Heat exchanger having a vortex tube for controlled airflow applications

Abstract

A heat exchanger device is provided. The device includes, but is not limited to, a vortex tube and a hollow tube. The vortex tube includes, but is not limited to, a fluid supply tube connected with a swirl chamber, an inlet of a first inner tube connected with an outlet of the swirl chamber and an inlet of a second inner tube connected with the outlet of the swirl chamber, an internal heat exchanger, wherein an inlet of the internal heat exchanger is connected with an outlet of the first inner tube, and a nozzle connected with the outlet of the first inner tube and the inlet of the internal heat exchanger. The hollow tube is connected with an inlet of the nozzle.

1 . A heat exchanger device comprising:
 a vortex tube, wherein the vortex tube includes:
 a fluid supply tube connected with a swirl chamber, 
 an inlet of a first inner tube connected with an outlet of the swirl chamber and an inlet of a second inner tube connected with the outlet of the swirl chamber, 
 an internal heat exchanger, wherein an inlet of the internal heat exchanger is connected with an outlet of the first inner tube, and 
 a nozzle connected with the outlet of the first inner tube and the inlet of the internal heat exchanger; and 
   a hollow tube connected with an inlet of the nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the internal heat exchanger is an outer backpressure tube which surrounds the first inner tube and the second inner tube. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the outer backpressure tube has a thermal conductivity of less than 10 Watts per meter Kelvin and the first inner tube has a thermal conductivity of greater than 10 Watts per meter Kelvin. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the vortex tube is sized so as to allow a compressed fluid to travel into the swirling chamber and be divided into first and second streams of fluid, wherein the first stream of fluid is able to flow through the first inner tube, and wherein a first portion of the first stream of fluid is able to exit through the nozzle and a second portion of the first stream of fluid is able to enter the internal heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the first stream comprises a cooling fluid and the second stream comprises a heating fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the vortex tube further comprises a flow control mechanism for regulating an amount of fluid allowed to flow through the internal heat exchanger, and in turn regulating an amount of fluid able to flow through the nozzle. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the vortex tube further comprises an exhaust chamber connected with an outlet of the internal heat exchanger and an outlet of the second inner tube. 
     
     
         8 . A method for heating or cooling comprising:
 supplying fluid into a vortex tube, the vortex tube having a first inner tube connected with a swirl chamber and an outer backpressure tube surrounding the first inner tube;   dividing the fluid into first and second streams of fluid;   flowing the first stream of fluid through the first inner tube;   flowing a first portion of the first stream of fluid through a nozzle connected with the first inner tube; and   flowing a second portion of the first stream of fluid through the outer backpressure tube.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the supplying of fluid further comprises supplying a compressed fluid into a swirl chamber of a vortex tube. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein flowing of the first portion of the first stream is through the nozzle and into a small diameter restrictive tube. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 flowing the second stream of fluid through a second inner tube; and   combining the second stream of fluid with the second portion of the first stream of fluid in an exhaust chamber connected with an outlet of the outer backpressure tube and an outlet of the second inner tube.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first stream comprises a cooling fluid and the second stream comprises a heating fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid is compressed air. 
     
     
         14 . A device for heating or cooling a site comprising:
 a swirl chamber for receiving and separating a fluid into first and second streams;   a first inner tube connected with an outlet of the swirl chamber;   a backpressure tube having an inlet, wherein the inlet of the outer backpressure tube is connected with an outlet of the first inner tube; and   a nozzle connected with the outlet of the first inner tube and the inlet of the backpressure tube.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein an inlet of the nozzle is smaller than an outlet of the first inner tube and which is capable of creating backpressure in the first stream, and wherein the backpressure tube is capable of relieving backpressure created in the first stream. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising a small diameter restrictive tube connected with the nozzle capable of directing a portion of the first stream received from the first inner tube to the site. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the backpressure tube has a thermal conductivity of less than 10 Watts per meter Kelvin and the first inner tube has a thermal conductivity of greater than 10 Watts per meter Kelvin. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising an exhaust chamber connected with an outlet of the backpressure tube and an outlet of the second inner tube. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid comprises compressed air. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 14  further comprising a flow control mechanism for regulating an amount of fluid allowed to flow through the backpressure tube.