Heat transfer apparatus and method employing active regenerative cycle

A heat transfer apparatus employing art active regenerative cycle for transferring heat from a thermal load to a heat sink comprising

• (A) a regenerator comprising working fluid contained within at least one first vessel;
• (B) a heat transfer fluid contained within at least one second vessel, wherein said heat transfer fluid is physically separated from said working fluid and is in thermal communication with said thermal load and said heat sink;
• (C) work input weans for periodically compressing and expanding said working fluid to alternatively increase and decrease the temperature thereof;
• and
• (D) circulation means for periodically circulating said heat transfer fluid relative to said working fluid to either accept heat from or transfer heat to said working fluid.

A method of enacting an active regenerative refrigeration cycle for transferring heat from a thermal load to a heat sink comprising:

• (A) providing a regenerator spanning a temperature gradient between said thermal load and said heat sink, said regenerator comprising a plurality of separate refrigeration elements each containing a working fluid and having a designated position in said temperature gradient;
• (B) providing a heat transfer fluid physically separated from said working fluid and movable relative to said refrigeration elements across said temperature gradient between said thermal load and said heat sink;
• (C) compressing said working fluid contained in each of said refrigeration elements to increase the temperature thereof;
• (D) moving said heat transfer fluid relative to said refrigeration elements in a flow direction from said thermal load toward said heat sink;
• (E) expanding said working fluid contained in each of said refrigeration elements to decrease the temperature thereof;
• and
• (F) moving said heat transfer fluid relative to said refrigeration elements in a flow direction from said heat sink toward said thermal load.

A regenerative heat transfer device for transferring heat between a thermal load and a heat sink comprising:

• (a) an array of discrete refrigeration elements spaced apart at intermediate locations between said thermal load and said heat sink, wherein each of said refrigeration elements contains a working fluid and has a mean operating temperature corresponding to its relative location between said thermal load and said heat sink;
• (b) an actuator for periodically compressing and expanding said working fluid to thereby increase or decrease the temperature of said refrigeration elements;
• and
• (c) a circulator for circulating a heat transfer fluid in a flow path between said thermal load and said heat sink, wherein said heat transfer fluid passes relative to said array of refrigeration elements to either accept heat from or transfer heat to said refrigeration elements.

A refrigeration element comprising:

• (a) a container for holding a working fluid;
• (b) at least one conduit extending within said container for holding a heat transfer fluid separate from said working fluid;
• and
• (c) an actuator for periodically compressing and expanding said working fluid to vary the temperature of said working fluid.

A heat transfer apparatus employing an active regenerative cycle for transferring heat from a thermal load to a heat sink comprising

• (A) a regenerator comprising contained working fluid;
• (B) a heat transfer fluid physically separated from said working fluid and in thermal communication with said thermal load and said heat sink;
• (C) work input means for periodically compressing and expanding said working fluid to alternatively increase and decrease the temperature thereof;
• and
• (D) circulation means for periodically circulating said heat transfer fluid relative to said working fluid to either accept heat from or transfer heat to said working fluid, wherein said heat transfer fluid moves between said thermal load and said heat sink in an oscillatory manner.

A regenerative heat transfer device for transferring heat across a temperature gradient between a thermal load and a heat sink comprising:

• (a) a regenerator comprising an array of discrete refrigeration elements spaced apart at intermediate locations between said thermal load and said heat sink, wherein each of said refrigeration elements contains a working fluid and has a mean operating temperature corresponding to its relative location between said thermal load and said heat sink;
• (b) an actuator for periodically compressing and expanding said working fluid to thereby increase or decrease the temperature of said refrigeration elements;
• and
• (c) a circulator for circulating a heat transfer fluid relative to said array of refrigeration elements to either accept heat from or transfer heat to said refrigeration elements, wherein said heat transfer fluid is moveable in a first flow path within said regenerator between said thermal load and said heat sink and a second flow path between said regenerator and an auxiliary device capable of accepting or rejecting heat located externally of said regenerator, whereby a portion of said heat transfer fluid is divertable to said auxiliary device.

A method of cooling a thermal load comprising

• (a) providing a regenerator comprising an array of discrete refrigeration elements spaced apart at intermediate locations across a temperature gradient, wherein each of said refrigeration elements contains a working fluid and has a mean operating temperature corresponding to its relative location in said temperature gradient;
• (b) periodically compressing and expanding said working fluid to thereby increase or decrease the temperature of said refrigeration elements,;
• and
• (c) periodically circulating a heat transfer fluid relative to said array of refrigeration elements to either accept heat from or transfer heat to said refrigeration elements, wherein a portion of said heat transfer fluid is further conveyed to a thermal load located externally of said regenerator to accept heat therefrom.

A regenerative heat transfer device comprising a plurality of refrigeration elements, wherein each of said refrigeration elements comprises:

• (a) a container for holding a working fluid;
• (b) at least one conduit extending within said container for holding a heat transfer fluid separate from said working fluid;
• and
• (c) an actuator for periodically compressing and expanding said working fluid to vary the temperature of said working fluid,
• wherein said refrigeration elements are connected together such that said heat transfer fluid in adjacent pairs of said elements is in fluid communication.