Heat transport system and method

US8511082B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC · US
• Dynalloy, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Alan L. Browne · Grosse Pointe, US
• Marten Wittorf · Ingelheim am Rhein, DE
• Nancy L. Johnson · Northville, US
• Patrick B. Usoro · Troy, US
• Paul W. Alexander · Ypsilanti, US
• James Holbrook Brown · Brooks Road, US
• Xiujie Gao · Troy, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 16, 2009
• Grant date: Aug 20, 2013
• Expiry date: Nov 19, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60K2001/005
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A heat transport system includes a fluid, a heat engine, and a component. The fluid has a first fluid region at a first temperature and a second fluid region at a second temperature that is different from the first temperature. The heat engine includes a shape-memory alloy disposed in contact with each of the first fluid region and the second fluid region. The heat engine is operable to transfer heat from one of the first fluid region and the second fluid region to the other of the first fluid region and the second fluid region in response to the crystallographic phase of the shape-memory alloy.