U.S. patent application number 13/660058 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-01 for heat-conducting structure and heat exchanger and heat-exchanging system using thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Institute of Nuclear Energy Research Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan. The applicant listed for this patent is Po-Chuang Chen, Yi-Shun Chen, Yau-Pin Chyou, SHU-CHE LI. Invention is credited to Po-Chuang Chen, Yi-Shun Chen, Yau-Pin Chyou, SHU-CHE LI.
Application Number | 20140116669 13/660058 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50545903 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140116669 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LI; SHU-CHE ; et
al. |
May 1, 2014 |
HEAT-CONDUCTING STRUCTURE AND HEAT EXCHANGER AND HEAT-EXCHANGING
SYSTEM USING THEREOF
Abstract
A heat-conducting structure comprises a heat-conducting metal
layer, a heat-conducting support layer, and a heat-conducting
protection layer. The heat-conducting support layer is formed to
enclose the heat-conducting metal layer thereby preventing the
heat-conducting metal layer from thermal deformation, while the
heat-conducting protection layer is formed to enclose the
heat-conducting support layer. In another embodiment, the
heat-conducting structures are utilized to form a heat exchanger or
a heat-exchanging system comprising a heat-absorbing zone and a
heat-dissipating zone, whereby a high-temperature fluid is guided
to flow through the heat-absorbing zone for transmitting the heat
to the heat-conducting structures within the heat-absorbing zone
through heat convention and the heat-exchanging structures
conducting the heat to the heat-dissipating zone such that a
low-temperature fluid passing therethrough can absorb the heat
dissipated from the heat-exchanging structures within the
heat-dissipating zone and transmit the heat energy out of the heat
exchanger or the heat-exchanging system.
Inventors: |
LI; SHU-CHE; (Taoyuan
County, TW) ; Chen; Yi-Shun; (Taoyuan County, TW)
; Chyou; Yau-Pin; (Taipei, TW) ; Chen;
Po-Chuang; (Taoyuan County, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LI; SHU-CHE
Chen; Yi-Shun
Chyou; Yau-Pin
Chen; Po-Chuang |
Taoyuan County
Taoyuan County
Taipei
Taoyuan County |
|
TW
TW
TW
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
Institute of Nuclear Energy
Research Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan
Taoyuan County
TW
|
Family ID: |
50545903 |
Appl. No.: |
13/660058 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/185 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 19/06 20130101;
F28D 21/001 20130101; F28D 7/0008 20130101; F28F 21/089 20130101;
F28F 1/00 20130101; F28F 3/02 20130101; F28D 7/16 20130101; F28D
15/00 20130101; F28F 2215/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/185 |
International
Class: |
F28F 3/00 20060101
F28F003/00 |
Claims
1. A heat-conducting structure, comprising: a heat-conducting metal
layer; a heat-conducting support layer, formed to clad and support
a surface of the heat-conducting metal layer thereby preventing the
heat-conducting metal layer from thermal deformation; and a
heat-conducting protection layer, formed to clad a surface of the
heat-conducting support layer.
2. The heat-conducting structure according to claim 1, wherein a
thermal conductivity of the heat-conducting metal layer is in a
range of 100 W/(mK) to 400 W/(mK).
3. The heat-conducting structure according to claim 1, wherein the
heat-conducting support layer is formed by a ferro-alloy having a
thermal conductivity in a range of 9 W/(mK) to 26 W/(mK).
4. The heat-conducting structure according to claim 1, wherein a
thermal conductivity of the heat-conducting protection layer is in
a range of 8 W/(mK) to 72 W/(mK).
5. The heat-conducting structure according to claim 1, which is
formed in a plate-shaped structure, a column-shaped structure, or a
shell-tube structure.
6. A heat exchanger, comprising: a plurality of heat-conducting
structures, arranged spatially apart from each other, wherein a
heat-conducting space is formed between two adjacent
heat-conducting structures; a supporting part, arranged on the
plurality of heat-conducting structures for dividing the plurality
of heat-conducting structures into a heat-absorbing zone and a
heat-dissipating zone; each heat-conducting structures within the
heat-absorbing zone further comprising: a first heat-conducting
metal layer; a first heat-conducting support layer, formed to clad
and support a surface of the first heat-conducting metal layer
thereby preventing the first heat-conducting metal layer from
thermal deformation; and a first heat-conducting protection layer,
formed to clad a surface of the first heat-conducting support
layer.
7. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the
heat-conducting structure in the heat-dissipating zone further
comprises a second heat-conducting metal layer coupled to the first
heat-conducting metal layer.
8. The heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein the first
heat-conducting metal layer and the second heat-conducting metal
layer respectively have a thermal conductivity in a range of 100
W/(mK) to 400 W/(mK).
9. The heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein the
heat-conducting structure in the heat-dissipating zone further
comprises a second heat-conducting support layer which is formed to
clad a surface of the second heat-conducting metal layer and
coupled to the first heat-conducting support layer.
10. The heat exchanger according to claim 9, wherein the first and
second heat-conducting support layers are respectively formed by a
ferro-alloy having a thermal conductivity in a range of 9 W/(mK) to
26 W/(mK).
11. The heat exchanger according to claim 9, wherein the
heat-conducting structure in the heat-dissipating zone further
comprises a second heat-conducting protection layer which is formed
to clad a surface of the second heat-conducting support layer and
coupled to the first heat-conducting protection layer.
12. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the first and
second heat-conducting protection layer respectively have a thermal
conductivity in a range of 8 W/(mK) to 72 W/(mK).
13. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein each
heat-conducting structure further comprises a plurality of folded
structures.
14. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein each
heat-conducting structure is formed in a plate-shaped structure, a
column-shaped structure, or a shell-tube structure.
15. A heat-exchanging system, comprising: a heat exchanger, further
comprising: a plurality of heat-conducting structures, arranged
spatially apart from each other, wherein a heat-conducting space is
formed between two adjacent heat-conducting structures; and a
supporting part, arranged on the plurality of heat-conducting
structures for dividing the plurality of heat-conducting structures
into a heat-absorbing zone and a heat-dissipating zone, wherein
each heat-conducting structures within the heat-absorbing zone
further comprising: a first heat-conducting metal layer; a first
heat-conducting support layer, formed to clad and support a surface
of the first heat-conducting metal layer thereby preventing the
first heat-conducting metal layer from thermal deformation; and a
first heat-conducting protection layer, formed to clad a surface of
the first heat-conducting support layer; and a heat generator,
providing a first fluid to pass through the heat-absorbing zone
such that the plurality of heat-conducting structures in the
heat-absorbing zone absorbs heat from the first fluid, and conducts
the absorbed heat to the heat-dissipating zone; and a heat storage
device, coupled to the heat-dissipating zone of the heat exchanger,
the heat storage device further receiving a second fluid passing
through the heat-dissipating zone and absorbing the heat from the
plurality of heat-conducting structures within the heat-dissipating
zone.
16. The heat-exchanging system according to claim 15, wherein the
heat-conducting structure in the heat-dissipating zone further
comprises a second heat-conducting metal layer coupled to the first
heat-conducting metal layer.
17. The heat-exchanging system according to claim 16, wherein the
first heat-conducting metal layer and the second heat-conducting
metal layer respectively have a thermal conductivity in a range of
100 W/(mK) to 400 W/(mK).
18. The heat-exchanging system according to claim 16, wherein the
heat-conducting structure in the heat-dissipating zone further
comprises a second heat-conducting support layer which is formed to
clad a surface of the second heat-conducting metal layer and
coupled to the first heat-conducting support layer.
19. The heat-exchanging system according to claim 18, wherein the
first and second heat-conducting support layers are respectively
formed by a ferro-alloy having a thermal conductivity in a range of
9 W/(mK) to 26 W/(mK).
20. The heat-exchanging system according to claim 18, wherein the
heat-conducting structure in the heat-dissipating zone further
comprises a second heat-conducting protection layer which is formed
to clad a surface of the second heat-conducting support layer and
coupled to the first heat-conducting protection layer.
21. The heat-exchanging system according to claim 20, wherein the
first and second heat-conducting protection layer respectively have
a thermal conductivity in a range of 8 W/(mK) to 72 W/(mK).
22. The heat-exchanging system according to claim 15, wherein the
first fluid is a gas, a liquid, or a slurry.
23. The heat-exchanging system according to claim 15, wherein the
second fluid is a gas, a liquid, or a slurry.
24. The heat-exchanging system according to claim 15, wherein the
heat storage device is connected to a material container
accommodating a material that is preheated by the second fluid
absorbed heat from the heat-dissipating zone.
25. The heat-exchanging system according to claim 15, wherein each
heat-conducting structure further comprises a plurality of folded
structures.
26. The heat-exchanging system according to claim 15, wherein each
heat-conducting structure is formed in a plate-shaped structure, a
column-shaped structure, or a shell-tube structure.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is related to a heat-exchanging
technology, and, more particularly, to a heat-conducting structure
having a heat-conducting metal layer, a heat-conducting support
layer, and a heat-conducting protection layer, and a heat exchanger
and a heat-exchanging system using the heat-conducting
structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Generally speaking, the heat exchanger is operated to absorb
heat contained within the high-temperature fluid, and,
subsequently, transfer absorbed heat to another low-temperature
fluid through principle that heat energy is transferred from a high
temperature region to low temperature region due to the random
molecular motion. The low-temperature fluid absorbs heat is then
transmitted to a heat-required area through a circulation
pipelines. The heat exchanger plays a vital role for the
development of the modern industry, and, consequently, it can be
applied in different fields such as fossi-fuel power plant, nuclear
power plant, or incineration for waste treatment.
[0003] One major application of the heat exchanger is to be
utilized in heat-recovery industrial field, wherein in refuse
incineration plant or fossi-fuel power plant, for example,
high-temperature waste gas with high heat capacity was generated
during the treatment or reaction process, and the waste gas will be
treated by a purification process, thereby forming a clean gas and,
subsequently, discharging the clean gas to the atmosphere. During
the purification process, in addition to filtering out the dust
particles or contaminants inside the waste gas to form the clean
gas, the clean gas with high temperature and heat capacity will
also be conducted into the heat exchanger for heat energy recovery.
The recovered heat energy is further utilized to preheat the
granular material or peripheral device for filtering waste gas
whereby not only can the filtration efficiency be enhanced, the
energy requirement for preheating can also be saved. In power
plant, after the cooling water, utilized to cool power reactor,
absorbed the heat of reactor, the cooling water is then conducted
into the exchanger thereby recovering the heat inside the cooling
water.
[0004] However, in conventional technology, the heat-conducting
material for making the heat exchanger, in addition to conducting
heat energy, should also have characteristics of anticorrosion and
high-temperature resistance. Conventionally, the heat-conducting
material is made from a material having high-percentage of
Inconel.RTM. alloy. Inconel.RTM. alloy has widely varying
compositions, but all are predominantly nickel, with iron and
chromium as the second elements. However, since the nickel is
included with a higher percentage for forming the Inconel.RTM.
alloy, the cost for making such material is expensive. Besides,
although Inconel.RTM. alloys are oxidation-resistance and
anticorrosion materials due to boding interaction between the metal
components inside the Inconel.RTM. alloys, which is suitable for
application in extreme environments subjected to high temperature,
the heat conducting efficiency is insufficient due to the poor
thermal conductivity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a heat-conducting structure,
formed by three metal layers including a heat-conducting metal
layer, a heat-conducting support layer, and a heat-conducting
protection layer. The heat-conducting structure has capability of
anticorrosion, high-temperature resistance, and high thermal
conductivity so that the heat-conducting structure can be utilized
in heat exchanger or heat exchanging system in different types of
industrial fields.
[0006] The present invention provides a heat exchanger and heat
exchanging system, which are respectively formed by three metal
layers for exchanging heat, whereby the heat exchange efficiency
and heat conducting efficiency can be both enhanced and further the
cost of production can also be saved due to less use of expensive
nickel material.
[0007] In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides
a heat-conducting structure, comprising: a heat-conducting metal
layer; a heat-conducting support layer, formed to clad and support
a surface of the heat-conducting metal layer thereby preventing the
heat-conducting metal layer from thermal deformation; and a
heat-conducting protection layer, formed to clad a surface of the
heat-conducting support layer.
[0008] In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention
further provides a heat exchanger, comprising: a plurality of
heat-conducting structures, arranged spatially apart from each
other, wherein a heat-conducting space is formed between two
adjacent heat-conducting structures; a supporting part, arranged on
the plurality of heat-conducting structures for dividing the
plurality of heat-conducting structures into a heat-absorbing zone
and a heat-dissipating zone; each heat-conducting structures within
the heat-absorbing zone further comprising: a first heat-conducting
metal layer; a first heat-conducting support layer, formed to clad
and support a surface of the first heat-conducting metal layer
thereby preventing the first heat-conducting metal layer from
thermal deformation; and a first heat-conducting protection layer,
formed to clad a surface of the first heat-conducting support
layer.
[0009] In a further exemplary embodiment, the present invention
further provides a heat-exchanging system, comprising: a heat
exchanger, further comprising: a plurality of heat-conducting
structures, arranged spatially apart from each other, wherein a
heat-conducting space is formed between two adjacent
heat-conducting structures; and a supporting part, arranged on the
plurality of heat-conducting structures for dividing the plurality
of heat-conducting structures into a heat-absorbing zone and a
heat-dissipating zone, wherein each heat-conducting structures
within the heat-absorbing zone further comprising: a first
heat-conducting metal layer; a first heat-conducting support layer,
formed to clad and support a surface of the first heat-conducting
metal layer thereby preventing the first heat-conducting metal
layer from thermal deformation; and a first heat-conducting
protection layer, formed to clad a surface of the first
heat-conducting support layer; and a heat generator, providing a
first fluid to pass through the heat-absorbing zone such that the
heat-conducting structure in the heat-absorbing zone absorbs heat
from the first fluid, and conducts the absorbed heat to the
heat-dissipating zone; and a heat storage device, coupled to the
heat-dissipating zone of the heat exchanger, the heat storage
device further receiving a second fluid passing through the
heat-dissipating zone and absorbing the heat from the
heat-conducting structure within the heat-dissipating zone.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention and wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a heat exchanger according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2A illustrates a heat-conducting structure according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view associated with
the heat-conducting structure according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIGS. 2C and 2D illustrates another embodiments of the
heat-conducting structures according to the present invention.
[0015] FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively illustrate alternative types of
heat-conducting structure according to the present invention;
[0016] FIGS. 4A and 4B respectively illustrate alternative
embodiments of heat exchanger and heat-conducting structure
according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 5A illustrates an alternative embodiment of the heat
exchanger according to the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the
column-shaped structure; and
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates a heat-exchanging system according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0020] For your esteemed members of reviewing committee to further
understand and recognize the fulfilled functions and structural
characteristics of the invention, several exemplary embodiments
cooperating with detailed description are presented as the
follows.
[0021] Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a heat exchanger
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The heat
exchanger 2 comprises a plurality of heat-conducting structures 20,
and a supporting part 21. The plurality of heat-conducting
structures 20 are arranged spatially apart from each other such
that a heat-conducting space 22 is formed between two adjacent
heat-conducting structures 20. In the present embodiment, each
heat-conducting structure 20 is formed in a plate-shaped
structure.
[0022] Please refer to FIG. 2A, which illustrates the
heat-conducting structure according to an embodiment of the present
invention. The heat-conducting structure 20 is a multiple-layered
structure comprising a heat-conducting metal layer 200, a
heat-conducting support layer 201, and a heat-conducting protection
layer 202. The heat-conducting support layer 201 is formed to clad
a surface of the heat-conducting metal layer 200 for supporting the
heat-conducting metal layer 200 so as to prevent the
heat-conducting metal layer 200 from thermal deformation. The
heat-conducting protection layer 202 is formed to clad a surface of
the heat-conducting support layer 201, wherein the heat-conducting
protection layer 202 is selective to a metal material with
anticorrosion capability, high-temperature resistance capability
and heat conducting capability.
[0023] The heat-conducting metal layer 200 can be selective to a
material having a thermal conductivity in a range of 100 W/(mK) to
400 W/(mK), wherein the material can be, but should not be limited
to, a copper, a silver a gold, an aluminum, or an alloy combining
the at least two kinds of aforementioned exemplary metals. The
heat-conducting support layer 201 can be selective to a material
having a thermal conductivity in a range of 9 W/(mK) to 26 W/(mK),
wherein the material can be a ferro-alloy, such as stainless steel,
or carbon steel. The heat-conducting protection layer 202 can be
selective to a material having a thermal conductivity in a range of
8 W/(mK) to 72 W/(mK), wherein the material can be, but should not
be limited to, a nickel or nickel alloy. In the present embodiment,
the material of heat-conducting metal layer 200 is copper, the
material of the heat-conducting support layer 201 is stainless
steel, and the material of the heat-conducting protection layer 202
is nickel.
[0024] In the present embodiment, the copper has superior thermal
conductivity of about, for example, 352 W/(mK) at absolute
temperature 1000K, the stainless steel has thermal conductivity of
about 24.2 W/(mK) at room temperature, and the nickel has thermal
conductivity of about 71.8 W/(mK) at absolute temperature 1000K.
Since the heat-conducting structure of the present invention is a
multiple-layered metal structure, the thermal conductivity of the
multiple-layered metal structure can be greatly improved, in which
the heat-conducting metal layer 200 is utilized to conduct heat,
the heat-conducting support layer 201 is utilized to support the
heat-conducting metal layer 200 thereby preventing the
heat-conducting metal layer 200 from thermal deformation in the
high-temperature working environment, and, selectively, the outer
surface of the heat-conducting support layer 201 can be wrapped by
alternative kinds of heat-conducting protection layer 202 according
to a need condition, such as temperature requirement, and
anticorrosion requirement of the working environment, such that the
heat-conducting structure 20 of the present invention can be
broadly applied in different types of heat-exchanging fields.
[0025] Please refer to FIG. 2B, which illustrates a cross-sectional
view associated with the heat-conducting structure according to an
embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a
top surface and bottom surface of the heat-conducting metal layer
200 are respectively covered by the heat-conducting support layer
201, while the top surface of the heat-conducting support layer 201
covering the top surface of the heat-conducting metal layer 200,
the bottom surface of the heat-conducting support layer 201
covering the bottom surface of the heat-conducting metal layer 200,
and lateral surfaces of the heat-conducting metal layer 200 and
heat-conducting support layer 201 are covered by the
heat-conducting protection layer 202. In the embodiment of the
present heat-conducting structure 20, since the outer surface of
the heat-conducting metal layer 200 is covered with the
heat-conducting support layer 201, even though the nickel is less
used, the efficiency of the thermal conductivity can be effectively
maintained while the cost for producing the heat-conducting
structure 20 can be reduced as well. Please refer to FIG. 1, the
supporting part is arranged on the plurality of heat-conducting
structures for dividing the plurality of heat-conducting structures
into a heat-absorbing zone 23, being capable of allowing a
high-temperature fluid 90 flowing therethrough and a
heat-dissipating zone 24 being capable of allowing a
low-temperature fluid 91 flowing therethrough. It is noted that the
material for making the support part 21 can be a heat-insulating
material or a heat-conducting material, which depends on the need
of the utilization. In the present embodiment, the high-temperature
fluid 90 could be a corrosive fluid.
[0026] It is noted that the heat exchanger 2 is accommodated within
a housing 3 having insulating structure for isolating the
low-temperature fluid 91 and high-temperature fluid 90. The housing
3 for isolating the low-temperature fluid 91 and high-temperature
fluid 90 is related to an art that are well-known by the one having
ordinary skill in the art; therefore, it would not be further
described in detail hereinafter. The aforesaid fluid 90 and 91 can
be a gas, a liquid or a slurry, a mixture of solid and liquid
substances, wherein the fluid 90 and 91 are both gas in the present
embodiment. When the high-temperature fluid 90 enters the
heat-absorbing zone 23 and flows through the heat-conducting space
22 formed between two adjacent heat-conducting structure 20, the
heat contained in the high-temperature fluid 90 will be transmitted
to the heat-conducting structure 20 in the heat-absorbing zone 23
by heat convention due to the temperature differences
therebetween.
[0027] After the heat-conducting structure 20 absorbs the heat from
the high-temperature fluid 90, the heat inside the heat-conducting
structure 20 in the heat-absorbing zone 23 will be transmitted to
the heat-dissipating zone 24 by heat conduction due to the
temperatures differences between heat-conducting structures 20 in
heat-absorbing zone 23 and heat-dissipating zone. When the
low-temperature 91 enters the heat-dissipating zone 24 and flows
through the spaces 22 between two adjacent heat-conducting
structures 20, since the temperature of the low-temperature fluid
91 is lower than the temperature of the heat-conducting structure
20 in the heat-dissipating zone 24, the low-temperature fluid 91
absorbs the heat emitted from heat-conducting structures 20 within
the heat-dissipating zone 24 through heat convention, whereby the
temperature of the low-temperature fluid 91 can be increased.
[0028] After the low-temperature fluid 91 absorbs the heat, it will
flow out the heat-dissipating zone 24 and can be conducted though
the pipeline to an area where requires the heat energy, thereby
dissipating absorbed heat to the area. Referring back to FIGS. 2A
and 2B, it is noted that the heat-conducting metal layer 200 and
heat-conducting support layer 201 can be prevented from the
corrosion of the high-temperature fluid 90 through the protection
of the heat-conducting protection layer 202, while, due to the
support effect of the heat-conducting support layer 201, the
heat-conducting efficiency of the heat-conducting metal layer 200
can be maintained high without influence of the thermal
deformation, thereby increasing the heat-exchanging applications of
the present heat-conducting structure 20.
[0029] It is understood that, although the heat-conducting
structure 20 within the heat-absorbing area 23 and heat-dissipating
area 24 shown in FIG. 1 is a multiple-layered metal structure,
practically, it is should not be limited to the multiple-layered
metal structure. For instance, please refer to FIG. 2C, which
illustrates an application that a part of the heat-conducting
structure 20 is formed by a single layer structure that are
accommodated with the heat-dissipating area, which is the
heat-conducting metal layer 200 in the embodiment. In case of this
application, the fluid passing through the heat-dissipating area 24
is not a type of corrosive fluid while the temperature of the
heat-conducting metal layer 200 will not exceed its deformation
temperature. It is noted that the heat-conducting metal layer 200
in the heat-dissipating zone 24 can be an independent layer coupled
to the heat-conducting metal layer 200 in the heat-absorbing zone
23 or, alternatively, can be formed as a unit with the
heat-conducting metal layer 200 in the heat-absorbing zone 23
during production. In addition, alternative embodiment shown in
FIG. 2D, the heat-conducting structure 20 within the
heat-dissipating zone 24 is a two-layered structure mainly having a
heat-conducting metal layer 200 and heat-conducting support layer
201. In case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2D, the fluid passing
through the heat-dissipating area 24 is not a type of corrosive
fluid; however, since the temperature of the heat-conducting metal
layer 200 may be relatively higher than embodiment shown in FIG.
2C, which will have possibility to exceed the deformation
temperature of the heat-conducting metal layer 200, the
heat-conducting support layer 201 can be utilized to prevent the
thermal deformation.
[0030] Furthermore, please refer to embodiments shown in FIGS. 3A
and 3B, which respectively illustrate alternative types of
heat-conducting structure according to the present invention.
Unlike the flat and plate-shaped heat-conducting structure shown in
FIG. 1, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the
heat-conducting structure respectively comprises a plurality of
folded structures for enhancing a contact area between the fluid
and heat-conducting structure, thereby improving the
heat-conducting efficiency.
[0031] In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, the folded
structure 204 having a plurality of polygonal structures
respectively having a polygonal cross-section with two 90-degree
angles. It is noted that the folded angle is not limited to
90-degree angle. For example, in an alternative embodiment shown in
FIG. 3B, the folded structure 205 has a plurality of polygonal
structures respectively having a top-folded angle defined by two
folded sides smaller than the 90 degree while having a
bottom-folded angle larger than 90 degree, whereby each polygonal
structure forms a triangle structure. In addition, the folded
structures 204 and 205 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B are not limited to
polygonal structures, wherein, alternatively, the folded structure
can also be a curvature structure, or, alternatively, a combination
of curvature structure and a polygonal structure.
[0032] Please refer to FIGS. 4A and 4B, which respectively
illustrate alternative embodiments of heat exchanger and
heat-conducting structure according to the present invention. In
FIG. 4A, it illustrates an exemplary embodiment of heat exchanger
having heat-conducting structures formed in shell-tube structures.
The heat exchanger 4 comprises a housing 40, and a plurality of
pipelines 41. The housing 40 has an entrance 400 for a
high-temperature fluid 90 flowing therein, and an exit 401 for the
high-temperature fluid 90 to flow thereout. The plurality of
pipelines 41 formed inside the housing 40 are arranged spatially
apart from each other with a specific distance between two adjacent
pipelines 41 such that a heat-conducting space can be formed
between two-adjacent pipelines 41 for allowing the high-temperature
fluid 90 flowing therethrough.
[0033] In an embodiment, each pipeline 41 further has a plurality
of heat-conducting fins 413 for enhancing the efficiency of heat
conduction. It is noted that the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A is a
cross-flow heat exchanger, i.e. a flow direction of the
high-temperature fluid and a flow direction of the low-temperature
fluid are cross to each other. In addition to the aforementioned
cross-flow heat exchanger, the flow direction of the
high-temperature and the flow direction of the low-temperature can
be, alternatively, the same as each other or, alternatively, be
opposite to each other.
[0034] Please refer to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4B,
which illustrates a cross-sectional view of the pipeline shown in
FIG. 4A. The pipeline 41 further comprises a heat-conducting metal
layer 410, a heat-conducting support layer 411, and a
heat-conducting protection layer 412, wherein the heat-conducting
metal layer 410 is formed to clad surfaces, including outer and
inner surfaces, of the heat-conducting support layer 410, while the
heat-conducting protection layer 412 is formed to clad the outer
surface of heat-conducting support layer 411 covering the outer
surface of the heat-conducting metal layer 400, and clad inner
surface of heat-conducing support layer 411 covering the inner
surface of the heat-conducting metal layer 400.
[0035] The heat-conducting metal layer 410 can be, but should not
be limited to, a copper, a silver, a gold, an aluminum, or an alloy
combining the at least two kinds of aforementioned exemplary
metals. The heat-conducting support layer 411 can be a ferro-alloy,
such as stainless steel, or carton steel. The heat-conducting
protection layer 412 can be a nickel or nickel alloy. In one
exemplary embodiment, the material of heat-conducting metal layer
410 is copper, the material of the heat-conducting support layer
411 is stainless steel, and the material of the heat-conducting
protection layer 412 is nickel.
[0036] Please refer to FIG. 5A, which illustrates an alternative
embodiment of the heat exchanger according to the present
invention. In the present invention, basically, the heat exchanger
2 is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, whereas the
difference is that the heat-conducting structure 20a is a
column-shaped structure. Please refer to FIG. 5B, which illustrates
a cross-sectional view of the column-shaped structure. The
heat-conducting structure 20a is a three-layered structure
comprising a heat-conducting metal layer 200, heat-conducting
support layer 201 and a heat-conducting protection layer 202. The
heat-conducting metal layer 200 shown in FIG. 5B is a solid
structure which is formed to be a center of the heat-conducting
structure 20a. The heat-conducting support layer 201 is formed to
cover outer surface of the heat-conducting metal layer 200 while
the heat-conducting protection layer 202 is formed to cover the
outer surface of the heat-conducting support layer 201 such that
the heat-conducting structure 20a is a solid heat-conducting
structure.
[0037] Please refer to FIG. 6, which illustrates a heat-exchanging
system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
heat-exchanging system 5 comprising at least one heat exchanger 50,
a heat generator 51, and a heat storage device 52. Each heat
exchanger 50 can be selected according to embodiments respectively
shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4A or FIG. 5A. In the present embodiment, the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is utilized to be the heat exchanger 50
shown in FIG. 6. The heat generator 51 provides a high-temperature
fluid 90 having a temperature higher than the temperature of the
heat-conducting structure 20 with the heat-absorbing area 23. The
heat generator 51 can be a reactor, or a waste gas processing
system which can be, but should not limited to, a granular
moving-bed apparatus.
[0038] In the present invention, the heat generator 51 is a
granular moving-bed apparatus. When a waste gas flow 92 with
high-temperature passes through the heat generator 51, the dust
particles or contaminants inside the waste gas flow 92 are filtered
out by the granular material moving inside the heat generator 51,
thereby being formed a clean and high-temperature fluid 90. The
high-temperature fluid 90 is further conducted to the heat
exchanger 50, and, subsequently, the high-temperature fluid 90
enters the heat-absorbing zone 23, performs heat exchange with the
heat-conducting structure 20 inside the heat-absorbing zone 23,
and, subsequently, flows out the heat-absorbing zone 23.
[0039] On the other hand, after the heat-conducting structure 20
inside the heat-absorbing zone 23 absorbed the heat transmitted
from the high-temperature fluid 90, the absorbed heat is conducted
to the heat-conducting structures 20 inside the heat-dissipating
zone 24 via heat conduction. The heat storage device 52 coupled to
the heat-dissipating zone 24 of the heat exchanger 50 for receiving
a low-temperature fluid 91 from the heat-dissipating zone 24
flowing therethrough. It is noted that the high-temperature fluid
90 and low-temperature fluid 91 can be a gas, a liquid, or a
slurry. In the present embodiment, the fluid 90 and 91 are both
gas.
[0040] The temperature of the low-temperature fluid 91 is lower
than the temperature of the heat-conducting structures 20 inside
the heat-dissipating zone 24. Accordingly, when the low-temperature
fluid 91 passes through the heat-dissipating zone 24, the
low-temperature fluid 91 absorbs heat from the heat-conducting
structure 20 inside the heat-dissipating zone 24, thereby
increasing the temperature thereof. Thereafter, the fluid 91 is
conducted to pass through the heat storage device 52. The heat
storage device 52 coupled to the heat generator 51 comprises a
granular material container 520 for accommodating clean granular
material which moves into the heat generator 51 for filtering out
the dust particles and contaminants within the waste gas flow 92.
When the fluid 91 enters the heat storage device 52, it can flow
through the granular material for preheating the granular material
inside the granular material container 520, whereby the granular
material can absorb heat from the fluid 91 so as to increase the
temperature of the granular material, thereby enhancing the
objective for preheating the granular material.
[0041] With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention.
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