Methods and apparatus for transfer of heat energy between a body surface and heat transfer fluid

Abstract

In methods and apparatus for heat exchange to and from a body surface using a heat transfer fluid the fluid is impinged on the surface from a plurality of delivery inlets in the form of a corresponding plurality of spaced delivery streams and is immediately removed from the plenum upon rebounding from the surface through a plurality of spaced removal outlets distributed among the delivery streams, thus establishing corresponding very short uninterrupted flow paths between each inlet and its removal outlet/s. Preferably, the fluid stream velocity is sufficient for it to penetrate and disrupt a fluid boundary layer on the body surface. Each delivery inlet may have its outlet to the surface spaced from 0.001 cm to 0.2 cm (0.0004 in to 0.08 in) from that surface. Each delivery inlet may produce a jet impinging the surface of from 0.3 cm to 1.5 cm (0.12 in to 0.6 in) diameter. The delivery streams may impinge a flat body surface from a right angle to an acute angle, while when the body surface is curved the delivery streams may impinge from a right angle to one that is tangential thereto. A particular apparatus with which the heat exchanger may be used has a cylindrical rotor rotating within a cylindrical stator so that the body surface is cylindrical; the rotor diameter may be from 0.1 cm to 500 cm (0.04 in to 200 ins).

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for transferring heat energy to and from a body surface respectively from and to a heat transfer fluid within a space bounded by the body surface for heat transfer contact with the body surface, the method comprising: 
 applying heat transfer fluid to the space and to the body surface from a plurality of delivery inlets in the form of a corresponding plurality of spaced delivery streams impinging on the body surface; and    thereafter removing heat transfer fluid rebounding from the surface from the space through a plurality of spaced removal outlets distributed among the delivery streams to establish corresponding flow paths for the heat transfer fluid between each delivery inlet and one or more removal outlets.    
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer fluid delivery streams impinge on the body surface at a velocity sufficient to penetrate and thereby disrupt a boundary layer formed by any fluid on the body surface.  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each delivery inlet is a delivery port from which a respective stream of fluid impinges on the body surface and the delivery port is spaced a distance of from 0.001 cm to 0.2 cm (0.0004 in to 0.08 in) from the body surface.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each delivery inlet is disposed immediately adjacent its associated one or more removal outlets to ensure that the corresponding flow path or paths between the delivery inlet and its corresponding outlet or outlets are uninterrupted.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each delivery inlet is disposed immediately adjacent its associated one or more removal outlets to ensure that the heat transfer fluid impinging on the body surface is removed promptly and by flow paths between each delivery inlet and its corresponding outlet or outlets that are uninterrupted and as short as possible.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the delivery streams impinge the body surface at an angle from a right angle to an acute angle thereto.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body surface is flat and the delivery streams impinge the body surface at an angle from a right angle to an acute angle thereto.  
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body surface is curved about an axis and the delivery streams impinge the body surface at an angle from a right angle to an angle that is tangential thereto.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for transferring heat energy to and from a body surface respectively from and to a heat transfer fluid within a space bounded by the body surface for heat transfer contact with the body surface, the apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of delivery inlets delivering heat transfer fluid to the space and to the surface in the form of a corresponding plurality of spaced delivery streams impinging on the body surface;    means for supplying heat transfer fluid to the delivery inlets for discharge therefrom as respective delivery streams; and    a plurality of spaced removal outlets distributed among the delivery inlets removing heat transfer fluid rebounding from the surface from the space via corresponding flow paths for the heat transfer fluid established between each delivery inlet and one or more removal outlets.    
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the means for supplying heat transfer fluid to the delivery inlets supply the heat transfer fluid in quantity such that the resultant delivery streams impinge on the body surface at a velocity sufficient to penetrate and thereby disrupt a boundary layer formed by any fluid on the body surface.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each delivery inlet is a delivery port from which a respective stream of fluid impinges on the body surface and the delivery port is spaced a distance of from 0.001 cm to 0.2 cm (0.0004 in to 0.08 in) from the body surface.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each delivery inlet is disposed immediately adjacent its associated one or more removal outlets to ensure that the corresponding flow path or paths between the delivery inlet and its corresponding outlet or outlets are uninterrupted.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each delivery inlet is disposed immediately adjacent its associated one or more removal outlets to ensure that the heat transfer fluid impinging on the body surface is removed promptly and by flow paths between each delivery inlet and its corresponding outlet or outlets that are uninterrupted and as short as possible.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the delivery streams of fluid impinge the body surface at an angle from a right angle to an acute angle thereto.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the body surface is flat and the delivery streams of fluid impinge the body surface at an angle from a right angle to an acute angle thereto.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the body surface is curved and the delivery streams of fluid impinge the body surface at an angle from a right angle to an angle that is tangential thereto.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each delivery inlet is a delivery nozzle discharging a stream of fluid of diameter at the nozzle exit from 0.3 cm to 1.5 cm (0.12 in to 0.6 in).  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the body surface has an inner surface extending parallel thereto to provide a heat exchange plenum between them; 
 wherein the inner surface has an outer surface extending parallel to it to provide a heat exchange fluid discharging plenum between them;    wherein the outer surface has an outermost casing surface extending parallel to it to provide a heat exchange fluid receiving plenum between them; and    wherein means for delivering heat exchange fluid from the heat exchange fluid receiving plenum to the heat exchange plenum comprises a plurality of tubes each opening at one end to the heat exchange fluid receiving plenum and at its other end close to the body surface.    
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the body surface is cylindrical and has an inner cylindrical surface extending parallel thereto to provide an annular transverse cross section heat exchange plenum between them; 
 wherein the inner cylindrical surface has an outer cylindrical surface extending parallel to it to provide an annular transverse cross section heat exchange fluid discharging plenum between them;    wherein the outer cylindrical surface has an outermost cylindrical casing surface extending parallel to it to provide an annular transverse cross section heat exchange fluid receiving plenum between them; and    wherein means for delivering heat exchange fluid from the heat exchange fluid receiving plenum to the heat exchange plenum comprises a plurality of tubes each opening at one end to the heat exchange fluid receiving plenum and at its other end close to the body surface.    
     
     
         20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the body surface is cylindrical and each delivery inlet is a delivery nozzle discharging a stream of fluid of diameter at the nozzle exit from 0.3 cm to 1.5 cm (0.12 in to 0.6 in).