WO2014114961A1

WO2014114961A1 - Integrated system of closed loop - indirect contact structured heat exchanger

Info

Publication number: WO2014114961A1
Application number: PCT/GR2014/000005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ioannis-Petros ZAGORAS
Original assignee: Zagoras Ioannis-Petros
Priority date: 2013-01-24
Filing date: 2014-01-20
Publication date: 2014-07-31
Also published as: EP2948714A1; GR1008135B

Abstract

The Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger comprises of: the Heat Exchanger Head (1), the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15, 16) Channels (14, 13) configuration respectively, the External Main Pipe (3), the Divider (12) or Channel Splitter and the Internal Parallel Pipes (11, 7). Within the needs of the intended flow performance, operation of the Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger is achieved through the Heat Exchanger Head (1), the External Main Pipe (3), the Internal Parallel Pipes (7, 11) and the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15, 16) Channels (14, 13) configuration, circulating the thermally conductive medium/fluid (18) through the fixed Inner Head (1) Tubular Passages (19, 20, 21) where Flow-Counterflow (15, 16) is completed in channels (14, 13) respectively of the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Configuration. It is emphasized the ability of cabling development through the Tubular Channels (5, 6) and parallel pipe (7) within the External Main Pipe (3) and the splitting thereof through the Divider (12) at any point of the application. Both Flow and Counterflow shall be at least coaxially carried out by one edge of the application and through any of the Channels (13, 14) as the case may be. The invention provides a solution to twin liquid cooling circulation carriers and can be used to a variety of applications such as cooling: high power LED arrays, Data Centres, Industrial and Commercial heat loads and especially where strictly limited holes openings is required. At the same time, by exploiting both the physical advantages of the invention as well as the inherent material properties energy may be saved during heat removal process.

Description

Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger

The invention refers to an Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger, which comprises of the Heat Exchanger Head, the Circulator Pump with Coaxial Configuration of Flow-Counterflow Channels, the External Main Pipe, the Divider or Channel Splitter, the Internal Parallel Pipes and finally the Cooler, with Coaxial Configuration of Flow-Counterflow Channels.

Similar independent heat exchanger systems, which are used in local heat dissipating circuits (as for instance modern Computer processors) bear at least two external pipes for circulating the thermally conductive substance/fluid, one for the Flow and one for the Counterflow. Such pipes, from the construction point of view, always have separate starting and finishing points. At the same time, any existing supply cabling is disorderly developed inside the area. All these result on the one hand to an overall unruly and "bulky structure" of the application and on the other to the stressing of any intervening bodies or walls, in case there is a need for passage of the pipes and cabling too from a possible wall or body, something that burdens with additional cost the sealing method of the intervening bodies or walls.

In contrary to the existing ones, the specific invention, exploits the inherent structured development advantage of the fixed Inner Tubular closed loop-indirect contact Passages as well as of the integrated Internal Parallel Pipes both of the one interconnected with the Counterflow Channel and of the one interconnected with the Cabling Development Channel, giving the advantage of opening only one hole in any bodies or walls intervening along the development thereof. In this way multiple stressing of intervening bodies or walls by multiple hole openings is prevented and coverage of especially limited space and volume by the entire application is of course achieved.

A main feature of this invention is the Heat Exchanger Head, which bears an opening-installation of fixed Inner Tubular Passages, ending to Flow-Counterflow Channels, the Circulator Pump with Coaxial Configuration of Flow-Counterflow Channels, the External Main Pipe, the Divider or Channel Splitter, the Internal Parallel Pipes and finally the Cooler, with Coaxial Configuration of Flow-Counterflow Channels.

The Heat Exchanger Head is for example made of entirely solid high thermal conductivity material (like Copper, Aluminium, Brass or other thermally conductive alloys) and bears inside its body an opening- installation of one or more fixed Inner Tubular Passages, so that they form a complete and integrated closed loop structure in either of the Flow-Counterflow sides, thus securing the smooth circulation of the thermally conductive medium/fluid, which runs across both the Heat Exchanger Head and the Circulator Pump with Coaxial Configuration of Flow-Counterflow Channels. The opening-installation of the fixed Inner Tubular Passages as well as the installation of Flow-Counterflow Channels at the Heat Exchanger Head is carried out upon mechanical treatment within the frameworks of the existing needs and demands for the structure's flow performance.

From the side of the Heat Exchanger's Head the Inner Tubular Passages are set by Counterflow Channel with smaller cross-section inside the Flow Channel and thereon (the Counterflow Channel), one of the Internal Parallel Pipes, that of Counterflow, is attached. Furthermore, inside the Flow Channel also the Cabling Development Channel is deployed, so that jointly with the Flow Channel they form a manifold Flow-Counterflow-Cabling configuration. Alternatively, where there is only one Inner Tubular Pathway, its setting by Counterflow Channel of smaller cross-section inside the Flow Channel is coaxially formed. It is noted that both Flow and Counterflow may be carried out also reversely, otherwise the Flow via the smaller cross- section Channel and the Counterflow via the one with the larger cross- section around the sides of the entire application.

The Flow Channel is subsequently connected with the External Main Pipe, which is developed across and through the Divider or channel Splitter till the other edge of the application, where^' it is also connected with the corresponding Flow point of the Circulator Pump, in coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels configuration.

Similarly, the Counterflow channel with the Heat Exchanger Head as starting point, is connected with one of the Internal Parallel Pipes and is internally developed across and in parallel with the External Main Pipe, internally bypassing the Divider or channel Splitter, so that it completes the Counterflow (loop closing) up to the other edge of the application, where it is also connected with the corresponding Counterflow point of the Circulator Pump, in coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels configuration.

The Cabling Development Channel, also with the Heat Exchanger Head as starting point, is connected with one of the Internal Parallel Pipes and is internally developed across and in parallel with the External Main Pipe, completing its course at the Divider or channel Splitter, and more specifically at a detaching and setting point to an exit through a channel of the Divider or channel Splitter.

The Circulator Pump, with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels Configuration, through which the Flow-Counterflow Pressure of the thermally conductive medium/fluid is developed, constitutes a principal factor of the circulation on the one hand to and from the Heat Exchanger Head and storage on the other of the cooling medium/fluid for example, in addition to any extra possibility for heat expulsion, which is given by the Cooler with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels Configuration.

It is noted that the External Main Pipe, because of its larger cross- section, has the capacity of "hosting" internally both the Internal Parallel Counterflow Pipe and, for example, of the Internal Parallel Cabling Development Pipe.

The External Main Pipe starts from the common loop closing point of the Flow-Counterflow Channels and more specifically on the Heat Exchanger Head, inside and across which, internal Parallel Pipes both of Counterflow of the thermally conductive medium/fluid and of the "hosted" for example cabling are being developed.

The External Main Pipe is developed across the application and up to the Divider together with the Internal Parallel Cabling Development Pipe as well as with the Internal Parallel Counterflow Pipe, where the latter continues closing the loop on the Circulator Pump with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels Configuration. There the natural cycle of the structured and independent Flow and Counterflow of the autonomous thermally conductive medium/fluid circulation system is completed.

The External Main Pipe functions one the one hand as server of the thermally conductive medium/fluid Flow, which is ensured by the Circulator Pump with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels Configuration, and on the other hand as receptor-pock as well of the Internal Parallel Counterflow Pipe, which is connected with the Counterflow Channel and of the Internal Parallel Cabling Development Pipe, which is respectively connected with the Cabling Development Pipe which is emphasized that it may be detached at any point from its longitudinal development via a channel of the Divider or channel Splitter that intervenes appropriately so as to assemble or detach at any point of the application each of the Internal Parallel Pipes, together or separately and in accordance with the demands each individual application.

The Internal Parallel Counterflow Pipe, following the development of the External Main Pipe, ends up through the Divider or channel Splitter to the Circulator Pump with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels Configuration, where they both close the Flow-Counterflow ending loop also at that point. Within the frameworks of the existing flexibility of the Heat Exchanger entire system function and where it is imposed, a Cooler with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels Configuration may intervene so that it operates as auxiliary heatsink in high thermal Heat Exchanger shocks.

The Divider or channel Splitter is connected with the External Main Pipe across which it intervenes. It may of course function reversely as multiplier as it has the possibility to detach or assemble, as the case may be, one or more autonomous pipes via its channels.

According to the demands each time, this invention may be appropriately adjusted so as to contribute to any condensed Heat Exchanger Form.

Using this invention we save energy, weight, volume, construction and transportation cost.

For example, in modern LED lamps with high luminous intensity, conventional cooling uses a huge volume of thermally conductive material and many interconnecting components, contrary to this invention, that achieves effective cooling of the luminous element by applying an economic and primarily impermeable liquid cooling model.

Similarly in cases of applications e.g. of fixed underwater lighting by LED lamps of high luminous intensity at floating means (e.g. yachts, sailing boats, speed boats, marinas etc.), this invention reduces to the minimum stressing from interventions of drilling and use of voluminous thermally conductive Coolers for conventional heat expulsion. Further, using this invention in floating means gives the possibility to carry out the heat dissipating procedure for example inside the water tank, saving this way energy during water heating thereof.

The Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger may for example be also used for the Computer Central Processing Units liquid cooling application or even in Data Centres collocations, where the quality of emitted heat is large and immediate expulsion thereof is required.

In the above cases energy as well as space may be saved using both the physical features of the invention as well as the inherent manufacturing properties thereof.

The invention is described in details below with reference to the attached drawings or figures in which:

Fig. 1 shows a general representation of the Heat Exchanger as a unified system, co-assisted both by the Circulator Pump with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels Configuration as well as by the other equipment which forms an integral part of the whole invention. Fig. 1A auxiliary presents a lateral view and section of the Heat Exchanger Head.

Fig. 2A, 2B and 2C show examples of Heat Exchanger Heads, where in their sections one may see the fixed Inner Tubular Passages and the joint resets thereof to coaxial or manifold Flow-Counterflow Channels configuration as well as to Cabling Development Channel.

Fig. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D present examples of Dividers of channel Splitters where the internal channels may be developed in a variety of ways and be of course formed under the desired inclination.

Fig. 4A, 4B and 4C present examples of integrated Heat Exchangers Systems co-assisted by examples of Circulator Pumps with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels Configuration as well as examples of Coolers with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels Configuration, which operate auxiliary inside the system as additional Heat sinks in corresponding applications.

Fig. 5A and 5B present examples of Concentrator with Coaxial Flow- Counterflow Channel Configuration, which is used for the simultaneous management of multiple Heat Exchangers loads.

Fig. 6A and 6B show a sectional plan and a lateral view of a section of the Circulator Pump with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels Configuration.

Fig. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E illustrate examples of Coolers with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels Configuration, used for heat dissipating and of course where their auxiliary participation is required in the integrated Heat Exchanger systems.

Fig. 8A illustrates an example of multiple Heat Exchangers in serial type development while Fig. 8B illustrates an example of multiple Heat Exchangers in a Star type development using Mixer-Concentrator with coaxial Flow-Counterflow Channels configuration. The entirely solid or non-solid body of the Head Exchanger Head (1) in order to operate as heat exchanger undergoes initially mechanical treatment for the opening of fixed Inner Tubular Passages (19, 20, 21), choosing of course on which of the available surfaces (2) we wish to apply heat dissipating or diffusion. Mechanical treatment for opening the fixed Inner Tubular Passages (19, 20, 21) in the Heat Exchanger Head (1) may, as the case may be, have different internal opening shapes. In the case of Heat Exchanger Head (1) functioning as heat sink alternatively the internal walls of the fixed Inner Tubular Passages (19, 20, 21) may be metalized using a metal of higher thermal conductivity coefficient so as to create an intense "thermal traction" on the walls thereof and therefore heat dissipating to be for example carried out in a more effective way through the thermally conductive medium/fluid (18). The thermally conductive medium/fluid (18), moving inside the fixed Inner Tubular Passages (19, 20, 21) of the Heat Exchanger Head (1) and co-assisted by the pressure developed by the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Channels Configuration (14, 13), hereafter for example, of Flow - Counterflow (15, 16) respectively, removes or diffuses respectively heat via the Heat Exchanger Head (1) and the existing closed loop circuit, which comprises of the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Channels Configuration (14, 13) of Flow - Counterflow (15, 16) respectively, the External Main Pipe (3), the Flow (15) Channel (8) of the Heat Exchanger Head (1), the Counterflow (16) Channel (9) of the Heat Exchanger Head (1), the Internal Parallel Counterflow (16) Pipe (11) of the thermally conductive medium/fluid (18), existing inside the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Configuration of Flow-Counterflow (15,16) Channels (14,13) respectively. It is noted that the Internal Parallel Counterflow (16) Pipe (11) interconnects the nozzles of Channels (9, 10, 13). Also, inside the Internal Parallel Pipe (7), which interconnects the nozzles of Channels (5, 6) cabling (4) is developed, which of course may be detached via the Divider (12) or channel Splitter at any point of the development thereof. The Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15,16) Channel (14, 13) Configuration respectively, within the frameworks of the each time application may support the integrated Heat Exchanger (1) system and, in accordance of course with the application, to interconnect multiple loads as the case may be. The Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15,16) Channel (14, 13) Configuration respectively, for practical reasons of space saving may be co-installed also inside the Cooler (35) with Coaxial Flow- Counterflow (15,16) Channel (14, 13) Configuration respectively, as shown in Fig. 8A and 8B. The Concentrator (30) with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15,16) Channel (14, 13, 33,34) Configuration, has coaxial channels (33, 34) for the interconnection of multiple loads through the non-return valves (29) - which are fed by the common coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15, 16) port. Consequently, the Mixer-Concentrator (30) may serve the simultaneous development of multiple Heat Exchanger Heads (1) in a star type configuration as these are illustrated in Fig. 8B, co-assisted by the Coolers (26, 27) with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15,16) Channel (14, 13) Configuration respectively and the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15,16) Channel (14, 13) Configuration respectively. The Divider (12) or channel Splitter, Fig. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D, as an integral part of the invention pursuant to the above figures, operates as distributor of the Internal Parallel Pipes (11, 7), where, in accordance with the application and the existing space capacity, may be more than one (6, 10), as shown in Fig. 3C and 3D. The Divider (12) or channel Splitter also, as in Fig. 3A, may be suitably formed and under the desired tilt angle up to 90°. The Internal Parallel Pipes (11, 7) interconnect as well as make water tight the Channel nozzles (5, 6, 9, 10, 13) both of the Counterflow (16) Channel (9) and of the Cabling Development Channel (5) on the Heat Exchanger Head (1) on the one hand and through the Divider (12) or channel Splitter on the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Flow- Counterflow (15,16) Channel (14, 13) Configuration respectively. The External Main Pipe (3) has the role of Flow circulation server (15) of the thermally conductive medium/fluid (18) while at the same time it ensures the possibility on the one hand of internally "hosting" the Internal Parallel Pipes (11, 7) and sealing on the other of the entire assembled system so that it operates effectively.

Finally the Cooler (35) with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15,16) Channels (14, 13) Configuration respectively, Fig. 8A and 8B, incorporates both the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15,16) Channel (14, 13) Configuration respectively, and the thermally conductive medium/fluid (18) circulating and storage tank, otherwise its structure may be simpler, such as the Coolers (24, 25, 26, 27, 28) with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15,16) Channels Configuration and assist as conventional heat sink & tank. It is noted that in the Cooler (24) with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15,16) Channels (14, 13) Configuration respectively, cooling is achieved by detaching the Internal Parallel Pipe (11), where ensuring of Flow-Counterflow (15, 16) is effected through the suitably formed Channel (22, 23) nozzles.

This invention solves piercing-drilling and space problems in many applications, where both heat diffusion or expulsion as well as ensuring of tightness constitute fundamental need.

Claims

1. The Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger comprises of: the Heat Exchanger Head (1), the External Main Pipe (3), the Internal Parallel Pipes (11, 7), the Divider or Channel Splitter (12), the Mixer-Concentrator (30) with Coaxial Flow- Counterflow (15,16) Channels (14, 13, 33, 34) Configuration, the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Flow-Counterflow (15,16) Channels (14, 13) Configuration respectively, the Cooler (24, 25, 26, 27, 28) with Coaxial Configuration of Flow-Counterflow Channels (15, 16) and is characterized by: The fixed Inner Tubular Passages (19, 20, 21) of the Heat Exchanger Head (1), which are set at a common point of the Head Exchanger Head (1), forming a simple coaxial (8, 9) or manifold Tubular Channel configuration (or Passages) (5, 8, 9) of Flow- Counterflow (15, 16) or/and Cabling, where both Flow and Counterflow shall be at least coaxially carried out by one edge of the application and through any of the Channels (13, 14) as the case may be.

2. The Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger, according to Claim 1, opening of a coaxial (19,21) or more fixed Inner Tubular Passages (19, 20, 21) is made at the Heat Exchanger Head (1), while any additional Tubular Passages (5) may be installed so that all together be set at a common point of the Flow- Counterflow-Cabling Channels (8, 9, 5) of the Head Exchanger Head (1) and jointly form a manifold tubular Flow-Counterflow-Cabling configuration.

3. The Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger, according to Claim 1, it is noted that the External Main Pipe (3) because of its larger cross section has capacity of "hosting" internally both of the Internal Parallel Pipe (11) of Counterflow (16) and of, for example, the Internal Parallel Cabling Development Pipe (7).

4. The Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger, according to Claim 1, the Internal Parallel Pipes (11, 7) following the development of the External Main Pipe (3) end up, the Internal Parallel Pipe (11) on the one hand to the Counterflow (16) Channel (13) of the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Configuration of Flow-Counterflow (15, 16) Channels (14, 13) and the Internal Parallel Channel (7) on the other, via the Divider (12) or channel Splitter to detaching and exit of cabling at the desired point.

5. The Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger, also according to Claim 1, the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Configuration of Flow-Counterflow (15, 16) Channels (14, 13) respectively, for example, is the main factor of ensuring Flow (15) to and Counterflow (16) from the Heat Exchanger Head (1) as well as storage at the same time of, for example, the cooling medium/fluid (18) in additional to any supplementary possibility for heat dissipating through the Cooler (24, 25, 26, 27, 28), with Coaxial Configuration of Flow-Counterflow (15, 16) Channels.

6. The Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger, according to Claim 1, the Cooler (35), with Coaxial Configuration of Flow-Counterflow (15, 16) Channels (14, 13) respectively may integrate both the storage and circulation of thermally conductive medium/fluid tank (18) and the Circulator Pump (17) with Coaxial Configuration of Flow-Counterflow (15, 16) Channels (14, 13) respectively.

7. The Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger, according to Claim 4, the Divider (12) or channel Splitter, if used reversely, may function as multiplier as it may detach or assemble one or more independent channels-pipes in a common coaxial or manifold tubular configuration (8, 9) of Flow-Counterflow (15, 16).

8. The Integrated System of Closed Loop - Indirect Contact Structured Heat Exchanger, according to Claim 1, the application may serve multiple loads for example in a serial type or star type configuration through the Mixer-Concentrator (30) with coaxial configuration of Flow-Counterflow (15, 16) Channels (14, 13, 33, 34), which also has non-return valves (29).