Apparatus for managing thermal energy by regulating pressure of heat storage tank of latent heat

Abstract

The present invention is characterized by comprising: a latent heat storage tank that regulates the pressure formed in a phase change material by being compressed or stretched by the heat transfer medium; a heat pump that heats the heat transfer medium; a heat transfer medium circulation unit that circulates the heat transfer medium between the latent heat storage tank, the heat pump, and a heat energy consumption source; and a processor that controls the heat transfer medium circulation unit to circulate the heat transfer medium between the latent heat storage tank, the heat pump, and the heat energy consumption source, and regulates the pressure formed in the latent heat storage tank through the heat transfer medium so that the latent heat storage tank stores or releases heat energy.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a latent heat storage tank pressure-regulating thermal energy management device. Background Technology

[0003] A thermal storage tank is a vessel that stores thermal energy and can primarily be operated in conjunction with cooling and heating equipment. By storing thermal energy during cooling or heating, the tank can be utilized to reduce the thermal energy conversion output capacity. Since the thermal storage function allows for the separation of supply and demand, it can contribute to improving the energy efficiency of cooling and heating.

[0004] Thermal storage tanks can be classified into sensible heat storage tanks and latent heat storage tanks depending on the method of storing the heat storage material.

[0005] A latent heat storage tank is a thermal storage tank that stores thermal energy by utilizing phase change materials as a heat storage medium. When phase change materials absorb or release heat at their phase change temperature, they store and release heat while undergoing a phase change without a change in temperature. Since the heat undergoing the phase change (latent heat) is much higher than the heat without the phase change (specific heat), the thermal storage utility is high.

[0006] Latent heat storage tanks must consider a phase change temperature range wider than the theoretical phase change temperature. For example, a supercooling phenomenon may occur in which the latent heat storage tank reaches the phase change temperature but no phase change occurs, and energy storage efficiency may decrease because a wide phase change temperature range must be selected considering material manufacturing process errors.

[0007] In addition, latent heat storage tanks require a relatively large heat exchanger because the heat transfer rate during storage and release is slow.

[0008] In addition, the latent heat storage tank may have a short lifespan due to the low durability of the internal phase change materials. That is, some phase change materials may experience reduced storage efficiency and a shortened lifespan as they undergo repeated phase changes, such as solidification or melting.

[0009] Latent heat storage tanks require advanced refining technology to resolve the aforementioned problems, which causes a decrease in their economic efficiency.

[0010] The background technology of the present invention is disclosed in the ‘hybrid cooling system that performs dehumidification and cooling using a nighttime power thermal storage tank’ of Korean Published Patent Application No. 10-2012-0059811 (June 11, 2012). The problem to be solved

[0012] The present invention was devised to improve upon the aforementioned problems, and an objective according to one aspect of the present invention is to improve the heating efficiency of a heat energy consumption source by increasing the heat transfer rate through a latent heat storage tank that regulates the pressure applied to a phase change material to accelerate the phase change phenomenon. means of solving the problem

[0014] A pressure-regulating thermal energy management device for a latent heat storage tank according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a latent heat storage tank that regulates the pressure formed in a phase change material by being compressed or stretched by a heat transfer medium; a heat pump that heats the heat transfer medium; a heat transfer medium circulation unit that circulates the heat transfer medium between the latent heat storage tank, the heat pump, and a thermal energy consumption source; and a processor that controls the heat transfer medium circulation unit to circulate the heat transfer medium between the latent heat storage tank, the heat pump, and the thermal energy consumption source, and regulates the pressure formed in the latent heat storage tank through the heat transfer medium so that the latent heat storage tank stores or releases thermal energy, wherein the latent heat storage tank comprises: a phase change material storage tank that stores or releases thermal energy using the phase change material; and a first thermal storage tank that changes the pressure formed in the phase change material. The apparatus includes a second thermal storage tank that changes the pressure formed in the phase change material, wherein the first thermal storage tank is installed at the top of the phase change material thermal storage tank and compresses or stretches the phase change material thermal storage tank through a heat transfer medium recovered from the heat energy consumption source, and the second thermal storage tank is installed at the bottom of the phase change material thermal storage tank and compresses or stretches the phase change material through the heat transfer medium recovered from the heat energy consumption source by recovering the remaining flow rate of the heat transfer medium controlled in the first thermal storage tank, and wherein the phase change material thermal storage tank has a corrugated pipe-shaped corrugated pipe section formed at the top of the phase change material, and the phase change material thermal storage tank includes a water pipe formed in a coil shape inside the phase change material to transmit heat to the heat energy consumption source. Effects of the invention

[0016] A latent heat storage tank pressure-regulating thermal energy management device according to one aspect of the present invention can improve the heating efficiency of a thermal energy consumption source by increasing the heat transfer rate through a latent heat storage tank that regulates the pressure formed in a phase change material to accelerate the phase change phenomenon. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a pressure-regulating thermal energy management device for a latent heat storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an operation piping diagram of a pressure-regulating thermal energy management device for a latent heat storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a latent heat storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of heat storage according to the pressure increase of a latent heat storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of heat dissipation according to a pressure drop of a latent heat storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0019] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings. Instead, based on the principle that the inventor may appropriately define the concepts of terms to best describe his invention, they should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely some of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical spirit of the present invention; thus, various equivalents and modifications that can replace them may exist at the time of filing this application. Furthermore, as used in this specification, "comprise" or "include" and / or "comprising" or "including" specify the presence of the mentioned features, numbers, steps, actions, parts, elements, and / or groups thereof, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, actions, parts, elements, and / or groups. In addition, when describing embodiments of the present invention, "can" and "can" may include "one or more embodiments of the present invention."

[0020] Additionally, to aid in understanding the invention, the attached drawings are not drawn to the actual scale, and the dimensions of some components may be exaggerated.

[0021] Although terms such as "first," "second," etc., are used to describe various components, it goes without saying that these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one component from another, and unless specifically stated otherwise, the first component may also be the second component.

[0022] Throughout the specification, unless specifically stated otherwise, each component may be singular or plural. The statement that any component is disposed on the "upper (or lower) surface" of a component or on the "upper (or lower) surface" of a component may mean not only that any component is disposed in contact with the upper (or lower) surface of said component, but also that another component may be interposed between said component and any component disposed on (or below) said component.

[0023] Furthermore, where it is stated that one component is "connected," "coupled," or "joined" to another component, it should be understood that while said components may be directly connected or joined to one another, other components may be "interposed" between each component, or that each component may be "connected," "coupled," or "joined" through other components. Additionally, when it is stated that a part is electrically coupled with another part, this includes not only cases where they are directly connected but also cases where they are connected with other elements in between.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a pressure-regulating thermal energy management device for a latent heat storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an operation piping diagram of a pressure-regulating thermal energy management device for a latent heat storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a latent heat storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of heat storage according to a pressure increase of a latent heat storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of heat dissipation according to a pressure decrease of a latent heat storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a pressure-regulating thermal energy management device for a latent heat storage tank according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a latent heat storage tank (300), a heat pump (100), a heat transfer medium circulation unit (200), and a processor (400).

[0027] The latent heat storage tank (300) is a heat storage tank that stores thermal energy by utilizing a phase change material (PCM) (330) as a heat storage medium.

[0028] Phase change materials are substances that change into solid, liquid, or gas through a phase transition at a specific temperature.

[0029] Phase change materials store or release heat without a change in temperature during phase transitions when absorbing or dissipating heat at the phase transition temperature. Since the heat of the phase transition (latent heat) is much higher than the heat without the phase transition (specific heat), the heat storage potential is high.

[0030] The phase change material may be paraffin or salt hydrate, but is not specifically limited.

[0031] The latent heat storage tank (300) can adjust the pressure applied to the phase change material to accelerate the phase change phenomenon of the phase change material. The latent heat storage tank (300) can increase the pressure for solidification phase change and decrease the pressure for melting phase change to accelerate the phase change heat transfer rate. In this way, by accelerating the phase change phenomenon, the heat transfer rate can be high while reducing the amount of phase change heat supply and release.

[0032] The latent heat storage tank (300) can regulate the pressure formed in the phase change material by being compressed or stretched by a heat transfer medium.

[0033] The heat transfer medium may be water, but is not specifically limited to it.

[0034] The latent heat storage tank (300) may include a phase change material storage tank (330), a first heat storage tank (310), and a second heat storage tank (320).

[0035] The first thermal storage tank (310) can be installed on top of the phase change material thermal storage tank (330).

[0036] The first thermal storage tank (310) can compress or extend the phase change material thermal storage tank (330) by adjusting the flow rate or load of the heat transfer medium recovered from the heat energy consumption source (10). Through this, the first thermal storage tank (310) can change the pressure formed in the phase change material according to the heat transfer medium introduced into it.

[0037] The second thermal storage tank (320) can be installed at the bottom of the phase change material thermal storage tank (330).

[0038] The second thermal storage tank (320) can recover the remaining flow rate of the heat transfer medium controlled in the first thermal storage tank (310) and compress or stretch the phase change material through the heat transfer medium recovered from the heat energy consumption source (10). By doing so, the second thermal storage tank (320) can change the pressure formed in the phase change material.

[0039] The phase change material thermal storage tank (330) can store or release thermal energy using the phase change material.

[0040] The phase change material storage tank (330) may be equipped with a phase change material.

[0041] A water pipe (340) can be installed inside the phase change material.

[0042] The water pipe (340) is formed in a coil shape, and one end may be connected to the third pipe (270) and the other end may be connected to the fourth pipe (280). The third pipe (270) may be connected to the heat pump (100), and the fourth pipe (280) may be connected to the heat energy consumption source (10).

[0043] The water pipe (340) can perform indirect heat transfer to the heat energy consumption source (10) by passing the heat transfer medium, which is transferred from the heat pump (100) through the third pipe (270), through the phase change material and then transferring it to the heat energy consumption source (10) through the fourth pipe (280).

[0044] A corrugated tube portion (350) can be formed in which the upper part of the phase change material is formed in a corrugated tube shape.

[0045] An air layer (360) can be formed inside the corrugated tube section (350).

[0046] The pressure applied to the lower phase change material can be controlled as the corrugated pipe section (350) is compressed and stretched by the first shrinkage tank (310) and the second shrinkage tank (320).

[0047] The heat pump (100) can apply heat to a heat transfer medium and transfer it to a latent heat storage tank (300).

[0048] The heat transfer medium delivered from the heat pump (100) is transferred to the heat energy consumption source (10) through the water pipe (340) inside the phase change material storage tank (330) of the latent heat storage tank (300), and at this time, heat storage or heat dissipation is performed by the phase change material of the heat transfer medium in the water pipe (340).

[0049] The heat transfer medium circulation unit (200) circulates a heat transfer medium between the latent heat storage tank (300), the heat pump (100), and the heat energy consumption source (10).

[0050] The heat transfer medium circulation unit (200) may include a first pipe (210), a first valve (220), a third valve (230), a second pipe (240), a second valve (250), a fourth valve (260), a third pipe (270), and a fourth pipe (280).

[0051] One side of the first pipe (210) is connected to a heat energy consumption source (10), and the other side is branched and connected to the first thermal storage tank (310) and the second thermal storage tank (320).

[0052] The first pipe (210) can transfer a heat medium from the heat energy consumption source (10) to the first heat storage tank (310) and the second heat storage tank (320).

[0053] The first valve (220) is installed in the first pipe (210) and can control the heat transfer medium transmitted to the first thermal storage tank (310) through the first pipe (210).

[0054] The third valve (230) is installed in the first pipe (210) and can control the heat transfer medium transmitted to the second thermal storage tank (320) through the first pipe (210).

[0055] Accordingly, the heat transfer medium can be selectively transferred from the heat energy consumption source (10) to at least one of the first thermal storage tank (310) and the second thermal storage tank (320) by means of the first valve (220) and the third valve (230).

[0056] The second pipe (240) can transfer a heat transfer medium from the first thermal storage tank (310) and the second thermal storage tank (320) to the heat pump (100).

[0057] The second valve (250) can control the heat transfer medium transferred from the first thermal storage tank (310) to the heat pump (100).

[0058] The fourth valve (260) can control the heat transfer medium transferred from the second thermal storage tank (320) to the heat pump (100).

[0059] Accordingly, the heat transfer medium can be selectively transferred to the heat pump (100) from at least one of the first thermal storage tank (310) and the second thermal storage tank (320) by means of the second valve (250) and the fourth valve (260).

[0060] That is, a heat transfer medium can be selectively injected into the first thermal storage tank (310) and the second thermal storage tank (320) by means of the first valve (220) to the fourth valve (260), thereby causing the pressure inside the phase change material thermal storage tank (330) to decrease or increase. As the pressure inside the phase change material thermal storage tank (330) increases or decreases, the phase change of the phase change material is accelerated, and as a result, heat storage or heat dissipation is achieved for the heat transfer medium.

[0061] The processor (400) can control the heat transfer medium circulation unit (200) to circulate the heat transfer medium between the latent heat storage tank (300), the heat pump (100), and the heat energy consumption source (10).

[0062] In this process, the processor (400) can control the pressure created in the latent heat storage tank (300) through a heat transfer medium so that the latent heat storage tank (300) can store or release thermal energy.

[0063] The processor (400) can operate in a normal mode, a rapid heat storage mode, and a rapid heat dissipation mode.

[0064] In normal mode, the processor (400) can store and release water sensible heat energy and phase change material latent heat energy in the same way as the operation of the heat supply device and the thermal storage tank system.

[0065] In rapid heat storage mode, the processor (400) turns on the second valve (250), the third valve (230), and the fourth valve (260) and turns off the first valve (220) to lower the pressure inside the phase change material heat storage tank (330).

[0066] As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the amount of heat transfer medium of the first thermal storage tank (310) ( ) decreases and the amount of the second thermal storage tank (320) ) can increase.

[0067] Here, am.

[0068] As the pressure generated by the heat transfer medium of the first heat shrinkage tank (310) becomes smaller than the tensile load (F) of the corrugated pipe section (350), the pressure within the phase change material decreases.

[0069] As the pressure within the phase change material decreases, the phase change (solid to liquid) of the phase change material is accelerated, and heat storage can be accelerated.

[0070] As a result, the phase change material storage tank (330) can be stretched and the preparation for the heat dissipation mode can be completed.

[0071] In rapid heat dissipation mode, the processor (400) turns on the first valve (220), the second valve (250), and the fourth valve (260) and turns off the third valve (230) to increase the pressure inside the phase change material heat storage tank (330).

[0072] As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the amount of heat transfer medium in the first thermal storage tank (310) ( ) increases and the amount of the first thermal storage tank (310) ( ) decreases.

[0073] As the pressure generated by the heat transfer medium of the first heat-retaining tank (310) becomes greater than the tensile load (F) of the corrugated pipe section (350), the pressure within the phase change material increases.

[0074] As the pressure within the phase change material increases, the phase change (liquid to solid) of the phase change material is accelerated, and heat dissipation can be accelerated.

[0075] As a result, the phase change material thermal storage tank is compressed, and preparation for the rapid thermal storage mode can be completed.

[0076] Table 1 below shows the operating method of the first valve (220) to the fourth valve (260) for each rapid mode.

[0077] mode First valve (220) Second valve (250) Third valve (230) 4th valve (260) Rapid heat dissipation (heat dissipation of phase change material) (liquid -> solid) (pressure increase) on on Off on Rapid-heat accumulation (phase change material endothermic) (solid -> liquid) (pressure drop) Off on on on

[0078] As such, a latent heat storage tank pressure-regulating thermal energy management device according to one embodiment of the present invention can improve the heating efficiency of a thermal energy consumption source by increasing the heat transfer rate through a latent heat storage tank that regulates the pressure formed in a phase change material to accelerate the phase change phenomenon. Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, this is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent alternative embodiments are possible therefrom. Accordingly, the true technical scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the following claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0079] 100: Heat pump 200: Heat transfer medium circulation section 300: Latent heat storage tank 310: 1st Heat Storage Tank 320: 2nd thermal storage tank 330: Phase change material 340: Water pipes 350: Corrugated tube 360: Air layer 400: Processor

Claims

Claim 1 A latent heat storage tank that regulates the pressure formed in a phase change material by being compressed or stretched by a heat transfer medium; a heat pump that heats the heat transfer medium; a heat transfer medium circulation unit that circulates the heat transfer medium between the latent heat storage tank, the heat pump, and a heat energy consumption source; and a processor that controls the heat transfer medium circulation unit to circulate the heat transfer medium between the latent heat storage tank, the heat pump, and the heat energy consumption source, and regulates the pressure formed in the latent heat storage tank through the heat transfer medium so that the latent heat storage tank stores or releases thermal energy, wherein the latent heat storage tank comprises a phase change material storage tank that stores or releases thermal energy using the phase change material; and a first thermal storage tank that changes the pressure formed in the phase change material. A latent heat storage tank pressure-regulating thermal energy management device comprising a second heat storage tank that changes the pressure formed in the phase change material, wherein the first heat storage tank is installed at the top of the phase change material thermal storage tank and compresses or stretches the phase change material thermal storage tank through a heat transfer medium recovered from the thermal energy consumption source, and the second heat storage tank is installed at the bottom of the phase change material thermal storage tank and compresses or stretches the phase change material through the heat transfer medium recovered from the thermal energy consumption source by recovering the remaining flow rate of the heat transfer medium controlled in the first heat storage tank, and wherein the phase change material thermal storage tank has a corrugated pipe-shaped corrugated pipe section formed at the top of the phase change material, and the phase change material thermal storage tank includes a water pipe formed in a coil shape inside the phase change material to transmit heat to the thermal energy consumption source.

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