Method for the Operation of Systems Comprising Media Changing their State, Device and Use Thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating systems comprising media that change their state, such as heat pumps, cooling systems, differential pressure drives in which the change/s of state occur/s in or on heat transfer media in a storage device and changes of state take place in a colder and a warmer zone according to the temperature, said zones being chargeable and dischargeable. Also disclosed are advantageous further developments of such a method. The invention further relates to a device in which heat-exchanging units are composed of two shells that are placed on top of each other and form an interior space. Furthermore, disclosed is the use of the inventive method and device for cooling and heating purposes. The aim of the invention is to improve efficiency while reducing the amount of material used, extending the regenerative use of heat and cold, and increasing the usefulness for users.

1 .- 32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . Method for the operation of systems with aggregate state-changing media, such as heat pumps, cooling systems, and differential pressure drives, the method comprising: 
 providing a storage installation having zones containing respective heat transfer media;    maintaining the heat transfer media in the zones at different temperature levels by charging and/or discharging the heat transfer medium in at least one of the zones; and    circulating an aggregate state-changing medium through said zones, said state-changing medium changing state in said zones as a function of the different temperature levels.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein a pair of heat exchangers are provided adjacent to said heat transfer media in respective said zones, said heat exchangers being connected for circulation of said state-changing medium, said state-changing medium changing state in said heat exchangers.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the heat exchangers are connected by connecting lines arranged to collect liquid and gas.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the storage installation comprises an insulated space, said zones being located in said insulated space.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the storage installation comprises isolated storage areas, said zones being located in respective isolated storage areas.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the heat transfer medium in one of said zones is one of oil, a water/glycol mixture, and a gas.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the heat transfer media can be exchanged between said zones.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 34  wherein at least one of said heat exchangers comprises at least two cascaded units.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein a liquid level is maintained in at least one of said units.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40  wherein at least two of said units are at different temperature levels.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 37  wherein heat at any desired temperature can be removed from and charged into at least one of the heat exchangers and the storage areas.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 34  wherein at least one of expansion and compression is effected in the heat exchangers as a function of temperature demand.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 33  wherein one of thermal energy, electrical energy, and mechanical energy is delivered from a system that changes the state of matter.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the charging and/or discharging of heat transfer medium in the zones is carried out regeneratively with at least one of solar collectors, geothermal heat, geothermal cold, and air.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the charging and/or discharging of the zones is carried out with a gas, and thermal energy is transferred by conducting the gas to or from a heat storage liquid.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the regenerative charging and/or discharging utilizes at least one regenerative generator, said method further comprising at least one of increasing the temperature in the regenerative generator and switching to another regenerative generator when there is a danger of freezing.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 33  comprising expanding the aggregate state-changing medium in one of a heat pump operation and a refrigeration operation to produce mechanical energy, and using said mechanical energy to drive a compressor or to produce electrical energy which is used directly or stored.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 33  comprising compressing the aggregate state-changing medium to produce heat, and feeding the heat to the storage installation or delivering it to a connected exchange system.  
   
   
       51 . A heat exchanger for use in a system with aggregate state changing media, wherein said heat exchanger comprises a pair of shallow shells joined together to form an oblate enclosure with an interior surface defining an interior space having a depth and a diameter which is substantially larger than said depth.  
   
   
       52 . The heat exchanger or  claim 51  further comprising an interior wall spaced from and supported by said interior surface, said interior wall being liquid and vapor permeable.  
   
   
       53 . The heat exchanger of  claim 51  further comprising supports extending through said interior and connecting said shells.