Abstract: A compact cabinet cooler includes a housing made of two basket sections secured to a cabinet with one basket section extending into the cabinet and the other section extending outward of the cabinet. The housing encloses a plurality of heat transport tubes extending through a central plate and spaced apart in an annular array. The central plate is mounted on the rotor of an electric motor the stator of which is secured to a shaft anchored at its ends to the housing. Rotation of the motor rotor causes rotation of the central plate and the array of heat transport tubes. The tubes mount a multiplicity of spaced apart thin annular fins of heat conductive material and the tubes contain a heat transfer liquid for moving heat from the evaporator section of the housing to the condenser section of the housing.

Abstract: The compact rotary evaporative cooler of this invention includes a case containing a powered rotor mounting a partition that divides the case longitudinally into a wetted chamber and a nonwetted chamber. An annular array of elongated Perkins tubes is supported for rotation with the rotor and each Perkins tube extends through the partition, with the evaporation end section extending into the nonwetted chamber and the condensing end section extending into the wetted chamber. Each Perkins tube mounts a plurality of closely spaced heat conductive fins along its length, and a layer of porous metal is bonded to the entire inner surface of the evaporation section of the tube. A first inlet port introduces hot, dry outside air into the wetted chamber and a first outlet port vents the cooled but humidified air from the wetted chamber to the atmosphere or to a space to be conditioned.

Abstract: A freeze resistant aqueous coolant solution for use in Perkins tube type heat exchangers is formed of one or more metal salts selected from the alkali metals of Group IA and the alkaline earth metals of Group IIA of the Periodic Table. Depending upon the composition of the metal tubes of the heat exchanger, the concentration of the metal salt ranges from about 5% to about 10% by weight of the solution and the pH of the solution ranges between 7.3 and 11.5.

Abstract: Recovery of ethanol from the exhaust stacks of a bread-baking oven is achieved by passing the stack emissions through an adiabatic humidifier where the emissions are humidified to near saturation. The unevaporated water content of the humidifier is collected for separation of the ethanol content. The humidified emissions are passed from the humidifier to the vaporization chamber of a heat exchanger where the gas content of the humidified emissions is separated from the moisture content thereof, and the moisture content is collected for recovery of the ethanol content.

Abstract: A rotary absorption heat pump assembly. The assembly comprises a generator (2), condenser (3), evaporator (4), absorbent cooler (5), and absorber (1), all operatively associated to function as components of an absorption-type heat pump of high efficiency and superior operating characteristics. The heat pump is characterized by the presence of a tapered cylindrical absorber (1) which receives and processes, in the form of a very thin peripheral film ("d"), a predetermined amount of absorbent solution. The absorber (1) is arranged in abutting end-to-end relationship to the generator (2), with which it communicates. The condenser (3) and evaporator (4) are arranged end-to-end outside of the absorber (1) and absorbent cooler (5), concentrically therewith and radially spaced therefrom.

Abstract: A Perkins tube type rotary heat exchanger of improved efficiency wherein the Perkins tube evaporation sections are outwardly displaced from the condensation sections by offsetting and/or splaying, to substantially occupy the evaporation sections with Perkins tube working fluid while substantially eliminating the presence of fluid from a major portion of the condensation sections during operation of the heat exchanger. This has the effect of maximizing the internal evaporative area within the evaporation sections and also of maximizing the internal condensing area within the condensation sections of the Perkins tubes, thereby materially increasing the energy recovery and effectiveness of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A rotary, Perkins tube heat exchanger for processing hot contaminated gas flows emanating from appliances such as laundry driers, grain driers and the like. The case of the heat exchanger is located relative to the rotor so as to lie in the gas flow boundary layer established by the latter. The case is provided with a boundary layer purge port in the hot gas chamber. An airfoil extends inwardly from the case into the gas flow boundary layer. It causes increased local turbulance in the boundary layer gas. It also diverts a predetermined proportion of the boundary layer gas and its burden of contamination products out through the purge port. The boundary layer airflow cleans both the interior of the case and the rotor, even through the rotor is characterized by the presence of a multiplicity of small openings. The device thus is rendered self-cleaning and may be operated for extended periods of time without buildup of contaminants within the heat exchanger case.

Abstract: The molecular weight of a pressurized flowing gas is determined by means of a vortex tube. The temperatures of the inlet gas to the tube and of its outlet hot and cold gas fractions are sensed by electromotive force-producing temperature-sensing means; the resulting e.m.f.'s are employed to ascertain differential e.m.f.'s and then to form a ratio of differential e.m.f.'s. The ratio is then converted to the molecular weight of the gas, either by means of a pre-established ratio-molecular weight relationship or converter, such as a graph of variance or a mathematical equation, or, preferably, by means of an electric circuit in which the differential e.m.f.'s, the ratio, and the molecular weight are ascertained instantaneously and the molecular weight is simply read off a meter.

Abstract: The molecular weight of a pressurized flowing gas is determined by means of a vortex tube. The temperatures of the inlet gas to the tube and of its outlet hot and cold gas fractions are sensed by e.m.f.-producing temperature sensing means; the resulting e.m.f.'s are fed to a divider circuit which amplifies them, forms differential e.m.f.'s and a ratio of the differential e.m.f.'s, and converts the ratio to the molecular weight of the gas.

Abstract: Bidirectional heat exchangers and elements for use therein are provided for application in buildings and other enclosures to introduce fresh outside air and to remove exhaust air while coincidently recovering heat from the warmer air and using it to adjust the temperature of the cooler air.

Abstract: Down-pumping heat pipes are provided to augment natural earth heat when used in association with conventional or up-pumping heat pipes for the purpose of maintaining an area such as a roadway free of ice and snow.

Abstract: Vapor chamber-containing apparatus is provided for cooling heat-producing electrical and electronic components wherein the heat is absorbed by a vaporizable agent.