Vector cancelling condenser device

Abstract

A vector cancelling condenser device 100 that includes a body 102 defined by at least one wall 104, an enclosed space having a centre 106 and at least one fluid outlet 108 provided on the wall. A plur

Description

TITLE: Vector Cancelling Condenser Device FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates to a vector cancelling condenser device for condensing one or more vapours present in a gas into one or more condensed liquid. The vector cancelling condenser device of the present invention also works as an excellent heat exchanger. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] Condensers are widely used in heat transfer and have varying degrees of efficiency. There are many types of condensers, but they all work to encourage phase change of a coolant or working fluid from gaseous form back to liquid such that they can be re-used to transfer heat again. Compressors, compress a gas using various mechanical methods and this raises the temperature of the gas which can then be used for heating or concentrating heat or passed into a condenser to reliquefy.

[003] This patent combines the process without using additional mechanical energy and has an extremely high rate of condensation and heat transfer by virtue of its innovative design.

[004] A compressor works by compressing air / gas. There are many types of compressors. They all reduce the volume available to a gas. This in turn increases the pressure of the gas and its temperature. There are many types of condensers whose purpose is to cool and reliquefy gas. Typically, a freezer or fridge has a compressor / condenser configuration allowing the heat taken from inside a freezer / fridge to be removed and placed outside the freezer / fridge.

[005] The mechanism of action is that the reduction in volume occasioned by the compressor, results in more collisions of the gas / air molecules and the walls on the compressor. The mechanical energy of the compression is transferred into the gas / air. The hotter gas with a higher thermal gradient is normally passed through a radiative element and the heat of the gas is removed, often by a fan or passively in the case of fridges. The loss of heat allows the gas / air to condense into liquid.

[006] Condensation can also happen through high pressure. If a gaseous substance is placed under sufficient pressure it will condense and change phase. This is the result of an increase in collisions of molecules and an increase in collisions with the condenser wall. Energy within the system is lost and the gas condenses in the absence of further energy input.In all instances, the increase in intermolecular collisions and molecular collisions with the wall of the condenser causes condensation via heat loss to the external environment.

[007] Further, an efficient heat exchange mechanism is required to extract the heat released on collision of gas streams. The condensers known in the prior art fail to provide an efficient heat exchange mechanism for extracting the heat released on collision of gas streams.

[008] Thus, there remains a need for alternative condenser, wherein, a nonmechanical condenser is used to increase efficiency of compression / condensation and the heat energy removed is reused in other systems. This includes increasing the exit temperature of the compressed gas to create thrust or within low pressure turbines, while remaining economical, efficient, easy to handle and convenient to use. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[009] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:

[0010] An object of the present disclosure is to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.

[0011] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a Vector Cancelling Condenser (VCC).

[0012] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a vector cancelling condensation method.

[0013] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a vector cancelling condenser that works as an efficient heat exchanger for extracting the heat released on collision of gas streams.

[0014] Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention provides a vector cancelling condenser device for condensing one or more vapours present in a gas into one or more condensed liquid. The device comprises a body defined by at least one wall, an enclosed space having a centre and at least one liquid outlet provided on the wall for exit of the condensed liquid and gas. The body is cylindrical or spherical in shape. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the body is spherical.

[0016] The device also includes a plurality of concentric shells provided in between the wall and the centre, wherein the shells are having a plurality of tapered inlets and a plurality of tapered outlets.

[0017] At least one pair of delivery tubes passing through the wall and the plurality of concentric shells, wherein the pair of delivery tubes have a pair of gas outlets. The pair of delivery tubes are made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, and ceramic. In preferred embodiment the material is stainless steel.

[0018] The pair of gas outlets are facing each other and configured to cancel the velocity of gas coming out from the gas outlets at the centre to forms saturated vapor of the gas and condensed liquid formed by releasing latent heat of condensation from the saturated vapours. The pair of gas outlets are configured to face each other at an angle of 180 degrees.

[0019] At least one heat extracting module thermally coupled to the wall, wherein the heat extracting module is configured to extract the latent heat of condensation released from the condensation of saturated vapours. The heat extracting module is made of a material selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminium, and steel. In a preferred embodiment, the material is copper.

[0020] A liquid collector fluidically coupled to the liquid outlet configured to collect the condensed liquid. The liquid collector is configured to be detachable from the body.

[0021] In an embodiment, the heat extracting module comprises a cooling 5 coil provided in the wall, a cooling fluid inlet and a cooling fluid outlet fluidically coupled to the cooling coil.

[0022] In another embodiment, the heat extracting module is a cooling jacket (not shown in the figure). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 10

[0023] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of various embodiments, is better understood when read in conjugation with the drawings provided herein. For the purposes of illustration, there is shown in the drawing, exemplary embodiments; however, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited to the specific system disclosed. 15

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a vector cancelling condenser device in accordance with the present invention.

[0025] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawing. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 100 Vector cancelling condenser device 102 Body 104 Wall 106 Centre 108 Liquid outlet 110 Concentric shell 112 Tapered inlet 114 Tapered outlet 116a, 116b Pair of tubes 118a, 118b Pair of outlets 120 Heat extracting module 122 Liquid collector 124 Cooling coil 126 Cooling fluid inlet 128 Cooling fluid outlet DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.

[0027] The terminology used in the present disclosure is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a," "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "including," and "having," are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, units and / or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. The particular order of steps disclosed in the method and process of the present disclosure is not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance as described or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0028] The present invention relates to a vector cancelling condenser device (herein after referred as “device”) for condensing one or more vapours present in a gas into one or more condensed liquid. As illustrated in FIG.l, the device (100) comprises a body (102) defined by at least one wall (104), an enclosed space having a centre (106) and at least one liquid outlet (108) provided on the wall (102) for exit of the condensed liquid and gas. The body is cylindrical or spherical in shape. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the body is spherical.

[0029] The device (100) also includes a plurality of concentric shells (110) provided in between the wall (104) and the centre (106). The shells (110) are having a plurality of tapered inlets (112) and a plurality of tapered outlets (114). The plurality of concentric shells is made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, and ceramic. In preferred embodiment, the shells are made up of plastic to minimize the cost of fabrication and minimizes the weight of the device. The tapered inlets and tapered outlets of the plurality of concentric shells are arranged in a helical pattern or hive pattern. In a preferred embodiment, the pattern is hive pattern.

[0030] At least one pair of delivery tubes (116a, 116b) passing through the wall (104) and the plurality of concentric shells (110). The pair of delivery tubes (116a, 116b) have a pair of gas outlets (118a, 118b). The pair of delivery tubes are made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, and ceramic. In preferred embodiment the material is stainless steel.

[0031] The pair of gas outlets (118a, 118b) are facing each other and configured to cancel the velocity of gas coming out from the gas outlets (118a, 118b) at the centre (106) to forms saturated vapor of the gas and condensed liquid formed by releasing latent heat of condensation from the saturated vapours. The pair of gas outlets are configured to face each other at an angle of 180 degrees.

[0032] At least one heat extracting module (120) thermally coupled to the wall (104), wherein the heat extracting module (120) is configured to extract the latent heat of condensation released from the condensation of saturated vapours. The heat extracting module is made of a material selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminium, and steel. In a preferred embodiment, the material is copper.

[0033] A liquid collector (122) fluidically coupled to the liquid outlet (108) configured to collect the condensed liquid. The liquid collector is configured to be detachable from the body.

[0034] In an embodiment, the heat extracting module (120) comprises a cooling coil (124) provided in the wall (104), a cooling fluid inlet (126) and a cooling fluid outlet (128) fluidically coupled to the cooling coil (122).

[0035] In another embodiment, the heat extracting module (120) is a cooling jacket (not shown in the figure).

[0036] In an exemplary embodiment, VEctor Cancelling Condenser (herein after referred as “VECC”) works by directing the incoming gas particles against themselves in a spherical cylinder through numerous tubes of equal length directed into a small area at the centre.

[0037] The molecules of gaseous working fluid are directed at equal velocity and pressure to each other. This results in the forward velocity becoming rapidly diminished and a high degree of heat being released.

[0038] The mechanism of action is that molecules of gas of equal mass and velocity will collide in the centre of the sphere. Some of the gas molecules will lose a majority of their kinetic motion (vector is defined as a force with direction) and some will accelerate as opposed to slowing. The gas molecules that lose their kinetic motion will condense rapidly and under principles of conservation of momentum, other gas molecules will accelerate outwards from the centre to the outer wall of the sphere whereupon it will impact some of its kinetic energy to the outer wall which will increase in temperature. The gas molecules hitting the outer wall will then rebound back into the sphere whereupon they will collide with other gas molecules escaping the centre and this will result in some more gas molecules losing momentum, cooling and condensing and others accelerating. There is no mechanical force required to increase the collision vis-a-vis a compressor.

[0039] The outer wall temperature increase in temperature and this energy is removed by having a cooling agent around the outer sphere. This cooling agent could be water such that the patent could be used in a Heat Pump device or a phase change liquid refrigerant such as nitrogen. The nitrogen would change phase, absorb the heat from the wall and increase in pressure within a cylinder. This pressure could be used in a phase change electric turbine and condensed as it exits the turbine using the patent which would liquefy the liquid nitrogen rapidly. The amount of electricity generated would depend upon the input enthalpy of the gas entering the Vector Cancelling Condenser / Compressor.

[0040] Thought Experiment equal flows of gas with equal mass and equal velocity are forced to collide in the middle of the spherical device. There are multiple collisions in the centre of the sphere where all the gas is directed. This lead to some molecules losing momentum and others will accelerate outwards. The spherical shape redirects gas molecules that leave the concentrated centre to hit the outer walls. Therefore, there will be gas molecules escaping the centre, hitting the outer wall and reflecting back to hit other molecules leaving the concentrated centre. The number of collisions is massively increased resulting in a loss of kinetic motion and increase in temperature of the gas exactly as would occur in a compressor without the mechanical force required by a traditional compressor.

[0041] The gas hitting the outer wall loses its energy to the wall which contains a cooling fluid, thus condensation will occur in the centre of the sphere and at the outer walls of the sphere.

[0042] In essence the molecules collide into one another at the same velocity in a small space. The angle of collision determines how much of a molecule's forward kinetic motion is cancelled by colliding with another molecule. As the collisions occur in a small space, this area reaches the saturated vapour pressure of the gas quickly and droplets of liquid forms and precipitate out under gravity. The density of the liquid is higher than the gas and this causes precipitation. The droplets of liquid are contained in a container at the bottom of the device.

[0043] As more gas comes in and collides, the greater the amount of saturated vapour pressure in the collision area and at the sides of the compressor at the wall boundary. The liquid is collected and drain into a collection chamber.

[0044] It should be noted that the amount of condensation and the mass flow rate of gas that can be condensed is very high compared to traditional compressors. The greater the input velocity and mass flow rate, the greater the vector cancelling effect and saturation vapour point to create condensation.

[0045] A plurality of concentric shells provided in between the wall and the centre, wherein the shells are having a plurality of tapered inlets and a plurality of tapered outlets. The shells present near the centre are called inner shell and the shells present near the wall are called outer shells. All the concentric shells are thermally coupled to the wall (104).

[0046] All molecules, atoms in the gas, when they collide pass on their energy to the item they have collided with. If two atoms collide of the same mass and same speed, they lose energy. Some lose energy via energy being transfer to spin, others vibrational and some is lost by IR (infra-red) due to the aforementioned. The vector cancelling condenser of the present disclosure has multiple layers and small exit points at each ring to increase the collisions between particles and collisions with the wall. The pressure builds from the centre where the largest collisions occurs. The central collisions results in some particles acquiring zero velocity, some partial loss and others absorbs the energy from the particles that have slowed and have more energy.

[0047] These hyper-kinetic particles hits the inner shell and warms up the inner shells and also rebounds to the centre, wherein more interactions occurs resulting in energy loss. Some particles finds the exit holes and move out with grater velocity wherein the direct exit point hits a metal wall and this wall removes some energy and become heated. The next shell becomes pressurised and particles will bounce off one another and some finds an exit hole and leave to the next shell and so on. The metal of the shells get hotter and the working fluid that removes the heat (even water) cool the shells through conduction and result in all inner shells conducting the energy to the outer shell.

[0048] One point that is often missed are the degrees of freedom in a molecule. Energy need not be kinetic with a net vector. Nitrogen gas for example has a triple covalent bond. Collisions cause vibration in the bonds and also spin around an axis of a diatomic molecule. These energy motions increase as the kinetic motion decreases with increased collisions. Condensation occurs when the enthalpy (or internal energy of a gas) is reduced to the point it becomes a liquid. H2O for example has a high specific heat capacity as it absorbs more energy into other degrees of freedom and also because of the increased intermolecular forces within it.

[0049] The heat removal is assisted by using a heat recovery coil with a heat removing transfer fluid. The heat recovery fluid and heat therein is passed into a heating cycle or generation cycle using a turbine to create electricity.

[0050] The device improves upon the previous iteration of this device by increasing the overall heat transfer rate and therefore increases the rate of condensation.

[0051] Ultimately, the amount of condensation that occurs is dependent upon the heat transfer from the outer wall to the cooling fluid. The prior designs had one outer wall which was in contact with the metallic inlet pipes. The heat transfer occurred through the outer wall and conduction via the inlet pipes which are in contact with the cooling fluid.

[0052] VECC increases the surface area of contact by using concentric spheres inside the device. These spheres are metallic and in contact with the metal inlet pipes and are therefore at the same operating temperature as the cooling fluid. If we consider liquid nitrogen as the cooling fluid, the metallic pipes are at -196oC and so are the metallic concentric spheres (after a period of equilibrium).

[0053] The concentric shells contain a series of exits and inlets into and out of each sphere. The outlets are tapered in and out and this accelerates the gas molecules moving in and out of each sphere and this also increases the number of collisions in each sphere between each gas molecules with another gas molecule and between gas molecules and spherical metal whereupon the hat is imparted and absorbed by the cooling fluid.

[0054] Condensation rates is much, much higher in this iterative innovation compared with the original Innovation.

[0055] The purpose of this innovation is for high condensation rates which are required in air breathing rockets or hypersonic engines. Air can be directed in a series of VECC devices and the air liquefy rapidly. This liquid air is used as an oxidiser in conventional combustion engines in planes and rockets or as a thrust agent itself once it is expanded, changing phase from liquid back to gas via a heater and choke point.

[0056] On average 6 times more oxygen than fuel is required for combustion of jet or rocket fuel. As oxygen is only 20% of the atmosphere, 30 times the volume of air is required to obtain the required oxidiser for combustion. Jet engines compress the incoming air to provide the relevant air concentration. Rockets, carry liquid oxygen and this adds to the overall weight and cost of a rocket. VECC allow rockets and jets to use the atmosphere to provide sufficient oxidiser and is far more efficient as it has no moving parts. TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS

[0057] The present disclosure described hereinabove has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, a vector cancelling condenser device.

[0058] The efficiency of this condenser is high as there is no mechanical pressure being used to compress the gas and increase the heat and subsequent radiative loss.

[0059] The mass flow rate of the device is very high and it can deal with condensing high velocity gases and high flow rates.

[0060] The lost heat is recoverable and further utilised in either a heat cycle or via a specialised turbine system.

[0061] The device can be used to concentrate air in the upper atmosphere as the incoming air in rapidly concentrated and cooled increasing its density whereupon it can be passed onto rocket combustion cycle as an oxidiser.

[0062] The present invention is fully scalable and can be used as a replacement in fridges and freezers or to reduce costs in superconducting machines such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) as the majority of the power consumption in these devices arises from keeping magnet cold and this requires liquid helium, the cooling cycle of which results in heat loss and large power consumptions.

[0063] The device has an extremely high rate of heat transfer and high capacity rate for condensation. It can be used in the production of Liquid Natural gas and reduces LNG production and storage costs by 80%.

Claims

1. A vector cancelling condenser device for condensing one or more vapours present in a gas into one or more condensed liquid, wherein the vector cancelling condenser device comprising:a body defined by at least one wall, an enclosed space having a centre and at least one fluid outlet provided on the wall for exit of the condensed liquid and gas;a plurality of concentric shells provided in between the wall and the centre, wherein the shells are having a plurality of tapered inlets and a plurality of tapered outlets;at least one pair of delivery tubes passing through the wall and the plurality of concentric shells, wherein the pair of delivery tubes have a pair of gas outlets, the pair of gas outlets are facing each other and configured to cancel the velocity of gas coming out from the gas outlets at the centre to forms saturated vapor of the gas and condensed liquid formed by releasing latent heat of condensation from the saturated vapours;at least one heat extracting module thermally coupled to the wall, wherein the heat extracting module is configured to extract the latent heat of condensation released from the condensation of saturated vapours; anda liquid collector fluidically coupled to the fluid outlet configured to collect the condensed liquid.

2. The vector cancelling condenser device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the concentric shells are thermally coupled to the wall.

3. The vector cancelling condenser device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the heat extracting module comprises a cooling coil provided in the wall, a cooling fluid inlet and a cooling fluid outlet fluidically coupled to the cooling coil.

4. The vector cancelling condenser device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat extracting module is a cooling jacket.

5. The vector cancelling condenser device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the body is cylindrical or spherical in shape.

6. The vector cancelling condenser device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the plurality of concentric shells is made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, and ceramic.

7. The vector cancelling condenser device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tapered inlets and tapered outlets of the plurality of concentric shells are arranged in a helical pattern or hive pattern.

8. The vector cancelling condenser device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of delivery tubes are made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, and ceramic.

9. The vector cancelling condenser device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of gas outlets are configured to face each other at an angle of 180 degrees.

10. The vector cancelling condenser device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat extracting module is made of a material selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminium, and steel.

11. The vector cancelling condenser device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid collector is configured to be detachable from the body.14

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