Manifold

Abstract

To provide a simple and small manifold capable of applying a power generation system using an organic Rankine cycle to an electric vehicle.SOLUTION: In a manifold 1 used in a vehicle power generation system A, a pump for circulating a refrigerant, an evaporator 11 for evaporating the refrigerant discharged from the pump, an expander for outputting kinetic energy using the refrigerant flowing out from the evaporator 11, and a condenser 12 for condensing the refrigerant flowing out from the expander, are arranged. The manifold 1 has a manifold body 2 having a refrigerant flow path 15 arranged therein through which the refrigerant flows to exchange heat used for power generation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a manifold. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, automobiles equipped with a motor as a driving source (such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)) have become widespread. Hereinafter, these automobiles will be collectively referred to as electric vehicles. Electric vehicles have many heat-generating devices, such as motors (including internal combustion engines such as engines), batteries, air conditioners, and ECUs, and these are cooled by configuring cooling circuits that circulate coolant, refrigerant, and oil.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle air conditioner that cools a battery that supplies power to a motor for driving an electric vehicle. The refrigerant circuit in this vehicle air conditioner has a heat absorber, a heat radiator, a compressor, an expansion valve, an exterior heat exchanger, and an internal heat exchanger, which are connected by piping. The internal heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant flowing into the heat absorber and the refrigerant flowing out from the heat absorber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-11615 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Electric vehicles, particularly fuel cell vehicles, emit more low-temperature waste heat during operation than existing internal combustion engine vehicles, and there is a demand for effective use of low-temperature waste heat. A power generation system that generates electricity using an organic Rankine cycle is known as a method for effectively utilizing low-temperature waste heat, but power generation systems generally have a very large volume and are difficult to install in electric vehicles. The refrigerant circuit in the vehicle air conditioning device described in Patent Document 1 requires separate piping to circulate the refrigerant, which not only complicates the circuit configuration but also risks increasing the size of the device, leaving room for improvement.

[0006] Therefore, there is a demand for a simple and compact manifold that enables power generation systems using the organic Rankine cycle to be applied to electric vehicles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One embodiment of the manifold of the present invention is a manifold used in a vehicle power generation system that includes a pump for circulating a refrigerant, an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant discharged from the pump, an expander for outputting kinetic energy by the refrigerant flowing out from the evaporator, and a condenser for condensing the refrigerant flowing out from the expander, and includes a manifold body having a refrigerant flow passage disposed therein through which the refrigerant flows to exchange heat used for power generation.

[0008] According to the present embodiment, a manifold body is provided with a refrigerant flow passage disposed therein through which the refrigerant flows. Therefore, it is not necessary to individually connect pipes through which the refrigerant flows in the vehicle power generation system, and the configuration of the vehicle power generation system can be simplified and made compact. By using such a manifold, the vehicle power generation system using the organic Rankine cycle can be made compact enough to be applicable to an electric vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a circuit configuration diagram of an ORC power generation system including a manifold according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a front view of a main body that constitutes the manifold main body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the manifold according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Therefore, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0011] [ORC power generation system configuration] An ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) power generation system A (an example of a power generation system for a vehicle) having a manifold 1 according to this embodiment includes a refrigerant circuit 10 and a generator 16, as shown in Fig. 1. The operation of the ORC power generation system A described below is controlled by a control unit (not shown).

[0012] The refrigerant circuit 10 includes a first heat exchanger 11 (an example of an evaporator), a turbine 14 (an example of an expander), a second heat exchanger 12 (an example of a condenser), a refrigerant pump 13 (an example of a pump), and a refrigerant flow path 15 that connects these devices in this order. The refrigerant flow path 15 includes a first high-temperature flow path 15a that connects the outlet 11b of the first heat exchanger 11 and the inlet 14a of the turbine 14, a second high-temperature flow path 15b (an example of a refrigerant flow path and a first flow path) that connects the outlet 14b (an example of a first outlet) of the turbine 14 and the inlet 12a of the second heat exchanger 12, a first low-temperature flow path 15c that connects the outlet 12b of the second heat exchanger 12 and the inlet 13a of the refrigerant pump 13, and a second low-temperature flow path 15d (an example of a refrigerant flow path and a second flow path) that connects the outlet 13b (an example of a second outlet) of the refrigerant pump 13 and the inlet 11a of the first heat exchanger 11. The refrigerant flowing through the first high temperature flow path 15a and the second high temperature flow path 15b is a gas, and the refrigerant flowing through the first low temperature flow path 15c and the second low temperature flow path 15d is a liquid. Hereinafter, a gaseous refrigerant will be referred to as a gas refrigerant, and a liquid refrigerant will be referred to as a liquid refrigerant. Note that, for the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path 15, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), etc. are used.

[0013] In the refrigerant circuit 10, in order to circulate the refrigerant through the refrigerant flow path 15, first, the refrigerant pump 13 is driven. This driving causes the liquid refrigerant to flow in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 1 through the refrigerant circuit 10. The liquid refrigerant pumped from the outlet 13b of the refrigerant pump 13 flows through the second low-temperature flow path 15d and flows into the first heat exchanger 11.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, the first heat exchanger 11 is configured to perform heat exchange between two heat exchange flow paths. Specifically, the liquid refrigerant that has flowed through the second low-temperature flow path 15d is supplied to one heat exchange flow path of the first heat exchanger 11 through the inlet 11a, and the cooling liquid heated by waste heat from a heat source (not shown) is supplied to the other heat exchange flow path. The liquid refrigerant and the cooling liquid exchange heat while flowing through the heat exchange flow path in the first heat exchanger 11. As a result, the liquid refrigerant is heated by the cooling liquid and evaporates into a gaseous refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant flows out from the outlet 11b of the first heat exchanger 11.

[0015] The gaseous refrigerant flowing out from the first heat exchanger 11 flows through the first high-temperature flow path 15a and flows into the turbine 14 from the inlet 14a. The flowing-in gaseous refrigerant rotates the blades (not shown) and the rotating shaft 14c of the turbine 14. The rotating shaft 14c of the turbine 14 outputs kinetic energy generated by the rotation of the blades and transmits it to the generator 16. The generator 16 converts the kinetic energy transmitted from the rotating shaft 14c into electrical energy and outputs electric power. In this manner, the ORC power generation system A generates electric power. The refrigerant that rotates the blades of the turbine 14 flows out from the outlet 14b of the turbine 14 in a gaseous state.

[0016] The refrigerant flowing out of the turbine 14 flows through the second high-temperature flow path 15b and flows into the second heat exchanger 12 from the inlet 12a. The second heat exchanger 12 is also configured to perform heat exchange between two heat exchange paths, similar to the first heat exchanger 11. Specifically, the refrigerant that has flowed through the second high-temperature flow path 15b is supplied to one heat exchange path of the second heat exchanger 12 through the inlet 12a, and the cooling liquid cooled by a cooling source (not shown) is supplied to the other heat exchange path. The refrigerant and the cooling liquid exchange heat while flowing through the heat exchange path in the second heat exchanger 12. The refrigerant that has exchanged heat with the cooling liquid is condensed and becomes liquid. The liquid refrigerant flows out from the outlet 12b of the second heat exchanger 12.

[0017] The refrigerant flowing out of the second heat exchanger 12 flows through the first low-temperature flow path 15c, flows into the refrigerant pump 13 from the inlet 13a, and is re-pressurized by the refrigerant pump 13. The refrigerant re-pressurized by the refrigerant pump 13 is then sent out from the outlet 13b, and flows through the second low-temperature flow path 15d toward the first heat exchanger 11.

[0018] In this way, the refrigerant circuit 10 sends out refrigerant in an adiabatic compressed state using the driving force of the refrigerant pump 13, evaporates the refrigerant by isobaric heating in the first heat exchanger 11, and is supplied to the turbine 14 to rotate the turbine 14 by adiabatic expansion to generate electricity. The refrigerant is then condensed by isobaric cooling in the second heat exchanger 12 and sent to the refrigerant pump 13. Therefore, the refrigerant circuit 10 realizes a heat cycle equivalent to the Rankine cycle.

[0019] [Manifold configuration] In this embodiment, the refrigerant circuit 10 and the generator 16 that constitute the ORC power generation system A are integrated as a manifold 1. Specifically, the manifold 1 is configured to include a manifold body 2, a first heat exchanger 11, a second heat exchanger 12, a refrigerant pump 13, a turbine 14, a refrigerant flow path 15, and a generator 16. Fig. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the manifold 1 (ORC power generation system A). The manifold 1 is integrated by attaching the first heat exchanger 11, the second heat exchanger 12, the refrigerant pump 13, the turbine 14, and the generator 16 to the manifold body 2.

[0020] The manifold body 2 has a rectangular plate shape made of metal such as aluminum or iron, and is formed by joining two rectangular plates, a body 2a and a lid 2b, by welding or bolting. Inside the manifold body 2, as shown in FIG. 3, a refrigerant flow path 15 including a first high-temperature flow path 15a, a second high-temperature flow path 15b, a first low-temperature flow path 15c, and a second low-temperature flow path 15d is formed. The refrigerant flow path 15 can be formed, for example, by forming a groove serving as a flow path in the body 2a and closing the groove with the lid 2b. In addition, of both plate surfaces of the manifold body 2, a first heat exchanger 11 and a second heat exchanger 12 are attached to the plate surface on the body 2a side, and a refrigerant pump 13, a turbine 14, and a generator 16 are attached to the plate surface on the lid 2b side.

[0021] The second high-temperature flow passage 15b formed inside the manifold body 2 is formed in a meandering comb shape and has a plurality (eight in this embodiment) of high-temperature parallel parts 15e (an example of a parallel part) extending in the vertical direction of the paper. Specifically, when two high-temperature parallel parts 15e arranged adjacent to each other by folding back are considered as one set of high-temperature parallel parts 15e, four sets of high-temperature parallel parts 15e are arranged spaced apart from each other. The second low-temperature flow passage 15d is also formed in a meandering comb shape and has a plurality (eight in this embodiment) of low-temperature parallel parts 15f (an example of a parallel part) extending in the vertical direction of the paper. Specifically, when two low-temperature parallel parts 15f arranged adjacent to each other by folding back are considered as one set of low-temperature parallel parts 15f, each set of low-temperature parallel parts 15f is arranged between the four sets of high-temperature parallel parts 15e arranged spaced apart from each other, except for the low-temperature parallel part 15f arranged on the outermost side. Therefore, all eight high-temperature parallel portions 15e and eight low-temperature parallel portions 15f are parallel, and each of the four sets of high-temperature parallel portions 15e and each of the four sets of low-temperature parallel portions 15f are arranged alternately and close to each other along the left-right direction of the paper. With this configuration, heat exchange occurs between the gas refrigerant flowing through the high-temperature parallel portions 15e and the liquid refrigerant flowing through the low-temperature parallel portions 15f. Note that "all eight high-temperature parallel portions 15e and eight low-temperature parallel portions 15f are parallel" does not only mean that the eight high-temperature parallel portions 15e and the eight low-temperature parallel portions 15f are arranged completely parallel, but also means that they are arranged slightly tilted and non-parallel as long as efficient heat exchange is achieved.

[0022] As described above, by arranging the high-temperature parallel portion 15e and the low-temperature parallel portion 15f as described above, heat exchange occurs between the gas refrigerant flowing through the high-temperature parallel portion 15e and the liquid refrigerant flowing through the low-temperature parallel portion 15f. As a result, the temperature of the gas refrigerant decreases and the temperature of the liquid refrigerant increases. Therefore, less thermal energy is required to vaporize the liquid refrigerant in the first heat exchanger 11, and less thermal energy is required to condense the gas refrigerant in the second heat exchanger 12. In addition, in the ORC power generation system A, the liquid refrigerant is vaporized by effectively utilizing waste heat from the heat source. As a result, the ORC power generation system A has improved thermal efficiency. Note that the hatching shown in FIG. 3 is added to make the boundary between the high-temperature parallel portion 15e and the low-temperature parallel portion 15f easier to see, and does not represent a cross section.

[0023] The cross-sectional area of ​​the second high-temperature flow path 15b is larger than that of the second low-temperature flow path 15d. This is because the gas refrigerant flows through the second high-temperature flow path 15b and the liquid refrigerant flows through the second low-temperature flow path 15d, and therefore the gas refrigerant requires a larger cross-sectional area to flow the same amount of refrigerant. In addition, the first high-temperature flow path 15a and the first low-temperature flow path 15c have a much shorter flow path length than the second high-temperature flow path 15b and the second low-temperature flow path 15d. The cross-sectional areas of the first high-temperature flow path 15a and the first low-temperature flow path 15c are approximately the same as that of the second low-temperature flow path 15d.

[0024] In this embodiment, the refrigerant circuit 10 and the generator 16 constituting the ORC power generation system A are integrated as the manifold 1, and the first high temperature flow path 15a, the second high temperature flow path 15b, the first low temperature flow path 15c, and the second low temperature flow path 15d, which are the refrigerant flow paths 15 through which the refrigerant flows, are arranged inside the manifold body 2. This eliminates the need to individually connect the piping through which the refrigerant flows in the ORC power generation system A, and the configuration of the ORC power generation system A can be simplified and made smaller. In addition, the second high temperature flow path 15b and the second low temperature flow path 15d formed in the manifold body 2 each have a high temperature parallel portion 15e and a low temperature parallel portion 15f, both of which are serpentine-shaped, and the high temperature parallel portion 15e and the low temperature parallel portion 15f are arranged alternately and close to each other. Therefore, heat exchange can be performed between the gas refrigerant flowing through the high temperature parallel portion 15e and the liquid refrigerant flowing through the low temperature parallel portion 15f. In addition, in the ORC power generation system A, the liquid refrigerant is vaporized by effectively utilizing waste heat from the heat source. As a result, the thermal efficiency of the ORC power generation system A is improved.

[0025] Other embodiments <1> In the above embodiment, the first heat exchanger 11, the second heat exchanger 12, the refrigerant pump 13, the turbine 14, and the generator 16 are attached to the manifold body 2 and integrated as the manifold 1, but this is not limited thereto. At least one of the first heat exchanger 11, the second heat exchanger 12, the refrigerant pump 13, the turbine 14, and the generator 16 may not be attached to the manifold body 2. In such a case, at least one of the first high-temperature flow path 15a, the second high-temperature flow path 15b, the first low-temperature flow path 15c, and the second low-temperature flow path 15d may be configured to be attached to the outside of the manifold body 2.

[0026] <2> In the above embodiment, the second high-temperature flow path 15b and the second low-temperature flow path 15d have eight high-temperature parallel portions 15e and eight low-temperature parallel portions 15f extending in the vertical direction of the paper, respectively, but are not limited to this. As long as efficient heat exchange can be achieved between the gas refrigerant flowing through the second high-temperature flow path 15b and the liquid refrigerant flowing through the second low-temperature flow path 15d, the second high-temperature flow path 15b and the second low-temperature flow path 15d do not need to have the high-temperature parallel portions 15e and the low-temperature parallel portions 15f.

[0027] <3> In the above embodiment, the second high temperature flow path 15b and the second low temperature flow path 15d are formed in a meandering comb shape, but are not limited to this. As long as efficient heat exchange can be performed between the gas refrigerant flowing through the second high temperature flow path 15b and the liquid refrigerant flowing through the second low temperature flow path 15d, the second high temperature flow path 15b and the second low temperature flow path 15d do not have to be in a meandering comb shape.

[0028] <4> In the above embodiment, the pair of high-temperature parallel portions 15e and the pair of low-temperature parallel portions 15f are alternately arranged along the left-right direction of the drawing, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as efficient heat exchange can be performed between the gas refrigerant flowing through the second high-temperature flow passage 15b and the liquid refrigerant flowing through the second low-temperature flow passage 15d, the pair of high-temperature parallel portions 15e and the pair of low-temperature parallel portions 15f do not have to be alternately arranged.

[0029] In the embodiment of the manifold 1 described above, the following configurations come to mind.

[0030] (1) One embodiment of the manifold (1) is a manifold (1) used in a vehicle power generation system (A) including a pump (13) for circulating a refrigerant, an evaporator (11) for evaporating the refrigerant discharged from the pump (13), an expander (14) for outputting kinetic energy by the refrigerant flowing out from the evaporator (11), and a condenser (12) for condensing the refrigerant flowing out from the expander (14), and includes a manifold body (2) having refrigerant flow paths (15, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) arranged therein through which the refrigerant flows to exchange heat used for power generation.

[0031] The manifold (1) of this embodiment includes a manifold body (2) having refrigerant flow paths (15, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) arranged therein through which a refrigerant flows. Therefore, it is not necessary to individually connect pipes through which the refrigerant flows in the power generation system (A) for a vehicle, and the configuration of the power generation system (A) for a vehicle can be simplified and made compact.

[0032] In (2)(1), it is preferable that the refrigerant flow paths (15, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) of the manifold body (2) have a first flow path (15b) connected to the first outlet (14b) of the expander (14) and a second flow path (15d) connected to the second outlet (13b) of the pump (13), and that the first flow path (15b) and the second flow path (15d) each have parallel portions (15e, 15f) arranged in parallel to each other.

[0033] According to this, each of the first flow path (15b) and the second flow path (15d) has a parallel portion (15e) and a parallel portion (15f). Therefore, heat exchange occurs between the refrigerant (gas refrigerant) flowing through the parallel portion (15e) and the refrigerant (liquid refrigerant) flowing through the parallel portion (15f). This causes the temperature of the gas refrigerant to decrease and the temperature of the liquid refrigerant to increase. Therefore, less thermal energy is required to vaporize the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator (11), and less thermal energy is required to condense the gas refrigerant in the condenser (12). In addition, the vehicle power generation system (A) vaporizes the liquid refrigerant by effectively utilizing waste heat from a heat source. As a result, the vehicle power generation system (A) has improved thermal efficiency.

[0034] (3) In (2), it is preferable that the parallel portion (15e) of the first flow path (15b) and the parallel portion (15f) of the second flow path (15d) each have a serpentine comb shape, and that the parallel portions (15e, 15f) are arranged alternately.

[0035] According to this, the parallel portion (15e) of the first flow path (15b) and the parallel portion (15f) of the second flow path (15d) are both serpentine-shaped and the parallel portions (15e, 15f) are arranged alternately, thereby further improving the thermal efficiency of the vehicle power generation system (A).

[0036] (4) In any one of (1) to (3), the condenser (12) and the evaporator (11) are preferably integrated with the manifold body (2).

[0037] According to this, since the condenser (12) and the evaporator (11) are integrated with the manifold body (2), the vehicle power generation system (A) can be further reduced in size. [Industrial Applicability]

[0038] The present invention can be used in a manifold. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1: manifold, 2: manifold body, 11: first heat exchanger (evaporator), 12: second heat exchanger (condenser), 13: refrigerant pump (pump), 13b: outlet (second outlet), 14: turbine (expander), 14b: outlet (first outlet), 15: refrigerant flow path, 15b: second high-temperature flow path (refrigerant flow path, first flow path), 15d: second low-temperature flow path (refrigerant flow path, second flow path), 15e: high-temperature parallel section (parallel section), 15f: low-temperature parallel section (parallel section), A: ORC power generation system (power generation system for vehicle)

Claims

1. A manifold used in a power generation system for a vehicle, the manifold including: a pump for circulating a refrigerant; an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant discharged from the pump; an expander for outputting kinetic energy by the refrigerant flowing out from the evaporator; and a condenser for condensing the refrigerant flowing out from the expander; A manifold comprising a manifold body having a refrigerant flow passage disposed therein through which the refrigerant flows for transferring heat used for power generation.

2. the refrigerant flow path of the manifold body includes a first flow path connected to a first outlet of the expander and a second flow path connected to a second outlet of the pump, The manifold according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first flow passage and the second flow passage has a parallel portion disposed in parallel with each other.

3. The manifold according to claim 2 , wherein the parallel portion of the first flow path and the parallel portion of the second flow path are both serpentine-shaped, and the parallel portions of the first flow path and the parallel portions of the second flow path are arranged alternately.

4. The manifold of claim 1 , wherein the condenser and the evaporator are integral with the manifold body.

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