A heat exchange system and method based on ice and snow storage

Abstract

A heat exchange system and method based on snow and ice storage is disclosed. The system includes: an infrastructure storage module for storing snow and ice; a covering spray module for covering the infrastructure storage module; and an indoor heat exchange module for heat exchange of a second circulating water system, after which the temperature of the second circulating water increases. The technical solution of this application incorporates an infrastructure storage module to store snow and ice, allowing for the storage of winter snow and ice for summer use. The cold energy of the snow and ice is utilized to assist in indoor cooling. The indoor heat exchange module performs heat exchange to achieve indoor cooling. The heat exchange module facilitates heat exchange between the first and second circulating water systems, transferring heat from the second circulating water to the first circulating water. The first circulating water is cooled by the snow and ice, and through circulation, it cools the second circulating water. This fully utilizes snow and ice resources, contributing to energy conservation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technology, and specifically to a heat exchange system and method based on ice and snow storage. Background Technology

[0002] In winter, ice and snow are widely distributed. Large amounts of ice and snow melt naturally and seep into groundwater. If de-icing agents are used in cities, the melting ice and snow will also carry de-icing agents and surface pollutants, which will cause pollution of groundwater resources. Some ice and snow are also pushed into rivers, resulting in a huge waste of cold energy resources. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To overcome the problems existing in related technologies, this disclosure provides a heat exchange system and method based on ice and snow storage to solve the problem of wasted ice and snow cold energy in related technologies.

[0004] A heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage includes:

[0005] Infrastructure storage module for storing ice and snow, which is used as a cold source;

[0006] A spray module is used to cover the infrastructure storage module to keep the ice and snow warm and to spray the first circulating water into the infrastructure storage module so as to use the ice and snow stored in the infrastructure storage module to cool the first circulating water.

[0007] The indoor heat exchange module is used for heat exchange of the indoor second circulating water. After heat exchange, the temperature of the second circulating water increases.

[0008] The heat exchange module allows the first circulating water and the second circulating water to exchange heat without mixing. After the heat exchange is completed, the temperature of the first circulating water increases and the temperature of the second circulating water decreases.

[0009] In one embodiment, the covering spray module includes: a flexible covering layer, a spraying mechanism, a winding mechanism, and an adjustable support device;

[0010] The flexible cover layer has a flexible structure; when not in use, it can be rolled up into a roll, and when in use, it can be unfolded.

[0011] The spraying mechanism is disposed in the flexible covering layer and is used to spray the first circulating water;

[0012] The winding mechanism is used to wind up and unwind the flexible cover layer; during operation, the flexible cover layer is unwinded; and at the end of operation, the flexible cover layer is wound up.

[0013] The adjustable support device is used to support the flexible cover layer and adjust the tilt angle of the flexible cover layer.

[0014] In one embodiment, the spray submodule includes: a plurality of spray pipes and connecting pipes;

[0015] The plurality of spray pipes are arranged in the flexible cover layer. For any one spray pipe, the spray pipe extends along the second direction of the flexible cover layer and is arranged at intervals along the first direction.

[0016] A connecting pipe is installed between any two adjacent spray pipes.

[0017] In one embodiment, the adjustable support device includes: a driving part and an actuating part;

[0018] The driving part is used to drive the execution part to perform a first action when receiving a first external electrical signal;

[0019] Upon receiving a second external electrical signal, the actuator is driven to perform a second action;

[0020] The execution part is used to perform a first action or a second action under the drive of the driving part.

[0021] In one embodiment, the flexible overlay layer includes a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer disposed sequentially.

[0022] The first and fourth layers are thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer flexible films;

[0023] The second layer is a thin solar panel;

[0024] The third layer is a polyisocyanurate foam insulation board.

[0025] In one embodiment, the bottom of the infrastructure storage module is provided with multiple layers of rocks; in the multiple layers of rocks, the size of the upper rocks is smaller than the size of the lower rocks.

[0026] In one embodiment, a control module is further included, the control module comprising at least: a central control unit, and a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a first water pressure sensor, a second water pressure sensor, a first valve, a second valve, a first water pump, a second water pump, and a liquid level detection device respectively connected to the central control unit;

[0027] The first temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the first circulating water flowing out of the heat exchange module;

[0028] The second temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the second circulating water flowing into the heat exchange module;

[0029] The first water pressure sensor is used to detect the pressure of the first circulating water flowing into the heat exchange module;

[0030] The second water pressure sensor is used to detect the pressure of the second circulating water flowing out of the heat exchange module;

[0031] The first valve is installed on the pipe through which the first circulating water flows out of the heat exchanger, and is used to regulate the flow rate of the first circulating water out of the heat exchanger;

[0032] The second valve is installed on the pipe through which the second circulating water flows into the heat exchanger, and is used to regulate the flow rate of the second circulating water into the heat exchanger;

[0033] The first water pump is installed on the pipe through which the first circulating water flows into the heat exchanger;

[0034] The second water pump is installed on the pipe through which the second circulating water flows out of the heat exchanger.

[0035] In one embodiment, the central control unit is configured to control the first valve to increase its opening degree when the water temperature value detected by the first temperature sensor is greater than the upper limit temperature threshold of the cold flow, so as to increase the flow rate of the first circulating water flowing out of the heat exchange module.

[0036] If the water temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is lower than the lower limit temperature threshold of the cold flow, the first water pump is controlled to reduce its speed to reduce the flow rate of the first circulating water entering the heat exchange module.

[0037] In one embodiment, the central control unit is configured to control the first water pump to reduce its speed when the water pressure value detected by the first water pressure sensor is greater than the upper limit pressure threshold of the cold flow, so as to reduce the flow rate of the first circulating water entering the heat exchange module.

[0038] If the water pressure value detected by the first water pressure sensor is less than the lower limit pressure threshold of the cold flow, the alarm device will sound an alarm.

[0039] The central control unit is used to start the water replenishment pump to replenish water when the water pressure value detected by the second water pressure sensor is less than the lower limit pressure threshold of the heat flow.

[0040] Secondly, this application also proposes a heat exchange method based on ice and snow storage, applied to the ice and snow storage-based heat exchange system described in any of the above claims, the method comprising:

[0041] The covering spray module is placed over the infrastructure storage module to keep the ice and snow warm, and the first circulating water is sprayed into the infrastructure storage module to cool the first circulating water using the ice and snow stored in the infrastructure storage module.

[0042] The second circulating water undergoes heat exchange in the indoor heat exchange module, and the temperature of the second circulating water increases after the heat exchange.

[0043] The first circulating water and the second circulating water exchange heat in the heat exchange module without mixing. After the heat exchange is completed, the temperature of the first circulating water increases and the temperature of the second circulating water decreases.

[0044] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this disclosure may include the following beneficial effects:

[0045] The technical solution of this application includes an infrastructure storage module for storing ice and snow, allowing for the storage of winter ice and snow for use in summer. The cold energy of the ice and snow is used to assist in indoor cooling. An indoor heat exchange module is used for heat exchange to achieve indoor cooling. This module facilitates heat exchange between the first and second circulating water systems, transferring heat from the second system to the first. The first system, cooled by the ice and snow, then circulates to cool the second system. This fully utilizes ice and snow resources, contributing to energy conservation. The aforementioned modules work collaboratively to form a complete cold energy utilization workflow, effectively addressing issues such as ice and snow resource waste, high summer cooling energy consumption, and ice and snow removal, especially in cross-seasonal situations. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of a heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage according to an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an infrastructure storage module according to an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a flexible overlay layer according to an embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a spray pipe arrangement according to an embodiment of this application;

[0050] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a winding mechanism according to an embodiment of this application;

[0051] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an adjustable support device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0052] Figure 7This is a structural block diagram of a control module according to an embodiment of this application;

[0053] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the distribution of a control module according to an embodiment of this application;

[0054] Figure 9 Another control module distribution diagram according to an embodiment of this application;

[0055] Figure 10 An outdoor layout diagram of a heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0056] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features described therein can be combined with each other.

[0057] See appendix Figure 1 This application proposes a heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage, comprising:

[0058] Infrastructure storage module 01 is used to store ice and snow, which are used as a cold source.

[0059] In this embodiment, the infrastructure storage module 01 can be an underground pit. The underground pit is used to store ice and snow. The ice and snow can be winter ice and snow, stored for use in the summer.

[0060] The covering spray module 02 is used to cover the infrastructure storage module 01 to keep the ice and snow warm, and to spray the first circulating water into the infrastructure storage module 01 so as to use the ice and snow stored in the infrastructure storage module 01 to cool the first circulating water.

[0061] In this embodiment, the covering spray module 02 can be manually or automatically rolled up or unfolded by an external control unit. During operation, the covering spray module 02 can automatically unfold to cover the infrastructure storage module 01; when not needed, the covering spray module 02 can automatically roll up.

[0062] The indoor heat exchange module 03 is used for heat exchange of the indoor second circulating water. After heat exchange, the temperature of the second circulating water increases.

[0063] In this embodiment, the second circulating water in the indoor heat exchange module 03 can remove indoor heat, thus cooling the room.

[0064] In the heat exchange module 04, the first circulating water and the second circulating water exchange heat without mixing. After the heat exchange is completed, the temperature of the first circulating water increases and the temperature of the second circulating water decreases.

[0065] In this embodiment, the heat exchange module 04 can be a plate heat exchanger, a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, a coil heat exchanger, etc. In the heat exchange module 04, the first circulating water and the second circulating water exchange heat but do not mix.

[0066] The first circulating water is a cold fluid, and the second circulating water is a hot fluid. The heat exchange module is the core hub of the entire system, responsible for the transfer and conversion of heat and cold between different media. It should be clarified that this system includes three heat exchange processes: first, heat exchange at the hot fluid end, where the second circulating water in the radiator of the indoor heat exchange module 03 undergoes non-contact convection heat exchange with the indoor hot air; second, heat exchange at the cold fluid end, where the return water from the spray pipes undergoes direct contact heat exchange with the ice and snow in the pit; and third, heat exchange via the plate heat exchanger, where the cold and hot fluids undergo non-contact indirect heat exchange within the heat exchange module through the plate heat exchanger. This invention uses a variable frequency pump to adjust the flow rate and heat exchange capacity on both sides of the plate heat exchanger, thereby achieving coordinated control of the other two heat exchange processes.

[0067] This system transfers the cooling energy of ice and snow to the indoor environment, achieving a cooling effect. The heat exchange module 04, as the core hub of the system, connects to the indoor heat exchange module 03 and the infrastructure storage module 01. The indoor heat exchange module 03 forms the hot fluid circulation end, with warm water from the indoor terminal devices in summer as the circulation medium. The infrastructure storage module 01 forms the cold fluid circulation end, with ice and snow stored in winter as the cold source medium. The hot and cold fluids exchange heat non-contactly in a plate heat exchanger, transferring cooling energy from the storage end to the indoor environment. A spray module 02 covers the infrastructure storage module 01, providing both physical isolation and active cooling protection for the stored ice and snow, maximizing the cooling effect.

[0068] In some embodiments, a control module 05 may also be provided. The control module 05, through a central control unit, collects signals from various sensors in real time, automatically adjusts the operating parameters of the heat exchange module 04, and thus precisely controls the water supply temperature of the indoor heat exchange module 03, ultimately achieving comfortable indoor environmental regulation in summer. The aforementioned central control unit can be a PLC controller.

[0069] The technical solution of this application includes an infrastructure storage module for storing ice and snow, allowing for the storage of winter ice and snow for use in summer. The cold energy of the ice and snow is used to assist in indoor cooling. An indoor heat exchange module is used for heat exchange to achieve indoor cooling. This module facilitates heat exchange between the first and second circulating water systems, transferring heat from the second system to the first. The first system, cooled by the ice and snow, then circulates to cool the second system. This fully utilizes ice and snow resources, contributing to energy conservation. The coordinated operation of these modules forms a complete cold energy utilization workflow, effectively addressing issues such as ice and snow resource waste, high summer cooling energy consumption, and ice and snow removal, especially in cross-seasonal situations.

[0070] In some embodiments, see Appendix Figure 2 The infrastructure storage module 01 includes: a pit for storing ice and snow 1, insulation material laid on the inner wall of the pit 2, a water collection pipe set at the bottom of the pit 3, a layer of pebbles laid in layers 4, a horizontal reinforcing rib covering the surface of the pit 5, a ladder 6, a water supply pipe 7, and a water storage well 8 connected to the water collection pipe 3.

[0071] The bottom of pit 1 is designed with an inclined structure to facilitate water flow. The water collection pipe 3 is buried at the lowest point of the pit to collect low-temperature water generated by the natural melting of ice and snow or after heat exchange.

[0072] In some embodiments, the bottom of the infrastructure storage module 01 is provided with multiple layers of rocks; in the multiple layers of rocks, the size of the upper rocks is smaller than the size of the lower rocks.

[0073] In this embodiment, large pebble layers and small pebble layers are laid sequentially from bottom to top inside the pit, with ice and snow piled on top of the pebble layers. The pebble layers serve two purposes: firstly, to support the ice and snow and prevent them from directly contacting the bottom of the pit; secondly, they form drainage channels, allowing meltwater to smoothly seep down to the water collection pipe 3. The low-temperature water collected by the water collection pipe 3 is ultimately guided into a storage well for storage and subsequent recycling.

[0074] In some embodiments, the infrastructure storage module 01 is further provided with reinforcing ribs and a maintenance ladder. Specifically, the reinforcing ribs are arranged laterally or longitudinally on the top edge or upper part of the sidewall of the pit to enhance the structural strength at the pit opening and provide support points for the heat insulation cover plate covering the sprinkler module 02, preventing the cover plate from excessively deforming or collapsing due to large span or external loads. The maintenance ladder is fixedly installed on the inner sidewall of the pit and extends vertically along the sidewall to the bottom of the pit, facilitating maintenance personnel to periodically enter the pit for equipment inspection, cleaning, and maintenance.

[0075] In some embodiments, the covering spray module 02 includes: a flexible covering layer, a spraying mechanism, a winding mechanism, and an adjustable support device.

[0076] The flexible cover layer has a flexible structure; when not in use, it can be rolled up into a roll, and when in use, it can be unfolded.

[0077] The spraying mechanism is installed in the flexible covering layer and is used to spray the first circulating water.

[0078] See appendix Figure 3 The flexible overlay layer comprises a first layer 9, a second layer 10, a third layer 11, and a fourth layer 14 arranged sequentially.

[0079] The first and fourth layers are thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer flexible films (TPU).

[0080] In this embodiment, TPU has excellent elasticity and resilience. The first and fourth layers are made of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer flexible film, which can improve the elasticity of the flexible cover layer and improve its wear resistance.

[0081] This material also possesses excellent elasticity, high elongation, good resilience, and is not easily deformed by repeated stretching. It exhibits high strength, good toughness, wear resistance, tear resistance, impact resistance, and high durability. It is also resistant to low temperatures, remaining flexible even at sub-zero temperatures. Furthermore, it is resistant to oil, solvents, and chemicals. Environmentally friendly and non-toxic, it contains no plasticizers, is waterproof, and has good airtightness.

[0082] The second layer is a thin solar panel. In this embodiment, the thin solar panel can generate electricity using solar energy, and the generated electricity can be used to power other electrical components. For example, it can power the electrical equipment in the infrastructure storage module 01, or power the electrical components in the sprinkler module 02.

[0083] The third layer is a polyisocyanurate foam insulation board. Polyisocyanurate foam (PIR) insulation board has excellent thermal insulation performance, low thermal conductivity, and is one of the best-performing organic insulation materials. It is highly flame-retardant, safe, resistant to high and low temperatures, does not become brittle at ultra-low temperatures, and does not soften or deform at high temperatures; its thermal insulation performance does not diminish with long-term use.

[0084] The aforementioned materials are tightly bonded together and processed into strip-shaped units. Adjacent strip-shaped units are flexibly connected by woven ropes, facilitating overall roll-up during operations such as snow and ice filling, mid-term maintenance, and final cleanup. The core function of the covering material is to form a highly efficient heat insulation barrier, preventing external heat from being conducted into the pit and maximizing the retention of cold air from the snow and ice.

[0085] In this embodiment, the spraying mechanism can be implemented as a multi-pipeline, with water spraying openings in the pipelines.

[0086] In some embodiments, see Appendix Figure 4 The spray submodule includes multiple spray pipes and connecting pipes. The multiple spray pipes are disposed in the flexible cover layer. For any one spray pipe, the spray pipe extends along the second direction of the flexible cover layer and is arranged at intervals along the first direction. A connecting pipe is provided between any two adjacent spray pipes.

[0087] In this embodiment, the flexible covering layer is rectangular in shape, and the spray pipes extend along the width direction of the flexible covering layer and are arranged at intervals along the length direction; multiple spray pipes are arranged parallel to each other; the distance between any two adjacent spray pipes can be set to be equal.

[0088] The connecting pipe can be U-shaped. For any two adjacent first and second spray pipes, the first end of the connecting pipe connects to the first end of the first spray pipe, and the second end connects to the first end of the second spray pipe. The first ends of the first and second spray pipes are located on the same side. Thus, the first and second spray pipes are connected via the U-shaped connecting pipe. The connection method can be a threaded connection. Waterproof adhesive is used for fixing, providing a leak-proof seal.

[0089] The spraying submodule and the covering submodule are coupled in a design to achieve simultaneous deployment and recovery of the two. The spraying pipeline includes vertical pipes 12 laid along the length of the covering material and detachable U-shaped connecting pipes 13. The vertical pipes are attached to the third layer of PIR insulation board, with spaced holes at the bottom of the pipe body and welded threaded interfaces. Small flat fan-shaped nozzles 14 are installed at the interfaces. The cold fluid return water, heated by the plate heat exchanger, is transported to the top of the pit through the spraying pipeline and evenly sprayed onto the ice and snow surface through the nozzles. The latent heat of the ice and snow is used to cool the return water again, thereby achieving the cascade utilization and recycling of cold energy. The U-shaped pipes connect the vertical pipe sections between adjacent strip units and can be quickly disassembled before the winding operation to ensure smooth winding.

[0090] The winding mechanism is used to wind up and unwind the flexible cover layer; during operation, the flexible cover layer is unwinded; and at the end of operation, the flexible cover layer is wound up.

[0091] In this embodiment, the winding mechanism can be implemented as a manual device, whereby the winding is performed manually. For example, it can be equipped with a manually cranked handle, which rotates a connected shaft that connects to the flexible overlay layer to achieve winding.

[0092] See appendix Figure 5The winding mechanism is installed at one end of the pit and includes a winding tube 15, a handwheel 16, a bearing 17, a support tube 18, and a support column 19. The winding tube has a rubber sheet 20 and a slot inside for clamping and fixing the edge of the cover material. When the handwheel is operated to drive the winding tube to rotate, the cover material is gradually wound around the outer wall of the winding tube, achieving rapid winding. The bearings are sleeved at both ends of the winding tube, the support tube is sleeved on the outside of the bearings, and the support column is fixed to the ground and connected to the support tube, together forming a stable support system for the winding mechanism.

[0093] In some embodiments, the winding device can also be configured to operate automatically, with an external control unit sending an electrical signal to control the electric mechanism within the winding device to automatically perform the winding. For example, an electric motor is provided, which drives a rotating shaft connected to a flexible overlay layer to achieve automatic winding.

[0094] The adjustable support device is used to support the flexible cover layer and adjust the tilt angle of the flexible cover layer.

[0095] In this embodiment, the adjustable support device is controlled by an external control unit. Upon receiving an electrical signal from the control unit, it can be started or stopped. When started, the adjustable support device extends, thereby raising the contacting flexible covering layer and causing the flexible covering layer to tilt at an angle, which facilitates drainage during rain. The adjustable support device can be located at one end or in the middle of the flexible covering layer. There can be one or more such devices.

[0096] In some embodiments, the adjustable support device includes a driving portion and an actuating portion. The driving portion is configured to drive the actuating portion to perform a first action upon receiving a first external electrical signal.

[0097] In this embodiment, the first electrical signal is a start electrical signal, and the driving part can be pneumatic or electric. Taking an electric motor as the driving part and a cam as the actuating part as an example, when the motor receives the start electrical signal, the motor drives the cam to move. The first action of the cam is to rotate clockwise.

[0098] Upon receiving a second external electrical signal, the actuator is driven to perform a second action;

[0099] The execution part is used to perform a first action or a second action under the drive of the driving part.

[0100] In this embodiment, when the motor receives a shutdown signal, the motor drives the cam to move. The second action of the cam is to rotate counterclockwise.

[0101] See appendix Figure 6The pneumatic component is a pneumatic device, and the actuator is a connecting rod-plate structure. In this pneumatic servo motor, after receiving an external electrical signal, the pneumatic device inflates or deflates a cylinder at the bottom. The piston inside the cylinder drives the connecting rod in the actuator to move. In this embodiment, when inflating, the cylinder drives the connecting rod upwards, and the connecting rod drives the top plate upwards as well. When deflating, the connecting rod drives the top plate downwards.

[0102] The aforementioned pneumatic servo motor can lift the flexible paving layer when necessary to create a drainage slope, preventing rainwater accumulation and increased load. Reinforcing ribs are also provided at the top edge of the pit to provide support points for the flexible paving layer and prevent collapse or deformation due to its large span. Through this structural design, the spray module 02 achieves a dual function of thermal insulation and active heat exchange.

[0103] In some embodiments, the indoor module includes a water heating and plumbing system built into the building, radiators installed in each room, a circulating medium (i.e., higher-temperature water) filling the pipes and radiators, and an indoor air environment. The workflow is as follows: the higher-temperature return water in the indoor module is transported to a plate heat exchanger via a hot fluid end circulation pump, where it exchanges heat with a lower-temperature medium from the cold fluid end, transforming into lower-temperature water. This lower-temperature water returns to the indoor module and undergoes convective heat exchange with the high-temperature indoor air through the radiators, thereby lowering the indoor temperature and achieving the purpose of cooling in summer.

[0104] In some embodiments, see Appendix Figure 7 It also includes a control module 05, which includes at least: a central control unit 051, a first temperature sensor 052, a second temperature sensor 053, a first water pressure sensor 060, a second water pressure sensor 054, a first valve 055, a second valve 056, a first water pump 057, a second water pump 058, and a liquid level detection device 059, all connected to the central control unit 051.

[0105] See Figure 8 and Figure 9 The first water pump 057 can be a frequency-controlled water pump 21, and the second water pump 058 can be a frequency-controlled water pump 22.

[0106] The first valve 055 and the second valve 056 can be three-way regulating valves.

[0107] The first valve 055 is a three-way regulating valve. The first end of the three-way regulating valve is connected to the outlet of the plate heat exchanger, the second end is connected to the pit body 1, and the third end is connected to the water storage tank.

[0108] The second valve 056 is a three-way regulating valve. The first end of the three-way regulating valve 23 is connected to the hot fluid inlet of the plate heat exchanger 24, the second end is connected to the hot fluid return port, and the third end is connected to the hot fluid return pipeline. The hot fluid return pipeline is equipped with a second water pump 058, also known as a circulating pump 22, which is controlled by the frequency converter cabinet.

[0109] It is also equipped with a water supply tank, and the water in the water supply tank is transported to the hot fluid return water pipeline by a water supply pump.

[0110] The hot fluid return water pipeline connects to the indoor heat exchange module 03 at the first end and to the hot fluid outlet of the plate heat exchanger at the second end, thereby delivering the hot fluid, i.e. the second circulating water, to the indoor heat exchange module 03.

[0111] The first temperature sensor 052 is used to detect the temperature of the first circulating water flowing out of the heat exchange module.

[0112] The second temperature sensor 053 is used to detect the temperature of the second circulating water flowing into the heat exchange module.

[0113] The first water pressure sensor 060 is used to detect the pressure of the first circulating water flowing into the heat exchange module.

[0114] The second water pressure sensor 054 is used to detect the pressure of the second circulating water flowing out of the heat exchange module.

[0115] The first valve 055 is installed on the pipe through which the first circulating water flows out of the heat exchanger, and is used to regulate the flow rate of the first circulating water out of the heat exchanger.

[0116] The second valve 056 is installed on the pipe through which the second circulating water flows into the heat exchanger, and is used to regulate the flow rate of the second circulating water into the heat exchanger.

[0117] The first water pump 057 is installed on the pipe through which the first circulating water flows into the heat exchanger.

[0118] The second water pump 058 is installed on the pipe through which the second circulating water flows out of the heat exchanger.

[0119] Liquid level detection device 059 is installed in infrastructure storage module 01 and is used to detect the liquid level in infrastructure storage module 01.

[0120] In some embodiments, the central control unit 051 is configured to control the first valve 055 to increase its opening degree when the water temperature value detected by the first temperature sensor 052 is greater than the upper limit temperature threshold of the cold flow, so as to increase the flow rate of the first circulating water flowing out of the heat exchange module.

[0121] If the water temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 052 is lower than the lower limit temperature threshold of the cold flow, the first water pump 057 is controlled to reduce its speed to reduce the flow rate of the first circulating water entering the heat exchange module.

[0122] In some embodiments, the central control unit 051 is configured to control the first water pump 057 to reduce its rotation speed when the water pressure value detected by the first water pressure sensor 060 is greater than the upper limit pressure threshold of the cold flow, so as to reduce the flow rate of the first circulating water entering the heat exchange module.

[0123] If the water pressure value detected by the first water pressure sensor 060 is less than the lower limit pressure threshold of the cold flow, the control alarm device will sound an alarm.

[0124] The central control unit 051 is used to start the water replenishment pump to replenish water when the water pressure value detected by the second water pressure sensor 054 is less than the lower limit pressure threshold of the heat flow.

[0125] The central control unit 051 is used to receive the liquid level information detected by the liquid level detection device. When the liquid level is equal to or greater than the upper limit liquid level threshold, it controls the opening of the first valve to decrease, so as to reduce the proportion of cold fluid flowing back to the ice storage pit in the infrastructure storage module 01, thereby achieving a drop in liquid level.

[0126] When the liquid level is below the lower limit threshold, the opening of the first valve is increased to increase the proportion of cold fluid returning to the ice storage pit, thereby raising the liquid level.

[0127] The following example, using a dormitory and open space at a university in Northeast China, demonstrates the application of this invention. This dormitory area comprises multiple multi-story buildings, with concentrated and predictable cooling needs in summer; the adjacent open space can serve as a site for the centralized storage of snow and ice in winter and the construction of ice storage pits. This application scenario fully embodies the design intent of this invention: utilizing seasonal snow and ice resources to address the summer cooling needs of buildings.

[0128] like Figure 10As shown in the figure, the system layout and construction are described as follows. Four ice storage pits 25 arranged in parallel are constructed within the open space area. The dimensions and structures of each pit are the same, and modular design is adopted to facilitate flexible activation according to the actual ice storage volume in winter. The four pits are arranged in a "field" shape, and a centralized pump station 26 is constructed at the intersection in the middle. The core equipment of the heat exchange module is arranged in the pump station, including plate heat exchangers, cold fluid end variable frequency pumps, hot fluid end variable frequency pumps, three-way control valves, water replenishment devices, and automatic control cabinets. The collecting pipes of each pit are aggregated and connected to the storage well in the pump station, and the storage well is connected to the inlet of the cold fluid end variable frequency pump; the spray pipelines of each pit are uniformly led out from the cold fluid end return water main pipe in the pump station. The original radiator system in the dormitory area serves as the end heat exchange device of the indoor module, and its supply and return water main pipes are respectively connected to the outlet and return port of the hot fluid end in the pump station to form a complete circulation loop.

[0129] The system operation process is described as follows. During winter, the snow generated in the campus and surrounding areas and the ice blocks after the removal of ice and snow landscapes are centrally transported to the ice storage pits for stacking. After the ice stacking is completed, the multi-layer composite heat insulation cover plate is unfolded through the retraction mechanism of the covering spray module 02 to completely cover the top of the pit, forming a closed heat insulation space to minimize the intrusion of external heat and achieve long-term cold storage.

[0130] When summer comes and cooling is required in any room in the dormitory area, the system starts to operate. In the indoor module, the circulating water in the radiator absorbs the indoor heat and then the temperature rises, becoming the return water of the hot fluid end. This return water is transported to the inlet of the hot fluid side of the plate heat exchanger in the pump station by the hot fluid end variable frequency pump. At the same time, the cold fluid end variable frequency pump pumps out the low-temperature water stored in the storage well. The low-temperature water is naturally melted from the ice and snow stored in winter or generated after heat exchange, and is transported to the inlet of the cold fluid side of the plate heat exchanger. Inside the plate heat exchanger, the hot fluid and the cold fluid conduct non-contact heat exchange through the plate sheets. The temperature of the hot fluid decreases and becomes low-temperature supply water, and the temperature of the cold fluid increases and becomes return water. The cooled low-temperature supply water returns to the radiators in the dormitory area and exchanges heat with the indoor hot air again, and so on in a cycle to continuously reduce the indoor temperature.

[0131] After the cold fluid end return water heated by the plate heat exchanger flows out of the heat exchanger, it is branched by the three-way control valve. Most of it is transported through the spray pipeline to the spray pipelines on the top of each pit and is evenly sprayed onto the ice and snow surface through flat fan nozzles. The return water directly contacts the ice and snow, and quickly cools down by using the latent heat of the ice and snow, and is re-converted into low-temperature water, infiltrates into the pebble layer and flows back to the storage well through the collecting pipe to complete the complete cycle of the cold fluid end. When the temperature of the cold fluid end return water is lower than the set value or the water level in the storage well is too high, the three-way control valve automatically adjusts the opening degree to make part of the return water bypass directly back to the storage well to avoid excessive spraying or water level fluctuations affecting the system stability.

[0132] This application also proposes a heat exchange method based on ice and snow storage, applicable to any of the above-mentioned heat exchange systems based on ice and snow storage, the method comprising:

[0133] The covering spray module is placed over the infrastructure storage module to keep the ice and snow warm, and the first circulating water is sprayed into the infrastructure storage module to cool the first circulating water using the ice and snow stored in the infrastructure storage module.

[0134] The second circulating water undergoes heat exchange in the indoor heat exchange module, and the temperature of the second circulating water increases after the heat exchange.

[0135] The first circulating water and the second circulating water exchange heat in the heat exchange module without mixing. After the heat exchange is completed, the temperature of the first circulating water increases and the temperature of the second circulating water decreases.

[0136] The various techniques described herein can be implemented in combination with hardware or software, or a combination thereof. The methods and apparatus of the present invention, or certain aspects or portions thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embedded in a tangible medium, such as a removable hard disk, USB flash drive, floppy disk, CD-ROM, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein when the program is loaded into and executed by a machine such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the present invention.

Claims

1. A heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage, characterized in that, include: Infrastructure storage module for storing ice and snow, which is used as a cold source; A spray module is used to cover the infrastructure storage module to keep the ice and snow warm and to spray the first circulating water into the infrastructure storage module so as to use the ice and snow stored in the infrastructure storage module to cool the first circulating water. The indoor heat exchange module is used for heat exchange of the indoor second circulating water. After heat exchange, the temperature of the second circulating water increases. The heat exchange module allows the first circulating water and the second circulating water to exchange heat without mixing. After the heat exchange is completed, the temperature of the first circulating water increases and the temperature of the second circulating water decreases.

2. The heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The covering spray module includes: a flexible covering layer, a spraying mechanism, a winding mechanism, and an adjustable support device; The flexible cover layer has a flexible structure; when not in use, it can be rolled up into a roll, and when in use, it can be unfolded. The spraying mechanism is disposed in the flexible covering layer and is used to spray the first circulating water; The winding mechanism is used to wind up and unwind the flexible cover layer; during operation, the flexible cover layer is unwinded; and at the end of operation, the flexible cover layer is wound up. The adjustable support device is used to support the flexible cover layer and adjust the tilt angle of the flexible cover layer.

3. The heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The spray submodule includes: multiple spray pipes and connecting pipes; The plurality of spray pipes are arranged in the flexible cover layer. For any one spray pipe, the spray pipe extends along the second direction of the flexible cover layer and is arranged at intervals along the first direction. A connecting pipe is installed between any two adjacent spray pipes.

4. The heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The adjustable support device includes: a drive part and an actuation part; The driving part is used to drive the execution part to perform a first action when receiving a first external electrical signal; Upon receiving a second external electrical signal, the actuator is driven to perform a second action; The execution part is used to perform a first action or a second action under the drive of the driving part.

5. The heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The flexible overlay layer comprises a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer arranged sequentially; The first and fourth layers are thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer flexible films; The second layer is a thin solar panel; The third layer is a polyisocyanurate foam insulation board.

6. The heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The bottom of the infrastructure storage module is provided with multiple layers of rock; in the multiple layers of rock, the size of the upper rock is smaller than the size of the lower rock.

7. The heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage as described in claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a control module, which includes at least: a central control unit, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a first water pressure sensor, a second water pressure sensor, a first valve, a second valve, a first water pump, a second water pump, and a liquid level detection device, all connected to the central control unit. The first temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the first circulating water flowing out of the heat exchange module; The second temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the second circulating water flowing into the heat exchange module; The first water pressure sensor is used to detect the pressure of the first circulating water flowing into the heat exchange module; The second water pressure sensor is used to detect the pressure of the second circulating water flowing out of the heat exchange module; The first valve is installed on the pipe through which the first circulating water flows out of the heat exchanger, and is used to regulate the flow rate of the first circulating water out of the heat exchanger; The second valve is installed on the pipe through which the second circulating water flows into the heat exchanger, and is used to regulate the flow rate of the second circulating water into the heat exchanger; The first water pump is installed on the pipe through which the first circulating water flows into the heat exchanger; The second water pump is installed on the pipe through which the second circulating water flows out of the heat exchanger.

8. The heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The central control unit is used to control the first valve to increase its opening degree when the water temperature value detected by the first temperature sensor is greater than the upper limit temperature threshold of the cold flow, so as to increase the flow rate of the first circulating water flowing out of the heat exchange module. If the water temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is lower than the lower limit temperature threshold of the cold flow, the first water pump is controlled to reduce its speed to reduce the flow rate of the first circulating water entering the heat exchange module.

9. The heat exchange system based on ice and snow storage as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The central control unit is used to control the first water pump to reduce its speed when the water pressure value detected by the first water pressure sensor is greater than the upper limit pressure threshold of the cold flow, so as to reduce the flow rate of the first circulating water entering the heat exchange module. If the water pressure value detected by the first water pressure sensor is less than the lower limit pressure threshold of the cold flow, the alarm device will sound an alarm. The central control unit is used to start the water replenishment pump to replenish water when the water pressure value detected by the second water pressure sensor is less than the lower limit pressure threshold of the heat flow.

10. A heat exchange method based on ice and snow storage, characterized in that, The method, applied to the ice and snow storage-based heat exchange system as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, comprises: The covering spray module is placed over the infrastructure storage module to keep the ice and snow warm, and the first circulating water is sprayed into the infrastructure storage module to cool the first circulating water using the ice and snow stored in the infrastructure storage module. The second circulating water undergoes heat exchange in the indoor heat exchange module, and the temperature of the second circulating water increases after the heat exchange. The first circulating water and the second circulating water exchange heat in the heat exchange module without mixing. After the heat exchange is completed, the temperature of the first circulating water increases and the temperature of the second circulating water decreases.

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