Cooling system utilizing a reciprocating piston

Abstract

Cooling in the supersonic region of a compressible fluid is disclosed. The fluid is accelerated by a reciprocating piston to a velocity equal to or greater than the speed of sound in the fluid in an evaporator. No conventional mechanical pump is required to accelerate the fluid. A phase change of the fluid due to a pressure differential may be utilized to transfer heat from an element to be cooled.

1 . A cooling system, the system comprising:
 a fluid flow path including a converging and diverging nozzle; and   a reciprocating piston positioned within the converging and diverging nozzle, wherein linear motion associated with the reciprocating piston accelerates a fluid in the fluid flow path such that the fluid flows in the critical flow regime and undergoes a pressure change while traversing the flow path at the converging and diverging nozzle, the pressure change reducing the temperature of the fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a driving mechanism coupled to the reciprocating piston to impart linear motion to the reciprocating piston. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the acceleration of the fluid flow by the reciprocating piston generates a compression wave that influences the temperature of the fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linear motion of the reciprocating piston generates suction, the suction inducing cavitation in the fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the converging and diverging nozzle is thermally coupled to an element to be cooled by the fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the converging and diverging nozzle is thermally coupled to a heat exchange mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid pressure change induced by the reciprocating piston is from approximately 150 PSI to approximately 10 PSI. 
     
     
         8 . A cooling method, the method comprising:
 driving a reciprocating piston within a converging and diverging nozzle to impart linear motion, wherein the linear motion of the piston accelerates fluid flowing through the converging and diverging nozzle to a velocity equal to or greater than the speed of sound in the fluid; and   exchanging heat introduced into the fluid flow path via a cooling effect created during a phase change of the fluid, the phase change induced through the acceleration of the fluid through the converging and diverging nozzle by the reciprocating piston.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a compression wave is created in the fluid as the fluid passes from a high pressure region to a low pressure region of the converging and diverging nozzle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising creating cavitation, the cavitation created as a result of the linear motion of the reciprocating piston, and wherein the cavitation assists in formation of the compression wave. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the exchange of heat occurs at a heat exchanging mechanism thermally coupled to the converging/diverging nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the linear motion of the reciprocating piston creates suction that draws the fluid through the converging/diverging nozzle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising moving the fluid from a high pressure region to the low pressure region as the result of a suction effect generated by the reciprocating piston. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the phase change corresponds to a pressure change of the fluid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pressure change of the fluid occurs within a range of approximately 0.5 PSI to approximately 175 PSI. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pressure change of the fluid involves a change to a pressure greater than or equal to 200 PSI. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pressure change of the fluid involves a change to a pressure less than or equal to 10 PSI. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid shocks up to an elevated pressure as the fluid exits the low pressure region. 
     
     
         19 . A cooling system, the system comprising:
 a fluid flow path including a converging and diverging nozzle; and   a reciprocating piston in fluid communication with the converging and diverging nozzle, the reciprocating piston accelerating a fluid in the fluid flow path to a velocity greater than or equal to the speed of sound in the fluid by imparting motion to the fluid such that the fluid flows in the critical flow regime and undergoes a pressure change while traversing the flow path at the converging and diverging nozzle, the pressure change reducing the temperature of the fluid.   
     
     
         20 . The cooling system of  claim 19 , wherein the reciprocating piston is upstream from a fluid inlet of the converging and diverging nozzle.