Heat and mass exchanger
AssigneeAil Research Inc.
InventorsAndrew Lowenstein, Marc J. Sibilia, Jeffrey A. Miller, Thomas Tonon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mass and heat exchanger includes at least one first substrate with a surface for supporting a continuous flow of a liquid thereon that either absorbs, desorbs, evaporates or condenses one or more gaseous species from or to a surrounding gas; and at least one second substrate operatively associated with the first substrate. The second substrate includes a surface for supporting the continuous flow of the liquid thereon and is adapted to carry a heat exchange fluid therethrough, wherein heat transfer occurs between the liquid and the heat exchange fluid.
Claims25
A heat and mass exchanger for exchanging heat and mass between a gas and a liquid comprising:
- a plurality of substantially parallel tubes arranged in spaced apart relationship including at least one upper tube which is above and spaced apart from at least one lower tube, said tubes having an outer surface;
- spaced apart fins each having respective top and bottom edge portions positioned in a space between adjacent upper and lower tubes, wherein the top edge portion is proximate to the upper tube and the bottom edge portion is proximate to the lower tube, said spaced apart fins being oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubes and comprising at least one surface in contact with the gas;
- said at least one surface of the spaced apart fins adapted to provide at least one pathway for the liquid to flow by gravity in a continuous flow covering substantially the entire surface thereof from the upper to the lower tubes without forming droplets, and to channel at least a substantial portion of the liquid to flow onto the outer surface of the plurality of substantially parallel tubes;
- a liquid supply assembly for delivering the liquid in a continuous flow to the tubes and fins;
- and
- means for internally heating or cooling at least some of the tubes.
An extruded plate for use in a heat and mass exchange assembly, said plate comprising:
- a substantially planar member having opposing first and second ends, and a pair of opposing outer heat transfer surfaces disposed on the exterior portion thereof;
- a plurality of parallel interior channels extending longitudinally within the substantially planar member from the first end to the second end, and coextensively within and directly between the pair of opposing outer transfer surfaces, said plurality of parallel interior channels including webs each fluidly partitioning adjacent interior channels from one another;
- a fluid inlet for passing a fluid into a first group of said plurality of parallel interior channels;
- a fluid outlet for passing a fluid out of a second group of said plurality of parallel interior channels;
- and
- fluid communication means for passing a fluid between the first group and the second group of said plurality of parallel interior channels to provide a continuous fluid flow path with multiple passes within and parallel along the pair of opposing outer heat transfer surfaces of the substantially planar member from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, wherein the fluid passing within the fluid communication means is flowing in the same plane as the fluid passing through the parallel interior channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.