Method for transporting heat, transport system for a heat carrier and the use thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport system for a heat carrier which has at least one transport network, at least one heat carrier and also at least one drive device for the heat carrier. The invention likewise relates to a method for transporting heat using this transport system. The transport system according to the invention is used for example for transporting heat in solar plants.

1 . An automated transport system for a heat carrier comprising:
 at least one transport network,   at least one heat carrier which, by means of heat absorption at a heat source and/or heat discharge at a heat sink at defined points in the network, changes its thermodynamic state and/or its physical and/or chemical properties, and   at least one drive device for the heat carrier, wherein the at least one heat carrier is present encapsulated in at least one container.   
     
     
         2 . The transport system according to  claim 1 , wherein the drive device is selected from the group consisting of compressed air or vacuum devices, magnetic and electrical drive devices and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The transport system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one container is cylindrical or spherical. 
     
     
         4 . The transport system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat carrier is selected from the group consisting of water, phase-change materials and also emulsions or suspensions thereof, sorbents, in particular zeolites, silica gels, activated carbon, metal oxide compounds, aluminophosphates, silicoaluminophosphates, layer silicates and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The transport system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat carrier is a substance which, as a result of temperature and reversibly, is endothermally and/or exothermally reactive. 
     
     
         6 . The transport system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one container has a heat-conducting inner structure which enables heat conduction between heat carrier and heat source or heat sink. 
     
     
         7 . The transport system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one container has an inner channel structure through which the heat carrier can flow. 
     
     
         8 . The transport system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one container has at least one heat pipe for coupling or discharge of heat. 
     
     
         9 . The transport system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one container has devices for reducing thermal losses, including a double-walled configuration of the container wall according to the Dewar principle. 
     
     
         10 . The transport system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transport system has a thermally insulated magazine as heat store for storage of the encapsulated heat carriers. 
     
     
         11 . The transport system according to  claim 1 , wherein transport network is constructed from pipes. 
     
     
         12 . The transport system according to  claim 11 , wherein the pipes are optically transparent for solar radiation in the region of the heat source and are positioned in the focal line of a radiation-concentrating system, the containers having, at least in regions, a material which absorbs solar radiation or a coating which absorbs solar radiation. 
     
     
         13 . A method for transporting heat comprising:
 providing at least one transport network, and at least one heat carrier which, by means of heat absorption at a heat source and/or heat discharge at a heat sink at defined points in the network, changes its thermodynamic state and/or its physical and/or chemical properties, and at least one drive device for the heat carrier, wherein the at least one heat carrier is present encapsulated in at least one container; and   transporting the at least one container through the network with the help of the drive device, heat absorption or heat discharge being effected at defined points of the network, as a result of which the at least one heat carrier changes its thermodynamic state and/or its physical and/or chemical properties.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the transport is effected by means of pressure differences in the transport system, magnetically levitating, via rails and/or by means of air cushions. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the heat absorption or heat discharge between heat source or heat sink and heat carrier is effected without contact via radiation, by means of conduction or convection. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing at least one transport network, and at least one heat carrier which, by means of heat absorption at a heat source and/or heat discharge at a heat sink at defined points in the network, changes its thermodynamic state and/or its physical and/or chemical properties, and at least one drive device for the heat carrier, wherein the at least one heat carrier is present encapsulated in at least one container; and   transporting heat via the at least one transport network in heating and cooling networks, in solar plants and in solar-thermal power stations.