Process cooling rod

A device comprising a fluid process cooling rod for cooling liquid in a process vessel, comprising:

• a process vessel adapted for holding liquid, the process vessel having an upper wall;
• a cooling rod including:
• i. an elongated polymer outer jacket extending along an axis defining a closed distal end and an open proximal end, an inner cavity defined within the outer jacket;
• ii. a manifold attached to the proximal end of the outer jacket, the manifold having two connectors providing fluid communication with the inner cavity, a first connector being offset from the centerline and a second connector being located along a centerline through the manifold and aligned with the outer jacket axis;
• and
• iii. an elongated polymer flow diverter positioned within the inner cavity, the flow diverter extending from the manifold to a point short of the closed distal end such that a distal space is formed in the inner cavity between the flow diverter and the closed distal end, the flow diverter having a central inner bore extending the length of the flow diverter and in fluid communication with the second connector fluidly connecting the second connector and the distal space, the flow diverter also having an outer surface defined by at least one helical flute extending the length of the flow diverter and having an outer diameter approximately equal to an inner diameter of the outer jacket so as to be in contact therewith, the at least one helical flute defining at least one helical groove spaced inward from the inner diameter of the outer jacket that forms at least one helical flow passage between the flow diverter and the outer jacket fluidly connecting the first connector and the distal space, wherein at least the outer jacket and the flow diverter are injection molded of a transparent polymer having a heat transfer coefficient of at least 0.50 W/mK @23 C,
• wherein the cooling rod mounts through a hole formed in the upper wall of the process vessel such that the closed distal end of the outer jacket extends downward toward a bottom of a main portion of the process vessel so as to be submerged in liquid within the process vessel, and wherein the cooling rod is configured such that fluid flowing into the second connector passes distally through the inner bore to the distal space, and returns proximally from the distal space through the at least one helical flow passage to the first connector, and fluid flowing into the first connector passes distally through the at least one helical flow passage to the distal space, and returns proximally from the distal space through the inner bore to the second connector, the fluid flowing through the cooling rod therefore cooling liquid within the process vessel.