heat exchanger

Abstract

To diversify utilizable heat sources for one heat exchanger.SOLUTION: A heat exchanger (4) includes heat exchange systems (1, 2, 3) and an operation part (5). To solve the issue on the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger stores main heat medium (41), the heat exchange systems being three or more performs heat exchange with the main heat medium in the heat exchanger, and the operation part serves to select one heat exchange system as the heat exchange system to be utilized, out of the three-or-more heat exchange systems and to select one heat exchange system to be used as a heat source, out of the remaining heat exchange systems.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger that can utilize three or more heat sources and cold sources.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a groundwater circulation device that pumps up groundwater used as a heat source (including heat sources and cold sources such as snow melting, air conditioners, and refrigerators) as in Patent Document 1 and circulates it between the groundwater vein and the ground.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In summer, groundwater cooler than the outside air temperature is suitable for cooling the refrigerant (heat exchange section) used in a refrigeration device or the like. However, in winter, since the outside air is lower in temperature than groundwater for cooling the refrigerant (heat exchange section) used in a refrigeration device or the like, the outside air is more suitable. Thus, efficient cold sources and heat sources can vary depending on the season and the operating state of the equipment, but it has not been easy to switch between them. An object of the present invention is to diversify the heat sources that can be utilized by one heat exchanger.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In view of such problems, the present invention is a heat exchanger provided with a heat exchange system and an operation unit, wherein the heat exchanger stores a main heat medium inside, the heat exchange system has three or more, and exchanges heat with the main heat medium in the heat exchanger, The system has a detector that detects the temperature of the heat transfer medium in the three or more heat exchange systems, and the operation unit selects, as a heat exchange system that utilizes one heat exchange system, from among the three or more heat exchange systems The system has an automatic control unit, which selects one heat exchange system from the remaining heat exchange systems to be used as a heat source based on the detected temperature. The problem was solved by creating a heat exchanger with the following characteristics. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] By combining multiple cooling and heating sources into a single heat exchanger, it has become possible to easily switch between and utilize different heat transfer media and heat sources. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Diagram illustrating the heat exchanger of Example 1. [Figure 2] Diagram illustrating the heat exchange circuit of Example 1. [Figure 3] Diagram illustrating the heat exchange circuit of Example 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different figures indicate parts with the same function, and redundant explanations in each figure will be omitted as appropriate.

[0009] (Example 1) Example 1 is an example relating to air conditioning that supplies cooled or heated air to facilities and equipment. If necessary, the air cooled or heated by the heat exchanger 4 of the present invention may be further cooled or heated by a heat pump or the like.

[0010] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram of the heat exchanger 4 of Example 1. The labels a to d in the central plan view indicate directions. In Figure 1, "side a" refers to the view from side a, as indicated in the plan view. The diagram above, based on the plan view, is a view from side a, which is the rear direction, and does not show the manifold 19, so it is labeled "partial rear view of side a". Based on the plan view, the diagram below is a view from side c, which is the front direction, and does not show the assembly section 19, so it is labeled as a "partial front view of side c". Using the plan view as a reference, the diagram on the right is a side view of side d, or the right side view. Furthermore, the "Fan Internal Structure Diagram" shown in the lower right is a diagram showing the fan 13 inside the fan casing 131 with a portion removed.

[0011] The following description of Example 1 uses ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," and "third" to describe components such as "second pump 23," "third pump 33," "second inlet 25," and "third inlet 35." In this specification, ordinal numbers are used in relation to the heat exchange system. For example, "second pump 23" refers to the pump used in the second heat exchange system 2. In Example 1, since no pump is used in the first heat exchange system 1, there is no first pump.

[0012] In this invention, the term "heat source" refers to both a heating source and a cooling source. In this specification, the distinction between heating and cooling is determined by whether the temperature is lower or higher than the temperature of the heat transfer medium (air in Example 1) used in the heat exchange system before passing through the heat exchanger 4.

[0013] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the heat exchange circuit. The heat exchanger 4 stores the main heat transfer medium 41, which is an antifreeze brine, inside. The shape of the heat exchanger 4 can be cylindrical, box-shaped, or any other appropriate shape. The outer wall of the heat exchanger 4 is preferably covered with insulating material to improve thermal efficiency. The various points shown inside the heat exchanger 4 in Figure 1 represent fins provided in the first heat exchange system 1, the second heat exchange system 2, and the third heat exchange system 3, respectively. The fins are made of thin aluminum plates with high thermal conductivity and have the function of improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0014] (Heat exchanger to be used) The heat exchange system to be utilized refers to the heat exchange system whose heat transfer medium is used in facilities or equipment (machinery, etc.). One heat exchange system is selected from three or more available heat exchange systems. In Example 1, the first heat exchange system 1 is selected as the heat exchange system to be used by operating the operation unit 5 (control unit 51), and the air heated or cooled in the first heat exchange system 1 is sent to the facility or equipment (machinery).

[0015] (Heat exchange system used as a heat source) On the other hand, the heat exchange system used as a heat source is selected by the operation unit 5 from the remaining heat exchange systems that are not selected for the above-mentioned utilized exchange system. The heat medium passing through the selected heat exchange system cools or warms the heat medium passing through the utilized heat exchange system via the main heat medium 41 in the heat exchanger 4.

[0016] (First heat exchange system · Utilized heat exchange system) In the first heat exchange system 1 of the first embodiment, the operator operates the operation unit 5 and it is selected as the utilized heat exchange system. The first heat exchange system 1 uses air as the heat medium. The air sucked from the air inlet 18 of the fan 13 may be outdoor air or indoor air. As shown in the internal structure diagram of the fan in FIG. 1, the centrifugal fan 13 housed in the fan casing 131 sends the air, which is the heat medium, to the heat exchanger 4. The air heated or cooled through the first heat exchange system 1 may be directly led into the room. Also, the air heated or cooled by the first heat exchange system 1 may be sent to another heat exchanger or heat pump etc. and used as a heat source.

[0017] Air is inhaled from the air inlet 18 of the fan 13 and sucked into the central part of the centrifugal fan 13. The inhaled air is sent from the inside of the fan 13 to the outside of the blades by a number of blades provided on the outer periphery of the fan 13 rotated by the motor 14, and then the inhaled air is sent to the heat exchanger 4 via the outlet of the fan casing 131. The first heat exchange part 12 in the heat exchanger 4 is composed of a number of ventilation pipes 17. In order to allow the air sent from the fan 13 to pass through these number of ventilation pipes 17, the first inlet 15 provided in the heat exchanger 4 extends over the entire side surface on the d side of the heat exchanger 4.

[0018] The air that enters the interior of the heat exchanger 4 through the first inlet 15 is sent to the ventilation pipe 17. A large number of fins for promoting heat exchange are provided around the ventilation pipe 17. The air sent from the fan 13 is cooled or heated by the main heat medium 41 in the heat exchanger 4 while passing through the large number of ventilation pipes 17. The air that has passed through the ventilation pipe 17 then exits to the b side of the heat exchanger 4 through the first outlet 16. The first outlet 16 extends over the entire side surface on the b side of the heat exchanger 4. The air that has exited from the first outlet 16 is collected in the collecting portion 19 as shown in FIG. 1 and sent through the air duct 191 to the facilities and equipment to be utilized.

[0019] (Heat exchange system used as a cold or heat source) The second heat exchange system 2 of Example 1 is a heat exchange system that uses the groundwater (including well water) in the well 6 as a heat source. The water temperature of the groundwater is almost constant throughout the year, maintaining a water temperature that feels warm in winter and cold in summer. Therefore, the groundwater can be used as a heat source in winter and as a cold source in summer. In addition to the groundwater (including well water), natural water such as lake water, river water, and hot spring water may also be used. In particular, the temperature of lake water varies depending on the depth, and even in summer, the temperature is low in the deeper layers. Utilizing the characteristics of natural water as a heat source is a preferred embodiment. Also, it does not necessarily have to be natural water. For example, a pipe through which an antifreeze brine is passed may be provided in a fermentation tank or a septic tank for food waste, etc., and the fermentation heat may be exchanged with the antifreeze brine, and the heated antifreeze brine may be used as a heat source. It is preferable that the types of cold and heat sources are diverse.

[0020] Groundwater, which is the heat transfer medium for the second heat exchange system 2, is pumped up by the second pump 23 and sent through the second inlet 25 to the second heat exchange section 22 in the heat exchanger 4. The groundwater then exits the heat exchanger 4 through the second outlet 26 and is returned to the well 6. The second heat exchange section 22 is made up of pipes, and numerous fins are provided around the pipes to promote heat exchange. The main heat transfer medium 41 is stored inside the heat exchanger 4, and the cold or warmth of the heat transfer medium (groundwater) flowing through the second heat exchange section 2 is exchanged with the heat transfer medium (air) of the first heat exchange system 1 via the main heat transfer medium 41. As a result, the heat transfer medium (air) of the first heat exchange system 1, which has been selected as the heat exchange system to be used, is heated or cooled.

[0021] The third heat exchange system 3 in Example 1 uses hot water produced by a solar water heater or chilled water discharged from equipment or facilities (factories) as a heat source or cold source. The third switching valve 34 selects either the heat source or the cold source. The heat transfer medium of the third heat exchange system 3 is sent to the heat exchanger 4 by the third pump 33. The heat transfer medium enters the heat exchanger 4 from the third inlet 35 of the heat exchanger 4, passes through the third heat exchange section 32 for heat exchange, and exits the heat exchanger 4 from the third outlet 36.

[0022] In Example 1, the heat exchanger 4 had three heat exchange systems, but it is possible to increase the number of heat exchange systems to four or five. The more heat exchange systems connected to the heat exchanger 4, the more complex the structure of the heat exchanger 4 becomes and the higher the cost. The third heat exchange system 3, whose heat source can be switched by the third switching valve 34, effectively functions as two separate heat exchange systems, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

[0023] (Second heat exchange system and third heat exchange system) As mentioned above, the third heat exchange system 3 can be selected as either a heat source or a cold source by operating the third switching valve 34 at the control unit 5. Furthermore, the groundwater, which is the heat transfer medium for the second heat exchange system 2, can be used as a heat source in winter and a cold source in summer. Since the first heat exchange system 1 has been selected as the heat exchange system to be used, the operator must choose one of the remaining two heat exchange systems, the second heat exchange system 2 and the third heat exchange system 3, to be used as the heat source. This selection is made by operating the control unit 5.

[0024] The operating unit 5 may be a control unit 51 that performs operations automatically. The operator can choose between the second heat exchange system 2 and the third heat exchange system 3, taking into consideration the season, the operating status of the chiller and water heater, the temperature of the hot and cold wastewater, etc., but this can be left to the control unit 51.

[0025] The reason the heat transfer medium for the second heat exchange system 2 is groundwater drawn from well 6 is that, as mentioned above, the water temperature hardly changes throughout the year regardless of the season. The second heat exchange system 2 is used as a cooling or heating source throughout the year. In contrast, the third heat exchange system 3 in Example 1 uses a solar water heater (not shown) as a heat source. The solar water heater can provide hot water that is hotter than groundwater, even in winter, but only during the daytime. The operating unit 5 or control unit 51 switches the third switching valve 34 to the heat source side and simultaneously selects the third heat exchange system 3 as the heat exchange system to be used as a heat source.

[0026] When night falls, the operator operating the control unit 5 and the control unit 51 select the second heat exchange system 2 as the heat exchange system to use as a heat source, in order to use groundwater, which is advantageous as a heat source in winter.

[0027] (Operation unit) The choice of whether to use the second heat exchange system 2 (groundwater) or the third heat exchange system 3 (cold or hot source) can be made using the operation unit 5. The operation unit 5 can also be an automatic control unit 51. The operation unit 5 of this invention encompasses both manual operation and automatic operation by the control unit 51. The dotted line in Figure 2 indicates the wiring extending from the control unit 5. The control unit 5 is connected in such a way that the switch 132 for the fan 13, the second pump 23, the third pump 33, and the third switching valve 34 can be operated by the operator.

[0028] (Control Unit) Making the control unit 51 instead of the operating unit 5 offers significant advantages, as it allows for the installation of detectors 52, such as temperature sensors, at the heat source, enabling the selection of the third heat exchange system 3 when the heat source quality is good, and the automatic selection of the second heat exchange system 2 when groundwater is more advantageous. The selection of a heat source constantly changes depending on the season, the operating status of the equipment and facilities, but the control unit 51 is designed to select the optimal heat exchange system by comprehensively considering information from the detector 52 and other sources, thereby improving energy-saving efficiency.

[0029] (Example 2) In any heat exchange system, the heat transfer medium may be either a liquid or a gas. Example 2 is an example in which the heat transfer medium in the third heat exchange system 3 is a gas, and a sub-channel 27 is added to the second heat exchange system 2 in which hot or cold water produced or discarded in the facility or equipment is used as the heat transfer medium. Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the heat exchange circuit in Example 2. The structure of the equipment differs depending on whether the heat transfer medium is a liquid or a gas. In Example 1, since the heat transfer medium is a liquid, the third pump 33 is used. However, if a gas is used as the heat transfer medium in the third heat exchange system 3, the third pump 33 will be replaced with a third blower 37 or the like, and various components will need to be made suitable for the gas.

[0030] Furthermore, hot and cold water discharged from various facilities, as well as hot water produced by solar water heaters, can be used in the second heat exchange system 2. When using hot or cold water instead of groundwater, the sub-channel 27 is used. The sub-channel 27 is equipped with a second sub-channel switching valve 241 that switches between hot and cold water. The operator uses the control unit 5 to select whether the flow path of the second sub-channel switching valve 241 is hot or cold water. The second main channel switching valve 24 is a valve that switches between using groundwater as the heat transfer medium or using the sub-channel 27. The operator uses the control unit 5 to switch the second main channel switching valve 24 to the port on the sub-channel 27 side. Next, the operator switches the second drainage switching valve 28 to the port on the sub-drainage channel 29 side to prevent hot or cold water discharged from various facilities from flowing into the well 6. These operations can be performed automatically by using the control unit 51 as the control unit 5.

[0031] The hot or cold water that has been drained from the secondary drainage channel 29 and has completed heat exchange may be discarded. Alternatively, if equipment such as a solar water heater is being used, the hot water that has completed heat exchange may be returned to the solar water heater and circulated.

[0032] (Variation 1) Examples 1 and 2 selected a first heat exchange system 1 that uses air as the heat transfer medium. However, a heat exchange system that uses a liquid as the heat transfer medium may also be used. For example, exhaust gas discharged from a factory can be used in the first heat exchange system 1 to heat the main heat transfer medium 41 in the heat exchanger 4, and then tap water can be passed through the second heat exchange system 2 as the heat transfer medium to produce hot water.

[0033] Furthermore, the heated or cooled heat transfer medium obtained from the heat exchange system can also be used as the heat transfer medium for the heat pump. By using a heat transfer medium that is hotter or colder than the ambient temperature, the energy efficiency of the heat pump can be increased.

[0034] (Modification 2) The heat exchanger 4 in Examples 1 and 2 was equipped with three heat exchange systems. If necessary, the heat exchanger 4 of the present invention may be equipped with more than three heat exchange systems.

[0035] (Effects of the example) The heat exchanger 4 of the present invention, which can utilize multiple heat sources, is equipped with three or more heat exchange systems and can be pre-connected to various heat sources. The present invention may also be equipped with a detector 52 that detects the temperature of various heat sources, and the control unit 51 of the operation unit 5 can switch the heat exchange system to select the optimal heat source. Furthermore, by providing the heat exchanger 4 with a heat exchange system that uses a gas as the heat transfer medium and a heat exchange system that uses a liquid as the heat transfer medium, it is possible to choose either a liquid or a gas as the heat transfer medium to be used.

[0036] Each heat exchange system can pass heat transfer fluids from multiple heat sources by adding a switching valve, and can also be pre-connected to countless diverse heat sources. Because this creates versatility in selecting the optimal heat source, the heat exchanger 4 of the present invention can contribute to energy saving.

[0037] While embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any design changes, etc., that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included. Furthermore, the aforementioned implementation methods can be combined by reusing each other's technologies, as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in their purpose, structure, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1. First heat exchange system 12. First heat exchange section (vent pipe) 13 Fans 131 Fan Casing 132 switches 14 motors 15. First Inlet 16. First outlet 17. Ventilation pipe 18 Intake port 19 Gathering area 191 Air pipe 2. Second heat exchange system 22 Second heat exchange section 23. Second pump 24 Second main flow path switching valve 241 Second sub-flow channel switching valve 25 Second inlet 26 Second outlet 27 Subchannel 28. Second drainage switching valve 29 Sub-drainage canal 3. Third heat exchange system 32 Third heat exchange section 33. The third pump 34 Third switching valve 35 Third Inlet 36 Third outlet 37. Third blower 4 Heat exchanger 41 Main heating medium 5 Control section 51 Control Unit 52 detectors 6 wells

Claims

1. A heat exchanger equipped with a heat exchange system and an operating unit, The aforementioned heat exchanger stores the main heat transfer medium inside, The aforementioned heat exchange system consists of three or more components, and exchanges heat with the main heat transfer medium in the heat exchanger. The system has a detector that detects the temperature of the heat transfer medium in the three or more heat exchange systems, The aforementioned operating unit selects one heat exchange system from among the three or more heat exchange systems to be used. A heat exchanger having an automatic control unit, wherein the control unit selects one heat exchange system to be used as a heat source from the remaining heat exchange systems based on the detected temperature.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the three or more heat exchange systems include a heat exchange system that uses air as a heat transfer medium.

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