RU2291361C2 - Containers cooled by diffusion evaporation - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: cooling equipment.

SUBSTANCE: container cooled by diffusion evaporation comprises casing having one or more walls. At least 5% of area of surface of one or more walls is occupied with matrix providing diffusion evaporation. Matrix contains porous hydrophilic material. Matrix allows small amounts of molecules of volatile vapor to pass therethrough. Vapor produced by evaporation of liquid provides cooling of container.

EFFECT: increased efficiency in cooling of beverage containers without usage of mechanical pumps.

85 cl, 22 dwg

Description

This invention relates to a device and method for creating a container or closure used to cool a liquid by diffusion evaporation.

Evaporative cooling of both dwellings and water began to be used in Ancient Egypt, and subsequently it spread east through the Near and Middle East and Iran to the north of India, west through North Africa to southern Spain and other regions suffering from hot and dry climates. When using this process for the first time, unglazed clay pots have been used for centuries to store water, with the added benefit of cooling the liquid water content by absorbing and absorbing water into the outer clay surface, followed by evaporation of water from this surface. Unfortunately, evaporation directly from the outer clay surface eventually led to the formation of plaque and a decrease in cooling efficiency, since minerals accumulated on this surface, reducing the permeability to liquids and lowering the pressure of the vapor formed by the liquid.

Other methods were used based on reducing heat transfer from the environment to the liquid. The methods that were used included the use of vacuum thermos and air gap thermos and insulation shells made of foam material. Additional devices that used ice, frozen cold briquettes or sticks were used to compensate for the heat caused by the environment and the return of the liquid in the container to the ambient temperature. In all these cases, the design of the system requires that the liquid contents, a separate chamber and / or the shell of the bottle be cooled, which can lead to problems of excess weight in addition to the loss of the working volume of the liquid in the container. In all such methods, the temperature of the liquid will come to equilibrium and eventually return to ambient temperature.

Diffusion evaporation is defined as a combination of vapor penetration and evaporation through a matrix. Since 1987, membrane diffusion evaporation has been widely used in the chemical industry for the separation and regeneration of liquid mixtures (Chemical Engineering Progress, pp. 45-52, July 1992). The method is distinguished by the introduction of a barrier matrix between the liquid and gaseous phases. The fluid is in actual contact with one side of the matrix. The mass transfer of steam occurs selectively to the side of the matrix in contact with the gas, which leads to loss of fluid or to the loss of selected volatile components of the fluid and the loss of latent heat of vaporization. The process is called diffusion evaporation due to the unique combination of "penetration" of vapor through the porous matrix and "vaporization", the transition of liquid into the vapor phase. Without adding heat to the liquid, the temperature drops due to the latent heat of vaporization until an equilibrium temperature is reached at which the heat absorbed from the environment is equal to the latent heat lost due to evaporation of the liquid on the matrix surface or in the pores.

US Pat. No. 5,946,931 discloses the use of a device with a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane for evaporative cooling, which uses a laminar flow fluid stream above the membrane to cool an attached device or the environment. US Pat. No. 4,824,741 discloses the use of a matrix for cooling by diffusion evaporation designed to cool a plate surface of a cell. The wet plate may be made of non-catalyzed, bonded with polytetrafluoroethylene, electrode material, suitable porous sintered powder, porous fibers, or even a porous polymer film. JP 2002-089755 (abstract, drawing) discloses the use of an evaporation tube, in particular a flexible tube, cooled by diffusion evaporation, in which at least one of the plurality of materials is porous. US Pat. No. 4,007,601 discloses the use of evaporative cooling in a circulating porous hollow heat exchanger to produce a cooled fluid.

The objective of the invention is to provide a simplified cooling system through diffusion evaporation for containers for drinks and liquids, which does not use any mechanical pumps to supply liquid to the surface of the matrix, providing diffusion evaporation, and which is not based on the effect of vacuum to increase the cooling efficiency, which was inherent systems according to the prior art. A container is defined as any device or enclosure that holds liquid, regardless of whether it is open or closed with respect to the external environment.

The problem is solved by all the features of the claims.

In the claimed invention provides for the use of a matrix that provides diffusion evaporation, which preferably forms part of the body or body of the container and forms from 5 to 100% of the total surface area of the container. In this case, the liquid contents of the container are cooled directly on the interface between the surrounding liquid and the membrane due to the latent heat of vaporization of the water. The resulting vapor generated by the liquid is lost due to its release through the matrix into the environment or into a collector or trap, one that may contain absorbent material. Preferred containers include bottles, cans, braided bottles and bags. In some embodiments, containers may be incorporated into larger structures, including homes, dispensers, and clothing.

In one embodiment, a container is provided that is cooled by diffusion evaporation, comprising:

a container body having one or more walls,

moreover, at least 5% of the surface area of one or more walls contain a matrix that provides diffusion evaporation, moreover, the matrix contains a porous hydrophobic material, while the matrix allows small quantities of molecules of volatile vapor formed by a liquid to pass through it, the evaporation of which provides cooling of the container .

The matrix further comprises a thin hydrophobic or oleophobic porous material attached by lamination to a porous hydrophobic material or deposited on a porous hydrophobic material.

The matrix is located on the container body so that the layer of porous hydrophobic material faces the interior of the container.

Preferably, at least 10% of the surface area of one or more walls contains the specified matrix.

The container further comprises a base attached to one or more walls.

In addition, the container further comprises a reconstitutable outer layer or a disposable outer layer located immediately adjacent to at least a portion of the container body, the layer containing a desiccant or absorbent material that absorbs moisture or other fluid resulting from diffusion evaporation.

Preferably, the matrix comprises an inner layer containing a porous material with a high degree of hydrophobicity, placed between the two outer layers of the porous hydrophobic material.

In this case, the inner layer has a pore size and thickness that is less than the pore size and the thickness of the outer layers.

The inner layer may contain polytetrafluoroethylene and the outer layer may contain polyethylene.

The container preferably comprises a plurality of support projections.

Preferably, the matrix may consist of hollow or foamed particles that are fused or glued together to reduce the thermal conductivity of the matrix and the loss of cooling efficiency due to diffusion evaporation.

The container further comprises an insulating sleeve surrounding at least a portion of one or more walls. In this case, the insulating sleeve contains a porous material, it is mainly tubular, and one or more holes are made in the wall, as a result of which the sleeve rotates around the container for selective closure or opening for exposure of the sections of the matrix, which provides diffusion evaporation.

The liner for the desiccant and / or material for the phase transformation can be placed around or at one end of the container.

In yet another embodiment, a fluid container is provided comprising:

a container body having one or more walls,

moreover, at least a portion of one or more walls contains a hydrophobic porous matrix that allows the passage of steam from the liquid in the container so that diffusion evaporation or vaporization of the vapor helps to cool the liquid in the container,

a reconstitutable outer layer or a disposable outer layer located immediately adjacent to at least a portion of the container body, the layer containing a desiccant or absorbent material that absorbs moisture or other fluid resulting from diffusion evaporation or evaporation.

The porous matrix preferably contains a membrane containing a porous sintered matrix. Moreover, the porous matrix is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of ethylene, polymethylpentenes, polybutylenes and mixtures thereof; the porous matrix is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene tetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyperfluoroalkoxyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl dichloride and mixtures thereof.

The porous matrix is made of a mixture of a fluorinated additive with a non-fluorinated resin, silicone or fluorosilicon.

The porous matrix may have a thickness of from 0.025 to 7.0 mm, from 0.05 to 3.0 mm.

The porous matrix may have a pore size of from 0.05 to 500 microns, from 0.1 to 100 microns.

The porous matrix may have porosity in percent from 10 to 90%, from 30 to 70%.

Preferably, the portion of one or more walls comprises from 5 to 100% of the total surface area of the container.

The porous matrix may consist of hollow or foamed particles that are fused or glued together to reduce the thermal conductivity of the matrix.

Preferably, the hydrophobic porous matrix has a folded structure.

In another embodiment, a fluid container is provided comprising:

a container body having one or more walls,

moreover, at least a portion of one or more walls contains a hydrophobic porous matrix that allows the passage of steam from the liquid in the container so that diffusion evaporation or vaporization of the vapor helps to cool the liquid in the container,

an insulating sleeve surrounding at least a portion of one or more walls.

In yet another embodiment, a fluid container is provided comprising:

a container body having one or more walls,

moreover, at least a portion of one or more walls contains a porous matrix having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being a hydrophobic surface and the second surface being a hydrophilic surface, wherein the porous matrix allows vapor to pass from the liquid into the container so that diffusion evaporation or vapor evaporation helps to cool the liquid in the container.

The porous matrix is positioned so that the hydrophilic layer faces the interior of the container.

The porous matrix contains a membrane of a porous hydrophilic material attached by lamination to a porous hydrophobic material.

Preferably, the second surface is rendered hydrophilic by a treatment process selected from the group consisting of plasma etching, chemical etching, wetting impregnation, and hydrophilic coating.

In one embodiment, a cooling jacket for a container is provided comprising:

shirt body having

an outer layer containing a hydrophobic porous material, and

an inner layer having the same extent with the outer layer and in fluid communication with the outer layer, the inner layer being adapted to hold volatile liquid,

wherein the jacket body is shaped so that the inner layer can contact at least a portion of the container.

The inner layer may contain sponge-like material, one or more empty spaces.

The inner layer further comprises an opening configured to be hermetically sealed to allow replenishment and sealing of the inner layer.

The cooling jacket body is generally cylindrical.

The cooling jacket further comprises a middle layer between the inner and outer layers.

In yet another embodiment, a cooling garment is provided comprising:

an outer layer comprising a material providing diffusion evaporation, comprising a matrix providing diffusion evaporation and having hydrophobicity, and

the inner layer,

moreover, the outer layer is in fluid communication with the mass of liquid coolant, and the inner layer is in thermal contact with the user of the garment.

The cooling article of clothing further comprises a middle layer comprising a thin support layer forming a liquid barrier for the layer providing diffusion evaporation.

Preferably, the cooling article of clothing may be incorporated or incorporated into a piece of uniform or a protective suit.

The cooling article of clothing further comprises a tube in fluid communication with the mass of liquid coolant, which allows the user of the article of clothing to consume liquid coolant.

The cooling article of clothing further comprises a reconstitutable outer layer or a disposable outer layer comprising a desiccant or an absorbent material that absorbs moisture or other fluid resulting from diffusion evaporation.

The outer layer is folded to increase the surface area for diffusion evaporation, the middle layer is a barrier to potentially hazardous biological or chemical materials, the inner layer contains patterned zones or serpentine zones formed by heat sealing.

In another embodiment, an evaporator tube or straw is created, cooled by diffusion cooling, comprising:

an elongated hollow tubular structure containing an outer layer providing diffusion evaporation containing a hydrophobic material having the same extent as a porous inner layer containing a hydrophilic material, the inner layer forming a cavity through which the liquid passes.

Moreover, during use of the tube, the liquid penetrates into the porous inner layer, forming a liquid plug, which significantly reduces the amount of air entering the tubular structure through the outer layer.

Preferably, the tubular structure is formed of a hydrophobic porous tube, the inner surface of which is chemically treated to give it hydrophilicity.

The tube can be made of two pieces of laminated sheet material and then expanded with an insert or wrapped in plastic or metal to close the fluid passage.

Preferably, one or more surfaces are coated with a desiccant and a phase conversion material in a support sleeve to accelerate diffusion evaporation and prevent a local sharp rise in temperature.

In yet another embodiment, a flexible tube is created containing a plurality of materials, in which at least one of the plurality of materials is porous, which is a composite made of at least one flexible material and at least one rigid material by welding, extrusion, co-extrusion, lamination and glue.

Moreover, many materials are placed relative to each other either in the form of spirals, or in the form of strips, or in an alternating manner, the rigid material being either porous, or hydrophobic, or hydrophilic, or oleophobic, the flexible material is either porous, or hydrophobic, or hydrophilic, or oleophobic.

According to the invention, the tube or straw cooled by diffusion evaporation is an elongated hollow tubular structure having an outer layer providing diffusion evaporation containing a hydrophobic material having the same length as the porous inner layer containing the hydrophilic material, wherein the inner layer forms a cavity through which liquid can pass. In one embodiment, the tubular structure is formed of a hydrophobic porous tube in which the inner surface of the tube has been chemically treated to give it hydrophilicity, resulting in an inner layer.

According to the invention, the cooling jacket for the container comprises a jacket body having an outer layer containing a hydrophobic porous material, and an inner layer having the same extent with the outer layer and in fluid communication with the outer layer, the inner layer being adapted to hold volatile liquid, while the housing the shirt has a shape that allows the inner layer to contact at least a portion of the container.

In preferred embodiments, the containers and cooling jackets may further comprise a reconstitutable outer layer or a disposable outer layer located directly adjacent to or in contact with a diffusion evaporation layer comprising a desiccant, absorbent material or other substance that absorbs or adsorbs moisture or other fluid medium formed as a result of diffusion evaporation.

According to the invention, the cooling article of clothing comprises at least two layers: an outer layer comprising a material providing diffusion evaporation, comprising a hydrophobic laminate providing diffusion evaporation; a possible middle layer having a thin support, forming a barrier for liquids layer for a layer that provides diffusion evaporation, and the inner layer; moreover, the outer layer is in fluid communication with the mass of liquid coolant, and the inner layer is in thermal contact with the user of the garment. The user of the garment is cooled by diffusion evaporation of the liquid coolant through the material of the outer layer, providing diffusion evaporation. In a preferred embodiment, a cooling article of clothing is included or integrated in a piece of uniform, such as a protective article of clothing or a suit. The garment may further comprise a tube in fluid communication with the mass of the liquid coolant, which allows the wearer of the garment to orally consume the liquid coolant, preferably water. For user convenience, the tube may be flexible, made of at least one flexible material and at least one rigid material. In a preferred embodiment, the garment further comprises a disposable outer layer or a disposable outer layer comprising a desiccant or absorbent material that absorbs moisture or other fluid resulting from diffusion evaporation.

In preferred embodiments, one or more of the following features may also occur: the garment is in thermal contact either by direct contact with the skin or by contact through a piece of cloth or material, the wearer of the garment being worn by the wearer and / or said fabric or material is part of the garment itself; the outer layer is folded to increase the surface area for diffusion evaporation; the middle layer represents a barrier to potentially hazardous biological or chemical materials; and the inner layer contains patterned zones or serpentine zones formed by heat sealing.

In a corresponding embodiment, the garment may further comprise a reservoir or in fluid communication with the reservoir, which contains additional liquid coolant. The coolant can be fed into the hollow spaces formed between the matrix, providing diffusion evaporation, and the middle layer from the reservoir under the action of gravity or by absorption. Preferred liquid coolants contain water, alcohols and mixtures thereof.

In respective embodiments, containers are also provided, such as bottles or satchels containing diffusion evaporation material, as described below.

1A and 1B show a bottle in a plan view and in a spatially separated view in which a substantially flat porous matrix can be wrapped around the bottle body or mounted on the bottle body like a cylinder.

Figure 2 shows a partially exploded view of a multilayer structure according to one embodiment comprising a thin membrane located in the form of a layer between two macroporous layers.

On figa, 3B, 3C and 3D shows a plan view and a view with a local section of the embodiments in which the support protrusions increase the rigidity of the porous matrix.

Figure 4 shows a container containing an outer porous insulating layer. This layer reduces direct radiation heating of the inner surface of the bottle, but nevertheless provides the possibility of flow during diffusion evaporation and loss of latent heat.

Figure 5 shows one embodiment of a container containing a pleated matrix that serves as a means of increasing the area of the effective cooling surface of the container. This makes it possible to obtain a larger surface area of the container and to reduce the cooling time of the liquid in the container.

On figa and 6B depicts one embodiment of the container in plan view and view with a local section, containing an adjustable sleeve to limit the amount of flow during diffusion evaporation and loss of liquid from the container. This sleeve preferably also reduces direct radiation heating of the inner surface of the bottle, but nonetheless provides the possibility of flow during diffusion evaporation and loss of latent heat.

7 shows a cross-section of a two-layer sleeve that provides diffusion evaporation, containing a spongy or sponge-like material that can be used with the container.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of another embodiment of a cooling jacket providing diffusion evaporation that is used on a central body containing a liquid, such as a carbonated beverage.

Figure 9 shows a graph of the dependence of cooling on time related to the equilibrium state during cooling due to diffusion evaporation using various porous matrices.

Figure 10 shows one embodiment of a drinking cup cooled by diffusion evaporation.

On figa, 11B and 11C shows one embodiment of a container for storage, cooled by diffusion evaporation (for example, a cooler) having a shell casing, providing diffusion evaporation, and a cover, providing diffusion evaporation.

12 depicts a preferred reservoir for dispensing a fluid containing a matrix that provides diffusion evaporation.

13 depicts one embodiment of a hydration pack containing folds cooled by diffusion evaporation of a reservoir filled with liquid.

Fig. 14 shows a drinkable bag cooled by diffusion evaporation in a possible porous fabric belt holder. In addition, a tube that is wettable from the inside and cooled by diffusion evaporation is shown, which can be used for drinking or dispensing with immediate cooling together with the bag shown or with other containers.

On Fig depicted a jacket, cooled by diffusion evaporation, in accordance with one embodiment.

The figures depict preferred embodiments, and are provided that they are presented merely as examples and show specific embodiments. To this end, a number of figures contain possible features that need not necessarily be included in any particular embodiment of the invention, and the shape, type or specific configuration of the container or closure shown should not be construed as limiting the invention.

Containers and shells are disclosed in which cooling by diffusion evaporation is used to cool a liquid or object contained in such a container or shell. In preferred embodiments, the containers are composed of porous vent materials, also called porous matrices. In one embodiment, the container forms part of a cooling garment providing diffusion evaporation.

Porous matrices can be made of any of a wide variety of materials, including plastics, elastomers, metals, glass and ceramics, but the materials are not limited to the above. Combinations of plastics, elastomers, glasses or ceramics may also be used. The combinations may be “tight”, such as those obtained from mixing two or more components that are to be sintered together, or may be layered, such as those formed from laminated structures made from two or more materials. Combinations of various plastics, elastomers, metals, glasses or ceramic materials can also be sintered together or made in the form of laminated structures intended for use in containers providing diffusion evaporation. Preferred plastics for porous vent materials include thermoplastic polymers, thermoset elastomers and thermoplastic elastomers, but are not limited to the above materials. Preferred thermoplastic polymers include low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), polypropylene (PP) and its copolymers , polymethylpentene (PMP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), modified polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyacetal l (PAN), a copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene (ABS), a copolymer of acrylonitrile, styrene and acrylate (AES), a copolymer of acrylonitrile, ethylene, propylene and styrene (ASA), polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) , chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), polyvinyl dichloride (PVDC), copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene (FEP), polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene ethylene ether, cellulose ether, cellulose ether, cellulose ether, cellulose ether PFA), nylon 6 (N6), polyamide, polyimide, polycarbonate, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) ^{x /} , polystyrene (PS), polysulfone and polyethersulfone (PES), but preferred thermoplastic polymers are not limited to the above. Preferred thermosetting elastomers include butadiene-styrene copolymer, polybutadiene (BR - butadiene rubber), ethylene-propylene copolymer, acrylonitrile and butadiene copolymer (NBR - nitrile rubber), polyisoprene, polychloroprene, silicone, fluorinated, nitrile polynorborene (PNR), butyl rubber (IIR - isobutylene isoprene rubber), including chlorobutyl rubber (CIIR) and bromobutyl rubber (BIIR), fluoroelastomers such as Viton® and Kalrez®, Fluorel ™ and chlorosulfonated polyethylene. Preferred thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) include thermoplastic olefins (TPO), including those that are industrially manufactured and marketed as Dexflex® and Indure®; elastomeric blends and alloys of polyvinyl chloride, styrene block copolymers (SBC), including alternating styrene butadiene block copolymer (SBS), alternating styrene-isoprene block copolymer (SIS), styrene-ethylene / butylene block copolymer with alternating blocks (SEBS) and a block copolymer of styrene, ethylene and propylene with alternating blocks (SEPS), some industrially manufactured styrene block copolymers, including those sold under the trademarks Kraton®, Dynaflex® and Chronoprene ™; thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV, also known as dynamically vulcanized alloys), including those industrially manufactured and marketed under the trademarks Versalloy®, Santoprene® and Sarlink®; thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), including those commercially manufactured and marketed under the trademarks ChronoThane®, Versollan ™ and Texrin®; copolyester thermoplastic elastomers (COPE), including those industrially manufactured and marketed as Ecdel®; and polyester block copolyamides (COPA), including those commercially manufactured and marketed under the trademark REVAX®. Preferred metals for porous materials include stainless steel, aluminum, zinc, copper and its alloys. Preferred glass and ceramic materials for porous materials include quartz, borosilicate, aluminosilicate, sodium aluminosilicate, preferably in the form of sintered particles or fibers obtained from these materials.

A preferred method for producing macroporous plastic is to obtain it using a process called sintering, in which powdered or granular thermoplastic polymers are exposed to heat and pressure to provide partial sintering of the granules and the formation of a cohesive macroporous sheet or part. The macroporous material contains a network of interconnected macropores that form an arbitrary tortuous channel passing through the sheet. Typically, the pore volume or porosity of the macroporous sheet in percent is from 30 to 65% depending on the sintering conditions, although it may be more or less than the boundaries of the above range, depending on the specific method used by the manufacturer. By adjusting the chemical or physical properties, the surface tension of the macroporous matrix can be obtained with a predetermined value for repelling or absorbing liquids, but air and vapors can easily pass through it. For example, US Pat. No. 3,051,993, issued to Goldman, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses details of the manufacture of macroporous plastic from polyethylene.

Porous plastics, including macroporous plastics suitable for the manufacture of a container cooled by diffusion evaporation, in accordance with the preferred options for implementation, can be made in the form of sheets or molded in accordance with the technical requirements and can be purchased from a number of suppliers. Porex Corporation (Fairburn, Georgia, USA) is one such supplier and supplies porous plastic under the trademark POREX®. Porous plastics sold under the name POREX® can be purchased in sheets or molded in accordance with the technical requirements of any of the thermoplastic polymers described previously. The average porosity of such POREX® materials can vary from about 1 to 350 microns, depending on the size of the polymer granules used and the conditions used during sintering. GenPore® (Reading, PA, USA) is another manufacturer of porous plastic products with pore sizes ranging from 5 to 1000 microns. MA Industries Inc. (Peachtree City, Georgia, USA) also produces porous plastic products. Porvair Technology Ltd. (Wrexham, North Wales, UK) is another manufacturer of porous products, supplying both porous plastics (with pore sizes from 5 to 200 microns under the trade name (brand) Vyon ™) and porous metal materials (under the Sinterflo® brand).

The base size, thickness and porosity of the plastic selected for the manufacture of the matrix, providing diffusion evaporation, can be determined by calculating the amount of steam that must pass through the venting means in a given period of time (flow rate), and the rate of heat transfer from the environment back to the liquid . The flux density (flow rate per unit area) for a given macroporous plastic varies depending on factors including pore size, porosity in percent and matrix thickness in cross section, and, as a rule, is expressed in units of volume per unit time per unit area. To ensure a sufficient degree of cooling due to diffusion evaporation, the steam flow rate through the matrix should be such that the amount of thermodynamic heat removed from the liquid initially at room temperature due to vaporization would exceed the amount of heat absorbed from the environment. During the process of diffusion evaporation, the temperature of the liquid in the container decreases until the loss of heat of the liquid due to evaporation of the liquid contents through the matrix is equal to the influx of heat from the environment.

In the common sense, "Macroporosity" usually refers to the total void volume of a material or its macrostructure. The term "Macroporous" is usually used to classify individual pores of a material that are considered large in size. The term "Microporosity" generally refers to the size of individual pores or the distribution of pore sizes that form the microstructure of a porous material. The term "Microporous" is usually used to classify individual pores of a material that are considered small in size. For the purposes of the description provided herein, pore size (diameter) is classified in accordance with the definitions of terms selected on February 26, 2002 by the subcommittee on macromolecular terminology of the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). When classifying pore sizes, this standard divides them into three categories: microporous (<0.002 μm), mesoporous (0.002 to 0.050 μm) and macroporous (> 0.050 μm). Also, for the purposes of the description presented here, the pore volume will be considered from the point of view of the "expressed as percent porosity" of the material. Both macroporous and mesoporous materials with pore sizes of 0.05 μm or less can be used for cooling by diffusion evaporation. Preferred manufacturing methods include casting or stretching membranes from such materials.

Preferred porous materials include those in which the pores on opposite surfaces (which will become the inner and outer surfaces) are connected to each other, so that the two sides communicate with each other. However, such connections between the sides are preferably non-through straightforward, similar to creating a single cylindrical tube through which the material passes; instead, the pore network forms a winding passage.

For a single layer diffusion evaporation matrix, the porous materials are preferably macroporous materials with pore sizes greater than or equal to 0.05 μm, preferably from about 0.1 to 500 μm and from about 0.5 to 10 μm, including 0.25 , 0.5, 1.5, 15, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 microns. In one embodiment, matrix materials used in conjunction with diffusion evaporation containers have a pore size of from 0.1 to 100 microns, preferably 0.5 to 75 microns. The percent porosity (percent cross-sectional area) of the materials is preferably from about 10 to 90%, preferably from 30 to 75% or from 50 to 70%, including 20%, 40%, 60% and 80%. The thickness of the porous materials is preferably in the range of 0.025 to 7 mm, including the range of 1 to 3 mm. The preferred thickness of the matrix materials used in containers for diffusion evaporation is from about 0.05 to 5 mm and from about 0.1 to 3.0 mm, including 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2.0 and 2.5 mm. Other embodiments may have values of the above parameters that are greater or less than those given above. For single-layer matrices, it is preferred that the material is hydrophobic or has a hydrophobic coating. For the values given in this paragraph, as well as elsewhere in the description, the ranges listed include all the values contained in them between the values indicated separately. In other embodiments, the materials may have one or more characteristics having values that lie outside the disclosed ranges.

The matrix material can be obtained from plastic, elastomers, glass, metal, or combinations thereof. Some preferred matrix materials, including thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting elastomers, thermoplastic elastomer, metals, glass, and ceramics, are as detailed above. Matrix materials can be purchased from suppliers that produce them on an industrial scale, or they can be manufactured in a variety of ways. US Pat. No. 4,076,656, issued to White et al., Describes in detail one method in which blowing agents are added to molten or dissolved materials that can be removed by solvent leaching or extracted with supercritical fluids after the material has hardened. and will be in its final form. US Pat. No. 5,262,444, issued to Rusincovitch et al., Describes in detail another method for creating a porous material by introducing pore formers that are released in the form of gases after processing the material, “leaving behind” the porous structure. These patents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Although many diffusion evaporation matrix materials are hydrophobic, oleophobic diffusion evaporation materials can also be used when the diffusion evaporation liquid is an organic liquid, such as alcohol. Consumer plastics such as nylon, polysulfone, and cellulosic materials are available in hydrophilic grades. These hydrophilic materials can be pulverized and sintered by using methods known to those skilled in the art to produce hydrophilic porous materials with high fluid densities. Porous hydrophilic plastic, including macroporous plastic, may be sheet-shaped or molded to specifications and may be commercially available from a variety of suppliers, including Porex Corporation. The pore size of the porous hydrophilic fibrous materials can be in the range from 20 to 120 μm with porosity in percent in the range from 25 to 80 for pore volume. In addition, hydrophobic porous materials can be rendered hydrophilic by one or more processing processes known to those skilled in the art, including plasma etching, chemical etching, wetting, or hydrophilic coating, but possible processing processes are not limited to the above. In addition, the process of applying a camouflage coating can be used in conjunction with one or more processing processes to selectively form hydrophilic zones with high fluid flow densities on a hydrophobic porous material, if desired.

For example, multilayer porous structures contain two or more layers of porous material. Thin layers can be bonded by lamination to form thicker layers using methods known to those skilled in the art. Multilayer structures can be used to obtain a matrix with better mechanical and physical properties, as previously noted in tests conducted by the applicants. For example, combining a sintered macroporous matrix made of polyethylene with a thin layer of foamed polytetrafluoroethylene on the side of the container streamlined by the liquid increases the hydrophobicity and pressure of the breakthrough water in the liquid state from 5 psi. inch to over 30 psi an inch, but nevertheless, the multilayer matrix still ensures the preservation of the flow during diffusion evaporation, similar to that obtained using single porous polyethylene. The thickness of the laminates is preferably in the range of about 0.025 to 7000 μm with average pore sizes, percent porosity, and other properties, preferably as described above.

Diffusion evaporation matrix materials can also be obtained from porous materials made from mixtures. In a preferred embodiment, the porous materials comprise a fluorinated polymer including polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene (FEP), polyethylene fluoride not limited to the above, and / or fluorinated additives, such as Zonyl®, mixed with selected polyolefin or other resins, preferably those selected from a number of polyethylenes (linear polyethylene low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene), polypropylene, polyesters, polycarbonates, acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene copolymer, acrylic resins, styrene, polymethylpentene (PMP), polybutylene terephthalate (PMB) ); polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA), polyacetal, copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene (ABS), copolymer of acrylonitrile, styrene and acrylate (AES), copolymer of acrylonitrile, AS, propylene nitrile, AS ), polyesters, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl dichloride (PVDC), nylon 6 (N6), polyamide, polyimide, polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyethersulfone (PES). Elastomers can also be used individually or in mixtures. Preferred elastomers include thermosetting type elastomers such as butadiene-styrene copolymer, polybutadiene (BR), ethylene-propylene copolymer, acrylonitrile and butadiene copolymer (NBR), polyisoprene, polychloroprene, silicone, fluorosilicon, urethane, hydrogenated, nitrated polynorborene (PNR), butyl rubber (IIR), including chlorobutyl rubber (CIIR) and bromobutyl rubber (BIIR). The resulting mixtures, including sintered mixtures, have porous structures with varying degrees of porosity, flexibility and mechanical strength, determined mainly containing no polytetrafluoroethylene or other non-fluorinated resin, and with high water penetration pressures, determined mainly by the characteristics of the fluorinated resin due to its predominant migration to the surface of the pores during the sintering process. Percentage porosity, pore size, and thickness are preferably those indicated above. Mixed matrix materials can be purchased from a number of suppliers manufacturing them on an industrial scale, or they can be manufactured in a variety of ways. US Pat. No. 5,693,273 to Wolbrom describes in detail the co-sintering process for producing porous plastic sheets with different porosity values that can be obtained from two or more polymer resins (polymers), and US Pat. No. 5,804,074 to Takiguchi and etc., the process of obtaining a plastic filter by co-sintering two or more polymer resins during molding to obtain parts of the filter is described in detail. Both of these patents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Diffusion evaporation cooling

In preferred embodiments, a simplified diffusion evaporation cooling system for containers is provided that does not use any mechanical pumps to supply liquid to the surface of the diffusion evaporation matrix and which is not based on the vacuum action to increase cooling efficiency. The present approach involves the use of a diffusion evaporation matrix that forms part of a container, preferably a container body, and forms from about 5 to 100% of the total surface area of the container, including about 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60 %, 70%, 80% and 90% of the total surface area. The liquid contents of the container are preferably cooled directly at the interface between the surrounding liquid and the matrix due to the latent heat of vaporization of the liquid, such as water or a mixture of water and a dissolved solid, or solution, in the container. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve or casing providing diffusion evaporation is used to cool the case, such as a drinking vessel or container in contact with the sleeve. The resulting vapor generated by the liquid enters the environment or into the absorbent material through a matrix. In most containers, natural convection and heat transfer in a liquid due to heat conduction are the prevailing heat transfer mechanisms that cause cooling of the liquid contents of the container. Depending on the size and other characteristics of the container, cooling may be substantially uniform throughout the container.

The liquid contents of a container or sleeve providing diffusion evaporation function like a coolant. Preferably, the loss of fluid volume is negligible; for example, in one embodiment, the loss in fluid volume is approximately 15% over a period of 24 hours, even with significant outside air circulation. Due to the large latent heat of water vaporization (583 cal / g at 75 ° F), the mass of ice that would be required, for example, to maintain the same temperature drop, is seven times the mass of water lost due to vaporization. An additional advantage of using a porous matrix in addition to cooling due to diffusion evaporation is the removal of any pressure difference created in the container due to gas evolution from the beverage or due to consumption of contents.

Turning further to the drawings, it will be seen that FIGS. 1A and 1B show one embodiment of a ventilated container providing cooling by diffusion evaporation and formed in accordance with this invention. The wall 501 of the container is formed at least in part from a diffusion evaporation matrix. This vapor-permeable matrix can form about 5 to 100% of the entire surface area of the container. Approximately 100% coverage is achieved if the entire cap and body (containing top 500, walls 501 and bottom 502) are made of a porous matrix material. In one preferred embodiment, the surface area of the diffusion evaporation exceeds approximately 30% of the entire surface of the container and provides a significant amount of flow during diffusion evaporation to efficiently cool the contained liquid to a temperature below ambient temperature and maintain the temperature of the liquid below ambient temperature.

In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, a multilayer structure comprising two or more layers may be used. In one embodiment, three layers of porous material 503, 504, and 505 are used to form a multilayer or laminated matrix. In one embodiment, the sintered macroporous matrix of polyethylene 505 with a thin layer of foamed polytetrafluoroethylene 504 on the side of the container streamlined by the liquid increases the hydrophobicity and pressure of penetration of the liquid, but helps maintain flow during diffusion evaporation and good mechanical stability, similar to those obtained when using one porous polyethylene. In addition, a third layer of porous polyethylene 503, forming a three-layer structure with foamed polytetrafluoroethylene 504 in the middle, provides a scratch-resistant surface near the inside of the container, making it safe for the dishwasher and substantially preventing or reducing damage to the soft layer of the foamed polytetrafluoroethylene. In related embodiments, laminates may contain more or less than three layers and / or various porous matrix materials.

In an alternative embodiment, the inner layer 503 contains a diffusion evaporation matrix or a laminated matrix, the middle layer 504 contains heat-insulating material with pores or other open spaces to allow steam to pass, and the outer layer 505 contains a desiccant or absorbent material.

The preferred orientation of the matrix is one in which the membrane with higher liquid penetration faces the interior of the container and the support for the porous matrix is exposed to air from outside the container. The thickness of these porous materials in a preferred embodiment is in the range of about 1/1000 "(0.025 mm) to 1/4" (6.4 mm). Porous matrices can also impart structural rigidity, scratch resistance and / or mechanical integrity to the container walls.

In a preferred embodiment, the membrane or a thin layer of material with a small pore size (<10 μm) can be selected from the group of materials with a high degree of hydrophobicity, such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), and can be inserted between thicker supports with high porosity, such as supports of sintered polyethylene, which provide the possibility of a significant flow during diffusion evaporation, and attached to them by lamination. If only two layers are used, the thickness of each of these layers can range from treating a monatomic surface to 1/4 "(6.4 mm) or more for foamed insulation or porous composite. Porous ceramic materials including molecular sieves (zeolites) can be used. ) or porous polymer films (CSP Technologies - Auburn, Alabama) and organic matrices, such as activated carbon, to basically prevent or reduce odor pollution from the environment of the liquid contents of the device or eynera providing cooling by pervaporation.

In a preferred embodiment, the multilayer structure comprises five layers: an inner layer of foamed polytetrafluoroethylene, porous propylene, a heat-insulating layer of polyurethane foam, a ceramic material such as zeolite, and a thin non-porous outer wrap made of polyolefin or polyester. This device can be used to provide continuous cooling due to diffusion evaporation inside the device in a humid environment. When the vapor released from the liquid is absorbed, the zeolite or other desiccant transfers heat directly or indirectly to the environment, while the isolated liquid content inside the sleeve providing diffusion evaporation cools. The outer two layers containing zeolite and a non-porous film may be single-use layers or restored, for example, by drying in an oven.

With the exception of any surface treatments that can be performed directly on the porous matrices in the structures, the porosity of the matrices or composite is preferably maintained between about 10 and 95%. This provides structural support in the matrix and allows you to increase the available surface area for diffusion evaporation and, therefore, the overall cooling rate of the container. The pore size of the matrix can also have an effect, with Knudsen diffusion prevailing at a pore size of less than 200 nm, which actually leads to a decrease in the rate of vapor penetration and lengthening of the zone of liquid to vapor conversion and cooling to the surface of the material blown by air / steam. In accordance with one embodiment, preferred pore sizes include those that are from about 0.5 μm to about 30 μm, and which are larger than a range of sizes that allow Knudsen diffusion. The liquid penetration pressure decreases significantly when the pore size exceeds 100 μm, which makes the use of a single layer of macroporous material less desirable in some cases. If a combination of a membrane and a macroporous support is used, then large pore sizes in the macroporous support become more desirable than in the absence of a combination.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D, protrusions 508 and 514 can be added to the inner and / or outer walls of the container to increase the structural rigidity of the container, prevent or reduce damage to the diffusion evaporation matrix 507 and 513, and / or providing a 514 hand grip seat. On figs and 3D shows designed for sports, a design with protrusions and with a narrowed part 512.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 comprises a layer of open-cell porous insulating material 518 that can be added to the outer surface of the container to allow relatively unobstructed diffusion of steam from the system, while still providing reduced convection and radiation heat flux from the ambient through to the inner walls of the container 517 and into the liquid. A preferred characteristic of this insulating material 518 is that it functions as an additional structural support, provides a place for hand grip of the container and provides for reducing or preventing damage to the matrix 517. As used herein, the term “pleated” covers “scaly” surfaces and others configurations to increase surface area. Foldable matrices include those in which the entire surface is pleated, or those in which one or more sections are pleated and others are left smooth.

The use of a pleated membrane or a sintered porous matrix 520 with pleats similar to that shown in FIG. 5 can provide enhanced cooling of the container due to diffusion evaporation, since the cooling rate due to diffusion evaporation is directly dependent on the surface area of the container.

Containers and garments providing diffusion evaporation may comprise an adjustable or biased sleeve on the outside of the matrix providing diffusion evaporation to enable selective closure or opening of some or all of the material providing diffusion evaporation. The closure of a certain part of the material providing diffusion evaporation makes it possible to reduce the vapor flow density, but at the same time, to maintain some cooling due to diffusion evaporation. Closing all of the material essentially causes the cessation of diffusion evaporation and can serve as a tool like an on-off switch for a container or garment.

For example, sleeves 524 and 525, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, may be provided as a means to reduce the area exposed to the porous surface 527 and the overall rate of evaporative cooling of the container and thereby reduce the rate of evaporation of the liquid and the rate of cooling, which makes it possible to control the temperature of the contents of the container. Reduced cooling may be desirable in some situations, for example, when absolute pressure, relative humidity and / or ambient temperature are low. As shown in FIG. 6B, there is preferably an interval or gap 530 between one or more parts of the container and the surrounding sleeve. The gap can serve as an insulating zone and / or as a zone of rising natural convection steam flow, which makes it possible to maintain cooling due to diffusion evaporation and minimizing the transfer of radiant heat to the liquid content of 529 containers. The inner sleeve 524 on the outside of the porous matrix 523 of the container is preferably attached to the matrix, providing diffusion evaporation, at least in the upper 522 and lower 526 parts of the container body, especially if such parts are not porous.

In one embodiment, some or all of the garment or container providing diffusion evaporation may comprise a spongy material providing diffusion evaporation, which retains water in the spongy material, and also serves to provide cooling by diffusion evaporation. One preferred embodiment is a bilayer sponge material providing diffusion evaporation having an inner sponge containing a hydrophilic material and an outer hydrophobic layer attached thereto. In this configuration, the inner sponge may be impregnated with water or other vaporizing liquid before use, and the porous hydrophobic top layer substantially prevents or reduces leakage of the liquid subjected to diffusion evaporation to the outer surface of the diffusion evaporation matrix. The liquid allows heat transfer through the wet matrix directly to the surface of the container’s inner wall.

7 shows a two-layer spongy material 533, providing diffusion evaporation, which can be used on glasses, bottles and containers. This configuration makes it possible to soak the inner layer 534 of the spongy material with water or other vaporizing liquid, and the porous hydrophobic top layer 535 substantially prevents or reduces leakage of the liquid coolant on the outer surface of the diffusion vaporization matrix 535. The fluid allows heat transfer through the wet matrix directly to the surface 532 of the inner wall of the container.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative configuration in which a cooling jacket 542 holding water or other diffusion-vaporized fluid 541 is filled through a hole 543 and used to cool the contents of the container enclosure 539 enclosed by it. The housing contains one or more parts of the matrix 537, providing diffusion evaporation, and, possibly, contains one or more protrusions 538 to increase structural strength. Thus, the liquid contents 540 inside the enclosed central body 539 can be insulated, which can substantially prevent or reduce the loss of liquid volume or carbon dioxide saturation within a given zone. In addition, the cooling efficiency of the container due to diffusion evaporation does not depend on the properties of the enclosed fluid; it depends only on volatility, heat of vaporization, ionic strength (ionic nature) and the content of solute in water or liquid 541 used to fill the surrounding casing. As shown in FIG. 7, the cooling jacket may also be formed of a detachable sleeve consisting of an outer layer 535 for diffusion evaporation and an inner porous liquid retaining or absorbing layer 534.

Figure 10 shows a drinking cup, cooled by diffusion evaporation, similar in operation to the bottles providing diffusion evaporation, shown in figa, 1B, 2, 3A and 3B. As soon as the liquid is poured into the cup, the porous matrix 555 will allow the liquid to cool due to diffusion evaporation. The bottle body and support projections 556 provide structural support and insulation.

These types of cooling jackets 533 and 542 can also be used in a similar configuration as a food cooler to reduce and maintain the temperature of contents 568 below ambient temperature. In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, baffles 560, 565, and 573 can be used on a refrigerator to protect diffusion evaporation matrix 566, to increase mechanical rigidity, and to control a storage container. Both the lid 558, 572 and the lower part 563, 559 of the refrigerator can be filled with water or other liquid 567 and 575 subjected to diffusion evaporation through openings 561 and 576 for filling with liquid and draining the liquid. The inner side of the lid 574 and the lower part 569 of the container is preferably made of non-porous material.

12 shows a chilled-water dispensing apparatus consisting of a large water bottle 579 having a large capacity, such as a 5 or 10 gallon bottle, and a reservoir 580 for dispensing a liquid cooled by diffusion evaporation. As the reservoir 580 is replenished with liquid from the bottle 579, the matrix 581, providing diffusion evaporation and surrounding the reservoir, provides cooling of the liquid before it is dispensed from one or more valves 583 with passage openings. Alternatively, one valve may be used for chilled water, and one valve may be used for hot water. Diffraction-cooled cooling reduces or eliminates the need for an electric cooling device, such as a refrigeration compressor. The plastic housing 582 of the reservoir 580 provides a mechanical support for the matrix 581, providing diffusion evaporation.

In one embodiment, the diffusion evaporation container may comprise one or more belts in order to allow the container to be worn on the body. The container can be worn in any way, including tying it around the trunk or limb, or worn in the form of a satchel or purse, but the possible methods are not limited to the above. The potential applications of this technical solution on the market correspond to the volume of sports equipment cooled by diffusion evaporation and designed to optimize the performance of an athlete. 13 shows one embodiment of a hydration pack 585 cooled by diffusion evaporation. The package includes a housing 588 containing a matrix 591 that provides diffusion evaporation, which in one embodiment is ribbed to provide a larger surface area for diffusion evaporation. The package is filled with diffusion evaporation fluid through the filling and draining hole 587 and can be worn using one or more straps 586. The drinking tube 589 is in fluid communication with the interior of the package and is preferably turned on to allow the carrier the ability to drink fluid in a convenient way. Hydration packs cooled by diffusion evaporation, including backpack-type wearable containers, can be created by forming at least a portion of an elastic balloon member from any of a variety of hydrate packings that are known in the art and are industrially manufactured and marketed (e.g., CamelBak, Petaluma, Calif .; HydraPak, Berkeley, Calif.), with diffusion evaporation material, such as by heat sealing, bonding, and / or stitching.

In one embodiment, the hydration pack 585 comprises a laminate of at least two layers: (1) an outer layer 591 comprising a diffusion evaporation layer made with or without folds and containing a hydrophobic laminate providing diffusion evaporation; (2) a support layer 593, preferably having a thin support layer for a diffusion evaporation layer 591, the support layer serving as a liquid barrier. In some embodiments, for example, designed for long-term use, water is supplied by gravity or by absorption from the reservoir 588 containing the liquid down into the hollow spaces 592 formed between the diffusion evaporation matrix 591 and the middle layer 593.

The possible third layer preferably contains insulating material and directly touches the skin (or is in thermal contact with the skin through the garment), and provides a thermal barrier between the user and the hydrated packaging. This layer can be continuous or have a relief pattern (for example, with grooves, folds, wave-like relief) to allow air to pass between the user and the hydrated packaging. A possible third or fourth layer contains a desiccant or absorbent material.

On Fig shows a package 594 for drinking, cooled by diffusion evaporation, in a possible belt-mounted holder 599 of fabric. The holder may contain materials other than fabric; it is only necessary that it possesses the ability to hold the bag and preferably does not substantially impede diffusion evaporation. A diffusion evaporation bag such as this, for example, can be attached to the loops of the waist belt by using fastening belts in them, or attached to the side of the existing waist belt. Fabric 601 allows free passage by diffusion evaporation from a porous matrix 595 bag. Package 594 in one preferred embodiment comprises three main parts: 1) a housing 595 providing diffusion evaporation and comprising a matrix providing diffusion evaporation, 2) a filling hole 596, and 3) a drinking tube 597, 602 cooled by diffusion evaporation, and pouring part 598 with a tap. The housing 595 may be substantially wholly or partially formed from a diffusion evaporation matrix. Drinking tube 602 cooled by diffusion evaporation, in one embodiment, comprises an outer hydrophobic layer 604 providing diffusion evaporation, which substantially prevents or reduces leakage and cooling by diffusion evaporation, and an inner liquid wettable layer 605. When the liquid is introduced through the center 603 of this multilayer tube 602, the liquid will penetrate into the hydrophilic material, creating a liquid plug 605, which substantially prevents or reduces air flows into the center 603 of the tube through the porous matrix 604. The liquid trapped in the hydrophilic matrix 605 can freely evaporate by diffusion evaporation through the outer hydrophobic matrix 604. This combination of hydrophilic 605 and hydrophobic 604 matrices in the tube 602 provides the advantage of supplying chilled drinking water directly from the center 603 of the inner space of the tube when placed in cooperation with a reservoir 594, cooled by diffusion evaporation, or with a reservoir, cooled by due to pervaporation, in an alternative embodiment. One simple method for manufacturing such a tube 602 is to plasma treat the center of a hydrophobic porous polytetrafluoroethylene tube. Alternatively, the drinking tube may be made of materials that do not provide diffusion evaporation.

In some embodiments, the implementation of the container, providing diffusion evaporation, made in the form of a lightly liquid-filled (preferably filled with water) garment, providing cooling by diffusion evaporation, which serves as a simple personal cooling system that creates a microclimate to relieve temperature stress in people, wearing protective clothing under normal or elevated ambient temperatures. This type of cooling garment may be included in protective clothing during manufacture, such as suits for chemical or biological protection or Nomex flame retardant suits, to form part of such clothing, or it may be worn with such protective clothing. Alternatively, the garment may be worn under a layer of body armor.

The cooling garment in accordance with the preferred embodiments can be used for many purposes, including clothing for firefighters and rescuers, military personnel and personnel working with hazardous (chemical and / or biological) materials, as well as for sports fans who can increase their stamina due to the release of more heat from their bodies during sports, but the scope is not limited to the above. Garments that provide diffusion evaporation can also reduce the amount of infrared radiation emitted by the user. In preferred embodiments, water, or a combination of water and ethanol (preferably from about 5 to 15%) as a source of diffusion vaporized cooler, is used to provide a device that is substantially safe and provides additional functionality, such as an optional drinking water bag for a carrier cooled by diffusion evaporation. Chilled drinking water can also reduce the heat load on a person wearing a protective suit or uniform or playing sports, especially those sports that require stamina. Although harmless and / or drinkable coolers are preferred, any liquid capable of providing the cooling function by diffusion evaporation, including methanol, isopropanol, unfit water and other liquids and solvents, is preferred. Preferably, the selected cooler is compatible with the material (s) with which it is in contact with the garment.

In one preferred embodiment, a garment providing cooling by diffusion evaporation is in the form of a jacket or vest. A garment that allows diffusion evaporation can be worn separately, or it can be worn when it is included or integrated in another garment or garment, such as a protective suit. When a garment providing diffusion evaporation is included or “embedded” in another garment, it preferably forms the innermost layers so that it is in close contact (i.e., in thermal contact) with the user. A cooling article of clothing providing diffusion evaporation may be in direct contact with the skin, or it may be in contact with another article of clothing of the user. In some embodiments, the diffusion evaporation garment comprises a layer of fabric or material covering a portion or all of the diffusion evaporation matrix that is directed toward the inside of the garment (i.e., the part that touches the wearer or is in thermal contact) with the user).

Although the issues discussed relating to garments providing diffusion evaporation have been considered with respect to a vest or jacket having a specific configuration, this discussion should not be construed as limiting the disclosed invention. The principles discussed here provide for the creation of many garments that are cooled by diffusion evaporation, including jackets, hats, belts, trousers, leggings and designs that cover one or more parts of the body, such as a cloak for a leg or arm (or parts of it) , or a scarf for the neck.

15 shows the construction of one preferred embodiment of a jacket 608. The jacket may be worn alone, or the jacket or vest may be hidden under a garment or protective garment such as a chemical protective suit, Nomex flame retardant suit or body armor.

In a preferred embodiment, the jacket comprises a laminate of three or four layers:

(1) a possible reconditioned outer layer 610 or a disposable outer layer 610 containing a desiccant or absorbent material that absorbs moisture or other fluid resulting from diffusion evaporation;

(2) an outer layer comprising a diffusion evaporation layer 611, preferably folded, comprising a diffusion evaporation laminate, preferably hydrophobic in nature;

(3) a middle layer 613 having a thin support layer for a diffusion evaporation layer, which can also serve as a barrier to liquid and, in some cases, as a barrier to potentially hazardous biological or chemical substances. For longer operations, in one embodiment, water or other cooling fluid may be supplied by gravity or by soaking from the reservoir 616 to hold the fluid, such as on the shoulders of the jacket, down into the hollow spaces 612 formed between the diffusion evaporation matrix , and the middle layer; and

(4) an inner layer 615 that is in contact with the skin, in direct contact or through a piece of fabric or material, which fabric or material is part of the jacket itself and / or a separate item worn by the user. The inner layer preferably comprises patterned zones or serpentine zones formed by heat sealing. In one embodiment, a simplified jacket is provided, comprising only layers 2 and 4 as described above.

Fluid may be supplied to the jacket through opening 607 in the jacket. In a preferred embodiment, the space 614 between the inner and middle layers forms a pneumatic chamber, which, when inflated by means of the mouthpiece 618, provides isolation from the liquid in the cooling jacket. When the pneumatic chamber is compressed by means of a terminal mouthpiece on an air hose, the liquid layer comes into thermal contact with the skin due to the overlapping of the middle and inner layers, and this provides cooling on demand. In another embodiment, a separate jacketed water tank is located between the middle and inner insulating layers to provide a cold source of drinking water. If required, the reservoir may contain a compressible bag to prevent squeezing of water, which can create excessive or undesirable noise. In other embodiments, the garment may include a drinking tube 617 to enable the wearer to consume the fluid in the jacket.

If a garment that provides diffusion evaporation and does not have an outer layer of desiccant / absorbent is used under a uniform, protective or otherwise, it is preferable that such a uniform is permeable to a fluid subjected to diffusion evaporation, or that the uniform has ventilation openings, pores, or other openings to allow passage of fluid undergoing diffusion evaporation.

In some embodiments, the diffusion evaporation garment further comprises a reconstitutable outer layer or a disposable outer layer comprising a desiccant or an absorbent material that absorbs moisture or other fluid generated by diffusion evaporation. Suitable desiccants or absorbent materials for aqueous fluids subjected to diffusion evaporation include ammonium sulfate, molecular sieves, and polyacrylic acid, but possible desiccants or absorbent materials are not limited to the above. The outer layer of the desiccant / absorbent can be discarded after use, or it can be restored, for example, by applying heat and / or reduced pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent / desiccant layer absorbs water in an amount of at least about 3-4 times its own weight. The process of water absorption in this layer is preferably endothermic or at least minimally exothermic. In preferred embodiments, the layer provides a high degree of absorption, dimensional stability and / or minimizes heating due to hydration of water vapor in the layer. As those skilled in the art will readily understand, a desiccant or absorbent layer can be used in conjunction with any diffusion evaporation container described herein. When a garment providing diffusion evaporation is used in combination with another garment or is included or integrated in another garment, there is no need for pores, ventilation holes, openings, and the like. in another garment, although they may be present if desired. In a suitable embodiment, at least one surface of the outer layer of the desiccant / absorbent comprises a material that is chemically resistant and / or substantially impermeable to chemical and / or biological substances to provide additional protection for the carrier.

The following is a brief discussion of the thermodynamic implementation of such a design. Assuming that the average water vapor flux density during diffusion evaporation through the porous matrix is 4 · 10 ^-6 g / cm ² · s at 75 ° F and the absence of wind from Table 1, and assuming that the water vapor flux density doubles at 95 ° F, a flux density of 8 · 10 ⁻⁶ g / cm ² · s can be obtained. If the vaporization enthalpy at 95 ° F is 2400 J / g, then the energy dissipation per unit area of the matrix is 1.9 · 10 ^-2 W / cm ² . To achieve an energy dissipation of 25 W, it is necessary to use a useful matrix surface area of approximately 1,500 cm ² or 1.5 square meters. feet in hydrated packaging design. The use of a pleated membrane or a sintered porous matrix with pleats provides an increase in cooling ability due to diffusion evaporation, since the ability to cool due to diffusion evaporation is directly dependent on the porous surface of the jacket. For cooling for 4 hours at a speed of approximately 150 ml of water will be used up in this process. Thus, not much less than 0.5 pounds of water will be used in this process. It seems appropriate that the mass of water filling the jacket, such as this, could be approximately 3 pounds or less.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the configurations of the various layers in the jacket, bag, and satchel embodiments discussed above are interchangeable since they are interchangeable with the other container configurations disclosed herein.

A preferred arrangement of a multilayer or multifunctional matrix according to one embodiment is one in which the surface of the matrix with more liquid penetration is facing the inside of the garment and the supporting back side of the matrix is exposed to air outside the garment. The thickness values of these porous materials in a preferred embodiment are in the range of about 1/128 "(0.2 mm) to 1/8" (3.2 mm). In one embodiment, the multilayer composite materials of the membranes and matrices providing diffusion evaporation are selected to provide high liquid penetration pressure at the liquid matrix interface by using a thin material with a high degree of hydrophobicity and small pore size, such as foamed polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) inserted between thicker supports with high porosity, such as sintered polyethylene supports, and attached to them by lamination, which çäàåò possibility of substantial current density at the evaporation diffusion.

Manufacturing methods

Several methods are suitable for the manufacture of containers for diffusion evaporation, or part of a garment for diffusion evaporation, which is a matrix for diffusion evaporation, including sintering of plastic granules up to a millimeter in size in a forming cavity to directly form a wall for diffusion evaporation; thermal or ultrasonic laminating or welding of one or several pieces of a matrix providing diffusion evaporation, together or joining them to the corresponding frame by thermal or ultrasonic lamination or welding; molding with an insert in which one or more sheets or a cylinder of a porous matrix is inserted into the cavity of the mold and the thermoplastic polymer is injection molded directly around the insert (s) to form a desired composite having portions of the porous matrix; heat sealing; bonding components by using adhesives, but possible methods are not limited to the above; and / or stitching methods can also be used to assemble all or part of a garment or container that allows diffusion evaporation.

Multilayer structures containing two or more layers of porous material can be used to obtain a matrix with better mechanical or physical properties. For example, combining a sintered macroporous matrix made of polyethylene with a thin layer of foamed polytetrafluoroethylene on the side of the container streamlined by the liquid increases the hydrophobicity and pressure of the breakthrough water in the liquid state from 5 psi. inch to over 30 psi an inch, but nevertheless, the multilayer matrix still ensures the preservation of flux density during diffusion evaporation, similar to that obtained using single porous polyethylene.

1A and 2B show the construction of a preferred embodiment of a diffusion evaporation container, with a wall portion 501 containing a diffusion evaporation matrix. The wall 501 is attached to the upper 500 and lower 501 parts of the container by a process such as molding with inserts, thermo or ultrasonic welding, gluing, or other suitable means. Injection molding can also be used to attach the die to other parts of the container. The top 500 of the bottle shown in this example provides threaded connections and can be used with a vented bottle cap. The upper 500 and lower 502 parts of the container can be manufactured by any suitable method, including injection molding, vacuum molding, and the like.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a protrusion configuration for a thin diffusion evaporation matrix 507 for which additional structural support 508 is desired. The protrusions 508 give the container wall both structural integrity and a surface with protrusions for a more firm grip of the container by hand. The protrusions 508 can be placed on the outside, inside, and / or on one or more sides of the diffusion evaporation matrix. The protrusions 508 are preferably formed by injection molding on a diffusion evaporation die 507 by injection molding. Alternatively, the protrusions 508 may be attached to the porous matrix 507 or the porous matrix 507 may be attached to the container shell 508 provided with the protrusions by ultrasonic welding, heat sealing or gluing, among others.

FIGS. 3C and 3D show a variant of the container for sports, which allows the container to be securely fixed in the holding bracket by means of a narrowed portion 512 of the bottle. The bottle neck 511 allows the use of various closures, including a snap-on lid and a threaded closure.

Figure 4 shows a heat-insulating, hydrophobic layer 518 of foam with open cells, which allows water vapor to pass through the open-porous structure, but prevents convection and radiation heating of the contents of the container. Table 1 shows that the heat-insulating matrix reduces the rate of fluid loss while maintaining significant cooling due to diffusion evaporation. In a preferred embodiment, the insulating foam 518 is placed or removed from the bottle as an elastic sleeve.

An increase in cooling efficiency due to diffusion evaporation can be achieved by increasing the surface area of the matrix in contact with the liquid by performing a pleated matrix. Figure 5 shows the container body 520, made with folds, which provides the possibility of obtaining a larger surface area for diffusion evaporation, open to exposure from the retained volume of liquid. This configuration provides a reduction in the time required to cool the container volume due to diffusion evaporation. A container having this configuration can be made by molding with inserts or by pouring both ends with glue while attaching to the lower 521 and upper 519 elements of the container or pouring molten plastic.

6A and 6B show a rotatable sleeve 525 on the outside of the matrix body 523. When the outer sleeve 525 rotates relative to the inner sleeve 524, a plurality of vertical slots 527 are formed, which open and close to create a variable degree of opening of the matrix 523, providing diffusion evaporation, to act, as a result of which it is possible to reduce the intensity of the steam flow, but maintain adequate cooling due to diffusion evaporation. A sleeve sliding in the vertical direction, the slots of which are adjustable in the vertical direction instead of being adjusted by rotation, can also be used in this type of configuration. The inner and outer sleeves 524 and 525 are made of a substantially non-porous material, such as plastic or metal, which does not allow water vapor to pass through it. Fig. 6B shows an annular sleeve that maintains a very narrow gap 530 between the porous matrix 523 and the internal stationary sleeve 524. The gap 530 is necessary as a protective shield in order to substantially prevent or substantially reduce the transmission due to heat conduction and radiation heating heat directly to the porous matrix 523 of the main body of the container. In addition, the distance 530 allows steam to escape from the annular zone 527. The sleeves 524 and 525 can also be used above the pleated surface 520 to allow diffusion evaporation, such as that shown in FIG. 5. In this case, the sleeves 524 and 525 can also be placed on the outside of the container by pushing them on the outside of the container. The inner sleeve 524 may be attached or welded in place.

Figures 7 and 8 show embodiments of containers with shirts that provide diffusion evaporation. As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling jacket may be formed of a detachable sleeve consisting of an outer hydrophobic layer 535 that allows diffusion evaporation and an inner porous liquid retaining or absorbing layer 534. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the outer jacket 541 is filled through special orifices 543 with water or other volatile fluids 541, and the contents of the inner fluid container 540 are kept below ambient temperature. One advantage of this configuration is that the carbonated beverage can be stored in this container without reducing the carbon dioxide saturation. In addition, a liquid with a low tendency to diffusion evaporation, such as a liquid with a high content of electrolytes or sugar, can be placed in the inner chamber 540 of the container, while distilled water or other liquid 541, easily subjected to diffusion evaporation, is placed in the outer chamber to obtain an appropriate temperature reduction.

Another embodiment for a diffusion evaporation configuration provided with sponge material 533 or jacket 542, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, is for using an oleophobic diffusion evaporation matrix that retains organic liquids such as alcohol. In this configuration, the outer jacket 533, 542 is filled with ethanol and serves as a coolant 534, 541, providing diffusion evaporation.

Figure 10 shows a drinking cup, cooled by diffusion evaporation, similar in operation to the containers in figa, 1B, 2, 3A and 3B. The assembly can be formed by wrapping a flat matrix providing diffusion evaporation around the cup body 556 or fitting the matrix 555 onto the cup body 556 like a cylinder and attaching the material with glue, sealant, heat seal or ultrasonic welding. Molding with inserts can be used to directly attach the material to the body and the walls of the bottle.

On figa, 11B and 11C shows the configuration for receiving a cooling container for storing drinks and food products 568. In this configuration, the cover 558, the walls 559 and 560 of the refrigerator, or preferably both the cover 572 and the walls 559 and 564 contain a liquid-filled shirt 566 and 578, providing diffusion evaporation. The container may further comprise one or more layers of insulation. The container can be used for simultaneous storage of food and beverages 568 at a temperature below ambient temperature for several days. In one embodiment, the assembly of the refrigerator body 563 is carried out by placing a flat matrix 566 providing diffusion evaporation inside the shell case 564 and attaching the material with glue, sealant, heat seal, or ultrasonic welding. Alternatively, insert molding is used to directly attach material 566 to the frame and walls 564.

One proposed solution for removing thermal stresses is based on the idea of diffusion evaporation. A cooled hydrated pack or other cooling garment that uses a diffusion evaporation cooling mechanism similar to this one can find application not only in the military sphere as a personal cooling system, but also for sports fans who could increase their endurance by the release of more heat from their bodies during race events. The use of water or a combination of water and ethanol (preferably about 5-15%) as a source of coolant for diffusion evaporation makes it possible to make such a device safe and providing additional functionality, such as an additional bag for drinking water cooled by diffusion evaporation. Chilled drinking water will also reduce the heat load on a person wearing a protective suit or uniform.

The hydration pack providing diffusion evaporation and described herein is similar in design to bottles for cooling drinks by diffusion evaporation, which were previously known. A comparison of the cooling efficiency by using cooling due to diffusion evaporation (2400 J / g) with a specific heat of fusion (335 J / g) combined with heating the liquid (105 J / g) to room temperature (77 ° F) shows that cooling over diffusion evaporation is five times more mass-effective than using ice. Tables 1, 2, and 3 show data showing what happens to bottles that provide cooling by diffusion evaporation under various conditions in terms of wind speed and matrix composition at room temperature and relative humidity of 30-40%.

On Fig shows one embodiment of a bag 594 for drink, cooled by diffusion evaporation, shown in a possible belt-mounted holder 599 of fabric. In one embodiment, the belt is attached directly to the housing 595, and no holder made of fabric or other material is used. A diffusion evaporation bag, such as this one, can be worn over the shoulder, secured by belts with pulling through a belt loop or to another part of the body by using fastening belts 600 or similar attachment devices or attached to the side of an existing waist belt. In one embodiment, nylon mesh fabric 601 is sewn and the belts 600 are Velcro, Nylon / Velcro Composite, or other natural or synthetic material. The various parts of the porous matrix 595 of the package can be connected by heat bonding, heat sealing, ultrasonic welding or lamination with glue, or by other methods discussed here in connection with other containers. In one embodiment, the diffusion evaporation-cooled drinking tube 602 comprises an outer hydrophobic layer 604 providing diffusion evaporation, which substantially prevents or reduces leakage and cooling by diffusion evaporation, and an inner liquid-wettable layer 605. When the liquid is introduced through the center 603 of this multilayer structure 602, the liquid will penetrate the hydrophilic material, creating a liquid plug 605, which prevents or substantially reduces col the amount of air entering the center of the tube 603 through the porous matrix 604. The liquid trapped in the hydrophilic matrix 605 can freely evaporate by diffusion evaporation through the outer hydrophobic matrix 604. This combination of hydrophilic 605 and hydrophobic 604 matrices in the tubular shape 603 provides the advantage of in the supply of chilled drinking water directly from the interior of the tube 603. As noted above, this tube can be used together with a bag that provides diffusion evaporation or does not provide diffusion evaporation, or it can be used with other containers, both providing diffusion evaporation and not providing diffusion evaporation. One method for manufacturing diffusion evaporation tube 602 is to plasma treat the center of a hydrophobic porous polytetrafluoroethylene tube, which imparts hydrophilicity to the inner portion 605 of the tube.

Operation of a device cooled by diffusion evaporation

Preferred designs of devices for providing cooling by diffusion evaporation are simple and can operate under ambient conditions to cool and / or maintain a certain degree of cooling of the fluid or solid contents of the container without restrictions on weight and portability associated with mechanical pumping or the need for an external mechanical device to create a vacuum in order to increase the cooling rate due to diffusion evaporation. In a preferred embodiment, the radial size of a container of the type shown in FIG. 1A is large enough to allow convection mixing due to the natural convection of the liquid contents. This is because in some cases, the thermal conductivity of the liquid itself may not be high enough to effectively maintain a substantially uniform temperature distribution throughout the container. When the liquid at the inner walls of the container is cooled, this reduces the density of the liquid at the inner walls compared to the density in the center. Due to this difference in densities, the colder liquid will pass down the inner walls of the container to the bottom of the container, where it is captured back up with its circulation in the middle of the container in a process called natural convection as opposed to forced convection. At a sufficiently high cooling rate, convection vortices “come off” from the side of the container and increase the mixing speed.

These phenomena and their distribution can be predicted by using a combination of calculated dimensionless parameters, namely the Grashof number (parameter for the Archimedean force of the fluid in the gravitational field) and the Prandtl number (parameter that describes the thermal and capacitive properties of the liquid). The combination of these two parameters leads to the calculation of the Nusselt number (total heat transfer parameter). Natural convection inside a container providing diffusion evaporation increases the cooling efficiency and cooling rate of the device by allowing convection heat transfer through the fluid to create lift instead of heat conduction through the same liquid medium.

Table 1 presents the limiting values of the data on cooling due to diffusion evaporation at a relative humidity of 30% to 41%, and various ambient air velocities and the influence of the porous insulating matrix. Tables 2 and 3 present the limiting values of the data on cooling due to diffusion evaporation of water at different values of relative humidity and in the shade (table 2) or in the presence of direct solar radiation (table 3). Diffusion evaporation materials are PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or sintered UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene). X-7744, X-6919 and 402HP are ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene materials having different porosity, pore size and thickness shown in the tables.

Table 1 shows the limiting values of the data on water cooling due to diffusion evaporation at various ambient speeds and the action of a porous polyurethane insulating matrix with 1/16 "open cells at a relative humidity of 30%. Tables 2 and 3 show the limiting values of the data on water cooling due to diffusion evaporation at various values of relative humidity and in the dark or in the presence of direct sunlight. Materials providing diffusion evaporation in all three ABLE are sintered polytetrafluoroethylene or polyethylene, ultra high molecular weight.

Further improvements in cooling efficiency can be seen when using the container, when the relative humidity outside drops and if the container is installed so that sunlight does not directly fall on it. A lower ambient humidity leads to an increase in the vapor concentration gradient, and heat supplied from outside increases the temperature of the liquid and the vapor pressure, which leads to an increase in the flux density during diffusion evaporation. Depending on the environmental conditions, the selected geometric shape, and the materials of the container, this process can support the cooling of the container to a temperature that is 22 ° F below ambient temperature. See table 3. The time to reach a given temperature achieved by cooling for a liquid volume of 700 ml is approximately 2 hours, as shown in FIG. 9 for various diffusion evaporation matrices and combinations thereof.

One preferred embodiment of the evaporative cooling container comprises a single or combined porous matrix having a diffusion evaporation layer thickness that is from about 0.025 mm (0.001 in) to 10 mm (0.394 in). In addition, to increase the efficiency of the diffusion evaporation process, the matrix preferably has such properties that it is minimally heat conductive. Preferably, the matrix does not substantially impede vapor diffusion, so in one embodiment, pore sizes greater than about 100 nm are preferred. Preferred values of matrix surface porosity are from about 15 to 90%, including about 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, and 85%. A low thermal conductive porous matrix such as Styrofoam porous perforated material, a foamed porous matrix or an open cell porous matrix formed from hollow fused particles can substantially prevent or reduce substantially the excessive transfer of heat from the environment to the container.

The various methods and technologies described above are some of the many ways to implement the invention. It goes without saying that it is understood that not all of the described objectives or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment described herein, or with any other one embodiment. Therefore, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that methods can be implemented and / or products can be manufactured in such a way as to achieve or optimize one advantage or group of advantages described herein, while other tasks or advantages are not necessarily achieved. that might be considered or suggested here.

In addition, one skilled in the art will understand the interchangeability of various features from various embodiments. Similarly, the various features and operations discussed above, as well as other known equivalents for each such feature or operation, can be used together and brought into line with one another by one of ordinary skill in the art to perform methods in accordance with the principles described herein.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with certain embodiments and examples, those skilled in the art will understand that the invention includes embodiments not disclosed herein, encompassing other alternative embodiments and / or applications and their obvious modifications and equivalents.

Claims (85)

1. A container cooled by diffusion evaporation, comprising a container body having one or more walls, wherein at least 5% of the surface area of one or more walls contains a matrix that provides diffusion evaporation, the matrix containing a porous hydrophobic material, the matrix allows small quantities of molecules of volatile vapor formed by a liquid to pass through it, the evaporation of which provides cooling of the container. 2. The container according to claim 1, in which the matrix further comprises a thin hydrophobic or oleophobic porous material attached by lamination to a porous hydrophobic material or deposited on a porous hydrophobic material. 3. The container according to claim 2, in which the matrix is located on the container body so that the layer of porous hydrophobic material faces the interior of the container. 4. The container according to claim 1, in which at least 10% of the surface of one or more walls contain the specified matrix. 5. The container according to claim 1, additionally containing a base attached to one or more walls. 6. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a reconstitutable outer layer or a disposable outer layer located immediately adjacent to at least a portion of the container body, the layer comprising a desiccant or absorbent material that absorbs moisture or other fluid generated in the result of diffusion evaporation. 7. The container according to claim 1, in which the matrix contains an inner layer containing a porous material with a high degree of hydrophobicity, placed between two outer layers of a porous hydrophobic material. 8. The container according to claim 7, in which the inner layer has a pore size and thickness that is less than the pore size and the thickness of the outer layers. 9. The container according to claim 7, in which the inner layer contains polytetrafluoroethylene and the outer layer contains polyethylene. 10. The container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support projections. 11. The container according to claim 1, in which the matrix consists of hollow or foamed particles that are fused or glued together to reduce the thermal conductivity of the matrix and loss of cooling efficiency due to diffusion evaporation. 12. The container according to claim 1, additionally containing an insulating sleeve surrounding at least a portion of one or more walls. 13. The container according to item 12, in which the insulating sleeve contains a porous material. 14. The container according to item 12, in which the insulating sleeve is mainly tubular, with one or more holes made in the wall, as a result of which the sleeve rotates around the container for selective closure or opening for exposure to areas of the matrix that provides diffusion evaporation. 15. The container according to item 12, in which the sleeve for the desiccant and / or material for the phase transformation is placed around or at one end of the container. 16. A cooling jacket for the container containing shirt body having an outer layer containing a hydrophobic porous material, and an inner layer having the same extent with the outer layer and in fluid communication with the outer layer, the inner layer being adapted to hold volatile liquid, wherein the jacket body is shaped so that the inner layer can contact at least a portion of the container. 17. The cooling jacket according to clause 16, in which the inner layer contains a sponge-like material. 18. The cooling jacket according to clause 16, in which the inner layer contains one or more empty spaces. 19. The cooling jacket according to claim 18, in which the inner layer further comprises an opening configured to be sealed tight to allow replenishment and sealing of the inner layer. 20. The cooling shirt according to clause 16, in which the body of the shirt is mainly cylindrical. 21. The cooling jacket according to clause 16, further comprising a middle layer between the inner and outer layers. 22. A cooling article of clothing containing an outer layer containing diffusion evaporation material containing a matrix providing diffusion evaporation and having hydrophobicity, and an inner layer, the outer layer being in fluid communication with the mass of liquid coolant and the inner layer being in thermal contact with the user of the garment. 23. The cooling article of clothing according to item 22, further comprising a middle layer containing a thin support forming a barrier for liquids layer for a layer that provides diffusion evaporation. 24. The cooling article of clothing as claimed in claim 22, which is included or incorporated in a piece of uniform or a protective suit. 25. The cooling article of clothing according to item 22, further comprising a tube in fluid communication with the mass of liquid coolant, which allows the user of the garment to consume liquid coolant. 26. A cooling garment according to claim 22, further comprising a reconstitutable outer layer or a disposable outer layer comprising a desiccant or an absorbent material that absorbs moisture or other fluid resulting from diffusion evaporation. 27. The cooling article of clothing according to claim 22, wherein the outer layer is pleated to increase surface area for diffusion evaporation. 28. A cooling garment according to claim 22, wherein the middle layer is a barrier to potentially hazardous biological or chemical materials. 29. The cooling article of clothing according to claim 21, wherein the inner layer comprises patterned zones or serpentine zones formed by heat sealing. 30. Evaporative tube or straw, cooled by diffusion cooling, containing an elongated hollow tubular structure containing an outer layer providing diffusion evaporation containing a hydrophobic material having the same extent as a porous inner layer containing a hydrophilic material, the inner layer forming a cavity through which the liquid passes. 31. The tube according to item 30, in which during use the liquid penetrates into the porous inner layer, forming a liquid tube, which significantly reduces the amount of air entering the tubular structure through the outer layer. 32. The tube according to claim 30, in which the tubular structure is formed of a hydrophobic porous tube, the inner surface of which is chemically treated to give it hydrophilicity. 33. The tube according to claim 30, which is made of two pieces of laminated sheet material and then expanded using an insert or wrapped in plastic or metal winding to close the fluid passage. 34. The tube according to clause 33, in which one or more surfaces are coated with a desiccant and a material for phase transformation in a supporting sleeve to accelerate diffusion evaporation and prevent local sharp increase in temperature. 35. A flexible tube containing many materials, in which at least one of the many materials is porous, which is a composite made of at least one flexible material and at least one rigid material by welding , extrusion, co-extrusion, lamination and adhesive. 36. The flexible tube according to clause 35, in which many materials are placed relative to each other either in the form of spirals, or in the form of strips, or in an alternating manner. 37. The flexible tube according to clause 35, in which the rigid material is either porous, or hydrophobic, or hydrophilic, or oleophobic. 38. The flexible tube according to clause 35, in which the flexible material is either porous, or hydrophobic, or hydrophilic, or oleophobic. 39. A liquid container comprising a container body having one or more walls, wherein at least a portion of one or more walls contains a hydrophobic porous matrix that allows vapor to pass from the liquid in the container so that diffusion vaporization or vaporization helps cool the liquid in the container, a reconstitutable outer layer or a disposable outer layer located immediately adjacent to at least a portion of the container, the layer containing a desiccant or abs an orbiting material that absorbs moisture or other fluid resulting from diffusion evaporation or evaporation. 40. A liquid container according to claim 39, wherein the porous matrix comprises a membrane. 41. The liquid container according to § 39, in which the porous matrix contains a porous sintered matrix. 42. The liquid container according to claim 39, wherein the porous matrix is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of ethylene, polymethylpentenes, polybutylenes, and mixtures thereof. 43. The liquid container according to claim 39, wherein the porous matrix is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene tetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyperfluoroalkoxyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride and vinyl chloride. 44. The liquid container according to claim 39, wherein the porous matrix is made from a mixture of a fluorinated additive with a non-fluorinated resin. 45. The liquid container according to claim 39, wherein the porous matrix is made of silicone or fluorosilicon. 46. The liquid container according to claim 39, wherein the porous matrix has a thickness of from 0.025 to 7.0 mm. 47. The liquid container according to claim 39, wherein the porous matrix has a thickness of 0.05 to 3.0 mm. 48. The container for liquids according to § 39, in which the porous matrix has a pore size of from 0.05 to 500 microns. 49. The container for liquids according to § 39, in which the porous matrix has a pore size of from 0.1 to 100 microns. 50. The liquid container according to claim 39, wherein the porous matrix has a porosity of from 10 to 90%. 51. The liquid container according to claim 39, wherein the porous matrix has a porosity of from 30 to 70%. 52. The container for liquids according to § 39, in which the plot of one or more walls is from 5 to 100% of the total surface area of the container. 53. A liquid container according to claim 39, wherein the porous matrix consists of hollow or foam particles that are fused or glued together to reduce the thermal conductivity of the matrix. 54. The container for liquids according to § 39, in which the hydrophobic porous matrix has a folded structure. 55. A liquid container comprising a container body having one or more walls, wherein at least a portion of one or more walls contains a hydrophobic porous matrix that allows vapor to pass from the liquid in the container so that diffusion evaporation or vapor evaporation helps cool the liquid in a container, an insulating sleeve surrounding at least a portion of one or more walls. 56. The liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the porous matrix comprises a membrane. 57. The liquid container according to item 55, in which the porous membrane contains a porous sintered matrix. 58. The liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the porous matrix is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, copolymers of ethylene, polymethylpentenes, polybutylenes, and mixtures thereof. 59. The liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the porous matrix is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene tetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, polyperfluoroalkoxyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride and vinyl chloride. 60. A liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the porous matrix is made of a mixture of a fluorinated additive with a non-fluorinated resin. 61. The liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the porous matrix is made of silicone or fluorosilicon. 62. The liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the porous matrix has a thickness of from 0.025 to 7.0 mm. 63. The liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the porous matrix has a thickness of 0.05 to 3.0 mm. 64. The liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the porous matrix has a pore size of from 0.05 to 500 microns. 65. The liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the porous matrix has a pore size of from 0.1 to 100 microns. 66. The liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the porous matrix has a porosity of from 10 to 90%. 67. The liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the porous matrix has a porosity of from 30 to 70%. 68. The liquid container according to item 55, in which the plot of one or more walls is from 5 to 100% of the total surface area of the container. 69. The liquid container according to item 55, in which the porous matrix consists of hollow or foamed particles that are fused or glued together to reduce the thermal conductivity of the matrix. 70. The liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the porous matrix has a folded structure. 71. A liquid container according to claim 55, wherein the insulating sleeve comprises a porous insulating material. 72. The liquid container of claim 71, wherein the porous insulating material is open cell porous insulating material. 73. The liquid container of claim 55, wherein the insulating sleeve is substantially tubular and has one or more openings in the wall, as a result of which the sleeve rotates around the container to selectively close or open portions of the matrix. 74. A liquid container comprising a container body having one or more walls, wherein at least a portion of one or more walls contains a porous matrix having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being a hydrophobic surface and the second surface being hydrophilic surface, while the porous matrix allows the passage of steam from the liquid in the container so that diffusion evaporation or vaporization of the vapor helps to cool the liquid in the container. 75. The liquid container according to claim 74, wherein the porous matrix is positioned so that the hydrophilic layer faces the interior of the container. 76. The liquid container according to claim 74, wherein the porous matrix comprises a membrane of a porous hydrophilic material attached by lamination to a porous hydrophobic material. 77. The liquid container according to claim 74, wherein the second surface is hydrophilic by a treatment process selected from the group consisting of plasma etching, chemical etching, wetting impregnation, and applying hydrophilic coatings. 78. The liquid container according to claim 74, wherein the porous matrix has a thickness of from 0.025 to 7.0 mm. 79. The liquid container according to claim 74, wherein the porous matrix has a thickness of 0.05 to 3.0 mm. 80. The liquid container according to item 74, in which the porous matrix has a pore size of from 0.05 to 500 microns. 81. The liquid container according to item 74, in which the porous matrix has a pore size of from 0.1 to 100 microns. 82. The liquid container according to claim 74, wherein the porous matrix has a porosity of from 10 to 90%. 83. The liquid container according to item 74, in which the porous matrix has a porosity of from 30 to 70%. 84. The liquid container according to claim 74, wherein the portion of one or more walls comprises from 5 to 100% of the entire container area. 85. The liquid container according to item 74, in which the porous matrix has a folded structure.

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