U.S. patent application number 09/725539 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-30 for cooling and heating system for an equipment enclosure using a vortex tube.
This patent application is currently assigned to Marconi Communications, Inc.. Invention is credited to Cosley, Michael R., Cress, Mark, Dukhan, Nihad.
Application Number | 20020062650 09/725539 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24914956 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020062650 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dukhan, Nihad ; et
al. |
May 30, 2002 |
COOLING AND HEATING SYSTEM FOR AN EQUIPMENT ENCLOSURE USING A
VORTEX TUBE
Abstract
A cooling and heating system using a vortex tube is disclosed.
The system is attached to an equipment enclosure used for
telecommunications, cable television and the like where a cold
airstream from the vortex tube is directed to the sealed upper
chamber of the enclosure, the upper chamber typically containing
heat generating electronic components. The hot airstream generated
by the vortex tube can be used to maintain an elevated temperature
which prolongs the life of certain batteries and enhances their
efficiency. Cold plates, heat exchangers, air jets and the like may
be used in conjunction with the vortex tube to increase the cooling
or heating of preselected components or items.
Inventors: |
Dukhan, Nihad; (Chicago,
IL) ; Cress, Mark; (Bensenville, IL) ; Cosley,
Michael R.; (Crystal Lake, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Joseph H. Golant
JONES, DAY, REAVIS & POGUE
77 West Wacker Drive
Chicago
IL
60601-1692
US
|
Assignee: |
Marconi Communications,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
24914956 |
Appl. No.: |
09/725539 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/5 ;
62/324.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 9/04 20130101; H05K
7/20145 20130101; F24F 2221/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/5 ;
62/324.2 |
International
Class: |
F25B 009/02; F25B
013/00 |
Claims
1. A cooling and heating system employing a vortex tube comprising:
an enclosure having first and second chambers and items therein to
be cooled and/or heated; a vortex tube with a hot exhaust and a
cold exhaust, said vortex tube operatively connected to said
enclosure; a compressed gas source operatively connected to said
vortex tube and in close proximity thereto; and wherein said vortex
tube cold exhaust is connected to said first chamber in said
enclosure and said vortex tube hot exhaust is connected to said
second chamber in said enclosure.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said gas is air; said
compressed gas source is a compressor and a tank for containing
pressurized air; and said vortex tube generates cold air which
emerges from said cold exhaust and hot air which emerges from said
hot exhaust.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said enclosure first
chamber is sealed against the ambient environment and said
enclosure second chamber is not sealed against the ambient
environment.
4. A system as claimed in claim 1 including: a gas filter connected
to said compressed gas source; and a gas dryer connected to said
compressed gas source.
5. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein: said first chamber
houses electronic components; and said second chamber houses at
least one battery.
6. A system as claimed in claim 5 including: a first heat exchanger
in said first chamber; a second heat exchanger in said second
chamber; and said cold exhaust is connected to said first heat
exchanger and said hot exhaust is connected to said second heat
exchanger.
7. A system as claimed in claim 5 including: a first gas jet unit
in said first chamber; a second gas jet unit in said second
chamber; said cold exhaust is connected to said first gas jet unit
and said hot exhaust is connected to said second gas jet unit.
8. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein: said gas is air; said
compressed gas source is a compressor and a tank for containing
pressurized air; said vortex tube generates cold air which emerges
from said cold exhaust and hot air which emerges from said hot
exhaust; and including an air filter connected to said compressor;
and an air dryer connected to said compressor.
9. A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said gas is air; said
compressed gas source is a compressor and a tank for containing
pressurized air; said vortex tube generates cold air which emerges
from said cold exhaust and hot air which emerges from said hot
exhaust; and including an air filter connected to said compressor;
and an air dryer connected to said compressor.
10. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said gas is air; said
compressed gas source is a compressor and a tank for containing
pressurized air; said vortex tube generates cold air which emerges
from said cold exhaust and hot air which emerges from said hot
exhaust; said enclosure first chamber is sealed against the ambient
environment and said enclosure second chamber is not sealed against
the ambient environment; said first chamber houses electronic
components; said second chamber houses at least one battery; and
including: an air filter connected to said compressor; and an air
dryer connected to said compressor.
11. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said vortex tube hot
exhaust is connected to said second chamber; and said vortex tube
cold exhaust is connected to said compressor.
12. A system as claimed in claim 11 including: a weather sensing
device; a first valve to direct cold air from said cold exhaust; a
second valve to direct hot air from said hot exhaust; and means
operatively connecting said weather sensing device to said first
and said second valves.
13. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said compressed gas
source is powered by direct current.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field Of The Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cooling and heating
system and more particularly to a cooling and heating system for
outdoor enclosures, where the system employs a vortex tube.
[0003] 2. Description Of The Related Art
[0004] Free standing outdoor enclosures for telecommunications and
cable television equipment typically need cooling of the internal
electronic components. On the other hand, some items, such as
batteries may benefit from added heat in cold climates to cause
more efficient operation and to increase useful life. Certain types
of batteries are optimized by maintaining their temperature at 77
.degree. F. Hence, depending upon ambient temperature, such
batteries may benefit from heating at times and cooling at other
times. Typically, outdoor electronic enclosures in the past have
been cooled by air conditioning, thermal electric coolers, heat
exchangers and fans. These systems, however, may be expensive,
bulky, short lived and/or environmentally hostile. Also, past
systems are directed to macro level cooling.
[0005] Vortex tubes are well known devices to those skilled in the
art and are explained in a number of earlier U.S. patents including
U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,952,281; 2,920,457; 3,173,273; 3,208,229;
3,654,768; 4,240,261; and 5,331,817, the disclosures of all of
which are included herein by reference. As explained in these
patents, a vortex tube is a device having no moving parts. When fed
with compressed air, the vortex tube emits a stream of cold air
from one end and a stream of hot air from the other end. There can
be enough of a temperature difference between the two airstreams to
freeze water with the cold air stream and to boil water with the
hot airstream. In operation the compressed air enters a nozzle
which injects the air tangentially into a vortex generating
chamber. The chamber is positioned intermediate of the hot and cold
ends of the vortex tube but closer to the cold end than the hot
end. The air vortex created moves through the tube toward the hot
end but a sufficient back pressure is developed to force some of
the air toward the center of the tube and then back in the opposite
direction. This back flow becomes very cold as it passes through
the vortex tube and it forms the cold airstream. An obvious benefit
of using a vortex tube is the environmental friendliness of the
refrigerant, ordinary air. Also, the refrigerant is free and the
vortex tube is a reliable machine.
[0006] Vortex tube cooling systems, however, are not as efficient
as ordinary refrigeration units. Also, vortex tube systems are
noisy and add more inefficiencies if the necessary air compressor
is located at a distance from the vortex tube.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention overcomes some of the problems of the
past by providing a very efficient and compact cooling and heating
system employing a vortex tube comprising an enclosure having first
and second chambers and items therein to be cooled and/or heated, a
vortex tube with a hot exhaust and a cold exhaust, the vortex tube
being operatively connected to the enclosure, a compressed gas
source operatively connected to the vortex tube wherein the vortex
tube cold exhaust is connected to the first chamber in the
enclosure and the vortex tube hot exhaust is connected to the
second chamber in the enclosure.
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling
and heating system employing a vortex tube which is compact,
lightweight, self contained, relatively inexpensive and usable
outdoors. Another aim of the present invention is to provide a
cooling and heating system using a vortex tube where the hot
airstream is put to use instead of being dissipated to the ambient
environment. Still another advantage of the present invention is to
provide a cooling and heating system using a vortex tube with an
environmentally friendly refrigerant, such as air. Yet another
aspect of the present invention is to provide a cooling and heating
system employing a vortex tube which is relatively quiet,
relatively inexpensive and reliable. A still further object of the
present invention is to provide a cooling and heating system using
a vortex tube that can switch between heating and cooling as
dictated by climate, is scalable by changing compressors and/or
vortex tubes, is flexible in the range of heating and cooling
available, and is operable using AC or DC power.
[0009] A more complete understanding of the present invention and
other objects, aspects, aims and advantages thereof will be gained
from a consideration of the following description of the preferred
embodiments read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing
provided herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a prior art electronics
enclosure cooled by a vortex tube.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a vortex tube cooling and
heating system of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the
present invention illustrating the use of heat exchangers.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of still another embodiment of
the present invention illustrating the use of air jets.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of yet another embodiment of
the present invention illustrating the use of a vortex tube for
heating and cooling depending on climatic conditions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] While the present invention is open to various modifications
and alternative constructions, the preferred embodiments shown in
the drawing will be described herein in detail. It is understood,
however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the
particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to
cover all modifications, equivalent structures and methods, and
alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of
the invention as expressed in the appended claims.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a prior art vortex
tube cooling device used for cooling electronic components, while
dissipating a hot airstream generated by the vortex tube to the
ambient environment. What is shown is an enclosure 10 having
various heat generating electronic components 12 mounted within the
enclosure. Fans 14,16 may be located within the enclosure for
circulating and expelling air. For example, the fan 14 may be used
to circulate air within the enclosure while the fan 16 is used to
expel warm air from the enclosure. Generally, the enclosure is
substantially sealed so as to prevent moisture, contaminants and
adverse climatic conditions from unduly effecting the sensitive
electronic components.
[0017] A vortex tube 18 is mounted to the enclosure such that a
cold air stream represented by the arrow 20 emanating from a cold
air exhaust 22 is directed into the enclosure. A hot airstream
represented by the arrow 24 emanating from a hot air exhaust 26 is
dissipated to the ambient environment. The input to the vortex tube
18 is compressed air represented by the arrow 28. The compressed
air divides into two airstreams due to the geometry of the interior
of the vortex tube. Georges Joseph Ranque of France is credited
with being the inventor of the vortex tube and his device is
explained in his 1934 U.S. Pat. No. 1,952,281. The problem with the
prior art cooling device is that the hot airstream is dissipated to
the ambient environment, the device is noisy and the compressor
generating the compressed air is removed from the vortex tube.
[0018] The features of the present invention include a compact,
self-contained arrangement suitable for use outdoors. Also, the hot
airstream from the vortex tube is used and the arrangement reduces
the noise generated by this hot airstream. Further, the system is
reliable, relatively low in cost and environmentally friendly
because the working fluid or refrigerant is ordinary air.
[0019] The present invention is understood by reference to FIG. 2.
There is illustrated an outdoor enclosure 30 such as those used for
telecommunications equipment where the enclosure includes an upper
chamber 32 and a lower chamber 34. The upper chamber contains heat
generating electronic components 36, 38, 40, 42 while the lower
chamber 34 contains a series of batteries, such as the battery 44.
The upper chamber may also include a circulation fan 46 and an
exhaust fan 48. The batteries serve the purpose of operating the
components even if there is an interruption of commercial
power.
[0020] The cooling and heating system 50 of the present invention
is shown in a third chamber 52 although it is understood that the
cooling and heating system may be placed in the lower chamber 34 if
desired. It is to be noted that outdoor enclosures or cabinets may
consist of several chambers, such as combinations of a sealed upper
chamber, a vented lower battery chamber, a vented lower fuel cell
chamber or vented side and/or back chambers. The cooling/heating
system of the present invention may be placed in the lower chamber,
a side chamber or a back chamber because of its relatively small
and compact size. It is also to be understood that the
cooling/heating system may even be housed in its own enclosure or
cabinet adjacent an equipment enclosure. It is to be noted that if
the upper chamber is sealed, the exhaust fan 48 is eliminated or it
may be used to recirculate air to an air inlet of a compressor as
will be explained below.
[0021] The system 50 includes an air inlet 54, a air filter and
dryer 56 and a compressor 58. The air from the compressor is then
stored in a tank 60 which is connected to an inlet 62 of a vortex
tube 64. A cold airstream represented by the arrow 66 emerges from
a cold air exhaust 68 and is directed into the upper chamber 32 for
cooling the electronic components. A hot airstream represented by
the arrow 70 emerges from a hot air exhaust 72 of the vortex tube
and this airstream is introduced into the lower battery chamber
34.
[0022] The ambient air is cleaned and dried by the filter and dryer
56 in a manner know to those skilled in the art. The air compressor
58 is relatively small but has sufficient capacity in terms of
pressure and flow rate to ensure cooling of the electronic
components and good performance of the vortex tube. The compressor
provides the compression and pumps the air into the tank 60 which
is used to build up the air pressure and to maintain a constant
supply of compressed air. There is also a slight bit of air cooling
that occurs in the tank. From the tank the compressed air flows
into the intake 62 of the vortex tube which should be of a suitable
size consistent with the heating and cooling needs of the
particular components and batteries and the size of the enclosure
chambers. After heat is picked up from the electronic component
chamber 42 and/or after warming the batteries in the lower chamber
44, the two airstreams may be exhausted to the surrounding ambient
environment through appropriate vents 74, 76 in the enclosure, or
the upper airstream can be recirculated to the air inlet 54 for the
compressor 58 if the chamber 32 is sealed. In such a circumstance,
the vent 74 is eliminated.
[0023] Another advantage of the present cooling/heating system is
that it may use a DC compressor to ensure that cooling and heating
occur even if there is a loss of commercial power. In other words,
the compressor may be powered by the batteries. It is to be noted
that the use of the inventive cooling/heating system overcomes the
lack in the marketplace of a small scale expansion device for small
scale compressed air systems. The smallest turbo expander available
is 18 inches in diameter and two feet long. It requires a flow rate
of at least 200 cubic feet per minute (cfm) and has a rotational
speed of 120,000 revolutions per minute (rpm). Any smaller expander
would require operation at still higher speeds which creates
lubrication and vibration problems and would engender relatively
high development costs. Also, high rotational speeds cause reduced
equipment life. Alternative systems tend to be heavy, bulky and
expensive. Also, vapor compression cycles use refrigerants which
may cause environmental damage. Also such refrigerant units are not
suited for operating with a DC backup. Furthermore, refrigeration
units are usually package separately and thus not easily integrated
with an equipment enclosure where space is at a high premium.
Moreover, the heat generated by a conventional system is
wasted.
[0024] By way of example, a Marconi Mesa Sport brand enclosure
nominally requires about 600 watts of cooling. This can be
accomplished using a compressor operating at a flow rate of 30 cfm
at a pressure of about 100 pounds per square inch. Such a
compressor may be obtained from Scrollex Corporation of
Willowbrook, Ill. and is known as Scrollex model MTA10H. A vortex
tube from Exair Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio, model 3230 may be
matched with the compressor. The result is cooling to close to
0.degree.C. or to a temperature that avoids frosting of the system
and avoids impedance of flow through the system.
[0025] The compressor and vortex tube can be scaled and can be used
flexibly to vary the cooling capacity of the system. A hot
airstream at about 40.degree. C. will provide the best performance
and longest life for lithium-polymer type batteries and fuel
cells.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated an enclosure
and cooling/heating system where structures in FIG. 3 are
designated by like numerals for like structures shown in FIG. 2.
However, instead of introducing the air flows from the vortex tube
directly into the upper and lower chambers of the enclosure as was
done in the FIG. 2 embodiment, in the FIG. 3 embodiment the cold
air exhaust 68 directs the air to the input of a heat exchanger 80.
The cool air absorbs heat from the air of the upper chamber 32
before the air is exhausted to the ambient environment.
Alternatively, the air in the chamber 32 may be fed to the heat
exchanger and returned to the chamber while the former cold air
from the vortex tube is exhausted to the ambient environment after
it picks up heat in the exchanger. This allows the chamber 32 to be
completely sealed. The hot air from the hot air exhaust 72 is
directed to a heat exchanger 82 in the lower chamber 34. The heat
exchanger 82 in the lower chamber may take the form of a thermally
conductive plate upon which the batteries, such as the battery 44,
are mounted. This allows for conductive heat transfer which is more
efficient than the convection heat used with the FIG. 2 embodiment.
Also, the conductive plate may be used with the cold air flow.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is yet another embodiment of
the enclosure and the cooling/heating system. Once again like
structures in the FIGURES are identified by the same numerals as
used in FIGS. 2 and 3. Instead of introducing the cold airstream
directly into the upper chamber 32 as done in FIG. 2, or into a
heat exchanger as done in FIG. 3, a conduit 90 is provided with
preselected openings so as to form air jets. These openings can be
placed adjacent specific electronic components, or nozzles may be
used to direct a blast of air to the components so that these
components are cooled to a lower temperature than the average
temperature of the chamber. The same would be true of the FIG. 3
version where particular components can be placed, for example, on
cold plates so that there is better heat transfer and the
particular component can be brought to a lower temperature than the
average temperature of the chamber in which the component is
located.
[0028] Another advantage of the present system is that the system
can direct hot or cold air wherever it is desired or required due
to changing climatic conditions. The system can also be automated
so as to respond to climatic conditions. Referring now to FIG. 5,
another embodiment of the present invention is shown where
structures in FIG. 5 are designated with the same numerals as are
used to designate like structures in FIGS. 2-4. The variation in
FIG. 5 illustrates that the hot air flow from the hot air exhaust
72 may be directed to both the upper and the lower chambers 32, 34
by conduits 100 and 102, respectively. The same may be true of the
cold airstream and/or the cold air may be used to cool the
compressor 58. Conduit 104 runs to the upper chamber 32, conduit
106 runs to the lower chamber 34 and conduit 108 communicates with
the compressor 58. Whether components are heated or cooled may
depend upon the ambient temperature and climatic conditions,
namely, whether the season is summer or winter. A temperature
and/or humidity weather sensing device 110 may be used to regulate
valves 112, 114 which determine whether a chamber is heated or
cooled and to what temperature.
[0029] The specification describes in detail several embodiments of
the present invention. Other modifications and variations will,
under the doctrine of equivalents, come within the scope of the
appended claims. For example, the flow rate and pressure may be
varied to adjust the temperatures of the air emerging from the cold
air and hot air exhausts. Also, various arrangements can be made
with air jets and/or cold and hot plates and/or heat exchangers and
the like depending upon the particular components to be cooled or
heated and depending upon their location within the enclosure. The
arrangement includes mixing and matching air jets, cold plates and
the like. Also, the weather sensing device may be used to sense one
or more weather related factors. All of these are considered to be
equivalent structures. Still other alternatives will also be
equivalent as will many new technologies. There is no desire or
intention here to limit in any way the application of the doctrine
of equivalents.
* * * * *