Pipe and operating system for conveying a fluid

Abstract

A pipe and a system for use are disclosed. The pipe includes a body, a flow passage defined by the body, and at least two openings in communication with the flow passage, and further includes a reinforcing member disposed within at least a portion of the flow passage to enhance heat transfer from a heat source located outside the pipe to a fluid flowing through the flow passage via the body. The pipe can be used in a system, such as a fuel cell system, to effectively improve the performance, safety, and the like of the system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of heat exchange technology, and more particularly to pipe fittings for conveying fluids and operating systems including such pipe fittings. Background Technology

[0002] Many types of pipe fittings are widely used in various applications. These fittings are mainly used to transport fluid media such as liquids, gases, and gas-liquid mixtures in various devices, systems, or equipment, and they play an important role.

[0003] However, this application has found that these existing pipe fittings still have defects and shortcomings in some application environments. For example, when the fluid inside the pipe cannot be directly heated (such as when the fluid has explosion-proof requirements), and it is necessary to indirectly transfer heat to the fluid inside the pipe through the pipe fitting with the help of an external heat source, these existing pipe fittings usually fail to meet the expected heat transfer requirements. For example, uneven heating of the fluid at different locations inside the pipe may occur, the heating process will take a lot of time, the heating efficiency will be low, the heating process will be unstable, and the mixing degree of multiple fluids flowing inside the pipe may not be ideal. This may affect the relevant applications and performance of the system, and may also bring about problems such as cost, efficiency, and safety. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention provides pipe fittings and operating systems for conveying fluids, thereby solving or at least mitigating one or more of the aforementioned problems and other issues present in the prior art.

[0005] First, according to one aspect of the invention, a pipe fitting for conveying fluid is provided, comprising a body, a flow channel defined by the body, and at least two openings communicating with the flow channel. The pipe fitting further includes a reinforcing member disposed within at least a portion of the flow channel to enhance heat transfer from a heat source located outside the pipe fitting via the body to the fluid flowing through the flow channel.

[0006] In the pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to the invention, the reinforcing member is optionally attached to at least a portion of the inner surface of the body, or arranged adjacent to at least a portion of the inner surface of the body.

[0007] In the pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to the invention, optionally, the reinforcing member is pressed into the flow channel when the body is in an expanded state in its radial direction, and is arranged to extend along at least a portion of the flow channel.

[0008] In the pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to the invention, optionally, the reinforcing member is configured to have a porous structure for fluid to flow through therethrough, and / or the fluid comprises at least two different gases.

[0009] In the pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to the invention, optionally, the porous structure is a mesh structure formed by a heat-conducting element having an elongated shape.

[0010] In the pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to the invention, optionally, the heat-conducting element comprises a plurality of metal wires that are wound together with each other along the length of the body to form a mesh structure.

[0011] In the pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to the invention, optionally, the plurality of metal wires are made of the same or different metal materials, and / or the plurality of metal wires have the same or different dimensions.

[0012] In the pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to the invention, optionally, the mesh structure is arranged within the flow channel along the entire length of the body.

[0013] Secondly, according to another aspect of the present invention, an operating system is also provided, comprising: A heat source, configured to provide thermal energy; and At least one flow path includes a fluid used as a working medium and a conduit as described in any of the above for conveying the fluid, the conduit being configured to convey the fluid, and at least a portion of the conduit being arranged adjacent to the heat source for receiving thermal energy from the heat source and transferring it via the body and the reinforcing member to the fluid flowing through the flow path.

[0014] Optionally, in the operating system according to the invention, the operating system includes a hydrogen fuel cell system, and the fluid includes hydrogen.

[0015] The present invention features a simple structure, is easy to manufacture and use, and can significantly improve the heat transfer efficiency of the fluid inside the pipe from the outside, promoting faster, more efficient, and more uniform heating of the fluid inside the pipe, resulting in a more stable heating process and a faster heating response time. Furthermore, the present invention can effectively optimize the mixing degree of the fluid flowing inside the pipe, promoting a more thorough, complete, and uniform mixing of, for example, two or more gases. By configuring and using the pipe fittings of the present invention in various operating systems, such as fuel cell systems, the operating performance and safety performance of these systems can be effectively improved. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of an embodiment of a pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 It is Figure 1 The diagram shows the internal heat exchange of the pipe fitting embodiment when it is placed vertically.

[0018] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The figures show the results of two temperature tests conducted on the fluid flowing out of the pipe after receiving heat energy from an external heat source, when using an existing ordinary pipe fitting to transport fluid.

[0019] Figure 5 and Figure 6 The figures show the results of two temperature tests on the fluid flowing out of the pipe after receiving heat energy from an external heat source when using a pipe fitting according to the present invention to transport fluid. Detailed Implementation

[0020] First, it should be noted that the following description, by way of example, illustrates the structure, composition, features, and advantages of the pipe fittings and operating systems for conveying fluids according to the present invention; however, all descriptions should not be construed as limiting the invention in any way. In this document, technical terms such as "upper," "lower," "right," "left," "inner," and "outer," and their derivatives, should be used in relation to the orientation shown in the accompanying drawings. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the invention may take many alternative orientations.

[0021] refer to Figure 1 The figure schematically illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the pipe fitting 100 includes a body 10, a flow channel 13, and openings 11 and 12 located at the left and right ends of the body 10. The flow channel 13 is defined and formed by the body 10 and serves as a flow path for fluids such as gases, liquids, and gas-liquid mixtures. Depending on the actual application requirements, the flow channel 13 can be configured with any feasible shape, such as having a circular, elliptical, rectangular, triangular, or even irregular cross-sectional shape.

[0022] In the above embodiments, openings 11 and 12 are connected to the flow channel 13, and they serve as the fluid inlet and fluid outlet of the fitting 100, respectively. However, it should be understood that the present invention allows the fitting 100 to have three, four, or more openings as fluid inlets or outlets, and these openings can be arranged at any suitable location on the body 10 as needed, and are not limited to arrangements such as... Figure 1The left and right sides are shown in the diagram. Furthermore, the configuration of the pipe fitting 100 itself should not be construed as allowing only linear shapes. In this invention, the pipe fitting 100 is allowed to have a flexible construction to be fully adaptable to a variety of possible practical applications. For example, in some embodiments, the pipe fitting 100 may be constructed with sections such as arcs, V-shapes, or U-shapes.

[0023] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The invention is shown to have a reinforcing member 14 disposed in the pipe fitting 100, which is a significant difference between the present invention and the prior art. The reinforcing member 14 can play a significant role in at least one advantageous aspect, such as enhancing the thermal conductivity of the fluid in the pipe and optimizing the mixing degree of the fluid in the pipe.

[0024] Specifically, the reinforcing member 14 can be arranged within a portion or the entire flow channel 13 of the pipe fitting 100 to enhance heat transfer to the fluid flowing within the pipe (such as a single gas, a mixed gas, a gas-liquid mixture, a liquid, etc.). That is, by means of the reinforcing member 14 in the pipe fitting 100, heat transfer from an external heat source (such as a heating device like a heating wire) via the body 10 to the fluid within the pipe can be facilitated (this is in... Figure 2 (Arrows A and B are used for illustration). This can improve the heating efficiency of the fluid inside the pipe, make the heating process more stable, and make the heat exchange inside the pipe more uniform. This can effectively solve the shortcomings and deficiencies that often exist in the use of existing pipe fittings mentioned above.

[0025] For example, a reinforcing member 14 can be arranged in at least a portion of the flow channel 13 of the fitting 100 to promote the mixing of fluids flowing within the pipe. For instance, when two or more different gases flow simultaneously through the flow channel 13 of the fitting 100, the reinforcing member 14 can promote a more thorough, complete, and uniform mixing. This improvement in mixing is highly beneficial for further improving the performance of such fluid media and, consequently, for improving the overall system performance. Technically, it is superior to existing fittings.

[0026] The reinforcing member 14 can be arranged in the flow channel 13 of the pipe 100 in a variety of feasible ways, depending on actual needs, and the present invention does not impose any specific limitations in this regard. For example, the reinforcing member 14 can not only be attached to at least a portion of the inner surface 101 of the body 10, but also be arranged adjacent to at least a portion of the inner surface 101 of the body 10, and many other such arrangements are perfectly permissible.

[0027] For example, tools or heating can be used to expand the body 10 radially before pressing the reinforcing member 14 into the flow channel 13 of the body 10 and extending it along part or all of the flow channel 13, thereby placing the reinforcing member 14 into the flow channel 13 of the pipe fitting 100. Alternatively, when manufacturing the pipe fitting 100, the reinforcing member 14 can be placed onto the inner surface 101 of the body 10, either alone or in combination, using processes such as pressing, bonding, or welding, before the body 10 with the reinforcing member 14 is formed into the pipe fitting 100.

[0028] To further understand the enhancement component 14, more illustrative examples will be provided below.

[0029] Alternatively, the reinforcing member 14 can be configured with a porous structure, which would greatly facilitate heat exchange. Figure 1 and Figure 2 Only one of these numerous pores, pore 16, is schematically shown. The fluid flowing through the flow channel 13 passes through these pores, which facilitates more complex fluid trajectories (such as tumbling and turbulence) in multiple directions (up / down, left / right, and forward / backward) within the pipe. Figure 2 (The arrow C is used as an illustration). At the same time, it can significantly increase their heat exchange contact area, help to achieve more complete and smooth heat exchange, and promote higher heat exchange efficiency. Especially for fluids in different positions in the pipe (especially when two or more gases are flowing in the pipe at the same time), they can mix more evenly and fully, optimizing the degree of mixing of fluids in the pipe.

[0030] The aforementioned porous structure can be achieved using any feasible process, such as machining or casting. Regarding the porous structure itself, the present invention allows it to be made alone or in combination with any suitable material, such as metallic or non-metallic materials. Alternatively, the porous structure can be specifically presented as, for example, a mesh structure, which can be fabricated using a heat-conducting component with an elongated shape.

[0031] For example Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, several metal wires 15 can be intertwined to form a mesh structure (such as by weaving), and then arranged along the length of the body 10 in the flow channel 13, for example, optionally along the entire length of the body 10. It should be noted that in practice, the specific number of metal wires 15 used can be set according to different needs, such as 10, 25, 50, etc., and these metal wires 15 can be made of the same or different metal materials (such as copper, iron, aluminum, metal alloys, etc.), and they can have the same or different dimensions (such as cross-sectional area, length, shape, etc.). For example, some metal wires can have a relatively large diameter, while others can have a relatively small diameter; or some metal wires can have a circular cross-section, while others can have a square, elliptical, triangular, or other shaped cross-section.

[0032] Applying pipe fittings according to the invention, such as those with the aforementioned metal mesh structure, will result in significantly superior thermal conductivity compared to conventional pipe fittings. This is because, in conventional pipe fittings, fluid is typically only directly heated near the pipe shell, while the fluid closer to the center is difficult to heat effectively, leading to low heating efficiency and uneven, unstable heating processes. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The paper demonstrates the results of two temperature tests on the fluid flowing out of the pipe after receiving heat energy from an external heat source when using an existing common pipe fitting for fluid transmission.

[0033] according to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The test result curves show that these curves generally exhibit some unevenness. The figure particularly shows small spikes and fluctuations during the heating of the fluid inside the pipe, indicating that the heating process is not an ideal, smooth, rapid, and efficient process. Figure 3 The data shows that the heating rate of the fluid inside the pipe when using this common fitting is approximately 2.4°C / min, which is relatively low. Figure 4 The test result curves also show a similar situation.

[0034] Comparative Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 These two accompanying figures illustrate the basic situation of performing two temperature tests on the fluid flowing out of the pipe after receiving heat energy from an external heat source when using a pipe fitting embodiment according to the present invention for fluid transmission. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As can be clearly seen in the diagram, the test result curve shown is relative to... Figure 3 and Figure 4 The test results curves were much smoother and the heating process was faster, indicating that the fluid heating process was more stable, the heating response time was shorter, and the heating process was easier to control. Furthermore, Figure 5 and Figure 6 The heating rate shown is approximately 6°C / min, which is also much higher than... Figure 3 and Figure 4 The comparative test data shows that the heat exchange and heating effect is significantly superior to that of existing pipe fittings.

[0035] The present invention further provides an operating system in which a heat source (such as a heating wire) for providing thermal energy and one or more fluid flow paths are provided. At least one fluid (such as a gas, a gas-liquid mixture, a liquid, etc.) is provided in the flow path as a working medium, and a pipe according to the present invention is provided for conveying the fluid in the flow path. The pipe can be arranged so that part or all of it is adjacent to the heat source to receive thermal energy from the heat source. Furthermore, the reinforcing components arranged in the flow channel of the pipe as described above are used to better promote heat exchange and temperature rise of the fluid within the pipe. Additionally, the mixing degree of the fluid during flow within the pipe can be optionally further optimized and improved, thereby achieving the significant advantages of the present invention over the prior art discussed above.

[0036] It should be understood that the operating system according to the present invention can include many types, such as fuel cell systems (e.g., hydrogen fuel cells that can be applied to electric vehicles and other equipment), and the solution of the present invention can be widely applied to configuration in these different types of operating systems. For example, the pipe fittings of the present invention can be used in the hydrogen supply / gas supply circuit of a hydrogen fuel cell system, which can make the gas heating efficiency, heating process, mixing degree and other aspects of the system significantly better than those of traditional pipe fittings, thereby enhancing the working performance and safety performance of the system.

[0037] The above examples are merely illustrative of the piping and operating systems for conveying fluids according to the present invention. These examples are only for illustrating the principles and implementation methods of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and improvements can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical solutions should fall within the scope of the present invention and be defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tube for conveying a fluid comprising a body, a flow passage defined by the body, and at least two openings in communication with the flow passage, characterized in that, The fitting also includes a reinforcing member, which is a separate component made independently of the body. The reinforcing member is disposed within at least a portion of the flow channel and extends to the central region of the flow channel. The reinforcing member is configured to have a porous structure to allow fluid to flow through it, thereby enhancing heat transfer from a heat source located outside the fitting via the body to the fluid flowing through the flow channel and the mixing of the fluid within the flow channel.

2. The tube for delivering fluid of claim 1, wherein, The reinforcing member is attached to at least a portion of the inner surface of the body, or arranged adjacent to at least a portion of the inner surface of the body.

3. The tube for delivering fluid of claim 2, wherein, The reinforcing member is pressed into the flow channel when the body is in an expanded state in its radial direction, and is arranged to extend along at least a portion of the flow channel.

4. The pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to claim 1, wherein, The fluid comprises at least two different gases.

5. The pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to claim 4, wherein, The porous structure is a mesh structure formed by heat-conducting elements with elongated shapes.

6. The pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to claim 5, wherein, The heat-conducting component includes multiple metal wires that are intertwined along the length of the body to form a mesh structure.

7. The pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to claim 6, wherein, The multiple metal wires are made of the same or different metal materials, and / or the multiple metal wires have the same or different dimensions.

8. The pipe fitting for conveying fluid according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein, The mesh structure is arranged along the entire length of the body within the flow channel.

9. An operating system, characterized in that, include: A heat source, configured to provide heat energy; as well as At least one flow path includes a fluid used as a working medium and a pipe as described in any one of claims 1-8 for conveying the fluid, the pipe being configured to convey the fluid, and at least a portion of the pipe being arranged adjacent to the heat source for receiving thermal energy from the heat source and transferring it via the body and the reinforcing member to the fluid flowing through the flow path.

10. The operating system according to claim 9, wherein, The operating system includes a hydrogen fuel cell system, and the fluid includes hydrogen gas.

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