Apparatus for discharging or distributing heat for a gas generator and method for manufacturing such a gas generator

Abstract

Apparatus for discharging or distributing heat for a gas generator (1), wherein the apparatus (11) for discharging heat comprises: - a vessel (2) provided with an outer surface (12) and an inner surface (13); and - means for heat conduction (14) configured to be provided to the said vessel (2); wherein at least one vessel (2) is adapted to contain a heat transporting medium, which heat transporting medium is configured to allow heat discharge during an adsorption phase; wherein the means for heat conduction (14) are configured to continuously allow heat discharge during the operation of the gas generator (1) to be able to extract heat from the said vessel (2); and wherein the heat transporting medium and the means for heat conduction (14) cooperate to make discharging heat from the gas generator (1) possible.

Description

[0001] APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING OR DISTRIBUTING HEAT FOR A GAS GENERATOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A GAS GENERATOR

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for discharging or distributing heat for a gas generator.

[0003] It is known that, for generating a gas, such as for example oxygen, different types of apparatuses or gas generators exist, based on different principles.

[0004] Most of these apparatuses are based on the principle of adsorption, with a gas mixture, for example air, being purified by contacting it with an adsorption agent, for example zeolite.

[0005] For example, so-called temperature swing adsorption, based on the periodical variation of the temperature of the adsorption agent and the pressure swing adsorption based on the periodical variation of the pressure of the gas mixture to be treated when it contacts the adsorption agent, are already known.

[0006] The invention is specially intended for an apparatus based on the principle of pressure exchange adsorption.

[0007] Such apparatuses are typically provided with pressure vessels in which an adsorption agent is provided. When the gas mixture is led through the pressure vessel and the adsorption agent under pressure, one of the components of the gas mixture will be adsorbed by the adsorption agent and purified gas will leave the apparatus.

[0008] In a next cycle, the pressure in the pressure vessel is reduced, so that the adsorbed component of the gas mixture is released and may be discharged from the adsorption agent. This process is what is called desorption in the following. Typically, such known apparatuses contain multiple pressure vessels, for example two, which adsorb and desorb alternately.

[0009] During the adsorption process, heat is generated. During the desorption process, heat is extracted.

[0010] Since the efficiency of the adsorption process decreases with increasing temperature, this inherently ensures that the adsorption process is increasingly less efficient.

[0011] This invention aims at solving at least one of the aforementioned and other disadvantages.

[0012] The present invention has as its object an apparatus for discharging or distributing heat for a gas generator, the apparatus for discharging or distributing heat comprising:

[0013] - at least one vessel provided with an outer surface and an inner surface; and

[0014] - one or more means for heat conduction configured to be provided to the said vessel, or be integrated in the said vessel; with at least one vessel being adapted to contain a heat transporting medium, which heat transporting medium is configured to allow heat discharge during an adsorption phase; the one or more means for heat conduction being configured to continuously allow heat discharge during the operation of the gas generator to be able to extract heat from the said vessel or to be able to redistribute it in the said vessel; and wherein the heat transporting medium and the one or more means for heat conduction cooperate to make discharging heat from the gas generator or distributing heat in the gas generator possible. In the said vessel, the adsorption agent of the gas generator is provided, for example zeolite.

[0015] The heat transporting medium is intended to mean, for example water, air, ammonia, cooling agent or the like, but also for example metal or a phase changing material.

[0016] The means for heat conduction comprise, for example, tubes, pipes, conduits, cooling fins and the like or a heat pipe.

[0017] In the case of a heat pipe, the heat transporting medium will contain a phase changing material.

[0018] An advantage is that the apparatus will make it possible to discharge or redistribute the heat reprocessed during the adsorption phase of the vessel by having the heat transporting medium flow through or along the means for heat conduction.

[0019] This will cause the temperature of the adsorption agent to increase less greatly or even hardly, so that the adsorption will run optimally during the whole adsorption phase. As a result, the efficiency of the gas generator increases.

[0020] The apparatus may be used for both steel vessels and for (extruded) aluminum vessels.

[0021] In a practical embodiment, the said at least one vessel comprises one or more external tubes provided on the said outer surface.

[0022] Alternatively, it is also possible that the said at least one vessel comprises one or more hollow structures integrated on or in the outer surface of the said vessel. In the external tubes or hollow structures, the means for heat conduction may be provided or they may be the means for heat conduction themselves.

[0023] In the former case, for example, a heat pipe will be provided in the external tubes or hollow structures, while, in the latter case, the heat transporting medium will flow through the external tubes or hollow structures.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the said one or more means for heat conduction are mounted on the said inner surface of the said vessel.

[0025] This has, of course, the advantage that the means for heat conduction are located close against the adsorption means, where the heat is generated.

[0026] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a gas generator according to the invention using an extrusion process, where the method either:

[0027] A. comprises the following steps:

[0028] - assembling the vessel by extruding a profile for the vessel, providing a bottom lid to the said profile, filling the profile with an adsorption agent, and providing a top lid;

[0029] - attaching one or more external tubes to the outer surface of the vessel; or:

[0030] B. comprises the following steps:

[0031] - extruding a profile for the vessel, the profile being provided with hollow structures;

[0032] - filling the hollow structures with the heat transporting medium;

[0033] - adjusting the pressure of the heat transporting medium in the hollow structures;

[0034] - sealing the hollow structures; - further assembling the vessel by providing a bottom lid to the said profile, filling the profile with an adsorption agent, and providing a top lid.

[0035] Hereafter, with the understanding to better demonstrate the characteristics of the invention, some preferred variants of an apparatus for discharging or distributing heat for a gas generator and method for manufacturing such a gas generator according to the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0036] Figure 1 schematically shows a gas generator; figures 2-5 schematically show an apparatus for discharging or distributing heat according to the invention for a gas generator.

[0037] The gas generator 1 schematically shown in figure 1 substantially comprises two vessels 2, each with a gas entry 3 and a gas exit 4, filled with an adsorption agent 5.

[0038] In this case, but not necessary for the invention, the said vessels 2 are provided with a removable element 7 at both ends 6.

[0039] These elements 7 may be considered a type of bottom and lid of the vessels 2, the said gas entry 3 being provided in one element 7 and the said gas exit 4 being provided in another element.

[0040] In this case, the adsorption agent is, for example, silica gel, but this might also be zeolite or the like. For an oxygen generator, zeolite is always used.

[0041] The gas generator 1 is provided with an inlet 8 for gas to be purified and an outlet 9 for purified gas.

[0042] Via a valve system 10, each vessel 2 is, with its gas entry 3 or gas exit 4, respectively, connected to the said inlet 8 or the said outlet 9, respectively. The valve system 10 will allow leading the gas to be purified to one of the two vessels 2 for adsorption, and also to split away a portion of the purified gas to lead it to the other vessel 2 for regeneration of saturated adsorption agent.

[0043] It will be clear that the specific embodiment of the gas generator 1 is not limiting for the invention, and that the number of vessels 2 with adsorption agent 5, the embodiment of the valve system 10, the adsorption agent 5 itself and the like may be designed in many different ways.

[0044] The gas generator 1 according to the invention is also provided with an apparatus 11 for discharging or distributing heat according to the invention.

[0045] Figures 2-4 show different embodiments of this apparatus 11 .

[0046] The apparatus 11 for discharging or distributing heat comprises at least one vessel 2 provided with an outer surface 12 and an inner surface 13.

[0047] In this case, the vessels 2 of the gas generator 1 constitute the vessels 2 of the apparatus 1. So, in this case, there are two vessels 2 of the apparatus 11.

[0048] The apparatus 11 is further provided with a number of means for heat conduction 14 configured to be provided to the said vessel 2.

[0049] In the example of figure 2, the said at least one vessel 2 comprises one or more external tubes 15 provided on the said outer surface 12. Figure 2 shows one of the two vessels 2 of the apparatus 11 , the second vessel 2 being designed identically.

[0050] These external tubes 15 serve as the said means for heat conduction 14. However, it is also possible that, in the external tubes 15, the means for heat conduction 14 are provided; this will be elucidated hereinbelow. In the example shown, these external tubes 15 extend according to a longitudinal direction X-X’ of the vessel 2.

[0051] Moreover, the external tubes 15 are uniformly distributed along the circumference of the vessel 2.

[0052] In the example of figure 2, there are eight external tubes 15 placed by the pair equidistantly along the circumference of the vessel 2.

[0053] It is also possible that the external tubes 15 are individually equidistantly placed along the circumference. Also, the number of external tubes 15 is not limiting for the invention.

[0054] The means for heat conduction 14 are configured to allow continuous heat discharge during the operating of the gas generator 1 to be able to extract heat from the said vessel 2. This is, among others, made possible by the fact that the means for heat conduction 14 are provided to the vessel 2.

[0055] The at least one vessel 2 of the apparatus, or more in particular the means for heat conduction 14, are adapted to contain a heat transporting medium, which heat transporting medium is configured to allow heat discharge during an adsorption phase.

[0056] Here, the heat transporting medium is also intended to mean a medium such as water, air, ammonia, cooling agent or another phase changing material.

[0057] In particular, according to the invention, the heat transporting medium and the one or more means for heat conduction 14 cooperate to make discharging heat from the gas generator 1 or distributing heat in the gas generator 1 possible.

[0058] This ‘cooperation’ may be realized in various ways. As already said, the said external tubes 15 serve as means for heat conduction

[0059] 14, and the heat transporting medium will be located in these external tubes

[0060] 15.

[0061] Another possibility is that, into the said tubes 15, the means for heat conduction 14 are inserted. The means of for heat conduction 14 may then comprise tubes, pipes, conduits, or the like, but also a heat pipe which is slid into the external tubes 15. This is particularly used in an embodiment as shown in Figure 3, as will be elucidated hereinbelow.

[0062] The heat exchanging medium is then located in these said tubes, pipes, or conduits or, as known, in the heat pipe.

[0063] In order to further realize the ‘cooperation’, further provisions may be provided to let the heat transporting medium flow around in the means for heat conduction 14, for example by providing a circuit, suitable pump and reservoir for the heat transporting medium. Also, a cooler or the like may be provided to take off the heat led away by the heat transporting medium.

[0064] In the example shown in figure 2, the means for heat conduction 14, i.e. the external tubes 15, are provided on the outer surface 12 of the vessel 2.

[0065] Two variants are shown in figures 3 and 4.

[0066] Figure 3 shows a variant of the said at least one vessel 2 comprising one or more hollow structures 16 integrated on or in the outer surface 12 of the said vessel 2.

[0067] In other words: the hollow structures 16 and the vessel 2 are one integrated whole. In this case, the said means for heat conduction 14 are placed inside the one or more hollow structures 16. The means for heat conduction 14 may then comprise tubes, pipes, conduits, or the like, but also a heat pipe which may be slid into the hollow structures 16.

[0068] However, it is of course also possible that the hollow structures 16 serve as the means for heat conduction 14 themselves.

[0069] The hollow structures 16 also extend according to a longitudinal direction X-X’ of the vessel 2. Moreover, the hollow structures 16 are uniformly distributed along the circumference of the vessel 2, just like in the embodiment of figure 2.

[0070] In figure 3, the apparatus 11 for discharging or distributing heat is therefore designed as one integrated structure.

[0071] In this case, because the said vessel 2 and the one or more means for heat conduction 14, i.e. the hollow structures 16, are formed as one single structure by means of an extrusion process.

[0072] Of course, designing the apparatus 11 as one integrated structure may also be realized in other ways.

[0073] In figures 2 and 3, the means for heat conduction 14 are provided on the outer surface 12 of the vessel 2. In figure 4, a last variant is shown, the said one or more means for heat conduction 14 in this case being located inside the vessel 2, amid the adsorption agent 5.

[0074] Four tubes 17, pipes or conduits are provided, extending according to the longitudinal direction X-X’ of the vessel 2. They are uniformly distributed over the circumference of the inner surface 13. Just like in the above-described embodiments, in these tubes 17, pipes or conduits, a heat transporting medium will flow.

[0075] Figure 5 shows yet another embodiment of an apparatus 11 for discharging or distributing heat.

[0076] In this case, the means for heat conduction 14 are designed as one or more cooling fins 16 provided on the outer surface 12 of the vessel 2.

[0077] In this embodiment, the heat conducting medium will be air or another cooling gas.

[0078] The operation of the gas generator 1 and in particular of the apparatus 11 for discharging or distributing heat is very simple and is as follows.

[0079] The gas generator 1 will purify the gas to be purified in the known way by adsorption.

[0080] One of the vessels 2 will adsorb, while the other vessel 2 will desorb gas.

[0081] In the vessel 2 that adsorbs, heat will be generated in the adsorption agent 5.

[0082] This heat is led away from the respective vessel 2 by the apparatus 11 for discharging or distributing heat.

[0083] To this end, the heat transporting medium will be sent through the means for heat conduction 14.

[0084] During the through-flow of the external tubes 15 of figure 2, or the hollow structures 16 of figure 3, or the tubes 17 of figure 4, the heat transporting medium will discharge or distribute the heat generated by the adsorption process and discharge the heat produced at the top of the vessel 2 to the bottom of the vessel 2.

[0085] In the case of figure 5, cooling air or cooling gas will be sent along the cooling fins 18.

[0086] For this, for example, use may be made of a fan or the like.

[0087] By sending the heat transporting medium through or along the means for heat conduction 14 in a direction going from the high to the low temperature of the vessel 2, it will be possible to redistribute the heat in the vessel 2 without it being necessary to effectively discharge the heat. This is because, when going through multiple cycles, a temperature gradient will be created in the vessel 2, which adversely affects the performance. By redistributing the heat, the temperature gradient may be smoothed.

[0088] When the adsorption agent 5 in the vessel 2 is completely saturated, the other vessel 2 will adsorb, while the first vessel 2 will undergo a desorption.

[0089] In order to make the gas generator 1 with an apparatus from figure 2, the following method is used:

[0090] - assembling the vessel 2 by extruding a profile for the vessel 2, providing a bottom lid to the said profile, filling the profile with an adsorption agent 5, providing a top lid;

[0091] - attaching one or more external tubes 15 to the outer surface of the vessel.

[0092] In other words: the vessel 2 with adsorption agent 5 is first completely finished, before mounting the means for heat discharge 14.

[0093] Here, the bottom lid and the top lid are the said elements 7. In order to make the gas generator 1 with an apparatus 11 from figure 3, the following method is used:

[0094] - extruding a profile for the vessel 2, the profile 2 being provided with hollow structures 16;

[0095] - filling the hollow structures 16 with the heat transporting medium;

[0096] - adjusting the pressure of the heat transporting medium in the hollow structures 16;

[0097] - sealing the hollow structures 16;

[0098] - further assembling the vessel 2 by providing a bottom lid to the said profile, filling the profile with an adsorption agent 5, providing a top lid.

[0099] Here, the bottom lid and the top lid are again the said elements 7.

[0100] Filling the hollow structures 16 may be done with either the heat transporting medium itself or with, for example, a heat pipe with phase changing material.

[0101] The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described as examples and shown in the figures, but an apparatus for discharging or distributing heat for a gas generator and method for manufacturing such a gas generator according to the invention may be realized according to various variants without going beyond the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims.

1. Apparatus for discharging or distributing heat for a gas generator (1), wherein the apparatus (11) for discharging or distributing heat comprises:- at least one vessel (2) provided with an outer surface (12) and an inner surface (13); and- one or more means for heat conduction (14) configured to be provided to the said vessel (2) or be integrated in the said vessel (2); wherein at least one vessel (2) is adapted to contain a heat transporting medium, which heat transporting medium is configured to allow heat discharge during an adsorption phase; wherein one or more means for heat conduction (14) are configured to continuously allow heat discharge during the operation of the gas generator (1) to be able to extract heat from the said vessel (2) or to be able to redistribute heat in the said vessel (2); and wherein the heat transporting medium and the one or more means for heat conduction (14) cooperate to make discharging heat from the gas generator (1) or distributing heat in the gas generator (1) possible.

2. Apparatus for discharging or distributing heat according to claim 1 , characterized in that the said at least one vessel (2) comprises one or more external tubes (15) provided on the said outer surface (12).

3. Apparatus for discharging or distributing heat according to claim 2, characterized in that the said external tubes (15) serve as the said means for heat conduction (14) or in that the means for heat conduction (14) are provided in these external tubes (15).

4. Apparatus for discharging or distributing heat according to claim 1 , characterized in that the said at least one vessel (2) comprises one or more hollow structures (16) integrated on or in the outer surface (12) of the said vessel (2).

5. Apparatus for discharging or distributing heat according to claim 4, characterized in that the said one or more means for heat conduction (14) are placed inside the one or more hollow structures (16) or in that the hollow structures (16) serve as means for heat conduction (14).

6. Apparatus for discharging or distributing heat according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that the external tubes (15) or hollow structures (16) extend according to a longitudinal direction (X-X’) of the vessel (2) and are uniformly distributed along the circumference of the vessel (2).

7. Apparatus for discharging or distributing heat according to claim 1 , characterized in that the said one or more means for heat conduction (14) are located inside the vessel (2), amid an adsorption agent (5) located in the vessel (2).

8. Apparatus for discharging or distributing heat according to claim 1 , characterized in that the said one or more means for heat conduction (14) comprise one or more cooling fins (18) provided on the outer surface (12) of the vessel (2).

9. Apparatus for discharging or distributing heat according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus (11) for discharging heat is one integrated structure.

10. Apparatus for discharging or distributing heat according to claim 1 , characterized in that the said vessel (2) and the one or more means for heat conduction (14) are formed as one single structure by means of an extrusion process.

11. Apparatus for discharging heat according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said vessel (2) is provided with a removableelement (7) at both ends (6), wherein, in one element (7), a gas inlet (3) is provided, and, in another element (7), a gas outlet (4) is provided.

12. Method for manufacturing a gas generator (1) provided with an apparatus (11) according to claim 2 or 3, using an extrusion process, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:- assembling the vessel (2) by extruding a profile for the vessel (2), providing a bottom lid to the said profile, filling the profile with an adsorption agent (5), providing a top lid;- attaching one or more external tubes (15) to the outer surface (12) of the vessel (2).

13. Method for manufacturing a gas generator (1) provided with an apparatus (11) according to claim 4 or 5, using an extrusion process, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:- extruding a profile for the vessel (2), wherein the profile is provided with hollow structures (16);- filling the hollow structures (16) with the heat transporting medium;- adjusting the pressure of the heat transporting medium in the hollow structures (16);- sealing the hollow structures (16);- further assembling the vessel (2) by providing a bottom lid to the said profile, filling the profile with an adsorption agent (5), providing a top lid.

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