Method and Apparatus for Heating or Cooling

Abstract

Embodiments of the subject invention pertain to a method and apparatus for heating or cooling. Embodiments relate to a method and apparatus utilizing a vapor compression cycle to accomplish active heating or cooling. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention relates to a lightweight, compact, reliable, and efficient heating or cooling system for underwater applications. The subject system can provide heating or cooling stress relief to individuals operating under, for example, hazardous conditions, or in low temperature underwater environments where passive protective clothing provides insufficient mitigation of cooling stress. Further embodiments can be utilized to provide heat stress relief to users who are working in thermally encapsulated ensembles that hinder the body's natural ability to expel heat. The subject system can be utilized in other applications that can benefit from this type of heating or cooling system. The performance of this system cannot be matched simply by using smaller versions of currently available designs or technologies.

1 . An apparatus for heating, comprising:
 an evaporator;   a compressor, wherein the compressor receives refrigerant vapor exiting from the evaporator, wherein the compressor compresses the refrigerant vapor received from the evaporator;   a condenser, wherein compressed refrigerant exits the compressor and flows into the condenser, wherein the condenser acts as a heat exchanger so that heat is removed from the compressed refrigerant by a first external fluid;   an expansion device, wherein the expansion device receives refrigerant from the condenser, wherein the refrigerant received from the condenser is expanded through the expansion device; wherein the refrigerant exiting the expansion device flows through the evaporator, wherein the refrigerant absorbs heat from a second external fluid as the refrigerant passes through the evaporator; and   a housing, wherein the condenser and the evaporator are within the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the condenser comprises a pair of channels, wherein the refrigerant flows through one of the channels of the pair of channels and the first external fluid flows through the other channel of the pair of channels such that the refrigerant and the first external fluid flowing in the pair of channels are in thermal contact with each other. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator comprises a second pair of channels, wherein the refrigerant flows through one of the channels of the second pair of channels and the second external fluid flows through the other channel of the second pair of channels such that the refrigerant and the second external fluid flowing in the second pair of channels are in thermal contact with each other. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the evaporator comprises a second pair of channels, wherein the refrigerant flows through one of the channels of the second pair of channels and the second external fluid flows through the other channel of the second pair of channels such that the refrigerant and the second external fluid flowing in the second pair of channels are in thermal contact with each other. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor and the expansion device are within the housing. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is substantially tubular. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the housing is substantially cylindrical, wherein the condenser is substantially cylindrical in shape, wherein the pair of channels spiral from a center of the condenser to an outer portion of the condenser, wherein the evaporator is substantially cylindrical in shape, where the second pair of channels spiral from a center of the evaporator to an outer portion of the evaporator. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the pair of channels are parallel, wherein the second pair of channels are parallel. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power source, wherein the power source powers the compressor wherein the power source is proximate the housing.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second external fluid is air. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the second external fluid is water. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first external fluid is water. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the compressed refrigerant vapor flowing through the condenser decreases below the saturation temperature of the refrigerant and the refrigerant vapor condenses to liquid refrigerant,
 wherein the liquid refrigerant exits the condenser and is expanded through the expansion device, wherein the pressure and temperature of the liquid refrigerant are reduced upon exiting the expansion device,   wherein the liquid refrigerant exiting the expansion device flows through the evaporator, wherein the liquid refrigerant and the second external fluid are in thermal contact, wherein the liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from the second external fluid as the liquid refrigerant passes through the evaporator such that the liquid refrigerant boils to produce vapor, wherein the vapor exits the evaporator, and   wherein the compressor receives the refrigerant vapor exiting from the evaporator, wherein the compressor compresses the refrigerant vapor to a pressure at which the vapor temperature is above the ambient temperature of the condenser, wherein the compressed refrigerant vapor exits the compressor and flows into the condenser.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pump, wherein the pump causes the first external fluid to flow through the condenser. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the compressor is substantially cylindrical in shape. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a motor, wherein the motor is substantially cylindrical in shape, and wherein the motor drives the compressor wherein the motor is within the housing.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing seals the condenser, the evaporator, the compressor, and the expansion device from a surrounding environment outside the housing, wherein the first external fluid entering the housing through a first input port and exits the housing through a first output port, wherein the second external fluid enters the housing through a second input port and exits the housing through a second output port. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein heat from the first external fluid is transferred to a user. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first external fluid is circulated from an output of the condenser to the user, from the user to an input of the condenser, and from the input of the condenser through the condenser to the output of the condenser. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for heating, comprising:
 an evaporator;   a compressor, wherein the compressor receives refrigerant vapor exiting from the evaporator, wherein the compressor compresses the refrigerant vapor received from the evaporator;   a condenser, wherein compressed refrigerant exits the compressor and flows into the condenser, wherein the condenser acts as a heat exchanger so that heat is removed from the compressed refrigerant by a first external fluid; and   an expansion device, wherein the expansion device receives refrigerant from the condenser, wherein the refrigerant received from the condenser is expanded through the expansion device,   wherein the refrigerant exiting the expansion device flows through the evaporator, wherein the refrigerant absorbs heat from a second external fluid as the refrigerant passes through the evaporator; wherein the evaporator comprises a heat transfer surface in contact with a surrounding environment, wherein the surrounding environment is the second external fluid.   
   
   
       21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the second external fluid is a liquid. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the first external fluid is water. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the second external fluid is water. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the second external fluid is air. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , further comprising a fan, wherein the fan moves air across the heat transfer surface. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the evaporator comprises a dividing wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface is in thermal contact with the refrigerant exiting the expansion device and the exterior surface is the heat transfer surface. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the evaporator comprises a second surface, wherein the heat transfer surface is on the exterior side of the evaporator and the second surface is on the interior side of the evaporator, and wherein a volume is formed by the second surface of the evaporator.   
   
   
       28 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the evaporator has a substantially tubular shape having a first end and a second end. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the second surface is substantially parallel to the heat transfer surface. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein the compressor is positioned within the volume created by the second surface of the evaporator. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the condenser is positioned within the volume created by the second surface of the evaporator. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the expansion device is positioned within the volume created by the second surface of the evaporator. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the surrounding environment is water, wherein the surrounding water flows across the heat transfer surface of the evaporator. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , further comprising switching valves, wherein the switching valves allow the apparatus to remove heat from the first external fluid by driving the evaporator as a second condenser and driving the condenser as a second evaporator. 
   
   
       35 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the first external fluid flows through the condenser such that the refrigerant and the first external fluid are in thermal contact, wherein the first external fluid absorbs heat from the refrigerant as the refrigerant flows through the condenser.   
   
   
       36 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein the temperature of the compressed refrigerant vapor flowing through the condenser decreases below the saturation temperature of the refrigerant and the refrigerant vapor condenses to liquid refrigerant,   wherein the liquid refrigerant exits the condenser and is expanded through the expansion device, wherein the pressure and temperature of the liquid refrigerant are reduced upon exiting the expansion device,   wherein the liquid refrigerant exiting the expansion device flows through the evaporator, wherein the liquid refrigerant and the second external fluid are in thermal contact, wherein the liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from the second external fluid as the liquid refrigerant passes through the evaporator such that the liquid refrigerant boils to produce vapor, wherein the vapor exits the evaporator, and   wherein the compressor receives the refrigerant vapor exiting from the evaporator, wherein the compressor compresses the refrigerant vapor to a pressure at which the vapor temperature is above the ambient temperature of the condenser, wherein the compressed refrigerant vapor exits the compressor and flows into the condenser.   
   
   
       37 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the refrigerant that absorbs heat from the surrounding environment in thermal contact with the heat transfer surface flows through the evaporator such that the flow of the refrigerant is substantially parallel to the heat transfer surface.   
   
   
       38 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein the evaporator has a cross-sectional shape selected from a group consisting of:   rectangular, polygonal, square, hexagonal, peanut, and oval.   
   
   
       39 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein the evaporator has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape.   
   
   
       40 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , further comprising a pump, wherein the pump causes the first external fluid to flow through the condenser. 
   
   
       41 . The apparatus according to  claim 39 ,
 wherein the compressor is substantially cylindrical in shape.   
   
   
       42 . The apparatus according to  claim 41 , further comprising:
 a motor, wherein the motor is substantially cylindrical in shape, and wherein the motor drives the compressor.   
   
   
       43 . The apparatus according to  claim 42 ,
 wherein the motor is positioned substantially within the volume formed by the second surface of the evaporator.   
   
   
       44 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 ,
 wherein the condenser comprises a pair of channels wherein the refrigerant flows through one of the channels of the pair of channels and the first external fluid flows through the other channel of the pair of channels such that the refrigerant and the first external fluid flowing in the pair of channels are in thermal contact with each other.   
   
   
       45 . The apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein the condenser is substantially cylindrical in shape. 
   
   
       46 . The apparatus according to  claim 44 , wherein the pair of channels spiral from the center of the condenser to the outer portion of the condenser. 
   
   
       47 . The apparatus according to  claim 44 , where the pair of channels are parallel. 
   
   
       48 . The apparatus according to  claim 47 ,
 wherein each channel of the pair of parallel channels substantially follows the path of a corresponding archemidian spiral.   
   
   
       49 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein heat from the first external fluid is transferred to a user positioned in the surrounding environment. 
   
   
       50 . The apparatus according to  claim 49 , wherein the first external fluid is circulated from an output of the condenser to the user, from the user to an input of the condenser, and from the input of the condenser through the condenser to the output of the condenser. 
   
   
       51 . A method for heating, comprising:
 attaching an apparatus to a user positioned in a second external fluid, wherein the apparatus comprises:
 an evaporator; 
 a compressor, wherein the compressor receives refrigerant vapor exiting from the evaporator, wherein the compressor compresses the refrigerant vapor received from the evaporator; 
 a condenser, wherein compressed refrigerant exits the compressor and flows into the condenser, wherein the condenser acts as a heat exchanger so that heat is removed from the compressed refrigerant by a first external fluid; and 
 an expansion device, wherein the expansion device receives refrigerant from the condenser, wherein the refrigerant received from the condenser is expanded through the expansion device; wherein the refrigerant exiting the expansion device flows through the evaporator, wherein the refrigerant absorbs heat from a second external fluid as the refrigerant passes through the evaporator; wherein the evaporator comprises a heat transfer surface in contact with a surrounding environment, wherein the surrounding environment is the second external fluid; and 
   bringing the first external fluid in thermal contact with the user such that heat from the first external fluid is transferred to the user.   
   
   
       52 . The method according to  claim 51 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 a power source, wherein the power source powers the compressor.   
   
   
       53 . The method according to  claim 51 , further comprising:
 attaching a power source to the user, wherein the power source powers the compressor.   
   
   
       54 . The method according to  claim 51 , wherein the first external fluid is circulated from an output of the condenser to the user, from the user to an input of the condenser, and from the input of the condenser through the condenser to the output of the condenser. 
   
   
       55 . A method for heating, comprising:
 attaching an apparatus to a user positioned in a second external fluid, wherein the apparatus comprises:
 an evaporator; 
 a compressor, wherein the compressor receives refrigerant vapor exiting from the evaporator, wherein the compressor compresses the refrigerant vapor received from the evaporator; 
 a condenser, wherein compressed refrigerant exits the compressor and flows into the condenser, wherein the condenser acts as a heat exchanger so that heat is removed from the compressed refrigerant by a first external fluid; 
 an expansion device, wherein the expansion device receives refrigerant from the condenser, wherein the refrigerant received from the condenser is expanded through the expansion device, 
 wherein the refrigerant exiting the expansion device flows through the evaporator, wherein the refrigerant absorbs heat from a second external fluid as the refrigerant passes through the evaporator; and 
   bringing the first external fluid in thermal contact with the user such that heat from the first external fluid is transferred to the user.   
   
   
       56 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the condenser comprises a pair of channels, wherein the refrigerant flows through one of the channels of the pair of channels and the first external fluid flows through the other channel of the pair of channels such that the refrigerant and the first external fluid flowing in the pair of channels are in thermal contact with each other. 
   
   
       57 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the evaporator comprises a second pair of channels, wherein the refrigerant flows through one of the channels of the second pair of channels and the second external fluid flows through the other channel of the second pair of channels such that the refrigerant and the second external fluid flowing in the second pair of channels are in thermal contact with each other. 
   
   
       58 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 a housing, wherein the condenser and the evaporator are within the housing.   
   
   
       59 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein the compressor and the expansion device are within the housing. 
   
   
       60 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the first external fluid is circulated from an output of the condenser to the user, from the user to an input of the condenser, and from the input of the condenser through the condenser to the output of the condenser. 
   
   
       61 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the apparatus is attached to a back of the user. 
   
   
       62 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 a power source, wherein the power source powers the compressor.   
   
   
       63 . The method according to  claim 55 , further comprising:
 attaching a power source to the user, wherein the power source powers the compressor.