WO2015069564A1

WO2015069564A1 - Frac tank, storage tank, pool, and pond exchanger

Info

Publication number: WO2015069564A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/063468
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Hoffman
Original assignee: Hydra Heating Industries, Llc.
Priority date: 2013-11-11
Filing date: 2014-10-31
Publication date: 2015-05-14

Abstract

Various embodiments of exchangers for tanks, pools, or ponds are described herein. In one embodiment, the exchanger includes an inlet, a central fluid conduit, one or more exchanger extension arms having fluid apertures that direct fluid into a tank at various locations, and one or more supports that support the central fluid conduit and the exchanger extension arms. The fluid apertures may be positioned relatively evenly across the exchanger extension arms and/or the central conduit to direct fluid up or at various directions into the tank. In another embodiment, the exchanger includes a diffuser hub, exchanger extension arms that extend radially outward from the diffuser hub, one or more exchanger rings that intersect with the heat exchanger extension arms, and a fill tube that extends to the diffuser hub. One or both of the heat exchanger arms and/or the exchanger rings include fluid apertures that direct fluid into the pool.

Description

FRAC TANK, STORAGE TANK, POOL, AND POND EXCHANGER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 14/526,188, filed October 28, 2014, titled "Pool, Large Tank, or Pond Exchanger," U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 14/526,204, filed October 28, 2014, titled "Frac and Storage Tank Exchanger," U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/902,31 1 , filed November 1 1 , 2013, titled "Sparge Heating System for Frac Water Tanks," U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/044,266, filed August 31 , 2014, titled "Heat Exchanger for Frac Pools and Ponds," and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/041 , 104, filed August 24, 2014, titled "Heat Exchanger for Frac Tanks," the entire contents of each of these applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Fluid storage tanks, such as trailer tanks or frac tanks, may be used to provide storage for fluid at various locations, such as at drilling sites for oil and gas wells, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, user facilities (e.g., biodiesel storage for farms), trans loading facilities, municipal and public works locations, etc. In this context, a trailer tank may be towed to a temporary location by a tow vehicle. At the drilling site, the trailer tank may be unhooked from the tow vehicle and positioned at a suitable location to be filled with fluid. When positioned at the suitable position on stable ground, the trailer tank can be filled with fluid for storage and dispensing. Other types of tanks may be stationary, in ground, above ground, round, rectangular or square.

[0003] Pools or ponds may be embodied in a variety of configurations and sizes.

Some pools are round with metal segmented sides, while others may be formed having oblong, crescent, circular, oval, half-moon, semi-circle or irregular rounded shapes. Still others may have rectangular, square, rounded square, trilateral, quadrilateral, or other multiple-sided, regular or irregular shapes. The sides may be rigid or collapsible, temporary or permanent. The pools or ponds may be above ground, underground, or in ground. Such pools or ponds may also be used to provide storage for fluid at various locations, such as at drilling sites for oil and gas wells, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, user facilities (e.g., biodiesel storage for farms), trans loading facilities, municipal and public works locations, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. It is noted that the elements in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding, but not necessarily the same, elements throughout the several views.

[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example tank according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the example tank in FIG. 1 with a cutaway to show an example exchanger within the tank according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 3 illustrates a closer perspective view of the example exchanger in FIG. 2 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an example exchanger according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [0009] FIG. 5A illustrates an end view of the example exchanger in FIG. 4 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 5B illustrates a side view of the example exchanger in FIG. 4 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an example exchanger support for the exchanger in FIG. 4 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a pool with an example exchanger according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 8A illustrates a closer perspective view of a portion of the example exchanger in FIG. 7 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 8B illustrates a closer perspective view of an exchanger extension arm of the example exchanger in FIG. 7 including fluid apertures according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the pool in FIG. 7 with another example exchanger according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a diffuser hub of the exchangers in FIGS. 7-9 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 1 1 illustrates a perspective sectional view of the diffuser hub of the exchangers in FIGS. 7-9 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] As noted above, tanks, pools, ponds, etc. may be used to provide storage for fluid at various locations such as drilling sites for oil and gas wells, for example. A tank, pool, pond, etc. can be filled with fluid for storage and dispensing. Examples of fluids that may be stored include fracking liquids, drilling mud, fluids from environmental cleanup, water, brine, etc. As used herein, the term "fluid" includes any material or composition of materials of suitable viscosity to flow into and/or out of a storage tank or pool, with or without pumping. Thus, the term "fluid" is intended to include any flowing mixture, suspension, slurry, or combination of materials.

[0019] Depending upon the needs at the site, it may be desirable or necessary to heat or mix the fluid stored in a tank or pool. For example, in hydraulic fracturing, heated fluid is pumped into wells to stimulate the wells for the removal of oil and/or gas deposits. However, because of the volume of fluid stored in a tank or pool, it may be difficult to evenly disperse or diffuse heated fluid throughout the tank or pool if the fluid is merely fed into one end of the tank or pool, for example.

[0020] Generally, a fluid storage tank, such as a trailer tank or frac tank, includes a storage tank, at least one fill port, and at least one drain port. If fluid is circulated from the drain port of the tank, heated by a fluid heater, and then fed into the fill port of the tank, the fluid surrounding the side or end of the tank nearest the fill port may become relatively warmer while the fluid further away from the fill port may remain relatively cooler. This manner of injecting a heated fluid into the fill port of the tank is, thus, a relatively inefficient and ineffective method of heating the fluid in the tank, wasting time and resources. It may be inefficient and ineffective to heat fluid stored in a pool or pond for similar reasons. For example, if fluid is circulated from the pool, heated by a fluid heater, and then fed back into a fill tube of the pool, the fluid surrounding the fill tube may become relatively warmer in the pool while fluid further away from the fill tube may remain relatively cooler. This manner of injecting a heated fluid into the pool is also relatively inefficient and ineffective method of heating the fluid in the pool, wasting time and resources.

[0021] In the context described above, various types of heat exchangers are described herein. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger may be relied upon in a tank, such as a trailer tank or frac tank, for example, to more evenly distribute and diffuse fluid into the tank. When a heated fluid is pumped into the tank, the heat exchanger helps to more evenly distribute and diffuse the heated fluid into the tank. Overall, the volume of fluid in the tank may be more evenly and quickly brought to a desired temperature when using the heat exchanger. Thus, the heat exchanger may be relied upon to save time and resources when heating fracking liquids, for example, or other fluids that may be stored in the tank. The same principles apply when using the exchanger for mixing fluids. The exchanger may also be used to promote or reduce phase change in fluids, to cool fluids or gasses that are too hot, and/or to heat phase changed materials (e.g. turning ice to water). In another embodiment, when a heated fluid is pumped into the pool, the heat exchanger helps to more evenly distribute and diffuse the heated fluid into the pool. Overall, the volume of fluid in the pool may be more evenly and quickly brought to a desired temperature when using the heat exchanger. Further, it may require less fuel to heat the fluid in the pool. Thus, the heat exchanger may be relied upon in a pool to save time and resources when heating fracking liquids, for example, or other fluids that may be stored in the pool. The same principles apply when using the exchanger for mixing fluids. [0022] As described in further detail below, in one embodiment, the heat exchanger includes an inlet, at least one central fluid conduit in fluid communication with inlet, one or more heat exchanger extension arms each extending from the central conduit and having fluid apertures that direct fluid into a storage tank at various locations, and one or more heat exchanger supports that support the at least one central fluid conduit and the heat exchanger extension arms. In various embodiments, the fluid apertures may be positioned relatively evenly across the heat exchanger extension arms and/or the central conduit and direct fluid up or at various directions into the storage tank. Thus, fluid pumped into the inlet of the heat exchanger may flow through the central conduit, into the heat exchanger extension arms, and out through the fluid apertures at various locations within the tank. As such, heated fluid, for example, may be more evenly and quickly distributed into the tank.

[0023] In another embodiment, the heat exchanger includes a diffuser hub located proximate to a center of a pool, heat exchanger extension arms that extend radially outward from the diffuser hub toward a wall of the pool, one or more heat exchanger rings that intersect with the heat exchanger extension arms, and a fill tube that extends from the pool wall to the diffuser hub. In one aspect of the embodiments, one or both of the heat exchanger arms and/or the one or more exchanger rings include fluid apertures that direct fluid into the pool. Further, in one embodiment, the diffuser hub includes a cylindrical housing that surrounds an interior space, a fill tube inlet through a top of the cylindrical housing, a cylindrical diffuser ring that extends from the top of the cylindrical housing into a portion of the interior space, and one or more flanges in sides of the cylindrical housing. The one or more flanges may be relied upon to secure the heat exchanger arms in fluid communication with the interior space of the diffuser hub.

[0024] Turning now to FIGS. 1 -6, various structural and functional aspects of certain embodiments are described in further detail.

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example tank 100 according to one embodiment. It should be appreciated that the tank 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is provided by way of example only. In other words, the embodiments of exchangers described herein may be used in any type of storage tank, and the tank 100 (e.g., trailer-type tank) is only representative of one type of storage tank in which the exchangers may be used.

[0026] The tank 100 includes a storage tank 102 surrounded by tank walls 1 10, a tank base 120, and wheels 130. The tank exchanger 100 also includes at least one fill port 1 12 and at least one drain port 1 14. The tank 100 may be formed from steel or any other material suitable for the application. The tank walls 1 10 may be formed from corrugated steel plate, pig iron, plastic or other materials, formed into a rectangular tank structure, and welded along one edge to the tank base 120. Inside the tank walls 1 10, a liner for the storage tank 102 may or may not be relied upon to separate or insulate the storage tank 102 from the tank walls 1 10, as some tanks are single walled. Generally, the wheels 130 of the tank 100 may be relied upon to transport and position the tank 100 to any suitable location.

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the tank 100 in FIG. 1 with a cutaway of one of the walls 1 10 of the tank 100 to show an example exchanger 150 according to one embodiment. The exchanger 150 may be referred to as a heat exchanger because it may be relied upon to evenly distribute or disperse heated fluid throughout the tank 100. It should be appreciated, however, that the exchanger 150 may be relied upon to evenly distribute any type of fluid throughout the tank 100. For example, the exchanger 150 may be relied upon to evenly distribute or disperse a brine solution having a higher concentration of salt into fresh water stored within the tank 100.

[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the exchanger 150 extends over at least a portion of the storage tank 102 of the tank 100. In various embodiments, the exchanger 150 may extend over or across a greater or smaller extent of the storage tank 102. In other words, the exchanger 150 may vary in overall size and shape among embodiments. The exchanger 150 includes at least one central fluid conduit 152 that extends longitudinally down the center or near-center of the storage tank 102 and is in fluid communication with the fill port 1 12 of the tank 100. It is noted that the central fluid conduit 152 may be connected to the fill port 1 12 at either or both ends among embodiments. Here, it is noted that the exchanger 150 may include more than one central, main, or feeding line or arm in various embodiments, and the particular configuration of the exchanger 150 may be customized to certain tank dimensions so that fluid is evenly dispersed throughout. The central fluid conduit 152 includes various central fluid conduit segments 153 joined together at joints 154. The exchanger 150 further includes exchanger extension arms 156 that extend from the joints 154 of the central fluid conduit 152 toward the tank walls 1 10. As illustrated, caps 158 may be relied upon close off open ends of the central fluid conduit 152 and the exchanger extension arms 156. The exchanger 150 also includes exchanger supports 160 that support at least one of the central fluid conduit and the exchanger extension arms 156. As described in further detail below with reference to FIG. 3, one or more of the exchanger extension arms 156 include fluid apertures that direct fluid into the storage tank 102. In certain embodiments, one or more of the central fluid conduit segments 153 may also include fluid apertures that direct fluid into the storage tank 102.

[0029] The central fluid conduit 152 and the exchanger extension arms 156 may be embodied as tubes or pipes formed from metal, metallic alloys, plastic, or any other material suitable for the application of directing fluid. Similarly, the joints 154 and the exchanger supports 160 may also be formed from metal, metallic alloys, plastic, or any other material suitable for the purpose. As further described below, the tubes may include flanges or threads at one or both ends.

[0030] In operation, fluid may be pumped into the fill port 1 12 of the tank 100 and, thus, into the central fluid conduit 152 of the exchanger 150. In turn, the fluid will be directed into the exchanger extension arms 156 and, ultimately, out from the fluid apertures in the exchanger extension arms 156. The fluid apertures may be positioned relatively evenly across the exchanger extension arms 156 and/or the central fluid conduit 152 and direct fluid into the storage tank 102 at various spaced- apart locations. Thus, fluid pumped into the exchanger 150 may flow through the central conduit 152, into the exchanger extension arms 156, and out through the fluid apertures at various locations within the storage tank 102. As such, heated fluid, for example, may be more evenly distributed into the storage tank 102.

[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a closer perspective view of the example exchanger 150 in FIG. 2 according to one embodiment. In FIG. 2, the fluid apertures 170 of the exchanger extension arms 156 are more clearly shown. Generally, the fluid apertures 170 direct fluid from within the exchanger extension arms 156 into the storage tank 102 of in the tank 100. In this context, example jets 180 of fluid being directed upward into the storage tank 102 are illustrated in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, the fluid apertures 170 may be embodied as holes from outside to an internal hollow center of the exchanger extension arms 156. The fluid apertures 170 may be formed by drilling holes in the exchanger extension arms 156, for example, or by any other suitable manner. In other embodiments, the fluid apertures 170 may be formed as venturi nozzles (or other types of nozzles or apertures) in or on the exchanger extension arms 156. In this case, the nozzles may help agitate or distribute fluid in the tank 100.

[0032] As shown, the fluid apertures 170 are formed inline and are spaced substantially evenly apart (e.g., uniformly apart) along the exchanger extension arms 156 at a 12 o'clock orientation. In other embodiments, however, the fluid apertures 170 may be formed at other orientations (e.g. at 8, 10, 2, or 4 o'clock orientations or combinations thereof) or staggered orientations and/or positions (e.g., non-uniformly) over the surface of the exchanger extension arms 156 to provide different and useful mixing of fluids. For example, one or more of the fluid apertures 170 may be formed at various angles from the top or bottom of the exchanger extension arms 156. Fluid apertures 170 formed to direct fluid out toward the bottom of the exchanger extension arms 156 may be relied upon to stir or mix particles that may settle upon the base 120 of the tank 100. In other aspects of the embodiments, the exchanger extension arms 156 may include weep holes oriented toward the bottom of the exchanger extension arms 156 to permit any remaining water to slowly drip out and prevent freezing, etc.

[0033] In FIG. 3, various flanges 155 of the exchanger 150 are also more clearly shown. The flanges 155 may be present at ends of the central fluid conduit segments 153, the exchanger extension arms 156, and/or on the joints 154. Generally, the flanges 155 may be relied upon to join the central fluid conduit segments 153, the exchanger extension arms 156, and/or on the joints 154 together in fluid communication with each other. In some embodiments, a gasket may be placed between the flanges 155 of one or more of the central fluid conduit segments 153, the exchanger extension arms 156, and/or on the joints 154, to help prevent fluid from leaking between junctures in the exchanger 150. At the flanges 155, any suitable type of connections may be established with compression, glue, welding or hardware such as threaded bolts and nuts, to secure the central fluid conduit segments 153, the exchanger extension arms 156, and/or on the joints 154 together.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, each exchanger support 160 includes a downward tube 162, an upward tube 166, and a support joint 164. Flanges 155 of an exchanger extension arm 156 and the support joint 164 may be relied upon to secure ends of them together at one end of the exchanger extension arm 156. Similarly, flanges 155 of the downward tube 162 and the upward tube 166 may be relied upon to secure them to the support joint 164. Caps 168 may be fitted at the other ends of the downward tube 162 and the upward tube 166 to cap or seal off the downward tube 162 and the upward tube 166. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the cap 168 placed over the bottom end of the downward tube 162 rests upon the base 120 of the tank 100. The downward tube 162 and the upward tube 166 may be embodied as tubes or pipes formed from metal, metallic alloys, plastic, or any other rigid material suitable for supporting the exchanger 150. Similarly, the support joint 164 may also be formed from metal, metallic alloys, plastic, or any other material suitable for supporting the exchanger 150. In certain embodiments, one or more of the exchanger supports 160 may be adjustable. For example, the exchanger supports 160 may be adjustable in length or in direction (e.g., angle) of extension. In this way, the exchanger supports 160 may be adjusted to raise or lower the exchanger 150 for leveling, positioning, etc., [0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an example exchanger 250 according to another embodiment. The exchanger 250 in FIG. 4 is similar to the exchanger 150 in FIGS. 2 and 3. Particularly, the exchanger 250 includes the central fluid conduit segments 153 and the exchanger extension arms 156. However, rather than relying upon the exchanger supports 160 (FIGS. 2 and 3), the exchanger 250 includes peripheral exchanger supports 260 and central exchanger supports 266. As shown in FIG. 4, each peripheral heat exchanger support 260 holds up or supports one exchanger extension arm 156. Similarly, each central heat exchanger support holds up or supports one central fluid conduit segment 153.

[0036] FIG. 5A illustrates an end view of the example exchanger 250 in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5A, a side view of two peripheral exchanger supports 260 and a front view of the central exchanger support 266 are provided. As illustrated, the central exchanger support 266 includes right and left support legs, 267A and 267B, respectively. The central exchanger support 266 also includes, right and left support feet, 268A and 268B, respectively, at ends of the right and left support legs 267A and 267B. Additionally, the central exchanger support 266 also includes a cylindrical clamp formed of a top clamp half 269A and a bottom clamp half 269B.

[0037] In FIG. 5A, the exchanger 250 rests upon a base including a sloped floor having surfaces 502A and 502B that decline to a central point 504. To rest flat upon the sloped floor, the right and left support feet 268A and 268B are each inclined in respective different directions so as to rest flat on the sloped floor. Similarly, each of the peripheral exchanger supports 260 in FIG. 5A include inclined feet 261 to rest flat on the sloped floor. It is noted, however, that the inclined feet 261 of the peripheral exchanger supports 260 are inclined in a different orientation as compared to the right and left support feet 268A and 268B of the central exchanger support 266. [0038] FIG. 5B illustrates a side view of the example exchanger 250 in FIG. 4 according to another embodiment. In FIG. 5B, the central point 504 of the sloped floor in FIG. 5A is longitudinally illustrated as declining from left to right. In this view, several of the central exchanger supports 266 are shown. As illustrated, the support legs of the central exchanger supports 266 are graduated in length from shortest to longest from left to right. In this way, each of the central exchanger supports 266 may rest upon the central point 504 of the sloped floor while maintaining the central fluid conduit segments 153 in a substantially level orientation. To the extent necessary, the support legs of one or more of the peripheral exchanger supports 260 may also be graduated in length to rest upon the sloped floor.

[0039] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an example exchanger support 600 for the exchanger 250 in FIG. 4. The exchanger support 600 may be relied upon as one or more of the peripheral exchanger supports 260 and/or central exchanger supports 266 for the exchanger 250 in FIG. 4. The exchanger support 600 may be formed from metal, metallic alloys, plastic, or any other material suitable for the purpose of supporting the exchanger 250 in FIG. 4.

[0040] The exchanger support 600 includes right and left support legs, 61 OA and 610B, respectively, right and left support feet, 612A and 612B, respectively, and a cylindrical clamp including a top clamp half 632 and a bottom clamp half 634. The cylindrical clamp may be installed around one of the central fluid conduit segments 153 and/or one of the exchanger extension arms 156 of the exchanger 250 in FIG. 4, for example. The top clamp half 632 and bottom clamp half 634 may be secured together using a threaded bolt 622 and corresponding nut 624, as shown in FIG. 6. In this context, the exchanger support 600 may include a mechanical interface 620 that extends out in proximity to a through-hole 626 in the bottom clamp half 634. The mechanical interface 620 may be relied upon to prevent the threaded bolt 622 from rotating while securing the threaded bolt 622. In one embodiment, the exchanger support 600 also includes a foot pad 614 at the bottom of one or more of the support feet 612A and 612B. The foot pad 614 may be formed from felt, plastic, or any other suitable material for preventing the support feet 612A and 612B from scratching other surfaces. In certain embodiments, the exchanger support 600 may be adjustable. For example, the exchanger support 600 may be adjustable in length or in direction (e.g., angle) of extension. In this way, the exchanger support 600 may be adjusted to raise or lower the exchanger 250 for leveling, positioning, etc.,

[0041] Turning to FIGS. 7-1 1 , various structural and functional aspects of other related embodiments are described in further detail.

[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a pool 700 with an example exchanger 720 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The pool 700 includes pool walls 710 and pool floor 712. The pool walls 710 may be formed from steel or any other material suitable for holding and retaining fluid in the pool 700. When erected, the pool walls 710 may be installed over leveled earth or other substrata as required by the pool installer and manufacturer. Once the pool walls 710 are installed, a liner may be inserted into the pool 700 to help retain water in the pool 700. Thus, the pool floor 712 may comprise a liner placed over leveled earth or other substrata as the pool erector requires or uses.

[0043] The exchanger 720 may be referred to as a heat exchanger because it may be relied upon to evenly distribute or disperse heated fluid throughout the pool 700. It should be appreciated, however, that the exchanger 720 may be relied upon to evenly distribute any type of fluid throughout the pool 700. For example, the exchanger 720 may be relied upon to evenly distribute or disperse a brine solution having a higher concentration of salt into fresh water stored within the pool 700. Further, it should be appreciated that the pool 700 illustrated in FIG. 7 is provided by way of example only. In other words, the embodiments of exchangers described herein may be used in any type of storage pool, and the pool 700 is only representative of one type of storage pool in which the exchangers may be used.

[0044] The exchanger 720 in FIG. 7 includes a diffuser hub 730 located proximate to a center of the pool 700, exchanger extension arms 740 that extend radially outward from the diffuser hub 730 toward the pool walls 710, one or more exchanger rings 750 that intersect with the exchanger extension arms 740, and a fill tube 760 that extends from the pool walls 710 to the diffuser hub 730. Among embodiments, the exchanger 720 may include any number of exchanger extension arms 740 arranged in various positions and/or locations within the pool 700 and any number of exchanger rings 750 arranged in various positions and/or locations within the pool 700. While not shown, valves or orifices may be used to control fluid flow through the exchanger arms 740 and/or the exchanger rings 750. In this way, some of the exchanger arms 740 and/or the exchanger rings 750 may have reduced flow, others may be cut off, and others may have increased flow.

[0045] In one aspect of the embodiments, one or both of the exchanger arms 740 and/or the exchanger rings 750 include fluid apertures that direct fluid into the pool 700. Further, as described in additional detail below with reference to FIGS. 10 and 1 1 , the diffuser hub 730 includes a cylindrical housing that surrounds an interior space, a fill tube inlet through the cylindrical housing, a cylindrical diffuser ring that extends within the interior space of the diffuser hub 730, and one or more flanges, cam locks, welds, welded butt joints or other means of penetrating the diffuser hub 730 and attaching radiant pipes or tubes in sides of the cylindrical housing of the diffuser hub 730. The flanges may be relied upon to secure the exchanger arms 740 in fluid communication with the interior space of the diffuser hub 730.

[0046] As also illustrated in FIG. 7, the exchanger 720 includes a snorkel 762 that extends from outside the pool 700, over the pool wall 710, and into an interior fluid storage space of the pool 700. The snorkel 762 may be embodied as a pipe or tube for directing fluid and be connected in fluid communication with the fill tube 760. In various embodiments, the snorkel 762 may include one or more inlet openings of various sizes for providing a supply of fluid to the pool 700. The inlet openings of the snorkel 762 may be connected to pipes, hoses, or tubes of various diameters. The pipes or hoses may be of rigid construction or collapsible. Such collapsible hoses may be embodied as flat hoses, such as fire hoses, etc.

[0047] The exchanger extension arms 740 and exchanger rings 750 may be embodied as straight or curved tubes or pipes formed from aluminum, carbon, stainless or other metals, metallic alloys, plastic, or any other material suitable for the application of directing fluid. In other embodiments, the exchanger extension arms 740 and exchanger rings 750 may be embodied as hoses, such as flat hoses, for example, formed from a combination of nylon fabric, rubber, etc. Although being rigid in some embodiments, the exchanger extension arms 740 and exchanger rings 750 may be mounted in place using pipe sleeves or buoys to protect the floor of the pool or pond, for example. The exchanger extension arms 740 and exchanger rings 750 may be mechanically secured together in fluid communication with each other using one or more joints or joining members. The joints may include male-to-female threaded connections, flanges, etc., to join and secure the exchanger extension arms 740 and exchanger rings 750 together. As necessary, fastening means, such as bolts and nuts, locking pins, epoxy, various glues, compression joints, etc. may also be relied upon to join and secure the exchanger extension arms 740 and exchanger rings 750 together. It also should be appreciated that exchanger extension arms 740 and exchanger rings 750 may be formed from several smaller segments of tubes. In some embodiments, one or more gaskets may be placed between segments of the exchanger extension arms 740 and exchanger rings 750, to help prevent fluid from leaking between junctures in the exchanger 720. Valves, orifices or other devices may be used to reduce or increase flow through the extension arms as needed for the particular use at hand. For example, an irregular shape may require less flow in shorter exchanger arms and more flow in longer exchanger arms.

[0048] In operation, fluid may be pumped into the snorkel 762 and, thus, into the fill tube 760 of the exchanger 720. In turn, the fluid will be directed into the diffuser hub 730 toward the center of the pool 700. From the diffuser hub 730, the fluid will be directed into the exchanger extension arms 156 and/or the exchanger rings 750 and, ultimately, out from fluid apertures in the exchanger extension arms 156 and/or the exchanger rings 750. The fluid apertures may be positioned relatively evenly across the exchanger extension arms 156 and/or the exchanger rings 750 and direct fluid into the pool 700 at various spaced-apart locations. As such, heated fluid, for example, may be more evenly distributed into the pool 700. The fluid apertures may be sized regularly or they may be smaller or larger as is useful for the operation of the exchanger 720. For example, smaller apertures may be located closer to the diffuser hub 730 and larger holes may be located further away from the diffuser hub 730.

[0049] FIG. 8A illustrates a closer perspective view of a portion of the example exchanger 720 in FIG. 7 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 8A, the path or route of the fill tube 760 within the pool 700 is shown as tracking or extending along the pool floor 712, routing up along a side of the diffuser hub 730, and being connected to a fill tube inlet at the top of the diffuser hub 730. In other embodiments, such as that described below with reference to FIG. 9, the fill tube 760 may be routed in alternative ways.

[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the exchanger 720 may include one or more fill tube bumpers 764 interposed between the fill tube 760 and the floor 712 of the pool 700 (see also FIG. 7). Additionally, the exchanger 720 may include one or more extension arm bumpers 744 interposed between one or more of the exchanger arms 740 and the pool floor. The bumpers 744 and 764 may be embodied as foam, rubber, etc., and may wrap around a portion or entire outer surface of the exchanger arms 740 and/or the fill tube 760. Generally, the bumpers 744 and 764 may be relied upon to help prevent the exchanger arms 740 and/or the fill tube 760 from wearing, rubbing, cutting or tearing the liner of the pool 700. Additionally, although not illustrated, the exchanger 720 may also include bumpers similar to the bumpers 744 and 764 interposed between one or more of the exchanger rings 750 and the floor 712 of the pool 700 (see also FIG. 7). The exchanger 720 may also include a mat 732 interposed between the diffuser hub 730 and the floor 712. The mat 732 may be embodied as foam, rubber, plastic, etc.,

[0051] FIG. 8B illustrates a closer perspective view of an exchanger extension arm 740 of the example exchanger 720 in FIG. 7 including fluid apertures 770 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 8B, the fluid apertures 770 in the exchanger extension arm 740 are more clearly shown. Generally, the fluid apertures 770 direct fluid from within the exchanger extension arm 740 into the pool 700. In this context, example jets 780 of fluid being directed upward into the pool 700 are illustrated in FIG. 8B. In one embodiment, the fluid apertures 770 may be embodied as holes from outside to an internal hollow center of the exchanger extension arm 740. The fluid apertures 770 may be formed by drilling or cutting holes in the exchanger extension arm 740, for example, or by any other suitable manner. In other embodiments, the fluid apertures 770 may be formed as venturi nozzles (or other types of nozzles or apertures) in or on the exchanger extension arm 740. In this case, the nozzles may help agitate or distribute fluid in the pool 700.

[0052] As shown, the fluid apertures 770 are formed inline and are spaced substantially evenly apart (e.g., uniformly apart) along the exchanger extension arm 740 at a 12 o'clock orientation. In other embodiments, however, the fluid apertures 770 may be formed at other orientations (e.g. at 8, 10, 2, or 4 o'clock orientations or combinations thereof) or staggered orientations and/or positions (e.g., non-uniformly) over the surface of the exchanger extension arm 740. For example, one or more of the fluid apertures 770 may be formed at various angles from the top or bottom of the exchanger extension arm 740. Fluid apertures 770 formed to direct fluid out toward the bottom of the exchanger extension arms 740 may be relied upon to stir or mix particles that may settle upon the pool floor 712. In other aspects of the embodiments, the exchanger extension arm 740 may include weep holes oriented toward the bottom to permit any remaining water to slowly drip out and prevent freezing, etc. It should also be appreciated that apertures similar to the fluid apertures 770 may be formed in any of the extension arms 740 and/or the exchanger rings 750 in the exchanger 720.

[0053] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the pool 700 in FIG. 7 with another example exchanger 920 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As compared to the exchanger 720 in FIG. 7, the exchanger 920 includes the fill tube 960 rather than the fill tube 760, includes the snorkel 962 rather than the snorkel 762, and omits the exchanger rings 750. Rather than being routed along the pool floor 712, the fill tube 920 is routed along the surface of any fluid in the pool 700 before being connected to the fill tube inlet through the top of the diffuser hub 730. In this context, the exchanger 920 includes buoys 964 that hold the fill tube 960 up along the surface of any fluid in the pool 700. The snorkel 962 is similar to the snorkel 762 but does not curve as far into the interior fluid storage space of the pool 700 or extend as far down to the ground. In various embodiments, the snorkel 962 could extend as far down to the ground as is useful and practical for the operators.

[0054] FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the diffuser hub 730 of the exchangers in FIGS. 7-9 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The diffuser hub 730 The diffuser hub 730 includes a cylindrical housing 1020 that surrounds an interior space, a fill tube inlet 1010 through a top 1012 in the cylindrical housing 1020, and one or more flanges 1030 in sides of the cylindrical housing 1020 of the diffuser hub 730. The fill tube inlet 1010 may be relied upon to secure the fill tube 760 in fluid communication with the interior space of the diffuser hub. Similarly, the flanges 1030 (or any other suitable fluid connection means) may be relied upon to secure the exchanger arms 740 in fluid communication with the interior space of the diffuser hub 730. In some embodiments, the diffuser hub 730 may comprise a type of pressure vessel.

[0055] The diffuser hub 730 may be formed or constructed from any suitable material, such as sheet metal, plastic, or any other material suitable for the application of holding and directing fluid. The cylindrical housing 1020 may be formed as a multi-sided cylindrically-shaped vessel by welding several segments of sheet metal together in a circular shape. The diffuser hub 730 may be cylindrical or spherical in shape. It may be rounded in shape like a pressure vessel with a domed top and bottom in some embodiments. It may include three sides in one embodiment with rounded edges or corners between the sides. Also, in various embodiments, the diffuser hub 730 may have as many apertures as it can structurally allow. A hole may be cut through the top 1012 of the diffuser hub 730 for the installation of the fill tube inlet 1010. Similarly, holes may be cut through the cylindrical housing 1020 at various locations for the installation of the flanges 1030. As discussed above, the flanges 1030 may be relied upon to secure the exchanger arms 740 (FIGS. 7-9) in fluid communication with the interior space of the diffuser hub 730. In one embodiment, the flanges 1030 may be evenly spaced around the cylindrical housing 1020, but it should be appreciated that the flanges 1030 may be provided at any location and height around the cylindrical housing 1020.

[0056] FIG. 1 1 illustrates a perspective sectional view of the diffuser hub 730 of the exchangers in FIGS. 7-9 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 1 1 , the interior space 1050 of the diffuser hub 730 is shown along with a bottom 1013 of the cylindrical housing 1020. Further, a cylindrical diffuser ring 1040 that extends from the top 1012 of the cylindrical housing 1020 into a portion of the interior space 1050 is illustrated. The cylindrical diffuser ring 1040 may be relied upon to help mix or disperse fluid within the interior space 1050 before it is pumped out through the flanges 1030 to the exchanger arms 740. The length of extension of the cylindrical diffuser ring 1040 may depend, in part, upon whether fluid from the fill tube 760 directionally enters the interior space 1050 of the diffuser hub 730.

[0057] Although embodiments have been described herein in detail, the descriptions are by way of example. The features of the embodiments described herein are representative and, in alternative embodiments, certain features and elements may be added or omitted. Additionally, modifications to aspects of the embodiments described herein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined in the following claims, the scope of which are to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass modifications and equivalent structures.

[0058] Various embodiments of the disclosure can be described in view of the following clauses:

1 . A frac tank heat exchanger, comprising:

a trailer comprising a storage tank, a fill port, and a drain port; and a heat exchanger that extends over at least a portion of the storage tank, the heat exchanger comprising:

a central fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fill port, the central fluid conduit comprising a plurality of joints;

a plurality of heat exchanger extension arms, each of the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms extending from one of the plurality of joints and having a plurality of fluid apertures that direct fluid into the storage tank; and

a plurality of heat exchanger supports that support at least one of the central fluid conduit and the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms.

2. The frac tank heat exchanger of clause 1 , wherein each of the plurality of heat exchanger supports comprises a cylindrical clamp, at least one support leg, and at least one support foot. 3. The frac tank heat exchanger of clause 1 , wherein the storage tank comprises a sloped floor and the at least one support foot of each of the plurality of heat exchanger supports is inclined to rest flat on the sloped floor.

4. The frac tank heat exchanger of clause 1 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a cap at an end of at least one of the central fluid conduit or the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms.

5. A heat exchanger, comprising:

a central fluid conduit;

a plurality of heat exchanger extension arms, each of the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms extending from the central fluid conduit and having a plurality of fluid apertures that direct fluid into a storage tank; and

6. The heat exchanger of clause 5, wherein the plurality of fluid apertures are formed inline and spaced substantially evenly apart along the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms.

7. The heat exchanger of clause 5, wherein the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms comprise tubes and the plurality of fluid apertures comprise holes from outside to an internal hollow center of the tubes.

8. The heat exchanger of clause 5, wherein: the central fluid conduit and the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms comprise tubes; and

the central fluid conduit comprises a plurality of joints that secure the central fluid conduit and the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms together in fluid communication with each other.

9. The heat exchanger of clause 5, wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a cap at an end of at least one of the central fluid conduit or the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms.

10. The heat exchanger of clause 5, wherein each of the plurality of heat exchanger supports comprises a cylindrical clamp, at least one support leg, and at least one support foot.

1 1 . The heat exchanger of clause 5, wherein the storage tank comprises a sloped floor and the at least one support foot of each of the plurality of heat exchanger supports is inclined to rest flat on the sloped floor.

12. The heat exchanger of clause 1 1 , wherein support legs of the plurality of heat exchanger supports are graduated in length along with the sloped floor.

13. The heat exchanger of clause 5, wherein:

the plurality of heat exchanger supports comprise a plurality of central heat exchanger supports and a plurality of peripheral heat exchanger supports; the plurality of central heat exchanger supports support the central fluid conduit; and

the plurality of peripheral heat exchanger supports support the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms.

14. The heat exchanger of clause 13, wherein:

each of the plurality of central heat exchanger supports comprises at least one support leg and at least one support foot inclined in a first direction; and each of the plurality of peripheral heat exchanger supports comprises at least one support leg and at least one support foot inclined in a second direction.

15. A tank, comprising:

a storage tank; and

an exchanger that extends over at least a portion of the storage tank, the exchanger comprising:

an exchanger tube having a plurality of holes spaced substantially evenly along a length of the exchanger tube, each of the plurality of holes extending from outside to an internal hollow center of the exchange tube; and

an exchanger support that supports the exchange tube at a height above a floor of the storage tank.

16. The tank of clause 15, wherein the plurality of holes are formed inline.

17. The tank of clause 15, wherein the plurality of holes are staggered from inline.

18. The tank of clause 15, wherein the exchanger tube comprises:

a central fluid conduit; and

a plurality of exchanger tubes, each of the plurality of exchanger tubes extending from the central fluid conduit and having a plurality of holes.

19. The tank of clause 15, wherein the exchanger support comprises a cylindrical clamp, at least one support leg, and at least one support foot. 20. The tank of clause 15, wherein the floor of the storage tank comprises a sloped floor and the at least one support foot the exchanger support is inclined to rest flat on the sloped floor.

21 . A pond or pool heat exchanger or mixer, comprising:

a pool comprising a pool wall and a pool floor that retain fluid;

a heat exchanger that extends over at least a portion of the pool, the heat exchanger comprising:

a diffuser hub located proximate to a center of the pool;

a plurality of heat exchanger extension arms, each of the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms extending radially outward from the diffuser hub toward the pool wall;

at least one heat exchanger ring that intersects with at least one of the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms, the plurality of heat exchanger arms and the at least one exchanger ring having a plurality of fluid apertures that direct fluid into the pool; and

a fill tube that extends from the pool wall to the diffuser hub.

22. The pool heat exchanger of clause 21 , wherein the diffuser hub comprises:

a cylindrical housing that surrounds an interior space;

a fill tube inlet through a top of the cylindrical housing;

a cylindrical diffuser ring that extends from the top of the cylindrical housing into a portion of the interior space; and a plurality of flanges in sides of the cylindrical housing, the plurality of flanges to secure the plurality of heat exchanger arms in fluid communication with the interior space of the diffuser hub.

23. The pool heat exchanger of clause 22, wherein the fill tube is connected in fluid communication with the fill tube inlet and supplies fluid to the heat exchanger to be diffused into the pool.

24. The pool heat exchanger of clause 21 , further comprising at least one extension arm bumper interposed between at least one of the plurality of heat exchanger arms and the pool floor.

25. The pool heat exchanger of clause 21 , further comprising at least one fill tube bumper interposed between the fill tube and the floor of the pool.

26. The pool heat exchanger of clause 21 , further comprising a snorkel that extends over the pool wall and supplies fluid to the fill tube.

27. An exchanger, comprising:

a diffuser hub;

a plurality of exchanger extension arms extending radially outward from the diffuser hub and having a plurality of fluid apertures that direct fluid into a pool; and

a fill tube that extends from a pool wall to the diffuser hub, wherein the diffuser hub comprises:

a housing that surrounds an interior space;

a fill tube inlet; and

a plurality of flanges in sides of the cylindrical housing, the plurality of flanges to secure the plurality of exchanger arms in fluid communication with the interior space of the diffuser hub.

28. The exchanger of clause 27, wherein the diffuser hub further comprises a cylindrical diffuser ring that extends from a top of the cylindrical housing into a portion of the interior space.

29. The exchanger of clause 27, further comprising at least one exchanger ring that intersects with at least one of the plurality of exchanger extension arms.

30. The exchanger of clause 29, wherein the at least one exchanger ring includes a plurality of fluid apertures that direct fluid into the pool. 31 . The exchanger of clause 29, wherein the fill tube is connected in fluid communication with the fill tube inlet and supplies fluid to the exchanger to be diffused into the pool.

32. The exchanger of clause 29, further comprising at least one extension arm bumper interposed between at least one of the plurality of exchanger arms and a floor of the pool.

33. The exchanger of clause 29, further comprising at least one fill tube bumper interposed between the fill tube and a floor of the pool.

34. The exchanger of clause 29, further comprising a mat interposed between the diffuser hub and a floor of the pool.

35. The exchanger of clause 29, further comprising a snorkel that extends over the pool wall and supplies fluid to the fill tube.

36. A pond or pool heat exchanger or mixer, comprising:

a pool comprising a pool wall and a pool floor that retain fluid;

a diffuser hub located proximate to a center of the pool;

a plurality of heat exchanger extension arms, each of the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms extending radially outward from the diffuser hub toward the pool wall; and

a fill tube that extends from the pool wall to the diffuser hub, wherein the diffuser hub comprises:

a cylindrical housing that surrounds an interior space;

a fill tube inlet through a top of the cylindrical housing; and a plurality of flanges in sides of the cylindrical housing, the plurality of flanges to secure the plurality of heat exchanger arms in fluid communication with the interior space of the diffuser hub.

37. The pool heat exchanger of clause 36, wherein the diffuser hub further comprises a cylindrical diffuser ring that extends from the top of the cylindrical housing into a portion of the interior space.

38. The pool heat exchanger of clause 36, further comprising at least one heat exchanger ring that intersects with at least one of the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms, the at least one exchanger ring having a plurality of fluid apertures that direct fluid into the pool.

39. The pool heat exchanger of clause 36, wherein the fill tube is connected in fluid communication with the fill tube inlet and supplies fluid to the heat exchanger to be diffused into the pool.

40. The pool heat exchanger of clause 36, further comprising at least one bumper interposed between at least one of the plurality of heat exchanger arms and the floor of the pool or between the fill tube and the floor of the pool.

Claims

CLAIMS Therefore, the following is claimed:

1 . As exchanger, comprising:

a central fluid conduit;

2. The exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluid apertures are formed inline and spaced substantially evenly apart along the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms.

3. The exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms comprise tubes and the plurality of fluid apertures comprise holes from outside to an internal hollow center of the tubes.

4. The exchanger of claim 1 , wherein:

the central fluid conduit and the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms comprise tubes; and

5. The exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a cap at an end of at least one of the central fluid conduit or the plurality of heat exchanger extension arms.

6. The exchanger of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of heat exchanger supports comprises a cylindrical clamp, at least one support leg, and at least one support foot.

7. The exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the storage tank comprises a sloped floor and the at least one support foot of each of the plurality of heat exchanger supports is inclined to rest flat on the sloped floor.

8. The exchanger of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of heat exchanger supports comprise a plurality of central heat exchanger supports and a plurality of peripheral heat exchanger supports;

the plurality of central heat exchanger supports support the central fluid conduit; and

9. The exchanger of claim 8, wherein:

10. An exchanger, comprising:

a diffuser hub;

a cylindrical housing that surrounds an interior space;

a fill tube inlet; and

1 1 . The exchanger of claim 10, wherein the diffuser hub further comprises a cylindrical diffuser ring that extends from a top of the cylindrical housing into a portion of the interior space.

12. The exchanger of claim 10, further comprising at least one exchanger ring that intersects with at least one of the plurality of exchanger extension arms.

13. The exchanger of claim 12, wherein the at least one exchanger ring includes a plurality of fluid apertures that direct fluid into the pool.

14. The exchanger of claim 10, wherein the fill tube is connected in fluid communication with the fill tube inlet and supplies fluid to the exchanger to be diffused into the pool.

15. The exchanger of claim 10, further comprising at least one extension arm bumper interposed between at least one of the plurality of exchanger arms and a floor of the pool.