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US 11,397,029 B2Granted
Rotary heat exchanger
AssigneeNativus, Inc.
InventorMatthew C. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Rotary heat exchangers can include a ride-along compressor, at least a portion of which can be rotated along with the heat exchanger. By rotating at least a portion of the compressor along with the heat exchanger, a sealed fluid circuit containing a two-phase working fluid can be provided. A rotary heat pump or heat engine can include an evaporator and a condenser in the form of back-to-back centrifugal fans. The centrifugal fan blades or other portions of the evaporator and condenser may include internal cavities where the working fluid undergoes a phase change.
Claims24
A heat exchanger, comprising:
- a first rotary heat exchanger configured to rotate around an axis of rotation;
- a second rotary heat exchanger configured to rotate in the same direction as the first rotary heat exchanger;
- a fluid circuit configured to permit passage of a working fluid between the first and second rotary heat exchangers, the fluid circuit comprising:
- a first plurality of tube sections extending through at least a portion of the first rotary heat exchanger in directions substantially parallel to the axis of rotation at least a portion of each of the first plurality of tube sections radially offset from the axis of rotation by a first radial distance;
- and
- a second plurality of tube sections extending through at least a portion of the second rotary heat exchanger in directions substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and radially offset from the axis of rotation, at least a portion of each the second plurality of tube sections being radially offset from the axis of rotation by a second radial distance equal to the first radial distance;
- and
- a compressor disposed along the fluid circuit and fixed to the first rotary heat exchanger such that at least a portion of the compressor will rotate along with the first rotary heat exchanger at the same speed and in the same direction as the first rotary heat exchanger, the compressor positioned such that the first plurality of tube sections extend beyond the compressor in a first axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation and the second plurality of tube sections extend beyond the compressor in a second axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, the second axial direction opposite the first axial direction.
5 more elements
A rotary heat exchanger apparatus, comprising:
- a first heat exchanger disposed on a first side of a baseplate;
- a second heat exchanger disposed on a second side of the baseplate and configured to rotate with the first heat exchanger about an axis of rotation;
- a sealed fluid circuit extending through portions of the first and second heat exchangers, the sealed fluid circuit having a working fluid disposed within, the sealed fluid circuit comprising:
- a first plurality of fluid circuit sections extending along respective first longitudinal axes parallel to the axis of rotation through at least a portion of the first rotary heat exchanger;
- and
- a second plurality of fluid circuit sections extending along respective second longitudinal axes parallel to the axis of rotation through at least a portion of the second rotary heat exchanger, the first longitudinal axis of each of the first plurality of fluid circuit sections substantially axially aligned with the second longitudinal axis of one of the second plurality of fluid circuit sections;
- and
- a compressor, the compressor disposed along the sealed fluid circuit and fixed to the first rotary heat exchanger such that at least a portion of the compressor will rotate with the first heat exchanger at the same speed and in the same direction as the first heat exchanger, at least a portion of the first plurality of fluid circuit sections extending beyond the compressor in a first axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, and at least a portion of the second plurality of fluid circuit sections extending beyond the compressor in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction.
5 more elements
A rotary heat exchanger, comprising:
- a fluid distribution baseplate comprising:
- a first baseplate surface;
- a second baseplate surface opposite the first baseplate surface;
- a plurality of fluid distribution channels disposed within the fluid distribution baseplate;
- and
- a central baseplate aperture;
- a first plurality of centrifugal fan blades secured relative to the first baseplate surface, each of the first plurality of centrifugal fan blades having a non-circular cross-sectional shape and including at least one fluid conduit extending into the centrifugal fan blade from a side of the centrifugal fan blade adjacent the first baseplate surface;
- a second plurality of centrifugal fan blades secured relative to the second baseplate surface, each of the second plurality of centrifugal fan blades having a non-circular cross-sectional shape and including at least one fluid conduit extending into the centrifugal fan blade from a side of the centrifugal fan blade adjacent the second baseplate surface;
- and
- a compressor extending through the central baseplate aperture and fixed to the fluid distribution baseplate such that at least a portion of the compressor will rotate along with the fluid distribution baseplate at the same speed and in the same direction as the fluid distribution baseplate around an axis of rotation of the fluid distribution baseplate, the compressor disposed along a fluid circuit passing through the compressor, at least one of the first plurality of centrifugal fan blades, and at least one of the second plurality of centrifugal fan blades, the first plurality of centrifugal fan blades extending axially beyond the compressor in a first axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation and the second plurality of centrifugal fan blades extending axially beyond the compressor in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction, each of the second plurality of centrifugal fan blades arranged in a position at least partially axially overlapping one of the first plurality of centrifugal fan blades.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.