US3789617A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermodynamic system
Assignee: THERMOCYCLE LICENSING Inc
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Filing: 1972-01-13
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-01-13
Abstract
Abstract Transducers are utilized to produce vibrations within a thermodynamic system including an evaporator, a condenser, and a plurality of pipes connecting the evaporator and condenser so that the refrigerant can circulate therethrough. Other conventional cooling system components such as a compressor and a cooling tower may be included. Preferably one or more transducers are attached to the evaporator and may be enclosed within it. The vibrations reduce the refrigerant and water film coefficients, inhibit the formation of a film of bubbles on the tubes of the evaporator, increase foaming, and generally improve heat transfer throughout the system.
Inventors
- 👤 R Rannow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:04
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F13/00; F28F13/06; F28F13/10; F25; F25B; F25B39/00; F25B39/02; F25B2339/00; F25B2339/02; F25B2339/024; F25B2339/0242
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A cooling system including an evaporator in which a first fluid is boiled and a second fluid is cooled, a means for cooling and condensing the boiled first fluid after it leaves said evaporator, and means for returning the first fluid to said evaporator wherein the improvement comprises transducer means for producing vibrations at a frequency between approximately 5,000 and 500,000,000 cycles per second within said first fluid while it is in said evaporator whereby the rate of heat transfer between said first and second fluids within said evaporator is increased substantially.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A cooling system including an evaporator in which a first fluid is boiled and a second fluid is cooled, a means for cooling and condensing the boiled first fluid after it leaves said evaporator, and means for returning the first fluid to said evaporator wherein the improvement comprises transducer means for producing vibrations at a frequency between approximately 5,000 and 500,000,000 cycles per second within said first fluid while it is in said evaporator whereby the rate of heat transfer between said first and second fluids within said evaporator is increased substantially.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cooling system of claim 1, further comprising a foaming agent mixed with the first fluid whereby the amount of refrigerant foam produced is substantially increased by the interaction of said vibrations and said foaming agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 2, wherein the foaming agent is an oil and the quantity of the foaming agent is equal to at least 2 percent by weight of refrigerant in the evaporator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The cooling system of claim 2, wherein said evaporator includes a plurality of tubes through which said second fluid passes arranged so that some tubes are immersed in liquid refrigerant and others are not, substantially all of those tubes which are not immersed being covered by refrigeRant foam when the system is in operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cooling system of claim 1, wherein said vibrations are produced substantially continuously while said system is in operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The cooling system of claim 1, wherein said evaporator is of the tube and shell type having the tubes thereof arranged in groups with at least one open vertical channel defined between said groups wherein the improvement further comprises a blocking member disposed across said channel to disperse bubbles that tend to rise therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the vibrations produced have a frequency between approximately 10,000 and 100,000 cycles per second.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
A cooling system comprising an evaporator wherein a first fluid is boiled and a second fluid is cooled, a means for condensing the boiled first fluid without compressing it after it leaves said evaporator, means for returning said first fluid from said condensing means to said evaporator, and transducer means for producing vibrations at a frequency between 5,000 and 500, 000,000 cycles per second in said first fluid while it is in said evaporator whereby the rate of heat exchange between said first and second fluids within said evaporator is increased substantially.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
A cooling system comprising an evaporator wherein a first fluid is boiled and a second fluid is cooled, a means for condensing the boiled first fluid without compressing it after it leaves said evaporator, means for returning said first fluid from said condensing means to said evaporator, and transducer means for producing vibrations at a frequency between 5,000 and 500, 000,000 cycles per second in said first fluid while it is in said evaporator whereby the rate of heat exchange between said first and second fluids within said evaporator is increased substantially.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cooling system of claim 8, wherein the vibrations produced have a frequency between approximately 10,000 and 100, 000 cycles per second.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cooling system of claim 8, further comprising a foaming agent mixed with the first fluid whereby the amount of refrigerant foam produced is substantially increased by said vibrations.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 10, wherein the foaming agent is an oil and the quantity of the foaming agent is equal to between approximately 0.5 and 10 percent by weight of refrigerant in the evaporator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 10, wherein the foaming agent is an oil and the quantity of the foaming agent is equal to at least 2 percent by weight of refrigerant in the evaporator.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of cooling a liquid including passing a refrigerant through an evaporator in which it is brought into heat exchange relationship with said liquid, whereby said liquid is cooled and said refrigerant is boiled, and passing the boiled refrigerant through a condenser wherein said refrigerant is cooled, wherein the improvement comprises producing vibrations in the refrigerant whereby the rate of heat transfer is increased substantially, said vibrations having a frequency between approximately 5,000 and 500,000,000 cycles per second.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of cooling a liquid including passing a refrigerant through an evaporator in which it is brought into heat exchange relationship with said liquid, whereby said liquid is cooled and said refrigerant is boiled, and passing the boiled refrigerant through a condenser wherein said refrigerant is cooled, wherein the improvement comprises producing vibrations in the refrigerant whereby the rate of heat transfer is increased substantially, said vibrations having a frequency between approximately 5,000 and 500,000,000 cycles per second.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said vibrations are induced directly in a wall of said evaporator and thus transmitted to said refrigerant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising mixing a foaming agent with the refrigerant in the evaporator, the foaming agent being an oil and being present in a quantity equal to between approximately 0.5 and 10 percent by weight of the refrigerant in the evaporator, the combined effect of said foaming agent and said vibration substantially increasing the depth of refrigerant foam in the evaporator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising mixing a foaming agent with the refrigerant in the evaporator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the vibrations have a frequency between approximately 10,000 and 100,000 cycles per second.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the refrigerant is condensed without compressing it.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |