Swirl flow heat exchanger with reverse spiral configuration
First Claim
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1. A heat exchanger, comprising:
- a plurality of first fluid conduit assemblies, each of said first fluid conduit assemblies comprising a first fluid conduit disposed in a first generally planar region and having a first end and a second end, a first portion of said first fluid conduit extending in an inward spiral from said first end to a first area of said first generally planar region, a second portion of said first fluid conduit being connected in fluid communication with said first portion of said first fluid conduit and extending in an outward spiral form said first area of said first generally planar region toward sai second end of said first fluid conduit, said inward spiral extending in a rotational direction opposite to the rotational direction of said outward spiral, said second end of said first fluid conduit being connected in fluid communication with said second portion of said first fluid conduit, said first end of said first fluid conduit being connected in fluid communication with said first portion of said first fluid conduit, both said first and second ends of said first fluid conduit being disposed outwardly from said inward and outward spirals and within said first generally planar region; and
a plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies, each of said second fluid conduit assemblies comprising a first plate and a second plate, said first and second plates being arranged in parallel association to define a second generally planar region therebetween, a spacer disposed between said first and second plates, said spacer defining a plurality of generally parallel channels within said second generally planar region between said first and second plates, each of said first generally planar regions of said plurality of said first fluid conduit assemblies being arranged in generally parallel association with a preselected one of said second generally planar regions of said plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies, each of said first plates of said plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies being connected in thermal communication with a preselected one of said first fluid conduits of said plurality of first conduit assemblies.
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Abstract
A heat exchanger is provided with a first conduit which utilizes a reverse spiral concept and a second fluid conduit which directs a fluid in thermal communication with the first conduit. One of the fluid conduits of the heat exchanger is formed with a generally S-shaped portion which creates a reverse spiral configuration and which permits a heat exchanger to take advantage of the spiral conduit design while avoiding the typical disadvantages that are generally experienced with spiral conduit configurations. The reverse spiral concept permits both ends of the reverse spiral tube to be easily accessible from a radially outward direction relative to the spiral configuration.
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Citations
3 Claims
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1. A heat exchanger, comprising:
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a plurality of first fluid conduit assemblies, each of said first fluid conduit assemblies comprising a first fluid conduit disposed in a first generally planar region and having a first end and a second end, a first portion of said first fluid conduit extending in an inward spiral from said first end to a first area of said first generally planar region, a second portion of said first fluid conduit being connected in fluid communication with said first portion of said first fluid conduit and extending in an outward spiral form said first area of said first generally planar region toward sai second end of said first fluid conduit, said inward spiral extending in a rotational direction opposite to the rotational direction of said outward spiral, said second end of said first fluid conduit being connected in fluid communication with said second portion of said first fluid conduit, said first end of said first fluid conduit being connected in fluid communication with said first portion of said first fluid conduit, both said first and second ends of said first fluid conduit being disposed outwardly from said inward and outward spirals and within said first generally planar region; and a plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies, each of said second fluid conduit assemblies comprising a first plate and a second plate, said first and second plates being arranged in parallel association to define a second generally planar region therebetween, a spacer disposed between said first and second plates, said spacer defining a plurality of generally parallel channels within said second generally planar region between said first and second plates, each of said first generally planar regions of said plurality of said first fluid conduit assemblies being arranged in generally parallel association with a preselected one of said second generally planar regions of said plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies, each of said first plates of said plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies being connected in thermal communication with a preselected one of said first fluid conduits of said plurality of first conduit assemblies.
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2. The heat exchanger of claim 14, further comprising:
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a housing structure disposed around said plurality of first fluid conduit assemblies and said plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies; a first manifold chamber formed in said housing structure and connected in fluid communication with each of said first ends of said first fluid conduits of said plurality of first fluid conduit assemblies; a second manifold formed in said housing structure and connected in fluid communication with each of said second ends of said first fluid conduits of said plurality of first fluid conduit assemblies; a third manifold chamber formed in said housing structure and connected in fluid communication with a first end of each of said plurality of generally parallel channels between each of said first and second plates of said plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies; a fourth manifold chamber formed in said housing structure and connected in fluid communication with a second end of each of said plurality of generally parallel channels between each of said first and second plates of said plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies; first means for connecting said first manifold chamber in fluid communication with a first external fluid conduit; second means for connecting said second manifold chamber in fluid communication with a second external fluid conduit; third means for connecting said third manifold chamber in fluid communnication with a third external fluid conduit; and fourth means for connecting said fourth manifold chamber in fluid communication with a fourth external fluid conduit.
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3. A heat exchanger, comprising:
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a plurality of first fluid conduit assemblies, each of said first fluid conduit assemblies comprising a first fluid conduit disposed in a first generally planar region and having a first end and a second end, a first portion of said first fluid conduit extending in an inward spiral from said first end to a first area of said first generally planar region, a second portion of said first fluid conduit being connected in fluid communication with said first portion of said first fluid conduit and extending in an outward spiral from said first area of said first generally planar region toward said second end of said first fluid conduit, said inward spiral extending in a rotational direction opposite to the rotational direction of said outward spiral, said second end of said first fluid conduit being connected in fluid communication with said second portion of said first fluid conduit, said first end of said first fluid conduit being connected in fluid communication with said first portion of said first fluid conduit, both said first and second ends of said first fluid conduit being disposed outwardly from said inward and outward spirals and within said first generally planar region; a plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies, each of said second fluid conduit assemblies comprising a first plate and a second plate, said first and second plates being arranged in parallel association to define a second generally planar region therebetween, a spacer disposied between said first and second plates, said spacer defining a plurality of generally parallel channels within said second generally planar region between said first and second plates, each of said first generally planar regions of said plurality of said first fluid conduit assemblies being arranged in generally parallel association with a preselected one of said second generally planar regions of said plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies, each of said first plates of said plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies being connected in thermal communication with a preselected one of said first fluid conduits of said plurality of first fluid conduit assemblies; a housing structure disposed around said plurality of first fluid conduit assemblies and said plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies; a first manifold chamber formed in said housing structure and connected in fluid communication with each of said first ends of said first fluid conduits of said plurality of first fluid conduit assemblies; a second manifold chamber formed in said housing structure and connected in fluid communication with each of said second ends of said first fluid conduits of said plurality of first fluid conduit assemblies; a third manifold chamber formed in said housing structure and connected in fluid communication with a first end of each of said plurality of generally parallel channels between each of said first and second plates of said plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies; a fourth manifold chamber formed in said housing structure and connected in fluid communication with a second end of each of said plurality of generally parallel channels between each of said first and second plates of said plurality of second fluid conduit assemblies; first means for connecting said first manifold chamber in fluid communication with a first external fluid conduit; second means for connecting said second manifold chamber in fluid communication with a second external fluid conduit; third means for connecting said third manifold chamber in fluid communication with a third external fluid conduit; and fourth means for connecting said fourth manifold chamber in fluid communication with a fourth external fluid conduit.
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Specification