Magnetohydrodynamic pumps for non-conductive fluids

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved fluid pump that combines a liquid metal MHD pump with a plurality of fluid flow valves. The pump comprises a suction and pumping assembly, the suction and pumping assembly in turn comprising a first vertical chamber and a second vertical chamber connected using an intermediate horizontal chamber, a liquid metal partially filling the suction and pumping assembly, and an AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump. The AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump drives the liquid metal in an oscillatory manner, causing the suction and pumping of a working fluid. The pump further comprises at least one inlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly for enabling the suction of a working fluid, at least one outlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly for enabling the pumping of the working fluid, and a plurality of valves in the inlet and outlet conduits to regulate the flow of the working fluid.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for pumping a working fluid, the apparatus comprising: 
 a. a suction and pumping assembly comprising: 
 i. a first vertical chamber and a second vertical chamber connected using an intermediate horizontal chamber,  
 ii. liquid metal partially filling the vertical chambers of the suction and pumping assembly, and  
 iii. an AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump for driving the liquid metal in the chambers of the suction and pumping assembly in an oscillatory manner;  
   b. at least one inlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly, the inlet conduit allowing the working fluid to be sucked into the suction and pumping assembly, the working fluid being sucked in due to the oscillatory motion of the liquid metal;    c. at least one outlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly, the outlet conduit allowing the working fluid to be pumped out of the suction and pumping assembly, the working fluid being pumped out due to the oscillatory motion of the liquid metal; and    d. a plurality of valves in the inlet and outlet conduits for controlling the inlet and outlet flow of the working fluid.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the suction and pumping assembly is U-shaped.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the working fluid is a non-conductive fluid.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 3  wherein each of the plurality of valves is a one-way valve.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 3  wherein each of the plurality of valves is a Tesla valve.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the apparatus comprises only one inlet conduit and only one outlet conduit.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 6  wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit have one valve each.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 7  wherein the inlet conduit is connected to the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly and the outlet conduit is connected to the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8  wherein the liquid metal partially fills both the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly and the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 9  wherein the pumping is achieved by: 
 a. the AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump driving down the liquid metal in the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly during one half of the AC cycle, the driving down of the liquid metal causing the sucking in of the working fluid into the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly through the inlet conduit and the pumping out of the working fluid through an outlet conduit of the suction and pumping assembly;  
 b. the AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump driving up the liquid metal in the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly during the other half of the AC cycle, the driving up of the liquid metal causing the working fluid to be transferred from the first vertical chamber to the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly through an intermediate conduit, the intermediate conduit connecting the first vertical chamber and the second vertical chamber.  
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10  wherein the intermediate conduit contains a valve to control the transfer of the working fluid between the first vertical chamber and the second vertical chamber.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 7  wherein both the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are connected to the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12  wherein the liquid metal partially fills the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly and completely fills the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 13  wherein the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly is connected to a reservoir of inert fluid.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 14  wherein the pumping is achieved by: 
 a. the AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump driving down the liquid metal in the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly during one half of the AC cycle, the driving down of the liquid metal causing the sucking in of the working fluid into the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly through the inlet conduit;  
 b. the AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump driving up the liquid metal in the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly during the other half of the AC cycle, the driving up of the liquid metal causing the pumping out of the working fluid through the outlet conduit of the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.  
 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the apparatus comprises two inlet conduits and two outlet conduits.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  wherein the inlet conduits and the outlet conduits have one valve each.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 17  wherein one inlet conduit and one outlet conduit are connected to the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly, the other inlet conduit and the other outlet conduit are connected to the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 18  wherein the liquid metal partially fills both the first vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly and the second vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 19  wherein the pumping is achieved by: 
 a. the AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump driving down the working fluid in a vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly during one half of the AC cycle, the driving down of the liquid metal causing the sucking in of the working fluid into the corresponding vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly through the corresponding inlet conduit;  
 b. the AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump driving up the working fluid in a vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly during the other half of the AC cycle, the driving up of the liquid metal causing the pumping out of the working fluid from the corresponding vertical chamber of the suction and pumping assembly through the corresponding outlet conduit;  
 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of suction and pumping assemblys connected in parallel.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is used as a pump in a two-phase cooling system  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is used as a compressor in a vapor compression system.  
     
     
         24 . A system for two-phase cooling of a hot source, the system comprising: 
 a. an evaporator placed adjacent to the hot source, the evaporator absorbing the heat from the hot source causing the evaporation of a coolant circulating over the hot source;    b. a first conduit connected to the evaporator for the transfer of the vapor formed as a result of the evaporation of the coolant;    c. a condenser connected to the first conduit for liquefying the vapor;    d. a second conduit connected to the condenser for transfer of the liquid formed as a result of liquefying the vapor.    e. a fluid pump connected to the second conduit, the fluid pump comprising: 
 i. a suction and pumping assembly comprising: 
 1. a first vertical chamber and a second vertical chamber connected using an intermediate horizontal chamber,  
 2. liquid metal partially filling the chambers of the suction and pumping assembly, and  
 3. an AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump for driving the liquid metal in the chambers of the suction and pumping assembly in an oscillatory manner;  
 
 ii. at least one inlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly, the inlet conduit allowing the liquid to be sucked into the suction and pumping assembly, the liquid being sucked in due to the oscillatory motion of the liquid metal;  
 iii. at least one outlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly, the outlet conduit allowing the liquid to be pumped out of the suction and pumping assembly, the liquid being pumped out due to the oscillatory motion of the liquid metal; and  
 iv. a plurality of valves in the inlet and outlet conduits for controlling the inlet and outlet flow of the liquid; and  
 v. a third conduit connected to the fluid pump for transfer of the liquid back to the evaporator.  
   
     
     
         25 . A system vapor compression, the system comprising: 
 a. an evaporator for evaporation of a refrigerant at low pressure;    b. a first conduit connected to the evaporator for the transfer of the low pressure vapor formed as a result of the evaporation of the refrigerant;    c. a compressor connected to the second conduit, the compressor converting the low pressure vapor into high pressure vapor, the compressor comprising: 
 i. a suction and pumping assembly comprising: 
 1. a first vertical chamber and a second vertical chamber connected using an intermediate horizontal chamber,  
 2. liquid metal partially filling the chambers of the suction and pumping assembly, and  
 3. an AC-powered reciprocating MHD pump for driving the liquid metal in the chambers of the suction and pumping assembly in an oscillatory manner;  
 
 ii. at least one inlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly, the inlet conduit allowing the low pressure vapor to be sucked into the suction and pumping assembly, the low vapor being sucked in due to the oscillatory motion of the liquid metal;  
 iii. at least one outlet conduit connected to the suction and pumping assembly, the outlet conduit allowing the high pressure vapor to be pumped out of the suction and pumping assembly, the high pressure vapor being pumped out due to the oscillatory motion of the liquid metal; and  
 iv. a plurality of valves in the inlet and outlet conduits for controlling the inlet and outlet flow of the vapor;  
   d. a condenser connected to the first conduit for liquefying the high pressure vapor;    e. a second conduit connected to condenser for transfer of the high pressure refrigerant formed as a result of liquefying the vapor;    f. a valve connected to the second conduit for converting the high pressure refrigerant to a low pressure refrigerant; and    g. a third conduit connected to the valve to enable the circulation of the refrigerant.