TWI896235B - Adjustment method of heat transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present cooling device adjustment method includes the steps of: preparing a cooling device, wherein the cooling device adjusts the pressure of the inert gas sealed in the gas phase portion of a tank storing the cooling medium by changing the volume of the gas phase portion of the tank, thereby adjusting the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium; and adjusting the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion of the tank by adjusting the amount of inert gas or the amount of cooling medium filled in the cooling device.

Description

Adjustment method of heat transfer device

The present invention relates to an adjustment method for a heat transport device.

In the past, a heat transfer device including a tank was disclosed, such as disclosed in International Publication No. 2023/074049.

International Publication No. 2023/074049 discloses a cooling device (heat transfer device) comprising a tank storing a refrigerant; an evaporator evaporating the refrigerant fed from the tank to cool the object being cooled; and a condenser condensing the refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator. In this cooling device, a gas is enclosed in the gas phase of the tank, and a bellows is provided to vary the volume of the gas phase. By varying the volume of the gas phase of the tank using the bellows, the pressure of the inert gas enclosed in the tank is adjusted, thereby adjusting the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant.

The cooling device described in International Publication No. 2023/074049 adjusts the evaporation temperature of the coolant by varying the volume of the gas phase of the tank using a bellows. This adjusts the pressure of the inert gas enclosed in the gas phase of the tank, thereby adjusting the evaporation temperature of the coolant. However, the rate of change in the evaporation temperature of the coolant is completely ignored. Therefore, effective temperature control is difficult when the rate of change in the evaporation temperature of the coolant is considered. Therefore, effective temperature control is desired when the rate of change in the evaporation temperature of the coolant is considered.

The present invention is made to solve the above-mentioned problems. One object of the present invention is to provide a method for adjusting a heat transport device that can effectively control the temperature while paying attention to the variation rate of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium.

To achieve the aforementioned objectives, one aspect of the present invention provides a method for adjusting the temperature of a heat transfer device, comprising: preparing a heat transfer device, wherein the heat transfer device adjusts the pressure of an inert gas enclosed in the gas phase portion of a tank storing a cooling medium by changing the volume of the gas phase portion of the tank, thereby adjusting the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium; and adjusting the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion of the tank by adjusting the amount of inert gas filled in the heat transfer device.

In the heat transfer device adjustment method of one aspect described above, the step of adjusting the rate of change of the cooling medium's evaporation temperature relative to the volume change of the tank's gas phase portion by adjusting the amount of inert gas filled in the heat transfer device is provided. This allows the rate of change of the cooling medium's evaporation temperature to be adjusted to a desired rate of change. As a result, when the heat transfer device is used in applications where rapidly increasing the cooling medium's evaporation temperature is important, the rate of increase of the cooling medium's evaporation temperature can be increased, thereby rapidly raising the cooling medium's evaporation temperature. Furthermore, when using a heat transfer device in applications where rapidly lowering the evaporation temperature of a cooling medium is important, the rate of decrease of the cooling medium's evaporation temperature can be increased, thereby rapidly lowering the cooling medium's evaporation temperature. This allows for efficient temperature control in applications where the rate of change of the cooling medium's evaporation temperature is important.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the structure of the heat transport device 100 as an implementation target of an adjustment method of the heat transport device 100 according to one embodiment will be described.

(Structure of Heat Transfer Device) As shown in Figure 1, heat transfer device 100 performs two-phase heat exchange (cooling or heating) by utilizing the phase change of a cooling medium 101 between liquid and gas. Specifically, heat transfer device 100 includes a tank 1, a pump 2, a heat exchanger 3, and a condenser 4. Cooling medium 101 is not particularly limited; for example, carbon dioxide, a natural cooling medium, can be used. Furthermore, heat transfer device 100 is not particularly limited and can be used, for example, for heat exchange in aerospace equipment and machinery parts manufacturing equipment.

The tank 1 is a container for storing a liquid cooling medium 101. The tank 1 is connected to the pump 2 via a pipe 5a.

Pump 2 is configured to draw in liquid coolant 101 stored in tank 1 and discharge the drawn-in liquid coolant 101 toward heat exchanger 3. Pump 2 is not particularly limited; for example, a positive displacement or centrifugal pump may be employed. Pump 2 is connected to heat exchanger 3 via pipe 5b.

Heat exchanger 3 functions as an evaporator, cooling object 200 by evaporating liquid refrigerant 101 ejected from pump 2. Object 200 is, for example, a heat-generating object such as an electronic device. Heat exchanger 3 functions as a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between object 200 and refrigerant 101. Specifically, heat exchanger 3 is configured to receive heat from object 200 and evaporate refrigerant 101. Heat exchanger 3 is connected to condenser 4 via pipe 5c. In pipe 5c, refrigerant 101 is in a gas-liquid two-phase flow, a mixture of liquid refrigerant 101 and gaseous refrigerant 101.

A preheater 3a is provided upstream of the heat exchanger 3. The preheater 3a is configured to preheat the liquid coolant 101 flowing into the heat exchanger 3. The preheater 3a is configured to evaporate a portion of the coolant 101 in the heat exchanger 3 by preheating the liquid coolant 101.

Condenser 4 is configured to condense refrigerant 101, the gas evaporated in heat exchanger 3. Condenser 4 functions as a heat exchanger, exchanging heat between brine 4b in refrigerator 4a and refrigerant 101. Specifically, condenser 4 transfers heat to brine 4b, condensing refrigerant 101. Condenser 4 is also connected to tank 1 via pipe 5d.

The heat transfer device 100 functions as a cooling device that cools the object 200 by repeatedly circulating the cooling medium 101 sent from the tank 1 through the pump 2, heat exchanger 3, condenser 4 in this order and then returning to the tank 1.

Furthermore, by providing the preheater 3a, the heat transfer device 100 can function not only as a cooling device but also as a heating device, heating the object 200. In this case, the heat exchanger 3 functions as a condenser, condensing the refrigerant 101, a gas evaporated in the preheater 3a, to heat the object 200. In other words, the heat exchanger 3 is configured to impart heat to the object 200, thereby condensing the refrigerant 101.

Furthermore, the heat transfer device 100 is configured to adjust the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101 by adjusting the pressure of the coolant 101, thereby adjusting the temperature of the object 200. The heat transfer device 100 is configured to adjust the pressure of the inert gas 6 (described later) enclosed in the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1 storing the coolant 101 by varying the volume of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1, thereby adjusting the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, an inert gas 6 is sealed in the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1, and a volume changing portion 7 is provided. The volume changing portion 7 changes the volume of the gas phase portion 1a to change the pressure of the inert gas 6 and the pressure of the cooling medium 101, thereby adjusting the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101. By enclosing inert gas 6 in the gas phase 1a of the tank 1, the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 enclosed in the gas phase 1a of the tank 1 can be used to pressurize the coolant 101, increasing the pressure of the coolant 101. This reduces the amount of pressure increase (pressure increase) of the coolant 101 by the pump 2 in proportion to the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6. Consequently, the pump 2 can be miniaturized. Furthermore, by providing the volume varying unit 7 in the gas phase 1a of the tank 1, the amount of pressure applied to the coolant 101 by the inert gas 6 can be varied, thereby adjusting the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101.

The inert gas 6 does not react with the cooling medium 101 and does not condense due to the volume change of the gas phase 1a caused by the volume changing section 7. The evaporation temperature of the inert gas 6 is lower than the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 at the same pressure. The inert gas 6 is, for example, nitrogen. In addition, the volume changing section 7 is provided at the top portion 1c of the tank 1, away from the liquid phase 1b storing the liquid cooling medium 101. Furthermore, in FIG. 2 , for ease of understanding, the inert gas 6 present in the gas phase 1a is represented by a shaded circular mark, and the gaseous cooling medium 101 present in the gas phase 1a is represented by a white circular mark.

The volume changing section 7 is configured to change the volume of the gas phase section 1a by expanding and contracting using the volume changing gas 8, thereby changing the volume. Specifically, the volume changing section 7 is a metal bellows. The volume changing section 7 includes a hollow tubular member having a tube wall with a wave shape (corrugated shape) that repeats mountain folds and valley folds. In addition, one end portion of the volume changing section 7, which serves as a fixed end, is mounted on the top portion 1c of the tank 1, and the other end portion, which serves as a movable end, is configured to be movable in the vertical direction within the tank 1. The interior of the volume changing section 7 is separated from the interior of the tank 1 by the tube wall and the other end portion in a manner that prevents fluid (liquid and gas) from flowing.

The volume-changing portion 7 is configured to expand and expand by supplying volume-changing gas 8 from a gas source 9 into the volume-changing portion 7, thereby changing the volume of the gas phase portion 1a by reducing it. Furthermore, the volume-changing portion 7 is configured to contract and reduce by discharging volume-changing gas 8 from the interior of the volume-changing portion 7 to the outside, thereby changing the volume of the gas phase portion 1a by increasing it. Furthermore, the volume-changing portion 7 is configured to expand and contract within the gas phase portion 1a (the area not in contact with the liquid surface of the liquid coolant 101). In addition, the maximum volume (volume at maximum extension) of the volume changing portion 7 is smaller than the volume of the tank 1. In addition, the volume changing gas 8 is, for example, nitrogen.

Here, the volume of the gas phase 1a when the volume changing portion 7 is contracted is denoted by _VA , and the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 in the gas phase 1a at this time is denoted by _PA . Furthermore, the volume of the gas phase 1a when the volume changing portion 7 is expanded is denoted by _VB , and the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 in the gas phase 1a at this time is denoted by _PB . Since the amount of inert gas 6 in the gas phase 1a is constant, Boyle's law holds that _PA × _VA = _PB × _VB . Therefore, when the volume changing section 7 changes from a contracted state to an expanded state, causing the volume of the vapor phase section 1a to decrease from _VA to _VB , the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 increases from _PA to _PB . Furthermore, when the volume changing section 7 changes from a contracted state to an expanded state, the coolant 101a in the vapor phase section 1a condenses and becomes liquid coolant 101. Therefore, the pressure (partial pressure) of the coolant 101a does not change.

Furthermore, increasing the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 from _PA to _PB increases the pressurization of the coolant 101, which is the liquid within the tank 1, based on the inert gas 6. Therefore, increasing the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 from _PA to _PB increases the pressure of the coolant 101, and the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101, which changes accordingly, can also be increased. Furthermore, although detailed explanations are omitted, decreasing the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 from _PB to _PA reduces the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101.

(Structure for Filling the Heat Transfer Device 100 with Inert Gas and Cooling Medium) Referring to Figure 3 , the structure for filling the heat transfer device 100 with inert gas 6 and cooling medium 101 will be described.

As shown in FIG3 , a cooling medium source 111 , an inert gas source 112 , and a vacuum pump 113 are connected to the heat transfer device 100 via a manifold 114 .

A cooling medium source 111 supplies cooling medium 101 to the heat transfer device 100. Cooling medium source 111 is, for example, a gas cylinder filled with cooling medium 101. A flow regulating valve 115 is provided between cooling medium source 111 and manifold 114. Flow regulating valve 115 adjusts the flow rate of cooling medium 101 supplied from cooling medium source 111 to the heat transfer device 100 by adjusting its opening.

An inert gas source 112 supplies inert gas 6 to the heat transfer device 100. For example, the inert gas source 112 is a gas cylinder filled with inert gas 6. A flow regulating valve 116 is provided between the inert gas source 112 and the manifold 114. The flow regulating valve 116 adjusts the flow rate of the inert gas 6 supplied from the inert gas source 112 to the heat transfer device 100 by adjusting the opening.

The vacuum pump 113 is a pump used to evacuate the heat transfer device 100. In this application specification, the term "vacuum" does not refer to an absolute vacuum, but rather to a state in which a specific space is filled with a gas at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.

Manifold 114 switches the connection destination of heat transport device 100. Specifically, manifold 114 includes valve 114a, which opens and closes the flow path connecting vacuum pump 113 to heat transport device 100, and valve 114b, which opens and closes the flow path connecting either cooling medium source 111 or inert gas source 112 to heat transport device 100. By operating valves 114a and 114b, manifold 114 switches the connection destination of heat transport device 100 to either cooling medium source 111, inert gas source 112, or vacuum pump 113. Thereby, the heat transport device 100 can be filled with the cooling medium 101, filled with the inert gas 6, and vacuumed.

(Heat Transfer Device Adjustment Method) The following describes the heat transfer device 100 adjustment method based on a flowchart, primarily referring to Figure 4.

Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG4 , the adjustment method of the heat transport device 100 includes: a step (901) of preparing the heat transport device 100, wherein the heat transport device 100 adjusts the pressure of the inert gas 6 sealed in the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1 storing the cooling medium 101 by changing the volume of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1, thereby adjusting the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101; and a step (902) of adjusting the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1 by adjusting the amount of the inert gas 6 or the amount of the cooling medium 101 filled in the heat transport device 100. In addition, the adjustment method of the heat transport device 100 includes a step of filling the heat transport device 100 with an inert gas 6 (903) and a step of filling the heat transport device 100 with a cooling medium 101 (904).

<Heat Transfer Device Preparation Step> In step 901, heat transfer device 100 is prepared. Specifically, heat transfer device 100 is prepared without being filled with inert gas 6 and coolant 101. Tank 1, pump 2, heat exchanger 3, condenser 4, and pipes 5a through 5d are not filled with inert gas 6 and coolant 101.

<Step of Adjusting the Rate of Change of the Evaporation Temperature of the Coolant> In step 902, the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101 relative to the volume change of the gas phase 1a of the tank 1 is adjusted by adjusting the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of coolant 101 filled in the heat transfer device 100. Specifically, by increasing the rate of increase of the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101 relative to the volume change of the gas phase 1a of the tank 1, the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of coolant 101 filled in the heat transfer device 100 is increased. Furthermore, when the rate of decrease of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1 is increased, the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of cooling medium 101 filled in the heat transfer device 100 is reduced. Furthermore, the processing of step 902 is performed by the operator.

Increasing the amount of inert gas 6 filling the heat transfer device 100 increases the amount of inert gas 6 relative to the volume of the gas phase 1a within the tank 1, thereby increasing the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 within the gas phase 1a within the tank 1. Furthermore, increasing the amount of coolant 101 filling the heat transfer device 100 decreases the volume of the gas phase 1a within the tank 1, thereby increasing the amount of inert gas 6 relative to the volume of the gas phase 1a within the tank 1. Consequently, the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 within the gas phase 1a within the tank 1 can be increased.

Similarly, reducing the amount of inert gas 6 filling the heat transfer device 100 reduces the amount of inert gas 6 relative to the volume of the gas phase 1a within the tank 1, thereby reducing the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 within the gas phase 1a within the tank 1. Furthermore, reducing the amount of coolant 101 filling the heat transfer device 100 increases the volume of the gas phase 1a within the tank 1, thereby reducing the amount of inert gas 6 relative to the volume of the gas phase 1a within the tank 1. Consequently, the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 within the gas phase 1a within the tank 1 can be reduced. Furthermore, either the amount of the inert gas 6 or the amount of the cooling medium 101 may be set constant and only the other amount of the inert gas 6 or the amount of the cooling medium 101 may be adjusted, or both the amount of the inert gas 6 or the amount of the cooling medium 101 may be adjusted.

Figures 5 and 6 are graphs illustrating the rate of change in the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101. In the graphs of Figures 5 and 6, the horizontal axis represents the volume of the gas phase 1a of the tank 1, and the vertical axis represents the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6. As described above, the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 corresponds to the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101. The greater the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6, the higher the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101. Furthermore, the solid lines in the graphs of Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an example where the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of coolant 101 filling the heat transfer device 100 is small, resulting in a low pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6. Specifically, the solid line shows the change in the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 relative to the change in the volume of the gas phase 1a of the tank 1, when the volume of the gas phase 1a of the tank 1 is 3 L and the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 is 0.1 MPa. Furthermore, the dotted line shows an example where the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of coolant 101 filled in the heat transfer device 100 is large, resulting in a high pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6. Specifically, the dotted line shows the change in the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 relative to the change in the volume of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1 when the volume of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1 is 3 L and the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 is 0.5 MPa.

Consider the case where the volume of the gas phase 1a of the tank 1 is reduced from 3 L to 1 L. In this case, as shown in Figure 5, the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 increases from 0.1 MPa to 0.3 MPa in the solid-line example, and from 0.5 MPa to 1.5 MPa in the dotted-line example. Thus, the dotted-line example results in a greater increase in the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6, and therefore in the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101, relative to the change in the volume of the gas phase 1a of the tank 1. This means that the dotted-line example exhibits a greater rate of increase in the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101 relative to the change in the volume of the gas phase 1a of the tank 1. Therefore, when the operator increases the rate of increase of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1 (when focusing on the rate of increase of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101), the operator increases the amount of the inert gas 6 or the amount of the cooling medium 101 filled in the heat transfer device 100 (increases the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6) compared to the case of increasing the rate of decrease of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1 as described later.

Furthermore, consider the case where the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 is reduced from 3 MPa to 1 MPa. In this case, as shown in Figure 6, the volume of the gas phase 1a of the tank 1 increases from 0.1 L to 0.3 L in the solid-line example, and from 0.5 L to 1.5 L in the dotted-line example. Thus, the solid-line example results in a greater reduction in the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6, and therefore in the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101, relative to the change in the volume of the gas phase 1a of the tank 1. This means that the solid-line example exhibits a greater rate of decrease in the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101 relative to the change in the volume of the gas phase 1a of the tank 1. Therefore, when the operator increases the rate of decrease of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1 (when focusing on the rate of decrease of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101), the operator reduces the amount of the inert gas 6 or the amount of the cooling medium 101 filled in the heat transfer device 100 (reduces the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6) compared to the case of increasing the rate of increase of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1.

5 and 6 , the volume of the gas phase portion 1 a of the tank 1 and the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 are merely examples and are not limiting.

Furthermore, in step 902, the operator determines the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of coolant 101 to be filled in the heat transfer device 100 in order to achieve a desired rate of change in the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101. Specifically, the operator determines the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 to achieve the desired rate of change in the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101, and then determines the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of coolant 101 to be filled in the heat transfer device 100 based on the determined pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6. More specifically, the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of coolant 101 that constitutes the determined pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 is determined as the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of coolant 101 filled in the heat transport device 100. At this time, the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 in the heat transport device 100 is determined when the volume changing portion 7 is contracted (maximum contracted). In other words, the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of coolant 101 filled in the heat transport device 100 when the volume changing portion 7 is contracted (maximum contracted) is determined (adjusted).

For example, with emphasis on the rate of increase in the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101, the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 in the heat transfer device 100 when the volume changing portion 7 is contracted is determined to be 0.5 MPa. In this case, the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of cooling medium 101 filled in the heat transfer device 100 is determined to be the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of cooling medium 101 that causes the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 in the heat transfer device 100 to be 0.5 MPa when the volume changing portion 7 is contracted.

For example, assuming that the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 in the heat transfer device 100 with the volume changing portion 7 contracted is determined to be 0.1 MPa, with emphasis on the rate of decrease in the evaporation temperature of the coolant 101, the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of coolant 101 filled in the heat transfer device 100 is determined to be the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of coolant 101 that causes the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 in the heat transfer device 100 with the volume changing portion 7 contracted to be 0.1 MPa.

Here, as shown in Figure 7, when no heat is being input to the self-preheater 3a and heat exchanger 3, the refrigerant 101 exists in liquid form. On the other hand, when heat is being input to the self-preheater 3a and heat exchanger 3, a portion of the refrigerant 101 becomes a two-phase gas-liquid state. In this case, the amount of liquid refrigerant 101 in the tank 1 increases due to the generation of gaseous refrigerant 101, and the volume of the gas phase 1a in the tank 1 decreases. This decrease in the volume of the gas phase 1a in the tank 1 means a decrease in the volume of the inert gas 6. Therefore, when heat is being input, the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 increases compared to when no heat is being input.

The increase in the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 due to heat input can be estimated based on the volume of the portion that becomes a gas-liquid two-phase when heat is input (the amount of liquid coolant 101 returned to tank 1), the volume of tank 1, and the amount of liquid coolant 101 in tank 1 when no heat is input. Furthermore, assuming that all of the inert gas 6 is present in tank 1, the amount of inert gas 6 or coolant 101 to be filled in the heat transfer device 100 is determined based on the volume of the gas phase portion 1a of tank 1 when no heat is input, so as to achieve a predetermined pressure (the pressure that results in the desired pressure when the increase in the pressure (partial pressure) of the inert gas 6 is applied). Furthermore, in practice, the inert gas 6 dissolves into the cooling medium 101, etc., which may cause errors, so corresponding adjustments are sometimes required.

<Inert Gas Filling Step> As shown in Figure 4, in step 903, the heat transfer device 100 is filled with inert gas 6. If the amount of inert gas 6 was adjusted in step 902, the adjusted amount of inert gas 6 is then filled into the heat transfer device 100. First, the heat transfer device 100 is evacuated by an operator operating the vacuum pump 113 and manifold 114. The evacuated heat transfer device 100 is then filled with inert gas 6. Specifically, the operator operates the flow control valve 116 and manifold 114 to allow inert gas 6 to flow from the inert gas source 112 into the heat transfer device 100. For example, based on the output of a pressure sensor (not shown) installed in the heat transfer device 100, the heat transfer device 100 is filled with the inert gas 6 until a predetermined pressure corresponding to the desired amount of inert gas 6 is reached. Furthermore, the heat transfer device 100 is filled with the inert gas 6 before the coolant 101 is added to the heat transfer device 100.

<Coolant Filling Step> In step 904, the heat transfer device 100, which was already filled with the inert gas 6 in step 903, is filled with the coolant 101. If the amount of coolant 101 was adjusted in step 902, the adjusted amount of coolant 101 is then filled into the heat transfer device 100. Specifically, the operator operates the flow control valve 115 and the manifold 114 to allow the coolant 101 to flow from the coolant source 111 into the heat transfer device 100 until at least the prescribed amount required for operation of the heat transfer device 100 is reached. When no heat is input from the preheater 3a and heat exchanger 3, the amount of coolant 101 that can circulate is the minimum amount required to operate the heat transfer device 100. Specifically, the minimum amount of coolant 101 is the volume of the portion of the coolant 101 that circulates, excluding the volume of tank 1 (the volume of the pump 2, heat exchanger 3, condenser 4, and pipes 5a through 5d). Therefore, the heat transfer device 100 is filled with a quantity of coolant 101 that exceeds the volume of the portion of the coolant 101 that circulates, excluding the volume of tank 1.

(Effects of this Implementation) This implementation provides the following benefits.

As described above, in this embodiment, a step is provided for adjusting the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1 by adjusting the amount of inert gas 6 or the amount of cooling medium 101 filled in the heat transfer device 100. This allows the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 to be adjusted to a desired rate of change. Consequently, when the heat transfer device 100 is used in an application where a rapid increase in the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 is important, the rate of increase of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 can be increased, thereby rapidly raising the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101. Furthermore, when heat transfer device 100 is used in applications where it is important to quickly lower the evaporation temperature of cooling medium 101, the rate of decrease of the evaporation temperature of cooling medium 101 can be increased, thereby quickly lowering the evaporation temperature of cooling medium 101. This allows for effective temperature control in applications where the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of cooling medium 101 is important.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the following further effects can be obtained by the following structure.

That is, in the present embodiment, as described above, the step of adjusting the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 includes the following steps: while increasing the rate of increase of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1, the amount of the inert gas 6 or the amount of the cooling medium 101 filled in the heat transfer device 100 is increased; while increasing the rate of decrease of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1, the amount of the inert gas 6 or the amount of the cooling medium 101 filled in the heat transfer device 100 is reduced. Thus, by utilizing the fact that the rate of increase in the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 increases with the amount of inert gas 6 or cooling medium 101 filled in the heat transport device 100, effective temperature control can be performed when the heat transport device 100 is used in applications where it is important to quickly increase the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101. Furthermore, by utilizing the fact that the rate of decrease in the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 increases with the amount of inert gas 6 or cooling medium 101 filled in the heat transport device 100, effective temperature control can be performed when the heat transport device 100 is used in applications where it is important to quickly lower the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101.

In addition, in the present embodiment, as described above, the heat transfer device 100 includes a volume changing portion 7, which is disposed in the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1. The volume of the gas phase portion 1a of the tank 1 changes by expanding and contracting. The step of adjusting the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium 101 includes the step of adjusting the amount of the inert gas 6 or the amount of the cooling medium 101 filled in the heat transfer device 100 when the volume changing portion 7 is contracted. In this way, the heat transfer device 100 can be filled with inert gas 6 or cooling medium 101 when the volume changing portion 7 is contracted, so that the load applied to the volume changing portion 7 can be reduced, unlike the case where the heat transfer device 100 is filled with inert gas 6 or cooling medium 101 when the volume changing portion 7 is extended.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the method for adjusting the heat transfer device 100 includes the step of filling the heat transfer device 100 in a vacuum state with the inert gas 6. This allows the heat transfer device 100 to be filled with the inert gas 6 while in a vacuum state, and thus the amount of inert gas 6 to be filled can be accurately determined. Consequently, the inert gas 6 can be accurately filled.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the method for adjusting the heat transport device 100 includes the step of filling the heat transport device 100 with the inert gas 6 before filling the heat transport device 100 with the coolant 101. This prevents the inert gas 6 from dissolving into the coolant 101, which would otherwise prevent the accurate measurement of the amount of inert gas 6 being filled, unlike the case where the inert gas 6 is filled after the coolant 101 is filled. Consequently, the inert gas 6 can be accurately filled.

[Variations] The embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and non-restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not by the description of the embodiments, and includes all modifications (variations) within the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalents thereof.

For example, in the above embodiment, the cooling medium is shown as an example of carbon dioxide, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the cooling medium can be a freon-based cooling medium, and can also be a natural cooling medium such as ammonia other than carbon dioxide.

In addition, in the above embodiment, an example in which the inert gas is nitrogen is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the inert gas may be argon.

In addition, in the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the volume changing gas is nitrogen, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the volume changing gas may be a gas other than nitrogen.

In addition, while the above embodiment illustrates an example in which the volume varying unit is a metal bellows, the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the volume varying unit may be a bellows made of materials other than metal. Furthermore, the volume varying unit may be a rubber airbag that is expandable and contractible by volume varying gas, or a cylinder structure in which a piston is moved within a cylinder by volume varying gas.

In addition, in the above embodiment, an example of installing a preheater in the heat transport device is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the heat transport device may not be installed with a preheater. In this case, the heat transport device only functions as a cooling device.

Furthermore, while the above embodiment illustrates an example in which the amount of inert gas filled in the heat transfer device is adjusted when the volume changing portion is contracted (maximally contracted), the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the amount of inert gas filled in the heat transfer device may also be adjusted when the volume changing portion is expanded (maximally expanded).

In addition, in the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the steps of filling the heat transfer device with inert gas and the steps of filling the heat transfer device with coolant are performed by an operator, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the modified example shown in FIG8 , the steps of filling the heat transfer device 100 with inert gas 6 and the steps of filling the heat transfer device 100 with coolant 101 are performed by a control device 300. The control device 300 is configured to control the vacuum pump 113, manifold 114, flow regulating valve 115, and flow regulating valve 116. By controlling the vacuum pump 113 and manifold 114, the control device 300 controls the evacuation of the heat transfer device 100. The control device 300 controls the flow rate regulating valve 116 and the manifold 114 to control the inert gas 6 filling the heat transfer device 100. The control device 300 controls the flow rate regulating valve 115 and the manifold 114 to control the coolant 101 filling the heat transfer device 100.

[Aspects] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the exemplary embodiments described above are specific examples of the following aspects.

(Item 1) A method for adjusting the temperature of a heat transfer device comprises: preparing a heat transfer device, wherein the heat transfer device adjusts the pressure of an inert gas enclosed in the gas phase of a tank storing a coolant by changing the volume of the gas phase of the tank, thereby adjusting the evaporation temperature of the coolant; and adjusting the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the coolant relative to the volume change of the gas phase of the tank by adjusting the amount of the inert gas or the amount of the coolant filled in the heat transfer device.

(Item 2) The heat transfer device adjustment method according to Item 1, wherein the step of adjusting the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium comprises the steps of: increasing the amount of the inert gas or the cooling medium filled in the heat transfer device while increasing the rate of increase of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion of the tank; and decreasing the amount of the inert gas or the cooling medium filled in the heat transfer device while increasing the rate of decrease of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion of the tank.

(Item 3) The heat transfer device adjustment method according to Item 1 or 2, wherein the heat transfer device includes a volume changing portion disposed in the gas phase portion of the tank and configured to change the volume of the gas phase portion of the tank by expanding and contracting. The step of adjusting the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium includes adjusting the amount of the inert gas or the amount of the cooling medium filled in the heat transfer device when the volume changing portion is contracted.

(Item 4) The method for adjusting a heat transfer device according to any one of Items 1 to 3 further comprises the step of filling the heat transfer device in a vacuum state with the inert gas.

(Item 5) The method for adjusting a heat transfer device according to any one of Items 1 to 4 further includes the step of filling the heat transfer device with the inert gas before filling the heat transfer device with the cooling medium.

1: Tank 1a: Gas phase 1b: Liquid phase 1c: Top 2: Pump 3: Heat exchanger 3a: Preheater 4: Condenser 4a: Refrigerator 4b: Brine 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d: Piping 6: Inert gas 7: Volume changing unit 8: Volume changing gas 9: Gas source 100: Heat transfer device 101, 101a: Coolant 111: Coolant source 112: Inert gas source 113: Vacuum pump 114: Manifold 114a, 114b: Valve 115, 116: Flow control valve 200: Object 300: Control Device 901, 902, 903, 904: Steps PA, PB: Pressure (Partial Pressure)

FIG1 is a schematic diagram showing a heat transfer device according to an embodiment. FIG2 is a diagram for explaining the volume change of the gas phase portion of the tank caused by the volume change portion of the heat transfer device according to an embodiment. FIG3 is a schematic diagram showing a structure for filling the heat transfer device according to an embodiment with an inert gas and a cooling medium. FIG4 is a flow chart for explaining an adjustment method of the heat transfer device according to an embodiment. FIG5 is a graph (1) for explaining the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium according to an embodiment. FIG6 is a graph (2) for explaining the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium according to an embodiment. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the state of a cooling medium in a heat transfer device according to one embodiment, with and without heat input. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure for filling a heat transfer device according to a modification of one embodiment with an inert gas and a cooling medium.

901, 902, 903, 904: Steps

Claims (5)

A method for adjusting the temperature of a heat transfer device includes: preparing a heat transfer device, wherein the heat transfer device adjusts the pressure of an inert gas enclosed in the gas phase of a tank storing a coolant by changing the volume of the gas phase of the tank, thereby adjusting the evaporation temperature of the coolant; and adjusting the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the coolant relative to the volume change of the gas phase of the tank by adjusting the amount of the inert gas or the amount of the coolant filled in the heat transfer device. The heat transfer device adjustment method of claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium comprises the steps of: increasing the amount of the inert gas or the cooling medium filled in the heat transfer device while increasing the rate of increase of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion of the tank; and decreasing the amount of the inert gas or the cooling medium filled in the heat transfer device while increasing the rate of decrease of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium relative to the volume change of the gas phase portion of the tank. The heat transfer device adjustment method of claim 1, wherein: the heat transfer device includes a volume changing portion disposed in the gas phase portion of the tank, the volume changing portion changing the volume of the gas phase portion of the tank by expanding and contracting; the step of adjusting the rate of change of the evaporation temperature of the cooling medium includes adjusting the amount of the inert gas or the amount of the cooling medium filled in the heat transfer device when the volume changing portion is contracted. The method for adjusting the heat transport device as described in claim 1 further includes the step of filling the heat transport device in a vacuum state with the inert gas. The method for adjusting a heat transport device as described in claim 1 further includes the step of filling the heat transport device with the inert gas before filling the heat transport device with the cooling medium.