US2012085107A1PendingUtilityA1

Heat transfer processes and equipment for industrial applications

31
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 12, 2010Filed: Dec 19, 2011Published: Apr 12, 2012
Est. expiryMar 12, 2030(~3.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Jack W. AllenHans Alwin
Y02P80/10F25B 29/003
31
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Claims

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention permit the transfer of heat energy from one process fluid to another in an industrial process without the need for an energy field or centralized energy storage. Preferred embodiments include one or more heat transfer modules that draw heat from one process fluid into circulating refrigerant in an evaporator heat exchanger and supply that heat to a different process fluid in a condenser heat exchanger. In some embodiments, adjustments are made to one or more parameters of one or more process fluids to ensure the desired heat transfer is accomplished with the heat transfer module's compressor operating near optimum efficiency.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of heating and cooling fluids for use in an industrial or non-industrial process without need for an energy field or centralized energy storage, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a first heat transfer module that includes a first condenser heat exchanger and a first evaporator heat exchanger;   (b) circulating a first refrigerant through the first heat transfer module;   (c) circulating a first cooling fluid through the first evaporator heat exchanger, thereby removing heat from the first cooling fluid and preparing the first cooling fluid for a first cooling sub-process;   (d) circulating a first warming fluid through the first condenser heat exchanger, thereby adding heat from the first refrigerant to the first warming fluid and preparing the first warming fluid for a first warming sub-process;   (e) supplying the first cooling fluid from an outlet of the first evaporator heat exchanger to equipment for performing the first cooling sub-process; and   (f) supplying the first warming fluid from an outlet of the first condenser heat exchanger to equipment for performing the first warming sub-process.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (g) providing a second heat transfer module that includes a second condenser heat exchanger and a second evaporator heat exchanger;   (h) circulating a second refrigerant through the second heat transfer module;   (i) circulating a second cooling fluid through the second evaporator heat exchanger, thereby removing heat from the second cooling fluid and preparing the second cooling fluid for the first cooling sub-process; and   (j) supplying the second cooling fluid from an outlet of the second evaporator heat exchanger to the equipment for performing the first cooling sub-process.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (k) circulating a second warming fluid through the second condenser heat exchanger, thereby adding heat from the second refrigerant to the second warming fluid and preparing the second warming fluid for the first warming sub-process; and   (l) supplying the second warming fluid from an outlet of the second condenser heat exchanger to the equipment for performing the first warming sub-process.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (k) circulating a second warming fluid through the second condenser heat exchanger, thereby adding heat from the second refrigerant to the second warming fluid and preparing the second warming fluid for a second warming sub-process; and   (l) supplying the second warming fluid from an outlet of the second condenser heat exchanger to the equipment for performing the second warming sub-process.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first warming fluid is a liquid and the second warming fluid is a gas/vapor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (g) providing a second heat transfer module that includes a second condenser heat exchanger and a second evaporator heat exchanger;   (h) circulating a second refrigerant through the second heat transfer module;   (i) circulating a second cooling fluid through the second evaporator heat exchanger, thereby removing heat from the second cooling fluid and preparing the second cooling fluid for a second cooling sub-process; and   (j) supplying the second cooling fluid from an outlet of the second evaporator heat exchanger to equipment for performing the second cooling sub-process.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 (k) circulating a second warming fluid through the second condenser heat exchanger, thereby adding heat from the second refrigerant to the second warming fluid and preparing the second warming fluid for a second warming sub-process; and   (l) supplying the second warming fluid from an outlet of the second condenser heat exchanger to the equipment for performing the second warming sub-process.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 (k) circulating a second warming fluid through the second condenser heat exchanger, thereby adding heat from the second refrigerant to the second warming fluid and preparing the second warming fluid for the first warming sub-process; and   (l) supplying the second warming fluid from an outlet of the second condenser heat exchanger to the equipment for performing the first warming sub-process.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first cooling fluid is a liquid and the second cooling fluid is a gas/vapor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling fluid and the first warming fluid are both liquid. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling fluid is a liquid and the first warming fluid is a gas/vapor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first cooling fluid is water and the first warming fluid is air. 
     
     
         14 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of transferring energy from one process fluid to another in an industrial or non-industrial process without need for an energy field or centralized energy storage, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a first heat transfer module that includes a first condenser heat exchanger and a first evaporator heat exchanger;   (b) circulating a first refrigerant through the first heat transfer module; and   (c) transferring energy (i) from a first cooling fluid flowing toward a first cooling sub-process (ii) through the first refrigerant via the first evaporator heat exchanger and the first condenser heat exchanger (iii) to a first warming fluid flowing toward a first warming sub-process.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 (d) providing a second heat transfer module that includes a second condenser heat exchanger and a second evaporator heat exchanger;   (e) circulating a second refrigerant through the second heat transfer module; and   (f) transferring energy (i) from a second cooling fluid flowing toward the first cooling sub-process (ii) through the second refrigerant via the second evaporator heat exchanger and the second condenser heat exchanger (iii) to a second warming fluid flowing toward the first warming sub-process.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 (d) providing a second heat transfer module that includes a second condenser heat exchanger and a second evaporator heat exchanger;   (e) circulating a second refrigerant through the second heat transfer module; and   (f) transferring energy (i) from a second cooling fluid flowing toward the first cooling sub-process (ii) through the second refrigerant via the second evaporator heat exchanger and the second condenser heat exchanger (iii) to a second warming fluid flowing toward a second warming sub-process.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first warming fluid is a liquid and the second warming fluid is a gas/vapor. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 (d) providing a second heat transfer module that includes a second condenser heat exchanger and a second evaporator heat exchanger;   (e) circulating a second refrigerant through the second heat transfer module; and   (f) transferring energy (i) from a second cooling fluid flowing toward a second cooling sub-process (ii) through the second refrigerant via the second evaporator heat exchanger and the second condenser heat exchanger (iii) to a second warming fluid flowing toward a second warming sub-process.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 (d) providing a second heat transfer module that includes a second condenser heat exchanger and a second evaporator heat exchanger;   (e) circulating a second refrigerant through the second heat transfer module; and   (f) transferring energy (i) from a second cooling fluid flowing toward a second cooling sub-process (ii) through the second refrigerant via the second evaporator heat exchanger and the second condenser heat exchanger (iii) to a second warming fluid flowing toward the first warming sub-process.   
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first cooling fluid and the first warming fluid are both liquid. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first cooling fluid is a liquid and the first warming fluid is a gas/vapor. 
     
     
         27 - 37 . (canceled)

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