Novel Variable Conductance Heat Pipe Coupled with a Stirling Engine

拟议的工作涉及设计、建造和测试微热电联产（mCHP）可变容量热管（VCHP）单元，其中mCHP废热管理使用一个或多个（取决于存储容量）新型热管，这些热管与相变材料（PCM）热存储连接。新颖之处在于在热管中使用惰性气体库存，其压力可以根据家庭供暖需求而变化，并包含紧凑的PCM热存储。惰性气体压力的变化被用来平稳和连续地调节家用供暖系统的热交换表面积（以及容量），而PCM热库被用来管理这种热量在较长时间内的可用性。虽然该提案侧重于家庭规模的mCHP应用，但该概念同样适用于更大规模的商业热电联产电厂。诺森比亚大学的贡献是开发mCHP机组和VCHP的模拟模型，并使用该模型设计国内规模的实验中试装置。试点钻机将在诺森比亚的低碳系统实验室建造，使用现有的斯特林循环mCHP模块。VCHP装置将由合作者在模拟模型的协助下，按照设计的规格来建造。诺森比亚将进行一系列与典型家庭供暖负荷相关的热需求实验——包括冬季（空间供暖和热水）和夏季（仅热水）。其目的是将研究发展到概念验证阶段。模拟模型的进一步应用将用于设计具有不同占用率和供暖需求的一系列房屋类型的系统选项。结果将作为可能的原型设计和现场演示的基础。

The proposed work involves the design, construction and testing on a micro-combined-heat-and-power (mCHP) unit of avariable capacity heat pipe (VCHP) in which the mCHP waste heat is managed using one or more (depending uponcapacity of the store) novel heat pipes arranged to link with a phase change material (PCM) thermal store. Novelty lies inthe use of an inert gas inventory in the heat pipe whose pressure can be varied in response to domestic heating demandand the inclusion of a compact PCM thermal store. Variations in inert gas pressure are used to regulate the domesticheating system heat exchange surface area (and, hence, capacity) smoothly and continuously, whilst the PCM thermalstore is used to manage the availability of this heat over extended time horizons. Though the proposal is focused ondomestic-scale mCHP applications, the concept is equally applicable to larger scale commercial combined heat and powerplants.Northumbria's University's contribution is to develop a simulation model of the mCHP unit and VCHP and use the model todesign a domestic-scale experimental pilot rig. The pilot rig will be constructed in Northumbria's Low Carbon Systemslaboratory using an existing Stirling cycle mCHP module. The VCHP unit will be constructed by the collaborators to thesizing specification designed with the assistance of the simulation model. Northumbria will perform a series of experimentsat thermal demands relevant to typical domestic heating loads - both winter (space heating and hot water) and summer (hotwater only). The intention is to develop the research to a proof-of-concept stage only. A further application of thesimulation model will be used to design system options for a range of house types with differing occupancies and heatingdemands. Results will be reported as a basis for possible prototying and field demonstration.