Pulse thermal energy transport/storage system

• US 5,127,471 A
• Filed: 07/26/1991
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Weislogel, Mark M.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS JR, ALBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/736,145
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 165/104.22, 165/104.29, 165/104.14, 417/207, 417/208, 417/209
• US Class Current: 165/104.22
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence

Abstract

A pulse-thermal pump having a novel fluid flow wherein heat admitted to a closed system raises the pressure in a closed evaporator chamber while another interconnected evaporator chamber remains open. This creates a large pressure differential, and at a predetermined pressure the closed evaporator is opened and the opened evaporator is closed. This difference in pressure initiates fluid flow in the system.

Claims

1. In apparatus for transporting heat wherein a fluid heated in an evaporator portion flows to a condenser portion where it is cooled prior to flowing to another evaporator portion, the improvement comprising

a first evaporator for heating said fluid,

a first condenser for cooling said heated fluid from said first evaporator,

first conduit means for transporting said heated fluid from said first evaporator to said first condenser,

a first gate valve in said first conduit means for selectively controlling the flow of heated fluid from said first evaporator to said first condenser,

a second evaporator for receiving the said cooled fluid from said first condenser and heating the same,

second conduit means for transporting said cooled fluid from said first condenser to said second evaporator,

a first check valve in said second conduit means for limiting the flow of said cooled fluid to a direction from said first condenser to said second evaporator,

a second condenser for cooling said heated fluid from said second evaporator,

third conduit means for transporting said heated fluid from said second evaporator to said second condenser,

a second gate valve in said third conduit means for selectively controlling the flow of heated fluid from said second evaporator to said second condenser,

fourth conduit means for transporting said cooled fluid from said second condenser to said evaporator,

a second check valve in said fourth conduit means for limiting the flow of said cooled fluid to a direction from said second condenser to said first evaporator, and

means for providing iterative control of said first gate valve and said second gate valve whereby the apparatus is semi-passive.

2. A pulse method of transporting thermal energy with a heat transfer fluid contained in a closed system of chambers n communication with one another including a plurality of evaporator chambers having condenser chambers interposed therebetween and connected thereto, said method comprising

closing the communication between one of the evaporator chambers and the connected condenser chambers to that fluid flow from said one evaporator chamber to said connected condenser chambers is inhibited,

heating of the fluid in said one closed evaporator chamber so that the pressure thereof increases to a first pressure,

placing said one evaporator chamber in communication with one of said condenser chambers when said fluid in said evaporator chamber reaches said first pressure thereby creating a pulse whereby fluid from said one evaporator chamber at said first pressure forces fluid in said one condenser chamber at a second pressure that is less than said first pressure into another evaporator chamber connected thereto,

closing the communication between said other evaporator chamber and the connected one condenser chamber and another condenser chamber,

cooling said fluid in said one condenser chamber while heating said fluid in said other evaporator chamber to sid first pressure, and

opening the communication between the other evaporator chamber and said other condenser chamber simultaneously with the closing of the communication between said one evaporator chamber and said other condenser chamber whereby the pulse is produced thereby providing interative pumping by integrating two thermal cycles into one.

3. A pulse method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the heat transfer fluid in the one closed evaporator chamber is heated to the gaseous state.

4. A pulse method as claimed in claim 3 wherein a heat transfer gas flows from the one evaporator chamber to the one condenser chamber.

5. A pulse method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the heat transfer fluid in the one condenser chamber is cooled to a liquid state.

6. A pulse method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the heat transfer liquid is forced from the one condenser chamber by the heat transfer gas from the one evaporator chamber.

7. A pulse method as claimed in claim 2 including the steps of

opening the communication between the other evaporator chamber and a connected condenser chamber simultaneously with the closing of the communication between said one of the evaporator chambers and said connected condenser chamber.