U.S. patent application number 11/130354 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-10 for storage heat exchanger, related operating methods and use of the storage heat exchanger.
Invention is credited to Gast, Karl Heinz.
Application Number | 20050247430 11/130354 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32318639 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050247430 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gast, Karl Heinz |
November 10, 2005 |
Storage heat exchanger, related operating methods and use of the
storage heat exchanger
Abstract
A storage heat exchanger forms part of a heating system
installed inside and/or against buildings and/or premises. Heat
being generated and/or produced by regeneration sources, and/or
combustion material sources, and/or sources disposed inside and/or
against buildings and/or premises, and/or sources located at a
distance and/or proximate. In at least one exchanger of the
invention, the heat is stored in the heating system by at least one
storage medium such as a fluid and or phase-change chemical medium.
The heat is absorbed and/or diffused for at least a certain time
interval through at least one barrier of heat storage media and/or
at least a medium container and/or a medium housing. Such a system
is implemented so as to make more economical use of materials and
mainly for heat storage, the storage of larger amounts of heat
being more economical by decentralization and heat production by
regeneration can be put to better use.
Inventors: |
Gast, Karl Heinz;
(Aurachtal, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER AND GREENBERG, PA
P O BOX 2480
HOLLYWOOD
FL
33022-2480
US
|
Family ID: |
32318639 |
Appl. No.: |
11/130354 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11130354 |
May 16, 2005 |
|
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PCT/EP03/12800 |
Nov 15, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
165/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 60/145 20130101;
F28D 20/021 20130101; Y02E 60/14 20130101; Y02E 60/142 20130101;
F28D 20/0039 20130101; F28D 20/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/010 |
International
Class: |
F28D 017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 16, 2002 |
DE |
102 54 728.9 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A storage heat exchanger for heating systems, the storage heat
exchanger comprising: a housing; and a heat storage reservoir
disposed in said housing and containing a medium container having
walls and at least one storage medium for receiving supplied heat
and surrounded by said medium container, and for heat exchange said
storage medium being in thermal contact with a further medium or
performs heat conduction with said further medium through said
walls of said medium container, a boundary of said storage medium,
and/or said housing.
2. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 1, further
comprising further storing/exchanging units selected from the group
consisting of storage heat exchangers and storage media disposed in
said housing and containing an exchanging media.
3. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the
exchanging media and the storage medium are formed from at least
one compound selected from the group consisting of gases, fluids,
solid substances, phase change media, and chemical storage
substances.
4. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein at
least one of said heat storage reserve and said further
storing/exchanging units contain spatial formations each with at
least one inner space.
5. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein said
spatial formations are grouped with common and/or separate
boundaries resulting in grouped spatial formations.
6. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein said
grouped spatial formations are combined into packs.
7. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein said
spatial formations and/or intermediate spaces of said grouped
spatial formations contain heat conductors.
8. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein at
least one of said spatial formations has at least one boundary
formed of a thin wall, said thin wall formed of a uniform material
or a material mix forming sheets or thin plates, with or without
structural reinforcement, and/or a displacement space.
9. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein said
structural reinforcement contains retaining elements selected from
the group consisting of clamping elements and supporting
elements.
10. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein said
storage heat exchanger is pressure-tolerating including being
pressure-adapting or pressure-equalizing.
11. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 10, further
comprising at least one compliant element for performing pressure
toleration.
12. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein said
housing contains a heat insulation layer, said heat insulation
layer being transparent, opaque, or partly transparent and opaque
and enclosing said heat storage reservoir.
13. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the
storage heat exchanger has fluid run-out prevention.
14. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 3, further
comprising a system selected from the group consisting of a heating
system, a booster heating system and combustion spaces, is
integrated in the storage heat exchanger so that an exchange of a
fluid driven by heat exchange can take place.
15. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein said
phase change media have the same and/or different change-of-state
temperatures.
16. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein at
least one of said spatial formations and/or a pack of said spatial
formations are filled with said phase change media.
17. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein said
spatial formations having a same change-of-state temperatures of
said phase change media are grouped.
18. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 17, wherein a
grouping of said phase change media takes place with
change-of-state temperatures with typical average values or maximum
values for a function for which they are to be used, including
heating or service water, so that a high storage capacity is
obtained at typical or maximum temperatures of functions for which
they are to be used.
19. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the
heat conduction can be changed in a way allowing insulation or with
conduction.
20. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein room
air is heated directly by convection and/or thermal radiation from
the storage heat exchanger.
21. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 3, further
comprising gas-conducting areas which are flowed through by a media
from external components, including controlled ventilation or
machines which can be cooled.
22. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 3, further
comprising at least one charging and/or provision-on-standby device
for at least two of the media,, the gases, the solid substances
and/or the phase change media.
23. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 22, wherein said
charging and/or provision-on-standby device performs at least one
of the following thermal functions: charging, discharging,
maintaining, generating, changing or controlling temperature
spaces; mixing or provision on standby at an appropriate
temperature or an appropriate volume; and interconnecting,
receiving or controlling discharge under closed-loop or open-loop
control.
24. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 22, wherein said
charging and/or provision on standby device also serves as a
provision-on-standby device.
25. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 22, wherein said
charging and/or provision-on-standby device is a variable,
selectable, heat-exchanging surface area in or on the storage heat
exchanger.
26. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 25, wherein said
variable, selectable, heat-exchanging surface area is formed by
separated segments which are flowed through variably by virtue of
at least one relocatable element.
27. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 3, further
comprising at least one exchanging area disposed in said housing
and said heat 'storage reservoir is predominately a storing
area.
28. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 27, wherein said
exchanging area is located inside or outside said storing area or
at a bounding wall of the storage heat exchanger or spaced from
said storing area.
29. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 27, further
comprising a flow-separating and/or heat-insulating partition
provided in said exchanging area and said storing area.
30. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 27, further
comprising at least one thermostatically controlled connection and
said exchanging area can be controlled under closed-loop or
open-loop control by said thermostatically controlled connection
between areas.
31. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 27, wherein said
exchanging area is provided with a solar-absorbing layer and/or at
least one facing.
32. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 3, further
comprising at least one structure selected from the group
consisting of surface-enlarging structures and vortexing structures
for intensifying a heat exchange of the storage heat exchanger.
33. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 32, wherein
intensification takes place by media conduction, including
rotational movement or return movement of the media.
34. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 32, wherein a
supplying of the medium takes place tangentially along a
geometrical conduction of the medium.
35. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 32, further
comprising drivers for performing and intensifying a conduction of
the medium.
36. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 35, wherein said
drivers are configured in an immersed or suspended manner.
37. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein said
spatial formations are of a modular construction.
38. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 37, wherein a
pack of said spatial formations is set up or stacked in or around
or in a vicinity of said heat storage reservoir.
39. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 37, wherein said
spatial formations are of a modular construction in a form of tanks
which can be joined together from a number of parts and be slotted
together or fitted together.
40. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 39, wherein said
parts include a cover part, a base part and tubes or channels which
can be pushed one into the other and are set up on said base part,
and said cover part is placed onto said pushed out tubes or
channels.
41. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 39, wherein said
parts are pressed together by inwardly directed forces.
42. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein said
spatial formations have a shape selected from the group consisting
of cylinders and spheres.
43. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein said
spatial formations are grouped with common and/or separate
boundaries resulting in grouped spatial formations lying one inside
the other or arranged in series against one another.
44. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein said
heat conductors are selected from the groups consisting of wires,
wire fabrics and sheets.
45. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 8, further
comprising a stabilizing packet assembly containing retaining
elements selected from the group consisting of clamping elements
and supporting elements.
46. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 31, wherein said
facing is selected from the group consisting of transparent facings
and relocatable partitions.
47. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein said
spatial formations are of a modular construction in a form of tanks
which can be combined in groups or tanks which can be joined.
48. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 27, further
comprising at least one charging and provision-on-standby device
and said exchanging area can be controlled under closed-loop or
open-loop control by said charging and provision-on-standby
device.
49. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 37, wherein the
storage heat exchanger is constructed around said spatial
formations or packs of said spatial formations.
50. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 41, further
comprising clamping rings for providing said inwardly directed
forces.
51. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 50, wherein said
clamping rings are steel strips.
52. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 39, wherein said
parts are held together by outwardly directed forces.
53. The storage heat exchanger according to claim 52, further
comprising: pressing rings providing pressing force adjustment
mechanisms, a pressing force adjustments mechanism of at least one
of said pressing rings has a closable lead-through and being
adjustable by said closable lead-through; and seals disposed
between held-together surface areas.
54. A method for operating a storage heat exchanger containing a
housing and a heat storage reservoir having a medium container with
walls and at least one storage medium for receiving supplied heat
and surrounded by the medium container, and for heat exchange the
storage medium being in thermal contact with a further medium or
performs heat conduction with the further medium through the walls
of the medium container, a boundary of the storage medium, and/or
the housing, which comprises the steps of: influencing and
maintaining a heat flow or thermal state of the storage heat
exchanger by the thermal state being maintained in at least one
subarea.
55. The method according to claim 54, which further comprises
extending a heat flow by transferring and exchanging between and
from media by adding heat-conducting and/or heat-radiating
functions.
56. The method according to claim 54, which further comprises
selecting the further medium and the storage medium from at least
one compound selected from the group consisting of gases, fluids,
solid substances, phase change media, and chemical storage
substances.
57. The method according to claim 54, which further comprises
changing the heat flow by switching to closed-loop control.
58. The method according to claim 57, which further comprises
performing the changing step by using charging and/or
provision-on-standby devices.
59. The method according to claim 57, which further comprising
performing the changing step dependently on media temperatures
and/or differential media temperatures.
60. The method according to claim 57, which further comprises
temperature-controlling and/or flow-controlling the media under
closed-loop and/or open/loop control, by using charging and
provision-on-standby devices or speed-controllable flow drives.
61. The method according to claim 57, which further comprises using
the heat flow for at least one of the following extended thermal
functions: heat production, storage, distribution, recovery,
cooling or preheating of sources and sinks close to buildings
including underground storage heat exchangers or machines.
62. The method according to claim 57, wherein the heat flow takes
place from solar generators with different efficiencies and/or
temperature levels.
63. The method according to claim 54, which further comprises
performing the heat flow with the media in a fluid form or gas form
in a forward and backward flow through a line.
64. The method according to claim 63, which further comprises
forming a heat source or sink for the heat flow by exchange with a
compliant element, or is in connection with the compliant
element.
65. The method according to claim 63, which further comprises using
energy stored by one direction of flow including different fluid
levels, positive pressure or negative pressure, for a
counter-flow.
66. The method according to claim 54, which further comprises
extending a natural thermal state by adding temperature spaces, it
being possible for a temperature level to be maintained and/or
changed.
67. The method according to claim 66, which further comprises
maintaining and/or changing the temperature spaces by using heat
insulation.
68. The method according to claim 66, which further comprises
disposing the temperature spaces further in storing/exchanging
units selected from the group consisting of storage heat exchangers
and storage media.
69. The method according to claim 66, which further comprises
disposing the temperature spaces in a grouped manner.
70. The method according to claim 54, which further comprises
extending a thermal state and heat flow by adding external storage
capacities and/or heat exchanging surface areas.
71. The method according to claim 66, which further comprises using
segments or dishes as the temperature spaces.
72. The method according to claim 70, which further comprises
selecting the heat exchanging surface areas from the group
consisting of solid masses and fluid masses.
73. A method of operating a heating system, which comprises the
steps of: providing the storage heat exchanger according to claim 1
and using the storage heat exchanger in a heating system component
selected from the group consisting of heat exchange control
devices, storage reservoirs and heat exchange intensifying devices.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuing application, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
120, of copending international application No. PCT/EP2003/012800,
filed Nov. 15, 2003, which designated the United States; this
application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119,
of German patent application No. 102 54 728.9, filed Nov. 16, 2002;
the prior applications are herewith incorporated by reference in
their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a storage heat exchanger in heating
systems, it being possible for the thermal energy to be generated
and/or produced from regenerative sources and/or sources with
combustion fuels and/or sources in or against buildings and/or
rooms and/or sources located at a distance and/or proximate.
[0003] The general state of the art discloses buffer storage
reservoirs in heating systems for storing the heat, which are
charged and discharged by circulating the water of the buffer
storage reservoir or by internal heat exchangers. For generating
heat and for heating rooms, the buffered water or heat exchange
media located in the heat exchanger is constantly circulated by
circulating pumps and received via further receiving heat
exchangers such as heating boilers or solar absorbers and
discharged via discharge heat exchangers such as radiators, wall
heaters or floor heating systems.
[0004] Such a configuration is material-intensive, since
independent components are necessary for the functions such as heat
generation, heat discharge, heat storage or circulation.
Furthermore, the operating energy of such systems can be
considerable, since many circulating pumps are operated in such a
system. Furthermore, in the case of solar systems, which, because
of the cost, make the price of obtaining the heat high, the
expensively acquired thermal energy is made more expensive by using
the precious energy of electrical power for circulating it, with
impact on the environment.
[0005] Furthermore, phase change material (PCM) devices are known,
distinguished by high heat density. The PCM devices are likewise
charged and discharged by heat exchangers in a circulating process.
On account of the low thermal conductivity of phase change
materials, these heat exchangers likewise contain
material-intensive banks of tubes with heat directing plates.
[0006] Although increased use of such PCM devices would increase
storage density, this would be at the expense of exacerbating the
aforementioned disadvantages.
[0007] Also known are service-water storage reservoirs that are
installed in buffer storage reservoirs. However, these
service-water storage reservoirs must be configured to be
relatively large, so that considerable service water may be in a
temperature range that is conducive for the spread of Legionnaires'
disease. Furthermore, the expenditure on material for such
service-water storage reservoirs is likewise unnecessarily great on
account of the size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a
storage heat exchanger, related operating methods and use of the
storage heat exchanger which overcome the above-mentioned
disadvantages of the prior art devices and methods of this general
type. The invention is based on the object of forming the storage
heat exchanger in such a way that greater amounts of heat can be
cost-effectively stored. The storage efficiency being improved and
materials used economically and predominantly for the heat storage,
while avoiding the disadvantages of known heat storage and heat
exchange for heat discharge and for heat generation. Further
objects are to make the decentralized configuration of storage heat
exchangers possible in a simple and cost-effective manner, and also
to achieve a high heat storage density. Furthermore, functional
versatility of the storage heat exchanger is to be achieved, so
that materials and devices can be repeatedly used and the tapping
of versatile heat sources is made possible as well as the storage
of the heat from these sources. Furthermore, the heat sources and
sinks are to be supported, so that they can be operated with high
efficiency or with a high degree of utilization.
[0009] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is
provided, in accordance with the invention, a storage heat
exchanger for heating systems. The storage heat exchanger contains
a housing, and a heat storage reservoir disposed in the housing and
containing a medium container having walls and at least one storage
medium for receiving supplied heat and surrounded by the medium
container. For heat exchange, the storage medium being in thermal
contact with a further medium or performs heat conduction with the
further medium through the walls of the medium container, a
boundary of the storage medium, and/or the housing.
[0010] According to the invention, the object is achieved by the
fact that the heat in the heating system is stored in at least one
storage heat exchanger with at least one storage medium, such as a
fluid, phase-change or chemical storage medium, the heat absorption
and/or heat discharge taking place at least for a certain time via
at least one boundary of the heat-storing media and/or at least one
medium container and/or at least one medium housing.
[0011] Here, the storage heat exchanger can only store heat or only
discharge heat or only absorb heat or perform combinations of the
aforementioned functions, so that it can serve as a storage
reservoir and as a direct heat sink and also as a direct heat
source.
[0012] The invention also relates to a method for operating a
storage that is analogously based on the same object as the storage
heat exchanger. The object is achieved by influencing or
maintaining at least one of the basic thermal functions of the
storage heat exchanger, such as moving--such as exchanging or
transferring for charging and/or providing on standby--or storing;
with regard to the flow and/or the state.
[0013] The invention also relates to a use of devices and methods
of the storage heat exchanger in heating system components, such as
heat exchange control devices, storage reservoirs or heat exchange
intensifying devices.
[0014] Further examples of heating components for which the devices
and methods can be made usable are charging and/or
provision-on-standby devices, solid-substance storage heat
exchangers, storage heat exchangers for controlled ventilation
and/or underground storage heat exchangers, solar air storage
collectors or fresh-water stations.
[0015] The substance productivity of the materials used is
increased, i.e. the devices, and consequently the substances, have
a multiple function, so that, with use of little material, high
functionality is achieved with regard to storage capacity, heat
exchange and the management of these functions for the use of
regenerative forms of energy and further heat sources.
Consequently, it is possible to dispense with components in
comparison with the conventional operation of storage reservoirs.
Here, the storage heat exchanger supports the efficiency and degree
of utilization of heat sources and sinks, the storage heat
exchanger itself having a high efficiency.
[0016] Functional diversity is thereby achieved, so that solar
heating support or heating is supported. With a high heat storage
density and decentralized heat storage, these functions are
likewise made easier. Charging and provision-on-standby devices
improve the management of the storage reservoir and also the
functions of the exchange systems. In this case, the generation of
inexpensive heat is also made possible.
[0017] To achieve these advantages, a series of problems had to be
solved. To be specific, finding devices and methods which allow
this functional diversity to be based on standard solutions, so
that it becomes possible in the first place. Taking into account
technological boundary conditions in the specific embodiments.
Further technological problem solutions are stated in the
description.
[0018] Other features which are considered as characteristic for
the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
[0019] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein
as embodied in a storage heat exchanger, related operating methods
and use of the storage heat exchanger, it is nevertheless not
intended to be limited to the details shown, since various
modifications and structural changes may be made therein without
departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and
range of equivalents of the claims.
[0020] The construction and method of operation of the invention,
however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof
will be best understood from the following description of specific
embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, plan view of a storage heat
exchanger for heat storage according to the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of the storage heat
exchanger for heat storage taken along the line II-II shown in FIG.
1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic, plan view of a storage heat
exchanger with a charging and provision-on-standby device for fluid
and gas;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of the storage heat
exchanger with the charging and provision-on-standby device for
fluid and gas taken along the line IV-IV shown in FIG. 3;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of the storage heat
exchanger with a charging and provision-on-standby device for a
fluid and gas;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic, plan view of the storage heat
exchanger with integrated storage heat exchangers;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of the storage heat
exchanger with integrated storage heat exchangers taken along the
line VII-VII shown in FIG. 6;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic, plan view of the storage heat
exchanger with external extension;
[0029] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of the storage heat
exchanger with external extension taken along line IX-IX shown in
FIG. 8;
[0030] FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic, plan view of a storage heat
exchanger with an exchanging area;
[0031] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of the storage
heat exchanger with the exchanging area.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and
first, particularly, to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown a
configuration of a storage heat exchanger according to the defined
object. The storage heat exchanger has a tank with fluid 4, which
can discharge heat via its bounding walls 34 to an air conducting
layer 2. Heat can be charged or discharged via fluid supply and
discharge lines 9, 12 by a fluid circulating system. The air
conductor 2 is bounded by insulation 1.
[0033] By use of two openable and closable flaps 8, 11, a defined
stream of air can be produced through the air-heat exchanging area
2, driven by heat exchange. The air-heat exchange can be controlled
in a way dependent on the temperature of the rooms by controlling
the opening widths of the flaps by a temperature-dependent
expansion element 6 acting via an adjusting element 7. A separation
10 of the air supply 11 and the air discharge 12 at the flaps makes
it possible for a flow of air to circulate around the entire
storage heat exchanger.
[0034] In a simple configuration of the storage heat exchanger, it
could be filled only with a storage fluid. To increase the heat
storage density, however, it is appropriate to integrate further
storage heat exchangers with phase change materials 3 in the fluid
storage heat exchanger 4. These storage heat exchangers 3 may
contain, for example, packaging containers such as cans and be
filled with paraffin, which has a phase change temperature of
typical heating temperatures, for example 40.degree. C. As a
result, the storage heat exchanger has a high storage capacity at
this temperature.
[0035] This gives rise to the problem that paraffin conducts the
heat poorly, so that great charging or discharging times are
produced when charging or discharging the heat, or high
temperatures would be required. This problem is solved on the one
hand by the surrounding fluid likewise having a corresponding
storage capacity, and consequently allowing inactive times to be
used for charging and discharging. On the other hand, the thermal
conductivity in the PCM heat exchanger 3 is improved by
incorporated heat conducting materials. This may be for example a
mesh wire 41 laid in a meandering form, which is inexpensive and
ensures a defined heat conduction with respect to waste materials
(FIG. 4). The use of small PCM heat exchangers 3 and the grouping
of such containers into packs 56 with intermediate spaces for the
storage fluid can likewise eliminate this problem.
[0036] The cost-effectiveness of such PCM heat exchangers 3 can be
further improved by using containers which are open on one side and
stacking them one on top of the other with the open side downward
in groups and fixing them in the fluid storage heat exchanger. It
is then also possible, for example, for old cans to be used.
[0037] In the case of such storage heat exchangers 3, compressive
forces are produced by the change in volume of the phase change
materials when there are changes in the heat, so that the packaging
containers would no longer withstand the pressure. This is solved
on the one hand by using small packaging containers, which have a
greater compressive stability, and/or by a pressure equalization,
so that the external pressure of the fluid storage heat exchanger
is transferred inward into the PCM heat exchanger 3, and as a
result only small pressure differences can occur. The pressure
equalization can be achieved by membranes or compliant surface
areas or compliant tubes being installed in the PCM heat exchanger
3. This also allows the volume expansion of the phase change
materials to be transferred to the surrounding fluid, so that no
cavities are created in the PCM heat exchanger and the thermal
conductivity of the PCM heat exchanger is improved.
[0038] The storage heat exchanger according to FIGS. 1 and 2 can be
used for example in place of radiators or as secondary heating
elements of relatively large storage heat exchangers. In comparison
with normal radiators, there is the advantage that energy obtained
regeneratively or by heat recovery or by cooling components or
machines can be stored decentrally in the rooms of a building. As a
result, the material is used in two ways, to be specific as a way
of bounding heat storage spaces and for heat exchange during
heating. Furthermore, the losses of the storage heat exchanger are
used for heating the room. By contrast with storage reservoirs used
today, the possibility of decentralized configuration allows the
spaces of radiators and parts of living spaces or rooms that cannot
otherwise be put to use to be used for the storage of thermal
energy.
[0039] Additional advantageous developments of the invention are
shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. FIGS. 3-5 include the following three
views: plan view, sectional view IV-IV and sectional view V-V.
Here, the storage heat exchanger with charging and
provision-on-standby devices for a fluid 33, 37, 35, 38, shown in
FIG. 4 is upgraded to a universal stratified storage heat exchanger
and radiator. This allows not only storage for heating heat but
also heat for service water, rain water, rapid heating or
preheating to be performed cost-effectively and heat from fluid and
air collectors, from heat recovery and from cooling of machines and
components to be stored. This can be used for the purpose of
further lowering primary energy consumption and/or making solar
systems more cost-effective.
[0040] The storage heat exchanger again contains a fluid storage
heat exchanger 4 with integrated PCM heat exchangers 3. In the case
of a stratified storage heat exchanger, however, it is appropriate
for the phase change materials to have change-of-state temperatures
adapted to the functions of the layers, so that the greatest heat
storage density is available at the typically required temperatures
for a function. This prevents unnecessary high temperature
generation, which would lead to increased losses and would reduce
the efficiency of the regenerative energy production. The layers
adapted by the change-of-state temperatures improve efficiency of
the regenerative heat production by the large storage volume at the
temperatures specifically required, so that for example a lower
supply of radiation from the sun can be used more intensively or
heat pumps can operate with a better work coefficient than in the
case of PCM devices with a change-of-state temperature adapted to
the function with the highest temperature. An arrangement of
different change-of-state temperatures not only in layers but also
in groups, so as to produce for example overlapping layers or
layers with a number of change-of-state temperatures, has the
effect of increasing the flexibility of dimensioning the heat
storage volume for specific functions.
[0041] The charging and discharging of the storage heat exchanger
via the fluid takes place by the relocatable elements 33, 35, 37,
38, which are connected to flexible supply lines or discharge lines
30 and to flows or returns 28, 29, 39, 40.
[0042] Such a charging and provision-on-standby device has the
advantage that it is stratified not only in the layer of the fed-in
fluid, which has the same temperature as the supplied fluid, but
also in any other desired layer.
[0043] Apart from the charging and provision-on-standby devices for
fluid, charging and provision-on-standby devices for air 44, 45,
48, 49 are also installed in the storage heat exchanger in FIG. 5.
They can be constructed and operated in precisely the same way as
those for fluid, with the differences stated below. A significant
problem with charging and provision-on-standby devices for air is
that instances of air convection can take place more readily in air
conductions due to leakages and losses at the insulations, which
makes the stratification of the storage more unstable and, over a
prolonged time, destroys it. This problem is solved by air
conductors 26, 27 being made narrow, so that no great rolls of air
can be produced. Furthermore, the subdivision of the air conductors
26, 27 into vertically separate segments 36 prevents the undesired
air convection.
[0044] The arrangement of the relocatable elements 48, 44 at the
outer edges of the air conductor 26 has the effect that the air
flows through the segments are enclosed by the two elements 48,
44.
[0045] As a result, the charging and provision-on-standby devices
for air behave in precisely the same way as those for fluid and can
perform the same functions. With the advantage that heat from
external elements, such as air collectors, air cooling systems of
machines or air from heated components can be stored
cost-effectively.
[0046] The charging and provision-on-standby device for air can
perform not only the functions of the device for fluid but also
that of controlling the room temperature while at the same time
preserving the temperature level of the layers in the storage heat
exchanger. This also solves the problem that relatively expensive
solar collectors would have to be used for charging large storage
heat exchangers with regenerative energy. The charging and
provision-on-standby device is suitable for example for charging
solar air collectors or for heat recovery or cooling with air,
while the stratification is retained or produced. This allows the
primary energy demand to be lowered further and more regenerative
energy to be produced, since air systems last longer, are more
simple and inexpensive and can be used for the preheating of the
storage heat exchanger, and fluid solar collectors produce the
higher required temperature level.
[0047] FIGS. 6 and 7 show further variations of the storage heat
exchanger in plan view and in sectional view. The storage heat
exchanger differs in comparison with FIGS. 3 and 4 in that the
storage heat exchanger in FIGS. 3 and 4 discharges and absorbs its
heat by the exchange and storage fluid or air, while the storage
heat exchanger in FIGS. 6 and 7 contains further storage heat
exchangers, whereby the heat can be charged or discharged by
further media, such as service water, rain water, waste water,
cooling fluid, frost protecting fluid or corrosion protecting
fluid.
[0048] The storage heat exchanger 50 may be, for example, a
service-water storage heat exchanger, which takes over the heat
from the exchange and storage fluid via its walls 34. The
service-water storage heat exchanger differs in comparison with
conventional service-water storage reservoirs in that the inflowing
service water is conducted in the storage heat exchanger in a
rotational motion, so that the heat exchange is intensified. This
is achieved on the one hand by the supply line being conducted
tangentially along the circular flow in the storage heat exchanger
and the service water being drawn in the center of the storage heat
exchanger. The circular flow is driven by the flow in the supply
line. Further intensification of the heat exchange can be achieved
by the outflowing service water being returned by a pump to the
inlet of the storage heat exchanger if it is not sufficiently warm.
As a result, the service water is repeatedly introduced into the
storage heat exchanger, whereby the heat absorption is increased.
Furthermore, the rotational flow is increased by the increased
pressure of the pump, so that an improved heat absorption is
likewise obtained. A further increase in the rotational flow, and
consequently the heat exchange, can be achieved by drivers 52,
which are coupled by a ring 51. The supply line directed at the
drivers has the effect that they are driven through the flow and
intensify the rotational flow. Balancing of the driver device, so
that it is in suspension and in equilibrium, as well as completely
rounded corners and edges, make it possible to dispense with a
bearing, so that limescale deposits can have little influence on
the function of the drivers. Vortexing structures on the heat
exchanger wall and/or on the drivers allow further intensification
of the heat exchange to take place. All these measures and devices
allow the service water content of the storage heat exchanger to be
kept small, so that the risk of microbial contamination and
formation of Legionella bacteria in the service water is virtually
ruled out. By omitting individual heat-exchange intensifying
measures, such as for example the feedback pump, or by using the
hot-water standby pump as a feedback pump, possibly by increasing
the storage heat exchanger volume, this service water heating with
the proposed storage heat exchanger has the same convenience as
external fresh-water stations but avoids the heat losses and losses
of efficiency that exist in the case of externally disposed
fresh-water stations by virtue of the additional circulating pump.
Furthermore, the adaptation to different service water capacities
of different buildings or households is possible in a simple manner
by such storage heat exchangers being coupled and connected one
behind the other.
[0049] A storage heat exchanger 53 corresponds in this
configuration to the storage heat exchanger 52, but can be used for
example for increasing the service water capacity or for heating
cistern water. The heating of cistern water is appropriate, for
example, for washing with cistern water, such as laundry washing or
washing operations in factories. Laundry washing with cistern water
dispenses with the need for expensive washing machines with high
efficiency classes, whereby the investment in cistern heating can
be financed. The ecological effect, however, is greater
energy-saving, use of regenerative energy, saving of expensively
prepared fresh water.
[0050] Storage heat exchangers 54 contain PCM heat exchangers such
as those already described in FIGS. 1 to 4.
[0051] A storage heat exchanger 55 contains the storage heat
exchanger tank and integrated PCM heat exchangers. Such a storage
heat exchanger can be used for example for heat exchange with
cooling liquids from machines, fuel cells or components, so that
such heat occurring can be stored at low cost. The integration of
PCM heat exchangers in the cooling storage heat exchanger makes
possible cooling storage heat exchangers with large heat storage
density, so that a great heat exchanging capacity is achieved by
large heat exchanger surface areas of the cooling storage heat
exchanger and of the integrated PCM heat exchangers. The high
storage capacity of the storage heat exchanger makes it possible in
the case of energy that is not occurring constantly but
periodically, such as cyclically operated machines, breaks in
energy in the case of solar energy etc., for the stored energy to
be discharged during the breaks, whereby the heat exchange surface
areas can be configured not for peak capacity but for an average
capacity. This also has the effect of establishing the
cost-effectiveness of the storage of cooling energy.
[0052] The use of storage heat exchangers with heat exchange
intensification, such as the storage heat exchangers 50, 53, or the
installation of these heat-exchange intensifying devices in the
storage heat exchanger 55, or the series connection of storage heat
exchangers of the type 55 and 50, may also be appropriate for
heat-exchanging applications such as cooling, service water or
cistern water in order to adapt the capacity and minimize the
investment.
[0053] Storage heat exchangers 57, 58 with or without heat exchange
intensification may be, for example, for the preheating of the
service water and cistern water or for the preheating of buffer
spaces or components or sides of components. This achieves cooling
to a low temperature in the vicinity of the heat recovery'storage
heat exchanger 59, whereby good heat recovery efficiency is
achieved. The preheating reduces temperature differences between
heatable rooms. As a result, less thermal energy of a higher
temperature potential is required. However, higher temperature
potentials require more booster heating energy or more expensive
investments in solar production or lower work coefficients in the
case of heat pumps, so that primary energy or costs can be saved by
preheating. If the preheating heat exchangers are installed in such
a way that they can also be used for cooling components, and
consequently solar energy can be additionally produced, such a
configuration is cost-effective while making allowance for the
ecology.
[0054] The storage heat exchanger 59 serves for heat recovery, for
example from waste water. The waste water is directed into the
storage heat exchanger if the inflowing waste water is warmer than
that in the storage heat exchanger, and serves in the storage heat
exchanger as a storage fluid. In the case of the application for
waste-water heat recovery, the economic advantage of a storage heat
exchanger is particularly significant, since here there are long
inactive times when no waste water occurs. This allows the heat
exchange surface area to be made small, since during the inactive
times the heat exchange to the preheating heat exchangers 58, 57
can take place over time. The storage heat exchanger for waste
water then only has to be configured in terms of volume to be of
such a size that an average volume, such as for example from taking
a shower, can be received, in order to achieve acceptable
efficiency at low costs.
[0055] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a storage heat exchanger as from FIGS. 3
and 4, but with the modular extension of storage capacity with
further PCM heat exchangers 3, which are disposed in a surrounding
manner, and the insulation 1 surrounding the entire storage heat
exchanger in FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0056] For better heat conduction, the surrounding PCM heat
exchangers 3 may lie in heat-conducting materials 64, such as sand,
gravel or stones, and in this way forms a surrounding
solid-substance storage heat exchanger. The heat conduction takes
place from the fluid storage heat exchanger 63 via heat conducting
bridges, which lie for example in the air conductors 65, 66 or in
the area of direct contact 60 with respect to the fluid storage
heat exchanger 63.
[0057] This arrangement according to the invention has the
advantage that storage heat exchangers with virtually any desired
thermal capacity can be constructed in a modular manner.
Furthermore, the charging and provision-on-standby devices for air
and fluid 61, 62 can also be used for the surrounding
solid-substance storage heat exchanger. This allows short-term and
long-term heat storage reservoirs and combined short-term/long-term
heat storage reservoirs to be constructed.
[0058] Combined short-term/long-term heat storage reservoirs and
long-term heat storage reservoirs have the problem that the large
thermal capacity, and with it the large thermal conductivity, cause
stratified temperatures to even out and relatively considerable
thermal energy to be necessary for maintaining the stratified
temperature, which is also not always available regeneratively.
This problem is solved by layers or segments of the storage heat
exchanger being separated by insulations, so that the temperatures
are maintained for longer and cannot be evened out to approximate
those of other segments or layers. The charging and discharging of
the layers and segments can be performed with charging and
provision-on-standby devices for air and fluid, which are
positioned over flaps or hatches in the insulated layers and
segments. The switching on and off of the insulations, for example
positionable insulations, which can be positioned toward or away
from heat conducting bridges, performs the function of maintaining
the temperature of the layers or segments and of charging and
discharging layers and segments. Many materials are suitable for
the insulation of the solid-substance storage heat exchanger.
Fluid-resistant and impermeable insulations must be used for
insulations in the fluid storage heat exchanger. It is proposed
here to use foam glass or cork, which are sealed. Encapsulated
insulations are also suitable.
[0059] Insulation of layers and segments brings the advantage in
comparison with separate storage reservoirs or storage heat
exchangers that the outer insulation can be reduced, and the losses
remain within the storage heat exchanger, and charging and
provision-on-standby devices for air and fluid can be repeatedly
used. Furthermore, this type of construction has the advantage that
it is possible to depart from slender and high forms of
construction in favor of better maintaining stratification, and
better adaptation to local conditions is made possible in this way.
FIGS. 10 and 11 show the extension of the storage heat exchanger in
FIGS. 3 and 4 by the addition of an exchanging area 70. The
upstream arrangement of an exchanging area makes it possible for
heat to be absorbed from or discharged into the storage heat
exchanger under open-loop or closed-loop control. The exchanging
area has heat-exchanging boundaries and an insulation 69 with
respect to the storage heat exchanger. The exchanging fluid 4 can
be exchanged between the storage heat exchanger 4 and the
exchanging area 70 by use of connections 68, 79, driven by the heat
exchange in the exchanging area. In the simplest case, a connection
can be thermostatically controlled, so that the room temperature is
regulated. However, this does not cause discharging or charging
appropriate for the layers. The connection of the exchanging area
to a charging and provision-on-standby device for fluid allows
discharging or charging appropriate for the layers and the
regulation of the room temperature to take place.
[0060] In the case of heat being discharged to a room, it is
possible for example for the position of the upper charging and
provision-on-standby device for a fluid 75 to be controlled with
respect to room temperature. For example by a two-position
controller, which positions the charging and provision-on-standby
device for fluid 75 upward when the temperature is too low and
downward when the temperature is too high. The lower charging and
provision-on-standby device for fluid 77 can be controlled by a
motor to enter the layer which has the same temperature as the
fluid flowing back. However, prevention of the flow driven by heat
exchange is also possible, by the charging and provision-on-standby
device for fluid being positioned upward, so that a bypass is
created or the flow breaks off as a result of inadequate lifting-up
force of the cold fluid.
[0061] In the case of heat absorption via the exchanging area, for
example by an absorbent coating and a transparent facing, and
exposure to solar radiation, the upper charging and
provision-on-standby device for fluid is controlled in accordance
with the supplied temperature to enter the layer with the
corresponding temperature. The lower charging and
provision-on-standby device for fluid is positioned for the
closed-loop or open-loop control of the temperature of the flow
pipe.
[0062] The object is achieved by storage heat exchangers in heating
systems with configurations in which the heat is stored in at least
one storage heat exchanger with fluid or phase change media or a
chemical storage medium, and boundaries are used for the heat
exchange. Here, the heat-storing media properties and/or the change
of state of substances and/or chemically reversible compounds are
used for the heat storage. Therefore, solid, liquid, vaporous or
crystalline states of aggregation may occur in the storage heat
exchanger. Storage heat exchangers in which the heat exchange of
the media takes place directly via at least one boundary 34 or via
disposed elements of the storage heat exchanger are particularly
cost-effective, since on the one hand boundary walls retain the
storage medium or media and at the same time the heat exchange
takes place via them. High storage capacity is achieved by the use
of arranged exchanging and/or storing units. For example by
surrounding solid storage substances or PCM heat exchangers, which
can likewise be additionally used for the heat exchange. For
example for charging and provision on standby from further storage
heat exchangers and/or for the direct heating of the room air or
the air from the controlled ventilation. In the prior art, complex
heat exchangers such as radiators, water/air heat exchangers etc.
are used for this purpose, but are no longer necessary with the
storage heat exchangers according to the invention.
[0063] Further storing and/or exchanging units, such as storage
heat exchangers, storage reservoirs, heat exchangers or storage
media 3, are arranged with respect to the storage heat exchanger,
such as they are integrated, surrounding, built on or
interconnected. The arrangement of further exchanging and/or
storing units allows the storage heat exchanger according to the
invention to be used more flexibly and constructed in a more
modular form than storage reservoirs in the prior art, and existing
storage masses to be used, and also heat from different sources to
be used. The surrounding arrangement is also beneficial. The
arrangement of storage reservoirs and heat exchangers may also be
appropriate.
[0064] A significant development of the storage heat exchanger is
achieved by the exchanging media and/or storing media being at
least one of the following substances: gas, fluid or solid
substance 64, phase change material 3; chemical storage substance.
Appropriate applications in the case of gas are air, room air 2,
exhaust gas and inert gas. For fluid media, water 4, service water
50, cistern water 53, waste water 59, cooling fluid 55, heating
fluid, water with frost protecting agent, water with corrosion
protecting agents or oil come into consideration. In the case of
solid substances 64, sand, gravel, stones, concrete, earth or scrap
materials are advantageous. The filling of intermediate spaces in
grouped spatial formations 3 with media 4, 64 makes heat exchange,
insulation and use of the intermediate spaces as storage capacity
possible. In comparison with the prior art, where a number of
insulated storage reservoirs are set up in a cylindrical form, the
available space is used better by filling with storage media.
Chemical storage media may be, for example, zeolites or salt
hydrates, which convert into heat by dehydration.
[0065] Further advantageous developments of the storage heat
exchanger are achieved by it containing at least one spatial
formation with at least one inner space, such as a cylinder or
sphere. Further examples of spatial formations are hollow
formations, tanks or containers, tubes or pipes, channels, hollow
cylinders, hollow spheres, segments of hollow spheres, hollow
cuboids, hollow rings, segments of spheres, approximately spherical
forms, sleeves, vessels, capsules, cylindrical disks, plates with
spacing devices, packaging containers--such as cans for preserved
food, cans for paint, gas canisters, glass containers or buckets--,
containers produced on the principle of cans for preserved food,
cans for paint or gas canisters. Storage heat exchangers with
specifically adjusted properties, such as for example a small
surface to minimize loss with a low heat exchange capacity, can be
produced by choice of appropriate spatial formations. However, the
use of spatial formations taken from standardized formations also
increases the cost-effectiveness of heat storage.
[0066] Also advantageous is the grouping of the spatial formations
3 with common and/or separate boundaries, such as lying one inside
the other 4, 3 or arranged in series against one another. The
grouping in series against one another may take place in such a way
that they lie next to one another and/or are stacked. The grouping
in which they lie concentrically one inside the other is also
beneficial. This achieves different possibilities for constructing
storage heat exchangers, whereby adaptation to different thermal
functions is made possible.
[0067] Grouped spatial formations, predominantly smaller ones, are
appropriately combined into packs 56. This provides such spatial
formations with stability for assembly and operation.
[0068] Particularly conducive for the heat transfer in spatial
formations 3 and/or intermediate spaces 64 of grouped spatial
formations is the introduction of heat conductors, such as wire
fabric or sheets. Mesh wire 41 or wire nettings can be used as wire
fabric. It is also possible to use wires if they can be
strengthened. Further examples of heat conductors are metal plates,
cans for preserved food, gas canisters, cans for paint or scrap
metal. In the case of heat conduction in temperature spaces,
fluid-filled pipes are also advantageous, since the heat convection
of the fluid additionally moves heat. This makes it possible to use
storage media with poor heat conduction with little space
requirement for the heat conductors, and consequently high storage
density of a storage heat exchanger.
[0069] Storage heat exchangers with at least one boundary of a
spatial formation containing a thin wall of uniform material or a
material mix, such as sheets or thin plates, with or without
structural reinforcement, and/or a displacement space make the
cost-effective configuration of different storage heat exchangers
or arranged storage heat exchangers possible. For example,
corrosion-resistant storage heat exchangers can be constructed in
this way, the boundaries being produced with a thin high-grade
steel plate and the structural reinforcements produced from less
expensive materials.
[0070] Storage heat exchangers with structural reinforcements or
containing a stabilizing packing assembly of retaining elements,
such as clamping elements or supporting elements, allow the use of
regenerative elements with low-cost stabilization of these
elements. For example, the use of wooden struts which are held
together by secured steel packaging strips. Examples of clamping
elements which can be used are woven fabrics, meshes, nettings or
strips, predominantly steel packaging strip. Rings, struts or piles
are proposed for supporting elements. Pressure-tolerating
configuration of the storage heat exchangers, such as in a
pressure-adapting or pressure-equalizing manner, is also
advantageous. As a result, the storage heat exchanger is also
capable of adapting to expansion and capable of accepting expansion
volume. As a result, arranged storage heat exchangers can be
constructed in a pressure-communicating manner. Furthermore,
pressures from the heating system can be absorbed or discharged,
whereby simpler heating systems can be constructed in comparison
with the prior art. Also advantageous is pressure toleration of the
kind that for example arranged storage heat exchangers build up
pressures generated by the expansion or are already preloaded with
pressures, so that the heat storage of higher temperatures than at
boiling temperatures under atmospheric pressure is made possible.
Pressure toleration containing at least one compliant element makes
the simple configuration of heating systems with
pressure-tolerating and pressure-communicating properties possible.
Membranes, preferably containing silicone mats, or flexibly mounted
surface areas, such as with corrugated devices, elastic bodies,
such as an elastic bag or elastic tube, come into consideration for
compliant elements. Particularly advantageous are displacement
spaces and displacement receiving spaces, such as a gas pocket,
area under vacuum, fluid area or atmosphere, since no additional
components are required and existing tanks or containers can be
used. The combination with different compliant elements is also
appropriate in the case of grouped storage heat exchangers. Storage
heat exchangers can be operated without heat insulation, for
example if they are integrated in insulated storage reservoirs or
spaces. With the storage heat exchangers fitted behind or in heat
insulation 1, this insulation being transparent or opaque or partly
transparent and opaque, the storage heat exchanger becomes suitable
for more universal use. For example, part of the boundary can
absorb or discharge radiant heat directly, while another part of
the boundary exchanges heat by convection.
[0071] With the decentralized arrangement of the storage heat
exchangers, they also require an adapted fluid run-out preventer,
as can be achieved with a fluid collecting device with or without
fluid discharge, a moisture monitor, a loss of fluid monitor or a
fluid level monitor. The combination of such fluid run-out
preventers also allows increased stages of run-out prevention to be
achieved.
[0072] The integration of a heating system or booster heating
system, such as combustion spaces, in the storage heat exchanger or
the direct coupling with the storage heat exchanger, so that the
exchange of the fluid driven by heat exchange can take place,
dispenses with the need for circulation driven by external energy,
for example in the case of booster heating. However, heat losses
must be avoided by insulated partitioning of the integrated
combustion spaces. Such integration or coupling is also
advantageous for using the heat of the exhaust gas by the
gas-conducting exchange areas of the storage heat exchanger, which
are also capable of insulating partitioning, for example by
relocatable elements. With the aid of storage heat exchangers which
contain phase change media 3 of the same and/or different
change-of-state temperatures, storing areas with high storage
capacity at the typical temperatures in use can be realized,
whereby the heat losses are minimized in comparison with the prior
art, where a change-of-state temperature with the maximum
temperature in use is chosen, and lower heat generating
temperatures can be used. In the case of storage heat exchangers
which have to maintain the temperature over a prolonged time and
which are connected to heat-exchanging or heat-conducting media,
different change-of-state temperatures would create the problem
that a high heat flow would take place at low thermal potentials,
so that higher temperature levels would be discharged first,
destroying temperature levels which would have to be re-produced.
This problem is solved with the aid of the temperature spaces
according to the invention.
[0073] The storage heat exchanger is advantageously characterized
by the filling of at least one spatial formation and/or a pack of
spatial formations 3 with phase change media. This allows phase
change areas to be filled and also constructed in a filled manner,
whereby it is also possible for example for a storage heat
exchanger to be extended at a subsequent time. Storage heat
exchangers in which the spatial formations with the same
change-of-state temperatures of the phase change media are grouped
together can be combined to form temperature spaces, whereby the
advantages of the latter are obtained. Storage heat exchangers
which are characterized in that the grouping of phase change media
is configured with change-of-state temperatures with typical
average values or maximum values for the function for which they
are to be used, such as heating or service water, have a high
storage capacity at the typical temperatures of these functions for
which they are to be used, so that the heat generation manages with
a lower temperature level on average, which minimizes the losses
and lowers the generating costs, for example also by heat recovery.
Further examples of functions for which they are to be used are
cistern water, preheating, rapid heating, heat recovery and
cooling.
[0074] Storage heat exchangers, in which the heat conduction can be
changed in a way allowing insulation or with conduction, allow the
movement of heat, i.e. the heat transfer or the heat exchange
within the storage heat exchanger between temperature spaces,
exchanging areas or media. The movement of heat is also possible to
external heat exchangers, storage heat exchangers or storage
reservoirs. The fact that the heat conduction can be changed
results in that it can be interrupted or else can be controlled
under closed-loop and open-loop control, whereby temperature levels
can be established, maintained or avoided. The capability of
insulating or changing the heat conduction is provided by
positionable or detachable or foldable insulations 8, 11,
partitions or heat conducting devices--such as insulating curtains,
foam glass, cork panels, metal sheets, metal sheets with
insulation, encapsulated and joined-together gas spaces, --and/or
gas spaces which can be filled with and emptied of fluid, heat
conduction leading into gas spaces, with release and blockage of
the convection from the gas space, heat conduction leading into
fluid spaces with release and blockage of the convection from the
fluid space. This new possibility of moving heat allows for example
heat exchangers that are at risk from frost simply to store heat in
a storage heat exchanger, the heat conduction being prevented in
the case of frost protection.
[0075] It is beneficial for material saving and efficiency that
room air is heated directly by convection and/or thermal radiation
from the storage heat exchanger. This allows a storage reservoir
also to act at the same time as a radiator.
[0076] It is conducive for the cost-effective storage, charging and
provision on standby of heat for the gas-conducting areas of the
storage heat exchanger 2 to be flowed through by media from
external elements, such as from controlled ventilation or machines
which can be cooled. Other examples of this are air from air
collectors, air from coolers, air from equipment and exhaust gas
from machines. Here, charging and provision-on-standby devices,
such as zone-controllable flows around the heat-exchanging
boundaries, exchanging areas or changeable heat conduction ensure
charging and provision on standby with the gas media at an
appropriate temperature.
[0077] In the prior art, stratifying devices are only known for
fluid media. Storage heat exchangers with at least one charging
and/or provision-on-standby device FIGS. 3, 4: 33, 37, 35, 38;
FIGS. 3, 4; FIGS. 8, 9: 61, 62 for at least two media FIGS. 3, 4:
3, 4; FIGS. 8, 9: 3, 63, 64 or for gas 44, 45, 48, 49 or for solid
substances 64 or for phase change materials make possible
temperature spaces in different storage media on the one hand and
the charging and provision on standby of any desired temperature
levels with different media. This is conducive to flexibility, in
particular of regenerative heating systems.
[0078] Apart from the known thermal function of charging and
provision-on-standby devices, to be specific stratification in a
storage reservoir, the charging and provision-on-standby device
FIGS. 3, 4: 33, 37, 35, 38; FIGS. 3, 4: section IV-IV; FIGS. 8, 9;
61, 62 allows at least one of the thermal functions, such as
charging, discharging, maintaining, generating, changing or
controlling temperature spaces; mixing or provision on standby at
an appropriate temperature or an appropriate volume;
interconnecting, receiving or controlling discharge under
closed-loop or open-loop control to be performed. As a result, the
charging and/or provision-on-standby devices of the storage heat
exchanger are multiply used, whereby the cost-effectiveness of
regenerative heat generation in particular is further increased. It
is advantageous for charging and/or provision-on-standby devices
FIGS. 3, 4: 33, 37, 35, 38; FIGS. 3, 4: section IV-IV; FIGS. 8, 9:
61, 62 to be fed with heat or cold from at least one storage heat
exchanger or heat exchanger or flow of medium. This allows direct
and/or indirect charging and provision on standby to be realized,
whereby system separations are also made possible, for example of a
waste-water system and a heating system.
[0079] Storage heat exchangers in which the charging device also
serves as a provision-on-standby device are likewise more
cost-effective as a result of multiple use. This can take place for
example by the charging and provision-on-standby device being able
to operate in two directions of flow and being operated in
circulation or with a counter-running mode.
[0080] Storage heat exchangers by use of a charging and/or
provision-on-standby device FIGS. 3, 4: section IV-IV with the aid
of a variable, selectable, heat-exchanging surface area in or on
the storage heat exchanger allow gas media in particular to be
charged and provided on standby at an appropriate temperature.
However, such devices having the defined thermal functions which
also allow heat from fluid media and solid media to be
provided.
[0081] The fact that the variable, selectable, heat-exchanging
surface area is subdivided by separated segments 36 which are
flowed through variably by virtue of at least one relocatable
element 44, 45, 48, 49 allows undesired convection to be prevented
during inactivity in the case of flowing media. As a result,
temperature spaces are maintained during inactivity.
[0082] The subdivision of storage heat exchangers into at least one
exchanging area FIGS. 10, 11: 71 and at least one predominately
storing area 4, 3 likewise allows the charging and provision on
standby with the thermal functions. Such a configuration is
particularly advantageous in the case of direct discharge to a
room.
[0083] The fact that the exchanging area is located inside or
outside 70 the storing area or at the bounding wall of the storage
heat exchanger or outside the storage heat exchanger allows for
example the heat discharge from a storage heat exchanger to take
place flexibly into a number of rooms.
[0084] With the movement of heat over boundaries of the storage
heat exchanger there also takes place a movement of heat within the
storage heat exchanger. For the defined movement of heat within the
storage heat exchanger or for maintaining the temperature level and
for charging and provision on standby of heat, the storing and
exchanging area is provided with a flow-separating and/or
heat-insulating partition 69, it also being possible for the latter
to be configured in a pressure-maintaining manner. The fact that
the exchanging area can be controlled by closed-loop or open-loop
control allows defined amounts of heat and temperature levels to be
charged and provided on standby in a simple way. The closed-loop or
open-loop control can be achieved with at least one
thermostatically controlled connection 68, 79 between the areas or
with a charging and provision-on-standby device.
[0085] Storage heat exchangers in which the exchanging area 70 is
provided with a solar-absorbing layer and/or at least one facing,
such as a transparent facing or a relocatable partition, can also
be used for producing solar heat. With the advantage that the
exchanging area can also be used for heating rooms if the
transparent facing contains a transparent heat insulation.
[0086] The systematic use of the bounding walls of the storage heat
exchanger takes place by the heat exchange of the storage heat
exchanger being intensified, such as with surface-enlarging
structures and/or vortexing structures. This may take place for
example on both sides of the heat-exchanging boundaries, so that
both media improve the heat transfer. Storage heat exchangers in
which the intensification according to the invention FIGS. 6, 7
takes place by media conduction, such as rotational movement or
return movement, can be made small, for example with respect to the
fluid volume. This is particularly advantageous in the case of
fresh-water storage heat exchangers, where the media conduction can
additionally also take place through the lines, so that sufficient
hot fresh water is available at the tapping points even after
inactivity.
[0087] Storage heat exchangers which are characterized in that the
supplying of the medium takes place tangentially along the
geometrical conduction of the medium are distinguished by the fact
that a media conduction can be achieved by the flow, without any
further operating energy. With the aid of drivers 52, which perform
or intensify the conduction of the medium, a further improvement in
the media conduction, and with it the heat exchange, is achieved.
The drivers can also be driven with the aid of the flow
supplied.
[0088] Drivers which are configured in an immersed 52 or suspended
manner and are free from edges can move in the storage heat
exchanger without bearings or other components that need
maintenance. This is also achieved by the drivers being connected
51.
[0089] The fact that the storage capacity or the spatial formations
are of a modular construction, such as by tanks which can be
combined in groups or tanks which can be joined, allows the
decentralized arrangement of storage heat exchangers to be made
easier, whereby rooms in buildings can be used better for storing
heat. In the prior art, numbers of storage reservoirs are used for
this purpose or, in the case of larger storage reservoirs, are
welded together on site or transported by large transporters and
put into place by cranes. This is cost-intensive and not very
favorable for exchange or repair. Storage heat exchangers in which
at least one spatial formation or a pack of spatial formations 3 is
or are set up or stacked in or around or in the vicinity of a
storage heat exchanger and/or the storage heat exchanger is
constructed around the spatial formations or packs of spatial
formations make it possible to achieve a modularity with which
storage heat exchangers can be modeled according to
requirements.
[0090] The integration of storage heat exchangers or spatial
formations or internal components is made easier by the storage
heat exchanger tank being able to be joined together from a number
of parts, such as slotted together or fitted together.
[0091] It is advantageous in this respect that tubes or channels
which can be pushed one into the other are set up on a base part,
and a cover part is placed onto the pushed out tubes or channels.
This makes it possible for the construction to be performed from
the bottom up, so that internal components can be put into place
with few obstacles.
[0092] With the aid of the fact that the parts are pressed together
by inwardly directed forces, such as with clamping rings,
predominantly packaging steel strips, and/or are held together by
outwardly directed forces such as with pressing rings, the pressing
force adjustment mechanism of at least one pressing ring being
adjustable by a closable lead-through, with seals being provided
between the holding-together surface areas, solves the problem of
sealing such tanks that can be joined.
[0093] Customary methods for operating a storage heat exchanger
relate in that the storage heat exchanger is charged or discharged
by media flows and the thermal state between media is evened out.
According to the invention, the method for operating a storage heat
exchanger is characterized in that at least one of the basic
thermal functions of the storage heat exchanger, such as moving,
such as exchanging or transferring for charging and or provision on
standby; storing; are influenced or maintained with respect to the
flow and/or state.
[0094] The method which extends the basic thermal functions for
moving and storing by adding heat-conducting and/or heat-radiating
functions makes the storage heat exchanger suitable for more
universal use, since, with the heat-radiating function for example,
it can also heat areas which are open to the atmosphere.
Heat-conducting structural elements can also be utilized at low
cost by the heat conduction, by the method for charging and
provision on standby and also for storing.
[0095] By extending the method by allowing the basic thermal
functions of the storage heat exchanger to take place with at least
one medium, it is possible for example for heat from waste water or
cooling liquids to be adapted in the storage heat exchanger for
heating a building, and consequently to be used in a simple
manner.
[0096] The method brings further advantages by the fact that the
moving can be changed, such as switched or subjected to closed-loop
control. Other examples of the changeability are that it can be
subjected to open-loop control, monitoring, interruption,
continuation, diversion, through-direction, distribution, outward
or inward transfer or positioning. This ensures the versatile use
of the storage heat exchanger, such as for example as a heating
heat exchanger and storage reservoir and absorber.
[0097] The method that the changeability takes place by charging
and or provision-on-standby devices brings with it not only
multiple use of the charging and provision-on-standby device but
also multiple use of drivers for these devices and of open-loop and
closed-loop control devices. Realization by use of different
configurations provides the optimum cost-benefit ratio, in
particular with regard to the media respectively used. Examples of
changeable charging and provision-on-standby devices are an
exchanging area, relocatable flexible conducting devices,
changeable insulations, changeable heat conducting devices,
changeable temperature spaces, changeable absorber surface areas,
relocatable storage heat exchangers or relocatable heat
exchangers.
[0098] The method that the changes take place dependently on media
temperatures and/or differential media temperatures ensures the
respective optimum in the different operating modes of the storage
heat exchanger.
[0099] The method that the media are temperature-controlled under
closed-loop and/or open/loop control, such as by charging and
provision-on-standby devices or speed-controllable flow drives,
such as fans, pumps or positions of valve openings, ensures the
heat supply or heat removal of the areas in the storage heat
exchanger and of the external components.
[0100] The method in which the moving is used for extended thermal
functions, such as heat production, storage, distribution,
recovery, cooling or preheating, of sources and sinks close to
buildings, such as underground storage heat exchangers or machines,
is particularly advantageous, since it allows a heat circuit to be
produced in a building, making it possible to dispense with
generated energy. Other examples of sources and sinks close to
buildings are underground heat exchangers, controlled ventilation,
components, rooms, buildings, storage masses, ground, solar
collectors, storage heat exchangers, heating boilers, furnaces,
flues, motors, fuel cells or heat pumps.
[0101] The method according to which the moving takes place by
solar generators with different efficiencies and/or temperature
levels makes the simultaneous preheating and heating possible to
achieve optimum functional temperatures, and thereby low-cost
generation of solar heat.
[0102] Appropriate for the low-cost transport of the media is the
method in which the exchange is performed with media in a fluid
form or gas form in a forward and backward flow through a line.
[0103] The method that a heat source or sink for the exchange
contains a compliant element, or is in connection with a compliant
element, makes the inward connection flow possible and also the
storage of energy for return flow.
[0104] The method in which energy stored by one direction of flow,
such as different fluid levels, positive pressure or negative
pressure, is used for the counter-flow makes it possible for the
heat to be transported at low operating cost out of and into the
storage heat exchanger. The charging and provision-on-standby
devices can be used during the transport as diverters, so that heat
from different temperature spaces can be transported with the
one-pipe connection in the different transporting directions.
[0105] For maintaining the temperature level, and for low-loss
storage and for further thermal functions, the method is
advantageously extended by adding temperature spaces to the basic
thermal functions, such as segments and dishes, and temperature
levels can be maintained and/or changed. Further advantageous
temperature spaces are spatial formations, grouped spatial
formations, layers and storage heat exchangers. The changeability
of temperature spaces are such that they can be charged,
discharged, mixed, switched, controlled by closed-loop or open-loop
control, monitored, interrupted, continued, diverted,
directed-through, distributed, outwardly or inwardly transferred or
positioned.
[0106] The method that the temperature spaces can be maintained
and/or changed by heat insulation economizes on heat insulating
material and equipment for charging and provision on standby in
comparison with storage batteries, since such a device is
sufficient in the case of a storage heat exchanger with temperature
spaces.
[0107] Also appropriate is the method that the temperature spaces
are located in at least one of the media. This allows all the media
to be used for temperature spaces.
[0108] The method that the temperature spaces are arranged in a
grouped manner, i.e. that they are disposed in series one against
the other, stacked or packed, allows types of storage heat
exchangers that are independent of heat convection to be
constructed, and consequently better adaptation to local
circumstances.
[0109] With the method that the basic thermal functions can be
extended by adding external storage capacities and/or heat
exchanging surface areas, such as solid masses or fluid masses,
low-cost storage and heating is made possible in particular by
regenerative forms of energy using the functional possibilities of
the storage heat exchanger.
* * * * *