Energy transfer tube apparatus, systems, and methods

Abstract

The invention provides an energy transfer tube apparatus in which rotating inner and outer fluid flows are established. The invention also provides systems and methods involving at least one energy transfer tube apparatus of this nature.

1 . An energy transfer tube apparatus comprising an energy transfer tube having opposed first and second end regions, the apparatus being provided with first and second inlets adjacent to the tube's first end region, the first inlet being closer to the tube's second end region than is the second inlet, wherein a flow separator is provided adjacent to the tube's second end region, the flow separator bounding separate inner and outer flow pathways, the inner pathway being adapted to receive a rotating inner flow of cold fluid, the outer pathway being adapted to receive a rotating outer flow of hot fluid, wherein the inner and outer pathways ultimately merge so as to combine the inner and outer flows, such that a combined flow is then adapted to be delivered out of the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       2 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the flow separator provides mechanical separation of the inner and outer flow pathways. 
   
   
       3 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the flow separator includes a cylindrical wall that mechanically separates the inner flow pathway from the outer flow pathway, and wherein an exterior of the cylindrical wall bounds the outer flow pathway inwardly. 
   
   
       4 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the flow separator has a first set of openings adjacent to the second end region of the energy transfer tube, this first set of openings comprising a plurality of circumferentially-spaced openings through which the rotating outer flow of hot fluid passes to reach the outer pathway, and wherein the flow separator has a second set of openings that are further from the second end region of the energy transfer tube than are the first set of openings, this second set of openings comprising a plurality of circumferentially-spaced openings through which the outer flow ultimately passes so as to be combined with the inner flow. 
   
   
       5 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the flow separator's first and second sets of openings both comprise oblique openings aligned with a rotation direction of the outer flow. 
   
   
       6 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a cooling jacket is provided such that an interior of the cooling jacket bounds the outer flow pathway outwardly, the cooling jacket having a plurality of heat transfer fins on an exterior of the cooling jacket, the heat transfer fins comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of brass, copper, and aluminum. 
   
   
       7 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a fluid flow generator is provided adjacent to the tube's first end region, the generator being adapted to create both the rotating outer flow and the rotating inner flow. 
   
   
       8 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the first and second inlets are both tangential inlets, and wherein the generator defines part of a first inflow path along which pressurized fluid from the first inlet travels into a first fluid flow chamber so as to create the rotating outer flow, and wherein the generator also defines part of a second inflow path along which pressurized fluid from the second inlet travels into a second fluid flow chamber so as to create the rotating inner flow. 
   
   
       9 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the first fluid flow chamber is closer to the tube's second end region than is the second fluid flow chamber, the first fluid flow chamber has a larger diameter than the second fluid flow chamber, and wherein the first and second fluid flow chambers are coaxial to each other. 
   
   
       10 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the generator includes a first wall surrounding the first fluid flow chamber and having a plurality of passages configured to deliver pressurized fluid into the first fluid flow chamber, and wherein the generator also includes a second wall surrounding the second fluid flow chamber and having a plurality of passages configured to deliver pressurized fluid into the second fluid flow chamber. 
   
   
       11 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the first and second walls of the generator each have multiple clusters of passages, the clusters being spaced circumferentially about the generator. 
   
   
       12 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 11  wherein each cluster comprises at least one row of passages, such row being substantially parallel to an axis of the energy transfer tube. 
   
   
       13 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the passages of each cluster are provided with an adjacent ridge adapted to facilitate flow into the passages. 
   
   
       14 . The energy transfer tube apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the clusters are located in respective recesses on an exterior of the generator, the recesses being spaced circumferentially about the generator. 
   
   
       15 . A method of using an energy transfer tube apparatus, the apparatus comprising an energy transfer tube having opposed first and second end regions, the apparatus being provided with first and second inlets adjacent to the tube's first end region, the first inlet being closer to the tube's second end region than is the second inlet, wherein a flow separator is provided adjacent to the tube's second end region, the flow separator bounding separate inner and outer flow pathways, the inner pathway being adapted to receive a rotating inner flow of fluid, the outer pathway being adapted to receive a rotating outer flow of fluid, wherein the inner and outer pathways ultimately merge, the method comprising delivering a predominantly vapor flow of working fluid through the first inlet of the apparatus so as to create the rotating outer flow, and delivering a predominantly liquid flow of working fluid through the second inlet of the apparatus so as to create the rotating inner flow, the inner and outer flows both moving through the energy transfer tube before being separated by the flow separator such that the outer flow travels along the outer pathway while the inner flow travels along the inner pathway until reaching a location where the inner and outer pathways ultimately merge so as to combine the inner and outer flows. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the predominantly liquid flow delivered through the second inlet has a greater mass volume than the predominantly vapor flow delivered through the first inlet. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said predominantly liquid flow and said predominantly vapor flow together provide a total mass flow of working fluid delivered into the apparatus, the mass flow of said predominantly liquid flow being about 60-90% of the total mass flow. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the method comprises using a vapor/liquid separator to receive an intake flow that is part vapor, part liquid and to separate that intake flow into first and second outflows, the first outflow being predominantly vapor and supplying the first inlet of the energy transfer tube apparatus, the second outflow being predominantly liquid and supplying the second inlet of the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       19 . A system in which a working fluid is adapted to be circulated so as to flow from a compressor or pump to an energy transfer tube apparatus, then from the energy transfer tube apparatus to an evaporator, then from the evaporator to said compressor or pump, the energy transfer tube apparatus comprising an energy transfer tube having opposed first and second end regions, the apparatus being provided with first and second inlets adjacent to the tube's first end region, the first inlet being closer to the tube's second end region than is the second inlet, wherein a flow separator is provided adjacent to the tube's second end region, the flow separator bounding separate inner and outer flow pathways, the inner pathway being adapted to receive a rotating inner flow of cold fluid, the outer pathway being adapted to receive a rotating outer flow of hot fluid, wherein the inner and outer pathways ultimately merge so as to combine the inner and outer flows, such that a combined flow is then adapted to be delivered out of the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the first and second inlets are tangential inlets. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19  wherein a vapor/liquid separator is provided between said compressor or pump and the energy transfer tube apparatus, the vapor/liquid separator being adapted to receive an intake flow that is part vapor, part liquid and to separate that intake flow into first and second outflows, the first outflow being predominantly vapor and supplying the first inlet of the energy transfer tube apparatus, the second outflow being predominantly liquid and supplying the second inlet of the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 19  wherein an accumulator is provided between the energy transfer tube apparatus and the evaporator. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the system does not have an expansion valve, orifice, or any other flash-evaporation means. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 19  wherein a condenser is provided between the energy transfer tube apparatus and the evaporator. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein an expansion valve is provided between the condenser and the evaporator. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  an accumulator is provided between the condenser and the expansion valve. 
   
   
       27 . A system in which a working fluid is adapted to be circulated so as to flow from a compressor or pump to an energy transfer tube apparatus, then from the energy transfer tube apparatus to a heat sink structure in thermal communication with a central processing unit, then from the heat sink structure to said compressor or pump, the energy transfer tube apparatus comprising an energy transfer tube having opposed first and second end regions, the apparatus being provided with first and second inlets adjacent to the tube's first end region, the first inlet being closer to the tube's second end region than is the second inlet, wherein a flow separator is provided adjacent to the tube's second end region, the flow separator bounding separate inner and outer flow pathways, the inner pathway being adapted to receive a rotating inner flow of cold fluid, the outer pathway being adapted to receive a rotating outer flow of hot fluid, wherein the inner and outer pathways ultimately merge so as to combine the inner and outer flows, such that a combined flow is then adapted to be delivered out of the energy transfer tube apparatus. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the first and second inlets are tangential inlets. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 27  wherein the heat sink structure comprises a fluid grid through which the working fluid passes, the fluid grid comprising a body having formed therein at least one passage through which the working fluid is adapted to flow. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the passage has an S-shaped configuration or is otherwise serpentine. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 29  wherein said body of the fluid grid comprises copper. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the heat sink structure further includes a plate in thermal communication with both the CPU and the fluid grid. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the plate comprises iron and is positioned between the CPU and the fluid grid.