Heat transfer unit for heating systems and surefaces and railway point heater

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat transfer unit ( 1 ) for heating systems and surfaces, which can be connected to at least one geothermal energy probe ( 21 ) as a heat source ( 2 ) operating with a multi-phase working fluid and to a component to be heated, and which comprises at least one heat exchanger ( 11 ) and transport lines ( 12 ) for the gaseous or liquid working fluid. At least one gas-tight heat exchanger ( 11 ) is designed in module form having a plurality of directly adjoining modular mini-channels ( 111 ), depending on the power requirements, in a planar arrangement for transferring the latent heat arising from the heat source ( 2 ) from the heated gaseous portion of the working fluid to the component ( 3 ) to be heated, said mini-channels ( 111 ) being connected to at least one supply channel ( 114, 115 ) and having a diameter of 0.3 to 6 mm. The heat transfer unit ( 1 ) can be integrated into the region of a switch blade ( 32 ) as a railway point heater.

1 . A heat exchanger unit ( 1 ) for heating systems and surfaces, which heat exchanger unit ( 1 ) can be connected at least to a thermal ground probe ( 21 ), which is operated with a multi-phase working medium, as a heat source ( 2 ) and to a component ( 3 ) to be heated, and which heat exchanger unit ( 1 ) is composed of at least one heat exchanger ( 11 ) and transport lines ( 12 ) for the gaseous or liquid working medium, characterized in that, for the transfer of the latent heat originating from the heat source ( 2 ) from the heated gaseous component of the working medium to the component ( 3 ) to be heated, at least one gas-tight heat exchanger ( 11 ) is formed, in a modular fashion, with a multiplicity of directly adjacent mini-ducts ( 111 ) in a laminar arrangement, which mini-ducts ( 111 ) are connected to at least one supply duct ( 114 ,  115 ), and in that the mini-ducts ( 111 ) have a diameter of 0.3 to 6 mm. 
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the mini-ducts ( 111 ) are arranged in a plurality of planes in the heat exchanger ( 11 ). 
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the upper apex line (OS) of a mini-duct ( 111 ) runs in both a rising and falling manner in sections proceeding from the inlet point ( 112 ) of the gaseous component of the working medium. 
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the upper apex line (OS) of a mini-duct ( 111 ) rises proceeding from the inlet point ( 112 ) of the gaseous component of the working medium. 
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the lower apex line (US) of a mini-duct ( 111 ) or of a duct section is inclined in the direction of the outlet point ( 113 ) of the liquid component of the working medium. 
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a mini-duct ( 111 ) widens along the longitudinal axis (L). 
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the feed duct ( 114 ) tapers along the longitudinal axis (L) in the flow direction of the gaseous fluid. 
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the discharge duct ( 115 ) widens along the longitudinal axis (L) in the flow direction of the fluid. 
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the feed duct ( 114 ) and discharge duct ( 115 ) are formed on one side of the mini-ducts ( 111 ) as a supply duct, or the feed duct ( 114 ) and discharge duct ( 115 ) are arranged spaced apart from one another. 
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a layer which inhibits the transfer of heat is at least partially arranged between the working medium and the outer surface of the heat exchanger ( 11 ). 
   
   
       11 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the mini-ducts ( 111 ) which are traversed by the working medium are formed into a housing, wherein the heat conductance values of the materials of the assemblies may differ. 
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a heat accumulator ( 13 ) is integrated into at least one transport line ( 12 ) for the return flow of the liquid working medium to the heat source ( 2 ) and/or in at least one heat exchanger ( 11 ). 
   
   
       13 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 12 , characterized in that a return transport line ( 122 ) is arranged from the heat accumulator ( 13 ) to the heat exchanger ( 11 ) for the gaseous working medium formed as a result of the absorption of heat in the heat accumulator ( 13 ). 
   
   
       14 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that an auxiliary heater ( 22 ) is integrated as a further heat source ( 2 ). 
   
   
       15 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the upper side of a heat exchanger ( 11 ) can be installed so as to be at least slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal. 
   
   
       16 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a thermal ground probe ( 21 ) which is fixedly installed in the ground can be separated in terms of vibration by means of a permanently elastic connecting element ( 14 ). 
   
   
       17 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the component to be heated is designed as a heat exchanger ( 11 ). 
   
   
       18 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the mini-ducts ( 111 ) are formed at least as co-supporting elements of the component to be heated. 
   
   
       19 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the heat exchanger ( 11 ) with its mini-ducts ( 111 ) is designed such that it can be tilted with respect to the horizontal by means of a control unit ( 4 ). 
   
   
       20 . The heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one return transport line ( 122 ) is raised by means of a control unit ( 4 ), thereby preventing the return flow of condensate. 
   
   
       21 . A track switch heater having a heat exchanger unit ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one heat exchanger ( 11 ) is integrated at least in a slide chair ( 31 ), in the locking crib ( 35 ), in the region of the track switch tongue ( 32 ) on the rail web ( 33 ) and/or on the rail base ( 34 ) of the track switch. 
   
   
       22 . The track switch heater having a heat exchanger unit ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 21 , characterized in that the heat exchanger unit ( 1 ) is mounted on the support points on the track switch ( 3 ) by means of deformable elements ( 36 ).