초록 ▼

In a heat transfer system (10), an upper coolant chamber (31) and a lower coolant chamber (24) of a typical engine, such as an internal combustion engine, fuel cell, boiler, or other engine for converting fuel to thermal energy, are formed adjacent to the heat-rejecting components of the engine and

In a heat transfer system (10), an upper coolant chamber (31) and a lower coolant chamber (24) of a typical engine, such as an internal combustion engine, fuel cell, boiler, or other engine for converting fuel to thermal energy, are formed adjacent to the heat-rejecting components of the engine and are hermetically sealed to prevent exposure of heat-transfer liquid within the chambers to the engine's ambient atmosphere. The heat-transfer liquid is preferably a substantially anhydrous, boilable liquid having a saturation temperature higher than that of water, and the heat-transfer liquid is pumped at a predetermined flow rate, and distributed through the heat-transfer fluid chamber so that the liquid within the chambers substantially condenses the heat-transfer liquid vaporized by the heat-rejecting components of the engine. Thermally-expanded heat-transfer liquid, non-condensable gas, and trace amounts of vapor, if any, are received within a hermetically-sealed accumulator (78) coupled in fluid communication with a relatively low-pressure area of the heat-transfer fluid chambers (24, 31), and the accumulator (78) defines at least one chamber (86, 88, 90), which may form a liquid-free space (88), for receiving the non-condensable gas and trace vapors. The at least one accumulator chamber defines a predetermined volume (V), which may be a variable volume, selected to maintain the pressure within the accumulator within a predetermined pressure limit (e.g., about 5 psig) during engine operation.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A heat transfer system, comprising:at least one heat-transfer fluid chamber formed adjacent to heat-rejecting components of the system and hermetically sealed to prevent exposure of coolant within the chamber to the system's ambient atmosphere;heat-transfer liquid recei

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A heat transfer system, comprising:at least one heat-transfer fluid chamber formed adjacent to heat-rejecting components of the system and hermetically sealed to prevent exposure of coolant within the chamber to the system's ambient atmosphere;heat-transfer liquid received within the at least one heat-transfer fluid chamber and defining a first volume prior to system operation and a second volume greater than the first volume due to thermal expansion of the heat-transfer fluid during system operation; andan accumulator defining at least one hermetically-sealed chamber coupled in fluid communication with the at least one heat-transfer fluid chamber and receiving at least one of thermally-expanded heat-transfer fluid and gas from the at least one heat-transfer fluid chamber, wherein the at least one hermetically-sealed chamber defines a volume at least equal to or greater than the difference between the first and second volumes of the heat-transfer liquid, and the accumulator further defines at least one of:(i) a substantially liquid-free space coupled in fluid communication with the at least one hermetically-sealed chamber for receiving gas, and(ii) a movable wall coupled in fluid communication on one side with the at least one hermetically-sealed chamber and coupled in fluid communication on another side with ambient atmosphere and movable in response to the flow of at least one of thermally-expanded heat-transfer liquid and gas into the hermetically-sealed chamber, thereby maintain the pressure within the at least one chamber of the accumulator within a predetermined pressure limit during system operation.