Heat exchange device

Claim 2

A heat exchanger for transferring a thermal effect from a first fluid to a second fluid including: first conduit means to carry said first fluid: modulating conduit means disposed in heat transfer relation with said first conduit means so said second fluid is in heat transfer contact with a surface of said modulating conduit means; means to selectively supply a gaseous third fluid to said modulating conduit means, and, temperature responsive means disposed to modulate the pressure of said third fluid in accordance with change in temperature of the surface of said modulating conduit means to affect the rate of heat transfer through said modulating conduit means.

Claim 3

A heat exchange device for transferring a thermal effect from a first fluid to a selected second fluid including: a first conduit to carry said first fluid; a second tubular conduit having a diameter greater than the diameter of said first conduit and disposed to surround said first conduit along a portion of the length thereof to define an annular chamber therebetween where said second fluid flows over the surface of said second conduit; means to selectively supply a selected gas to said annular chamber, and temperature responsive means disposed to modulate the pressure of said gas in accordance with change in temperature of the surface of said second conduit to affect the role of heat transfer through said annular chamber.

Claim 4

A heat exchange device for transferring a thermal effect from a first fluid to a selected second fluid including: a first conduit to carry said first fluid; a second tubular conduit having a diameter greater than the diameter of said first conduit and disposed to surround said first conduit along a portion of the length thereof to define an annular chamber therebetween where said second fluid flows over the surface of said second conduit; means to selectively supply a selected gas to said annular chamber, and temperature responsive means disposed to modulate the pressure of said gas in accordance with change in temperature of the surface of said second conduit to affect the role of heat transfer through said annular chamber.

Claim 5

A heat exchange device for transferring heat from a selected first fluid to be cooled to a second low temperature fluid flowing through said heat exchange device including: a first conduit to carry said second low temperature fluid, a second tubular conduit disposed to surround a portion of said first conduit in spaced relation therefrom to define an annular chamber therebetween where said first fluid flows over the outer surface of said second conduit in heat exchange relation; means to selectively supply a gas to said annular chamber; and, temperature responsive means disposed to modulate the condition of said gas in accordance with change in temperature of the surface of said second conduit which is exposed to said selected first fluid to affect the rate of heat transfer through said annular chamber.

Claim 6

A heat exchange device for transferring heat from a selected first fluid to be cooled to a second low temperature fluid flowing through said heat exchange device including: a first conduit to carry said second low temperature fluid, a second tubular conduit disposed to surround a portion of said first conduit in spaced relation therefrom to define an annular chamber therebetween where said first fluid flows over the outer surface of said second conduit in heat exchange relation; means to selectively supply a gas to said annular chamber; and, temperature responsive means disposed to modulate the condition of said gas in accordance with change in temperature of the surface of said second conduit which is exposed to said selected first fluid to affect the rate of heat transfer through said annular chamber.

Claim 7

The heat exchange device of claim 1 wherein said first fluid is a vaporizable-condensible fluid which is vaporized in said first conduit by heat received from said third fluid; wherein said third fluid includes vaporized first fluid; and wherein said temperature responsive means include means to control the pressure of said vaporized first fluid in said modulating conduit means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 2 including means to reduce the fluid pressure in said annular chamber to provide subatmospheric pressure in said annular chamber.

Claim 9

A refrigeration circuit comprising: a source of liquified vaporizable-condensible refrigerant to be supplied through a first conduit; Expansion means disposed in said first conduit to selectively reduce the pressure of said refrigerant; a second conduit means surrounding a portion of said first conduit means downstream of said expansion means and defining an annular chamber therebetween; means to selectively supply vaporized refrigerant to said annular chamber between said first conduit and said second conduit whereby a fluid to be cooled may be passed over the surface of said second conduit in heat transfer relation so heat is transferred from said fluid to be cooled to said vaporizable-condensible fluid carried by said first conduit; and temperature responsive means to control the supply of vaporized refrigerant to said annular chamber in response to temperature adjacent the surface of said second conduit.

Claim 10

A refrigeration circuit comprising: a source of liquified vaporizable-condensible refrigerant to be supplied through a first conduit; Expansion means disposed in said first conduit to selectively reduce the pressure of said refrigerant; a second conduit means surrounding a portion of said first conduit means downstream of said expansion means and defining an annular chamber therebetween; means to selectively supply vaporized refrigerant to said annular chamber between said first conduit and said second conduit whereby a fluid to be cooled may be passed over the surface of said second conduit in heat transfer relation so heat is transferred from said fluid to be cooled to said vaporizable-condensible fluid carried by said first conduit; and temperature responsive means to control the supply of vaporized refrigerant to said annular chamber in response to temperature adjacent the surface of said second conduit.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 4 including means to provide subatmospheric pressure in said modulating conduit means.