Underwater heat utilization system

Abstract

To provide a submerged heat utilization system that is resistant against disaster and has high durability.SOLUTION: A submerged heat utilization system comprises a block part, a flow path pipe, and a circulation pipe. The block part is filled with a filling material, has a specific gravity that causes it to sink in water, and is submerged in water. The flow path pipe has heat medium fluid flowing therethrough, is provided within the block part, exchanges heat with water outside the block part, and is connected to the circulation pipe. The circulation pipe circulates the heat medium fluid within the flow path pipe via a pump part and a heat exchange part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an underwater heat utilization system in which a flow passage is submerged mainly at the bottom of the sea, a lake, a river, or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, underwater heat utilization systems that use the sea, lakes, rivers, etc. as heat sources have existed, as described in Patent Document 1. Conventional systems were based on the idea of ​​pumping water from the ocean, lakes, rivers, etc. and utilizing its heat, but did not consider the idea of ​​exchanging heat underwater. The reason for this is that heat exchange systems in which the heat exchanger is submerged underwater are prone to accidents such as the heat exchanger being washed away or hit by driftwood during disasters such as floods and typhoons, and therefore could not be put into practical use. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 55-160105 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an underwater heat utilization system that is disaster resistant and highly durable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a water purifier that includes a block portion, a flow passage pipe, and a circulation pipe, the block portion being filled with a filler that has a specific gravity that causes it to sink in water and that can be submerged in water. A fishing reef that is attached to the bottom of the water, and a plurality of the block parts are connected to each other by joints,The flow path pipe, which carries a heat transfer fluid therethrough, is provided within the block portion and exchanges heat with water outside the block portion, and is connected to the circulation pipe, and the circulation pipe circulates the heat transfer fluid within the flow path pipe via a pump portion and a heat exchange portion. Effect of the Invention

[0006] The underwater heat utilization system of the present invention is disaster-resistant and highly durable. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an overall diagram of the underwater heat utilization system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the block section. [Diagram 3] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the underwater heat utilization system used as a fishing reef. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the underwater heat utilization system applied to a floating wind turbine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings indicate parts having the same function, and duplicated descriptions in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

[0009] [Example 1] Fig. 1 is an overall view of the underwater heat utilization system 1. Fig. 2 is an explanatory view of the block section 2. The underwater heat utilization system 1 of the first embodiment is roughly composed of a block section 2 submerged in water and a heat exchange section 5 on the ground. A flow path pipe 3, which will be described later, is buried in the block section 2, and is configured so that a heat transfer medium fluid flows from an inlet 31 to an outlet 32. The heat transfer fluid used in the first embodiment is a brine such as an antifreeze solution.

[0010] The inlet 31 to the outlet 32 ​​are connected to a circulation pipe 4 so that the heat transfer fluid circulates between above ground and underwater. A pump section P that circulates a heat medium fluid is provided on the ground. Also, a heat pump 63 is provided on the ground as a heat exchange section 5, and the heat resource sent from the heat pump 63 drives heat utilization equipment such as an air conditioner 62 installed in the facility.

[0011] (Block section) As shown enlarged in Fig. 2, the block section 2 has a flow path pipe 3 buried inside. The block section 2 of Example 1 has a steel material 21 attached to the water bottom WB side as a weight, so that it will not move from the water bottom WB even if a typhoon, flood, etc. occurs. The block section 2 of Example 1 uses concrete as the filler material 22, and the area around the flow path pipe 3 is filled with concrete. The block portion 2 is highly durable because the periphery of the flow passage pipe 3 is filled with the filler 22. The flow passage pipe 3 is protected by the filler 22, and the filler 22 protects the flow passage pipe 3 from driftwood and the like.

[0012] Furthermore, when used in the sea, attachment organisms such as barnacles and shellfish attach to the surface of the filler 22 that constitutes the block section 2, but do not attach directly to the flow passage pipe 3. Therefore, the flow passage pipe 3 has extremely high durability as a heat exchanger. If seaweed attaches to the flow passage pipe 3, the flow passage pipe 3 becomes more likely to move due to the current of seawater, leading to damage. In particular, waves caused by typhoons cause the flow passage pipe 3 with seaweed attached to move significantly and become damaged. The block portion 2 of Example 1 has a sufficient specific gravity to sink in water because the filler 22 is made of concrete, and will not move even when a large wave comes.

[0013] Although the heat exchange efficiency of the block section 2 is poor because the flow passage pipes 3 are covered with the filler 22, this poor efficiency can be compensated for by using a sufficiently long flow passage pipe 3. The seabed and the bottom of a river WB are places that have not been used as heat resources until now, and there are vast areas where a block section 2 with a sufficiently long flow passage pipe 3 buried therein can be installed.

[0014] (Circulation pipe) The circulation pipe 4 is preferably made of a flexible material since it is installed on the uneven water bottom WB. It is preferable that the circulation pipe 4 is fitted with a heat insulating material around it to protect the heat collected by the block section 2. It is also preferable that the circulation pipe 4 is buried under the water bottom WB to protect it from typhoons and high waves. To protect the circulation pipe 4, it may be housed inside a sturdy steel pipe that is one size larger. Furthermore, the circulation pipe 4 may be protected by being filled with a filler 22 therearound.

[0015] (Use as a fishing reef) FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the underwater heat utilization system 1 used as a fishing reef 8. Since the block part 2 is placed on the water bottom WB, it can function as a fishing reef 8. Attached organisms such as seaweed, barnacles, and shellfish, which were previously a nuisance, become hiding places and spawning grounds for small fish, enhancing the function of the fishing reef 8.

[0016] Block section 2 also changes the direction of the water current flowing near the seabed. The water current rises over block section 2, generating a so-called "upwelling current" that lifts nutrient-rich seawater near the seabed to near the surface. Block section 2 installed in a location with such a water current promotes the growth of plankton.

[0017] Submerging multiple block portions 2 enhances its function as a fishing reef 8. The block parts 2 shown in Fig. 3 are stacked closely together. As a modification, the block parts 2 may be stacked with gaps between them. By leaving gaps in this way, small fish can hide, improving the function of the fishing reef 8.

[0018] (Connection of block parts) The block parts 2 can be used by connecting multiple parts with the joints 23. In particular, the fishing reef 8 of the first embodiment is a structure that can obtain a greater effect as it becomes larger, and a large fishing reef 8 can be constructed by connecting multiple submerged block parts 2 with each other with the joints 23.

[0019] The outlet 32 ​​of the flow passage pipe 3 in one block portion 2 and the inlet 31 of the flow passage pipe 3 in another block portion 2 are connected in series by a connecting pipe (not shown). Furthermore, a plurality of block portions 2 may be connected in parallel. By connecting multiple block parts 2, it becomes more difficult for them to move from the water bottom WB, improving durability against flood damage.

[0020] . The multiple block sections 2 are connected to each other by robust joints 23, which makes them less likely to move even in the event of a typhoon or the like, thereby enhancing durability.

[0021] A part of the fishing reef 8 may be a simple concrete block without the flow path pipe 3 of the present invention embedded therein. Even if a simple concrete block and the block portion 2 of the present invention are connected by the joint 23, the connected block portion 2 is unlikely to move and is sturdy.

[0022] [Example 2] The second embodiment is an example in which a floating wind power generation device 61 is used as the heat utilization facility 6. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the application of the underwater heat utilization system 1 to the floating wind power generation device 61. The floating wind power generation device 61 captures wind with a huge propeller to rotate the propeller. The rotation of the propeller is sent to a speed increasing device 612 consisting of a complex combination of gears, and the rotation speed is increased to a rotation speed that is efficient for generating electricity. The generator 611 converts the rotational energy into electricity, but the efficiency is not 100%. The rotational energy that is not converted into electrical energy becomes heat and is accumulated in the housing 614, which becomes the heat exchanger 5.

[0023] Conventional floating wind power generation equipment 61 cools the heat accumulated inside the housing 614 by using outside air flowing over the sea, but outside air containing moisture and salt naturally causes the speed increaser 612 and generator 611 contained inside the housing 614 to rust. In the floating wind power generation device 61 of the second embodiment, the housing 614 is filled with clean air A. The heat transfer medium fluid circulating in the circulation pipe 4 is the clean air A in the housing 614, and the air A circulates between the block portion 2.

[0024] The clean air A used as the heat transfer fluid does not cause equipment to rust, and in Example 2, the frequency of maintenance can be dramatically reduced. Although not shown, the circulating air A is kept normal by passing through a device that removes moisture contained therein and a filter that removes salt and the like. Since the circulating air A circulates in a closed space and does not come into contact with outside air, the maintenance costs of the filter and the dehumidification can be kept lower than when handling outside air that contains moisture or salt.

[0025] In the pump section P of the second embodiment, a fan can be used since the heat transfer fluid is air A. The fan used as the pump section P is installed at an appropriate position in the circulation pipe 4. The rotation speed of the fan is controlled by measuring the temperature inside the housing 614 and the amount of power generated by the generator 611, and the like, to keep the temperature inside the housing 614 constant. The circulation pipe 4 of the second embodiment circulates the air A inside the flow path pipe 3 via the pump section P and the housing 614 which serves as the heat exchange section 5.

[0026] 4 is a conceptual diagram for explanation, and therefore the positions of the air outlet 41 and the air inlet 42 of the circulation pipe 4 are not shown as optimal positions. It is a preferred embodiment to provide the air outlet 41 near the generator 611, which generates a large amount of heat, and to provide the air inlet 42 between the speed increaser 612 and the propeller.

[0027] The foundation 613 of the floating wind power generation device 61 is a concrete block that becomes the block section 2. The flow pipe 3 is buried inside. The seawater near the water bottom WB has a low water temperature and is extremely suitable as a cold source for cooling the generator 611 and the speed increasing gear 612.

[0028] The above-described floating wind power generation apparatus 61 is grounded on the water bottom WB. The floating wind power generation apparatus 61 of the second embodiment can also be applied to a floating floating wind power generation apparatus 61 that is not grounded on the water bottom WB.

[0029] Furthermore, the heat transfer medium fluid used in the underwater heat utilization system 1 in the second embodiment is air A, but it may be a liquid such as an antifreeze. A heat exchange unit 5 is installed in the housing 614, and antifreeze liquid passing through the heat exchange unit 5 is circulated through the circulation pipe 4. The heat exchange unit 5 is provided in the generator 611 or the speed increasing device 612, and may directly cool these devices, or may indirectly cool these devices by cooling the air A in the housing 614. When the heat exchange unit 5 is directly installed in the generator 611, the heat exchange unit 5 is installed with a space between it and the heat generating region or in contact with it.

[0030] [Example 3] The flow path pipe 3 of the present invention is buried in and protected by a filler 22. Example 3 is an embodiment in which an acidic hot spring or the like is used as a heat source. The filler 22 of Example 3 is made of a material that can withstand the acidic hot spring and protects the flow path pipe 3. The inlet 31 and outlet 32 ​​of the flow path pipe 3 are connected to a circulation pipe 4 formed of a corrosion-resistant material. The block section 2 in which the flow path pipe 3 is buried in the filler 22 is submerged in high-temperature hot spring water, and heat is extracted via the circulation pipe 4. The extracted heat is used for heating and power generation. The underwater heat utilization system 1 of the third embodiment is particularly advantageous for small-scale power generation, and dramatically reduces the frequency of maintenance.

[0031] Furthermore, the block portion 2 can be installed in a hot spring simply by submerging the block portion 2 in the hot spring, and Example 3 has extremely high workability.

[0032] The above describes in detail the embodiments of the present invention along with examples and modified examples. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention includes design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments can be combined by utilizing the technologies of each other, so long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in the purpose, configuration, and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1. Underwater heat utilization system 2 Block section 21 Steel materials 22 Filling material 23 Joint 3. Flow Pipe 31 Inlet 32 Outlet 4 Circulation Pipe 41 Air outlet 42 Intake port 5 Heat exchange section 6. Heat Utilization Facilities 61 Floating wind power generation equipment 611 Generator 612 Speed ​​increaser 613 Foundation 614 Housing 62 Air conditioner 63 Heat Pump 8 Fishing Reef A. Clean air WB Underwater P Pump section

Claims

1. The block section includes a flow passage and a circulation pipe. The block portion is filled with a filler, has a specific gravity that sinks in water, and is a fishing reef that is submerged in water and attached to the bottom of the water, and a plurality of the block portions are connected to each other with joints. the flow passage pipe, through which a heat transfer medium flows, is provided within the block portion, and exchanges heat with water outside the block portion; the flow passage pipe is connected to the circulation pipe; The underwater heat utilization system, characterized in that the circulation pipe circulates the heat transfer fluid in the flow passage pipe via a pump section and a heat exchange section.

2. 2. The water heating system according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer fluid is an antifreeze, water, or air. Medium heat utilization system.

3. In addition, it is equipped with a floating wind power generation device, The water-based wind power generation device includes a generator, The underwater heat utilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the generator is cooled by the heat exchanger.

4. The underwater heat utilization system according to claim 3 , wherein the generator is cooled by clean air that has been subjected to heat exchange in the heat exchange section.

5. The above-mentioned floating wind power generation device has a foundation part underwater, 5. The underwater heat utilization system according to claim 3, wherein a part of the foundation portion is the block portion.

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