JPH0765600B2 - Fluid transfer method using phase change in fluid transfer network - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a phase change (evaporation
A fluid transfer network is formed by a flow path unit capable of generating a controlled pressure for pumping or sealing of a fluid by utilizing (condensation), and an arbitrary liquid transfer liquid is controlled by controlling the flow path unit in this network. The present invention relates to a fluid transfer method capable of transferring fluid between ends.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in various technical fields such as transfer and mixing of liquid fuel, there is a demand for forming a network for transferring liquid and supplying the liquid in various directions within the network. In order to meet such a requirement, it is usual to connect a pipe between the liquid receiving and receiving ends and to provide a pump for transferring the liquid in various directions in the pipe and a valve for shutting off or switching the flow of the liquid. Is customary. However, when liquids are switched and transferred in various directions in the transfer network, not only when the liquid transfer direction is almost limited, a large number of pumps and valves are required, and also the flow paths are switched. At that time, those operations are required, and the work becomes complicated.

[0003]

The temperature dependence of saturated vapor pressure of a fluid, changes in specific volume and kinematic viscosity due to gas-liquid phase change, and pressure loss due to fluid flow are effectively combined for use. Then, it is possible to generate a pressure in an arbitrary direction or a fixed direction in the fluid flow path and use it for pumping or sealing the fluid.

The technical problem of the present invention is that the function of the pumping and sealing described above, that is, the change in volume of the fluid, which occurs with the change in vapor-liquid phase (evaporation / condensation) due to periodic heating / cooling of the fluid. , The change of pressure, or the function of pumping and sealing of the fluid utilizing the directionality of the pressure drop when flowing through the flow path, etc., enables the fluid transfer between arbitrary liquid receiving and receiving ends in the fluid transfer network, It is to simplify the network configuration.

[0005]

A first fluid transfer method of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is to connect a required number of flow path units so that the flow paths branch and join at their junctions. To form a fluid transfer network having at least three liquid transfer ends, and to perform fluid transfer in any direction utilizing gas-liquid phase change in this fluid transfer network. Specifically, each of the above In the channel unit, the heating unit that evaporates the fluid in the channel is made substantially movable along the channel, and by controlling the moving direction and moving speed of the heating unit, the heating unit is directed toward the fluid in the channel unit. And a pressure whose magnitude is controlled is generated, and the pressure causes the flow path unit to have a pump function or a seal function, and the required flow path unit is provided with the pump function or the seal function. As a result, the entire fluid transfer network forms an operating flow path for transferring the fluid from the required liquid transfer end to another required liquid transfer end, and along the operating flow path by the operation of the required flow path unit. It is characterized in that the fluid is transferred.

Further, the second fluid transfer method of the present invention, when performing fluid transfer in an arbitrary direction utilizing gas-liquid phase change in the same fluid transfer network, reduces the pressure drop in the flow path in each flow path unit. A small chamber that gives directionality to reduce the pressure drop in the flowing direction of the fluid, and at the middle of the flow path, which gives periodical phase change of evaporation / condensation to the fluid by periodic heating by the heating unit. By controlling the heating in the heating unit, a pressure having a controlled magnitude is generated in the fluid in the flow path unit in the direction of flowing the fluid, and the pressure is given to the flow path unit to have a pump function or a sealing function. By adding the above-mentioned pump function or sealing function to the required flow path unit, the entire fluid transfer network can be operated from the required liquid transfer end to other required To form a working channel for transferring fluid to the transmission and reception liquid end, it is characterized in carrying out the transfer of fluid along the production flow path by the operation of the channel unit required.

[0007]

Each flow path unit that constitutes the fluid transfer network flows through the flow path, or changes in volume, pressure, or the like of the fluid, which occurs with the gas-liquid phase change due to periodic heating / cooling of the fluid. Since it has the function of pumping and sealing the fluid by utilizing the directionality of pressure drop at the time, by controlling them, one or a plurality of liquid receiving and transmitting ends from which the fluid is to be transferred to another one or a plurality of other To make the flow passage units reaching the liquid receiving and receiving ends function as pumps respectively to form working flow passages for transferring fluid, and to make the flow passage units branching and joining the working flow passages function as seals, that is, valves. Thereby, the fluid can be transferred along the working flow path.

Further, in the case of transferring a fluid along another working flow path, a new working flow path is formed by changing the function of a required flow path unit and again functioning as a pump or a seal. In this case, the fluid can be transferred between arbitrary liquid receiving / receiving ends in the fluid transfer network. According to such a method, the functions as a pump and a seal can be selectively exerted by controlling each fluid unit. Therefore, it is necessary to individually provide pumps and valves in the piping to perform switching operation. Without
The construction of the fluid transfer network is simplified.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an outline of a fluid transfer network according to the present invention, which is constructed by connecting a required number of flow path units 1 as described in detail below. That is, this fluid transfer network has a required number of flow path units 1 with their joint points 2
In the above, the flow channels are connected so as to be branched and merged, and as a whole, the flow channel unit 1 has open ends that form at least three or more liquid transfer ends 3. This fluid transfer network can, for example, transfer or mix fuels such as LNG,
It can be used for various purposes such as transfer of liquid between a plurality of containers for balancing gravity.

FIG. 2 is a schematic constitutional example of a flow path unit used for carrying out the first method of the present invention, in which a pressure for flowing a fluid from the low pressure side port 11 to the high pressure side port 12 is generated. , And to explain the principle for controlling the pressure. First, considering the flow of fluid in the flow path 13 connecting the ports 11 and 12 having a pressure difference (pressure P ₂ > P ₁ ) as shown in the figure, the pressure distribution in the flow path will be considered. In this case, the fluid is a liquid in the normal environment and can be evaporated by heating.

In the figure, the case where a heating unit for evaporating the fluid in the flow channel 13 is not provided and therefore the fluid flowing in the entire flow channel 13 is a liquid (weight flow rate: G) ₁ > 0). In this case, the pressure in the flow path 13 is
It descends linearly along the flow.

Further, in the figure, a part of the flow path 13 (B-
It shows a case where (between C) is heated by the heating unit (14 in FIG. 3) and the liquid in the meantime is changed to vapor. In this case, the fluid flowing from the A portion on the port 12 side to the B portion in the flow path 13 is evaporated there, flows between the B and C portions as a gas, and is condensed at the C portion to reach the D portion. Therefore, since the same mass flow rate (G ₂ ) flows from the high pressure side to the low pressure side in a state where the phases of gas and liquid are different, the pressure drop gradient between the B and C portions is between the A and B portions or the C and D portions. It will be much larger than the meantime. As a result, the pressure drop gradient between the AB portion becomes smaller than that in the above case, and the flow rate decreases (G ₁ > G).
₂ > 0). However, the flow direction of the fluid in the flow path 13 is from the high pressure side to the low pressure side as in the case of. That is, in the case of (1), the sealing effect is shown though it is incomplete by making the fluid into vapor in a part of the flow.

Further, in the figure, as compared with the above case, the case where the heating part for heating a part of the flow path 13 is moved along the flow path from the low pressure side to the high pressure side at a certain speed is shown. There is. In this case, compared to the case of
The amount of condensation in the section is additionally increased, the amount of steam flowing between the sections B and C is increased, and the pressure drop between the sections B and C is increased.
As a result, in order to be commensurate with it, the pressure distribution has a gradient opposite to the above gradient between the AB portion and the CD portion. This is a state in which the fluid is sucked into the flow path 13 from the low pressure side and discharged to the high pressure side, and the flow path as a whole exhibits a pumping action (mass flow rate G ₃ <0). In addition, there is a state in which the pressure of the pump action and the pressure on the high pressure side are balanced depending on the moving speed of the heating unit and the like, and in this state, the sealing effect can be exerted on the flow path 13.

The first fluid transfer method of the present invention is to make each flow path unit 1 in the fluid transfer network function as a pump or one having a sealing action based on the above-mentioned principle. That is, each channel unit 1
3, as shown in FIG. 3, the port 11 in which the fluid to be transferred exists and the port 12 in which the fluid is transferred are made to communicate with each other through the flow path 13, and the flow path 13 is connected to the inside of the flow path 13. A heating unit 14 for evaporating a fluid is provided and can be moved along the flow path 13. This heating unit 14
Is to generate a pressure whose direction and size are controlled in the fluid in the flow path 13 by controlling the moving direction and the moving speed, and the pressure causes the flow path unit to have a pump function or a sealing function.

The fluid in the flow path 13 is, for example, port 11
In order to transfer from the port 11 to the side of the port 12, the heating part 14 may be moved in the transfer direction (arrow), whereby a pressure from the port 11 to the port 12 can be generated. To let the fluid flow in the opposite direction, use port 1
Since there is a pressure difference between No. 1 and No. 12, the heating unit 14 may be held in a non-operating state (state of FIG. 2), but the heating unit 14 may be moved in the opposite direction to the above. Further, by controlling the amount of heat generated in the heating unit 14 and the moving direction and moving speed of the heating unit itself, both ports 11, 1 can be controlled.
When a pumping action corresponding to the pressure difference between the two is generated, the pressure is in a balanced state, whereby the sealing effect can be exhibited. It is desirable to condense the fluid evaporated by heating by natural air cooling, but a forced cooling device can be appropriately provided if necessary.

In order to continuously transfer the fluid in the flow path 13 of FIG. 3, it is necessary to cyclically move the required number of heating units 14, but as shown in FIG. The heating unit 14 is configured by arranging a large number of heating elements 15 in a row, and these heating elements 15 are operated cyclically as shown in the time chart attached in the drawing, thereby substantially heating the heating unit 15. It can also be moved to. The heating element 15 is heated by energizing the heating element with a switch that is controlled by a control device (not shown) to open and close. Further, it becomes possible to easily generate a required pressure in the flow path 13 by adjusting the operation speed thereof, and it is possible to selectively exert the pumping action or the sealing action. In addition, in the case of such a configuration, it is possible to eliminate the mechanical movable portion at all. The movement of the heated portion by the heating unit 14 can also be realized by scanning the portion to be heated with a laser beam.

If the above-mentioned flow passage unit 1 is joined as shown in FIG. 1 and the required flow passage unit 1 is provided with the above-mentioned pump function or sealing function, the required fluid transfer end 3 as a whole of the fluid transfer network. To another required liquid transfer end 3 is formed with an operation flow path, and the operation of the necessary flow path unit causes the transfer of the fluid along the operation flow path.

For example, in FIG. 1, the flow path unit 1 between the junction points p and r and between the junction points q and r is provided with a sealing function, and the junction points p and q are provided between the liquid receiving / receiving end a and the junction point p. During
If a working flow path is formed between the liquid receiving and receiving ends a and b by each flow path unit 1 between the junction point q and the liquid receiving and receiving end b, any forward and reverse directions can be provided between the liquid receiving and receiving ends a and b. It is possible to transfer liquid in the direction. Similarly, the flow path unit 1 between the junction points p and q and between the junction points q and r is provided with a sealing function, and between the liquid receiving / receiving end a and the junction point p, between the junction points p and r,
If a working flow path is formed between the liquid receiving and receiving ends a and c by each flow path unit 1 between the junction point r and the liquid receiving and receiving end c, any forward and reverse directions can be provided between the liquid receiving and receiving ends a and c. It is possible to transfer liquid in the direction.

FIG. 5 is for explaining the operation principle of the flow path unit for carrying out the second fluid transfer method of the present invention. In the flow path unit 1 shown in the figure, the fluid to be transferred has a low pressure side. The port 21, the high-pressure side port 22 to which the fluid is transferred, and the small chamber 23 located between them are connected through the flow paths 24 and 25, respectively. The flow passages 24 and 25 are formed by giving directionality to the pressure drop in the flow passages and breaking the symmetry of the pressure drop on both sides of the small chamber 23, and the pressure drop of the flow from the port 21 side to the port 22 side is reduced. It is formed to be smaller than the pressure drop in the opposite direction. The specific configuration of these flow paths is
As shown schematically, the shape may be repeated such that the port 21 side is gradually narrowed, but is not limited thereto, and various shapes for giving directionality to the pressure drop,
A structure can be adopted.

Further, in the small chamber 23, in order to give a periodic phase change of evaporation / condensation to the fluid passing therethrough, a heating portion 26 is provided near the chamber wall. The cooling for condensing the fluid is by natural air cooling, but a forced cooling device can be attached. The heating unit 26,
Controlled by a control device (not shown), as schematically shown in FIG. 6, the temperature Ta of the fluid in the small chamber 23 is heated so as to periodically fluctuate above and below the saturation temperature Ts at that pressure, During the periodic heating, the fluid in the small chamber 23 is cooled by the cooling device (air cooling).

By periodically heating and cooling the fluid in the small chamber 23 in this manner, it is possible to give a periodic phase change of evaporation / condensation to the fluid. The narrow flow paths 24, 25
The influence of the directionality of the pressure drop in is remarkable, and at the time of heating and evaporation, the fluid flowing out from the small chamber 23 to the port 22 through the flow path 25 becomes considerably larger than the fluid flowing out to the port 21 through the flow path 24. During cooling and condensation,
The fluid flowing from the port 21 into the small chamber 23 through the flow path 24 becomes considerably larger than the fluid flowing from the port 22 into the small chamber 23 through the flow path 25. Therefore, as shown in the figure, even if the pressure on the port 22 side is higher than that on the port 21 side, the pressure for fluid flow from the port 21 side to the port 22 side is repeated by repeating evaporation and condensation of the fluid in the small chamber 23. Can be generated, and the pressure can cause the flow path unit to have a pump function or a seal function.

In this method, the fluid can be forcibly transferred in one direction from the port 21 to the port 22 in the flow path unit, but the transfer in the opposite direction needs to be due to the pressure difference between the ports. Therefore, it is necessary to set the directionality of the pressure drop in the flow path in consideration of the direction in which the fluid needs to be transferred, or the pump function and the sealing function in both directions described in FIGS. 2 to 4 are provided. It is necessary to mix channel units.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the above-mentioned fluid transfer network, in which a required number of flow path units 1 are connected so that the flow paths branch and join at their junction points 2,
A fluid transfer network having the necessary liquid transfer end 3 is formed.

In the drawings described above, in order to illustrate the pressure relationship between both ends of the flow path unit 1, the ports 11 and 12 and the ports 21 and 22 at both ends of the flow path are drawn in the shape of a liquid container. Of course, it is not necessary to provide a container. Further, in the description related to FIGS. 1 and 7, the case where the independent flow path units 1 are sequentially joined has been described in order to simplify the description, but a plurality of adjacent flow path units are substantially It can also be controlled and operated as one channel unit.

[0025]

According to the method of the present invention detailed above,
Utilizes the change in volume of the fluid, the change in pressure, or the directionality of the pressure drop when flowing through the flow path, which occurs with the vapor-liquid phase change (evaporation / condensation) due to periodic heating / cooling of the fluid. In order to exert the functions of pumping and sealing the fluid, the fluid can be transferred by using the working flow path between the arbitrary liquid receiving and receiving ends in the fluid transfer network, and by controlling each fluid unit, those pumps and Since the function as the seal can be selectively exerted, it is not necessary to individually provide a pump or a valve in the pipe to perform the switching operation, and the configuration of the fluid transfer network is simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a fluid transfer network in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation principle of the first method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a basic configuration for carrying out the first method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a specific example of an apparatus for performing the above method.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the details of the second method of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a graph schematically showing a control mode of the temperature of the fluid in the small chamber of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a fluid transfer network of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 channel unit, 2 junctions, 3 liquid receiving / receiving end, 11 ports, 12 ports, 13 channels, 14 heating section, 21 ports, 22 ports, 23 small chambers, 24 channels, 25 channels, 26 heating section.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A required number of flow path units are connected so that the flow paths branch and join at their junctions to form a fluid transfer network having at least three liquid receiving and receiving ends, In the channel unit, the heating unit that evaporates the fluid in the channel is made substantially movable along the channel, and by controlling the moving direction and moving speed of the heating unit, the heating unit is directed toward the fluid in the channel unit. And a pressure whose magnitude is controlled are generated, and the pressure has a pump function or a sealing function in the flow path unit, and the above-mentioned pump function or sealing function is given to a required flow path unit, thereby making the entire fluid transfer network. Forms an operating flow path that transfers fluid from the required liquid receiving / receiving end to another required liquid receiving / receiving end, and the operating flow passage is formed by the operation of the required flow path unit. A fluid transfer method using phase change in a fluid transport network, characterized in that the fluid is transported along the fluid. 2. A required number of flow path units are connected so that the flow paths branch and merge at their junctions to form a fluid transfer network having at least three liquid receiving and receiving ends, In the channel unit, the pressure drop in the flow path is directional to reduce the pressure drop in the direction in which the fluid flows, and the intermediate part of the flow path evaporates into the fluid due to periodic heating by the heating unit. A small chamber that gives a cyclic phase change of condensation is formed, and by controlling the heating in the heating section, a pressure whose magnitude in the direction of flowing the fluid in the flow passage unit is controlled is generated, and this pressure causes By providing the flow path unit with a pump function or a seal function, and by adding the above-mentioned pump function or seal function to the required flow path unit, the entire fluid transfer network can be created. Is to form an operating flow path for transferring a fluid from a required liquid receiving / receiving end to another required liquid receiving / receiving end, and perform the transfer of the fluid along the operating flow passage by the operation of a necessary flow passage unit. A fluid transfer method utilizing phase change in a characterized fluid transfer network.