Heat Exchanger for Controlling the Temperature of a Solid Substance

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubular, substantially parallel containers (1, 1a) filled with a solid substance. The containers are immersed in a vessel that has openings (4) for letting a fluid flow in and out in order for the containers to be exposed to an oriented fluid stream. The containers are immobilized by means of a retaining plate (2) acting as a vessel closure and are supported by a plurality of guide plates (3).

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of tubularly elongated containers ( 1 ,  1   a ), which are substantially parallel to one another and which are filled with a solid substance containing a metallic component, a fluid being able to flow around the containers ( 1 ,  1   a ) by the containers ( 1 ,  1   a ) being almost completely immersed in a vessel which comprises a fluid inlet opening ( 4 ) and a fluid outlet opening ( 4 ) for the establishment of an oriented fluid flow in an interior of the vessel;   a plurality of guide plates ( 3 ) supported at edges on an inner wall of the vessel; and   a retaining plate ( 2 ) serving as a vessel closure, to which the containers are fixed and through which the containers protrude,   characterized in that the containers ( 1 ) are supported by the guide plates ( 3 ) along a longitudinal extension of the containers ( 1 ) in the vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the guide plates ( 3 ) have openings through which the containers ( 1 ,  1   a ) are passed individually. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the guide plates ( 3 ) obstruct a continuous, in particular laminar, fluid flow along the longitudinal extension of the containers ( 1 ,  1   a ). 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the guide plates ( 3 ), together with the inner wall of the vessel, form passages ( 5 ) for enabling a fluid flow. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that several container variants ( 1 ,  1   a ) with different dimensions, in particular with different pipe diameters, are combined with each other. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the containers ( 1 ,  1   a ) are all connected with each other via a gas line at ends of the containers ( 1 ,  1   a ) which protrude out of the vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the solid substance in the containers ( 1 ,  1   a ) is capable of storing gas in an interior of the solid substance. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one of the containers is provided with a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the temperature sensor is designed as a probe which within the container is guided through the retaining plate into the interior of the vessel.