FR2640361A1 - Heat pump which uses variations in temperatures undergone by a gas which runs through the gravitational field or that of the centrifugal force - Google Patents

Abstract

Heat pumps of small size which use the centrifugal force (field) to provide extensive cooling. The invention includes a centrifuge which rotates about the shaft DA and in which there flows a gas accelerated by a propeller secured to the shaft DA. The gas travels through the circuit BCDOMNJ in pipes which are thermally insulated, except the levels C and MAN. At the level BC, it has the temperature t2. At the level C, it gives up heat energy to the external medium, and it passes to the temperature t1. Between C and D, it works against the centrifugal field (force) which cools it down to the temperature t1- DEG . Between D and O, it is propelled by the propeller secured to the shaft. At the level MN, it takes heat energy from the enclosure E, which raises its temperature. It then arrives at the level B at the temperature t2. The gas will take heat energy from the enclosure E until this enclosure is in thermal equilibrium with the temperature t1 - i DEG .

Description

 The present invention relates to the technology of heat pumps which use the temperature variations undergone by a gas which traverses the field of gravitation or that of the centrifugal force. This cooling is obtained quickly, up to very low temperatures, with devices of small dimensions, usable as well for household uses, as, for those, industrial ones interesting the data processing, cu the phenomena of levitation.

 To understand the operation of these machines, let us study on a theoretical model, the variations of pressure and temperatures, undergone by a gas circulating in circuits of sufficient heights (up to several thousands of meters) and subjected to the earth's gravitational force. that we will assume invariable.

 We have two adjacent circuits (Fig.I): a) the circuit ABCD, in which the gas circulates in the direction ABCD and, b) the circuit EFGH, in which the gas circulates in the direction HEFG.

 At level B, the gas in circuit a) is brought to temperature tI by a cold source S. Its pressure is in. The gas (for example lthslium) has the density #tIpo, that is to say that of helium at the temperature tI and the pressure po.

The density of helium at 0 c and the pressure IG5
Pascals being O, I7% its density #tIpo is equal to # 273 x in = 0.179 x 273 x in
t1 105 t1 105
The gas having circulated from C to D, its temperature went from tIO to (tI - h α)(α being the cooling coefficient due to gravity.

 For a meter difference in level from C to D, a Kg mass of gas ef 9.81 performs the work of IKgm = 9.81 joules = 4180 large calories.

If Cv is the specific heat of the gas, one meter of difference in level produces a cooling of 9.81 and for h meters, it will be
4180 x Cv 9.81 h 4180 x Cv for for helium Cv = 0.75 and t = 0.003I29I
If we admit that the gas circulates very slowly between C and D, we can admit that the pressure variations are those of a gas in equilibrium, and, the density of which is a function of pressure and temperature.

As if it were a perfect gas, we will not involve a temperature variation depending on the pressure, the work fMrni by the gas to the upper layers, is compensated by that which it receives from the lower layers: (Joule Thompson effect)
Thus, at level h, the pressure is phtI and la. htI temperature
The weight of the gas mass at this level is:

The temperature tIh is equal to tI -
We therefore have for the negative variation of weight, from C to D dp = - # o 273 x --- gx dh
Pht1 t1-h α 105 whose integration gives
Log

d'où en prenant les exponentielles

Log Pht1

hence taking the exponentials

So at the hd level the gas will have the temperature tI-hdX
Let us then examine the variations in pressure and temperature of the gas circulating in the HEFG circuit
For this we establish a temperature exchanger at the level
DH, between the two gases.

This temperature exchange is such that the gas arriving at level H and belonging to the EFGH circuit is cooled to the temperature of t1- h α or tI - (hd) α
Arrived at level E, the gas of circuit (b) or EFGH will have the temperature of t1.

If the pressure at level EF is PEF, the density of the gas at level E will be 273 PEF #o t1 x 105
At level F, we have placed a heat source which brings the gas from temperature t1 to temperature t2.

Its density at level F will then be dto 273 PEF #o t2 x 105
At Pht2 level it will be as before

The same calculations that previously give us as pressure at the level

 If the gas circulates slowly, we have in the circuit (b), a gas whose temperature goes from tI to t1-h α between E and H, and the temperature goes from t2 to t2-h α in the FG column.

At level GH, the pressure difference between the two columns level GH) will be:

It will therefore be possible to collect work by placing a thermal machine between levels G and X, by applying the formula:
1
mv = pht2 - pht1
2
If we consider that we have provided at level F, a quantity of heat Q to pass the gas from temperature tI to temperature t2; this amount of heat for the gas (perfect Y arrived at level G will be
Q = (t1 t t2) x C px 1000 x #o 273 x pht2 t2-h α 105
By replacing Pht2 with its draw value of (I), we will have:

Let us see under which conditions, the two equations (I) and (2) can be equal (theoretical); so let's write Pht2 - Pht1 = Q let

By dividing the member on the left by the member on the right, and simplifying by PEF, we will have:

If we take helium as gas, and the temperatures t2 = 100 K and tI = 99 K, we will have with Cp = I, 25 and Qo = O, I79 99) 1.5319805x (100-hx0.0031291) 1, 5319805 I00-hx 0.0031291
100 99-hx0.0031291 = 99.3891625 - hx 0.0031291 0.98472I x (31958.07 - h) 1.5319805 = 31958.07 - h (4)
31 638.49 - h 31 762.859 - h
By examining equation (3) we see that for h = 0, the first member is equal to I, and the member on the right is greater than I
By examining the same equation for the strong (4), we see that in the left member, when h approaches 3I638 meters the value of this member becomes enormous, while the left member remains slightly greater than I (having increased moderately). ).

 The two members of equation 4 are r presented by hyperbolas.

The moment when these two curves comment to increase rapidly is that when the slope of the curve East of 45, that is to say where the derivative = I; so u'v-uv '320.49
v = either for h = 31 318,0m.

(31638.49 - h)
The temperature of the helium at DH level should then be 990 - 31318 x 0.0031291 = 990 - 97, 97I54 or close to 1 K, that is to say close to absolute zero.

 We are therefore close to the Carnot conditions where T1 is approximately zeroK, and where the yield is theoretically equal to I.

 However, helium is not a completely perfect gas, since at the level close to OPK, it presents phenomena difficult to control, such as superconductivity, superfluidity ...

 A machine operating according to the principle indicated, will require a technology probably not yet existing to give these yields.

 However, there are current technologies, making it possible, by gas relaxation, to obtain cooling close to absolute zero; but it remains to be determined whether the energy deployed to obtain this type of cooling, for example between two kelvin degrees, towards, zero point five K, is lower than the energy produced by the gas working between ambient temperatures and for example 0 , 5QK, in the example cited.

 It therefore seems more realistic to us to use, initially, the gravitational force (force or centrifugal field), to produce rapid and very significant lowerings of t, at least for the use of households, and for that, industrial touching on the use of computers, or the exploitation of the superconductive properties touching on the levitation, dnt we will speak again.

 To achieve these temperature reductions, the machine will operate according to cycle a) (fig. 1), that is to say that the gas is driven at the level AD, by a pump, (propeller) integral, and located in the axis of the centrifuge.

 The diagram of the machine, according to this principle will be that in fig. 2.

 The machine turns around the DA exe, at an angular speed W, and developing an acceleration equal to ng.

 The gas is cooled to level C by ambient air (for example).

 It is sucked along C towards D towards A by the propeller H which brings the gas to traverse the path OMNJ.

 At this level, the gas temperature, which was tI at level C, then tI-hqK at level 0, will also be tI-hqZ at level A.

If the walls between C and D, then between J and B, are thermally insulated, except at levels A, then C; the gas cooled to level A, will take calories from the enclosure E, which brings its temperature to tI-hf + Q = t2-hq
Arrived at C, it gives up its calories to the outside environment, and dies at temperature tI.

 In total, we will have spent a certain energy W, to bring the enclosure E, to pass from the temperature ti to the temperature ti- u.

 The lowering of temperature is linked to the factor hy, ie to the centrifugal 'field'.

 To have significant cooling, it would therefore be necessary either to use strong centrifugal field forces or to put stages in series.

 The diagram in FIG. 3 gives us a model of such a temperature exchanger, making it possible, from moderate fields, to obtain cooling close to one or two kelvin degrees.

 In this example, stage (I) contains a gas of high atomic weight, and of critical point located at low temperature. For example we will have either Freon 14, but it has a specific heat to be specified, or Krypton, whose molecular weight is 80 and a sufficiently low specific heat, permcttant, for a difference in height of '1200' 'meters', d '' have temperatures close to 150 su.

Lethal 2, with argon PA = 40 can bring the temperature towards IOOaK;
Stage 3, with neon will bring it towards 700K;
Between stage I and stage 2, there is a gas with very high thermal diffusion power, such as hydrogen, which is not subjected to centrifugal force, except at the level of the walls, where it undergoes friction.

 Likewise, between stage 2 and stage 3, there is hydrogen.

 But, when the temperature is sufficiently low, it will be necessary to use helium, both for it to undergo centrifugal acceleration, and to diffuse the temperatures between the stages.

 We will thus have, with a certain expenditure of energy obtained quickly, and in a stable way, from low volume devices, temperatures allowing an industrial use, like the functioning of computers, where the exploitation of superconducting.

 About this last use, it was mentioned the operation of high speed trains, which would be a futuristic project: for example, we would build a straight, horizontal tunnel, while being superficial, going from Paris to Moscow, ( we can always dream). This tunnel would have isolated walls, and brought to the levitation temperature. In this tunnel, we will have made a sufficient vacuum. We see then, that under all these conditions, a system of Wagons, built with the techniques of supersonnic planes, will be able to carry travelers at speeds unknown to date. Indeed, this type of train could be accelerated by electromagnetic fields the way physicists accelerate electrons. All these futuristic conditions fulfilled, a trip from Paris to Moscow, could last less than thirty minutes.

 Finally, in the hypothetical field, these low temperatures could be used to cool machines (centrifuges) operating according to diagram b) of FIG.

This gives the diagram of figure 4, where the machine b) evacuates the rest of heat towards I (diagram a)
The efficiency of the machine being for example greater than 90%, it would remain to be known whether the energy expended to evacuate the 10% of calories remaining will not be too important for the final efficiency of the system.

 It would remain to be seen, if the gas flow is carried out following a helical path which facilitates the rise of the gas towards the axis of the centrifuge, then which facilitates its escape towards the periphery would not bring between D and OMN (fig. 2 ) an additional pressure difference, bringing the desired cooling.

 This gives the diagram in fig.5, where everything happens as if going up, the gas works against an acceleration less than g; whereas for the descents this acceleration is higher.

Claims (1)

Claims: I- 3 heat pump characterized by the use of a centrifuge, to cool a gas. II- Heat pump according to claim I, in which the gas is accelerated by a propeller secured to the axis of the centrifuge. III- Heat pump according to claims I and II, in which the cooled gas which circulates in the axis of the centrifuge is used to cool an enclosure. IV- Heat pump according to claims I, II, and II comprising a large number of stages, making it possible to approach the liquefaction temperature of helium at the considered pressures. V- Heat pump according to claim IV, in which the gases used are, xenon, freon 12 or 14, Krypton, argon, freon, helium; hydrogen is used as a temperature diffuser.  VI- Heat pump according to the preceding claims, in which the gas circulates between thermally insulated walls, except at the places where heat exchanges take place.