Equipment and Method

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a heat transfer system comprising a vessel comprising an inner chamber comprising a first end separated from, and in fluid communication with a second end, the inner chamber partially filled with a heat transfer medium having a normal boiling point below 60° C., which is present at a pressure and in an amount sufficient to allow boiling of the heat transfer medium at a first temperature and condensation of a vapor of the heat transfer medium at a second temperature below the first temperature. Systems comprising the heat transfer system and methods of using the heat transfer system are also disclosed.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A heat transfer system comprising:
 a vessel comprising an inner chamber comprising a first end separated from, and in fluid communication with a second end,   the inner chamber partially filled with a heat transfer medium having a normal boiling point below 60° C., which is present at a pressure and in an amount sufficient to allow boiling of the heat transfer medium at a first temperature and condensation of a vapor of the heat transfer medium at a second temperature below the first temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer medium comprises a hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer medium comprises difluoromethane, difluroethane, chlorodifluromethane, chlorotrifluromethane, tetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane, 1-chloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, isobutane, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises copper, aluminum, a ferrous alloy, a copper alloy, an aluminum alloy, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the vessel comprises a liquid-liquid heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the vessel comprises a vapor-vapor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the vessel comprises a liquid-vapor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the vessel is arranged in physical contact with a first fluid having a temperature greater than or equal to the first temperature, and the second end of the vessel is arranged in physical contact with a second fluid having a temperature less than or equal to the second temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The heat transfer system of  claim 8 , wherein the first fluid is an aqueous liquid. 
     
     
         10 . The heat transfer system of  claim 8 , wherein the second fluid is a gas at 25° C. and 1 atm of pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The heat transfer system of  claim 8 , wherein the second fluid is an aqueous liquid. 
     
     
         12 . The heat transfer system of  claim 8 , further comprising a closed pump-around loop comprising an external heater in thermal contact with the first fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the first end is connected to the second end via one or more conduits. 
     
     
         14 . The heat transfer system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more conduits comprise a vapor supply conduit and a liquid return conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein the condensed vapor of the heat transfer medium is returned from the second end to the first end by gravity. 
     
     
         16 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more pumps arranged to pump the condensed vapor of the heat transfer medium from the second end to the first end. 
     
     
         17 . The heat transfer system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure regulator assembly to regulate the pressure of the heat transfer medium within the inner chamber. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 providing a heat transfer system comprising:   a vessel comprising an inner chamber comprising a first end separated from, and in fluid communication with a second end,   the inner chamber partially filled with a heat transfer medium having a normal boiling point below 60° C., which is present at a pressure and in an amount sufficient to allow boiling of the heat transfer medium at a first temperature and condensation of a vapor of the heat transfer medium at a second temperature;   contacting the first end of the vessel with a first fluid having a temperature greater than or equal to the first temperature; and   contacting the second end of the vessel with a second fluid having a temperature less than or equal to the second temperature for a period of time sufficient to increase the temperature of the second fluid.