SE440554B - HEAT EXCHANGER DEVICE WITH STORAGE SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

15 25 so 40 2 7807972-0 containers on ships are on board to serve as heat transfer means, but may not be available when the container is moved to a place outside the ship.

Similarly, in many heat pump applications it is desirable to be able to choose between heat transfer between a first fluid, for example the heat pump coolant, and a second fluid, for example the ambient air, between the coolant and a heat transfer fluid from a heat magazine, or between the fluid from the heat magazine and the surrounding the air. For example, when cooling a room, it is often advantageous to transfer heat from the room to a heat magazine, where the heat can be stored for later use. If for some reason the heat magazine cannot receive enough heat for adequate cooling of the room, it may be advantageous to transfer heat from the room to the coolant of a heat pump and to use the heat pump, as previously well known, to transfer the heat to outside the room. .

In addition, even if the temperature in the room is satisfactory, it may be desirable to transfer heat between the heating magazine and the ambient air outside the room, thereby bypassing the room to enable the heating magazine to meet the future needs of heating or cooling. the room.

With the invention described above or similar situations, a number of advantages can be obtained with the invention in a heat exchanger with a plurality of independent pipe loops or systems, which are connected to each other and to the ambient air by means of a series of mutually spaced thermally conductive flanges or plates. The pipe systems can be intertwined or arranged in series in the path of the air flow around the plates, depending on whether in the special heat exchanger heat is transferred directly between the fluids in the pipe systems between the air and the fluids in the pipe systems or between the fluids in the pipe systems with air as intermediate heat transfer medium. In a preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger consists of two independent pipe loops which are thermally connected to each other and to the ambient air by means of a series of mutually spaced heat-conducting flanges or plates. The heat exchanger can be used in a cooling system with coolant flowing through one loop and water flowing through the other loop, so that heat can be transferred between the water and the coolant, between the water and the ambient air, and between the coolant and the ambient air. g Heat exchangers can also be used in a heat transfer and storage system, where a first heat transfer means such as water from a heat reservoir, for example an insulated water container, circulates through the first tubular system of the heat exchanger, and a second heat transfer means, such as a coolant of a heat pump, circulate through the second pipe system of the heat exchanger. Heat can be transferred between the two heat transfer means, and between one or both of these means and the ambient air. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger with three fluids is located outside a room together with the outer loop of the heat pump, and in a second embodiment, the heat exchanger with three fluids is located inside the room together with the inner loop of the heat pump.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger with pipe flanges made according to the invention, wherein means for the movement of the air are shown schematically. Fig. 2 is a schematic view of an arrangement of the pipes in the heat exchanger of Fig. 1, the pipes in one pipe system being shown as filled circles and the pipes of the other pipe system being shown with open (unfilled) circles. Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an alternative arrangement of the pipes in the heat exchanger shown in Fig. 1, the pipes in one pipe system being shown as filled circles and the pipes of the other pipe system being shown as open circles. Fia. Fig. 4 is a schematic view of an alternative arrangement of the pipes in the heat exchanger according to Fig. 1, the pipes in one pipe system being shown as filled circles and the pipes of the other pipe system being shown as open circles. Fig. 5 is an exploded view on a larger scale of a part of the heat exchanger according to Fig. 1. Eig. Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a heat transfer and storage system using the heat exchanger of Fig. 1 combined with the outer loop of a heat pump. Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a heat transfer and storage system using the heat exchanger of Fig. 1 combined with the inner loop of a heat pump. Fig. 8 is a schematic view of the three-fluid heat exchanger used in the systems of Figs. 6 and 7 and shows the flow direction of the fluids through two separate fluid circuits of the heat exchanger when heat is transferred from the heat magazine to the heat pump. Fig. 9 is a schematic view of the three-fluid heat exchanger used in the systems of Figs. 6 and 7 and shows the flow direction of the fluids through two separate fluid circuits of the heat exchanger when heat is transferred from the heat pump to the heat reservoir.

Pig. 1 and 5 show a heat exchanger 2 according to the invention. Heat exchangers of this type may be used wherever air or gaseous fluid is to flow over or through a series of tubes containing a fluid at a temperature other than that of the air, and heat is to be transferred between the fluid and the air. The heat exchanger shown has the additional flexibility of being able to transfer heat between two fluids in the pipes, regardless of whether air is caused to circulate through the heat exchanger or not.

The heat exchanger 2 comprises a pair of ends 10, the distance of which is determined by the volume required for the heat transfer in a given application. The ends 10 and the space between them determine a path for the air flow through the heat exchanger. A fan 12 can be used to drive air through the heat exchanger 2 in a direction parallel to the ends 10. The ends 10 support a first pipe system 14 which extends through holes in the ends and through the space between the ends. Normally, the tubes 14 are arranged in the ends 10 by rolling, so that a firm grip is obtained between the outer wall of the tubes 14 and the hollow walls in the end 10. A series of U-tubes 16 joins the tubes on the outside of the ends 10, whereby the tubes form a tortuous path second set of tubes 18 is supported by the ends 10 in the same manner as the first set of tubes 14.

The tubes 18 also extend through the space between the ends 10 and together with the tubes 14 form patterns such as those shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Alternatively, the tubes 18 may be arranged on the side of the tubes 14 as shown in Fig. 4. U-hooks 20 join the tubes 18 on the outside of the ends 10, so that they thereby form a meandering path through the heat exchanger 2.

A series of heat conducting flanges or plates 22 of metal or other suitable heat conducting material are arranged at a mutual distance between the ends 10. The plates 22 are supported by the tubes 14 and 18 and are parallel to the ends 10, so that air can flow over the surface of the plates. Each plate 22 has a series of holes for the tubes 14 and 18. When these tubes are inserted into the holes of the ends 10, they also go through the corresponding holes in the 2 plates 22. Then the plates are attached to the tubes with good heat conducting contact for mechanical support and heat transfer.

In operation, a first fluid, for example a coolant, enters the tubes 14 at 24, flows back and forth through the space between the ends 10 and flows out at 26. A second fluid, for example water, flows into the tubes 18 at 28, flows forward and back through the space between the ends 10 and flows out at 30. The position of the inlets 24 and 28 and the outlets 26 and 30 is determined by the arrangement of the pipes. Fluid can flow from the top to the bottom or from the bottom to the top, or the fluid can be supplied at one side and carried away at the other side. The heat conducting plates 22 can transfer heat in one or the other direction between the pipes 14 and the pipes 18. Thus, heat can be transferred from the fluid in the pipe system 14 to fluid in the pipe system 18, or in the opposite direction. i.e. from the fluid in the tubes 18 to the fluid in the tubes 14. For example, if hot coolant is passed through the tubing 14 and cold water through the tubing 18, heat will be conducted from the fluid in the tubes 14 through the plates 22 to the fluid in the tubes 18. between the pipe system 14 or 18 and the ambient air. If in the above-mentioned example cold water is missing, the fan 12 can drive air at a lower temperature than the coolant in the pipes 14 through the space between the ends 10 in contact with the plates 22. Then the heat is transferred from the coolant to the air through the plates 22. In this mode the pipes 18 can be inactive or they may contain cold water to assist in heat transfer from the pipes 14. The pipe devices shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are particularly well suited for these alternative arrangements.

In applications where air is the primary coolant and water is used to improve the heat transfer when the air temperature is particularly high, the pipe arrangement according to Fig. 4 can be used. First, the air flows over the part of the plates 22 which are in contact with the pipe system 18 which contains cold water. The heat in the air is transferred through the plates 22 to the water in the pipes, whereby the temperature of the air is lowered. Thereafter, the air flows over the part of the plates 22 which are in contact with the pipe system 14 containing coolant, and the heat from the coolant is transferred to the air through the plates 22. In this mode of operation, heat is also transferred directly from the pipes 14 to the pipes 18 through the plates 22.

Pig. 6 schematically shows a first heat transfer and storage system according to the invention, which uses the heat exchanger 2 described above with three fluids. This system includes a heat pump 110 containing a heat transfer agent such as a cooling fluid, and a heat reservoir 150, such as an insulated water container containing a heat fluid such as water. While a preferred embodiment of the invention is used in combination with a solar collector 160, other heat sources may be combined with the heat transfer and storage system, or the latter may be used alone to fulfill the objects described above and gain the associated benefits.

The heat pump 110 comprises a compressor 112, a cooling flow reversing valve 114, a reversible expansion valve 116, an inner loop 132 arranged in a space 130, an outer loop 14, fis. 5, 8 and 9, which are supported by the heat exchanger 2 with three fluids, and 10 6 20 25 40 7ao7972 + 0, ~ 6 coolant lines 122, 124, 1226 and 128. A water pump 151 carries water from the water tank 150 through a line 152 to a water loop 18, Figs. 5, 8 and 9, which is arranged in the heat exchanger 2.

The water circulates through the water loop 18 and then back to the water tank 150 through a return line 154. The latter leads the water through a solar collector 160. A shunt valve 156 and a shunt line 158 are arranged to direct the water back from the water loop 18 directly to the water tank 150, when the water should flow past the solar collector 160. A fan 156 is arranged to drive external air over the inner loop 132 of the heat pump 110, and a fan 146 drives external air over the two loops 14 and 18 of the heat exchanger 2. In the device shown in Fig. 6, the heat exchanger 2 is intended to work with air, water and coolant, and is as shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9 made with the outer loop 14 of the heat pump 110 and the water loop 18 intertwined in each other. The outer loop 14 is supported by and extends between the ends 10, and the coolant from the heat pump 110 circulates through the loop 14 in both directions as shown in broken lines in Figs. 8 and 9. The direction of the coolant flow is determined by the mode of operation of the heat pump 110. When the heat pump 110 operates for heating, i.e. was used to heat the room 150, the coolant flows through the loop 14 as shown in broken lines in Fig. 8. When the heat pump 110 operates for cooling, i.e. used to cool the chamber 150, the coolant flows through the loop 14 as shown in broken lines in Fig. 9. The water loop 18 extends between the same ends 10, and water from the reservoir 150 flows through the loop 18 in the direction shown by the solid lines in Figs. 8 and 9. Each of the loops 14 and 18 is supported by the ends 10 in alternating vertical planes and supports a plurality of common plates 22 over the length of the loop extending between the ends 10.

At the three-fluid heat exchanger 2, heat can be transferred between the different fluids flowing through it. Thus, by operating the heat pump 110 and the water pump 151 and with the fan 146 inefficient, heat can be transferred between the heat pump coolant flowing through the loop 14 and the water flowing through the loop 18. By operating the heat pump 110 and the fan 146, while the water pump 151 is allowed to stand, heat is transferred from the heat pump coolant flowing through the loop 14, to the ambient air. By operating the water pump 151 and the fan 146, while the heat pump 110 remains inactive, heat is transferred from the water passing through the loop 18 to the ambient air. 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 7 7ao79? 2-0 Heat can be supplied to the water tank 150 and stored for later needs, and this can be done in different ways. Thus, when the water pump 151 is operating, water from the water tank 150 can flow through and absorb heat from the solar collector 160 and flow back to the water tank 150. When the heat pump 110 is operating for cooling, i.e. when used to cool the chamber 130, and waste heat from the chamber 130 is transferred by the heat pump 110 from the inner loop 132 to the outer loop 14, this waste heat can be transferred to the water tank 150 by the water pump 151, which carries water from the water tank 150 through the water loop 18. Upon passage through the water loop 18, the water can absorb heat from the coolant flowing through the outer loop 14. Thereafter, the heated water flows back to the water tank 150 either directly or through the solar collector 160. In this way, waste heat from the room 130 can be removed. carried from this and stored in the container 150 for later use.

To better show how the system shown in Fig. 6 works, it will be described for both heating and cooling of the room 130.

For heating the room 130, the fans 136 and 146 are allowed to operate, and the heat pump 110 is allowed to operate in a heating mode. In the outer loop 14, the heat pump cooling fluid absorbs heat from the outside air as it is driven across the loop 14 by the fan 146. The heat pump 110 then transfers this heat to the inner loop 132, where it is delivered to outside air driven over the loop 132 by the fan 136.

If the heat pump 110 cannot transfer sufficient heat from the outside air to the room 130 to heat it satisfactorily, heat previously stored in the water tank 150 can be used to supplement the action of the heat pump. This is done by starting the water pump 151, which carries water from the tank 150 through the loop 18 in the heat exchanger 2. This water carries heat stored in the tank 150. When the water passes through the loop 18, much of this heat is transferred to the coolant which passes through it. the outer loop 14 of the heat pump 110, which then transfers this heat together with such heat absorbed from the outside air to the space 130 via the inner loop 132.

If the room 130 can be heated satisfactorily only with heat transferred to it via the heat pump 110 from the container 150, so that it is unnecessary to transfer any heat from the outside air to the room, the fan 146 can be stopped, and the outside air then does not supply beyond the outer loop 14. After leaving the loop 18, the water can follow the return line 154 through the solar collector 160 and return to the container 150, so that radiant heat from the sun can be transferred to the water container 150. If one wishes to bypass instead solar collector 160, water can be led from the loop 18 to the container 150 through the shunt line 158 after opening the shunt valve 156.

For cooling the room 130, the fans 136 and 146 are allowed to run, and the heat pump 110 is allowed to operate cooling generating. At the inner loop 132, the heat pump cooling fluid absorbs heat from the ambient air as it is driven across the loop 152 by the fan 136. The heat pump 110 transfers this heat to the outer loop 14 where it is delivered to ambient air which is passed over the loop 14 driven by the fan 146. The water pump 151 can be started so that, as described above, water from the container 150 passes through the loop 18, absorbs heat from the cooling fluid passing through the outer loop 14 of the heat pump 110 and then returns to the container 150; This is useful not only for storing waste heat from the room 150 for later use but also, if the water in the container 150 has a lower temperature than the air around the outer loop 14, to improve the operating efficiency of the heat pump 110. Fig. 7 shows a diagram of a second heat transfer and storage system according to the invention for use with the three-component heat exchanger 2 previously described. The device according to Fig. 7 is similar to that shown in Fig. 6, except that in Fig. 7 the heat exchanger 2 containing the cooling fluid loop 14 of the heat pump 10 is arranged inside a room (not shown in the figure) and the cooling fluid loop 132 of the heat pump is arranged outside the space . For the device shown in Fig. 7, the loop 14 is referred to as the inner loop of the heat pump and the loop 132 as its outer loop. In the system according to Fig. 7, the water line 154 emits from the heat exchanger 2 directly into the heat exchanger. the magazine 150, and water from it is led to the solar collector 160 via the pump 161 and the water lines 162, 165. - For better illustration of the way in which the heat transfer and magazine device shown in Fig. 7 operates, the device will be described for both heating and cooling of a room (not shown).

In heating operation, the pump 161 operates so that the solar collector 160 transfers radiant heat from the sun to the water in the container 150. To heat the room, the pump 151 must suck the heated water through the line 152 to flow through the water coil 18 of the heat exchanger 2.

The heat exchanger 2 is enclosed in a housing 142 adjacent to a fan 146 which is allowed to drive air through the heat exchanger while the heated water is returned to the container 150 through the line 154. Heated water flowed through the loop 18 is in heat transfer relation herring air flowing past to heat the room in dependence on thermostatic control (not shown) arranged to regulate the heat transfer system in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. Heat from the solar collector 160 not required for immediate heating purposes is stored in the water in the container 150 for later use.

If the heat transferred by the solar collector 160 to the water in the tank 150 is not sufficient for indoor heating, the heat pump 110 is turned on and transfers heat from outside to the indoor by circulating the heat pump cooling fluid through the inner loop 14 in a manner used in commercially available heat pumps. As will be appreciated, both the cooling fluid from the heat pump 110 and the water from the container 150 can circulate separately or in combination with heat transfer from outside to the room by circulating air through the heat exchanger 2 in accordance with the thermostat control.

To reduce operating costs, e.g. using the night charge for electricity, the heat pump 110 can be used to store heat for later use by transferring the heat taken up by the heat pump's cooling fluid in the outer loop 132 to the fluid in the magazine container 150 via the heat exchanger 2. To transfer heat between the two the heat transfer fluids drive the heat pump for heating, transferring heat from the outer loop 132 to the inner 14. The water pump 151 is allowed to carry water from the container 150 through the loop 18, and the air flow from the fan 146 is stopped. As shown in Fig. 8, where conventional symbols for flow, @ § and Q; used to denote flow into or out of the plane of the figure, the flow paths of the two heat transfer fluids will be parallel. Heat will then be transferred from the outside to the heat storage fluid for storage until needed or for use during periods when the energy costs for the heat pump's operation are higher.

During the cooling of the room, the heat transfer fluids move in countercurrent, Fig. 9. The coolant in the heat pump 110 and / or the respective loops, 14 and 18, in the heat exchanger 2 under the control of the thermostat control. If the temperature of the water in the container 150 is such that the heat is taken from the room to the water, the pump 151 is started and carries water through the loop 18, while the fan drives air through the heat exchanger 2 in heat transfer relationship with the water passing through the flanged loop. Coolant is conveyed through the inner loop 14 of the heat pump 110 and takes heat from the space to the outside to be added to the heat outlet via the water loop, if required. Like transferring heat to the reservoir fluid, heat can be taken from this fluid by means of the heat pump 110 during the times of the day when the energy costs of operating the pump are lowest.

If heat is taken from the reservoir during periods of low energy price, the water can be circulated through the loop 18 in the heat exchanger 2 during periods of higher energy price to supplement or replace the use of the heat pump 110 to cool the room. When removing heat from the magazine, the fan is not used to drive air through the heat exchanger 2, but is allowed to stand still while the heat transfer fluids are allowed to circulate through their respective loops 14 and 18 to transfer heat between the two fluids.

Claims (15)

Ü 7807972-0 Patentkrav A heat transfer and storage system for heating and cooling a space comprising a reversible refrigerant circuit having a first heat exchanger loop (132) located in the space (130), a second heat exchanger loop (14) located outside the space, an expansion means (116) and a reversing valve (114), a heat reservoir (150) for storing heat transfer fluid, a third heat exchanger loop (18), and fluid conduits (152, 154). connecting the heat magazine to the third heat exchanger loop to conduct the heat transfer fluid therebetween, characterized by a heat exchanger (2) for three media and a fan (12) for passing ambient air over heat exchangers (2) for three media, which heat exchanger (2 ) comprises a selection of the first (132) or the second (14) heat exchanger loop, the third heat exchanger loop (18) and a number of heat transfer flanges (22) connecting the selected heat exchanger loop (132 or 14) to the third heat exchanger loop (18) in relation to . The heat transfer and storage system of claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger loop comprises a first heat conductive fluid passage (14) in which a refrigerant circulates to conduct heat between the first fluid passage and the refrigerant and the third heat exchanger loop (18) comprises a second heat conductive fluid passage, the heat transfer fluid thereby circulating to conduct heat between the second fluid vapor passage and the heat transfer fluid, characterized in that the heat transfer flanges (22) are heat transfer to the first fluid passage (14), the second fluid passage (14) (18), and ambient air for transferring heat between the first fluid passage (14) and the second fluid passage (18) between the first fluid passage (14) and ambient air, and between the second fluid passage (18) and ambient air. Heat transfer and storage system according to claim Z, characterized in that the heat exchanger (2) for three media is arranged outside the space (130). Heat transfer and storage system according to claim 2, characterized in that the heat exchanger (Z) for three media is located inside the space (130). A heat transfer and storage system according to claim 3 or 4, of additional heat means (160) for supplying heat to the heat transfer fluid. k ä n n e t e c k n a t 7807972-'0 i nf Heat transfer and storage system according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for additional heat consists of a solar heat collector (160) for transferring radiant heat from the sun to the heat transfer fluid. Heat transfer and storage system according to claim 6, characterized in that the heat magazine consists of an insulated tank (150) for receiving a liquid and that the heat transfer fluid consists of a liquid. Heat transfer and storage system according to claim 7, characterized in that the first fluid passage (14) consists of a first serpentine-shaped heat exchanger loop, the second fluid passage consists of a second serpentine-shaped heat exchanger loop (18), the first (14) and second (18) serpentine-shaped heat exchanger loops are located in alternating, vertical, parallel planes with each other and that at least one of the heat transfer flanges (22) is common to both the first and second heat exchanger coils. A method of heating and cooling a space by means of a heat transfer and storage system, wherein a heat pump (110) is operated to conduct heat between an indoor heat transfer loop arranged inside the space (130) and an outdoor heat transfer loop arranged outside the space and heat is conducted between the indoor loop and the space (130) by passing ambient air over the indoor loop, characterized in that heat transferred between the indoor loop and the outdoor loop is stored by circulating a heat transfer fluid between a heat magazine (150) and a third heat exchanger 18 contact with a selection of the indoor or outdoor loops, and that stored heat is conducted between the heat reservoir (150) and ambient air by circulating the heat transfer fluid between the heat reservoir (350) and the third heat exchanger loop (18), and that ambient air is passed over the third the heat exchanger loop. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the selected loop is the outdoor loop (14) and that heat is simultaneously transferred between both the outdoor and the heating magazine (150) and the outdoor loop (14) by passing ambient air over the outdoor loop. (14) and that at the same time the heat transfer fluid is circulated through the third heat exchanger loop (18). Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the third heat exchanger loop (18) is located outside the space and that heat from the outside is stored by circulating the heat transfer fluid 7807972-0 IS between the third heat exchanger loop (18) and the heat magazine (50). and that ambient air is passed over the third heat exchanger loop (18). Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the selected loop is the indoor loop (14) and that heat is transferred simultaneously between both the interior space (130) and the heating magazine (150) and the indoor loop (14) by passing the surrounding air over the indoor loop (14) and at the same time circulating the heat transfer fluid through the third heat exchanger loop (18). Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the third heat exchanger loop (18) is located in the space (30) and that heat is stored from the interior of the space by circulating the heat transfer fluid between the third heat exchanger loop (18 and the heat magazine (150) and ambient air is passed over the third heat exchanger loop (18). 14. A method according to claims 11 or 13, characterized in that additional heat is applied to heat the transfer fluid. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that additional heat is applied comprising the transfer of radiant heat from the sun to the heat transfer fluid.