JP7438581B1 - Thermoacoustic engine and heat treatment furnace - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thermoacoustic engine and provides a configuration that makes it possible to extract heat and generate sound waves, thereby generating energy, without directly extracting gas.
A thermoacoustic engine 12 according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a first converting section 14 configured to generate sound waves from heat, and connected to the first converting section 14 via a connecting pipe, and a second conversion unit configured to generate energy. The first conversion unit 14 includes a first heat storage device 24 disposed in the first pipe, a first high temperature side heat exchanger 26, a first low temperature side heat exchanger 28, and the first high temperature side heat exchanger. The first solid heat transfer member 30 is provided so as to extend from the first solid heat transfer member 30 . The second conversion unit 20 includes a second heat storage device 42 disposed in the second pipe, a second high temperature side heat exchanger 44, a second low temperature side heat exchanger 46, and the second high temperature side heat exchanger. A second solid heat transfer member 48 is provided so as to extend from the second solid heat transfer member 48 .
[Selection diagram] Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to a thermoacoustic engine and a heat treatment furnace equipped with the thermoacoustic engine.

Conventionally, various configurations have been proposed that utilize waste heat discharged from various machines in various factories, power plants, etc., and further development of these structures is expected from the viewpoint of energy conservation. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a first conversion system in which a prime mover to which a high-temperature side heat exchanger, a heat storage device, and a low-temperature side heat exchanger arranged in an exhaust pipe of industrial furnace equipment are connected in order is arranged in an output loop piping. A thermoacoustic engine is disclosed, comprising: a second converting section, and a second converting section to which sound waves generated in the first converting section are transmitted via a connecting pipe. The first conversion section is configured to generate sound waves by thermoacoustic self-excited vibration from the exhaust heat of the exhaust pipe, and the second conversion section is configured to input sound waves from the connecting pipe and generate electric power from the vibrations of the sound waves. , and is configured to generate cold or heat.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-86176

By the way, in factories and the like, in order to effectively extract exhaust heat from various machines, for example, extracting the exhaust gas itself to the outside from an exhaust pipe has room for improvement in terms of the possibility of leakage of exhaust gas. On the other hand, Patent Document 1 does not describe any configuration for extracting exhaust heat from the exhaust pipe.

In addition, the heat treatment furnace has a so-called so-called furnace configured to carbonize or graphitize the carbon material by heating the carbon material to an extremely high temperature in a neutral gas such as nitrogen gas or an inert gas such as argon gas or helium gas. There are carbonization furnaces and so-called graphitization furnaces. Since these heat the material to a temperature of, for example, 1000° C. to 3000° C., there is a lot of waste heat, and it is desired to utilize it effectively. On the other hand, since the gas in this carbonization furnace or graphitization furnace contains tar and the like derived from the materials, extracting the gas and recovering exhaust heat may bring about further problems.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a configuration for a thermoacoustic engine that makes it possible to extract heat and generate sound waves, thereby generating energy, without directly extracting gas.
A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a configuration that allows waste heat to be recovered more preferably in a heat treatment furnace such as a carbonization furnace or a graphitization furnace.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present disclosure includes:
a first converter configured to generate sound waves from heat;
a second converting unit connected to the first converting unit via a connecting pipe and configured to generate energy from the sound wave generated in the first converting unit,
The first conversion unit is
a first heat storage device provided in an annular first pipe to which one end of the connection pipe is connected;
a first high temperature side heat exchanger connected to a first end of the first heat storage device in the first piping;
a first low-temperature side heat exchanger connected to a second end of the first heat storage device opposite to the first end in the first piping;
A first solid heat transfer member provided to extend from the first high-temperature side heat exchanger of the first conversion section, the first solid heat transfer member being attached to a first mounting portion of a first heat source located outside of the first piping. a first solid heat transfer member attached;
The second conversion unit is
a second heat storage device provided in an annular second pipe to which the other end of the connection pipe is connected;
a second high temperature side heat exchanger connected to the first end of the second heat storage device in the second piping;
a second low-temperature side heat exchanger connected to a second end of the second heat storage device opposite to the first end of the second heat storage device in the second piping;
A second solid heat transfer member provided to extend from the second low-temperature side heat exchanger of the second conversion section, the second solid heat transfer member being attached to a second attachment part of the second heat source located outside the second piping. a second solid heat transfer member attached thereto.

Preferably, the first solid heat transfer member is a first heat transfer member disposed at the first attachment portion of the first heat source so as to be interposed between the first heat source and the first solid heat transfer member. It is provided so as to be in contact with the partition member. In this case, the first solid heat transfer member is preferably a rod-shaped member, and the first heat transfer partition member is preferably a tube member with one end closed.

Preferably, the second solid heat transfer member is a second heat transfer member disposed at the second attachment portion of the second heat source so as to be interposed between the second heat source and the second solid heat transfer member. It is provided so as to be in contact with the partition member. In this case, the second solid heat transfer member is preferably a rod-shaped member, and the second heat transfer partition member is preferably a tube member with one end closed.

A second aspect of the present disclosure includes:
A heat treatment furnace equipped with the aforementioned thermoacoustic engine is provided.

Preferably, the heat treatment furnace is a carbonization furnace or a graphitization furnace. At this time, the heat treatment furnace can include an exhaust chamber, a heating chamber, and a cooling chamber from the upstream side to the downstream side. In this case, the first solid heat transfer member provided so as to extend from the first high temperature side heat exchanger of the first conversion section is connected to the first solid heat transfer member of the heating chamber located outside the first piping. The second solid heat transfer member, which is attached to the first mounting part and extends from the second low-temperature side heat exchanger of the second conversion part, is configured to connect the heating element located outside the second piping. The second high-temperature side heat exchanger of the second conversion section and the exhaust pipe of the exhaust chamber may be configured to be able to exchange heat with each other.

According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, since the above configuration is provided, it becomes possible to extract heat and generate sound waves, and thus generate energy, without directly extracting gas from the thermoacoustic engine.
Moreover, according to the second aspect of the present disclosure, since the above-mentioned configuration is provided, it becomes possible to more suitably recover exhaust heat in a heat treatment furnace such as a carbonization furnace or a graphitization furnace.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a thermoacoustic engine as a basic configuration example according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a graphitization furnace, which is a heat treatment furnace according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the thermoacoustic engine provided in the graphitization furnace of FIG. 2 and its surroundings.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described based on the accompanying drawings. Identical parts (or configurations) are given the same reference numerals, and their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

First, a thermoacoustic engine 12 as a basic configuration example according to the present disclosure will be described based on FIG. 1. The thermoacoustic engine 12 includes a first converting section 14 configured to generate sound waves from heat, and a second converting section 20 connected to the first converting section 14 via a connecting pipe 18. The second converter 20 is configured to generate energy from the sound waves generated by the first converter 14.

The first converting section 14 includes a sound wave generator 10, a thermoacoustic pipe 16, and a core section 22. The thermoacoustic pipe 16 is an annular or loop-shaped pipe, and corresponds to a first annular pipe. One end of the connecting pipe 18 communicates with the thermoacoustic pipe 16, and the second converting section 20 is provided at the other end of the connecting pipe 18. The thermoacoustic pipe 16 and the connecting pipe 18 communicate with each other, and are filled with a predetermined working gas (here, helium (He)) under a predetermined pressure. Note that the working gas is not limited to helium, and may be various gases, such as one of helium, nitrogen, argon, and air, or a mixture containing two or more of them. Further, a predetermined working gas is sealed under a predetermined pressure in the annular pipe 40 (annular second pipe) of the second conversion unit 20, which will be described later, as well as in the thermoacoustic pipe 16 and the connection pipe 18.

The first converting section 14, that is, the sound wave generator 10, includes the annular thermoacoustic pipe 16 and the core section 22, as described above. The core section 22 is sometimes referred to as a prime mover, and includes a heat storage device 24, a high temperature side heat exchanger 26, and a low temperature side heat exchanger 28. The heat storage device 24, the high temperature side heat exchanger 26, and the low temperature side heat exchanger 28 are connected to the thermoacoustic piping 16 so that the heat storage device 24 is sandwiched between the high temperature side heat exchanger 26 and the low temperature side heat exchanger 28. provided. The high temperature side heat exchanger 26 is connected to one end (first end) of the heat storage device 24 in the flow path direction FA1 of the thermoacoustic piping 16. The high temperature side heat exchanger 26 is configured to relatively heat the first end of the heat storage device 24 . The low temperature side heat exchanger 28 is connected to the other end (second end) of the heat storage device 24 on the opposite side to the first end in the flow path direction FA1 of the thermoacoustic piping 16. The low temperature side heat exchanger 28 is configured to relatively cool the second end of the heat storage device 24 .

The heat storage device 24 is a structure provided with fine channels, such as a honeycomb, and may be made of ceramic or metal, and may include a stainless steel honeycomb structure. The heat storage device 24 is configured to have a plurality of channels or holes in a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction FA1 of the thermoacoustic piping 16, and each of the plurality of holes has a size of less than 1 mm, for example, 1 mm. It is preferable to have an inner diameter of less than or equal to The hot side heat exchanger 26 and the cold side heat exchanger 28 each may have a high thermal conductivity and each may be made of metal, for example copper. The high-temperature side heat exchanger 26 and the low-temperature side heat exchanger 28 are each provided with fine flow paths similarly to the heat storage device 24, and the heat storage device 24 is used to cause self-excited vibration of the working gas sealed in the thermoacoustic pipe 16. A heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat with the working gas so that a temperature gradient is generated between both ends of the plurality of flow paths.

The first solid heat transfer member 30 is provided so that the solid heat transfer member (hereinafter referred to as the first solid heat transfer member) 30 extends from the high temperature side heat exchanger 26 . The first solid heat transfer member 30 preferably has excellent heat resistance and high thermal conductivity. Although the first solid heat transfer member 30 is a rod-shaped member made of graphite here, it may be made of other materials, such as silicon carbide (SiC), and may have a shape other than a rod-shape. The first solid heat transfer member 30 is attached to a mounting portion 34 provided on a heat source (hereinafter referred to as a first heat source) 32 located outside the thermoacoustic pipe 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, a heat transfer partition member (hereinafter referred to as a first heat transfer partition member) 36 is arranged at the attachment portion 34 of the first heat source 32. As shown in FIG. The first heat transfer partition member 36 may be made of a material selected depending on the temperature of the first heat source 32, etc., and may be made of iron or a nickel-based alloy, for example, and preferably has excellent heat transfer. The first heat transfer partition member 36 is arranged at the first heat source 32 so as to be interposed between the first heat source 32 located outside the thermoacoustic pipe 16 and the first solid heat transfer member 30 . The first solid heat transfer member 30 is provided in contact with the first heat transfer partition member 36 . For example, the first solid heat transfer member 30 may be removably connected to and thereby contact the first heat transfer partition member 36 by a mechanical connection means. Specifically, the first solid heat transfer member 30 has a female threaded portion or a male threaded portion, and may be removably screwed into a corresponding male threaded portion or female threaded portion of the first heat transfer partition member 36. Thereby, the high temperature side heat exchanger 26 receives heat from the first heat source 32 via the first heat transfer partition member 36 and the first solid heat transfer member 30, and receives heat from the first heat source 32 through the first heat transfer partition member 36 and the first solid heat transfer member 30. temperature range). Note that the first heat transfer partition member 36 is not provided and the first solid heat transfer member 30 is provided in contact with the attachment portion 34 of the first heat source 32, for example, the first solid heat transfer member 30 is directly attached. It's okay to be hit. For example, the first solid heat transfer member 30 may be detachably attached to the attachment portion 34 by mechanical connection means. Specifically, when the attachment portion 34 is a female threaded hole, the first solid heat transfer member 30 A male threaded portion may be provided to be screwed together.

On the other hand, the cold side heat exchanger 28 can be kept without heat input or can have cooling equipment with a cooling liquid such as water. Thereby, the low temperature side heat exchanger 28 is made to have a temperature in a predetermined temperature range (second predetermined temperature range) lower than that of the high temperature side heat exchanger 26.

Therefore, a temperature difference occurs between both ends of the heat storage device 24, and a temperature gradient is formed in the heat storage device 24 in the working fluid flow direction FA1. Therefore, in the thermoacoustic pipe 16 of the first converting section 14, the working gas present therein expands due to heating and contracts due to cooling, resulting in thermoacoustic self-excited vibrations, thereby generating sound waves. In this manner, in the first conversion section 14 including the sound wave generator 10, the core section 22 including the heat storage device 24 converts input heat into sound waves.

The sound waves generated by the first converter 14 are transmitted to the connecting pipe 18 connected to the thermoacoustic pipe 16, and then to the second converter 20. In the thermoacoustic piping 16, the connecting piping 18 is connected, so that a substantially T-shaped portion 17 is formed by the connecting piping 18 and the thermoacoustic piping 16. The high-temperature side heat exchanger 26 of the heat storage device 24 faces the flow path section 16A side of the thermoacoustic piping 16 where the connecting piping 18 smoothly connects, and the high temperature side heat exchanger 26 of the heat storage device 24 faces the approximately T-shaped portion 17 between the connecting piping 18 and the thermoacoustic piping 16. The core portion 22 is arranged in the thermoacoustic piping 16 such that the low temperature side heat exchanger 28 of the heat storage device 24 faces the flow path portion 16B side of the thermoacoustic piping 16 that extends so as to abut against the core portion 22. Here, one end of the connection pipe 18 is connected to a location that is relatively far from the low temperature side heat exchanger 28 and relatively close to the high temperature side heat exchanger 26. A second conversion section 20 is provided at the other end of the connection pipe 18. The second conversion unit 20 is configured to generate energy from the sound waves generated by the first conversion unit 14, and more specifically, generates thermal energy from the sound waves generated by the first conversion unit 14. It is configured to allow

The second converter 20 is connected to the first converter 14 via a connecting pipe 18 . The second conversion section 20 includes an annular pipe 40 and a core section 47 including a heat storage device 42 , a high temperature side heat exchanger 44 , and a low temperature side heat exchanger 46 . The annular pipe 40 is an annular or loop-shaped pipe, and corresponds to a second annular pipe. The core portion 47 is provided in the annular pipe 40. The heat storage device 42 has the same configuration as the heat storage device 24 described above, and can be modified in the same manner. The high-temperature side heat exchanger 44 has the same configuration as the high-temperature side heat exchanger 26, and can be modified in the same way. Concatenated. The low-temperature side heat exchanger 46 has the same configuration as the low-temperature side heat exchanger 28 and can be modified in the same way, and the heat storage 42 on the side opposite to the first end in the flow path direction FA2 of the annular pipe 40 is connected to the other end (second end).

The second solid heat transfer member 48 is provided so that the solid heat transfer member (hereinafter referred to as second solid heat transfer member) 48 extends from the low temperature side heat exchanger 46 . The second solid heat transfer member 48 preferably has excellent heat resistance and high thermal conductivity. The second solid heat transfer member 48 here has the same configuration as the first solid heat transfer member 30, and is a rod-shaped member made of graphite here, but may be made of another material, such as silicon carbide (SiC). It may also have a shape other than a rod shape. The second solid heat transfer member 48 is attached to a mounting portion 52 provided on a heat source (hereinafter referred to as a second heat source) 50 located outside the annular pipe 40 .

As shown in FIG. 1, a heat transfer partition member (hereinafter referred to as a second heat transfer partition member) 54 is arranged at the attachment portion 52 of the second heat source 50. The second heat transfer partition member 54 may be made of a material selected depending on the temperature of the second heat source 50, etc., and may be made of iron or a nickel-based alloy, for example, and preferably has excellent heat transfer. The second heat transfer partition member 54 is arranged at the second heat source 50 so as to be interposed between the second heat source 50 located outside the annular pipe 40 and the second solid heat transfer member 48 . The second solid heat transfer member 48 is provided so as to be in contact with the second heat transfer partition member 54 . For example, the second solid heat transfer member 48 may be removably connected to the second heat transfer partition member 54 by mechanical connection means, thereby contacting the second heat transfer partition member 36 . Specifically, the second solid heat transfer member 48 has a female threaded portion or a male threaded portion, and may be removably screwed into a corresponding male threaded portion or female threaded portion of the second heat transfer partition member 54. Thereby, the low temperature side heat exchanger 46 receives heat from the second heat source 50 via the second heat transfer partition member 54 and the second solid heat transfer member 48, and maintains a predetermined temperature range above room temperature, for example, the 1. Can be heated to a predetermined temperature range. Note that the second heat transfer partition member 54 is not provided and the second solid heat transfer member 48 is provided in contact with the attachment portion 52 of the second heat source 50, for example, the second solid heat transfer member 48 is directly attached. It's okay to be hit. For example, the second solid heat transfer member 48 may be detachably attached to the attachment portion 52 by mechanical connection means. Specifically, when the attachment portion 52 is a female threaded hole, the second solid heat transfer member 48 A male threaded portion may be provided to be screwed together.

The other end of the connection pipe 18 (the end opposite to the one end of the connection pipe 18 connected to the thermoacoustic pipe 16) is connected to and communicates with the annular pipe 40 of the second conversion section 20. By connecting the connecting pipe 18 to the annular pipe 40, a substantially T-shaped portion 41 is formed by the connecting pipe 18 and the annular pipe 40. The low-temperature side heat exchanger 46 of the heat storage device 42 faces toward the flow path portion 40A side of the annular pipe 40 to which the connection pipe 18 smoothly connects, and extends so as to hit the substantially T-shaped portion 41 between the connection pipe 18 and the annular pipe 40. The core portion 47 is arranged in the annular pipe 40 such that the high temperature side heat exchanger 44 of the heat storage device 42 faces the flow path portion 40B side of the annular pipe 40. Therefore, the high temperature side heat exchanger 44 of the second conversion section 20 can have a higher temperature than the low temperature side heat exchanger 46 of the second conversion section 20 . As described above, the low temperature side heat exchanger 46 receives heat from the second heat source 50 and can be heated to a predetermined temperature range above room temperature, for example, the first predetermined temperature range, and thus performs the first conversion. Heat is input similarly to the high temperature side heat exchanger 26 of the section 14. Therefore, the high temperature side heat exchanger 44 of the second conversion section 20 can generate a temperature exceeding that of the low temperature side heat exchanger 46, and can output thermal energy.

According to the thermoacoustic engine 12 described above, since it has the above configuration, even if the first heat source 32 and the second heat source 50 have high-temperature gas, the gas can be directly extracted. The heat is extracted through the first solid heat transfer member 30 and the first conversion section 14 generates a sound wave, and the second conversion section 20 to which the sound wave is transmitted converts the second solid heat transfer member 48. The heat can be extracted through the high temperature side heat exchanger 44 to generate thermal energy.

Next, a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure to which the configuration of the thermoacoustic engine 12 shown in FIG. 1 is applied will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a heat treatment furnace 60 according to an embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the thermoacoustic engine 12 provided in the heat treatment furnace 60 of FIG. 2 and its surroundings. The heat treatment furnace 60 is a so-called graphitization furnace, and the workpiece W, which is a carbon material, for example, carried into the heat treatment furnace 60 is heated to a predetermined temperature (for example, 1000° C. to 3000° C.) by a heater 62, which is an example of a heating means. The heat treatment is performed in a neutral gas such as nitrogen gas, or an inert gas such as argon gas or helium gas at a high temperature set at ℃. Note that the heat treatment furnace 60 may be a carbonization furnace. In this case, the heat treatment furnace 60 has the same configuration as the graphitization furnace, and is heated by the heater 62 to a temperature different from that of the graphitization furnace. It can be done.

The heat treatment furnace 60 has an inlet seal chamber 64, an exhaust chamber 66, a heating chamber 68, a cooling chamber 70, and an outlet seal chamber 72 arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side. An endless annular conveyor belt 74 driven by a drive device is provided from the inlet seal chamber 64 to the outlet seal chamber 72, and the heat-treated object W is conveyed from the inlet seal chamber 64 to the outlet seal chamber 72 by these belts. . Alternatively, the object to be heat-treated W may be moved by a winding device or the like that does not include the conveyor belt 74 and is located outside the furnace. This winding device can be used, for example, when the object W to be heat-treated is thread-like.

The entrance seal chamber 64 includes a plurality of curtains 76 to make it difficult for the atmosphere outside the furnace to enter the atmosphere inside the furnace. The plurality of curtains 76 may be arranged to have a labyrinth structure. Similarly, the exit sealing chamber 72 is also provided with a plurality of curtains 78 to make it difficult for the atmosphere outside the furnace to enter the atmosphere inside the furnace. The plurality of curtains 78 may also be arranged to have a labyrinth structure.

The heating chamber 68 includes a plurality of heaters 62 and is configured to heat the object W to be heat treated. Here, the cooling chamber 70 has no cooling equipment in addition to heating equipment such as the heater 62, and is configured to promote cooling by the input atmospheric gas. However, a water-cooled cooling device, such as a water-cooled jacket, may also be provided in the cooling chamber 70.

A gas supply device (not shown) configured to supply neutral gas or inert gas supplies gas (see arrow A1 in FIG. 2), which will become the furnace atmosphere gas, into the furnace from the cooling chamber 70, and It is configured to flow toward the heating chamber 68 side. Therefore, the cooling chamber 70 is maintained in a cooled state below a certain temperature by the supplied gas, and the furnace atmosphere gas is heated in the heating chamber 68 by the heater 62. The furnace atmosphere gas thus heated flows into the exhaust chamber 66.

Although the exhaust chamber 66 is not equipped with heating equipment such as the heater 62, it is heated by the heated gas. In this way, in addition to the heating chamber 68, the exhaust chamber 66 also has a high-temperature furnace atmosphere gas flowing into the furnace, and the heating chamber 68 and the exhaust chamber 66 each correspond to the heating section H.

The exhaust chamber 66 is provided with an exhaust pipe 80, that is, a structure corresponding to a chimney, and a secondary combustion chamber 82 is provided at the tip of the exhaust pipe 80. The furnace atmosphere gas that has passed through the heating chamber 68 and reached the exhaust chamber 66 flows into the exhaust pipe 80 as exhaust gas. The secondary combustion chamber 82 includes a heater 62 and is configured to combust and discharge impurities in the exhaust gas, such as tar components and carbon monoxide, which have flowed into the secondary combustion chamber through the exhaust pipe 80.

Here, if the temperature of the exhaust gas decreases during the process of passing through the exhaust pipe 80, tar components may adhere to the inner wall surface of the exhaust pipe 66 and solidify. It is desirable to suppress or prevent the occurrence of such a phenomenon in order to ensure proper treatment of exhaust gas and continuous operation of the heat treatment furnace 60. Therefore, in this embodiment, the exhaust pipe 80, that is, the exhaust gas flowing therein, is heated by the thermal energy generated by the high temperature side heat exchanger 44 of the second conversion section 20 of the thermoacoustic engine 12. To enable this heating, the high temperature side heat exchanger 44 and the exhaust pipe 80 are configured to be able to exchange heat, and the exhaust pipe 80 is made of iron or copper, for example.

The tip of the first solid heat transfer member 30 extending from the high temperature side heat exchanger 26 of the core section 22 of the first conversion section 14 is connected to the first heat transfer member 30 disposed in the through hole 84 of the heating chamber 68 of the heat treatment furnace 60. It is provided so as to be in contact with the partition member 36. The through hole 84 is formed in the attachment part 34 of the heating chamber 68 of the heat treatment furnace 60 so as to penetrate through the outer wall 86 of the heating chamber 68 and the insulation wall 88 inside the outer wall 86, and communicates the inside and outside of the heating chamber 68. . A tube member 90, which is an example of the first heat transfer partition member 36, is attached to the through hole 84 so that there is no gap. The closed end portion 90A of the tube member 90 is provided so as to be exposed within the heating chamber 68, and can transfer the heat of the furnace atmosphere gas to the first solid heat transfer member 30. Note that what is provided in the attachment portion 34 is not limited to the through hole 84, but may be a recessed portion or the like, and the tube member 90 may be provided so as not to be exposed inside the heating chamber 68. This may be designed depending on the furnace temperature of the heating chamber 68, the material characteristics of the first heat transfer partition member 36 or the tube member 90, and the like. This also applies when the first solid heat transfer member 30 is directly attached to the attachment portion 34.

On the other hand, the tip of the second solid heat transfer member 48 extending from the low-temperature side heat exchanger 46 of the core portion 47 of the second conversion unit 20 is connected to the second It is provided so as to be in contact with the heat transfer partition member 54. The through hole 92 is formed in the attachment portion 52 of the exhaust chamber 66 of the heat treatment furnace 60 so as to penetrate the outer wall 94 of the exhaust chamber 66, and communicates the inside and outside of the exhaust chamber 66. A tube member 96, which is an example of the second heat transfer partition member 54, is attached to the through hole 92 so that there is no gap. One closed end portion, that is, a closed end portion 96A of the tube member 96 is provided so as to be exposed in the exhaust chamber 66, and can transfer the heat of the furnace atmosphere gas to the second solid heat transfer member 48. Note that the attachment portion 52 and the through hole 92 formed therein may be provided in the heating chamber 68 similarly to the attachment portion 34 and the through hole 84 formed therein. Thus, here, the first heat source 32 is the heating chamber 68 or the furnace atmosphere gas flowing therein, and the second heat source 50 is the exhaust chamber 66 or the heating chamber 68 and the furnace atmosphere gas flowing therethrough. Thereby, the heat input to the high temperature side heat exchanger 26 of the first conversion section 14 and the heat input to the low temperature side heat exchanger 46 of the second conversion section 20 may be made approximately equal. However, what is provided in the attachment portion 52 is not limited to the through hole 92, but may be a recessed portion or the like, and the pipe member 96 may be provided so as not to be exposed inside the exhaust chamber 66. This may be designed depending on the furnace temperature of the exhaust chamber 66 or the heating chamber 68, the material characteristics of the second heat transfer partition member 54 or the pipe member 96, and the like. This also applies when the second solid heat transfer member 48 is directly attached to the attachment portion 52.

According to the heat treatment furnace 60 having the above configuration, the heat of the heating chamber 68 or the in-furnace atmosphere gas flowing therein is transferred to the high temperature of the first conversion section 14 via the first heat transfer partition member 36 and the first solid heat transfer member 30. The heat is transmitted to the side heat exchanger 26 to generate a temperature gradient at both ends of the heat storage device 24, so that the first converter 14 can generate sound waves in the thermoacoustic pipe 16 by thermoacoustic self-excited vibration. The sound waves from the first converting section 14 are transmitted to the annular pipe 40 of the second converting section 20 via the connecting pipe 18 . The low-temperature side heat exchanger 46 of the second conversion section 20 is connected to the exhaust chamber 66 or the furnace atmosphere gas flowing therethrough (or the heating chamber 68 or the heat of the furnace atmosphere gas flowing therein is transferred. Therefore, in the second conversion unit 20, by inputting the sound wave to the heat storage device 42, heat moves from the low temperature side to the high temperature side within the heat storage device 42, and specifically, the heat of the low temperature side heat exchanger 46 is transferred. Since the heat is pumped up to the high temperature side heat exchanger 44, thermal energy having a higher temperature than the low temperature side heat exchanger 46 can be outputted in the high temperature side heat exchanger 44. This thermal energy is used to heat the exhaust pipe 66 and the exhaust gas flowing therein.

Although basic configuration examples, embodiments, and modifications thereof according to the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Various substitutions and changes are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims of this application. The processes and means described in this disclosure can be implemented in any combination as long as no technical contradiction occurs.

For example, in the above embodiment, the number of core portions 22 provided in the thermoacoustic pipe 16 is one, but it may be plural. Further, the number of core sections 47 of the second conversion section 20 may be one or more.

Further, in the above embodiment, the heat treatment furnace 60 is a graphitization furnace (or carbonization furnace), but the technology of the present disclosure is also applicable to heat treatment furnaces other than graphitization furnaces and carbonization furnaces.

10 Sound wave generator 12 Thermoacoustic engine 14 First conversion section 16 Thermoacoustic piping 18 Connection piping 20 Second conversion section 22 Core section 24 Heat storage device 26 High temperature side heat exchanger 28 Low temperature side heat exchanger 30 Solid heat transfer member 34 Attachment part 36 Heat transfer partition member 40 Annular pipe 42 Heat storage unit 44 High temperature side heat exchanger 46 Low temperature side heat exchanger 47 Core part 48 Solid heat transfer member 54 Heat transfer partition member 60 Heat treatment furnace

Claims (9)

a first converter configured to generate sound waves from heat;
a second converting unit connected to the first converting unit via a connecting pipe and configured to generate energy from the sound wave generated in the first converting unit,
The first conversion unit is
a first heat storage device provided in an annular first pipe to which one end of the connection pipe is connected;
a first high temperature side heat exchanger connected to a first end of the first heat storage device in the first piping;
a first low-temperature side heat exchanger connected to a second end of the first heat storage device opposite to the first end in the first piping;
A first solid heat transfer member provided to extend from the first high-temperature side heat exchanger of the first conversion section, the first solid heat transfer member being attached to a first mounting portion of a first heat source located outside of the first piping. a first solid heat transfer member attached;
The second conversion unit is
a second heat storage device provided in an annular second pipe to which the other end of the connection pipe is connected;
a second high temperature side heat exchanger connected to the first end of the second heat storage device in the second piping;
a second low-temperature side heat exchanger connected to a second end of the second heat storage device opposite to the first end of the second heat storage device in the second piping;
A second solid heat transfer member provided to extend from the second low-temperature side heat exchanger of the second conversion section, the second solid heat transfer member being attached to a second attachment part of the second heat source located outside the second piping. a second solid heat transfer member attached;
The second low-temperature side heat exchanger of the second conversion section receives heat from the second heat source and is heated to a predetermined temperature range exceeding room temperature,
the second high temperature side heat exchanger of the second conversion section outputs thermal energy;
Thermoacoustic engine. The first solid heat transfer member is provided so as to be in contact with a first heat transfer partition member disposed at the first attachment portion of the first heat source so as to close a through hole communicating between the inside and outside of the first heat source. ,
Thermoacoustic engine according to claim 1. The second solid heat transfer member is provided so as to be in contact with a second heat transfer partition member disposed at the second attachment portion of the second heat source so as to close a through hole communicating between the inside and outside of the second heat source. ,
The thermoacoustic engine according to claim 1 or 2. The first solid heat transfer member is provided so as to be in contact with a first heat transfer partition member disposed at the first attachment portion of the first heat source so as to close a through hole that communicates between the inside and outside of the first heat source. ,
The first solid heat transfer member is a rod-shaped member,
The first heat transfer partition member is a tube member with one end closed.
Thermoacoustic engine according to claim 1. The second solid heat transfer member is provided so as to be in contact with a second heat transfer partition member disposed at the second attachment portion of the second heat source so as to close a through hole that communicates between the inside and outside of the second heat source. ,
The second solid heat transfer member is a rod-shaped member,
The second heat transfer partition member is a tube member with one end closed.
The thermoacoustic engine according to claim 1 or 4 . A heat treatment furnace comprising the thermoacoustic engine according to claim 1. The heat treatment furnace is a carbonization furnace or a graphitization furnace, and includes an exhaust chamber, a heating chamber, and a cooling chamber from the upstream side to the downstream side,
The first solid heat transfer member provided to extend from the first high-temperature side heat exchanger of the first conversion section is attached to the first mounting section of the heating chamber located outside of the first piping. attached to
The second solid heat transfer member, which is provided to extend from the second low-temperature side heat exchanger of the second conversion section, is connected to the heating chamber or the exhaust chamber located outside the second piping. attached to the second mounting part,
The second high temperature side heat exchanger of the second conversion section and the exhaust pipe of the exhaust chamber are configured to be able to exchange heat.
The heat treatment furnace according to claim 6 . a first converter configured to generate sound waves from heat;
a second conversion section connected to the first conversion section via a connecting pipe and configured to generate energy from the sound waves generated in the first conversion section;
Equipped with
The first conversion unit is
a first heat storage device provided in an annular first pipe to which one end of the connection pipe is connected;
a first high temperature side heat exchanger connected to a first end of the first heat storage device in the first piping;
a first low-temperature side heat exchanger connected to a second end of the first heat storage device opposite to the first end in the first piping;
A first solid heat transfer member provided to extend from the first high-temperature side heat exchanger of the first conversion section, the first solid heat transfer member being attached to a first mounting portion of a first heat source located outside of the first piping. a first solid heat transfer member to be attached;
Equipped with
The second converter includes:
a second heat storage device provided in an annular second pipe to which the other end of the connection pipe is connected;
a second high temperature side heat exchanger connected to the first end of the second heat storage device in the second piping;
a second low-temperature side heat exchanger connected to a second end of the second heat storage device opposite to the first end of the second heat storage device in the second piping;
A second solid heat transfer member provided to extend from the second low-temperature side heat exchanger of the second conversion section, the second solid heat transfer member being attached to a second attachment part of the second heat source located outside the second piping. a second solid heat transfer member attached;
Equipped with
The first solid heat transfer member is provided so as to be in contact with a first heat transfer partition member disposed at the first attachment portion of the first heat source so as to close a through hole that communicates between the inside and outside of the first heat source. ,
the second high temperature side heat exchanger of the second conversion section outputs thermal energy;
Thermoacoustic engine. a first converter configured to generate sound waves from heat;
a second conversion section connected to the first conversion section via a connecting pipe and configured to generate energy from the sound waves generated in the first conversion section;
Equipped with
The first conversion unit is
a first heat storage device provided in an annular first pipe to which one end of the connection pipe is connected;
a first high temperature side heat exchanger connected to a first end of the first heat storage device in the first piping;
a first low-temperature side heat exchanger connected to a second end of the first heat storage device opposite to the first end in the first piping;
A first solid heat transfer member provided to extend from the first high-temperature side heat exchanger of the first conversion section, the first solid heat transfer member being attached to a first mounting portion of a first heat source located outside of the first piping. a first solid heat transfer member to be attached;
Equipped with
The second conversion unit is
a second heat storage device provided in an annular second pipe to which the other end of the connection pipe is connected;
a second high temperature side heat exchanger connected to the first end of the second heat storage device in the second piping;
a second low-temperature side heat exchanger connected to a second end of the second heat storage device opposite to the first end of the second heat storage device in the second piping;
A second solid heat transfer member provided to extend from the second low-temperature side heat exchanger of the second conversion section, the second solid heat transfer member being attached to a second attachment part of the second heat source located outside the second piping. a second solid heat transfer member attached;
Equipped with
The second solid heat transfer member is provided so as to be in contact with a second heat transfer partition member disposed at the second attachment portion of the second heat source so as to close a through hole that communicates between the inside and outside of the second heat source. ,
the second high temperature side heat exchanger of the second conversion section outputs thermal energy;
Thermoacoustic engine.

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