U.S. patent application number 10/580048 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-12 for heat storage unit.
Invention is credited to Yasuo Higashi, Toshiya Miyake, Kazuo Takahashi, Hiromiki Yagi.
Application Number | 20070079951 10/580048 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34656195 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070079951 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Takahashi; Kazuo ; et
al. |
April 12, 2007 |
Heat storage unit
Abstract
A heat storage unit capable of efficiently storing heat in a
short time. The unit includes: a heat storage container 1a that
houses sodium acetate 3, which stores heat by a state change
between solid and liquid, and oil 2, which exchanges heat by
directly contacting the sodium acetate 3, has smaller specific
gravity than that of the sodium acetate 3, and is separated from
the sodium acetate 3. Further, the unit includes: a supply pipe 4
that passes at least through the sodium acetate 3 housed in the
heat storage container 1a and supplies the oil 2 into the heat
storage container 1a; and a discharge pipe that discharges the oil
2 housed in the heat storage container 1a to the outside of the
heat storage container 1a. Then, the supply pipe 4 crosses the
boundary surface between the oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3 which
are housed in the heat storage container 1a, has a plurality of
discharge holes that discharge the supplied oil 2a, and at least
one of the discharge holes 6 are positioned in the oil 2.
Inventors: |
Takahashi; Kazuo; (Hyogo,
JP) ; Yagi; Hiromiki; (Hyogo, JP) ; Higashi;
Yasuo; (Hyogo, JP) ; Miyake; Toshiya; (Hyogo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
REED SMITH LLP
3110 FAIRVIEW PARK DRIVE, SUITE 1400
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22042
US
|
Family ID: |
34656195 |
Appl. No.: |
10/580048 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
December 1, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP04/17834 |
371 Date: |
May 19, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C09K 5/063 20130101;
Y02E 60/14 20130101; F28D 20/025 20130101; Y02P 20/10 20151101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/010 |
International
Class: |
F28D 19/00 20060101
F28D019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 2, 2003 |
JP |
2003-40257 |
Apr 12, 2004 |
JP |
2004-116574 |
Claims
1. A heat storage unit comprising: a storage container that houses
a heat storage body, which stores heat by a state change from solid
to liquid, and a heat exchange medium, which exchanges heat by
directly contacting said heat storage body, has a smaller specific
gravity than that of said heat storage body, and is separated from
said heat storage body; a supply pipe that passes through at least
said heat storage body housed in said storage container and
supplies said heat exchange medium into the storage container; and
a discharge pipe that discharges said heat exchange medium housed
in said storage container to the outside of said storage container,
wherein said supply pipe crosses a boundary surface between said
heat exchange medium and said heat storage body housed in said
storage container, has a plurality of discharge holes that
discharge said supplied heat exchange medium, and at least one of
said discharge holes is positioned inside said heat exchange
medium.
2. The heat storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said supply
pipe crosses vertically with respect to said boundary surface.
3. The heat storage unit according to claim 2, wherein said supply
pipe is disposed coaxially around the circumference of an area
having said discharge holes and has a circulation pipe to allow
said heat exchange medium discharged from said discharge holes to
go up in the vertical direction.
4. The heat storage unit according to claim 1, wherein in the case
where said supply pipe or at least a part of said first supply pipe
extends in the horizontal direction, said discharge holes are
provided for an area extending in the horizontal direction such
that the holes are open in the vertically downward direction.
5. The heat storage unit according to claim 1, wherein in said heat
storage body, said supply pipe or said first supply pipe has an
expanded portion that is in a shape that widens toward the end and
provided with said discharge holes on the bottom surface.
6. The heat storage unit according to claim 1, wherein a connection
port of said supply pipe is positioned above a connection port of
said discharge pipe.
7. The heat storage unit according to claim 1, comprising:
wave-absorbing plates that are parallelly arranged with each other
along the boundary surface between said heat storage body and said
heat exchange medium and arranged vertically with respect to said
boundary surface, and prevents agitation on said boundary
surface.
8. The heat storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said
discharge pipe includes a separation mechanism that separates said
heat storage body and said heat exchange medium.
9. The heat storage unit according to claim 8, wherein said
separation mechanism has a separator for allowing said heat
exchange medium and said heat storage body, which were taken in, to
flow horizontally in one direction and a discharge hole that
discharges said heat storage body, which is being precipitated,
from said separator, and said separator has a shape for guiding
said precipitated heat storage body toward said discharge hole.
10. The heat storage unit according to claim 1, wherein said heat
storage body is erythritol.
11. A heat storage unit comprising: a storage container that houses
a heat storage body, which stores heat by a state change from solid
to liquid, and a heat exchange medium, which exchanges heat by
directly contacting said heat storage body, has a smaller specific
gravity than that of said heat storage body, and is separated from
said heat storage body; a supply pipe that passes through at least
said heat storage body housed in said storage container and
supplies said heat exchange medium into the storage container; and
a discharge pipe that discharges said heat exchange medium housed
in said storage container to the outside of said storage container,
wherein said supply pipe includes: a first supply pipe having
discharge holes that discharge said supplied heat exchange medium
into said heat storage body; and a second supply pipe that crosses
the boundary surface between said heat exchange medium and said
heat storage body, which are housed in said storage container, and
has an outlet that discharges said supplied heat exchange medium
into the heat exchange medium.
12. The heat storage unit according to claim 11, wherein in said
heat storage body, said second supply pipe surrounds at least a
part of said first supply pipe including said discharge holes and
has a communicating portion that guides said discharge holes to
said heat exchange medium.
13. The heat storage unit according to claim 11, wherein a
switching valve for switching supply and cutoff of said heat
exchange medium depending on the state of said heat storage body is
provided severally for said first and second supply pipes.
14. The heat storage unit according to claim 11, wherein in the
case where said supply pipe or at least a part of said first supply
pipe extends in the horizontal direction, said discharge holes are
provided for an area extending in the horizontal direction such
that the holes are open in the vertically downward direction.
15. The heat storage unit according to claim 11, wherein in said
heat storage body, said supply pipe or said first supply pipe has
an expanded portion that is in a shape that widens toward the end
and provided with said discharge holes on the bottom surface.
16. The heat storage unit according to claim 11, wherein a
connection port of said supply pipe is positioned above a
connection port of said discharge pipe.
17. The heat storage unit according to claim 11, wherein
wave-absorbing plates that are parallelly arranged with each other
along the boundary surface between said heat storage body and said
heat exchange medium and arranged vertically with respect to said
boundary surface, and prevents agitation on said boundary
surface.
18. The heat storage unit according to claim 11, wherein said
discharge pipe includes a separation mechanism that separates said
heat storage body and said heat exchange medium.
19. The heat storage unit according to claim 18, wherein said
separation mechanism has a separator for allowing said heat
exchange medium and said heat storage body, which were taken in, to
flow horizontally in one direction and a discharge hole that
discharges said heat storage body, which is being precipitated,
from said separator, and said separator has a shape for guiding
said precipitated heat storage body toward said discharge hole.
20. The heat storage unit according to claim 11, wherein said heat
storage body is erythritol.
21. A heat storage unit comprising: a storage container that houses
a heat storage body, which stores heat by a state change from solid
to liquid, and a heat exchange medium, which exchanges heat by
directly contacting said heat storage body, has a smaller specific
gravity than that of said heat storage body, and is separated from
said heat storage body; a supply pipe that passes through at least
said heat storage body housed in said storage container and
supplies said heat exchange medium into said storage container; and
a discharge pipe that discharges said heat exchange medium housed
in said storage container to the outside of said storage container,
wherein said supply pipe includes: a first supply pipe having an
outlet that discharges said supplied heat exchange medium into said
heat exchange medium housed in said storage container housed in
said storage container; and a second supply pipe that has at least
a part of said first supply pipe inside the pipe and has discharge
holes that discharge said supplied heat exchange medium into said
heat storage body.
22. The heat storage unit according to claim 21, wherein in the
case where said supply pipes are provided parallelly in said heat
storage body, a thermal conduction member for conducting heat of
said supply pipes is provided.
23. The heat storage unit according to claim 22, wherein at least a
part of said supply pipe is provided on the bottom surface of said
storage container.
24. The heat storage unit according to claim 21, wherein said
second supply pipe is provided on the bottom surface of said
storage container so as to cover said bottom surface.
25. The heat storage unit according to claim 21, wherein a
connection port of said supply pipe is positioned above a
connection port of said discharge pipe.
26. The heat storage unit according to claim 21, comprising:
wave-absorbing plates that are parallelly arranged with each other
along the boundary surface between said heat storage body and said
heat exchange medium and arranged vertically with respect to said
boundary surface, and prevents agitation on said boundary
surface.
27. The heat storage unit according to claim 21, wherein said
discharge pipe includes a separation mechanism that separates said
heat storage body and said heat exchange medium.
28. The heat storage unit according to claim 27, wherein said
separation mechanism has a separator for allowing said heat
exchange medium and said heat storage body, which were taken in, to
flow horizontally in one direction and a discharge hole that
discharges said heat storage body, which is being precipitated,
from said separator, and said separator has a shape for guiding
said precipitated heat storage body toward said discharge hole.
29. The heat storage unit according to claim 21, wherein said heat
storage body is erythritol.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a heat storage unit capable
of storing generated heat and transporting the heat to a remote
place.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Heat generated from a factory such as an ironworks and
garbage-disposal facility, for example, is used in various kinds of
facility near the factory. Further, by temporarily storing the heat
generated from the factory in a heat storage body or the like and
by transporting the heat storage body, the heat can be used in the
remote place from the factory. As a device for storing heat, there
exists a device that performs heat exchange by allowing a medium
such as oil, to which heat is supplied, to directly contact metal
hydrate and stores heat in the metal hydrate.
[0003] For example, the heat storage body such as sodium acetate
and oil having a smaller specific gravity than that of the heat
storage body are housed in the storage container of Patent Document
1. Since the specific gravity of oil is smaller and the oil and the
heat storage body do not mix, they are housed vertically in a
separated manner. Then, pipes are disposed in the oil and the heat
storage body, and they are severally connected to a heat exchanger.
The oil is taken into the heat exchanger from one pipe to supply
heat, and the oil to which heat was supplied is discharged from the
other pipe into the heat storage body. Since the discharged oil has
a small specific gravity, it goes up to the oil in the upper area.
Heat is exchanged by the direct contact between the heat storage
body and the oil while the oil goes up. By repeating the
above-described action, heat is stored in the heat storage body.
Then, the pipes of Patent Document 1 are in a double pipe structure
in order to prevent impurities from being mixed into the pipes or
the heat exchanger.
[0004] Patent Document 1: International Publication No. WO
03/019099 (FIG. 1)
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] The heat storage body such as sodium acetate that stores
heat utilizes latent heat of fusion, where the state of the heat
storage body changes from solid to liquid as heat is added, and
heat is thus stored. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the heat
storage body is solid at the starting point of heat supply, so that
discharge holes are clogged up by solid heat storage body even when
the oil to which heat was supplied is ready to be discharged from
the pipe arranged inside the heat storage body, the oil cannot be
discharged until heat is applied to the heat storage body to change
its state to liquid, and heat cannot be supplied to the heat
storage body. As a result, enormous time is spent in storing
heat.
[0006] Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a heat storage unit capable of storing heat efficiently in
a short time.
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects
[0007] The present invention includes: a storage container that
houses a heat storage body, which stores heat by a state change
from solid to liquid, and a heat exchange medium, which exchanges
heat by directly contacting the heat storage body, has a smaller
specific gravity than that of the heat storage body, and is
separated from the heat storage body; a supply pipe that passes
through at least the heat storage body housed in the storage
container and supplies the heat exchange medium into the storage
container; and a discharge pipe that discharges the heat exchange
medium housed in the storage container to the outside of the
storage container, in which the supply pipe crosses a boundary
surface between the heat exchange medium and the heat storage body,
has a plurality of discharge holes that discharge the supplied heat
exchange medium, and at least one of the discharge holes is
positioned inside the heat exchange medium.
[0008] With this constitution, the heat exchange medium can be
discharged from the supply pipe regardless of the state of the heat
storage body because the discharge holes are provided in the heat
exchange medium side. The heat storage body is solid under normal
state and changes to liquid as heat is stored. For this reason, the
discharge holes are clogged up by the solid heat storage body at
the starting point of heat supply even if the discharge holes are
provided for the supply pipe arranged in the heat storage body.
Then, the supplied heat exchange medium can be discharged by
providing the discharge holes on the heat exchange medium side, and
heat can be conducted to the heat storage body. Then, once the heat
storage body changes from solid to liquid, the heat exchange medium
can be discharged from the discharge holes provided on the heat
storage body side as well. This makes it possible to contact the
heat storage body and the heat exchange medium in a short time, so
that a heat storage time can be shortened. Further, when the
discharge holes are not provided in the heat exchange medium, there
is a possibility that the discharge holes provided on the heat
storage body side are clogged up, the heat exchange medium passing
through the supply pipe is not discharged and heat cannot be
stored, but such danger can be eliminated.
[0009] It is preferable that the supply pipe of the present
invention cross vertically with respect to the boundary surface.
With this, the heat exchange medium can be discharged along the
supply pipe by allowing the supply pipe to cross vertically the
boundary surface, and heat can be stored in the heat storage body
near the supply pipe first. Thus, heat exchange from the heat
exchange medium to the heat storage body can be performed
efficiently.
[0010] In this case, it is preferable that the supply pipe be
disposed coaxially around the circumference of an area having the
discharge holes and have a circulation pipe to allow the heat
exchange medium discharged from the discharge holes to go up in the
vertical direction. With this constitution, by allowing the
supplied heat exchange medium to be discharged in the vertical
direction along the circulation pipe, circulating flow associated
with temperature change occurs around the circulation pipe. With
this, heat can be conducted efficiently to the heat storage body
and a heat storage time can be shortened.
[0011] In another aspect, the present invention includes: a storage
container that houses a heat storage body, which stores heat by a
state change from solid to liquid, and a heat exchange medium,
which exchanges heat by directly contacting the heat storage body,
has a smaller specific gravity than that of the heat storage body,
and is separated from the heat storage body; a supply pipe that
passes through at least the heat storage body housed in the storage
container and supplies the heat exchange medium into the storage
container; and a discharge pipe that discharges the heat exchange
medium housed in the storage container to the outside of the
storage container, in which the supply pipe includes a first supply
pipe having discharge holes that discharge the supplied heat
exchange medium into the heat storage body and a second supply pipe
that crosses the boundary surface between the heat exchange medium
and the heat storage body, which are housed in the storage
container, and has an outlet inside the heat exchange medium.
[0012] With this constitution, heat storage time can be shortened
by using first and second flow pipes. The heat storage body can
store heat by changing its state from solid to liquid. Therefore,
since the heat storage body is solid at the starting point of heat
storage, the discharge holes provided for the first supply pipe are
clogged up and they cannot discharge the supplied heat exchange
medium. On the other hand, since the second supply pipe has an
outlet in the heat exchange medium, it can constantly discharge the
supplied heat exchange medium. For this reason, heat can be
conducted by indirect contact of the heat exchange medium flowing
in the second supply pipe to change the heat storage body from
solid to liquid. Then, by changing the heat storage body to liquid,
the heat exchange medium can be discharged from the discharge holes
of the first supply pipe. By switching the two supply pipes to
store heat in the heat storage body in this manner, heat storage
time can be shortened.
[0013] It is preferable for the present invention that, in the heat
storage body, the second supply pipe surround at least a part of
the first supply pipe including the discharge holes and have a
communicating portion that guides the discharge holes to the heat
exchange medium. With this, when the second supply pipe is
surrounded by the first supply pipe, the periphery of the second
supply pipe and the periphery of the discharge holes for heat
exchange medium of the first supply pipe can be heated by the heat
exchange medium flowing in the second supply pipe. By quickly
heating these areas to melt the solid heat storage body, the heat
exchange medium is quickly discharged from the first supply pipe to
allow the heat storage body to directly contact the heat exchange
medium, and the heat storage time can be shortened.
[0014] It is preferable for the present invention that a switching
valve for switching supply and cutoff of the heat exchange medium
depending on the state of the heat storage body be provided
severally for the first and second supply pipes. With this
constitution, timing for switching the supply pipes can be changed
depending on the state of the heat storage body, and heat can be
stored more efficiently. For example, the pipes can be switched
such that the heat exchange medium is supplied to both of the first
supply pipe and the second supply pipe at the starting point of
heat storage and then the medium is supplied only to the first
supply pipe, and thus heat can be stored efficiently.
[0015] In the case where the supply pipe or at least a part of the
first supply pipe extends in the horizontal direction, the present
invention may be provided with the discharge holes for an area
extending in the horizontal direction such that the holes are open
in the vertically downward direction. With this, the specific
gravity of the heat exchange medium is smaller than that of the
heat storage body, so that a danger that the heat storage body
enters inside the supply pipe from the discharge holes is
eliminated when the discharge holes are open downward.
[0016] It is preferable for the present invention that, in the heat
storage body, the supply pipe or the first supply pipe have an
expanded portion that is in a shape that widens toward the end and
provided with the discharge holes on the bottom surface. With this
constitution, the specific gravity of the heat exchange medium is
smaller than that of the heat storage body, so that a danger that
the heat storage body enters inside the supply pipe from the
discharge holes is eliminated because the discharge holes are open
downward. Furthermore, more heat exchange medium can be discharged
by forming the pipe in the shape that widens toward the end, and
the heat storage time can be shortened.
[0017] Further, in another aspect, the present invention includes:
a storage container that houses a heat storage body, which stores
heat by a state change from solid to liquid, and a heat exchange
medium, which exchanges heat by directly contacting the heat
storage body, has a smaller specific gravity than that of the heat
storage body, and is separated from the heat storage body; a supply
pipe that passes through at least the heat storage body housed in
the storage container and supplies the heat exchange medium into
the storage container; and a discharge pipe that discharges the
heat exchange medium -housed in the storage container to the
outside of the storage container, in which the supply pipe includes
a first supply pipe having an outlet that discharges the supplied
heat exchange medium into the housed heat storage body and a second
supply pipe that has at least a part of the first supply pipe
inside thereof and has discharge holes that discharge the supplied
heat exchange medium into the heat storage body.
[0018] With this constitution, the heat exchange medium can
constantly flow in the first supply pipe regardless of the state of
heat storage body, so that heat can be conducted to the heat
exchange medium in the second supply pipe and high temperature can
be maintained. Thus, high temperature can be discharged from the
discharge holes, so that heat can be sufficiently stored.
[0019] It is preferable that the present invention, in the case
where the supply pipes are provided parallelly in the heat storage
body, be provided with a thermal conduction member for conducting
heat of the supply pipes to the heat storage body between the
supply pipes. With this, heat can be supplied to the heat storage
body in a shorter time, and the heat storage time can be
shortened.
[0020] It is preferable that at least a part of the supply pipe of
the present invention be provided on the bottom surface of the
storage container. With this constitution, the heat exchange medium
to be discharged goes up because its specific gravity is lighter
than the heat storage body, and a contact time between the
discharged heat exchange medium and the heat storage body can be
made longer by providing the supply pipe on the bottom surface.
Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the second
supply pipe be provided on the bottom surface of the storage
container so as to cover the bottom surface. With this, a contact
surface between the second supply pipe and the heat storage body is
wide and heat can be stored from the bottom portion of the heat
storage body, so that the heat storage time can be shortened.
[0021] It is preferable that the connection port of the supply pipe
of the present invention be positioned above the connection port of
the discharge pipe. With this constitution, by allowing the
connection port of the supply pipe to be positioned higher than the
connection port of the discharge pipe, the heat exchange medium
from the discharge pipe can be inversely flown first when the heat
storage body or the heat exchange medium flows inversely, and it is
possible to avoid a danger that the heat storage body to which heat
is stored flows inversely.
[0022] It is preferable that the present invention have
wave-absorbing plates that are parallelly arranged with each other
along the boundary surface between the heat storage body and the
heat exchange medium, arranged vertically with respect to the
boundary surface, and prevent agitation on the boundary surface.
With this constitution, it is possible to prevent agitation on the
boundary surface caused by vibration associated with transportation
in the heat storage state.
[0023] It is preferable that the discharge pipe of the present
invention include a separation mechanism that separates the heat
storage body and the heat exchange medium. With this constitution,
the heat storage body can be removed if it is mixed in the heat
exchange medium to be discharged outside the storage container. In
this case, it is preferable that the separation mechanism have a
separator for allowing the heat exchange medium and the heat
storage body, which were taken in, to flow horizontally in one
direction and a discharge hole that discharges the heat storage
body, which is being precipitated, from the separator, and the
separator have a shape for guiding the precipitated heat storage
body toward the discharge hole. With this, the heat storage body
and the heat exchange medium can be separated with a simple
structure.
[0024] Furthermore, it is preferable that the heat storage body of
the present invention be erythritol. With this, it is possible to
store heat efficiently in a short time.
Best Mode for Implementing the Invention
[0025] In the following, description will be made for the preferred
embodiments of the present invention with reference to the
drawings.
[0026] (First Embodiment)
[0027] A heat storage unit 1 according to the first embodiment of
the present invention is preferably used in a portable heat storage
unit. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it is applied for a heat
transportation system that transports heat when a factory 60
generating heat and facility 70 using the heat are remote from each
other. The heat storage unit 1 is detachable to connection ports
51, 52 of heat exchangers 5a, 5b that store heat or discharge heat
to/from the heat storage unit 1, and is transported between the
factory 60 and the facility 70 by a vehicle 50 such as a truck. The
factory 60 is a garbage-incinerating facility, a power generating
plant, an ironworks or the like, and heat generated in the factory
is stored in the heat storage unit 1 via the heat exchanger 5a.
Further, the facility 70 is facility such as a heated swimming pool
and a hospital, and the heat stored in the heat storage unit 1 is
applied for temperature-control system or the like in the facility
via the heat exchanger 5b. In the following description, heat
exchange in the factory 60 side will be explained.
[0028] The heat storage unit 1 includes a heat storage container 1a
(storage container) that houses oil 2 (heat exchange medium) and
sodium acetate trihydrate salt 3 (heat storage body) (hereinafter,
referred to as sodium acetate 3), a supply pipe 4, and a discharge
pipe 6. Since the oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3 are not mixed with
each other and the oil 2 has a smaller specific gravity than that
of the sodium acetate 3, the oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3 are
housed in the heat storage container 1a severally in an upper layer
and a lower layer in a separate manner. Furthermore, since the oil
2 and the sodium acetate 3 are not mixed, that is, the oil 2 and
the sodium acetate 3 are separate from each other, a member or the
like for separating the oil 2 from the sodium acetate 3 is not laid
between them and the oil 2 is in directly contact with the sodium
acetate 3.
[0029] The oil 2 performs heat exchange with the sodium acetate 3
by direct contact with the sodium acetate 3. The oil 2, when it is
taken into the heat exchanger 5a from the discharge pipe 6
(described later) and heat is supplied in the heat exchanger 5a (in
the description below, the oil 2 to which heat was supplied in the
heat exchanger 5a will be called oil 2a), it is discharged into the
sodium acetate 3 via the supply pipe 4. Since the discharged oil 2a
has a smaller specific gravity than that of the sodium acetate 3,
it goes up to the oil 2 of the upper layer and is taken in by the
oil 2. During the upward movement, the heat supplied to the oil 2a
is conducted to the sodium acetate 3 due to the direct contact with
the sodium acetate 3.
[0030] The sodium acetate 3 stores the heat conducted from the
above-described oil 2a. The melting point of the sodium acetate 3
is about 58.degree. C. and it is solid under the normal state (room
temperature). Then, its state changes from solid to liquid when the
heat is conducted from the oil 2a due to the direct contact, and
heat is stored during a liquid state.
[0031] The supply pipe 4 is provided in the upper layer portion of
the heat storage container 1a, where the housed oil 2 is
positioned, in a penetrated manner, and a connection port 41 is
detachably connected to the connection port 51 of the heat
exchanger 5a. The supply pipe 4 that is provided for the heat
storage container 1a in a penetrated manner vertically crosses the
boundary surface between the oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3 and
enters the sodium acetate 3, and furthermore, it is bent in an
L-shape and horizontally extended. The supply pipe 4 has an
internal space and the oil 2a to which heat was supplied by the
heat exchanger 5a flows in the internal space.
[0032] Further, the supply pipe 4 has a plurality of discharge
holes 4a, 4b, which discharge the oil 2a flowing inside the pipe,
along its axis direction. A plurality of discharge holes 4a are
provided above a boundary surface while using the boundary surface
between the oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3 as a boundary, that is,
on the supply pipe 4 of the oil 2 side. Furthermore, one or more
discharge holes 4b are provided below the boundary surface, that
is, on the supply pipe 4 of the sodium acetate 3 side. Note that
the discharge holes 4b provided in an area where the supply pipe 4
is bent in an L-shape and horizontally extended, are provided so as
to be open vertically downward. Thus, since the sodium acetate 3
has a larger specific gravity than that of the oil 2a, the sodium
acetate 3 does not enter the supply pipe 4 while pushing aside the
oil 2a to be discharged from the discharge holes 4b, and this
prevents the sodium acetate 3 from being solidified and clogged
inside the supply pipe 4.
[0033] The discharge pipe 6 is provided in the upper layer portion
of the heat storage container 1a, where the housed oil 2 is
positioned, in a penetrated manner. Then, a connection port 61 of
the discharge pipe 6 is detachably connected to the connection port
52 of the heat exchanger 5a to take the oil 2 inside the heat
storage container 1a into the heat exchanger 5a. At this point, the
connection port 61 of the discharge pipe 6 is disposed on the heat
storage container 1a so as to be below the connection port 41 of
the supply pipe 4, that is, such that the discharge pipe 6 is below
the supply pipe 4. If the supply pipe 4 and the discharge pipe 6
are removed from the heat exchanger 5a in a wrong procedure, there
is a possibility that the oil 2 or the sodium acetate 3 flows
inversely due to a pressure difference between the outside and the
inside of the heat storage container 1a. For this reason, the
discharge pipe 6 is arranged below the supply pipe 4 to allow the
oil 2 to which heat is not applied to flow inversely first from the
discharge pipe 6. Consequently, a pressure difference from the
outside is eliminated and a danger that the sodium acetate 3 to
which heat is stored flows inversely from the supply pipe 4 is
prevented.
[0034] The heat exchanger 5a stores heat generated from the factory
60 in the heat storage container 1a. As described above, the supply
pipe 4 and the discharge pipe 6 are connected detachably to the
heat exchanger 5a. Then, the supply pipe 4 and the discharge pipe 6
are communicated with each other in the heat exchanger 5a.
Moreover, a pipe (not shown) that takes in the heat generated from
the factory 60 as steam and a pipe (also not shown) that discharges
steam from which heat has been removed are connected to the heat
exchanger 5a, and the pipes are communicated with each other in the
heat exchanger 5a via a pipe arranged so as to surround the
communicated portion between the supply pipe 4 and the discharge
pipe 6. Further, a pump (not shown) is disposed for the connection
port 51 of the heat exchanger 5a, and it takes the oil 2 into the
heat exchanger 5a and sends the oil 2 that was taken in to the heat
storage container 1a.
[0035] The heat exchanger 5a takes in the oil 2 inside heat storage
container 1a by the pump via the discharge pipe 6 while it takes in
steam generated from the factory 60 via the pipe. The steam that
was taken in conducts heat to the oil 2, which was taken in, by
indirect contact of the pipes in the communicated portion between
the supply pipe 4 and the discharge pipe 6. After that, the oil 2a
to which heat was supplied is supplied into the heat storage
container 1a via the supply pipe 4. In addition, the steam from
which heat was removed is discharged via the pipe. When the heat
exchanger 5a repeats the above-described action, the heat generated
from the factory 60 can be stored in the sodium acetate 3 of the
heat storage unit 1.
[0036] Next, description will be made for the heat storage method
to the heat storage unit 1.
[0037] The steam generated from the factory 60 is taken into the
heat exchanger 5a. On the other hand, the oil 2 inside the heat
storage container 1a is taken into the heat exchanger 5a via the
discharge pipe 6. Then, in the heat exchanger 5a, heat of the steam
is conducted to the oil 2 that was taken in. The oil 2a to which
heat was supplied is returned to the heat storage container 1a via
the supply pipe 4.
[0038] The oil 2a flows in the supply pipe 4 and is discharged from
the discharge holes 4a, 4b. Since the sodium acetate 3 at the
starting point of heat storage is solid and the discharge holes 4b
are provided in the sodium acetate 3 side, the discharge holes 4b
is in the state of being clogged by the solid sodium acetate 3. For
this reason, the oil 2a is not discharged from the discharge holes
4b.
[0039] On the other hand, since the discharge holes 4a are provided
in the oil 2 side, the oil 2a can be discharged without clogging
the discharge holes 4a. Then, the oil 2a discharged from the
discharge holes 4a conducts heat to the sodium acetate 3 near the
boundary surface between the oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3. With
this, the state of the sodium acetate 3 gradually changes from
solid to liquid from the upper portion thereof, and the oil 2a is
discharged from the discharge holes 4b as well. Due to the direct
contact with the discharged oil 2a, heat is stored in the sodium
acetate 3. Furthermore, the oil 2a flowing in the supply pipe 4
conducts heat to the sodium acetate 3 via the supply pipe 4 due to
the indirect contact. This makes it possible to change the sodium
acetate 3 from solid to liquid even faster and the heat storage
time can be shortened.
[0040] When the sodium acetate 3 becomes a liquid state and the oil
2a is discharged into the sodium acetate 3, it goes up to the oil 2
in the upper layer and is taken into the layer because the specific
gravity of the oil 2a is smaller than that of the sodium acetate 3.
The oil 2a conducts heat to the sodium acetate 3 as it goes up. By
repeating the above-described action, heat can be stored in the
sodium acetate 3.
[0041] Meanwhile, description has been made for the heat exchange
in the factory 60 side, but the same applies to the heat exchange
in the facility 70 side. Specifically, the sodium acetate 3 is
liquid in the state where heat was supplied, and stored heat can be
taken out from the liquid. The supply pipe 4 and the discharge pipe
6 of the heat storage unit 1 are connected detachably to the heat
exchanger 5b that takes out the heat stored in the heat storage
unit 1, and furthermore, a pipe for taking in gas or liquid and a
pipe for supplying to heated gas or liquid and for supplying to the
temperature-control system of the facility 70 are connected to the
heat exchanger 5b.
[0042] The heat exchanger 5b discharges the oil 2 into the sodium
acetate 3 in which heat is stored via the supply pipe 4. Heat is
conducted from the sodium acetate 3 to the discharged oil 2 due to
the direct contact as it goes up. With this, heat is supplied to
the oil 2 in the upper layer and the oil is taken into the heat
exchanger 5b from the discharge pipe 6. On the other hand, gas or
liquid such as water is taken into the heat exchanger 5b. Then,
heat is conducted from the oil 2 to which heat was applied to gas
or liquid. The gas or liquid to which heat was conducted passes
through the pipe and is supplied to the temperature-control system
in the facility 70. By repeating the above-described action, heat
stored in the sodium acetate 3 can be taken out.
[0043] Next, description will be made for a heat transportation
system using the heat storage unit 1 according to the first
embodiment. By repeating the above-described action, the heat
generated from the factory 60 due to garbage incineration or the
like is stored in the heat storage unit 1. Since the heat storage
unit 1 is connected to the heat exchanger 5a detachably, it is
removed after heat storage is completed, and transported to the
facility 70 requiring the stored heat by the vehicle 50 such as a
truck. The transported heat storage unit 1 is connected to the heat
exchanger 5b, the heat stored in the heat storage unit 1 is taken
out, and used in the temperature-control system or the like of the
facility 70.
[0044] As described above, because the discharge holes 4a are
provided in the oil 2 side of the supply pipe 4 in this embodiment,
even if the sodium acetate 3 is solid at the starting point of heat
storage, the solid sodium acetate 3 can be changed to liquid in a
shorter time by discharging the oil 2a from the discharge holes 4a.
With this, the heat storage time to the sodium acetate 3 can be
shortened.
[0045] Furthermore, by allowing the supply pipe 4 to vertically
cross the boundary surface between the oil 2 and the sodium acetate
3, the sodium acetate 3 near the supply pipe 4 can be changed from
solid to a liquid state by the oil 2a discharged from the discharge
holes 4a, and thus the oil 2a can be discharged faster from the
discharge holes 4b. Consequently, the heat storage time can be even
shorter.
[0046] Meanwhile, as a modified example of this embodiment, a
circulation pipe 4c may be provided as shown in FIG. 3. The
circulation pipe 4c is provided so as to surround the circumference
of the supply pipe 4 that vertically crosses boundary surface
between the oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3, and serves as a guide
for allowing the oil 2a, which is discharged from the discharge
holes 4b, to go up in the vertical direction after the state of the
sodium acetate 3 is changed to liquid. When the oil 2a to which
heat was supplied, which is discharged from the discharge holes 4b,
goes up along the circulation pipe 4c, the liquid sodium acetate 3
having low temperature moves toward the bottom portion of the
circulation pipe 4c, and circulating flow is generated around the
circulation pipe 4c as shown by the arrows in the drawing. This
allows heat to circulate, and an effect is exerted that the heat
storage time is shortened by efficiently storing heat in the sodium
acetate 3.
[0047] Further, as another modified example of this embodiment, a
plurality of plates 11 (wave-absorbing plates) may be provided so
as to vertically cross the boundary surface between the oil 2 and
the sodium acetate 3 as shown in FIG. 4. By providing the plates
11, the oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3 vibrate during the
transportation of the heat storage unit 1 to generate waves, and
agitation on the boundary surface can be prevented. By preventing
agitation, heat stored in the sodium acetate 3 can be held.
[0048] Furthermore, as another modified example, a separation
device 12 may be provided halfway the discharge pipe 6. The
separating device 12 is a device that separates the oil 2 and the
sodium acetate 3 when the sodium acetate 3 is mixed in the oil 2
that was taken in. For example, although not shown, the separation
device 12 has a structure where it takes out the oil 2, which was
taken in, from the upper portion of the separation device 12 while
it spirally rotates the oil 2 that was taken in. In this case,
since the sodium acetate 3 has a larger specific gravity than that
of the oil 2, the sodium acetate 3 is discharged from an outlet at
the bottom portion of the separation device 12 along the sidewall
surface of the separation device 12 when it hits the sidewall
surface due to centrifugal force, and only the oil 2 is taken into
the heat exchanger 5a. With this, the sodium acetate 3 can be
removed from the oil 2 to be taken into the heat exchanger 5a, and
a danger of a failure or the like that is caused when the sodium
acetate 3 enters the heat exchanger 5a is eliminated. The
above-described modified examples can be applied for embodiments
described below.
[0049] Meanwhile, the supply pipe 4 vertically crosses the boundary
surface between the oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3 in this
embodiment described above, but it may cross the boundary surface
diagonally instead of vertically. Further, the supply pipe 4 is
bent in the L-shape and extended in the horizontal direction, but
it may not be extended in the horizontal direction. The pipe may be
any shape as long as it can discharge the oil 2 in the sodium
acetate 3. Moreover, the side surface may be a shape that widens
toward the end as shown in FIG. 6, or a supply portion 13 (expanded
portion) having the shape that widens toward the end may be
provided halfway the supply pipe 4. In this case, it may be a
conical shape or may be hemispherical shape. Further, in this case,
by providing discharge holes 13a at the bottom surface portion, a
danger that the sodium acetate 3 enters inside the pipe is
eliminated.
[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the discharge holes 4b,
which are provided in the horizontally extended portion of the
supply pipe 4 in the sodium acetate 3, are provided on the lower
portion of the supply pipe 4, but they may be provided on the upper
portion thereof. In addition, in this embodiment, sodium acetate is
used as a substance for storing heat and oil is used as a substance
for conducting heat, but the substances are not limited to them.
For example, the heat storage body may be erythritol. Since
erythritol can be heated by oil having the temperature of
120.degree. C. or higher, it exerts an effect that heat can be
stored efficiently in a short time.
[0051] (Second Embodiment)
[0052] Next, description will be made for the heat storage unit
according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The
heat storage unit according to this embodiment is different from
the first embodiment on the point that it is provided with two
supply pipes. In the following, only the different point will be
described. Note that the same reference numerals are applied to the
same members as those of the first embodiment, and their
explanation will be omitted.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 7, the heat storage unit 1 according to
this embodiment is provided with a first supply pipe 7 (first
supply pipe) and a second supply pipe 8 (second supply pipe). The
first supply pipe 7 and the second supply pipe 8 are provided in
the upper layer portion of the heat storage container 1a, where the
housed oil 2 is positioned, in a penetrated manner, and is
detachably connected to the heat exchanger 5a. Specifically, the
connection port of one supply pipe 11 is detachably connected to
the connection port 51 of the heat exchanger 5a, and the supply
pipe 11 branches into the first supply pipe 7 and the second supply
pipe 8. The first supply pipe 7 and the second supply pipe 8, which
are provided for the heat storage container 1a in a penetrated
manner, vertically cross the boundary surface between the oil 2 and
the sodium acetate 3 and go into the sodium acetate 3, and
furthermore, is bent in the L-shape and extended horizontally.
Moreover, the second supply pipe 8 vertically crosses the boundary
surface between the oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3 from the end
portion of the horizontally extended portion. The first supply pipe
7 and the second supply pipe 8 have an internal space, and the oil
2a to which heat was supplied by the heat exchanger 5a flows in the
internal space.
[0054] The first supply pipe 7 has a plurality of discharge holes
7a that discharge the supplied oil 2a into the sodium acetate 3
along the axis direction thereof. Further, the second supply pipe 8
has outlets 8a that discharge the supplied oil 2a into the oil 2.
The outlets 8a are provided on the terminal portion of the second
supply pipe 8, the oil 2a supplied from the heat exchanger 5a flows
in the second supply pipe 8, and is discharged into the oil 2 from
the outlets 7a. The discharge holes 4b provided on the portion of
the first supply pipe 7, which is extended in the horizontal
direction, are provided in the vertically downward direction. Note
that the first supply pipe 7 may have discharge holes on the oil 2
side similar to the first embodiment.
[0055] As described above, the supply pipe 11 is detachably
connected to the heat exchanger 5a, and is separated into the first
supply pipe 7 and the second supply pipe 8. Then, valves 9a, 9b
(switching valves) are disposed severally on the first supply pipe
7 and the second supply pipe 8. By opening/closing the valves 9a,
9b, supply and cutoff of the oil 2a to the first supply pipe 7 and
the second supply pipe 8 can be switched.
[0056] The valves 9a, 9b open/close depending on the state of the
sodium acetate 3. Specifically, when the sodium acetate 3 is solid,
the valve 9b is closed to prevent the oil 2a from being supplied to
the second supply pipe 8 in order to supply the oil 2a only to the
first supply pipe 7. Further, when the sodium acetate 3 is liquid,
the valve 9a is closed and the valve 9b is opened to allow the oil
2a to be supplied only to the second supply pipe 8. The valves 9a,
9b may be manually opened/closed by an operator, or a controller
may be connected to automatically open/close the valves. Note that
description of the other members will be omitted because they are
the same as the first embodiment.
[0057] Next, description will be made for the heat storage method
to the heat storage unit 1.
[0058] Steam passes through the pipe from the factory 60 and is
taken into the heat exchanger 5a. On the other hand, the oil 2 in
the heat storage container 1a is taken into the heat exchanger 5a
via the discharge pipe 6. Then, in the heat exchanger 5a, heat of
the steam is supplied to the oil 2 by thermal conduction. At the
starting point of heat storage, only the valve 9b is opened to
allow the oil 2a to be supplied only to the second supply pipe 8,
and the oil 2a to which heat was supplied flows in the second
supply pipe 8. The oil 2a flows in the second supply pipe 8 and is
discharged from the outlets 8a into the oil 2. The oil 2a flowing
through the second supply pipe 8 conducts heat to the sodium
acetate 3 due to indirect contact via the second supply pipe 8, and
thus the solid sodium acetate 3 changes into liquid.
[0059] When the sodium acetate 3 becomes approximately liquid, the
valve 9b is closed and the valve 9a is opened to cutoff the second
supply pipe 8, and the oil 2a is supplied to the first supply pipe
7. The oil 2a supplied to the first supply pipe 7 flows through the
first supply pipe 7 and is discharged into the sodium acetate 3
from the discharge holes 7a. When the oil 2a is discharged, it goes
up to the oil 2 in the upper layer and taken into the oil. Heat is
conducted to the sodium acetate 3 during the upward movement due to
the direct contact with the sodium acetate 3. With this, heat can
be stored in the sodium acetate 3.
[0060] As described above, in this embodiment, by using two supply
pipes for supplying the oil 2a to which heat was supplied, which
are the first supply pipe 7 and the second supply pipe 8, and
switching the pipes depending on the state of the sodium acetate 3,
heat can be efficiently store in the sodium acetate 3. Since the
sodium acetate 3 is solid at the starting point of heat storage,
the oil 2a is not discharged from the discharge holes provided in
the sodium acetate 3. For this reason, the oil 2a is supplied to
the second supply pipe 8 when the sodium acetate 3 is solid to
conduct heat to the sodium acetate 3 by indirect contact, the oil
2a is supplied to the first supply pipe 7 and discharged when the
sodium acetate 3 becomes liquid to conduct heat to the sodium
acetate 3 by direct contact, and thus heat can be efficiently
stored in the sodium acetate 3.
[0061] Furthermore, there is a possibility that the first supply
pipe 7 could burst because the supplied oil 2a is not discharged
from the discharge holes 7a at the starting point of heat storage.
For this reason, burst of the first supply pipe 7 can be prevented
by switching the first supply pipe 7 and the second supply pipe 8,
and the heat storage unit 1 can be used safely.
[0062] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the oil 2 is supplied either
one of the first supply pipe 7 and the second supply pipe 8
depending on the state of the sodium acetate 3, but the invention
is not limited to this. For example, the oil 2a may be supplied to
only the second supply pipe 8 at the starting point of heat
storage, and after that, the oil 2a may be supplied to both of the
first supply pipe 7 and the second supply pipe 8. Further, although
the first supply pipe 7a does not have discharge holes in the
above-described embodiment, the pipe may have the discharge holes.
Furthermore, supply pipes may not have the valves 9a, 9b.
[0063] (Third Embodiment)
[0064] Next, description will be made for the heat storage unit
according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The
heat storage unit according to this embodiment is the same as the
second embodiment on the point that it is provided with two supply
pipes but is different on the point that one supply pipe surrounds
the other supply pipe. In the following, only the different point
will be described. Note that the same reference numerals are
applied to the same members as those of the first and the second
embodiments, and their explanation will be omitted.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 8, the heat storage unit 1 according to
this embodiment has two pipes that are the first supply pipe 7 and
a second supply pipe 10. The first supply pipe 7 and the second
supply pipe 10 are provided in the upper layer portion of the heat
storage container 1a in a penetrated manner, where the housed oil 2
is positioned, and is detachably connected to the heat exchanger
5a. Specifically, the connection port of one supply pipe 11 is
detachably connected to the connection port 51 of the heat
exchanger 5a, and the supply pipe 11 branches into the first supply
pipe 7 and the second supply pipe 10. Then, the first supply pipe 7
is arranged in the heat storage container 1a so as to surround the
second supply pipe 10. The first supply pipe 7 and the second
supply pipe 10 vertically cross the boundary surface between the
oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3 and go into the sodium acetate 3,
and furthermore, are bent in the L-shape and extended horizontally.
The first supply pipe 7 and the second supply pipe 10 have an
internal space, and the oil 2a to which heat was supplied by the
heat exchanger 5a flows in the internal space. As described above,
the first supply pipe 7 is arranged in the internal space of the
second supply pipe 10.
[0066] In the horizontally extended portion of the second supply
pipe 10, a plurality of supply tubes 10a, which vertically cross
the boundary surface between the oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3,
are disposed. The supply tubes 10a have outlets 10b on the oil 2
side, and the oil 2a flowing through the second supply pipe 10
passes through the supply tubes 10a to be discharged from the
outlets 10b into the oil 2, as shown in FIG. 9. Further, as shown
in FIG. 10, communication portions 10c for discharging the oil 2a
flowing through the first supply pipe 7 into the sodium acetate 3
are provided for the second supply pipe 10 at positions that
superpose the discharge holes 7a of the first supply pipe 7 to be
surrounded. Note that description of the other members will be
omitted because they are the same as the first embodiment.
[0067] Next, description will be made for the heat storage method
to the heat storage unit 1.
[0068] Steam passes through the pipe from the factory 60 and is
taken into the heat exchanger 5a. On the other hand, the oil 2 in
the heat storage container 1a is taken into the heat exchanger 5a
via the discharge pipe 6. Then, in the heat exchanger 5a, heat of
the steam is supplied to the oil 2 that was taken in. At the
starting point of heat storage, only the valve 9b is opened to
allow the oil 2a to be supplied only to the second supply pipe 10.
Therefore, the oil 2a to which heat was supplied flows through the
second supply pipe 10, passes through the supply tubes 10a, and is
discharged from the outlets 10b into the oil 2.
[0069] When the oil 2a to which heat was supplied flows through the
second supply pipe 10 and the supply tubes 10a, the oil 2a conducts
heat to the sodium acetate 3 by indirect contact via the second
supply pipe 10 and the supply tubes 10a. With this, the sodium
acetate 3 gradually changes from solid to liquid. When the sodium
acetate 3 becomes liquid, the valve 9b is closed and the valve 9a
is opened. This allows the oil 2a to be supplied to the first
supply pipe 7. Once the sodium acetate 3 becomes liquid, the
discharge holes 7a and the communication portions 10c are not
clogged and the oil 2a can be discharged from the discharge holes
7a and the communication portions 10c. Further, when the oil 2a
flows through the first supply pipe 7, heat is conducted from the
oil 2a flowing through the surrounding second supply pipe 10. This
further increases the temperature and time to store heat in the
sodium acetate 3 can be further shortened.
[0070] As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the
effect of the second embodiment, additional heat is supplied from
the second supply pipe 10 to the oil 2b flowing through the first
supply pipe 7 because the first supply pipe 7 is surrounded by the
second supply pipe 10, and heat can be stored even faster by
discharging the oil 2a into the sodium acetate 3. Moreover, areas
of the first supply pipe 7 and the second supply pipe 10 arranged
in the sodium acetate 3 can be made smaller.
[0071] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the second supply pipe 10
surrounds approximately the entire first supply pipe 7 in the
sodium acetate 3, but it may surround only a part of the first
supply pipe 7. Further, similar to the second embodiment, the oil
2a may be supplied to both of the first supply pipe 7 and the
second supply pipe 10 after the sodium acetate 3 changes to liquid.
In addition, the pipes may not have the valves 9a, 9b.
[0072] (Fourth Embodiment)
[0073] Next, description will be made for the heat storage unit
according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The
heat storage unit according to this embodiment is the same as the
third embodiment on the point that it is provided with two supply
pipes and one supply pipe surrounds the other supply pipe but
structure of each supply pipe is different. In the following, only
the different point will be described. Note that the same reference
numerals are applied to the same members as those of the first to
the third embodiments, and their explanation will be omitted.
[0074] As shown in FIG. 11, the heat storage unit 1 according to
this embodiment has two pipes that are a first supply pipe 15 and a
second supply pipe 16. The first supply pipe 15 and the second
supply pipe 16 are provided in the upper layer portion of the heat
storage container 1a in a penetrated manner, where the housed oil 2
is positioned, and is detachably connected to the heat exchanger
5a. Specifically, the connection port of one supply pipe 11 is
detachably connected to the connection port 51 of the heat
exchanger 5a, and the supply pipe 11 branches into the first supply
pipe 15 and the second supply pipe 16.
[0075] The first supply pipe 15 and the second supply pipe 16
vertically cross the boundary surface between the oil 2 and the
sodium acetate 3 and go into the sodium acetate 3, and furthermore,
are bent in the L-shape and extended horizontally. The first supply
pipe 15 is further bent in the L-shape, vertically crosses the
boundary surface again, and an outlet 15a for discharging the oil
2a is provided on the tip of the area bent in the L-shape. The
first supply pipe 15 and the second supply pipe 16 have an internal
space, and the oil 2a to which heat was supplied by the heat
exchanger 5a flows in the internal space. In a portion where supply
pipes 15, 16 are horizontally extended, a second supply tube 16
surrounds the first supply pipe 15.
[0076] The portion where the supply pipes 15, 16 are horizontally
extended is arranged on the bottom surface of the heat storage
container 1a. With this, contact time of the oil 2a discharged from
discharge holes 16a and the sodium acetate 3 can be made longer,
and heat of the oil 2a can be sufficiently conducted to the sodium
acetate 3. Further, as the sodium acetate 3 changes to liquid, the
oil 2a has a smaller specific gravity than that of the sodium
acetate 3 and goes up once it is discharged from the discharge
holes 16a, so that it becomes difficult to conduct heat to the
sodium acetate 3 near the bottom surface of the heat storage
container 1a and a long time is necessary in storing heat. However,
by providing the first supply pipes 15, 16 on the bottom surface,
heat can be sufficiently stored in the sodium acetate 3 near the
bottom surface, and the heat storage time can be shortened.
[0077] Further, the discharge holes 16a for discharging the oil 2a
into the sodium acetate 3 are provided on the second supply pipe 16
in the opposite direction to the bottom surface side of the heat
storage container 1a. With this, the oil 2a supplied to the supply
pipe 11 passes through the first supply pipe 15 and is discharged
from the outlet 15a into the oil 2, and on the other hand, passes
through the second supply pipe 16 and is discharged from the
discharge holes 16a into the sodium acetate 3.
[0078] Next, description will be made for the heat storage method
to the heat storage unit 1.
[0079] Steam passes through the pipe from the factory 60 and is
taken into the heat exchanger 5a. On the other hand, the oil 2a in
the heat storage container 1a is taken into the heat exchanger 5a
via the discharge pipe 6. Then, in the heat exchanger 5a, heat of
the steam is supplied to the oil 2 that was taken in. After that,
the oil 2a to which heat was supplied is supplied to the supply
pipe 11, and flows through the first supply pipe 15 and the second
supply pipe 16. The oil 2a flowing through the first supply pipe 15
is discharged from the outlet 15a into the oil 2. Further, oil 2a
flowing through the second supply pipe 16 is discharged from the
discharge holes 16a into the sodium acetate 3.
[0080] Since the sodium acetate 3 is solid at the starting point of
heat storage, it becomes difficult for the oil 2a to be discharged
from the discharge holes 16a and the outlets are clogged, and thus
the oil 2a cannot flow well through the second supply pipe 16.
Then, there is a danger that the temperature of oil 2a is reduced
while they are clogged. On the other hand, since the outlet 15a of
the first supply pipe 15 is provided in the oil 2, the oil 2a can
constantly flow through the first supply pipe 15 regardless of the
state of the sodium acetate 3 at the starting point of heat
storage, and the high-temperature oil 2a constantly flows in the
first supply pipe 15. Therefore, heat is conducted to the oil 2a in
the second supply pipe 16 by contacting the first supply pipe 15 in
which the high-temperature oil 2a constantly flows, and
high-temperature can be maintained without reducing temperature.
With this, the high-temperature oil 2a can be discharged from the
discharge holes 16a to the sodium acetate 3. Furthermore,
high-temperature can be also maintained in the second supply pipe
16, and heat can be conducted to the sodium acetate 3 near the
second supply pipe 16 as well.
[0081] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the supply pipes 15, 16 are
arranged on the bottom surface of the heat storage container 1a,
but they may not be arranged on the bottom surface. In this case,
the disposing positions of the discharge holes 16a are not limited
as described above. In the case where the supply pipes 15, 16 are
not arranged on the bottom surface, it is preferable that the
supply pipes 15, 16 be arranged near the bottom surface.
[0082] As described above, in this embodiment, since heat is
conducted from the supply pipe 15 to the oil 2a discharged from the
discharge holes 16a, it is possible to constantly maintain
high-temperature and the heat storage time can be shortened.
Further, by arranging the supply pipes on the bottom surface of the
heat storage container 1a, the contact time of the discharged oil
2a and the sodium acetate 3 can be made longer. Then, although the
oil 2a goes up due to light specific gravity and it becomes
difficult to store heat in the sodium acetate 3 in the lower
portion, heat can be stored in the entire sodium acetate 3 by
arranging the supply pipes on the bottom surface.
[0083] Furthermore, as a modified example of this embodiment, the
supply pipes 15, 16 may be provided parallelly in the lateral
direction with the same gap as shown in FIG. 12. By providing the
pipes parallelly, it becomes possible to allow the oil 2a and the
supply pipes 15, 16 to directly contact the sodium acetate 3 over a
wider range, and the heat storage time can be made even shorter. In
this case, it is preferable that a corrugated conduction plate 17
(thermal conduction member) be provided so as to join each supply
pipe 15, 16.
[0084] The conduction plate 17 has a corrugated shape where
circular arcs are oppositely joined alternately, the second supply
pipes 16 are fitted into the circular arc portions, they are
closely adhered by welding or the like, and arranged on the bottom
surface. With this, the contact area between the second supply pipe
16 and the conduction plate 17 becomes larger and heat quantity to
be conducted to the conduction plate 17 becomes larger, and heat
can be sufficiently conducted to the sodium acetate 3 between the
supply pipes 15, 16. Consequently, the heat storage time can be
made even shorter. It is preferable that the conduction plate 17 be
constituted by metal having high thermal conductivity such as
copper, aluminum and iron. Note that the conduction plate 17 may be
a planar shape instead of the corrugated shape. In addition, the
supply pipes 15, 16 may be parallelly provided in a longitudinal
direction and adjacent supply pipes 15, 16 may not be arranged in
the same gap.
[0085] Further, as another modified example, as shown in FIG. 13
and FIG. 14, the second supply pipe 16 may cover approximately the
entire bottom surface of the heat storage container 1a and the
first supply pipe 15 may be extended in the second supply pipe 16
covering the bottom surface. By arranging the second supply pipe 16
so as to approximately cover the bottom surface, heat can be
conducted from the entire lower portion to the sodium acetate 3,
and the heat storage time can be further shortened. Moreover, since
the first supply pipe 15 is designed to pass through the entire
second supply pipe 16, the oil 2a in the second supply pipe 16 can
be maintained at high-temperature. In this case, it is preferable
that the first supply pipe 15 pass near the discharge holes 16a.
This makes it possible to maintain the oil 2a to be discharged from
the discharge holes 16a at as high-temperature as possible, and the
heat storage time can be shortened.
[0086] Furthermore, as another modified example, a separation
device 14 (separation mechanism) as shown in FIG. 15 may be
provided between the outlet 15a of the first supply pipe 15 and the
discharge pipe 6. The separation device 14 is a device for
separating the oil 2 and the sodium acetate 3 when the sodium
acetate 3 is mixed into the oil 2 that was taken in. The separation
device 14 has a main body 14a (separator) that takes in the oil 2
containing the sodium acetate 3. The oil 2 is filled in the main
body 14a, the oil 2 horizontally taken into the body flows
horizontally in one direction, and then is discharged. Further, the
bottom surface of the main body 14a has a level surface and a tilt
surface, where a hole 14b for discharging the sodium acetate 3 is
provided in the level surface. Although described later, since the
bottom surface has the tilt surface, the sodium acetate 3 to be
precipitated is guided toward the hole 14b.
[0087] When the oil 2 contains the sodium acetate 3, the sodium
acetate 3 having a larger specific gravity than that of the oil 2
precipitates while horizontally flowing in the main body 14a. The
precipitated sodium acetate 3 is discharged from the hole 14b.
Further, since the bottom surface of the main body 14a has the tilt
surface, the sodium acetate 3 precipitated on the tilt surface also
moves toward the hole 14b in a sliding manner to be discharged from
the hole 14b. By providing the separation device 14 between the
outlet 15a and the discharge pipe 6, the sodium acetate 3 is not
contained in the oil 2a any more. In addition, even in the case
where the sodium acetate 3 is contained, the sodium acetate 3 can
be precipitated and removed, so that a danger of failure or the
like caused when the sodium acetate 3 enters the heat exchanger 5a
is eliminated. Note that the separation device 14 may be provided
halfway the discharge pipe 6.
[0088] The present invention is described in the above-described
preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited
only to them. It should be understood that other various
embodiments can be implemented without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, operations and
effects by the constitution of the present invention are described
in these embodiments, but these operations and effects are only
examples and do not limit the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0089] FIG. 1 An entire schematic view of the heat transportation
system of the present invention
[0090] FIG. 2 A sectional view of the heat storage unit according
to the first embodiment of the present invention
[0091] FIG. 3 A modified example of the heat storage unit according
to the first embodiment
[0092] FIG. 4 Another modified example of the heat storage unit
according to the first embodiment
[0093] FIG. 5 Another modified example of the heat storage unit
according to the first embodiment
[0094] FIG. 6 Another modified example of the heat storage unit
according to the first embodiment
[0095] FIG. 7 A sectional view of the heat storage unit according
to the second embodiment of the present invention
[0096] FIG. 8 A sectional view of the heat storage unit according
to the third embodiment of the present invention
[0097] FIG. 9 A sectional view on IX-IX line of FIG. 8
[0098] FIG. 10 A sectional view on X-X line of FIG. 8
[0099] FIG. 11 A sectional view of the heat storage unit according
to the fourth embodiment of the present invention
[0100] FIG. 12 A modified example of the heat storage unit
according to the fourth embodiment and a sectional view on XII-XII
line of FIG. 11
[0101] FIG. 13 Another modified example of the heat storage unit
according to the fourth embodiment and a sectional view on
XIII-XIII line of FIG. 11
[0102] FIG. 14 Another modified example of the heat storage unit
according to the fourth embodiment and a sectional view on XIV-XIV
line of FIG. 11
[0103] FIG. 15 Another modified example of the heat storage unit
according to the fourth embodiment and an enlarged sectional view
of a separation device
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0104] 1 Heat Storage Unit [0105] 1a Heat storage container [0106]
2 Oil [0107] 2a Oil (to which heat is supplied) [0108] 3 Sodium
acetate [0109] 4 Supply pipe [0110] 4a, 4b Discharge hole [0111]
5a, 5b Heat exchanger [0112] 6 Discharge pipe
* * * * *