Method and device for self-acting heat transfer in a direction reverse to natural convection

• US 9,273,908 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewalex Spolka Z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnoscia Spolka Komandytowa
• Original Assignee: Uniwersytet Warminsko-Mazurski W Olsztynie
• Inventors: Chludzinski, Daniel, Dobrianski, Jurij, Duda, Michal, Piechocki, Janusz, Samsel, Marek, Wojcik, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Leo, Leonard R
• Application Number:
  US13/808,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20130105117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 165/104.22, 165/104.25, 165/104.28, 165/104.31, 417/118, 417/119, 417/126, 417/127, 417/134, 417/136
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/00 Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls ; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/02 in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes heat pipes used in solar heat collectors F24S10/95; in radiators F28D1/0226; in nuclear reactors G21C15/257
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/025 having non-capillary condensate return means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/06 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/08 Fluid driving means, e.g. pumps, fans
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 23/00 Features relating to the use of intermediate heat-exchange materials, e.g. selection of compositions heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/00 Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus control arrangements in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal

Abstract

According to the present invention, the method of heat transfer in a direction, which is reverse to natural convection, includes introduction of an additional pumping substance into the heated area. The pumping substance is incapable to be dissolved in the heat-transfer agent and its boiling temperature is lower than the boiling temperature of the heat-transfer agent. The heat-transfer agent is heated up, the pumping substance evaporates and the vapor pressure of the pumping substance is used to force the hot heat-transfer agent to flow along the branches of the circulating loop. The device for heat transfer in a direction reverse to the natural convection characterized in that its design incorporates technical means intended for vapor condensation of the pumping substance as well as technical means intended for draining that condensate from the condensation area to the evaporation area.

Claims

1. The method for heat transfer in a direction reverse to natural convection is characterized in that an additional pumping substance is introduced to a heated area where the pumping substance is insoluble in a heat-transfer agent and its boiling temperature is lower than a boiling temperature of the heat-transfer agent, then the heat-transfer agent is heated so that the pumping substance is evaporated, and a generated vapour pressure is used to enforce circulation of the heat-transfer agent in a flow circuit whilst a spent vapour is transferred from an upper part of a hot falling branch to an area with a lower temperature where the spent vapour is condensed and a condensate is reintroduced to the heated area, moreover, the amount of the pumping substance is not less than it is necessary to fill a remaining part of the flow circuit free of the liquid heat-transfer agent with its vapour as well as to fill a condensate drainage path leading from a condensation area to an evaporation area;

whereas the condensate drainage path is an intermediate channel terminated with a telescopic pipe fixed in such a way that it has the possibility of unrestricted vertical movements inside the intermediate channel, whereas the inlet of the telescopic pipe is located outside the intermediate channel and is held by means of floats.

2. The method according to claim 1, is characterized in that the liquid pumping substance has preferably of less density than the heat-transfer agent.

3. A device for heat transfer in a direction reverse to the natural convection that is made as a closed circulating loop which incorporate two branches:

a hot falling one and a cold rising one, where the both branches are mutually connected at one side via a cooler where at the other side these branches are terminated in two vessels, respectively, a hot one and a cold one, and the device has also a control valve which is implemented as a liquid seal with a passage pipe meant to connect vapour volumes of the mentioned vessels, and an intermediate channel to drain the heat-transfer agent from the cold fluid vessel to a hot one, and check valves to ensure unidirectional flow of liquids characterized in that its design incorporates technical means intended for vapour condensation of a pumping substance which is the a cold heat-transfer agent stored in the cold fluid vessel whilst vapours of the pumping substance is condensed by a direct contact with that a heat-carrying agent, whereas a means for drainage of condensate from the pumping substance is the intermediate channel terminated with a telescopic pipe fixed in such a way that it has the possibility of unrestricted vertical movements inside the intermediate channel, whereas the inlet of that the telescopic pipe is located outside the intermediate channel and is held just below the liquid surface in the cold fluid vessel by means of floats.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that it has an expansion vessel for protecting against the pressure drop inside said device below the atmospheric pressure, which is open to the surrounding environment and provided with an anti-vacuum membrane, wherein the heat transfer agent is on one side of said membrane while on the other side of the membrane is medium under the ambient pressure, and the working capacity of said vessel is not less than the volume occupied by the vapour of the pumping substance, when the pressure in the device is equal or greater of ambient pressure.