High efficiency thermodynamic system

Abstract

An air-handling system selectively heats and/or cools a target space by circulating ambient air from the target space across a heat exchanger. The system operates along an air flow path having an inlet from the target space and an outlet back into the target space. Air-handling turbines or pumps are located near the inlet and outlet. The heat exchanger is placed in the flow path between the turbines or pumps. The heat exchanger transfers heat into or out of the air, causing a natural pressure increase or decrease in the air. The turbines or pumps are configured to harvest work from the induced pressure differential in order to conserve energy. A combustion chamber may be included directly in the flow path upstream of the heat exchanger for combusting a fuel in the air during a high heating mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A high-efficiency air moving system for circulating ambient air in a target space across a heat exchanger, said system comprising:
 a confined flow path for routing ambient air as a working fluid from an inlet to an outlet, said inlet disposed to receive ambient air from the target space as the working fluid and said outlet disposed for expelling the air out of said flow path and back into the ambient air in the target space,   a first turbine disposed in said flow path adjacent said inlet, said first turbine configured to control substantially all of the movement of air entering said flow path through said inlet,   a second turbine disposed in said flow path adjacent said outlet, said second turbine configured to control substantially all of the movement of air exiting said flow path through said outlet,   a heat exchanger disposed in said flow path between said first and second turbine, said heat exchanger configured to move heat into or out of the air in said flow path and thereby heat or cool the air in the target space when the air is subsequently discharged from said outlet, and wherein movement of heat into or out of the air in said flow path causes a corresponding differentiated pressure of the air between said first and second turbines relative to the ambient air, and   at least one of said first turbine and said second turbine being configured to harvest work from the differentiated pressure of the air between said first and second turbines.   
     
     
         2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , further including an electric generator operatively coupled to one of said first and second turbines for generating electricity from the harvested work. 
     
     
         3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first turbine and said second turbine comprises a positive displacement vane pump. 
     
     
         4 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a transmission in communication with said first turbine and said second turbine, said transmission configured to transfer work harvested from one of said first and second turbines directly to the other of said first and second turbines. 
     
     
         5 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger moves heat out of the air in said flow path, and said first turbine harvests work from the differentiated pressure of the air between said first and second turbines. 
     
     
         6 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger moves heat into the air in said flow path, and said second turbine harvests work from the differentiated pressure of the air between said first and second turbines. 
     
     
         7 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a combustion chamber in said flow path between said first turbine and said heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . A high-efficiency air moving system for circulating ambient air in a target space across a heat exchanger, said system comprising:
 a confined flow path for routing ambient air as a working fluid from an inlet to an outlet, said inlet disposed to receive ambient air from the target space as the working fluid and said outlet disposed for expelling the air out of said flow path and back into the ambient air in the target space,   a first pump disposed in said flow path adjacent said inlet, said first pump configured to control substantially all of the movement of air entering said flow path through said inlet,   a second pump disposed in said flow path adjacent said outlet, said second pump configured to control substantially all of the movement of air exiting said flow path through said outlet,   a heat exchanger disposed in said flow path between said first and second pump, said heat exchanger configured to move heat into or out of the air in said flow path and thereby heat or cool the air in the target space when the air is subsequently discharged from said outlet, and wherein movement of heat into or out of the air in said flow path causes a corresponding differentiated pressure of the air between said first and second pumps relative to the ambient air, and   at least one of said first pump and said second pump being configured to harvest work from the differentiated pressure of the air between said first and second pumps.   
     
     
         9 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , further including an electric generator operatively coupled to one of said first and second pumps for generating electricity from the harvested work. 
     
     
         10 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said first pump and said second pump comprises a positive displacement vane pump. 
     
     
         11 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , further including a transmission in communication with said first pump and said second pump, said transmission configured to transfer work harvested from one of said first and second pumps directly to the other of said first and second pumps. 
     
     
         12 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said heat exchanger moves heat out of the air in said flow path, and said first pump harvests work from the differentiated pressure of the air between said first and second pumps. 
     
     
         13 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said heat exchanger moves heat into the air in said flow path, and said second pump harvests work from the differentiated pressure of the air between said first and second pumps. 
     
     
         14 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , further including a combustion chamber in said flow path between said first pump and said heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . A high-efficiency air moving system for circulating ambient air in a target space across a heat exchanger, said system comprising:
 a confined flow path for routing ambient air as a working fluid from an inlet to an outlet, said inlet disposed to receive ambient air from the target space as the working fluid and said outlet disposed for expelling the air out of said flow path and back into the ambient air in the target space,   a first positive displacement vane pump disposed in said flow path adjacent said inlet, said first positive displacement vane pump configured to control substantially all of the movement of air entering said flow path through said inlet,   a second positive displacement vane pump disposed in said flow path adjacent said outlet, said second positive displacement vane pump configured to control substantially all of the movement of air exiting said flow path through said outlet,   a heat exchanger disposed in said flow path between said first and second positive displacement vane pumps, said heat exchanger configured to move heat into or out of the air in said flow path and thereby heat or cool the air in the target space when the air is subsequently discharged from said outlet, and wherein movement of heat into or out of the air in said flow path causes a corresponding differentiated pressure of the air between said first and second positive displacement vane pumps relative to the ambient air, and   at least one of said first positive displacement vane pump and said second positive displacement vane pump being configured to harvest work from the differentiated pressure of the air between said first and second positive displacement vane pumps.   
     
     
         16 . The system as set forth in  claim 15 , further including an electric generator operatively coupled to one of said first and second positive displacement vane pumps for generating electricity from the harvested work. 
     
     
         17 . The system as set forth in  claim 15 , further including a transmission in communication with said first positive displacement vane pump and said second positive displacement vane pump, said transmission configured to transfer work harvested from one of said first and second positive displacement vane pumps directly to the other of said first and second positive displacement vane pumps. 
     
     
         18 . The system as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said heat exchanger moves heat out of the air in said flow path, and said first positive displacement vane pump harvests work from the differentiated pressure of the air between said first and second positive displacement vane pumps. 
     
     
         19 . The system as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said heat exchanger moves heat into the air in said flow path, and said second positive displacement vane pump harvests work from the differentiated pressure of the air between said first and second positive displacement vane pumps. 
     
     
         20 . The system as set forth in  claim 15 , further including a combustion chamber in said flow path between said first positive displacement vane pump and said heat exchanger.