Heat exchange method and apparatus

• US 6,282,917 B1
• Filed: 07/15/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Distributed Power Systems, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Stephen Mongan
• Inventors: Mongan, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrler, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHULMAN, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US09/354,537
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 624/76, 621/06, 624/81
• US Class Current: 62/476
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 15/06 the refrigerant being water vapour evaporated from a salt solution, e.g. lithium bromide F25B15/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 33/00 Boilers; Analysers; Rectifiers boiler-absorbers F25B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/27 Relating to heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC] technologies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/62 Absorption based systems

Abstract

A heat exchanging method and apparatus for improving heat transfer in a cooling system. Specifically, the heat exchanging method and apparatus is an absorption chiller that comprises a heat transfer device having one heat pipe partially disposed within a second heat pipe, where the juncture of the coupled heat pipes promotes absorption of a vapor into a working solution. The juncture of the coupled heat pipes is disposed within a condenser section such that two processes, condensation and absorption of the absorption chiller are efficiently implemented within a single section or chamber.

Claims

1. A heat exchanging apparatus comprising:

a generator for receiving a first heat transfer source;

a condenser, coupled to said generator, for receiving a second heat transfer source;

an evaporator, coupled to said condenser, for receiving a third heat transfer source; and

a heat transfer device, coupled to said generator, condenser, and evaporator, for causing said third heat transfer source to be cooled.

2. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heat transfer device comprises a first heat pipe and a second heat pipe.

3. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first and second heat pipes are interlocked.

4. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first heat pipe has a bend defining a lower first section and an upper second section and said second heat pipe has a first section and a reduced diameter section.

5. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 4, wherein said upper second section of said first heat pipe is coupled with said reduced diameter section of said second heat pipe.

6. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 5, wherein said reduced diameter section of said second heat pipe forms a portion of an absorber.

7. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first heat pipe carries a working fluid of lithium bromide solution and said second heat pipe carries a working fluid of water.

8. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heat exchanging apparatus is an absorption chiller.

9. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 4, wherein said upper second section of said first heat pipe is disposed within said condenser.

10. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 4, wherein said lower first section of said first heat pipe is disposed within said generator.

11. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 4, wherein said reduced diameter section of said second heat pipe is disposed within said condenser.

12. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first section of said second heat pipe is disposed within said evaporator.

13. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 4, wherein said upper second section of said first heat pipe carries a plurality of mesh layers.

14. A heat exchanging apparatus comprising:

a generating means for receiving a first heat transfer source;

a condensing means, coupled to said generating means, for receiving a second heat transfer source;

an evaporating means, coupled to said condensing means, for receiving a third heat transfer source; and

a heat transfer means, coupled to said generating, condensing, and evaporating means, for causing said third heat transfer source to be cooled.

15. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 14, wherein said heat transfer means comprises a first heat pipe and a second heat pipe.

16. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first and second heat pipes are interlocked.

17. A method for providing a cooled fluid for a cooling system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first heat transfer source into a generator;

(b) receiving a second heat transfer source into a condenser;

(c) receiving a third heat transfer source into an evaporator; and

(d) applying a heat transfer device within said generator, condenser, and evaporator, for causing said third heat transfer source to be cooled to produce the cooled fluid for the cooling system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said applying step (d) applies said heat transfer device having a first heat pipe and a second heat pipe.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said applying step (d) applies said heat transfer device having a first heat pipe and a second heat in an interlocked configuration.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said applying step (d) applies said heat transfer device having a first heat pipe and a second heat pipe in an interlocked configuration, where said first heat pipe has a bend defining a lower first section and an upper second section and said second heat pipe has a first section and a reduced diameter section.