METHOD FOR THE STABILISATION AND/OR OPEN-LOOP AND/OR CLOSED-LOOP CONTROL OF A WORKING TEMPERATURE, HEAT EXCHANGER UNIT, DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING ENERGY, REFRIGERATING MACHINE AND HEAT PUMP

Abstract

A method for stabilization and/or control and/or regulation of the working temperature of a cyclic-process-based system having at least one heat-exchanger unit with at least one calorically active material element. It is essential that a base temperature of the calorically active material element (11, 12) is controlled by a cooling fluid. A heat-exchanger unit, a refrigeration machine, and a heat pump according to this are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for operating cyclic-process-based systems having a hot-side reservoir (2) and a cold-side reservoir (3) and at least one fluid chamber (4, 5), having an evaporator region and a condenser region for a working fluid and having at least one heat-exchanger unit with at least one calorically active material element (11, 12), the calorically active material element (11, 12) being arranged in the fluid chamber (4, 5) so as to be indirectly or directly operatively connected to the working fluid and a heat transfer between the calorically active material of the calorically active material element (11, 12) and the working fluid takes place by latent heat transfer, the method comprising the following steps: A activating at least one of an electric field, magnetic field, or mechanical stress field such that the calorically active material is at least temporarily subjected to interaction with the at least one of the electric field, magnetic field, or mechanical stress field; B evaporating the working fluid through heating of the calorically active material by a first change in temperature, induced in method step A, of the calorically active material to above a base temperature; C discharging the working fluid to the hot-side reservoir (2) and condensing the working fluid at the condenser region, realizing heat transport by latent heat of the evaporated working fluid; D return transporting the condensed working fluid from the condenser region to the evaporator region; E deactivating the at least one of the electric, magnetic, or elastic field; F causing a second, opposite change in temperature of the calorically active material to below the base temperature; G feeding of the working fluid from the cold-side reservoir (3) into the fluid chamber, wherein heat transport from the evaporator region into the fluid chamber is realized by latent heat of the evaporated working fluid; and H controlling or regulating the base temperature of the calorically active material element using a cooling fluid.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of the fluid chambers (4, 5) are provided that are connected in series or parallel such that the working fluid flows through the fluid chambers (4, 5) that are connected in series or parallel and the method further comprises repeating steps A-H cyclically in the fluid chambers that are connected in series or parallel.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein using the cooling fluid, the base temperature of the calorically active material element (11, 12) is adapted to an ideal working temperature for the calorically active material.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the working fluid and the cooling fluid are spatially separated.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising conducting the cooling fluid through the calorically active material element (11, 12).

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising using the working fluid as the cooling fluid such that the cooling fluid and the calorically active material of the calorically active material element (11, 12) are operatively connected.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calorically active material is exposed to the at least one of the electric field, the magnetic field, and the mechanical stress field, wherein the mechanical stress field is generated in the calorically active material as a mechanical stress, that causes a change in temperature of the calorically active material, the electric field is generated by an electrical capacitor that causes a change in temperature of the calorically active material, or the magnetic field is generated by a permanent magnet that causes a change in temperature of the calorically active material.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a transport system for at least one of the working fluid or the cooling fluid comprising a compressor that is driven by a stroke arising from generating the mechanical stress field.

9. A heat-exchanger unit for a cyclic-process-based system, the heat-exchanger unit comprising: at least one at least one calorically active material element (11, 12) with calorically active material, the calorically active material is arranged operatively connected to a working fluid such that heat is transferrable between the working fluid and the calorically active material and the heat transfer between the working fluid and the calorically active material takes place latent heat transfer, and the heat-exchanger unit comprises a regulation device configured to control or regulate a base temperature of the calorically active material element.

10. The heat-exchanger unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the regulation device comprises at least one fluid channel (13, 14) for a cooling fluid operatively connected to the calorically active material.

11. The heat-exchanger unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cooling fluid comprises at least one of water, alcohol, butane, propane, CO.sub.2, NH.sub.3 or a mixture thereof.

12. The heat-exchanger unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the regulation device comprises at least one of a pump (18) for pumping the cooling fluid or a throttle (23).

13. The heat-exchanger unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the working fluid is used as the cooling fluid via a fluid return (15) of the cyclic-process-based system being configured such that the working fluid in the fluid return (15) is brought into operative connection with the calorically active material.

14. The heat-exchanger unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein a fluid return (15) of the cyclic-process-based system is configured such that the working fluid is guided to the calorically active material by the fluid return (15) such that wetting of a surface of the calorically active material takes place in the fluid chamber.

15. The heat-exchanger unit as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a liquid circuit (16) for the working fluid that is formed spatially separated from a liquid circuit (17) for the cooling fluid.

16. A device for transporting energy, operable as at least one of a heat pump or cooling device, comprising a hot-side reservoir (2) and a cold-side reservoir (3) for a working fluid, at least one fluid chamber (4, 5) which is connected to the hot-side reservoir (2) and the cold-side reservoir (3) via fluid lines (6), at least one hot-side valve (9) between the hot-side reservoir (2) and the fluid chamber (4, 5) and at least one cold-side valve (7) between the cold-side reservoir (3) and the fluid chamber (4, 5), a calorically active material element (11, 12) with calorically active material arranged in the fluid chamber (4, 5) and the calorically active material is arranged operatively connected to the working fluid such that heat is transferrable between the working fluid and the calorically active material by latent heat transfer, a device configured to generate at least one of an electric field, a magnetic field, or a mechanical stress field for the calorically active material such that the calorically active material is arranged in an interaction region of the field, and a heat-exchanger unit that includes the at least one at least one calorically active material element (11, 12) and a regulation device configured to control or regulate a base temperature of the calorically active material element.

17. A cooling device comprising the heat-exchanger unit of claim 9.

18. A heat pump comprising the heat-exchanger unit of claim 11.

19. The method of claim 3, wherein a plurality of the fluid chambers (4, 5) are connected in series or parallel and the base temperature of the calorically active material element (11, 12) of the fluid chambers (4, 5) connected in series or parallel is adapted to the ideal working temperature for the calorically active material of the respective fluid chamber (4, 5).

20. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing a fluid connection from the cold-side reservoir (3) for conducting the cooling fluid through the calorically active material element (11, 12), or past the calorically active material element (11, 12), such that the cooling fluid and the calorically active material of the calorically active material element (11, 12) are operatively connected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] Further preferred features and embodiments of the invention will be discussed below on the basis of exemplary embodiments and the figures.

[0072] In the figures:

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, with internal flow through the heat-exchanger unit;

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the invention, with internal flow through the heat-exchanger unit;

[0075] FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the invention, with internal flow through the heat-exchanger unit;

[0076] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention, with wetting of the surface of the heat-exchanger unit;

[0077] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a sixth exemplary embodiment of the invention in the form of a cooling system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] In FIGS. 1 to 5, the same reference signs denote the identical or identically acting elements.

[0079] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a refrigeration machine according to the invention as a first exemplary embodiment. The refrigeration machine 1 is designed with a hot-side reservoir 2 and a cold-side reservoir 3 for a working fluid. In the present case, water is used as working fluid. In the present case, the cold-side reservoir has a temperature of 5° C. and a prevailing pressure of 8 mbar. In the present case, the hot-side reservoir 2 has a temperature of 35° C. and a prevailing pressure of 55 mbar.

[0080] Two fluid chambers 4, 5 are provided between cold-side reservoir 3 and hot-side reservoir 2. The first fluid chamber 4 is connected to the cold-side reservoir 3 via a fluid line 6. A cold-side valve 7 is arranged in the fluid line 6 between cold-side reservoir 3 and first fluid chamber 4. The cold-side valve 7 is designed as a check valve.

[0081] The second fluid chamber 5 is connected to the hot-side reservoir 2 via a fluid line 8. A hot-side valve 9 is arranged in the fluid line 8 between hot-side reservoir 2 and second fluid chamber 5. The hot-side valve 9 is designed as a check valve 10.

[0082] The first fluid chamber 4 and the second fluid chamber 5 are likewise connected to one another via a check valve 10. Arranged in the first fluid chamber 4 and in the second fluid chamber 5 is in each case one calorically active material element 11, 12. In the present case, the calorically active material elements 11, 12 are formed from mechanocaloric material, specifically a nickel-titanium alloy Ni55,8Ti44,2.

[0083] In the present case, a channel 13, 14 runs through the calorically active material of the calorically active material elements 11, 12. The cooling fluid for stabilization and/or control of the base temperature of the calorically active material elements 11, 12 is conducted through the channel. The cooling fluid thereby flows through the calorically active material elements 11, 12.

[0084] A fluid return 15 is arranged between hot-side reservoir 2 and cold-side reservoir 3. A throttle 23 is provided in the fluid return 15. The cooling apparatus 1 consequently has a first fluid circuit 16 for the working fluid. The fluid circuit 16 for the working fluid comprises the cold-side reservoir 3, the first fluid line 6, the first fluid chamber 4, the second fluid chamber 5, the second fluid line 8, the hot-side reservoir 2 and the fluid return 15. The fluid circuit 16 is designed as a pressure-tight system by virtue of substantially all foreign gases (that is to say all gases with the exception of the working fluid) having been removed from the pressure-tight system.

[0085] In the fluid circuit, as already described, the cold-side valve 7 is arranged between the cold-side reservoir 3 and the first fluid chamber 4 and the hot-side valve 9 is arranged between the hot-side reservoir and the second fluid chamber 5. In the present case, the cold-side valve 7 and the hot-side valve 9 are designed as pressure-controlled valves. The respective differential pressure at which the two valves open is settable, and in the present case is approximately 1 mbar.

[0086] In addition to the first fluid circuit 16 for the working fluid, a second fluid circuit 17 for the cooling fluid is provided. A pump 18 for controlling the throughflow of the cooling fluid is provided in the second fluid circuit 17.

[0087] The second fluid circuit 17 runs from the hot-side reservoir 2 to the first fluid chamber 4 via the pump 18. In the first fluid chamber 4, the second fluid circuit 17 runs through the first calorically active material element 11 by way of the first channel 13. In this way, the first calorically active material element 11 is flowed through internally by the cooling fluid. The fluid circuit 17 then runs onward to the second fluid chamber 5. Here, the second fluid circuit runs through the second calorically active material element 12 by way of the second channel 14. In this way, the second calorically active material element 12 is also flowed through internally by the cooling fluid. The second fluid circuit 17 then runs onward and back to the hot-side reservoir 2. The second fluid circuit 17 is consequently a fluid circuit which is connected to the first fluid circuit 16 via the hot-side reservoir 2. The working fluid of the first fluid circuit 16 is consequently used as cooling fluid of the second fluid circuit 17.

[0088] The speed of the cooling fluid can be controlled by means of the pump 18. Via the control of the speed, it is possible to set the amount of heat transferred from the first calorically active material element 11 and the second calorically active material element 12 to the cooling fluid, so that, in this way, the base temperature of the two calorically active material elements 11, 12 can be controlled.

[0089] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, with a separate reservoir for the cooling fluid.

[0090] To avoid repetitions, only the differences with regard to FIG. 1 will be discussed below.

[0091] In the present case, two separate liquid circuits 16, 19 are provided for the cooling fluid and the working fluid. The working fluid flows, as described with regard to FIG. 1, in a liquid circuit 16 from the cold-side reservoir 3 to the hot-side reservoir 2 via the calorically active material elements 11, 12, and back to the cold-side reservoir 3 via the fluid return 15.

[0092] In the present case, the separate fluid circuit 19 for the cooling fluid is connected neither to the cold-side reservoir 3 nor to the hot-side reservoir 2. Rather, a separate cooling-fluid reservoir 20 for the cooling fluid is provided. From the cooling-fluid reservoir 20, a fluid line 21 runs to the first calorically active material element 11 with calorically active material. The cooling fluid flows through the first calorically active material element 11 by way of the channel 13, said channel running internally through the calorically active material of the first calorically active material element 11. From the first calorically active material element 11, the cooling fluid flows through the second calorically active material element 12 via the second channel 14. The channel 14 likewise runs in the interior of the calorically active material. In order for the second fluid circuit 19 to be closed, a fluid line leads from the channel 14 back to the cooling-fluid reservoir 20.

[0093] In the fluid circuit 19, a pump 18 is provided in the fluid line 21 between cooling-fluid reservoir 20 and channel 13. The speed of the cooling fluid in the fluid circuit 19 can be controlled by the pump 18. Via the speed, as described with regard to FIG. 1, the base temperature of the two calorically active material elements 11, 12 can be controlled.

[0094] The separate fluid circuit 19 for the cooling fluid is consequently a closed fluid circuit which is spatially separated from the first fluid circuit 16 for the working fluid.

[0095] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0096] In the present case, the fluid return 15 is designed in such a way that the fluid return 15 runs through the calorically active material element 12 via the channel 14 and through the calorically active material element 11 by way of the channel 13. The fluid return 15 runs from the hot-side reservoir to the cold-side reservoir 3.

[0097] A throttle 23 is provided in the fluid line of the fluid return 15 between the hot-side reservoir 2 and the channel 14 through the calorically active material element 12. By way of the throttle 23, the speed of the cooling fluid can be set, so that the amount of heat that is transferred from the calorically active material elements 12 and 11 to the cooling fluid can be controlled.

[0098] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, with wetting of the surface of the calorically active material by the cooling fluid.

[0099] The first fluid circuit 16 is designed with the fluid return 15 as described with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0100] From the hot-side reservoir 2, a fluid line 24 leads to the fluid chambers 4, 5. The fluid line 24 is divided into two fluid lines 24.a, 24.b, each of which ends at that side of the fluid chambers 4, 5 which faces toward the hot-side reservoir. In the two fluid lines, there is provided in each case one throttle 23.a, 23.b. By way of the fluid lines 24.a, 24.b, the cooling fluid is fed to the two fluid chambers 4, 5 in such a way that a surface of the calorically active material elements 11, 12 that faces toward the hot-side reservoir 2 is in each case wetted by the cooling fluid. The additional cooling fluid, which is available in addition to the working fluid in the fluid chamber 4, 5, results in a higher degree of evaporation and thus in a higher degree of removal of heat. In this way, the temperature of the calorically active material elements 11, 12 can be set.

[0101] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a cyclic-process-based system according to the invention, in the present case a cooling device.

[0102] The cooling device comprises multiple fluid chambers, in the present case five fluid chambers. The fluid chambers 4, 5 are arranged in a circular manner around a center. An eccentric 30 is provided in the center. The fluid chambers are denoted by way of example by 4, 5. The fluid chambers 4, 5 are connected to one another via check valves. Calorically active material elements 11, 12, in the present case hollow rods composed of mechanocaloric material, are provided in the fluid chambers 4, 5. In the present case, multiple fluid chambers 4, 5 are connected in series. The calorically active material elements 11, 12 are subjected to pressure by means of the eccentric 30. This results in the mechanocaloric material of the calorically active material elements 11, 12 being heated. As a result of the change in temperature, the fluid in the fluid chamber 4, 5 evaporates and flows into the next fluid chamber via the check valve. The arrows indicate the “movement direction” of the working fluid, in the present case counter clockwise. The heat is also transported in this direction. The working fluid flows through the fluid chambers 4, 5 connected in series. With each fluid chamber 4, 5, the temperature of the working fluid changes.

[0103] The devices, for temperature regulation, are adapted in such a way that the temperature of the calorically active material elements 11, 12 is in each case set to the ideal working temperature in the respective fluid chamber 4, 5.

[0104] The fluid chamber 5 is illustrated on an enlarged scale as a detail. Three hollow rods composed of mechanocaloric material, denoted by way of example by 11, 12, are provided in the fluid chamber 5 and have in each case one channel, denoted by way of example by 13, 14. The cooling fluid flows through the calorically active material via the fluid circuit 17.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0105] 1 Cooling device [0106] 2 Hot-side reservoir [0107] 3 Cold-side reservoir [0108] 4 Fluid chamber [0109] 5 Fluid chamber [0110] 6 Fluid line [0111] 7 Cold-side valve [0112] 8 Fluid line [0113] 9 Hot-side valve [0114] 10 Check valve [0115] 11 Calorically active material element [0116] 12 Calorically active material element [0117] 13 Channel [0118] 14 Channel [0119] 15 Fluid return [0120] 16 1st fluid circuit [0121] 17 2nd fluid circuit [0122] 18 Pump [0123] 19 Fluid circuit [0124] 20 Cooling-fluid reservoir [0125] 21 Fluid line [0126] 23 Throttle [0127] 23.1 Throttle [0128] 23.2 Throttle [0129] 24.a Fluid line [0130] 24.b Fluid line [0131] 30 Eccentric