Energy transfer apparatus and methods

A method for generating a flow of cold fluid, the method involving an apparatus for transferring energy by rotating fluid within the apparatus, the apparatus having a cold-fluid-discharge end and a hot-fluid-discharge end, the apparatus including an energy transfer tube and first and second fluid flow generators, both generators being adjacent to the cold-fluid-discharge end, the second generator being closer to the cold-fluid-discharge end than is the first generator, wherein the cold-fluid-discharge end comprises a cold fluid outlet, and the hot-fluid-discharge end comprises one or more hot fluid ports, the method comprising delivering pressurized fluid from the first and second generators into first and second fluid flow chambers of the apparatus so as to create first and second rotating flows that then extend respectively from the first and second fluid flow chambers into the energy transfer tube and toward the hot-fluid-discharge end of the apparatus, resulting in some fluid from the second rotating flow escaping through said one or more hot-fluid ports while a major portion of the second rotating flow, and at least a major portion of the first rotating flow, return back through the energy transfer tube toward the cold-fluid-discharge end and escape through the cold-fluid outlet, wherein the fluid flowing through the apparatus consists essentially of gas.

An apparatus for transferring energy by rotating fluid within the apparatus, the apparatus having a cold-fluid-discharge end and a hot-fluid-discharge end, the apparatus including an energy transfer tube and first and second fluid flow generators, the first and second generators each being adapted to create a rotating fluid flow at least part of which is located inside the energy transfer tube, both generators being adjacent to the cold-fluid-discharge end, the second generator being closer to the cold-fluid-discharge end than is the first generator, wherein the cold-fluid-discharge end comprises a cold fluid outlet, and the hot-fluid-discharge end comprises one or more hot fluid ports.

A method for generating a flow of cold fluid, the method involving an apparatus for transferring energy by rotating fluid within the apparatus, the apparatus having a cold-fluid-discharge end and a hot-fluid-discharge end, the apparatus including an energy transfer tube and first and second fluid flow generators, both generators being adjacent to the cold-fluid-discharge end, the second generator being closer to the cold-fluid-discharge end than is the first generator, wherein the cold-fluid-discharge end comprises a cold fluid outlet, and the hot-fluid-discharge end comprises one or more hot fluid ports, the method comprising delivering pressurized fluid from the first and second generators into first and second fluid flow chambers of the apparatus so as to create first and second rotating flows that then extend respectively from the first and second fluid flow chambers into the energy transfer tube and toward the hot-fluid-discharge end of the apparatus, resulting in some fluid from the second rotating flow escaping through said one or more hot-fluid ports while a major portion of the second rotating flow, and at least a major portion of the first rotating flow, return back through the energy transfer tube toward the cold-fluid-discharge end and escape through the cold-fluid outlet.

An apparatus for transferring energy by rotating fluid within the apparatus, the apparatus having a cold-fluid-discharge end and a hot-fluid-discharge end, the cold-fluid-discharge end comprising a cold fluid outlet, the hot-fluid-discharge end comprising one or more hot fluid ports, the apparatus including an energy transfer tube and a plurality of fluid flow generators, the fluid flow generators collectively being adapted to create at least eight fluid flow layers extending through the energy transfer tube, said fluid flow layers being counted as found in a cross section taken along a plane lying on a central axis of the energy transfer tube, each of said eight fluid flow layers extending along at least a major length of the energy transfer tube.

A method for generating a flow of cold fluid, the method involving an apparatus for transferring energy by rotating fluid within the apparatus, the apparatus having a cold-fluid-discharge end and a hot-fluid-discharge end, the cold-fluid-discharge end comprising a cold fluid outlet, the hot-fluid-discharge end comprising one or more hot fluid ports, the apparatus including an energy transfer tube and a plurality of fluid flow generators, the fluid flow generators being operated to collectively create at least eight fluid flow layers extending through the energy transfer tube, said fluid flow layers being counted as found in a cross section taken along a plane lying on a central axis of the energy transfer tube, each of said eight fluid flow layers extending along at least a major length of the energy transfer tube.