Heat exchanger

A heat exchanger comprising an elongated distribution header, an elongated collection header disposed parallel thereto, a plurality of tubes forming a tube bundle, and means for connecting said tube bundle to said headers, said connecting means comprising, a first group of relatively light and flexible elongated box-like distribution manifolds each connected at one end to said distribution header to extend outwardly from said distribution header and arranged in a linear array along one side of said distribution header with one manifold being spaced from an adjacent one by a distance substantially equal to the width of a manifold, a second group of relatively light and flexible elongated box-like distribution manifolds each connected at one end to said distribution header to extend outwardly from said distribution header in a direction opposite to that of said first group of manifolds and arranged in a linear array along another side of said distribution header with one manifold being spaced from an adjacent one by a distance substantially equal to the width of a manifold, each distribution manifold being provided with a plurality of outlet ports disposed linearly along the side of the manifold adjacent to the end connected to the distribution header, a first group of relatively light and flexible elongated box-like collection manifolds each connected at one end to said collection header to extend outwardly from said collection header and arranged in a linear array along one side of said collection header with one manifold being spaced from an adjacent one by a distance substantially equal to the width of a manifold, a second group of relatively light and flexible elongated box-like collection manifolds each connected at one end to said collection header to extend outwardly from said collection header in a direction opposite to that of said first group of manifolds and arranged in a linear array along another side of said collection header with one manifold being spaced from an adjacent one by a distance substantially equal to the width of a manifold, each collection manifold being spaced from and disposed opposite an associated distribution manifold and provided with a plurality of inlet ports disposed linearly along the side of the manifold adjacent to the end connected to the collection header and in alignment with the outlet ports in the oppositely disposed associated distribution manifold so that tubes of the tube bundle can be connected between each pair of opposite aligned ports of the distribution and collection manifolds, the arrangement being such that each pair of associated manifolds and the tubes connected thereto form a panel-like heat exchange unit containing only a small number of the tubes in the tube bundle and wherein the manifolds can flex when the tubes connected thereto expand or contract depending on the therml conditions in that part of the heat exchanger, and an envelope surrounding the aforesaid elements of the heat exchanger for guiding a fluid medium around the tube bundle.