Automobile interior heating device and heating method

Abstract

The present invention discloses an in-vehicle heating device and method. The in-vehicle heating device includes: a catalyst bed having an outlet and an inlet for admitting methanol and combustion-supporting air, the catalyst bed being used to catalyze the oxidation of methanol to release heat and heat the air; and a first heat exchanger having a first heat exchange channel connected to the outlet. The heated air exchanges heat with the air inside the vehicle through the first heat exchange channel, thereby heating the air inside the vehicle. The present invention heats the air by catalytically oxidizing methanol, which then passes through the first heat exchanger to heat the air inside the vehicle. The catalytic oxidation process produces no flames, ensuring safe and reliable operation of the device. The catalytic oxidation process also produces no nitrogen oxides, making the heating method environmentally friendly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating system in the field of automobile research, in particular to a heating device and a heating method for an automobile interior. Background Art

[0002] There are more and more battery-powered cars of various types, but all battery-powered cars face the same problem: how to heat the cars in winter. In addition, under low temperature conditions, the charging and discharging performance of some batteries is poor, so it is also very important to provide a heat source to warm the batteries in winter.

[0003] Using batteries for heating is one option, but the energy that can be released per unit weight of the battery is limited. In addition, the manufacturing cost of the battery is also high. Using batteries as a heating source for electric vehicles will increase the weight of the electric vehicle itself. As the battery cost increases, the price of the electric vehicle also increases.

[0004] According to the current battery manufacturing level, each kilogram of battery can provide about 1100-1500KJ / kg of heating energy, while the heat generated by burning 1 kilogram of methanol is 22680KJ. The heat generated by burning 1 kilogram of methanol is more than 20 times the heat released by 1 kilogram of battery.

[0005] Direct ignition and combustion of methanol involves open flames, posing a fire hazard. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a device or method that can reduce the risk of methanol conversion.

[0006] In addition, the heat generated by the present invention can be used to drive an absorption refrigeration device or an adsorption refrigeration device. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art and to provide a heating device and a heating method for an automobile interior that are safe and environmentally friendly.

[0008] According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a heating device for an automobile interior, comprising:

[0009] a catalyst bed having an outlet and an inlet for introducing methanol and combustion-supporting air, wherein the catalyst bed is used for catalyzing the oxidation of methanol to release heat and heat the air;

[0010] The first heat exchanger has a first heat exchange channel connected to the outlet. The heated air exchanges heat with the air inside the vehicle through the first heat exchange channel to heat the air inside the vehicle.

[0011] According to the automobile in-vehicle heating device described in the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the catalytic bed includes a start-up catalytic bed and a working catalytic bed connected in series, the start-up catalytic bed is connected to the second heat exchange channel, and the working catalytic bed is connected to the third heat exchange channel.

[0012] According to the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the automobile in-vehicle heating device further includes a second heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger having a third heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel connected to the inlet, the inlet end of the third heat exchange channel is connected to the outlet, and the outlet end of the third heat exchange channel is connected to the inlet end of the first heat exchange channel.

[0013] According to the automobile in-vehicle heating device described in the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, an electric auxiliary heater is provided between the inlet and the second heat exchange channel.

[0014] According to the automobile in-vehicle heating device described in the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, a heat storage heat exchanger is connected to the outlet end of the first heat exchange channel.

[0015] According to the automobile in-vehicle heating device described in the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the heat storage heat exchanger includes a fifth heat exchange channel and a fourth heat exchange channel connected to the outlet end of the first heat exchange channel, and the outlet end of the fifth heat exchange channel is connected to the inlet end of the second heat exchange channel through a first pipeline.

[0016] According to the automobile in-vehicle heating device described in the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, a methanol adding port is provided on the first pipeline.

[0017] According to the automobile in-vehicle heating device described in the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the thermal storage heat exchanger is a rotary heat exchanger or a multi-bed thermal storage heat exchanger.

[0018] According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a method for heating a vehicle interior is provided. After methanol and combustion-supporting air pass through a catalytic bed, methanol is catalytically oxidized to heat the air, and the heated air is passed through a first heat exchanger to heat the air inside the vehicle.

[0019] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the present invention heats air through catalytic oxidation of methanol, and the heated air heats the air inside the vehicle through the first heat exchanger; no flame is generated during the catalytic oxidation, and the equipment operates safely and reliably; no nitrogen oxides are generated during the catalytic oxidation process, and the heating method is environmentally friendly; under the action of the catalyst, about 80% of the methanol will be converted into water and carbon dioxide even at 25°C; the equipment starts with low power consumption; under the action of the high-temperature catalyst, 99% of the methanol will be converted into water and carbon dioxide at 300°C, and methanol will not harm the environment; methanol is widely available and inexpensive, and may be popularized in new energy vehicles in the future, making it convenient to add methanol to vehicles; the methanol catalyst can be manufactured using cheap metals, and the catalyst is inexpensive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly describes the drawings required for describing the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described only illustrate some embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Those skilled in the art can derive other design solutions and drawings based on these drawings without inventive effort.

[0021] Figure 1 It is a structural diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] This section will describe in detail the specific embodiments of the present invention. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. The purpose of the accompanying drawings is to supplement the description of the text part of the specification with graphics, so that people can intuitively and vividly understand each technical feature and the overall technical solution of the present invention, but it should not be understood as a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that descriptions involving orientations, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on the present invention.

[0024] In the description of the present invention, "several" means one or more, "many" means more than two, "greater than," "less than," and "exceed" are understood to exclude the number itself, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the number itself. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is solely for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, implicitly specifying the number of the indicated technical features, or implicitly specifying the order of the indicated technical features.

[0025] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, terms such as setting, installing, and connecting should be understood in a broad sense, and technicians in the relevant technical field can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific content of the technical solution.

[0026] Reference Figure 1 , a car interior heating device, comprising:

[0027] a catalyst bed having an outlet and an inlet for introducing methanol and combustion-supporting air, wherein the catalyst bed is used for catalyzing the oxidation of methanol to release heat and heat the air;

[0028] The first heat exchanger 5 has a first heat exchange channel connected to the outlet. The heated air exchanges heat with the air inside the vehicle through the first heat exchange channel to heat the air inside the vehicle.

[0029] The heated air and methanol mixture enters the catalytic bed. Initially, at least 80% of the methanol in the catalytic bed is oxidized into water and carbon dioxide. Heat released during the oxidation process heats the air, raising the temperature of the catalytic bed to 200-300°C, oxidizing all the methanol in the air into water and carbon dioxide. The hot air leaving the catalytic bed passes through the first heat exchanger 5, where it transfers heat to the vehicle's interior air, which requires heating. The heated vehicle air passes through point d of the first heat exchanger 5 and enters the first heat exchange channel for heating. The heated vehicle air is then discharged through point e. Furthermore, the heat generated by the present invention can be used to power an absorption or adsorption refrigeration unit.

[0030] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the catalyst bed includes a start-up catalyst bed 2 and a working catalyst bed 1 connected in series. The start-up catalyst bed 2 is connected to the second heat exchange channel, and the working catalyst bed 1 is connected to the third heat exchange channel. The start-up catalyst bed 2 can decompose the methanol in the gas below 50°C to increase the gas temperature; the working catalyst bed 1 can completely oxidize the methanol in the air into carbon dioxide and water between 200-300°C. The catalyst filled in the start-up catalyst bed 2 can be a Pt-loaded Al2O3 catalyst. Or other catalysts with precious metals as main components; the catalyst filled in the working catalytic bed 1 can be CuFeO X , MnOx-CeO2, or other catalysts loaded with other base metals. The heated air and methanol mixture enters the ignition catalyst bed 2, where at least 80% of the methanol is oxidized into water and carbon dioxide. The heat released during methanol oxidation heats the air, which then enters the working catalyst bed 1, where all the methanol in the air is oxidized into water and carbon dioxide. The hot air leaving the catalyst bed passes through the first heat exchanger 5, where it transfers heat to the vehicle's interior air before being discharged.

[0031] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the system further includes a second heat exchanger 4 having a third heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel connected to the inlet. The inlet of the third heat exchange channel is connected to the outlet, and the outlet of the third heat exchange channel is connected to the inlet of the first heat exchange channel. Hot air discharged from the catalytic bed passes through the third heat exchange channel and exchanges heat with the mixture of methanol and combustion air flowing through the second heat exchange channel. This keeps the temperature of the methanol and combustion air mixture at approximately 50°C when it enters the catalytic bed, thereby improving the conversion rate of methanol catalytic oxidation.

[0032] In some embodiments, as Figure 1As shown, an electric auxiliary heater 3 is provided between the inlet and the second heat exchange channel. When the reactor is first started up at an ambient temperature below 20°C, or when it is restarted after a long period of inactivity, the electric auxiliary heater 3 can be used to heat the methanol and combustion air mixture so that the temperature of the methanol and combustion air mixture entering the catalyst bed is around 50°C, thereby improving the conversion rate of methanol catalytic oxidation.

[0033] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the outlet end of the first heat exchange channel is connected to a regenerative heat exchanger 6. In cold winters, heating the ambient air from approximately -30°C to a temperature suitable for catalytic oxidation of methanol requires a large amount of electricity. Using the regenerative heat exchanger 6 to store excess heat from the initial stage and use it when starting the next day can reduce the heating cost of the electric vehicle.

[0034] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the regenerative heat exchanger 6 includes a fifth heat exchange channel and a fourth heat exchange channel connected to the outlet of the first heat exchange channel. The outlet of the fifth heat exchange channel is connected to the inlet of the second heat exchange channel via a first pipeline. The fifth heat exchange channel is connected to the outside via a control valve. The hot air flowing in the fourth heat exchange channel or the heat of the regenerative heat exchanger 6 itself heats the combustion air in the fifth heat exchange channel. The hot air is discharged through the outlet of the fourth heat exchange channel.

[0035] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the first pipeline is provided with a methanol addition port. The regenerative heat exchanger 6 often has leakage issues. Therefore, the methanol addition port is installed after the regenerative heat exchanger 6. This prevents the methanol-added air from exchanging heat with the hot air to be discharged in the fourth channel, and eliminates the possibility of methanol diffusing into the exhaust gas through the fourth heat exchange channel.

[0036] In some embodiments, the regenerative heat exchanger 6 is a rotary heat exchanger or a multi-bed regenerative heat exchanger. Rotary heat exchangers transfer heat by rotating the rotor, while multi-bed regenerative heat exchangers transfer heat by switching valves. If the rotor stops rotating or the valves stop switching, the device loses its heat transfer function.

[0037] In the method for heating the interior of a car, methanol and combustion-supporting air pass through a catalytic bed, methanol is catalytically oxidized to heat the air, and the heated air passes through a first heat exchanger 5 to heat the air inside the car.

[0038] Specifically, the combustion air is extracted from point b outdoors and passes through the fifth heat exchange channel of the heat storage heat exchanger 6. The methanol at the methanol storage a is sprayed into the combustion air through the methanol addition port. The methanol-containing air first passes through the second heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger 4 and is heated. The methanol in the air is vaporized and then passes through the electric auxiliary heater 3. When the temperature of the air and methanol mixed gas reaches the set temperature, such as lower than 20°C, the electric auxiliary heater 3 starts, otherwise the heating is stopped. The heated air and methanol mixed gas first enters the ignition catalytic bed 2. At least 80% of the methanol in the ignition catalytic bed 2 is oxidized into water and carbon dioxide. Heat is released during the oxidation process of methanol to heat the air. The heated air enters the working catalytic bed 1, so that all the methanol in the air is oxidized into water and carbon dioxide. The hot air leaving the working catalytic bed 1 passes through the third heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger 4, transferring heat to the air-methanol mixture undergoing catalytic treatment in the second heat exchange channel. After leaving the second heat exchanger 4, the hot air first passes through the first heat exchanger 5, transferring heat to the vehicle's interior air, which needs to be heated. Finally, it passes through the fourth heat exchange channel of the regenerative heat exchanger 6 and is discharged to the atmosphere through point a. The vehicle air to be heated passes through point d of the first heat exchanger 5, enters the first heat exchange channel for heating, and is then discharged through point e.

[0039] The above is a specific description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the invention is not limited to the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without violating the spirit of the present invention. These equivalent modifications or substitutions are all included in the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A heating device for a car, characterized in that: include: a catalyst bed having an outlet and an inlet for introducing methanol and combustion-supporting air, wherein the catalyst bed is used for catalyzing the oxidation of methanol to release heat and heat the air; The first heat exchanger has a first heat exchange channel connected to the outlet, and the heated air exchanges heat with the air inside the vehicle through the first heat exchange channel to heat the air inside the vehicle; The second heat exchanger further comprises a third heat exchange channel and a second heat exchange channel connected to the inlet, the inlet end of the third heat exchange channel is connected to the outlet, and the outlet end of the third heat exchange channel is connected to the inlet end of the first heat exchange channel; A regenerative heat exchanger is connected to the outlet end of the first heat exchange channel, and the regenerative heat exchanger includes a fifth heat exchange channel and a fourth heat exchange channel connected to the outlet end of the first heat exchange channel. The outlet end of the fifth heat exchange channel is connected to the inlet end of the second heat exchange channel through a first pipeline, and a methanol addition port is provided on the first pipeline, wherein the hot air flowing in the fourth heat exchange channel or the heat of the regenerative heat exchanger itself heats the combustion air in the fifth heat exchange channel.

2. The automobile interior heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The catalytic bed includes a start-up catalytic bed and a working catalytic bed connected in series. The start-up catalytic bed is connected to the second heat exchange channel, and the working catalytic bed is connected to the third heat exchange channel.

3. The automobile interior heating device according to claim 2, characterized in that: An electric auxiliary heater is provided between the inlet and the second heat exchange channel.

4. The automobile interior heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thermal storage heat exchanger is a rotary heat exchanger or a multi-bed thermal storage heat exchanger.

5. A method for heating a vehicle interior, characterized in that: The automobile interior heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprises: After methanol and combustion-supporting air pass through the catalytic bed, methanol is catalytically oxidized to heat the air, and the heated air passes through the first heat exchanger to heat the air inside the vehicle.

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