ARRANGEMENT, PARTICULARLY REFRIGERATING MACHINE OR HEAT PUMP

Abstract

An arrangement may comprise a first and a second heat tank, a thermochemical reactor which is thermally and fluidically connected to the heat tank, a heat transfer fluid circuit containing a heat transfer fluid for transporting heat between the two heat tanks and the thermochemical reactor, a temporary heat store arranged in the heat transfer fluid circuit for temporarily storing the heat transfer fluid. The temporary heat store may be for receiving the heat transfer fluid has two different temperature levels. The temporary heat store may comprise a first partial store with a variable storage volume and a second partial store with a variable storage volume. The variable storage volume may be thermally and fluidically separate from the first. A valve system may be located in the heat transfer fluid circuit. The heat transfer fluid circuit may comprise at least one movable valve device, by which the heat transport between the two heat tanks, the thermochemical reactor and the temporary heat store can be controlled by the heat transfer fluid.

Claims

1. A system for an arrangement of a refrigerating machine or heat pump, comprising: a first heat tank functioning as heat source and with a second heat tank functioning as heat sink; a thermochemical reactor including an adsorption refrigerating machine or an adsorption heat pump, which is connectible or connected thermally and fluidically to the heat tanks; a heat transfer fluid circuit in which a heat transfer fluid is arranged for transporting heat between the two heat tanks and the thermochemical reactor; a temporary heat store arranged in the heat transfer fluid circuit for temporarily storing the heat transfer fluid, wherein the temporary heat store is designed to receive the heat transfer fluid with two different temperature levels and for this purpose has a first partial store with variable storage volume and a second partial store with variable storage volume which is thermally and fluidically separated therefrom; a transport device located in the heat transfer fluid circuit for propelling the heat transfer fluid (F) in the heat transfer fluid circuit; a valve system (9) comprising at least one displaceable valve device including two displaceable valve devices provided in the heat transfer fluid circuit, wherein the transport of heat between the two heat tanks, the thermochemical reactor and the temporary heat store can be controlled via the heat transfer fluid; and a control/regulating device for controlling the valve system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the temporary heat store is designed to receive and discharge a first and a second fluid mass of the heat transfer fluid simultaneously, wherein the two fluid masses have different temperature levels.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first partial store of the temporary heat store is connected fluidically to the first heat tank and the second partial store of the temporary heat store is connected fluidically to the second heat tank.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the volume-variable first partial store is designed to complement the volume-variable second partial store, so that the total volume formed by the two partial stores is constant.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the temporary heat store is embodied as a receptacle wherein the receptacle comprises: a housing with an interior space of which a dividing element is arranged so as to be movable and which divides the interior space into a volume-variable first partial store and a second partial store which is also volume-variable and is insulated thermally from the first partial store, a first aperture in the housing for introducing a heat transfer fluid with a first temperature level into the first partial store and discharging the heat transfer fluid therefrom, and a second aperture in the housing for introducing a heat transfer fluid with a first temperature level into the second partial store and discharging it the heat transfer fluid therefrom, wherein the volume-variable first partial store is designed to complement the volume-variable second partial store, so that the total volume formed by the two partial stores is constant.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the housing is of an elongated construction, wherein the first aperture is located at a first longitudinal end and the second aperture is located at a second longitudinal end opposite the first longitudinal end.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the housing is constructed as a tubular body which extends substantially linearly in an axial direction wherein the dividing element lies against a circumferential wall of the tubular body and is movable in the axial direction along the inner side thereof to form the two volume-variable partial stores.

8. The system according to any one of claim 5, wherein at least one of: a first sensor element s provided at the first aperture, and by means of which it can be determined whether the dividing element is in a first end position in which the dividing element is at a minimum distance from the first aperture, and, and a second sensor element is provided at the second aperture, by which it can be determined whether the dividing element is in a second end position in which the dividing element is at a minimum distance from the second aperture.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein an operating state can be set by the control/regulating device in the at least one displaceable valve device of the valve system, in which state the heat transfer fluid circuit forms a first partial circuit, in which the heat transfer fluid circulates between the thermochemical reactor and the second heat tank so that heat is transferred from the thermochemical reactor into the second heat tank.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein in this operating state the first partial store has a maximum volume and the second partial store has a minimum volume.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein an operating state can be set by the control/regulating device in the at least one displaceable valve device of the valve system, in which state the heat transfer fluid circuit forms a second partial circuit, in which the heat transfer fluid circulates between the thermochemical reactor and the first heat tank so that heat is transferred from the first heat tank into the thermochemical reactor.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein in this operating state the second partial store has a maximum volume and the first second partial store has a minimum volume.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein an operating state can be set by the control/regulating device in the at least one displaceable valve device of the valve system, wherein: heat transfer fluid is transported from the first partial store into the first heat tank, heat transfer fluid is transported from the first heat tank into the thermochemical reactor, and heat transfer fluid is transported from the thermochemical reactor into the second partial store.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein an operating state can be set by the control/regulating device in the at least one displaceable valve device of the valve system, in wherein: heat transfer fluid is transported from the second partial store into the second heat tank, heat transfer fluid is transported from the second heat tank into the thermochemical reactor, and heat transfer fluid is transported from the thermochemical reactor into the first partial store.

15. The system claim 1, wherein the first and the second heat tanks and the thermochemical reactor are each equipped with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet to enable the heat transfer fluid to be introduced therein and discharged therefrom, wherein: the fluid inlet of the thermochemical reactor can be connected selectively to the fluid outlet of the first or second heat tank by the first displaceable valve device, and the fluid outlet of the thermochemical reactor can be connected selectively to the fluid inlet of the first or second heat tank by the second displaceable valve device.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the temporary heat store is connected fluidically in parallel with the second valve device, so that the fluid inlet of the first heat tank communicates fluidically with the first partial store and der fluid inlet of the second heat tank communicates fluidically with the second partial store.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first valve device and the second valve device each comprise a 3-port/2-position switching valve.

18. A method for operating an arrangement of a refrigerating machine or heat pump, comprising: providing a heat transfer fluid circuit in which a thermochemical reactor, two heat tanks with different temperature levels and a temporary heat store are disposed, wherein the temporary heat store includes two thermally and fluidically separate partial stores, in which a heat transfer fluid present in the heat transfer fluid circuitcan be received thermally and fluidically separately from each other; removing a heating process heat transfer fluid, temporarily stored in the first partial store of the temporary heat store, is removed from the first heat tank into the thermochemical reactor by the heat transfer fluid, and into the first heat tank while heat transfer fluid is discharged from the thermochemical reactor and into the second partial store of the temporary heat store and removing a cooling process heat transfer fluid, temporarily stored in the second partial store of the temporary heat store, from the thermochemical reactor and into the second heat tank by the heat transfer fluid in the second partial store while heat transfer fluid (F) is discharged from the thermochemical reactor and introduced into the first partial store of the temporary heat store.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: providing a housing with an interior space and a dividing element arranged in the interior space; providing a first sensor element at the first aperture to determine whether the dividing element is in a first end position in which the dividing element is at a first minimum distance from the first aperture; and providing a second sensor element at the second aperture to determine whether the dividing element is in a second end position in which the dividing element is at a second minimum distance from the second aperture.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: transporting heat transfer fluid from the first partial store into the first heat tank; transporting heat transfer fluid from the first heat tank into the thermochemical reactor; and transporting heat transfer fluid from the thermochemical reactor into the second partial store.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] In the schematic drawings:

[0038] FIGS. 1 to 4 show an arrangement according to the invention in different operating states,

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a detail view of the construction of the temporary heat store which is essential to the invention of the arrangement of FIGS. 1 bis 4,

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a first variant of the temporary heat store of FIG. 5,

[0041] FIG. 7 shows a second variant of the temporary heat store of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 shows an example of an arrangement 1 according to the invention, particularly a refrigerating machine or a heat pump. The arrangement 1 comprises a first heat tank 2a with a first temperature T.sub.1 and a second heat tank 2b with a second temperature T.sub.2. The arrangement 1 further comprises a thermochemical reactor 5 which is or may be connected thermally and fluidically to the two heat tanks 2a, 2b. For this purpose, the arrangement 1 comprises a heat transfer fluid circuit 3, in which a heat transfer fluid F is located for transporting heat between the two heat tanks 2a, 2b and the thermochemical reactor 5.

[0043] In the present context, the term thermochemical reactor is understood to refer to an apparatus in which transformation processes are initiated at different temperatures T.sub.1, T.sub.2 by the introduction and removal of heatknown to the person skilled in the art as reaction heat or sorption heat. The thermochemical reactor 5 may include a receptacle 15, only indicated schematically in the figures, in which thermochemical reactions take place. The first temperature T.sub.1 has a larger value than the second temperature T.sub.2, i.e. the first heat tank 2a functions as the heat source, from which heat may be transferred to the thermochemical reactor 5 by means of the heat transfer fluid F. In contrast, the second heat tank 2b functions as a heat sink, to which heat may be transferred from the thermochemical reactor 5 by means of the heat transfer fluid F.

[0044] A temporary heat store 100 is also present in the heat transfer fluid circuit 3 for temporarily storing the heat transfer fluid F. The temporary heat store 100 cooperates with the two heat tanks 2a, 2b to enable a temperature change of the thermochemical reactor 5 from temperature T.sub.1 to temperature T.sub.2 and vice versa with very low energy losses.

[0045] The construction of the temporary heat store 100 is shown in a detail schematic representation in FIG. 5. According to FIG. 5, the temporary heat store 100 includes a first partial store 101a with variable storage volume 102a, and a second partial store 101b with variable storage volume 102b which is thermally and fluidically separated from therefrom. The volume-variable first partial store 101a of the temporary heat store 100 is constructed to complement the volume-variable second partial store 101b, so that the overall volume contained by the two partial stores 101a, 101b is constant.

[0046] The temporary heat store 100 may also be described as a short duration sensible heat store, a regenerator or a temperature variator and constitutes a component of arrangement 1 that is essential to the invention, being indispensable for enabling temperature change with low energy losses to be made at all in the thermochemical reactor 5.

[0047] The temporary heat store 100 is designed to be able to take up and discharge a first and a second fluid mass of the heat transfer fluid F at different temperatures simultaneously. The temporary heat store 100 is also designed to take up and discharge the first and a second fluid mass of the heat transfer fluid F simultaneously wherein the two masses have different temperature levels. The temporary heat store 100 is further designed in such manner that temperature stratifications introduced in the flow direction are preserved for the period between the delivery of fluid masses to the store and their removal therefrom.

[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first partial store 101a of the temporary heat store 100 is connected fluidically to the first heat tank 2a. On the other hand, the second partial store 101b of the temporary heat store 100 connected fluidically to the second heat tank 2b.

[0049] The functional principle of the temporary heat store 100 is based on a thermally insulated fluid container with apertures at the ends thereof and a large length to cross-section ratio within which an displaceable insulating separating element is arranged, as is shown schematically in FIG. 5.

[0050] In the exemplary scenario of FIG. 5, the temporary heat store 100 is embodied as receptacle 103. This receptacle 103 comprises a housing 104. The housing 104 delimits an interior space 107 in which a dividing element 106 is arranged movably and which isolates the two partial stores 101a, 101b from each other thermally and fluidically. The dividing element 106 divides the interior space 107 into a volume-variable first partial store 101a and a second partial store 101b which is also volume-variable and is isolated thermally and fluidically from the first partial store 101a. Dividing element 106 of the temporary heat store 100 is advantageously designed such that it is easily movable due to pressure differences between the partial stores and efficiently seals the two partial stores off from each other.

[0051] As the figures show, the thermochemical reactor 5 and the temporary heat store 100 are each equipped with separate receptacles 15 and 103 respectively.

[0052] As may be seen in FIG. 5, a first aperture 108a is present in the housing 104 to deliver the heat transfer fluid F at temperature T.sub.1 into the first partial store 101a and remove it from the first partial store 101a. The housing 104 further has a second aperture 108b to deliver the heat transfer fluid F at temperature T.sub.2 into the second partial store 101b and remove it from the second partial store 101b.

[0053] The housing 104 is embodied as a tubular body 105 which extends linearly in an axial direction A. The dividing element 106 lies against the inner side 112 of a circumferential wall 111 of the tubular body 105 to form the two volume-variable partial stores 101a, 101b and is movable in the axial direction A. The first aperture 108a is located on a first longitudinal end 109a. The second aperture 108b is located on a second longitudinal end 109b opposite the first longitudinal end 109a.

[0054] As is illustrated in FIG. 5, when the dividing element 106 is positioned in the extreme left position, that is to say t at the first aperture 108a, the temporary heat store 100 may be filled with cold heat transfer fluid F at temperature T.sub.2. The dividing element 106 may be displaced to the right, towards the second aperture 108b by hot heat transfer fluid F at temperature T.sub.1 flowing in from the left through the first aperture 108a, so that the temporary heat store 100 is filled with heat transfer fluid F at temperature T.sub.1. At the same time, heat transfer fluid F at temperature T.sub.2 is discharged to the right through the second aperture 108b until the dividing element 106 is positioned at the second aperture 108b and the heat transfer fluid F at temperature T.sub.2 has been entirely displaced by the hot heat transfer fluid F at temperature T.sub.1 without mixing therewith.

[0055] A first sensor element 110a is provided at the first aperture, with which it is possible to determine whether the dividing element 106 is in a first end position, in which it is at a minimum distance from the first aperture 108a. In similar manner, a second sensor element 110b is provided at the second aperture 108b, with which it is possible to determine whether the dividing element 106 is in a second end position, in which it is at a minimum distance from the second aperture 108b.

[0056] If one then considers FIG. 1 again, it may be seen that a transport device 8 is provided in the heat transfer fluid circuit 3 to propel the heat transfer fluid F around the heat transfer fluid circuit 3.

[0057] The heat transfer fluid circuit 3 is also equipped with a valve system 9 which comprises a first displaceable valve device 10a and a second displaceable valve device 10b. It is possible to adjust and consequently also control the transport of heat between the two heat tanks 2a, 2b, the thermochemical reactor 5 and the temporary heat store 100 by means of the two valve devices 10a, 10b. A control/regulating device 4 which cooperates with the valve devices 10a, 10b is provided for controlling the valve devices 10a, 10b of the valve system 9.

[0058] The first and the second heat tanks 2a, 2b and the thermochemical reactor 5 each have a fluid inlet 11a, 11b, 11c for introducing the heat transfer fluid F and a fluid outlet 12a, 12b, 12c for discharging the heat transfer fluid.

[0059] The fluid inlet 11b of the thermochemical reactor 5 may be connected selectively to the fluid outlet 12a, 12c of the first or second heat tank 2a, 2b by means of the first displaceable valve device 10a. The fluid outlet 12b of the thermochemical reactor 5 may be connected selectively to the fluid inlet 11a, 11c of the first or second heat tank 2a, 2b by means of the second displaceable valve device 10b.

[0060] As may further be seen in FIG. 1, the temporary heat store 100 is fluidically connected in parallel with the second valve device 10b, so that the fluid inlet 1 la of the first heat tank 2a communicates fluidically with the first partial store 101a, and the fluid inlet 11c of the second heat tank 2b communicates fluidically with the second partial store. The first valve device 10a and the second valve device 10b are each designed as 3-port/2-position switching valves 13a, 13b.

[0061] The following text will now describe a complete thermal cycle of the thermochemical reactor 5, in which the thermochemical reactor 5 is switched between a first state with temperature T.sub.1 of the first heat tank 2a and a second state with temperature T.sub.2 of the second heat tank 2b.

[0062] The two valve devices 10a, 10b of the valve system 9 may be shifted into an operating state shown schematically in FIG. 1 by the control/regulating device 4. In this operating state, the first partial store 101a has a maximum volume and the second partial store 101b has a minimal volume, i.e., the first partial store 101a of the temporary heat store 100 is filled with heat transfer fluid F at temperature T.sub.1 and the second partial store 101b is empty. In this operating state, the heat transfer fluid circuit 3 forms a first partial circuit 14a, in which the heat transfer fluid F circulates between the thermochemical reactor 5 and the second heat tank 2b. In this operating state, the heat transfer fluid F transfers heat from the thermochemical reactor 5 to the second heat tank 2b, i.e., heat is taken out of the thermochemical reactor 5. As a consequence of this transport of heat from the thermochemical reactor 5 into the second heat tank 2b, reaction heat of the thermochemical reactor 5 is directed away to the second heat tank at temperature T.sub.2.

[0063] As the thermal cycling progresses, the thermochemical reactor 5 is then switched into a state with temperature T.sub.1 of the first heat tank 2a. In order to switch the thermochemical reactor into a state with temperature T.sub.1, the two valve devices 10a, 10b are first shifted into an operating state shown in FIG. 2 by the control/regulating device 4. In the operating state shown in FIG. 2, the two valve devices 10a, 10b are adjusted in such manner that heat transfer fluid F is transported from the first partial store 101a of the temporary heat store 100 into the first heat tank 2a. Heat transfer fluid F is also transported from the first heat tank 2a into the thermochemical reactor 5. In addition, heat transfer fluid F is transported from the thermochemical reactor 5 into the second partial store 101b. In this operating state, the first partial store 101a of the temporary heat store 100 is full of heat transfer fluid F at temperature T.sub.1 and the second partial store 101b is full of heat transfer fluid F at temperature T.sub.2. In this operating state, the temperature of the thermochemical reactor is raised from T.sub.2 to T.sub.1, without removing a significant amount of heat from the heat source 2a.

[0064] As soon as the heat transfer fluid F stored temporarily in the first partial store 101a of the temporary heat store 100 has been completely removed from the temporary heat store 100, the dividing element 106 is located in the aforementioned first end position, which may be detected by the control/regulating device 4 by means of the first sensor element 110a.

[0065] Then, the two valve devices 10a, 10b are switched to an operating state as represented schematically in FIG. 3 by the control/regulating device 4.

[0066] In the operating state as represented schematically in FIG. 3, the heat transfer fluid circuit 3 forms a second partial circuit 14b, in which the heat transfer fluid F circulates between the thermochemical reactor 5 and the first heat tank 2a. In this way, heat transfer fluid F is transported from the first heat tank 2a to the thermochemical reactor. In this operating state, heat is transferred from the first heat tank to the thermochemical reactor 5. In this operating state, the second partial store 101b has a maximum volume and the first partial store 101a has a minimum volume, i.e., the second partial store 101b of the temporary heat store 100 is filled with heat transfer fluid F at temperature T.sub.2 and the first partial store 101b is empty. In this operating state, heat transfer fluid is transferred to the thermochemical reactor via the heat tank at temperature level T.sub.1.

[0067] Then, the two valve devices 10a, 10b are switched to an operating state as represented schematically in FIG. 4 by the control/regulating device 4. In the operating state represented in FIG. 4, both valve devices 10a, 10b are set in such manner that heat is transported from the second partial store 101b into the second heat tank 2b by means of the heat transfer fluid F. At the same time, heat from the thermochemical reactor 5 is transported into the first partial store 101a of the temporary heat store 100. In this operating state, the temperature of the thermochemical reactor is reduced from T.sub.1 to T.sub.2 without a significant quantity of heat being direct to the heat sink 2b.

[0068] As soon as the heat transfer fluid F stored temporarily in the second partial store 101b of the temporary heat store 100 has been completely removed from the temporary heat store 100, the dividing element 106 is located in the aforementioned second end position, which may be detected by the control/regulating device 4 with the aid of the second sensor element 110b. In this state, the first partial store 101a is completely full of heat transfer fluid F (see FIG. 1). The two valve devices 10a, 10b are switched back to the operating state shown in FIG. 1 by the control/regulating device 4 and one complete switching cycle of the thermochemical reactor 5 is complete.

[0069] FIG. 6 shows a further development of the receptacle 103 of FIG. 5. In the receptacle 103 of FIG. 6, a spiral structure 113 is disposed in the interior space 107 of the housing 104. This spiral structure 113 lends the interior space 107 the geometry of a fluid duct 114 with spiral geometry. The fluid duct 114 is delimited by the spiral structure 113 and by the housing 104, particularly the circumferential wall 111 thereof. The spiral structure 103 may be embodied as an insert 115 disposed in the interior space. The spiral structure 113 may comprise at least ten windings 116, preferably even at least 20 windings. The dividing element 106 is designed so as to be displaceable, particularly slidable along the spiral fluid duct 114. This means that the geometrical shape of the dividing element 106 is selected such that it is displaceable along the fluid duct 114 in the interior space 107 which is delimited by the circumferential wall 111 and the spiral structure 113.

[0070] FIG. 7 shows a further variant of the example in FIG. 5, in which the receptacle 103 is embodied as a hose-like body 117 which extends in an extension direction E, at least sections of which are not non-linear. In this variant, the dividing element 106 lies against the inner side 112 of the circumferential wall 111 of the hose-like body 117 and is movable along it in the extension direction E to form the two volume-variable partial stores 101a, 101b. This variant enables the creation of an arrangement of the receptacle 103 which is particularly compact in terms of space. A length of the housing 104 or the hose-like body 117 measured along the extension direction E is preferably at least ten times, more preferably at least twenty times greater than a transverse direction Q measured transversely to the extension direction E.