Fluid/vacuum chamber to remove heat and heat vapor from a refrigerant fluid
First Claim
1. In a cooling cycle wherein fluid is passed through a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, at least one fluid vacuum chamber in the flow path between the evaporator and condenser to reduce the latent heat of vaporization of said stream passing between said evaporator and said condensor said chamber comprising:
- (a) an elongated housing means having an inlet for a vapor-liquid dual phase stream at one extreme thereof and an outlet for a vapor-liquid dual phase stream at the opposite end of said elongated housing for egression of a vapor-liquid dual phase stream having a reduced heat of vaporization compared with the heat of vaporization of said stream ingressing through said inlet;
(b) a means for passage of said vapor-liquid dual phase stream in a pathway relatively parallel to the axes of said elongated housing means;
(c) at least one tubular element within said elongated housing means having porous openings of from about 5 microns to about 100 microns being formed of sintered metal or ceramic for passage of at least a portion of the heat of vaporization through said pores of said sintered metal or ceramics to the interior of said tubular element, wherein said passage is achieved by maintaining the interior of said tubular member at a pressure lower than the pressure within said elongated housing means;
(d) a vacuum attainment means in interconnection with the interior of said tubular member to provide said lower pressure within said tubular element; and
,(e) a vacuum conduit means interconnecting said interior of said tubular element and said vacuum attainment means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid/vacuum chamber (FVC) is disclosed comprising a rigid porous membrane element wherein a vacuum is applied to one side of the porous element and a fluid is passed along the other side of the porous element to remove the heat of vaporization via the pressure differential. This chamber is useful as to reduce energy consumption in a desalination unit, a heat pump, an ice-making system and refrigeration systems. The porous material may be constructed of sintered brass, sintered stainless steel, polymeric plastic, a paper filter element, etc. in order to provide porous openings, of about 5 to about 100 microns. Also disclosed is the use of a fluid/vacuum chamber (FVC) in a heating cycle or cooling cycle. A compressor or vacuum pump normally provides the vacuum suction for the fluid/vacuum chamber (FVC).
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. In a cooling cycle wherein fluid is passed through a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, at least one fluid vacuum chamber in the flow path between the evaporator and condenser to reduce the latent heat of vaporization of said stream passing between said evaporator and said condensor said chamber comprising:
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(a) an elongated housing means having an inlet for a vapor-liquid dual phase stream at one extreme thereof and an outlet for a vapor-liquid dual phase stream at the opposite end of said elongated housing for egression of a vapor-liquid dual phase stream having a reduced heat of vaporization compared with the heat of vaporization of said stream ingressing through said inlet; (b) a means for passage of said vapor-liquid dual phase stream in a pathway relatively parallel to the axes of said elongated housing means; (c) at least one tubular element within said elongated housing means having porous openings of from about 5 microns to about 100 microns being formed of sintered metal or ceramic for passage of at least a portion of the heat of vaporization through said pores of said sintered metal or ceramics to the interior of said tubular element, wherein said passage is achieved by maintaining the interior of said tubular member at a pressure lower than the pressure within said elongated housing means; (d) a vacuum attainment means in interconnection with the interior of said tubular member to provide said lower pressure within said tubular element; and
,(e) a vacuum conduit means interconnecting said interior of said tubular element and said vacuum attainment means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A fluid/vacuum chamber for removal of the heat of vaporization of a vapor-liquid fluid which comprises:
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(a) an elongated housing means having an inlet for a vapor-liquid dual phase stream at one extreme thereof and an outlet for a vapor-liquid dual phase stream at the opposite end of said elongated housing for egression of a vapor-liquid dual phase stream having a reduced heat of vaporization compared with the heat of vaporization of said stream ingressing through said inlet; (b) a means for passage of said vapor-liquid dual phase stream in a pathway relatively parallel to the axes of said elongated housing means; (c) at least one tubular element within said elongated housing means having porous openings of from about 5 microns to about 100 microns being formed of sintered metal or ceramic for passage of at least a portion of the heat of vaporization through said pores of said sintered metal or ceramic to the interior of said tubular element, wherein said passage is achieved by maintaining the interior of said tubular member at a pressure lower than the pressure within said elongated housing means; (d) a vacuum attainment means in interconnection with the interior of said tubular member to provide said lower pressure within said tubular element; and
,(e) a vacuum conduit means interconnecting said interior of said tubular element and said vacuum attainment means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a heating cycle wherein fluid is passed through an evaporator, an expansion valve and a condenser, at least one fluid vacuum chamber in the flow path between the condenser and evaporator to reduce the latent heat of vaporization of said stream passing between said condenser and said evaporator, said chamber comprising:
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(a) an elongated housing means having an inlet for a vapor-liquid dual phase stream at one extreme thereof and an outlet for a vapor-liquid dual phase stream at the opposite end of said elongated housing for egression of a vapor-liquid dual phase stream having a reduced heat of vaporization compared with the heat of vaporization of said stream ingressing through said inlet; (b) a means for passage of said vapor-liquid dual phase stream in a pathway relatively parallel to the axes of said elongated housing means; (c) at least one tubular element within said elongated housing means having porous openings of from about 5 microns to about 100 microns being formed of sintered metal or ceramic for passage of at least a portion of the heat of vaporization through said pores of said sintered metal or ceramic to the interior of said tubular element, wherein said passage is achieved by maintaining the interior of said tubular member at a pressure lower than the pressure within said elongated housing means; (d) a vacuum attainment means in interconnection with the interior of said tubular member to provide said lower pressure within said tubular element; and
,(e) a vacuum conduit means interconnecting said interior of said tubular element and said vacuum attainment means. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification