JP3602690B2 - Solid-gas reaction filled container - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a solid-gas reaction packed container such as a heat exchanger and a hydrogen storage alloy heat exchanger for storing hydrogen storage alloy powder.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-330301 discloses a heat exchanger which is housed in a closed container and exchanges a heat medium fluid with the outside of the container, and has a property of changing volume by a solid-gas reaction, so that a heat exchanger is provided in the heat exchanger. A solid-gas reaction powder to be filled and a reaction gas passage for flowing a reaction gas between the outside of the container and the solid-gas reaction powder are provided, and the heat exchangers extend parallel to each other as shown in FIG. A pair of headers 100 to be provided, a number of flat heat transfer tubes 200 which are arranged in parallel with each other and both ends of which are individually and integrally joined to the headers 100, and are disposed in gaps 300 between the flat heat transfer tubes 200. A hydrogen storage alloy heat exchanger including a fin 500 that divides the gap 300 into a number of cells 400 has been proposed. In addition, each flat heat transfer tube 200 is attached in a posture spreading in the horizontal direction.
[0003]
In this hydrogen storage alloy heat exchanger, the hydrogen storage alloy powder can be dispersed and stored in a large number of cells, so that the hydrogen storage alloy powder is not locally localized, and the reaction between the hydrogen storage alloy powder and hydrogen Also, there is an advantage that heat transfer between the hydrogen storage alloy powder and the heat exchanger hardly varies depending on the spatial position.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the flat heat transfer tube type hydrogen storage alloy heat exchanger with fins disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, the hydrogen storage alloy powder individually filled in each cell expands and contracts each time hydrogen gas is absorbed and released. The flat heat transfer tubes 200, particularly the flat heat transfer tubes 200 on the upper end side and the lower end side, repeatedly bend and deform in the header extending direction, that is, upward or downward as shown in FIG. Bending stress concentrates on the joint 600 between the heat transfer tube 200 and the header 100 which can be regarded as a rigid body against the external force in the vertical direction. There was a problem that fluid leaked.
[0005]
Of course, the stress can be reduced by reducing the filling amount of the hydrogen storage alloy powder in each cell defined by the flat heat transfer tube 200 and the fins 500. The ability to occlude and release gas is reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a solid-gas reaction filling capable of avoiding a decrease in durability due to a volume change of a solid-gas reaction powder while securing excellent heat exchange property and solid-gas reaction capability. Providing a container is an issue to be solved.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The solid-gas reaction-filled container body of the present invention has a sealed container that seals the inside, a heat exchanger that is housed in the container and that exchanges a heat transfer fluid between the outside of the container, and a volume change due to the solid-gas reaction. A solid-gas reaction powder having properties and filled in the closed container, and a reaction gas passage for flowing a reaction gas between the outside of the container and the solid-gas reaction powder, the heat exchanger includes: A pair of headers extending parallel to each other, a flat heat transfer tube having both ends integrally joined to the pair of headers, and fins disposed on an outer surface of the flat heat transfer tube; The powder is a hydrogen storage alloy powder that absorbs, emits hydrogen gas, expands and contracts, and the reaction gas is a hydrogen-containing gas-solid reaction-filled container, wherein the flat heat transfer tubes are arranged in parallel with each other. Extends in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the extension direction of the header A large number of straight pipe portions, and a large number of curved pipe portions that connect the straight pipe portions adjacent to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the header extending direction and the first direction. The solid-gas reaction powder is individually filled in each cell formed by being divided by the fins and the straight pipe portion, and absorbs and discharges the reaction gas to change its volume. The header is configured to be able to follow the deformation of the flat heat transfer tube due to a change in volume of the solid-gas reaction powder in the first direction or the second direction.
That is, the solid-gas reaction packed container body of the present invention has a so-called serpentine-structured heat exchanger built in a closed container, and the solid-gas reaction powder is individually supplied to each cell defined by the fins and the flat heat transfer tube. The structure that is filled in is adopted.
By doing so, the flat heat transfer tube is only joined to the header (ie, the inlet tube and the outlet tube) at two locations at both ends thereof regardless of the total number of cells, and the number of joints is small. The possibility of occurrence of leakage can be remarkably reduced as compared with the above-mentioned conventional finned flat heat transfer tube type hydrogen storage alloy heat exchanger.
[0007]
Also, even if the flat heat transfer tube is deformed in a direction perpendicular to the main surface due to the volume change of the solid-gas reaction powder in the cell due to gas absorption and release, a pair of headers are attached to both ends of the meandering flat heat transfer tube. Since it is only joined individually, it can easily be displaced following the above-mentioned minute displacement of the flat heat transfer tube, and almost bending stress occurs in the flat heat transfer tube at the joint between the flat heat transfer tube and the header. Therefore, the joint (generally the brazed portion) does not fatigue and the heat medium fluid or gas does not leak.
[0008]
In addition, since the solid-gas reaction powder is divided and accommodated in each cell and is in sufficient contact with each fin and the flat heat transfer tube, excellent heat exchange properties can be secured, and the solid-gas reaction powder is placed at the bottom of the container. Sedimentation and uneven distribution can also be prevented.
Further, since it is not necessary to reduce the filling amount of the solid-gas reaction powder in order to prevent the leakage of the heat medium fluid and the gas in the above-mentioned joint, the solid-gas reaction performance does not decrease.
[0009]
Further, by forming the reaction gas passage with a gas-permeable gas permeable tube extending in the direction in which the header extends in the container, the exchange of gas with the solid-gas reaction powder becomes better. In this case, the packing density of the solid-gas reaction powder in the closed container can be improved while ensuring the reactivity between the solid-gas reaction powder and the gas. That is, most of the solid-gas reaction powder in the closed container can be individually dispersed and accommodated in each cell of the heat exchanger without causing leakage of the heat medium fluid or the like of the heat exchanger. The expansion pressure is alleviated by the flat heat transfer tubes and the fins, and the solid-gas reaction powder can be almost completely filled in the closed container without significantly improving the pressure resistance of the closed container.
[0010]
In a preferred aspect, a straight tube portion of the flat heat transfer tube extends in a horizontal direction. In a preferred aspect, the reaction gas passage extends in a direction in which the header extends. In a preferred aspect, the reaction gas passage includes a filter made of a porous sintered alloy.
In a preferred aspect, since the gas passage opening is provided in the fin, the reaction performance between the gas and the solid-gas reaction powder in each cell, particularly in a cell at a position away from the gas permeable tube, can be improved. In a preferred aspect, the fin is made of a good heat conductive metal and extends vertically and longitudinally.
In a preferred embodiment, the sedimentation preventing plate is laid between the outer periphery of the heat exchanger and the inner periphery of the closed vessel, so that the effect of suppressing the sedimentation of the solid-gas reaction powder and the consolidation at the bottom of the closed vessel is further improved. Can be improved.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the following examples.
[0012]
【Example】
(Example 1)
A hydrogen storage alloy heat exchanger accommodating metal hydride powder (hydrogen storage alloy powder) will be described as an example of the solid-gas reaction filled container body of the present invention with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the heat exchanger, and FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the heat exchanger.
[0013]
Reference numeral 1 denotes a closed container having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, in which a heat exchanger 2, a hydrogen storage alloy powder 3 and four gas permeable tubes 4 are accommodated.
The heat exchanger 2 includes a pair of headers 21, 22, flat heat transfer tubes 23, both ends of which are brazed and meandered along the headers 21, 22, and a plurality of flat heat transfer tubes 23 provided along the extending direction of the headers 21, 22. It consists of an extremely large number of fins 24 brazed to the outer surface of the heat tube 23.
[0014]
The headers 21 and 22 extend in the front-rear direction near the corners that are diagonal to each other inside the closed container 1, and protrude to the outside through an end wall (not shown) of the closed container 1. The header 21 is supplied with a heat medium fluid from the outside, and the header 22 circulates the heat medium fluid to the outside.
The flat heat transfer tube 23 is composed of a total of five straight tube portions 23a and a total of four curved tube portions 23b formed integrally with the straight tube portion 23a, and the cross section perpendicular to the extending direction thereof is extremely elongated. It has a flat cross section. In the peripheral walls of the headers 21 and 22, there are formed communication holes which are long and open in the axial direction, and the flat heat transfer tubes 23 communicate with the communication holes. The straight pipe portion 23a extends in the horizontal direction. The curved tube portion 23b curved in a semi-cylindrical shape communicates the left end portions or the right end portions of two vertically adjacent straight tube portions 23a. Thereby, the heat medium fluid flows from the header 21 to the header 22 through the flat heat transfer tube 23.
[0015]
The fins 24 have their ends brazed to the outer surface of the flat heat transfer tube 23 and extend vertically and in the front-rear direction.
The headers 21, 22, the flat heat transfer tubes 23, and the fins 24 are made of a metal having good thermal conductivity, such as an aluminum alloy. Each fin 24 is provided with an appropriate number of through holes 24a for flowing hydrogen gas.
[0016]
The gas permeable tube 4 is located outside the heat exchanger 2 and extends in the same direction as the headers 21 and 22, that is, in the front-rear direction in FIG. 1, and has one or both ends communicating with an external hydrogen gas source. The gas permeation pipe 4 is a cylindrical filter made of a porous sintered alloy, so that an external hydrogen gas source and the sealed container 1 can exchange hydrogen gas.
[0017]
The upper and lower peripheral wall portions 1a and 1b of the closed container 1 are horizontally extended while being close to the uppermost and lowermost fins 24, whereby the space between any pair of adjacent fins 24 is closed. The upper and lower peripheral wall portions 1 a and 1 b and the flat tube portion 23 a of the flat heat transfer tube 23 constitute a small chamber, that is, a cell 5.
The space outside each cell 5 and the heat exchanger 2 thereof is almost completely filled with the hydrogen storage alloy powder 3.
[0018]
According to the hydrogen storage alloy heat exchanger of the present embodiment configured as described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
First, since both ends of the flat heat transfer tube 23 are only joined individually to the headers 21 and 22 and the number of joints is small, both ends of the flat heat transfer tube 23 are displaced by expansion and contraction of the hydrogen storage alloy powder 3. However, the headers 21 and 22 can easily follow the vertical direction or the horizontal direction except for the front-rear direction, and it is possible to significantly reduce the fatigue fracture of the joint 7 thereof.
[0019]
In addition, since the hydrogen storage alloy powder 3 is separately housed in each cell 5 and is in sufficient contact with each fin 24 and the flat heat transfer tube 23, excellent heat exchange properties can be ensured, and the hydrogen storage alloy powder can be secured. 3 can be prevented from settling and unevenly distributed on the bottom of the container 1.
Further, since it is not necessary to reduce the filling amount of the hydrogen storage alloy powder 3 in order to prevent the heat medium fluid and the hydrogen gas from leaking at the above-mentioned joint 7, the hydrogen storage performance can be improved.
[0020]
Further, since the gas permeable tube 4 is provided in the direction in which the headers 21 and 22 extend, the gas permeable pipe 4 is capable of transmitting and receiving gas even if the filling amount of the hydrogen storage alloy powder 3 is increased. Can be suppressed.
In addition, since most of the hydrogen storage alloy powder 3 is divided and filled in each cell 5, the expansion pressure is relieved by the flat heat transfer tubes 23 and the fins 24, so that the hydrogen storage alloy powder 3 is almost completely sealed. Even if the container 1 is filled, the required pressure resistance of the closed container 1 can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where the heat exchanger 2 is not used.
[0021]
Further, since the gas passage opening 24a is provided in the fin 24, the reactivity between the hydrogen storage alloy powder 3 and the hydrogen gas in each cell 5, especially in the cell 5 at a position away from the gas permeable tube 4, is improved.
Furthermore, since the cells 5 communicate with each other in the front-rear direction, the hydrogen storage alloy powder 3 can be easily filled when the heat exchanger is manufactured.
(Example 2)
Another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0022]
The hydrogen storage alloy heat exchanger of this embodiment is obtained by adding a plurality of anti-settling plates 8 to the hydrogen storage alloy heat exchanger of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The anti-settling plate 8 is a long member having an L-shaped cross section that has one end in contact with the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the closed container 1 and the other end in contact with the fin 24 and extends horizontally. This is disposed at a predetermined distance in the direction, whereby the effect of preventing the sedimentation of the hydrogen storage alloy powder 3 between the closed vessel 1 and the heat exchanger 2 can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a solid-gas reaction filled container body of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partially broken plan view of the solid-gas reaction filled container body of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the solid-gas reaction filled container body of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of a conventional hydrogen storage alloy heat exchanger using a conventional finned flat heat transfer tube type heat exchanger.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 is a closed container, 2 is a heat exchanger, 3 is a hydrogen storage alloy powder (solid-gas reaction powder), 4 is a gas permeable tube, 5 is a cell, 21 and 22 are headers, 23 is a flat heat transfer tube, and 24 is a fin.

Claims (7)

A sealed container for hermetically sealing the inside, a heat exchanger accommodated in the container and exchanging a heat transfer fluid between the outside of the container, and a container which has a property of changing volume by a solid-gas reaction and is filled in the closed container. Solid-gas reaction powder, and a reaction gas passage for flowing a reaction gas between the outside of the container and the solid-gas reaction powder, wherein the heat exchanger includes a pair of headers extending in parallel with each other. A flat heat transfer tube having both ends integrally joined to the pair of headers, and fins disposed on an outer surface of the flat heat transfer tube , wherein the solid-gas reaction powder absorbs and discharges hydrogen gas. The hydrogen storage alloy powder that expands and contracts, wherein the reaction gas is a hydrogen- containing solid-gas reaction-filled container,
The flat heat transfer tubes, a number of the straight tube portion that extends in the extending direction substantially perpendicular first direction of said header are arranged parallel to each other physician, in the header extending direction and the first direction Has a shape consisting of a number of curved pipe portions that communicate the straight pipe portions that are adjacent to each other with a predetermined gap therebetween in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to each other,
The solid-gas reaction powder is individually filled in each cell formed by being divided by the fin and the straight pipe portion, and absorbs and discharges the reaction gas to change its volume,
The solid-gas reaction-filled container body, wherein the header is configured to be able to follow the deformation of the flat heat transfer tube due to a volume change of the solid-gas reaction powder in the first direction or the second direction. . The solid-gas reaction filled container according to claim 1,
A solid-gas reaction filled container body, wherein a straight pipe portion of the flat heat transfer tube extends in a horizontal direction. The solid-gas reaction filled container according to claim 1 or 2,
The solid-gas reaction-filled container body, wherein the reaction gas passage extends in a direction in which the header extends. The solid-gas reaction filled container according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The solid-gas reaction filled container body, wherein the reaction gas passage includes a filter made of a porous sintered alloy. The solid-gas reaction filled container according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The fin has an opening for gas passage. The solid-gas reaction filled container according to claim 2,
The fin is a solid-gas reaction filled container, wherein the fin is made of a good heat conductive metal and extends vertically and in the front-rear direction. The solid-gas reaction filled container according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A solid-gas reaction-filled container body having a sedimentation prevention plate that is laterally suspended at one end in contact with the fin and the other end is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the closed container to prevent sedimentation of the solid-gas reaction powder. .

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