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US 5,429,177 AGranted
Foil regenerator
AssigneeSierra Regenators, Inc.
InventorsRan Yaron, Matthew P. Mitchell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to compact, high efficiency foil regenerators for use in regenerative gas cycle (e.g. Stirling cycle, Ericsson cycle, Vuilleumier cycle, Gifford-McMahon cycle, Sibling Cycle and similar) cryocoolers, heat engines, refrigerators and heat pumps. Very thin foil us formed in patterns of slits and slots that produce highly efficient regenerators when the foil is stacked in layers as by rolling it upon itself.
Claims50
In a regenerative cycle machine having a first expansion-compression chamber, and a second compression-expansion chamber, a regenerator heat exchanger for fluid connecting the first expansion-compression chamber and the second compression-expansion chamber, the improvement being in the regenerator, comprising:
- a housing having a first inlet/outlet port for the fluid and a second outlet/inlet port for the fluid, and defining a general fluid flow direction of the fluid through the regenerator so that during one portion of a cycle fluid flows from the first compression-expansion chamber through the regenerator to the second expansion-compression chamber and in another portion of the cycle flows from the second compression-expansion chamber through the regenerator to the first compression-expansion chamber;
- a regenerator core substantially filling the entire interior of the housing and comprising a stack of adjacent generally parallel foil portions;
- each foil portion comprising an integral homogenous one-piece uniform thickness sheet material having a plurality of first grooves generally extending parallel to the general fluid flow direction, and second grooves extending transversely to the general fluid flow direction;
- said first and second grooves periodically intersecting each other so as to form a plurality of through fluid passages from one side of each foil portion to the opposite side for equalizing pressure across each foil portion throughout the stack and for breaking up laminar flow and reducing boundary layer thickness along the first grooves.
1 more element
A regenerative heat exchanger, comprising:
- a housing having a first inlet/outlet port for fluid and a second outlet/inlet port for the fluid, and defining a general fluid flow direction of the fluid through the regenerator;
- a regenerator core substantially filling the entire interior of the housing and comprising a stack of adjacent generally parallel foil portions;
- each foil portion comprising an integral homogenous one-piece uniform thickness sheet material having a plurality of first grooves generally extending parallel to the general fluid flow direction, and second grooves extending transversely generally perpendicular to the general fluid flow direction;
- said first and second grooves periodically intersecting each other so as to form a plurality of through fluid passages from one side of each foil portion to the opposite side for equalizing pressure across each foil portion throughout the stack and for breaking up laminar flow and reducing boundary layer thickness along the first grooves.
1 more element
A regenerative heat exchanger for fluid, comprising:
- a housing having a first inlet/outlet port for fluid and a second outlet/inlet port for the fluid, and defining a general fluid flow direction of the fluid through the regenerator;
- a regenerator core substantially filling the entire interior of the housing and comprising at least one roll of heat transfer solid foil spirally rolled about an axis generally parallel to the fluid flow direction so as to form a stack of adjacent generally parallel foil portions;
- each foil portion comprising an integral homogenous one-piece uniform thickness sheet material having a plurality of etched grooves extending generally parallel to the general fluid flow direction;
- and
- said grooves forming a plurality of parallel fluid passages along a surface of each foil portion between said ports, throughout the stack;
- and
- said grooves vary in depth from the first port to the second port continuously.
4 more elements
A regenerative heat exchanger, comprising:
- a housing having a first inlet/outlet port for the fluid and a second outlet/inlet port for the fluid, and defining a general fluid flow direction of the fluid through the heat exchanger;
- a heat exchange core substantially filling the entire interior of the housing and comprising at least one roll of heat transfer solid foil spirally rolled about an axis generally parallel to the general fluid flow direction so as to form a stack of adjacent generally parallel foil portions;
- each foil portion comprising an integral homogenous one-piece uniform thickness sheet material having a first face, an opposite second face and a plurality of first passages extending into said first face to reduce thickness of the foil at the first passages and to provide for flow of the fluid generally parallel to the general fluid flow direction, and second passages in the second face to reduce thickness of the foil at the second passages;
- and
- said first and second passages periodically intersecting each other so as to form a plurality of through fluid passages from one side of each foil portion to the opposite side for equalizing pressure across each foil portion throughout the stack, for interrupting heat conduction in the foil and for breaking up laminar flow and reducing boundary layer thickness along the first passages.
2 more elements
In a regenerative cycle machine having a regenerator heat exchanger for fluid, the improvement being in the regenerator, comprising:
- a housing having a first inlet/outlet port for the fluid and a second outlet/inlet port for the fluid, and defining a general fluid flow direction of the fluid through the regenerator;
- a regenerator core substantially filling the entire interior of the housing and comprising at least one roll of heat transfer solid foil spirally rolled about an axis generally parallel to the general fluid flow direction so as to form a stack of adjacent generally parallel foil portions;
- each foil portion comprising an integral homogenous one-piece uniform thickness sheet material having a first face, an opposite second face and a plurality of first passages extending into said first face to reduce thickness of the foil at the first passages and to provide for flow of the fluid generally parallel to the general fluid flow direction;
- and
- wherein said first passages vary in cross section from the first port to the second port continuously.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.