Heat exchange technique

Abstract

A method and device that transfers heat to or from a gas. The method includes the steps of moving a surface with sufficient speed to disrupt a velocity boundary layer for molecules of the gas in contact with the surface, and cooling or heating the surface. The surface can be a heteroscopic structure that selects molecules from the gas. Cooling results in a transfer of energy from the molecules to the surface, whereas heating results in a transfer of energy from the surface to the molecules.

1 . A method of transferring heat to or from a gas, comprising the steps of: 
 moving a rotating surface with sufficient speed to disrupt a velocity boundary layer for molecules of the gas in contact with the surface; and    cooling or heating the surface;    wherein cooling results in a transfer of energy from the molecules to the surface, and heating results in a transfer of energy from the surface to the molecules.    
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the moving step and the heating or cooling step occur simultaneously.  
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the gas is air.  
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the rotating surface moves at a speed comparable to a mean thermal velocity of the gas.  
     
     
         5 . A method of transferring heat to or from a gas, comprising the steps of: 
 selecting molecules from the gas using a heteroscopic structure; and    heating or cooling at least part of the heteroscopic structure that comes into contact with the selected molecules;    wherein cooling results in a transfer of energy from the molecules to the heteroscopic structure, and heating results in a transfer of energy from the heteroscopic structure to the molecules.    
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein the selecting step and the heating or cooling step occur simultaneously.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein the gas is air.  
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein the molecules are selected from the gas at higher than near-vacuum pressure.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein the molecules are selected from the gas at atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein the heteroscopic structure includes microscopic or nanoscopic turbine blades moving at a speed comparable to a mean thermal velocity of the gas.  
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein the turbine blades feed into microscopic or nanoscopic ducts that are cooled or heated.  
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein the turbine blades are mounted on or in a rotating structure.  
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein the turbine blades are mounted on or in a linearly moving structure.  
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 13 , wherein the linearly moving structure is a component of a vehicle that moves through the gas.  
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein the component is a radiator.  
     
     
         16 . A device that transfers heat to or from a gas, comprising: 
 a rotating surface moved with sufficient speed to disrupt a velocity boundary layer for molecules of the gas in contact with the surface; and    cooling or heating elements that cool or heat the surface;    wherein cooling results in a transfer of energy from the molecules to the surface, and heating results in a transfer of energy from the surface to the molecules.    
     
     
         17 . A device as in  claim 16 , wherein the gas is air.  
     
     
         18 . A device as in  claim 16 , wherein at least part of the rotating surface moves at a speed comparable to a mean thermal velocity of the gas.  
     
     
         19 . A device that transfers heat to or from a gas, comprising: 
 a heteroscopic structure that selects molecules from the gas; and    cooling or heating elements that cool or heat at least part of the heteroscopic structure that comes into contact with the selected molecules;    wherein cooling results in a transfer of energy from the molecules to the heteroscopic structure, and heating results in a transfer of energy from the heteroscopic structure to the molecules.    
     
     
         20 . A device as in  claim 19 , wherein the gas is air.  
     
     
         21 . A device as in  claim 19 , wherein the molecules are selected from the gas at higher than near-vacuum pressure.  
     
     
         22 . A device as in  claim 21 , wherein the molecules are selected from the gas at atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         23 . A device as in  claim 19 , wherein the heteroscopic structure includes microscopic or nanoscopic turbine blades moving at a speed comparable to a mean thermal velocity of the gas.  
     
     
         24 . A device as in  claim 23 , wherein the turbine blades feed into microscopic or nanoscopic ducts that are cooled or heated.  
     
     
         25 . A device as in  claim 23 , wherein the turbine blades are mounted on or in a rotating structure.  
     
     
         26 . A device as in  claim 23 , wherein the turbine blades are mounted on or in a linearly moving structure.  
     
     
         27 . A device as in  claim 26 , wherein the linearly moving structure is a component of a vehicle that moves through the gas.  
     
     
         28 . A device as in  claim 27 , wherein the component is a radiator.