Pressure shock-induced cooling cycle

Abstract

A supersonic cooling system operates by pumping liquid. Because the supersonic cooling system pumps liquid, the compression system does not require the use of a condenser. The compression system utilizes a compression wave. An evaporator of the compression system operates in the critical flow regime where the pressure in an evaporator tube will remain almost constant and then ‘jump’ or ‘shock up’ to the ambient pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for pressure shock-induced cooling, the method comprising:
 increasing the pressure of a working fluid with the aid of a pump that maintains a circulatory fluid flow in a circulatory flow path;   isenthalpically increasing a pressure of the working fluid through a compression shock wave after the working fluid exits an evaporator tube; and   cooling the working fluid after the isenthalpic increase in the pressure of the working fluid, the cooled working fluid provided to the evaporator by the pump without passing through a heater.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising isenthalpically decreasing the pressure of the working fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein isenthalpically increasing the pressure of the working fluid occurs after isenthalpically decreasing the pressure of the working fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein isenthalpically increasing the pressure of the working fluid includes increasing the pressure of the working fluid to a pressure of about 1 bar or higher. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising increasing the pressure of the working fluid to a pressure of about 10 bar or higher before isenthalpically decreasing the pressure of the working fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein isenthalpically increasing the pressure of the working fluid to a pressure of about 10 bar or higher is facilitated by a pump. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein isenthalpically decreasing the pressure of the working fluid includes decreasing the pressure of the working fluid to a pressure less than about 0.2 bar. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising heating the working fluid following isenthalpically decreasing the pressure of the working fluid and prior to isenthalpically increasing the pressure of the working fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the heating of the working fluid includes heat transfer from a heat exchanger to the working fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling of the working fluid includes heat transfer from the working fluid to a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
         12 . A method for cooling and heating a fluid circulated through a fluid flow path, the method comprising:
 increasing the pressure of a working fluid with the aid of a pump that maintains a circulatory fluid flow in a circulatory flow path;   isenthalpically decreasing a pressure of the fluid in an evaporator;   increasing the enthalpy of the fluid at substantially constant pressure, the enthalpy of the fluid increased in the evaporator following the isenthalpic decrease in the pressure of the fluid;   isenthalpically increasing the pressure of the fluid following the increase in the enthalpy of the fluid, wherein the isenthalpic increase in the pressure of the fluid is shock-induced after the fluid exits an evaporator tube; and   decreasing the enthalpy of the fluid at substantially constant pressure after the isenthalpic increase in the pressure of the fluid, the fluid provided to the evaporator by the pump without passing through a heater.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid is circulated using a pump. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising an increase in the pressure of the fluid prior to the isenthalpic decrease in pressure of the fluid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the increase in the pressure of the fluid prior to the isenthalpic decrease in the pressure of the fluid is also isenthalpic. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the isenthalpic increase in the pressure of the fluid is to a pressure of about 1 bar or higher, and the isenthalpic decrease in the pressure of the fluid is to a pressure below about 0.2 bar. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the isenthalpic decrease in the pressure of the fluid occurs at a critical flow rate. 
     
     
         18 . A method for cooling and heating a fluid circulated through a fluid flow path, the method comprising:
 increasing the pressure of a working fluid with the aid of a pump that maintains a circulatory fluid flow in a circulatory flow path;   decreasing a pressure of the fluid in an evaporator, wherein the pressure of the fluid is decreased at substantially constant enthalpy;   heating the fluid after decreasing the pressure of the fluid, wherein the fluid is heated at substantially constant pressure;   increasing the pressure of the fluid after heating the fluid, wherein the pressure of the fluid is increased at substantially constant enthalpy, and wherein the increase in pressure of the fluid is shock-induced upon the fluid exiting the evaporator; and   cooling the fluid after increasing the pressure of the fluid, wherein the fluid is cooled at substantially constant pressure, the cooled working fluid provided to the evaporator by the pump without passing through a heater.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising increasing the pressure of the fluid prior to decreasing the pressure of the fluid in the evaporator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein increasing the pressure of the fluid prior to decreasing the pressure of the fluid includes increasing the pressure of the fluid at substantially constant enthalpy.