Nested thermal reservoirs with heat pumping therebetween
First Claim
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1. A process for energy efficient recharging of an inner thermal reservoir at an extreme temperature by heat exchange with a surrounding thermal reservoir at a moderate temperature, comprising the steps of:
- selecting from a plurality of reservoirs in a nested configuration a pair of reservoirs for heat transfer therebetween,exchanging heat between a hot surface of a heat pump and the warmer reservoir of the selected pair, andexchanging heat between a cold surface of the heat pump and the cooler reservoir of the selected pair.
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Abstract
An assembly of nested thermal reservoirs has an inner reservoir at an extreme temperature surrounded by one or more reservoirs at moderate temperatures. Over time, heat flow would equilibrate reservoir temperatures thereby loosing available thermal energy. At least a portion of the heat lost by the inner to an outer reservoir is restored by a heat pump operating therebetween.
91 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A process for energy efficient recharging of an inner thermal reservoir at an extreme temperature by heat exchange with a surrounding thermal reservoir at a moderate temperature, comprising the steps of:
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selecting from a plurality of reservoirs in a nested configuration a pair of reservoirs for heat transfer therebetween, exchanging heat between a hot surface of a heat pump and the warmer reservoir of the selected pair, and exchanging heat between a cold surface of the heat pump and the cooler reservoir of the selected pair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system of thermal reservoirs, comprising:
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a plurality of reservoirs in a nested configuration comprising an inner reservoir at an extreme temperature surrounded by a reservoir at a moderate temperature whereby heat flows to reduce the temperature difference therebetween, a heat pump having a hot surface and a cold surface, means for exchanging heat between the hot surface and the warmer of said reservoirs, and means for exchanging heat between the cold surface and the cooler of said reservoirs thereby using the surrounding reservoir as a heat source for recharging the inner reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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Specification