JPH0445746B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a heat pump, and more particularly to a heat pump that uses a metal hydride to perform temperature raising, thermal amplification, freezing, cooling, etc.

<Prior art> Hydrogen storage alloys based on rare earths, titanium, magnesium, and other metals, or metal hydrides called metal hydrides, undergo a hydrogenation reaction and rapidly It is known that metal hydrides exothermically absorb hydrogen and that these metal hydrides undergo a reversible dehydrogenation reaction and endothermically release hydrogen.

This chemical reaction formula is shown by the following formula.

M+n/2H ₂ MH _o +ΔH M: Hydrogen storage alloy ΔH: Heat of reaction MH _o : Metal hydride However, once a hydrogen reaction occurs and a metal hydride is formed, it is impossible to completely return to the original alloy state. Because it is extremely difficult, it may be expressed by the following equation.

MH _(n+o) MH _n +n/2H ₂ ±ΔH That is, m represents a hydrogen atom that always combines with a hydrogen storage alloy to form a metal hydride,
In practical terms, n represents hydrogen that can be extracted from the alloy that has become a metal hydride.

In this specification, the above-mentioned M, M H _o ,
MH _(n+o) and MH _n are collectively called metal hydrides,
It is simply indicated by the symbol M.

Taking advantage of the fact that these metal hydrides generate heat during the hydrogen absorption process and endotherm during the hydrogen release process,
Various chemical heat pump devices are provided.

For example, in JP-A No. 59-100371, a pair of closed containers filled with metal hydrides having different hydrogen equilibrium decomposition pressures in the operating temperature range are connected by a communication pipe through which hydrogen can flow, forming a working pair. It is described that a fixed level of heat output can be continuously obtained by sequentially circulating the working pair through each heat medium chamber through which a heat medium of a predetermined temperature flows.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in the heat pump device as described above, some kind of external power is required in order to circulate the working pair sequentially to each heating medium chamber.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat pump method and a heat pump device that can sequentially circulate a working pair to each heat medium chamber without external power or with a minimum of external power.

<Means for solving the problem> That is, the heat pump method of the present invention uses first and second metal hydrides having different hydrogen equilibrium decomposition pressures in the operating temperature range, and the first metal hydride is placed in a first sealed filling the container, filling the second metal hydride into the second closed container, and connecting the first closed container and the second closed container with a communication pipe through which hydrogen can flow to form a working pair; A plurality of these working pairs are arranged in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft, and each of the first sealed container and the second sealed container is circulated to each heat exchange section by rotation of the rotating shaft, and the 1
Hydrogen is endothermically released from a metal hydride, this hydrogen is exothermically absorbed into a second metal hydride through a hydrogenation reaction, and then hydrogen is extracted from this second metal hydride through a dehydrogenation reaction. A heat pump method in which the first metal hydride on one side of the rotating shaft
and forming each working pair so that a hydrogenation reaction always occurs in the second closed container, and a dehydrogenation reaction always occurs in the first and second closed containers on the other side of the rotating shaft. The phases of the first sealed container and the second sealed container are shifted to generate a rotational force on the rotating shaft due to the difference in weight between the metal hydride that has undergone a hydrogenation reaction and the metal hydride that has undergone a dehydrogenation reaction. It is characterized by allowing

Further, the heat pump device of the present invention for carrying out the above method includes a plurality of first closed containers filled with a first metal hydride arranged in a circumferential direction.
and a second metal hydride whose hydrogen equilibrium decomposition pressure is in a higher temperature range than the first metal hydride in the operating temperature range.
A plurality of second closed containers filled with a metal hydride are rotatably supported on a common substantially horizontal rotating shaft, and a second rotating body is arranged in the circumferential direction. A low-temperature heat medium chamber through which the first sealed container passes sequentially as the rotating shaft rotates, and a high-temperature heat medium chamber through which the second sealed container passes in sequence are provided on the other side of the rotating shaft. Accordingly, a medium-temperature heating medium chamber through which the first hermetic container sequentially passes and a medium-temperature heating medium chamber through which the second hermetic container sequentially passes are provided, and one of the first hermetic containers and the center point of the rotating shaft are provided. One of the second closed containers located point symmetrically in the room is connected to a working pair by a communication pipe through which hydrogen can flow. The first hermetically sealed containers are out of phase, such that the hermetically sealed container is in the intermediate temperature heating medium chamber and the first hermetically sealed container forming a working pair with the second hermetically sealed container in the high temperature heating medium chamber is located in the intermediate temperature heating medium chamber. The operating pair is formed by the container and the second closed container.

<Examples> The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to basic examples.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are a plan view and a sectional view, respectively, schematically showing the apparatus of the present invention.

A disk-shaped first rotating body 1a and a second rotating body 1b are fixed to a rotating shaft 2, and this rotating shaft is connected to a bearing 3.
The shaft is supported substantially horizontally by the shaft so that it can rotate together with the rotating body. As shown in the side view of FIG. 3, the interior of each rotating body 1 is divided into four chambers by partition walls 4 and annular walls 5, 5 disposed in the radial direction, and each chamber has one chamber. A closed container 6 is formed. The number of airtight containers 6 formed in each rotating body 1 does not necessarily have to be four, and any number of airtight containers 6, preferably three or more, may be formed.

Note that if the partition wall 4 of each closed container 6 is made of a heat insulating wall using a heat insulating material, the effect of heat transfer between each closed container 6 can be prevented, and furthermore, heat transfer fins or the like can be installed inside and outside of each rotating body 1. It is preferable to provide a heat pipe or the like (not shown) because the heat transfer surface can be increased.

A first closed container 6a on the first rotating body 1a is filled with a first metal hydride _M1 , and a second sealed container 6b on the second rotating body 1b is filled with hydrogen in the operating temperature range. Metal hydride with the first equilibrium decomposition pressure
A second metal hydride M ₂ in a higher temperature range than M ₁ is filled. One of the first closed containers 6a and one of the second closed containers 6b are connected to each other by a communication pipe 7 through which hydrogen can flow, forming a working pair. It is assumed that the first sealed container 6a and the second sealed container 6b to be connected are located in a point-symmetrical position with respect to the center point of the rotation axis between the first and second rotating bodies. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are four sealed containers 6 on each of the rotating bodies 1a and 1b, so there are four working pairs and four communication pipes 7 are required, but this is simplified. Only two of them are shown for clarity.

The metal hydrides M ₁ and M ₂ filled in the first and second closed containers 6a and 6b may become fine particles due to repeated hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions, and in such cases, In order to prevent fine particles of metal hydride from flowing into the communication pipe 7, a filter (not shown) such as a laminated wire mesh is attached to the opening of the communication pipe in the closed container.

Furthermore, the first and second closed containers and the communication pipe are filled with hydrogen. A plug or a nozzle with a valve (not shown) for filling the hydrogen is attached to the closed container or communication pipe.

Rotating body 1 assembled integrally as above
a, 1b and the rotating shaft 2 are surrounded by an outer duct 8 that extends substantially vertically, and furthermore, the inside of this outer duct 8 includes partition walls 9, 1 that extend substantially vertically across the rotating shaft.
0, 11, 12, and partition walls 13, 14 that partition the first and second rotating bodies and extend substantially vertically, into four duct parts. Each partition wall is provided with a slight gap from the rotating shaft 2 and the rotating bodies 1a, 1b so as not to hinder the rotation of the rotating shaft 2 and the rotating bodies 1a, 1b. In this case, if the rotary shaft 2 is made hollow and the communication pipe 7 is passed through the rotary shaft, the gap between the rotary shaft and the partition wall can be reduced and the sealing performance between the respective duct parts can be improved. Thus, by flowing a high-temperature heat medium, a low-temperature heat medium, or a medium-temperature heat medium through each duct part, a low-temperature heat medium chamber is created on one side of the rotating shaft 2 through which the first sealed container 6a passes sequentially as the rotating shaft rotates. B and the second sealed container 6b sequentially pass through the high-temperature heat medium chamber D
is formed, and on the other side of the rotating shaft 2, as the rotating shaft rotates, a medium-temperature heat medium chamber C, through which the first closed container 6a passes sequentially, and a medium-temperature heat medium chamber A, through which the second closed container 6b sequentially passes, are formed. .

Note that the type of heat medium to be flowed into each heat medium chamber is not particularly limited as long as it is a fluid, but gas is generally preferably used. Further, when a fluid heat medium is supplied to each heat medium chamber at substantially the same pressure, it is not necessary to strictly seal the heat medium chambers.

Furthermore, although each partition wall is substantially vertical in this embodiment, it does not necessarily have to be vertical. Further, the partition wall 9 on the first rotating body 1a side and the partition wall 11 on the second rotating body 1b side do not need to be provided on the same plane as shown in the figure, but are provided at different angles with respect to the rotating shaft 2. It's okay. In short, the low-temperature heat medium chamber B through which the rotary body 1a passes and the high-temperature heat medium chamber D through which the rotary body 1b passes are arranged on the same side of the rotary shaft 2, and the rotary body is disposed on the other side of the rotary shaft 2 on the opposite side. Medium-temperature heating medium chamber C through which 1a passes
Each duct portion may be partitioned so that a medium-temperature heating medium chamber A through which the rotating body 1b passes is arranged.

The operation of the heat pump device of the present invention configured as described above will be explained below. The type of metal hydride and the type and temperature of the heat medium used in this device are appropriately selected depending on the purpose of operation of the heat pump. When using a heat pump device for heating, etc. in the heating mode, which uses a medium temperature T _M heat source to supply heat at the highest temperature T _H , please refer to Figures 4 and 5 (the two As shown in the expanded view of the rotating body, the second sealed container in the medium-temperature heat medium chamber A is heated by the medium-temperature heat medium at a temperature T _M , and the metal hydride M ₂ in this container is endothermically converted into hydrogen ( When releasing H ₂ ), the first sealed container in the low-temperature heating medium chamber B is cooled by the low-temperature heating medium at a temperature T _L (<T _M ), and the metal hydride M ₁ in this container is released from the above container. In addition to storing hydrogen exothermically, a medium-temperature heating medium chamber C
When the first sealed container located in the high-temperature heating medium chamber D is heated by the medium-temperature heating medium at a temperature T _M and the metal hydride M ₁ in this container releases hydrogen endothermically, the second closed container located in the high-temperature heating medium chamber D The metal hydride M ₂ exothermically absorbs hydrogen from the container and generates a high temperature T _H
(>T _M ), the heating medium and metal hydride M ₁ ,
M ₂ is defined.

The operation of such temperature increase mode will be further explained with reference to the counterclockwise cycle diagram in FIG. In this heating mode, the hydrogen equilibrium decomposition pressure in the operating temperature range is lower than that of metal hydride M ₁ than that of metal hydride M _{2 .}
is chosen so that it is in the higher temperature range, e.g.
LaNi ₅ hydride-LaNi _4.7 Al _0.3 hydride combination,
Alternatively, a combination of CaNi ₅ hydride-LaNi ₅ hydride can be used. The heating cycle in Figure 6 is as follows:
It consists of two reactions.

) Dehydrogenation reaction in metal hydride M ₂ Metal hydride M ₂ absorbs heat (Q ₁ ) at intermediate heat medium temperature T _M and generates hydrogen.

) Hydrogenation reaction in metal hydride M ₁ Metal hydride M ₁ absorbs the hydrogen generated at the low heat medium temperature T _L (above) and generates heat (Q ₂ ).

) Dehydrogenation reaction in metal hydride M ₁ Metal hydride M ₁ of the above) that occludes hydrogen
is heated at a medium-temperature heat medium temperature T _M and absorbs heat (Q ₃ ) to generate high-pressure hydrogen.

) Hydrogenation reaction in metal hydride M ₂ Metal hydride M ₂ of the above) which released hydrogen
absorbs the high-pressure hydrogen generated in step (above) and generates heat (Q ₄ ), resulting in high-temperature T _H.

When the generated metal hydride M ₂ is cooled to a temperature T _M using a medium-temperature heating medium, the dehydrogenation reaction (above) is carried out and the cycle is completed.

In the states shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the above reactions ) and ) occur in the working pair, and at the same time, the above reactions ) and ) occur in the working pair. At a position where the rotating bodies 1a and 1b have rotated 180 degrees, reactions ) and ) occur in the working pair, and reactions ) and ) occur in the working pair. In this way, thermal output at temperature T _H can be continuously obtained from the high temperature heating medium using the medium temperature heating medium at temperature T _M as the driving source.

What is particularly noteworthy about the heat pump of the present invention is that, as can be seen from FIG. The hydrogenation reactions (reactions) and ) are always carried out in the closed container of )
This is the point where the dehydrogenation reaction of ) takes place. Since the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions described above are completed quickly, by doing this, the metal hydrides M ₁ and M ₂ located on one side of the rotating shaft are always hydrogenated and their weight is reduced. is in an increased state, while
The metal hydrides M ₁ and M ₂ located on the other side of the rotation axis are always dehydrogenated and have a reduced weight. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to generate rotational force on the rotating shaft due to the difference in weight of the metal hydride on both sides of the rotating shaft.
This rotational force allows the rotating body to rotate continuously without applying any external driving force. In addition, if the rotational speed due to this rotational force is too high, the rotational speed can be controlled by a brake means, etc. Conversely, if the rotational speed is too low or if it does not rotate with this rotational force alone, an external driving force can be used to control the rotational speed. , and in this case, a minimum amount of external power is required.

The heat pump device of the present invention described above has a high temperature
Thermal amplification mode generates heat output at an intermediate temperature T _M from a T _H heat supply source and a low temperature T _L heat source such as the atmosphere and uses it for heating, etc., and a high temperature T _H heat source and a medium temperature T _M heat radiation source. It can also be used in the refrigeration (temperature lowering) mode in which low-temperature T _L cold output is generated and used for freezing or cooling. In these cases, as shown in the clockwise cycle diagram in Fig. 7, The exothermic and endothermic and hydrogen generation and occlusion in the counterclockwise cycle diagram in the figure are reversed, and the hydrogen transfer between metal hydrides M ₁ and M ₂ is also reversed, resulting in the following four reactions. Ru.

) Dehydrogenation reaction in metal hydride M ₁ Metal hydride M ₁ (below) that occludes hydrogen
generates hydrogen while absorbing heat (Q ₅ ) at a low heat medium temperature T _L.

) Hydrogenation reaction in metal hydride M ₂ Metal hydride M ₂ generates heat (Q ⁶ ) while absorbing the hydrogen generated in the above) at the intermediate heat medium temperature T _M.

) Dehydrogenation reaction in metal hydride M ₂ Metal hydride M ₂ of the above) that occludes hydrogen
generates high-pressure hydrogen while absorbing heat (Q ₇ ) at the high heat medium temperature T _H.

) Hydrogenation reaction in metal hydride M ₁ Metal hydride M ₁ of the above) which released hydrogen
generates heat (Q ₈ ) while absorbing the high-pressure hydrogen generated at the intermediate heating medium temperature T _M (above).

That is, in the case of the thermal amplification mode, as shown in FIG. 8, the second sealed container in the high-temperature heating medium chamber D is heated by the high-temperature heating medium at the temperature T _H and the metal hydride M ₂ in this container is heated. releases hydrogen endothermically, the metal hydride M ₁ in the first closed container in the intermediate temperature heat transfer medium chamber C exothermically absorbs hydrogen from the container, increasing the intermediate temperature T _M (<T _H ). At the same time, the first sealed container in the low temperature heat medium chamber B is heated by the low temperature heat medium at a temperature T _L (<T _M ), and the metal hydride M ₁ in this container absorbs heat. When hydrogen is released at a medium temperature, the metal hydride _M2 in the second closed container in the medium temperature heating medium chamber A exothermically absorbs hydrogen from the container and exchanges heat with the heating medium at a medium temperature _T. The heating medium and metal hydrides M 1 and M 2 in each heating medium chamber are determined so that the heating medium and the metal hydrides M ₁ and M ₂ are equal to each other.

In addition, in the case of the freezing mode, as shown in FIG. 9, the second sealed container in the high-temperature heating medium chamber D is heated by the high-temperature heating medium at the temperature T _H , and the metal hydride M ₂ in this container is heated. When releasing hydrogen endothermically,
The first sealed container in the medium temperature heat transfer medium chamber C has a temperature T _M
The metal hydride _M1 in this container is cooled by the intermediate temperature heating medium (<T _H ) and exothermically absorbs hydrogen from the container, and the second sealed container in the intermediate temperature heating medium chamber A is heated to a temperature T When the metal hydride M ₂ in this container exothermically absorbs hydrogen while being cooled by the intermediate temperature heating medium _M , the first closed container in the low temperature heating medium chamber B releases the hydrogen endothermically. is the temperature
T _L (<T _M ) The heating medium and metal hydrides M ₁ and M ₂ in each heating medium chamber are determined so as to be able to exchange heat with the heating medium.

In the case of the above-mentioned heat amplification mode and freezing mode, as can be seen from FIGS. 8 and 9, the low temperature heat medium chamber B and the high temperature heat medium chamber D provided on one side of the rotating shaft are
The dehydrogenation reactions (reacting) and ) are always carried out in the first sealed container and the second sealed container located at The hydrogenation reaction of () and () always takes place in the closed vessel and the first closed vessel.
Therefore, the weight of the metal hydrides M ₁ and M ₂ on one side of the rotating shaft is always decreasing, and the weight is always increasing on the other side of the rotating shaft, and the difference in weight of the metal hydrides is Therefore, rotational force is applied to the rotating shaft. However, in the case of the heat amplification mode and the freezing mode as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rotation direction is opposite to that of the temperature raising mode shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In addition, in the above description, the medium temperature heat medium temperatures in the medium temperature heat medium chambers A and C are both expressed as T _M , but these may be different temperatures.
Furthermore, if the medium temperature heat medium temperatures _TM are the same in both cases, the partition wall 14 between the heat medium chambers A and C may be omitted if necessary.

Another embodiment of the heat pump device according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In FIG. 10, a first rotating body 1a and a second rotating body 1b are connected to a common rotating shaft 2.
This is an example of providing multiple combinations. Further, FIG. 11 shows an example in which a plurality of first rotary bodies 1a and a plurality of second rotary bodies 1b are provided in the same heat medium chamber. 11th
In the illustrated embodiment, three sealed containers located at the same corresponding positions of the three rotating bodies 1a and three sealed containers located at the same corresponding positions of the three rotating bodies 1b are shared. Connected with one communication pipe 17
Two working pairs are formed. Moreover, by passing this communication pipe 17 through the hollow rotating shaft 2, the sealing performance of each heat medium chamber is improved.

The heat pump device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. For example, the rotating body does not necessarily have to be disk-shaped, but may be spherical or polygonal. Alternatively, the plurality of first rotating bodies and second rotating bodies may be integrated, for example, formed into a cylindrical shape as a whole, and this may be used as a rotation axis. Further, the plurality of sealed containers filled with metal hydride do not need to be integrally structured like the illustrated rotating bodies 1a and 1b, but can be scattered radially in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft to rotate together with the rotating shaft. It should be placed like this. Therefore, it is also possible to twist a plurality of airtight containers on one rotating body so that they form a screw shape and align them in the circumferential direction of the rotating body. In this case, the heat medium in each heat medium chamber is aligned with the rotating shaft. By arranging the inlet and outlet of the heat medium so that the heat medium flows along the shaft, it is possible to further apply rotational force to the rotating shaft by the flow of the heat medium.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, according to the present invention, a hydrogenation reaction always occurs in the metal hydride in the closed container on one side of the rotating shaft, and the weight increases, while the weight increases on the other side of the rotating shaft. Because the dehydrogenation reaction always occurs in the metal hydride in the sealed container, the weight decreases.
A rotational force can be generated on the rotating shaft due to the difference in weight of the metal hydride on both sides of the rotating shaft. Therefore, with this rotational force, it is possible to sequentially rotate a plurality of closed containers arranged in an annular manner in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft without applying a driving force from the outside. Also,
Even if the rotating force due to this weight difference is not enough to rotate, it is only necessary to apply the minimum external driving force, so it is possible to save external power.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the heat pump device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a side view of the rotating body in FIG. 1, and FIG. is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the device in Fig. 1 in the temperature rising mode, Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the development of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the device in Fig.
The figure is a counterclockwise cycle diagram explaining the temperature increase mode.
Fig. 7 is a clockwise cycle diagram explaining the heat amplification mode and freezing mode, Fig. 8 is an expanded explanatory diagram showing the heat amplification mode operation of Fig. 1, and Fig. 9 is the refrigeration mode operation of the device of Fig. 1. Explanatory diagram showing development, No. 10
The figure and FIG. 11 are explanatory diagrams showing other embodiments of the heat pump device of the present invention. 1...Rotating body, 2...Rotating shaft, 6...Airtight container, 7,
17...Communication pipe, 8...Outside duct, 9, 10, 1
1, 12, 13, 14...Partition wall, A, C...Medium temperature heating medium chamber, B...Low temperature heating medium chamber, D...High temperature heating medium chamber, _M1 , _M2
...Metal hydride.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Using first and second metal hydrides having different hydrogen equilibrium decomposition pressures in the operating temperature range, the first metal hydride is filled in a first closed container, and the second metal hydride is A working pair is formed by filling the first sealed container and the second sealed container with a communication pipe through which hydrogen can flow, and a plurality of the working pairs are connected around the rotation axis. The first sealed container and the second sealed container are circulated to each heat exchange section by rotation of the rotating shaft, and hydrogen is endothermically removed from the first metal hydride by a dehydrogenation reaction. This hydrogen is exothermically occluded in a second metal hydride by a hydrogenation reaction, and then this second metal hydride is
A heat pump method in which hydrogen is endothermically released from a metal hydride by a dehydrogenation reaction, and the hydrogen is exothermically stored in the first metal hydride by a hydrogenation reaction, the rotation shaft being The hydrogenation reaction always takes place in the first and second sealed containers on one side, and
The phase of the first sealed container and the second sealed container forming each working pair is shifted so that the dehydrogenation reaction always occurs in each of the sealed containers, and the metal hydride subjected to the hydrogenation reaction and the dehydrated container are shifted in phase. A heat pump method characterized in that a rotational force is generated in the rotating shaft due to a weight difference between the metal hydride and the metal hydride that has undergone an elementation reaction. 2. A first rotating body in which a plurality of first closed containers filled with a first metal hydride are disposed in the circumferential direction;
a second rotating body having a plurality of second closed containers filled with a second metal hydride whose hydrogen equilibrium decomposition pressure is in a higher temperature range than the first metal hydride in the operating temperature range; is rotatably supported by a common substantially horizontal rotating shaft, and a low-temperature heating medium chamber and a second sealed container sequentially pass through one side of the rotating shaft. A high-temperature heating medium chamber is provided, and a medium-temperature heating medium chamber is provided on the other side of the rotating shaft, through which a first sealed container passes sequentially as the rotating shaft rotates, and a medium-temperature heating medium chamber through which a second sealed container passes sequentially. and operates by connecting one of the first closed containers and one of the second closed containers, which is point symmetrical with respect to the center point of the rotation axis, by a communication pipe through which hydrogen can flow. A second sealed container is located in the intermediate temperature heating medium room, and a second sealed container is in working pair with the first sealed container in the low temperature heating medium room, and a second sealed container is in working pair with the second sealed container in the high temperature heating medium room. A heat pump device characterized in that the working pair is formed by a first sealed container and a second sealed container that are out of phase so that the first sealed container is located in a medium-temperature heat medium chamber.