GB2128310A

GB2128310A - Heat pump

Info

Publication number: GB2128310A
Application number: GB08326270A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Hughes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-10-04
Filing date: 1983-09-30
Publication date: 1984-04-26
Also published as: GB2128310B; GB8326270D0

Abstract

A heat pump device for producing a temperature difference between two regions includes an evacuated outer annular container (2), and an inner annular container (6) spaced from and mounted coaxially within the outer container (2) for rotation about a common axis (4). The inner container (6) is supported in the outer container (2) by a magnetic bearing (8), and the inner container (6) holds a suitable gas. Permanent magnets (12) are spaced around the rotation path on the inner container (6), and four associated electromagnets (10) are similarly positioned on the outer container (2). In operation, the electromagnets (10) are sequentially actuated to revolve the inner container (6) at high speed thereby causing the temperature at the inner side wall (20) of the inner container (6) to fall and the temperature of the outer side wall of the inner container (6) to rise. This temperature change can be used to cool a fluid passing through the central flowpath (16) and to heat a fluid passing along an outer flowpath defined in part by the outer wall (18) of the outer container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for producing a temperature difference Technical Field The present invention relates to a device for producing a temperature difference between two regions.

In one application of the invention two separate fluid streams can be passed each through its respective region, and these fluid streams can be used for any suitable purpose, such as for example heating, cooling and power generation.

Statement of Invention According to the present invention there is provided a device for producing a temperature difference between two regions, said device comprising an evacuated outer endless tubular container, a gas containing inner endless tubular container spaced from and mounted coaxially within said outer container, said containers being relatively rotatable about their common axis, and each container being of circular section in a plane perpendicular to said common axis, a central flow path, defined by the inner side wall of the outer container, passing through the device about the common axis, an outer flow path defined partly by the outer side wall of the outer container, and drive means for producing relative rotation of the two containers.

The inner and outer tubular containers may each have any suitable transverse cross-section, such as for example a square or rectangular crosssection.

Preferably the external side surface of the inner container and the internal side surface of the outer container are given a dark matt colour, and both internal side surfaces of the inner container are silvered to reduce internal radiation.

In a preferred arrangement, the inner container is mounted in the outer container by a circular magnetic bearing. The drive means may comprise a plurality of permanent magnets spaced round the rotation path on one of the containers, and associated sequentially actuated electromagnets similarly positioned on the other container.

Figures in the Drawings One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional side elevation of one device of the invention, FIGURE 2 is a plan view from above of the device of Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is a plan view from above of the inner container of the device of Figure 1, and FIGURE 4 is a plan view from above of the bottom of the outer container.

Description of the Drawings Referring to the drawings, one device of the invention includes an endless outer container (2) of square cross-section. This container is of circular section in a plane perpendicular to a central axis (4). An inner container (6), of the same cross-section and shape as the outer container (2), is rotatably mounted in the outer container (2) by means of a circular magnetic bearing (8). Four electro-magnets (10) are mounted on the upper wall of the outer container (2). These electromagnets (10) are equally spaced on the circumference of the circle having the axis (4) as its centre. Four permanent magnets (12) are mounted on the upper side of the inner container (6).These permanent magnets (12) are spaced and positioned similarly to the electro-magnets (10), so that the four permanent magnets (12) can be located immediately beneath the respective electro-magnets (10).

The inner side wall (14) of the outer container (2) defines a central flow path (16) passing through the device. An outer flow path (not shown) is formed partly by the outer side wall (1 8) of the outer container (2). In order to reduce heat or cold losses, the upper and lower walls of both the inner and outer containers are made of a nonmetallic material. The inner and outer side walls of the inner and outer containers may be made of either a metallic or a non-metallic material. The magnetic bearing (8) may be either sloped or rounded in order to provide lateral stability for the inner container (6). The inner container (6) contains a gas, and the outer container (2) is evacuated.

In operation, the inner container (6) is rotated at high speed within the outer container (2) by sequentially actuating the electro-magnets (10) which thereby react with the permanent magnets (12) on the inner container (6). When the inner container (6) is rotating at a high speed the temperature of the gas inside the inner container decreases in the region of the inner container inner side wall (20), and increases in the region of the inner container outer side wall (22). This temperature difference is then transmitted to the inner side wall (14) and the outer side wall (18) of the outer container (2). Two streams of gas or liquid can then be passed along the central flowpath (1 6) and the outer flowpath, and these cooled and heated fluid streams can then be used for any appropriate purpose such as for example air conditioning, refrigeration, space heating or power generation.

Any gas or vapour can be used inside the inner container (6). Air is perfectly suitable, but it is a question of the higher the specific heat the better.

The pressure of the gas or vapour in the inner container (6) should be as high as possible limited only by the strength of the inner container (6).

It will be necessary for the inner container outer side wall (22) to travel at 1000-1 200 feet per second in order to obtain temperature differences of 500C between the central flowpath (16) and the outerflowpath.

If a plentiful supply of air at 200C is passed down the central flowpath (1 6) then a small amount of air at 200C passed along the outer flowpath will reach a temperature of approximately 6O0C. If this air is split into two and passed through another similar device then the resultant temperatures of the inner and outer air streams will be 400C and 800C respectively. This process can be repeated to obtain any required temperature within reasonable limits.

If a large quantity of air or water is passed down the central flowpath (16) at 200C and a small quantity of air or water is passed along the outer flowpath at 2O0C, then this air or water in the outer flowpath will be heated to 600C.

Conversely if a large quantity of air or water is passed along the outer flowpath then the temperature of a small quantity of air or water passing through the central flowpath (16) will be reduced from 200C to -200C. If a low volume is passed along both flowpaths then temperatures of OOC and 400C will result in the central and outer flowpaths respectively.

By making the upper and lower walls of both the inner and outer containers of a non-metallic material it is possible to reduce the electrical eddy current losses.

The magnetic bearing (8) may have any suitable shape in order to provide lateral stability for the inner container (6).

The external sidewalls of the inner container (6) and the internal sidewalls of the outer container (2) are painted matt black in order to assist heat transfer into the central flowpath (16) and the outer flowpath.

The magnetic bearing (8) may be sloped or rounded in order to provide lateral stability.

In order to reduce any lateral oscillations or vibrations of the inner container (6), the device includes outwardly extending brushes (24) which are mounted on the inner surface of the inner side wall (14) of the outer container (2). These brushes (24) are dimensioned to touch the inner container (6) only if the container (6) moves out of its central position. These brushes (24) thereby assist in retaining the inner container (6) in its central position. The brushes may be made of any suitable material such as for example a suitable plastics material.

Claims

1. A device for producing a temperature difference between two regions, said device comprising an evacuated outer endless tubular container, a gas containing inner endless tubular container spaced from and mounted coaxially within said outer container, said containers being relatively rotatable about their common axis, and each container being of circular section in a plane perpendicular to the common axis, a central flowpath, defined by the inner side wall of the outer container, passing through the device about said common axis, an outer flowpath, defined partly by the outer side wall of the outer container, and drive means for producing relative reotation of the two containers.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the inner container is mounted in the outer container by a circular magnetic bearing.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, in which the magnetic bearing is shaped to provide lateral stability.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the drive means comprises a plurality of permanent magnets spaced round the rotational path of one of said containers, and associated sequentially actuated electromagnets similarly positioned on the other container.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the upper and lower walls of the inner and outer containers are made of a non-metallic material.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim in which the external side surface of the inner container and the internal side surface of the outer container are of a dark matt colour.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim in which both internal side surfaces of the inner container are silvered to reduce internal radiation.

8. A device for producing a temperature difference between two regions substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.