Waste heat recycling device

Abstract

This waste heat recycling device is disposed on equipment that emits heat. The waste heat recycling device is provided with at least one tray on which a desiccant material is disposed, a cylindrical side wall surrounding the at least one tray, a roof disposed above the side wall, a first opening disposed in the side wall and / or between the equipment and the side wall, and a second opening disposed in the side wall and / or between the room and the side wall. The at least one tray is a mesh. The first opening is disposed between the equipment and the at least one tray in the vertical direction, and the second opening is disposed between the at least one tray and the roof in the vertical direction.

Description

Waste heat recycling equipment

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a waste heat recovery device.

[0002] Conventionally, there is a waste heat recycling device for desorbing water sorbed on a desiccant material (for example, Patent Document 1). This waste heat recycling device is installed on a heat-emitting facility, and is configured so that air heated by the heat passes through the desiccant material contained in the waste heat recycling device. The heated air desorbs the water sorbed on the desiccant material.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-173439

[0004] In the above-mentioned waste heat recycling device, the drying chamber that houses the desiccant material is approximately cylindrical, so there is a risk that dust will enter through the open top of the drying chamber and adhere to the desiccant material.

[0005] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[0006] (1) A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a waste heat recovery device disposed above heat-emitting equipment. The waste heat recovery device includes at least one tray on which a desiccant material is disposed, a cylindrical sidewall surrounding the at least one tray, a roof disposed above the sidewall, a first opening disposed between the equipment and the sidewall and / or in the sidewall, and a second opening disposed between the roof and the sidewall and / or in the sidewall. The at least one tray is mesh-shaped, the first opening is disposed between the equipment and the at least one tray in the vertical direction, and the second opening is disposed between the at least one tray and the roof in the vertical direction. When the waste heat recovery device is disposed above the equipment, air flows into the housing through the first opening and flows out of the housing through the second opening. The desiccant material desorbs water due to rising heated air generated in the housing space surrounded by the sidewall. A roof is disposed above the side wall. This prevents dust from entering the waste heat recovery device even when the ascending air current in the housing space weakens. This prevents a decrease in the water sorption and desorption functions of the desiccant material. (2) The waste heat recovery device of the above aspect may further include a heat sink disposed at the bottom of the side wall. This aspect allows the heat emitted from the equipment to be efficiently introduced into the housing space by the heat sink. (3) In the waste heat recovery device of the above aspect, the area of ​​the second opening may be larger than the area of ​​the first opening. This aspect facilitates the generation of a flow in which air flows into the waste heat recovery device through the first opening and flows out of the waste heat recovery device through the second opening. (4) In the waste heat recovery device of the above aspect, the roof may include a roof main body portion that covers the upper portion of the housing space surrounded by the side wall, and a protrusion that protrudes outward from the roof main body portion. This aspect further prevents dust from entering the housing space. (5) In the waste heat recycling device of the above aspect, at least a portion of the protrusion may overlap the second opening in a side view of the waste heat recycling device viewed horizontally.According to this configuration, cold air is less likely to flow upward, thereby suppressing the intrusion of cold air into the housing space. This suppresses a decrease in the efficiency of desiccant regeneration. (6) In the waste heat recycling device of the above configuration, the protruding portion may have a connection portion connecting to the roof main body portion and an edge portion located at the edge of the roof, and the protruding portion may be inclined so that the edge portion is located below the connection portion. This configuration suppresses the intrusion of cold air into the housing space with a simple configuration. (7) In the waste heat recycling device of the above configuration, the side wall may have a self-supporting side wall main body portion having a third opening, and a side wall opening / closing portion detachably attached to the side wall main body portion and opening / closing the third opening, and the waste heat recycling device may further have a support portion supporting the at least one tray slidably outward through the third opening. According to this configuration, the side wall opening / closing portion can be detached from the side wall main body portion to pull out the tray. This allows the placement of the desiccant material, etc., to be checked. This improves the maintainability of the waste heat recovery device. (8) In the waste heat recovery device of the above aspect, the sidewall main body may include a first sidewall, a second sidewall facing the first sidewall with the at least one tray in between, and a third sidewall connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the sidewall opening / closing portion facing the third sidewall with the at least one tray in between, and the sidewall main body may be disassembled into the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewall. According to this aspect, the sidewall main body can be disassembled into the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewall for transportation, thereby improving the flexibility of installation. (9) In the waste heat recovery device of the above aspect, the support portion may include a first support portion attached to the first sidewall and a second support portion attached to the second sidewall. According to this aspect, compared to a case where the first support portion is separate from the first side wall and the second support portion is separate from the second side wall, the installation work can be reduced.(10) In the waste heat recovery apparatus of the above aspect, the support portion may include a first support portion arranged along the first side wall, a second support portion arranged along the second side wall, a connecting portion connecting the first support portion and the second support portion, and a fixing portion fixing the connecting portion to the equipment. According to this aspect, the support portion can be fixed to the equipment first, thereby facilitating installation of the waste heat recovery apparatus. (11) In the waste heat recovery apparatus of the above aspect, the roof may have a flat shape. According to this aspect, the amount of work required to process the roof can be reduced compared to when the roof has a curved shape. (12) In the waste heat recovery apparatus of the above aspect, the roof may have an upwardly convex shape. According to this aspect, the rising air current reaches the convex portion, thereby making it easier for air to reliably pass through to the uppermost tray among the multiple trays. (13) The waste heat recycling system of the above embodiment may further include at least one of a thermoelectric element that converts heat into electricity and a solar panel that generates electricity, a motor driven by the electricity, and a fan driven by the motor for raising the air in the enclosure space surrounded by the side wall. This embodiment increases the flow velocity of the ascending air current in the enclosure space, further promoting desorption of water from the desiccant material. The motor that drives the fan is driven using electricity generated by the thermoelectric element and electricity generated by the solar panel. This allows for greater energy savings compared to using a commercial power source to drive the motor. (14) In the waste heat recycling system of the above embodiment, the at least one tray may include multiple trays, and the multiple trays may be spaced apart in the vertical direction. According to this embodiment, heated air that has passed through a first tray passes through a second tray above the first tray. This allows for efficient use of thermal energy released from the system to regenerate the desiccant material. (15) In the waste heat recycling system of the above aspect, the desiccant material may be a polymer adsorbent. According to this aspect, since the regeneration temperature of the polymer adsorbent is relatively low, the desiccant material can be easily regenerated using heat emitted by the equipment.The present disclosure can be realized in various forms, and in addition to the waste heat recycling device described above, the present disclosure can also be realized in the form of, for example, a method of manufacturing or using a waste heat recycling device.

[0007] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a waste heat recycling device. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a waste heat recycling device with the tray pulled out. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a waste heat recycling device 1. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a waste heat recycling device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a cross section of a waste heat recycling device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a view showing another embodiment of a roof.

[0008] A. First Embodiment: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a waste heat recovery system 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows arrows indicating mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z directions. The X and Y directions are parallel to a horizontal plane, and the Z direction is a vertically upward direction. The arrows indicating the X, Y, and Z directions are also shown in other figures as appropriate so that the illustrated directions correspond to those in FIG. 1. In the following description, when specifying the direction, the direction indicated by the arrow in each figure is indicated by "+" and the opposite direction is indicated by "-", and positive and negative signs are used in combination to indicate the direction. Hereinafter, the +Z direction will also be referred to as "up" and the -Z direction as "down." The axial direction along the Z direction will also be referred to as the up-down direction.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1 , the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 is disposed on equipment FA that emits heat. In this embodiment, the equipment FA is a heating furnace whose maximum internal temperature is set to approximately 1000°C. The maximum temperature of the upper surface of the housing of the equipment FA on which the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 is installed is approximately 90°C. Note that the equipment FA is not limited to a heating furnace and may be other equipment such as a machine tool. The waste heat recycling apparatus 1 uses the heat emitted from the equipment FA to regenerate a desiccant material 90 (described later) stored inside.

[0010] In this embodiment, the length W of the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 in the X direction is approximately 450 mm. The length D of the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 in the Y direction is approximately 650 mm. The length H of the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 in the Z direction is approximately 500 mm. However, the size of the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 is not limited to these values. The size of the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 may be set according to the size of the upper surface of the housing of the equipment FA on which it will be installed. If the size of the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 as viewed in the vertical direction is approximately the same as the size of the upper surface of the housing of the equipment FA on which it will be installed, the heat emitted by the equipment FA can be used efficiently.

[0011] The waste heat recycling system 1 includes a plurality of trays 10, a sidewall 50, a roof 60, a first opening 51, and a second opening 52, as shown in FIG. 1 . The waste heat recycling system 1 further includes a support 40, as shown in FIG. 2 . The sidewall 50 and the roof 60 together form a housing 20. As shown in FIG. 1 , the planar shape of each tray 10 when viewed in the vertical direction is rectangular. Each tray 10 has a mesh-like shape. As shown in FIG. 2 , in this embodiment, each tray 10 includes a tray frame 11 and a mesh-like tray bottom 12. The tray bottom 12 is preferably made of a rust-resistant material. In this embodiment, the tray bottom 12 is made of stainless steel. Because the desiccant material 90 desorbs water, the tray 10 is used in a high-humidity environment. Therefore, using a stainless steel tray bottom 12 can prevent rust from forming on the tray bottom 12. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a deterioration in the functionality of the desiccant material 90 due to adhesion of the generated rust to the desiccant material 90 .

[0012] The tray frame 11 surrounds the tray bottom surface 12. As shown in FIG. 2 , the tray frame 11 is supported by a support portion 40. Typically, the waste heat recovery device 1 is positioned and used so that the tray bottom surface 12 of the tray 10 is horizontal. A desiccant material 90 is placed on the tray bottom surface 12. The support portion 40 is preferably made of a material with high thermal conductivity. Aluminum can be used as a material with high thermal conductivity. This allows the regeneration of the desiccant material 90 to be promoted by the heat emitted by the heated support portion 40 in addition to the heated air.

[0013] In this embodiment, a granular polymer adsorbent is used as the desiccant material 90. Specifically, a polyacrylic acid-based material manufactured by Nippon Exlan Kogyo Co., Ltd. can be used as the polymer adsorbent. The regeneration temperature required for desorbing sorbed water molecules of the polymer adsorbent is approximately 40°C or higher and 100°C or lower. Therefore, the desiccant material 90 can be regenerated using heat released from the equipment FA. Note that sorption is a phenomenon in which absorption and adsorption occur simultaneously. Regeneration of the desiccant material 90 refers to the desorption of sorbed water molecules by the desiccant material 90. The desiccant material 90 absorbs surrounding heat during the desorption process of water molecules. Therefore, the waste heat recycling system 1 also functions as a heat removal device. Therefore, by installing the waste heat recycling system 1 on the equipment FA, it is possible to suppress temperature increases within the factory where the equipment FA is installed and reduce the energy required to cool the factory's indoor temperature to a target temperature. Therefore, CO ２ The temperature of the upper surface of the housing of the equipment FA may be any temperature that promotes regeneration of the desiccant material 90, and may be approximately 40°C or higher and 100°C or lower. In order to further promote regeneration of the desiccant material 90, the greater the difference between the initial temperature of the desiccant material 90 and the temperature of the upper surface of the housing of the equipment FA, the better.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1 , the housing 20 accommodates multiple trays 10. In this embodiment, the housing 20 is a rectangular parallelepiped. The housing 20 is preferably made of a material with high thermal insulation properties. Examples of highly thermal insulating materials that can be used include heat-resistant resin, iron, and stainless steel. This makes it difficult for heat inside the housing 20 to escape to the outside. The sidewalls 50 are cylindrical and surround the trays 10. The roof 60 is disposed above the sidewalls 50. The roof 60 blocks the upper part of the housing space 21 surrounded by the sidewalls 50.

[0015] In this embodiment, the first opening 51 and the second opening 52 are disposed in the side wall 50. The first opening 51 is disposed between the equipment FA and the side wall 50 in the vertical direction. Specifically, the first opening 51 is disposed below the lowest tray 10 in the vertical direction. The second opening 52 is disposed between the side wall 50 and the roof 60 in the vertical direction. Specifically, the second opening 52 is disposed above the highest tray 10 in the vertical direction. This makes it easier for heated air to pass through all of the multiple trays 10, as will be described later.

[0016] The side wall 50 can be disassembled into a side wall main body portion 70 and a side wall opening / closing portion 80, which will be described later. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the side wall opening / closing portion 80 has been removed and the tray 10 has been pulled out. As shown in FIG. 3 , the side wall main body portion 70 has a first side wall 71, a second side wall 72, and a third side wall 73. The second side wall 72 faces the first side wall 71 in the X direction, sandwiching multiple trays 10 therebetween. The third side wall 73 connects the first side wall 71 and the second side wall 72. In this embodiment, the first side wall 71 and the third side wall 73 are fixed to each other using fastening members (not shown). Similarly, in this embodiment, the third side wall 73 and the second side wall 72 are fixed to each other using fastening members (not shown). In this embodiment, the side wall main body 70 has a first side wall 71 and a third side wall 73 that form a substantially right angle with each other, and a third side wall 73 and a second side wall 72 that form a substantially right angle with each other. The side wall main body 70 can be self-supporting because it can contact the equipment FA at multiple sides.

[0017] A portion of the lower edge of the first side wall 71 is cut out. Specifically, the central portion of the lower edge of the first side wall 71 in the Y direction is located higher than the end portion of the lower edge of the first side wall 71 in the Y direction. A gap formed between the central portion of the lower edge of the first side wall 71 in the Y direction and the equipment FA is the first opening 51. Similarly, a portion of the upper edge of the first side wall 71 is cut out. Specifically, the central portion of the upper edge of the first side wall 71 in the Y direction is located lower than the end portion of the upper edge of the first side wall 71 in the Y direction. A gap formed between the central portion of the upper edge of the first side wall 71 and the roof 60 is the second opening 52. The second side wall 72 has a shape similar to that of the first side wall 71. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2 , the first opening 51 and the second opening 52 are formed in the first side wall 71 and the second side wall 72, respectively.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2 , the waste heat recovery system 1 further includes a heat sink 30. The heat sink 30 is disposed at the bottom of the waste heat recovery system 1, more specifically, at the bottom of the side wall 50. The heat sink 30 has a plurality of fins and dissipates heat transferred from the equipment FA into the housing space 21. Specifically, each of the plurality of fins has one end and the other end. Each fin is disposed so that the other end is located above the one end. In this embodiment, the heat sink 30 is fixed to the housing 20 via a fastening member (not shown), but it does not have to be fixed.

[0019] The heat sink 30 is in contact with the equipment FA. Therefore, the heat emitted by the equipment FA is transferred to the heat sink 30. The heat sink 30 is disposed inside the housing 20. Therefore, the heat sink 30 emits heat into the housing space 21. The air below the housing space 21 is heated by the heat emitted by the heat sink 30. Because the temperature of the air below the housing space 21 is higher than the temperature of the air above it, an upward air flow occurs. Therefore, the air pressure below the housing space 21 decreases. The air pressure above the housing space 21 increases. Note that the larger the horizontal size of the heat sink 30, the more preferable it is. This is because the air at the bottom of the housing space 21 can be heated more uniformly in the horizontal direction.

[0020] A first opening 51 is formed on the lower side of the housing 20. Therefore, outside air flows in from the first opening 51 toward the low-pressure space of the housing space 21. A second opening 52 is formed on the upper side of the housing 20. Therefore, air above the housing space 21 flows out from the second opening 52 toward the outside, where the pressure is low.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, the length of the first opening 51 in the Y direction is the same as the length of the second opening 52 in the Y direction. As shown in FIG. 2 , the length L2 of the second opening 52 in the vertical direction is longer than the length L1 of the first opening 51 in the vertical direction. That is, the area of ​​the second opening 52 is larger than the area of ​​the first opening 51. This facilitates the generation of a flow in which air flows into the housing 20 through the first opening 51 and flows out of the housing 20 through the second opening 52. If the area of ​​the second opening 52 were smaller than the area of ​​the first opening 51, the flow of air out of the housing 20 through the second opening 52 would be restricted, making it difficult for air to enter the housing 20 through the first opening 51. Note that in this embodiment, the length L1 is approximately 45 mm, and the length L2 is approximately 50 mm.

[0022] The desiccant material 90 arranged on the tray 10 uses the heat of the rising, heated air to desorb the sorbed water. Because the tray 10 is mesh-shaped, it is easy to apply heat evenly to all of the arranged desiccant materials 90. The waste heat recycling system 1 includes multiple trays 10. Thus, air passing through a first tray 10 passes through a second tray 10 above the first tray 10. Therefore, thermal energy not used to regenerate the desiccant material 90 on the first tray 10 can be used to regenerate the desiccant material 90 on the second tray 10. Similarly, for the desiccant material 90 on the multiple trays 10 above the second tray 10, thermal energy not used to regenerate the desiccant material 90 on the first tray 10 and the desiccant material 90 on the second tray 10 can be used. Therefore, thermal energy released by the equipment FA can be efficiently used to regenerate the desiccant material 90.

[0023] The first opening 51 is disposed vertically between the lowest tray 10 of the plurality of trays 10 and the equipment FA. The second opening 52 is disposed vertically between the highest tray 10 of the plurality of trays 10 and the roof 60. This ensures that the heated air can easily pass through all of the trays 10.

[0024] In this embodiment, the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 is placed on the equipment FA for use, regardless of whether the equipment FA is in operation. Therefore, when the equipment FA is in operation and emitting heat, an ascending air current is generated within the housing 20. However, when the equipment FA is not in operation and emitting heat, no significant air current is generated within the housing 20. Therefore, when the roof 60 is removed from the sidewall main body 70, dust may enter through the opening above the sidewall main body 70. If dust adheres to the desiccant material 90, the water sorption and desorption functions of the desiccant material 90 are reduced. In other words, in this embodiment, the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 includes the roof 60, which prevents dust from entering the housing 20 and reduces the degradation of the desiccant material 90's functionality.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3 , the sidewall main body 70 has a third opening 75. As shown in FIG. 1 , the sidewall opening / closing unit 80 opens and closes the third opening 75. As will be described in detail later, the sidewall opening / closing unit 80 is detachably attached to the sidewall main body 70. Each tray 10 can slide outward through the third opening 75. This improves the ease of maintenance of the waste heat recycling system 1. Specifically, an operator can pull out the tray 10 to check the arrangement of the desiccant material 90, etc.

[0026] The side wall main body portion 70 can be further disassembled. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the waste heat recycling device 1. Note that the tray 10 is omitted in Fig. 4.

[0027] The side wall main body 70 can be disassembled into a first side wall 71, a second side wall 72, and a third side wall 73. The support portion 40 has a plurality of first support portions 41 and a plurality of second support portions 42. The plurality of first support portions 41 are attached to the first side wall 71. The plurality of second support portions 42 are attached to the second side wall 72. Each of the first support portions 41 and each of the second support portions 42 is a so-called slide angle that has a flat portion that supports the tray 10. The plurality of first support portions 41 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. Similarly, the plurality of second support portions 42 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction.

[0028] The first side wall 71 has a generally flat plate shape. The first side wall 71 has a first side wall main body portion 71a and a first side wall end portion 71b. The angle between the first side wall end portion 71b and the first side wall main body portion 71a is approximately a right angle. When the side wall main body portion 70 is assembled, the first side wall main body portion 71a is parallel to the XZ plane. Similarly, the second side wall 72 has a generally flat plate shape. The second side wall 72 has a second side wall main body portion 72a and a second side wall end portion 72b. The angle between the second side wall end portion 72b and the second side wall main body portion 72a is approximately a right angle. When the side wall main body portion 70 is assembled, the second side wall main body portion 72a is parallel to the XZ plane.

[0029] Two screws 81 for fastening the side wall opening / closing unit 80 are attached to the first side wall end 71b. Similarly, two screws 81 for fastening the side wall opening / closing unit 80 are attached to the second side wall end 72b. Four screw holes 82 are formed in the side wall opening / closing unit 80 corresponding to the screws 81 attached to the first side wall end 71b and the second side wall end 72b. Each screw hole 82 is a so-called potbellied hole, in which a first hole is connected to a second hole that is larger than the first hole. The first hole of the screw holes 82 is a hole through which the shaft of the screw 81, which has a groove formed therein, is inserted. The size of the second hole of the screw holes 82 is large enough to allow the head of the screw 81 to be inserted therethrough. Since the side wall opening / closing part 80 has four screw holes 82, the side wall opening / closing part 80 can be attached and fixed with the screws 81 while the screws 81 are attached to the first side wall end part 71b and the second side wall end part 72b. This makes it easy to attach and detach the side wall opening / closing part 80 and prevents the screws 81 from getting lost.

[0030] When the waste heat recovery system 1 is installed in the facility FA, ​​first, the heat sink 30 is placed on the facility FA. Next, the first side wall 71, the second side wall 72, and the third side wall 73 are fastened together to assemble the side wall main body 70. Next, the roof 60 is attached to the side wall main body 70. Next, the tray 10 with the desiccant material 90 placed therein is inserted into the side wall main body 70. Next, the side wall opening / closing unit 80 is attached to the side wall main body 70, completing the assembly of the waste heat recovery system 1. In this manner, the waste heat recovery system 1 can be installed by assembling multiple components. Note that the components include the first side wall 71 and the second side wall 72. Therefore, the waste heat recovery system 1 can be transported separately into multiple components, allowing the waste heat recovery system 1 to be installed with fewer workers. Furthermore, because the waste heat recovery system 1 can be transported separately into multiple components, there is no need to use large transportation equipment capable of transporting the waste heat recovery system 1, and there is no need to secure a wide transportation route. Therefore, the degree of freedom in installing the waste heat recycling device 1 can be improved.

[0031] According to the first embodiment described above, the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 includes a tray 10 on which the desiccant material 90 is placed, sidewalls 50, a roof 60, a first opening 51, and a second opening 52. When the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 is placed on the equipment FA, air flows into the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 through the first opening 51 and flows out of the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 through the second opening 52. The rising heated air generated in the housing space 21 desorbs water adsorbed on the desiccant material 90. The roof 60 is disposed above the sidewalls 50, which makes it difficult for dust to enter the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 even when the ascending air current in the housing space 21 weakens. This prevents a decrease in the water adsorption and desorption functions of the desiccant material 90. The roof 60 above the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 prevents dust from entering the inside of the waste heat recycling apparatus 1, while the first opening 51 and the second opening 52 allow air to efficiently flow into the inside of the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 and efficiently flow out to the outside. This makes it possible to efficiently regenerate the desiccant material 90 inside the waste heat recycling apparatus 1.

[0032] The waste heat recycling device 1 also has a heat sink 30 at the bottom of the side wall 50. Therefore, the heat sink 30 can efficiently introduce heat emitted from the equipment FA into the housing space 21.

[0033] The area of ​​the second opening 52 is larger than the area of ​​the first opening 51. This makes it easier to generate a flow in which air flows into the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 through the first opening 51 and flows out of the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 through the second opening 52.

[0034] The side wall 50 also has a self-supporting side wall main body 70 and a side wall opening / closing part 80. The waste heat recycling device 1 also has a support part 40 that supports the tray 10 so that it can slide outward through the third opening 75. Therefore, the side wall opening / closing part 80 can be removed from the side wall main body 70 and the tray 10 can be pulled out. The placement of the desiccant material 90 can then be checked. This improves the maintainability of the waste heat recycling device 1.

[0035] Furthermore, the side wall main body 70 can be disassembled into a first side wall 71, a second side wall 72, and a third side wall 73. Therefore, the side wall main body 70 can be disassembled into the first side wall 71, the second side wall 72, and the third side wall 73 for transportation, which improves the degree of freedom in installation.

[0036] Furthermore, the support portion 40 has a first support portion 41 attached to the first side wall 71 and a second support portion 42 attached to the second side wall 72. Therefore, compared to a case where the first support portion 41 is separate from the first side wall 71 and the second support portion 42 is separate from the second side wall 72, the installation work can be reduced.

[0037] Furthermore, the roof 60 has a flat shape, which reduces the amount of work required to process the roof 60 compared to when the roof 60 has a curved surface.

[0038] The waste heat recycling system 1 also includes a plurality of trays 10. The plurality of trays 10 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. The heated air that has passed through the first tray 10 passes through the second tray 10 above the first tray 10, so that the thermal energy released from the equipment FA can be used to regenerate the desiccant material 90 without waste.

[0039] The desiccant material 90 is a polymer adsorbent. The polymer adsorbent has a lower regeneration temperature than other desiccant materials, such as silica gel. Therefore, the desiccant material 90 can be easily regenerated using the heat emitted by the equipment FA.

[0040] B. Second Embodiment: Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a waste heat recycling system 201 according to a second embodiment. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the waste heat recycling system 201. The waste heat recycling system 201 according to this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the shapes of the roof 260, side walls 250, and support portions 240. The same components as those in the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 5, the roof 260 has a roof main body portion 261 and a protruding portion 262. As shown in Fig. 6, the roof main body portion 261 closes the upper part of the housing space 21 surrounded by the side wall 50. The roof main body portion 261 is a portion that overlaps with the area surrounded by the side wall 250 in a plan view seen in the up-down direction. The protruding portion 262 is a portion that protrudes outward from the roof main body portion 261. The protruding portion 262 is continuous with the roof main body portion 261. The protruding portion 262 is formed integrally with the roof main body portion 261. The formation of the protruding portion 262 makes it difficult for dust to enter the housing 20.

[0042] 6 , in this embodiment, the length L3 in the protruding direction of the protruding portion 262 is equal to or greater than the length L2 in the Z direction of the second opening 52. This can improve the effect of making it difficult for dust to enter the housing 20.

[0043] In the first embodiment, the roof 60 is fixed to the side wall 50. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the roof 260 is fixed to the support portion 240. Also, in the first embodiment, a portion of each of the first side wall 71 and the second side wall 72 is cut out to form the second opening 52. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the upper edges of the first side wall 271 and the second side wall 272 are not cut out, and the upper edges extending in the Y direction are substantially straight. The roof 260 is disposed with a gap between it and the side wall main body portion 270 in the vertical direction. This gap functions as the second opening 52. In this embodiment, the first opening 51 is formed in the first side wall 271 and the second side wall 272. In contrast, the second opening 52 is formed not only in the first side wall 271 and the second side wall 272, but also in the third side wall 73 and the side wall opening / closing portion 80. As a result, the area of ​​the second opening 52 is larger than the area of ​​the first opening 51. Note that the area of ​​the first opening 51 refers to the total area of ​​the opening areas of the plurality of first openings 51. The same applies to the second opening 52.

[0044] 7 , the support portion 240 has a plurality of first support portions 241, a plurality of second support portions 242, a connecting portion 243, and a magnet 246 as a fixing portion. The plurality of first support portions 241 are arranged along the first side wall 71. The plurality of second support portions 242 are arranged along the second side wall 72. The connecting portion 243 connects the plurality of first support portions 241 and the plurality of second support portions 242. The magnet 246 fixes the connecting portion 243 to the equipment FA. The connecting portion 243 has four support posts 244 and two fixing plates 245.

[0045] A support pillar 244 is disposed at one end in the +Y direction and the other end in the −Y direction of each of the plurality of first support portions 241. The plurality of first support portions 241 are fixed by two support pillars 244 so as to be aligned at intervals in the vertical direction. Similarly, the plurality of second support portions 242 are fixed by two support pillars 244 so as to be aligned at intervals in the vertical direction.

[0046] The two fixing plates 245 are arranged with a gap in the Y direction. Each of the two fixing plates 245 connects a support 244 to which the plurality of first support parts 241 are fixed and a support 244 to which the plurality of second support parts 242 are fixed. A magnet 246 is fixed to each fixing plate 245.

[0047] When the waste heat recovery device 201 is installed in the facility FA, ​​the heat sink 30 and the support portion 240 are first installed in the facility FA. The magnet 246 is fixed to the metal FA by magnetic force, thereby fixing the support portion 240 to the facility FA. Next, the first side wall 271, the second side wall 272, and the third side wall 73 are arranged to surround the support portion 240, and the side wall main body portion 270 is assembled.

[0048] Next, the roof 260 is fixed to the four support columns 244 using fastening members (not shown). As shown in Fig. 6, the roof 60 is set so that the roof 60 is separated from the upper end of the side wall main body portion 270 by a distance L2 in the vertical direction, and is fixed to the support columns 244. The distance between the roof 260 and the support columns 244 can also be adjusted by fixing the roof 260 to the support columns 244 using a spacer or the like with a threaded portion.

[0049] Next, a plurality of trays 10 are inserted into the side wall main body portion 270. Next, the side wall opening / closing portion 80 is fixed to the side wall main body portion 270.

[0050] The second embodiment described above provides the same effects as the first embodiment. In addition, the roof 260 has a protrusion 262 that protrudes outward from the roof main body 261. This makes it even more difficult for dust to enter the housing 20.

[0051] The support portion 240 has a first support portion 241, a second support portion 242, a connecting portion 243, and a magnet 246. The support portion 240 is separate from the side wall main body portion 270, and can be independently fixed to the equipment FA by the magnet 246. This makes it easier to install the waste heat recycling device 201.

[0052] C. Third Embodiment: Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a waste heat recycling device 301 according to a third embodiment. The waste heat recycling device 301 according to this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it includes a configuration for assisting the air rising in the housing space 21. Configurations similar to those in the above embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0053] The waste heat recovery system 301 further includes a thermoelectric element 32 that converts heat into electricity, a solar panel 33, a motor 34, a fan 35, a windshield 36, a rectifier 37, and a stand 38. The thermoelectric element 32 is disposed on the equipment FA. The thermoelectric element 32 has a first metal surface 32a adjacent to the equipment FA and a second metal surface 32b opposite the first metal surface 32a. The metal of the first metal surface 32a and the metal of the second metal surface 32b are different types. The second metal surface 32b has a lower temperature than the first metal surface 32a, to which heat from the equipment FA is transferred. Therefore, the thermoelectric element 32 generates electricity by utilizing the temperature difference between the first metal surface 32a and the second metal surface 32b. The solar panel 33 is disposed outside the housing 20. The solar panel 33 generates electricity using light emitted by, for example, an indoor lamp.

[0054] A stand 38 is disposed at the center of the housing 20 in the X direction. The stand 38 is disposed on top of the equipment FA. A fan 35 is disposed on top of the stand 38. A motor 34 that drives the fan 35 is disposed inside the stand 38. The motor 34 is electrically connected to the thermoelectric element 32 and the solar panel 33. The motor 34 drives the fan 35 using electricity generated by the thermoelectric element 32 and electricity generated by the solar panel 33.

[0055] The fan 35 generates an upward air current, which increases the flow rate of the ascending air current inside the housing 20 compared to when the fan 35 is not provided. This further promotes the desorption of water from the desiccant material 90.

[0056] The windshield 36 is disposed between the tray 10 and the fan 35 in the vertical direction. The windshield 36 is a plate-shaped member. The windshield 36 is disposed so that its plane is aligned horizontally. The windshield 36 is large enough to overlap with the fan 35 in a plan view from the Z direction, and is disposed away from the side wall 50. The windshield 36 blocks the flow of the ascending air current generated by the fan 35. This allows the air current to be dispersed around the windshield 36. The windshield 36 is fixed to a mesh member 36a. The mesh member 36a is fixed to the side wall 50 using a support member (not shown).

[0057] The rectifier 37 is disposed between the fan 35 and the tray 10 in the vertical direction. The rectifier 37 adjusts the air flow in the vertical direction. Specifically, the rectifier 37 has a plurality of pipe members. The plurality of pipe members are bundled together so that their axial directions are aligned with one another. The axial directions of the plurality of pipe members are arranged so that they are parallel to the vertical direction. The rectifier 37 is fixed to the side wall 50 using a support member (not shown).

[0058] The arrows in Figure 8 indicate the air flow. As shown in Figure 8, the upward airflow generated by the fan 35 is blocked by the windshield 36 and passes around the windshield 36. The airflow is then adjusted by the rectifier 37 so that it follows the vertical direction before passing through each tray 10. This makes it easier for the heated air to pass uniformly throughout the entire area of ​​the tray 10. This makes it possible to promote more uniform water desorption from all of the desiccant materials 90.

[0059] According to the third embodiment described above, the waste heat recycling device 301 includes the fan 35. This increases the flow velocity of the ascending air current within the housing 20, further promoting desorption of water from the desiccant material 90. The motor 34 that drives the fan 35 is driven using electricity generated by the thermoelectric element 32 and electricity generated by the solar panel 33. This allows for greater energy savings compared to when a commercial power source is used to drive the motor 34.

[0060] D. Other Embodiments of the Roof: Figure 9 shows other embodiments of the roof 60. Figure 9 shows other embodiments "D1" to "D4." All of "D1" to "D4" are cross-sectional views taken along the same cutting line as in Figure 2. The same components as those in the above embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions will be omitted where appropriate.

[0061] (D1) As shown by "D1" in FIG. 9 , the roof 360 of this embodiment has a roof main body portion 361 and a protruding portion 362, similar to the second embodiment. However, this embodiment differs from the second embodiment in that at least a portion of the protruding portion 362 overlaps with the second opening 52 in a side view of the waste heat recycling system 1 viewed horizontally. Specifically, in this embodiment, the protruding portion 362 has a connecting portion 362a connecting to the roof main body portion 361 and an edge portion 362b located at the edge of the roof 360. The edge portion 362b of the protruding portion 362 is inclined so that it is positioned lower than the connecting portion 362a. In a side view, at least a portion of the protruding portion 362 overlaps with the second opening 52, thereby suppressing the inflow of cool air into the housing 20. The air flow generated within the housing 20 is generated by heat released from the equipment FA. Therefore, the flow velocity of the air flow generated within the housing 20 is relatively low. Therefore, there is a risk that cold air may flow into the housing 20 from the outside through the second opening 52. Here, in a side view, a portion of the protrusion 362 overlaps with the second opening 52, and therefore, in order for the air from the outside to enter the housing 20 through the second opening 52, it must flow upward under the protrusion 362. Cold air has difficulty rising, so providing the protrusion 262 makes it more difficult for cold air to flow into the housing 20.

[0062] Furthermore, roof 360 has sloped roof portion 363. Sloped roof portion 363 is sloped in the same manner as protruding portion 362. Sloped roof portion 363 is disposed below protruding portion 362 and is disposed at a distance from protruding portion 362. By disposing sloped roof portion 363, it is possible to further suppress the inflow of cool air into housing 20.

[0063] According to the other embodiment (D1) described above, a portion of the protruding portion 262 overlaps with the second opening 52 in a side view. This makes it possible to suppress the intrusion of cold air into the housing 20. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the efficiency of regeneration of the desiccant material 90. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the simple configuration in which the protruding portion 262 is inclined makes it possible to suppress the intrusion of cold air into the housing 20.

[0064] (D2) As shown in "D2" in Fig. 9 , the roof 460 of this embodiment has a roof main body 461 and a protruding portion 462, similar to the second embodiment. In a side view of the waste heat recycling system 1 looking horizontally, the protruding portion 462 overlaps with the second opening 52. However, the shape of the protruding portion 462 is different from the shape of the protruding portion 362 described above.

[0065] The protruding portion 462 has a protruding base 463 extending horizontally and a protruding end portion 464 connected to the protruding base 463. The horizontal direction refers to an angle between the protruding base 463 and the horizontal direction that is within the range of -10° to +10°. The protruding end portion 464 has a connecting portion 464a connecting to the protruding base 463 and an edge portion 464b located at the edge of the roof 360. The edge portion 464b is located below the connecting portion 464a. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 464a is approximately parallel to the side wall 50. The length L4 of the protruding end portion 464 is equal to or greater than the length L2 of the second opening 52. Because the protruding end portion 464 is formed, for air from outside to enter the housing 20 through the second opening 52, the air must flow upward between the protruding end portion 464 and the second opening 52. Since cool air does not easily rise, providing the protruding end 464 makes it difficult for cool air to flow into the housing 20. In another embodiment, the protruding end 464 may be disposed at an angle relative to the vertical direction.

[0066] According to the other embodiment (D2) described above, in a side view of the waste heat recycling device 1 viewed horizontally, at least a portion of the protrusion 462 overlaps with the second opening 52. This makes it possible to prevent cold air from entering the housing 20. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in the efficiency of regeneration of the desiccant material 90.

[0067] (D3) As shown in "D3" in FIG. 9 , the roof 560 of this embodiment has a roof main body portion 561 and a protruding portion 562, similar to the second embodiment. However, the shape of the roof main body portion 561 is different from that of the roof main body portion 261. While the roof main body portion 261 of the second embodiment is a flat plate, the roof main body portion 561 of this embodiment has an upwardly convex shape. Specifically, the roof main body portion 561 has a shape in which two flat plates are joined at the center in the X direction to form an upwardly convex shape. As a result, as shown by the arrow "D3" in FIG. 9 , air rises to the convex portion of the roof main body portion 561, making it easier for air to reliably pass through to the uppermost tray 10 among the multiple trays 10. Note that in this embodiment, the entire protruding portion 562 overlaps with the second opening 52 in a side view. This further prevents cold air from entering the housing 20.

[0068] In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of roof 560 when cut along a cutting line along the XZ plane is the same regardless of the position in the Y direction. In other words, roof 560 has a shape that follows the side surface of a quadrangular prism. In other embodiments, roof 560 may have a shape that follows the side surface of a triangular pyramid or the side surface of a cone.

[0069] According to the other embodiment (D3) described above, the roof 560 has an upwardly convex shape, which makes it possible to reliably allow air to pass through to the uppermost tray 10 among the plurality of trays 10.

[0070] (D4) As shown in "D4" in Fig. 9, the roof 660 of this embodiment has a roof main body portion 661 and a protruding portion 662, similar to the second embodiment. However, the shape of the roof main body portion 661 is different from that of the roof main body portion 261. While the roof main body portion 261 of the second embodiment is a flat plate, the roof main body portion 661 of this embodiment has an upwardly convex shape. Specifically, the roof main body portion 661 has a curved surface that is upwardly convex.

[0071] In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the roof 660 when cut along a cutting line along the XZ plane is the same regardless of the position in the Y direction. In other words, the roof 660 has a shape that follows the side surface of a semi-cylinder. In another embodiment, the shape of the roof 660 may be a shape that follows the curved surface of a hemisphere.

[0072] According to the above-described other embodiment (D4), the roof 660 has an upwardly convex shape, and therefore, the same effects as those of the above-described other embodiment (D3) can be achieved.

[0073] E. Other Embodiments: (E1) In the first embodiment described above, the length of the first opening 51 in the Y direction is the same as the length of the second opening 52 in the Y direction. The length L2 of the second opening 52 in the up-down direction is greater than the length L1 of the first opening 51 in the up-down direction. The shapes of the first opening 51 and the second opening 52 are not limited to this. For example, the length of the second opening 52 in the up-down direction may be set to be the same as the length of the first opening 51 in the up-down direction, and the length of the second opening 52 in the Y direction may be set to be longer than the length of the first opening 51 in the Y direction. Alternatively, the second opening 52 may be formed not only in the first side wall 71 and the second side wall 72, but also in the side wall opening / closing portion 80 and the third side wall 73. Regardless of the shapes of the first opening 51 and the second opening 52, by setting the area of ​​the second opening 52 larger than the area of ​​the first opening 51, it is possible to easily generate a flow in which air flows into the housing 20 through the first opening 51 and air flows out of the housing 20 through the second opening 52.

[0074] (E2) In the second embodiment, the first opening 51 is disposed in the side wall 250. The second opening 52 is disposed between the roof 260 and the side wall 250. This is not limiting, and the first opening 51 may be disposed between the equipment FA and the side wall 250. Specifically, the first opening 51 may be disposed by disposing the side wall 250 at a distance from the equipment FA. Alternatively, a hole serving as the second opening 52 may be formed in the side wall 250. The waste heat recovery system 1 may also include both the second opening 52 disposed between the roof 60 and the side wall 250 and the second opening 52 disposed in the side wall 250. Specifically, the second opening 52 may be disposed by cutting out a portion of the first side wall 271 and the second side wall 272, as in the first embodiment. In addition, as in the second embodiment, the third side wall 73 may be configured such that the roof 60 is positioned at a distance from the third side wall 73, thereby positioning the second opening 52 between the third side wall 73 and the roof 60.

[0075] (E3) In the first embodiment, the desiccant material 90 of the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 sorbs water vapor from the room while the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 is installed. Regardless of this usage mode, the desiccant material 90 that has sorbed water may be placed on the tray 10 for regeneration at a location other than where the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 is installed. According to the waste heat recycling apparatus 1, waste heat from the facility FA is used as energy to regenerate the desiccant material 90. This allows for energy savings.

[0076] (E4) In the first embodiment, the desiccant material 90 is granular. Because it is granular, it is possible to increase the contact area with the thermal fluid. The shape of the desiccant material 90 may not be granular, but may be a honeycomb structure, a block, or a sheet.

[0077] (E5) In the third embodiment, the waste heat recycling device 301 includes both the thermoelectric element 32 and the solar panel 33 as the drive source for the motor 34. In another embodiment, the waste heat recycling device 301 may include either the thermoelectric element 32 or the solar panel 33 as the drive source for the motor 34. The waste heat recycling device 301 also includes a windshield 36 and a rectifier 37. In another embodiment, the waste heat recycling device 301 does not need to include the windshield 36 or the rectifier 37. By including at least the fan 35, the waste heat recycling device 301 can increase the flow rate of the ascending air current within the housing 20 and further promote desorption of water from the desiccant material 90. Although the fan 35 is disposed in the lower part of the housing 20, an intake fan may be used as the fan 35 and disposed in the upper part of the housing 20.

[0078] (E6) The waste heat recycling apparatus 1 of the first embodiment includes a heat sink 30. In another embodiment, the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 does not need to include a heat sink 30. Although the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 is a rectangular parallelepiped, the shape is not limited to this. For example, the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 may be a polygonal prism or a cylinder. The waste heat recycling apparatus 1 of the first embodiment includes multiple trays 10. In another embodiment, the waste heat recycling apparatus 1 may include a single tray 10. The tray 10 of the first embodiment includes a tray bottom 12 and a tray frame 11. In another embodiment, the tray 10 may be integrally formed of a mesh-like material, with no distinction between the tray bottom 12 and the tray frame 11.

[0079] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each aspect described in the Summary of the Invention section can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the above-described problems or achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted.

[0080] 1, 201, 301...waste heat recycling device, 10...tray, 11...tray frame, 12...tray bottom surface, 20...casing, 21...casing space, 30...heat sink, 32...thermoelectric element, 32a...first metal surface, 32b...second metal surface, 33...solar panel, 34...motor, 35...fan, 36...windshield, 36a...mesh member, 37...rectifier, 38...frame, 40, 240...support portion, 41, 241...first support portion, 42, 242...second support portion, 50, 250...side wall, 51...first opening, 52...second opening, 60, 260, 360, 460, 560, 660...roof, 70, 270...side wall main body portion, 71, 271...first side wall, 71a , 271a...first side wall main body portion, 71b, 271b...first side wall end portion, 72, 272...second side wall, 72a, 272a...second side wall main body portion, 72b, 272b...second side wall end portion, 73...third side wall, 75...third opening, 80...side wall opening and closing portion, 81...screw, 82...screw hole, 90...desiccant material, 243...connecting portion, 244...support, 245...fixing plate, 246...magnet, 261, 361, 461, 561, 661...roof main body portion, 262, 362, 462, 562, 662...protruding portion, 362a, 464a...connecting portion, 362b, 464b...edge portion, 363...roof inclined portion, 463...protruding base portion, 464...protruding end portion, FA...equipment

Claims

1. A waste heat recycling device placed on equipment that releases heat, comprising: at least one tray on which a desiccant material is placed; a cylindrical side wall surrounding the at least one tray; a roof placed above the side wall; a first opening placed between the equipment and the side wall and / or the side wall; and a second opening placed between the roof and the side wall and / or the side wall, wherein the at least one tray is mesh-shaped; the first opening is placed between the equipment and the at least one tray in the vertical direction; and the second opening is placed between the at least one tray and the roof in the vertical direction.

2. The waste heat recovery device according to claim 1, further comprising a heat sink disposed at the bottom of said side wall.

3. A waste heat recycling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the area of ​​the second opening is larger than the area of ​​the first opening.

4. A waste heat recycling device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the roof has a roof main body portion that covers the upper part of the housing space surrounded by the side walls, and a protrusion portion that protrudes outward from the roof main body portion.

5. A waste heat recycling device as described in claim 4, wherein, in a side view of the waste heat recycling device viewed horizontally, at least a portion of the protrusion overlaps with the second opening.

6. A waste heat recycling device as described in claim 5, wherein the protrusion has a connection portion that connects to the roof main body portion and an edge portion that is located at the edge of the roof, and the protrusion is inclined so that the edge portion is located lower than the connection portion.

7. A waste heat recycling device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the side wall has a self-supporting side wall main body portion having a third opening, and a side wall opening / closing portion that is detachably attached to the side wall main body portion and opens and closes the third opening, and the waste heat recycling device further has a support portion that supports the at least one tray so that it can slide outward through the third opening.

8. A waste heat recycling device as described in claim 7, wherein the side wall main body portion has a first side wall, a second side wall facing the first side wall with the at least one tray in between, and a third side wall connecting the first side wall and the second side wall, the side wall opening / closing portion faces the third side wall with the at least one tray in between, and the side wall main body portion is disassembled into the first side wall, the second side wall, and the third side wall.

9. A waste heat recycling device according to claim 8, wherein the support portion has a first support portion attached to the first side wall and a second support portion attached to the second side wall.

10. A waste heat recycling device as described in claim 8, wherein the support portion has a first support portion arranged along the first side wall, a second support portion arranged along the second side wall, a connecting portion connecting the first support portion and the second support portion, and a fixing portion fixing the connecting portion to the equipment.

11. A waste heat recycling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the roof has a flat shape.

12. A waste heat recycling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the roof has an upwardly convex shape.

13. A waste heat recycling device as described in claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one of a thermoelectric element that converts the heat into electricity and a solar panel that generates electricity, a motor driven by the electricity, and a fan driven by the motor for raising the air in the housing space surrounded by the side wall.

14. A waste heat recycling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one tray includes a plurality of trays, and the plurality of trays are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction.

15. A waste heat recycling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the desiccant material is a polymer adsorbent.

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