Passive, thermocycling column heat-exchanger system

An apparatus for cooling hot fluids in the vicinity of a body of water, comprising:

• a heat exchanger column having first and second ends, and an outer diameter, said heat exchanger column configured to receive a flow of said hot fluids;
• a generally vertically situated elongated housing having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, said elongated housing having formed along said longitudinal axis a conduit having walls having an inner diameter greater than said outer diameter of said heat exchanger column, said housing having formed in the vicinity of said first end an opening configured to allow the flow of water from said body of water to said conduit, said housing having an opening formed in the vicinity of said second end of said housing to allow the egress of water from said body of water therefrom;
• a sleeve member configured to envelope said tube bundle, and wherein there is further provided a plurality of baffles situated in said tube bundle to facilitate flow of said water throughout said tube bundle;
• a percolator tube situated above said tube bundle, said percolator tube configured to receive steam and heated water flowing from said tube bundle, said percolator tube having a diameter which is less than said tube bundle, said percolator tube configured to facilitate the flow of fluid from said tube bundle, and through said housing;
• said housing configured to contain said heat exchanger column and said sleeve member, such that said heat exchanger column and said sleeve member are situated within said conduit formed in said housing, so as to facilitate the contained flow of water from said body of water through said conduit, and along said heat exchanger column, cooling hot fluids flowing through said heat exchanger column.

The method of cooling hot fluids in the vicinity of a body of water, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a heat exchanger column having first and second ends, and an outer diameter, said heat exchanger column configured to receive a flow of said hot fluids therethrough said heat exchanger column formed from a bundle of elongated, longitudinally aligned tubes having a diameter;
• b. enveloping said heat exchanger column with a shell having a percolator tube having a lesser diameter than said heat exchanger column, said percolator tube situated above said above said heat exchanger column;
• c. providing an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, said elongated housing having formed along said longitudinal axis a conduit having walls having an inner diameter greater than said outer diameter of said heat exchanger column, said housing having formed in the vicinity of said first end an opening configured to allow the flow of water from said body of water to said conduit, said housing having an opening formed in the vicinity of said second end of said housing to allow the egress of water from said body of water therefrom;
• d. placing said housing configured to contain said heat exchanger column, such that said heat exchanger column is situated within said conduit formed in said housing;
• e. facilitating the flow of water from said body of water through said conduit, and along said heat exchanger column, contacting said heat exchanger column;
• f. heating said water contacting said heat exchanger column to form steam;
• and
• g. utilizing said steam to facilitate circulation of said water through said elongated housing, cooling hot fluids flowing through said heat exchanger column.

The method of producing hot, high pressure hydrocarbon gas fluids in the vicinity of a body of water near a hydrocarbon recovery area, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing an elongated heat exchanger column formed from a bundle of longitudinally aligned tubes, said heat exchanger column having first and second ends, and an outer diameter, said heat exchanger column configured to receive a flow of said hot fluids therethrough said heat exchanger column further comprising a bundle of elongated, longitudinally aligned tubes having a diameter,
• b. enveloping said heat exchanger column with a shell having a percolator tube having a lesser diameter than said heat exchanger column, situated about said inflow pipe above said above said heat;
• c. providing an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, said elongated housing having formed along said longitudinal axis a conduit having walls having an inner diameter greater than said outer diameter of said heat exchanger column, said housing having formed in the vicinity of said first end an opening configured to allow the flow of water from said body of water to said conduit, said housing having an opening formed in the vicinity of said second end of said housing to allow the egress of water from said body of water therefrom;
• d. placing said elongated housing such that said heat exchanger column is situated in a generally vertical position within said conduit formed in said housing, and said heat exchanger column is situated in a generally vertical, longitudinally aligned position with said housing, said housing and said heat exchanger column in contact with said body of water;
• e. facilitating the flow of water from said body of water through said conduit, and along said heat exchanger column, contacting said heat exchanger column;
• f. heating said water contacting said heat exchanger column;
• and
• g. utilizing said heated water to facilitate thermosyphonic circulation of said water into and through said elongated housing, cooling hot fluids flowing through said heat exchanger column.

A system for cooling a hot fluid flow through a pipe situated near a body of water, comprising:

• a generally vertically situated, elongated tube bundle comprised of a plurality of longitudinally aligned tubes configured to receive said hot fluid flow from said pipe;
• an enveloping caisson situated about said elongated tube bundle, said enveloping caisson having a first, open, lower end, and a second, upper end;
• thermosyphonic means for facilitating the flow of water from said body of water through said enveloping caisson and about said elongated tube bundle, so as to cool said hot fluid flow while maintaining circulation of said water through said system;
• a sleeve member configured to envelope said tube bundle, and wherein there is further provided a plurality of baffles situated in said tube bundle to facilitate flow of said water throughout said tube bundle;
• a percolator tube situated above said tube bundle, said percolator tube configured to receive steam and heated water flowing from said tube bundle, said percolator tube having a diameter which is less than said tube bundle, said percolator tube configured to facilitate the flow of fluid from said tube bundle.