EP0855006B1 - Apparatus for heating a building using a heat pipe - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the heating of a building, and more particularly of a building for use industrial, for example a workshop.

In accordance with document FR-A-2 320 501, we have describes and proposes a heating installation by heat pipe of a building, for example for residential use, consequently comprising several enclosures or rooms to heat, each delimited by a wall or means of equivalent separation. This heating installation includes a thermal transfer module or system passive, forming a closed volume filled with a fluid two-phase coolant, for example a hydrocarbon fluorochlorine. This module includes, at a lower end a vaporizer, placed outside the enclosure or room to heat, a condenser located in the upper part at inside the same enclosure, and an adiabatic circuit connecting the outlet of the vaporizer and the inlet of the condenser, crossing the wall of the enclosure to be heated, arranged for ensure the passage of the vaporized heat transfer fluid, evaporator to the condenser, and the return of the same fluid condensed, from condenser to vaporizer, all by through a column arranged as a heat pipe. The heating means arranged inside the enclosure to heat are only of the convective type, and are related thermally with the condenser.

The previously described installation appears unsuitable for heating an industrial building.

(a) un module de transfert thermique passif, formant un volume clos rempli avec un fluide caloporteur diphasique, comprenant au moins un vaporiseur, au moins un condenseur, et un circuit adiabatique reliant la sortie du vaporiseur et l'entrée du condenseur, agencé pour assurer le passage du fluide caloporteur vaporisé, du vaporiseur au condenseur, et le retour du fluide caloporteur condensé, du condenseur au vaporiseur ;

(b) une source chaude en échange de chaleur avec le vaporiseur ;

(c) des moyens de chauffage, liés thermiquement avec le condenseur, consistant pour l'essentiel en des moyens de chauffage de l'air ou l'atmosphère ambiante, par convection.

In accordance with document GB-A-764 280, a heat pipe heating installation has been described comprising, as before:

(A) a passive heat transfer module, forming a closed volume filled with a two-phase heat transfer fluid, comprising at least one vaporizer, at least one condenser, and an adiabatic circuit connecting the outlet of the vaporizer and the inlet of the condenser, arranged for ensuring the passage of the vaporized heat transfer fluid from the vaporizer to the condenser, and the return of the condensed heat transfer fluid from the condenser to the vaporizer;

(b) a hot source in exchange for heat with the vaporizer;

(c) heating means, thermally linked with the condenser, consisting essentially of means for heating the air or the ambient atmosphere, by convection.

As we know, convective means prove not very effective in heating an enclosure comprising a large volume, workshop type for example.

The present invention therefore relates to a heating system by heat pipe, allowing heating a building with thermal efficiency satisfactory, and better than with heating means traditional.

In accordance with the invention, the means of heating are arranged in the upper part of the enclosure to heat, and run down. These means combine radiative structure of thermal radiation, having a relatively large developed area, linked thermally with the condenser, as well as means thermal insulation of said radiative structure, arranged above the condenser and said structure, and sized relative to each other so that the heat emitted by radiation by said means of heating represents at least 80% of the heat produced by said means.

• la figure 1 représente de manière schématique, avec arrachement partiel, un bâtiment équipé d'une installation de chauffage conforme à la présente invention ;
• la figure 2 représente, toujours de manière schématique, un module de transfert thermique passif, appartenant à l'installation de chauffage représentée à la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 représente, en coupe selon la ligne III-III de la figure 2, les moyens de chauffage appartenant au module de transfert thermique passif représenté à la figure 2.

The present invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

• Figure 1 shows schematically, with partial cutaway, a building equipped with a heating installation according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 shows, still schematically, a passive heat transfer module, belonging to the heating installation shown in Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 represents, in section along the line III-III of FIG. 2, the heating means belonging to the passive thermal transfer module represented in FIG. 2.

In accordance with FIG. 1, a building 14, whose roof has been removed for the needs of the drawing, and comprising a wall 15, delimiting inside an enclosure 1 to be heated. Depending on the length of the building 14, several (in this case four) modules 2 passive heat transfer according to the invention, are distributed, so as to provide heating homogeneous inside the building. The surrounding wall 15 is shown schematically in Figure 2 in a dashed line.

• un vaporiseur 3, éventuellement disposé à l'extérieur de l'enceinte 1 à chauffer, et plus précisément à l'intérieur d'un conduit 8 calorifugé de circulation d'une veine gazeuse à haute température, lui-même disposé à l'extérieur du bâtiment 14 ;
• trois condenseurs 41, 42 et 43, alimentés par un même distributeur 13, disposés à l'intérieur de l'enceinte 1, et plus particulièrement en haut du bâtiment 14, sous le toit (non représenté), et en suivant approximativement la pente de ce dernier ;
• un circuit ou tuyau adiabatique 5 traversant le mur 15 de l'enceinte à chauffer, reliant la sortie 3a du vaporiseur 3 et les entrées 41a, 42a et 43a des condenseurs 41, 42 et 43 respectivement, par l'intermédiaire du distributeur 13, ledit circuit étant agencé pour assurer le passage du fluide caloporteur vaporisé, du vaporiseur 3 aux condenseurs précités, et le retour à contre-courant du fluide caloporteur condensé, des condenseurs 41 à 43 au vaporiseur 3.

In accordance with FIG. 2, each passive heat transfer module 2 forms a closed volume filled with a two-phase heat transfer fluid, in this case water in liquid and vapor form. Each module 2 is arranged on either side of the wall 15 of the enclosure to be heated 1, and therefore both outside and inside the building 14, and generally comprises:

• a vaporizer 3, possibly placed outside the enclosure 1 to be heated, and more precisely inside a heat-insulated duct 8 for circulation of a gas stream at high temperature, itself disposed outside of building 14;
• three condensers 41, 42 and 43, supplied by the same distributor 13, arranged inside the enclosure 1, and more particularly at the top of the building 14, under the roof (not shown), and approximately following the slope of this last ;
• an adiabatic circuit or pipe 5 passing through the wall 15 of the enclosure to be heated, connecting the outlet 3a of the vaporizer 3 and the inlets 41a, 42a and 43a of the condensers 41, 42 and 43 respectively, via the distributor 13, said circuit being arranged to ensure the passage of the vaporized heat transfer fluid, from the vaporizer 3 to the aforementioned condensers, and the return against the current of the condensed heat transfer fluid, from the condensers 41 to 43 to the vaporizer 3.

The thermally insulated duct 8 for circulation of the vein gas at high temperature, constitutes a hot spring 6 common to all heat transfer modules 2 passive. To this end, the vaporizers 3 of the four 2 heat transfer modules are arranged in the insulated duct 8, in exchange for heat with the vein gas flowing in the latter. A burner 9, by example of a combustible gas, is arranged at one end circulation duct 8, upstream of all 3. Thus vaporizers with ambient air suction the atmosphere, a high temperature gas stream flows in line 8, in the direction and direction established by arrows 16.

In accordance with Figure 2, each module 2 of passive heat transfer includes means for heating arranged in the upper part of enclosure 1 to heat, and run down. Each means of heating combines a radiative structure 71, 72, or 73, arranged to radiate downwards thermally, having a relatively large developed area, linked thermally, for example by conduction, with a condenser 41, 42 or 43 respectively. More precisely, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, each condenser 41 or 42 or 43 comprises a tube closed at one end 41a, or 42b, or 43b, and the radiative structure 71, 72 or 73 includes two metal wings 71a and 71b, or 72a and 72b, or 73a and 73b, arranged on either side of the tube above, and thermally connected by conduction to it latest. As shown in Figure 3, means 10 thermal insulation of each radiative structure 71, 72 or 73, are arranged above the condenser 41, 42 or 43 respectively, and of the radiative structure 71, 72 or 73, of the same passive thermal transfer module 2. The condenser 41, 42 or 43, the radiative structure 71, 72 or 73, and the thermal insulation means 10 are sized relative to each other, so that the heat emitted by radiation by the heating means represents at least 80% of the heat produced by said heating means.

The vaporizer 3 of each transfer module 3 thermal comprises, on the one hand a tube 12 closed to a end 12a, arranged transversely, for example vertically in the vein circulation duct 8 gas at high temperature, and on the other hand a plurality fins 13 arranged perpendicular to the axis of the closed tube 12.

It follows from the preceding description that each passive heat transfer module 2 behaves in thermosiphon, including vaporizer 3, at one end and at a low level, and three condensers 41 to 43, arranged with their respective radiative structures 71 to 73, to the other end and at a high level. The vaporizer 3 and the aforementioned condensers are interconnected by the adiabatic duct 5 and distributor 13, to ensure an increase in the vapor phase (according to the arrow in dotted lines), and a counter-current descent (depending on the solid line arrow) of the liquid phase of the fluid coolant.

• dans le condenseur, une température prédéterminée comprise entre 110°C et 250°C, et de préférence comprise entre 140°C et 160°C, par exemple 150°C ;
• et dans le vaporiseur 3, une température comprise entre 400°C et 600°C, et de préférence comprise entre 450°C et 550°C, par exemple 500°C.

In accordance with the present invention, the heat transfer fluid and the internal pressure in each module 2 of passive thermal transfer are determined to establish in operation:

• in the condenser, a predetermined temperature between 110 ° C and 250 ° C, and preferably between 140 ° C and 160 ° C, for example 150 ° C;
• and in the vaporizer 3, a temperature between 400 ° C and 600 ° C, and preferably between 450 ° C and 550 ° C, for example 500 ° C.

• le volume clos étant au maximum égal à 25 litres, la section de passage du circuit ou tuyau adiabatique 5 est comprise entre 3 et 4 cm ;
• la longueur hors tout du module 2, c'est-à-dire développée du vaporiseur 3 aux condenseurs 41 à 43, est inférieure ou égale à 15 m.

Preferably, the dimensioning of each thermal transfer module 2 meets the following characteristics:

• the closed volume being at most equal to 25 liters, the passage section of the circuit or adiabatic pipe 5 is between 3 and 4 cm;
• the overall length of the module 2, that is to say developed from the vaporizer 3 to the condensers 41 to 43, is less than or equal to 15 m.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for heating a building using a heat pipe, comprising at least one enclosed space (1) to be heated which is bounded by a wall, the said apparatus comprising:

   (a) a passive heat transfer module (2) forming a closed volume filled with a two-phase heat transfer fluid, comprising at least one evaporator (3), at least one condenser (41, 42, 43) located inside the enclosed space (1) to be heated and an adiabatic circuit (5), connecting the outlet (3a) of the evaporator (3) and the inlet (41a, 42a, 43a) of the condenser, passing through the wall of the enclosed space (1) to be heated, the said adiabatic circuit being designed to pass the evaporated heat transfer fluid from the evaporator to the condenser and to return the condensed heat transfer fluid from the condenser to the evaporator;

   (b) a hot source (6), located outside the enclosed space (1) to be heated, in heat exchange with the evaporator (3);

   (c) heating means (71, 72, 73), located inside the enclosed space (1) to be heated, the said means being thermally coupled to the condenser (41, 42, 43)

   characterized in that the heating means are located at the top of the enclosed space (1) to be heated, are directed downwards and combine at least one condenser (41, 42, 43) comprising a tube closed at one end (41b, 42b, 43b), at least one thermal-radiation radiative structure (71, 72, 73) comprising two flanges (71a, 72b, 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b) which are located on each side of the said tube and are thermally connected to the latter, and means (10) for thermally insulating the said radiative structure which are located above the condenser and the said structure, all these means being dimensioned, with respect to one another, so that the heat emitted radiatively by the said heating means represents at least 80% of the heat produced by the said means.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the heat transfer fluid and the internal pressure in the passive heat transfer module (2) are determined in order to establish, in operation, a predetermined temperature of between 110°C and 250°C, and preferably of between 140°C and 160°C, for example 150°C, in the condenser.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the heat transfer fluid and the internal pressure in the heat transfer module (2) are also determined in order to establish, in operation, a temperature of between 400°C and 600°C, and preferably of between 450°C and 550°C, for example 500°C, in the evaporator (3).
4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hot source (6) comprises a lagged duct (8) for the flow of a gas stream at high temperature, located outside the enclosed space (1) to be heated, in which the evaporator (3) is located in heat exchange with the said gas stream.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that a burner (9), for example one burning a combustible gas, is located at one end of the flow duct (8), upstream of the evaporator (3).
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that the evaporator (3) comprises, on the one hand, at least one tube (12) closed at one end (12a) and located transversely, for example vertically, in the duct (8) for the flow of the gas stream at high temperature and, on the other hand, a plurality of fins (13) lying perpendicular to the axis of the closed tube (12).
7. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of passive heat transfer modules (2) distributed along one dimension of the building, for example its length, the evaporators (3) of the various modules being respectively located and distributed in the same duct (8) for the flow of the gas stream at high temperature, outside the building (1), and the condensers (41, 42, 43) and heating means (71, 72, 73) being located inside and at the top of the enclosed space (1) to be heated.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the passive heat transfer module (2) comprises, at one end, an evaporator (3) and at the other end, a plurality of condensers (41, 42, 43)/radiative structures (71, 72, 73) connected by distributor (13) to the adiabatic circuit (5).
9. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that, for a closed volume of the heat transfer module of at most 25 litres, the bore of the adiabatic circuit (5) is between 3 and 4 cm.
10. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the overall length of the heat transfer module (2), from the evaporator (3) to the condenser (41, 42, 43), is less than or equal to 15 m.

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