Regenerative heat exchange apparatus

Abstract

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.

1 . A regenerative heat exchange apparatus comprising:
 a heat storage tank;   a heat storage material disposed inside the heat storage tank, the heat storage material 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; and   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,   wherein the first straight pipe portion is located vertically lower than the second straight pipe portion.   
     
     
         2 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second straight pipe portion has a pipe diameter less than a pipe diameter of the first straight pipe portion. 
     
     
         3 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat medium passage comprises heat medium passages in a number greater than the number of the liquid passages. 
     
     
         4 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first straight pipe portion and the second straight pipe portion are disposed in a set and arranged in multiple stages in an up-down direction,   wherein the second straight pipe portions of the heat medium passage that are adjacent in the up-down direction are connected at their one end such that the heat medium passage meanders in the up-down direction, and   wherein the first straight pipe portions of the liquid passage that are adjacent in the up-down direction are connected at their one end such that the liquid passage meanders in the up-down direction.   
     
     
         5 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a mean distance between the first straight pipe portion and the second straight pipe portion disposed in a set and arranged in multiple stages in the up-down direction is less than a distance between the second straight pipe portion in one stage and the first straight pipe portion in another stage adjacent to the one stage. 
     
     
         6 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein, when viewed in vertical cross-section of the heat storage tank, the first straight pipe portion and the second straight pipe portion disposed in a set and arranged in multiple stages in the up-down direction are disposed in a staggered arrangement. 
     
     
         7 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a connecting part of the second straight pipe portions that are adjacent in the up-down direction is located vertically higher than a connecting part of the first straight pipe portions that are adjacent in the up-down direction. 
     
     
         8 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to detect at least one of a liquid temperature and a heat medium temperature, the liquid temperature being a temperature of the liquid flowing through the liquid passage, the heat medium temperature being a temperature of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium passage; and   a flow rate control unit configured to, based on a temperature detected by the temperature sensor, control a flow rate of the liquid through the liquid passage and a flow rate of the heat medium through the heat medium passage.   
     
     
         9 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a dividing plate positioned to cross the liquid passage and the heat medium passage. 
     
     
         10 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the liquid passage and the heat medium passage each have a tubular configuration,   wherein the dividing plate includes
 a first covering to cover an outer peripheral surface of the liquid passage, 
 a second covering to cover an outer peripheral surface of the heat medium passage, and 
   wherein an average distance between the outer peripheral surface of the liquid passage and an inner peripheral surface of the first covering is greater than an average distance between the outer peripheral surface of the heat medium passage and an inner peripheral surface of the second covering.   
     
     
         11 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the dividing plate has a shape such that an average distance between an outer peripheral surface of the heat medium passage and the inner peripheral surface of the second covering in a region vertically lower than the second straight pipe portion is less than an average distance between an outer peripheral surface of the liquid passage and the inner peripheral surface of the first covering in a region vertically lower than the first straight pipe portion. 
     
     
         12 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the dividing plate includes a slit located vertically above the second straight pipe portion. 
     
     
         13 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the dividing plate includes a cut-and-raised portion, the cut-and-raised portion being formed by cutting and raising a part of the dividing plate located vertically above the second straight pipe portion. 
     
     
         14 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the cut-and-raised portion is formed by cutting and raising such that a cut in a cut area of the cut-and-raised portion is located vertically lower than a part of the cut-and-raised portion that is left uncut. 
     
     
         15 . The regenerative heat exchange apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a heater located vertically above and adjacent to the liquid passage to provide heat to the liquid passage.