Thermoelectric conversion type waste heat regeneration heat exchanger

Abstract

The utility model provides a thermoelectric conversion type waste heat regeneration heat exchanger, which belongs to the technical field of waste heat regeneration heat exchangers and comprises a heat exchanger support, the side of the heat exchanger support is fixedly connected with a heat exchanger main body, a heat exchange tube assembly is mounted in the heat exchanger main body and comprises a functional part, and the functional part is fixedly connected with the heat exchanger main body. The functional part is used for recovering waste heat to produce electric energy, and the insulating heat conduction structure part is used for transferring heat of a high-temperature heat source to the functional part and meanwhile avoiding electrical short circuit between the functional part and the heat source. According to the utility model, waste heat recovery is realized, electric energy can be generated, extra electric power support is provided for the data center, the actual demand of the data center in the aspect of energy management is effectively met, the practical value is higher, and meanwhile, efficient energy conversion and transmission are realized, so that the product can operate efficiently in the actual application, and the energy utilization rate is improved. And the functions of waste heat recovery and electric energy regeneration are practically exerted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of waste heat regeneration heat exchanger technology, and in particular to a thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger. Background Technology

[0002] Data center equipment generates significant amounts of waste heat during operation. Directly releasing this waste heat into the environment results in energy waste. By using thermoelectric waste heat regeneration technology, this wasted heat can be converted into electricity, achieving secondary energy utilization, improving overall energy efficiency, and reducing waste heat emissions. This not only avoids energy waste but also reduces thermal pollution to the environment. Furthermore, by reducing reliance on traditional energy sources, the combustion of fossil fuels is reduced, thereby lowering emissions of pollutants such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. This contributes to achieving energy conservation and emission reduction goals and is of great significance for environmental protection.

[0003] Chinese patent application number 201910514195.4 discloses an alkaline fuel cell-thermoelectric cooling hybrid device, comprising an alkaline fuel cell, a thermoelectric generator, a plate-fin heat exchanger, a thermoelectric cooler, and a low-temperature heat source, arranged sequentially. The key feature is that the thermoelectric generator and the thermoelectric cooler are connected in series to form a closed loop. The voltage generated by the thermoelectric generator forms a current in the closed loop. Utilizing the waste heat from the alkaline fuel cell, electrical energy is generated through the Seebeck effect, Joule heating effect, and heat conduction. The heat from the low-temperature heat source is absorbed and transferred to the heat release end of the thermoelectric cooler, and then further transferred to the surrounding environment by the plate-fin heat exchanger. This invention effectively recovers waste heat from the alkaline fuel cell using the thermoelectric generator to generate additional electrical energy, which further drives the lower-level semiconductor cooling system, achieving rational energy utilization. Simultaneously, the plate-fin heat exchanger enhances heat transfer, improving the overall energy conversion efficiency.

[0004] The waste heat generated by data centers is usually at a low temperature and belongs to low-grade heat energy. This low-grade waste heat is difficult to use directly in scenarios with high requirements such as heating or power generation. It requires special technologies and equipment to upgrade and convert it, which increases the technical difficulty and cost. The generation of waste heat in data centers is continuous and relatively stable, but the demand for waste heat utilization fluctuates in time and space. For example, when used for building heating, the demand is high in winter and low or even non-existent in summer. The heating demand also varies in different areas. This requires solving the problem of matching the supply and demand of waste heat in time and space, otherwise it will lead to the waste of waste heat. Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology, where there is a mismatch between the generation and demand of waste heat in time and space, which may lead to waste of waste heat. This utility model proposes a thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by this utility model includes a heat exchanger support, a heat exchanger body fixedly connected to the side of the heat exchanger support, and a heat exchange tube assembly installed inside the heat exchanger body. The heat exchange tube assembly includes a functional part, a connecting part, and an insulating and heat-conducting structure part. The functional part is used to recover waste heat to generate electricity, and the insulating and heat-conducting structure part is used to transfer the heat from the high-temperature heat source to the functional part, while avoiding electrical short circuits between the functional part and the heat source.

[0007] Preferably, the functional unit includes a first thermoelectric material and a second thermoelectric material, the first thermoelectric material and the second thermoelectric material are arranged at intervals, and the first thermoelectric material and the second thermoelectric material are connected in series.

[0008] Preferably, the connecting part includes a first conductive connecting material and a second conductive connecting material. The first conductive connecting material is fixedly connected to the top ends of the first thermoelectric material and the second thermoelectric material, and is used to connect the top ends of the first thermoelectric material and the second thermoelectric material together. The second conductive connecting material is fixedly connected to the bottom ends of the first thermoelectric material and the second thermoelectric material, and is used to connect the bottom ends of the first thermoelectric material and the second thermoelectric material together.

[0009] Preferably, the insulating and thermally conductive structure includes an insulating and thermally conductive material and heat dissipation fins. The insulating and thermally conductive material is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first thermoelectric material, and the insulating and thermally conductive material is also fixedly connected to the inner wall of the second thermoelectric material.

[0010] Preferably, the heat dissipation fins are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the insulating and thermally conductive material, and the heat dissipation fins are arranged at equal intervals with respect to the inner wall of the insulating and thermally conductive material, and the cross-sectional shape of the heat dissipation fins is set to an S-shape.

[0011] Preferably, the heat exchange tube assembly is serpentine in shape, and the heat exchange tube assembly is fixedly connected to the heat exchanger body through a flange structure, and the flange structure uses stainless steel bolts and nickel-based alloy gaskets to achieve high-pressure sealing.

[0012] Preferably, the inner wall of the second conductive connecting material is provided with an internal support tube, the internal support tube including a support tube body, and the support tube body is fixedly connected to the second conductive connecting material.

[0013] Preferably, the inner wall of the support tube body is provided with grooves, the grooves are distributed in a ring array about the inner wall of the support tube body, the cross-sectional shape of the grooves is set to arc, and the direction of the grooves is consistent with the direction of the heat exchange tube assembly.

[0014] Preferably, the groove is provided with reinforcing ribs, and the reinforcing ribs are fixedly connected to the main body of the support tube.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model include: This utility model, through the functional part, the connecting part and the insulating and heat-conducting structure part, utilizes the alternating arrangement and series connection of the first thermoelectric material and the second thermoelectric material in the functional part to form a unique thermoelectric conversion structure. At the same time, the inner wall of the pipe is provided with a composite structure in which grooves and reinforcing ribs cooperate with each other, which can not only reduce the material cost, but also increase the surface area of ​​the inner wall of the supporting pipe body, effectively increasing the contact area between the heat exchange pipe and the internal fluid, increasing the heat exchange area, and thus effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The disclosure of this utility model is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same parts.

[0017] in:

[0018] Figure 1 The schematic diagram shows a cross-sectional structure of a thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 The schematic diagram shows a three-dimensional structural diagram of a thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 The schematic diagram shows a side view of the overall structure of a thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 The schematic diagram shows a top view of the overall structure of a thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 The diagram schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the heat exchange tube assembly of a thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 6 Schematic representation Figure 5 Enlarged structural diagram at point A;

[0024] Figure 7 Schematic representation Figure 5 A magnified structural diagram at point B in the middle.

[0025] In the figure: 1. Heat exchanger bracket; 2. Heat exchanger body; 3. Heat exchanger tube assembly; 4. Internal support tube; 31. First thermoelectric material; 32. Second thermoelectric material; 33. First conductive connecting material; 34. Second conductive connecting material; 35. Insulating and thermally conductive material; 36. Heat dissipation fins; 41. Support tube body; 42. Groove; 43. Reinforcing rib. Detailed Implementation

[0026] It is readily understood that, based on the technical solution of this utility model, those skilled in the art can propose various interchangeable structural methods and implementations without altering the essential spirit of this utility model. Therefore, the following detailed embodiments and accompanying drawings are merely illustrative descriptions of the technical solution of this utility model and should not be considered as the entirety of this utility model or as limitations or restrictions on the technical solution of this utility model.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present invention, in conjunction with Figure 1 As shown. A thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger support 1, a heat exchanger body 2 fixedly connected to the side of the heat exchanger support 1, and a heat exchange tube assembly 3 installed inside the heat exchanger body 2. The heat exchange tube assembly 3 includes a functional part, a connecting part, and an insulating and heat-conducting structure part. The functional part is used to recover waste heat to generate electricity, and the insulating and heat-conducting structure part is used to transfer heat from a high-temperature heat source to the functional part while preventing electrical short circuits between the functional part and the heat source.

[0028] The functional part includes a first thermoelectric material 31 and a second thermoelectric material 32. Both the first thermoelectric material 31 and the second thermoelectric material 32 are bismuth telluride materials. Bismuth telluride with different charge carriers is used to meet the material performance requirements of different application scenarios.

[0029] The first thermoelectric material 31 is bismuth telluride, in which electrons are the charge carriers. In this material, additional electrons are introduced through doping and other means, making electrons the main carriers of conductivity. It has high electron mobility and conductivity within a certain temperature range. The first thermoelectric material 31 has important applications in thermoelectric refrigeration and power generation. When current passes through it, bismuth telluride, in which electrons are the charge carriers, absorbs heat to achieve a cooling effect. Furthermore, by utilizing its characteristic of generating electromotive force under a temperature gradient, thermal energy can be converted into electrical energy.

[0030] The first thermoelectric material 31 serves as the negative arm of the thermocouple. It pairs with a material whose charge carriers are holes to form a thermoelectric electromotive force. This allows the entire thermoelectric conversion material to generate current by causing electrons to migrate from the hot end to the cold end under a temperature gradient, thus converting thermal energy into electrical energy. Its charge carrier type and Seebeck coefficient are negative. Under a temperature gradient, electrons diffuse from the hot end to the cold end, generating an electromotive force in the opposite direction to the temperature gradient. It has high conductivity and excellent electron mobility, which can effectively reduce Joule heat loss and reduce thermal short-circuit effects while maintaining the temperature gradient.

[0031] The second thermoelectric material 32 is bismuth telluride with holes as charge carriers, which is the opposite of bismuth telluride with electrons as charge carriers. Bismuth telluride with holes as charge carriers increases the hole concentration in the material through some methods. The holes move under the action of an electric field to form an electric current. It has better thermoelectric performance near room temperature. The combined use of bismuth telluride with holes as charge carriers and bismuth telluride with electrons as charge carriers can improve the thermoelectric conversion efficiency and achieve more effective cooling or power generation functions.

[0032] The second thermoelectric material 32 serves as the positive arm of the thermocouple and forms a circuit with the first thermoelectric material 31. The total output voltage is increased by superimposing the thermoelectric electromotive force, and the reverse migration of holes and electrons forms a complementary current, maximizing the thermoelectric conversion efficiency. Holes diffuse from the hot end to the cold end, and the direction of the electromotive force is consistent with the temperature gradient.

[0033] The first thermoelectric material 31 and the second thermoelectric material 32 are arranged at intervals and connected in series to form a thermoelectric unit. Multiple thermoelectric units connected in series can increase the output voltage.

[0034] The connecting part includes a first conductive connecting material 33 and a second conductive connecting material 34. The first conductive connecting material 33 is fixedly connected to the top ends of the first thermoelectric material 31 and the second thermoelectric material 32, and is used to connect the top ends of the first thermoelectric material 31 and the second thermoelectric material 32 together. The second conductive connecting material 34 is fixedly connected to the bottom ends of the first thermoelectric material 31 and the second thermoelectric material 32, and is used to connect the bottom ends of the first thermoelectric material 31 and the second thermoelectric material 32 together.

[0035] Both the first conductive connecting material 33 and the second conductive connecting material 34 are made of copper. They connect the two ends of the first thermoelectric material 31 and the second thermoelectric material 32, efficiently conducting current and reducing system resistance loss. At the same time, they utilize high thermal conductivity to remove residual heat.

[0036] The insulating and thermally conductive structure includes an insulating and thermally conductive material 35 and heat dissipation fins 36. The insulating and thermally conductive material 35 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first thermoelectric material 31 and the insulating and thermally conductive material 35 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the second thermoelectric material 32.

[0037] The insulating and thermally conductive material 35 can be aluminum nitride. In thermal management, it serves as a substrate or encapsulation material to evenly distribute heat to the thermoelectric arm and maintain a temperature gradient. In electrical insulation, it isolates the thermoelectric module from the external environment to prevent leakage or short circuit. In mechanical protection, it can effectively isolate the circuit and has high thermal conductivity, which can reduce interface cracking caused by thermal stress and improve mechanical strength.

[0038] The heat dissipation fins 36 are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the insulating and thermally conductive material 35, and the heat dissipation fins 36 are arranged at equal intervals with respect to the inner wall of the insulating and thermally conductive material 35, and the cross-sectional shape of the heat dissipation fins 36 is set as S-shaped.

[0039] The heat exchange tube assembly 3 is serpentine in shape. The heat exchange tube assembly 3 is fixedly connected to the heat exchanger body 2 through a flange structure, and the flange structure uses stainless steel bolts and nickel-based alloy gaskets to achieve high-pressure sealing.

[0040] The inner wall of the second conductive connecting material 34 is provided with an internal support tube 4. The internal support tube 4 includes a support tube body 41, which is fixedly connected to the second conductive connecting material 34. The inner wall of the support tube body 41 has a groove 42, which is arranged in a ring array about the inner wall of the support tube body 41. The cross-sectional shape of the groove 42 is set to arc, and the direction of the groove 42 is consistent with the direction of the heat exchange tube assembly 3. The inside of the groove 42 is provided with a reinforcing rib 43, which is fixedly connected to the support tube body 41.

[0041] A groove 42 is provided on the inner wall of the support tube body 41. Compared with a solid tube wall or a uniformly thickened design, this structure optimizes the material distribution, strengthens the ribs 43 to concentrate the load, and reduces redundant material by the groove 42. This reduces weight while maintaining strength and saves materials.

[0042] Meanwhile, the composite structure of the groove 42 and the reinforcing rib 43 working together increases the surface area of ​​the inner wall of the support tube body 41, which can effectively increase the contact area between the heat exchange tube and the fluid inside, increase the heat exchange area, and thus effectively improve the heat exchange efficiency.

[0043] Working principle: First, various types of refrigerants or various types of heat transfer fluids as refrigeration circulation media can flow inside the heat exchange tube assembly 3 of the thermoelectric waste heat regeneration heat exchanger. When the liquid-cooled cabinet generates heat, it exchanges heat with the cooler heat transfer fluid inside the cabinet, causing the heat transfer fluid temperature to rise. Then, relying on the power provided by the centrifugal pump, it circulates in the pipes and goes to the next heat exchange location, namely the thermoelectric waste heat regeneration heat exchanger. Inside the coil of the thermoelectric waste heat regeneration heat exchanger, separated by two thermocouples, the first thermoelectric material 31 and the second thermoelectric material 32, it comes into contact with the cooler outdoor air. The outdoor air is drawn by the cooling fan deployed on the top of the thermoelectric waste heat regeneration heat exchanger. At this moment, there is a temperature difference in the circuit composed of the two different semiconductors. The cold outdoor air and the cooler heat transfer fluid in the machine room generate an electromotive force in the circuit, thus converting waste heat into electrical energy.

[0044] The technical scope of this utility model is not limited to the content described above. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the above embodiments without departing from the technical concept of this utility model, and all such modifications and variations should fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger, characterized in that, The device includes a heat exchanger support, to which a heat exchanger body is fixedly connected. A heat exchanger tube assembly is installed inside the heat exchanger body. The heat exchanger tube assembly includes a functional section, a connecting section, and an insulating and thermally conductive structure. The functional section includes a first thermoelectric material and a second thermoelectric material, which are spaced apart and connected in series. The connecting section includes a first conductive connecting material and a second conductive connecting material. The first conductive connecting material is fixedly connected to the top ends of the first and second thermoelectric materials, connecting their top ends together. The second conductive connecting material is fixedly connected to the bottom ends of the first and second thermoelectric materials, connecting their bottom ends together. The insulating and thermally conductive structure includes an insulating and thermally conductive material and heat dissipation fins. The insulating and thermally conductive material is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first and second thermoelectric materials.

2. The thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The heat dissipation fins are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the insulating and thermally conductive material, and the heat dissipation fins are arranged at equal intervals with respect to the inner wall of the insulating and thermally conductive material, and the cross-sectional shape of the heat dissipation fins is set to an S-shape.

3. The thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The heat exchange tube assembly is serpentine in shape and is fixedly connected to the heat exchanger body via a flange structure. The flange structure uses stainless steel bolts and nickel-based alloy gaskets to achieve high-pressure sealing.

4. The thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the second conductive connecting material is provided with an internal support tube, the internal support tube including a support tube body, and the support tube body is fixedly connected to the second conductive connecting material.

5. The thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The inner wall of the support tube body is provided with grooves, which are arranged in a ring array about the inner wall of the support tube body. The cross-sectional shape of the grooves is set to arc, and the direction of the grooves is consistent with the direction of the heat exchange tube assembly.

6. The thermoelectric conversion waste heat regeneration heat exchanger as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The groove is provided with reinforcing ribs, which are fixedly connected to the main body of the support tube.

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