Claims
- 1. A heat transfer engine for transferring heat between first and second heat exchanging circuits through which first and second heat exchanging mediums flow, respectively, said heat transfer engine, comprising:a stationary housing having first and second heat transfer chambers, and a thermal isolation barrier disposed therebetween, said first and second heat transfer chambers each having first and second ports and a continuous passageway therebetween; and a rotatable heat transfer structure rotatably supported within said stationary housing about an axis of rotation and having a substantially symmetrical moment of inertia about said axis of rotation, said rotatable heat transfer structure having a first end portion disposed within said first heat transfer chamber, a second end portion disposed within said second heat transfer chamber, and an intermediate portion disposed between said first and second end portions, said rotatable heat transfer structure embodying a closed fluid circuit arranged about said axis of rotation, and having a return portion extending along the direction of said axis of rotation and at least a subportion of said return portion having a helical geometry, and an interior volume for containing a predetermined amount of a heat carrying medium contained within said closed fluid circuit which automatically circulates within said closed fluid circuit as said rotatable heat transfer structure is rotated about said axis of rotation in order to transfer heat between said first and second portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure, said first end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure being disposed in thermal communication with said first heat exchanging circuit, said second end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure being disposed in thermal communication with said second heat exchanging circuit, and said intermediate portion being physically adjacent to said thermal isolation barrier so as to present a substantially high thermal resistance to heat transfer between said first and second heat transfer chambers during operation of said heat transfer engine.
- 2. The heat transfer engine of claim 1, which further comprises:a torque generation device for imparting torque to said rotatable heat transfer structure and causing said rotatable heat transfer structure to rotate about said axis of rotation; and a torque control device for controlling said torque generation device in response to the temperature of said first and second heat exchanging mediums sensed at said first and second ports in said first and second heat transfer chambers.
- 3. The heat transfer engine of claim 2, wherein said torque generation device comprises:a motor having a drive shaft operably connected to said rotatable heat transfer structure, wherein the angular velocity of said drive shaft is maintained within a predetermined range of angular velocity by said torque control device.
- 4. The heat transfer engine of claim 2, wherein said torque generation device comprisesturbine blades disposed on at least one of said first and second end portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure, such that said turbine blades are imparted torque by said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat transfer chamber or said second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat transfer chamber during the operation of said heat transfer engine.
- 5. The heat transfer engine of claim 2, wherein said torque generation device comprises:a steam turbine having a drive shaft operably connected to said rotatable heat transfer structure, for imparting torque to said rotatable heat transfer structure, and wherein said torque control device comprises a device for controlling the angular velocity of the drive shaft of said steam turbine.
- 6. The heat transfer engine of claim 1, wherein said rotatable heat transfer structure comprises a rotor portion having a substantially symmetrical moment of inertia about said axis of rotation, and said closed fluid circuit is realized as a three-dimensional flow passageway of closed loop design formed in said rotor portion, said three-dimensional flow passageway comprising a first, second, third and fourth spiral flow passageway portions connected in a series configuration about said axis of rotation, in the named order.
- 7. The heat transfer engine of claim 6, wherein said rotor portion comprises a plurality of rotor discs assembled together to form a unitary structure, wherein each said rotor disc has formed therein a section of grooving which relates to a portion of said three-dimensional flow passageway formed in said rotor portion.
- 8. The heat transfer engine of claim 1, wherein said rotatable heat transfer structure comprises a rotor shaft along which said return portion of said closed fluid circuit extends, and wherein said closed fluid circuit is realized as three-dimensional tubing configuration supported about said rotor shaft having first, second, third and fourth spiral tubing sections continuously connected in a series configuration about said axis of rotation, in the named order.
- 9. The heat transfer engine of claim 8, wherein said return portion extends substantially along the entire extent of said rotor shaft.
- 10. The heat transfer engine of claim 1, which further comprises:a first connection device for interconnecting a first heat exchanging circuit to said first and second ports of said first heat transfer chamber, so as to permit said first heat exchanging medium to flow through said first heat exchanging circuit and said first heat transfer chamber during the operation of said heat transfer engine; and a second connection device for interconnecting the second heat exchanging circuit to said first and second ports of said second heat transfer chamber, so as to permit said second heat exchanging medium to flow through said second heat exchanging circuit and said second heat transfer chamber during the operation of said heat transfer engine, while said first and second heat exchanging circuits are in substantial thermal isolation of each other.
- 11. The heat transfer engine of claim 10, which further comprises a temperature sensing device for measuring the temperature of said heat exchanging medium flowing through said first and second ports of said first and second heat transfer chambers.
- 12. The heat transfer engine of claim 10, wherein said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit is air, and said second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit is air.
- 13. The heat transfer engine of claim 10, wherein said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit is water, and said second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit is air.
- 14. The heat transfer engine of claim 10, wherein said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit is water, and said second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit is water.
- 15. The heat transfer engine of claim 10, wherein said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit is air, and said second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit is water.
- 16. A heat transfer engine for transferring heat between first and second heat exchanging circuits, through which first and second heat exchanging mediums flow, said heat transfer engine comprising:a stationary housing having first and second heat transfer chambers, and a thermal isolation barrier disposed therebetween, said first and second heat transfer chambers each having first and second ports and a continuous passageway therebetween; and a rotatable heat transfer structure rotatably supported within said stationary housing about an axis of rotation and having a substantially symmetrical moment of inertia about said axis of rotation, said rotatable heat transfer structure having a first end portion disposed within said first heat transfer chamber, a second end portion disposed within said second heat transfer chamber, and an intermediate portion disposed between said first and second end portions, said rotatable heat transfer structure embodying a closed fluid circuit arranged about said axis of rotation, and having a return portion extending along the direction of said axis of rotation, and an interior volume for containing a predetermined amount of a heat carrying medium contained within said closed fluid circuit which automatically circulates within said closed fluid circuit as said rotatable heat transfer structure is rotated about said axis of rotation and transfers heat between said first and second portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure, said first end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure being disposed in thermal communication with said first heat exchanging circuit, said second end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure being disposed in thermal communication with said second heat exchanging circuit, said intermediate portion being physically adjacent to said thermal isolation barrier so as to present a substantially high thermal resistance to heat transfer between said first and second heat transfer chambers during operation of said heat transfer engine, said rotatable heat transfer structure having predetermined range of angular velocity over which said heat transfer engine is capable of transferring heart between said first and second end portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure; a torque generation device for imparting torque to said rotatable heat transfer structure and causing said rotatable heat transfer structure to rotate about said axis of rotation; and a torque control device for controlling said torque generation device in response to the temperature of said first or second heat exchanging medium sensed at either said first port or second port in said first or second heat transfer chamber, so that the angular velocity of said rotatable heat transfer structure is maintained within said predetermined range of angular velocity.
- 17. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, in said torque generation device comprises:a motor having a drive shaft operably connected to said rotatable heat transfer structure, wherein the angular velocity of said drive shaft is maintained within said predetermined range of angular velocity by said torque control device.
- 18. The heat transfer engine of claim 17, wherein said torque generation device comprises:a motor having a drive shaft operably connected to said rotatable heat transfer structure, wherein the angular velocity of said drive shaft is maintained within said predetermined range of angular velocity by said torque control device.
- 19. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, in said torque generation device comprises:turbine blades disposed on at least one of said first and second end portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure, such that said turbine blades are imparted torque by a first heat exchanging medium following through said first heat transfer chamber or a second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat transfer chamber during the operation of said heat transfer engine.
- 20. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, wherein said torque generation device comprises:a steam turbine having a drive shaft operably connected to said rotatable heat transfer structure, for imparting torque to said rotatable heat transfer structure, and wherein said torque control device comprises device for controlling the angular velocity of the drive shaft of said steam turbine.
- 21. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, wherein the first end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure functions as an evaporator and the second end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure functions as a condenser when said rotatable heat transfer structure is rotated in a clockwise direction.
- 22. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, wherein the first end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure functions as a condenser and the second end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure functions as an evaporator when said rotatable heat transfer structure rotates when said rotatable heat transfer structure is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction.
- 23. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, wherein said rotatable heat transfer structure comprises a rotor portion having a substantially symmetrical moment of inertia about said axis of rotation, and said closed fluid circuit is realized as a three-dimensional flow passageway of closed loop design formed in said rotor portion, said three-dimensional flow passageway comprising a first, second, third and fourth spiral flow passageway portions connected in a series configuration about said axis of rotation, in the named order.
- 24. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, wherein said rotor portion comprises a plurality of rotor discs assembled together to form a unitary structure, wherein each said rotor disc has formed therein a section of grooving which relates to a portion of said three-dimensional flow passageway formed in said rotor portion.
- 25. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, wherein said rotatable heat transfer structure comprises a rotor shaft along which said return portion of said closed fluid circuit extends, and wherein said closed fluid circuit is realized as a three-dimensional tubing configuration supported about said rotor shaft having first, second, third and fourth spiral tubing sections continuously connected in a series configuration about said axis of rotation, in the named order.
- 26. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, wherein at least a subportion of said return portion has a helical geometry.
- 27. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, wherein said return portion has a helical geometry which extends substantially along the entire extent of said rotor shaft.
- 28. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, wherein said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit is air, and a second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit is air.
- 29. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, wherein said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit is water, and a second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit is air.
- 30. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, wherein said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit is water, and a second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit is water.
- 31. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, wherein said a first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit is air, and a second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit is water.
- 32. The heat transfer portion of claim 16, which further comprises:a first connection device for interconnecting the first heat exchanging circuit to said first and second ports of said first heat transfer chamber, so as to permit a first heat exchanging medium to flow through said first heat exchanging circuit and said first heat transfer chamber during the operation of said reversible heat transfer engine; and a second connection device for interconnecting the second heat exchanging circuit to said first and second ports of said second heat transfer chamber, so as to permit a second heat exchanging medium to flow through said second heat exchanging circuit and said second heat transfer chamber during the operation of said heat transfer engine, while said first and second heat exchanging circuits are in substantial thermal isolation of each other.
- 33. The heat transfer engine of claim 16, which further comprises a temperature sensing device for measuring the temperature of said first and second heat exchanging medium flowing through said first and second ports of said first and secondary heat transfer chambers.
- 34. A heat transfer engine for transferring heat between first and second heat exchanging circuits through which first and second heat exchanging mediums flow, respectively, said heat transfer engine, comprising:a stationary housing having first and second heat transfer chambers, and a thermal isolation barrier disposed therebetween; and a rotatable heat transfer structure rotatably supported within said stationary housing about an axis of rotation and having a substantially symmetrical moment of inertia about said axis of rotation, said rotatable heat transfer structure having a first end portion disposed within said first heat transfer chamber, a second end portion disposed within said second heat transfer chamber, and an intermediate portion disposed between said first and second end portions, said rotatable heat transfer structure embodying a closed fluid circuit arranged about said axis of rotation, and having a return portion extending along the direction of said axis of rotation, and an interior volume for containing a predetermined amount of a heat carrying medium contained within said closed fluid circuit which automatically circulates within said closed fluid circuit as said rotatable heat transfer structure is rotated about said axis of rotation and transfers heat between said first and second portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure, said first end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure being disposed in thermal communication with said first heat exchanging circuit; said second end portion rotatable heat transfer structure being disposed in thermal communication with said second heat exchanging circuit, said intermediate portion being physically adjacent to said thermal barrier so as to present a substantially high thermal resistance to heat transfer between said first and second heat transfer chambers during operation of said heat transfer engine, and a first connection device for interconnecting a first heat exchanging circuit to said first and second ports of said first heat transfer chamber, so as to permit a first heat exchanging medium to flow through said first heat exchanging circuit and said first heat transfer chamber during the operation of said heat transfer engine; a second connection device for interconnecting a second heat exchanging circuit to said first and second ports of said second heat transfer chamber, so as to permit a second heat exchanging medium to flow through said second heat exchanging circuit and said second heat transfer chamber during the operation of said heat transfer engine, while said first and second heat exchanging circuits are in substantial thermal isolation of each other; a temperature sensing device for measuring the temperature of said heat exchanging mediums flowing through said first and second ports of said first and second heat transfer chambers, respectively; a torque generation device for imparting torque to said rotatable heat transfer structure and causing said rotatable heat transfer structure to rotate about said axis of rotation; and a torque control device for controlling said torque generation device in response to the temperature of said first and second heat exchanging mediums sensed at said first and second ports in said first and second heat transfer chambers, respectively.
- 35. The heat transfer claim 34, wherein said torque generation device comprises:a motor having a drive shaft operably connected to said rotatable heat transfer structure, wherein the angular velocity of said drive shaft is maintained within said predetermined range by said torque control device.
- 36. The heat transfer engine of claim 34, wherein said torque generation device comprisesturbine blades disposed on at least one of said first and second end portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure, such that said turbine blades are imparted torque by said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit and said first heat transfer chamber, or by said second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit and said heat transfer chamber during the operation of said heat transfer engine.
- 37. The heat transfer engine of claim 34, wherein said torque generation device comprises:a steam turbine having a drive shaft operably connected to said rotatable heat transfer structure, for imparting torque to said rotatable heat transfer structure, and wherein said torque control device comprises a device for controlling the angular velocity of the drive shaft of said steam turbine.
- 38. The heat transfer engine of claim 34, wherein the return portion of said closed fluid circuit has a helical geometry extending from said first end portion to said second end portion.
- 39. The heat transfer engine of claim 34, wherein said rotatable heat transfer structure comprises a rotor portion having a substantially symmetrical moment of inertia about said axis of rotation, and said closed fluid circuit is realized as a three-dimensional flow passageway of closed loop design formed in said rotor portion, said three-dimensional flow passageway comprising first, second, third, and fourth spiral flow passageway portions connected in a series configuration about said axis of rotation, in the named order.
- 40. The heat transfer engine of claim 34, wherein at least a subportion of said return portion has a helical geometry.
- 41. The heat transfer engine of claim 34, wherein said return portion has a helical geometry which extends substantially along the entire extend of said rotor shaft.
- 42. The heat transfer engine of claim 34, wherein said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit is air, and said second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit is air.
- 43. The heat transfer engine of claim 34, wherein said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit is water, and said second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit is air.
- 44. The heat transfer engine of claim 34, wherein said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit is water, and said second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit is water.
- 45. The heat transfer engine of claim 34, wherein said first heat exchanging medium flowing through said first heat exchanging circuit is air, and said second heat exchanging medium flowing through said second heat exchanging circuit is water.
RELATED CASES
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/725,648 filed Oct. 1, 1996; now U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,108 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/656,595 filed May 31, 1996, now abandoned which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/391,318 filed Feb. 21, 1995, now abandoned which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/175,485 filed Dec. 30, 1993, now abandoned which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/893,927 filed Jun. 12, 1992, now abandoned each of said applications being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
541575 |
Jan 1932 |
DE |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
PCT/US97/17482 International Search Report, 1998. |
Continuations (4)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/725648 |
Oct 1996 |
US |
Child |
09/317142 |
|
US |
Parent |
08/391318 |
Feb 1995 |
US |
Child |
08/656595 |
|
US |
Parent |
08/175485 |
Dec 1993 |
US |
Child |
08/391318 |
|
US |
Parent |
07/893927 |
Jun 1992 |
US |
Child |
08/175485 |
|
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/656595 |
May 1996 |
US |
Child |
08/725648 |
|
US |