Bernoulli heat pump with mass segregation
AssigneeMachflow Energy, Ing.
InventorsArthur R. Williams, Charles Agosta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of a heat transfer apparatus, and related methods, involve a curved flow path, a heat source external to and in thermal communication with at least a portion of an inner radial boundary of the curved flow path, and a working fluid, including a heavier component and a lighter component, flowing through the flow path. The flow path causes the working fluid to experience centrifugal force so as to preferentially force the heavier component toward the exterior wall portion and thereby cause the lighter component to preferentially absorb heat from the interior wall portion.
Claims56
A heat transfer apparatus, comprising:
- a first radially curved interior wall portion;
- a first radially curved exterior wall portion, the interior and exterior wall portions being spaced apart and curved in the same radial direction to define a first curved flow path therebetween;
- a first heat source external to and in thermal communication, with at least a portion of the curved interior wall portion;
- and
- a working fluid, comprising a heavier component and a lighter component, flowing through the first curved flow path, whereby the working fluid experiences centrifugal force so as to preferentially force the heavier component toward the exterior wall portion and thereby cause the lighter component to preferentially absorb heat from the interior wall portion.
A method of transferring heat, comprising:
- providing a first curved flow path defined by an interior wall portion and an exterior wall portion, wherein the interior and exterior wall portions are curved in the same radial direction;
- providing a first heat source external to and in thermal communication with at least a portion of an inner radial boundary of the first curved flow path;
- and
- flowing a working fluid, comprising a heavier component and a lighter component, through the first flow path, whereby the working fluid experiences centrifugal force so as to preferentially force the heavier component toward an exterior radial boundary of the first curved flow path and thereby cause the lighter component to preferentially absorb heat from the inner radial boundary.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.