APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RAPID THERMAL CYCLING USING TWO-PHASE HEAT TRANSFER TO CONVERT HEAT TO ELECTRICITY AND FOR OTHER USES

摘要

An apparatus is described which includes a thermal chamber, a first reservoir containing a first liquid/vapor two-phase system, a second reservoir containing a second liquid/vapor two-phase system and conduits connecting the first reservoir and second reservoir to the thermal chamber. The first and second liquid/vapor two-phase systems include a liquid phase and a separate vapor phase. The apparatus can be used to thermally cycle an object placed in the thermal chamber. An apparatus is also described which includes a conduit connecting the vapor phases of the first and second reservoirs. The apparatus can be used to thermally cycle an object placed in the vapor region of the first reservoir. The object can include one or more layers of an electrically or magnetically polarizable material.