JPH11193505A - Heat-pipe type snow-melting apparatus utilizing wind force - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a snow-melting apparatus that can effectively execute snow melting or freeze prevention, effectively utilizing natural energy without spoiling environment. SOLUTION: Heat pipes 3 are laid right under the snow-melting surface 1. One end of the heat pipe 3 is arranged so that heat exchange with fluid 6 in a fluid circulation passage 8 can be made. A wind-powered generator 10 generating electric power by wind force is provided. A fluid heating device 2 and a fluid circulating pump 9 both of which are arranged in the middle of the fluid circulation passage 8 and operated by electric power generated by the wind-powered generator 10 are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facility for preventing snow melting and freezing on a snow melting surface using a heat pipe.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, snow removal on roads and sidewalks is particularly important for securing transportation means in winter. However, these road surfaces are directly exposed to the natural environment and have a target area. Due to the large size, it takes a lot of labor and time to remove snow manually.

Therefore, conventionally, in melting snow and removing snow, equipment for spraying groundwater on a road surface and snow melting equipment using a heat pipe have been used.

[0004] The equipment for dispersing groundwater is used for melting snow on the road surface by using groundwater at a temperature of about 5 to 15 ° C and having a sufficient amount of heat to melt snow. Yes, groundwater is constantly pumped up throughout the snow season and sprayed on the road surface to melt snow.

In a snow melting facility using a heat pipe, a condensing portion of the heat pipe is laid just below the ground surface and almost parallel to the ground surface, and heat from the evaporating portion of the heat pipe and a heat source is transported. The heat pipe is arranged so as to exchange heat with the fluid in the fluid circulation path, and melts snow near the condensing portion of the heat pipe. As a heat source for operating the heat pipe type snow melting facility, a boiler, groundwater, and a source (waste water) are used.

As an example of a snow melting facility using a boiler as a heat source, a facility as shown in FIG. 4 is known.
This will be briefly described below.
The heat pipe 3 is laid substantially in parallel with the heat pipe 3, and one end of the heat pipe 3 is exposed to heat exchange with the fluid circulation path 8, and the boiler 18 connected to the fluid circulation path 8.
And a fluid circulation pump 9 and a snow sensor 15 for detecting the presence or absence of snow on the road surface 1 as a snow melting surface.

In this snow melting facility, the snow sensor 15 outputs a signal at the time of snowfall, and in response to the signal, the boiler 18 and the fluid circulation pump 9 operate, and the amount of heat generated by the boiler 18 is transferred to the hot water 6. While being transmitted, it circulates in the fluid circulation path 8 and is carried to one end of the heat pipe 3. Therefore, in the heat pipe 3, one end is a heating section and the other end is a heat radiating section to generate heat transport, and as a result, it becomes a snow-covered surface or a frozen surface above the place where the heat pipe 3 is laid. The road surface 1 is heated to melt snow and ice.

Conventionally, as a snow melting apparatus using wind power, a facility described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-68682 is known. Briefly describing this, a heat pipe laid just below the road surface of the road, a fluid circulation path facing one end of the heat pipe so as to allow heat exchange, the fluid circulation path is connected, and the lower part of the road A heat storage unit installed in the wind turbine, characterized by being provided with an electric-heat conversion facility for heating the heat storage unit with electric energy generated by a wind power generator installed separately from the heat storage unit. This is a heat storage type snow melting facility used.

In this snow melting facility, energy for melting snow and ice is obtained from the wind. That is, the wind power generator is driven by the wind to generate electric power. Such power generation by a wind power generator can be performed throughout the year. The electric power heats the heat storage unit via the electric-heat conversion equipment, and heat energy is stored. The heat of the heat storage section is transferred to one end of the heat pipe as hot water. In addition, since the heat storage unit is installed in the ground under the road, the heat storage unit also serves as the foundation of the road, and the space is effectively used.

[0010]

However, in the above-described facility for dispersing groundwater, it is necessary to constantly pump groundwater throughout the snow season and disperse it on the road surface as described above. As a result, there was a possibility that the ground would sink or the groundwater would dry up. In addition, there is a disadvantage that running power is required because power is required for pumping groundwater.

In a snow melting facility using a heating device such as a boiler and a fluid circulating pump for circulating hot water as a heat source, an energy source for operating the boiler and the fluid circulating pump, ie, boiler fuel and electric power of the fluid circulating pump are used. However, there is a problem that the fuel and power costs must be increased from the outside. Further, as a heating device, in a snow melting facility using a boiler using heavy oil as a heat source, waste smoke generated at the time of combustion is likely to have a bad influence on the surrounding environment, which may possibly lead to pollution such as air pollution.

Further, in the snow melting facility described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-68682, the heat storage section has a structure in which water and crushed stone are filled in a heat storage layer made of concrete, for example, so that the snow melting facility is not used. As a result, the equipment load also increased accordingly. For this reason, there is no problem when installing under the ground such as a road surface, but when melting snow on the roof of a construction, etc., there are restrictions on the installation location, and a heavy load is placed on the top of the construction. The provision of the apparatus causes inconveniences such as impairing the stability of the building, and also increases the cost of the equipment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and operates all year round, can effectively utilize low-density natural energy, can reduce the scale of equipment and running costs, and can further reduce the environment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a snow melting facility capable of effectively preventing snow melting and freezing without harm.

[0014]

According to the present invention, a heat pipe is laid directly below a snow-melting surface, and one end of the heat pipe is connected to the inside of a fluid circulation path. A heat pipe type snow melting facility disposed so as to be able to exchange heat with a fluid, a wind power generator that generates electric power by wind power, interposed in the fluid circulation path,
And a fluid heating device and a fluid circulation pump that are operated by electric power generated by the wind power generator.

In this snow melting facility, a wind power generator is driven by wind. That is, the wind turbine rotates the wind turbine of the wind power generator and generates electric power. The electric power generated here is sent to the fluid heating device and the fluid circulation pump, and the energy is used to operate the equipment. When activated, the fluid is heated by the fluid heating device, and the fluid is conveyed to one end of the heat pipe by the fluid circulation pump through the fluid circulation path. Done. In other words, energy for melting snow and ice is obtained from the wind.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
A description will be given based on FIG. First, the snowmelt surface in this embodiment is the road surface 1 of the road, and hot water 6 is used as a fluid for transporting heat from a heat source. The vessel 2 is used.

In the snow melting facility of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), a plurality of heat pipes 3 are used as direct heating means for the road surface 1. It is buried directly below. Note that these heat pipes 3 are slightly inclined so that one end serving as the condensing unit 4 is positioned higher than the end serving as the evaporating unit 5, and the evaporating unit 5 is heated by hot water 6. To melt the snow.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a circulation header 7 is provided at the end of the heat pipe 3 which is to be the evaporating section 5. Road 8 is connected. That is, the end portion that becomes the evaporating section 5 is disposed so as to be able to exchange heat with the hot water 6. The electric water heater 2 is provided as a fluid heating device, and the fluid circulation path 8 is connected to the electric water heater 2. Further, a fluid circulation pump 9 for circulating the hot water 6 in the fluid circulation path 8 is provided, and the fluid circulation path 8 is connected to the fluid circulation pump 9. Further, a wind power generator 10 is provided on the road surface 1 of the road.

The wind power generator 10 includes a wind turbine 12 and a generator (not shown) driven by the wind turbine 12.
When is rotated, the generator generates electric energy.

The electric energy generated by the wind power generator 10 is supplied to the fluid circulation pump 9 and the electric water heater 2, and the electric energy activates the fluid circulation pump 9 and the electric water heater 2.

When the electric water heater 2 operates, the hot water 6 in the fluid circulation path 8 is heated. Therefore, here, electric energy is converted into heat energy. Further, since the fluid circulation pump 9 operates, the hot water 6 in the fluid circulation path 8 circulates in the equipment. Hot water 6 is heat pipe 3
The heat is transferred to the hot water circulation header 7 provided in the evaporating section 5 and heat is transferred to the evaporating section 5 of the heat pipe 3. When one end of the heat pipe 3 serving as the evaporating section is heated and heated, the end of the heat pipe 3 serving as the condensing section (heat radiating section) 4 is placed immediately below the road surface 1 as shown in FIG. In addition, since the heat pipe 3 is laid substantially parallel to the road surface 1, the heat pipe 3 disperses and supplies heat as latent heat of the working fluid 13 over a wide range directly below the ground surface, and snow melting is performed.

In the heat pipe 3, the working fluid 13 is heated and evaporated by the heat of the hot water 6. The vapor of the working fluid 13 flows to the condensing section 4 of the heat pipe 3,
Since the surrounding temperature is low, heat is radiated here and condenses.
As described above, the heat is transported to the road surface 1 by the working fluid 13 in the heat pipe 3, so that the snow on the road surface 1 is melted by the heat, and the snow is removed. In this case, since the condensing portion 4 which is a predetermined length portion on the upper end side of the container 14 of the heat pipe 3 is laid almost in parallel with the road surface 1, the entire surface of the long condensing portion 4 over the entire length is dissipated. A surface can be formed and the road surface 1 can be heated.

On the other hand, the working fluid 13 liquefied in the condenser 4 of the heat pipe 3 flows down the wall of the container 14 toward the lower end. Then, in the evaporator 5, the evaporator receives heat from the hot water 6 again to evaporate, and the vapor flows toward the condenser 4. Such a heat transport cycle by the working fluid 13 is continued until the temperature difference between the evaporating section 5 and the condensing section 4 disappears or the temperature is reversed.

Hot water 6 after heat exchange with heat pipe 3
Circulates in the fluid circulation path 8 and is carried into the electric water heater 2.

The snow melting facility of the above embodiment is operated by wind power as natural energy and circulates the hot water 6, so that it operates all year round.

Therefore, since natural energy called wind power is used as a heat source, the amount of energy is infinite,
Moreover, since no fuel is required, there is no environmental impact such as air pollution caused by waste smoke.

In the above embodiment, since the wind power is used as the energy for the snow melting facility, it is necessary to provide the wind power generator 10 on the road or highland along the coast in order to obtain sufficient wind power.
Is preferably provided. However, in a place where sufficient wind power cannot be obtained, as shown in FIG. 3, a snow sensor 15 for detecting the presence or absence of snow and a wind sensor (not shown) for detecting whether the wind power is sufficient to convert the power to sufficient power. And an auxiliary heat source 17 that is activated by the signals of the two sensors. The auxiliary heat source 17 receives signals from the two sensors, and operates and supplies heat only when a sufficient amount of heat from snow melting cannot be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the electric water heater 2 is used as an example of the fluid heating device serving as a heat source. However, when the auxiliary heat source 17 is provided, the electric water heater 2 or the like can be used in consideration of the environment and the like. It is preferable to use a fluid heating device that is operated by electricity.

Further, in the above embodiment, the heat pipe 3 is slightly inclined so that the heat pipe 3 is located directly below the road surface 1 and one end serving as the condensing section 4 is higher than the end serving as the evaporating section 5. Although not limited to this, the condensing part (radiating part) 4 of the heat pipe 3 is laid directly below the road surface 1, and one end which becomes the evaporating part 5 of the heat pipe 3 by heat from the heat source The heat pipe 3 may be heated and heated so that the heat pipe 3 can disperse and supply the heat as the latent heat of the working fluid 13 over a wide range immediately below the road surface 1. That is, the working fluid 13 evaporated in the heat pipe 3 only needs to be liquefied at the other end serving as the condensing unit 4 immediately below the road surface 1 and then flow to the end serving as the evaporating unit 5.

In the above embodiment, the snow melting surface is the road surface 1 of the road. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the roof of a building may be a snow melting surface. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the wind power generator 10 including the wind turbine 12 is used. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the hot water 6 is used as the fluid for heating the heat pipe 3. However, any liquid may be used as a fluid at normal temperature to which heat can be transferred.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, wind power, which is a natural energy, supplies electric power for driving the heat source for operating the snow melting facility and the fluid circulation pump. Running costs can be reduced, and operation can be performed throughout the year.
In addition, the scale of the equipment and the load on the equipment can be reduced, so that it is relatively easy to design not only on the road surface but also on the roof of a building, for example.

Further, since a heat source operated by electricity is used, snow melting and freezing can be effectively prevented without harming the environment. And if an auxiliary heat source is provided, even if sufficient wind power is not obtained for snow melting, snow melting on the snow melting surface is performed effectively, and snow melting and freezing prevention can be reliably and efficiently performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a snow melting facility according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial configuration diagram showing a heat pipe installation state in the snow melting facility in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a case where the snow melting facility is provided with an auxiliary heat source.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional snow melting facility.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: road surface, 2: electric water heater, 3: heat pipe,
6 ... warm water, 7 ... circulation header, 8 ... fluid circulation path,
9: fluid circulation pump, 10: wind generator, 12: windmill, 15: snow sensor, 17: auxiliary heat source.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A heat pipe type snow melting facility in which a heat pipe is laid immediately below a snow melting surface, and one end of the heat pipe is disposed so as to be able to exchange heat with a fluid in a fluid circulation path. A wind power generator that generates electric power by using the wind power, comprising a fluid heating device and a fluid circulation pump that are interposed in the fluid circulation path and operate with the power generated by the wind power generator. Heat pipe type snow melting equipment.