Modular heat exchangers
AssigneeWoodward, Inc.
InventorDonald E. Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a heat exchanger module that includes a tubular housing, a first fluid conduit, a second fluid conduit, fluidically isolated from the first fluid conduit, a thermal conductor configured to convey heat energy between the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit, a first fluid connector assembly, the first fluid connector assembly having a first fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit, and a second fluid port fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit, and a second fluid connector assembly, the second fluid connector assembly having a third fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit, and a fourth fluid port fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit.
Claims21
A heat exchanger module comprising:
- a tubular housing;
- a first fluid conduit;
- a second fluid conduit, fluidically isolated from the first fluid conduit;
- a thermal conductor configured to convey heat energy between the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit;
- a first fluid connector assembly, the first fluid connector assembly comprising:
- a first fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit;
- and
- a second fluid port fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit;
- and
- a second fluid connector assembly, the second fluid connector assembly comprising:
- a third fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit;
- and
- a fourth fluid port fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit.
A modular heat exchanger assembly comprising:
- a first manifold assembly comprising a first manifold and a second manifold;
- a second manifold assembly comprising a third manifold and a fourth manifold;
- and
- at least one heat exchanger module configured to removably engage the first manifold assembly and the second manifold assembly and comprising:
- a tubular housing;
- a first fluid conduit;
- a second fluid conduit, fluidically isolated from the first fluid conduit;
- and
- a thermal conductor configured to convey heat energy between the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit.
A method of heat exchange, the method comprising:
- flowing a first flow of a first fluid to a first manifold assembly;
- directing, by the first manifold assembly, the first flow to at least one modular heat exchanger assembly coupled to the first manifold assembly;
- flowing a second flow of a second fluid to a second manifold assembly removably coupled to the at least one modular heat exchanger assembly;
- directing, by the second manifold assembly, the second flow to the at least one modular heat exchanger assembly;
- flowing, through a first fluid conduit of the modular heat exchanger assembly, the first flow from the first manifold assembly to the second manifold assembly;
- flowing, through a second fluid conduit of the modular heat exchanger assembly, the second flow from the second manifold assembly to the first manifold assembly;
- and
- conveying, by a thermal conductor, heat energy between the first fluid and the second fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.