Pressure Shock-Induced Cooling Cycle

• US 20110094249A1
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Impulse Devices Inc.
• Original Assignee: Impulse Devices Inc.
• Inventors: Gielda, Thomas, Harman, Jayden
• Application Number:
  US12/961,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20110094249A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/116
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 1/00 Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle F25B3/00, F25B5/00, F25B6/00, F25B7/00, F25B9/00 take precedence

Abstract

A supersonic cooling system operates by pumping liquid. Because the supersonic cooling system pumps liquid, the compression system does not require the use of a condenser. The compression system utilizes a compression wave. An evaporator of the compression system operates in the critical flow regime where the pressure in an evaporator tube will remain almost constant and then ‘jump’ or ‘shock up’ to the ambient pressure.

Claims

1. A pressure shock-induced cooling method, comprising:

a first isenthalpic step, the first isenthalpic step comprising a shock-induced increase in pressure of a working fluid.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a second isenthalpic step, the second isenthalpic step comprising a decrease in pressure of the working fluid.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second isenthalpic step further comprises an increase in pressure of the working fluid prior to the decrease in pressure of the working fluid.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the increase in pressure of the working fluid is to a pressure of about 1 bar or higher.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the increase in pressure of the working fluid is to a pressure of about 10 bar or higher.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the increase in pressure of the working fluid is facilitated by a pump.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the decrease in pressure of the working fluid is to a pressure less than about 0.2 bar.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the decrease in pressure of the working fluid is facilitated by an evaporator.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising heating the working fluid between the first and second isenthalpic steps.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the heating of the working fluid includes heat transfer from a heat exchanger to the working fluid.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising cooling the working fluid between the first and second isenthalpic steps.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cooling of the working fluid includes heat transfer from the working fluid to a heat exchanger.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the working fluid is a liquid.

14. A method for cooling and heating a fluid circulated through a fluid flow path, the method comprising:

isenthalpically decreasing the pressure of the fluid;

increasing the temperature of the fluid;

insenthalpically increasing the pressure of the fluid, wherein the increase in pressure is shock-induced; and

decreasing the temperature of the fluid.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the fluid is circulated using a pump.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the temperature is increased in an evaporator.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the fluid undergoes an increase in pressure prior to the isenthalpic decrease in pressure.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the increase in pressure is isenthalpic.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the increase in pressure is to a pressure of about 1 bar or higher, and the decrease in pressure is to a pressure below about 0.2 bar.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the isenthalpic decrease in pressure of the fluid occurs at a critical flow rate.