Patent Application
20080023962
The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like numerals refer to like elements.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in a more detailed manner with reference to the drawings.
A cogeneration system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be provided in plural, and its most desirable exemplary embodiment will be described below.
As shown in
The heat destination (not shown) can use a heat pump type air conditioner operating in an air condition mode or a heating mode, or a hot water supply tank.
The cogeneration unit includes a generator 51 for generating the power; a driving source for driving the generator 51 and generating the heat; a waste heat recovering unit (not shown) for recovering a waste heat of the driving source; a controller 52 for controlling operations of the generator 51, the driving source, and the waste heat recovering unit (not shown); a waste heat supply heat exchanger (not shown) for supplying the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recovering unit (not shown), to the heat destination (not shown); and a heat sink (not shown) for dissipating out the waste heat recovered by the waste heat recovering unit (not shown).
The driving source can be comprised of a fuel cell, or can be comprised of an engine 53 operating using a fossil fuel such as gas or oil. A description will be made with a limitation to the engine 53 below.
The generator 51 is any one of an alternate current generator and a direct current generator. The generator 51 is constructed such that its rotator connects with an output shaft of the engine 53, thereby producing the power when the output shaft of the engine 53 rotates.
A plurality of Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) are built in the controller 52, and controll an operation of the cogeneration system.
The waste heat recovering unit includes an exhaust gas heat exchanger 54 installed in an exhaust pipe 53a of the engine 53 and recovering a waste heat from an exhaust gas; and a cold water heat exchanger 55 for recovering a waste heat from a cold water that cools the engine 53.
The generator 51, the engine 53, the exhaust gas heat exchanger 54, the cold water heat exchanger 55, and the controller 52 are installed inside one chassis 50.
It is possible that the waste heat supply heat exchanger (not shown) and the heat sink (not shown) are installed inside the chassis 50. Alternately, it is possible that the waste heat supply heat exchanger (not shown) and the heat sink (not shown) are installed outside the chassis 50. A description will be made with a limitation that they are installed outside the chassis 50.
The chassis 50 is partitioned into a controller room 61 and a driver room 62, using a barrier 60. The controller room 61 houses the generator 51 and the controller 52. The driver room 62 houses the engine 53 and the waste heat recovering unit (not shown).
A cooling unit cools the interior of the chassis 50 by air. The cooling unit is comprised of a controller cooling unit for cooling the controller room 61, and a driver cooling unit for cooling the driver room 62.
The controller cooling unit is constructed to introduce external air at one side inside the chassis 50, circulate the introduced air, and cool the generator 51 and the controller 52. The driver cooling unit is constructed to introduce external air at the other side inside the chassis 50, circulate the introduced air, and cool the engine 53, the exhaust gas heat exchanger 54, and the cold water heat exchanger 55.
The driver cooling unit includes a driver inlet port 63 provided to inhale the external air into the driver room 62; and a driver outlet port 64 provided to exhale the air cooling the driver room 62 to the exterior.
The above description is made with a limitation that the driver inlet port 63 and the driver outlet port 64 each are provided on an upper surface of the chassis 50. However, it is also possible that the driver inlet port 63 and the driver outlet port 64 are provided in other positions without an intention to limit the scope of the present invention.
A driver exhaust duct 65 is provided at a side of the driver outlet port 64, and guides an air of the driver room 62 to the exterior. An exhaust fan 66 is installed inside the driver exhaust duct 65, and forcibly sends the air.
The controller cooling unit includes a controller inlet port 67 provided to inhale the external air to the controller room 61, and a connection duct 68 connecting the controller room 61 with the driver room 62 to send at least a part of the air cooling the controller room 61 to the driver room 62.
A description will be made with a limitation that all the air cooling the controller room 61 is sent to the driver room 62.
The controller inlet ports 67 provided in plural are spaced a predetermined distance apart on one side surface of the chassis 50. It is desirable that the controller inlet port 67 is directed toward the controller 52.
The connection duct 68 includes a duct inlet port 68a for introducing the air cooling the controller room 61. A centrifugal fan 69 is provided inside the connection duct 68, and forcibly sends the air to the driver room 62. A description will be made with a limitation that the centrifugal fan 69 uses a Sirocco fan. The centrifugal fan 69 is combined to the output shaft of the engine 53.
A method for cooling the cogeneration unit in the cogeneration system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
The external air introduced through the driver inlet port 63 circulates in the driver room 62, while cooling the engine 53 and the exhaust pipe 53a of the engine 53.
The air increasing in temperature after cooling the driver room 62 is sent by the exhaust fan 66, and is discharged out through the driver exhaust duct 65 and the driver outlet port 64.
The external air introduced through the controller inlet port 67 circulates in the controller room 61 while primarily cooling the controller 52 and the generator 51.
After that, the air is introduced into the connection duct 68 by an operation of the centrifugal fan 69, and enters the driver room 62 through the connection duct 68.
The air entering the driver room 62 circulates in the driver room 61 while secondarily cooling the driver room 62.
In other words, the air cooling the controller room 61 can be introduced into the driver room 61, thereby cooling the driver room 61 because a temperature of the controller room 61 is lower than a temperature of the driver room 62.
The air cooling the driver room 61 is discharged out through the driver outlet port 64.
Thus, the controller room 61 and the driver room 62 are partitioned and cooled independently, thereby preventing a heat of the engine 53 from being transferred to the controller 52 and the generator 51 as well as effectively dissipating a heat of the controller 52.
According to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cogeneration unit includes a generator 71, an engine 73, a waste heat recovering unit, and a controller 72 all installed within a chassis 70; a controller cooling unit for introducing air at one side inside the chassis 70, circulating the introduced air, and cooling the generator 71 and the controller 72; and a driver cooling unit for introducing air at the other side inside the chassis 70, circulating the introduced air, and cooling the engine 73 and the waste heat recovering unit.
The driver cooling unit includes a driver inlet port 74 provided to inhale external air toward the engine 73; and a driver outlet port 75 provided to exhale the air cooling an interior of the chassis 70 to the exterior.
The driver inlet port 74 and the driver outlet port 75 can be provided in other positions without an intention to limit the scope of the present invention.
A driver exhaust duct 76 is provided at a side of the driver outlet port 75, and guides air from the interior of the chassis 70 to the exterior. An exhaust fan 77 is installed within the driver exhaust duct 76, and forcibly sends the air.
The controller 72 is of a shape of a box having a printed circuit board built therein.
The controller cooling unit includes a controller introduction duct 80 for directly introduce the external air inside the controller 72; and a controller exhaust duct 81 for exhausting the air cooling the controller 72 outside the controller 72.
A connection duct 82 connects to the controller exhaust duct 81 to exhaust the air passing through the controller exhaust duct 81 to the engine 73.
It is desirable that the connection duct 82 is provided to be in contact with a lower surface of the generator 71, thereby cooling the generator 71.
A centrifugal fan 83 is installed at the connection duct 82, and forcibly sends the air passing through the controller exhaust duct 81 to the engine 73. The centrifugal fan 83 connects to an output shaft of the engine 73.
It is desirable that the controller introduction duct 80 connects to an upper side of the controller 72, and the controller exhaust duct 81 and the connection duct 82 are positioned lower than the controller 72.
A method for cooling the cogeneration unit in the cogeneration system according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
The external air is directly introduced into an interior of the controller 72 through the controller introduction duct 80.
The air passes through the interior of the controller 72 because an operation of the centrifugal fan 83 leads airflow to a lower side.
The air passing through the interior of the controller 72 cools the controller 72. The air cooling the controller 72 passes through the connection duct 82.
After the air passing through the connection duct 82 cools a lower part of the generator 71, it is discharged toward the engine 73 through the centrifugal fan 83.
The air discharged toward the engine 73 is circulated within the chassis 70, together with the external air introduced into the driver inlet port 74, while cooling the engine 73 and an exhaust pipe 73a of the engine 73.
The air cooling the engine 73 is sent by the exhaust fan 77, and is discharged to the exterior through the driver exhaust duct 76 and the driver outlet port 75.
Thus, a heat of the controller 72 can be effectively dissipated because the external air is directly introduced into the interior of the controller 72.
Other constructions and functions of the cogeneration system are the same as those of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention and thus, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
As shown in
Constructions and functions of the driver cooling unit and the controller cooling unit are the same as those of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention and thus, like reference numerals will be used and other detailed descriptions will be omitted.
The radiant heat recovery heat exchanger 103 is installed at a side of a driver outlet port 75 for discharging the air cooling the interior of the chassis 90 outside the chassis 90.
As shown in
A waste heat exchanger 120 is installed between the cogeneration unit (EN) and the heat pump type air conditioner, and transfers a heat recovered from the waste heat recovering unit 100, to the heat pump type air conditioner.
The cogeneration unit includes the engine 91, the generator 92, and the waste heat recovering unit 100, and further includes a hot water supply heat exchanger 94 for heating water.
The generator 92 connects to the heat pump type air conditioner by a power line 92a.
The engine 91 includes an outlet port 91a for passing an exhaust gas exhausted from the engine 91; a fuel injection port 91b for injecting a fuel; an inlet port 91c for introducing external air.
The cold water heat exchanger 102 connects with the engine 91 by a cold water circulation flow channel 104. A cold water circulation pump 105 is installed on the cold water circulation flow channel 104.
The radiant heat recovery heat exchanger 103 is installed on a heat medium circulation flow channel 106 for circulating a heat medium recovering a heat from the exhaust gas heat exchanger 101 and the cold water heat exchanger 102.
The heat medium circulation flow path 106 is provided to enable the heat medium to sequentially pass through the radiant heat recovery heat exchanger 103, the exhaust gas heat exchanger 101, and the cold water heat exchanger 102.
A hot water supply unit connects to the hot water supply heat exchanger 94, and supplies water to the hot water supply heat exchanger 94. The hot water supply unit includes a heat storage tank 95 for storing water; and a water circulation flow channel 97 for connecting the heat storage tank 95 with the hot water supply heat exchanger 94.
A heat storage tank pump 98 is installed on the water circulation flow channel 97, and circulatively pumps to the heat storage tank 95.
A water supply flow channel 99 connects to the water circulation flow channel 97, and supplies external water. The water supply flow channel 99 includes a check valve 99a, and a water supply pump 99b. The check valve 99a prevents water from flowing backward through the water supply flow channel 99 in the water circulation flow channel 97. The water supply pump 99b pumps to the water supply flow channel 99.
A hot water supply heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 107 connects to the water circulation flow channel 97 so that the water supplied from the heat storage tank 95 to the water circulation flow channel 97 can bypass the hot water supply heat exchanger 94. A hot water supply heat exchanger bypassing valve 108 is installed at a connection portion between the water circulation flow channel 97 and the hot water supply heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 107.
The water circulation flow channel 97 includes a check valve 97a between the heat storage tank 98 and the hot water supply heat exchanger bypassing valve 108.
The heat sink unit (EX) is provided between the cogeneration unit (EN) and the heat pump type air conditioner. The heat sink unit (EX) includes a heat sink heat exchanger 109 and a heat sink fan 110 for dissipating out all or part of a heat recovered from the waste heat recovering unit 100 according to need.
The heat sink heat exchanger 109 connects to a heat sink flow channel 111 on the heat medium circulation flow channel 106. An expansion tank 112 connects between the heat medium circulation flow channel 106 and the heat sink flow channel 111.
A heat sink heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 113 is provided on the heat sink flow channel 111 to bypass the heat sink heat exchanger 109. A heat sink heat exchanger bypassing valve 114 is installed at a connection portion between the heat sink flow channel 111 and the heat sink heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 113.
A waste heat supply heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 115 and a waste heat supply heat exchanger bypassing valve 116 are installed at an outlet side of the heat sink flow channel 111 such that the heat medium passing through the heat sink heat exchanger 109 bypasses the waste heat supply heat exchanger 120.
The heat pump type air conditioner is comprised of an outdoor unit (O) and an indoor unit (I). It is possible to connect one indoor unit (I) to one outdoor unit (O), it is possible to connect a plurality of indoor units (I) in parallel with one outdoor unit (O), it is possible to connect a plurality of outdoor units (O) in parallel with each other, and it is possible to connect a plurality of indoor units (I) in parallel with each other.
The outdoor unit (O) includes a compressor 121, a 4-way valve 122, an outdoor heat exchanger 123, and an outdoor expansion valve 124. The indoor unit (I) includes an indoor heat exchanger 125 and an indoor expansion valve 126.
The outdoor unit (O) further includes an outdoor heat exchanger bypassing unit for enabling refrigerant to bypass the outdoor heat exchanger 123.
The outdoor heat exchanger bypassing unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 127. The outdoor heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 127 has one end connecting to a refrigerant flow channel that connects to an inlet side of the outdoor heat exchanger 123, and the other end connecting to a refrigerant flow channel that connects to an outlet side of the outdoor heat exchanger 123, when the heat pump type air conditioner is in an air condition mode or a heating mode.
The outdoor heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 127 is provided with the outdoor expansion valve 124, and is provided with an outdoor expansion valve bypassing flow channel 128 for enabling refrigerant introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 127 to bypass the outdoor expansion valve 124 when the heat pump type air conditioner is in the air condition mode.
The outdoor expansion valve bypassing flow channel 128 includes a check valve 128a for enabling a passage of refrigerant when the heat pump type air conditioner is in the air condition mode, and disabling the passage of refrigerant, thereby allowing the refrigerant to pass through the outdoor expansion valve 124 when the heat pump type air conditioner is in the heating mode.
The outdoor heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 127 is provided with an outdoor heat exchanger bypassing flow channel on/off valve 129 for opening and closing the outdoor heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 127.
The outdoor heat exchanger bypassing unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger on/off valve 130 installed in a refrigerant flow channel connecting to an outlet side of the outdoor heat exchanger 123 when the heat pump type air conditioner is in the heating mode.
The outdoor heat exchanger bypassing unit further includes a connection flow channel 131 for connecting the outdoor heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 127 with a refrigerant flow channel connecting to an inlet side of the outdoor heat exchanger 123 in the heating mode; and a connection flow channel on/off valve 132 for opening and closing the connection flow channel 131.
The outdoor heat exchanger bypassing unit includes a check valve 123a in the refrigerant flow channel connecting to the outlet side of the outdoor heat exchanger 123, to prevent the refrigerant from being introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger 123, not passing through the outdoor expansion valve 124, when the heat pump type air conditioner is in the heating mode.
An operation of the above constructed cogeneration system according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
When the engine 91 is driven, the generator 92 produces and supplies the power to the heat pump type air conditioner through the power line 92a.
The heat medium sequentially circulates in the radiant heat recovery heat exchanger 103, the exhaust gas heat exchanger 101, and the cold water heat exchanger 102, while recovering all of the radiant heat, the exhaust gas heat, and the cold water heat of the engine.
As shown in
The heat pump type air conditioner controls the heat medium passing through the hot water supply heat exchanger 94 to bypass the heat sink heat exchanger 109(113→109) by the heat sink heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 113, thereby being introduced into the waste heat supply heat exchanger 120.
The heat pump type air conditioner controls the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 121 to be introduced through the outdoor heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 127 and bypass the outdoor heat exchanger 123, after passing through the waste heat supply heat exchanger 120.
The refrigerant bypassing the outdoor heat exchanger 123 is circulated toward the compressor 121 through the 4-way valve 122 after passing through the indoor expansion valve 126 and the indoor heat exchanger 125.
An operation when the heat pump type air conditioner is in the heating operation and normal water supply mode is as shown in
The heat medium recovering the heat of the engine 91 while sequentially passing through the radiant heat recovery heat exchanger 103, the exhaust gas heat exchanger 101, and the cold water heat exchanger 102 bypasses the hot water supply heat exchanger 94.
The heat medium bypassing the hot water supply heat exchanger 94 is introduced into the waste heat supply heat exchanger 120, and supplies the heat to the waste heat supply heat exchanger 120.
The heat pump type air conditioner controls the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 121 to pass through the indoor heat exchanger 125 and the indoor expansion valve 126 and then, be introduced into the waste heat supply heat exchanger 120 through the outdoor heat exchanger bypassing flow channel 127.
The refrigerant is evaporated in the waste heat supply heat exchanger 120 and is condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 125, thereby heating the interior.
Thus, the heat medium recovers even the radiant heat emitted from the engine 91, thereby enhancing an engine heat recovery rate and increasing a system efficiency.
In the cogeneration unit according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a chassis 50 is partitioned into a controller room 61 housing a controller 52 and a driver room 62 housing an engine 53, using a barrier 60. A controller cooling unit 130 cooling the controller room 61 is comprised of a controller inlet port 131 for introducing external air into the controller room 61, and a controller outlet port 132 for discharging the air cooling the controller room 61 to the exterior. Other constructions and functions of the cogeneration unit according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention are the same as those of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention and thus, like reference numerals will be used and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
A controller exhaust fan 133 is installed in front of the controller outlet port 132, and forcibly sends the air.
Thus, the air introduced through the controller inlet port 131 is discharged out through the controller outlet port 132 after cooling the controller 52.
As described above, the cogeneration system according to the present invention has an effect that the interior of the chassis is partitioned, by the barrier, into the controller room housing the controller and the driver room housing the driving source, thereby preventing the heat generated from the driving source from being transferred to the controller and thus preventing the overheating of the controller and improving a reliability. In addition, the cogeneration system has an effect that the exterior air is supplied to each of the controller room and the driver room to cool the controller room and the driver room independently, thereby implementing more efficient cooling and improving the system efficiency.
The cogeneration system has an advantage that addition of the inlet port and the barrier can make an airflow channel complex, thereby reducing noise.
The cogeneration system has an advantage that the introduction duct can be installed to directly supply the external air to the interior of the controller, thereby more effectively dissipating the heat of the controller.
The cogeneration system has an advantage that the radiant heat recovery heat exchanger can be provided to recover the radiant heat of the engine, thereby increasing the heat recovery efficiency and the system efficiency.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description.
The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.
Although the invention has been described with reference to several exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words that have been used are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified. Rather, the above-described embodiments should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. Therefore, changes may be made within the metes and bounds of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in its aspects.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2006-0072118 | Jul 2006 | KR | national |
