Methods and apparatus for transfer of heat energy between a body surface and heat transfer fluid
First Claim
1. A method for transferring heat energy to and from a body surface respectively from and to a heat transfer fluid within a space bounded by the body surface for heat transfer contact with the body surface, the method comprising:
- applying heat transfer fluid to the space and to the body surface from a plurality of delivery inlets in the form of a corresponding plurality of spaced delivery streams impinging on the body surface; and
thereafter removing heat transfer fluid rebounding from the surface from the space through a plurality of spaced removal outlets distributed among the delivery streams to establish corresponding flow paths for the heat transfer fluid between each delivery inlet and one or more removal outlets.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In methods and apparatus for heat exchange to and from a body surface using a heat transfer fluid the fluid is impinged on the surface from a plurality of delivery inlets in the form of a corresponding plurality of spaced delivery streams and is immediately removed from the plenum upon rebounding from the surface through a plurality of spaced removal outlets distributed among the delivery streams, thus establishing corresponding very short uninterrupted flow paths between each inlet and its removal outlet/s. Preferably, the fluid stream velocity is sufficient for it to penetrate and disrupt a fluid boundary layer on the body surface. Each delivery inlet may have its outlet to the surface spaced from 0.001 cm to 0.2 cm (0.0004 in to 0.08 in) from that surface. Each delivery inlet may produce a jet impinging the surface of from 0.3 cm to 1.5 cm (0.12 in to 0.6 in) diameter. The delivery streams may impinge a flat body surface from a right angle to an acute angle, while when the body surface is curved the delivery streams may impinge from a right angle to one that is tangential thereto. A particular apparatus with which the heat exchanger may be used has a cylindrical rotor rotating within a cylindrical stator so that the body surface is cylindrical; the rotor diameter may be from 0.1 cm to 500 cm (0.04 in to 200 ins).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for transferring heat energy to and from a body surface respectively from and to a heat transfer fluid within a space bounded by the body surface for heat transfer contact with the body surface, the method comprising:
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applying heat transfer fluid to the space and to the body surface from a plurality of delivery inlets in the form of a corresponding plurality of spaced delivery streams impinging on the body surface; and
thereafter removing heat transfer fluid rebounding from the surface from the space through a plurality of spaced removal outlets distributed among the delivery streams to establish corresponding flow paths for the heat transfer fluid between each delivery inlet and one or more removal outlets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for transferring heat energy to and from a body surface respectively from and to a heat transfer fluid within a space bounded by the body surface for heat transfer contact with the body surface, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of delivery inlets delivering heat transfer fluid to the space and to the surface in the form of a corresponding plurality of spaced delivery streams impinging on the body surface;
means for supplying heat transfer fluid to the delivery inlets for discharge therefrom as respective delivery streams; and
a plurality of spaced removal outlets distributed among the delivery inlets removing heat transfer fluid rebounding from the surface from the space via corresponding flow paths for the heat transfer fluid established between each delivery inlet and one or more removal outlets. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification