Patent Application
20230228495
This instant specification relates to modular fluid-to-fluid heat exchangers.
A heat exchanger is an apparatus that is used to transfer heat between two or more fluids. In indirect-contact types of heat exchangers, the hot and cold fluids are separated by an impervious surface.
Some types of heat exchangers include shell-and-tube or plate-and-fin designs, depending on the specific application, customer requirements, and operating parameters. In such designs and other previous designs, the heat exchanger is an assembly of multiple tubes/conduits and fins/plates that are brazed, soldered, welded, or otherwise joined together. In general, complexity of such designs further increases as heat transfer and/or flow capacity requirements increase. Such assemblies include large numbers of joints that can fatigue, wear, or otherwise eventually lead to leaks and/or failure. The complexity of such designs also makes it difficult or economically impractical to repair them.
In general, this document describes modular fluid-to-fluid heat exchangers.
In a first example, a heat exchanger module 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.
Various embodiments can include some, all, or none of the following features. The first fluid conduit can be a first tubular conduit defined within the tubular housing, and the second fluid conduit can be a second tubular conduit defined concentrically within the first fluid conduit. The first fluid conduit can include one or more supply channels, a collection of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor, and one or more drain channels configured to direct fluid flow away from the thermal conductor and toward a subsequent supply channel or to the third fluid port. The second fluid conduit can include one or more supply channels, a collection of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor, and one or more drain channels configured to direct fluid flow away from the thermal conductor and toward a subsequent supply channel or to the fourth fluid port. The heat exchanger module can include at least one fluid connector assembly having a first fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit, a second fluid port configured fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit, and a seal assembly having an interface defining a first fluid seal arranged between the first fluid port and the second fluid port. The heat exchanger module can include a second fluid seal defined between the first fluid port and the second fluid port, wherein a first fluid connector assembly can be configured to removably connect to a first fluid coupler of a first manifold assembly, to fluidically connect the first fluid conduit to a first fluid manifold of the first manifold assembly and to connect the second fluid conduit to a second fluid manifold of the first manifold assembly, and a second fluid connector assembly can be configured to removably connect to a second fluid coupler of a second manifold assembly, to fluidically connect the first fluid conduit to a third fluid manifold of the second manifold assembly and fluidically connect the second fluid conduit to a fourth fluid manifold of the second manifold assembly. The first manifold assembly can define an overboard fluid path fluidically connecting a cavity between the first fluid seal and the second fluid seal of the first fluid connector assembly to a fluid drain. The second manifold assembly can define an overboard fluid path fluidically connecting a cavity between the first fluid seal and the second fluid seal of the second fluid connector assembly to a fluid drain.
In another example embodiment, a modular heat exchanger assembly includes a first manifold assembly having a first manifold and a second manifold, a second manifold assembly having 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 having 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.
Various embodiments can include some, all, or none of the following features. The first manifold assembly can include a first manifold fluid port fluidically connected to the first manifold and a second manifold fluid port fluidically connected to the second manifold. The heat exchanger module can include a fluid connector assembly, the fluid connector assembly having a first fluid connector assembly, the first fluid connector assembly having a first fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit and configured to fluidically connect the first fluid conduit to the first manifold assembly, and a second fluid port fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit configured to fluidically connect the second fluid conduit to the second manifold assembly, and a second fluid connector assembly, the second fluid connector assembly having a third fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit and configured to fluidically connect the first fluid conduit to the third manifold, and a fourth fluid port fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit configured to fluidically connect the second fluid conduit to the fourth manifold. The first fluid connector assembly can define a first seal defined between the first fluid port and the second fluid port, and the first manifold assembly can define a first overboard fluid path fluidically connecting a first cavity defined between the first seal, the second fluid conduit, and the first manifold assembly to a first drain. The modular heat exchanger assembly can include a second seal defined between the first fluid port and the second fluid port, wherein the second fluid connector assembly defines a third seal and a fourth seal arranged between the third fluid port and the fourth fluid port, and the second manifold assembly defines a second overboard fluid path fluidically connecting a second cavity defined between the third seal, the fourth seal, the second fluid conduit, and the second manifold assembly to a second drain. The first fluid conduit can be a first tubular conduit defined within the tubular housing, and the second fluid conduit can be a second tubular conduit defined concentrically within the first fluid conduit. The first fluid conduit can include one or more supply channels, a collection of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor, and a collection of drain channels configured to direct fluid flow away from the thermal conductor and toward a subsequent supply channel or to the third manifold. The second fluid conduit can include one or more supply channels, a collection of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor, and a collection of drain channels configured to direct fluid flow away from the thermal conductor and toward a subsequent supply channel or to the fourth manifold.
In an example implementation, a method of heat exchange includes 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.
Various implementations can include some, all, or none of the following features. Flowing, through the first fluid conduit of the modular heat exchanger assembly, the first flow from the first manifold assembly to the second manifold assembly can include flowing the first flow through one or more supply channels of the first fluid conduit, flowing the first flow through a collection of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor, and flowing the first flow through a collection of drain channels of the first fluid conduit, away from the thermal conductor. Flowing, through the second fluid conduit of the modular heat exchanger assembly, the second flow from the second manifold assembly to the first manifold assembly can include flowing the second flow through one or more supply channels of the second fluid conduit, flowing the second flow through a collection of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor, and flowing the second flow through a collection of drain channels of the second fluid conduit, away from the thermal conductor. The method can include assembling the modular heat exchanger assembly to the first manifold assembly, fluidically connecting, based on the assembling, the first fluid conduit to a first manifold of the first manifold assembly, fluidically connecting, based on the assembling, the second fluid conduit to a second manifold of the first manifold assembly, assembling the modular heat exchanger assembly to the second manifold assembly, fluidically connecting, based on the assembling, the first fluid conduit to a third manifold of the second manifold assembly, and fluidically connecting, based on the assembling, the second fluid conduit to a fourth manifold of the second manifold assembly. The method can include directing, by a collection of seals configured to separate the first flow from the second flow, leakage of one of the first flow or the second flow past at least one of the collection of seals away from the other of the first flow or the second flow and toward a drain. The systems and techniques described here may provide one or more of the following advantages. First, a system can provide a heat exchanger having a modular design that can ease manufacturing and assembly. Second, the modular nature of the system can improve reparability and reduce maintenance time. Third, the fluid flow and/or heat transfer capacity of the system can be changed by using greater or fewer heat exchanger modules. Fourth, the system can provide flexibility in application, as the arrangements of heat exchanger modules can be varied to suit different installation environments. Fifth, the system can provide greater reliability by having a reduced number of joints that can fatigue and/or leak over time and use. Sixth, the heat exchanger modules can be configured to utilize fluid jet impingement to improve heat transfer capacity.
The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
This document describes systems and techniques for modular heat exchange. In general, modular heat exchangers can include one or more replaceable/interchangeable heat exchanger modules (e.g., cartridges) that fluidically interface with one or more fluid manifolds to create two or more independent fluid paths for indirect fluid heat transfer. The design of the modules results in a fraction of the seams and joints found in prior heat exchanger designs, to provide a fraction of the potential failure and leakage points found in prior heat exchanger designs. Furthermore, because the modules are replaceable, a modular heat exchanger assembly can be more easily repaired and returned to service (e.g., by replacing a faulty cartridge) than can be done in the more monolithic designs of previous heat exchangers. As will be discussed in more detail below, the performance of some examples of heat exchanger modules can be enhanced through designs that use fluid flows that impinge upon the thermally conductive barriers between the fluids.
In general, the heat exchanger portion 130 is a tubular modular component that is configured to removably connect to the fluid manifold assembly 110a at one axial end and removably connect to the fluid manifold assembly 110b at the opposite axial end. The heat exchanger portion 130 is configured to position one or more heat exchanger modules that will be discussed in more detail in the descriptions of
The fluid manifold assembly 110a includes a fluid port 112a that is fluidically connected by the heat exchanger portion 130 to a fluid port 112b of the fluid manifold assembly 110b. The fluid manifold assembly 110a also includes a manifold port 114a that is fluidically connected by the heat exchanger portion 130 to a manifold port 114b of the fluid manifold assembly 110b. The modular heat exchanger assembly 100 defines a first fluid path (not visible in this view) from the fluid port 112a, through the heat exchanger portion 130 to the fluid port 112b, and defines a second fluid path from the manifold port 114a, through the heat exchanger portion 130 to the manifold port 114b. The first fluid path and the second fluid path are fluidically isolated from each other within the modular heat exchanger assembly 100 and are configured to perform indirect fluid-to-fluid heat transfer. A drain port 116 provides an overboard drain for internal leakages.
The outer housing 132 also defines a cavity 310 that, in some embodiments, can provide a fluid bypass path between the fluid ports 112a and 112b or between the manifold ports 114a and 114b. For example, the fluid manifold assembly 110a and/or fluid manifold assembly 110b can include a bypass valve that can open if flow through the heat exchanger portion 130 becomes blocked, and temporarily permit flow around the blockage through the cavity 310 until the blockage can be remedied.
Visible in this view, the fluid manifold assembly 110b also includes a collection of fluid couplers 420. Each of the fluid couplers 420 is configured to mate with and fluidically seal with an end of a corresponding heat exchanger module 200. When assembled to an end of one of the heat exchanger modules 200, the fluid coupler 420 defines a part of the fluid flow path between the fluid ports 112a and 112b and defines a part of the fluid flow path between the manifold ports 114a and 114b. Referring briefly back to
The heat exchanger module 200 has a body 202 that extends from a fluid connector assembly 210a to a fluid connector assembly 210b. The fluid connector assemblies 210a and 210b are configured to mate with and fluidically seal with fluid connectors of a fluid manifold, such as the example fluid couplers 420 of the example fluid manifold assemblies 110a and/or 110b.
The example heat exchanger module 200 includes a collection of fluid conduits 220 that extend from the fluid connector assembly 210a to the fluid connector assembly 210b. In the illustrated example, the heat exchanger module 200 includes several of the fluid conduits, but in some embodiments the heat exchanger module 200 can have a single one of the fluid conduits 220, or may have two, three, five, ten, twenty, or any other appropriate number of fluid conduits 220. The heat exchanger module 200 also includes a number of radial fins 230 and radial dividers 240 that extend radially from and encircle the body 202.
When the fluid manifold assembly 110a is assembled to the heat exchanger portion 130, the fluid connector assemblies 210a become inserted into the fluid couplers 420, a fluid seal assembly 612 fluidically separates the fluid conduits 620 from the fluid conduits 220, and the fluid conduits 220 are fluidically connected to the fluid port 112a while the fluid conduits 620 are fluidically connected to the manifold port 114a. Fluid leakage that manages to get past the fluid seal assembly 612 flows to a collection of drain channels 614 defined in the fluid manifold assembly 110a, which in turn is fluidically connected to a fluid drain to define an overboard fluid path. In some embodiments, by draining away such leakage, intermixing and/or cross-contamination of the fluids in the fluid conduits 220 and 620 can be prevented.
While not shown in the view provided by
The heat exchanger module 700 includes a fluid conduit 702 (e.g., a tubular conduit) having an inner wall 703 defined through the axial length of the heat exchanger module 700 between an inlet 704 and an outlet 706. When assembled to a heat exchanger portion (e.g., by being inserted into one of the cavities 300 of the example heat exchanger portion 130), a second fluid conduit 712 is defined in part by an outer wall 708 of the fluid conduit 702 and a cavity wall 701 (e.g., another tubular conduit, such as the example cavity wall 302 of
In some embodiments, the selections of inlets, outlets, and directions of flows can implement any appropriate combination. For example, the inlet 704 and/or the inlet 714 can be used as outlets, and the outlet 706 and/or the outlet 716 can be used as inlets.
In use, fluids received at the inlets 704 and 714 from their respective fluid manifolds flow along the fluid conduits 702 and 712 to the outlets 706 and 716 and out through their respective manifold outlets. The outer wall 708 is thermally conductive, so while the fluids in the fluid conduits 702 and 712 are fluidically isolated from each other by the inner wall 703 and the outer wall 708, thermal energy (e.g., heat) is able to pass from one fluid to the other. In the illustrated example, the amount of surface area available for heat transfer is defined by the inner wall 703 and by the outer wall 708.
In the illustrated example, the cross-sectional velocities of the fluid flows 901a, 901b are represented by a collection of arrows 930, in which longer arrows represent faster flow and shorter arrows represent slower flow. As a fluid flows along a conduit, drag generally occurs at/near the boundaries between the fluid and the solid walls of the conduit. In the illustrated example, the fluid conduits 910a and 910b are substantially linear, and have relatively faster flows through their centers while having relatively slower flows near the walls, including along the thermal conductor 920.
In the illustrated example, the portions of the fluid flows 901a, 901b proximal the thermal conductor 920 form fluid boundary layers that have little interaction with other portions of their respective flows. As such, the portions of the fluid flows 901a, 901b proximal the thermal conductor 920 can reach thermal equilibrium with little additional heat transfer occurring between the portions of the fluid flows 901a, 901b that are more distal from the thermal conductor. The relatively even but low rate of thermal transfer provided by the thermal conductor 920 is represented in the illustrated example by a sparse stippling pattern.
In the illustrated example, a fluid flow 1001a flows in a first direction 1002a through a fluid conduit 1010a. A fluid flow 1001b flows into a fluid conduit 1010b through an impingement jet 1012 in a different direction 1002b such that the fluid flow 1001b impinges upon a thermal conductor 1020 that separates the fluid flow 1001a and the fluid flow 1001b. The thermal conductor 1020 is configured to conduct heat energy between the fluid flows 1001a and 1001b.
In the illustrated example, the cross-sectional velocities of the fluid flows 1001a, 1001b are represented by a collection of arrows 1030, in which longer arrows represent faster flow and shorter arrows represent slower flows. As a fluid flows along a conduit, drag generally occurs at/near the boundaries between the fluid and the solid walls of the conduit. In the illustrated example, the fluid conduit 1010a is substantially linear, and has relatively faster flows through its center while having relatively slower flows near the walls, including along the thermal conductor 1020.
In the illustrated example, the portions of the fluid flow 1001a proximal the thermal conductor 1020 flows relatively slowly, with little interaction with other portions within the fluid flow 1001a. In order to provide improved thermal transfer (e.g., relative to the example heat exchanger module 900 of
In the illustrated example, the cross-sectional velocities of the fluid flows 1101a, 1101b are represented by a collection of arrows 1130, in which longer arrows represent faster flow and shorter arrows represent slower flows. As a fluid flows along a conduit, drag generally occurs at/near the boundaries between the fluid and the solid walls of the conduit.
In order to provide improved thermal transfer (e.g., relative to the example heat exchanger modules 900 and 1000 of
The heat exchanger module 1200 includes a fluid conduit 1202 having an inner wall 1203 defined through the axial length of the heat exchanger module 1200 between an inlet 1204 and an outlet 1206. A fluid conduit 1212 is defined through the axial length of the heat exchanger module 1200 between an inlet 1214 and an outlet 1216.
In use, fluids received at the inlets 1204 and 1214 from their respective fluid manifolds flow along the fluid conduits 1202 and 1212 to the outlets 1206 and 1216. The outer wall 1208 is thermally conductive, so while the fluids in the fluid conduits 1202 and 1212 are fluidically isolated from each other by the inner wall 1203 and the outer wall 1208, thermal energy (e.g., heat) is able to pass from one fluid to the other. In the illustrated example, the amount of surface area available for heat transfer is defined by the inner wall 1203 and by the outer wall 1208.
The fluid conduit 1212 is configured with a collection of fluid impingement ports 1250 and supply channels 1251. The configuration of the fluid conduit 1212 causes fluid flowing through the fluid conduit 1212 to take a non-linear, non-laminar path between the inlet 1214 and the outlet 1216. The fluid impingement ports 1250 cause the flow in the fluid conduit 1212 to impinge upon the outer wall 1208 repeatedly to create a collection of impingement points with high thermal transfer, be redirected away from the outer wall 1208 to a subsequent supply channel 1251 (e.g., acting as a drain channel), and then be re-impinged upon the outer wall 1208 by a subsequent fluid impingement port 1250. Eventually, the flow exits at the outlet 1216 (e.g., acting as a drain channel). In some embodiments, the configuration of the fluid conduit 1212 can also provide an increased amount of thermally conductive surface area to further promote heat transfer between the fluid conduits 1202 and 1212.
In some embodiments, the heat exchanger module 1200 can have any appropriate number and arrangement (e.g., axially and/or circumferentially) of the fluid impingement ports 1250. In some embodiments, the selections of inlets, outlets, and directions of flows can implement any appropriate combination. For example, the inlet 1204 and/or the inlet 1214 can be used as outlets, and the outlet 1206 and/or the outlet 1216 can be used as inlets.
The heat exchanger module 1300 includes a fluid conduit 1302 having an inner wall 1303 defined through the axial length of the heat exchanger module 1300 between an inlet 1304 and an outlet 1306. A fluid conduit 1312 is defined through the axial length of the heat exchanger module 1300 between an inlet 1314 and an outlet 1316.
In use, fluids received at the inlets 1304 and 1314 from their respective fluid manifolds flow along the fluid conduits 1302 and 1312 to the outlets 1306 and 1316. The outer wall 1308 is thermally conductive, so while the fluids in the fluid conduits 1302 and 1312 are fluidically isolated from each other by the inner wall 1303 and the outer wall 1308, thermal energy (e.g., heat) is able to pass from one fluid to the other. In the illustrated example, the amount of surface area available for heat transfer is defined by the inner wall 1303 and by the outer wall 1308.
The fluid conduit 1302 is configured with a collection of fluid impingement ports 1340 and a collection of supply channels 1341. The fluid conduit 1312 is configured with a collection of fluid impingement ports 1350 and a collection of supply channels 1351. The configurations of the fluid conduits 1302 and 1312 cause fluids flowing through the fluid conduits 1302 and 1312 to take non-linear, non-laminar paths between the inlets 1304, 1314 and the outlets 1306, 1316.
The fluid impingement ports 1340 cause the flow in the supply channels 1341 to impinge upon the inner wall 1303 repeatedly to create a collection of impingement points with high thermal transfer, be redirected away from the inner wall 1303 to a subsequent supply channel 1341 (e.g., acting as a drain channel), and then be re-impinged upon the inner wall 1303. The fluid impingement ports 1350 cause the flow in the fluid conduit 1312 to impinge upon the outer wall 1308 repeatedly to create a collection of impingement points with high thermal transfer, be redirected away from the outer wall 1308 to a subsequent supply channel 1351 (e.g., acting as a drain channel), and then be re-impinged upon the outer wall 1308. Eventually, the flows exit at the outlets 1306 and 1316 (e.g., acting as drain channels). In some embodiments, the configurations of the fluid conduits 1302 and 1312 can also provide increased amounts of thermally conductive surface area to further promote heat transfer between the fluid conduits 1302 and 1312.
In some embodiments, the heat exchanger module 1300 can have any appropriate number and arrangement (e.g., axially and/or circumferentially) of the fluid impingement ports 1350. In some embodiments, the selections of inlets, outlets, and directions of flows can implement any appropriate combination. For example, the inlet 1304 and/or the inlet 1314 can be used as outlets, and the outlet 1306 and/or the outlet 1316 can be used as inlets.
At 1410, a first flow of a first fluid is flowed to a first manifold assembly. For example, fluid can flow through the fluid port 112a into the example fluid manifold assembly 110a.
At 1420, the first manifold assembly directs the first flow to at least one modular heat exchanger assembly coupled to the first manifold assembly. For example, the example fluid manifold assembly 110a can direct fluid received at the fluid port 112a to one or more of the example heat exchanger modules 200.
At 1430, a second flow of a second fluid is flowed to a second manifold assembly removably coupled to the at least one modular heat exchanger assembly. For example, fluid can flow through the manifold port 114b into the example fluid manifold assembly 110b.
At 1440, the second manifold assembly directs the second flow to the at least one modular heat exchanger assembly. For example, the example fluid manifold assembly 110b can direct fluid received at the manifold port 114b to one or more of the example heat exchanger modules 200.
At 1450, the first flow flows through a first fluid conduit of the modular heat exchanger assembly, from the first manifold assembly to the second manifold assembly. For example, fluid received at the fluid port 112a can flow through the example fluid conduits 220, 702, 910a, 1010a, 1110a, 1202, or 1302 to the fluid manifold assembly 110b and the fluid port 112b.
In some implementations, flowing, through the first fluid conduit of the modular heat exchanger assembly, the first flow from the first manifold assembly to the second manifold assembly can include flowing the first flow through one or more supply channels of the first fluid conduit, flowing the first flow through a collection of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor, and flowing the first flow through a collection of drain channels of the first fluid conduit, away from the thermal conductor. For example, fluid can flow through the example supply channel 1251 to the fluid impingement port 1250, where the flow becomes directed at the outer wall 1208, and then flows out to a subsequent supply channel 1251 or to the outlet 1216.
At 1460, the second flow flows through a second fluid conduit of the modular heat exchanger assembly, from the second manifold assembly to the first manifold assembly. For example, fluid received at the fluid port 112b can flow through the example fluid conduits 620, 712, 910b, 1010b, 1110b, 1212, or 1312 to the fluid manifold assembly 110b and the manifold port 114a. In some implementations, flowing, through the second fluid conduit of the modular heat exchanger assembly, the second flow from the second manifold assembly to the first manifold assembly can include flowing the second flow through one or more supply channels of the second fluid conduit, flowing the second flow through a collection of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor, and flowing the second flow through a collection of drain channels of the second fluid conduit, away from the thermal conductor. For example, fluid can flow through the example supply channel 1341 to the fluid impingement port 1340, where the flow becomes directed at the inner wall 1303, and then flows out to a subsequent supply channel 1341 or to the outlet 1306.
At 1470, a thermal conductor conveys heat energy between the first fluid and the second fluid. For example, heat energy may be conveyed between fluids by any one or more of the body 202, the inner wall 703 and the outer wall 708, the thermal conductors, 920, 1020, or 1120, the inner wall 1203 and the outer wall 1208, or the inner wall 1303 and the outer wall 1308.
In some implementations, the process 1400 can also include assembling the modular heat exchanger assembly to the first manifold assembly, fluidically connecting, based on the assembling, the first fluid conduit to a first manifold of the first manifold assembly, fluidically connecting, based on the assembling, the second fluid conduit to a second manifold of the first manifold assembly, assembling the modular heat exchanger assembly to the second manifold assembly, fluidically connecting, based on the assembling, the first fluid conduit to a third manifold of the second manifold assembly, and fluidically connecting, based on the assembling, the second fluid conduit to a fourth manifold of the second manifold assembly. For example, the example heat exchanger modules 200 can be inserted into the cavities 300 of the heat exchanger portion 130, and the assembled heat exchanger portion 130 can be assembled to the fluid manifold assemblies 110a and 110b. When assembled, the example modular heat exchanger assembly 100 defines fluid paths that fluidically connect the fluid ports 112a and 112b through the heat exchanger modules 200, and fluidically connect the manifold ports 114a and 114b through the heat exchanger modules 200.
In some implementations, the process 1400 can include directing, by a collection of seals configured to separate the first flow from the second flow, leakage of one of the first flow or the second flow past at least one of the collection of seals away from the other of the first flow or the second flow and toward a drain. For example, fluid leakage that manages to get past the example seal assemblies 612 flows out the drain channels 614.
Although a few implementations have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, the logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In addition, other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, the described systems. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/300,432, filed Jan. 18, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63300432 | Jan 2022 | US |
