# US 2013/0153171 A1 · Composite heat exchanger shell and buoyancy system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153171 A1 - Document ID: US20130153171A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/715,514 - Filed: 2012-12-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Inventors: Nicholas J. NAGURNY; Alan K. MILLER; Natalie B. LEVINGS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153171A1 ## CPC - F28F 9/00: Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings - C02F 1/04: by distillation or evaporation - F03G 7/05: Ocean thermal energy conversion, i.e. OTEC - F28D 1/022: {for immersion in a natural body of water, e.g. marine radiators} - F28F 9/007: Auxiliary supports for elements - F28F 9/0219: {Arrangements for sealing end plates into casing or header box; Header box sub-elements (F28F9/0236 takes precedence)} - F28F 21/00: Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials {(coatings for modifying heat-transfer F28F13/18; coatings for preventing the formation of deposits or corrosion F28F19/02)} - F28F 21/006: {of glass} - F28F 21/067: {Details} - F28F 21/084: {from aluminium or aluminium alloys} - B63B 2035/4473: {Floating structures supporting industrial plants, such as factories, refineries, or the like} - B63B 2035/4486: {Floating storage vessels, other than vessels for hydrocarbon production and storage, e.g. for liquid cargo} - C02F 2103/08: Seawater, e.g. for desalination - C02F 2201/008: Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle - Y02E 10/30: Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00) - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A heat exchanger includes a shell made of a composite material, and a heat exchanger housed substantially within the shell. The shell is made of a composite material further comprises planks positioned in the outer periphery of the shell. The planks, in one embodiment, are substantially hollow or include substantially hollow portions. In some embodiments, the planks are formed of pultruded plastic. The shell of the heat exchanger further includes layers of fiberglass. The pultruded plastic planks are sandwiched between at least a first layer of fiberglass and a second layer of fiberglass. The layers of fiberglass are infused with resin. A floating portion of an Ocean Thermal Energy System includes shells made of composite material. The cold seawater intake can also be an elongated tube of composite material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat exchanger comprising: a shell made of a composite material; and a heat exchanger housed substantially within the shell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1, 2) The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the shell of composite material further comprises planks positioned in the outer periphery of the shell. The heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein the planks are substantially hollow. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein the planks are formed of pultruded plastic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the composite material is further comprised of: pultruded plastic core planks; and layers of fiberglass, the pultruded plastic planks sandwiched between at least a first layer of fiberglass and a second layer of fiberglass. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the layers of fiberglass are infused with resin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The heat exchanger of claim 5 wherein the layers of fiberglass are infused with resin using a Vacuum-Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) process. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the shell further comprises: a first end; a second end; and at least one metal flange coupled to one of the first end or second end of the shell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The heat exchanger of claim 7 wherein at least one metal flange is comprised of: an inner termination ring having inner trap-lock grooves therein; and an outer termination ring having inner trap-lock grooves therein. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the shell of composite material is buoyant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the shell of composite material is over 70 meters in length. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for forming elongated tubes of composite material, the apparatus comprising: a floating base; a molding region attached to the base, the molding region including a core ring for receiving a core material; a fiber supply region for providing a substantially continuous supply of a fiber to the molding region, the fiber supply region supplying fiber to an inner region of the core ring and an outer region of the core ring; and a resin infusion apparatus for infusing the fiber with resin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus for forming elongated tubes of composite material of claim 11 further comprising a core material that is inserted into the core ring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus for forming elongated tubes of composite material of claim 11 further comprising a core material that is inserted into the core ring, the core material including elongated planks of plastic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus for forming elongated tubes of composite material of claim 11 further comprising a core material that is inserted into the core ring, the core material including elongated planks of pultruded plastic having hollow portions therein. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus for forming elongated tubes of composite material of claim 11 further comprising a vacuum assisted resin infusion apparatus to apply a vacuum to a portion of the molding chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The apparatus for forming elongated tubes of composite material of claim 11 wherein the molding process occurs at a site where the elongated tubes of composite material are used to form a floating heat exchanger for an Ocean Thermal Energy System. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The apparatus for forming elongated tubes of composite material of claim 11 wherein a plurality of elongated planks are positioned around the ring core in forming the elongated tubes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The apparatus for forming elongated tubes of composite material of claim 11 further comprising an apparatus for applying a metal flange to at least one of the ends of the elongated tube. ### Claim 19 A floating portion of an Ocean Thermal Energy System comprising: a platform; a plenum attached to the platform; a cold seawater intake attached to the plenum; a plurality of heat exchangers attached to the plenum, the heat exchangers including pumps for moving the cold seawater from the plenum through the heat exchangers, wherein the heat exchangers include shells made of composite material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A floating portion of an Ocean Thermal Energy System of claim 19 wherein the cold seawater intake is an elongated tube of composite material.