GB1412346A - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

1412346 Heat exchangers J R WILSON 6 Feb 1973 5871/73 Heading F4S In a heat exchanger wherein two fluids respectively at different pressure flow in channels separated from each other by a heat transfer wall 16 which may be fluted or embossed, the wall is rigidly supported by a fluid-permeable mass of contiguous particles filling the whole of the channel carrying the lower pressure fluid the higher pressure fluid flowing in the unpacked channel. The wall 16 may, e.g. be made of titanium, or of polymerized tetrafluorethylene. The particles are preferably spherical beads (e.g. <SP>1</SP>/ 10 inch to ¢ inch diameter) of glass, plastics, ceramic or concrete. The particles may, e.g. comprise sand or gravel. As shown (and see also Figs. 16 and 17), the wall 16 is sinuously folded to provide channels 54 for one fluid alternating with channels 52 for another fluid. Cooling air flows through the channels 52 from one end to the other of a cover member 14; whilst a gas to be condensed or a liquid to be cooled flows in the channels 54 which are packed with the particles and communicate with inlet and outlet headers 18, 20. In another form (Figs. 14-15) the heat transfer wall is formed by a pair of sinuously folded sheets defining between them a channel (70) for one fluid, and the space outside the channel being filled with the particles. Uses of the apparatus may comprise condensers, water/air heat exchangers in dry cooling towers, fluid concentrators, multistage flash evaporators and vertical packed channel evaporators for sea-water desalting.