JPS63243664A - Cold and hot heat generator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a cold/heat generating device for utilizing cold or hot heat generated by a reversible dissociation reaction of hydrogen molecules.

[Prior art] Refrigeration equipment that compresses and liquefies a low boiling point refrigerant and uses the latent heat of vaporization is used as a cold heat generating device for cooling the interior of a vehicle or a residence. By adopting a method of absorbing outside air temperature, it can also be used as a heat pump device for heating purposes.

A thermoelectric conversion method using the Beltier effect is also being considered on a small scale.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] In the conventional method that utilizes the latent heat of vaporization of a low-boiling refrigerant, the vaporized refrigerant must be continuously compressed using compression mode, which causes problems such as wear of moving parts and leakage of high-pressure gas. However, it was extremely difficult to significantly improve shortcomings such as the short lifespan of the equipment and the hassle of maintenance.

- A thermal lightning conversion system using a Vertier element that does not have six rotating parts can increase the coefficient of performance as a ratio of the amount of heat extracted to the heat equivalent of the work expended to extract the desired amount of heat to more than 1. It was impossible to do so, and due to the lack of capacity, it could not be used for cooling the interior of a car.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cold/heat generating device that does not have moving parts, significantly reduces the trouble of maintenance, does not generate noise or vibration, and can sufficiently extend its service life. shall be.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the cold/heat generator according to the present invention comprises (a) an electrolytic cell filled with an electrolyte and hydrogen, and (b)
) an anode placed at one end of the electrolytic cell and treated with a catalyst that promotes the dissociation of hydrogen molecules, and (c) an anode placed at the other end of the electrolytic cell and treated with a catalyst that promotes the recombination of hydrogen atoms. (d) current-carrying means for applying a DC voltage at a set level between the anode and the cathode;
) a hydrogen gas circulation means for circulating and supplying hydrogen gas generated from the cathode to the anode; (f) an endothermic heat exchange means provided at a location adjacent to the anode on the outer wall surface of the electrolytic cell; (1) A configuration is adopted that includes heat exchange means for heat radiation provided at a location adjacent to the cathode on the outer wall surface of the electrolytic cell.

[Function] In the cold/heat generating device with the above configuration, when a DC current of a preset level is applied between the anode and the cathode by the current supply means, the surface portion of the anode is heated by the action of the catalyst that promotes the dissociation of hydrogen molecules. The existing hydrogen molecules are dissociated into 2 hydrogen ions and 2 electrons, and at this time 7
Since 30 kcal/mol of reaction heat is absorbed from the surroundings, the endothermic heat exchange means provided on the outer wall surface of the electrolyte adjacent to the anode is cooled and becomes a cold heat generation source.

The generated hydrogen ions move in the electrolyte toward the cathode,
Hydrogen atoms recombine and return to gaseous hydrogen molecules when they reach the surface of the cathode and lose their positive charge, but this recombination reaction also proceeds rapidly due to the action of the catalyst, and at that time
Since it generates a heat of reaction of cal /ll1o l,
Heat radiating heat exchange means provided on the outer wall surface of the electrolytic cell adjacent to the cathode is heated and becomes a source of heat generation.

[Embodiment] The structure of the present invention will be specifically explained below based on the embodiment shown in the drawings.

1 and 2 show side and cross sections of an embodiment of the device according to the invention, the general configuration of which is an anode chamber 1Δ separated by the interposition of a porous electrolyte matrix 2.
and a cathode chamber 1B, an electrolytic cell 1 filled with an electrolytic solution 3, and a catalyst cell 6 housed in each chamber to promote reversible dissociation and ionization reactions of hydrogen atoms on the respective surfaces. The anode 4 and cathode 5 formed with a Gas circulation means 1
0, an endothermic heat exchange means 7 provided on the outer wall surface of the electrolytic cell 1 at a location adjacent to the anode 4, and a heat radiation heat exchange means 8 also provided at a location adjacent to the cathode 5.

The electrolytic cell 1 is made of a material that has both good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance.
For example, it is shaped like a sealed box using a stainless steel plate, and inside this electrolytic cell, which has a rectangular planar shape, there is a fine powder of silicon carbide in the center, leaving both ends in the longitudinal direction. A porous electrolyte matrix 2 assembled using a fluororesin binder is filled as shown in the figure.

The bottom wall of the anode chamber 1A and the top wall of the cathode chamber 1B, which are formed at both end portions of the electrolytic cell 1, have hollow holes for hydrogen gas inlet and outlet, respectively, and a hole between the two holes is used as a hydrogen gas circulation means. They are communicated through a hydrogen gas passage 10.

The anode 4 and the cathode 5 have the same shape and W4 structure, and hydrogen bacteria, such as hydrogenase, as a catalyst for promoting the reversible dissociation and ionization reaction of hydrogen molecules are formed on the surface of a square rod made of porous carbon. A catalyst layer 6 is provided which is prepared by fixing it in a solid carrier. A catalyst layer containing platinum black may be formed instead of a catalyst layer containing hydrogen bacteria.

The anode 4 is mounted on a spacer 9 made of electrically insulating material and placed in the center of the anode chamber 1A, and a DC power supply 12 is placed at the upper end.
A conducting wire 13 connected to the anode is connected with a power switch 15 interposed therebetween.

The cathode 5 is also placed on a similar spacer 9 and placed in the cathode chamber 1B.
The DC type i1i;t12 is placed in the center of the
A conducting wire 14 connected to the cathode is connected with a voltage regulator 16 interposed therebetween.

The electrolytic cell 1 is filled with, for example, a phosphoric acid aqueous solution 3 as an electrolytic solution, and an anode 4 having a porous structure is filled in the electrolytic cell 1.
, an electrolytic solution 3 is permeated into the structures of the cathode 5 and the solid electrolyte matrix 2.

The endothermic heat exchanger 7 as the endothermic heat exchange means attached to the outer wall surface of the electrolytic cell 1 and the heat radiating heat exchanger 8 as the heat radiating heat exchange means have the same shape and dimensions, This embodiment has a structure in which a large number of fins are arranged in rows on the outer wall surface with narrow gaps separated from each other, like a cylinder radiator for a two-stroke internal combustion engine. In addition, for example, a structure similar to a heat exchange fin structure incorporated in a self-supporting radiator or an evaporator of a cooling device may be attached. Furthermore, one method is to assemble a ventilation duct so as to surround this fin portion.

In addition, since the electrolytic layer 1 is easily immersed in corrosive electrolytic solution,
The fin and its mounting wall are made integrally as one unit from a metal material with excellent thermal conductivity, and the main part of the electrolytic cell is molded from a hard synthetic resin that is free from corrosion, and both are made from a packing material. Alternatively, a method may be adopted in which the components are combined in a liquid-tight manner so as to be decomposable through the process.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment 5A will be explained. First, by turning on the power switch 15 and operating the voltage regulator 16, a desired level of DC voltage is applied between the anode 4 and the cathode 5.

As voltage is applied, the following endothermic reaction rapidly progresses on the anode side based on the action of the catalyst layer 6, accompanied by the generation of cold heat that is sufficiently practical.

H2-+ 2H++2e--730kcal/molWhen this reaction occurs on the anode side, energy is consumed for hydrogen vaporization, dissociation, and ionization, but the energy consumed for these three types of phase changes is Among them, the vaporization energy is negligibly small, and the ionization energy is the largest, 6 per mole of hydrogen molecules.
26.864kcal, dissociation energy is 103.2
57kal, and the total amount of both is about 730kc.
The reaction heat of a l /ll1o I will be supplied from the vicinity of the anode 40 as shown by the arrow (A) in FIG. The temperature of the endothermic heat exchanger 7, which is installed so as to maintain contact with each other, rapidly decreases in temperature.

The hydrogen ions H+ generated at the anode 4 are carried within the electrolyte matrix 2 and reach the cathode 5 side, and the electrons e-
is carried to the cathode 5 via the conductor 13, the DC power source 12, and the conductor 14, so on the cathode side, with the help of the catalyst tank 6, the recombination reaction of hydrogen atoms accompanied by heat as described below rapidly progresses. do.

2H+2e -)H2+730 kcal/mol Therefore, the electrolytic solution 3 in the cathode chamber 1B surrounding the cathode 5 and the heat radiation heat exchanger 8 attached to the wall of this chamber are used to absorb heat during the dissociation reaction, contrary to that on the anode side. It receives a corresponding amount of heat, is heated, and emits heat to the surroundings as shown by the arrow (b) in FIG.

Due to the pressure difference 14o between the cathode side and the anode side, hydrogen molecules as a gas generated on the cathode side enter the hydrogen gas passage 10 from the top wall opening of the cathode chamber 1B as shown by the broken line arrow in the figure. by flowing out and following this passage into the anode chamber 1△ through its bottom wall opening.
One cycle of reversible dissociation and ionization reaction of hydrogen molecules is completed. From then on, while the power switch 15 is turned on,
This reaction cycle is repeated and continued, and the heat exchanger 7 continues to be cooled to a temperature level corresponding to the applied voltage, and the heat exchanger 8
continues to emit a certain dark warmth.

The degree of cooling (endothermic) or heating (heat dissipating) is determined by operating the voltage regulator 16 to change the voltage applied between the anode 4 and cathode 5 to control the progress rate of the reversible dissociation and ionization reaction of hydrogen molecules. This can be adjusted as desired.

The generated cold and hot heat collected in the heat exchanger sections 1 and 8 of the above-mentioned embodiment device can be effectively utilized in various ways depending on the invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an example in which the above-described embodiment device is incorporated into an air conditioning duct for generating cold/hot air of an air conditioner for an automobile. B is the engine for driving the car, C is the dividing wall between the engine room and the passenger compartment, D is the instrument panel in front of the driver's seat, and 20 is the air conditioner for generating cold and heat installed below the instrument panel. A duct, a part of which is located within the engine room.

The air conditioning duct 20, which is made of synthetic resin and is a VJ that forms a passage for air conditioning air, has an outside air inlet 21 at the upstream end of the airflow as an inlet for the conditioned air, and an inside air (vehicle air) inlet 22.
, an internal/external air switching damper 23 is provided for selective opening/closing on both days. And at the downstream end there is an air outlet 2 for air conditioning inside the vehicle.
8 and a defrost outlet 29 for preventing fogging of window glass are open.

Inside the air conditioning duct 20, a blower 24 driven by an electric motor 25, the device A of the present invention, and a heater core 26 as a heat exchanger for hot water heating are arranged in order from the upstream side. An air mix damper 27 is assembled which provides a cold air passage that bypasses the heater core 26 and adjusts the temperature of the conditioned air by arbitrarily changing the ratio of the amount of air passing through the heater core 26 to the air m passing through the cold air passage. It is attached. Reference numerals 32 and 33 designate blowout mode switching dampers for selectively opening and closing the air conditioning blowout port 28 and the two defrost blowout ports.

The device A of the present invention is arranged so that a portion of the heat exchanger γ for heat absorption is brought into efficient contact with the air to be conditioned, and a portion of the heat exchanger 8 for heat radiation is made to protrude outside the air conditioning duct 20. attached to the wall. In order to avoid the inconvenience that the heat exchanger 8 for heat dissipation, which protrudes outside the duct, dissipates heat into the passenger compartment during cooling operation of the air conditioner, the heat exchanger 8
is covered by a cover duct 30, and as shown in FIG. 4, one end 30Δ of this duct 30 opens into the passenger compartment, and the other end 30B opens into the engine room. .

An on-vehicle battery is used as the operating DC power source 12 of the device A of the present invention, and the blower motor 25 also receives power from this power source. Further, operating knobs for the power switch 15 and the voltage vA regulator 16 are attached to an operation panel (path shown) of the air conditioner assembled to the instrument panel.

The operation of this air conditioner during cooling operation is controlled by the power switch 15.
When the device V1A of the present invention and the blower motor 25 are operated at the same time by inputting Begin to.

The blower 24 takes in the air to be conditioned from the outside air inlet 21 or the inside air intake 22 and pumps it into the air conditioning duct 20, so this pressurized air flows through the air conditioning duct 20 while contacting the endothermic heat exchanger 7. is cooled to the desired temperature. Since the degree of cooling can be increased or decreased as desired by operating the voltage regulator 16, the voltage regulator 16 serves as a vA leveling means for the conditioned air.

During cooling, the air mix damper 27 fully opens the air inlet of the heater core 26, so the cooled air follows the cold air path and passes through the air conditioning outlet 28 or the defrost outlet 29.
It is blown out into the I room.

Since the air pressure inside the vehicle interior is somewhat higher than the outside air, a part of the air blown into the vehicle interior flows into this duct from the interior front end 3OA of the cover duct 30 and is connected to the outside air. The other open end 30B located in the engine room
While blowing towards the vehicle, the receiver serves to pick up the radiated heat from the 8 parts of the heat radiating heat exchanger and carry it out of the vehicle.

However, if you want to use the device of the present invention as a heating device in winter to perform dehumidifying heating operation, a branch duct and a branch damper that open toward the interior of the vehicle are provided on the downstream side of the cover duct 30 to absorb heat. The movement of the exchanger 7 dehumidifies the conditioned air, and the air that flows into the cover duct 30 and is warmed by the heat exchanger 8 for heat radiation is returned to the vehicle interior through the branch duct. Good.

At this time, the heat exchanger 8 for heat radiation serves as an auxiliary heater that assists the function of the heater core 26.

FIG. 6 shows the endothermic and exothermic characteristics of the above-mentioned example device and the coefficient of performance as an air conditioner in a graph based on calculated values.

The horizontal axis shows the voltage applied between the anode and the cathode, the left vertical axis shows the temperature difference Δt between the heat exchanger 7 for heat absorption and the heat exchanger 8 for heat radiation, and the vertical axis on the right shows the operating efficiency of the device, that is, the cost. The value of the coefficient of performance is taken as the ratio of the energy taken out to the energy applied, and graph T shows the relationship between applied voltage and generated temperature difference, and graph P shows the relationship between applied voltage and coefficient of performance. .

As prerequisites for calculation, it is assumed that the electrical resistance value of the electrolyte and electric circuit is zero, that there is no heat leakage from the electrolyte matrix or hydrogen gas passage, and that the generated temperature difference Δ
t was assumed to follow Carnot efficiency.

In a normal automobile air conditioner, the cold heat source humidity is 0℃,
Since the temperature of the heat generating source is required to reach 60°C, in order to cool the endothermic heat exchanger 7 to 0°C and raise the temperature of the heat radiation heat exchanger 8 to 60°C, the steps shown in Fig. 6 are required. From the graph, it can be seen that a voltage of approximately 3.5 µ should be applied between the anode and the cand. The coefficient of performance under such device operating conditions is about 4.5, which is a fairly good value.

Figure 5 shows how the above-mentioned embodiment device is installed in the trunk of a passenger car, so that it can be used under the scorching midsummer sun (to avoid being annoyed by the abnormal heat inside the car when returning to the car after temporarily parking the car). It is a perspective view of the rear part of the vehicle body, showing how to use it.

The device A of the present invention is housed in an air conditioning box 40 for generating cold air, and is installed in the trunk room close to the partition wall between the trunk room F and the vehicle interior.

Air intake port 40 provided on the front (vehicle compartment side) wall of the air conditioning pocket 40
A is connected to an in-vehicle air introduction duct 41 that is installed through the partition wall. A cold air duct 42 is attached to an air outlet 403 opened in the top wall, and its downstream end is connected to a cold air outlet grille 43 formed on the rear package tray H of the vehicle body.

The air-conditioning box 40 has a missing eroded wall portion and is in an open state, and the device A of the present invention is placed in this opening as shown in the figure, and the heat exchanger 7 for heat absorption is positioned facing inside the box 40, and the heat exchanger for heat radiation is placed in this opening. It is assembled so that the container 8 faces into the trunk room F.

As the direct current power source that constitutes the energizing means of the device A of the present invention, a solar cell 50 attached to the top surface of the rear package 1-ray H is used in place of the battery in the previous example, thereby eliminating the inconvenience of wasting battery power during parking. I've lost it.

An electric fan 51 is installed near the air intake port 40A of the air conditioning box 40 to suck the IIv internal air whose temperature is rising into the box and blow it to the endothermic heat exchanger 7. Receives power from.

The operation of this embodiment device is such that when all the occupants of the car temporarily leave the car and then return to the car, when the inside of the car is expected to be abnormally hot, the power generated by the solar cell 50 is turned off. When the device start switch (shown in the figure) for supplying the flow to the device A of the present invention and the electric fan 51 is turned on, the electric fan 51 rotates and the endothermic heat exchanger 7 starts cooling as described above.

Therefore, the air inside the vehicle, which is exposed to the scorching sun and is exposed to the sunlight and gradually tries to warm the stomach, circulates between the interior of the vehicle E and the air conditioning box 40 following the aforementioned wind path. As a result, the interior of the vehicle is cooled to the extent that the occupants do not feel uncomfortable when returning to the vehicle and getting into the vehicle, within the limits of the cooling capacity of the device.

Even if the voltage generated by the solar cell 50 is at a relatively low level, for example, around 1 to 2 V, the coefficient of performance (operating efficiency) of the device A of the present invention is close to 2, as shown in FIG. As a result, the intended purpose can be fully achieved.

The heat generated in the radiation heat exchanger 8 passes through the gap in the trunk room F and is dissipated into the atmosphere. In order to prevent the temperature inside the trunk room F from rising as much as possible, a duct for forcibly discharging the generated heat may be provided.

Comparing this example method with the conventional method of simply ventilating the interior of a parked vehicle using an electric fan driven by an on-board battery or solar battery, the latter is much more effective. Not only does it have a superior cooling effect, it also saves valuable battery power.

What's more, while the car is in motion, it assists the on-board air conditioning system K and is useful for increasing the cooling effect of the rear seats, which are particularly prone to warming the arms due to the large window opening area.

The auxiliary function of the in-vehicle air conditioner gA device by the device of the present invention can be similarly performed when heating the vehicle interior in winter, but in that case, for example, the device A can be
The heat dissipation exchanger 8 is rotatably attached to the box 40.
It is necessary to add a barrier that prevents the viewer from facing the inside of the building.

In the above example, a phosphoric acid solution is used as the electrolyte, but
In addition, various types of electrolytes known in the art, such as solid electrolytes, can also be used.

In addition, the specific shape and material of the device, such as the shape of the heat exchanger for heat absorption and heat radiation, the shape and arrangement of the anode and cathode, and the structure of the electrolytic cell, etc., may be changed as necessary. Needless to say, the application of the device of the present invention is not limited to automobile air conditioners.

[Effects of the invention] (a) Since there are no moving parts, wear and tear of parts will not shorten the service life.

(b) Therefore, maintenance efforts such as parts replacement can be saved.

(c) A much higher coefficient of performance can be obtained compared to a thermoelectric conversion type refrigeration system using a Berguer element, which has no moving parts.

(d) The overall structure of the device can be made much more pure than conventional refrigeration devices or heat pump devices that use low boiling point refrigerants.

(e) It can be used in a variety of industrial fields while making effective use of its compact exterior and ability to generate both cold and warm heat.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the device according to the present invention,
They are a side sectional view and a cross sectional view, respectively. 3 and 4 are a partial side sectional view and a partial enlarged view of a passenger car in which the device of the above embodiment is incorporated and a lυ air conditioner is installed. FIG. 5 is a sketch showing that the above-mentioned embodiment device is installed in the trunk of a passenger car and used for cooling the interior of the car while the car is temporarily parked under the scorching sun. FIG. 6 is a graph of the operating characteristics of the device of the present invention.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) (a) an electrolytic cell containing an electrolyte and hydrogen; (b) an anode disposed at one end of the electrolytic cell and provided with a catalyst that promotes the dissociation of hydrogen molecules; (c) ) a cathode disposed at the other end of the electrolytic cell and provided with a hydrogen atom recombination promoting catalyst; and (d) energizing means for applying a DC voltage at a set level between the anode and the cathode. , (e) hydrogen gas circulation means for circulating and supplying hydrogen gas generated from the cathode to the anode, and (f) endothermic heat exchange means provided on the outer wall surface of the electrolytic cell at a location adjacent to the anode. and (g) a heat exchange means for radiating heat provided at a location adjacent to the cathode on the outer wall surface of the electrolytic cell. 2) The cold/heat generating device according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst for promoting dissociation of hydrogen molecules and the catalyst for promoting recombination of hydrogen atoms are hydrogenases as hydrogen bacteria. 3) The cold/hot heat generating device according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst for promoting dissociation of hydrogen molecules and the catalyst for promoting recombination of hydrogen atoms are each made of platinum black. 4) The cold/heat generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the current supply means is a solar cell.