Heat capture, transfer and release for industrial applications

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for heat transfer at temperatures in the range of −40° C. to 1,300° C. over long distances with minimal heat losses. The systems consist of advanced heat pipes configured such that they fit inside drilling holes or in horizontal distance over industrial plants, and effectively transfer heat requiring minimal water, CO2, or steam injection, and that operate without user intervention for many years.

1 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A heat management system comprising one or more heat transfer devices selected from the group consisting of conventional heat pipes, advanced heat pipes, thermosyphons, heat spreaders, pulsating or loop heat pipes, steam pipes or combinations thereof assembled into an entity providing continuous thermal communication adapted to capture, transfer, and release heat at temperatures in the range of −40° C. to 1,300° C. at a distance of from 0.1 m to 14 km with a temperature loss from capture to release between 0% and 40% of a temperature at a source of the heat to be transferred, wherein the heat thus transported is from one or more heat sources, and wherein the heat transfer devices capture or provide heat for at least one application. 
     
     
         31 . A heat management system comprising a plurality of heat transfer devices selected from the group consisting of conventional heat pipes, advanced heat pipes, thermosyphons, heat spreaders, pulsating or loop heat pipes, steam pipes, or combinations thereof assembled into an entity providing continuous thermal communication, adapted to capture, transfer, and release heat at temperatures in the range of −40° C. to 1,300° C. at a distances of from 0.1 m to 14 km, with a temperature loss from capture to release between 0% and 40% of a temperature at a source of the heat to be transferred, wherein the heat thus transferred is from one or more heat sources, and wherein the heat transfer devices capture or provide heat for at least one application. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the heat transfer devices have one or more wicks. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the heat transfer devices have no wicks. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the heat transfer devices comprise multiple sections, the sections being selected from evaporators, heat transfer sections, and condensers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the sections comprise a wick characteristic selected from no wicks, full wicks, partial wicks, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one application is selected from power plants, geothermal energy production, enhanced oil recovery, gas recompression, water desalination, metallurgical processing, chemical and petrochemical operations and production, pulp and paper industries, plastic and rubber operations, refractory industry, glassmaking operations, mining operations, plywood and oriented strand board manufacturing, fermentation, fertilizer production, industrial gas production, military applications, solar energy production, rubber manufacturing, and oil refineries. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the heat transfer devices comprise an encapsulating material manufactured from the group of materials consisting of steel, copper and its alloys, titanium and its alloys, aluminum and its alloys, nickel and chromium alloys, wound metal foils, wire screens and scaffolds. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the encapsulating material of the heat transfer devices includes a metal, plastic, or ceramic composition that is non-reactive with respect to the variety of heat sources, non-reactive with respect to a heat transfer medium, and non-reactive with respect to the heat source. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the heat transfer device comprises different metals and alloys comprising varying thermal conductivities. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein different individual wicked heat transfer devices are joined such that a joined wick structure exists, having continuity compatible with capillary action along the length, the continuity permitting thermal communication of internal working materials throughout the length, and wherein the internal working materials are selected from the group consisting of fluids, solids that sublimate, materials having multiple chemical hydration levels, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the wick structure comprises multiple layers having different porosities. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the wick structure comprises an internal wick structure comprising an axial wick. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the wick structure comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of sintered metals, metal screens, grooves, oxides, borates, solids that sublimate, materials with different chemical hydration levels, nano-particles, nanopores, nanotubes, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The system of claim  14 , wherein different materials are used at different positions along the length, and wherein the materials are selected to optimize heat capture and release, while minimizing heat loss. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the wick is formed by spraying, painting, baking, PVD, CVD, or pyrolysis of organic compounds. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the wick is formed by thermally decomposing a slurry of metal particles in a liquid metal precursor. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the encapsulating tube comprises a wound strip of thin foil. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the wound strip structure is pre-coated with wick material before being formed into tubular assemblies around metal scaffolds comprising mesh screens. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein gaps in the wound tube are sealed by a separate wound strip. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the amount of working material is in excess of what is needed to saturate the internal wick structure. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the working material in the heat transfer devices has phase change temperature in the range of −40° C. and 1,300° C. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the heat transfer device comprises a valve proximate to one end in order to control and maintain partial vacuum. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein vertical heat transfer devices of up to 14 km in length are installed to prevent the physical degradation or breakage of the heat transfer devices, wherein the weight of the heat transfer device is neutralized by at least one buoyant balloon, at least one helicopter, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 30 , where the heat transfer devices are installed using at least one installation aid selected from a crane, a helicopter, a balloon, a wheel, an oil rig, and a tower, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein heat transfer devices of 3-7 Km in length are installed without physical degradation or breakage of such heat transfer devices, and wherein the heat transfer device is wound around a wheel of 100-500 feet in diameter that minimizes the curvature of the heat transfer device. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 30 , where the heat transfer devices are insulated. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein pulsating heat pipes are made by encapsulating a thin metal or alloy layer in a strong metal screen to resist pressure pulses. 
     
     
         58 . A method of heat capture, transfer and release, using the system of  claim 30 . 
     
     
         59 . A method for manufacturing the system of  claim 30 , comprising the steps of:
 selecting the type of heat transfer device from the group consisting of conventional heat pipes, advanced heat pipes, thermosyphons, spreader heatpipes, loop heat pipes, pulsating heat pipes, steam pipes and any combination thereof;   selecting a method of joining heat transfer device elements from at least one method the group consisting of soldering, brazing, welding, threading, foil winding, mechanical fittings, encapsulating thermal fluids, and any combination thereof;   selecting a type of wick structure from the group consisting of sintered metal, axial wick, metal screens, grooves, any combination thereof, and no wick material;   selecting the internal working material from the group consisting of aqueous solutions, eutectic salt mixtures, organic thermal fluids, and high-temperature metals and alloys that liquefy at temperatures in the range of −40° C. to 1,300° C., solids that sublimate, and materials with different chemical hydration levels;   applying the joining method, wick structure, and working fluid thus selected; and   sealing the heat transfer device under vacuum.