# US 5,699,668 A · Multiple electrostatic gas phase heat pump and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,699,668 A - Document ID: US5699668A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/422,076 - Filed: 1995-03-30 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1995-03-30 - Assignees: Boreaus Technical Limited - Inventors: Isaiah Watas Cox - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5699668A ## CPC - H10W 40/73: for cooling by change of state - F25B 21/00: Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects - F28F 13/16: by applying an electrostatic field to the body of the heat-exchange medium - F25B 30/00: Heat pumps (F25B1/00-F25B25/00, F25B29/00 take precedence) - F25B 2321/003: by using thermionic electron cooling effects - Y02B 30/00: Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC] - H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract In the method of the present invention, electrostatic fields are used to induce heat pumping action of a working fluid. A plurality of heat pumps with no moving parts are used. The operation of the one pump enhances the operation of the next. The method of the present invention is conducive to devices of a wide range of scales. Furthermore, operation at partial power levels is practicable, and precise control of temperature possible. Control is further enhanced by the addition or removal of further units to the system. Reliability should be enhanced, and peak power demands reduced. Wide selection of possible working fluids allows for the elimination of environmentally harmful halocarbons. In one embodiment of the present invention, chemical working fluids are eliminated entirely. In another embodiment, supercooled fluids such as liquid helium may be used while eliminating the wastage commonly encountered using such fluids. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat transference system comprising a plurality of electrostatically pumped heat transference devices wherein said devices each comprise a) an evaporator electrode b) a condenser electrode c) a direct current power supply connects to said electrodes by suitable wiring means d) separation means whereby said electrodes are held apart e) a working fluid whereby heat may be absorbed at said evaporator electrode, said heat being released at said condenser electrode, said condenser electrode being at a higher or lower temperature than said evaporator electrode, the improvement wherein being that said devices are arranged so as to enable said fluid to move from one said device to another by action of gravity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the number of said plurality of said devices in operation at any one time is controlled by a thermostatic controller whereby temperature may be regulated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the operation of said devices is controlled by multiple thermostatic controllers, whereby temperature may be regulated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said devices are contained within a framework which may be varied in configuration, whereby said varied configuration would optimize said system for a given application. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein a framework contains said devices such that the properties of devices contained within said framework may be varied, in consequence of which the properties of said system may be varied. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein different materials are used in the construction of said devices such that one device may vary from another, whereby the properties of said system may be altered. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said devices are optimized for given applications, whereby a given device is optimized in terms of said electrodes, said separation means, said working fluid and said power supply, for a relatively warmer operating temperature, and another in similar manner for a colder operating temperature so that the warmer performs initial heat-pumping, and the subsequent device performs further heat-pumping, each ideally within their respective efficacy ranges. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1 in which said devices are respectively configured in a different manner for given applications. ### Claim 9 A heat transference system comprising a plurality of electrostatically pumped heat transference devices wherein said devices each comprise a) an evaporator electrode b) a condenser electrode c) a direct current power supply connects to said electrodes by suitable wiring means d) separation means whereby said electrodes are held apart e) a working fluid whereby heat may be absorbed at said evaporator electrode, said heat being released at said condenser electrode, said condenser electrode being at a higher or lower temperature than said evaporator electrode, the improvement wherein being that said devices are arranged so as to enable said fluid to move from one said device to another by capillary action. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein the number of said plurality of said devices in operation at any one time is controlled by a thermostatic controller whereby temperature may be regulated. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein the operation of said devices is controlled by multiple thermostatic controllers, whereby temperature may be regulated. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein said devices are contained within a framework which may be varied in configuration, whereby said varied configuration would optimize said system for a given application. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein a framework contains said devices such that the properties of devices contained within said framework may be varied, in consequence of which the properties of said system may be varied. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein different materials are used in the construction of said devices such that one device may vary from another, whereby the properties of said system may be altered. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9 wherein said devices are optimized for given applications, whereby a given device is optimized in terms of said electrodes, said separation means, said working fluid and said power supply, for a relatively warmer operating temperature, and another in similar manner for a colder operating temperature so that the warmer performs initial heat-pumping, and the subsequent device performs further heat-pumping, each ideally within their respective efficacy ranges. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) A system according to claim 9 in which said devices are respectively configured in a different manner for given applications. ### Claim 17 A heat transference system comprising a plurality of electrostatically pumped heat transference devices wherein said devices each comprise a) an evaporator electrode b) a condenser electrode c) a direct current power supply connects to said electrodes by suitable wiring means d) separation means whereby said electrodes are held apart e) a working fluid whereby heat may be absorbed at said evaporator electrode, said heat being released at said condenser electrode, said condenser electrode being at a higher or lower temperature than said evaporator electrode, the improvement being that said devices are joined one to another with a flexible material whereby said system may be applied to awkward geometries. ### Claim 18 The system of 17 wherein the number of said plurality of said devices in operation at any one time is controlled by a thermostatic controller whereby temperature may be regulated. ### Claim 19 The system of 17 wherein the operation of said devices is controlled by multiple thermostatic controllers, whereby temperature may be regulated. ### Claim 20 The system of 17 wherein said devices are contained within a framework which may be varied in configuration, whereby said varied configuration would optimize said system for a given application. ### Claim 21 The system of 17 wherein a framework contains said devices such that the properties of devices contained within said framework may be varied, in consequence of which the properties of said system may be varied. ### Claim 22 The system of 17 wherein different materials are used in the construction of said devices such that one device may vary from another, whereby the properties of said system may be altered. ### Claim 23 The system of 17 wherein said devices are optimized for given applications, whereby a given device is optimized in terms of said electrodes, said separation means, said working fluid and said power supply, for a relatively warmer operating temperature, and another in similar manner for a colder operating temperature so that the warmer performs initial heat-pumping, and the subsequent device performs further heat-pumping, each ideally within their respective efficacy ranges. ### Claim 24 A system according to 17 in which said devices are respectively configured in a different manner for given applications. ### Claim 25 A heat transference system comprising a plurality of electrostatically pumped heat transference devices wherein said devices each comprise a) an evaporator electrode b) a condenser electrode c) a direct current power supply connects to said electrodes by suitable wiring means d) separation means whereby said electrodes are held apart e) a working fluid whereby heat may be absorbed at said evaporator electrode, said heat being released at said condenser electrode, said condenser electrode being at a higher or lower temperature than said evaporator electrode, the improvement wherein being that said working fluid is defined as a flow of electrons through a vacuum between said electrodes. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein the number of said plurality of said devices in operation at any one time is controlled by a thermostatic controller whereby temperature may be regulated. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein the operation of said devices is controlled by multiple thermostatic controllers, whereby temperature may be regulated. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein said devices are contained within a framework which may be varied in configuration, whereby said varied configuration would optimize said system for a given application. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein a framework contains said devices such that the properties of devices contained within said framework may be varied, in consequence of which the properties of said system may be varied. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein different materials are used in the construction of said devices such that one device may vary from another, whereby the properties of said system may be altered. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein said devices are optimized for given applications, whereby a given device is optimized in terms of said electrodes, said separation means, said working fluid and said power supply, for a relatively warmer operating temperature, and another in similar manner for a colder operating temperature so that the warmer performs initial heat-pumping, and the subsequent device performs further heat-pumping, each ideally within their respective efficacy ranges. ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) A system according to claim 25 in which said devices are respectively configured in a different manner for given applications. ### Claim 33 A method for the transference of heat by electrostatic pumping comprising a) causing a high electrical potential gradient between an evaporator electrode and a condenser electrode b) applying a direct current to said electrodes c) thereby causing a dielectric fluid at said evaporator electrode to evaporate and ionize, forming an ionized gas, d) thereby absorbing heat from said evaporator electrode both by said evaporation and by said ionization, e) said electrical potential gradient causing said ions to move towards said condenser electrode, f) condensing and neutralizing said ions at said condenser electrode, restoring said dielectric fluid and said heat collected at said evaporation electrode, g)the passing of said heat to a plurality of sets of electrodes, said passing of said heat resulting in a process whereby the efficacy of said method is enhanced by allowing for each device to cool within their most effective range by passing on the additional cooling burden to another set of electrodes and giving greater flexibility in terms of energy consumption and cooling efficacy, the improvement wherein being that said condenser electrode is comprised of a porous material whereby said condensing and said neutralization of said dielectric fluid is facilitated. ### Claim 34 The method of 33 wherein the number of said plurality of said devices in operation at any one time is controlled by a thermostatic controller whereby temperature may be regulated. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33 wherein the operation of said devices is controlled by multiple thermostatic controllers, whereby temperature may be regulated. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33 wherein said devices are contained within a framework which may be varied in configuration, whereby said varied configuration would optimize said method for a given application. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33 wherein a framework contains said devices such that the properties of devices contained within said framework may be varied, in consequence of which the properties of said method may be varied. ### Claim 38 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33 wherein different materials are used in the construction of said devices such that one device may vary from another, whereby the properties of said method may be altered. ### Claim 39 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33 wherein said devices are optimized for given applications, whereby a given device is optimized in terms of said electrodes, said separation means, said working fluid and said power supply, for a relatively warmer operating temperature, and another in similar manner for a colder operating temperature so that the warmer performs initial heat-pumping, and the subsequent device performs further heat-pumping, each ideally within their respective efficacy ranges. ### Claim 40 (depends on 33) A method according to claim 33 in which said devices are respectively configured in a different manner for given applications. ### Claim 41 A method for the transference of heat by electrostatic pumping comprising a) causing a high electrical potential gradient between an evaporator electrode and a condenser electrode b) applying a direct current to said electrodes c) thereby causing a dielectric fluid at said evaporator electrode to evaporate and ionize, forming an ionized gas, d) thereby absorbing heat from said evaporator electrode both by said evaporation and by said ionization, e) said electrical potential gradient causing said ions to move towards said condenser electrode, f) condensing and neutralizing said ions at said condenser electrode, restoring said dielectric fluid and said heat collected at said evaporation electrode, g) the passing of said heat to a plurality of sets of electrodes, said passing of said heat resulting in a process whereby the efficacy of said method is enhanced by allowing for each device to cool within their most effective range by passing on the additional cooling burden to another set of electrodes and giving greater flexibility in terms of energy consumption and cooling efficacy, the improvement wherein being that said return of said dielectric fluid is accomplish by capillary action through porous materials. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein the number of said plurality of said devices in operation at any one time is controlled by a thermostatic controller whereby temperature may be regulated. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein the operation of said devices is controlled by multiple thermostatic controllers, whereby temperature may be regulated. ### Claim 44 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein said devices are contained within a framework which may be varied in configuration, whereby said varied configuration would optimize said method for a given application. ### Claim 45 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein a framework contains said devices such that the properties of devices contained within said framework may be varied, in consequence of which the properties of said method may be varied. ### Claim 46 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein different materials are used in the construction of said devices such that one device may vary from another, whereby the properties of said method may be altered. ### Claim 47 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41 wherein said devices are optimized for given applications, whereby a given device is optimized in terms of said electrodes, said separation means, said working fluid and said power supply, for a relatively warmer operating temperature, and another in similar manner for a colder operating temperature so that the warmer performs initial heat-pumping, and the subsequent device performs further heat-pumping, each ideally within their respective efficacy ranges. ### Claim 48 (depends on 41) A method according to claim 41 in which said devices are respectively configured in a different manner for given applications.