Nested-flow heat exchangers
First Claim
1. A heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising:
- a first tube having a first end;
a second tube having a second end;
a third tube having a third end; and
a manifold assembly, wherein;
the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube are coaxial about a longitudinal axis,the first tube defines a portion of a first flow path,the first tube and the second tube define a portion of a second flow path,the second tube and the third tube define a portion of a third flow path,the second flow path and the third flow path are annular flow paths,the second end is the end of the second tube closest to the first end,the third end is the end of the third tube closest to the first end,the manifold assembly is in contact with the first end, the second end, and the third end,the manifold assembly defines an input and an outlet,the input is in fluid communication with at least one of the first flow path, the second flow path, or the third flow path, andthe outlet is in fluid communication with at least one of the first flow path, the second flow path, or the third flow path.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a technology based upon the nesting of tubes to provide chemical reactors or chemical reactors with built in heat exchanger. As a chemical reactor, the technology provides the ability to manage the temperature within a process flow for improved performance, control the location of reactions for corrosion control, or implement multiple process steps within the same piece of equipment. As a chemical reactor with built in heat exchanger, the technology can provide large surface areas per unit volume and large heat transfer coefficients. The technology can recover the thermal energy from the product flow to heat the reactant flow to the reactant temperature, significantly reducing the energy needs for accomplishment of a process.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising:
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a first tube having a first end; a second tube having a second end; a third tube having a third end; and a manifold assembly, wherein; the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube are coaxial about a longitudinal axis, the first tube defines a portion of a first flow path, the first tube and the second tube define a portion of a second flow path, the second tube and the third tube define a portion of a third flow path, the second flow path and the third flow path are annular flow paths, the second end is the end of the second tube closest to the first end, the third end is the end of the third tube closest to the first end, the manifold assembly is in contact with the first end, the second end, and the third end, the manifold assembly defines an input and an outlet, the input is in fluid communication with at least one of the first flow path, the second flow path, or the third flow path, and the outlet is in fluid communication with at least one of the first flow path, the second flow path, or the third flow path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising:
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a first tube having a first end; a second tube having a second end; a third tube having a third end; and a manifold assembly, wherein; the first tube, the second tube, and the third tube are coaxial about a longitudinal axis, the first tube defines a portion of a first flow path, the first tube and the second tube define a portion of a second flow path, the second tube and the third tube define a portion of a third flow path, the second flow path and the third flow path are annular flow paths, the second end is the end of the second tube closest to the first end, the third end is the end of the third tube closest to the first end, the manifold assembly is in contact with the first end, the second end, and the third end, the manifold assembly defines an input and an outlet, the input is in fluid communication with at least one of the first flow path, the second flow path, or the third flow path, the outlet is in fluid communication with at least one of the first flow path, the second flow path, or the third flow path, the first flow path is in fluid communication with the third flow path, the second flow path is not in fluid communication with neither the first flow path nor the third flow path, and the first flow path, the second flow path, and the third flow path are in a bayonet configuration.
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Specification