Working fluid purification system
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHANGHAI LIANHE RIHUAN ENERGY TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-23
AI Technical Summary
The metal working fluid used in existing high-temperature heat pipes has low purity, which affects heat transfer performance, and the filling amount is difficult to control.
A working fluid purification system is adopted, including first and second separation devices, which separate impurities by centrifugal filtration and heating, and combined with a buffer device to achieve quantitative filling.
It significantly improved the purity of the working fluid, enhanced the heat transfer performance of the high-temperature heat pipe, and enabled precise control of the filling amount.
Smart Images
Figure CN224388242U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of purification equipment, and in particular to a working fluid purification system. Background Technology
[0002] High-temperature heat pipes are widely used in petrochemical, aerospace, and nuclear energy industries. They typically use liquid metals (such as sodium and potassium) as the working medium, exhibiting excellent thermal stability and low saturated vapor pressure. Potassium has a melting point of 63.4℃, while sodium has a melting point of 98℃. Potassium's melting point is lower than sodium's, and under the same pressure, it vaporizes first when heated. In high-temperature heat pipes, potassium operates in a temperature range of 377–827℃, while sodium operates in a range of 527–1027℃. Potassium has lower specific heat and latent heat of vaporization than sodium, but its price is 2.5 times that of sodium. Therefore, sodium is more widely used in industrial applications.
[0003] The purity of the working fluid in a high-temperature heat pipe significantly affects its heat transfer performance. Currently, most high-temperature heat pipes using sodium as the working fluid have a sodium purity of only around 99.5%, with potassium and calcium being the most prevalent impurities. Existing technologies typically involve directly melting metallic sodium and filling it into the heat pipe without purifying the working fluid, resulting in a high impurity content and low purity, thus impacting the heat transfer performance of the high-temperature heat pipe. Furthermore, existing technologies lack specific instructions on how to precisely measure the amount of sodium added during the filling process, making it difficult to control the filling volume. Utility Model Content
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to overcome the defects of the low purity of the metal working fluid filled in the high temperature heat pipe in the prior art, which affects the heat transfer performance of the high temperature heat pipe and makes it difficult to control the filling amount during the filling of the high temperature heat pipe, and to provide a working fluid purification system.
[0005] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:
[0006] This utility model provides a working fluid purification system, the working fluid purification system comprising:
[0007] A first separation device, comprising a first container and a filter device disposed within the first container, wherein the first container contains a working fluid to be purified, and the filter device is configured to perform centrifugal filtration on the working fluid to be purified.
[0008] The second separation device includes a second container and a second heating device. The second container is connected to the outlet of the first container. The second heating device is used to heat the working medium contained in the second container after centrifugation and filtration by the first separation device, so as to separate impurities with low evaporation temperature in the centrifuged and filtered working medium.
[0009] A buffer device, comprising a buffer box, one end of which is connected to the second container, and the other end of which is used to connect to a high-temperature heat pipe.
[0010] In this scheme, the working fluid purification system uses at least two separation devices (a first separation device and a second separation device) to progressively separate different types of impurities or unpurified substances mixed in the working fluid to be purified, effectively improving the purity of the target working fluid. The first separation device performs preliminary filtration of the working fluid by centrifugal filtration, separating solid impurities. Compared to other filtration methods, centrifugal filtration can more thoroughly filter solid impurities, providing a clean working fluid suitable for deep purification to the second separation device, while ensuring that the pipelines are not blocked during filtration and filling. The second separation device performs deep purification of the mixture by heating the centrifugally filtered working fluid using a second heating device. Under the same pressure, impurities with lower evaporation temperatures in the working fluid will evaporate first, thus separating these lower-temperature impurities and further improving the purity of the working fluid. The working fluid purification system also includes a buffer device. The buffer tank of the buffer device is located between the second container and the high-temperature heat pipe and is connected to the second container and the high-temperature heat pipe respectively. The high-temperature working fluid flowing out of the second container is first buffered in the buffer tank, so as to better control the volume of the high-temperature working fluid being filled.
[0011] Preferably, the filtration device includes a filter screen and a driver, the filter screen being spaced apart and arranged in a ring within the first container, and the driver being connected to the filter screen and driving the filter screen to generate centrifugal motion.
[0012] In this scheme, the working medium to be purified is filtered through a filter screen. Compared with other centrifugal filtration methods, the filter screen has a simpler structure, better filtration effect, and is easy to assemble, clean, and replace. In practical use, multiple layers of circumferential filter screens can also be set to separate solid impurities of different sizes, further improving the filtration effect.
[0013] Preferably, the first container further includes a first heating device, which is arranged circumferentially around the first container.
[0014] In this solution, by arranging the first heating device around the circumference of the first container, the first heating device can fully heat the first container, resulting in more uniform and thorough heating of the first container as a whole, better heat preservation, and ensuring that the working medium to be purified can remain in a liquid state throughout the filtration process, thus achieving a better purification effect.
[0015] Preferably, the first container includes an inclined bottom surface, and the first container is connected to the second container through a connecting pipe with the same inclination angle as the bottom surface.
[0016] In this scheme, the first container includes an inclined bottom surface. The first container is connected to the second container through a connecting pipe with the same inclination angle as the bottom surface. This makes it easier for the liquid working medium to be purified to flow into the connecting pipe along the inclined direction of the bottom surface, and then into the second container through the inclined connecting pipe. This makes the flow of the working medium smoother and avoids the working medium from clogging the connecting pipe during the flow process.
[0017] Preferably, the second separation device further includes a separator collector connected to the second container near the top of the second container, the separator collector being used to collect impurities that have been heated into a gaseous state and have a low evaporation temperature.
[0018] In this scheme, the second separation device also includes a separator collector. The working fluid after preliminary filtration is heated in the second container. Impurities with lower evaporation temperature in the working fluid will be evaporated first. The evaporated gaseous impurities enter the separator collector near the top of the second container and are collected by the separator collector, thereby fully collecting the separator and facilitating subsequent processing of the separator.
[0019] Preferably, the working fluid purification system further includes an environment generation device, which includes a protective gas supply source connected to the first separation device and the second separation device, and is used to provide protective gas to the first separation device and the second separation device.
[0020] In this scheme, the working fluid purification system provides a protective gas environment for the two separation devices through an environmental generation device, thereby preventing the high-temperature working fluid from being oxidized during the purification process, thus improving the purity of the target working fluid and improving the heat transfer performance of the high-temperature heat pipe.
[0021] Preferably, the second heating device is arranged around the circumference of the second container.
[0022] In this scheme, by arranging the second heating device around the circumference of the second container, the heating of the second container by the second heating device is more thorough and uniform, so that the impurities in the working fluid can be fully evaporated, thereby further improving the purification effect.
[0023] Preferably, the second separation device further includes a purification target container, which extends into the second container from the bottom of the second container, and the top of the purification target container is higher than the bottom of the second container, with the inlet of the second container in fluid communication with the purification target container.
[0024] In this scheme, by setting up a purification target container that extends into the second container from the bottom, the purified target can be better collected. By making the top of the purification target container higher than the bottom of the second container, impurities evaporated from the surrounding area are prevented from flowing back into the purification target container.
[0025] Preferably, the buffer device further includes a pressure gauge, a first valve, and a second valve;
[0026] The pressure gauge is installed on the buffer tank and is used to detect the pressure inside the buffer tank. The first valve is located between the second container and the buffer tank, and the second valve is located between the high-temperature heat pipe and the buffer tank.
[0027] In this design, the buffer device is equipped with a pressure gauge to detect the pressure inside the buffer tank, and a first valve and a second valve to control the flow of the high-temperature working medium at both ends of the buffer tank. During use, the second valve is first closed, and the first valve is opened, allowing the purified working medium in the second container to flow into the buffer tank. The volume of the working medium to be filled is calculated using the pressure gauge reading. Then, the second valve is opened to fill the high-temperature working medium into the high-temperature heat pipe, thus achieving quantitative filling.
[0028] Preferably, the environment generation device further includes a vacuum chamber, the first separation device is disposed inside the vacuum chamber, and the vacuum chamber is connected to the protective gas supply source.
[0029] In this scheme, the protective gas supply source provides protective gas to the inside of the vacuum chamber, thereby enabling the first separation device to be placed in a protective gas atmosphere, which can prevent the working medium to be filtered from being oxidized when the operator adds the working medium to the first separation device.
[0030] The positive and progressive effects of this utility model are as follows:
[0031] This working fluid purification system uses at least two separation devices (a first separation device and a second separation device) to progressively separate different types of impurities or unpurified substances mixed in the working fluid to be purified, effectively improving the purity of the target working fluid. The first separation device performs preliminary filtration of the working fluid by centrifugal filtration, separating solid impurities. Compared to other filtration methods, centrifugal filtration can more thoroughly filter solid impurities, providing a clean working fluid suitable for deep purification to the second separation device, while ensuring that the pipelines are not blocked during filtration and filling. The second separation device performs deep purification of the mixture by heating the centrifugally filtered working fluid using a second heating device. Under the same pressure, impurities with lower evaporation temperatures in the working fluid will evaporate first, thus separating these lower-temperature impurities and further improving the purity of the working fluid. The working fluid purification system also includes a buffer device. The buffer tank of the buffer device is located between the second container and the high-temperature heat pipe and is connected to the second container and the high-temperature heat pipe respectively. The high-temperature working fluid flowing out of the second container is first buffered in the buffer tank, so as to better control the volume of the high-temperature working fluid being filled. Attached Figure Description
[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the working fluid purification system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:
[0034] The system comprises: a first separation device 100, a first container 110, a bottom surface 111, a filter device 120, a filter screen 121, a driver 122, a cover plate 123, a bottom plate 124, a connector 125, a first heating device 130, a storage tank 140, a second separation device 200, a second container 210, a second heating device 220, a separator collector 230, a condenser 240, a purification target container 250, an environmental generation device 300, a protective gas supply source 310, a vacuum chamber 320, a cold trap 330, a vacuum unit 340, a buffer device 400, a buffer tank 410, a pressure gauge 420, a first valve 430, a second valve 440, a third heating device 450, a high-temperature heat pipe 500, a switching valve 600, a connecting pipe 700, and a fourth heating device 710. Detailed Implementation
[0035] The present invention will be further described below by way of embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the following embodiments.
[0036] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides a working fluid purification system for purifying metallic sodium working fluid, wherein the main impurity in the working fluid is potassium. The working fluid purification system includes a first separation device 100, a second separation device 200, and an environment generation device 300.
[0037] The first separation device 100 includes a first container 110, a filter device 120 disposed within the first container 110, and a first heating device 130. The first container 110 contains a working fluid to be purified. The first heating device 130 is used to heat the working fluid to be purified. The filter device 120 is configured to centrifuge and filter the working fluid to be purified. The second separation device 200 includes a second container 210 and a second heating device 220. The second container 210 is connected to the outlet of the first container 110. The second heating device 220 is used to heat the working fluid contained in the second container 210 after centrifugation and filtration by the first separation device 100, so as to separate impurities with low evaporation temperatures from the centrifuged and filtered working fluid. The environmental generation device 300 includes a protective gas supply source 310, which is connected to the first separation device 100 and the second separation device 200, and is used to provide protective gas to the first separation device 100 and the second separation device 200. The protective gas is typically an inert gas.
[0038] This working fluid purification system uses at least two separation devices (first separation device 100 and second separation device 200) to progressively separate different types of impurities or unpurified substances mixed in the working fluid to be purified, effectively improving the purity of the target working fluid. Specifically, the first separation device 100 performs preliminary filtration of the working fluid. It heats the working fluid to a liquid state using a first heating device 130, and then separates solid impurities using a centrifugal filtration device 120. Compared to other filtration methods, centrifugal filtration can more thoroughly filter solid impurities, providing a clean working fluid suitable for deep purification to the second separation device 200, while ensuring that the pipes are not blocked during filtration and filling. The solid impurities mainly consist of oxide scale, calcium, etc. The second separation device 200 performs deep purification of the mixture. It heats the centrifugally filtered working fluid using a second heating device 220. Utilizing the difference in unsaturated vapor pressure between metals, impurities with lower evaporation temperatures in the working fluid will evaporate first under the same pressure, thus separating these impurities and further improving the purity of the working fluid. In this embodiment, potassium metal is vaporized for separation. Potassium metal has a lower melting point than sodium metal. During heating, potassium metal has a lower evaporation temperature under the same pressure, reaching its evaporation temperature earlier and evaporating into a gaseous state, thereby separating the impurity potassium from the working fluid.
[0039] The working fluid purification system provides a protective gas environment for the two separation devices through the environmental generation device 300, thereby preventing the high-temperature working fluid from being oxidized during the purification process, thus improving the purity of the target working fluid and consequently improving the heat transfer performance of the high-temperature heat pipe 500.
[0040] The environment generation device 300 also includes a vacuum chamber 320, a cold trap 330, and a vacuum unit 340. The first separation device 100 is located inside the vacuum chamber 320, which is connected to a protective gas supply source 310. The protective gas supply source 310 provides protective gas to the interior of the vacuum chamber 320, thereby allowing the first separation device 100 to be placed in a protective gas atmosphere, preventing the working fluid to be filtered from being oxidized when added to the first separation device 100 by the operator. Before performing the separation and purification operation, the working fluid purification system is first replaced with protective gas. First, the switch valve 600 is opened, and protective gas is introduced through the protective gas supply source 310. Then, the vacuum unit 340 is opened to extract the protective gas from the working fluid purification system. This operation is repeated multiple times to ensure that the first separation device 100 and the second separation device 200 are maintained in a protective gas environment. The environment generation device 300 forms a vacuum system through vacuum pipelines. The vacuum system is used to extract air and introduce protective gas, so that the purification operation is carried out in a protective gas atmosphere.
[0041] The filtration device 120 includes a filter screen 121 and a driver 122. The filter screen 121 is spaced apart and arranged in a ring within the first container 110. The driver 122 is connected to the filter screen 121 and drives the filter screen 121 to generate centrifugal motion. The driver 122 can be a motor. The working fluid to be purified is filtered through the filter screen 121. Compared with other centrifugal filtration methods, the filter screen 121 has a simpler structure, better filtration effect, and is easy to assemble, clean, and replace. In practical use, multiple layers of the filter screen 121 can also be set to separate solid impurities of different sizes, further improving the filtration effect. The filter screen 121 can be made of stainless steel or other materials deemed suitable by those skilled in the art.
[0042] The upper end of the first container 110 is sealed by a cover plate 123, which can be a flange end cap. The lower end of the filter screen 121 is connected to a base plate 124, which can be a disc. The base plate 124 is connected to a driver 122 via a shaft. The driver 122 drives the base plate 124 to rotate, thereby causing the filter screen 121 to rotate. Connectors 125 are provided on the bottom of the cover plate 123 and the top surface of the base plate 124, and the filter screen 121 is fixed at the top and bottom by means of the connectors 125.
[0043] The first heating device 130 is arranged around the circumference of the first container 110. In this embodiment, it is spirally wound so that the first heating device 130 can fully heat the first container 110. The first container 110 is heated more evenly and fully, and the heat preservation effect is better. This allows the working medium to be purified to remain in a liquid state throughout the filtration process, resulting in a better purification effect.
[0044] The first container 110 includes an inclined bottom surface 111, and is connected to the second container 210 via a connecting pipe 700 with the same inclination angle as the bottom surface 111. This facilitates the flow of liquid working fluid to be purified along the inclined direction of the bottom surface 111 into the connecting pipe 700, and then into the second container 210 through the inclined connecting pipe 700, making the flow of the working fluid smoother and preventing blockage of the connecting pipe 700 during the flow process. The inclination angle of the bottom surface 111 can be 5-30°, and those skilled in the art can select a suitable inclination angle of the bottom surface 111 according to actual needs.
[0045] The second separation device 200 also includes a separator collector 230, which is used to collect metallic potassium. The separator collector 230 is connected to the second container 210 near the top. The separator collector 230 collects metallic potassium and other impurities (mainly metallic potassium, which is present in relatively large quantities) that have been heated into a gaseous state with a low evaporation temperature. The pre-filtered working fluid is heated in the second container 210. Impurities with low evaporation temperatures in the working fluid are evaporated first. The evaporated gaseous impurities enter the separator collector 230 near the top of the second container 210 and are collected by the separator collector 230, thus ensuring sufficient collection of the separated material and facilitating subsequent processing.
[0046] The outer surface of the separator 230 is covered with a condenser 240. After the gaseous impurities flow into the separator 230, the condenser 240 cools the separated material from the gaseous state as quickly as possible, reducing the diffusion of the separated material.
[0047] The second heating device 220 is arranged around the second container 210 in a circumferential manner, so that the second heating device 220 heats the second container 210 more fully and evenly, so that the impurities in the working fluid can be fully evaporated, and the purification effect is further improved.
[0048] The second separation device 200 further includes a target substance purification container 250, which may be a crucible. The target substance purification container 250 extends into the second container 210 from the bottom, and the top of the target substance purification container 250 is higher than the bottom of the second container 210. The inlet of the second container 210 is in fluid communication with the target substance purification container 250. By setting the target substance purification container 250 to extend into the second container 210 from the bottom, the purified target substance can be better collected. By setting the top of the target substance purification container 250 higher than the bottom of the second container 210, impurities evaporated from the periphery are prevented from flowing back into the target substance purification container 250.
[0049] The working fluid purification system also includes a buffer device 400, which includes a buffer tank 410, a pressure gauge 420, a first valve 430, and a second valve 440. One end of the buffer tank 410 is connected to the second container 210, and the other end of the buffer tank 410 is used to connect to the high-temperature heat pipe 500. The pressure gauge 420 is installed on the buffer tank 410 and is used to detect the pressure inside the buffer tank 410. The first valve 430 is located between the second container 210 and the buffer tank 410, and the second valve 440 is located between the high-temperature heat pipe 500 and the buffer tank 410.
[0050] A buffer tank 410 is located between the second container 210 and the high-temperature heat pipe 500, and is connected to both. The high-temperature working fluid flowing out of the second container 210 is first buffered in the buffer tank 410. In use, the second valve 440 is first closed, and the first valve 430 is opened, allowing the purified working fluid in the second container 210 to flow into the buffer tank 410. The volume of the working fluid to be filled is calculated using the reading of the pressure gauge 420, specifically based on the ideal gas law PV=NRT. Then, the second valve 440 is opened to fill the high-temperature working fluid into the high-temperature heat pipe 500, thus achieving quantitative filling. The buffer tank 410 is connected to the vacuum system at a different location than the other connections at the top and bottom.
[0051] During the flow of the high-temperature working fluid into the high-temperature heat pipe 500, the buffer box 410 prevents the high-temperature working fluid from flowing into the branch pipe (vacuum pipe) and condensing, which could cause blockage and prevent vacuuming. The shape of the buffer box 410 is not limited, as long as it prevents the main pipe and branch pipe from being directly connected.
[0052] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship of the device or component during normal use. They are used only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation at any time, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model in this respect.
[0053] While specific embodiments of this utility model have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that these are merely illustrative examples, and the scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of this utility model, but all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of this utility model.
Claims
1. A working fluid purification system, characterized in that, The working fluid purification system includes: A first separation device, comprising a first container and a filter device disposed within the first container, wherein the first container contains a working fluid to be purified, and the filter device is configured to perform centrifugal filtration on the working fluid to be purified. The second separation device includes a second container and a second heating device. The second container is connected to the outlet of the first container. The second heating device is used to heat the working medium contained in the second container after centrifugation and filtration by the first separation device, so as to separate impurities with low evaporation temperature in the centrifuged and filtered working medium. A buffer device, comprising a buffer box, one end of which is connected to the second container, and the other end of which is used to connect to a high-temperature heat pipe.
2. The working fluid purification system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The filtration device includes a filter screen and a driver. The filter screen is spaced apart and arranged in a ring inside the first container. The driver is connected to the filter screen and drives the filter screen to generate centrifugal motion.
3. The working fluid purification system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first container also includes a first heating device, which is arranged around the circumference of the first container.
4. The working fluid purification system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first container includes an inclined bottom surface, and the first container is connected to the second container through a connecting pipe at the same inclination angle as the bottom surface.
5. The working fluid purification system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second separation device further includes a separator collector connected to the second container near the top of the second container. The separator collector is used to collect impurities that have been heated into a gaseous state and have a low evaporation temperature.
6. The working fluid purification system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The working fluid purification system further includes an environment generation device, which includes a protective gas supply source connected to the first separation device and the second separation device, and is used to provide protective gas to the first separation device and the second separation device.
7. The working fluid purification system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second heating device is arranged around the circumference of the second container.
8. The working fluid purification system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second separation device further includes a purification target container, which extends from the bottom of the second container into the second container, and the top of the purification target container is higher than the bottom of the second container, with the inlet of the second container in fluid communication with the purification target container.
9. The working fluid purification system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The buffer device also includes a pressure gauge, a first valve, and a second valve; The pressure gauge is installed on the buffer tank and is used to detect the pressure inside the buffer tank. The first valve is located between the second container and the buffer tank, and the second valve is located between the high-temperature heat pipe and the buffer tank.
10. The working fluid purification system as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The environment generation device also includes a vacuum chamber, the first separation device is located inside the vacuum chamber, and the vacuum chamber is connected to the protective gas supply source.