SE527721C2 - Chemical heat pump operating according to the hybrid principle - Google Patents

Abstract

In a chemical heat pump installation two identical main units are provided, each one including a reactor and one condenser/evaporator integrated in the same container ( 100 ). One main unit is charged while the other one e.g. produces cooling. Large energy amounts are consumed in the switching operation when the unit that has been charged is to be cooled and the unit that has produced cooling is to be heated. To reduce these amounts of energy each of reactor and condenser/evaporator are divided in two further vessels. The condenser/evaporator has one part ( 3 ), in which the heat exchanger ( 3.3 ) thereof is placed, and one collecting part ( 4 ), in which the volatile liquid in its condensed shape is stored. In the same way, the reactor has a part ( 1 ), in which the heat exchanger ( 1.3 ) and the filter ( 1.2 ) thereof are placed, and a collecting part ( 2 ), in which solution of the active substance in the volatile liquid is stored. By this division only a small portion of the current mass has to change its temperature in the switching operations that hence can be made significantly more rapidly. A large gain in cooling efficiency can be obtained in an installation having two main units. Furthermore, no valves are required on the vacuum side.

Description

527 721 2 heat pump operating according to the hybrid principle, which plant has a high efficiency.

A chemical heat pump operating according to the hybrid principle generally comprises a reactor part, in which upon charging the active substance in a dissolved state changes to a solid state and remains in the reactor part and the volatile liquid is thereby desorbed and thereby / subsequently evaporated, and in which upon discharge the active the solid state absorbs vapor from the volatile liquid and changes to a dissolved state. Furthermore, the nuclear heat pump comprises the reactor part and is condensed to the fl liquid state and remains in the condenser / evaporator part, in which upon discharge at least a part of the fl volatile liquid is evaporated and the formed steam is transferred to the reactor part. densor / evaporator part, in which when charging steam of the volatile liquid is received from General, a chemical heat pump or thermodynamic machine without any valves on the vacuum side is further indicated. The principle is to work with two identical main units. Each main unit consists of a reactor and a condenser / evaporator integrated in the same container. One main unit can then be charged, while the other, for example, produces cooling. One of the disadvantages of this principle is that large amounts of energy are required during the turns. The unit that has just been charged must be cooled down, and the one that has just produced cooling must then be heated up. Such a reversal therefore takes a long time and the energy lost during cooling, the main loss in the system. During tests, it has been shown that this takes about 30 - 50 minutes. During this time, the machine is idle and cannot cool the property.

To improve this situation, each of the reactor and condenser / evaporator can therefore be divided into two additional vessels. The condenser / evaporator has a part, in which the heat exchanger is placed, and a collecting part, in which the volatile liquid in a condensed form, ie usually the water, is stored. Likewise, the reactor has a part in which heat exchangers and filters are located, and a collecting part in which solution of the active substance in the volatile liquid is stored.

Due to this division, only a small part of the mass in question needs to change temperature during a turn. The turn is much faster and according to tests ready in less than 10 minutes. A large gain in cooling efficiency can be obtained in the practical application with two main units, in which case in the case of the intended drive fi in principle it never happens that one main unit is completely discharged and the other main unit is fully charged.

Thus, in general, a chemical heat pump operating with an active substance, usually a suitable metal salt, and a volatile liquid, usually water, which can be absorbed and desorbed by the active substance at respective temperatures, between which there is a substantially constant temperature difference, so that within the interval between the temperatures the active substance gradually changes from being in a state dissolved in the volatile liquid to a solid state, ie usually crystalline state, when the volatile liquid is desorbed. More specifically, the volatile liquid can be absorbed by the active substance at a first temperature and desorbed by the substance at a second higher temperature, so that the active substance at the first temperature has a solid state from which the active substance upon absorption of the fl volatile liquid and its vapor phase immediately partially turns into fl liquid state or solution phase and at the second temperature has a fl liquid state or is in solution phase, from which the active substance upon release of the fl volatile liquid, especially its vapor phase, immediately partially solidifies state.

The chemical heat pump further comprises a reactor part with a first heat exchanger arranged therein. The active substance constantly settles in the reactor part and passes between its solid state and the dissolved state in the volatile liquid. Furthermore, there is a condenser / evaporator part with the liquid in it, but in varying amounts and in this part it can be evaporated and other heat exchangers fitted with condensers. In the condenser / evaporator part, the entire ointment is only sera. A passage for steam / gas only passes between the reactor part and the condenser / evaporator part and connects them. A distributor or diffuser can be found in the reactor part for the substance to pass into contact with the first heat exchanger and the solid substance in a surface, ie dissolved, state. In the same way, a distributor or diffuser can be found in the condenser / evaporator part to bring the volatile liquid in liquid form to pass into contact with the other heat exchanger. In that case, in the reactor part: - when charged, the active substance in the dissolved state changes to a solid state and remains in the reactor part and the fl liquid liquid is thereby desorbed and thereby / subsequently evaporated, and i - on discharge the active substance in the solid state absorbs steam of the fl volatile liquid and passes to the dissolved state, I and that in the condenser / evaporator part: - when charging steam the fl volatile liquid is received fi- from the reactor part and condensed to a liquid state and remains in the condenser / evaporator part - when discharging at least a part of the volatile liquid is evaporated and the steam formed is transferred to the reactor section.

Advantageously, the reactor part is divided into two separate vessels, namely a reactor vessel for carrying out the absorption / desorption of the volatile liquid in / out of the active substance and for storing the active substance, when after the desorption it settles in its solid, not dissolved state, and a reactor collection vessel for collecting and storing the active substance, when it is in its state dissolved in the liquid. Hereby it can be achieved that the temperature of the material which is stored or resides in the reactor collection vessel does not depend on the temperature for the desorption of the volatile liquid and for its evaporation in the reactor vessel.

In the same way, the condenser / evaporator part can advantageously be divided into two separate vessels, namely a condenser / evaporator vessel for carrying out the evaporation / condensation of the amount of the volatile liquid contained in the condenser-evaporator part, and a collecting vessel. for collecting the volatile liquid in its superficial / condensed state during the discharge of the chemical heat pump and storing the volatile liquid during charging of the chemical heat pump. In this way it can be achieved that the temperature of the material which is stored or resides in the collecting vessel for the condenser / evaporator part does not depend on the temperature of the evaporation / condensation in the condenser-evaporator vessel.

The reactor collection vessel is advantageously arranged at a level below the reactor vessel and in the same way the collecting vessel for the condenser / evaporator part can be arranged at a level below the condenser / evaporator vessel. The collecting vessel for the evaporator / condenser can be arranged directly under the reactor collecting vessel. The condenser / evaporator vessel is advantageously arranged directly on top of or above the reactor vessel separated by only one partition wall. In this, the gas / steam passage is then arranged.

The reactor part and the condenser / evaporator part can generally consist of spaces in a single container, which are divided into different parts by suitable inner walls.

A first pump is advantageously arranged to circulate the active substance. The first pump is then connected to the reactor collection vessel to bring the active substance in a dissolved state to flow over the first heat exchanger and it is also connected to an outlet from the reactor vessel. Liquid den fates and levels can thereby be balanced without any external regulation or control. The first pump is thus arranged to pump liquid from the reactor storage vessel to the distributor or spreader in the reactor vessel during charging. When charging, it can also pump liquid fi- in the collecting vessel for the evaporator / condenser to the distributor or spreader in the reactor vessel.

A second pump can be used to pump liquid from the collection vessel for the evaporator / condenser to the condenser / evaporator vessel to the distribution or spreading device for the condenser / evaporator part, which is located in the condenser / evaporator vessel at the second heat exchanger.

Furthermore, the condenser / evaporator vessel may comprise an emergency liquid vessel which has a rather limited volume and is connected and located to receive only a limited amount of condensate of the volatile liquid. The emergency liquid vessel then stands via a connection comprising a 527 721 remover in the forum-rss with an unopsy ring on the frame pump containing circulating fl of the active substance in the dissolved state. The temperature difference between the active substance in the circulating fl liquid and the condensate in the emergency liquid vessel can thereby prevent a fl fate from the emergency liquid vessel into the outlet line during normal operation fi of the chemical heat pump. The connection between the emergency liquid vessel and the outlet line may then contain a non-return valve arranged to prevent unintentional flow of the active substance in the dissolved state to the emergency liquid vessel.

An filter or net can be arranged in the reactor part under the first heat exchanger to retain the active substance in its solid form and the filter or net is then advantageously formed as an upwardly open basket and is of course placed in the reactor vessel. The filter or network may be provided with an overflow device for passing solution containing any solid directly to the reactor collection vessel, in the event that solution is supplied and the heat exchanger of the overreactor is supplied and spread at excessive speed.

Another passive type connection, i.e. a pipeline without any pump, between the reactor vessel and the reactor collection vessel can further selectively be established to obtain a mixture between amounts of the active substance in the dissolved state, which settles in the reactor vessel and the reactor collection vessel. . The flow from the reactor vessel to its collecting vessel through this connection thus takes place solely due to gravity. A control unit can be used to establish this connection between the reactor vessel and the reactor storage vessel depending on the temperature in the reactor vessel, so that the connection is established when this temperature is low. The control unit may further comprise a temperature sensor, in which a temperature variation corresponds to a change in the position of a mechanical part or in which a temperature variation is converted into mechanical work, in particular comprising a part of bimetal or of memory metal or a part containing something suitable wax or a gas.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in more detail in the form of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which - fi g. 1 is a schematic view of a chemical heat pump, and - fi g. 2 is a block diagram of an air conditioner powered by chemical heat pumps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I fi g. 2 shows the most important parts of an air conditioner driven by two alternately operating, identical main units 200. Each main unit consists of a reactor and a condenser / evaporator, which are arranged in a container. The main units comprise upper and lower heat exchangers 210, 220 for the reactor resp. condenser / evaporator. The upper heat exchangers can be connected via three-way valves 230 to either elements AC intended for cooling, for example a home or office 527 721 6 or a cooling component cooler OC. The lower heat exchangers can be connected via three-way valves 240 either to the radiator cooler OC or elements which are heated in a mandatory manner, such as solar panels SP. By suitable setting of the three-way valves, one main unit can be charged, while the other, for example, produces cooling in the elements AC. It has been found that large amounts of energy are consumed during wrapping or so-called turns in the system, when one main unit changes from producing cooling to being charged, while the other main unit changes from being charged to starting to produce cooling. These turns take a long time in conventional design of the main units. A chemical heat pump unit. which requires a shorter time for turning, will now be described.

Thus shown in fi g. 1 in schematic form a heat pump or thermodynamic machine for the production of cooling or heat, which is designed to operate generally according to the process described in the published international patent application WO 00/37864. The machine comprises as main component a vacuum-tight container 100, which is divided into different parts or vessels. A reactor vessel 1, also referred to as a reactor only, is defined by a slightly inclined, flat and dense partition wall 110 at its bottom from a reactor collection vessel 2, also called a first collection vessel. The reactor vessel 1 merges at its upper end into the condenser / evaporator vessel 3, also called only condenser / evaporator and is separated from it by a partition wall 120 with a straight bottom, which at its middle part merges into a gas pipe 3.4, which goes upwards. from the rnellan wall. The reactor collecting vessel 2 is in the same way as the reactor vessel of a slightly inclined, flat and dense partition 130 at its bottom delimited from a collecting vessel 4 for the condenser / evaporator, also called other collecting vessels.

In reactor vessel 1 there is a heat exchanger 1.3, also called heat exchanger unit, and a corresponding heat exchanger 3.3 in the condenser / evaporator vessel 3. In reactor vessel 1, the filter or separating means 1.2 is further placed under the heat exchangers to collect solids.

Now assume that the machine is discharged at start-up, ie that no active substance in solid form is present in the machine.

The substance in the form of a solution is then present in the reactor's collection vessel 2. The valve 2.3 in line 2.2 between the bottom of the reactor vessel and the reactor uptake vessel is closed. Only a small amount of the volatile liquid, usually water, is found in the collecting vessel 4 of the condenser / evaporator, which is located at the bottom of the container 100. A first pump P1 is started while a second pump P2 is switched off. Heat is supplied to the reactor's heat exchanger 1.3, such as from the solar panels SP, see fi g. 2, and the condenser / evaporator heat exchanger 3.3 is cooled as with the aid of the refrigerant cooler OC.

When the first pump P1 is then started, solution flows via the outlet 2.1 and the non-return valve 2.4 from the bottom of the reactor collection vessel 2 through the pump to the diffuser 1.4 in the upper part of the reactor vessel H10 527 721 7 via the inlet line 1.6. The solution is spread over the reactor heat exchanger 1.3 and solution flows through the filter 1.2 and the outlet 1.5 at the bottom of the reactor vessel back to the first pump P1. This solution, which is now in circulation in the reactor vessel 1, is rapidly heated by the heat exchanger and thereby charged. Water vapor then leaves the reactor vessel via the gas pipe 3.4 to the condenser / evaporator vessel 3, in which the water vapor is condensed on the condensate vapor purge heat exchanger 3.3 and via the outlet 3.5 at the bottom of the condenser / evaporator vessel flows down into the condenser pipe / evaporator collection outlet 4 4.1. The amount of solution in the reactor vessel 1 is thereby reduced, so that a further new solution continuously seeps in from the reactor collection vessel 2 via the non-return valve 2.4 to the first pump P1. The solution becomes more and more concentrated and the dissolved substance gradually changes to solid form, ie crystals, which are collected by the fi liter 1.2 shaped like a basket.

The non-return valve 2.4 prevents hot solution due to pressure caused by pressure differences between the reactor collecting vessel 2 and the reactor vessel 1 from entering the reactor collecting vessel 2. The intention is namely that the collecting vessel 2 should remain cold. In this way, charging continues until the reactor collecting vessel 2 is empty of solution and the filter 1.2 in the reactor vessel 1 contains substantially all the active substance in its solid form.

Between the reactor vessel 1 and its collecting vessel 2 there is, for example, a centrally arranged pipe 1.1, which is intended to equalize pressure differences between these vessels and which from the upper wall of the reactor collecting vessel goes upwards inside the reactor vessel. The filter 1.2 can, as shown, be designed as a basket with an upwardly open annular space for receiving the crystals of the substance. The central pipe 1.1 then extends in the centrally located, raised part of the filter up to a larger hole 1.8 in the filter, for example made in a plate arranged there, so that solution can flow directly back to the first pump P1, if the filter is unable to passing solution at a sufficiently high rate compared to the rate at which the first pump pumps solution.

The condensed water has then finally been collected in the second collecting vessel 4. When this vessel, just before the charging is completed, is full, the level in the pipe rises between the second pump P2 and the bottom of the condenser / evaporator vessel 3. Eventually the level is so high that the condensed water enters the condenser / evaporator vessel 3 via its bottom outlet 3.5. When the level reaches a certain height in the condenser / evaporator vessel 3, the condensate water flows back via a pipe 3.9 to the reactor vessel 1. The charge is now complete, but heat output from the solar panel can still be received.

Now the process can be reversed.

The reactor's heat exchanger 1.3 is now cooled and the condenser / evaporator's heat exchanger 3.3 is connected to the house's AC system. The second pump P2 is started. The remaining solution in reactor vessel 1 is cooled together with the salt, ie the crystals of the substance, in filter 1.2. Water is pumped 527 7211 8 using the second pump P2 to flow over the heat exchanger 3.3. in the condenser / evaporator vessel, and then first reaches the inlet 3.6 at the upper part of the condenser / evaporator vessel 3 and from there to the emergency liquid vessel 3.2 arranged at the top of the condenser / evaporator vessel 3.2, which can thus absorb only a limited amount of water. . Furthermore, it flows via the overflow holes 3.8 in the emergency liquid vessel over to the sprinkler vessel 3.1 located next to it, from where it flows via openings in this bottom over the condenser / evaporator heat exchanger 3.3.

If the sprinkler does not have time to receive all the water, excess water flows through a overflow pipe 3.11, which goes from the upper part of the condenser / evaporator vessel inside this vessel and down to the condenser / evaporator vessel 3 to murmur at the heat exchanger which is insensitive therein. Via the outlet 3.5 from the condenser / evaporator vessel 3, the water then flows back to the first pump P2. When the reactor vessel 1 has cooled down, the ball valve 2.3 is opened, whereby the two vessels 1 and 2, the reactor and its collecting vessel, become practically a single main reactor or reactor unit. The salt in filter 1.2 is slowly dissolved and solution is collected in the reactor's collecting vessel 2. The process continues as long as the produced cooling temperature out to the AC system is acceptable. The ball valve 2.3 is controlled depending on the temperature in the reactor vessel, such as by means of a temperature sensor / control unit 1.9. This may generally comprise a sensor in which a temperature variation corresponds to a change in the position of a mechanical part or in which a temperature variation is converted to mechanical work, in particular comprising a part of bimetal or of memory metal or a part containing wax or gas, whereby the ball valve can be affected directly on mechanical scale.

In the event of a power failure, the pumps P1, P2 will stop. The remaining solution in the pipe and the pump P1 then runs the risk of crystallization. To prevent this, water from the emergency liquid vessel is used 3.2. During normal operation, the pump height of the first pump P1 is such that it is slightly above the inlet 1.6 to the diffuser 1.4. Water from the emergency liquid vessel 3.2 can then not flow down via the purification pipe 3.10 due to a steam trap 3.12, which is formed by a loop in the pipe 3.10.

The non-return valve 3.7 in the cleaning pipe prevents solution from entering the condenser / evaporator vessel due to pressure shocks. When the first pump P1 has stopped, the water flows from the emergency water vessel 3.2 via the non-return valve 3.7 and the purge pipe 3.10 down into the line to the pump P1 and cleans this line and the pump from saline. , The same process can be used by intentionally stopping the pump P1 to carry out so-called cleaning. This means that water from the condenser / evaporator vessel 3.2 is intentionally returned to the reactor vessel 1 via the purge pipe 3.10 to remove salt residues which have accumulated after a long period of cooling.

Component list 1: Reactor vessel 527 721 1.1: Pressure equalization pipe 1.2: Filter 1.3: Heat exchanger for reactor 1.4; diffuser in fealmfka fl 1.5: Outlet l from vessel 1 1.6: Inlet to vessel 1 1.7: Outlet 2 from vessel 1.8: overflow hall 1.9 Ternperatxxrgivare / Control unit 2: Reactor collection vessel 2.1: Outlet from vessel 2 2.2: Connection pipe 2.3: Valve 3 ball valve 2 : Condenser / Evaporator vessel 3.1: Injector vessel 3.2: Emergency liquid vessel 3.3: Heat exchanger for condenser / evaporator 3.4: Gas pipe 3.5: Outlet from vessel 3 3.6: Inlet to vessel 3 3.7: Valve 1 non-return valve 3.8: Overflow hole 3.9: Gossip pipe 3. 1 0: Purge pipe 3.1 1: Overflow pipe 3.12: Steam lock 4: Condenser / evaporator collecting vessel 4.1: Outlet from vessel 4 P1: First pump, spray pump for reactor P2: Second pump, spray pump for condenser / evaporator

Claims (9)

15 20 25 30 527 721 10 PATENT REQUIREMENTS 1. Chemical heat pump comprising an active substance and a volatile liquid, S011! can be 'absorbed' and desorbed by the active substance at respective temperatures, between which fi ImS a substantially constant difference in temperature, so that within the range between the temperatures the active substance gradually changes from a state dissolved in the fl volatile liquid to a solid state, when the volatile the liquid is desorbed, the chemical heat pump comprising! a reactant part (1, 2) with a first heat exchanger (1.3) arranged therein, the active substance constantly settling in the reactor part and in this being transferred between the solid state and the stepless state in the volatile liquid, - a condenser / evaporator part ( 3, 4) with a second heat exchanger (3-3) arranged therein, wherein in the condenser / evaporator part only the volatile liquid is always present in varying amounts, 50111 is evaporated and condensed therein, and - a passage (3.4 ) for steam / gas only between the reactor section and the condenser-evaporator section. characterized in that - the reactor part (1, 2) is divided into two separate vessels, - - a reactor vessel (1) for performing absorption / desorption of the volatile liquid in / from the active substance and for storing the active substance, when this after desorptionerx is in the solid state, and - - a reactor collection vessel (2) for collecting and storing the active substance, when it is in the dissolved liquid state, - thereby causing the temperature of the vessel collected in the realctor collection vessel (2) not to dissolve. is dependent on the temperature for the desorption of the liquid liquid and its evaporation in the reactor vessel (1), and / or - that the condenser / evaporator part (3, 4) is divided into two separate vessels, - - a condenser / evaporator vessel (3) is to perform evaporation / condensation of the amount of the volatile liquid which settles in the condenser-evaporator part, and - - a collecting vessel (4) for collecting the volatile liquid in a liquid / condensed state spirit during charging of the chemical heat pump and storage thereof during charging of the chemical heat pump, - whereby it is ensured that the temperature of the condenser / evaporator part stored in the collecting vessel (4) is not dependent on the temperature for evaporation / condensation in the condenser. / evaporator vessel (3). Chemical heat purifier according to claim 1, characterized by a first pump (P1) for circulating the active substance, which first pmnp is connected to the reactor collection vessel 527 721 '11 (2) for bringing the active substance in dissolved state to flow over the first the heat exchanger (l.3) and is also connected to an outlet (1.5) from the reactor vessel (1), whereby it is achieved that liquid fl fates and levels are balanced without regulation. Chemical heat pump according to one of Claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the condenser / evaporator vessel (3) comprises an emergency liquid vessel (3 .2) for receiving a limited amount of condensate of the volatile liquid, which emergency liquid vessel (32) via a connection (3.10) comprising a steam lock (3.l2) communicates with an outlet line fi of the first pump (P1) containing circulating fl depletion of the active substance in the dissolved state, the temperature difference between the active substance in the circulating och liquid and the condensate in the emergency liquid vessel (3 .2) 10 prevents a fl fate fi from the emergency liquid vessel into the outlet line during operation of the chemical heat pump. Chemical heat pump according to claim 3, characterized in that the connection (3.10) between the emergency water vessel (3.2) and the outlet line contains a non-return valve (3.7) arranged to prevent unintentional flow of the active substance in dissolved state of the emergency fluid vessel (3 .2). 15 Chemical heat pump according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by an eller lter or network (l.2) in the reactor part (1, 2) arranged under the first heat exchanger (l.3) and arranged to retain the active substance in solid form . Chemical heat pump according to claim 5, characterized in that the filter or net (l.2) is designed as an upwardly open basket for receiving the active substance in solid form. 20 Chemical heat pump according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a connection (2.2, 2.3) between the reactor vessel (1) and the reactor collection vessel (2) can be optionally established (1.9) to obtain a mixture between amounts of the active substance in the dissolved state, which settles in the reactor vessel (1) and the reactor collection vessel (2). Chemical heat pump according to claim 7, characterized by a control unit (1.9) for establishing the connection between the reactor vessel (1) and the reactor collection vessel (2) depending on the temperature in the reactor vessel (1), so that the connection is established, when this temperature is low. Chemical heat pump according to claim 8, characterized in that the control unit (1.9) comprises a temperature sensor, in which a temperature variation corresponds to a change in the position of a mechanical part or in which a temperature variation is converted into mechanical work, in particular comprising a part of bimetal or of memory metal or a part containing wax or gas.