JPH09140291A - Water tank-integrated thermostatic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the subject thermostatic apparatus raised in efficiency of electric energy necessary for heating the water tank which is excellent in heat storage with good insulation of water temperature. SOLUTION: This thermostatic apparatus is so designed that a water tank 1 for raising fishes, a pump 2 to circulate the water in the water tank 1, a heat source 3 to heat the above water and a heat exchanger 5 bearing a heat storage body 4 are mutually connected by a water-circulating piping 7. In this apparatus, the heat storage body 4 is composed of a crystalline polyolefin substrate and an organic-based heat storage material carried on the substrate and subjected to reversible phase transition between solid and liquidphases.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water tank built-in temperature control device used for breeding ornamental fish such as tropical fish.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Due to the recent pet boom, many ornamental fish such as tropical fish have been bred even in ordinary households. However, tropical fish are vulnerable to changes in the temperature environment, and in order to keep the fish healthy, it is necessary to keep the water at a temperature suitable for the fish. For example, the room temperature of a room where a water tank is placed is 25 ° C. or less on average throughout the year, but tropical fish need to keep the water temperature at 25 to 28 ° C. Therefore, it is necessary to heat the water in the aquarium. Such a temperature control device is generally used in which the heater is repeatedly turned on and off every hour, and the efficiency of electric energy required for energization for 24 hours is low, and the cost is also large. It has been demanded.

Further, it is essential that the above-mentioned aquarium is transparent in order to enjoy it. However, in the conventional aquarium for breeding fish, the side face is made of one glass or transparent resin plate, The heat retention is not considered, and the amount of heat released from the water tank to the surroundings is large.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and an object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of electric energy required for heating in a water tank and to store heat. An object of the present invention is to provide a water tank built-in temperature control device that is excellent in keeping the water temperature excellent.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provide, in addition to the above object, a water tank built-in temperature control device having a heat retaining property for viewing the inside of the water tank without damaging the scenery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, in addition to the above objects, a water tank built-in temperature control device capable of efficiently exchanging a purifying agent layer in a purifier.

[0007]

A temperature control device incorporated in a water tank according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a water tank 1 for raising fish, and this water tank 1.
A pump 2 that circulates the water inside, a heat source 3 that heats the water,
And a water tank built-in temperature control device in which a heat exchanger 5 having a heat storage body 4 is connected by a pipe 7 through which water circulates.
Is a heater that uses midnight power, and further, the heat storage body 4 is a substrate made of crystalline polyolefin, and an organic heat storage material that is carried on this substrate and undergoes a reversible phase transition between a solid phase and a liquid phase. And are used as constituent materials.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water tank built-in temperature control device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the heat exchanger 5 is provided with a flowing water passage 8 which is in direct contact with the heat storage body 4. It is characterized by

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature control device for water tank incorporation, which is the temperature control device for water tank incorporation according to the first or second aspect, wherein the side surface of the water tank 1 for fish breeding contains a heat insulating airgel. The airgel panel 11 is provided.

A water tank built-in temperature control device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the water tank built-in temperature control device according to any one of the first to third aspects, in which a purifier 6 is provided in a pipe 7 through which the water circulates.
Is provided, and at least one side surface of the purifier 6 is constituted by a transparent panel 10 containing a heat insulating airgel.

A water tank built-in temperature control device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the water tank built-in temperature control device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the pump 2, the heat source 3, the heat exchanger 5, and A valve 9 provided with a first pipe 7a connecting the water tanks 1 in series and a second pipe 7b parallel to the heat source 3 and the heat exchanger 5, and for adjusting the flow of water to the water tank 1.
Is provided at the connecting portion between the first pipe 7a and the second pipe 7b.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water tank built-in temperature control device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the water tank 1 has a part made of the heat storage material. 17 is provided.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water tank built-in temperature control device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the water tank built-in temperature control device is provided with a partition plate 19. Room 1a for raising fish in 19 and room 1 for storing the water circulated through the heat source 3 and the heat exchanger 5
It is characterized in that it is divided into b and heat is exchanged through the partition plate 19.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a water tank built-in temperature control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, and FIGS. 3 to 5 show the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the water tank built-in temperature control apparatus which concerns on the 2nd-4th Example.

As shown in FIG. 1, the water tank built-in temperature control apparatus of the present invention comprises a fish tank 1, a pump 2 for circulating the water in the tank 1, a heat source 3 for heating the water, and a heat storage. Body 4
The heat exchanger 5 having is connected by a pipe 7 through which water circulates. Aquarium fish such as tropical fish are bred in the aquarium 1, and the temperature control device of the present invention efficiently heats the water temperature in the aquarium 1, and also has excellent heat storage properties and keeps the water temperature well. is there.

The heat exchanger 5 which constitutes the temperature control device of the present invention has a heat storage body 4 and stores heat and radiates heat by contacting the heat storage body 4 with circulating water. In the present invention, the heat storage body 4 is composed of a substrate made of a crystalline polyolefin and an organic heat storage material supported on the substrate and reversibly undergoing a phase transition between a solid phase and a liquid phase. As the above-mentioned crystalline polyolefin, a low-crystalline polyolefin having a crystallinity of less than 40% is preferable, a crystallinity of 30% or less is more preferable, and a crystallinity of 20% or less is most preferable. A low crystalline polyolefin prevents the elution of the organic heat storage material and directly contacts the heat storage body 4 with the flowing water channel 8
The heat exchange efficiency is improved because heat is stored and heat is released by directly contacting the heat storage body 4 with water.

Examples of the crystalline polyolefin include polypropylene, atactic polypropylene, and a copolymer of ethylene and α-olefin. As the α-olefin, propylene, 1-butene,
1-pentene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-octene and the like can be mentioned. A substance having a property of reversibly undergoing a phase transition between a solid phase and a liquid phase of the organic heat storage material, and a substance having compatibility with the low crystalline polyolefin is desirable, and specifically, paraffin and paraffin wax. , Alkylparaffins such as isoparaffin and polyethylene wax, fatty acids, and fatty acid esters.

The heat storage body 4 is an aggregate of pellet-like particles having a heat storage property, and the voids between the particles form a running water channel 8.
And When the heat storage body 4 is an aggregate of particles having a heat storage property in the form of pellets, the contact area between water and the heat storage body 4 is large, and the heat exchange rate is high. The pellet-shaped heat storage body preferably has a diameter of 10 mm or less if it has a circular cross section and a diagonal length of 10 mm or less if it has a rectangular cross section. The shape of the heat storage body 4 is not limited to the pellet shape, and examples thereof include a plate shape, a rod shape, a fiber shape, and a briquette shape in which a through hole is formed in a block of the heat storage body and the through hole serves as a flowing water channel.

The heat source 3 that constitutes the temperature control device of the present invention is a heater that uses late-night power. The heater is an electric circuit 1
6, which is connected to 6 and uses an external timer to warm the circulating water by using electric power at midnight to store heat in the heat storage body 4. The late-night power is also superior in terms of electric energy cost, and heat can be kept warm by using heat radiated from the heat storage body 4 in the daytime, so that the efficiency of electric energy can be improved.

The water tank built-in temperature control device is provided with an airgel panel 11 containing a heat insulating airgel on the side surface of the water tank 1. The airgel-containing panel 11 has a heat insulating airgel 12, and the configuration thereof is, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a panel in which the airgel 12 is sandwiched between transparent plates 13. The reference numeral 18 in FIG. 1 indicates a frame for fixing the airgel-containing panels 11 to each other.

The airgel 12 is a porous material having a high porosity obtained by removing the solvent from a gel compound in a wet state containing a solvent by a special drying method such as supercritical drying, and has a heat insulating property. Is to have. Specific examples of the material include US Pat. No. 4,402,927, US Pat. No. 4,432,956, and US Pat. No. 4,610,863.
Silica aerogel obtained by supercritically drying a gel compound obtained by hydrolysis polymerization of alkoxysilane disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,275,796, US Pat. No. 461.
9908, silica aerogel obtained by supercritically drying a gel compound composed of an aqueous solution of silicic acid disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,667,417, and US Pat. No. 5,081,811.
The organic airgel etc. which are disclosed by No. 63 are mentioned. As the aerogel 4, silica aerogel is preferable because it has excellent transparency for viewing the inside of the water tank, and above all, a silica aerogel obtained by supercritically drying a gel-like compound formed by hydrolysis polymerization of alkoxysilane is more preferable. preferable.

Further, since the airgel 12 is placed under the condition of contacting water indirectly or directly, it is preferable that it has moisture resistance and water resistance. As an airgel having moisture resistance and water resistance, a hydrophobic silica aerogel obtained by subjecting a gel-like compound formed by hydrolysis polymerization of alkoxysilane to a hydrophobic treatment and then supercritically drying is suitable. As this hydrophobic silica airgel, specifically,
JP-A-5-279011 and Japanese Patent Application No. 5-2837.
Hydrophobic silica airgel shown in No. 26 is mentioned. The airgel 12 has a density of 0.03 to 0.3 g.
/ Cm ² and the thermal conductivity of airgel is 0.01
It is suitable that the visible light transmittance is about 0.02 W / mK and the visible light transmittance is 85% or more for a thickness of 10 mm.

Examples of the transparent plate 13 include a glass plate and a transparent resin plate. The resin which is a constituent material of the resin plate is polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene,
Examples thereof include acrylic and polycarbonate.

If the airgel-containing panel 11 is visually transparent and can withstand the water pressure in the water tank 1, its thickness and constituent materials may be appropriately selected. Further, the airgel-containing panel 11 is not limited to the layer structure shown in FIG. 6 as long as it has the heat insulating airgel 12, and may be, for example, an aerogel containing glass fibers or the like reinforced by a glass plate, or a glass fiber. Only the reinforced airgel panel may be used.

When the side surface of the water tank 1 of the water tank built-in temperature control device is provided with the airgel-containing panel 11, the water temperature in the water tank 1 can be maintained without spoiling the scenery for viewing the inside of the water tank. .

A purifier 6 is provided in a pipe 7 through which water of the water tank built-in temperature control device circulates. The purifier 6 includes a fiber filter 14 such as wool mat and a filter material 15 such as ceramic or activated carbon, and purifies the water in the water tank 1. It is desirable that the purifier 6 and the heat exchanger 5 be coated directly or that the housing containing them be coated with a heat insulating material. By coating with a heat insulating material, the heat retaining property of water can be further enhanced. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, it is preferable that at least one side surface of the purifier 6 or, when housed in a housing, the purifier 6 and one side surface of the housing are composed of a transparent panel 10 containing a heat insulating airgel. . Examples of the material of the airgel include the airgel described above. Transparent panel 10 containing the above airgel
When it is made of
Also, the degree of contamination of the filter material 15 can be visually determined, and the filter material 15 can be efficiently replaced, so that a good environment for the fish can be maintained.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a water tank built-in temperature control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The water tank built-in temperature control device is a pump 2, a heat source 3,
The heat exchanger 5 and the first pipe 7a connecting the water tank 1 in series, and the second pipe 7 parallel to the heat source 3 and the heat exchanger 5.
b. A valve 9 is provided at the connecting portion between the first pipe 7a and the second pipe 7b, and the amount of water flowing through the first pipe 7a and the second pipe 7b is adjusted by operating the valve 9. You can The above adjustment is effective when the fish to be raised are sensitive to temperature changes or when the room temperature is extremely low.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a water tank built-in temperature control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The water tank built-in temperature control device includes, in addition to the temperature control device described above, a component 17 made of the heat storage material in the water tank 1. Since the heat storage body can be easily molded into various shapes and colored with pigments,
It can be molded into commonly used parts in the water tank 1, such as rocks, bridges, lanterns, and gravel. When the above-mentioned component 17 is provided in the water tank 1, heat is exchanged between the component 17 which is a heat storage body and the water in the water tank 1, so that the amount of water controlled by circulation is reduced or the difference between the water temperature and the room temperature is reduced. You can stop when there are few.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a water tank built-in temperature control device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The water tank built-in temperature control device is provided with a partition plate 19 on the bottom surface of a chamber 1a for breeding fish in the water tank 1, and is partitioned into a chamber 1b in which water heated by the partition plate 19 is stored. Heat exchange is performed through the partition plate 19 to heat the water in the room 1a for breeding. The water in the chamber 1b is heated by circulating the heat source 3 including a heater that uses late-night power and the heat exchanger 5 having the heat storage body 4. The water tank built-in temperature control device may be provided with a heat exchanger 5 having a heat storage body 4 outside the water tank 1 as shown in the figure, or may be integrally mounted inside the water tank 1. Further, it is preferable to form a heat insulating layer on the bottom of the chamber 1b of the water tank 1 for storing water to prevent heat radiation to the outside.

[0031]

The water tank built-in temperature control device according to the first to seventh aspects of the present invention heats the circulating water by using the midnight power, stores heat in the heat storage body at midnight, and stores the heat storage body in the daytime. Since the water can be kept warm by utilizing the heat radiation from, the efficiency of electric energy can be improved and the water temperature can be kept good.

In particular, in the water tank built-in temperature control device according to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above effects, the flowing water channel which is in direct contact with the heat storage body is formed, so that the heat exchange efficiency is good.

In particular, in the water tank built-in temperature control device according to claim 3 of the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned effects, the side surface of the water tank is provided with an airgel panel containing an aerogel having a heat insulating property. It is possible to have heat retention without impairing.

Particularly, in the water tank built-in temperature control device according to claim 4 of the present invention, in addition to the above effects, at least one side surface of the purifier is formed of a transparent panel containing a heat insulating airgel, Since it is possible to visually determine the degree of contamination of the filter and the filter material as well as the heat retention property and exchange them efficiently, it is possible to maintain a good environment for fish.

Particularly, in the water tank built-in temperature control device according to claim 5 of the present invention, in addition to the above effects, since the first pipe, the second pipe, and the valve are provided in the connecting portion, the first pipe and the The amount of water flowing through the second pipe can be adjusted.
This is particularly effective when the fish to be raised are sensitive to temperature changes or when the room temperature is extremely low.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a water tank built-in temperature control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the water tank built-in temperature control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a water tank built-in temperature control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a water tank built-in temperature control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a water tank built-in temperature control device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an airgel-containing panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Water Tank 2 Pump 3 Heat Source 4 Heat Storage Material 5 Heat Exchanger 6 Purifier 7, 7a, 7b Piping 8 Flow Channel 10 Transparent Panel 11 Aerogel Panel

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A fish tank (1) for raising fish, and this water tank (1)
A water tank in which a pump (2) for circulating water inside, a heat source (3) for heating the water, and a heat exchanger (5) having a heat storage body (4) are connected by a pipe (7) through which water circulates. A built-in temperature control device, wherein the heat source (3) is a heater that uses midnight power, and the heat storage body (4) is a substrate made of crystalline polyolefin and a solid phase supported on the substrate. −
A water tank built-in temperature control device comprising an organic heat storage material that reversibly undergoes a phase transition between liquid phases as a constituent material. 2. The water tank built-in temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (5) is provided with a flowing water channel (8) which is in direct contact with the heat storage body (4). 3. The water tank built-in temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side surface of the fish tank (1) for raising fish is provided with an airgel panel (11) containing a heat insulating airgel. . 4. A pipe (7) through which the water circulates is provided with a purifier (6), and at least one side of the purifier (6) contains a transparent airgel-containing transparent panel (10).
The water tank built-in temperature control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that 5. A pump (2), a heat source (3), a heat exchanger (5), and a first pipe (7a) in which the water tank (1) is connected in series, and a heat source (3) and heat. A second pipe (7b) parallel to the exchanger (5) is provided, and a valve (9) for adjusting the flow of water to the water tank (1) is provided in the first pipe (7).
The water tank built-in temperature control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temperature control device is provided at a connecting portion between a) and the second pipe (7b). 6. The water tank built-in temperature control device according to claim 1, further comprising a component (17) made of the heat storage material in the water tank (1). 7. A room (1a) provided with a partition plate (19) in the aquarium (1) for breeding fish on the partition plate (19).
And a chamber (1b) in which water circulating through the heat source (3) and the heat exchanger (5) is stored, and heat is exchanged through the partition plate (19). The water tank built-in temperature control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.