Heat transfer in an energy recovery device
OwnerGeorgiana Tirca-Dragomirescu, Kevin O'Toole +3inventors
InventorsGeorgiana Tirca-Dragomirescu, Kevin O'Toole, Barry Cullen, Robert Kelly, Rory Beirne
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Abstract
An energy recovery device comprising a drive mechanism; an engine comprising a plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) elements or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements fixed at a first end by a holder element and connected at a second end to a drive mechanism wherein Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) elements or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements are positioned to from a gap between adjacent elements and configured to improve heat transfer from a fluid to each element.
Claims15
An energy recovery device comprising:
- an engine comprising a plurality of elongated Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) elements or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements fixed at a first end by a holder element and connected at a second end to a drive mechanism wherein Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) elements or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements are positioned to from a gap between adjacent elements and configured to improve heat transfer from a fluid to each element.
A core for use in an energy recovery device comprising a grouping of wire elements, composed of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) or other Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) Material, fixed at one end and free to move at a second end, such that the wires are arranged adjacently and are in friction or interference contact with each other and positioned so that the wires are kept removed from each other to increase a heat transfer surface when a fluid is passed over said wires.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.