| 摘要 |
An apparatus and method for cooling or heating fluids, such as fuel in a fuel system of an automotive vehicle. Compressed gas is delivered to a vortex tube or air amplifier 14 so that the gas rapidly expands and cools, thereby cooling a first end 16 of the vortex tube 14 in relation to a warmer second end thereof 18. A first fuel inlet port 20 of a first heat exchanger 16 lies proximate the first end 16 so that fuel flowing into the inlet port 20 is cooled by thermal contact with the first end 16 of the vortex tube 14. A cooled fuel outlet port 22 in the heat exchanger 16 lies proximate the first end 16 so that cooled fuel may leave the heat exchanger 16 for delivery to an engine. A valve with an upstream gate 26 and two downstream gates 28,30 is located so that fuel is selectively delivered to the first fuel inlet port 20 through the upstream gate 26 and one of the two downstream gates 28,30 if cooling of the fuel is desired. The second downstream gate 30 is connected to a second fuel inlet port 34 in a second heat exchanger 18 so that fuel flowing therethrough is warmed thereby if heating of the fuel is desired. A warmed fuel outlet port 36 is provided in the second heat exchanger so that warmed fuel may leave the second heat exchanger 18. A temperature sensor 40 and valve controller are in communication with the valve.
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