Loop type heat pipe and waste heat recovery device

Abstract

A loop type heat pipe includes an evaporator located to evaporate a refrigerant by heat-exchanging with a first fluid as a heat source, and a condenser located to liquefy and condense the evaporated vapor refrigerant by heat-exchanging with a second fluid to be heated. The condenser has a refrigerant condensation side on which the condensed liquid refrigerant flows, and a refrigerant un-condensation side on which the vapor refrigerant before being condensed flows. In addition, the loop type heat pipe is provided with a flow limitation portion for flowing the second fluid from the refrigerant condensation side toward the refrigerant un-condensation side. For example, the loop type heat pipe is suitably used for a waste heat recovery device.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-165177 filed on Jun. 14, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a loop type heat pipe, in which a refrigerant is evaporated by heat from a first fluid as a heat source, and the evaporated vapor refrigerant is cooled by a second fluid to be heated so as to heat the second fluid by condensation latent heat of the vapor refrigerant. For example, the loop type heat pipe can be suitably used for a waste heat recovery device. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Conventionally, a loop type heat pipe is described in JP-A-4-45393, for example. This loop type heat pipe is provided with an evaporator for heating and evaporating refrigerant, and a condenser for cooling and condensing the evaporated vapor refrigerant. Furthermore, o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] In view of the foregoing problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a loop type heat pipe, which can effectively improve heat pump efficiency.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a waste heat recovery device which can effectively improve heat recovery efficiency.

[0009] According to an example of the present invention, a loop type heat pipe in which a refrigerant circulates, includes an evaporator located to evaporate the refrigerant by heat-exchanging with a first fluid as a heat source, and a condenser located to liquefy and condense the evaporated vapor refrigerant by heat-exchanging with a second fluid to be heated. The condenser has a refrigerant condensation side on which the condensed liquid refrigerant flows, and a refrigerant un-condensation side on which the vapor refrigerant before being condensed flows. Furthermore, the loop type heat pipe is provided with a flow limitation means for flowing the second fluid from the refrigerant condensation side toward the refrigerant un-condensation side. Therefore, the condensed liquid refrigerant can be effectively cooled to a low temperature because a temperature difference between the refrigerant and the second fluid can be made larger on both the refrigerant condensation side and the refrigerant un-condensation side. Accordingly, the temperature of the liquid refrigerant to be supplied to the evaporator can be lowered, and heat absorbing amount of the refrigerant in the evaporator can be increased. As a result, heat pump efficiency of the loop type heat pipe can be effectively increased and thereby improving heating performance of the second fluid to be heated.

[0012] According to another example of the present invention, a waste heat recovery device includes: a loop-type heat pipe including an evaporator located to evaporate a refrigerant by performing a heat exchange with a first fluid, and a condenser located to cool and condense the evaporated vapor refrigerant from the evaporator; a first fluid flowing portion in which the first fluid flows to perform heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing in the evaporator; a second fluid flowing portion in which the second fluid flows to perform heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing in the condenser; an introducing pipe for introducing the second fluid to the second fluid flowing portion; and a discharging pipe for discharging the second fluid from the second fluid flowing portion after passing through the second fluid flowing portion. Furthermore, the condenser has a refrigerant condensation side on which the condensed liquid refrigerant flows, and a refrigerant un-condensation side on which the vapor refrigerant before being condensed flows. In addition, the introducing pipe is connected to the second fluid flowing portion at the refrigerant condensation side of the condenser, and the discharging pipe is connected to the second fluid flowing portion at the refrigerant un-condensation side of the condenser. Therefore, the condensed liquid refrigerant can be effectively cooled to a low temperature because a temperature difference between the refrigerant and the second fluid can be made larger on both the refrigerant condensation side and the refrigerant un-condensation side. Accordingly, the temperature of the liquid refrigerant to be supplied to the evaporator can be lowered, and heat absorbing amount of the refrigerant in the evaporator can be increased. As a result, heat recovery efficiency (heat pump efficiency) of the waste heat recovery device can be effectively increased.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, the loop type heat pipe is provided with a flow limitation means for flowing the second fluid from the refrigerant condensation side toward the refrigerant un-condensation side.

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