HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD THEREFOR

• US 20120037337A1
• Filed: 08/16/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne Of De, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne Of De, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zillmer, Andrew J.
• Application Number:
  US12/857,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20120037337A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/61
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0056 using solid heat storage material F28D20/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/02 using latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/021 the latent heat storage material and the heat-exchanging means being enclosed in one container F28D20/023 - F28D20/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2013/006 Heat conductive materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A heat transfer system includes a heat source, a heat sink, and a thermotransfer structure that is operable to transfer heat between the heat source and the heat sink. The thermotransfer structure includes a thermally conductive element and a thermal storage element adjacent the thermally conductive element.

Claims

1. An energy transfer apparatus comprising:

a vessel containing a fluid;

a hot shoe at least partially disposed in the fluid; and

a thermal capacitor integral with the hot shoe.

2. A heat transfer apparatus comprising:

a hot shoe; and

a thermal capacitor integral with the hot shoe.

3. An energy transfer apparatus comprising:

a vessel containing a fluid;

a hot shoe at least partially disposed in the fluid; and

a thermal capacitor attached to the hot shoe.

4. An energy transfer apparatus comprising:

a vessel containing a fluid;

a hot shoe at least partially disposed in the fluid; and

a thermal capacitor abutting the hot shoe.

5. A heat transfer system comprising:

a heat source;

a heat sink; and

a thermotransfer structure operable to transfer heat between the heat source and the heat sink, the thermotransfer structure including a thermally conductive element and a thermal storage element adjacent the thermally conductive element.

6. The heat transfer system as recited in claim 5, wherein the thermally conductive element is a metallic material selected from a group consisting of copper material, iron material, aluminum material, and combinations thereof, and the thermal storage element is selected from a group consisting of a molten salt, a molten metal, and a ceramic material.

7. The heat transfer system as recited in claim 5, wherein the thermally conductive element is a metallic material and the thermal storage element is selected from a group consisting of a phase change material and a ceramic material.

8. The heat transfer system as recited in claim 7, wherein the thermal storage element is the phase change material, and the phase change material selected from a group consisting of a molten salt and a molten metal.

9. The heat transfer system as recited in claim 5, wherein the thermally conductive element is selected from a group consisting of copper material, iron material, aluminum material, and combinations thereof.

10. The heat transfer system as recited in claim 5, wherein the thermal storage element includes a core comprising a first material and a protective cladding comprising a second, different material that encases the core.

11. The heat transfer system as recited in claim 10, wherein one of the first material or the second material is a ceramic material and the other of the first material or the second material is a metallic material.

12. The heat transfer system as recited in claim 10, wherein the first material is a first metallic material and the second material is a second metallic material having a different composition than the first metallic material.

13. The heat transfer system as recited in claim 5, wherein the heat source is a vessel having a molten heat transfer fluid therein, and the heat sink is a power conversion device.

14. The heat transfer system as recited in claim 13, wherein the power conversion device is selected from a group consisting of a Stirling power conversion device and a thermoelectric power conversion device.

15. The heat transfer system as recited in claim 5, wherein the thermally conductive element has a first heat capacity and the thermal storage element has a second heat capacity that is greater than the first heat capacity.

16. A heat transfer apparatus comprising:

a thermotransfer structure including a first surface for receiving heat and a second surface for emitting heat, the thermotransfer structure including a thermally conductive element extending from the first surface to the second surface and a thermal storage element adjacent the thermally conductive element.

17. The heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the first surface of the thermotransfer structure has a first cross-sectional area and the second surface of the thermotransfer structure has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than a first cross-sectional area.

18. The heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the thermal storage element extends partially between the first surface and the second surface.

19. The heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the thermally conductive element includes a recessed cavity and the thermal storage element is located at least partially within the recessed cavity.

20. The heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the thermal transfer structure includes an open gap between walls that form the recessed cavity and the thermal storage element.

21. The heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the thermal storage element is frustoconical, and the recessed cavity is frustoconical.

22. The heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the thermal storage element is free of any attachments to the thermally conductive element.

23. The heat transfer apparatus as recited in claim 19, further including at least one cover over the recessed cavity to contain the thermal storage element therein.

24. A method for a heat transfer system including a heat source, a heat sink, and a thermotransfer structure operable to transfer heat between the heat source and the heat sink, the thermotransfer structure including a thermally conductive element and a thermal storage element adjacent the thermally conductive portion, the method comprising:

in a first state of the heat transfer system, storing thermal energy from the heat source in the thermal storage element of the thermotransfer structure; and

in a second state of the heat transfer system, upon cooling of the heat source, releasing the stored thermal energy from the thermal storage element to the heat source.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the heat source is a molten working fluid, and the releasing of the stored thermal energy limits freezing of the molten working fluid.