Bernoulli heat pump having laminar flow of refrigerant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bernoulli heat pumps have a limited temperature differential between the heat source and heat sink, typically not exceeding 10 degrees C, due to their structural simplicity and energetic efficiency constraints.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a laminar flow in the Venturi tube's intake section, combined with a bi-phase refrigerant component that evaporates as it flows, enhancing heat extraction through the Bernoulli Effect and maintaining energetic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional turbulent flow is used in the Venturi tube, then the refrigerant can be forced through the narrow section with high velocity, but the temperature differential between heat source and heat sink is limited to about 10 degrees C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from turbulent to laminar by modifying the intake section geometry. This parameter change allows the refrigerant to maintain higher velocity through the narrow section while minimizing turbulence-induced energy losses, thereby achieving greater temperature differentials (up to 15°C) without sacrificing energetic efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific laminar flow condition only in the intake section and narrow middle section of the Venturi tube, while other parts of the system can operate under different conditions. The specially shaped intake section with its gradual convergence angle (15-30 degrees) generates laminar flow locally where it is most needed for heat extraction, without requiring the entire system to be redesigned.
2Loss of energy
If the intake section is designed to produce laminar flow, then turbulence is minimized and energetic efficiency is improved, but the structural complexity of the intake section increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific laminar flow condition only in the intake section and narrow middle section of the Venturi tube, while other parts of the system can operate under different conditions. The specially shaped intake section with its gradual convergence angle (15-30 degrees) generates laminar flow locally where it is most needed for heat extraction, without requiring the entire system to be redesigned.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses curved geometry in the intake section with a gradual convergence angle of 15-30 degrees, avoiding sharp angles and abrupt transitions. This curved design promotes laminar flow by reducing flow separation and turbulence, while the curvature itself is relatively simple to manufacture compared to more complex flow control mechanisms.
3Temperature
If a bi-phase component is added to enhance evaporation and heat extraction, then the temperature differential increases, but the device complexity and refrigerant system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two cooling mechanisms into a single integrated system: the Bernoulli effect (pressure-driven cooling) and evaporative cooling (phase-change cooling). By injecting liquid refrigerant into the low-pressure zone created by the Venturi effect, both mechanisms work simultaneously in the same space, achieving greater temperature differentials without requiring separate cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of the bi-phase refrigerant component as it evaporates from liquid to vapor state within the Venturi tube. This phase change occurs naturally in the low-pressure zone created by the converging-diverging geometry, absorbing additional heat from the heat source and amplifying the cooling effect without requiring external phase-change equipment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration achieves a greater temperature differential between the heat source and heat sink, up to 15 degrees C, while maintaining or improving energetic efficiency, by minimizing turbulence and leveraging endothermic evaporation for enhanced heat absorption.
Implementation Method 1
the velocity, while flowing through the narrow tube is greatly increased. The thus forced increased velocity of the refrigerant through the middle section causes its temperature to sink, owing to the endothermic aspect of the Bernoulli Effect
Implementation Method 2
as the pressure of the gas diminishes, due to the aerodynamic aspect of the Bernoulli Effect, while it accelerates through the converging intake section, a part of the liquid component evaporates within the flowing gas component. Since such evaporation is an endothermic process, more heat is extracted from the resultant mixture
Data Source
AI summary
An improved Bernoulli heat pump, wherein the intake section of a Venturi tube is structured so that when the refrigerant flows from the intake section into and through most of the middle (narrow) section, its flow is essentially laminar. Additionally, a second, bi-phase, component is added to the flowing gaseous refrigerant. Part of the bi-phase component evaporates, reaching super saturation, which state is maintained in the middle section, owing to the laminar flow, increasing heat absorption.