Modular heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9777971-B2
Application number	US-57398209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2009
Priority date	Oct 6, 2009
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of plates that are demountably attached to a frame is disclosed. Each plate comprises a plurality of channels for conveying a primary fluid through the heat exchanger. The frames are arranged in the frame so that spaces between adjacent frame pairs define conduits for conveying a secondary fluid through the heat exchanger. The plates are mounted in the frame so that they can be individually removed from the frame. Further, each of the channels is fluidically connected to input and output ports for the primary fluid by detachable couplings. As a result, heat exchangers in accordance with the present invention are more easily repaired or refurbished than prior-art heat exchangers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular heat exchanger comprising:
a heat exchanger core configured for ocean thermal energy conversion comprising:
a frame comprising a plurality of spaced-apart seats;
a plurality of plate assemblies, each plate assembly comprising:
two spaced-apart side panels joined at end portions by supports brazed to the two spaced-apart side panels, each side panel comprising a rigid extrusion of a material substantially resistant to corrosion from exposure to seawater and to a working fluid; and
an interposer brazed to at least one spaced-apart side panel of the two spaced-apart side panels to form an internal structure and define at least one channel between the two spaced-apart side panels,
wherein each spaced-apart seat of the plurality of spaced-apart seats is configured to receive a corresponding plate assembly of the plurality of plate assemblies and define a plurality of conduits for the seawater, each conduit of the plurality of conduits defined between a corresponding pair of adjacent plate assemblies of the plurality of plate assemblies,
wherein the at least one channel is configured to convey the working fluid, and
wherein each plate assembly of the plurality of plate assemblies is configured to detachably mount into a respective spaced-apart seat of the plurality of spaced-apart seats; and

a plurality of inlet distributors, wherein each inlet distributor is joined to a respective plate assembly of the plurality of plate assemblies by a respective galvanic-corrosion-free joint to place the inlet distributor in fluidic communication with the at least one channel of the respective plate assembly; and

an input manifold, fluidically coupled to the plurality of inlet distributors by a respective plurality of detachable couplings, each detachable coupling of the plurality of detachable couplings independently connectable and removable, the input manifold configured to convey the working fluid to each inlet distributor.

2. The modular heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein each detachable coupling of the plurality of detachable couplings comprises one of a click-to-connect connector, a quick-disconnect fluid connector, and a thread-to-connect connector.

3. The modular heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein at least some of the detachable couplings of the plurality of detachable couplings comprise a flexible conduit and two connectors.

4. The modular heat exchanger of claim 1 further comprising a friction-stir-weld joint that joins the input manifold and the frame to one another.

5. The modular heat exchanger of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of clamps, wherein each clamp of the plurality of clamps is configured to secure a corresponding plate assembly of the plurality of plate assemblies to a respective spaced-apart seat of the plurality of spaced-apart seats, and wherein each clamp of the plurality of clamps is independently attachable and removable with respect to each of the other clamps of the plurality of clamps so that each plate assembly of the plurality of plate assemblies is detachably mounted independently from each of the other plate assemblies of the plurality of plate assemblies.

6. The modular heat exchanger of claim 1 further comprising a second galvanic-corrosion-free joint that joins the input manifold and the frame to one another.

7. The modular heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein each conduit of the plurality of conduits is fluidically isolated from each other conduit of the plurality of conduits.

8. The modular heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the galvanic-corrosion-free joint that joins each inlet distributor of the plurality of inlet distributors to the respective plate assembly of the plurality of plate assemblies comprises a friction-stir-weld joint.

Assignees

• Nagurny Nicholas J
• Jansen Eugene
• Hillson Doug
• Eller Michael R
• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Nagurny Nicholas J
• Jansen Eugene
• Hillson Doug
• Eller Michael R

Classifications

• Y10T29/4935

  Heat exchanger or boiler making · CPC title

• F28F3/10

  Arrangements for sealing the margins · CPC title

• F28D9/0031

  the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by paired plates touching each other (F28D9/0012, F28D9/0025, F28D9/0081, F28D9/04 take precedence) · CPC title

• F03G7/05

  Ocean thermal energy conversion, i.e. OTEC · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title