Heat transfer using ionic pumps
AssigneeVentiva, Inc.
InventorsRudy Vadillo, Carl Paul Schlachte, Himanshu Pokharna
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Heat transfer devices are based on using one or more ionic pumps to circulate a dielectric working fluid around a closed circulation path, which may be contained in a conduit. The working fluid may be a liquid or a gas. The ionic pumps are disposed along the closed circulation path. The pumps include an emitter and collector. When a voltage is applied to the emitter, the working fluid is ionized at the emitter. The ionized fluid is drawn electrostatically to the lower-voltage collector, which, through collision with molecules that in turn impart their momentum, creates a flow of the working fluid. This approach may be used with either positive or negative corona devices.
Claims19
An ionic heat transfer apparatus comprising:
- a conduit containing a closed circulation path, wherein the conduit is configured to make thermal contact with a heat source;
- a dielectric working fluid in the closed circulation path;
- and
- a plurality of ionic pumps disposed along the closed circulation path, wherein the plurality of ionic pumps are configured to ionize the working fluid, to circulate the working fluid around the closed circulation path, wherein circulation of the working fluid transfers heat away from the heat source, wherein each ionic pump of the plurality of ionic pumps has a cross- sectional flow area of not more than 4 mm2, and
- wherein the conduit is an elongate conduit comprising two channels between a first end and a second end of the conduit,
- wherein at least one first ionic pump of the plurality of ionic pumps is configured to circulate the working fluid through a first channel of the two channels in one direction along the conduit,
- wherein at least one second ionic pump of the plurality of ionic pumps is configured to circulate the working fluid through a second channel of the two channels in an opposite direction along the conduit,
- wherein one of the first end and the second end makes thermal contact with the heat source,
- wherein circulation of the working fluid transfer heat away from the heat source,
- wherein the at least one first ionic pump is disposed at the first end of the conduit, and
- wherein the at least one second ionic pump is disposed at the second end of the conduit.
An ionic heat transfer apparatus comprising:
- a conduit containing a closed circulation path, wherein the conduit is configured to make thermal contact with a heat source;
- a dielectric working fluid in the closed circulation path;
- and
- a plurality of ionic pumps disposed along the closed circulation path, wherein the plurality of ionic pumps are configured to ionize the working fluid to circulate the working fluid around the closed circulation path,
- wherein circulation of the working fluid transfers heat away from the heat source, wherein the working fluid includes an operative amount of helium, nitrogen, neon, krypton, or xenon,
- wherein each ionic pump of the plurality of one or more ionic pumps has a cross- sectional flow area of not more than 4 mm2,
- wherein the conduit is an elongate conduit comprising two channels between a first end and a second end of the conduit,
- wherein at least one first ionic pump of the plurality of ionic pumps is configured to circulate the working fluid through a first channel of the two channels in one direction along the conduit,
- wherein at least one second ionic pump of the plurality of ionic pumps is configured to circulate the working fluid through a second channel of the two channels in an opposite direction along the conduit,
- wherein one of the first end and the second end makes thermal contact with the heat source, wherein circulation of the working fluid transfer heat away from the heat source, wherein the at least one first ionic pump is disposed at the first end of the conduit, and wherein the at least one second ionic pump is disposed at the second end of the conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.