Thermal Storage Heat Exchanger Reverse Flow After Heating Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
In typical thermal storage and exchange heating apparatuses, residual heat medium in the circulation channel and heat exchanger after heating stops leads to energy waste, superheating, and clogging, resulting in performance degradation and reduced lifetime.
Innovation Solution
A thermal storage and exchange heating apparatus with a circulation direction switching mechanism and control system that reverses the flow of the heat medium after heating stops, ensuring only high-temperature heat medium returns to the thermal storage tank, reducing heat transfer and superheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If heating operation stops and heat medium remains in circulation channel and heat exchanger, then system simplicity is maintained, but energy is wasted due to heat transfer from residual heat medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies reverse circulation by switching the circulation direction from forward (upper to lower portion) to backward (lower to upper portion) after heating stops. This inversion allows residual heat medium to be actively returned to the thermal storage tank, preventing energy waste while maintaining system simplicity through the use of existing circulation infrastructure.
2Device complexity
If heat medium remains in heat exchanger after heating stops, then circulation system remains simple, but superheating occurs causing scale generation and clogging
Solution Approach 1:
By reversing the circulation direction after heating stops, the system actively flushes residual heat medium from the heat exchanger back to the thermal storage tank. This prevents superheating and subsequent scale generation and clogging, maintaining heat exchanger performance without adding complex new components.
Solution Approach 2:
The reverse circulation operation is initiated immediately after heating stops, performing a preliminary flushing action before scale generation and clogging can occur. This timely intervention prevents harmful effects rather than addressing them after they manifest.
3Loss of energy
If reverse circulation is implemented to remove residual heat medium, then energy saving performance improves, but circulation system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump is designed to perform multiple functions: forward circulation during heating operation and backward circulation after heating stops. This multi-functionality enables energy-saving reverse circulation without adding separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches circulation direction based on operational state (heating vs. post-heating). This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize energy efficiency by implementing reverse circulation only when necessary, avoiding continuous operation complexity while achieving energy savings during critical periods.
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
Enhances energy saving performance, reduces performance degradation, and extends the lifetime of the heat exchanger by minimizing residual heat transfer and superheating.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger provided to the circulation channel and configured to exchange heat between the heat medium and a heating object and to heat the heating object
Implementation Method 2
circulation direction switching means configured to switch circulation of the heat medium in the circulation channel between a forward direction from the upper portion of the thermal storage tank to the lower portion of the thermal storage tank and a backward direction from the lower portion of the thermal storage tank to the upper portion of the thermal storage tank
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A thermal storage and exchange heating apparatus (100) of the present invention includes: a thermal storage tank (3) that stores a heated heat medium; a circulation channel (4) connected to a high-temperature side and a low-temperature side of the thermal storage tank (3), and through which the heat medium circulates; a heat exchanger (5) provided to the circulation channel (4) and configured to exchange heat between the heat medium and a heating object and to heat the heating object; circulation direction switching means (17 configured to switch circulation of the heat medium in the circulation channel (4) between a forward direction from the high-temperature side to the low-temperature side of the thermal storage tank (3) and a backward direction from the low-temperature side to the high-temperature side of the thermal storage tank (3); and control means (30) configured to cause the heat medium to circulate in the forward direction set by switching of the circulation direction switching means (17) in a heating operation of the heating object and causing the heat medium to circulate in the backward direction set by switching of the circulation direction switching means (17) after a stop of the heating operation of the heating object.