Reverse flow parallel thermal transfer unit

Abstract

A parallel flow thermal transfer unit is disclosed having high efficiency and a constant gradient along the length of the flow. The thermal transfer unit includes flow control elements within the path of the flow to produce desired flow characteristics.

1 . A thermal transfer unit comprising:
 at least one first flow channel having a first interior space;   at least one second flow channel having a second interior space;   at least one thermal barrier thermally connecting said at least one first flow channel with said at least one second flow channel;   a first flow medium disposed within said first interior space;   a second flow medium disposed within said second interior space; and   a plurality of flow control elements disposed within at least one of said first flow channel and said second flow channel, said plurality of flow control elements creating a predetermined flow pattern.   
   
   
       2 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined flow pattern is at least one vortex. 
   
   
       3 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of flow control elements comprises a plurality of fins projecting into at least one of said first interior space and said second interior space. 
   
   
       4 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein said first flow medium flows in a first direction, and said second flow medium flows in a second direction, the second direction being opposite, and parallel to the first direction at least in portions where said first flow medium is in thermal contact with said second flow medium. 
   
   
       5 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein said at least one first flow channel comprises a rectangular cross-section, said at least one second flow channel comprises a second flow channel and a third flow channel, said second flow channel disposed on a first side of said first flow channel and said third flow channel disposed on an opposite side of said first flow channel. 
   
   
       6 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 5  wherein a depth of said second flow channel and a depth of said third flow channel is approximately half of a depth of said first flow channel, where said depths are in a direction from said second flow channel to said third flow channel; 
   
   
       7 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 5  wherein said first flow medium flows in a first direction, and said second flow medium flows in a second direction, said second direction being opposite and parallel to said first direction at least in portions where said first flow medium is in thermal contact with said second flow medium. 
   
   
       8 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein said at least one first flow channel comprises a circular cross-section, and said second flow channel comprises a circular cross section and encompasses said first flow channel. 
   
   
       9 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 8  wherein said first flow medium flows in a first direction, and said second flow medium flows in a second direction, said second direction being opposite and parallel to said first direction at least in portions where said first flow medium is in thermal contact with said second flow medium. 
   
   
       10 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said at least one first flow channel, said at least one second flow channel comprises a low heat conductive material. 
   
   
       11 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 1  further comprising a thermal insulating material disposed on an outer surface of said thermal transfer unit to reduce transmission of thermal energy to an environment surrounding said thermal transfer unit. 
   
   
       12 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein said thermal barrier comprises thermal insulating portions to reduce transmission of thermal energy in direction orthogonal to a direction from said at least one first flow channel to said at least one second flow channel. 
   
   
       13 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein said at least one first flow channel comprises n first flow channels of equal cross-sectional dimensions, where n is an integer, and said at least one second flow channels comprises n+1 second flow channels, said n+1 second flow channels arranged in an alternating layer configuration with said n first flow channels, wherein each of the outermost second flow channels has a reduced thickness, and each of the other second flow channels has cross-sectional dimensions equal to said first flow channels. 
   
   
       14 . The thermal transfer unit of  claim 1  wherein each of said at least one first flow channel and said at least one second flow channel comprises at least one input connector and at least one output connector, wherein said output connector is connectable to an input connector of a second thermal transfer unit, thereby increasing a total length of said at least one first flow channel and said at least one second flow channel. 
   
   
       15 . A thermal transfer system comprising:
 a first modular thermal transfer unit comprising a first flow channel, a second flow channel, a first thermal barrier thermally connecting said first flow channel to said second flow channel, a first connector connected to an input of said first flow channel, a second connector connected to an output of said first flow channel, a third connector connected to an input of said second flow channel, and a fourth connector connected to an output of said second flow channel; and   a second modular thermal transfer unit comprising a third flow channel, a fourth flow channel, a second thermal barrier thermally connecting said third flow channel to said fourth flow channel, a fifth connector connected to an input of said third flow channel, a sixth connector connected to an output of said third flow channel, a seventh connector connected to an input of said fourth flow channel, and an eighth connector connected to an output of said fourth flow channel;   wherein said second connector is removably connected to said fifth connector, and said eighth connector is removably connected to said third connector.   
   
   
       16 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 15  wherein at least one of said first flow channel, said second flow channel, said third flow channel, and said fourth flow channel comprises a plurality of flow control elements that produce a vortex in a flow medium. 
   
   
       17 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 15  further comprising a first flow medium disposed in said first flow channel and said second flow channel, and a second flow medium disposed in said second flow channel and said fourth flow channel, wherein said first flow medium flows in a first direction and said second flow medium flows in a second direction opposite and parallel to said first direction. 
   
   
       18 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the first flow channel, the second flow channel, the third flow channel, and the fourth flow channel comprises a low heat conducting material. 
   
   
       19 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 15  further comprising a thermal insulating material disposed on an outer surface of said thermal transfer system to reduce transmission of thermal energy to an environment surrounding said thermal transfer unit. 
   
   
       20 . The thermal transfer system of  claim 15  wherein at least one of said first thermal barrier and said second thermal barrier comprises thermal insulating portions to reduce transmission of thermal energy in a length direction of said first flow channel, said second flow channel, said third flow channel, or said fourth flow channel.