Heat exchange system

Claim 2

A ventilating system including: means for circulating air into, through and out of a habitable enclOsure; a first plurality of fins positioned for engagement by the air as it enters the enclosure; a second plurality of fins positioned for engagement by the air as it leaves the enclosure, and a plurality of heat pipes extending between fins of the first plurality of fins and fins of the second plurality of fins for thermally interconnecting the fins, each heat pipe being a sealed unit having a working fluid with a free-standing liquid and a substantial vapor space along substantially the entire length of the heat pipe whereby heat will be transferred in either direction between the air entering the enclosure and the air leaving the enclosure as a result of the vaporization of the working fluid in the portion of heat pipe exposed to the warmer air and condensation of the working fluid in the portion of the heat pipe exposed to the cooler air.

Claim 3

The ventilating system according to claim 1 wherein the first plurality of fins is substantially equal in number to the second plurality.

Claim 4

The ventilating system according to claim 1 wherein each of the heat pipes includes an outer tube, a wick positioned within the tube and a fluid contained within the tube.

Claim 5

In a climate control system, the combination of: a habitable enclosure the air temperature of which is to be maintained at a generally constant temperature which at times is greater than the air temperature outside the enclosure and at other times is less than the air temperature outside the enclosure, first duct means for conducting air from outside the enclosure to within the enclosure, second duct means for conducting air from within the enclosure to outside the enclosure, and a plurality of heat pipes each capable of transferring heat in both directions as the result of vaporization and condensation of a working fluid extending between the first and second duct means and in heat exchange relationship with the air in each duct means, each heat pipe having a free-standing liquid and a substantial vapor space extending along substantially the length of the heat pipe, whereby heat will automatically be transferred from the warmer air to the cooler air in the first and second duct means.

Claim 6

In a climate control system, the combination of: a habitable enclosure the air temperature of which is to be maintained at a generally constant temperature which at times is greater than the air temperature outside the enclosure and at other times is less than the air temperature outside the enclosure, first duct means for conducting air from outside the enclosure to within the enclosure, second duct means for conducting air from within the enclosure to outside the enclosure, and a plurality of heat pipes each capable of transferring heat in both directions as the result of vaporization and condensation of a working fluid extending between the first and second duct means and in heat exchange relationship with the air in each duct means, each heat pipe having a free-standing liquid and a substantial vapor space extending along substantially the length of the heat pipe, whereby heat will automatically be transferred from the warmer air to the cooler air in the first and second duct means.

Claim 7

The climate control system of claim 4 wherein each heat pipe comprises an elongated substantially straight tube disposed substantially horizontally, and the liquid phase of the working fluid is transported primarily by gravity in either direction along the heat pipe as determined by the relative temperatures along the tube.

Claim 8

The climate control system of claim 5 wherein each heat pipe includes capillary wick means for transporting the liquid phase circumferentially of the tube to increase the area of contact between the liquid phase and the tube.

Claim 9

The climate control system of claim 5 further characterized by means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the liquid phase into the portion of the tube exposed to the warmer air to change the effective length of the heat pipes.

Claim 10

The climate control system of claim 7 wherein the means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the liquid phase comprises means for tilting the heat pipes relative to the horizontal.

Claim 11

The climate control system of claim 7 further characterized by means responsive to the temperature of air which has passed through the first duct means for automatically controlling the means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the liquid phase in the tubes.

Claim 12

The climate control system of claim 5 wherein the liquid phase is transported longitudinally of the tubes substantially only by gravity.

Claim 13

The climate control system of claim 10 further characterized by means for selectively limiting the longitudinal movement of the liquid phase into the warmer section of the heat pipes to change the efficiency of the heat pipes.

Claim 14

The climate control system of claim 11 wherein the means for selectively limiting the longitudinal movement of the liquid phase comprises means for tilting the heat pipes relatiVe to the horizontal.

Claim 15

The climate control system of claim 11 further characterized by means responsive to the temperature of air which has passed through the first duct means for automatically controlling the means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the liquid phase in the tubes.

Claim 16

In a climate control system for an enclosure the air temperature of which is to be maintained at a generally constant temperature which at times is greater than the air temperature outside the enclosure and at other times is less than the air temperature outside the enclosure, the combination of: first duct means for conducting air from outside the enclosure to within the enclosure, second duct means for conducting air from within the enclosure to outside the enclosure, a plurality of heat transfer elements each comprised of an elongated sealed tube containing a working fluid having a liquid phase and a vapor phase at the operating temperature of the elements, the elements being disposed substantially horizontally with the liquid phase normally free-standing along substantially the entire length of the elements and leaving a substantial vapor space along substantially the entire length of the elements, and the elements extending between the first and second duct means and being in heat exchange relationship to the air in each of the ducts.

Claim 17

In a climate control system for an enclosure the air temperature of which is to be maintained at a generally constant temperature which at times is greater than the air temperature outside the enclosure and at other times is less than the air temperature outside the enclosure, the combination of: first duct means for conducting air from outside the enclosure to within the enclosure, second duct means for conducting air from within the enclosure to outside the enclosure, a plurality of heat transfer elements each comprised of an elongated sealed tube containing a working fluid having a liquid phase and a vapor phase at the operating temperature of the elements, the elements being disposed substantially horizontally with the liquid phase normally free-standing along substantially the entire length of the elements and leaving a substantial vapor space along substantially the entire length of the elements, and the elements extending between the first and second duct means and being in heat exchange relationship to the air in each of the ducts.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 14 wherein the elements include capillary means for transporting the liquid phase circumferential of the tubes to increase the area of the liquid phase-vapor phase interface and the area of contact between the liquid phase and the tubes.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 14 further characterized by means for changing the efficiency of the elements by limiting the longitudinal movement of the liquid phase within the elements into the portion of the element in heat exchange relationship with the warmer air.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 16 wherein the means for changing the efficiency of the elements comprises means for tilting the elements from the horizontal to prevent the liquid phase from flowing by gravity to at least a portion of the respective elements that are in heat exchange relationship with the warmer air.

Claim 21

The combination of claim 16 further characterized by means responsive to the temperature of air which has passed through the first duct means for automatically controlling the means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the liquid phase in the tubes.

Claim 22

The combination of claim 14 wherein the length-to-diameter ratio of the tubes is on the order of eighty or greater.

Claim 23

The combination of claim 14 further characterized by a plurality of heat exchange fins for transferring heat between the elements and the air in each of the ducts.

Claim 24

The combination of claim 14 wherein the elements are arranged in a plurality of stages spaced in the direction of fluid flow, each stage comprising a plurality of elements, and wherein the air in the ducts flows in opposite directions.