Device for minimizing an undesired passage of fluid from a first sector to a second sector as well as a heat exchanger system comprising such a device

A heat exchanger system for transferring thermal energy between a warm fluid and a cold fluid, wherein the heat exchanger system comprises the following:

• a first sector through which flows the warm fluid and a second sector through which flows the cold fluid;
• a first separation which spatially separates the first sector and the second sector from one another, wherein a first pressure prevails in the first sector and a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure prevails in the second sector;
• a heat exchanger in the form of a regenerator to transfer thermal energy from the warm fluid flow to the cold fluid flow;
• and
• at least one device to minimize an undesired passage of the warm fluid from the first sector to the second sector through the first separation, wherein the device comprises an intermediate chamber which is provided in the first sector directly adjacent the first separation which separates the first sector and the second sector from one another,
• wherein side walls of the intermediate chamber are formed on one side by the first separation and, on another side, by an additional separation formed at a distance from the first separation toward the first sector;
• and
• wherein the device further comprises a
• conveyor mechanism, having an intake side which is connected to the intermediate chamber and a pressure side which is connected to the first sector, said conveyer mechanism being designed to convey fluid from the intermediate chamber to the first sector in order to generate a lower pressure in the intermediate chamber than the first pressure prevailing in the first sector, wherein the pressure generated in the intermediate chamber is substantially equal to the second pressure prevailing in the second sector;
• wherein the heat exchanger system further comprises a rotatably-mounted rotor which comprises ducts parallel to the rotational axis and rotor openings extending through the first separation and the additional separation such that it extends through the first and second sector upon rotation, and wherein the following is further provided:
• a second separation arranged in the first sector such that the first sector is divided into a first warm fluid chamber and a second warm fluid chamber which is fluidically connected to the ducts of the rotor situated in the first sector;
• a third separation arranged in the second sector such that the second sector is divided into a first cold fluid chamber and a second cold fluid chamber which is fluidically connected to the ducts of the rotor situated in the second sector,
• wherein a first pressure prevails in the first warm fluid chamber and a lower second pressure compared to the first pressure prevails in the first cold fluid chamber, and wherein a third pressure prevails in the second warm fluid chamber and a higher fourth pressure compared to the third pressure prevails in the second cold fluid chamber;
• wherein the intermediate chamber comprises a first section extending over a first section of the first separation and a second section extending over a second section of the first separation and is fluidically connected to the first section of the intermediate chamber,
• wherein the conveyer mechanism is designed to generate a lower pressure in the first section of the intermediate chamber compared to the first pressure and to generate a higher pressure in the second section of the intermediate chamber compared to the third pressure, wherein the pressure generated in the first section of the intermediate chamber is just as high or higher than the second pressure, and wherein the pressure generated in the second section of the intermediate chamber is just as high or higher than the fourth pressure;
• wherein a passage of fluid from one of the sectors to the other of the sectors through the first separation is minimized by the difference in pressure occurring across the first separation between a cold fluid chamber and the associated adjacent warm fluid chamber being minimized.