US20170241675A1

US20170241675A1 - Cooling system powered by thermal energy and related methods

Info

Publication number: US20170241675A1
Application number: US15/049,857
Authority: US
Inventors: Garret Thomas Autry
Original assignee: Autry Industrial LLC
Current assignee: Autry Industrial LLC
Priority date: 2016-02-22
Filing date: 2016-02-22
Publication date: 2017-08-24

Abstract

Cooling systems and methods with high efficiency and of compact design are disclosed. In an aspect, cooling systems and methods are disclosed that are capable of generating thermal energy that powers at least some of the components of the disclosed cooling systems. Such cooling systems and methods may utilize heat energy transfers into and out of an internal fluid that undergoes substantial changes in pressure states such that the changes in pressure states of the internal fluid generate mechanical power that may be converted into usable energy by other portions of the system. Such cooling systems and methods may be capable of removing unwanted heat from building interiors, various pieces of machinery, electrical components, and spaces proximal to industrial and commercial processes.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to cooling systems and more particularly to cooling systems that are configured to use thermal energy to provide an efficient cooling effect for industrial processes and equipment, as well as residential and commercial spaces, and methods for utilizing such cooling systems.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Many pieces of industrial equipment and the processes they facilitate generate a substantial amount of heat during use. Usually, excess heat is unwanted in that it can create hazardous conditions, such as when nearby substances are flammable. Additionally, various mechanical and electrical components associated with the equipment may become damaged when heated beyond certain temperature ranges, thereby leading to substantial financial losses from unnecessarily high maintenance and repair costs.
In addition to industrial issues, temperature regulation has been a long-time concern for internal building spaces as well. Preventing temperatures within indoor spaces occupied by humans and/or animals from getting too high is necessary in order to maintain reasonable levels of comfort, productivity, and habitability for the occupants of buildings, especially those constructed in particularly warm climates.
In order to prevent and/or delay the negative effects that are associated with excess heat, cooling systems have long been utilized to regulate the temperature of industrial equipment and processes as well as building interiors. Even as early as the second century, simple mechanical cooling devices were utilized to aid in human comfort. These devices have been redeveloped substantially over hundreds of years in order to provide more significant and/or efficient results, leading to the ice makers, air conditioners, and other modern-day cooling systems that we regularly see all around us. Examples of popular modern cooling systems include wet cooling towers, air cooled condensers, and HVAC units, just to name a few. While these systems and others like them have proven essential to human advancement and, in some cases, survival, they are often problematic in that they require a lot of energy to operate, take up a lot of space (especially land), require more material than necessary to be constructed, and/or require a substantial amount of water to function, such water being an ever-increasing scarcity in some parts of the world.
Given the foregoing, cooling systems and methods are needed that allow industrial equipment and/or processes, as well as the interiors of commercial and residential structures to be temperature controlled in a more efficient way. Additionally, industrial, commercial, and residential cooling systems and methods are needed that take up less space and require less material to make than those that are currently available. Cooling systems and methods that require little or no water to function are also desired.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts. These concepts are further described below in the Detailed Description section. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of this disclosure's subject matter, nor is this Summary intended as an aid in determining the scope of the disclosed subject matter.
Aspects of the present disclosure meet the above-identified needs by providing cooling systems and methods that provide a cooling effect to various substances, spaces, processes, and/or equipment by capturing thermal energy from within the cooling system and using it to power the cooling system itself. Specifically, in an aspect, cooling systems and methods are disclosed that may comprise a heat exchanger, a compressor, an expander, and a condenser, all interconnected via a series of high and low pressure pipes. An internal fluid, such as a liquid, gas, or supercritical fluid, may be contained within the pipes and dispersed through the cooling system. Heat may be taken into the cooling system by a heat exchanger and transferred to the internal fluid, which is then sent through high pressure piping to the expander, where it expands and moves from a relatively high pressure state to a relatively low pressure state, thereby producing mechanical energy that may be captured and converted to a form of energy that may be used to supply mechanical and/or electrical power to the compressor via a form of mechanical transmission, a circuit with an electric generator and/or motor, or similar means. Once the internal fluid leaves the expander, it may travel to the condenser via low pressure piping where heat may be allowed to dissipate from the fluid to an external body, thereby lowering the temperature of the fluid. Upon leaving the condenser, the fluid may travel through low pressure piping to the compressor, where it is compressed from a low pressure state to a high pressure state via power transferred from the expander. The compressed fluid is then piped through high pressure piping back to the heat exchanger, where it receives more heat and thereby begins a new cooling cycle.
In some aspects, cooling systems and methods in accordance with the present disclosure may additionally comprise a heat pump. In such aspects, the heat pump may be configured to remove heat from the fluid before it enters the compressor, thereby lowering the amount of energy needed to compress the fluid from a low pressure state to a high pressure state. The heat pump may further serve to transfer the heat removed from the fluid, along with heat generated by the various components of the cooling system itself, and input it back into the fluid just before it enters the expander, thereby increasing the amount of internal energy in the fluid so that when it enters the expander and moves to a lower pressure state, more energy is generated. By capturing heat energy generated by the cooling system, waste is prevented in that all cooling systems produce heat energy that usually gets dissipated into the surrounding environment without serving a useful purpose.
In some additional aspects, cooling systems and methods in accordance with the present disclosure may further comprise a regenerator. In such aspects, the regenerator may comprise a heat exchange device that may function to transfer heat from the fluid in the low pressure piping to the fluid in the high pressure piping at critical points in order to reduce the amount of heat transfer needed within the heat exchanger and the condenser, serving to increase the overall efficiency of the cooling system.
Further features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well as the structure and operation of various aspects of the present disclosure, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the Detailed Description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram depicting an exemplary cooling system, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram depicting an exemplary cooling system, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram depicting an exemplary cooling system, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1D is a block diagram depicting an exemplary cooling system, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary cooling process, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary cooling process, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2C is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary cooling process, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2D is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary cooling process, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to cooling systems and methods that have increased efficiency in use, are relatively compact in size, and require little or no water to function. Aspects of the present disclosure provide cooling systems and methods that use thermal energy as at least one source of power. Specifically, in an aspect, cooling systems and methods are disclosed that utilize thermal energy differences within a cooling system itself, as well as thermal energy generated by such cooling systems to provide energy to various parts of those cooling systems, as well as help make said systems operate more efficiently. Additionally, the relatively compact size of the cooling systems and methods in accordance with the present disclosure may allow them to require less space to be installed and less material to be built.
The term “cooling system” and/or the plural form of this term are used throughout herein to refer to any apparatus, device, or appliance used to control the temperature of a certain object, process, and/or area, such as inside commercial and residential buildings, auxiliary and manufacturing equipment that is being used, thermoelectric power generation processes, and the like.
The term “internal fluid” and/or the plural form of this term may be used throughout herein to refer to any fluid that may be utilized to facilitate operation of cooling systems and processes in accordance with the present disclosure, including liquids, gases, and supercritical fluids. By way of example and not limitation, the “internal fluid” may comprise one or more fluids capable of effectively absorbing and dissipating heat as well as undergoing substantial changes in pressure. Fluids that may comprise the “internal fluid” may include halocarbons, water, supercritical carbon dioxide, as well as any other appropriate fluid as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, and any combination thereof.
Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1D, block diagrams depicting an exemplary cooling system 100, according to various aspects of the present disclosure, are shown.
As shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, cooling system 100 may comprise heat exchanger 102, expander 106, compressor 110, condenser 112, high pressure piping 114, and low pressure piping 116. In some aspects, cooling system 100 may comprise additional numbers of any of these components in order to alter its performance and/or efficiency, as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein.
An internal fluid may be contained within cooling system 100 and may travel to the various components thereof via high pressure piping 114 and low pressure piping 116. High pressure piping 114 may be configured to contain the internal fluid when it is in a relatively high pressure state, while low pressure piping 116 may be configured to contain the internal fluid when it is in a relatively low pressure state. The internal fluid may comprise any appropriate fluid that is sufficiently capable of quickly absorbing and dissipating heat, as well as withstanding substantial and timely changes in pressure states. The internal fluid may comprise one or more liquids, gases, or supercritical fluids, or any combination thereof. By way of example and not limitation, the internal fluid may comprise halocarbons, water, supercritical carbon dioxide, or any other appropriate fluid as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein.
Heat exchanger 102 may be configured to exchange and/or transfer heat energy from a heat source to the internal fluid. Heat sources may include building interiors, pieces of machinery, electronic components, spaces proximal to industrial or commercial processes, and the like. In some aspects wherein machinery, electronics, and/or processes need to be cooled, heat exchanger 102 may take in heat energy from the fluid (usually air or water) surrounding such machinery, electronics, and/or processes. In some aspects, heat exchanger 102 may function without exposing the internal fluid to the heat source. By way of example and not limitation, heat exchanger 102 may comprise a tube and shell design, a plate design, a direct contact configuration, or any other appropriate format as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein.
Expander 106 may comprise any appropriate configuration as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, including a reciprocating expander, a centrifugal expander, and the like. Expander 106 may be configured to adjust the internal fluid from a relatively high pressure state to a relatively low pressure state in a relatively short amount of time, thereby generating mechanical energy via the expansion of the internal fluid. By using mechanical transmission, an electric motor and/or generator in circuit, or any other appropriate technique as may be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, the mechanical energy generated by expander 106 may be harnessed and transferred in mechanical or electrical form and used to at least partially power compressor 110. In some aspects, expander 106 generates more than enough energy to power compressor 110. In such aspects, the excess energy generated by expander 106 may be converted to usable electricity by one or more generators external from cooling system 100.
Condenser 112 may comprise an air-cooled condenser, a water-cooled condenser, or any other appropriate type of condenser as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Condenser 112 may facilitate the dissipation of heat from the internal fluid passing through it to a space and/or object outside of cooling system 100.
Compressor 110 may be configured to adjust the internal fluid from a relatively low pressure state to a relatively high pressure state. As stated previously, compressor 110 may be at least partially powered by energy generated by expander 106.
In some aspects, cooling system 100 further comprises heat pump 104. Heat pump 104 may comprise a device configured to move heat from a medium of relatively low temperature to a medium of relatively high temperature (opposite of spontaneous heat flow). Heat pump 104 may be configured to remove heat from the internal fluid right before it enters compressor 110, thereby reducing the amount of energy needed to adjust the internal fluid from its relatively low pressure state to its relatively high pressure state. Similarly, heat pump 104 may also be configured to add heat to the internal fluid right before it enters expander 106, thereby increasing the amount of mechanical energy generated by expander 106 when the internal fluid is adjusted from its relatively high pressure state to its relatively low pressure state. Heat pump 104 may require a power input to function. Such a power input may come from sources internal to cooling system 100, including power that may be generated by cooling system 100, as well as from sources external from cooling system 100.
In some aspects, cooling system 100 may further comprise regenerator 108. Regenerator 108 may be a type of heat exchange device that is configured in a tube and shell format, a plate format, a direct contact format, or in any other appropriate configuration as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Regenerator 108 may be configured to move heat energy from internal fluid that is in its relatively high pressure state within high pressure piping 114 to internal fluid that is in its relatively low pressure state within low pressure piping 116. Regenerator 108 may perform this function without requiring the internal fluid within high pressure piping 114 to come in direct contact with the internal fluid within low pressure piping 116. Regenerator 108 may be positioned to perform these tasks after the internal fluid has left compressor 110 and expander 106, when it is at a relatively cool and relatively warm temperature, respectively. By mitigating such temperature differences, regenerator 108 may help reduce the amount of heat energy transfer needed within heat exchanger 102 and condenser 112, thereby helping cooling system 100 function more efficiently and reducing the necessary sizes of heat exchanger 102 and condenser 112, allowing cooling system 100 to require less space in which to be installed as well as requiring a lower manufacturing cost.
In selecting an appropriate internal fluid for use in cooling system 100, it may be beneficial to select an internal fluid that allows for more energy to be generated by expander 106 than is required by 110, thereby allowing for cooling apparatus 100 to be at least partially self-powered, thereby allowing it to perform a self-cooling effect to a certain extent. Heat exchanger 102, heat pump 104, regenerator 108, and condenser 112 may be of such appropriate sizes so as to allow for the necessary thermodynamic states of the selected internal fluid that allow cooling system 100 to function.
The various components of cooling system 100, and particularly those that facilitate the transfer and/or exchange of heat energy, such as heat exchanger 102, heat pump 104, regenerator 108, and condenser 112, may be constructed of materials that are substantially resistant to wear, corrosion, and chemical or flow related damage while maintaining appropriate levels of heat transfer capabilities. Various components of cooling system 100, especially those comprised of different materials, may be isolated from each other as well as their operational environment as needed or desired. Appropriate materials for constructing the various components of cooling system 100 may include, without limitation, carbon steel, stainless steel, copper-nickel, aluminum, other metals and/or alloys, high density plastics, other polymers, as well as other materials as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Some or all of the components of cooling system 100 may be used repeatedly. By way of example and not limitation, cooling system 100 may comprise two heat exchangers 102, three heat pumps, etc.
Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2D, flowcharts illustrating exemplary cooling process 200, according to aspects of the present disclosure, are shown.
As shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, process 200 may be implemented using cooling system 100, any combination of the components of cooling system 100, or any other similar system, device(s), or apparatus as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Process 200 may be used to provide a cooling effect to building interiors, machinery, electronics, processes, and the like.
Process 200 begins at step 202 and immediately proceeds to step 204.
At step 204, heat exchanger 102 takes in heat from a heat source and adds it to the relatively high pressure internal fluid. After being heated, the high pressure internal fluid is taken to heat pump 104 via high pressure piping 114. Process 200 then proceeds to step 206. In some aspects, cooling system 100 does not include heat pump 104. In such aspects, step 206 may be skipped and process 200 may proceed to step 208.
At step 206, more heat is added to the high pressure internal fluid via heat pump 104. This heat may come from the heat generated by the operation of cooling system 100, from heat previously removed from relatively low pressure internal fluid at the inlet of compressor 110, from an external power source, or any other appropriate source as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Heating the high pressure internal fluid as much as possible before entering expander 106 may allow for more energy to be generated by the internal fluid upon being expanded within expander 106. Once the high pressure internal fluid has been sufficiently heated, it is taken to expander 106 via high pressure piping 114. Process 200 then proceeds to step 208.
At step 208, the internal fluid within expander 106 gets expanded and is thereby altered from a relatively high pressure state to a relatively low pressure state in a relatively short amount of time, thereby generating mechanical energy while lowering the temperature of the internal fluid. This mechanical energy may be converted to an energy form capable of powering compressor 110, either electrical or mechanical. Such conversion may be facilitated by mechanical transmission techniques, an electric generator and/or motor in circuit, or by any other appropriate means as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Energy that is generated in excess of what is required by compressor 110 may be stored for later use, transferred to other components of cooling system 100 in order to provide power thereto, converted to electricity by one or more generators for uses external from cooling system 100, or used for any other appropriate purpose as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. After the expansion of the internal fluid has been completed, the expanded low pressure internal fluid may be transported to regenerator 108 via low pressure piping 116. Process 200 then proceeds to step 210. In some aspects, cooling system 100 does not include regenerator 108. In such aspects, step 210 may be skipped and process 200 may proceed to step 212.
At step 210, regenerator 108 transfers heat from the low pressure internal fluid in low pressure piping 116 to the high pressure internal fluid in high pressure piping 114. This helps mitigate the temperature difference between the relatively hot low pressure fluid coming from expander 106 and the relatively cool high pressure fluid coming from compressor 110. This helps reduce the amount of heat transfer required to be performed by heat exchanger 102 and condenser 112, which serves to increase the overall operational efficiency of cooling system 100 and process 200, generally. Upon leaving regenerator 108, the lower pressure internal fluid may be taken by low pressure piping 116 to condenser 112. Process 200 then proceeds to step 212.
At step 212, heat is transferred from the low pressure internal fluid to an external body and/or space by condenser 112, thereby lowering the temperature of the internal fluid. In some aspects, the heat dissipated by condenser 112 is captured and supplied to other portions of cooling system 100 for later use, such as heat pump 104. Once an appropriate amount of heat has been removed from the low pressure internal fluid, it may be taken from condenser 112 to heat pump 104 via low pressure piping 116. Process 200 then proceeds to step 214. In some aspects wherein cooing system 100 does not include heat pump 104, step 214 may be skipped and process 200 may proceed to step 216.
At step 214, more heat is removed from the low pressure internal fluid by heat pump 104, thereby making it cooler than it was when it left condenser 112. Having the low pressure internal fluid at as cool of a temperature as possible may make it easier to compress within compressor 110, thereby requiring less power to be used by compressor 110 and resulting in an increased level of efficiency for cooling system 100 as well as process 200, generally. In some aspects, heat that is removed from the low pressure internal fluid by heat pump 104 may be stored by heat pump 104 or an appropriate heat storage component and added to the high pressure internal fluid at step 206, or saved and stored for other purposes as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Once a sufficient amount of heat has been removed from the low pressure internal fluid, the low pressure internal fluid may be taken to compressor 110 via low pressure piping 116. Process 200 then proceeds to step 216.
At step 216, compressor 110 compresses the internal fluid from its low pressure state to a higher pressure state, thereby increasing its temperature. In some aspects, compressor 110 may be at least partially powered by energy generated by expander 106 at step 208 and transferred to compressor 110 via an energy transmission system, including any mechanical and/or electrical energy transfer techniques as may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein. Process 200 then proceeds to step 218.
At step 220, it is determined whether process 200 should be repeated. Typically, if more cooling needs to be done, then process 200 will be continued indefinitely until its cooling effects are no longer required. If it is determined that process 200 should be repeated, then process 200 proceeds back to step 204 as part of another cooling cycle. At step 218, in aspects wherein cooling system 100 comprises regenerator 108, then the high pressure internal fluid may be taken by high pressure piping 114 through regenerator 108 to absorb heat from the low pressure internal fluid in low pressure piping 116 before being sent to and heated again by heat exchanger 102. If it is determined that process 200 should not be repeated, then process 200 proceeds to step 222.
At step 222, process 200 is terminated and process 200 ends.
It is noted that the order of the steps of process 200, including the starting point, may be altered without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein.
While various aspects of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary aspects, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
In addition, it should be understood that the figures in the attachments, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionality and advantages of the present disclosure, are presented for example purposes only. The present disclosure is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures (e.g., utilization with different cooling apparatus; utilization of different power sources and devices other than those mentioned herein). As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, certain features from different aspects of the apparatus and components of the present disclosure may be combined to form yet new aspects of the present disclosure.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the relevant art(s) who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of this technical disclosure. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cooling system configured to remove an amount of heat energy from a heat source, the cooling system comprising:

an internal fluid;

at least one section of piping;

at least one heat exchange device configured to transfer heat energy from the heat source to the internal fluid;

at least one expanding device configured to adjust the pressure of the internal fluid from a first pressure state to a second pressure state;

at least one condenser device configured to facilitate dissipation of heat energy from the internal fluid; and

at least one compressor device configured to adjust the pressure of the internal fluid from the second pressure state to the first pressure state;

wherein the first pressure state is at least slightly higher than the second pressure state.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, the cooling system further comprising:

at least one heat pump configured to transfer heat energy either into our out of the internal fluid.

3. The cooling system of claim 2, wherein the heat energy that the at least one heat pump transfers into the internal fluid originates from at least one of: heat energy removed from the internal fluid just prior to entering the compressor device and heat energy generated by the functioning of the cooling system itself.

4. The cooling system of claim 1, the cooling system further comprising:

a second section of piping; and

a regenerator device, wherein the regenerator device is a heat exchange device configured to transfer heat energy between internal fluid in the at least one section of piping and internal fluid in the second section of piping.

5. The cooling system of claim 4, wherein the internal fluid in the at least one section of piping is at the first pressure state and the internal fluid in the second section of piping is at the second pressure state.

6. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the internal fluid is at least one of: a liquid, a gas, and a supercritical fluid.

7. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the at least one expanding device is further configured to generate mechanical energy when the at least one expanding device adjusts the pressure of the internal fluid from the first pressure state to the second pressure state.

8. The cooling system of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the generated mechanical energy is converted to an energy form usable by the at least one compressor device, wherein the energy form usable by the at least one compressor device is either mechanical or electrical.

9. The cooling system of claim 8, wherein the amount of mechanical energy generated by the at least one expanding device is greater than the amount of energy needed to power the at least one compressor device.

10. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the heat source comprises at least one of: a piece of machinery; an electrical component; an external working medium; a building interior; and an open space adjacent to one or more processes.

11. A method for removing an amount of heat energy from a heat source using a cooling system, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing an amount of thermal energy generated by the cooling system; and

providing at least a portion of the captured amount of thermal energy to at least one component of the cooling system.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

converting the captured amount of thermal energy generated by the cooling system to a different energy form.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the different energy form comprises at least one of: mechanical energy and electric energy.

14. A method for removing an amount of heat energy from a heat source, the method comprising the steps of:

transferring heat energy from the heat source to an internal fluid contained within at least one section of piping via at least one heat exchange device;

adjusting the pressure of the internal fluid from a first pressure state to a second pressure state via at least one expanding device in order to generate mechanical energy;

converting the generated mechanical energy into a form of energy usable by at least one compressor device;

removing heat energy from the internal fluid by facilitating heat energy dissipation from the internal fluid using at least one condenser device; and

adjusting the pressure of the internal fluid from the second pressure state to the first pressure state via the at least one compressor device, wherein the at least one compressor device is at least partially powered by the converted generated mechanical energy from the at least one expanding device;

wherein the first pressure state of the internal fluid is at least slightly higher than the second pressure state.

15. The method of claim 14, the method further comprising the steps of:

adding heat energy to the internal fluid via at least one heat pump before the internal fluid enters the at least one expanding device; and

removing heat energy from the internal fluid via the at least one heat pump before the internal fluid enters the at least one compressor device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the heat energy added to the internal fluid originates from at least one of: heat energy removed from the internal fluid just prior to entering the compressor device and heat energy generated by the functioning of the cooling system itself.

17. The method of claim 14, the method further comprising the step of:

transferring heat energy from the internal fluid contained within the at least one section of piping to internal fluid contained within a second section of piping via a regenerator device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the internal fluid within the at least one section of piping is at the first pressure state and the internal fluid within the second section of piping is at the second pressure state.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the internal fluid is at least one of: a liquid, a gas, and a supercritical fluid.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the heat source comprises at least one of: a piece of machinery; an electrical component; an external working medium; a building interior; and an open space adjacent to one or more processes.