Patent ID: 6409975
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: F28F

Abstract:
In a thermal energy transfer system comprising a heat transfer member having separate first and second surfaces each being configured to be subjected to separate first and second temperatures, at least one of the first and second surfaces also being configured to be subjected to a fluid so that a liquid phase of the fluid is present on the at least one of the first and second surfaces, the improvement comprising:a plurality of separate electrical conductors disposed in a spaced apart relationship to each other and extending longitudinally along the first surface of the heat transfer member; and an electric multi-phase alternating power source having multiple terminals and configured to produce a number of phases corresponding to a number of the multiple terminals, each of the plural electrical multiple conductors being connected to a different one of the multiple terminals to cause an electric traveling wave to move in a longitudinal direction of the heat transfer member to induce pumping of at least the liquid phase in the longitudinal direction to thereby enhance the thermal energy transfer characteristics of the thermal energy transfer system.