DEVICE OF HEAT TRANSFER INCLUDING/UNDERSTANDING AN INSULATING MODULE

MASATHERM2 3.FRD

Thermal transfer device comprising a module insulating

The invention relates to a heat transfer device comprising an insulating module having a first face and a second face adapted to come into contact respectively with a first thermal mass and a second thermal mass.

Already known, according to the French patent no. 99,12080 (published under the no. 2,798 991) of which the applicant is aware, a device of this type which is used for transferring heat between a first face or wall able to be heated by solar radiation and a second face or wall, such as for example a wall of a building, a water tank, andc. In this case, the first thermal mass is consisting of ambient outside air, while the second thermal mass is the building, the reservoir, andc.

In the device of the French patent above, the module insulator has at least a core disposed between a upper and lower tie bars each extend between the first face and the second face to define a closed loop of circulating a heat transfer fluid, which is typically air. The closed ring comprises a first channel extending substantially vertically along the first face and a second channel extending substantially vertically along the second side, the first channel and the second channel being mutually displaced in the vertical direction to define a channel low and a high channel, and an upper channel formed between the core and the upper cross-member for connecting the first channel and the second channel and a lower channel formed between the core and the lower cross for connecting the first channel and the second channel.

In the known device, the circulation of the heat transfer fluid flows naturally in the loop when the channel bottom is at a temperature above the high channel, enabling a transfer of heat.

However, fluid circulation is naturally locked in the loop when the channel bottom stands at a temperature below the high channel, thereby inhibiting heat transfer in forming thermal insulation.

Therefore, is provided a heat transfer device which could be called "thermal diode" by analogy to 1' electricity.

The heat transfer device is known and, because of the shaping of the channels, and in particular the vertical offset the first channel and the second channel, enable or disable circulation of the heat transfer fluid by simple convection movement, and in accordance with the respective temperatures of the first channel and the second channel. That is, the circulation of the heat transfer fluid flows or is turned off by natural convection of the heat transfer fluid.

Indeed, when the channel bottom is at a temperature above the high channel, the fluid tends to naturally mounting of the channel bottom to the high channel through the upper channel, which is ascending. Furthermore, the fluid cools in the high channel, which has a lower temperature, and down naturally to return to the channel bottom by the lower channel which is falling, and so on.

Conversely, when the channel bottom stands at a temperature below the high channel, the fluid tends to rise to win the high channel and to pool in that channel which is at a higher temperature than the low channel. Due to this stagnation, the high channel is filled with the hot heat transfer fluid, thereby providing thermal insulation to the thermal mass located on the side of the high channel. The is then in the presence of a phenomenon of temperature stratification, wherein the hottest heat-transfer fluid stagnating in the upper portion of the loop and the coldest refrigerant fluid stagnating in the lower part of the loop.

In one embodiment said patent, the first channel is a low channel and the second channel is a high channel, thereby provide for heat exchange when the temperature of the first channel is greater than that of the second channel and prevent heat exchange when the temperature of the first channel is smaller than that of the second channel.

The construction of such a heat transfer device has problems in practice, because the nuclei and the braces are made from insulating plates, for example, mineral wool, phenolic foam, foam glass, and so on that are difficult to make rigid to be manipulated. Furthermore, as these insulating panels are porous and/or friable, their bonding or held by screws or the like is weak-mechanically.

The invention is thus raised the problem is to improve the construction of the heat transfer device known to make it more resistant, both during storage and transport, that during laying or in use.

The device comprises, for this purpose, a frame having a first support ladder-shaped having two uprights joined by bars, a second scale-shaped support having two uprights joined by rods, and steps connecting the first support and the second support, each cross beam being interposed between a bar of the bar of the first support and a second support, and each core being connected to at least one of the upper and lower webs by spacer members.

Therefore, a rigid frame provided with two supporting scale, kept apart and between which are arranged the webs and the cores. Therefore, there is provided a rigid module easily manipulable supports the insulating elements (beams and nuclei) thus avoiding the necessity of bonding, the threading of the insulating elements.

The frame or resistant structure can be carried out with different dimensions depending on desired applications. It is also suitable as a carrier for other elements of the module, for example, plates, seals, it will be shown further.

The posts of the first holder and the second holder are, preferably, each formed of an angle section.

Also, the bars of the first holder and the second holder are advantageously each formed of an angle section.

The struts which hold and the spacing of the first and second supports may include at least one bracket, or at least one tab, connecting an amount of the first support and a post of the second support. The bracket and the tab are advantageously in a low heat conducting material.

The spacers may affect different forms. In particular, they may include at least one spacing member interposed between an upper surface of the core and a lower face of the upper cross-member and/or at least one spacing member interposed between a lower surface of the core and an upper face of the cross member. These spacers as fastening elements.

In one embodiment, these spacing members comprise at least one shim. In another embodiment, the spacing members include at least one bond elements interposed between a pair of anti-emissive, fixed respectively on the upper side of the core and the underside of the upper cross-member and/or at least one link interposed between a pair of anti-emissive elements respectively fixed on the lower surface of the core and the upper face of the lower cross member.

The anti-emissive elements play a role anti-radiative preventing direct heat transfer between the first side and the second side of the device and thereby improve the performance of the engine.

Using hence the presence of these elements anti-emissive to play an additional role, in other words helping to sustain and the spacing of the cores with respect to the crosspieces which the bracket. Advantageously, the anti-emissive elements of the same pair are comprised of two parallel sections, one of which is fixed on the core and the other on a cross-member, while the link is attached to the two profiles by extending in a direction generally perpendicular thereto.

These parallel sections are advantageously made of an insulating material and with a rounded profile, for example in the form of half-round.

In the device of the invention, each core, upper and lower cross member, is formed in a plate of an insulating material, which is preferably selected from a mineral wool, a phenolic foam and a cellophane.

According to another feature of the invention, the device further comprises at least one insulating plate disposed side between two adjacent columns belonging respectively to the first support and the second support.

In the device of the invention, the first face and the second face may each be is open, is closed.

Preferably however, the first face is closed by a receiving plate, in particular a metal sheet, attached to the first support and arranged to be exposed to solar radiation.

The second side can be opened or closed. When designed to be open, it is advantageously provided with seals for providing a seal between the sleepers and the second thermal mass, for example a wall of a building.

It can also be closed by a plate for coming into contact with the second thermal mass, for example a wall of a building, with seals then provided for providing a seal between the sleepers and the plate.

The second side may also be closed by a plate to which are welded of the tubes to permit heating of water circulating in the tubes. The device is then an application to the sanitary water heating in buildings.

In the description that follows, only made example, is referred to the accompanying drawings, on which:

-Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a thermal transfer device according to the invention (without frame) Heating mode;

-figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 representing the same operating device thermal insulation;

-figure 3 is a partial view of a frame face able to form part of a device according to the invention;

-figure 4 is a corresponding view of side of the frame;

figure 5-is a plan view of the framework of Figures 3 and 4;

-figure 6 is a partial view in perspective of a framework supporting two insulating feed-throughs;

-figure 7 is a partial view in vertical section of a device according to a first embodiment of 1' invention;

figure 8-is a view similar to Figure 7 in an alternative embodiment;

-figure 9 is a partial view in vertical section of a device according to another embodiment of the invention applied to a wall of a building;

figure 10-is a view similar to Figure 9 in an alternative embodiment;

figure 11-is a top view of a core provided with two spacers;

figure 12-is a perspective view showing the spacers to another embodiment of 1' invention; and

figure 13-is a view in vertical section of a device in which the second side is closed by a plate to which are welded tubes for water circulation.

The heat transfer device 10 represented in Figure 1 comprises an insulating module 12 having a first face or wall 14 and a second face or wall 16 adapted to come into contact respectively with a first thermal mass and a second thermal mass.

In the example, the face 14 (front face) to provide an outer wall adapted to be exposed to solar radiation S, while the face 16 (rear face) mur 18 is fixed at the back of a building. The faces 14 and 16 are substantially vertical and are located at a distance which can/D example, be between 100 and 200 mm. The face 14 can, in its simplest design, be constituted of a single metal sheet, for example, coated with a black color.

The insulating core 20 is placed between the first face 14 and the second face 16, but come into contact with them.

The module further comprises a cross-member 24 and insulating top insulating a lower cross member 26, which form partitions and which are placed respectively above and beneath the core 20. These two cross members 24 and 26 are inclined and extend upward between the walls 14 and 16. Note that the cross member 24 form a web lower for a other insulating core 20 positioned above and the bridge 26 is an upper cross-member for another ring 20 positioned below.

As shown on Figure 1, the webs 24 and 26 and the faces 14 and 16 thus contribute to defining a parcours closed loop circulation. The loop includes a first channel 28 extending substantially vertically along the first side 14 and a second channel 30 extending substantially vertically along the second side 16. The channels 28 and 30 are offset to one another in the vertical direction to define a "channel low" (herein the first channel 28) and a "high channel" (herein the second channel 30).

The channels 28 and 30 are connected, in the upper part, by an upper channel 32 and, in the lower part, by a lower channel 34. The channels 32 and 34 are substantially parallel to each other and are directed upwards from the channel 28 toward the channel 30. Since the channels 28 and 30 are offset, the channel 28 has a high point PH which is substantially at the same level as a low point PB that includes the channel 30.

The channels 28, 30, 32 and 34 are sealed and FC run through by a heat transfer fluid which, in the example, is air. The air may naturally flow in the channels, without any outside assistance, due to temperature differences existing between the faces 14 and 16.

In the case of Figure 1, the device is used in winter time and day to provide heating of the mur 18 S from solar radiation. The face 14 and thus the channel 28 (low channel) are at a temperature greater than the wall 16 and thus to the channel 30 (high channel). FC The heat transfer fluid is heated in the channel 28 and tends to rise naturally, because it becomes lighter, and takes and the channel 32 that is ascending to win the channel 30 along the wall 16. Since the wall is at a lower temperature to the wall 14, the fluid cools and tends to flow down naturally down to run along the wall 16 and thence down through the channel 34 to return to the channel 28, and so on. Both that the wall 14 is at a temperature greater than the wall 16, the fluid FC naturally circulates in the direction indicated by the arrows of Figure 1 for transferring heat to heat the mur 18 S from solar radiation.

In the embodiment represented, the cores 20 and the webs 24 and 26 are made of an insulating material which is preferably a mineral wool, a phenolic foam, a cellophane, andc.

Maintaining The refers in Figure 2 which shows the device of Figure 1 in winter time and night. In this configuration, the solar radiation has ceased and S the face 14 is exposed to ambient air which is at a lower temperature to the face 16 which is placed against the mur 18. As a result, the face 14 is a cold wall and the face 16 a hot wall. Therefore, FC the heat transfer fluid is heated by the face 16 and tends to pool in the channel 30 located along the face 16 in the channel 32 and, because the channel 30 (high channel) and the channel 32 are arranged at a level higher than the channel 28 (low channel) and the channel 34. Therefore, the circulation of the fluid naturally FC is blocked and prevents heat transfer between the faces 14 and 16. The FC the hottest fluid stagnating in the upper portion of the loop and the FC the coldest fluid stagnating in the lower part of the loop. Since fluid FC hot tends to pool in the channel 30, with the result that the formation of a thermal insulator significantly decreasing the heat loss. Therefore, there can be provided a heat transfer device, which could be called "thermal diode", operating naturally, without any external action, to provide, in winter time, Heating of the day (Figure 1) and the thermal insulation of night (Figure 2).

Maintaining together The refers to Figures 3, 4 and 5 to describe the framework or structure 36 of the transfer device 10 according to the invention. The frame 36 includes a first support 38 ladder-shaped (Figure 3) formed of two uprights 40 that are joined by rods 42, which extend parallel to one another and perpendicular to the post 40. The frame 36 further comprises a second support 44 (Figure 4 and 5) of two-legs 40 joined together by bars 42. The posts 40 supports 38 and 44 are formed herein each of a corner, simple for example steel, stainless steel or plastic. Also, the bars 42 the two carriers are disclosed herein as angled by a material of the same type. The bars 42 are attached to the mast 40 by fasteners 46, for example, by screws, rivets, andc.

The supports 38 and 44 are secured to each other and kept apart by spacers. As shown on Figure 4, two adjacent columns are joined, in the upper part by a first spacer 48 in the form of a bracket having a vertical leg 50 fixed to a post 40 by two fastening elements 52 and a horizontal leg 54 attached to the other leg 40 by a further securing element 52.

In the lower portion, the two legs 40 are joined by a spacer 56 in the form of a plate, i.e. a flat element, attached to the two posts by two fastening elements 52.

The struts 48 and 56 are advantageously in the low heat conducting material such as, for example, a stainless steel low thermal conductivity or plastic.

The other two columns are joined together by struts like or the like (not shown). Thus a rigid structure, generally parallelepiped box type, wherein the four posts 40 are held rigidly together. For example, the width L of the structure 36 (hence the module) may be between 0.5 and 1.5 m and its Height between 0.5 and 2 and its depth P between 100 and 200 mm, as already mentioned.

Maintaining The refers in Figure 6, on which it is possible to see that the bars 42 are angle brackets with right angle and that the upper cross member 24 and the lower cross member 26 are each interposed between a bar 42 of the support 38 (herein placed at the front) and a bar 42 of the support 44 (herein located to the rear). Respective The bars supports 38 and 44 are offset in the vertical direction in order to allow to the cross-members 24 and 26 be inclined upward from the support 38 which corresponds to the front face 14 into the direction of the support 44 corresponding to the back side 16 of the module.

As shown in Figure 6, the module further comprises at least one insulating plate side 58 disposed between two adjacent columns 40 belonging respectively to the supports 38 and 44. The insulating plate 58 is generally rectangular and is laid in the angle of the angle sections which constitute the two legs. The other side face may receive, optionally, an insulating plate like.

Maintaining The refers in Figure 7. The front face 14 of the module is closed by a receiving plate 60, in particular a sheet metal, fixed to the first support 38 and arranged to be exposed to solar radiation S. The plate 60 is secured by screws 62 to the bars 42 angle of the support 38.

The bars 42, also angle, of the support 44, are each provided with a seal 64 for forming the seal between the webs 24 and 26 and the wall (not shown) against which inclined position the device of the invention. Therefore, the second face 16 of the device is open and sealing with the wall is provided directly by the seals 64. This allows the heat transfer fluid flow in a loop (see Figure 1), and this within a "cell" each comprise an insulating module 20 between two webs.

The core 20 is defined by an upper face 66 located opposite a lower face 68 of the upper cross member 24, the faces 66 and 68 being substantially parallel to define the upper channel 32 already mentioned.

The core 20 is further bounded by a lower face 70 located opposite an upper face 72 of the lower cross member 26, the faces 70 and 72 being parallel to define the lower channel 34 already mentioned. Furthermore, the module 20 is delimited by a front face 74 which is spaced from the face 14 and from a back side 76 which is spaced from the face 16.

The core 20 is connected to the upper webs 24 and lower 26 by spacer members formed herein by two wedges 77 arranged to creating the least possible FC the circulation of heat transfer fluid.

Furthermore, the device comprises anti-emissive means comprising a first pair 78 and 80 respectively fixed on the upper face of the core 66 and 68 on the underside of the cross member 24. They also comprise a second pair anti-emissive 82 and 84 respectively fixed on the lower side of the core 70 and 72 on the upper face of the lower cross member 26. The anti-emissive elements are operable to minimize the heat transfer by radiation between the faces 14 and 16, through the channels 32 and 34. The anti-emissive elements of the same pair are comprised of two parallel sections, one of which is fixed on the core and the other on a crossmember.

These inventions two parallel sections made of an insulating material, e.g. of wood, and having a rounded profile, for example in the form of half-round. Since it will be shown further, these elements can contribute to the maintenance of the core and to the spacing between the bars which surround it.

The embodiment of Figure 8 is closely similar to that of Figure 7. The only difference being in the shape of the supports 38 bars 42 and 44. Indeed, the bars 42 of the support 38 are angle sections whose angle is acute to facilitate engagement of the webs, while the bars 42 of the support 44 are corner pieces whose angle is obtuse to facilitate, again, the nesting of the webs.

The transfer device shown in Figure 9 is similar to that of Figure 8. Referring that the device is leaned against a mur 18 and that the seal between the module and the wall is provided by the seals 64 previously described.

Maintaining and the spacing of the core 20 with respect to the cross-members 24 and 26 are provided not only by spacers 77, as already mentioned, but also by other spacing members 86, one of which connects the members 78 and 80 and the other the elements 82 and 84.

The device, which is shown in Figure 10 is similar to that of Figure 9, except that the face 16 is closed by a plate 88, for example in fiberglass or made of reinforced concrete, which is fixed on the support structure 44. Attachment is effected by the intermediary of joints 90 or by glue. The plate 88 is secured to the mur 18 via an adhesive coating 92.

Maintaining The refers in Figure 11 which shows two wedges 77 applied on the top side 66 of the core 20. The shims 77 are wedge-shaped elements of whose presence disturbs the least possible the flow of the heat transfer fluid in the channel 32. The same applies for the wedges present in the channel 34.

The refers to Figure 12 which shows a link 86 between two anti-emissive elements 78 and 80. An bar of rectangular cross-section extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the elements 78 and 80. This binding 86, and the elements 78 and 80, may be formed of wood or other insulating material.

In the device of Figure 13, referred to, the face 16 is closed by a metal plate 94 which are welded to tubes 96. In these tubes flows from the water which can be heated. To avoid heat transfer from heated water to the mur 18, is interposed an insulator 98. The insulator 98 has a thickness selected so that the metal plate 94 and the tubes 96 containing water cannot freeze S in the absence of solar radiation. The advantage is to provide a solar collector without antifreeze hot water.

The device of the invention and in particular its backbone, are capable of many embodiments, in particular with respect to the shape and size. The device is to be used for heating, cooling or insulating buildings.