Cooling system utilizing a conical body

Abstract

Cooling via acceleration of a compressible fluid is disclosed. The fluid is accelerated by a rotatable body to a velocity that may be equal to or greater than the speed of sound in the fluid. No conventional mechanical pump is required to accelerate the fluid. A phase change of the fluid may be utilized to transfer heat from an element to be cooled.

1 . A cooling system, the system comprising:
 a rotatable body positioned in a fluid flow path;   a stationary housing for the rotatable body; and   a driving mechanism that provides a motive force to induce rotation of the rotatable body, the rotation of the rotatable body accelerating a fluid in the fluid flow path and imparting a rotational velocity to the fluid to change the pressure of the fluid so that the temperature of the fluid is reduced to allow heat to be exchanged with an element to be cooled.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, the rotatable body is generally conical in shape. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the rotatable body accelerates fluid and imparts a rotational velocity as the fluid flows through acceleration grooves in the stationary housing. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the rotatable body generates cavitation via shear forces and a lowered pressure area in the fluid in the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further including an enclosure surrounding the fluid flow path, the enclosure being thermally coupled to the element to be cooled. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the acceleration of the fluid by the rotation of the rotatable body creates a region in the fluid flow path in which the fluid undergoes a phase change as the pressure of the fluid changes. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid pressure changes between a high pressure region and a low pressure region, the pressure change created by the acceleration of the fluid and a rotational velocity imparted to the fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the high pressure region of the fluid is at a pressure greater than 100 PSI. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the low pressure region of the fluid is at a pressure less than 20 PSI. 
     
     
         10 . A method for cooling, the method comprising:
 rotating a body to accelerate the flow of a fluid in a fluid flow path and to impart a rotational velocity to the fluid to establish a low pressure region in the fluid flow path;   forming a compression wave in the fluid as the fluid passes from a high pressure region to the low pressure region; and   exchanging heat introduced into the fluid flow path during a phase change of the fluid that occurs as the fluid flows from the high pressure region to the low pressure region.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein exchanging heat occurs at least in part as a result of at least one heat conductive surface being thermally coupled to the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein acceleration of the flow of the fluid is initiated by rotating a conical body located in a conical depression in a stationary housing of an evaporator. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising creating a cavitation effect by rotating the conical body to generate shear forces and to impart a rotational velocity to the fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the rotation of the body creates suction that draws the fluid through an inlet in the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising effectuating a phase change in the fluid as a result of a pressure change generated by the rotation of the body. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pressure change of the fluid occurs within a range of approximately 20 PSI to 100 PSI. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pressure change of the fluid involves a change to a pressure greater than or equal to 100 PSI. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pressure change of the fluid involves a change to a pressure less than or equal to 20 PSI. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid shocks up to an elevated pressure as the fluid exits the low pressure region. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the elevated pressure is an ambient pressure.