Molten metal heat-exchanger

Abstract

The molten metal heat-exchanger for heating water comprises a recipient containing a metal with a low melting point in its interior, with a tube immersed in the metal and in the interior of the recipient through which the water to be heated circulates. To heat the water a heat source is applied to the recipient heating the metal therein until it changes to a liquid state. If the temperature of the metal in the liquid state is lower than the boiling temperature of water, the exchanger produces hot water, whereas if the temperature of the liquid metal is higher than the boiling temperature of water, the exchanger can produce hot water or steam. The metal to be used in the molten metal heat-exchanger is a metal or metal alloy with a melting temperature of close to 100° C., with gallium, which has a melting temperature of 30° C. and a boiling temperature of 2204° C., being ideal for the application, although currently existing and future metal alloys may be used in the molten metal heat-exchanger.

1 .- A heat exchanger for heating water, IS CHARACTERIZED as such because it is comprised of: a container ( 1 ) with at least two orifices; a pipe ( 2 ) for the flow of water that enters into said container through one of the orifices and out through the other orifice; a tight connection ( 3 ) in each of the orifices between the pipe and the container; a metal ( 4 ) inside said container that covers part or all of the pipe inside the container as said metal was poured into the container when it was in its liquid state; and a means of connection ( 5 ). 
     
     
         2 .- According to  claim 1 , a heat exchanger for heating water IS CHARACTERIZED as such because the metal is a pure metallic solid or a low-melting metal alloy that remains in a liquid state during operation of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 .- According to  claim 1 , a heat exchanger for heating water IS CHARACTERIZED as such because the metallic solid is gallium or a metal alloy containing it. 
     
     
         4 .- According to  claim 1 , a heat exchanger for heating water IS CHARACTERIZED as such because the molten metal has a lower temperature than the boiling temperature of the water at one unit of atmospheric pressure, and the water passing through the heat exchanger does not change phase. 
     
     
         5 .- According to  claim 1 , a heat exchanger for heating water IS CHARACTERIZED as such because the metallic solid is at a temperature higher than the boiling temperature of the water at one unit of atmospheric pressure, and the water when passing through the heat exchanger does not change phases. 
     
     
         6 .- According to  claim 1 , a heat exchanger for heating water IS CHARACTERIZED as such because the metallic solid is melted at a temperature higher than the boiling temperature of the water at one unit of atmospheric pressure, and the water passing through the heat exchanger changes phases. 
     
     
         7 .- According to  claim 1 , the process for heating water IS CHARACTERIZED as heating water when it flows through the pipe that is submerged in the molten metal inside the container while it is at a temperature below the boiling temperature of the water at one unit of atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         8 .- According to  claim 1 , the process for heating water IS CHARACTERIZED as heating water when it flows through the pipe that is submerged in the molten metal into the container while it is at a temperature higher than the boiling temperature of water at one unit of atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         9 .- According to  claim 1 , the process for producing water vapor, IS CHARACTERIZED as heating water when it flows through the pipe that is submerged in the molten metal inside the container while the molten metal is at a temperature higher than the boiling temperature of the water at one unit of atmospheric pressure.