Means, method and system for heat exchange
View Patent ↗A heat transfer device and its manufacturing method are provided. The heat transfer device has a heat transfer member defining a heat exchange surface with which a heat transportable medium contact in use and via which heat is transferable between the heat transportable medium and a working medium, and a device body for containing the heat transportable medium. The body of the device defines a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber which are in fluid communicable relationship. The body is configured to allow the heat transportable medium fluid to pass from the second chamber to the first chamber and then to the third chamber, or from the third chamber to the first chamber and then to the second chamber, and the second chamber is sandwiched or positioned between the first chamber and the third chamber in the body.
1. A heat transfer device comprising:—(a) a first heat transfer member defining a heat exchange surface with which a heat transportable medium contacts in use and via which heat is transferable between the heat transportable medium and a working medium; and
(b) a device body for containing the heat transportable medium;
wherein:—
(i) said body defines at least a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber which are in fluid communicable relationship;
(ii) said body is configured to allow the heat transportable medium to pass from said second chamber to said first chamber and then to said third chamber, or from said third chamber to said first chamber and then to said second chamber; and
(iii) said second chamber is sandwiched or otherwise positioned between said first chamber and said third chamber in said body.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said body is provided with a first passageway allowing the heat transportable medium to enter or exit said second chamber, and a second passageway allowing the heat transportable medium to enter or exit said third chamber.
3. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said first passageway is an outlet allowing the heat transportable medium to exit said body while said second passageway is an inlet allowing the heat transportable medium to enter said body or vice versa.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said heat transfer member is in direct contact with or part of said first chamber such that heat transfer between said heat transfer member and said first chamber can take place, but not in direct contact with said second chamber.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said body is provided with channels allowing the heat transportable medium to pass from said first chamber to said second chamber or vice versa.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said body is provided with channels allowing the heat transportable medium to pass from said first chamber to said third chamber or vice versa.
7. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said chambers is made of at least a pair of oppositely facing plates generally arranged in parallel to each other.
8. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first chamber and said second chamber are separated by a plate at which a plurality of openings are provided and generally evenly distributed, allowing the heat transportable medium to pass from said first chamber to said second chamber or vice versa.
9. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first chamber and said third chamber are separated by said second chamber at which a plurality of channels are provided and generally evenly distributed, allowing heat transportable medium to bypass said second chamber and pass from said first chamber to said third chamber or vice versa.
10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said body includes means for regulating flow direction of the heat transportable medium entering or exiting said first chamber, said second chamber or said third chamber.
11. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:—(a) said body further defines a fourth chamber, a fifth chamber and a sixth chamber which are in fluid communicable relationship;
(b) said body is configured to allow the heat transportable medium to pass from said fifth chamber to said fourth chamber and then to said sixth chamber, or from said sixth chamber to said fourth chamber and then to said fifth chamber; and
(c) said fifth chamber is sandwiched or otherwise positioned between said fourth chamber and said sixth chamber.
12. The device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a second heat transfer member defining a heat exchange surface with which a heat transportable medium contacts in use and via which heat is transferable between the heat transportable medium and a working medium, wherein:—(a) said body further defines a fourth chamber and a fifth chamber which together with said third chamber are in fluid communicable relationship;
(b) said body is configured to allow the heat transportable medium to pass from said fourth chamber to said fifth chamber and then to said third chamber, or from said third chamber to said fifth chamber and then to said fourth chamber; and
(c) said fourth chamber is sandwiched or otherwise positioned between said third chamber and said fifth chamber.
13. The device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a heat transporting medium including a base fluid and a solid nanofiller, wherein
surface
area
of
the
solid
nanofiller
(
AA
)
area
of
the
heat
exchange
surface
(
Aex
)
is above 100.
14. A heat transfer device for exchange of thermal energy between zones of elevated and reduced temperature, comprising:—
(a) a heat transportable medium;
(b) a device body to contain the heat transportable medium; and
(c) a heat transfer member;
wherein:—(i) said body is configured to allow the heat transportable medium to move between said zones of elevated and reduced temperature;
(ii) said heat transfer member defines a heat exchange surface with which the heat transportable medium contacts in use and via which heat is transferable between the heat transportable medium at one side of said heat transfer member and a working medium at opposite side of said heat transfer member;
(iii) said heat transportable medium includes a base fluid and a solid nanofiller; and
surface
area
of
the
solid
nanofiller
(
AA
)
area
of
the
heat
exchange
surface
(
Aex
)
is above 100.
15. The device according to claim 14 , wherein the viscosity of said heat transportable medium is from 1 to 5,000 mPa-s.
16. The device according to claim 14 , wherein at least one dimension of said solid nano filler has a thermal conductivity of more than 150 W/m.
17. A heat transfer device assembly comprising at least two said heat transfer devices as claimed in claim 1 .
18. A heat exchanger comprising a heat transfer device as claimed in claim 1 , or a heat transfer device assembly as claimed in claim 17 .
19. A method of manufacturing a heat transfer device, comprising:—
(a) providing a device body having at least a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall arranged in a layered manner such that a first cavity is defined between said first wall and said second wall, a second cavity is defined between said second wall and a third cavity is defined between said third wall and said fourth wall, and the second cavity is sandwiched or otherwise positioned between said first cavity or said third cavity;
(b) providing said walls with channels such that the first cavity, the second cavity and the third cavity are in fluid communicable relationship; and
(c) providing said device body with a first passageway allowing fluid to enter or exit the second cavity and a second passageway, and a second passageway allowing fluid to enter or exit the third cavity, such that fluid can pass enter said device body firstly into the second cavity, secondly into the first cavity and thirdly into the third cavity and then exiting said device body, or firstly into the third cavity, secondly into the first cavity and thirdly into the second cavity and then exiting said device body.
20. The method as claimed in claim 16 , comprising prefabricating at least one of said walls.