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. In this way, 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, in parallel with the operation of generating heat of the reactant 12, water is supplied from the outside to the water receiving unit 23. The supplied water is flowed in the water path 22 in the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 1 by the action of the water pump 24.

The water flowing in the water path 22 is heated by the heat generated by the reactant 12 when passing 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 water flowing inside the heat transfer tube 22a becomes hot due to this. It is heated.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the path of water passing through the heat transfer tube 22a with a solid arrow. As shown in this figure, the water that has entered the heat transfer tube 22a from the inlet α of the heat transfer tube 22a (the lowermost part of the heat transfer tube 22a) travels along the passage in the heat transfer tube 22a extending spirally, and travels along the passage in the heat transfer tube 22a. It is discharged as steam from the outlet β of 22a (the uppermost part of the heat transfer tube 22a) toward the separator 21. At this time, the water passing through the heat transfer tube 22a is transferred from the heat transfer tube 22a (side wall 11a of the container) heated by the heat generated by the reactant 12, and the temperature rises.

In this way, the water flowing through the water path 22 is heated as it passes through the heat transfer tube 22a, the temperature rises, and finally it becomes steam. This steam is sent to the separator 21, and after the dryness is increased by the separation of air and water, it is supplied to the outside of the boiler 1. Since the water in the water path 22 is heated in this way, the temperature on the high temperature side (downstream from the heat transfer tube 22a) described above is higher than the temperature on the low temperature side (upstream from the heat transfer tube 22a). Become. Therefore, the thermoelectric conversion element 31 can supply the electric power generated by this temperature difference to the heater 13 as a driving electric power.

The amount of steam supplied from the separator 21 to the outside may be adjustable according to the required amount of steam from the outside (steam load) and the like. In such an adjustment, when the amount of steam supplied to the outside is less than the appropriate amount, the calorific value of the reactant 12 is increased to increase the amount of steam generated, and when the amount is larger than the appropriate amount, the calorific value of the reactant 12 is generated. This can be achieved by reducing the amount and reducing 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 boiler 1, water is sequentially supplied to the water receiving unit 23 by the amount of steam supplied to the outside, that is, by the amount of water decreased, and steam is continuously generated and supplied to the outside. It is possible to do.

As described above, the boiler 1 heats the water supplied by using the heat generated by the reactant 12 (heat generator), and is located on the low temperature side, which is the path of the water before heating, and the path. A thermoelectric conversion element 31 that generates electricity due to a temperature difference from the high temperature side (in the case of this embodiment, the path of the water after heating) is provided, and the electric power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element 31 is supplied to the heater 13. The temperature of the reactant 12 is increased. Therefore, it is possible to raise the temperature of the heating element by using the thermoelectric exchange element 31 without separately requiring cooling water or the like. The low temperature side can be seen as a place where water is supplied to the boiler 1, and the high temperature side is warmed by using the heat generated by the heating element 12 when the inside of the container 11 is filled with hydrogen gas. It can be seen as a place where it is.

By using the thermoelectric exchange element 31, it is possible to realize self-sufficiency in the boiler 1 or reduction of dependence on external power for power supply to the heater 13. In a situation where the amount of power generated by the thermoelectric exchange element 31 is insufficient, such as when the temperature difference between the low temperature side and the high temperature side is small (for example, when the operation of the boiler 1 is started), external power or the like should be used to make up for this shortage. Just do it.

Further, in the present embodiment, the water supplied to the water receiving portion 23 (water to be heated) is used for cooling the low temperature side corresponding portion of the thermoelectric conversion element 31. Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the heat of the thermoelectric conversion element 31 in order to raise the temperature of the water.

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. 3 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 thermoelectric exchange element 31 of the second embodiment supplies the generated electric power to the heat generating element 12a. 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 heat transfer tube 22a is heated by the heat generated from the heat generating element 12a instead of the reactant 12, and the heat from the heat transfer tube 22a (side wall 11a of the container) is transferred to the water passing through the heat transfer tube 22a to raise the temperature. Will be done. Further, in this embodiment, the reaction for generating excess heat described above is not required, and by directly controlling the temperature of the heat generating element 12a by electric power control, water can be appropriately heated to generate steam. can.

Further, in the boiler 2, it is possible to control the amount of heat generated by the heat generating element 12a (heating body) by adjusting the power supplied to the heat generating element 12a. As the amount of heat generated by the heat generating element 12a is increased, the water passing through the heat transfer tube 22a is heated more strongly, and the amount of steam generated in the boiler 2 can be increased.

3. 3. Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment except for the arrangement of the thermoelectric conversion 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. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the boiler 3 according to the third embodiment. The thermoelectric conversion element 31 in the third embodiment is located on the low temperature side at a predetermined position (the position indicated by a white circle in FIG. 4) on the upstream side of the heat transfer tube 22a in the water path 22 and on the gas receiving portion 15 in the gas path 14. Power is generated by the temperature difference from the high temperature side, which is the predetermined position on the upstream side (the position indicated by the black circle in FIG. 4). The high temperature side is located in the circulation path of the hydrogen-based gas including the inside of the container 11 as a part.

In the boiler 3, when the inside of the container 11 is filled with the hydrogen-based gas, the hydrogen-based gas is warmed by the heat generated by the reactant 12 in the container 11. The circulation of this hydrogen-based gas warms the circulation path. Therefore, the high temperature side is heated by using the heat generated by the reactant 12 when the inside of the container 11 is filled with the hydrogen gas, and the temperature is higher than that of the low temperature side. As a result, the thermoelectric conversion element 31 can supply the driving power of the heater 13 by utilizing the temperature difference between the low temperature side and the high temperature side.

Further, in the present embodiment, the low temperature side corresponding portion of the thermoelectric conversion element 31 is arranged on the upstream side of the gas pump 16 and the gas filter 17 in the gas path 14. Therefore, the temperature of the gas in the gas path 14 can be lowered at this position by the action of the thermoelectric conversion element 31, and the heat resistant temperature (required heat resistant temperature) required for the gas pump 16 and the gas filter 17 can be lowered accordingly. Is possible.

3. 3. Others The boilers 1 to 3 of each of the above-described embodiments include a heating element and a container 11 provided with the heating element inside, and heat the supplied water (an example of a fluid) to generate steam. It is something that makes you. Further, in each of the boilers 1 to 3, a heat transfer tube heated by the heat generated by the heating element in an environment in which the inside of the container 11 is filled with a gas having a specific heat higher than that of air (hydrogen-based gas in the example of the present embodiment). 22a, and the water passing through the heat transfer tube 22a (water that is the source of steam) is heated. 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. It's getting higher. Further, as the heating element, the reactant 12 is adopted in the boilers 1 and 3, and the heating element 12a is adopted in the boiler 2.

According to each of the boilers 1 to 3, it is possible to efficiently transfer the heat generated by the heating element to the water while heating the water by a heating means provided with a heating element inside the container 11 to generate steam. It is possible. In each of the boilers 1 to 3, by arranging the heat transfer tube itself so as to surround the heating element, it is possible to more efficiently transfer the heat generated by the heating element to the heat transfer tube.

Further, since the inside of the container 11 is filled with a gas having a specific heat higher than that of air, heat transfer is improved as compared with the case where general air is filled, and the heat generated by the heating element becomes a source of steam. It can be efficiently transmitted to water. Further, since the specific heat is high, the temperature of the gas is less likely to fluctuate, and it is possible to transfer heat to the water more stably.

Further, since the heat transfer tube 22a forms the entire circumference of the side wall 11a formed in a cylindrical shape, it is possible to efficiently transfer the heat generated by the heating element to the water that is the source of steam. In particular, since the heat transfer tube 22a in the present embodiment is arranged so as to surround the heating element, it covers almost the entire circumference of the side wall 11a, and the heat generated by the heating element is used as the source of steam as much as possible. It is possible to convey to the water. In each of the above embodiments, the heat transfer tubes are arranged spirally to surround the heating element, but the form surrounding the heating element is not limited to this, and for example, a plurality of heat transfer tubes extending in the vertical direction are provided. A form or the like in which the heating element is arranged so as to surround the heating element may be adopted.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, 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 the side wall 11a is provided. The heat transfer tube 22a may be provided inside (that is, inside the container 11). Even in this case, the heat transfer tube 22a can be heated by the heat generated by the heating element in an environment in which the inside of the container 11 is filled with a gas having a specific heat higher than that of air. Further, in this case, the heat transfer tube 22a does not need to serve as the side wall 11a, but it is preferable that there is a gap between the vertically adjacent heat transfer tubes 22a so that the heat from the heating element can be further received.

Further, in each of the boilers 1 to 3, the gas is circulated in a circulation path including the inside of the container 11 as a part. This is expected to have the effect of activating the movement of the gas in the container 11 and more effectively transferring heat from the gas to the side wall 11a. In particular, in the boilers of the first and third embodiments, it is important to circulate the gas in order to promote the reaction that generates excess heat in the reactant 12. Since the boiler of the second embodiment does not require a reaction that generates excess heat, a gas other than the hydrogen-based gas may be used as the gas having a higher specific heat than the above-mentioned air.

In each of the above embodiments, the water that is the source of steam is flowed through the water path 22 including the heat transfer tube 22a, but instead, the heat medium Y is flown through the heat medium path including the heat transfer tube. It is also possible to heat water, which is a source of steam, using this heat medium Y. A schematic configuration diagram of the boiler configured in this way is illustrated in FIG.

In the boiler 1a shown in FIG. 5, a heat medium path 40 is provided instead of the water path 22, and a heat exchanger 50 is provided instead of the separator 21. The heat exchanger 50 is arranged with a part of the heat medium path 40 through which the heat medium Y flows, and receives water supply (supply of water as a source of steam) from the outside. The heat medium Y circulates in the heat medium path 40 including the heat transfer tube 40a, as shown by the solid arrow in FIG. The configuration and arrangement of the heat transfer tube 40a are the same as those of the heat transfer tube 22a of the first embodiment. As a result, the heat medium Y heated by the reaction element 12 (heating element) can be sent to the heat exchanger 50, and the supplied water can be heated by the heat medium Y to generate steam and be supplied to the outside. Is. The heat exchanger 50 may be configured to generate hot water in addition to the configuration of heating water to generate steam.

In the boiler 1a, the thermoelectric conversion element 31 is located on the low temperature side, which is a predetermined position (the position indicated by a white circle in FIG. 5) of the water supply path from the outside to the heat exchanger 50, and the heat transfer tube 40a in the heat medium path 40. Power is generated by the temperature difference from the high temperature side, which is the predetermined position on the downstream side (the position indicated by the black circle in FIG. 5). As a result, the thermoelectric conversion element 31 utilizes the temperature difference between the water before being heated by the heat of the reactant 12 and the heat medium Y heated by the heat of the reactant 12 via the heat medium Y, and the heater 13 is used. It is possible to cover the driving power of.

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 tubular body through which the heat medium Y arranged in the storage space is passed, and the heat of the heat medium Y passes through the tubular body. Examples include those that are transmitted to the stored water.

Further, in the boiler shown in FIG. 1 or 3, the position on the high temperature side where the high temperature side corresponding portion of the thermoelectric conversion element 31 is arranged may be the position X indicated by the dotted circle instead of the position indicated by the black circle described above. good. In this case, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the steam sent to the separator 21 from being lowered as much as possible.

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.

1-3, 1a 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 21 Separator 22 Water path 22a Heat transfer tube 23 Water receiving part 24 Water Pump 31 Thermoelectric conversion element 40 Heat medium path 40a Heat transfer tube 50 Heat exchanger

Claims (4)

Heat transfer tube and
With a heating element
A container provided with the heat transfer tube and the heating element inside and capable of filling the inside with a gas having a specific heat higher than that of air.
A boiler that heats the heat transfer tube using the heat generated by the heating element.
A thermoelectric conversion element that generates electricity by a temperature difference between a low temperature side where water is supplied to the boiler and a high temperature side which is heated by using the heat generated by the heating element when the inside of the container is filled with the gas is provided. A boiler characterized by that. As a path for circulating the gas, a circulation path including the inside of the container as a part is provided.
The boiler according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric conversion element generates electricity due to a temperature difference between a low temperature side where water is supplied to the boiler and a high temperature side which is a circulation path. The gas is a hydrogen-based gas and
The heating element is
A reactant in which metal nanoparticles made of hydrogen storage metals are provided on the surface, and hydrogen atoms are occluded in the metal nanoparticles to generate excess heat in a situation where the hydrogen-based gas is supplied into the container. And
The boiler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electric power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element is supplied to a heater for heating the reactant. The boiler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the temperature of the heating element is raised by using the electric power generated by the thermoelectric conversion element.

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