Heat tube device utilizing cold energy and application thereof

• US 8,567,482 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xuejun Yin
• Original Assignee: Xuejun Yin
• Inventors: Yin, Xuejun, Song, Jisheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Ciric, Ljiljana
• Application Number:
  US11/721,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20090211727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,874 Days
• Field of Search: 165/10, 165/104.26, 165/45, 165/104.21
• US Class Current: 165/10
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2005/0025 using heat exchange fluid storage tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2005/0057 receiving heat-exchange fluid from a closed circuit in the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0021 using phase change material [PCM] for storage
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0046 using natural energy, e.g. solar energy, energy from the ground
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/15 using bent tubes; using tubes assembled with connectors or with return headers
• 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: F25B 30/06 characterised by the source of low potential heat
• 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: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/40 Geothermal heat-pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 Geothermal energy

Abstract

An energy storage device that stores hot and/or cold energy includes an evaporating part and a condensing part. According to one aspect, the evaporating part includes a heat tube in a U shape or a thimble shape and further includes one or more power cycle tubes. A working substance within the evaporating part evaporates after absorbing heat and condenses in the condensing part after releasing heat.

Claims

1. A heat tube device, comprising:

an evaporating part comprising one or more thimble tubes having a cavity portion therein, the one or more thimble tubes including an upper orifice in communication with an ascending tube, the one or more thimble tubes further including one or more reflow tubes at least partially disposed within the cavity portion;

a condensing part having an upper end and a lower end, the condensing part further comprising one or more condensing tubes having one or more externally disposed fins, wherein the upper end of the condensing part is connected to the upper orifice of the evaporating part through the ascending tube, and wherein the lower end of the condensing part is in communication with a lower end of the evaporating part through the reflow tube; and

wherein the cavity portion further comprises one or more power cycle tubes having an inlet and outlet, the inlet and outlet of the one or more power cycle tubes being positioned external to the evaporating part.

2. The heat tube device of claim 1, wherein the ascending tube further comprises an insulating layer disposed on an external surface thereof.

3. The heat tube device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the reflow tube and an upper part of the evaporating tube further comprises an insulating layer disposed on an external surface thereof.

4. The heat tube device of claim 1, further comprising one or more valves disposed within one or more of the (i) ascending tube;

(ii) reflow tube;

(iii) evaporation part; and

(iv) condensing part.

5. A storage device, comprising:

a heat tube device, comprising;

an evaporating part comprising one or more thimble tubes having a cavity portion therein, the one or more thimble tubes including an upper orifice in communication with an ascending tube, the one or more thimble tubes further including one or more reflow tubes at least partially disposed within the cavity portion;

a condensing part having an upper end and a lower end, the condensing part further comprising one or more condensing tubes having one or more externally disposed fins, wherein the upper end of the condensing part is connected to the upper orifice of the evaporating part through the ascending tube, and wherein the lower end of the condensing part is in communication with a lower end of the evaporating part through the reflow tube; and

wherein the cavity portion further comprises one or more power cycle tubes having an inlet and outlet, the inlet and outlet of the one or more power cycle tubes being positioned external to the evaporating part.

6. The storage device of claim 5, wherein the energy storing medium is natural rocky soil or phase changing storage material.

7. The storage device of claim 5, wherein an insulating material is provided at the periphery and top surface of the energy storing medium.

8. The storage device of claim 5, wherein one or more power cycle tubes are disposed within an energy storage medium.

9. The storage device of claim 5, wherein the tube wall of the ascending tube, and/or the tube wall of the reflow tube, and/or the tube wall of the upper part of the evaporating tube of the heat tube device is made of a material with a low heat conduction coefficient, or has an insulating layer disposed outside the tube wall of the ascending tube, and/or the tube wall of the reflow tube, and/or the tube wall of the upper part of the evaporating tube of the heat tube device.

10. An air conditioning device, comprising:

a storage device, including;

a heat tube device, comprising;

an evaporating part comprising one or more thimble tubes having a cavity portion therein, the one or more thimble tubes including an upper orifice in communication with an ascending tube, the one or more thimble tubes further including one or more reflow tubes at least partially disposed within the cavity portion;

a condensing part having an upper end and a lower end, the condensing part further comprising one or more condensing tubes having one or more externally disposed fins, wherein the upper end of the condensing part is connected to the upper orifice of the evaporating part through the ascending tube, and wherein the lower end of the condensing part is in communication with a lower end of the evaporating part through the reflow tube;

wherein the cavity portion further comprises one or more power cycle tubes having an inlet and outlet, the inlet and outlet of the one or more power cycle tubes being positioned external to the evaporating part.

11. The air conditioning device of claim 10, wherein a heat exchanger is disposed between the terminal loop and the storage device, the storage device exchanging heat with the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger exchanging heat with the terminal loop.

12. The air conditioning device of claim 10, wherein a heat pump is disposed between the terminal loop and the storage device or the heat exchanger, the primary cold source or primary heat source input end of the heat pump exchanging heat with the storage device or the heat exchanger, and the output end of the heat pump exchanging heat with the terminal loop.

13. The air conditioning device of claim 10, wherein the storage device is a cold storing device;

wherein the condensing part of the heat tube device is in an atmosphere; and

wherein the power cycle tubes at least one of (i) are directly connected to a terminal loop; and

(ii) exchange heat with a terminal loop via a heat exchanger.

14. The air conditioning device of claim 13, wherein the power cycle tubes exchange heat via a heat exchanger and store cold energy in an energy storage medium.

15. The air conditioning device of claim 13, wherein cold energy is produced using one or more of peak-valley electricity refrigeration and wind energy refrigeration, the power cycle tubes storing the cold energy in an energy storage medium.

16. The air conditioning device of claim 10, wherein the storage device is a heat storing device, the condensing part of the heat tube device being directly connected to a terminal loop.

17. The air conditioning device of claim 16, wherein the power cycle tubes are connected to a heat supplying source;

wherein the heat supplying source comprises one or more of (i) industrial residual heat;

(ii) a solar energy heat collection device;

(iii) a heat pump using peak-valley electricity for heating; and

(iv) a heat pump using wind energy for heating.

18. The storage device of claim 10, wherein the tube wall of the ascending tube, and/or the tube wall of the reflow tube, and/or the tube wall of the upper part of the evaporating tube of the heat tube device is made of a material with a low heat conduction coefficient, or has an insulating layer disposed outside the tube wall of the ascending tube, and/or the tube wall of the reflow tube, and/or the tube wall of the upper part of the evaporating tube of the heat tube device.

19. A building system comprising:

a building and an air conditioning device, said air conditioning device comprising;

a storage device, including;

a heat tube device, including;

an evaporating part comprising one or more thimble tubes having a cavity portion therein, the one or more thimble tubes including an upper orifice in communication with an ascending tube, the one or more thimble tubes further including one or more reflow tubes at least partially disposed within the cavity portion;

a condensing part having an upper end and a lower end, the condensing part further comprising one or more condensing tubes having one or more externally disposed fins, wherein the upper end of the condensing part is connected to the upper orifice of the evaporating part through the ascending tube, and wherein the lower end of the condensing part is in communication with a lower end of the evaporating part through the reflow tube;

wherein the cavity portion further comprises one or more power cycle tubes having an inlet and outlet, the inlet and outlet of the one or more power cycle tubes being positioned external to the evaporating part; and

wherein an air conditioning terminal of the air conditioning device is inside the building and an energy storage medium is located under the ground.

20. The building system of claim 19, wherein the storage device is a cold storing device, the evaporating part of the heat tube device is positioned under the ground, and the condensing part of the heat tube device is positioned in an atmosphere outside the building and above the ground, the power cycle tubes are disposed in the evaporating part of the heat tube device and are one or more of (i) connected directly to the air conditioning terminal;

and (ii) exchange heat with the air conditioning terminal via a heat exchanger or heat pump.

21. The building system of claim 19, wherein the storage device is a heat storing device;

one or more power cycle tubes are disposed in the evaporating part of the heat tube device or in the energy storing medium;

the power cycle tubes being connected to a source of heat to be stored;

the condensing part of the heat tube device one or more of (i) being connected directly to the air conditioning terminal; and

(ii) exchanging heat with the air conditioning terminal via a heat exchanger or heat pump.

22. The building system of claim 19, wherein the storage device comprises a cold storing device and a heat storing device, both connected to the terminal loop, wherein when supplying cold, the terminal loop exchanges heat with the cold storing device, and when supplying heat, the terminal loop exchanges heat with the heat storing device.

23. A geothermal utilizing device, comprising:

a heat tube device, including;

an evaporating part comprising one or more thimble tubes having a cavity portion therein, the one or more thimble tubes including an upper orifice in communication with an ascending tube, the one or more thimble tubes further including one or more reflow tubes at least partially disposed within the cavity portion;

a condensing part having an upper end and a lower end, the condensing part further comprising one or more condensing tubes having one or more externally disposed fins, wherein the upper end of the condensing part is connected to the upper orifice of the evaporating part through the ascending tube, and wherein the lower end of the condensing part is in communication with a lower end of the evaporating part through the reflow tube;

wherein the cavity portion further comprises one or more power cycle tubes having an inlet and outlet, the inlet and outlet of the one or more power cycle tubes being positioned external to the evaporating part; and

wherein the evaporating part of the heat tube device is positioned in a geothermal layer and the condensing part is positioned in at least one of an object to be heated and a heat exchanger, the object to be heated comprising solid, liquid, gas, or a building.

24. The geothermal utilizing device of claim 23, wherein a terminal loop is connected to and exchanges heat with the heat exchanger, and then supplies heat to the object to be heated via the terminal loop, the terminal loop comprising an air conditioning terminal, which includes a fan coiler, a radiator, a ground coiler or a tubule grid.

25. The geothermal utilizing device of claim 23, wherein the tube wall of the ascending tube, and/or the tube wall of the reflow tube, and/or the tube wall of the upper part of the evaporating tube of the heat tube device is made of a material with a low heat conduction coefficient, or has an insulating layer disposed outside the tube wall of the ascending tube, and/or the tube wall of the reflow tube, and/or the tube wall of the upper part of the evaporating tube of the heat tube device.