A heat exchange system based on a phase change material-coated sphere

Abstract

The present invention discloses a heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres, which includes a heat exchange pipe, phase change spheres, and a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism includes a sphere chamber and an impact pump. The sphere chamber includes a sphere outlet, a sphere return port, an impact port, and a pump return port. The phase change spheres are large-sized spheres coated with aluminum and can move in line in the pipeline. The sphere chamber is connected to the impact pump through the impact port and the pump return port, and is connected to the heat exchange pipe through the sphere outlet and the sphere return port. Water is filled in the sphere chamber and the heat exchange pipe. The ball cavity in the sphere chamber has a structure that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, and the sphere outlet and the impact port are respectively located on opposite sides of the bottom of the sphere chamber, so that the impact port faces the sphere outlet directly. The water flow ejected from the outlet of the impact pump impacts the phase change spheres that sink to the bottom in the sphere chamber through the impact port, so that the phase change spheres are washed into the sphere outlet by the water flow and complete the cyclic movement along with the water flow. Compared with phase change microcapsules, the phase change spheres of the present invention are not easily damaged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchange system, and particularly to a heat dissipation system. Background Art

[0002] In some fields, such as certain electronic devices, electrical energy devices, and product production and processing devices, a heat dissipation system is essential. In the prior art, a water cooling system is commonly used for the heat dissipation system. The water cooling system uses water as a heat exchange medium, and exchanges heat through a heat exchange pipe, transferring the heat of the device to be cooled to the water in the heat exchange pipe, and then taking away the heat through the flow of water to achieve the purpose of cooling the device to be cooled. The advantages of using water as a heat exchange medium are obvious. For example, the cost of water is low, the specific heat capacity of water is high, and water can be recycled. However, in some special occasions, such as when water cooling a device with a high heat release, the heat capacity of water still seems insufficient.

[0003] As is well known, a phase change material absorbs a large amount of heat when the material melts from a solid state to a liquid state, and releases heat when it solidifies from a liquid state to a solid state. The heat capacity generated when melting from a solid state to a liquid state is far greater than that of water. However, the phase change material after solidifying from a liquid state to a solid state does not have fluidity and cannot directly replace water. For this reason, the patent document CN 108110378A, on June 1, 2018, "A Heat Dissipation Structure and Method for a Lithium-Ion Battery Based on a Phase Change Microcapsule Slurry" and the patent document CN108682919A, on October 19, 2018, "A System and Method for Thermal Management of a Lithium-Ion Battery Pack Based on a Phase Change Microcapsule Suspension" disclose a heat dissipation system that uses a phase change microcapsule slurry to replace water as a heat exchange medium to improve the heat capacity of the heat exchange medium. This solution of making the phase change material into phase change microcapsules and then mixing the phase change microcapsules with water to form a slurry can not only replace water as a heat exchange medium and greatly improve the specific heat capacity of the heat exchange medium, but also avoid the fluidity problem of the phase change material after solidification. However, this solution has an obvious defect: the slurry needs to be driven by a pump to flow, and the high-speed rotating pump impeller collides strongly with the phase change microcapsules in the slurry, which easily causes the shell of the phase change microcapsules to be damaged. After the shell of the phase change microcapsules is damaged, the phase change material is mixed with the slurry. At this time, in the cooler, the cooled phase change material solidifies and destroys the fluidity of the slurry. If a large number of phase change microcapsules are damaged, it will directly cause the heat dissipation system to be unavailable. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Problems to be Solved by the Present Invention:

[0005] 1. To improve the heat capacity of the heat exchange medium of the heat dissipation system;

[0006] 2. The fluidity problem of the phase change material when using the phase change material as the heat exchange medium to improve the heat dissipation system;

[0007] 3. In the technical solution of using the phase change microcapsule slurry as a heat exchange medium, there is a problem of damage to the shell of the phase change microcapsules caused by the strong collision between the high-speed rotating pump impeller and the phase change microcapsules.

[0008] To solve the above problems, the solution adopted in the present invention is as follows:

[0009] A heat exchange system based on a phase change material-coated sphere, comprising a first heat exchange tube, phase change spheres, and a driving mechanism; the first heat exchange tube is connected to the driving mechanism through a connecting tube; the phase change spheres are spheres made of a metal-coated phase change material, and their diameters match the inner diameter of the tube body of the first heat exchange tube, so that the phase change spheres can move in line in the first heat exchange tube; the driving mechanism is used to drive the phase change spheres to circulate between the first heat exchange tube, the connecting tube, and the driving mechanism.

[0010] Furthermore, the driving mechanism includes a sphere bin and an impact pump; the sphere bin includes a bin body, a ball outlet, a ball return port, an impact port, and a pump return port; the bin body is provided with a ball cavity; the ball cavity communicates with the ball outlet, the ball return port, the impact port, and the pump return port; the sphere bin is connected to the impact pump through the impact port and the pump return port, and is connected to the first heat exchange tube through the ball outlet and the ball return port; water is provided in the sphere bin, the first heat exchange tube, and the connecting tube connecting the sphere bin and the first heat exchange tube; the ball outlet and the impact port are respectively located on opposite sides of the bin body, so that the impact port faces the ball outlet; the outlet of the impact pump is connected to the impact port, so that the water flow ejected from the outlet of the impact pump impacts the phase change spheres in the ball cavity of the bin body through the impact port, so that the phase change spheres are washed into the ball outlet by the water flow.

[0011] Furthermore, the shell of the phase change sphere is made of aluminum.

[0012] Furthermore, the ball cavity is divided into a water return cavity and an impact cavity; the water return cavity is connected to the pump return port, and a filter screen is provided between the water return cavity and the pump return port; the impact cavity is connected to the impact port and the ball outlet; the water return cavity is located above the impact cavity; the overall specific gravity of the phase change spheres is greater than that of water, so that the phase change spheres can naturally sink in water, so that the phase change spheres in the ball cavity can naturally sink into the impact cavity under the action of gravity.

[0013] Furthermore, the impact cavity is a cavity with a size only enough for a single phase change sphere to pass through; a converging cavity with a larger upper part and a smaller lower part is provided between the water return cavity and the impact cavity; the ball outlet and the impact port are connected to the bottom of the impact cavity.

[0014] Furthermore, the converging cavity is connected to the ball return port.

[0015] Furthermore, a guiding part is provided between the ball outlet and the impact cavity; the size of the inner end of the guiding part connected to the impact cavity is larger than the size of the outer end of the guiding part connected to the ball outlet, so that the guiding part has a conical structure.

[0016] Furthermore, the inner diameters of the ball outlet and the impact port are the same and they have the same axis; the bottom of the impact chamber is arc-shaped; the center of the arc at the bottom of the impact chamber lies on the axis of the ball outlet and the impact port.

[0017] Furthermore, the impact chamber is inclined towards the impact port.

[0018] Furthermore, it further includes a second heat exchange pipe; there are two driving mechanisms; the ball outlet of one driving mechanism is connected to the ball return port of the other driving mechanism via the first heat exchange pipe, and the ball return port is connected to the ball outlet of the other driving mechanism via the second heat exchange pipe.

[0019] Furthermore, it further includes a second heat exchange pipe and a return water pump; both ends of the first heat exchange pipe are respectively connected to the ball outlet and the ball return port; one end of the second heat exchange pipe is connected to the impact port via an impact pump, and the other end is connected to the return pump port via the return water pump.

[0020] Furthermore, it further includes a second heat exchange pipe; one end of the first heat exchange pipe is connected to the ball outlet, and the other end is connected to the second heat exchange pipe; one end of the second heat exchange pipe is connected to the first heat exchange pipe, and the other end is connected to the ball return port.

[0021] The technical effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0022] 1. Compared with the phase change microcapsules, the phase change balls of the present invention are large-sized spheres, so the shell can be made thicker and the spheres are not easily damaged.

[0023] 2. The shell of the phase change balls of the present invention is made of metal. Compared with the shell of the phase change microcapsules which is generally made of metal oxide, the heat conductivity of the shell is better than that of the shell of the phase change microcapsules, and the heat exchange efficiency is higher.

[0024] 3. When the phase change balls of the present invention are placed in water, the collisions between the spheres occurring in the water are not likely to cause the spheres to be damaged.

[0025] 4. The phase change balls of the present invention will not collide with the pump impeller, so the spheres will not be damaged due to collision with the pump impeller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 is the overall structural schematic diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 is the three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the sphere bin of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 3 and Figure 4 are Figure 2 the sectional views of the sphere bin in two vertical directions in.

[0029] Figure 5 is the structural schematic diagram of the ball outlet guiding part of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the impact chamber in Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[0033] Among them, 1 is the sphere bin, 11 is the ball bin body, 111 is the water return chamber, 112 is the impact chamber, 113 is the collection chamber, 12 is the ball outlet, 121 is the guiding part, 1211 is the outer end of the guiding part, 1212 is the inner end of the guiding part, 13 is the ball return port, 14 is the impact port, 15 is the water return pump port, 151 is the filter screen, 19 is the base, 2 is the impact pump, 21 is the water return pump, 31 is the first heat exchange tube, 32 is the second heat exchange tube, and 5 is the phase change ball. Specific embodiments

[0034] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Embodiment 1

[0036] As Figure 1As shown in the figure, a heat exchange system based on a phase change material-coated sphere, including a first heat exchange tube 31, a second heat exchange tube 32, a phase change sphere, and two driving mechanisms. Among them, the first heat exchange tube 31 is located on the object to be cooled or wound around the object to be dissipated, and is used for heat exchange between the heat exchange medium in the tube body and the object to be cooled or the object to be dissipated. The second heat exchange tube 32 is located in the cooler or condenser and is used to dissipate heat for the heat exchange medium. The phase change sphere is a sphere made of a metal-coated phase change material, with a diameter of 3.0 mm to 20.0 mm. The thickness of the metal shell of the phase change sphere is 0.10 mm to 1.00 mm. The material of the metal shell of the phase change sphere is preferably aluminum. The driving mechanism includes a sphere bin 1 and an impact pump 2. The sphere bin 1 includes a bin body 11, a ball outlet 12, a ball return port 13, an impact port 14, and a pump return port 15. The bin body 11 is provided with a ball cavity, and the ball cavity communicates with the ball outlet 12, the ball return port 13, the impact port 14, and the pump return port 15. The sphere bin 1 is connected to the impact pump 2 through the impact port 14 and the pump return port 15. The outlet of the impact pump 2 is connected to the impact port 14. The ball outlet 12 of one driving mechanism is connected to the ball return port 13 of another driving mechanism through the first heat exchange tube 31, and the ball return port 13 is connected to the ball outlet 12 of another driving mechanism through the second heat exchange tube 32. The ball outlet 12, the ball return port 13, the first heat exchange tube 31, the second heat exchange tube 32 are connected through connecting pipes. The diameter of the phase change sphere matches the inner diameter of the tube body of the first heat exchange tube 31, the inner diameter of the tube body of the second heat exchange tube 32, the inner diameter of the connecting pipe connecting the first heat exchange tube 31 and the second heat exchange tube 32, and the inner diameters of the ball outlet 12 and the ball return port 13, so that the phase change sphere can queue and move in the ball outlet 12, the ball return port 13, the first heat exchange tube 31, the second heat exchange tube 32, and the connecting pipe connecting the first heat exchange tube 31 and the second heat exchange tube 32. Specifically, the inner diameters of the ball outlet 12, the ball return port 13, the first heat exchange tube 31, the second heat exchange tube 32, and the connecting pipe connecting the first heat exchange tube 31 and the second heat exchange tube 32 are the same and slightly larger than the diameter of the phase change sphere, so that the tube body cannot accommodate two phase change spheres side by side, so that only one phase change sphere can queue and pass through the tube body. For example, in this embodiment, the inner diameters of the ball outlet 12, the ball return port 13, the first heat exchange tube 31, the second heat exchange tube 32, and the connecting pipe connecting the first heat exchange tube 31 and the second heat exchange tube 32 are 15.0 mm, while the diameter of the phase change sphere is 12.0 mm. The ball cavities, the ball outlets 12, the ball return ports 13, the first heat exchange tube 31, the second heat exchange tube 32, and the connecting pipe connecting the first heat exchange tube 31 and the second heat exchange tube 32 of the bin bodies 11 of the two driving mechanisms form a circulation loop, so that the phase change sphere can circulate and move in this circulation loop. Specifically to Figure 1In the embodiment, after the phase change balls in the ball cavity of the ball storage body 11 of the left driving mechanism come out of the ball outlet 12, they enter the first heat exchange tube 31 through the connecting tube, and then enter the ball cavity of the ball storage body 11 of the right driving mechanism through the return ball port 13 through the connecting tube. After the phase change balls in the ball cavity of the ball storage body 11 of the right driving mechanism come out of the ball outlet 12, they enter the second heat exchange tube 32 through the connecting tube, and then enter the ball cavity of the ball storage body 11 of the left driving mechanism through the return ball port 13 through the connecting tube.

[0037] In this embodiment, the ball cavity of the ball storage body 11, the ball outlet 12, the return ball port 13, the first heat exchange tube 31 and the second heat exchange tube 32, and the connecting tube connecting the first heat exchange tube 31 and the second heat exchange tube 32 are filled with water, and the water flow is used to drive the movement of the phase change balls.

[0038] The sphere bin 1, as Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 shown, includes a ball storage body 11, a ball outlet 12, a return ball port 13, an impact port 14 and a return pump port 15. A base 19 is provided at the bottom of the ball storage body 11. The base 19 is used for fixing the sphere bin 1. The ball cavity is divided into a water return cavity 111 and an impact cavity 112. The water return cavity 111 is connected to the return pump port 15, and a filter screen 151 is provided between the water return cavity 111 and the return pump port 15. The filter screen 151 is a perforated plate in this embodiment, and is used to prevent the phase change balls 5 in the ball cavity from leaving the ball cavity through the return pump port 15. The impact cavity 112 is a vertical cavity with a size only enough for a single phase change ball to pass through, while the water return cavity 111 is a cavity with a size much larger than that of the impact cavity 112. The return pump port 15 is also of a large size, and its inner diameter is much larger than the diameter of the phase change ball. Those skilled in the art understand that the large-sized return pump port 15 and the large-sized impact cavity 112 help to reduce the suction force of the water flowing out of the return pump port 15. The larger the size, the smaller the suction force of the return pump port 15, so as to prevent the phase change balls 5 in the ball cavity from being adsorbed by the return pump port 15. The water return cavity 111 is located above the impact cavity 112. A converging cavity 113 with a large upper part and a small lower part is provided between the water return cavity 111 and the impact cavity 112. The converging cavity 113 is connected to the return ball port 13.

[0039] In this embodiment, the diameter of the phase change ball is 12.0 mm, the thickness of the metal shell of the phase change ball is 0.3 mm, the overall volume is 904.32 volume units, the volume of the phase change material in the phase change ball is 775.34 volume units, and the volume of the metal shell is 128.98. The specific gravity of the phase change material is 0.88. The metal shell is made of aluminum with a specific gravity of 2.7. Therefore, the overall specific gravity of the phase change ball in this embodiment is 1.14, slightly greater than the specific gravity of water. Thus, the phase change ball can naturally sink in water. Accordingly, under the action of gravity, the phase change balls 5 in the ball cavity can naturally sink to the bottom of the impact cavity 112 through the collection cavity 113 in water. The bottom of the impact cavity 112 is arc-shaped. The ball outlet 12 and the impact port 14 are connected to the bottom of the impact cavity 112. The inner diameters of the ball outlet 12 and the impact port 14 are the same, and they have the same axis and are located on opposite sides of the impact cavity 112, that is, on opposite sides of the ball storage body 11. The center of the arc at the bottom of the impact cavity 112 is on the axis of the ball outlet 12 and the impact port 14. A guiding portion 121 is provided between the ball outlet 12 and the impact cavity 112. As Figure 5 shown, the size of the inner end 1212 where the guiding portion 121 is connected to the impact cavity 112 is larger than the outer end 1211 where the guiding portion 121 is connected to the ball outlet 12, making the guiding portion 121 have a conical structure.

[0040] The working principle of this embodiment is as follows:

[0041] After the impact pump 2 draws water from the sphere bin 1 through the return pump port 15, the water is driven by the impact pump 2 and exits from the outlet of the impact pump 2. The water exiting from the outlet of the impact pump 2 impacts the phase change balls 5 that have sunk to the bottom of the impact cavity 112 through the impact port 14, just flushing the phase change balls 5 into the ball outlet 12 opposite to the impact port 14. Thus, the phase change balls 5 in the sphere bin 1 move from the ball outlet 12 to the first heat exchange tube 31 and the second heat exchange tube 32 driven by the water flow. And driven by the water flow, the phase change balls 5 in the first heat exchange tube 31 and the second heat exchange tube 32 return to the sphere bin 1 through the ball return port 13. The phase change balls 5 that return to the sphere bin 1 sink to the bottom of the impact cavity 112 under their own action, thus forming a cyclic movement of the phase change balls 5 in the pipeline. When the water flow at the impact port 14 impacts the phase change balls 5, due to the existence of the guiding portion 121, it is avoided that the phase change balls 5 do not enter the ball outlet 12 but move upward with the opening at the top of the impact cavity 112. In addition, the impact water flow generates an adsorption force in the impact cavity 112, which can further attract the phase change balls to the bottom of the impact cavity 112.

[0042] Embodiment 2

[0043] Compared with the heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres in Embodiment 1, in the heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres of this embodiment, there is only one driving mechanism. The ball outlet 12 of the sphere bin 1 is connected to one end of the first heat exchange pipe 31, and the other end of the first heat exchange pipe 31 is connected to one end of the second heat exchange pipe 32 through a connecting pipe, and the other end of the second heat exchange pipe 32 is connected to the ball return port 13 of the sphere bin 1.

[0044] Embodiment 3

[0045] Compared with the heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres in Embodiment 1, in the heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres of this embodiment, there is only one driving mechanism, and in addition, a return water pump 21 is included. The two ends of the first heat exchange pipe 31 are respectively connected to the ball outlet 12 and the ball return port 13 of the driving mechanism sphere bin 1. One end of the second heat exchange pipe 32 is connected to the impact port 14 through the impact pump 2, and one end is connected to the return pump port 15 through the return water pump 21. In this embodiment, it is required that the volume of the ball cavity in the sphere bin 1 is large enough so that the phase change material in the phase change sphere can solidify from the liquid state to the solid state after the heat exchange in the sphere bin 1.

[0046] Embodiment 4

[0047] Compared with the heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres in Embodiment 1, in the heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres of this embodiment, the impact cavity is inclined and inclined towards the impact port, so as to further avoid the reverse movement direction of the phase change sphere.

Claims

1. A heat exchange system based on a phase change material-coated sphere, characterized in that, It includes a first heat exchange tube (31), phase change balls, and a driving mechanism; the first heat exchange tube (31) is connected to the driving mechanism through a connecting tube; the phase change balls are spheres made of a metal-coated phase change material, and their diameters match the inner diameter of the tube body of the first heat exchange tube (31), so that the phase change balls can queue up and move in the first heat exchange tube (31); the driving mechanism is used to drive the phase change balls to circulate between the first heat exchange tube (31), the connecting tube, and the driving mechanism; the driving mechanism includes a sphere bin (1) and an impact pump (2); the sphere bin (1) includes a bin body (11), a ball outlet (12), a ball return port (13), an impact port (14), and a pump return port (15); the bin body (11) is provided with a ball cavity; the ball cavity communicates with the ball outlet (12), the ball return port (13), the impact port (14), and the pump return port (15); the sphere bin (1) is connected to the impact pump (2) through the impact port (14) and the pump return port (15), and is connected to the first heat exchange tube (31) through the ball outlet (12) and the ball return port (13); water is provided in the sphere bin (1), the first heat exchange tube (31), and the connecting tube connecting the sphere bin (1) and the first heat exchange tube (31); the ball outlet (12) and the impact port (14) are respectively located on opposite sides of the bin body (11), so that the impact port (14) faces the ball outlet (12) directly; the outlet of the impact pump (2) is connected to the impact port (14), so that the water flow ejected from the outlet of the impact pump (2) impacts the phase change balls in the ball cavity of the bin body (11) of the sphere bin (1), so that the phase change balls are washed into the ball outlet (12) by the water flow; the ball cavity is divided into a water return cavity (111) and an impact cavity (112); the water return cavity (111) is connected to the pump return port (15), and a filter screen (151) is provided between the water return cavity (111) and the pump return port (15); the impact cavity (112) is connected to the impact port (14) and the ball outlet (12); the water return cavity (111) is located above the impact cavity (112); the overall specific gravity of the phase change balls is greater than that of water, so that the phase change balls can sink naturally in water, so that the phase change balls in the ball cavity can sink naturally into the impact cavity (112) under the action of gravity; the impact cavity (112) is a cavity with a size only large enough for a single phase change ball to pass through; a converging cavity (113) with a larger upper part and a smaller lower part is provided between the water return cavity (111) and the impact cavity (112); the ball outlet (12) and the impact port (14) are connected to the bottom of the impact cavity (112); a guiding part (121) is provided between the ball outlet (12) and the impact cavity (112); the size of the inner end (1212) of the guiding part (121) connected to the impact cavity (112) is larger than the size of the outer end (1211) of the guiding part (121) connected to the ball outlet (12), so that the guiding part (121) has a conical structure; the inner diameters of the ball outlet (12) and the impact port (14) are the same and have the same axis; the bottom of the impact cavity (112) is arc-shaped; the center of the arc at the bottom of the impact cavity (112) is on the axis of the ball outlet (12) and the impact port (14).

2. The heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the shell of the phase change spheres is made of aluminum.

3. The heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the collecting cavity (113) is connected to the ball return port (13).

4. The heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the impact cavity (112) is inclined towards the impact port (14).

5. The heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4, wherein, it further comprises a second heat exchange pipe (32); there are two driving mechanisms; the ball outlet (12) of one driving mechanism is connected to the ball return port (13) of the other driving mechanism via a first heat exchange pipe (31), and the ball return port (13) is connected to the ball outlet (12) of the other driving mechanism via the second heat exchange pipe (32).

6. The heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4, wherein, it further comprises a second heat exchange pipe (32) and a return water pump (21); both ends of the first heat exchange pipe (31) are respectively connected to the ball outlet (12) and the ball return port (13); one end of the second heat exchange pipe (32) is connected to the impact port (14) via an impact pump (2), and the other end is connected to the return pump port (15) via the return water pump (21).

7. The heat exchange system based on phase change material-coated spheres as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4, wherein, it further comprises a second heat exchange pipe (32); one end of the first heat exchange pipe (31) is connected to the ball outlet (12), and the other end is connected to the second heat exchange pipe (32); one end of the second heat exchange pipe (32) is connected to the first heat exchange pipe (31), and the other end is connected to the ball return port (13).

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