Centrifugal heat transfer engine and heat transfer systems embodying the same

Abstract

A heat transfer engine having cooling and heating modes of reversible operation, in which heat can be effectively transferred within diverse user environments for cooling, heating and dehumidification applications. The heat transfer engine of the present invention includes a rotor structure which is rotatably supported within a stator structure. The stator has primary and secondary heat exchanging chambers in thermal isolation from each other. The rotor has primary and secondary heat transferring portions within which a closed fluid flow circuit is embodied. The closed fluid flow circuit within the rotor has a spiraled fluid-return passageway extending along its rotary shaft, and is charged with a refrigerant which is automatically circulated between the primary and secondary heat transferring portions of the rotor when the rotor is rotated within an optimized angular velocity range under the control of a temperature-responsive system controller.

1 - 58 . (canceled)  
   
   
       59 . A method transferring heat between first and second heat exchanging circuits, comprising the steps: 
 (a) installing between first and second heat exchanging circuits a heat transfer engine which includes 
 a stationary housing having first and second heat transfer chambers operably connected to said first and second heat exchanging circuits, respectively, and  
 a rotatable heat transfer structure rotatably supported therewithin about an axis of rotation,  
 wherein said rotatable heat transfer structure has first and second heat transfer portions and embodies a closed fluid circuit symmetrically arranged about said axis of rotation and contains a predetermined amount of a heat carrying medium for carrying out a thermodynamic-based heat transfer process between said first and second portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure when said rotatable heat transfer structure is rotated within said stationary housing about said axis of rotation at an angular velocity within a predetermined range of angular velocities;  
   (b) imparting torque to said rotatable heat transfer structure so as to cause said rotatable heat transfer structure to rotate about said axis of rotation and said heat carrying medium automatically circulate within said closed fluid circuit; and    (c) controlling the angular velocity of said rotatable heat transfer structure within said predetermined range of angular velocities during step (b) so that said thermodynamic-based heat transfer process is conducted between said first and second portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure and that heat is transferred between said first and second heat transfer chambers.    
   
   
       60 . A method transferring heat between first and second heat exchanging circuits, comprising the steps: 
 (a) installing between first and second heat exchanging circuits a heat transfer engine which includes 
 a stationary housing having first and second heat transfer chambers operably connected to said first and second heat exchanging circuits, respectively, and  
 a rotatable heat transfer structure rotatably supported therewithin about an axis of rotation,  
 wherein said rotatable heat transfer structure has first and second heat transfer portions and embodies a closed fluid circuit symmetrically arranged about said axis of rotation and having a return portion which extends along said axis of rotation and has a subportion with a helical geometry, and  
 said rotatable heat transfer structure further contains a predetermined amount of a heat carrying medium for carrying out a thermodynamic-based heat transfer process between said first and second portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure when said rotatable heat transfer structure is rotated within said stationary housing about said axis of rotation at an angular velocity within a predetermined range of angular velocities; and  
   (b) imparting torque to said rotatable heat transfer structure so as to cause said rotatable heat transfer structure to rotate about said axis of rotation and said heat carrying medium automatically circulate within said closed fluid circuit and undergo pressurization as said flow heat carrying medium flows along the subsection of said return portion having helical geometry; and    (c) controlling the angular velocity of said rotatable heat transfer structure within said predetermined range of angular velocities during step (b) so that said thermodynamic-based heat transfer process is conducted between said first and second portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure and that heat is transferred between said first and second heat transfer chambers.    
   
   
       61 . A rotatable heat transfer structure for use in a heat transfer engine capable of transferring heat between first and second heat exchanging circuits through which first and second heat exchanging mediums flow, respectively, said heat transfer engine including a stationary housing having first and second heat transfer chambers, and a thermal isolation barrier disposed therebetween, and said first and second heat transfer chambers each having first and second ports and a continuous passageway therebetween, and said rotatable heat transfer structure rotatably supported within said stationary housing about an axis of rotation and comprising: 
 a first end portion disposed within said first heat transfer chamber;    a second end portion disposed within said second heat transfer chamber; and    an intermediate portion disposed between said first and second end portions,    said rotatable heat transfer structure further embodying a closed fluid circuit arranged about said axis of rotation, and having 
 a return portion extending along the direction of said axis of rotation and at least a subportion of said return portion having a helical geometry; and  
 an interior volume for containing a predetermined amount of a heat carrying medium contained within said closed fluid circuit which automatically circulates within said closed fluid circuit as said rotatable heat transfer structure is rotated about said axis of rotation in order to transfer heat between said first and second portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure,  
   said first end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure being disposed in thermal communication with said first heat exchanging circuit,    said second end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure being disposed in thermal communication with said second heat exchanging circuit, and    said intermediate portion being physically adjacent to said thermal isolation barrier so that said thermal isolation barrier presents a substantially high thermal resistance to heat transfer between said first and second heat transfer chambers during operation of said heat transfer engine.