Method and apparatus for multi-functional capillary-tube interface unit for evaporation, humidification, heat exchange, pressure or thrust generation, beam diffraction or collimation using multi-phase fluid

Abstract

A method and apparatus for heat exchange with a volatile fluid in a parallel-channel capillary network traversing a solid receiver module manifests a multi-functional miniature device capable of performing as an evaporator, a condenser, a humidifier, a single-stream heat exchanger, a pressure generator, a thrust motor, a Fraunhofer diffraction device, or a collimation device. Heat is exchanged at a dedicated interface on the body by thermal contact or radiative fluence, and indirectly with the working fluid. Application-specific process control is manifested by applied heat rate, control of fluid saturation levels and vapor partial pressure at the capillary ends, and arrangement of flow network connections. The system operates in steady-state or transient modes, depending on the adapted functional mode and duty cycle. Specific materials and working fluids tolerate transient system performance levels of apparent heat rates exceeding 10 [MW/m 3 ] and local fluid pressures exceeding 1 [GPa].

1 . A method for heat exchange with a fluid, said fluid including a volatile fluid component, in a capillary channel network disposed in a miniature device. 
   
   
       2 . A method for heat exchange with a fluid, said fluid including a volatile fluid component, in a capillary network disposed in a miniature device according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 a. heat exchange with a structural component of a miniature device;   b. subsequent heat exchange between the structure of the miniature device and fluid resident in capillary channel cavities disposed in the miniature device;   c. perturbation to the thermodynamic and kinetic states of a volatile component of the fluid resulting from heat exchange between the structure of the miniature device and fluid resident in capillary channel cavities disposed in the miniature device;   d. perturbation to the surface tension, static pressure, saturation level and absolute humidity level characteristics of the fluid resulting from heat exchange between the structure of the miniature device and fluid resident in capillary channel cavities disposed in the miniature device;   e. a means for directly accessing or drawing the fluid at locations within the miniature device where the surface tension; static pressure, saturation level and absolute humidity level characteristics of the fluid are perturbed by heat exchange between the structure of the miniature device and fluid resident in capillary channel cavities disposed in the miniature device.   
   
   
       3 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchange process regulates the fluid pressure at specific locations throughout the miniature device. 
   
   
       4 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchange process regulates the fluid saturation level at specific locations throughout the miniature device. 
   
   
       5 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchange process regulates the absolute humidity level of a volatile component in the gaseous phase of the fluid at specific locations throughout the miniature device. 
   
   
       6 . A method as in  claim 2  that constitutes the operational principal for a single-stream heat exchanger. 
   
   
       7 . A method as in  claim 2  that constitutes the operational principal for a fluid evaporator. 
   
   
       8 . A method as in  claim 2  that constitutes the operational principal for a fluid condenser. 
   
   
       9 . A method as in  claim 2  that constitutes the operational principal for a humidifier. 
   
   
       10 . A method as in  claim 2  that constitutes the operational principal for a pressure generator. 
   
   
       11 . A method as in  claim 2  that constitutes the operational principal for a thrust motor. 
   
   
       12 . A method as in  claim 2  that constitutes the operational principal for a Fraunhofer diffraction device for electro-magnetic or particle beam emissions. 
   
   
       13 . A method as in  claim 2  that constitutes the operational principal for a collimation device for electro-magnetic or particle beam emissions. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for heat exchange with a fluid, said fluid including a volatile fluid component, in a capillary channel network disposed in a miniature device. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for heat exchange with a fluid, said fluid including a volatile fluid component, in a capillary network disposed in a miniature device according to  claim 14 , with said apparatus comprising:
 a. a receiver body module that provides structural integrity;   b. a receiver body module that incorporates a heat transfer interface disposed at a receiver body external surface or surfaces;   c. a receiver body module that incorporates passages for fluid flow disposed internally;   d. a pair manifolds that function as fluid plena and that are individually disposed at opposite ends of the receiver body module;   e. a pair manifolds that function as fluid plena and that are directly connected by a common system of intervening channels for fluid flow;   f. a network of parallel capillary channels of circular cross-section that traverse the receiver body module and that facilitate the direct flow of fluid between opposing plena at the terminal ends of the receiver body module;   g. a system of secondary micro-port conduits of circular cross-section for fluid flow, with each conduit terminating at the capillary channel and receiver body surface respectively to enable access to fluid in the capillary channel at designated locations along the capillary channel axis.   
   
   
       16 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the capillary channel diameter nowhere exceeds 1 centimeter. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the capillary channel diameter is axially non-uniform. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the capillary channel diameter is axially uniform. 
   
   
       19 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where conduit diameters vary among different capillary channels disposed within a single receiver block unit. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where conduit diameters are uniform among different capillary channels disposed within a single receiver block unit. 
   
   
       21 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the micro-port conduit diameter is equal to or less than the intersected capillary channel conduit diameter. 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the fluid composition includes a condensed monatomic gas constituent. 
   
   
       23 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the fluid composition includes a vaporized monatomic gas constituent. 
   
   
       24 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the fluid composition includes a condensed polyatomic gas constituent. 
   
   
       25 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the fluid composition includes a vaporized polyatomic gas constituent. 
   
   
       26 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the fluid composition includes a water constituent. 
   
   
       27 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the fluid composition includes an organic fluid constituent. 
   
   
       28 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the fluid composition includes a polymer constituent. 
   
   
       29 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the fluid composition includes a paraffin constituent. 
   
   
       30 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the fluid composition includes a fluidized salt constituent. 
   
   
       31 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the fluid composition includes a fluidized metal constituent. 
   
   
       32 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the receiver body composition includes a metal oxide constituent material. 
   
   
       33 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the receiver body composition includes a metal carbide constituent material. 
   
   
       34 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the receiver body composition includes a metal nitride constituent material. 
   
   
       35 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the receiver body composition includes a semiconductor constituent material. 
   
   
       36 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the receiver body composition includes a ceramic constituent material. 
   
   
       37 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the receiver body composition includes a metal constituent material. 
   
   
       38 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the receiver body composition includes a metal alloy constituent material. 
   
   
       39 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the receiver body composition includes a resin constituent material. 
   
   
       40 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the receiver body composition includes a fiber reinforcement constituent material. 
   
   
       41 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the receiver body composition includes a polymer constituent material. 
   
   
       42 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the receiver body composition includes an organic compound constituent material. 
   
   
       43 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the receiver body composition includes a cellulosic constituent material. 
   
   
       44 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a metal oxide constituent material. 
   
   
       45 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a metal carbide constituent material. 
   
   
       46 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a metal nitride constituent material. 
   
   
       47 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a semiconductor constituent material. 
   
   
       48 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a ceramic constituent material. 
   
   
       49 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a metal constituent material. 
   
   
       50 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a metal alloy constituent material. 
   
   
       51 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a resin constituent material. 
   
   
       52 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a polymer constituent material. 
   
   
       53 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes an organic compound constituent material. 
   
   
       54 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the heat transfer interface material coating composition includes a cellulosic constituent material. 
   
   
       55 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes metal oxide constituents. 
   
   
       56 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes metal carbide constituents. 
   
   
       57 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes metal nitride constituents. 
   
   
       58 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes semiconductor constituents. 
   
   
       59 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes ceramic constituents. 
   
   
       60 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes metal constituents. 
   
   
       61 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes metal alloy constituents. 
   
   
       62 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the channel and conduit wall material coating composition includes polymer constituents. 
   
   
       63 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the channel and capillary wall material coating composition includes organic compound constituents. 
   
   
       64 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the capillary channel wall material coating composition includes cellulosic material constituents. 
   
   
       65 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  that functions as a single-stream heat exchanger. 
   
   
       66 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  that functions as a fluid evaporator. 
   
   
       67 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  that functions as a fluid condenser. 
   
   
       68 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  that functions as a humidifier. 
   
   
       69 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  that functions as a pressure generator. 
   
   
       70 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  that functions as a thrust motor. 
   
   
       71 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  that functions as a Fraunhofer diffraction device for electro-magnetic or particle beam emissions. 
   
   
       72 . An apparatus as in  claim 15  that functions as a collimation device for electro-magnetic or particle beam emissions. 
   
   
       73 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein the capillary channel conduits are plugged, capped, or do not fully penetrate to the receiver body exterior at both ends. 
   
   
       74 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein the micro-port conduits are omitted, plugged, capped, or do not fully penetrate to the receiver body exterior. 
   
   
       75 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , that operates in a steady-state mode. 
   
   
       76 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , that operates in a transient mode.