Air cycle heat pump techniques and system
View Patent ↗In one aspect, there is provided a heat pump system which comprises an enclosure and an electrostatic compressor. The enclosure is substantially filled with a first fluid and includes a plurality of compressor vanes, a heat exchanger, and a control module. The plurality of compressor vanes are responsive to electrical stimulus and are substantially separated from each other so that the first fluid extends to and at least partially occupies a space between adjoining pairs of the compressor vanes. The heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the first fluid in the space between the compressor vanes and to a second fluid substantially outside the enclosure. The control module is responsive to input information and includes an electrical circuit that provides the electrical stimulus to the compressor vanes. The compressor vanes respond to the electrical stimulus by compressing and releasing the first fluid between the adjoining pairs of compressor vanes.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a stack of compressor vanes, wherein:
said compressor vanes are responsive to electrical stimulus, and
one end of each of said compressor vanes contact, and said compressor vanes are separated from each other by, thermally conductive vane spacers so that a fluid at least partially occupies a space between adjacent pairs of said compressor vanes;
a heat exchanger thermally coupled to said thermally conductive vane spacers; and
an electrical circuit that provides said electrical stimulus, wherein said compressor vanes:
respond to said electrical stimulus by compressing and releasing said fluid between said adjacent pairs of said compressor vanes, and
have a structure, contour, or geometry at one or more edges such that when said compression occurs, two or more adjacent vanes make contact, isolating a portion of the fluid that is compressed, and at least some heat of said compression is thereby transferred to said thermally conductive vane spacers.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said fluid is air.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said compressor vanes has at least one electrically separate conductive region embedded therein, wherein each of said at least one electrically separate conductive region is electrically connected to at least one via, and wherein said at least one via provides an electrical connection so that said electrical stimulus provided to said compressor vane is conducted to said at least one electrically separate conductive region.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said compressor vanes is composed at least partially of a material selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber, graphite fiber, polyimide, para-aramid, aramid, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, diamond, nickel, titanium, aluminum, copper, gold, and nanotube yarns or sheets.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said compressor vanes include thermally responsive materials which change shape or dimension with temperature so that energy is recovered from said fluid.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical circuit at least partially recovers electrical energy stored in a capacitance formed between said adjacent pairs of said compressor vanes.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising seals at least at both ends of each of said compressor vanes so that leakage of said fluid compressed by said compressor vanes from said ends is reduced.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said vane spacers have curved surfaces that form an apex which protrudes into said space between said adjacent pairs of said compressor vanes.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said compressor vanes have an offset dimension to allow each of said compressor vanes to wrap around contoured ends of said each of said vanes spacers having curved surfaces.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each one of said compressor vanes has two electrically separate conductive regions embedded therein, wherein each of said electrically separate conductive regions are electrically connected to a set of vias located at said one end, and, said two electrically separate conductive regions receive said electrical stimulus through said vias.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said set of vias are connected to another set of vias located on said vane spacers through which said electrical stimulus is provided.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein a first one of said two electrically separate conductive regions is located closer to said one end of said compressor vanes than a second one of said two electrically separate conductive regions.
13. A system, comprising:
an enclosure filled with a fluid; and
an electrostatic compressor including:
a stack of compressor vanes, wherein:
said compressor vanes responsive to electrical stimulus, and
one end of each of said compressor vanes of said stack contact, and said compressor vanes are separated from each other by, thermally conductive vane spacers so that said fluid extends to and at least partially occupies a space between adjacent pairs of said compressor vanes;
a heat exchanger thermally coupled to said thermally conductive vane spacers; and
a control module including an electrical circuit that provides said electrical stimulus, wherein said compressor vanes:
respond to said electrical stimulus by compressing and releasing said fluid between said adjacent pairs of said compressor vanes, and
have a structure, contour, or geometry at one or more edges such that when said compression occurs, two or more adjacent vanes make contact, isolating a portion of the fluid that is compressed, and at least some heat of said compression is thereby transferred to said thermally conductive vane spacers.
14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said fluid flows into said enclosure from at least one intake port of said enclosure and out of said enclosure through at least one exhaust port of said enclosure.
15. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said fluid is air.
16. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein at least one of said compressor vanes is composed at least partially of a material selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber, graphite fiber, polyimide, para-aramid, aramid, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, diamond, nickel, titanium, aluminum, copper, gold, and nanotube yarns or sheets.
17. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said compressor vanes include thermally responsive materials which change shape or dimension with temperature so that energy is recovered from said fluid.
18. The system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a condenser mounted in said enclosure to collect moisture from said fluid.
19. The system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a filter mounted in said enclosure, said filter operative to filter contaminants from said fluid.
20. The system as recited in claim 13 further comprising safety screens or electrical interlocks to substantially ensure said system can be safely serviced or maintained.
21. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said enclosure is at least partially constructed from a thermally insulating material.