Water-Mediated Thermal Conditioning System

Abstract

A water-mediated thermal conditioning system. The thermal conditioning system includes a first thermal fluid circulation system and a heat exchanger. The circulation system includes a dispersed fluid region through which the heat exchanger conduits with second thermal fluid extend, for heat exchange with the dispersed first thermal fluid. The first thermal fluid circulation system may include a plurality of panels for exchange of thermal energy between the first thermal fluid and ambient air.

1 . A thermal conditioning system comprising:
 a closed loop circulation system configured to circulate a first thermal fluid through a circulating path closed off from ambient air and configured to transport the first thermal fluid through the circulation system, the circulating path comprising:
 a plurality of panels configured to be oriented horizontally, wherein each panel is configured to receive the first thermal fluid to exchange thermal energy between the first thermal fluid and ambient air through surfaces of the panel, wherein the first thermal fluid is separate from the ambient air; 
 wherein each panel of the plurality of panels comprises an inner wall separating an interior of the panel into at least two flow paths to allow the first thermal fluid to contact the inner wall of each panel, the inner wall having a planar surface extending generally parallel to a length of each panel, and wherein the first thermal fluid in the two flow paths is un-pressurized such that the panel is not fully filled with the first thermal fluid; 
 a dispersal device in fluid communication with the plurality of panels and configured to allow the first thermal fluid to fall down into a dispersed fluid region, 
 a reservoir in fluid communication with the dispersed fluid region and configured to collect the dispersed fluid from the dispersed fluid region; and 
 a first conduit configured to continuously transport the first thermal fluid from the reservoir to the plurality of panels, wherein all of the first thermal fluid remains within the circulating path; and 
   a heat exchanger configured to circulate a second thermal fluid through a second conduit, the second conduit positioned between the dispersal device and the reservoir, wherein a sidewall of the second conduit is in thermal communication with the dispersed fluid region of the circulation system to exchange heat through the sidewall of the second conduit such that the second thermal fluid is separate from the first thermal fluid.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein each panel of the plurality of panels is configured to allow the un-pressurized flow of the first thermal fluid at a pre-determined flow rate. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the second conduit circulating second thermal fluid is not submersed in the first thermal fluid. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two flow paths comprise an outward flow path, configured to flow the first thermal fluid away from a center of the panel, and an inward flow path, configured to flow the first thermal fluid toward the center of the panel. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the dispersal device comprises a screen. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the first thermal fluid in the dispersed fluid region comprises a series of drops. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the first thermal fluid collected in the reservoir is below the dispersed fluid region such that the second conduit is not submersed in the first thermal fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump configured to re-circulate the first thermal fluid from the reservoir to the plurality of panels via the first conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a heat pump. 
     
     
         12 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the first thermal fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         13 . A thermal conditioning system comprising:
 a closed loop circulation system configured to circulate a first thermal fluid through a circulating path to transport the first thermal fluid through the circulation system, the circulating path comprising:
 a first region configured to exchange thermal energy between the first thermal fluid and ambient air, wherein the first thermal fluid is separate from the ambient air by walls of the first region, and the first region comprises a plurality of thermal exchange regions, each thermal exchange region comprising an inner wall separating an interior of each thermal exchange region into at least two flow paths to allow the first thermal fluid to contact inner walls of the thermal exchange regions, the inner wall having a planar surface extending horizontally, wherein the first thermal fluid is separate from the ambient air by walls of the first region; 
 a circulating pump configured to continuously assist the flow of the first thermal fluid through the circulation system, wherein the first thermal fluid in the thermal exchange regions is un-pressurized such that the thermal exchange regions are not fully filled with the first thermal fluid; 
 a dispersal device configured to receive the first thermal fluid from the first region and to allow the first thermal fluid to fall down into a dispersed fluid region, 
 a reservoir in fluid communication with the dispersed fluid region and configured to collect the dispersed fluid from the dispersed fluid region; and 
 a first conduit configured to transport the first thermal fluid from the reservoir to the first region, wherein all of the first thermal fluid remains within the circulating path; and 
   a heat exchanger configured to circulate a second thermal fluid through a second conduit, wherein the second conduit is in thermal communication with the dispersed fluid region of the circulation system.   
     
     
         14 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 13 , wherein the dispersal device comprises a screen. 
     
     
         15 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 13 , wherein the first thermal fluid in the dispersed fluid region comprises a series of drops. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 13 , wherein the first region comprises a plurality of panels configured to be oriented horizontally, wherein each panel is configured to receive the first thermal fluid. 
     
     
         17 . A thermal conditioning system comprising:
 a closed loop circulation system configured to circulate a first thermal fluid through a circulating path configured to transport the first thermal fluid through the circulation system, the circulating path comprising:
 a plurality of panels configured to be oriented horizontally, wherein each panel is configured to receive the first thermal fluid to exchange thermal energy between the first thermal fluid and ambient air through surfaces of the panel, wherein the first thermal fluid is separate from the ambient air; 
 wherein each panel of the plurality of panels comprises an inner wall separating an interior of the panel into at least two flow paths to allow the first thermal fluid to contact the inner wall of each panel, the inner wall having a planar surface extending generally parallel to a length of each panel, and wherein the first thermal fluid in the panel is un-pressurized such that the panel is not fully filled with the first thermal fluid, 
 a heat exchange region configured to receive the first thermal fluid from the plurality of panels; and 
 a first conduit configured to continuously transport the first thermal fluid from the reservoir to the plurality of panels, wherein all of the first thermal fluid remains within the circulating path; and 
   a heat exchanger configured to circulate a second thermal fluid through a second conduit, wherein the second conduit is in thermal communication with the heat exchange region of the circulation system to exchange heat through a sidewall of the second conduit.   
     
     
         18 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 17 , further comprising a dispersal device in fluid communication with the plurality of panels and configured to disperse the first thermal fluid into the heat exchange region. 
     
     
         19 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 18 , further comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with the heat exchange region and configured to collect the dispersed fluid from the dispersed fluid region such that the second conduit is not submersed in the first thermal fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The thermal conditioning system of  claim 17 , wherein each panel of the plurality of panels is configured to not be fully filled with the first thermal fluid to allow the un-pressurized flow of the first thermal fluid at a pre-determined flow rate.