Tubular membrane heat exchanger
AssigneeBaltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
InventorsKevin Ellsworth Egolf, Yohann Lilian Rousselet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect, a tubular membrane assembly is provided for a heat exchanger. The tubular membrane assembly includes a header having a header body, a tubular membrane, and a fitting connecting the tubular membrane to the header body. The fitting is configured to form a fluid tight connection between the fitting and the tubular membrane. The tubular membrane assembly further includes potting of the header keeping the tubular membrane connected to the fitting.
Claims23
A tubular membrane assembly for a heat exchanger, the tubular membrane assembly comprising:
- a header to receive a fluid, the header including a header body having an opening;
- a tubular membrane having a lumen;
- a fitting in the opening of the header body and connecting the tubular membrane to the header body, the fitting configured to form a fluid tight connection between the fitting and the tubular membrane and permit fluid to flow between the header and the lumen of the tubular membrane;
- an inner surface portion of the header body;
- an outer surface portion of the header body opposite the inner surface portion of the header body;
- the fitting protruding from the outer surface portion of the header body and the inner surface portion of the header body;
- the tubular membrane having an end portion adjacent the outer surface portion of the header body;
- a first potting of the header embedding the outer surface portion of the header body and the end portion of the tubular membrane to keep the tubular membrane connected to the fitting;
- and a second potting on the inner surface portion of the header body resisting outward movement of the fitting.
A tubular membrane heat exchanger comprising:
- an inlet header including an inlet header body having a plurality of inlet through openings and inlet header surface portions defining at least a portion of the inlet through openings;
- an outlet header including an outlet header body having a plurality of outlet through openings and outlet header surface portions defining at least a portion of the outlet through openings;
- a plurality of tubular membranes having lumens;
- a plurality of inlet fittings extending in the inlet through openings of the inlet header body and connecting the tubular membranes to the inlet header body;
- the inlet fittings having inlet fluid passageways to permit fluid to flow between the inlet header and the lumens of the tubular membranes;
- the inlet fittings having inlet inner surface portions defining at least a portion of the inlet fluid passageways and inlet outer surface portions opposite the inlet inner surface portions;
- the inlet outer surface portions of the inlet fittings contacting the inlet header surface portions of the inlet header body;
- potting of the inlet header keeping the tubular membranes connected to the inlet fittings;
- a plurality of outlet fittings extending in the outlet through openings of the outlet header body and connecting the tubular membranes to the outlet header body;
- the outlet fittings having outlet fluid passageways to permit fluid flow between the lumens of the tubular membranes and the outlet header;
- the outlet fittings having outlet inner surface portions defining at least a portion of the outlet fluid passageways and outlet outer surface portions opposite the outlet inner surface portions;
- the outlet outer surface portions of the outlet fittings contacting the outlet header surface portions of the outlet header;
- and
- potting of the outlet header keeping the tubular membranes connected to the outlet fittings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.