Heat exchanger for high purity fluid handling systems

• US 20040258403A1
• Filed: 07/20/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexei D. Abras, Saeed Taghipour
• Original Assignee: Alexei D. Abras, Saeed Taghipour
• Inventors: Abras, Alexei D., Taghipour, Saeed
• Granted Patent: US 7,106,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 392/480
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/162 using electrical energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 4/02 Water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0034 using liquid heat storage material
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/0041 the conduits for only one medium being tubes having parts touching each other or tubes assembled in panel form F28D7/0008, F28D7/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 21/062 the heat-exchange apparatus employing tubular conduits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A novel heat exchanger includes a thermal reservoir and a tube, the tube having straight sections and corrugated bends, and being in thermal contact with the thermal reservoir. The thermal reservoir has a first plate and a second plate fixed to the first plate. The first plate has a channel formed therein with straight sections to receive the straight sections of the tube, and curved sections for receiving the corrugated sections of the tube. The second plate has a channel formed therein as well that is complementary to the channel of the first plate. The heat exchanger is heated by one or more cartridge heaters. In a particular embodiment, two thermal reservoirs are fixed to one another and the cartridge heaters are disposed in channels formed therebetween. Optionally the thermal reservoirs can be heated or cooled by thermoelectric chips, and can include one or more heat sinks.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger, comprising:

a thermal reservoir;

a fluid tube in thermal contact with said thermal reservoir; and

a plurality of thermoelectric devices in thermal contact with said thermal reservoir.

2. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said tube includes corrugated bends formed therein.

3. A heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein said tube is formed from a plastic.

4. A heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein said tube is formed from perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) plastic.

5. A heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein said tube maintains structural integrity at temperatures exceeding 250 degrees Celsius.

6. A heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein said tube is chemically inert.

7. A heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein said tube comprises a plurality of straight sections and a plurality of corrugated sections.

8. A heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein said straight sections of said tube are disposed parallel to one another.

9. A heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the spacing between adjacent edges of two of said parallel straight sections of said tube is less than or equal to 1.5 times the diameter of said tube.

10. A heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein said thermal reservoir comprises at least one plate, having at least one channel formed therein for thermally engaging at least a portion of said tube.

11. A heat exchanger according to claim 10, wherein said channel comprises a plurality of straight sections and a plurality of curved sections.

12. A heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein said curved sections of said channel have a larger diameter than said straight sections to accept said corrugated bends of said tube.

13. A heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein said straight sections of said channel are formed parallel to one another.

14. A heat exchanger according to claim 13, wherein the spacing between two of said parallel straight sections of said channel is less than or equal to 1.5 times the diameter of said channel.

15. A heat exchanger according the claim 10, wherein said thermal reservoir further comprises a second plate, coupled to said first plate, said second plate having at least one channel complementary to said channel of said first plate formed therein for thermally engaging at least a portion of said tube.

16. A heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein said complementary channel of said second plate comprises straight sections and curved sections.

17. A heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein said curved sections of said complementary channel have a larger diameter than said straight sections of said complementary channel to accept said corrugated bends of said tube.

18. A heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein said straight sections of said complementary channel are formed parallel to one another.

19. A heat exchanger according to claim 18, wherein the spacing between two of said parallel straight sections of said complementary channel is less than or equal to 1.5 times the diameter of said complementary channel.

20. A heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said first plate and said second plate define a recess for receiving a heater.

21. A heat exchanger according to claim 20, wherein said recess comprises a bore in said first plate or said second plate.

22. A heat exchanger according to claim 20, wherein said recess comprises a bore between said first plate and said second plate.

23. A heat exchanger according to claim 20, further comprising a cartridge heater disposed in said recess.

24. A heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein at least some of said plurality of thermoelectric devices thermally coupled to said first plate.

25. A heat exchanger according to claim 24, further comprising a heat sink coupled to said plurality of thermoelectric devices.

26. A heat exchanger according to claim 25, wherein said heat sink comprises a cooling plate adapted to facilitate a cooling fluid flowing therethrough.

27. A heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein said thermal reservoir further comprises:

a third plate having at least one channel formed therein; and

a fourth plate, fixed to said third plate, said fourth plate having a channel formed therein complementary to said channel of said third plate; and

wherein

said heat exchanger further comprises a second tube, having corrugated bends, disposed in said channel of said third plate and said channel of said fourth plate.

28. A heat exchanger according to claim 27, further including at least one heater disposed between said second plate and said third plate.

29. A heat exchanger according to claim 28, wherein said heater comprises a cartridge heater disposed in a bore formed between said second plate and said third plate.

30. A heat exchanger according to claim 27, wherein said plurality of thermoelectric devices includes:

a first group of thermoelectric devices, in thermal contact with said thermal reservoir, disposed on a side of said first plate opposite of said channel of said first plate; and

a second group of thermoelectric devices, in thermal contact with said thermal reservoir, disposed on a side of said fourth plate opposite said channel of said fourth plate.

31. A heat exchanger according to claim 30, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to at least one of said groups of thermoelectric devices.

32. A heat exchanger according to claim 31, wherein said heat sink comprises at least one cooling vessel, said cooling vessel adapted to facilitate a cooling fluid flowing therethrough.

33. A heat exchanger according to claim 32, wherein said heat sink comprises:

a first cooling vessel coupled to said first group of thermoelectric devices; and

a second cooling vessel coupled to said second group of thermoelectric devices.

34. A heat exchanger according to claim 33, wherein said first cooling vessel is in fluid communication with said second cooling vessel.

35. A heat exchanger according to claim 27, wherein said tube is in fluid communication with said second tube.

36. A heat exchanger according to claim 27, wherein said second plate and said third plate are formed integrally as a single plate.

37. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said tube is formed from a plastic.

38. A heat exchanger according to claim 37, wherein said tube is formed from perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) plastic.

39. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said tube maintains structural integrity at temperatures exceeding 250 degrees Celsius.

40. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said tube is chemically inert.

41. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said tube comprises a plurality of straight sections formed parallel to each other, each of which are coupled to one another by a plurality of bends.

42. A heat exchanger according to claim 41, wherein the spacing between adjacent edges of two of said parallel straight sections of said tube is less than or equal to 1.5 times the diameter of said tube.

43. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said thermal reservoir comprises a first plate, having at least one channel formed therein for thermally engaging at least a portion of said tube.

44. A heat exchanger according to claim 43, wherein said channel comprises a plurality of straight sections and a plurality of curved sections.

45. A heat exchanger according to claim 44, wherein said curved sections of said channel have a larger diameter than said straight sections to accept said bends of said tube.

46. A heat exchanger according to claim 44, wherein said straight sections of said channel are formed parallel to one another.

47. A heat exchanger according to claim 46, wherein the spacing between two of said parallel straight sections of said channel is less than or equal to 1.5 times the diameter of said channel.

48. A heat exchanger according the claim 43, wherein said thermal reservoir further comprises a second plate, coupled to said first plate, said second plate having at least one channel complementary to said channel of said first plate formed therein for thermally engaging at least a portion of said tube.

49. A heat exchanger according to claim 48, wherein said complementary channel of said second plate comprises straight sections and curved sections.

50. A heat exchanger according to claim 49, wherein said curved sections of said complementary channel have a larger diameter than said straight sections of said complementary channel to accept said bends of said tube.

51. A heat exchanger according to claim 49, wherein said straight sections of said complementary channel are formed parallel to one another.

52. A heat exchanger according to claim 51, wherein the spacing between two of said parallel straight sections of said complementary channel is less than or equal to 1.5 times the diameter of said complementary channel.

53. A heat exchanger according to claim 48, wherein at least one of said first plate and said second plate define a recess for receiving a heater.

54. A heat exchanger according to claim 53, wherein said recess comprises a bore in said first plate or said second plate.

55. A heat exchanger according to claim 53, wherein said recess comprises a bore between said first plate and said second plate.

56. A heat exchanger according to claim 53, further comprising a cartridge heater disposed in said recess.

57. A heat exchanger according to claim 48, wherein at least some of said thermoelectric devices are in thermal contact with said first plate.

58. A heat exchanger according to claim 57, further comprising a heat sink coupled to said at least some of said thermoelectric devices.

59. A heat exchanger according to claim 58, wherein said heat sink comprises a cooling plate adapted to facilitate a cooling fluid flowing therethrough.

60. A heat exchanger according to claim 48, wherein said thermal reservoir further comprises:

a third plate having at least one channel formed therein; and

a fourth plate, fixed to said third plate, said fourth plate having a channel formed therein complementary to said channel of said third plate; and

wherein

said heat exchanger further comprises a second tube disposed in said channel of said third plate and said channel of said fourth plate.

61. A heat exchanger according to claim 60, further including at least one heater disposed between said second plate and said third plate.

62. A heat exchanger according to claim 61, wherein said heater comprises a cartridge heater disposed in a bore formed between said second plate and said third plate.

63. A heat exchanger according to claim 60, further comprising:

a first group of said thermoelectric devices, in thermal contact with said thermal reservoir, disposed on a side of said first plate opposite of said channel of said first plate; and

a second group of said thermoelectric devices, in thermal contact with said thermal reservoir, disposed on a side of said fourth plate opposite said channel of said fourth plate.

64. A heat exchanger according to claim 63, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to at least a portion of said thermoelectric devices.

65. A heat exchanger according to claim 64, wherein said heat sink comprises at least one cooling vessel, said cooling vessel adapted to facilitate a cooling fluid flowing therethrough.

66. A heat exchanger according to claim 65, wherein said heat sink comprises:

a first cooling vessel coupled to said first group of thermoelectric devices; and

a second cooling vessel coupled to said second group of thermoelectric devices.

67. A heat exchanger according to claim 66, wherein said first cooling vessel is in fluid communication with said second cooling vessel.

68. A heat exchanger according to claim 60, wherein said tube is in fluid communication with said second tube.

69. A heat exchanger according to claim 60, wherein said second plate and said third plate are formed integrally as a single plate.

70. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising a heater in thermal contact with said heat reservoir.

71. A heat exchanger according to claim 70, wherein said heater is a cartridge heater.

72. A heat exchanger according to claim 70, further comprising a heat sink in thermal contact with at least a portion of said thermoelectric devices.

73. A heat exchanger according to claim 72, wherein said heat sink comprises a fluid reservoir for receiving a circulating thermal regulating fluid.

74. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising a heat sink in thermal contact with at least a portion of said thermoelectric devices.

75. A heat exchanger according to claim 74, wherein said heat sink comprises a fluid reservoir for receiving a circulating thermal regulating fluid.

76. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising:

a heater in thermal contact with said thermal reservoir; and

wherein

said fluid tube includes corrugated bends formed therein.

77. A heat exchanger according to claim 76, further comprising a heat sink in thermal contact with said plurality of thermoelectric devices.

79. A heat exchanger according to claim 77, wherein said cooling device comprises a plurality of thermoelectric devices.

78. A heat exchanger, comprising:

a thermal reservoir;

a process fluid tube in thermal contact with said thermal reservoir;

a heater in thermal contact with said thermal reservoir; and

a cooling device in thermal contact with said thermal reservoir.