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  Variable area mass or area and mass species transfer device and methodUSPTO Application #: 20060054301Title: Variable area mass or area and mass species transfer device and method Abstract: Disclosed herein is a-variable-area or mass or area and mass ratio species transfer device, one embodiment with a plurality of species transfer masses. At least one actuator is disposed in communication with the species transfer masses, capable of selectively moving one or more of the masses independently of other one or more of the masses into at least contact with a first fluid stream and into contact with a second fluid stream. Yet further disclosed herein is a method for controlling species transfer in a species transfer device. The method includes: selecting an appropriate mass/area ratio between a portion of a variable area or mass or area and mass ratio species transfer device exposed to a higher-temperature fluid and a portion of the species transfer device exposed to a lower-temperature fluid; exposing one selected portion of the species transfer device to the higher-temperature fluid; and exposing another selected portion of the species transfer device to the lower-temperature fluid. (end of abstract)
Agent: Cantor Colburn LLP - Bloomfield, CT, US Inventors: Richard Ferris McRay, David Gordon Wilson, Joern Karsten Kallmeyer USPTO Applicaton #: 20060054301 - Class: 165006000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Heat Exchange, Regenerator, Movable Heat Storage Mass With Enclosure The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060054301. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing date from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/546,583 filed Feb. 19, 2004, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND [0002] Species transfer devices (e.g. regenerators, recuperators, etc.) are known to exist for many applications where recovery or transfer of species such as thermal energy is desirable. This includes applications employing turbines, fuel cells, other high-temperature machines and refrigeration type/low temperature machines as well. Traditionally, such species transfer devices have been custom designed for specific applications in order to operate at an optimum design point. Alternatively, a species transfer device designed for another application might be employed in a machine for which it was not designed to avoid cost (i.e. the custom-work cost) and where off-design-point operation is acceptable. This of course is at the expense of efficiency. Variable operation of machines also results in inefficiency with respect to the species transfer device. The foregoing has long been a problem because all of the prior-art devices employ a fixed area or mass or area and mass ratio between elements being heated and those being cooled (or other transfer regime). The only capability for variability with respect to transfer in these fixed-ratio designs is by changing the rate of element exchange. There is no capability within the prior art to change the area or mass or area and mass ratio of the species transfer device. SUMMARY [0003] Disclosed herein is a variable area or mass or area and mass ratio species transfer device. The species transfer device includes: a plurality of species transfer masses. Each of the masses are actuatable independently or actuatable as a subset of the plurality of masses to reside in at least one of a first fluid stream or a second fluid stream. [0004] At least one actuator is disposed in operable communication with the species transfer masses, capable of selectively moving one or more of the masses independently of other one or more of the masses into at least contact with the first fluid stream and into contact with the second fluid stream (or other transfer regime). [0005] Further disclosed herein is a real-time variable area or mass or area and mass ratio species transfer device. The species transfer device includes a transfer mass, an inlet having a variable-dimension fluid-contact area with the transfer mass; and an outlet having a variable-dimension fluid-contact area with said transfer mass. [0006] Yet further disclosed herein is a method for controlling transfer in a species transfer device. The method includes: selecting an appropriate area or mass or area and mass ratio between a portion of a variable area or mass or area and mass ratio species transfer device exposed to a first fluid and a portion of the species transfer device exposed to a second fluid; exposing one selected portion of the species transfer device to the first fluid; and exposing another selected portion of the species transfer device to the second fluid. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures: [0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment species transfer device according to the teaching herein; [0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a species transfer module applicable to the species transfer device of FIG. 1; [0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the module of FIG. 2 taken along section line 3-3; [0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a species transfer module like that of FIG. 2 illustrating further detail; [0012] FIG. 5 is a process diagram illustrating movement of individual species transfer masses for an area or mass or area and mass ratio of 3:1; [0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a second-embodiment species transfer device according to the teaching herein; [0014] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a species transfer module applicable to the species transfer device of FIG. 6; [0015] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a third-embodiment species transfer device according to the teaching herein; [0016] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a species transfer module applicable to the species transfer device of FIG. 8; [0017] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 taken along section line 10-10; [0018] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective exploded view of the species transfer module of FIG. 9; [0019] FIG. 12 is a process diagram illustrating movement of individual masses for an area ratio of 2:3; [0020] FIG. 13 is a process diagram illustrating movement of individual masses for an area ratio of 3:4; Continue reading... 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