Vaporization Patents (Class 165/911)
  • Patent number: 5129446
    Abstract: An air/liquid heat exchanger having a tube that reinforces the heat exchanger's core and header plates and also sprays a liquid onto the core for evaporative cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Henry E. Beamer
  • Patent number: 5097892
    Abstract: An air/liquid heat exchanger for aircraft having ram pressure powered evaporative cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Henry E. Beamer
  • Patent number: 5036909
    Abstract: A multiple serpentine tube heat exchanger having side-by-side arranged serpentine-shaped passageways each extending across the core and a mixing chamber connecting one such passageway to at least one other. The passageway constituting the back of the heat exchanger core has an enlarged internal surface area relative to the passageway constituting the face of the heat exchanger core. Microgrooving of the passageway can be used to further enhance heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Lee C. Whitehead, James E. Farry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5029635
    Abstract: This device for cooling regions with limited thermal exchange surface, in particular for electronic components, comprises a body made of thermally conducting material which internally defines a duct for the passage of a refrigerating fluid and has a portion of its surface associable with a region to be refrigerated; the passage duct has, for at least a portion of its extension, a circular cross section, and at this portion there is an injection nozzle which is fed with pressurized refrigerating fluid so as to cause expansion of the refrigerating fluid in the passage duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: F.I.M.A.C. Fabbrica Italiana Macchine Aria Compressa S.p.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Callerio, Vincenzo Callerio
  • Patent number: 4998509
    Abstract: A suppression chamber in a nuclear reactor containment includes a heat exchanger disposed in a gas space above water in the suppression chamber. A gravity-driven pool contains a supply of make-up water that is gravity fed to the heat exchanger through a conventional level-maintaining valve such as a float valve. A top header in the heat exchanger includes a free surface area for permitting separation of steam from water, thereby permitting venting of vapor only, while retaining the liquid coolant in the heat exchanger. A downcomer tube permits return of excess water to a lower location for further use in the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is normally sealed, whereby internal surfaces in the heat exchanger require only a small amount of low-volatility corrosion inhibitors to prevent corrosion on internal surfaces thereof. Locating the heat exchanger in the gas space in the suppression chamber reduces the amount of corrosion on its external surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Perng-Fei Gou, Harold E. Townsend
  • Patent number: 4883115
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controllably removing heat from a high-temperature process wherein finely atomized liquid suspended in a stream of transport gas is used as a coolant pumped through a heat exchanger while remaining separated from the high-temperature process. The system pressure and flow rates are maintained at levels such that the temperature of the coolant exceeds the boiling point of the liquid component at the outlet of the heat exchanger. Means are provided to monitor continuously the temperatures of the process and of the coolant at the outlet of the heat exchanger and adjust the flow rates of the liquid and/or the transport gas as necessary to maintain the respective temperatures within predetermined ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Ogden Environmental Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Niles W. Johanson, James C. Saeger, Mark L. White
  • Patent number: 4842052
    Abstract: The proposed cooler has the form of a thermal tube (1) with zones (2 and 3) for evaporation and condensation, respectively, and outer fins (4) in the zone (3). The cooler has a casing (5) open at one side to admit a flow of gas, the casing accommodating fins (4) so that ends thereof form with a wall of the casing (5) at the other side a cavity (A) to reverse the flow of gas. Adjacent fins (4) are hermetically connected into pairs (6), and form passages (7, 8) between each pair and inside each pair. Provided at the walls of the inner passages (8) is a capillary porous lining (9) ends of which are in contact with a liquid medium (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Kievsky Politekhnichesky Institut
    Inventors: Alexandr N. Gershuni, Valery S. Maisotsenko, Vladilen K. Zaripov, Mikhail G. Semena
  • Patent number: 4799538
    Abstract: Device for condensing steam under pressure consisting of a unit incorporating a storage vessel (6) containing cooling water, a distribution and heat exchange unit (15) fixed inside the storage vessel (6) and a water supply (30,31) for replacing the water in a storage tank (6) which is vaporized by contact with the tubes (24) of the distribution and heat exchange unit (15). A stack (7) is connected to the upper part of the storage vessel (6) and a tranquilizer grid is arranged in the storage vessel, above the heat exchange unit (15). The circulation of the fluid which is constituted of a two-phase mixture of water and steam is thus activated, while avoiding drawing out a significant quantity of water with the steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Framatome
    Inventors: Philippe Dagard, Michel Couturier
  • Patent number: 4794984
    Abstract: A single layer cover means is disposed over and spaced apart from a heating surface for diverting vapor to flow along the heating surface, the cover means having openings to permit vapor to flow therethrough, the openings having an effective diameter equal to or greater than the distance between the heating surface and the cover means. The cover means induces an agitiating effect across the heating surface to enhance the heat transfer performance instead of forming nucleation sites. A plurality of spacer members is disposed at intervals between the heating surface and the cover means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Inventor: Pang-Yien Lin
  • Patent number: 4759901
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor installation located in the cavity of a pressure vessel comprises a nuclear reactor with a core traversed from top to bottom by a cooling gas, a plurality of main loops consisting of heat exchangers and blowers, together with auxiliary loops for the removal of decay heat. According to the invention, the auxiliary loops contain no heat exchangers but a bundle of heat pipes independent of each other, the heat absorbing part of which is arranged in the pressure vessel cavity. As a heat sink, an external cooling water loop is provided for each bundle of heat pipes in which water is circulated. The cooling water is recooled in a cooling tower. In a preferred embodiment the heat transferring part of the heat pipes of each bundle terminates in an external water reservoir to which the cooling water loop is connected. For a certain period of time, in case of a sufficient volume of water, the decay heat may be removed only by evaporation from the water reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Hochtemperatur-Reaktorbau GmbH
    Inventors: Windried Wachholz, Ulrich Weicht
  • Patent number: 4747448
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of main flow passages 2 for cooling fluid. Each main flow passage has associated with it at least one narrow channel 10 defined by a surface of the main flow passage and an auxiliary surface on a separator plate 8. Relatively hot fluid flows over the separator plate 8 and heats the auxiliary surface such that bubbles formed in the channel are flattened by the surface opposite to the auxiliary surface and pressed against the auxiliary surface. The bubbles eventually pass through holes 12 in the channel 10 into the main flow passage 2 to rejoin the evaporating liquid pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: The BOC Group, PLC
    Inventors: Carlo Beduz, Ralph G. Scurlock
  • Patent number: 4715431
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger for use as a reboiler-condenser which increases the efficiency of heat transfer between boiling and condensing fluids such as cryogens, e.g. oxygen and nitrogen in an air separation unit. The exchanger has enhanced boiling and condensing surfaces and slightly inclined condensing passages built up from individually extruded passageway elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Schwarz, Charles E. Kalb, Charles C. Goebel
  • Patent number: 4715433
    Abstract: The invention is a reboiler-condenser which increases the efficiency of heat transfer between boiling and condensing fluids, such as oxygen and nitrogen in air separation or similar cryogenic applications. The exchanger is built up from individual plates, the opposite sides of which have enhanced condensing and boiling surfaces. The condensing channels are inclined slightly downward so that condensate can be removed at many elevations in the exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Schwarz, Charles E. Kalb
  • Patent number: 4706740
    Abstract: A system for radiating heat generated by a source of heat aboard a spacecraft or the like is described which comprises a pair of spaced heat pipes and a pair of spaced wall members having inner condensation surfaces and outer heat radiating surfaces bonded to the heat pipes and defining a vapor chamber, a rewet artery of capillary wicking material disposed within the vapor chamber between the heat pipes and extending substantially lengthwise of the vapor chamber, a source of expendable liquid heat exchange medium operatively connected to the rewet artery for maintaining an inventory of heat exchange medium within the vapor chamber, and a pressure relief valve on the vapor chamber for venting vapor overpressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Edward T. Mahefkey
  • Patent number: 4700771
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for boiling flowing liquids such as liquefied gases in a heat exchanger in which a circulating flow is occurring, such as in reboiler-condensers in air separation and similar cryogenic plants or other applications where a high efficiency for boiling heat transfer is beneficial. The important feature of the process and apparatus is the use of two sequential heat transfer zones having different pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics in the same boiling channel, the first zone having an overall high-convective-heat-transfer characteristic and an overall higher pressure drop characteristic and comprising a plurality of sub-zones, each sub-zone sequentially having a lower pressure drop than the previous sub-zone and the second zone having a lower pressure drop and an enhanced nucleate boiling heat transfer characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas L. Bennett, Keith A. Ludwig, Alexander Schwarz
  • Patent number: 4678029
    Abstract: In a heat transfer wall having a number of fine and elongate tunnels adjacent to each other with a minute distance under the surface thereof being in contact with liquid on the heat transfer wall, and a number of fine openings for communicating the tunnels to the outside thereof defined on ceilings of the tunnels along the longitudinal directions thereof with each minute distance, a tongue-like projection is provided which protrudes from an edge of the opening or vicinity of the opening across the opening 1 whereby a flow of fluid passing through the openings provided with the projections is controlled so that heat transfer performance characteristics are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignees: Hitachi Cable, Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshi Sasaki, Hiromichi Yoshida, Shigeho Fukuda, Kiyoshi Oizumi, Kimio Kakizaki, Wataru Nakayama, Takahiro Daikoku, Tadakatsu Nakajima, Yoshihiko Nakayama
  • Patent number: 4653572
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for boiling flowing liquid such as liquefied gases in a heat exchanger in which a circulating flow is occuring, such as in reboiler-condensers in air separation and similar cryogenic plants or other applications where a high efficiency for boiling heat transfer is beneficial. The important feature of the process and apparatus is the use of two sequential heat transfer zones having different pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics in the same boiling channel, the first zone having a higher pressure drop and high convective heat transfer characteristic and the second zone having a lower pressure drop and an enhanced nucleate boiling heat transfer characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas L. Bennett, Alexander Schwarz, Robert M. Thorogood
  • Patent number: 4635709
    Abstract: A dual mode heat exchanger 10 for cooling airborne electronics 12 through a cold plate 14. The heat exchanger either radiates heat to air through radiator fins 18 or absorbs heat by evaporative cooling. A liquid coolant contained in grooves 16 of the cold plate 14 boils at a preselected temperature and thereby absorbs heat energy. Vapor released by the boiling liquid is exhausted through a hydrophobic filter membrane 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Frank E. Altoz
  • Patent number: 4549407
    Abstract: Evaporative cooling particularly useful for semiconductor integrated circuits is more efficient when a liquid is completely evaporated at the heat radiating surface. The liquid is converted to droplets and mixed with the gas at the heat radiating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Peter A. Gruber