JPH05322363A - Room cooler - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To maintain a pressure of a high temperature side vessel at less than a predetermined value and to obtain safety by communicating a plurality of heat exchanging vessels containing a plurality of hydrogen occlusion alloys having different hydrogen equilibriums via hydrogen tubes, and controlling opening/closing of the tubes in response to the pressure of the high temperature side vessel. CONSTITUTION:A room cooler 1 has a plurality of high and low temperature side metal hydride vessels 2, 3 communicating via hydrogen tubes 5 through hydrogen valves 4. In this case, hydrogen occlusion alloys 6 for absorbing and discharging hydrogen at a high temperature are filled in the respective vessels 2, and are passed through heat exchangers 7. The exchangers 7 are connected to heat exchangers 9a, 10 via a cooler 9 and a heater 10 through a three-way valve 8. On the other hand, hydrogen occlusion alloys 11 for absorbing and discharging hydrogen at a low temperature are filled in the respective vessels 3, and passed through heat exchangers 12. Further, the exchangers 13 are connected to heat exchangers 14a, 15a of a space 14 to be cooled and a cooler 15 through a four-way valve 13. The valves are controlled to be opened and closed by a pressure regulating meter 16.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling device that utilizes the cold heat generated by the absorption and release of hydrogen from a hydrogen storage alloy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is known that a certain kind of metal hydride occludes and releases hydrogen reversibly, and at the same time generates heat and absorbs heat. Examples of such hydrogen storage alloys capable of storing hydrogen include lanthanum-nickel hydride, misch metal-nickel hydride, and iron-titanium hydride. Since these hydrogen storage alloys have different temperature-hydrogen pressure equilibrium respectively, a plurality of these hydrogen storage alloys are combined to cause reversible exchange of hydrogen between the two, and the heat absorption at that time is used to cool or cool air. Can be heated.

For example, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a temperature-hydrogen pressure equilibrium state concerning hydrogen storage alloy A and hydrogen storage alloy B. The hydrogen storage alloy A and the hydrogen storage alloy B are filled in separate heat exchangers, respectively, which are connected to each other by a hydrogen gas introduction pipe, so that the hydrogen storage alloy A has a temperature T1 and the hydrogen storage alloy B has a temperature Tm. When kept at, hydrogen is released from the hydrogen storage alloy A and absorbed by the hydrogen storage alloy B, and the hydrogen storage alloy A absorbs the heat Q1. When hydrogen is completely absorbed by the hydrogen storage alloy B, the temperature of the hydrogen storage alloy B is raised from Tm to Tk, and the hydrogen storage alloy A is raised to Tm, then hydrogen is released from the hydrogen storage alloy B. The hydrogen storage alloy A flows and is absorbed. By repeating such an operation, heating and cooling can be synchronously obtained.

Utilizing the above-mentioned principle, two heat-exchangeable low-temperature side heat exchangers and two high-temperature side heat exchangers, each containing two kinds of hydrogen storage alloys having different hydrogen equilibrium pressures, are communicated with each other to cool the heat. In this mode, the space to be cooled is cooled by the cold heat generated by releasing hydrogen from one low temperature side heat exchanger container to the corresponding high temperature side heat exchanger, and in this cooling mode, the other high temperature side heat exchange is performed as a regeneration mode. A cooling device has been proposed in which the steps of returning hydrogen from the container to the corresponding low-temperature side heat exchanger container and regenerating are alternately performed to perform continuous cooling by moving hydrogen between the heat exchanger containers. Generally, in this type of cooling device, when the cooling mode is finished, when moving to the next regeneration mode, the movement of hydrogen between the heat exchanger vessels is stopped and the high temperature side heat exchanger is set to the regeneration mode next. A preliminary mode for heating the container is provided so that the cooling mode and the regeneration mode are alternately and smoothly repeated.

[0005]

However, in the high temperature side heat exchanger container of the cooling device described above, there is a problem that the hydrogen storage amount of the hydrogen storage alloy becomes large and becomes high pressure at high temperature, and the system safety cannot be maintained. It was

Particularly, in the preparatory mode in which the high temperature side heat exchanger vessel is heated next in the regeneration mode, the movement of hydrogen between the heat exchanger vessels is stopped for preheating, so that the hydrogen pressure of the vessel is 10 kg. / Cm ² or more, and there is a problem that it is difficult to operate at less than 10 kg / cm ^{2 as} defined by the High Pressure Gas Control Law.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device capable of ensuring safety during operation.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, at least two low temperature side containers filled with a first hydrogen storage alloy having a high hydrogen storage pressure together with a heat exchanger, and a hydrogen storage pressure with a heat exchanger are provided. At least two high temperature side containers filled with a low second hydrogen storage alloy, two connecting pipes that connect each of the low temperature side containers and the high temperature side containers via hydrogen valves, and the low temperature side container A hydrogen transfer mode in which hydrogen is transferred from one of the high temperature side containers to one of the corresponding high temperature side containers, and hydrogen is transferred from the other of the high temperature side containers to the other of the corresponding low temperature side containers. Switching means for switching alternately, and corresponding to this switching means, while connecting the heat exchanger of the low temperature side container where cold heat is generated in the low temperature side container to the space to be cooled, the heat of the low temperature side container where warm heat is generated Exchanger The low temperature side connection switching means connected to the cooling source and the heat exchanger of the high temperature side container that generates hot heat inside the high temperature side container corresponding to the switching means are connected to the cooling source, while cold heat is generated. High temperature side connection switching means for connecting the heat exchanger of the high temperature side container to a heating source, and increasing / decreasing the opening degree of the hydrogen valve according to the pressure of the high temperature side container, which is arranged in each of the two connecting pipes. Therefore, a pressure regulator for suppressing the pressure of the high temperature side container to a predetermined value or less is provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the pressure in the high temperature side container is set to 1
Less than 0 kg / cm ² and a temperature of 140 ° C. to 150 ° C.
It is designed to be heated at ℃.

[0010]

According to the invention of claim 1, the switching means moves hydrogen from one of the low temperature side containers to one of the corresponding high temperature side containers, and at the same time, from the other of the high temperature side containers to the corresponding low temperature side container. The hydrogen transfer mode for transferring hydrogen is alternately switched between the one and the other. Corresponding to this switching, the low temperature side connection switching means connects the heat exchanger of the low temperature side container where cold heat is generated in the low temperature side container to the space to be cooled, while the heat exchanger of the low temperature side container where high temperature heat is generated. Connect to a cooling source. Along with this, the high temperature side connection switching means connects the heat exchanger of the high temperature side container in which high temperature heat is generated in the high temperature side container to the cooling source in response to the switching, while the heat exchange of the high temperature side container in which cold heat is generated. Connect the vessel to the heating source. The pressure controller controls the pressure of the high temperature side container to be equal to or lower than a predetermined value by increasing or decreasing the opening of the hydrogen valve according to the pressure of the high temperature side container. This allows
It is possible to maintain the pressure of the high temperature side container after the end of the hydrogen transfer mode below a predetermined value. Therefore, the safety of the device can be maintained.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the pressure of the high temperature side container after the completion of the hydrogen transfer mode is 10 km / cm ² or less and heating at 140 ° C. to 150 ° C. is possible, and the safety of the device is maintained. The cooling efficiency is also improved.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cooling device showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the cooling device 1 is provided with two high temperature side metal hydride containers 2a and 2b and two corresponding low temperature side metal hydride containers 3a and 3b. The containers 2a, 2b and the metal hydride containers 3a, 3b on the low temperature side are provided with hydrogen valves 4a,
The hydrogen pipe 5 is connected via 4b. And
Each of the high temperature side metal hydride containers 2a and 2b is filled with a hydrogen storage alloy 6 that absorbs and releases hydrogen at a high temperature, and heat exchangers 7a and 7b are arranged so as to penetrate therethrough.
The heat exchangers 7a and 7b are alternately and selectively connected to the heat exchanger 9a of the cooler 9 and the heat exchanger 10a of the heater 10 which are cooled by the cooling water via the three-way valve 8. ..

On the other hand, the low temperature side metal hydride containers 3a, 3
Hydrogen storage alloy 1 which absorbs and releases hydrogen at low temperature
1 is filled and heat exchangers 12a and 12b are arranged so as to penetrate therethrough. Further, the heat exchangers 12a and 12b are connected to the heat exchanger 14a and the cooler 15 of the space 14 to be cooled via the four-way valve 13. It is adapted to be selectively connected to the heat exchanger 15a.

A pressure regulator 16 is arranged in each of the hydrogen pipes 5 to open / close the hydrogen valve 4 so that the hydrogen pressure in the high temperature side metal hydride containers 2a, 2b is less than a predetermined value. There is. In addition, 17 has shown the pump.

With the above-described structure, the metal hydride containers 2a and 2b on the high temperature side are made of a hydrogen storage alloy 6 which has a characteristic shown in FIG. The hydrogen storage alloy 1 having the characteristics shown in FIG. 3 is filled in advance, and the metal hydride containers 3a and 3b on the low temperature side have the characteristics shown in FIG.
1, hydrogen absorption / desorption is performed at a low temperature, and, for example, a hydrogen storage alloy having a temperature of −20 ° C. at the time of release is previously filled.

In the initial state, the hydrogen valve 4a is closed and the hydrogen storage alloy 11 in the metal hydride container 3a on the low temperature side is closed.
Is a state in which hydrogen is stored as the low temperature alloy MH2 as shown in the cycle diagram of FIG. 4 (illustrated by b1), and the hydrogen storage alloy 6 corresponding to the high temperature side metal hydride container 2a is a high temperature alloy. State released as MH1 (a in the figure)
1).

On the other hand, the hydrogen valve 4b is closed, and the hydrogen storage alloy 6 of the high temperature side metal hydride container 2b is in a state of storing hydrogen (a2 in the figure). The hydrogen storage alloy 11 in the compound container 3b is
The hydrogen is released (b2 in the figure).

In this state, when the hydrogen valve 4a is first opened in the cold heat mode, hydrogen is released from the hydrogen storage alloy 11 of the metal hydride container 3a on the low temperature side and communicates with hydrogen in the metal hydride container 2a on the high temperature side. It is occluded by the occluding alloy 6 (direction c in the drawing).

In this cold heat mode, an endothermic reaction occurs in the metal hydride container 3a on the low temperature side, and the heat exchanger 12 is a heat exchanger of the cooled space 14 via the four-way valve 13 as a switching valve by the heat medium pipe. 14a connected to the cooled space 14
Cold heat is extracted from the heat exchanger 14a. On the other hand, an exothermic reaction occurs in the metal hydride container 2a on the high temperature side, and the heat exchanger 7a is connected to the heat exchanger 9a of the cooler 9 via the three-way valve 8 and cooled.

In this cold heat mode, the other high temperature side metal hydride container 2b and the low temperature side metal hydride container 3b are in the regeneration mode from the high temperature side metal hydride container 2b to the low temperature side metal hydride container 3b. A step of returning hydrogen to is performed. That is, the hydrogen valve 4b is opened, the hydrogen of the hydrogen storage alloy 6 (illustrated a2) of the metal hydride container 2b on the high temperature side is released as shown in the cycle diagram of FIG.
Hydrogen storage alloy 1 in the metal hydride container 3b on the low temperature side in the direction
1 (b2 shown in the figure).

In this regeneration mode, an endothermic reaction occurs in the metal hydride container 2b on the high temperature side, and the heat exchanger 7b is connected to the heat exchanger 10a of the heater 10 via the three-way valve 8 as a switching valve by the heat medium pipe. Connected to and heated. On the other hand, the heat exchanger 12b on the low temperature side has an exothermic reaction,
The heat exchanger 12b is connected to the heat exchanger 15a of the cooler 15 via a four-way valve 13 as a switching valve by a heat medium pipe to be cooled.

After that, the hydrogen valves 4a and 4b are closed, and the heat exchanger 7a of the metal hydride container 2a on the high temperature side is connected to the heat exchanger 10a of the heater 10 through the three-way valve 8 by the heat medium pipe as a preliminary mode. While being connected, the heat exchanger 7b of the metal hydride container 2b on the high temperature side is connected to the heat exchanger 9a of the cooler 9 via the three-way valve 8 by the heat medium pipe to prepare for shifting to the next regeneration mode. .. As a result, the inside of the metal hydride container 2a on the high temperature side is heated to the a2 direction as shown in FIG. 4, and the metal hydride container 2b on the high temperature side is cooled to the a1 direction in the drawing, which is the same as the initial state described above. Becomes

In this preliminary mode, the hydrogen storage alloy 6 of the metal hydride container 2a on the high temperature side, which is next in the regeneration mode, is
Large amount of hydrogen storage, high pressure, for example, 10kg / c
It may be m ² or more. At this time, pressure regulator 16
Is 10 kg / cm ² in the metal hydride container 2a on the high temperature side.
In order not to become the above, the pressure adjustment cm ² section meter 16 gradually opens the hydrogen valve 4a and shifts to the next regeneration mode.

In this regeneration mode, the opening of the hydrogen valve 4a is increased / decreased by a signal from the pressure regulator 16, high-pressure hydrogen is released from the hydrogen storage alloy 6 of the metal hydride container 2a on the high temperature side, and the metal on the low temperature side is released. It is stored in the hydrogen storage alloy 11 of the hydride container 3a (d in the drawing). In this state, the metal hydride container 2a on the high temperature side becomes an endothermic reaction, and the heat exchanger 7a is connected to the heat exchanger 10a of the heater 10 via the three-way valve 8 by the heat medium pipe to be heated, while the low temperature The hydrogen storage alloy 11 of the side metal hydride container 3a becomes an exothermic reaction, and the heat exchanger 12a is connected to the heat exchanger 15a of the cooler 15 via the four-way valve 13 by the heat medium pipe and is cooled.

In the above-mentioned regeneration mode, the high temperature side metal hydride container 2b and the low temperature side metal hydride container 3b are in the cold heat mode, the hydrogen valve 4b is opened, and the low temperature side metal hydride container is opened. 3b hydrogen storage alloy 11
Hydrogen is released from the hydrogen storage alloy 6 and stored in the hydrogen storage alloy 6 (direction c in the drawing) of the high temperature side metal hydride container 2b. At this time, in the metal hydride container 3b on the low temperature side, an endothermic reaction occurs, and the heat exchanger 12b is connected to the heat exchanger 14a via the four-way valve 13 as a switching valve by the heat medium pipe, and cold heat is supplied to the cooled space 14. On the other hand, in the metal hydride container 2b on the high temperature side, an exothermic reaction occurs, and the heat exchanger 7b is connected to the cooler 9a of the cooler 9 via the three-way valve 8 by the heat medium pipe for cooling.

The cooling mode and the regeneration mode described above are alternately repeated, and the standby mode is set when these modes are switched, so that the cooled space 14 is kept cold.

As described above, two heat exchanging containers capable of exchanging heat, each containing two kinds of hydrogen storage alloys having different hydrogen equilibrium, are connected to each other through the hydrogen pipes so that the heat exchanging container on the low temperature side is connected. From the high temperature side heat exchanger to generate cold heat by the movement of hydrogen, and the regeneration mode in which the hydrogen moved to the high temperature side heat exchanger is returned to the low temperature side heat exchanger, and these cold heat mode and regeneration After the mode ends, a preliminary mode for preventing the transfer of hydrogen between the heat exchangers on the low temperature side and the high temperature side is alternately performed, and continuous cooling can be performed by utilizing the cold heat generated in the heat exchangers on the low temperature side. In addition, since the pressure regulator and the hydrogen valve are arranged on the heat exchanger side on the high temperature side, the hydrogen pressure is less than 10 kg / cm ^{2 at} the time of preheating after closing the hydrogen valve in the preliminary mode after the completion of cold heat generation. Thus, heating at 140 ° C to 150 ° C can be performed. This allows
The operation of less than 10 kg / cm ² specified by the High Pressure Gas Control Law can be performed and the safety of the device can be secured.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the pressure regulator increases or decreases the opening degree of the hydrogen valve according to the pressure of the high temperature side container. Therefore, the high temperature side container after the hydrogen transfer mode ends. Can be maintained below a predetermined value. Therefore, the safety of the device can be maintained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a cooling device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram of a high temperature side hydrogen storage alloy used in the cooling apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram of a low temperature side hydrogen storage alloy used in the cooling device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cycle diagram showing the operation of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of heat exchange by hydrogen storage alloys having different hydrogen equilibrium pressures.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cooling Device 2a, 2b High Temperature Side Metal Hydride Container 3a, 3b Low Temperature Side Metal Hydride Container 4a, 4b Hydrogen Valve 5 Hydrogen Piping 6 Hydrogen Storage Alloy 7a, 7b Heat Exchanger 8 Three Way Valve 9 Cooler 10 Heater 11 Hydrogen Storage Alloys 12a, 12b Heat Exchanger 13 Four-way Valve 14 Cooled Space 15 Cooler 16 Pressure Regulator

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 10, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the pressure of the high temperature side container after the completion of the hydrogen transfer mode is less than 10 kg / cm ² and heating at 140 ° C. to 150 ° C. is possible, and the safety of the apparatus is maintained. The cooling efficiency is also improved.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0024

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In this preliminary mode, the hydrogen storage alloy 6 of the metal hydride container 2a on the high temperature side, which is next in the regeneration mode, is
Large amount of hydrogen storage, high pressure, for example, 10kg / c
It may be m ² or more. At this time, pressure regulator 16
Is 10 kg / cm ² in the metal hydride container 2a on the high temperature side.
In order to prevent the above from happening, the pressure regulator 16 has the hydrogen valve 4a.
Open gradually to move to the next playback mode.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A high first hydrogen storage pressure together with a heat exchanger
At least two low temperature side containers filled with the hydrogen storage alloy, at least two high temperature side containers filled with the second hydrogen storage alloy having a low hydrogen storage pressure together with the heat exchanger, and each of the low temperature side container and the high temperature Two connecting pipes that communicate each of the side vessels via a hydrogen valve, and move hydrogen from one of the low temperature side vessels to one of the corresponding high temperature side vessels, and at the same time, the other of the high temperature side vessels Switching means for alternately switching the hydrogen transfer mode for moving hydrogen from one to the other of the corresponding low temperature side container, and the low temperature side where cold heat is generated in the low temperature side container corresponding to this switching means. Low temperature side connection switching means for connecting the heat exchanger of the container to the space to be cooled while connecting the heat exchanger of the low temperature side container where heat is generated to the cooling source, and the high temperature side capacity corresponding to the switching means. And a high temperature side connection switching means for connecting the heat exchanger of the high temperature side container in which warm heat is generated to the cooling source, while connecting the heat exchanger of the high temperature side container in which cold heat is generated to the heating source; And a pressure controller arranged in each of the connecting pipes for suppressing the pressure of the high temperature side container to a predetermined value or less by increasing or decreasing the opening degree of the hydrogen valve according to the pressure of the high temperature side container. Air conditioner. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the pressure of the high temperature side container is less than 10 kg / cm ² and the temperature is heated at 140 ° C. to 150 ° C.