Venturi Refrigeration System

Abstract

Apparatus that primarily includes a narrow tube, through which a gas, preferably air, is forced to flow at a substantially high axial velocity. The gas, which must accelerate to reach that velocity and consequently becomes substantially cooler than the environment, then dissipates heat, through the wall of the tube from whatever is in thermal communication with that wall and thus refrigerates it. The gas does not undergo a change of phase. Preferably the tube forms the middle segment of a continuous tri-segment duct, through which the gas flows; the other two segments have each a tapered passageway, whose diameter varies between that of the tube and a considerably larger diameter at the corresponding end of the duct.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A refrigeration method for refrigerating an enclosed space or a medium, comprising
 (a) causing air from the surrounding atmosphere to enter into, and flow through, a tube at a substantially high velocity, whereby its temperature is reduced,   (b) causing air exiting from said tube to return to the atmosphere and   (c) letting said air dissipate heat, through a wall of said tube, from said space or medium.   
     
     
         17 . A refrigeration engine, for refrigerating an enclosed space or a medium, comprising
 a duct that includes a middle segment, formed as a narrow venturi tube, and two tapered end segments, directly or indirectly connected respectively to both ends of the middle segment, a first end segment being an intake segment and the second end segment being an exhaust segment, the wide end of each end segment being in direct or indirect fluid communication with surrounding atmosphere; and   air flow means for causing air to flow through the duct from, and back to, the surrounding atmosphere, said air entering the duct through the wide end of its intake segment and exiting the duct through the wide end of its exhaust segment;   
       wherein said duct and said air flow means are jointly configured to cause the air, while flowing through the middle segment to have a substantially reduced temperature; and
 the middle segment is further configured to let air flowing therethrough dissipate heat from said space or medium. 
 
     
     
         18 . The engine of  claim 17  wherein said air flow means includes one or more fans or a fan assemblies, disposed between said exhaust segment and the surrounding atmosphere. 
     
     
         19 . A refrigeration system for cooling an enclosed space or a medium, comprising
 one or more ducts, each configured to permit atmospheric air to flow therethrough and including a middle segment, formed as a narrow venturi tube, and two tapered end segments, directly or indirectly connected respectively to both ends of the middle segment, a first end segment being an intake segment and the second end segment being an exhaust segment, the wide end of each end segment being in direct or indirect fluid communication with surrounding atmosphere, and   air flow means for causing air to flow through each of said ducts from, and back to, the surrounding atmosphere, said air entering each duct through the wide end of its intake segment and exiting said duct through the wide end of its exhaust segment;   
       wherein each of said ducts and said air flow means are jointly configured to cause the air, while flowing through the respective middle segment, to have a substantially reduced temperature and 
       the middle segment of each of said ducts is further configured to let air flowing therethrough dissipate heat from said space or medium. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein said air flow means include one or more fans or fan assemblies, disposed between the exhaust segment of each of said ducts and the surrounding atmosphere. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19  wherein said medium is a fluid, flowing through a pipe. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said medium is air and said pipe is configured to circulate the air within an enclosed space. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said one or more ducts are two or more ducts and the respective middle segments of all the ducts are directly or indirectly in thermal communication with the same enclosed space or medium. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said air flow means include a single fan or fan assembly, in fluid communication with the exhaust segment of each of said ducts.