Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
  • F28D7/16—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation
  • F28D7/163—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation with conduit assemblies having a particular shape, e.g. square or annular; with assemblies of conduits having different geometrical features; with multiple groups of conduits connected in series or parallel and arranged inside common casing
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
  • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
  • F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
  • F28D1/053—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being straight
  • F28D1/05308—Assemblies of conduits connected side by side or with individual headers, e.g. section type radiators
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
  • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
  • F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
  • F28D1/0408—Multi-circuit heat exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat exchangers for more than two fluids
  • F28D1/0426—Multi-circuit heat exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat exchangers for more than two fluids with units having particular arrangement relative to the large body of fluid, e.g. with interleaved units or with adjacent heat exchange units in common air flow or with units extending at an angle to each other or with units arranged around a central element
  • F28D1/0443—Combination of units extending one beside or one above the other
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
  • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
  • F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
  • F28D1/0408—Multi-circuit heat exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat exchangers for more than two fluids
  • F28D1/0461—Combination of different types of heat exchanger, e.g. radiator combined with tube-and-shell heat exchanger; Arrangement of conduits for heat exchange between at least two media and for heat exchange between at least one medium and the large body of fluid
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
  • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
  • F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
  • F28D1/053—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being straight
  • F28D1/05316—Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators
  • F28D1/05333—Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
  • F28D7/0066—Multi-circuit heat-exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat-exchangers for more than two fluids
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D7/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
  • F28D7/16—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation
  • F28D7/1615—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation the conduits being inside a casing and extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing; the conduits crossing the conduit for the other heat exchange medium
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
  • F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
  • F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
  • F28F9/0202—Header boxes having their inner space divided by partitions
  • F28F9/0204—Header boxes having their inner space divided by partitions for elongated header box, e.g. with transversal and longitudinal partitions
  • F28F9/0214—Header boxes having their inner space divided by partitions for elongated header box, e.g. with transversal and longitudinal partitions having only longitudinal partitions
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/0028—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for cooling heat generating elements, e.g. for cooling electronic components or electric devices
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/004—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for engine or machine cooling systems
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/005—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for medical applications
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/0059—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for petrochemical plants
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/0068—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for refrigerant cycles
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
  • F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
  • F28F2009/0285—Other particular headers or end plates
  • F28F2009/0287—Other particular headers or end plates having passages for different heat exchange media

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to heat exchangers.
• Heat exchangers operate by facilitating the transfer of heat from one fluid to a second fluid by various means.
• One type of heat exchanger design is a shell and tube heat exchanger which includes a shell (a large pressure vessel) and multiple tubes.
• the tubes extend through an interior of the shell.
• the set of tubes may also be referred to as a tube bundle, and may be composed of several types of tubes, e.g. , straight, bent, U-shaped, plain, longitudinally finned, etc.
• the tubes may be held in place within the shell by tube sheets.
• one fluid runs through the tubes.
• Another separate fluid (the shell-side fluid) flows over the tubes but inside the shell.
• Heat is transferred from one fluid to the other through the tube walls, either from the tube-side fluid to the shell- side fluid or vice versa.
• liquid-to-liquid heat exchange would occur when both the tube- side fluid and the shell- side fluid are liquids such that heat is transferred from one liquid to the other liquid via the tube walls.
• liquid-to-air (or liquid-to-gas) heat exchange would occur when one of the tube-side and shell-side fluid is a liquid and the other one is a gas (e.g. , air, etc.) such that heat may be transferred between the liquid and the gas.
• a gas e.g. , air, etc.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a heat exchanger according to an exemplary embodiment in which the heat exchanger is being used to cool three different process loops (e.g. , OCU, GCU, and CCU of a medical imaging system, etc.) with a single primary side cooling fluid (e.g. , facility water flow, etc.); and
• three different process loops e.g. , OCU, GCU, and CCU of a medical imaging system, etc.
• a single primary side cooling fluid e.g. , facility water flow, etc.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a heat exchanger according to another exemplary embodiment in which the heat exchanger is configured to be operable with liquid-to-liquid and liquid-to-air heat exchange capability.
• the inventor hereof has recognized a need for a heat exchanger that is capable of cooling multiple process loops (e.g. , multiple tube-side fluids from different sources, etc. ) with a single primary side cooling fluid or single shell-side fluid.
• the inventor hereof has also recognized a need for a heat exchanger having versatility such that either or both liquid-to-liquid heat exchange and/or liquid-to- air heat exchange may be used.
• the inventor hereof developed and discloses herein exemplary embodiments of heat exchangers capable of cooling multiple process loops with a single primary or shell-side fluid and/or having combined liquid-to-liquid and liquid-to-air heat exchange capability.
• a heat exchanger includes a multi-core design having a liquid-to-air heat exchange section and a liquid-to-liquid heat exchange section.
• the liquid-to-air and liquid-to-liquid heat exchange sections are incorporated in the construction of the heat exchanger by the addition of one or more divider plates.
• the combined liquid-to-air and liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger may comprise a tube and fin heat exchanger, a shell and tube heat exchanger, or other suitable types of heat exchangers, etc.
• the combined liquid-to-air and liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger may be useful when it is uncertain as to whether facility water will be available to cool the process fluid.
• the cooling system including the combined liquid-to-air and liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger may still operate completely under air cooled conditions.
• the combined liquid-to-air and liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger may thus allow for a versatile common platform that reduces the number of cooling system types that might otherwise be needed, such as air cooled or liquid cooled.
• the combined liquid- to-air and liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger may be useful in emergency cooling situations (e.g. , power outages which could trigger city water or facility water valves to open and maintain the necessary cooling of the process fluid, etc.).
• the combined liquid-to-air and liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger may also be used in multi-loop applications in which process water may heat and/or cool a secondary cooling loop inside or within the end user's system.
• a multi-core heat exchanger may be based on or have a shell and tube heat exchanger design.
• the heat exchanger includes one or more divider plates that allow for cooling different process loops with a single primary side or shell-side cooling fluid (e.g. , facility water or refrigerant, etc.).
• a single primary side or shell-side cooling fluid e.g. , facility water or refrigerant, etc.
• the heat exchanger may be used to cool three different process loops of a medical imaging system (e.g. , OCU (Optional Cooling Unit), GCU (Gradient Coil Unit), and CCU (Cabinet Cooling Unit), etc.) with facility water flow as the single primary side or shell-side cooling fluid.
• exemplary embodiments of the heat exchangers disclosed herein may not require the use of additional manifolds when cooling multiple process fluids.
• exemplary embodiments may eliminate the need to use additional manifolds and reduce the total number of heat exchangers that would otherwise be used.
• these exemplary embodiments may allow for reduced package size and reduced number of fittings and joints, which, in turn, may increase reliability, reduce part count, and reduce complexity.
• the pressure drop on the primary side may be greatly reduced.
• Some exemplary embodiments have a shell and tube multi-loop heat exchanger design that allows the performance element (e.g. , tube bundle removable from the housing, etc. ) to be removed from the assembly and cleaned for reuse.
• performance element e.g. , tube bundle removable from the housing, etc.
• conventional braze plate type heat exchangers cannot be opened and/or cleaned easily.
• a heat exchanger is based in part on a shell and tube heat exchanger design.
• the heat exchanger generally includes tubes extending within and through a shell.
• First and second headers may be positioned at opposite ends of the shell.
• the first and second headers may respectively include first and second tube sheets.
• the first and second headers may respectively include or define inlet and outlet plenums that are fluidically connected to or in fluid communication with the respective inlet and outlet ends of the tubes through holes in first and second tube sheets.
• One or more divider plates may be oriented generally parallel to the first and second tube sheets and extend generally between the first and second headers in order to divide the heat exchanger and shell into multiple sections.
• the shell may include one or more inlets (e.g. , openings, holes, etc.) for allowing the shell-side fluid (e.g. , liquid, air, etc.) to flow into the shell between the first and second headers to thereby allow exchange between the tube-side fluid and the shell-side fluid.
• the heat exchanger may be configured to be operable with a shell-side liquid so as to allow both liquid-to-liquid heat exchange and liquid-to-air heat exchange.
• the heat exchanger may be configured to be operable without a shell- side liquid such that the heat exchanger relies only on liquid-to-air heat exchange.
• FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger 100 embodying one or more aspects of the present disclosure.
• the heat exchanger 100 includes divider plates 104 that separate the shell 106 into separate sections. This allows the heat exchanger 100 to be used for cooling three different process loops with a single primary side or shell- side cooling fluid (e.g. , facility water flow, etc.) as represented by arrow 108.
• the heat exchanger 100 is shown in use with an OCU (Optional Cooling Unit) cooling loop, a GCU (Gradient Coil Unit) cooling loop, and a CCU (Cabinet Cooling Unit) of a medical imaging system.
• the heat exchanger 100 may also be used in other applications for cooling more or less than three process loops, different process loops, and/or in different systems besides medical imaging systems.
• arrows 112 and 116 represent a secondary or tube-side fluid of the OCU cooling loop respectively flowing into and out of the heat exchanger 100.
• Arrows 120 and 124 represent a secondary or tube-side fluid of the GCU cooling loop respectively flowing into and out of the heat exchanger system 100.
• Arrows 128 and 132 represent a secondary or tube-side fluid of the CCU cooling loop respectively flowing into and out of the heat exchanger 100.
• Arrow 108 represents the single primary side or shell-side fluid entering the heat exchanger 100 generally perpendicularly to the flow of the secondary or tube-side fluids represented by arrows 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132.
• the primary side or shell-side fluid exchanges heat with secondary or tube-side fluids of the OCU, GCU, and CCU cooling loops.
• the primary side fluid then egresses or exits the heat exchanger 100 as represented by arrow 136.
• the result is the cooling of all three loops (OCU, GCU, and CCU) with a single primary side fluid with a single heat exchanger 100.
• the heat exchanger 100 may be configured such that the single primary side fluid is one continuous, straight flow through a continuous, seamless tube.
• the shell 106 includes one or more inlets (e.g. , openings, holes, gaps, etc. ) in the shell' s outer portion between a first header and a second header.
• the one or more inlets are configured to allow gas (e.g. , ambient air, heated air, cooled air, other gas, etc.) to flow (pressurized or unpressurized) into the shell' s interior region between the first and second headers.
• the one or more inlets may be configured (e.g. , positioned, etc.) such that they do not allow air into the first and second headers.
• the air that flows into the shell via the one or more inlets may function or act as a shell-side fluid for liquid-to-air heat exchange. More specifically, heat may be transferred from the liquid within the tubes (tube-side fluid) to the air (shell-side fluid) within the shell that flows over the tubes, or vice versa.
• the one or more inlets of the shell may be expansive, effectively acting as a single gap allowing air to flow unimpeded through the shell.
• the shell-side gas may be ambient temperature or heated or cooled to a desired temperature.
• the heat exchanger includes divider plates separating the shell into separate sections. This allows the heat exchanger to be used for cooling multiple different process loops with a single primary side or shell-side cooling fluid (e.g. , facility water, refrigerant flow, etc.).
• a single primary side or shell-side cooling fluid e.g. , facility water, refrigerant flow, etc.
• the heat exchanger may be used with an OCU (Optional Cooling Unit) cooling loop, a GCU (Gradient Coil Unit) cooling loop, and a CCU (Cabinet Cooling Unit) of a medical imaging system.
• OCU Optional Cooling Unit
• GCU Gradient Coil Unit
• CCU Combint Cooling Unit
• the heat exchanger may also be used in other applications for cooling more or less than three process loops, different process loops, and/or in different systems besides medical imaging systems.
• the heat exchanger may be used with industrial drives and frequency converters that use several cooling loops for different heat sources or a common cooling system cooling two or more drives.
• the heat exchanger may be used with semiconductor fabrication tools that use several cooling loops for temperature controlling different heat sources or using a common cooling system to cool multiple tools.
• the heat exchanger may be used with data infrastructure for cooling several heat sources in serves and or cooling several server racks with a common cooling system.
• First and second headers are at opposite ends of the shell.
• the first header may include or be fluidically connected to or in fluid communication with one or more first tube sheets.
• the heat exchanger may include four divider plates having end portions respectively disposed between corresponding pairs of the five first tube sheets.
• the first header may also include or define an inlet plenum that is fluidically connected to or in fluid communication with the inlet ends of the tubes through openings (e.g. , holes, perforations, etc.) in the first tube sheets.
• the second header may include or be fluidically connected to or in fluid communication with one or more second tube sheets.
• the divider plates may have end portions also respectively disposed between corresponding pairs of the second tube sheets.
• the second header may also include or define an outlet plenum that is fluidically connected to or in fluid communication with the outlet ends of the tubes through openings (e.g. , holes, perforations, etc.) in the second tube sheets.
• the divider plates may be oriented generally parallel to the first tube sheets and the second tube sheets.
• the divider plates may extend generally between the first and second headers in order to divide the heat exchanger and shell into five sections in this example.
• the divider plates may be used to separate and completely seal the five sections, and the fluid may turn several times within one body.
• the heat exchanger may be configured differently in other embodiments, such as with more or less than four divider plates, more or less than five first and second tube sheets, and/or more or less than five sections.
• the heat exchanger may include additional tube sheets.
• the tube sheets may be spaced apart the opposite end portions of the shell to help hold the tubes in place within the shell. If the tubes are microtubes, stiffener plates may also be used to increase stability.
• the heat exchanger may include one or more baffles positioned between (e.g. , about midway, etc.) between the first and second headers.
• a baffle may be configured to direct the flow of the primary side or shell-side fluid through the shell so that the primary side or shell-side fluid does not take a short cut through the shell leaving ineffective low flow volumes.
• the baffle may be configured to increase turbulence of the shell- side fluid in order to achieve more effective heat transfer.
• the baffle may be attached to the tube bundle so that the tube bundle is more readily removable for cleaning and/or maintenance.
• the heat exchanger may be configured differently in other embodiments, such as with more or less than one baffle and/or a baffle configured differently (e.g. , positioned elsewhere, attached to the shell instead of the tube bundle, etc.).
• the heat exchanger may be configured such that the primary side or shell-side fluid passes through the shell in a single pass.
• the heat exchanger may include a seamless single tube through which the fluid flows from one end to the other end.
• two loops may be created such as by completely welding the body to a baffle so that there is no fluid bypass between the chambers.
• the first and second headers are configured to allow tube- side fluid to respectively flow into and out of the tubes without contacting the shell-side fluid.
• the heat exchanger may be configured such that a different tube- side fluid enters the tubes of each of the corresponding sections or process loops of the heat exchanger.
• the set of tubes of one section or process loop may contain a tube-side fluid different than the tube-side fluids within the sets of tubes of the other sections or process loops.
• FIG. 2 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger 300 embodying one or more aspects of the present disclosure.
• the heat exchanger 300 is configured to be selectively operable with either or both liquid-to-liquid heat exchange and liquid-to-air heat exchange.
• the heat exchanger 300 includes a first or top header 340 and a second or bottom header 344.
• the first and second headers 340, 344 are along or at opposite top and bottom (or upper and lower) portions of a shell 306 of the heat exchanger 300.
• the first header 340 may include or be fluidically connected to or in fluid communication with a first tube sheet 348.
• the first tube sheet 348 may include openings (e.g. , holes, perforations, etc.) defining or fluidically connected to or in fluid communication with inlet ends of the process fluid tubes 354.
• end portions of the tubes 354 may be coupled (e.g. , welded, brazed, epoxied, other suitable "leak free" connection, etc.) to the first tube sheet 348.
• the first header 340 includes a tube-side fluid inlet 356 (e.g. , process fluid fitting, etc.) by which a tube-side fluid may enter the heat exchanger 300.
• the tube-side fluid inlet 356 may allow the tube-side fluid to enter the tubes 354 without contacting the shell-side fluid.
• the second header 344 may include or be fluidically connected to or in fluid communication with a second tube sheet 350.
• the second tube sheet 350 may include openings (e.g. , holes, perforations, etc.) defining or fluidically connected to or in fluid communication with outlet ends of the tubes 354.
• end portions of the tubes 354 may be coupled (e.g. ,
• the second header 344 includes a tube-side fluid outlet 360 (e.g. , process fluid fitting, etc.) through which the tube-side fluid may exit or be discharged from the heat exchanger 300 without contacting the shell- side fluid.
• a tube-side fluid outlet 360 e.g. , process fluid fitting, etc.
• the tubes 354 generally extend downwardly from the top header 340 through the first tube sheet 348, additional tube sheet 352, shell 306, and the second tube sheet 350 to the bottom header 344.
• the tubes 354 are generally parallel to each other and held in position by the tube sheets 348, 352, and 350.
• Each tube sheet 348, 352, 350 may include openings in which are positioned (e.g. , friction or interference fit, etc.) portions of the tubes 354.
• the tubes 354 may be configured differently, such as nonlinearly, curved, U-shaped, etc.
• the heat exchanger 300 also includes an area 372, which may also be referred to as a liquid-to-liquid heat exchange area 372. More specifically, the heat exchanger 300 includes a shell-side fluid inlet 364 (e.g. , facility fluid fitting, etc.) and a shell-side fluid outlet 368 (e.g. , facility fluid fitting, etc.) by which a shell-side fluid may respectively enter and exit the area 372.
• the area 372 may be defined generally below and sealed off from the portion of the first header 340 that receives the tube- side fluid via the tube-side fluid inlet 356. Accordingly, a shell-side fluid (e.g.
• the heat exchanger 300 may enter the heat exchanger 300 via the inlet 364, flow through the area 372 and around portions of the tubes 354 within the area 372, and exit the heat exchanger 300 via outlet 368.
• the shell-side fluid flows through and around portions of the tubes 354, heat may be transferred between the tube-side fluid and the shell-side fluid via the tube walls.
• the area 372 may also be referred to as a liquid-to-liquid heat exchange area.
• the shell-side fluid may be generally contained within the area 372.
• the tubes 354 are "leak free" coupled to the tube sheet 352 such that liquid within area 372 cannot leak into area 376.
• the heat exchanger 300 may also be configured to allow air (or other suitable gas) to flow around portions of the tubes 354 within the area 376 between and sealed off from the area 372, tube sheets 350, 352, and first and second headers 340, 344. This may allow heat exchange between the tube- side fluid and the air within area 376 via the tube walls.
• the area 376 may also be referred to as a liquid- to-air heat exchange area when the tube-side fluid is a liquid and the fluid within area 376 is air.
• the area 376 may also be referred to as a liquid-to-gas heat exchange area when the tube-side fluid is a liquid and the fluid within area 376 is a gas.
• one or more tube- side fluid inlets may allow flow of multiple different tube-side fluids (also known as “process fluids” or “secondary side fluids”) into the tubes.
• a tube-side fluid inlet may be constructed so as to allow a tube-side fluid to enter the tubes and flow through the shell without contacting the shell-side fluid.
• each tube-side fluid inlet may be constructed so as to allow a different tube-side fluid to flow into a distinct set of tubes among the plurality of tubes.
• each tube-side fluid inlet may permit flow of one tube-side fluid into only one set of tubes from among the plurality of sets of tubes.
• Each tube-side inlet may thus allow for fluid flow for a different cooling loop through the heat exchanger.
• each separate cooling loop may include a different tube-side fluid into a different tube-side inlet to form a system involving a single heat exchanger and multiple different cooling loops.
• a system of three different cooling loops e.g. , for use in a medical imaging device, etc.
• Each cooling loop may have its own tube-side fluid and distinct tube-side inlet.
• each cooling loop may include fluid flow through its own distinct set of tubes. Accordingly, the tube-side fluid within each of the multiple loops may be cooled as each passes through the heat exchanger by a single shell-side (or "primary side") fluid without the tube-side fluids contacting each other or contacting the shell-side fluid.
• this example allows cooling of multiple separate cooling loops with a single heat exchanger using a single shell-side (or "primary side") fluid.
• the divider plates may be operable to separate or segregate different sets of tubes carrying different tube-side fluids, e.g. , OCU, GCU, and CCU tube side-side fluids, etc.
• the divider plates may be made of various materials, such as metals, metal alloys, plastics, etc.
• exemplary embodiments may include a shell and one or more divider plates.
• the divider plates may extend through the shell parallel to the tubes and perpendicular the first and second headers.
• the divider plates may divide the shell into two or more separate sections, wherein each section has a tube-side fluid inlet separate from the other.
• the shell-side fluid may be free to flow through the first header and second header unimpeded.
• the tubes may include one or more surfaces (e.g., fins, etc.) extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the tube walls to thereby increase the heat transfer surface area.
• the tubes may not include any such outwardly extending fins or other surfaces.
• the tubes may have enhanced surfaces (e.g., metal coatings on the inside and/or outside of the tube walls, etc.) to facilitate heat transfer and/or prevent corrosion.
• the tube wall thickness may vary depending, for example, on the fluid pressures used in the heat exchanger system, materials used, and/or other factors.
• the length of the tubes and overall size of the shell and heat exchanger may depend, for example, on the space available for the heat exchanger, the level of cooling needed, and/or other factors.
• the tubes may be made of various materials including metal, metal alloys, and other non-metal materials.
• the tubes may be made of carbon steel, low carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, copper-nickel stainless steel, nickel-chromium iron alloys, titanium, and other alloys thereof.
• the tube may be made of an alloy including, for example, cobalt, chromium, iron, nickel, tungsten, manganese, molybdenum, copper, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, carbon, silicon, sulfur, phosphorus, boron, etc.
• the tubes may be conventionally- sized tubes with diameters of, for example, greater than 1 millimeter.
• the tubes may be microtubes having a diameter smaller than conventional tubes, e.g., a diameter less than 1 millimeter, etc.
• Such microtubes may be made of metals, metal alloys, plastic, ceramic materials, etc., depending on the intended application or end use, fluid properties, operation temperature of the heat exchanger system, potential for fouling, and other factors.
• the tubes may be attached (e.g., welded, mechanically fastened, brazed, glued, etc.) to the shell and/or the first or second headers.
• machined grooves in tube sheets and corresponding nodules at the appropriate location on the tubes may allow for increased anchoring strength between the tube sheet and tubes.
• the tubes may be secured to the tube sheets by welding, gaskets, or other forms of hermetic sealing commonly known in the art.
• exemplary embodiments may include on or more of ethylene glycol water (EGW), water, water-glycol mixtures, electronics cooling fluid (e.g., Fluorinert, etc.), oil, inert fluorinated fluid (e.g. , perfluoropolyether (PFPE) fluorinated fluids, galden PFPE fluid, etc.), deionized water, demineralized water, ultrapure water, fuel, etc.
• EGW ethylene glycol water
• water water-glycol mixtures
• electronics cooling fluid e.g., Fluorinert, etc.
• oil e.g., inert fluorinated fluid
• PFPE perfluoropolyether
• the shell may be made from various materials, such as metals, metal alloys (e.g. , low carbon steel, etc.), and other materials.
• the shell may be made of a metal alloy including one or more of cobalt, chromium, iron, nickel, tungsten, manganese, molybdenum, copper, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, carbon, silicon, sulfur, phosphorus, boron, etc.
• the size of the first and second headers may vary depending on the size of overall heat exchanger, ratio of liquid-to-liquid heat exchange to liquid-to-air heat exchange desired in the heat exchanger, and/or other factors.
• the first and second headers may be made from various materials, such as metals, metal alloys (e.g. , low carbon steel, etc. ), and other materials.
• the headers may be made of a metal alloy including one or more of cobalt, chromium, iron, nickel, tungsten, manganese, molybdenum, copper, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, carbon, silicon, sulfur, phosphorus, boron, etc.
• a tube-side fluid may have a higher temperature than the shell-side fluid such that heat is transferred from the tube-side fluid to the shell-side fluid.
• the heat exchanger may be used to cool the tube-side fluid.
• a tube- side fluid may have a lower temperature than the shell- side fluid such that heat is transferred from the shell-side fluid to the tube-side fluid.
• the heat exchanger may be used to warm the tube-side fluid.
• ambient air is allowed to flow into the shell between the first and second headers and around the tubes.
• the tube-side fluid may be cooled by the ambient air.
• the ambient air may have a higher temperature than the tube-side fluid, such that the tube-side fluid may be warmed by the ambient air.
• an intermediate region of the shell between the first and second headers may include one or more inlets (e.g. , holes, gaps, etc.) in the shell outer surface to allow a gas (e.g. , pressurized, cooled, warmed, or ambient air, etc.) to flow through the intermediate region.
• a gas e.g. , pressurized, cooled, warmed, or ambient air, etc.
• the ambient air or other gas may act as a second, additional, or alternative shell-side fluid that may flow over and around the portions of the tubes within the intermediate region.
• heat may be exchanged between the tube-side fluid and the ambient air or other gas within the intermediate region via the walls of the tubes.
• the ambient air or other gas may then exit or be discharged from the shell via one or more outlets (e.g. , holes, gaps, etc.).
• the intermediate region of the shell is between the first and second headers and optionally includes one or more divider plates separating groups of tubes carrying different tube-side fluids.
• Exemplary embodiments of the heat exchangers disclosed herein may be used in a wide array of applications, such as heating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, medical imaging systems, oil refining processes, heat pumps, engines, and other systems where cooling or heating of fluids is useful.
• HVAC heating and air-conditioning
• Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well- known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
• parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z.
• disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges.
• parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1 - 10, or 2 - 9, or 3 - 8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1 - 9, 1 - 8, 1 - 3, 1 - 2, 2 - 10, 2 - 8, 2 - 3, 3 - 10, and 3 - 9.
• first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
• Spatially relative terms such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

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• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)

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• 2016
  • 2016-12-09 CN CN201621354324.6U patent/CN206258002U/zh active Active
  • 2016-12-09 EP EP16873889.6A patent/EP3387672A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2016-12-09 CN CN201611135603.8A patent/CN106871670A/zh active Pending
  • 2016-12-09 WO PCT/US2016/065745 patent/WO2017100521A1/en active Application Filing
• 2018
  • 2018-06-08 US US16/003,620 patent/US20180292137A1/en not_active Abandoned

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