Heat exchanger
AssigneeThe State of Oregon Acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of the University of Oregon
InventorsGeorge Zindel Brown, Thomas Dale Northcutt, Jeffrey Alan Kline
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heat exchanger according to certain embodiments includes an outer portion formed of at least one inflatable cell and an inner portion. The inflatable cell has inner and outer surfaces that are separated from each other and at least partially support the outer portion when inflated. The outer portion defines a first interior passage configured to convey fluid. The inner portion is positioned within the outer portion, the inner portion defining a second interior passage configured to convey fluid.
Claims11
A method of utilizing unused space within or adjacent a building for exchanging heat, comprising:
- providing a tube-in-tube heat exchanger with inner and outer tubes, the outer tube being formed of multiple inflatable air cells;
- connecting an end of the inner tube to one of either an inlet of a ventilation system for the building or an outlet of the ventilation system for the building;
- connecting an end of the outer tube to the other of either the outlet of the ventilation system or the inlet of the ventilation system;
- and
- inflating the air cells of the tube-in-tube heat exchanger in an unused space in the building.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.