Thermal superconductor refrigeration system

Abstract

A superconductor refrigeration system incorporates thermal superconducting heat transfer. The system includes an intensifying heat exchanger, a refrigerating heat exchange coil formed from thermal superconductor material, and a dissipating heat exchange coil formed from thermal superconductor material. The system can also include a switch connected to condenser and evaporator heat exchange segments, a refrigeration switch segment and a dissipating switch segment such that in a first switch position a refrigerating mode is provided and in a second switch position a defrost mode is provided. Additional embodiments include thermostat controllers and blowers for enhanced control. Heat exchange and reuse is described for multiple heat exchangers coupled by thermal superconductors. A defrosting element is described for refrigeration heat exchangers.

1 . A superconductor refrigeration system having thermal superconducting heat transfer, the system comprising: 
 (a) a reversible intensifying heat exchanger, having 
 i. a compressor;  
 ii. a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, each of said heat exchangers adapted to function interchangeably as an evaporator and a condenser, wherein said first heat exchanger is operable as an evaporator and said second heat exchanger is operable as a condenser when said system is operating in cooling mode, and wherein said first heat exchanger is operable as a condenser and said second heat exchanger is operable as an evaporator when said system is operating in heating mode;  
 iii. at least one first conduit in communication with said compressor and each of said heat exchangers and adapted for carrying refrigerant through said system to each of said heat exchangers, said at least one conduit including a return conduit for carrying refrigerant gas back to said compressor;  
 iv. a reversing valve in communication with said at least one conduit and configured to reverse the flow of refrigerant from said compressor to said heat exchangers depending upon whether said system is operating in said cooling mode or said heating mode;  
   whereby when said intensifier heat exchanger is operating in heating mode, said valve is activated to direct refrigerant pumped from said compressor through said at least one conduit to said first heat exchanger where said refrigerant gas is condensed into liquid, through said return conduit to said second heat exchanger where said liquid is vaporized into gas and heat is transferred from earth source through said thermal superconductor, and back to said compressor via said return conduit;    and whereby when said intensifier heat exchanger is operating in cooling mode, said valve is activated to direct refrigerant pumped from said compressor through said at least one conduit to said second heat exchanger where said refrigerant gas is condensed into liquid and heat is transferred to earth source through said thermal superconductor, through said return conduit to said first heat exchanger wherein said liquid is vaporized into gas, and back to said compressor via said return conduit;    (b) a refrigerating heat exchange coil formed from thermal superconductor material, having a transfer segment terminating at opposing ends at a refrigerating heat exchange segment and a refrigerating heat exchange segment coupled to one of said first or second heat exchangers; and    (c) a dissipating heat exchange coil formed from thermal superconductor material, having a transfer segment terminating at opposing ends at a dissipating heat exchange segment and a dissipating heat exchange segment coupled to the other one of said first or second heat exchangers,    wherein said reversing valve can be configured to provide corresponding refrigerating or defrosting modes of said superconductor refrigeration system.    
   
   
       2 . The superconductor refrigeration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermostat controller associated with a location proximal to said refrigerating heat exchange segment, programmed with a desired temperature set point and for measuring temperature of said space and further connected to said reversing valve and said compressor, wherein both said compressor is operated and said reversing valve position controlled in response to one of the difference between said temperature set-point and said measured temperature and a preset timer.  
   
   
       3 . The superconductor refrigeration system of  claim 2 , further comprising a blower positioned to circulate air over said refrigerating heat exchange segment, and connected to said controller, wherein said blower is operated in response to one of the difference between said temperature setpoint and said measured temperature and a preset timing.  
   
   
       4 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 3 , further comprising a second blower positioned to circulate air over said dissipating heat exchange segment, and wherein said thermostat controller is connected to said blower to operate said blower in response to difference between said measured temperature and said setpoint for the purpose of dissipating heat.  
   
   
       5 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 1 , wherein said thermal superconductor material is an inorganic high heat transfer medium  
   
   
       6 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 5 , wherein said high heat transfer medium is applied in a sealed heat transfer pipe.  
   
   
       7 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 6 , wherein said thermal superconductors are heat transfer pipes containing said high heat transfer medium, and insulated along at least a portion of heat transfer segment, said heat transfer pipes having thermal conductivity greater than 100 times the thermal conductivity of silver and approximately negligible heat loss along said heat transfer segment.  
   
   
       8 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 4 , wherein said refrigerating and dissipating heat exchange segments are arranged as condenser arrays having area approximately corresponding to said blower area for increased air heat exchange.  
   
   
       9 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said thermal superconductors are formed in discrete segments joined by approximately short thermally conducting joiners.  
   
   
       10 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of refrigerating heat exchange segments coupled to a to said condenser heat exchange segments.  
   
   
       11 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of blowers positioned proximal to each of said refrigerating heat exchange segments and said dissipating heat exchange segments and connected to said thermostat controller.  
   
   
       12 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of temperature sensors associated with said plurality of heat exchange coils providing independent temperature measurement, and said plurality of heat exchange switches are switchable in response to respective differences between said individual temperature measurements and corresponding associated temperature set points.  
   
   
       13 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary fluid loop coupled to said dissipating exchange segment and having a fluid pump, for the purpose of exchanging heat from or to said superconductor refrigerating system.  
   
   
       14 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 13 , wherein said fluid is water.  
   
   
       15 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 14 , wherein said auxiliary water loop is for the heating of water.  
   
   
       16 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 14 , wherein said auxiliary water loop uses heat from waste water.  
   
   
       17 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 13  wherein said fluid is refrigerant and said fluid pump is a compressor.  
   
   
       18 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 17  wherein heat is exchanged between the refrigerant loop and the superconductor heat exchange segments though direct thermal contact.  
   
   
       19 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 17  wherein heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and the superconductor heat exchange segment through an intermediating fluid.  
   
   
       20 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 19  wherein said intermediating fluid acts as a thermal storage mass.  
   
   
       21 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver connected to said thermostat controller and a remote control in communications with said receiver such that thermostat setpoints and operations can be controlled wirelessly.  
   
   
       22 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 1  further comprising a programmable timer connected to said thermostat controller such that defrost cycles can be activated at time-controlled intervals.  
   
   
       23 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 11 , further comprising thermostat controller to vary the operating speed of said blowers separately, such that the cooling or heating characteristics of said refrigerating and heat dissipating heat exchangers can be individually controlled.  
   
   
       24 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 1 , further comprising an ice buildup sensor located approximately at said refrigerating heat exchange segment and connected to said controller, wherein said switch position is selected for defrosting mode upon said sensor reaching a programmed setpoint  
   
   
       25 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 24 , further comprising an optical sensor to detect ice build up on heat exchangers.  
   
   
       26 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 24 , further comprising an air pressure sensor to detect ice build up on heat exchangers.  
   
   
       27 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 (a) a plant enclosure which houses said compressor, said controller, said intensifying heat exchanger and said reversing valve; and    (b) a heat exchange enclosure which houses said refrigerating heat exchange segment and blower and thermal sensor, and having venting near said blower suitable for circulation of air through an inlet and outlet,    wherein said plant enclosure and said heat exchange enclosures are at least connected by one end of said refrigerating heat exchange segment and communications control to said blower and said thermal sensor.    
   
   
       28 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 27 , wherein said heat exchange enclosure is configured to be suspended in a space to be refrigerated.  
   
   
       29 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 11 , further comprising 
 (a) a plant enclosure which houses said compressor, said controller, said intensifying heat exchanger and said thermal switches; and    (b) a plurality of heat exchange enclosures, each of which houses one of corresponding said refrigerating heat exchange segment, blower and thermal sensor, said enclosure having venting near said blower,    wherein said plant enclosure and said plurality of heat exchange enclosures are connected by at least said corresponding refrigerating switch segments and communications controls to said blowers.    
   
   
       30 . A superconductor defrosting system having thermal superconducting heat transfer, the system comprising: 
 (a) an intensifying heat exchanger, having 
 i. a refrigerant coil which receives refrigerant in the heating and cooling cycle;  
 ii. a first condenser heat exchange segment of said coil;  
 iii. a first evaporator heat exchange segment of said coil;  
 iv. an evaporator to expand liquid refrigerant to partial liquid and located between said exchange segments; and  
 v. a compressor for compressing and circulating a refrigerant in said refrigerant coil;  
   (b) a defrosting heat exchange coil formed from thermal superconductor material, having a transfer segment terminating at opposing ends at a defrosting heat exchange segment and a second condenser heat exchange segment;    (c) an absorbing heat exchange coil formed from thermal superconductor material, having a transfer segment terminating at opposing ends at an absorbing heat exchange segment and a second evaporator heat exchange segment; and    (d) a controller programmable to a desired set point and further having a thermostat controller connected to said thermal switch and said compressor.    
   
   
       31 . The superconductor defrosting system of  claim 30 , further comprising a blower positioned to circulate air over said defrosting heat exchange segment, and connected to said controller.  
   
   
       32 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 31 , further comprising a second blower positioned to circulate air over said absorbing heat exchange segment.  
   
   
       33 . The superconductor defrosting system of  claim 30 , wherein said thermal superconductor material is an inorganic high heat transfer medium.  
   
   
       34 . The superconductor defrosting system of  claim 33 , wherein said high heat transfer medium is applied in a sealed heat transfer pipe.  
   
   
       35 . The superconductor defrosting system of  claim 34 , wherein said thermal superconductors are heat transfer pipes containing said high heat transfer medium, and insulated along at least a portion of heat transfer segment, said heat transfer pipes having thermal conductivity greater than 100 times the thermal conductivity of silver and approximately negligible heat loss along said heat transfer segment.  
   
   
       36 . The superconductor defrosting system of  claim 32 , wherein said defrosting and absorbing segments are arranged as condenser arrays having area approximately corresponding to the areas of said blowers for increased air heat exchange.  
   
   
       37 . The superconductor defrosting system of  claim 30 , wherein at least a portion of said thermal superconductors are formed in discrete segments joined by approximately short thermally conducting joiners.  
   
   
       38 . The superconductor defrosting system of  claim 30 , wherein said defrosting heat exchange segment is arranged as a thermal conductor bus extending to a plurality of said defrosting heat exchange coils, and said absorbing heat exchanger segment is arranged as a thermal conductor bus extending to a plurality of said absorbing heat exchanger coils, to provide a corresponding heat transfer capacity.  
   
   
       39 . The superconductor defrosting system of  claim 38 , further comprising a plurality of blowers positioned proximal to each of said defrosting heat exchange segments and said absorbing heat exchange segments and couplable to said thermostat controller.  
   
   
       40 . The superconductor defrosting system of  claim 30 , further comprising a receiver connected to said thermostat controller and a remote control in communications with said receiver such that controller setpoints and operations can be controlled wirelessly.  
   
   
       41 . The superconductor defrosting system of  claim 30 , further comprising a programmable timer connected to said controller such that defrost cycles can be activated at time-controlled intervals.  
   
   
       42 . The superconductor defrosting system of  claim 39 , further comprising a thermostat controller to vary the operating speed of said blowers separately, such that the cooling or heating characteristics of said defrosting and heat absorbing heat exchangers can be individually controlled.  
   
   
       43 . The superconductor defrosting system of  claim 30 , further comprising an ice buildup sensor located approximately at said defrosting heat exchange segment and connected to said controller, wherein said switch position is selected for defrosting mode upon said sensor reaching a programmed setpoint  
   
   
       44 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 43 , further comprising an optical sensor to detect ice build up on said refrigerating heat exchange coils.  
   
   
       45 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 43 , further comprising an air pressure sensor to detect ice build up on heat exchanger coils.  
   
   
       46 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 (a) a plant enclosure which houses said compressor, said controller, said intensifying heat exchanger and said thermal switch; and    (b) a defrosting heat exchange enclosure which houses said defrosting heat exchange segment and and thermal sensor and said blower    (c) a absorbing heat exchange enclosure which houses said heat absorbing heat exchange segment and and thermal sensor and said blower    wherein said plant enclosure is connected to said defrosting heat exchanger enclosure and said heat absorbing heat exchange enclosure by at least said condenser heat exchange segment and said evaporator heat exchange segment and communications control to said blowers.    
   
   
       47 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 44 , wherein said heat exchange enclosure is configured to be suspended in a space to be refrigerated.  
   
   
       48 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 39 , further comprising 
 (a) a plant enclosure which houses said compressor, said controller, said intensifying heat exchanger; and    (b) a plurality of heat exchange enclosures, each of which houses one of corresponding said defrosting heat exchange segment and said blower, said enclosure having venting near said blower,    wherein said plant enclosure and said plurality of heat exchange enclosures are connected by at least said corresponding condenser heat exchange segments and communications controls to said blowers.    
   
   
       49 . A superconductor refrigeration exchange element for use in an air flow path, comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of evaporator refrigerant conduits suitable for receiving refrigerant;    (b) an evaporator coupled to ends of each of said plurality of refrigerant coils;    (c) a condenser conduit coupled to opposing ends of each of said plurality of refrigerant coils;    (d) a plurality of cooling plates formed of a thermally conductive material arranged in a approximately co-planar stack, and having at least one conduit opening through each of said plates corresponding to each refrigerant conduits such that said conduits are seated in thermal contact within said cooling plate stack for the purpose of exchanging heat with air;    (e) a thermal superconductor heat transfer pipe arranged such that a coupling portion is coupled on at least one side of said cooling plates stacks such that thermal contact is created between said cooling plates and said heat transfer pipe, the location of said coupling portion relative to said seated conduits is arranged to increase available air flow through said plates, and a transfer portion extends away from said stack of plates; and    (f) insulation surrounding at least part of said extended portion to reduce heat transfer loss;    wherein heat is transferred from said cooling plates by said refrigerant conduits for the purposes of cooling said air flow and heat is transferred to cooling plates by said thermal superconductor heat transfer pipe for defrosting ice build up on said cooling plates such that said air flow is approximately maintained.    
   
   
       50 . The superconductor defrosting element of  claim 49 , further comprising a blower positioned to circulate air over said defrosting heat exchange segment.  
   
   
       51 . The superconductor defrosting element of  claim 49 , wherein said thermal superconductor material is an inorganic high heat transfer medium.  
   
   
       52 . The superconductor defrosting element of  claim 49 , wherein said high heat transfer medium is applied in a sealed heat transfer pipe.  
   
   
       53 . The superconductor defrosting element of  claim 52 , wherein said thermal superconductors are heat transfer pipes containing said high heat transfer medium, and insulated along at least a portion of heat transfer segment, said heat transfer pipes having thermal conductivity greater than 100 times the thermal conductivity of silver and approximately negligible heat loss along said heat transfer segment.  
   
   
       54 . The superconductor defrosting element of  claim 50 , wherein said defrosting heat exchange segment is arranged as a condenser array approximately conforming to the area of the blower.  
   
   
       55 . The superconductor defrosting element of  claim 49 , wherein at least a portion of said thermal superconductors are formed in discrete segments joined by approximately short thermally conducting joiners.  
   
   
       56 . The superconductor defrosting element of  claim 49 , further comprising a tray located below said defrosting element and a drainage line coupled to said tray for the collection and transfer of water produced by the defrosting of ice built up on said superconductor defrosting element.  
   
   
       57 . The superconductor defrosting element of  claim 49 , further comprising an ice buildup sensor located approximately at said refrigerating heat exchange segment and connected to said controller, wherein a defrost cycle is selected upon said sensor reaching a programmed setpoint  
   
   
       58 . The superconductor defrosting element of  claim 57 , further comprising an optical sensor to detect ice build up on heat exchangers.  
   
   
       59 . The superconductor defrosting element of  claim 57 , further comprising an air pressure sensor to detect ice build up on heat exchangers.  
   
   
       60 . The superconductor defrosting element of  claim 57 , further comprising thermal sensor to determine the rate of heat transfer to or from said element through said superconductor heat transfer pipe.  
   
   
       61 . The superconductor refrigerating system of  claim 50 , further comprising an enclosure which houses said defrosting heat exchanger and said blower.