Regenerative Heat Exchanger Vertical Pipe Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional regenerative heat exchange apparatuses face inefficiencies due to the slow melting of solid heat storage material, which increases storage time and decreases heat exchange rates, leading to apparatus size increases when heat quantity demands change.
Innovation Solution
The regenerative heat exchange apparatus features adjacent liquid and heat medium passages with vertically arranged straight pipe portions, allowing for quick melting of solid phases by the heat medium, enhancing direct heat exchange and reducing storage time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If heat storage material is used to bridge temporal gap between demand and supply of heat energy, then heat storage density is improved, but thermal conductivity deteriorates causing slow heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
A heat transfer促進部 (heat transfer promotion part) is introduced as an intermediary component with high thermal conductivity that contacts both the heat exchanger and the heat storage material. This mediator facilitates efficient heat transfer from the heat exchanger to the heat storage material, overcoming the low thermal conductivity of the heat storage material while maintaining high heat storage density.
2Quantity of substance
If solid phase of heat storage material precipitates on heat transfer surface, then heat storage capacity is improved, but heat exchange performance deteriorates due to exposed heat transfer surface
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer促進部 acts as a mediator that prevents direct contact between the heat exchanger and the precipitated solid phase of the heat storage material. This intermediary structure allows the heat storage material to solidify and store heat while maintaining efficient heat transfer pathways, preventing the heat transfer surface from becoming exposed or blocked.
3Reliability
If entire heat storage tank is melted to remove solid phase around heat exchanger, then heat storage material is recovered, but heat storage time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of melting the entire heat storage tank, the heat transfer促進部 is designed to locally facilitate heat transfer to the heat exchanger. This localized approach allows selective melting or recovery of solid phase only where needed around the heat exchanger, rather than requiring complete melting of the entire heat storage material volume, thereby reducing the time required for heat storage material recovery.
4Productivity
If heat exchange apparatus size is increased to meet varying heat quantity demands, then heat exchange capacity is improved, but apparatus complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic adjustment of heat exchange capacity through the heat transfer促進部 that can be selectively activated or deactivated. When heat quantity demand increases, the heat transfer促進部 facilitates enhanced heat transfer from the heat storage material to the heat exchanger, providing variable heat exchange capacity without requiring physical changes to the apparatus size or configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables rapid heat output increases and improved heat exchange performance by efficiently melting and detaching solid phases, preventing temperature drops and maintaining continuous heat supply.
Implementation Method 1
heat can be temporarily stored for later use when the heat is needed
Implementation Method 2
convection of the melted latent heat storage material is utilized to facilitate melting
Implementation Method 3
a latent heat storage material, which utilizes latent heat produced during liquid-solid phase change
Implementation Method 4
liquid-solid phase change
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A regenerative heat exchange apparatus includes a heat storage tank, a heat storage material disposed inside the heat storage tank and having a heat storage capability and a heat rejection capability, a liquid passage covered by the heat storage material inside the heat storage tank, the liquid passage having a first straight pipe portion through which a liquid flows horizontally, a heat medium passage covered by the heat storage material inside the heat storage tank, the heat medium passage being adjacent to and in a set with the liquid passage, the heat medium passage having a second straight pipe portion through which a heat medium flows horizontally, the heat medium being at a temperature higher than the liquid. The first straight pipe portion is located vertically lower than the second straight pipe portion.