Vapor-lift pump heat transport apparatus

• US 7,721,793 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Akira, Yamakage, Hisaaki, Uehara, Nobuaki, Ippoushi, Shigetoshi, Ogushi, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong; Tho v
• Application Number:
  US11/562,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20070074854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 165/104.24, 165/104.22, 165/104.28, 165/104.29, 165/108, 165/163, 165/104.21, 126/635, 126/638
• US Class Current: 165/104.24
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/10 with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/30 using underground reservoirs for accumulating working fluids or intermediate fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/40 operated without external energy sources, e.g. using thermosiphonic circulation or heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0052 using the ground body or aquifers as heat storage medium
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/08 Fluid driving means, e.g. pumps, fans
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 Geothermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A vapor-lift pump heat transport apparatus having a small heat resistance and a large heat transport capacity. A heat exchange circulating solution container has a first space and a second space communicating with the first space through a communication opening and contains a heat exchange circulating solution, and vapor thereof, in each space. A circulating solution transport passage includes a pipe connected to the solution outlet of the container and provided with a sensible heat releasing heat exchanger, a pipe disposed in the container, and a pipe connected to a vapor-liquid two-phase fluid inlet and provided with a heating heat exchanger. A vapor-liquid two-phase fluid flows into only the first space through the vapor-liquid two-phase fluid inlet. When the entrance of the vapor-liquid two-phase fluid has caused a pressure difference between the first and second spaces, a difference occurs between the positions of the vapor-liquid interfaces in the first and second spaces.

Claims

1. An vapor-lift pump heat transport apparatus comprising:

a heat exchange circulating solution container that contains a heat exchange circulating solution and vapor of the heat exchange circulating solution;

solution outlets through which the heat exchange circulating solution is output from the container;

a vapor-liquid two-phase fluid inlet through which a vapor-liquid two-phase fluid consisting of a high-temperature heat exchange circulating solution and vapor bubbles of the high temperature heat exchange circulating solution are input to the container;

an opening in a top portion of the container and communicating with an environmental space of the container; and

a circulating solution transport passage having a first transport passage connected to the solution outlet and including a sensible heat releasing heat exchanger, a second transport passage through which an internal, low-temperature heat exchange circulating solution exchanges heat with the heat exchange circulating solution in the container or the heat exchange circulating solution and its vapor in the container, and a third transport passage connected to the vapor-liquid two-phase fluid inlet and including a heating heat exchanger, each of the first and third transport passages being connected to the second transport passage, wherein

the vapor-liquid two-phase fluid inlet is disposed in a central portion of the container,

solution outlets are disposed on opposite sides of the vapor-liquid two-phase inlet, on a lower portion of the container, and

branches of the first transport passage are connected to respective solution outlets and merge into a trunk passage that is connected to the second transport passage.