Temperature control device, vehicle and method for temperature control of a fluid

Abstract

The invention relates to a temperature control device (1) for temperature control of a fluid, comprising: at least one fluid supply (11), at least one fluid discharge (12), and at least one fluid transport element (13), wherein the fluid transport element (13) comprises a drive (131) and at least one fluid conveying element (132) connected to the drive (131), and the drive (131) moves the fluid conveying element (132) as required, wherein the fluid conveying element (132) is in contact with the fluid at least partially, and when the drive (131) is activated, the fluid conveying element (132) transports fluid from the fluid supply (11) to the fluid discharge (12). The fluid conveying element (132) comprises an elastocaloric material at least partially. The invention also relates to a vehicle with a temperature control device (1) and a method for temperature control of a fluid.

Description

The invention relates to a temperature control device with which a fluid can be temperature-controlled. The temperature control device comprises a fluid transport element which has at least a portion of an elastocaloric material used for temperature control of the fluid. The invention also relates to a vehicle with a temperature control device and a method for temperature-controlling a fluid, wherein a temperature control device is used to carry out the method. Many technical applications require the temperature control of a fluid. A fluid can be, for example, a gas or a liquid. Temperature control devices exist that transfer energy from an electric current to a fluid. For instance, an electric current can be passed through a resistor, which heats up due to the current flow, and the resulting heat is transferred to the fluid. Alternative concepts for providing thermal energy to a fluid include the combustion of chemical substances or heat transfer by a heat pump based on a vapor compression cycle. A heat pump enables both the heating and cooling of a fluid. In JP 2007 155 267 A, an alternative cooling device is described that utilizes the magnetocaloric effect to cool a fluid. The cooling device features a fan wheel encasing a magnetocaloric material. The fan wheel is located in a housing where magnetic fields of varying strengths are generated in different areas. Through the interaction of these different magnetic fields with the magnetocaloric material of the fan wheel, heat is extracted from a flowing fluid and released into the surroundings. US 2015 / 0184900A1 describes a device for temperature control of a fluid, which also utilizes the magnetocaloric effect. The device comprises a one-piece temperature control element with several fins around which a fluid flows. The temperature control element contains a special magnetocaloric material. German patent application DE 10 2006 014 596 A1 describes a device for cooling air using the magnetocaloric effect. The device comprises two areas in which magnetic fields of different strengths are generated. A ring containing magnetocaloric material is rotated such that, during each rotation, the magnetocaloric material is alternately moved into the two areas with the different magnetic field strengths. The cooling of the magnetocaloric material in the area with the lower magnetic field strength is used to cool the air. German patent DE 20 2023 100 127 U1 discloses a method for generating electricity and heat using so-called shape memory alloys by utilizing the ambient temperature. US patent 6 367 281 B1 describes a refrigerant system with an elastic material and a spring. The object of the invention is to provide solutions with which a fluid can be temperature-controlled in a simplified manner. This problem is solved by a temperature control device with the features of claim 1, by a vehicle with the features of claim 7, and by a method with the features of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. The temperature control device according to the invention is designed for temperature control of a fluid and comprises: - at least one fluid supply, which is designed to supply a fluid to the temperature control device, - at least one fluid discharge, which is designed to discharge fluid from the temperature control device, - at least one fluid transport element, wherein the fluid transport element comprises a drive and at least one fluid conveying element connected to the drive, and the drive moves the fluid conveying element as required. The fluid conveying element is in contact with the fluid, at least in some areas. When the drive is activated, the fluid conveying element transports fluid from the fluid supply to the fluid discharge. The contact between the fluid and the moving fluid conveying element creates mechanical stress in the fluid conveying element, at least in some areas. The fluid conveying element is made of an elastocaloric material, at least in some areas. The fluid can be a gas or a liquid. Preferably, the fluid is air, which is to be temperature-controlled. The fluid transport element moves fluid as needed from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet of the temperature control device. For this purpose, the fluid transport element has a fluid conveying element, which is mechanically driven by a drive. The movement of the fluid conveying element within the fluid transport element moves the fluid and transports it through the temperature control device. The fluid is always at least partially in contact with the fluid conveying element. The fluid conveying element can, for example, be a fan. When the drive is activated, it moves the fluid conveying element within the fluid. The fluid conveying element is then in mechanical contact with the fluid. This movement moves the fluid through the fluid conveying element.Secondly, a force and / or moment equilibrium between the fluid and the fluid conveying element creates mechanical stress, at least in certain areas of the fluid conveying element. This causes the fluid conveying element to deform elastically, preferably slightly, resulting in tensile and / or compressive stresses in specific regions of the element. The fluid conveying element is made of an elastocaloric material, at least in certain areas. Such an elastocaloric material has the property of increasing its temperature when mechanical stress is introduced. If the mechanical stress is subsequently reduced or removed, the temperature of this material drops below the temperature it had before the mechanical stress was introduced. The elastocaloric effect is based on the shape memory effect of certain metals.Mechanical stress causes a crystalline phase transformation in elastocaloric materials. Elastocaloric materials are a class of solids that heat up and cool down under mechanical stress and unstressing. According to the invention, these properties of the elastocaloric material of the fluid conveying element are used to temper the fluid as needed. When the drive is activated, the interaction or the force and / or torque equilibrium between the fluid and the fluid conveying element creates a mechanical stress, which causes the elastocaloric material to heat up. The heat generated during this heating is transferred to the transported or moved fluid, thus heating it. This occurs through heat conduction or heat transfer from the fluid conveying element to the fluid. After the drive is deactivated, to a state where the mechanical stresses in the fluid conveying element are reduced or no longer present, the elastocaloric material cools down. This cooling can be brought about by deactivating the drive at a time when heating the fluid is no longer required.In a further embodiment described below, heat transfer from the fluid to the fluid conveying element can also occur when the drive is deactivated and the mechanical stresses in the fluid conveying element are reduced. In this way, a fluid can also be cooled by the temperature control device. The temperature control device according to the invention has a very simple design, since no components are used that are required exclusively for supplying energy to temperature-control the fluid. For example, no heating coil, no fuel supply, and no vapor compression cycle are required to transfer heat to the fluid. The energy required to temperature-control the fluid is supplied solely via the mechanical drive that moves the fluid conveying element. The heat transfer occurs through the fluid conveying element, which is required anyway for transporting or moving the fluid.The simple design of the temperature control device according to the invention corresponds to the design of a fluid transport device and is enhanced by the functionality of temperature control during transport. Thus, a temperature control device according to the invention is compact yet very robust and durable. There are no components that are subject to wear and / or require regular replacement for supplying or removing energy to temperature control the fluid. The temperature control device according to the invention is suitable, for example, for preheating or dehumidifying a fluid. For instance, a heating fan can be easily provided by a temperature control device according to the invention, which can be used for various applications. In one embodiment of the invention, the fluid conveying element heats up when the drive is activated and transfers the resulting heat to the fluid that moves from the fluid supply to the fluid discharge due to the movement of the fluid conveying element. Due to the elastocaloric effect, the elastocaloric material of the fluid conveying element heats up due to the mechanical stresses that arise from the contact between the moving fluid conveying element and the fluid. This heat is transferred to the fluid so that it can be discharged from the fluid discharge in a heated state. According to the invention, the fluid conveying element is formed by a fan wheel comprising a shaft and at least one blade, wherein the shaft is connected to the drive and the blade has at least one blade surface which, upon activation of the drive, moves fluid from the fluid supply to the fluid discharge. The fluid conveying element can be formed by a fan wheel. The at least one blade and / or the shaft connected to the drive comprises, at least partially, an elastocaloric material. The blade and / or the shaft can consist, at least partially, of a solid elastocaloric material or be coated with a layer of elastocaloric material. In one embodiment of the invention, the rotational position of the blade surface about at least one axis of rotation is adjustable. In this embodiment, the rotational position of a blade of a fluid conveying element formed by a fan wheel is adjustable. This makes it possible to adjust the volumetric flow rate of fluid through the temperature control device. Furthermore, by changing the rotational position of the blade surface in the fluid, the magnitude of the mechanical stress generated in the blade by contact with the fluid can be adjusted. By adjusting this mechanical stress, the degree to which the elastocaloric material of the blade heats up can, in turn, be controlled. In one embodiment of the invention, the fluid transport element is arranged in the direction of fluid flow between the fluid supply and the fluid discharge, wherein the fluid supply and the fluid discharge are each formed by a channel connected to a housing of the fluid transport element. The fluid supply and the fluid discharge can be formed by a channel, for example, a pipe or a hose. The fluid supply and the fluid discharge are connected to a housing, in particular in a fluid-tight manner. In this way, it is ensured that the fluid moved by the fluid transport element flows through the temperature control device along a defined flow path in a defined flow direction. In one embodiment of the invention, an evaporator of an air conditioning system is arranged in the fluid discharge or in the direction of fluid flow downstream of the fluid discharge, with the fluid moving through the discharge coming into contact with the evaporator. In this embodiment, the temperature control device is connected upstream of an air conditioning system. For this purpose, an evaporator of the air conditioning system is arranged so that it comes into contact with the fluid being discharged through the fluid discharge. In this embodiment, the temperature control device can be used as a preheating device that vaporizes a refrigerant in an evaporator belonging to an air conditioning system based on a vapor compression cycle. This simply constructed and efficiently operating temperature control device can thus be used to improve the efficiency of a known air conditioning system as needed. In one embodiment of the invention, an additional conveying element is provided alongside the fluid transport element. This additional conveying element moves fluid through the fluid transport element as needed, and can be activated when the drive is not engaged. In this embodiment, the additional conveying element transports fluid through the temperature control device when the drive of the fluid transport element is deactivated. The additional conveying element can be arranged, for example, upstream of the fluid supply or downstream of the fluid discharge in the direction of fluid flow. Preferably, the additional conveying element does not comprise an elastocaloric material. When the drive of the fluid transport element is deactivated, the elastocaloric material of the fluid conveying element cools down.In this state, when the auxiliary conveying element brings fluid into contact with the fluid conveying element, the fluid cools down through this contact and can be discharged in a cooled state. Depending on whether the drive of the fluid conveying element or the auxiliary conveying element is activated, the fluid can thus be either heated or cooled by the temperature control device. The vehicle according to the invention comprises a temperature control device according to one of the previously described embodiments, wherein the fluid supply connects an exterior area of ​​the vehicle fluidically to the fluid transport element, and the fluid discharge connects the fluid transport element fluidically to a component in or on the vehicle to be temperature controlled. The fluid supply can directly connect an exterior area of ​​the vehicle to the fluid transport element, for example, by means of a ventilation opening in the vehicle body. Alternatively, the fluid supply can also indirectly connect an exterior area of ​​the vehicle to the fluid transport element. Such an indirect connection can be created, for example, by arranging the fluid supply in a cavity, such as the vehicle's engine compartment, wherein this cavity is connected to the exterior area of ​​the vehicle by an opening.The fluid discharge can, for example, be connected to the passenger compartment of the vehicle, allowing the temperature-controlled fluid to be used directly for temperature control of this compartment. Alternatively, the fluid discharge can also be connected to another component in or on the vehicle, for example, a battery, which can be preheated by the temperature-controlled fluid. The advantages, advantageous designs, and effects mentioned above in connection with the temperature control device also apply to the vehicle according to the invention. The method according to the invention serves to temper a fluid, wherein a tempering device according to one of the previously described embodiments is used to carry out the method. The method comprises the following steps: A) Activating the drive of the fluid transport element, wherein the fluid conveying element is moved in the fluid and fluid is transported from the fluid supply to the fluid discharge by the moving fluid conveying element, wherein a mechanical stress is generated in the fluid conveying element by the contact of the fluid with the fluid conveying element and the fluid conveying element is thereby heated; B) Heat transfer from the fluid conveying element to the fluid, which is transported from the fluid supply to the fluid discharge, whereby the fluid is heated. According to the invention, the fluid conveying element is formed by a fan wheel comprising a shaft and at least one blade, wherein the shaft is connected to the drive and the blade has at least one blade surface which, when the drive is activated, moves fluid from the fluid supply to the fluid discharge. The method according to the invention utilizes the elastocaloric effect of a material that forms at least a portion of the fluid conveying element. Activation of the drive generates mechanical stresses in the fluid conveying element, causing this material to heat up. The resulting heat is transferred to a moving fluid, which can then be discharged in a heated state. The advantages, advantageous configurations, and effects mentioned above in connection with the temperature control device and the vehicle also apply to the method according to the invention. In one embodiment of the method, the temperature control device includes an additional conveying element, and the following process steps are performed after process steps A) and B): C) Deactivating the drive of the fluid transport element, whereby the fluid transport element is at rest in the fluid or passively moved by the moving fluid, and no mechanical stress or a reduced stress compared to process step A) is generated in the fluid transport element, thereby cooling the fluid transport element; D) Activating the additional conveying element, whereby fluid is transported through the fluid transport element, heat transfer from the fluid to the fluid transport element occurs, and the fluid is cooled. In this embodiment of the method, the elastocaloric effect is used to cool a fluid, which is supplied to the temperature control device via the fluid supply, in the fluid transport element.During this process, heat is transferred from the fluid to the fluid conveying element. The cooled fluid is then discharged via the fluid outlet. The fluid conveying element is not driven while the fluid is cooling, so it experiences no or only very low mechanical stress. The auxiliary conveying element takes over the transport of the fluid through the temperature control device from the primary fluid transport element. By alternately activating the drive and the auxiliary conveying element, both heated and cooled fluid can be discharged from the temperature control device. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those subsequently mentioned in the figure description and / or shown in the figure alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, embodiments that are not explicitly shown or explained in the figure, but which can be derived and generated from the explained embodiments by separate combinations of features, are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention. Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments, and the drawing. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a temperature control device according to the invention. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a temperature control device 1 according to the invention. The illustrated embodiment of the temperature control device 1 forms a forward-curved radial fan. In the illustrated embodiment, the temperature control device 1 draws in air from above and transports it to the right, whereby the drawn-in air is tempered. The direction of airflow is symbolized by arrows. The temperature control device 1 has a fluid supply 11, which is formed by a funnel-shaped channel that is open at the top and connected to a housing G of a fluid transport element 13. A fluid conveying element 132, formed by a fan wheel with several blades, is rotatably arranged in the housing G of the fluid transport element 13 about a vertically oriented axis of rotation. The blades consist, at least partially, of an elastocaloric material or are coated with an elastocaloric material. In the illustrated embodiment, the blades are forward-curved. The curvature of the blades is thus concave to the direction of rotation of the fan wheel. Alternatively, the blades can also have a different curvature or be flat.Furthermore, it is possible for the blades to have a surface whose rotational position is adjustable around at least one axis. For example, such an axis of rotation, like the axis of rotation of the fan wheel, can be vertically oriented and allow adjustment of the blade surface angle to the fluid flow direction. In this way, both the volume flow rate moved through the fluid transport element and the mechanical load on the blades can be adjusted. Depending on the mechanical load on the blades, a mechanical stress develops within them, the magnitude of which is proportional to the heating of the elastocaloric material of the blades.The fluid conveying element 132, designed as a fan wheel, is connected to a drive 131, which in this case is an electric motor that rotates the fluid conveying element 132 about its axis of rotation as needed. In the illustrated embodiment, the fluid conveying element 132 is in complete contact with the fluid located within the housing G of the fluid transport element 13. When the drive 131 is activated, it rotates the fluid conveying element 132, designed as a fan wheel, within the housing G. The blades transport fluid from the fluid inlet 11 to the fluid outlet 12 located on the right. The fluid outlet 12 is formed by a funnel-shaped channel, which is also connected to the housing G of the fluid transport element 13. The fluid initially flows vertically downwards through the fluid inlet 11 into the fluid transport element 13.From the fluid transport element 13, the fluid flows horizontally to the right towards the fluid outlet 12. Thus, the fluid transport element 13 is arranged in the direction of fluid flow between the fluid inlet 11 and the fluid outlet 12. An evaporator D of an air conditioning system is located in the fluid outlet 12, and is exposed to the fluid flowing through the fluid outlet 12, thus coming into contact with it. When the drive 131 is activated, it rotates the fluid conveying element 132 within the housing G. This movement causes the vanes of the fluid conveying element 132 to transport the fluid through the temperature control device 1. Fluid is drawn in from above through the fluid inlet 11 and comes into contact with the fluid conveying element 132. The mechanical stresses generated in the fluid during the movement of the fluid conveying element 132 heat its elastocaloric material. The resulting heat is transferred to the transported fluid, thus heating it. The heated fluid is then directed to the right through the fluid outlet 12 to the evaporator D. Upon contact with the evaporator D, heat is transferred from the fluid to the evaporator. The illustrated embodiment of a temperature control device 1 can be used to preheat the evaporator D simply and efficiently.The design of the temperature control device 1 is very simple and robust, as it comprises only a small number of components. No additional components are required to supply energy for heating the fluid, since the heating occurs solely through the mechanical stress on the fluid conveying element 132 and the resulting heating of the elastocaloric material. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the temperature control device 1 comprises an additional conveying element 14, which is symbolically represented by a rectangle. The additional conveying element 14 moves fluid through the fluid supply 11 into the fluid transport element 13 as needed. The additional conveying element 14 can also be activated in a state where the drive 131 is not activated. The additional conveying element 14 can be used to cool the fluid as it passes through the temperature control device 1. For this purpose, the drive 131 is first activated, causing the elastocaloric material of the fluid conveying element 132 to heat up due to the resulting mechanical stresses.If the drive 131 is subsequently deactivated, reducing or eliminating the mechanical stresses in the fluid conveying element 132, the elastocaloric material of the fluid conveying element 132 cools down, particularly to a temperature lower than the ambient temperature. If the auxiliary conveying element 14 is activated in this state, it conveys fluid to the cooled fluid conveying element 132. Through contact between the fluid and the fluid conveying element 132, heat is transferred from the fluid to the cooled fluid conveying element 132, causing the fluid itself to cool. In this case, the fluid then exits the fluid outlet 12 at a temperature lower than the temperature of the fluid that was introduced into the temperature control device 1 through the fluid supply 11.The cooling of the fluid thus utilizes the effect that the elastocaloric material of the fluid conveying element 132 cools down in its mechanically relaxed state. The embodiment of a temperature control device 1 shown in Fig. 1 is therefore suitable for both heating and cooling a fluid. REFERENCE MARK: 1 Temperature control device 11 Fluid supply 12 Fluid discharge 13 Fluid transport element 131 Drive 132 Fluid conveying element 14 Additional conveying element D Evaporator G Housing

Claims

Temperature control device (1) for temperature control of a fluid, comprising: - at least one fluid supply (11) which is provided for supplying a fluid to the temperature control device (1); - at least one fluid outlet (12) which is provided for discharging fluid from the temperature control device (1); - at least one fluid transport element (13), wherein the fluid transport element (13) comprises a drive (131) and at least one fluid conveying element (132) connected to the drive (131), and the drive (131) moves the fluid conveying element (132) as required, wherein the fluid conveying element (132) is at least partially in contact with the fluid, and when the drive (131) is activated, the fluid conveying element (132) transports fluid from the fluid supply (11) to the fluid outlet (12), wherein the contact between the fluid and the moving fluid conveying element (132) creates at least partially a mechanical stress in the fluid conveying element (132).wherein the fluid conveying element (132) comprises at least a portion of an elastocaloric material, characterized in that the fluid conveying element (132) is formed by a fan wheel comprising a shaft and at least one blade, wherein the shaft is connected to the drive (131) and the blade has at least one blade surface which, when the drive (131) is activated, moves fluid from the fluid supply (11) to the fluid discharge (12). Temperature control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluid conveying element (132) heats up when the drive (131) is activated and transfers the heat generated to fluid which moves from the fluid supply (11) to the fluid discharge (12) by the movement of the fluid conveying element (132). Temperature control device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a rotational position of the blade surface about at least one axis of rotation is adjustable. Temperature control device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fluid transport element (13) is arranged in the flow direction of the fluid between the fluid supply (11) and the fluid discharge (12), wherein the fluid supply (11) and the fluid discharge (12) are each formed by a channel which is connected to a housing (G) of the fluid transport element (13). Temperature control device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an evaporator (D) of an air conditioning system is arranged in the fluid discharge (12) or in the flow direction of the fluid after the fluid discharge (12), wherein the fluid moved by the fluid discharge (12) comes into contact with the evaporator (D). Temperature control device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, in addition to the fluid transport element (13), an additional conveying element (14) is provided which moves fluid through the fluid transport element (13) as required, wherein the additional conveying element (14) can be activated in a state in which the drive (131) is not activated. Vehicle with a temperature control device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fluid supply (11) fluidically connects an exterior area of ​​the vehicle to the fluid transport element (13) and the fluid discharge (12) fluidically connects the fluid transport element (13) to a component to be temperature controlled in or on the vehicle. A method for temperature-controlling a fluid, wherein a temperature-control device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is used to carry out the method, the method comprising the process steps: A) Activating the drive (131) of the fluid transport element (13), wherein the fluid conveying element (132) is moved in the fluid and fluid is transported from the fluid supply (11) to the fluid discharge (12) by the moving fluid conveying element (132), wherein a mechanical stress is generated in the fluid conveying element (132) by the contact of the fluid with the fluid conveying element (132) and thereby the fluid conveying element (132) is heated, B) Heat transfer from the fluid conveying element (132) to the fluid which is transported from the fluid supply (11) to the fluid discharge (12), wherein the fluid is heated, wherein the fluid conveying element (132) is formed by a fan wheel comprising a shaft and at least one blade,wherein the shaft is connected to the drive (131) and the blade has at least one blade surface which, when the drive (131) is activated, moves fluid from the fluid supply (11) to the fluid discharge (12). The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the temperature control device (1) is designed according to claim 7 and comprises an additional conveying element (14), wherein the following process steps are carried out after process steps A) and B): C) Deactivating the drive (131) of the fluid transport element (13), wherein the fluid conveying element (132) is at rest in the fluid or is passively moved by the moving fluid and no mechanical stress or a reduced mechanical stress compared to process step A) is generated in the fluid conveying element (132) and thereby the fluid conveying element (132) cools down; D) Activating the additional conveying element (14), whereby fluid is transported through the fluid transport element (13), wherein heat transfer from the fluid to the fluid conveying element (132) takes place and the fluid is cooled down.

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