Fluid heat transfer system
First Claim
1. A fluid heat transfer system comprisinga plurality of intermittent users having maximum working temperatures which degrade a degradable thermal exchange fluid at a significant rate and having periods of substantial duration when all said users are at temperatures which do not degrade the thermal exchange fluid at a significant rate,a first fluid circuit in which the thermal exchange fluid can circulate comprising a first portion of an intermediate heat exchanger, a supply conduit and a return conduit connecting to the first portion of the intermediate heat exchanger, means to develop a differential pressure between the supply conduit and the return conduit, the intermittent users each connecting between the supply conduit and the return conduit, and means to regulate flow of the thermal exchange fluid through each of the intermittent users to control current working temperature,a second fluid circuit comprising a second portion of the intermediate heat exchanger, a hot reservoir maintained at a temperature which is at least the highest of the maximum working temperatures, conduits connecting the second portion of the intermediate heat exchanger to the hot reservoir, and means to circulate a stable heat transfer fluid in the second fluid circuit thereby transferring heat from the hot reservoir through the intermediate heat exchanger to the degradable thermal exchange fluid,means to detect a current maximum setpoint temperature of the intermittent users, means to sense temperature of the thermal exchange fluid in the intermediate heat exchanger, and means to control the circulation of the stable heat transfer fluid to maintain said sensed temperature of the degradable thermal exchange fluid in the intermediate heat exchanger at the current maximum setpoint thereby extending lifetime of the degradable thermal exchange fluid without compromising effective heating capability of the intermittent users.
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Abstract
Only a limited number of organic or silicone liquid phase thermal exchange fluid types are suitable for operation over a wide range of hot and cold temperatures and these have an undesirable property of degrading at high temperatures. It is accordingly desirable to subject the thermal exchange fluid to high temperature only to the extent and times required by users. The present invention includes intermittent users which occasionally are required to attain maximum working temperatures at which thermal degradation of thermal exchange fluid occurs at a significant rate and a hot reservoir at the minimum working temperature. A stable heat transfer fluid transfers heat from the hot reservoir to the degradable thermal exchange fluid through a common intermediate heat exchanger. The degradable thermal exchange fluid is heated to a temperature just sufficient to satisfy the maximum current setpoint temperature of the intermittent users by controlling circulation of the stable heat transfer fluid. Lifetime of the degradable thermal exchange fluid is thereby extended without compromising effective heating of the intermittent users.
29 Citations
3 Claims
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1. A fluid heat transfer system comprising
a plurality of intermittent users having maximum working temperatures which degrade a degradable thermal exchange fluid at a significant rate and having periods of substantial duration when all said users are at temperatures which do not degrade the thermal exchange fluid at a significant rate, a first fluid circuit in which the thermal exchange fluid can circulate comprising a first portion of an intermediate heat exchanger, a supply conduit and a return conduit connecting to the first portion of the intermediate heat exchanger, means to develop a differential pressure between the supply conduit and the return conduit, the intermittent users each connecting between the supply conduit and the return conduit, and means to regulate flow of the thermal exchange fluid through each of the intermittent users to control current working temperature, a second fluid circuit comprising a second portion of the intermediate heat exchanger, a hot reservoir maintained at a temperature which is at least the highest of the maximum working temperatures, conduits connecting the second portion of the intermediate heat exchanger to the hot reservoir, and means to circulate a stable heat transfer fluid in the second fluid circuit thereby transferring heat from the hot reservoir through the intermediate heat exchanger to the degradable thermal exchange fluid, means to detect a current maximum setpoint temperature of the intermittent users, means to sense temperature of the thermal exchange fluid in the intermediate heat exchanger, and means to control the circulation of the stable heat transfer fluid to maintain said sensed temperature of the degradable thermal exchange fluid in the intermediate heat exchanger at the current maximum setpoint thereby extending lifetime of the degradable thermal exchange fluid without compromising effective heating capability of the intermittent users.
Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeStephen F. Skala
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Original AssigneeStephen F. Skala
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InventorsSkala, Stephen F.
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Primary Examiner(s)DAVIS JR, ALBERT
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Application NumberUS06/029,568Time in Patent Office712 DaysField of Search165/107, 165/104 M, 165/104 S, 165/39, 165/40, 237/1 SL, 237/7, 237/8 R, 237/8 B, 237/59, 237/63, 219/365, 219/378, 219/297, 219/325, 219/326, 219/323US Class Current237/7CPC Class CodesF24H 7/0433 the transfer medium being w...
