Heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function

Abstract

To provide a heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function integrally constituted such that thermoelectric power generation and heat exchange can be efficiently performed.SOLUTION: A heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function 1 comprises: a first flow path R1 for flowing first fluid; a second flow path R2 for flowing second fluid F2 with a temperature different from that of the first fluid F1, disposed close to the first flow path R1; and a thermoelectric element 4 for generating power using a temperature difference, disposed between the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2. In the heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function 1, a range in which the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are close to each other, is mainly divided into a first adjacent range NA1 in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2, as a parallel flow, are close to each other, and a second adjacent range NA2 in which these, as a counterflow, are close to each other. The thermoelectric element 4 is at least disposed in the first adjacent range NA1 to perform thermoelectric power generation using the parallel flow, and in the second adjacent range NA2, heat exchange is performed by the counterflow.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function, and more particularly to a heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function that is capable of receiving a high-temperature fluid and a low-temperature fluid, exchanging heat between the fluids, and generating thermoelectric power by utilizing the temperature difference between the fluids. [Background technology]

[0002] Heat exchangers are used in various situations, such as when it is necessary to exchange heat between a high-temperature fluid generated in a factory and a low-temperature fluid such as water to lower the temperature and discharge the fluid. Meanwhile, in recent years, a system has been proposed for generating electricity using a thermoelectric element that converts thermal energy into electrical energy by the Seebeck effect (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1 proposes a power generation system equipped with a power generation module and a heat exchanger equipped with a thermoelectric element, in which a supply high-temperature fluid and a supply low-temperature fluid are first introduced into the power generation module, and the respective fluids are caused to flow in opposing directions within the power generation module to generate thermoelectric power using the Seebeck effect. Then, in this power generation system, the supply low-temperature fluid is added to the high-temperature fluid discharged from the power generation module and the low-temperature fluid discharged from the power generation module using a flow control valve, and the temperature-adjusted low-temperature fluid is introduced into the heat exchanger, and the respective fluids are caused to flow in opposing directions within the heat exchanger to exchange heat with each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-158424 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The power generation system proposed in Patent Document 1 is a system in which the power generation module and the heat exchanger are configured as separate entities, and while checking the temperature with a temperature sensor, a flow control valve arranged in the piping connecting them is used to control them in consideration of power generation efficiency and heat exchange efficiency. When the power generation module and the heat exchanger are configured as separate entities in this way, piping is required to connect them, which tends to result in a large and complicated configuration, so there is a demand for a system that can efficiently perform thermoelectric power generation and heat exchange as an integrated unit.

[0006] In view of the above, a main object of the present invention is to provide an integrated heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function that is capable of efficiently performing thermoelectric power generation and heat exchange. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the heat exchanger with thermoelectric generation function according to the present invention is a heat exchanger with thermoelectric generation function that introduces a first fluid and a second fluid having different temperatures, generates thermoelectric power due to the temperature difference between the first fluid and the second fluid, and exchanges heat between the first fluid and the second fluid, and discharges the first fluid and the second fluid. This heat exchanger with thermoelectric generation function includes a first flow path having a first fluid inlet for introducing the first fluid and a first fluid outlet for discharging the first fluid, and for flowing the first fluid from the first fluid inlet to the first fluid outlet, a second flow path disposed adjacent to the first flow path, having a second fluid inlet for introducing the second fluid and a second fluid outlet for discharging the second fluid, and for flowing the second fluid from the second fluid inlet to the second fluid outlet, and a thermoelectric element disposed between the first flow path and the second flow path, and generating power due to the temperature difference between the first flow path side and the second flow path side. In this heat exchanger with thermoelectric generation function, the first flow path is formed to flow the first fluid in a first direction and then through a turning portion to flow in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the second flow path is formed to flow the second fluid in the first direction. In this heat exchanger with thermoelectric generation function, the range in which the first flow path and the second flow path are adjacent to each other is mainly divided into a first adjacent range in which the first fluid and the second fluid flow toward the same first direction and are adjacent to each other as parallel flows, and a second adjacent range in which the first fluid and the second fluid flow toward each other in opposite directions and are adjacent to each other as counter flows. In this heat exchanger with thermoelectric generation function, a thermoelectric element is disposed at least in the first adjacent range to generate thermoelectric power by parallel flows, and heat exchange is performed by counter flows at least in the second adjacent range.

[0008] Furthermore, in the heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function of the present invention, it is preferable that the first fluid inlet, the first fluid outlet, and the second fluid inlet are arranged on the second direction side of the first flow path or the second flow path, and the second fluid outlet is arranged on the first direction side of the second flow path.

[0009] Moreover, in the heat exchanger with a thermoelectric generating function according to the present invention, it is more preferable that a high-temperature fluid is introduced as the first fluid, and a low-temperature fluid is introduced as the second fluid.

[0010] In the heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function according to the present invention, the thermoelectric elements are preferably arranged only in the first proximity range.

[0011] The heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function according to the present invention comprises a plurality of thermoelectric elements formed in a thin plate shape and spaced apart from each other; an intermediate stack including a first flow path module consisting of at least two metal plates stacked in a stacking direction and having a first flow path formed between the metal plates, and a second flow path module consisting of at least two metal plates stacked in a stacking direction and having a second flow path formed between the metal plates, with at least two or more modules alternately stacked in the stacking direction with one of the plurality of thermoelectric elements sandwiched between the first flow path module and the second flow path module; a third flow path module, which is composed of at least two metal plates stacked in a stacking direction and is arranged on the most one side of the intermediate stack in the stacking direction, and in the case of a first flow path module, a second flow path is formed between these metal plates, or in the case of a second flow path module, a first flow path is formed between these metal plates, and which is stacked on one side of the intermediate stack in the stacking direction with one of the multiple thermoelectric elements sandwiched between the third flow path module and the intermediate stack; a fourth flow path module, which is composed of at least two metal plates stacked in the stacking direction and is arranged on the other side of the intermediate stack in the stacking direction, and in the case of a first flow path module, a second flow path is formed between these metal plates, or in the case of a second flow path module, a first flow path is formed between these metal plates, and which is stacked on the other side of the intermediate stack in the stacking direction with one of the multiple thermoelectric elements sandwiched between the fourth flow path module and the intermediate stack; The heat exchanger may be configured as a so-called plate stacking type heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function in which a plurality of metal plates are stacked in the stacking direction, and the heat exchanger includes first to fourth through-flow paths that extend in a straight line from an exposed surface of at least either the third flow path module or the fourth flow path module to a plurality of first fluid inlets, a plurality of first fluid outlets, a plurality of second fluid inlets, and a plurality of second fluid outlets that are overlapped in the stacking direction, as the supply path for the first fluid, the discharge path for the first fluid, the supply path for the second fluid, and the discharge path for the second fluid, respectively.

[0012] When constructing a so-called plate-stacked type heat exchanger with thermoelectric generation function, The first flow path module is composed of stacked metal plates, a first plate having a contact surface for a thermoelectric element formed on one surface in the stacking direction and a flow path wall surface on one side obtained by dividing the first flow path by a surface perpendicular to the stacking direction formed on the other surface in the stacking direction, and a second plate having a remaining one-side flow path wall surface of the first flow path formed on one surface in the stacking direction and a contact surface for a thermoelectric element formed on the other surface in the stacking direction, The second flow path module is composed of a third plate, which is a stacked metal plate, the third plate having a surface on one side in the stacking direction that serves as a contact surface for the thermoelectric element and a surface on the other side in the stacking direction in which a flow path wall surface on one side is formed by dividing the second flow path by a surface perpendicular to the stacking direction, and a fourth plate, the fourth plate having a surface on one side in the stacking direction in which the remaining one side flow path wall surface of the second flow path is formed and a surface on the other side in the stacking direction in which the fourth plate is a contact surface for the thermoelectric element, The third flow path module is composed of a fifth plate, which is a stacked metal plate, and has an exposed surface on one side in the stacking direction and a flow path wall surface on one side obtained by dividing the first flow path or the second flow path by a surface perpendicular to the stacking direction on the other side in the stacking direction, and a second plate or a fourth plate, which has a flow path wall surface on the remaining side corresponding to the flow path wall surface on the one side formed on the fifth plate, The fourth flow path module may be configured to include a first plate or a third plate as stacked metal plates, and a sixth plate having a flow path wall surface on one side of the surface in the stacking direction that corresponds to a flow path wall surface on one side of the surface formed in the first plate or the third plate, and having an exposed surface on the other side of the surface in the stacking direction.

[0013] In this case, the first to sixth plates are preferably stacked via a packing, sealing material, or brazing material that prevents leakage of fluid flowing through the first flow path, the second flow path, and the first to fourth through-flow paths, and are fastened in close contact with each other by fasteners.

[0014] Furthermore, the heat exchanger with thermoelectric generation function according to the present invention may be configured as a so-called shell-and-tube type heat exchanger with thermoelectric generation function, comprising: a tube consisting of one or more elongated metal tubes extending toward a first direction side, passing through a bent-back portion and extending toward a second direction side, the interior of the metal tube being a first flow path for flowing a first fluid; and a shell having a cylindrical shape opening on the first direction side and the second direction side and arranged so as to surround the center of the tube with both ends of the tube protruding, the shell forming a second flow path for flowing a second fluid between the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface of the tube, and in which long, linear or sheet-like thermoelectric elements are wound around or attached to one or more metal tubes constituting the tube, and the tube is made of a metal tube and arranged inside the shell, which is a cylindrical body. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an integrally constructed heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function that is capable of efficiently performing thermoelectric power generation and heat exchange. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic diagram showing, in plan view, each flow path of the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger of FIG. 1. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a side view of a thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger of FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] 4A and 4B are front and rear views of plates used in the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a flow channel configuration of a model used in a simulation for verifying the effects of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the results of a simulation for verifying the effects of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The heat exchanger with thermoelectric generation function of the present invention is a heat exchanger with thermoelectric generation function (hereinafter simply referred to as a "thermoelectric generation heat exchanger") that introduces two types of fluids with different temperatures, flows these fluids in close proximity to each other, generates thermoelectric power due to the temperature difference generated by these fluids, and exchanges heat between these fluids and discharges these fluids.

[0018] Hereinafter, the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that each drawing does not necessarily strictly reflect the actual dimensions and details. For convenience of description, in this specification, the direction in which the first fluid and the second fluid mainly flow is defined as a flow direction Y with one side being the first direction side Y1 and the other side being the second direction side Y2, the direction in which the first fluid and the second fluid are arranged in close proximity (in the main embodiment, the first fluid and the second fluid are formed in layers that are superimposed, and this is called the "stacking direction") is defined as a stacking direction Z with one side being the first stacking direction side Z1 and the other side being the second stacking direction side Z2, and the direction perpendicular to the Y direction and the Z direction is defined as a left-right direction X with one side being the left side X1 and the other side being the right side X2, and the drawings will be described with reference numerals.

[0019] In addition, in the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger according to the present invention, the two types of "fluids," the "flow paths" for flowing them, the "inlet" for introducing the fluid into the flow path and the "outlet" for discharging the fluid to the outside of the flow path, the "flow path module" in which the flow path is formed and which has the function of flowing the fluid inside, and the "metal plate" used as a material for constituting the flow path module are used or formed in multiple types having similar properties or functions but different shapes. For this reason, in this specification, these items having similar properties or functions are described by using terms or names with the words "first," "second," etc. added to the beginning of their names to distinguish them from one another.

[0020] [Embodiment 1] (Configuration of thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1) Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 of embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing each flow path of the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 in a plan view, with Fig. 2(a) showing a schematic diagram of a first flow path through which a first fluid flows, and Fig. 2(b) showing a schematic diagram of a second flow path through which a second fluid flows. The thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 will be described with reference to these figures.

[0021] 1, the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 includes a first fluid flow path module 2 in which a first flow path R1 for flowing a first fluid F1 is formed, a second fluid flow path module 3 in which a second flow path R2 for flowing a second fluid F2 having a temperature different from that of the first fluid F1 is formed, and a thermoelectric element 4 that is disposed between the first fluid flow path module 2 and the second fluid flow path module 3 and generates electricity by a temperature difference. The first fluid flow path module 2, the second fluid flow path module 3, and the thermoelectric element 4 are each configured in a thin plate shape and are stacked in the stacking direction Z to be integrated. As a result, in the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1, the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are close to each other with the thermoelectric element 4 in between, and heat exchange is performed between the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2. In the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1, the surface of the thermoelectric element 4 on the first flow path side receives heat from the first fluid F1, and the surface on the second flow path side receives heat from the second fluid F2, and electricity is generated by the temperature difference. In the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1, the first fluid F1 flowed through the first flow path R1 is a high-temperature fluid, and the second fluid F2 flowed through the second flow path R2 is a low-temperature fluid. Conversely, the first fluid F1 flowed through the first flow path R1 can be a low-temperature fluid, and the second fluid flowed through the second flow path R2 can be a high-temperature fluid, and the following explanation is also valid in this case.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2(a), the first fluid flow path module 2 includes a front metal plate 2a and a back metal plate 2b having the same rectangular outer shape in a plan view, and a packing 2c having a planar shape bordered along the outer periphery of the flow paths of the metal plates 2a and 2b, and made of a material for maintaining liquid tightness, such as ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM). The metal plates 2a and 2b may be made of a metal having excellent thermal conductivity, such as aluminum. The first fluid flow path module 2 has the packing 2c sandwiched between the front and back metal plates 2a and 2b, which are stacked and integrated in the stacking direction Z. As a result, a gap surrounded by the packing 2c is formed between the front metal plate 2a and the back metal plate 2b in the first fluid flow path module 2, and this gap serves as the first flow path R1 through which the first fluid F1 flows. The first fluid flow path module 2 also includes a partition 2d at the center in the left-right direction X, which bridges the first metal plate 2a and the second metal plate 2b, extends from the edge of the second direction side Y2 of the first flow path R1 to a position just short of the edge of the first direction side Y1, and divides the first flow path R1 into a left side X1 and a right side X2. The metal plate 2a on the front side is formed with a first fluid inlet 21 which is a through hole for introducing the first fluid F1 to the left side X1 of the second direction side Y2, and a first fluid outlet 22 which is a through hole for discharging the first fluid F1 to the right side X2 of the second direction side Y2. That is, the first flow path R1 is formed so that the first fluid F1 is introduced from the first fluid inlet 21, flows toward the first direction side Y1 in the range on the left side X1 of the partition 2d, passes through the folded back portion 2e on the first direction side Y1 from the partition 2d, flows toward the second direction side Y2 in the range on the right side X2 of the partition 2d, and is discharged from the first fluid outlet 22. Also, a thermoelectric element disposing recess 23 is formed in the metal plate 2b on the rear side in the range on the left side X1 of the partition 2d, which is recessed for disposing a thermoelectric element 4 described later.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2(b), the second fluid flow path module 3 includes a front metal plate 3a and a back metal plate 3b having the same rectangular outer shape as the first fluid flow path module 2, and a packing 3c having a planar shape bordered along the outer periphery of the flow paths of the metal plates 3a and 3b and made of a material such as ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) for maintaining liquid tightness. In the second fluid flow path module 3, the front and back metal plates 3a and 3b sandwich the packing 3c between them and are stacked and integrated in the stacking direction Z. As a result, in the second fluid flow path module 3, a gap surrounded by the packing 3c is formed between the front metal plate 3a and the back metal plate 3b, and this gap serves as the second flow path R2 through which the second fluid F2 flows. The metal plate 3a on the front side is formed with a second fluid inlet 31, which is a through hole for introducing the second fluid F2 into the center of the second direction side Y2, and a second fluid outlet 32, which is a through hole for discharging the second fluid F2, on the right side X2 of the first direction side Y1. That is, the second flow path R2 is formed so that the second fluid F2 is introduced from the second fluid inlet 31, flows toward the first direction side Y1, and is discharged from the second fluid outlet 32. The metal plate 3b on the back side is formed with a thermoelectric element placement recess 33, which is recessed to place a thermoelectric element 4 described later, corresponding to the thermoelectric element placement recess 23 of the first fluid flow path module 2. The second fluid flow path module 3 is abutted against the first fluid flow path module 2 with the metal plate 3b on the back side facing the metal plate 2b on the back side of the first fluid flow path module 2, and the thermoelectric element 4 is sandwiched between the thermoelectric element placement recesses 23, 33.

[0024] Here, the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are adjacent to each other over a wide range along a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction, but as shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b), the range in which the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are adjacent to each other is mainly divided into a first proximity range NA1 in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 flow toward the same first direction side and are adjacent to each other as parallel flows, and a second proximity range NA2 in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 flow toward opposite directions and are adjacent to each other as counter flows.

[0025] The thermoelectric element 4 is an element that converts thermal energy into electrical energy and generates electricity by utilizing the Seebeck effect, which generates electromotive force from the temperature difference between both ends (both ends in the embodiment) of two types of metals or semiconductors connected together, and is formed in a thin plate shape with a rectangular outer shape. The thermoelectric element 4 is arranged with its surface on the first stacking direction side Z1 in close contact with the thermoelectric element placement recess 23 of the first fluid flow path module 2 and its surface on the second stacking direction side Z2 in close contact with the thermoelectric element placement recess 33 of the second fluid flow path module 3. As a result, the thermoelectric element 4 is arranged between the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2, and generates electricity by the temperature difference between the first fluid F1 flowing on the first flow path side (first stacking direction side Z1) and the second fluid F2 flowing on the second flow path side (second stacking direction side Z2). As described above, the recess 23 for thermoelectric element placement of the first fluid flow path module 2 and the recess 33 for thermoelectric element placement of the second fluid flow path module 3 are formed in the first proximity range NA1, and the thermoelectric element 4 is arranged only in the first proximity range NA1.

[0026] In the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 configured in this manner, the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 flow toward the same first direction side Y1 in the first proximity range NA1, and are adjacent to each other as so-called parallel counterflows. Meanwhile, the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 flow toward the first direction side Y1 in the second proximity range NA2, and are adjacent to each other as so-called counterflows. The thermoelectric elements 4 arranged in the first proximity range NA1 generate thermoelectric power by the parallel counterflows, and heat exchange occurs between the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 by counterflows at least in the second proximity range NA2.

[0027] (Action and effect) The thermoelectric heat exchanger 1 includes a first flow path R1 for passing a first fluid F1 and a second flow path R2 arranged adjacent to the first flow path R1 for passing a second fluid F2 having a temperature different from that of the first fluid F1, so that heat exchange is performed between the first fluid F1 flowing through the first flow path R1 and the second fluid F2 flowing through the second flow path R2 arranged adjacent to each other, and can function as a heat exchanger. The thermoelectric heat exchanger 1 further includes a thermoelectric element 4 arranged between the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2, so that the thermoelectric element 4 generates power by utilizing the temperature difference between the first fluid F1 flowing through the first flow path R1 and the second fluid F2 flowing through the second flow path R2, and can function as a thermoelectric generator. In other words, the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1 can perform thermoelectric power generation and heat exchange by being configured as an integrated unit.

[0028] In the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1, the first flow path R1 is formed to flow the first fluid F1 toward the first direction side Y1, and then flow toward the second direction side Y2 through the turn-back portion 2e, and the second flow path R2 is formed to flow the second fluid F2 toward the first direction side Y1. As a result, in the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1, the range in which the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are adjacent to each other is mainly divided into a first adjacent range NA1 in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 flow toward the same first direction side Y1 and are adjacent to each other as parallel counterflows, and a second adjacent range NA2 in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 flow toward opposite directions and are adjacent to each other as counterflows. In the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1, the thermoelectric elements 4 are arranged at least in the first adjacent range NA1 to generate thermoelectric power by parallel counterflows, and heat exchange is performed at least in the second adjacent range NA2 by counterflows. Here, the inventors of the present application have intensively studied how the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 should be in contact with each other in the area where the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are close to each other in order to increase the thermoelectric generation capacity and the heat exchange capacity when performing thermoelectric generation and heat exchange using an integrated structure. As a result, the inventors of the present application have found that while it is possible to increase the thermoelectric generation capacity and the heat exchange capacity by having the first and second fluids F1 and F2 contact in a countercurrent manner in most of the area, it is possible to increase the thermoelectric generation capacity and the heat exchange capacity in the upstream area by having the first and second fluids F1 and F2 contact in a parallel countercurrent manner rather than in a countercurrent manner, and have applied this finding. In other words, according to the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1, the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are configured so as to divide the range in which the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are adjacent into a first proximity range NA1 in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 contact each other in a parallel flow, and a second proximity range NA2 in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 contact each other in a countercurrent flow, and by making the first proximity range NA1 mainly responsible for power generation and the second proximity range NA2 mainly responsible for heat exchange, it is possible to improve the thermoelectric power generation capacity and the heat exchange capacity in a balanced manner.

[0029] Therefore, the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 is an integrally constructed heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function that is capable of efficiently performing thermoelectric power generation and heat exchange.

[0030] Furthermore, according to the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1, the first fluid inlet 21, the first fluid outlet 22, and the second fluid inlet 31 are arranged on the second direction side Y2 of the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2, and the second fluid outlet 32 ​​is arranged on the first direction side Y1 of the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2. Therefore, the first fluid F1 or the second fluid F2 can be efficiently introduced into the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2, and these fluids F1, F2 can be efficiently discharged from these flow paths R1, R2.

[0031] In addition, the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 is configured to introduce a high-temperature fluid as the first fluid F1 and a low-temperature fluid as the second fluid F2. That is, the high-temperature fluid flows through the first flow path R1, which has a longer flow path length due to the turnaround, and thus exchanges heat with the low-temperature fluid for a longer period of time. Therefore, the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 can further cool the high-temperature fluid before discharging it.

[0032] Moreover, in the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1, the thermoelectric elements are arranged only in the first proximity range NA1. According to the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1, the thermoelectric elements 4, which are relatively expensive parts, are arranged only in the first proximity range NA1, where power generation efficiency is high, and thermoelectric power is generated only when the capacity is fully exerted, which results in efficient power generation while keeping costs down.

[0033] [Embodiment 2] (Configuration of thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101) Fig. 3 is a side view of a thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view thereof. Fig. 5 is a front view and a back view of six types of metal plates used in the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101, in which Fig. 5(a1) and Fig. 5(a2) show the faces of the first stacking direction side Z1 and the faces of the second stacking direction side Z2 of the first plate, Fig. 5(b1) and Fig. 5(b2) show the faces of the first stacking direction side Z1 and the faces of the second stacking direction side Z2 of the second plate, Fig. 5(c1) and Fig. 5(c2) show the faces of the first stacking direction side Z1 and the faces of the third plate, 5(d1) and 5(d2) show the first stacking direction side Z1 and the second stacking direction side Z2 of the fourth plate, respectively, 5(e1) and 5(e2) show the first stacking direction side Z1 and the second stacking direction side Z2 of the fifth plate, respectively, and 5(f1) and 5(f2) show the first stacking direction side Z1 and the second stacking direction side Z2 of the sixth plate. The thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to these figures.

[0034] The thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101 of the second embodiment is basically similar to the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment, and includes a first fluid flow path module 2 in which a first flow path R1 for flowing a first fluid F1 is formed between a pair of metal plates, a second fluid flow path module 3 in which a second flow path R2 for flowing a second fluid F2 having a temperature different from that of the first fluid F1 is formed between the pair of metal plates, and a thermoelectric element 4 that is disposed between the first fluid flow path module 2 and the second fluid flow path module 3 and generates electricity due to a temperature difference, and is a thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger in which the first fluid flow path module 2, the second fluid flow path module 3, and the thermoelectric element 4 are stacked and integrated in the stacking direction Z, and the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2, which have different temperatures, are introduced and flowed in close proximity to each other, thermoelectric power is generated by the thermoelectric element 4 due to the temperature difference generated by these fluids, and heat is exchanged between these fluids to discharge these fluids. However, the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101 of the second embodiment is significantly different from the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment in that it is not configured with a pair of a first fluid flow path module 2 and a second fluid flow path module 3. That is, the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101 is significantly different from the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 in that it includes an intermediate laminate LB formed by stacking a plurality of first fluid flow path modules 2 and second fluid flow path modules 3 (in this embodiment, referred to as "first flow path module M1" and "second flow path module M2" in order to distinguish them from the fluid flow path modules at both ends) alternately with a thermoelectric element 4 sandwiched between them between the fluid flow path modules at both ends in the stacking direction Z (in this embodiment, referred to as "third flow path module M3" and "fourth flow path module M4"). In the following, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are used in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 to omit the description of the configurations having the same functions as the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1, and the differences will be mainly described. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the first fluid F1 flowed through the first flow path R1 is a high-temperature fluid, and the second fluid F2 flowed through the second flow path R2 is a low-temperature fluid. However, it is also possible to configure the first fluid F1 flowed through the first flow path R1 as a low-temperature fluid, and the second fluid flowed through the second flow path R2 as a high-temperature fluid, and the following explanation still applies in this case.

[0035] (Overall composition) 3 to 5, the thermoelectric heat exchanger 101 is configured as a so-called plate-stacked type thermoelectric heat exchanger in which a plurality of metal plates (first plate P1 to sixth plate P6 described later) having the same outer shape are stacked in the stacking direction, for example, made of aluminum. The thermoelectric heat exchanger 101 includes an intermediate stack LB in which a plurality of first flow path modules M1 having a first flow path R1 and a plurality of second flow path modules M2 having a second flow path R2 are stacked alternately with a thermoelectric element 4 formed in a thin plate shape sandwiched therebetween, a third flow path module M3 stacked on the first stacking direction side Z1 of the intermediate stack LB with the thermoelectric element 4 sandwiched therebetween, a fourth flow path module M4 stacked on the second stacking direction side Z2 of the intermediate stack LB with the thermoelectric element 4 sandwiched therebetween, and first to fourth through-flow paths H1 to H4 serving as a supply path S1 for a first fluid, a discharge path D1 for a first fluid, a supply path S2 for a second fluid, and a discharge path D2 for a second fluid. In the third flow path module M3 and the fourth flow path module M4, when the flow path facing each other in the intermediate laminate LB is the first flow path R1, the second flow path R2 is formed, and when the flow path facing each other is the second flow path R2, the first flow path R1 is formed. That is, the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101 appropriately uses the first to fourth flow path modules M1 to M4 in which the first flow path R1 or the second flow path R2 is formed, and these flow path modules are stacked in the stacking direction Z, and the first flow path R1 for flowing the first fluid F1 and the second flow path R2 for flowing the second fluid F2 are alternately arranged to sandwich the multiple thermoelectric elements 4 arranged at a distance from each other. The flow path modules M1 to M4 are sandwiched from both sides in the stacking direction Z by fasteners (not shown) such as bolts and nuts, and are fastened in close contact with each other. In addition, the metal plates are stacked with packing, sealing material, or brazing material (not shown) between them to prevent leakage of fluid flowing through the first flow path R1, the second flow path R2, and the first to fourth through-flow paths H1 to H4.

[0036] In the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101, the first fluid F1 supplied from the first through passage H1 is branched and introduced into the multiple first passages R1 through the respective first fluid inlets 21, passes through the first passage R1, and is discharged from the second through passage H2 through the respective first fluid outlets 22. In the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101, the second fluid F2 supplied from the third through passage H3 is branched and introduced into the multiple second passages R2 through the respective second fluid inlets 31, passes through the second passage R2, and is discharged from the fourth through passage H4 through the respective second fluid outlets 32. In the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101, thermoelectric power is generated by the multiple thermoelectric elements 4 arranged between the first passage R1 and the second passage R2, and the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 branched into the multiple first passages R1 and the multiple second passages R2 exchange heat with the adjacent second fluid F2 and first fluid F1.

[0037] (Each part configuration) The intermediate laminate LB has a stacked structure in which at least two or more modules are alternately stacked in the stacking direction, with a first flow path module M1 and a second flow path module M2 sandwiching one of the multiple thermoelectric elements 4 between them. As an example, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the intermediate laminate LB is configured by stacking five modules, in order from the first stacking direction side Z1 to the second stacking direction side Z2, namely, the second flow path module M2, the first flow path module M1, the second flow path module M2, the first flow path module M1, and the second flow path module M2.

[0038] The first flow path module M1 is composed of a first plate P1 and a second plate P2 made of metal that are stacked in a stacking direction Z, and a first flow path R1 is formed between the first plate P1 and the second plate P2.

[0039] The first plate P1 has a thermoelectric element placement recess 23 formed on the right side of the surface on the first stacking direction side Z1 as viewed from the first stacking direction side Z1, which is recessed for placing a thermoelectric element 4 (see FIG. 5(a1)). The surface on the second stacking direction side Z2 is dug to a predetermined depth in an inverted U shape as viewed with the first direction side Y1 facing up, forming a flow path wall surface on one side (the first stacking direction side Z1) for the first flow path R1, which is obtained by dividing the peripheral wall of the first flow path R1 by a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction (see FIG. 5(a2)). In addition, the first plate P1 has a through hole (H1) which is part of the first through flow path H1 and also serves as the first fluid inlet 21 of the first flow path R1, formed on the left side of the edge of the second direction side Y2 as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2, at a position overlapping with the flow path wall surface on one side for the first flow path R1. The first plate P1 has a through hole (H2) which is a part of the second through-flow passage H2 and also serves as the first fluid outlet 22 of the first flow passage R1, formed on the right side of the edge of the second direction side Y2 as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2 at a position overlapping with the flow passage wall surface on one side for the first flow passage R1. The first plate P1 has a through hole (H3) which is a part of the third through-flow passage H3, formed near the center of the edge of the second direction side Y2 at a position not overlapping with the flow passage wall surface on one side for the first flow passage R1 (inner part of the inverted U-shaped flow passage). The first plate P1 has a through hole (H4) which is a part of the fourth through-flow passage H4, formed on the right side of the edge of the first direction side Y1 as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2 at a position not overlapping with the flow passage wall surface on one side for the first flow passage R1.

[0040] The second plate P2 has a plane-symmetrical shape with respect to the first plate P1 (see Fig. 5(b1) and Fig. 5(b2)).

[0041] In the first flow path module M1 in which the first plate P1 and the second plate P2 are stacked, the first plate P1 and the second plate P2 are closely arranged with one side of the flow path wall surface facing each other, so that a first flow path R1 communicating with the first through flow path H1 and the second through flow path H2 is formed inside. As a result, the first fluid F1 introduced from the first through flow path H1 (first fluid inlet 21) flows through the first flow path R1 toward the first direction side Y1 on the left side as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2 in the left-right direction X, turns back at the edge of the first direction side Y1, flows toward the second direction side Y2 on the right side as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2 in the left-right direction X, and is discharged from the second through flow path H2 (first fluid outlet 22). In the first flow path module M1, the third through flow path H3 and the fourth through flow path H4 penetrate at a position that does not overlap with the flow path wall surface on one side for the first flow path R1, so that the second fluid F2 passing through the third through flow path H3 and the fourth through flow path H4 only passes in the stacking direction Z.

[0042] The second flow path module M2 is composed of a third plate P3 and a fourth plate P4 made of metal that are stacked in the stacking direction Z, and a second flow path R2 is formed between the third plate P3 and the fourth plate P4.

[0043] The third plate P3 has a recess 33 for arranging a thermoelectric element formed on the right side of the surface on the first stacking direction side Z1 as viewed from the first stacking direction side Z1 (see FIG. 5(c1)), and is carved to a predetermined depth on the surface on the second stacking direction side Z2 to form a flow path wall surface on one side (the first stacking direction side Z1) for the second flow path R2 obtained by dividing the peripheral wall of the second flow path R2 by a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction (see FIG. 5(c2)). In addition, the third plate P3 has a through hole (H3) that is part of the third through flow path H3 and also serves as the second fluid inlet 31 of the second flow path R2 near the center of the edge on the second direction side Y2 at a position overlapping with the flow path wall surface on one side for the second flow path R2. The third plate P3 has a through hole (H4) which is a part of the fourth through-flow passage H4 and also serves as the second fluid outlet 32 ​​of the second flow passage R2, formed on the right side of the edge of the first direction side Y1 as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2, at a position that overlaps with the flow passage wall surface on one side for the second flow passage R2. The third plate P3 has a through hole (H1) which is a part of the first through-flow passage H1, formed on the left side of the edge of the second direction side Y2 as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2, at a position that does not overlap with the flow passage wall surface on one side for the second flow passage R2. The third plate P3 has a through hole (H2) which is a part of the second through-flow passage H2, formed on the right side of the edge of the second direction side Y2 as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2, at a position that does not overlap with the flow passage wall surface on one side for the second flow passage R2.

[0044] The fourth plate P4 has a plane-symmetrical shape with respect to the third plate P3 (see FIG. 5(d1) and FIG. 5(d2)).

[0045] In the second flow path module M2 in which the third plate P3 and the fourth plate P4 are stacked, the third plate P3 and the fourth plate P4 are arranged in close contact with each other with one side of the flow path wall surface facing each other, so that the second flow path R2 communicating with the third through flow path H3 and the fourth through flow path H4 is formed inside. As a result, the second fluid F2 introduced from the third through flow path H3 (second fluid inlet 31) flows through the second flow path R2 toward the first direction side Y1 and is discharged from the fourth through flow path H4 (second fluid outlet 32). In the second flow path module M2, the first through flow path H1 and the second through flow path H2 penetrate at a position that does not overlap with the one side of the flow path wall surface for the second flow path R2, so the first fluid F1 passing through the first through flow path H1 and the second through flow path H2 only passes in the stacking direction Z.

[0046] The third flow path module M3 is composed of a metallic fifth plate P5 and the above-mentioned second plate P2 stacked in the stacking direction Z, and the first flow path R1 is formed between the fifth plate P5 and the second plate P2.

[0047] The fifth plate P5 has a shape similar to that of the first plate P1 described above, except that the surface on the first stacking direction side Z1 becomes the exposed surface when all the flow path modules are stacked, and since the thermoelectric element 4 is not sandwiched in the exposed surface, no recess for thermoelectric element placement is formed (see Figures 5(e1) and 5(e2)).

[0048] The third flow path module M3 has a similar configuration to the first flow path module M1, and has a first flow path R1 formed therein that communicates with the first through-flow path H1 and the second through-flow path H2. Note that in the third flow path module M3 as well, the third through-flow path H3 and the fourth through-flow path H4 penetrate the module at positions that do not overlap with the flow path wall surface on one side for the first flow path R1, so that the second fluid F2 passing through the third through-flow path H3 and the fourth through-flow path H4 only passes in the stacking direction Z.

[0049] The fourth flow path module M4 is composed of the above-mentioned first plate P1 and sixth plate P6 made of metal that are stacked in the stacking direction Z, and the first flow path R1 is formed between the first plate P1 and the sixth plate P6.

[0050] The sixth plate P6 has a surface on the second stacking direction side Z2 that becomes an exposed surface when all flow path modules are stacked, and since the thermoelectric element 4 is not sandwiched in the exposed surface, no recess for arranging the thermoelectric element is formed. Also, since the sixth plate P6 does not supply or discharge the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 from the second stacking direction side Z2 in the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101, the first to fourth through-flow paths H1 to H4 are not formed. Other than these points, the sixth plate P6 has the same shape as the above-mentioned second plate P2 (see Fig. 5(f1) and Fig. 5(f2)).

[0051] The fourth flow path module M4 has a similar form to the second flow path module M2, and has a first flow path R1 formed therein that communicates with the first through-flow path H1 and the second through-flow path H2 formed in the first plate P1 on the first stacking direction side Z1. Note that in the fourth flow path module M4, the third through-flow path H3 and the fourth through-flow path H4 formed in the first plate P1 also penetrate the first plate P1 at positions that do not overlap with the flow path wall surface on one side for the first flow path R1, so that the second fluid F2 passing through the third through-flow path H3 and the fourth through-flow path H4 only enters in the stacking direction Z.

[0052] As described above, the first to fourth through-flow paths H1 to H4 are formed as a first fluid supply path S1, a first fluid discharge path D1, a second fluid supply path S2, and a second fluid discharge path D2 by through holes formed in all plates (the first plate P1 to the fifth plate P5 in this embodiment) except for the plate closest to the second stacking direction Z2 (the sixth plate P6 in this embodiment), and each of them extends in a straight line from the exposed surface of the third flow path module M3 to a plurality of first fluid inlets 21, a plurality of first fluid outlets 22, a plurality of second fluid inlets 31, and a plurality of second fluid outlets 32 that are overlapped in the stacking direction Z.

[0053] In the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101 configured by stacking these flow path modules M1 to M4, each module into which the first fluid F1 is introduced flows the first fluid F1 toward the first direction side Y1 in a region on the left side as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2, and then turns around at an edge of the first direction side Y1 and flows toward the second direction side Y2 in a region on the right side as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2. Also, each module into which the second fluid F2 is introduced flows the second fluid F2 toward the first direction side Y1. That is, in the thermoelectric heat exchanger 101, as in the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment, the range in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 are adjacent to each other is mainly divided into a first proximity range NA1 in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 flow toward the same first direction side and are adjacent to each other as parallel counterflows in a region on the left side as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2, and a second proximity range NA2 in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 flow toward opposite directions and are adjacent to each other as counterflows in a region on the right side as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2. In addition, in the thermoelectric heat exchanger 101, the first plate P1 to the fourth plate P4 have thermoelectric element arrangement recesses 23, 33 for arranging the thermoelectric elements 4 formed on the right side as viewed from the first stacking direction side Z1 (left side as viewed from the second stacking direction side Z2), that is, all of the multiple thermoelectric elements 4 are arranged in the first proximity range NA1. As a result, in the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101, the multiple thermoelectric elements 4 arranged in the first proximity range NA1 generate thermoelectric power through parallel counterflow, and at least in the second proximity range NA2, heat exchange is performed between the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 branched off and introduced into each flow path module through counterflow.

[0054] (Action and effect) The thermoelectric heat exchanger 101 includes, as in the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment, a first flow path R1 for passing a first fluid F1, a second flow path R2 arranged adjacent to the first flow path R1 for passing a second fluid F2 having a temperature different from that of the first fluid F1, and a thermoelectric element 4 arranged between the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2. Also, as in the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment, a first proximity range NA1 that brings the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 close to each other in a parallel counterflow and a second proximity range NA2 that brings the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 close to each other in a counterflow are formed. Therefore, the thermoelectric heat exchanger 101 also has the same effects as the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment.

[0055] Furthermore, the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101 includes an intermediate laminate LB in which a first flow path module M1 having a plurality of first flow paths R1 formed therein and a second flow path module M2 having a plurality of second flow paths R2 formed therein are alternately laminated with a thermoelectric element 4 sandwiched therebetween between a third flow path module M3 and a fourth flow path module M4, and through-flow paths H1 to H4 that linearly pass through the plurality of first fluid inlets 21, the plurality of first fluid outlets 22, the plurality of second fluid inlets 31, and the plurality of second fluid outlets 32. As a result, the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101 can supply the first fluid F1 to each module having the first flow paths R1 formed therein and the second fluid F2 to each module having the second flow paths R2 formed therein in parallel, and the amount of power generation per unit area can be increased by the plurality of thermoelectric elements 4, so that compact and efficient thermoelectric power generation can be achieved.

[0056] If configured as in thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101, a plate-stacking type heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function that achieves the effects of the present invention can be constructed. By using this in place of a conventional plate-stacking type heat exchanger, it is possible to efficiently obtain electrical energy by utilizing waste heat that was previously discarded.

[0057] [Embodiment 3] (Configuration of thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 201) Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 201 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 201 according to the second embodiment is configured as a so-called shell-and-tube type in which a tube made of a metal pipe is disposed inside a shell that is a cylindrical body. The thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 201 according to the third embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 6.

[0058] 6, the thermoelectric heat exchanger 201 is basically the same as the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment, and includes a first flow path R1 for flowing a first fluid F1, a second flow path R2 for flowing a second fluid F2 having a temperature different from that of the first fluid F1, and a thermoelectric element 204 that is disposed between the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 and generates electricity by a temperature difference, and is a thermoelectric heat exchanger that introduces the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 having different temperatures, flows these fluids in close proximity, generates thermoelectric power in the thermoelectric element 204 by the temperature difference generated by these fluids, and exchanges heat between these fluids to discharge these fluids. However, the thermoelectric heat exchanger 201 of the third embodiment is significantly different in terms of shape in that, while the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment is configured as a so-called plate-stacked type thermoelectric heat exchanger, the thermoelectric heat exchanger 201 of the third embodiment is configured as a so-called shell-and-tube type thermoelectric heat exchanger. 1 and 2, the same reference numerals are used in Fig. 6 for the last two digits of the components having the same functions as the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1, and the description of the functions is omitted, and the different shapes are mainly described. Note that, in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the first fluid F1 flowed through the first flow path R1 is a high-temperature fluid, and the second fluid F2 flowed through the second flow path R2 is a low-temperature fluid, but it is also possible to configure the first fluid F1 flowed through the first flow path R1 as a low-temperature fluid, and the second fluid flowed through the second flow path R2 as a high-temperature fluid, and the following description is also valid in this case.

[0059] The thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 201 includes a tube 202 having a first flow path R1 for flowing a first fluid F1, a shell 203 having a second flow path R2 for flowing a second fluid F2, and a thermoelectric element 204 that generates electricity using a temperature difference.

[0060] The tube 202 is a thin metal tube that extends toward the first direction side Y1, turns back at its end, and then extends toward the second direction side Y2. The tube 202 has an opening at one end that serves as a first fluid inlet 221 for introducing the first fluid F1, an opening at the other end that serves as a first fluid outlet 222 for discharging the first fluid F1, and an inside that serves as a first flow path R1 for flowing the first fluid F1.

[0061] The shell 203 has a cylindrical shape with openings on the first direction side Y1 and the second direction side Y2. The shell 203 is disposed so as to surround the center of the tube 202 with both ends including the first fluid inlet 221 and the first fluid outlet 222 of the tube 202 protruding to the second direction side Y2. The shell 203 has an opening on the second direction side Y2 as a second fluid inlet 231, an opening on the first direction side Y1 as a second fluid outlet 232, and a second flow path R2 for flowing the second fluid F2 between the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface of the tube 202.

[0062] Here, the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are adjacent to each other over a wide range along the outer wall surface of the metal tube that constitutes the tube 202, but the range in which the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are adjacent to each other is mainly divided into a first proximity range NA1 in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 flow toward the same first direction side Y1 and are adjacent to each other as parallel counterflows, and a second proximity range NA2 in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 flow toward opposite directions and are adjacent to each other as counterflows.

[0063] The thermoelectric element 204 is a long, linear or sheet-like thermoelectric element that generates electricity using the temperature difference between its front and back surfaces. The thermoelectric element 204 is wound around a portion of the metal pipe that constitutes the tube 202, where the first fluid is introduced, and that extends toward the first direction side Y1. That is, the thermoelectric element 204 is disposed in the first proximity range NA1.

[0064] In the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 201 configured in this manner, the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 flow toward the same first direction side Y1 in the first proximity range NA1 and are close to each other as so-called parallel counterflows. Meanwhile, the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 flow toward the second direction side Y2 in the second proximity range NA2 and are close to each other as so-called counterflows. The thermoelectric elements 204 arranged in the first proximity range NA1 generate thermoelectric power by the parallel counterflows, and heat exchange between the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 is performed by counterflows at least in the second proximity range NA2.

[0065] (Action and effect) The thermoelectric heat exchanger 201 includes, as in the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment, a first flow path R1 for passing a first fluid F1, a second flow path R2 arranged adjacent to the first flow path R1 for passing a second fluid F2 having a temperature different from that of the first fluid F1, and a thermoelectric element 204 arranged between the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2. As in the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment, a first proximity range NA1 that brings the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 close to each other in a parallel counterflow and a second proximity range NA2 that brings the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 close to each other in a counterflow are formed. Therefore, the thermoelectric heat exchanger 201 also has the same effects as the thermoelectric heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment.

[0066] If configured as in thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 201, a shell-and-tube type heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function that achieves the effects of the present invention can be constructed. By using this in place of a conventional shell-and-tube type heat exchanger, it is possible to efficiently obtain electrical energy by utilizing waste heat that was previously discarded.

[0067] [Other formats] Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and for example, the following modifications are also possible.

[0068] (1) The number, material, shape, position, size, direction, and the like of the components described in the above embodiment are merely examples and may be changed without impairing the effects of the present invention.

[0069] (2) In the above embodiment, the thermoelectric elements 4, 204 are described as being arranged only in the first proximity range NA1, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the thermoelectric elements are arranged at least in the first proximity range NA1, and for example, the thermoelectric elements may be arranged widely extending from the first proximity range NA1 to the second proximity range NA2.

[0070] (3) In the above embodiment, the first flow path R1 has been described as having the first fluid F1 make one round trip in the flow direction Y via one turning portion, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first flow path may be formed to have multiple turning portions so that the first fluid F1 makes multiple round trips in the flow direction Y. In this case, the range where the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 come into contact with each other is mainly divided into multiple first proximity ranges NA1 and multiple second proximity ranges NA2.

[0071] (4) In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the flow path module is described as being composed of two plates, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the flow path module may be composed of three or more plates.

[0072] (5) In the above-described second embodiment, the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 101 is described as being formed by stacking five modules of the intermediate laminate LB with the second flow path module M2 on both sides in the stacking direction Z, and the third flow path module M3 and the fourth flow path module M4 stacked on both sides of the intermediate laminate LB in the stacking direction Z, which are formed as the first flow path, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the intermediate laminate LB may be formed by stacking seven modules with the first flow path module M1 on both sides in the stacking direction Z. In this case, the third flow path module M3 and the fourth flow path module M4 may be formed with the second flow path R2 so that the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are alternately arranged. That is, the third flow path module M3 may be formed in the same form as the second flow path module M2 except that the recess for arranging the thermoelectric element is not formed, and the fourth flow path module M4 may be formed in the same form as the second flow path module M2 except that the first to fourth through-flow paths H1 to H3 and the recess for arranging the thermoelectric element are not formed in the plate on the second stacking direction side Z2.

[0073] (6) In the above-described second embodiment, the first to fourth through-flow paths H1 to H4 are described as not penetrating the fourth flow path module M4 on the second stacking direction side Z2, but the present invention is not limited to this. In order to arrange plate-stacked type thermoelectric power generation heat exchangers in parallel, the first to fourth through-flow paths may be formed to penetrate all of the stacked flow path modules.

[0074] (7) In the above-mentioned third embodiment, the shell 203 is arranged to surround the tube 202 having one metal pipe, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the shell may be arranged to surround a tube formed by arranging multiple metal pipes in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction Y.

[0075] (8) In the above-mentioned third embodiment, the thermoelectric element 204 is described as being wound around the tube 202, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the thermoelectric element may be attached to the tube. EXAMPLES

[0076] In order to verify the effects of the present invention, a model to which the present invention is applied and a model to which the present invention is not applied were used to simulate the heat exchange capacity and the thermoelectric power generation capacity, and the results were compared.

[0077] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the flow path configuration of a model used in a simulation for verifying the effect of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the results of the simulation. In FIG. 7, FIG. 7(a) shows a first application model A1 as a model to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 7(b) shows a second application model A2 as a more preferable model to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 7(c) shows a first non-application model B1 as a model to which the present invention is not applied, and FIG. 7(d) shows a second non-application model B2 as a model to which the present invention is not applied. In each of FIG. 7(a) to FIG. 7(d), the first flow path R1 is shown on the left side of the drawing and the second flow path R2 is shown on the right side of the drawing when viewed from the first stacking direction Z1. In these models, these overlap with each other, so that the first fluid F1 flowing through the first flow path R1 and the second fluid F2 flowing through the second flow path R2 are close to each other. In addition, in FIG. 7(a) to FIG. 7(d), the thermoelectric element 4 is shown hatched. The thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment is modeled as the second application model A2 shown in Fig. 7(b), and the first application model A1 shown in Fig. 7(a), the first non-application model B1 shown in Fig. 7(c), and the second non-application model B2 shown in Fig. 7(d) are similar to the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 in that the size of the thermoelectric element 4 and the flow of the internal flow path are changed, and they have the same outer shape, the volume size of the internal flow path, and the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet (their locations may differ). The functions of the parts of the model are assigned the same reference numerals in Fig. 7 as those in Fig. 2, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0078] First, the flow paths of the first application model A1, the second application model A2, the first non-application model B1, and the second non-application model B2 used in a simulation for verifying the effects of the present invention will be described in order.

[0079] The first application model A1 is a model of a thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger in which the arrangement of the thermoelectric elements is changed with respect to the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment. In the first application model A1, as shown in FIG. 7(a), a partition section 2d is configured, and the first flow path R1 is formed so that the first fluid F1 introduced from the first fluid inlet 21 flows toward the first direction side Y1, then flows toward the second direction side Y2 through the turn-back section 2e, and is discharged from the first fluid outlet 22. The second flow path R2 is formed so that the second fluid F2 introduced from the second fluid inlet 31 flows only toward the first direction side Y1, and is discharged from the second fluid outlet 32. As a result, the range in which the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are adjacent to each other is mainly divided into a first adjacent range in which the first flow paths R1 and R2 are adjacent to each other as parallel counterflows, and a second adjacent range in which the first flow paths R1 and R2 are adjacent to each other as counterflows. The thermoelectric elements 4 are arranged in both the first adjacent range and the second adjacent range. In the first application model A1, similarly to the embodiment 1, not only the thermoelectric elements 4 arranged in the first proximity range generate thermoelectric power by parallel counterflow, but also the thermoelectric elements 4 arranged in the second proximity range generate thermoelectric power by counterflow. Also, in at least the second proximity range, heat exchange between the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 occurs by counterflow.

[0080] The second application model A2 is a model of the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7(b), the second application model A2 has a partition section 2d, and the first flow path R1 is formed so that the first fluid F1 introduced from the first fluid inlet 21 flows toward the first direction side Y1, then flows toward the second direction side Y2 through the turn-back section 2e, and is discharged from the first fluid outlet 22. The second flow path R2 is formed so that the second fluid F2 introduced from the second fluid inlet 31 flows only toward the first direction side Y1, and is discharged from the second fluid outlet 32. As a result, the range in which the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are adjacent to each other is mainly divided into a first adjacent range in which the first flow paths R1 and R2 are adjacent to each other as parallel counterflows, and a second adjacent range in which the first flow paths R1 and R2 are adjacent to each other as counterflows. The thermoelectric element 4 is arranged only in the first adjacent range. In the second application model A2, the thermoelectric elements 4 arranged in the first proximity range generate thermoelectric power by parallel counterflows, as in the first embodiment. Also, in at least the second proximity range, heat exchange occurs between the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 by counterflows.

[0081] The first non-applied model B1 is a model of a thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger in which the partition portion 2d is not formed, the first fluid outlet 22 is moved to the right side X2 of the first direction side Y1, the second fluid inlet 31 is moved to the right side X2 of the second direction side Y2, the second fluid outlet 32 ​​is moved to the left side X1 of the first direction side Y1, and the size of the thermoelectric element is changed. In the first non-applied model B1, as shown in FIG. 7(c), the first flow path R1 is formed so that the first fluid F1 introduced from the first fluid inlet 21 flows only toward the first direction side Y1 and is discharged from the first fluid outlet 22. The second flow path R2 is formed so that the second fluid F2 introduced from the second fluid inlet 31 flows only toward the first direction side Y1 and is discharged from the second fluid outlet 32. The thermoelectric element 4 is arranged over a wide area with the same area size as the first application model A1. As a result, the area in which the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are adjacent to each other is only a wide area in which they are adjacent to each other only as parallel counterflows. In the first non-application model B1, the thermoelectric element 4 generates thermoelectric power only as parallel counterflows over a wide surface area, and heat exchange between the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 is performed only as parallel counterflows over a wide surface area.

[0082] The second non-applied model B2 is a model of a thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger in which the partition portion 2d is not formed in the thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger 1 of the first embodiment, the first fluid outlet 22 is moved to the right side X2 of the first direction side Y1, the second fluid inlet 31 is moved to the left side X1 of the first direction side Y2, the second fluid outlet 32 ​​is moved to the right side X2 of the second direction side Y2, and the size of the thermoelectric element is changed. In the second non-applied model B2, as shown in FIG. 7(d), the first flow path R1 is formed so that the first fluid F1 introduced from the first fluid inlet 21 flows only toward the first direction side Y1 and is discharged from the first fluid outlet 22. The second flow path R2 is formed so that the second fluid F2 introduced from the second fluid inlet 31 flows only toward the second direction side Y2 and is discharged from the second fluid outlet 32. The thermoelectric element 4 is arranged over a wide area with the same area size as the first application model A1. As a result, the range in which the first flow path R1 and the second flow path R2 are adjacent is only a wide range in which they are adjacent only as counterflows. In the second non-application model B2, the thermoelectric element 4 generates thermoelectric power only by counterflows over a wide surface area, and heat exchange between the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 is performed only by counterflows over a wide surface area.

[0083] In all of these models, the metal plate used is set to be 4 mm thick, made of aluminum alloy, and has a thermal conductivity κ of 200 W / mK. The thermoelectric element is set to be 3 mm thick and has a thermal conductivity κ of 1.49 W / mK. The flow path is set to a volume size of 104 mm in the left-right direction X, 294 mm in the flow direction, and 2 mm in the stacking direction Z (flow path width). In the first application model A1 and the second application model A2, the partition section 2d is set to a position that divides the first approach range NA1 to a width of 40 mm in the left-right direction X, and the second approach range NA2 to a width of 59 mm in the left-right direction X. Then, into each of these models, a high-temperature fluid (water) with a flow rate of 1.66 L / min and a temperature of 85°C was introduced as the first fluid F1, and a low-temperature fluid (water) with a flow rate of 1.66 L / min and a temperature of 20°C was introduced as the second fluid F2 at atmospheric pressure. The heat exchange capacity and power generation capacity were simulated, and the power generation capacity density (power generation capacity per unit area of ​​the power generation element) was also calculated.

[0084] As a result, as shown in the table in FIG. 8, in the first application model A1, the first fluid F1 dropped by 18.1°C from 85°C to 66.9°C, and the second fluid F2 rose by 8.8°C from 20°C to 28.8°C, resulting in an average heat exchange capacity of 13.5°C. In the second application model A2, the first fluid F1 dropped by 23.8°C from 85°C to 61.2°C, and the second fluid F2 rose by 12.8°C from 20°C to 32.8°C, resulting in an average heat exchange capacity of 18.3°C. In the first non-application model B1, the first fluid F1 dropped by 10.1°C from 85°C to 74.9°C, and the second fluid F2 rose by 7.8°C from 20°C to 27.8°C, resulting in an average heat exchange capacity of 9.0°C. In the second non-applied model B2, the temperature of the first fluid F1 decreased by 10.2°C from 85°C to 74.8°C, and the temperature of the second fluid F2 increased by 7.9°C from 20°C to 27.9°C, resulting in an average heat exchange capacity of 9.1°C.

[0085] In addition, as shown in the table in Figure 8, the total power generation capacity of the first application model A1 is 14,320,942℃. 2 , power generation density 723℃ 2 / mm 2 In addition, the second application model A2 had a total power generation capacity of 8,655,688℃. 2 , power generation density 1,082℃ 2 / mm 2 In addition, the first non-applied model B1 had a total power generation capacity of 14,239,315°C. 2 , power generation density 684℃ 2 / mm 2 In the second non-applied model B2, the total power generation capacity was 14,744,007℃. 2 , power generation density 708℃ 2 / mm 2 obtained.

[0086] When the simulation results were examined, as shown in the graph in FIG. 8, the first application model A1 and the second application model A2 to which the present invention was applied had higher heat exchange capacity than the first non-application model B1 and the second non-application model B2 to which the present invention was not applied. In particular, the second application model A2 was superior, being more than twice as high as the first non-application model B1 and the second non-application model B2. This is because the first application model A1 and the second application model A2 to which the present invention was applied have a longer travel distance of the first fluid F1 in the first flow path R1 by the amount of round trip, and the first fluid F1 exchanges heat for a longer period, which is understood to be the reason for the increase. In particular, the second application model A2 can be used only for heat exchange in the second proximity range NA2, which is understood to be the reason for the excellent results.

[0087] On the other hand, when looking at the total power generation capacity, only the second application model A2 is relatively low, and there is no significant difference in the other models. However, when looking at the power generation capacity density, which is the power generation capacity per unit area, the first application model A1 and the second application model A2 to which the present invention is applied are equal to or higher than the first non-application model B1 and the second non-application model B2 to which the present invention is not applied. In particular, the second application model A2 has a total power generation capacity of 60% compared to the first non-application model B1 and the second non-application model B2, even though the area of ​​the thermoelectric element is only 40%, so it has a high power generation capacity density and generates power efficiently.

[0088] From these simulation results, it can be seen that applying the present invention to a flow path in which the first fluid F1 and the second fluid F2 are adjacent to each other in parallel flow in the first proximity range NA1 and in counter flow in the second proximity range NA2 is advantageous in that it increases the heat exchange capacity while increasing the power generation capacity density, thereby enabling efficient power generation. Furthermore, it can be seen that arranging expensive thermoelectric elements only in the first proximity range NA1 is advantageous in that it greatly increases the heat exchange capacity, greatly increases the power generation capacity density, and enables extremely efficient power generation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 1,101,201...thermoelectric power generation heat exchanger, 2...flow path module for first fluid, 2a,2b,3a,3b...metal plates, 2c,3c...packing, 2d...partition section, 2e...folded section, 3...flow path module for second fluid, 4,204...thermoelectric element, 21,221...first fluid inlet, 22,222...first fluid outlet, 23...recess for thermoelectric element placement, 31,231...second fluid inlet, 32,232...second fluid outlet, 33...recess for thermoelectric element placement, 202...tube, 203...shell, D1...discharge path for first fluid, D2...discharge path for second fluid, F1...first fluid, F2...second fluid, H1...first through-flow path, H2...second through-flow path, H 3...third through-flow passage, H4...fourth through-flow passage, LB...middle laminate, M1...first flow passage module, M2...second flow passage module, M3...third flow passage module, M4...fourth flow passage module, NA1...first proximity range, NA2...second proximity range, P1...first plate, P2...second plate, P3...third plate, P4...fourth plate, P5...fifth plate, P6...sixth plate, R1...first flow passage, R2...second flow passage, S1...first fluid supply path, S2...second fluid supply path, X...left-right direction, X1...left side, X2...right side, Y...flow direction, Y1...first direction side, Y2...second direction side, Z...stacking direction, Z1...first stacking direction side, Z2...second stacking direction side

Claims

1. A heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function, which introduces a first fluid and a second fluid having different temperatures, generates thermoelectric power by a temperature difference between the first fluid and the second fluid, and exchanges heat between the first fluid and the second fluid, and discharges the first fluid and the second fluid, a first flow path having a first fluid inlet for introducing the first fluid and a first fluid outlet for discharging the first fluid, and for allowing the first fluid to flow from the first fluid inlet to the first fluid outlet; a second flow path disposed adjacent to the first flow path, having a second fluid inlet for introducing the second fluid and a second fluid outlet for discharging the second fluid, for allowing the second fluid to flow from the second fluid inlet to the second fluid outlet; a thermoelectric element disposed between the first flow path and the second flow path and generating electricity using a temperature difference between the first flow path side and the second flow path side, The first flow path is formed to cause the first fluid to flow in a first direction side, and then cause the first fluid to flow through a turning portion in a second direction side opposite to the first direction side, The second flow path is formed to cause the second fluid to flow in the first direction, a range in which the first flow path and the second flow path are adjacent to each other is mainly divided into a first proximity range in which the first fluid and the second fluid flow toward the same first direction side and are adjacent to each other as parallel flows, and a second proximity range in which the first fluid and the second fluid flow toward opposite directions side and are adjacent to each other as counter flows, A heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function, characterized in that the thermoelectric element is arranged at least in the first proximity range to generate thermoelectric power by the parallel counterflow, and the heat exchange is performed by the counterflow in at least the second proximity range.

2. 2. The heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function according to claim 1, the first fluid inlet, the first fluid outlet, and the second fluid inlet are disposed on a side of the first flow path or the second flow path in the second direction, The second fluid outlet is disposed on a side of the second flow path in the first direction.

3. 3. The heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function according to claim 2, A high temperature fluid is introduced as the first fluid; A heat exchanger with a thermoelectric generating function configured to receive a low-temperature fluid as the second fluid.

4. 2. The heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function according to claim 1, A heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function, wherein the thermoelectric element is disposed only in the first proximity range.

5. The heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, As the thermoelectric element, a plurality of thermoelectric elements formed in a thin plate shape and arranged at a distance from each other; an intermediate stack including a first flow path module made of at least two metal plates stacked in a stacking direction, with the first flow path formed between the metal plates, and a second flow path module made of at least two metal plates stacked in the stacking direction, with the second flow path formed between the metal plates, and in which at least two modules are alternately stacked in the stacking direction with one of the plurality of thermoelectric elements sandwiched between the first flow path module and the second flow path module; a third flow path module which is composed of at least two metal plates stacked in the stacking direction, and is arranged closest to one side of the intermediate stack in the stacking direction, and in the case of the first flow path module, the second flow path is formed between the metal plates, or in the case of the second flow path module, the first flow path is formed between the metal plates, and which is stacked on one side of the intermediate stack in the stacking direction with one of the plurality of thermoelectric elements sandwiched between the third flow path module and the intermediate stack; a fourth flow path module which is composed of at least two metal plates stacked in the stacking direction, and is arranged closest to the other side of the intermediate stack in the stacking direction, and in the case of the first flow path module, the second flow path is formed between the metal plates, or in the case of the second flow path module, the first flow path is formed between the metal plates, and which is stacked on the other side of the intermediate stack in the stacking direction with one of the plurality of thermoelectric elements sandwiched between the fourth flow path module and the intermediate stack; a heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function, the heat exchanger including first to fourth through-flow paths each passing in a straight line from an exposed surface of at least either the third flow path module or the fourth flow path module to a plurality of the first fluid inlets, a plurality of the first fluid outlets, a plurality of the second fluid inlets, and a plurality of the second fluid outlets, which are overlapped in the stacking direction, as a supply path for the first fluid, a discharge path for the first fluid, a supply path for the second fluid, and a discharge path for the second fluid, respectively.

6. 6. The heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function according to claim 5, The first flow path module is composed of a first plate, as stacked metal plates, on one side of the stacking direction, on which a contact surface of the thermoelectric element is formed, and on the other side of the stacking direction, on which a flow path wall surface of one side obtained by dividing the first flow path by a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction is formed, and a second plate, as a stacked metal plate, on one side of the stacking direction, on which the remaining one side flow path wall surface of the first flow path is formed, and on the other side of the stacking direction, on which the contact surface of the thermoelectric element is formed, The second flow path module is composed of a third plate, which is a stacked metal plate, on one side of the stacking direction, on which a contact surface of the thermoelectric element is formed, and on the other side of the stacking direction, on which a flow path wall surface of one side obtained by dividing the second flow path by a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction is formed, and a fourth plate, which is a fourth plate on one side of the stacking direction, on which the remaining one side flow path wall surface of the second flow path is formed, and on the other side of the stacking direction, on which the contact surface of the thermoelectric element is formed, the third flow path module is composed of a fifth plate, which is a stacked metal plate, and has an exposed surface on one side in the stacking direction, and a flow path wall surface on one side obtained by dividing the first flow path or the second flow path by a surface perpendicular to the stacking direction, formed on a surface on the other side in the stacking direction, and the second plate or the fourth plate, on which a flow path wall surface on the remaining side corresponding to the flow path wall surface on the one side formed on the fifth plate is formed; The fourth flow path module is a heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function, which is composed of stacked metal plates, the first plate or the third plate, and a sixth plate having a flow path wall surface on one side of the surface in the stacking direction that corresponds to the flow path wall surface on one side formed on the first plate or the third plate, and a surface on the other side of the stacking direction that is an exposed surface.

7. 7. The heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function according to claim 6, The first to sixth plates are stacked via packing, sealing material, or brazing material that prevents leakage of fluid flowing through the first flow path, the second flow path, and the first to fourth through flow paths, and are fastened in close contact with each other by fasteners to form a heat exchanger with a thermoelectric generation function.

8. The heat exchanger with thermoelectric power generation function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a tube including one or more elongated metal tubes extending toward the first direction side, passing through a turn-back portion and extending toward the second direction side, the inside of the metal tube being the first flow path for flowing the first fluid; a shell having a cylindrical shape that is open on the first direction side and the second direction side, the shell being disposed so as to surround a central portion of the tube with both ends of the tube protruding therefrom, the shell defining the second flow path for flowing the second fluid between an inner wall surface of the shell and an outer wall surface of the tube; A heat exchanger with a thermoelectric power generation function in which a long, linear or sheet-shaped thermoelectric element as the thermoelectric element is wound around or attached to one or more of the metal tubes that constitute the tube.

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