Heat exchange system for a cavitation chamber

Abstract

A method and apparatus for regulating the temperature of the cavitation medium for a cavitation chamber is provided. A heat exchange fluid is pumped through a heat exchange conduit that passes through a portion of the cavitation chamber. An external heat exchanger, coupled either directly or indirectly to the heat exchange conduit, regulates the temperature of the heat exchange fluid which, in turn, regulates the temperature of cavitation medium within the cavitation chamber. The heat exchanger can be used to lower the temperature of the cavitation medium to a temperature less than the ambient temperature; to withdraw excess heat from the cavitation medium; or to heat the cavitation medium to the desired operating temperature. The heat exchanger can utilize heated heat exchange fluid, cooled heat exchange fluid, thermoelectric coolers, heat sinks, refrigeration systems or heaters.

1 . A cavitation system comprising: 
 a cavitation chamber;    a cavitation medium contained within said cavitation chamber;    means for cavitating said cavitation medium contained within said cavitation chamber, said cavitating means coupled to said cavitation chamber;    a heat exchange conduit passing through said cavitation chamber;    a heat exchanger coupled to said heat exchange conduit, wherein said heat exchanger is external to said cavitation chamber; and    at least one pump coupled to said heat exchange conduit, wherein said at least one pump circulates a heat exchange fluid through said heat exchange conduit and said heat exchanger.    
   
   
       2 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pump circulates said heat exchange fluid through said heat exchange conduit and said heat exchanger during operation of said cavitation chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said cavitating means is comprised of at least one acoustic driver.  
   
   
       4 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger and said circulating heat exchange fluid within said heat exchange conduit cools said cavitation medium below ambient temperature.  
   
   
       5 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger and said circulating heat exchange fluid within said heat exchange conduit withdraws heat from said cavitation medium.  
   
   
       6 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger and said circulating heat exchange fluid within said heat exchange conduit heats said cavitation medium above ambient temperature.  
   
   
       7 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger and said circulating heat exchange fluid within said heat exchange conduit heats said cavitation medium above a melting temperature corresponding to said cavitation medium.  
   
   
       8 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger further comprises a second heat exchange fluid, wherein said second heat exchange fluid is in thermal contact with at least a portion of said heat exchange conduit.  
   
   
       9 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger further comprises a second heat exchange fluid contained in a second heat exchange conduit, wherein said second heat exchange conduit is in close proximity to at least a portion of said first heat exchange conduit.  
   
   
       10 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger further comprises a thermoelectric cooler.  
   
   
       11 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger further comprises a heat sink.  
   
   
       12 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger further comprises a refrigeration system.  
   
   
       13 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger further comprises a heating system.  
   
   
       14 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said heat exchange conduit within said cavitation chamber conforms to an internal surface of said cavitation chamber.  
   
   
       15 . The cavitation system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an inlet passing through a cavitation chamber wall of said cavitation chamber, wherein said cavitation medium passes through said inlet;    an outlet passing through said cavitation chamber wall, wherein said cavitation medium passes through said outlet;    a cavitation medium conduit coupling said inlet and said outlet;    a degassing chamber coupled to said cavitation medium conduit, wherein said cavitation medium passes through said degassing chamber;    a vacuum pump coupled to said degassing chamber; and    at least one pump coupled to said cavitation medium conduit, wherein said at least one pump circulates said cavitation medium through said cavitation chamber, said cavitation medium conduit and said degassing chamber.    
   
   
       16 . The cavitation system of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one pump coupled to said cavitation medium conduit circulates said cavitation medium during operation of said cavitation chamber.  
   
   
       17 . The cavitation system of  claim 15 , further comprising a second heat exchanger coupled to said cavitation medium conduit, where said at least one pump coupled to said cavitation medium conduit circulates said cavitation medium through said second heat exchanger.  
   
   
       18 . The cavitation system of  claim 17 , wherein said second heat exchanger cools said cavitation medium below ambient temperature.  
   
   
       19 . The cavitation system of  claim 17 , wherein said second heat exchanger withdraws heat from said cavitation medium.  
   
   
       20 . The cavitation system of  claim 17 , wherein said second heat exchanger heats said cavitation medium above ambient temperature.  
   
   
       21 . The cavitation system of  claim 17 , wherein said second heat exchanger heats said cavitation medium above a melting temperature corresponding to said cavitation medium.  
   
   
       22 . A method of operating a cavitation chamber, the method comprising the steps of: 
 pumping a heat exchange fluid through a heat exchange conduit incorporated within said cavitation chamber, wherein a cavitation medium within said cavitation chamber is in thermal contact with a portion of said heat exchange conduit, and wherein a first portion of said heat exchange conduit passes into said cavitation chamber and a second portion of said heat exchange conduit passes out of said cavitation chamber;    circulating said heat exchange fluid through an external heat exchanger, wherein said external heat exchanger is thermally coupled to said heat exchange conduit and wherein said external heat exchanger is interposed between said first and second portions of said heat exchange conduit; and    cavitating said cavitation medium contained in said cavitation chamber.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , said step of circulating said heat exchange fluid through said external heat exchanger further comprising the step of lowering a cavitation medium temperature to a temperature less than an ambient temperature.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of heating said cavitation medium during said cavitating step, wherein said heating step results from a reaction within said cavitation medium, said step of circulating said heat exchange fluid through said external heat exchanger further comprising the step of withdrawing heat from said cavitation medium resulting from said reaction.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , said step of circulating said heat exchange fluid through said external heat exchanger further comprising the step of heating said cavitation medium to a temperature greater than a cavitation medium melting temperature.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the steps of: 
 pumping said cavitation medium through said cavitation chamber, wherein said cavitation medium passes into said cavitation chamber through an inlet and out of said cavitation chamber through an outlet; and    circulating said cavitation medium through an external degassing chamber coupled to a vacuum pump.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the step of circulating said cavitation medium through a second external heat exchanger.