rotor

Abstract

A rotor (1), in particular a rotary heat pump, comprising a rotating shaft (2), a number of compression conduits (15) through which a working medium, in particular a gas, preferably a rare gas, is directed away from the rotating shaft (2) to increase its pressure due to centrifugal acceleration, a number of expansion conduits (20) through which the working medium is directed towards the rotating shaft (2) to decrease its pressure due to centrifugal acceleration, a number of first heat transfer conduits (18) for the working medium, and a number of second heat transfer conduits (22) for a heat transfer medium, in particular a liquid, flowing through the first heat transfer conduits (18). and a number of second heat transfer conduits (22) for transferring heat between the working medium and the heat transfer medium flowing in the second heat transfer conduits (22), wherein a number of first rotor plates (10) and second rotor plates (11) include the compression conduits (15), the expansion conduits (20), the first heat transfer conduits (18) for the working medium, and the second heat transfer conduits (22) for the heat transfer medium, and the first rotor plates (10) and second rotor plates (11) are connected to each other along their main extension surfaces.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotor, in particular to a rotary heat pump, A rotation axis; a number of compression conduits through which a working medium, in particular a gas, preferably a noble gas, is directed away from the axis of rotation to increase its centrifugal pressure; a number of expansion conduits through which the working medium is directed toward the rotation axis to reduce the centrifugal pressure; a number of first heat transfer conduits for the working medium; and a number of second heat transfer conduits for a heat transfer medium, in particular a liquid, which allow heat to be transferred between the working medium flowing in the first heat transfer conduits and the heat transfer medium flowing in the second heat transfer conduits. [Background technology]

[0002] A rotary heat pump is known from WO 2015 / 103656, which utilizes the centrifugal acceleration of a rotor to generate various pressure and temperature levels. High-temperature heat is extracted from a compressed working medium, while relatively low-temperature heat is supplied to an expanded working medium. For this purpose, the rotary heat pump includes an internal heat exchanger and an external heat exchanger arranged approximately parallel to the rotor's rotation axis. The internal heat exchanger is designed for low-temperature heat exchange, while the external heat exchanger is designed for high-temperature heat exchange. This type of rotary heat pump offers significant advantages over stationary heat pumps. However, a drawback is the complexity of manufacturing known rotary heat pumps. Additionally, improvements are needed regarding rotor dynamics, which is currently impaired by the mechanical connection of the individual components. Finally, the efficiency (Coefficient of Performance: COP) of such rotary heat pumps is constantly being sought. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to mitigate or obviate at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art. A preferred object of the present invention is to create a rotor that is highly efficient and can be manufactured with minimal effort.

[0004] This problem is solved by a rotor according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 13. Preferred embodiments are set out in the dependent claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to the present invention, a number of first and second rotor plates are provided, the first and / or second rotor plates including a compression conduit, an expansion conduit, a first heat transfer conduit for a working medium, and a second heat transfer conduit for a heat transfer medium, and the first and second rotor plates are interconnected along their main extension surfaces.

[0006] The arrangement of the first and second rotor plates forms a compact rotor element that is particularly stable against rotational forces and combines functions that in the prior art were separated into individual components, such as inner and outer heat exchangers and expansion and compression ducts. To form the rotor element, the first and second rotor plates are stacked in contact with each other and connected to each other at their adjacent main extension surfaces. In the first and / or second rotor plates, the working medium flows through channels that form the first heat transfer ducts, compression ducts, and expansion ducts. Correspondingly, the heat transfer medium flows through the second heat transfer ducts of the first and / or second rotor plates to enable heat transfer with the working medium. So-called "microchannel diffusion-bonded heat exchangers" are already known in the prior art, e.g., from EP 3 885 691 A1, in which stacks of heat transfer plates with integrated channels are connected to each other by diffusion bonding. However, the present invention not only replaces the internal and external heat exchangers of known rotary heat pumps with this type of heat exchanger, but also integrates the expansion and compression conduits into the first and second rotor plates of the rotor element. Thus, not only the heat transfer between the working medium and the heat transfer medium, but also the compression of the working medium as it flows away from the rotation axis and the expansion of the working medium as it flows toward the rotation axis, take place in the flow passages of the rotor element. This makes it possible to manufacture a rotary heat pump or heat engine for providing electrical current from the rotor, particularly from a heat flow, with essential process steps integrated inside the package of the first and second rotor plates. This design achieves particularly good rotor dynamics. It has proven particularly advantageous that the first and second rotor plates are substantially immobile relative to each other, which allows the number of balancing operations to be significantly reduced or even completely avoided. Furthermore, the rotor elements consisting of the first and second rotor elements can be realized in different designs, particularly with smaller dimensions. This has the advantage of simplifying production and allowing the use of lower-power drive units.It also increases the heat exchange surface available during rotor operation compared to prior art discrete heat exchangers, and the integral design of the rotor elements means that the number of seal points can be significantly reduced.

[0007] For purposes of this disclosure, location and direction designations refer to the rotor's intended use, with "radial," "axial," and "circumferential" referring to the axis of rotation. With respect to flow of working or heat transfer medium, "inner" means closer to the rotor's axis of rotation, and "outer" means further from the axis of rotation.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the main extension surfaces of the first and second rotor plates, i.e., the plate surfaces over which the first and second rotor plates extend most, are arranged substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis. Preferably, the rotation axis passes through the centers of the first and second rotation axes. Furthermore, it is preferable that the first and second rotor plates are arranged substantially coincident when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, each of the first rotor plates includes at least one compression conduit, at least one expansion conduit, and at least one first heat transfer conduit for the working medium, and each of the multiple second rotor plates includes at least one second heat transfer conduit for the heat transfer medium.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, each first rotor plate includes at least one flow path for a working medium, the at least one flow path including an inlet opening for the working medium at a first end and an outlet opening for the working medium at a second end. In a preferred embodiment, the flow path includes a flow path portion preferably extending generally radially outward to form one of the compression conduits, and / or a flow path portion preferably extending generally radially inward to form one of the expansion conduits, and / or a flow path portion preferably extending generally circumferentially to form one of the first heat transfer conduits. This allows the working medium to be distributed to the flow paths in the first rotor plate through the inlet opening. The working medium then flows along the flow path to the outlet opening, where it is discharged from the rotor element. In the outward flow path portion, the working medium can be compressed by the effect of centrifugal acceleration as the rotor rotates. In the inward flow path portion, the working medium can be expanded, also by centrifugal force. Heat can be transferred between the working medium and the heat transfer medium in a flow path cross section extending generally circumferentially. The individual flow passage portions are connected so that the working medium can flow through the flow passages in the first rotor plate from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the inlet and / or outlet openings of the first rotor plate are aligned, i.e., arranged on a line parallel to the axis of rotation. Preferably, the inlet and / or outlet openings are coincident when viewed in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.

[0012] To allow the working medium to pass through the second rotor plate, the second rotor plate in this embodiment preferably includes pass-through openings aligned with the inlet openings or aligned with the outlet openings. In this way, the working medium can be supplied to one side of the rotor element and distributed to the first rotor plate via the inlet openings, and the second rotor plate disposed therebetween is passed through the pass-through openings.

[0013] To minimize the number of connections, in a preferred embodiment, the outlet opening is located in a central region of the first rotor plate through which the rotation axis passes. Preferably, the rotation axis passes through the center of the outlet opening. The working medium can be guided along the flow paths to the outlet opening in the central region of the first rotor plate and can be discharged from the first rotor plate through the outlet openings, which are preferably aligned. Advantageously, multiple flow paths in the first rotor plate can share the same outlet opening in the central region.

[0014] Preferably, a fan is provided to maintain the flow of the working medium. Preferably, the fan is arranged axially outward of the rotor element consisting of the first rotor plate and the second rotor plate. The fan can be used to create a circulating flow of the working medium from the fan via the inlet opening, through the flow passages in the rotor element, back to the fan via the outlet opening, and finally back to the inlet opening of the flow passages in the rotor element. This allows the working medium to undergo a circulating process. Depending on the arrangement of the flow passages in the first rotor plate, various types of circulating processes can be realized, such as a Joule process involving substantially isobaric heat transfer.

[0015] In some embodiments, the fan may be connected to a fan drive to rotate a blade wheel of the fan, which may be used to rotate the blade wheel relative to a rotor element, which is preferably arranged to be rotated by a motor separate from the fan drive.

[0016] To achieve a circulating flow of the working medium, the inlet opening of the first rotor plate may be connected to the outlet of the fan and / or the outlet opening of the first rotor plate may be connected to the inlet of the fan.

[0017] To improve heat transfer between the working medium and the heat transfer medium, in a preferred embodiment, each first rotor plate includes a plurality of flow channels, preferably with at least one flow channel portion extending generally radially outward, and / or at least one flow channel portion extending generally radially inward, and / or at least one flow channel portion extending generally circumferentially. Thus, a plurality of flow channels can be formed in the first rotor plate, through which the working medium flows in parallel. The flow channels can be distributed over the surface of the first rotor plate. Preferably, three or more, in particular six or more, e.g., twelve, flow channels are provided at different angular positions per first rotor plate.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, each of the flow passages of the first rotor plate includes a plurality of flow passage portions extending, preferably in a substantially circumferential direction, at different radial distances from the rotation axis and forming a plurality of first heat transfer conduits. The circumferentially extending flow passage portions are preferably arranged in a loop. Preferably, one inner loop of one second heat transfer conduit of the second rotor plate is provided with a plurality of inner, e.g., S-shaped, loops for heat exchange with the heat transfer medium, and / or one outer loop of one second heat transfer conduit of the second rotor plate is provided with a plurality of outer, e.g., S-shaped, loops for heat exchange with the heat transfer medium. In this embodiment, intermediate compression or expansion can be achieved during heat exchange with the heat transfer medium. This allows heat to be transferred at a substantially constant temperature when the intended application requires a small temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the heat transfer medium, or the temperature can be increased again after heat transfer for increased efficiency.

[0019] To reduce the number of connections required for the working medium, in a preferred embodiment, two adjacent flow passages in a first rotor plate are arranged as mirror images with respect to a plane of symmetry extending in the axial and radial directions, and two adjacent flow passages share a common inlet opening and a common outlet opening for the working medium. For example, if twelve flow passages per first rotor plate are provided at different angular positions, this embodiment requires only six connections for the working medium inlet.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, each second rotor plate includes at least one inner flow passage and at least one outer flow passage for forming one of the second heat transfer conduits, the outer flow passage being located radially outward of the inner flow passage. When used as a rotary heat pump, the outer flow passage can be designed as an outer heat exchanger in which a heat transfer medium (in this case, a sink medium) absorbs heat from the working medium. The inner flow passage can be designed as an inner heat exchanger in which a heat transfer medium (in this case, a source medium) transfers heat to the working medium. Alternatively, the rotor can be designed as a heat engine.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the first rotor plate includes a second heat transfer conduit for the heat transfer medium. In this embodiment, the second rotor plate may be formed as a separator plate of the first rotor plate, whereby the second separator plate preferably does not have flow paths for both the working medium and the heat transfer medium.

[0022] In order to integrally form the individual flow paths, the compression conduit, the expansion conduit and the first heat transfer conduit for the working medium are preferably formed as recesses starting from the first outer surface of the first rotor plate, which is preferably substantially flat, whereby the second heat transfer conduit for the heat transfer medium is formed as recesses starting from the first outer surface of the first rotor plate, which is preferably substantially flat. i. as a recess starting from a preferably substantially flat outer surface of the second rotor plate; or ii. as a recess originating from the second, preferably substantially flat, outer surface of the first rotor plate; The first and second rotor plates preferably include substantially flat outer surfaces parallel to their main extension surfaces. In a first embodiment, the working medium flows within the recesses in the first rotor plate, and the heat transfer medium flows within the recesses in the second rotor plate. By connecting the first and second rotor plates along their main extension surfaces, the recesses in the first rotor plate form closed flow paths in cross section with the adjacent outer surface of the second rotor plate. In a second embodiment, the working medium and the heat transfer medium flow within separate recesses in the first rotor plate, formed in the opposing first and second outer surfaces of the first rotor plate. Together with the adjacent outer surface of the second rotor plate, these recesses form closed flow paths in cross section for the working medium and the heat transfer medium.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the first rotor plate and the second rotor plate are connected to one another by diffusion bonding, i.e., diffusion joining.

[0024] In some embodiments, at least 50, particularly at least 200, e.g., 300 to 800, first rotor plates and / or at least 50, particularly at least 200, e.g., 300 to 800, second rotor plates are provided. The first and / or second rotor plates may have a wall thickness, i.e., a main extension or extent perpendicular to the plate surface from one outer surface to the other, of 0.2 mm to 5 mm, particularly 0.5 mm to 4 mm, e.g., 2 mm to 3 mm. The flow channels may have a width, i.e., an extent transverse to the flow direction at the outer surface of each first or second rotor plate, of 0.5 mm to 5 mm, particularly 1 mm to 3 mm. The depth of the flow channels, i.e., an extent perpendicular to the main extension surface at their deepest point, may be 0.2 mm to 3 mm, particularly 1 mm to 2 mm.

[0025] In a variation of the first preferred embodiment, the first and second rotor plates are each circular in plan view, i.e., in the axial direction. In this variation of the embodiment, the heat transfer surface can be optimized for a given length, i.e., axial extent, of the rotor element made up of the first and second rotor plates.

[0026] In a second preferred embodiment, the first and second rotor plates are each non-circular, i.e. not round, and in particular substantially rectangular, when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis. This embodiment is advantageous when manufacturing rotor elements by diffusion bonding the first and second rotor plates, since a rectangular vacuum press can be used for the diffusion bonding. Advantageously, the manufacturing process can be optimized in this way, and furthermore, a larger radial extent can be obtained.

[0027] For heat transfer between the working medium and the heat transfer medium, one of the first rotor plates and one of the second rotor plates are preferably arranged alternately. When the working medium is guided into the first rotor plate and the heat transfer medium is guided into the second rotor plate, the first heat transfer conduit of the first rotor plate and the second heat transfer conduit of the second rotor plate extend along the same cross section in the circumferential direction, i.e., adjacent to each other, at substantially the same radial distance. When the working medium and the heat transfer medium are guided into the first rotor plate, the first heat transfer conduit and the second heat transfer conduit extend along the same cross section in the circumferential direction, opposite each other, on the first rotor plate, at substantially the same radial distance.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the first rotor plate and / or the second rotor plate each include at least one recess. This allows for weight reduction, in part. Furthermore, thermal insulation can be achieved where unwanted heat transfer is desired to be minimized. Thus, for example, the recess can form a thermal insulating region between the compression and expansion flow paths, or between a particularly relatively hot outer heat exchanger and a particularly relatively cold inner heat exchanger.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the first rotor plate and the second rotor plate are formed from a material selected from austenitic, duplex stainless steel, copper, titanium and aluminum.

[0030] The present invention further provides a method for heat transfer between a working medium, in particular a noble gas, and a heat transfer medium, in particular a liquid, comprising the following steps: A rotor according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments is provided, Supplying a working medium to the rotor; Supplying a heat transfer medium to the rotor; and Rotation shaft The rotor is rotated around the rotation shaft.

[0031] The method according to the invention for manufacturing a rotor, in particular for a rotary heat pump, comprises at least the following steps: providing a first rotor plate; providing a second rotor plate; forming a compression conduit, an expansion conduit, a first heat transfer conduit for the working medium, and a second heat transfer conduit for the heat transfer medium in the first rotor plate and / or the second rotor plate; The first rotor plate and the second rotor plate are stacked together, connecting the first rotor plate to the second rotor plate along their major extension surfaces; and A rotor element formed from a first rotor plate and a second rotor plate is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation.

[0032] If the flow channels for the working medium are formed in a first rotor plate and the second heat transfer conduits for the heat transfer medium are formed in a second rotor plate, the method for manufacturing a rotor, in particular a rotary heat pump, preferably comprises at least the following steps: providing a first rotor plate; providing a second rotor plate; forming a compression conduit, an expansion conduit, and a first heat transfer conduit for the working medium in the first rotor plate; forming a second heat transfer conduit for a heat transfer medium in the second rotor plate; The first rotor plate and the second rotor plate are stacked together, connecting the first rotor plate to the second rotor plate along their major extension surfaces; and A rotor element formed by the first rotor plate and the second rotor plate is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation.

[0033] In case the flow paths for the working medium and the second heat transfer conduits for the heat transfer medium are formed in the first rotor plate, the method for manufacturing a rotor, in particular a rotary heat pump, preferably comprises at least the following steps: providing a first rotor plate; providing a second rotor plate; forming the compression conduit, the expansion conduit, and the first heat transfer conduit for the working medium in the first rotor plate, preferably as recesses in the first outer surface of the first rotor plate; forming second heat transfer conduits for the heat transfer medium in the first rotor plate, preferably as recesses in the second outer surface of the first rotor plate; The first rotor plate and the second rotor plate are stacked together, connecting the first rotor plate to the second rotor plate along their major extension surfaces; and A rotor element formed by the first rotor plate and the second rotor plate is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the first rotor plate and the second rotor plate are joined by diffusion bonding, particularly in a vacuum press.

[0035] The compression conduit, the expansion conduit, the first heat transfer conduit and / or the second heat transfer conduit are preferably formed in the first rotor plate and / or the second rotor plate by etching or milling.

[0036] The design of the rotor element, including the first and second rotor plates, allows for high-pressure applications. In a preferred embodiment, the maximum pressure of the working medium in the first rotor plate during rotor rotation is at least 80 bar, in particular at least 120 bar, for example 160 to 240 bar. Advantageously, these pressures result in lower pressure losses for the same mass flow rate, and therefore higher efficiency, determined using the coefficient of performance (COP), when the rotor is designed as a heat pump.

[0037] The invention will now be further described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0038] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a rotor according to the invention for use as a rotary heat pump. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A shows a view of a rotor element formed from a first rotor plate and a second rotor plate of a rotary heat pump according to FIG. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B shows a view of a rotor element formed from a first rotor plate and a second rotor plate of the rotary heat pump according to FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a view of a rotor element formed from a first rotor plate and a second rotor plate of a rotary heat pump according to FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of a part of a rotor element. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of a part of a rotor element. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a part of a rotor element. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a part of a rotor element. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of a part of a rotor element. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of a part of a rotor element. [Figure 10A] FIG. 10A shows a first rectangular embodiment. [Figure 10B] FIG. 10B shows a second rectangular embodiment. [Figure 10C] FIG. 10C shows a second rectangular embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of a rotor element in which the working medium and the heat transfer medium are guided through the microconduits of the first rotor plate and the microconduits of the second rotor plate, respectively. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment of a rotor element in which the working medium and the heat transfer medium are guided through the microconduits of the first rotor plate and the microconduits of the second rotor plate, respectively. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of a rotor element in which the working medium and the heat transfer medium are guided in conduits in the first rotor plates and a second rotor plate is arranged as a separating plate between the first rotor plates. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 shows a further embodiment of a rotor element in which the working medium and the heat transfer medium are guided in conduits in the first rotor plates and a second rotor plate is arranged as a separating plate between the first rotor plates. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a rotor 1, which in the illustrated version is designed as a device for converting mechanical energy into thermal energy (and vice versa). The rotor 1 is used in particular as a rotary heat pump. In some embodiments, the rotor 1 may be housed in a stationary housing whose pressure is below atmospheric pressure. The rotor 1 preferably comprises a horizontal rotation axis 2 in operation, around which the rotor 1 rotates with the aid of a motor 37. To form the rotation axis 2, the rotor 1 comprises two rotation bearings 3. The rotor 1 comprises a rotor element 4, shown only symbolically in FIG. 1, which is connected on the one hand to a connection 5 for a heat transfer medium, in particular water, and on the other hand to a connection 6 for a working medium, for example, a rare gas. Furthermore, a fan 7 is provided to maintain the circulating flow of the working medium. The fan 7 is connected to a fan drive 8, which rotates a blade wheel of the fan 7 relative to the rotor element 4, which is rotated by the motor 37. Furthermore, a rotary feedthrough 9 for the (water) connection 5 can be seen in FIG. 1.

[0040] 2A, 2B, and 3 schematically illustrate an embodiment of a rotor element 4 composed of multiple first and second rotor plates 10 and 11. For clarity, only two first and two second rotor plates 10 and 11 are shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the flow of the working medium is indicated by solid lines, and the flow of the heat transfer medium is indicated by dashed lines. The first and second rotor plates 10 and 11 are interconnected by their outer surfaces parallel to their main extension faces (which are aligned vertically during operation). The first and second rotor plates 10 and 11 are arranged alternately in the axial direction. In this embodiment, each first rotor plate 10 includes multiple flow passages 12 through which the working medium flows. The working medium enters the initial portion of the flow passage 12 through an inlet opening 13 and exits the final portion of the flow passage 12 through an outlet opening 14. In the illustrated embodiment, multiple adjacent flow passages 12 extending parallel to each other are provided for each inlet opening 13 (see detail B in FIG. 2B, highlighted by a circle in FIG. 2A). The inlet opening 13 is connected to the outlet of the fan 7. The outlet opening 14 is connected to the inlet of the fan 7. In the illustrated example, the outlet opening 14 is located in a central region of the first rotor plate 10 through which the rotary shaft 2 passes. To form the compression conduit 15, the flow passage 12 includes a generally radially outward flow passage portion 16, in which the working medium is directed away from the rotary shaft 2 and increases in pressure due to centrifugal acceleration. The generally radially outward flow passage portion 16 is adjacent to at least one generally circumferentially extending flow passage portion 17, which forms a first heat transfer conduit 18 for heat exchange with the heat transfer medium. The circumferential flow passage portion 17 is adjacent to a generally radially inward flow passage portion 19, which functions as an expansion conduit 20 that reduces the pressure of the working medium due to centrifugal acceleration. The generally radially inward flow passage portion 19 is adjacent to at least one further flow passage portion 21 extending generally in the circumferential direction, which flow passage portion 21 is designed as a further first heat transfer conduit 18 for heat exchange with the heat transfer medium. The inlet openings 13 and the outlet openings 14 of the first rotor plate 10 are aligned. The second rotor plate 11 includes corresponding pass-through openings 32 for the passage of the working medium.

[0041] In this embodiment, each second rotor plate 11 includes a second heat transfer conduit 22 through which a heat transfer medium flows. As the second heat transfer conduit 22, each second rotor plate 11 includes at least one inner flow passage 23 having at least one circumferentially extending portion 24 and forming an inner heat exchanger, and at least one outer flow passage 25 having a circumferentially extending portion 26 and forming an outer heat exchanger. The outer flow passage 25 is disposed radially outward of the inner flow passage 23. The circumferentially extending portion 24 of the inner flow passage of the second rotor plate 11 extends adjacent to the circumferentially extending flow passage portion 21 of the first rotor plate 10. The circumferentially extending portion 26 of the outer flow passage of the second rotor plate 11 extends adjacent to the circumferentially extending flow passage portion 17 of the first rotor plate 10. The inner flow passage 23 of the second rotor plate 11 includes an inlet opening 27 through which the heat transfer medium enters and an outlet opening 28 through which the heat transfer medium exits. Correspondingly, outer flow passage 25 includes a further inlet opening 29 for the heat transfer medium to enter and a further outlet opening 30 for the heat transfer medium to exit. Inlet opening 27, outlet opening 28, further inlet opening 29, and further outlet opening 30 are aligned, respectively. First rotor plate 10 includes corresponding feedthrough openings 31 for the passage of the heat transfer medium.

[0042] 2A, 2B, and 3, the first rotor plate 10 and the second rotor plate 11 are circular when viewed from the rotation axis 2. Each of the first rotor plates 10 includes a plurality of, for example, twelve, flow passages 12 that are identically formed and arranged at different angular positions on the first rotor plate 10. As described above, a plurality of adjacent flow passages 12 extending from the inlet opening 13 to the outlet opening 14 may be provided at each angular position. In the illustrated embodiment, the flow passages 12 include a plurality of flow passage portions 21 extending circumferentially in a radially inner region of the first rotor plate 10 and a plurality of flow passage portions 17 extending circumferentially in a radially outer region of the first rotor plate 10, which are respectively arranged in a loop at different radii R1, R2, and R3 relative to the rotation axis 2. Correspondingly, the second rotor plate 11 includes a plurality of, for example, twelve, inner flow passages 23 and a plurality of, for example, twelve outer flow passages 24. In the illustrated embodiment, each inner flow passage 23 of the second rotor plate 11 includes a plurality of circumferentially extending portions 24 as inner heat exchangers and a plurality of circumferentially extending portions 26 as outer heat exchangers, which extend adjacent to the circumferentially extending flow passage portion 21 in the radially inner region of the first rotor plate 10 or adjacent to the circumferentially extending flow passage portion 17 in the radially outer region of the first rotor plate 10. In the embodiments of Figures 2A, 2B and 3, the working medium is compressed or expanded during heat transfer.

[0043] 4 shows a further embodiment in which one of the first rotor plates 10 is illustrated in which two adjacent flow channels 12 are arranged as mirror images with respect to an axially and radially extending plane of symmetry S. Each of the two adjacent flow channels 12 shares a common inlet opening 13 and a common outlet opening 14 for the working medium. In this embodiment, the flow channels of the second rotor plate 11 coincide with the flow channels 12 of the first rotor plate 10 in the region of the heat transfer conduits and preferably flow in countercurrent.

[0044] 5, 6 and 7 show further embodiments in which the working medium is compressed or expanded during heat transfer, respectively.

[0045] According to Fig. 5, the working medium is compressed during external heat transfer, preferably with a small expansion to achieve a low temperature difference between the working medium and the heat transfer medium on the sink side, or to keep the temperature of the heat transfer medium on the sink side substantially constant. Furthermore, the working medium is expanded during internal heat transfer, preferably with a small expansion to achieve a low temperature difference between the working medium and the heat transfer medium on the source side, or to keep the temperature of the heat transfer medium on the source side substantially constant. The small temperature difference between the working medium and the respective heat transfer medium results in low exergy losses and a high efficiency (COP) of the overall system. The prerequisite for this is that the respective heat transfer medium is fed through a conduit together with the working medium using the counterflow principle.

[0046] According to Fig. 5, the working medium is compressed during external heat transfer, preferably to achieve a low temperature difference between the working medium and the heat transfer medium on the sink side with a small expansion, or to keep the temperature of the heat transfer medium on the sink side substantially constant. Furthermore, the working medium is also compressed during internal heat transfer, to reduce the temperature difference between the working medium and the heat transfer medium on the source side when the expansion of the heat transfer medium on the source side is large. The respective heat transfer medium and working medium are guided through the conduits using the principle of counterflow.

[0047] According to Figure 7, the working medium expands during external heat transfer, reducing the temperature difference between the working medium and the heat transfer medium on the sink side when the heat transfer medium on the sink side is large. Furthermore, the working medium compresses during internal heat transfer, reducing the temperature difference between the working medium and the heat transfer medium on the source side when the heat transfer medium on the source side is large. The respective heat transfer mediums and working medium are guided through the conduits using the principle of counterflow.

[0048] 8 shows a further embodiment in which no intermediate compression or expansion of the working medium occurs. To this end, the working medium flows through only one circumferentially extending flow passage portion 21 per flow passage 12 in the radially inner region of the first rotor plate 10, i.e., not through multiple interconnected flow passage portions 21 in a loop as in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3. Accordingly, the working medium flows through only one circumferentially extending flow passage portion 17 per flow passage 12, i.e., not through multiple interconnected flow passage portions 17 in a loop as in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3.

[0049] 9 shows a further embodiment in which the first rotor plate 10 and / or the second rotor plate 11 each include at least one recess 33. The recess 33 can be arranged to reduce, in particular substantially inhibit, heat transfer between the flow of the working medium in the flow passages 12 at different angular positions of the respective first rotor plate 10. Furthermore, the recess 33 can be used to reduce, in particular substantially prevent, heat transfer of the heat transfer medium in the flow passages of the second rotor plate 11 to adjacent conduits. Furthermore, the recess 33 can be arranged to substantially prevent heat transfer between the working medium and the heat transfer medium only at locations where heat transfer is desired.

[0050] 10A shows a first embodiment in which the first rotor plate 10 and the second rotor plate 11 are non-circular, here substantially rectangular, when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the two short sides of the first rotor plate 10 or the second rotor plate 11 are curved, and the two long sides of the first rotor plate 10 or the second rotor plate 11 are straight.

[0051] Figures 10B and 10C show another generally rectangular embodiment of the rotor element. In Figure 10B, one of the first rotor plates 10 is shown, with the conduits of the adjacent second rotor plate 11 depicted in dashed lines. Figure 10C shows the second rotor plate 11. This embodiment differs from the previously described embodiment in the following respects:

[0052] As can be seen in FIG. 10B, in this embodiment, the first rotor plate 10 includes a plurality of working medium flow passages 12, preferably extending between 10 and 200, preferably substantially parallel, extending between the inlet opening 13 and at least one outlet opening 14, here a common outlet opening 14. For clarity, seven flow passages 12 per quarter of the first rotor plate 10 are shown in FIG. 10B, i.e., a total of 28 flow passages 12. Each flow passage 12 includes one of the compression conduits 15, one of the outer first heat transfer conduits 18, the expansion conduit 20, and one of the inner first heat transfer conduits 18, extending outward from the rotation axis 2. The first heat transfer conduit 18 for forming the outer heat exchanger and the first heat transfer conduit 18 for forming the inner heat exchanger are each located at different distances from the rotation axis 2. The outer first heat transfer conduits 18 are each connected to a corresponding inner first heat transfer conduit 18, and the difference in distance from the rotation axis 2 is substantially the same. Therefore, for example, the innermost conduit of the parallel first heat transfer conduits 18 for inner heat transfer in the approximately circumferential direction is also connected to the innermost conduit of the parallel first heat transfer conduits 18 for outer heat transfer in the approximately circumferential direction. The two radii of the connected inner and outer heat transfer conduits 18 are designed so that the temperature difference between the inner and outer heat transfer conduits is substantially the same in all parallel conduits. This makes it possible to achieve approximately the same temperature curve and consistent heat transfer performance in all parallel heat transfer conduits, maintain low exergy loss, and prevent flow deviation due to increases or decreases in pressure difference.

[0053] Furthermore, in the embodiments of Figures 10B and 10C, the working medium flows transversely to the heat transfer medium in the heat transfer zone, still generating a low temperature difference (and therefore low exergy loss). In Figure 10A, this is shown using external heat transfer, where the working medium in each parallel conduit is compressed during heat exchange, establishing a constant temperature within that conduit. The temperature spread of the cross-flowing heat transfer medium can be set by the number and radius difference of the heat transfer zones of the parallel conduits. Due to the large number of parallel conduits (same radial spread as the looped design described above) and the relatively short length of the conduits, pressure losses are reduced compared to other designs. A similar effect can be achieved in the zone of internal heat transfer if each of the parallel internal conduits is expanded during heat exchange with the heat transfer medium via a radial contraction in the flow direction so that the temperature within the conduit remains constant.

[0054] 11 and 12 show in more detail a portion of the rotor element 4 of the embodiment according to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3. Thus, a plurality of, in the illustrated example six, substantially circumferential flow passage portions 21 in the radially inner region of the first rotor plate 10, substantially circumferential flow passage portions 17 in the radially outer region, substantially circumferential portions 24 of the inner heat exchanger and substantially circumferential portions 26 of the outer heat exchanger of the second rotor plate 11 extend adjacent to one another. Furthermore, an end plate 34 without conduits can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0055] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the flow passages 12 of the first rotor plate 10 and the second heat transfer conduits 22 of the second rotor plate 11 are each formed as recesses 35 recessed into the respective flat outer or joining surfaces 36 of the first rotor plate 10 and the second rotor plate 11. Stacking the first rotor plate 10 and the second rotor plate 11 forms closed conduits for the working medium and the heat transfer medium, respectively. The first rotor plate 10 and the second rotor plate 11 may be interconnected via a diffusion bond. This connection is described, for example, in EP 3885691.

[0056] 13 and 14, a detailed view marked with a rectangle in FIG. 13, shows a further embodiment of the rotor; only the differences from the preceding embodiment will be described below. In the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14, the first rotor plate 10 includes not only the compression conduit 15, the expansion conduit 20, and the first heat transfer conduit 18 for the working medium, but also the second heat transfer conduit 22 for the heat transfer medium. For this purpose, the first rotor plate 10 includes recesses 35 on its first outer surface 36A for forming the compression conduit 15, the expansion conduit 20, and the first heat transfer conduit 18 for the working medium, and recesses 35 on its second outer surface 36B for forming the second heat transfer conduit 22 for the heat transfer medium. The second rotor plate 11, which acts as a separating plate without recesses 35, is arranged between the first rotor plates 10 and closes the recesses 35 of the first rotor plates 10 to form the flow passages 12 and the second heat transfer conduits 22. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1 rotor 2 rotation axes 3 Rotary bearings 4 rotor elements 5 Water Connection 6 Gas connection 7 Fan 8 Fan Drive 9 Rotary Feedthrough 10 First rotor plate 11 Second rotor plate 12 Flow path of first rotor plate 10 13 Inlet opening of flow channel 12 14 outlet opening of flow channel 12 15 Compression conduit 16 Flow path portion extending radially outward 17 Circumferentially extending flow passage portion 18 First heat transfer conduit 19 Flow path portion extending radially inward 20 Expansion duct 21 circumferentially extending flow path portion 22 Second heat transfer conduit 23 Inner flow passage of second rotor plate 11 24: A portion of the inner flow passage 23 extending in the circumferential direction 25 outer flow passage of second rotor plate 11 26 Circumferentially extending portion of outer flow passage 25 27 Entrance opening 28 Exit opening 29 Further entrance openings 30 Further Exit Openings 31 Feed-through opening of first rotor plate 10 32 Pass-through opening of second rotor plate 11 33 Recess 34 End plate 35 dent 36 Outer surface or joint surface 37 Motor

Claims

1. A rotor (1), in particular a rotary heat pump, A rotation axis (2), a number of compression conduits (15) through which a working medium, in particular a gas, preferably a noble gas, is directed away from the rotation axis (2) to increase its pressure due to centrifugal acceleration; a number of expansion conduits (20) through which the working medium is guided towards the rotating shaft (2) to reduce its pressure due to centrifugal acceleration; a number of first heat transfer conduits (18) for the working medium; a number of second heat transfer conduits (22) for a heat transfer medium, in particular a liquid, for transferring heat between the working medium flowing in the first heat transfer conduits (18) and the heat transfer medium flowing in the second heat transfer conduits (22); Including, a number of first rotor plates (10) and second rotor plates (11) including the compression conduit (15), the expansion conduit (20), the first heat transfer conduit (18) for the working medium, and the second heat transfer conduit (22) for the heat transfer medium; The first rotor plate (10) and the second rotor plate (11) are connected to each other along their main extension faces. A rotor (1) characterized in that

2. each of the first rotor plates (10) includes at least one compression conduit (15), at least one expansion conduit (20), and at least one first heat transfer conduit (18) for the working medium; each of the plurality of second rotor plates (11) includes at least one second heat transfer conduit (22) for the heat transfer medium; A rotor (1) according to claim 1 .

3. Each of the first rotor plates (10) comprises: a flowpath portion (16) preferably extending substantially radially outwardly to form one of the compression conduits (15); and / or a flow passage portion (19) extending preferably generally radially inwardly to form one of said inflation conduits (20); and / or a flow path portion (17, 21) preferably extending in a substantially circumferential direction and forming one of said first heat transfer conduits (18); at least one flow path (12); 3. A rotor (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one flow passage (12) has an inlet opening (13) for the working medium at a first end and an outlet opening (14) for the working medium at a second end.

4. A rotor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a fan (7) is provided to maintain the flow of the working medium, and the inlet opening (13) is preferably connected to the outlet of the fan (7) and / or the outlet opening (14) is connected to the inlet of the fan (7).

5. 5. A rotor (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each of the first rotor plates (10) comprises a plurality of flow passages (12), each having at least one flow passage portion (16) preferably extending substantially radially outward, and / or having at least one flow passage portion (19) preferably extending substantially radially inward, and / or having at least one flow passage portion (17, 21) preferably extending substantially circumferentially.

6. 6. The rotor (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the flow passages (12) of the first rotor plate (10) each include a plurality of flow passage portions (17, 21) extending at different radial distances from the rotation axis (2), preferably in a substantially circumferential direction, and forming a plurality of first heat transfer conduits (10).

7. 7. A rotor (1) according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that two adjacent flow passages (12) of the first rotor plate (10) are arranged as mirror images with respect to a plane of symmetry extending in the axial and radial directions, and the two adjacent flow passages (12) share a common inlet opening (13) and a common outlet opening (14) for the working medium.

8. The rotor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each of the second rotor plates (11) includes at least one inner flow passage (23) and at least one outer flow passage (25) for forming one of the second heat transfer conduits (22), and the outer flow passage (25) is arranged radially outward of the inner flow passage (23).

9. A rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first rotor plate (10) comprises the second heat transfer conduit (22) for the heat transfer medium.

10. The compression conduit (15), the expansion conduit (20) and the first heat transfer conduit (18) for the working medium are formed as recesses (35) starting from a first outer surface (36A) of the first rotor plate (10), which is preferably substantially flat, and the second heat transfer conduit (22) for the heat transfer medium is formed as i. as a recess (35) originating from a preferably substantially flat outer surface (36) of said second rotor plate (11); or ii. a recess (35) originating from a preferably substantially flat second outer surface (36B) of said first rotor plate (10), A rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is formed

11. The rotor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the first rotor plate (10) and the second rotor plate (11) are connected to each other via a diffusion bond.

12. A rotor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first rotor plate (10) and the second rotor plate (11) are each substantially circular or non-circular, in particular substantially rectangular.

13. A method for manufacturing a rotor (1), in particular a rotary heat pump, comprising: providing a first rotor plate (10); providing a second rotor plate (11); a compression conduit (15), an expansion conduit (20), a first heat transfer conduit (18) for a working medium, and a second heat transfer conduit (22) for a heat transfer medium are formed in the first rotor plate (10) and / or the second rotor plate (11); The first rotor plate (10) and the second rotor plate (11) are stacked together, connecting said first rotor plate (10) to said second rotor plate (11) along their main extension faces; a rotor element (4) formed from the first rotor plate (10) and the second rotor plate (11) is mounted rotatably around a rotation axis (2); A method including each step.

14. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first rotor plate (10) and the second rotor plate (11) are connected by diffusion bonding.

15. 15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the compression conduit (15), the expansion conduit (20), the first heat transfer conduit (18) and / or the second heat transfer conduit (22) are formed in the first rotor plate and / or the second rotor plate (11), preferably by etching or milling.

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