Elastic heat pump

Abstract

In order to provide an elastic heat pump which allows the temperature control of a cooling medium with a small movement mass and which meets high robustness requirements, an elastic heat pump is proposed which comprises a housing, at least one first cooling medium channel and at least one second cooling medium channel, at least one elastic heat element and a drive device, the first end of the at least one heat-dissipating element is indirectly or directly connected to the drive device and the second end of the at least one heat-dissipating element is fixedly or rotatably connected to the housing, and wherein the drive device is configured to cyclically displace the first end of the at least one heat-dissipating element such that the at least one heat-dissipating element is cyclically stretched, and the heat is transferred to the second cooling medium channel from the first cooling medium channel under the condition of fully utilizing the elastic heat effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an elastic heat pump, which comprises a housing, at least one first cooling medium channel and at least one second cooling medium channel, and further comprises a drive device.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle having an elastic heat pump. Background Art

[0003] Elastocaloric heat pumps can be used, for example, to increase the efficiency of heat pumps in motor vehicles. In an elastomeric heat pump, the elastomeric effect is utilized, wherein cyclic deformation of an elastomeric material causes a reversible temperature change which can be used to transfer heat from a cooler coolant flow to a hotter coolant flow.

[0004] A heat pump system is known from WO 2021 / 023680 A1, which has a first core and a second core, which are composed of a shape memory alloy, or have negative thermal expansion, or are composed of an elastic thermal material. The second core is positioned in a cascade arrangement with the first core and is configured so that it can change its state in response to a fluid heated by the first core.

[0005] A heat pump is known from DE 10 2021 209 740 A1, which comprises a thermoelastic element, a first coolant channel for a first coolant flow located on the cold side and a second coolant channel for a second coolant flow located on the hot side, a first transmission element and a second transmission element, wherein the thermoelastic element is sandwiched between the first transmission element and the second transmission element on both sides, wherein the first transmission element and the second transmission element are configured so that the thermoelastic element cyclically reciprocates between the first coolant channel and the second coolant channel and cyclically deforms the thermoelastic element.

[0006] DE 10 2020 207 876 A1 discloses a system for heating and / or cooling the interior of a vehicle, wherein an air duct is led at least partially through the body of the vehicle and wherein an elastomeric system is arranged in a section of the air duct, which is designed to heat and cool an air flow through the air duct.

[0007] A device for heat exchange is known from DE 10 2018 200 376 A1, which comprises an elastic heat belt made of an elastic heat material and a heat conducting element. The heat conducting element is constructed in such a way that a biconvex section of the heat conducting element engages with at least one elastic heat belt and deforms it, thereby achieving an elastic heat effect and conducting heat between at least one elastic heat belt and the biconvex section of the heat conducting element. In addition, the heat conducting element is constructed in such a way that a planar section of another heat conducting element contacts the elastic heat belt in the undeformed state of the elastic heat belt, thereby conducting heat between the planar section of another heat conducting element and at least one elastic heat belt. In this case, the heat conducting element is constructed with both a biconvex section and a planar section. Summary of the invention

[0008] The invention is based on the object of providing an elastomeric heat pump which achieves temperature control of a cooling medium with relatively small moving masses and meets relatively high robustness requirements.

[0009] In order to achieve the object on which the present invention is based, an elastomeric heat pump is proposed, which comprises a housing, at least one first cooling medium channel and at least one second cooling medium channel, at least one elastomeric element, and further comprises a drive device, wherein the at least one elastomeric element is indirectly or directly connected to the drive device at a first end and is fixedly or rotatably connected to the housing at a second end, wherein the drive device is configured to cyclically displace the first end of the at least one elastomeric element so that the at least one elastomeric element is cyclically stretched and heat is transferred from the first cooling medium channel to the second cooling medium channel while fully utilizing the elastomeric effect.

[0010] For example, the thermally elastic element may be a strip composed of a thermally elastic material.

[0011] In this case, a plurality of thermoelastic elements may also be provided, in particular a plurality of strips made of thermoelastic material.

[0012] According to the present invention, it is provided that the driving device cyclically displaces the first end of at least one elastic thermal element connected to the driving device, so that the at least one elastic thermal element is cyclically stretched, ie, compressed or elongated.

[0013] Due to the cyclic stretching of the elastomeric thermal element, a reversible temperature change is induced in the material of the elastomeric thermal element. This elastomeric thermal effect is used in the elastomeric thermal heat pump according to the invention to transfer heat from the first coolant channel to the second coolant channel.

[0014] According to the invention, it is further provided that the second end of at least one elastomeric thermal element is fixedly or rotatably connected to the housing. As a result, the elastomeric thermal element is always clamped between the drive and the housing. As a result, only one drive must be provided for cyclic extension of the elastomeric thermal element, namely the drive to which the first end of the at least one elastomeric thermal element is connected. This reduces the moving masses. Due to the further reduced number of movable components, the robustness of the elastomeric thermal heat pump is increased.

[0015] In this case, the arrangement and / or orientation of the drive device with respect to the housing or in the housing can be selected such that the cyclic extension of the thermally elastic element is approximately 10%.

[0016] A liquid coolant can flow through the first coolant channel and / or the second coolant channel. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the first coolant channel and / or the second coolant channel are filled with another medium, such as, for example, a gas.

[0017] Furthermore, ribs or other structures may be arranged in the first coolant channel and / or the second coolant channel, which increase the contact surface with the coolant.

[0018] Preferably, it can further be provided that at least one first coolant channel is a cold channel and at least one second coolant channel is a hot channel.

[0019] In other words, in operation of an elastic heat pump, heat is transferred from the cold aisle to the hot aisle.

[0020] It can further be provided that the drive device comprises a transmission rod, in particular guided in at least one radial bearing, wherein the elastic thermal element is indirectly or directly fixed rigidly or rotatably to the transmission rod with a first end, and wherein the transmission rod can preferably be moved cyclically by means of a cam drive or a crank drive.

[0021] The drive rod of the drive device here moves cyclically back and forth in a translational motion. The first end of at least one elastomeric thermal element, which is directly or indirectly fixed to the drive rod, follows the cyclical translational motion of the drive rod, thereby causing cyclical elastic stretching, ie compression or elongation of the elastomeric thermal element.

[0022] Advantageously, a slide can be provided, wherein the slide is connected to the transmission rod and wherein the elastic thermal element is fixed to the slide with a first end in a rigid or rotatable manner.

[0023] By providing a slider, a defined connection point may be provided for the first end of the at least one elastic thermal element.

[0024] The direction of the translational movement of the transmission rod is preferably set in such a way that the distance between the first end of the first thermally elastic element and the second end of the thermally elastic element changes cyclically.

[0025] It can preferably be provided here that the transmission rod and / or at least one radial bearing are arranged pivotably, so that the direction of the translational movement of the transmission rod can be changed and the degree of extension of the at least one elastothermal element can be adjusted.

[0026] By adjusting the direction of the translational movement of the transmission rod, the cyclical movement of the first end of the at least one elastic thermal element relative to the second end can be adjusted. Here, the greater the component of the translational movement along the imaginary line between the first end and the second end, the greater the stretching of the elastic thermal element. In addition, the direction of the translational movement preferably always has a component substantially perpendicular to the imaginary line between the first end and the second end. Therefore, the elastic thermal element also always swings around the connection point of the second end of the elastic thermal element to the housing. This swinging movement can be used to bring the at least one elastic thermal element into cyclic thermal contact with the first cooling medium channel and / or the second cooling medium channel.

[0027] Therefore, it is preferably provided that at least one thermally elastic element is arranged between the first coolant channel and the second coolant channel, and the at least one thermally elastic element is brought into thermal contact with the first coolant channel and the second coolant channel alternately by cyclic displacement.

[0028] Here, the thermoelastic element is stretched cyclically at the same time. As a result, the thermoelastic element is, for example, in a relaxed state in thermal contact with the first coolant channel and in a stretched state in contact with the second coolant channel. In the relaxed state, the thermoelastic element has a lower temperature and can therefore absorb heat from the first coolant channel. In the stretched state, the thermoelastic element has a higher temperature and can therefore release heat to the second coolant channel.

[0029] The first coolant channel and / or the second coolant channel can preferably have a thin layer of a thermoelastic material having a high thermal conductivity, for example less than 0.1 mm.

[0030] This layer can be a graphite foil. This makes it possible to compensate for surface roughness and production tolerances.

[0031] More advantageously, a plurality of first cooling medium channels, in particular a plurality of cold channels, and a plurality of second cooling medium channels, in particular a plurality of hot channels, and a plurality of elastic thermal elements can be provided, wherein each elastic thermal element is arranged between each of the first cooling medium channels and each of the second cooling medium channels, and each of the elastic thermal elements is alternately brought into thermal contact with the corresponding first cooling medium channel and the corresponding second cooling medium channel through cyclic displacement.

[0032] Here, each of the elastic thermal elements can be directly or indirectly connected to a drive device, in particular a transmission rod, with its first end. In addition, each of the elastic thermal elements can be fixedly or rotatably connected to the housing with its second end.

[0033] Thus, multiple thermally elastic elements can be cyclically stretched by means of a single drive device, in particular a single transmission rod, so as to transfer heat from the corresponding first coolant channel, in particular the cold channel, to the corresponding second coolant channel, in particular the hot channel, while fully utilizing the thermally elastic effect.

[0034] In addition, it is preferred that at least one heat storage element and at least two elastic heat elements are provided, wherein the at least two elastic heat elements are cyclically stretched and heat is transferred from the first cooling medium channel to the at least one heat storage element while fully utilizing the elastic heat effect, and wherein heat is transferred from the at least one heat storage element to the second cooling medium channel.

[0035] Thus, by using heat storage elements, a cascade or heat pump cascade is provided. By using a cascade of heat storage elements and the heat pumps thus promoted, the temperature rise can be increased.

[0036] The heat storage element may be a solid, a solid or a channel filled with a cooling medium, or a solid or a channel through which a cooling medium flows.

[0037] It is particularly preferred here that at least one heat storage element is arranged between the first cooling medium channel and the second cooling medium channel, the first elastic heat element is arranged between the first cooling medium channel and the heat storage element and is alternately brought into thermal contact with the first cooling medium channel and the heat storage element by cyclic displacement, and the second elastic heat element is arranged between the heat storage element and the second cooling medium channel and is alternately brought into thermal contact with the heat storage element and the second cooling medium channel by cyclic displacement.

[0038] Therefore, the first heat elastic element is used to transfer heat from the first coolant channel, especially the cold channel, to the heat storage element, and the second heat elastic element is used to transfer heat from the heat storage element to the second coolant channel, especially the hot channel.

[0039] In addition, multiple heat storage elements and additional elastic heat elements may be provided, wherein the multiple heat storage elements are arranged between the first cooling medium channel and the second cooling medium channel, and wherein the additional elastic heat elements are respectively arranged between two heat storage elements and alternately establish thermal contact with the corresponding heat storage elements through cyclic displacement.

[0040] Thus, it can be arranged that the first elastic heat element is arranged between the first cooling medium channel and the first heat storage element, and the second elastic heat element is arranged between the last heat storage element and the second cooling medium channel. Then, the other elastic heat elements are arranged between two heat storage elements respectively.

[0041] By increasing the number of heat storage elements and using further elastic heat elements arranged between the heat storage elements, the increase in the temperature rise brought about by the cascading can be further increased.

[0042] Advantageously, provision is made here that the outer wall of the first coolant channel and / or the second coolant channel and / or the heat storage element is preferably convexly curved so that the at least one thermoelastic element is stretched by contact with the outer wall of the first coolant channel and / or the second coolant channel and / or the heat storage element.

[0043] The curved outer wall is the contact area for the corresponding thermally elastic element. By abutting against the curved outer wall, an additional tension is applied to the corresponding thermally elastic element, which cooperates with the tension generated by the drive device.

[0044] Furthermore, the contact surface, ie the surface of the contact region, with the respective thermoelastic element is increased by the preferably convex curvature of the outer wall, thereby improving the temperature transfer.

[0045] A further solution to the object on which the invention is based is to provide a motor vehicle with a heat pump as described above.

[0046] All of the above-described embodiments, features, advantages and functions of the heat pump can also be transferred accordingly to the heat pump of the motor vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] Figure 1 shows an elastomeric heat pump with cascade,

[0049] Figure 2 shows an elastomeric heat pump without cascade,

[0050] Figure 3 shows a cross section through the cooling medium channel,

[0051] Figure 4 Another elastic heat pump is shown, and

[0052] Figure 5 A motor vehicle with an elastic heat pump is shown.

[0053] In the figures, components that are the same or correspond to each other are marked with the same reference symbols. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] Figure 1The elastomeric heat pump 100 according to the present invention is shown. The elastomeric heat pump 100 comprises a housing 10 and a first cooling medium channel 11 configured as a cold channel 12 and a second cooling medium channel 13 configured as a hot channel 14. A cooling medium flows through the first cooling medium channel 11 and the second cooling medium channel 13. In addition, the elastomeric heat pump 100 has a first heat storage element 15 and a second heat storage element 16, which are arranged between the first cooling medium channel 11 and the second cooling medium channel 13. Figure 1 The elastic heat pump 100 is provided with three elastic heat elements 17a, 17b, 17c, which are constructed in the form of a belt 18. The first elastic heat element 17a is arranged between the first cooling medium channel 11 and the first heat storage element 15, the second elastic heat element 17b is arranged between the second heat storage element 16 and the second cooling medium channel 13, and the third elastic heat element 17c is arranged between the first heat storage element 15 and the second heat storage element 16.

[0055] Each of the thermally elastic elements 17a, 17b, 17c is connected at a first end 19 to a slide 20. The thermally elastic elements 17a, 17b, 17c are connected at a second end 21 to the housing 10, either fixedly or rotatably. The slide 20 is connected to a transmission rod 23 of a drive 24, which is guided in a radial bearing 22. The transmission rod 23 of the drive 24 is set in a cyclic translational movement by means of a cam drive 25. The direction 26 of the translational movement of the transmission rod 23 is arranged relative to the extension direction of the thermally elastic elements 17a, 17b, 17c, so that the thermally elastic elements 17a, 17b, 17c are cyclically stretched by the translational movement of the transmission rod 23 and are also brought into thermal contact alternately with the coolant channels 11, 13 or the heat storage elements 15, 16.

[0056] Thus, heat is transferred from the first cooling medium channel 11 to the first heat storage element 15 by means of the first elastic heat element 17a, heat is transferred from the first heat storage element 15 to the second heat storage element 16 by means of the third elastic heat element 17c, and heat is transferred from the second heat storage element 16 to the second cooling medium channel 13 by means of the second elastic heat element 17b.

[0057] The angle between the direction 26 of the translational movement of the transmission rod 23 and the extension direction of the thermally elastic elements 17a, 17b, 17c can be adjusted by pivoting the transmission rod 23 or the radial bearing 22. The maximum extension of the thermally elastic elements 17a, 17b, 17c can thereby be adjusted.

[0058] Figure 2 Another elastomeric heat pump 100 according to the present invention is shown. Figure 1 The elastic heat pump 100 does not have the heat storage elements 15, 16. Figure 2The elastic heat pump 100 includes a plurality of first cooling medium channels 11a, 11b, 11c (i.e., a plurality of cold channels 12) and a plurality of second cooling medium channels 13a, 13b, 13c (i.e., a plurality of hot channels 14). The elastic heat elements 17a, 17b, 17c are respectively arranged between one of the plurality of first cooling medium channels 11a, 11b, 11c and one of the plurality of second cooling medium channels 13a, 13b, 13c.

[0059] Thus, through the cyclic translational movement of the transmission rod 23, the elastic thermal elements 17a, 17b, 17c are alternately brought into thermal contact with the corresponding first cooling medium channels 11a, 11b, 11c (i.e., the corresponding cold channels 12) and the corresponding second cooling medium channels 13a, 13b, 13c (i.e., the corresponding hot channels 14), thereby transferring heat from the first cooling medium channels 11a, 11b, 11c to the second cooling medium channels 13a, 13b, 13c.

[0060] Figure 3 The second coolant channel 13 is shown in a cross-sectional view. The coolant channel 13 has a contact surface 27 for the elastic thermal element 17a. Here, the contact surface 27 is a part of the convexly curved outer wall 28 of the coolant channel 13. The convex curvature of the outer wall 28 can apply a part of the extension of the elastic thermal element 17a required for heat conduction during thermal contact. Ribs 29 are arranged in the coolant channel 13, which are responsible for improving the heat transfer from the coolant channel 13 to the coolant flowing through the coolant channel 13. The contact surface 27 of the coolant channel 13 can be coated with an elastic thermally conductive layer 30, such as a graphite foil. In addition, the coolant channel 13 can be thermally insulated with a plastic layer 31 on the outer wall that is not used for heat transfer.

[0061] Figure 4 Another elastic heat pump 100 is shown. Figure 1 Like the elastic heat pump in the Figure 4 The elastomeric heat pump 100 has a housing 10 and a first coolant channel 11 configured as a cold channel 12 and a second coolant channel 13 configured as a hot channel 14. In addition, the elastomeric heat pump 100 has two heat storage elements 15, 16, which are arranged between the first coolant channel 11 and the second coolant channel 13. Figure 1 In the thermoelastic heat pump 100, the second ends 21 of the thermoelastic elements 17a, 17b, 17c are not connected to the housing 10, but are connected to the slider 20a like the first ends 19. Figure 4 The elastic heat pump comprises a second drive device 24a with a transmission rod 23a. The two transmission rods 23, 23a are driven by a common cam drive device 25.

[0062] Figure 5 A motor vehicle 200 including an elastic heat pump (100) is shown.

[0063] Reference Symbols List

[0064] 100 ELECTRIC HEAT PUMP

[0065] 200 Motor Vehicles

[0066] 10 Housing

[0067] 11. First cooling medium channel

[0068] 11a First cooling medium channel

[0069] 11b First cooling medium channel

[0070] 11c First cooling medium channel

[0071] 12 Cold Aisles

[0072] 13 Second cooling medium channel

[0073] 13a Second cooling medium channel

[0074] 13b Second cooling medium channel

[0075] 13c Second cooling medium channel

[0076] 14 Hot Aisles

[0077] 15. First heat storage element

[0078] 16 Second heat storage element

[0079] 17a Thermal element

[0080] 17b Thermal element

[0081] 17c Thermal element

[0082] 18 belt

[0083] 19 First End

[0084] 20 Sliders

[0085] 20a Slider

[0086] 21 Second End

[0087] 22 Radial bearings

[0088] 22a Radial bearing

[0089] 23 Transmission rod

[0090] 23a Transmission rod

[0091] 24 Drive unit

[0092] 24a Drive unit

[0093] 25 Cam drive

[0094] 26 Directions

[0095] 27 Contact surface

[0096] 28 outer wall

[0097] 29 ribs

[0098] 30 Thermal Conductive Layer

[0099] 31 plastic layers

Claims

1. A thermoelastic heat pump (100), comprising a housing (10), at least one first cooling medium channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) and at least one second cooling medium channel (13, 13a, 13b, 13c), at least one thermoelastic element (17a, 17b, 17c) and a driving device (24), wherein: The at least one elastic heat element (17a, 17b, 17c) is indirectly or directly connected to the driving device (24) at a first end (19), and is fixedly or rotatably connected to the housing (10) at a second end (21), wherein the driving device (24) is configured to cyclically displace the first end (19) of the at least one elastic heat element (17a, 17b, 17c), so that the at least one elastic heat element (17a, 17b, 17c) is cyclically stretched and transfers heat from the first cooling medium channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) to the second cooling medium channel (13, 13a, 13b, 13c) while fully utilizing the elastic heat effect.

2. The elastic heat pump (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive device (24) comprises a transmission rod (23) which is guided in particular in at least one radial bearing (22), wherein the elastic thermal element (17a, 17b, 17c) is indirectly or directly fixed rigidly or rotatably on the transmission rod (23) with the first end (19), and wherein the transmission rod (23) is preferably movable cyclically by means of a cam drive (25) or a crank drive, wherein a slide block (20) is further preferably provided, wherein the slide block (20) is connected to the transmission rod (23), and wherein the elastic thermal element (17a, 17b, 17c) is fixed rigidly or rotatably on the slide block (20) with the first end (19).

3. The elastic heat pump (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The transmission rod (23) and / or the at least one radial bearing (22) are arranged to be pivotable, so that the direction (26) of the translational movement of the transmission rod (23) can be changed and the degree of extension of the at least one elastic thermal element (17a, 17b, 17c) can be adjusted.

4. The elastic heat pump (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one elastic heat element (17a, 17b, 17c) is arranged between the first cooling medium channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) and the second cooling medium channel (13, 13a, 13b, 13c), and the at least one elastic heat element (17a, 17b, 17c) is alternately brought into thermal contact with the first cooling medium channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) and the second cooling medium channel (13, 13a, 13b, 13c) by cyclic shifting.

5. The elastic heat pump (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A plurality of first cooling medium channels (11, 11a, 11b, 11c), in particular a plurality of cold channels (12), and a plurality of second cooling medium channels (13, 13a, 13b, 13c), in particular a plurality of hot channels (14), and a plurality of elastic thermal elements (17a, 17b, 17c), wherein each elastic thermal element (17a, 17b, 17c) is arranged between each of the first cooling medium channels (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) and each of the second cooling medium channels (13, 13a, 13b, 13c), and each of the elastic thermal elements (17a, 17b, 17c) is alternately brought into thermal contact with the corresponding first cooling medium channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) and the corresponding second cooling medium channel (13, 13a, 13b, 13c) by cyclic shifting.

6. The elastic heat pump (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that At least one heat storage element (15, 16) and at least two elastic heat elements (17a, 17b, 17c) are provided, wherein the at least two elastic heat elements (17a, 17b, 17c) are cyclically stretched and transfer heat from the first cooling medium channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) to the at least one heat storage element (15, 16) by fully utilizing the elastic heat effect, and wherein heat is transferred from the at least one heat storage element (15, 16) to the second cooling medium channel (13, 13a, 13b, 13c).

7. The elastic heat pump (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that: The at least one heat storage element (15, 16) is arranged between the first cooling medium channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) and the second cooling medium channel (13, 13a, 13b, 13c), the first elastic heat element (17a) is arranged between the first cooling medium channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) and the heat storage element (15, 16) and is in thermal contact with the first cooling medium channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) and the heat storage element (15, 16) alternately by cyclic displacement, and the second elastic heat element (17b) is arranged between the heat storage element (15, 16) and the second cooling medium channel (13, 13a, 13b, 13c) and is in thermal contact with the heat storage element (15, 16) and the second cooling medium channel (13, 13a, 13b, 13c) alternately by cyclic displacement.

8. The elastic heat pump (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that: A plurality of heat storage elements (15, 16) and another elastic heat element (17c) are provided, wherein the plurality of heat storage elements (15, 16) are arranged between the first cooling medium channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) and the second cooling medium channel (13, 13a, 13b, 13c), and the other elastic heat element (17c) is arranged between two heat storage elements (15, 16) respectively and alternately establishes thermal contact with the corresponding heat storage element (15, 16) through cyclic shifting.

9. The elastic heat pump (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The outer wall (28) of the first coolant channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) and / or the second coolant channel (13, 13a, 13b, 13c) and / or the heat storage element (15, 16) is preferably convexly curved so that the at least one elastic heat element (17a, 17b, 17c) is stretched by contact with the outer wall (28) of the first coolant channel (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) and / or the second coolant channel (13, 13a, 13b, 13c) and / or the heat storage element (15, 16).

10. A motor vehicle (200) comprising the elastomeric heat pump (100) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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