Radiant heat pump device and method

Abstract

The present method and device is for configuring the geometry of a surface to emit highly non-diffuse radiant energy. When a target surface is placed in a region where it is targeted by the emitting surface, there can be a net heat flow from the surface emitting the radiant energy to the target surface, notwithstanding the target surface may be at higher temperature than the emitting surface. This method is employed in a radiant heat pump whereby the surface for emitting energy radiation surrounds a target. The temperature of the target, which is originally at a higher temperature than the temperature of the surface, can have further temperature increases as a result of the net heat flow thereby resulting in a useful temperature increase in the target's temperature. The target may then use the temperature increase to upgrade heat flowing through the target for use in industrial processes.

1 . A method for exaggerating the nondiffuse emission pattern radiating from a surface comprising the steps of: 
 configuring the composition, condition and geometry of the surface; and    configuring the density of the atmospheric environment in which the surface is immersed.    
   
   
       2 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the radiant heat flux flowing in specific directions from the surface is more concentrated or less concentrated than for an ordinary surface having the same composition and temperature.  
   
   
       3 . A method as in  claim 2  wherein the apparent temperature of the surface as perceived from specific directions is higher than or lower than the actual temperature of the surface.  
   
   
       4 . A method as in  claim 3  wherein radiant heat is exchanged between the surface, which is the emitting surface and a target surface, the target surface located in a region where the apparent temperature of the emitting surface is higher than the actual temperature of the emitting surface.  
   
   
       5 . A method as in  claim 4  wherein there is a net flow of radiant heat from the emitting surface to the target surface.  
   
   
       6 . A method as in  claim 4  further comprising the step of minimizing the convective and conductive heat flow between the emitting surface and the target surface.  
   
   
       7 . A method as in  claim 6  further comprising the step of minimizing the convective and conductive heat flow between the emitting surface and the target surface such that the combined heat flow by conduction and convection between the surface and the target surface is a small fraction of the net heat flow by radiation between the emitting surface and the target surface.  
   
   
       8 . A method as in  claim 7  further comprising the step of entirely surrounding or nearly entirely surrounding the target surface by at least one emitting surface.  
   
   
       9 . A method as in  claim 5  further comprising the steps of supplying heat to the emitting surface and removing heat from the target surface.  
   
   
       10 . A method for exaggerating the nondiffuse emission pattern radiating. from a surface comprising the steps of configuring the geometry of the surface to a V shape.  
   
   
       11 . A method for conveying the apparent temperature of a surface to a target surface where the actual temperature of the surface is lower than the apparent temperature of the surface for ensuring a net flow of radiant heat from the surface to the target surface, comprising the steps of: 
 configuring the geometry of the surface to project nondiffuse radiant emission patterns into the region of the target surface; and    providing the material of the surface with a highly reflective surface for improving the projection of nondiffuse radiant emission patterns.    
   
   
       12 . A method as in  claim 11  wherein the geometry of the surface is a V shape with the open end of the V toward the target surface.  
   
   
       13 . A method as in  claim 11  wherein the method further includes the step of minimizing convective and conductive energy between the surface and the target surface.  
   
   
       14 . A method as in  claim 11  wherein the method further includes the step of introducing a partial vacuum between the surface and the target surface for reducing convection.  
   
   
       15 . A method for emitting radiant heat from a surface to a target surface, the target surface having an actual temperature which is higher than the actual temperature of the surface but lower than the apparent temperature of the surface for achieving a net flow of radiant heat to the target surface comprising the steps of: 
 configuring the geometry of the emitter's surface to project nondiffuse radiant emission patterns;    providing the emitter surface with a highly reflective surface for improving the projection of nondiffuse radiant emission patterns; and    minimizing convective and conductive energy between the surface and the target surface.    
   
   
       16 . A method as in  claim 15  further including the step of using a non-reflective target surface for maximizing the radiant heat absorbed by the target surface.  
   
   
       17 . A method for transferring radiant heat from outside an enclosure to a target within the enclosure where the temperature of the target is higher than the temperature outside the enclosure, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a surface in the enclosure in communication with heat energy outside of the enclosure for radiating heat to the target, the surface having a highly reflective surface for improving the projection of nondiffuse radiant emission patterns;    configuring the geometry of the surface to project nondiffuse radiant emission patterns toward the target; and    minimizing convective and conductive energy flow between the surface and the target surface.    
   
   
       18 . A method as in  claim 17  further including the step of surrounding the target with surfaces.  
   
   
       19 . A method as in  claim 18  where the outside of the enclosure forms the outside surface of the target of a larger similar enclosure with otherwise the same features.  
   
   
       20 . A method for recycling waste heat in a generation plant comprising the steps of installing at least one radiant heat pump in the generation plant for absorbing heat outside the radiant heat pump to transmit heat to a target within the heat pump where the target is at a higher temperature than the temperature outside the heat pump.  
   
   
       21 . A radiant heat pump for transferring heat comprising: 
 a surface for emitting energy radiation;    a target surface in communication with the surface for receiving energy from the surface, the target surface having a higher temperature than the surface; and    the surface having a geometrically modified surface for projecting nondiffuse radiant emission patterns towards the target surface.    
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for transfer of radiant energy between the emitting surface and a target surface where the net transfer of energy is more favourably in the direction of emitter-to-target than expected based upon the mere differential between the emitter's temperature and the target's temperature, comprising: 
 a surface for emitting energy radiation;    a target surface in communication with the surface for receiving energy from the surface, the target surface having a higher temperature than the surface; and    the surface having a geometrically modified surface for projecting nondiffuse radiant emission patterns towards the target surface.    
   
   
       23 . The heat pump of  claim 21  with the following added elements: 
 means to deliver external heat to the emitting surface; and    means to remove heat from the target surface to outside of the device.    
   
   
       24 . A radiant heat pump as in  claim 21  wherein the surface has a polished metallic surface for improving the projection of nondiffuse radiant emission patterns.  
   
   
       25 . A radiant heat pump as in  claim 21  wherein the convective and conductive transfer of energy between the surface and the target surface is minimized.  
   
   
       26 . A radiant heat pump as in  claim 21  wherein the geometry of the surface is a V shape.  
   
   
       27 . A radiant heat pump as in  claim 21  wherein the surface surrounds the target surface.  
   
   
       28 . A radiant heat pump as in  claim 21  wherein a second emitting surface surrounds the surface for projecting nondiffuse radiant emission patterns towards the surface.  
   
   
       29 . A radiant heat pump comprising: 
 a hollow emitter assembly defining a vacuum sealed enclosure;    a hollow cylindrical target disposed through the hollow emitter assembly for collecting radiation and for transporting the associated energy to the exterior of the emitter assembly; and    the emitter assembly having a plurality of emitting plates on the emitter assembly's inner surface, the emitter plates facing the hollow cylindrical target and the emitter plates having a smooth surface for reflecting radiation emitted from the emitter assembly to the emitter plates to the hollow cylindrical target as a nondiffuse radiant emission.    
   
   
       30 . A radiant heat pump as in  claim 28  wherein adjacent emitter plates form a V shape.  
   
   
       31 . A radiant heat pump as in  claim 28  wherein a second emitter assembly having internal emitting surfaces surrounds the hollow emitter assembly for projecting nondiffuse radiant emission patterns towards the emitter assembly.  
   
   
       32 . A radiant heat pump comprising: 
 an inner hollow emitter assembly defining a vacuum sealed enclosure;    an outer hollow emitter assembly in communication with a heat source, the outer hollow emitter assembly concentrically enclosing the inner emitter assembly for transferring heat to the inner emitter assembly;    a hollow cylindrical target disposed through the inner emitter assembly for absorbing heat from the inner emitter assembly and for transporting the absorbed heat outside of both emitter assemblies;    each emitter assembly having a plurality of emitting plates on each emitter assembly's inner surface, the emitter plates on the inner surface of the inner emitter assembly facing the hollow cylindrical target and having a smooth surface for reflecting heat emitted from the inner emitter assembly to the emitter plates to the hollow cylindrical target; and    the emitter plates on the inner surface of the outer emitter assembly facing the inner emitter assembly and having a smooth surface for reflecting heat emitted from the outer emitter assembly to the emitter plates of the inner emitter assembly for increasing heat flow to the inner emitter assembly thereby increasing heat flow by radiation to the hollow cylindrical target.    
   
   
       33 . A radiant heat pump comprising: 
 an outer element with an inner surface and an outer surface, a first end and a second end;    an inner element within said outer element;    a plurality of V-shaped emitting units disposed about the inner surface of said outer element, said emitting units being capable of emitting radiant heat towards said inner element;    an end cap disposed at each end of said outer element, and connecting said outer element and said inner element;    a fluid within said inner element, capable of transmitting heat away from said inner element;    a vacuum disposed between said outer element and said inner element, and a fluid disposed about said outer element.    
   
   
       34 . A radiant heat pump as in  claim 32  wherein said outer element is an elongated cylinder and said inner element is an elongated cylinder concentric with said outer element.