Hybrid heat exchanger

Abstract

A hybrid exchanger utilized to heat a working fluid utilizing counter current heat exchange from a heat source fluid. The plates of the hybrid heat exchanger are configured to be welded to provide a more robust design while also allowing optimum heat exchange of the working fluid. In another embodiment, the hybrid heat exchanger includes a plate assembly and shell combination construction. The plate assembly and shell combination provides both optimized counter current heat exchange, while also controlling leakage of fluid from the hybrid heat exchanger. The plates of hybrid heat exchanger have a plurality of fluid bores which facilitate the exchange of fluids including inlet and outlet ports for both the working fluid and the heat source fluid. The bores of the plates include an open mouth having a greater clearance which allows for optimized flow of fluid while also allowing for simplified cleaning and maintenance of the hybrid heat exchanger.

1 . A hybrid heat exchanger adapted to heat a working fluid for use in a thermodynamic system utilizing a heat source fluid in counter current heat exchange with the working fluid, the hybrid heat exchanger comprising: 
 a plate core assembly comprising; 
 three or more plates positioned adjacent one another such that the working fluid and heat source fluid are positioned on opposite sides of one or more of the three or more plates;  
 a seal positioned between two or more of the three or more plates to minimize leakage of at least one of the working fluid and the heat source fluid; and  
   a shell having a chamber adapted to accommodate the plate core assembly wherein the shell is fluid tight to prevent leakage of the working fluid and the heat source fluid in the event that one or more of the working fluid and the heat source fluid leaks from the plate core assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the three or more plates comprise a plurality of plates adapted to allow the passage and counter current heat exchange of the working fluid and the heat source fluid on opposite sides of the plate without mixing the working fluid and the heat source fluid.  
   
   
       3 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a weld.  
   
   
       4 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the weld provides a robust and effective seal between the two or more plates.  
   
   
       5 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plates include one or more of a working fluid inlet bore, a working fluid outlet bore, a heat source fluid inlet bore, and a heat source fluid outlet bore.  
   
   
       6 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more of the working fluid inlet bore, the working fluid outlet bore, the heat source fluid inlet bore, and the heat source fluid outlet bore include an open mouth allowing the passage of one of a working fluid and heat source fluid between the plates.  
   
   
       7 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein the open mouth has an sufficient clearance to permit cleaning of the plates by flushing fluid into one or more of the working fluid inlet bore, the working fluid outlet bore, the heat source fluid inlet bore and the heat source fluid outlet bore from the exterior of the plate core assembly.  
   
   
       8 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the shell completely envelopes the plate core assembly.  
   
   
       9 . A hybrid heat exchanger adapted to heat a working fluid for use in a thermodynamic system utilizing a heat source fluid in counter current heat exchange with the working fluid, the hybrid heat exchanger comprising: 
 a plate core assembly comprising; 
 a plurality of plates positioned adjacent one another;  
 an interplate working fluid flow area positioned between at least two of the plurality of plates and allowing the passage of working fluid between the at least two of the plurality of plates;  
 an interplate heat source fluid flow area positioned between at least a different two of the plurality of plates and allowing the passage of heat source fluid between the at least two of the plurality of plates;  
 a seal positioned between one of the at least two of the plurality of plates forming the interplate heat source fluid flow area or the interplate working fluid flow area, the seal being configured to minimize leakage of at least one of the working fluid and the heat source fluid, wherein the seal comprises a weld configured to allow the passage of working fluid into the interplate working fluid flow area and the passage of heat source fluid into the interplate heat source fluid flow area, while minimizing the passage of working fluid into the interplate heat source fluid flow area and the passage of heat source fluid into the interplate working fluid area.  
   
   
   
       10 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of plates are positioned in a row along the length of the plate core assembly.  
   
   
       11 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of interplate working fluid flow areas are positioned along the length of the plate core assembly.  
   
   
       12 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of interplate heat source fluid flow areas are positioned along the length of the plate core assembly.  
   
   
       13 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of interplate working fluid flow areas alternate with the plurality of interplate heat source fluid flow areas along the length of the plate core assembly.  
   
   
       14 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein the each of the plurality of plates are welded to one another.  
   
   
       15 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of plates are welded together to form the plurality of interplate working fluid flow areas.  
   
   
       16 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the weld allows the passage of working fluid into the plurality of interplate working fluid flow areas while minimizing the passage of heat source fluid into the plurality of interplate working fluid flow areas.  
   
   
       17 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of plates include a working fluid inlet bore, a working fluid outlet bore, a heat source fluid inlet bore, and a heat source fluid outlet bore and the weld is configured such that passage of working fluid into or out of the plurality of interplate working fluid flow areas from the working fluid intlet bore and the working fluid outlet bore is permitted while the passage of fluid into or out of the heat source fluid inlet bore and the heat source fluid outlet bore is minimized.  
   
   
       18 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of plates are welded together to form the plurality of interplate heat source fluid flow areas.  
   
   
       19 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein the weld allows the passage of heat source fluid into the plurality of interplate heat source fluid flow areas while minimizing the passage of working fluid into the plurality of interplate heat source fluid flow areas.  
   
   
       20 . The hybrid heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of plates include a working fluid inlet bore, a working fluid outlet bore, a heat source fluid inlet bore, and a heat source fluid outlet bore and the weld is configured such that passage of heat source fluid into the plurality of interplate heat source fluid flow areas from the heat source fluid intlet bore and the heat source fluid outlet bore is permitted while the passage of fluid into or out of the working fluid inlet bore and the working fluid outlet bore is minimized.  
   
   
       21 . A hybrid heat exchanger combination unit adapted to heat a working fluid for use in a thermodynamic system utilizing a heat source fluid in counter current heat exchange with the working fluid, the hybrid heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first heat exchange component adapted to heat a working fluid to a desired temperature parameter utilizing counter current heat exchange;    at least a second heat exchange component adapted to heat a working fluid to a desired temperature parameter utilizing counter current heat exchange; and    a shell having a chamber adapted to accommodate the first heat exchange component and the at least second heat exchange component to prevent leakage of the working fluid in the event that the working fluid leaks from the first heat exchange component and the at least second heat exchange component.    
   
   
       22 . The hybrid heat exchanger combination unit of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second heat exchange components comprise plate core assemblies.  
   
   
       23 . The hybrid heat exchanger combination unit of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second heat exchange component comprise heat exchangers.  
   
   
       24 . The hybrid heat exchanger combination unit of  claim 23 , wherein the heat exchangers comprise hybrid heat exchangers having plate core assemblies and shells.  
   
   
       25 . The hybrid heat exchanger combination unit of  claim 24 , wherein the shell of the hybrid heat exchanger combination unit comprises a supplementary shell adapted to prevent the leakage of working fluid to the external environment.  
   
   
       26 . The hybrid heat exchanger combination unit of  claim 21 , further comprising a stream separator.  
   
   
       27 . The hybrid heat exchanger combination unit of  claim 21 , wherein one or more of the first heat exchange component and the at least second heat exchange components comprises a plate core assembly and wherein one or more of the first heat exchange component and the at least second heat exchange components comprises a hybrid heat exchanger.  
   
   
       28 . The hybrid heat exchanger combination unit of  claim 21 , wherein the hybrid heat exchanger is configured to be combined with other mechanisms to form a thermodynamic system.  
   
   
       29 . A method for implementing a thermodynamic cycle comprising the steps of: 
 expanding a gaseous working stream, transforming its energy into a usable form and producing a spent stream;    reheating a spent stream utilizing a hybrid heat exchanger having a plate core assembly positioned within a liquid tight outer shell, to transform its energy into a usable form;    heating a multicomponent oncoming liquid working stream by partially condensing the spent stream to preheat and partially evaporate the multicomponent oncoming liquid working stream to produce a heated liquid working stream; and    evaporating the heated liquid working stream using heat produced by an external heat source, to form the gaseous working stream.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the plate core assembly includes a plurality of plates positioned adjacent one another allowing counter current heat exchange of that one or more of the spent stream and the multicomponent oncoming liquid working stream utilizing heat produced by an external heat source.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the shell includes a chamber adapted to accommodate the plate core assembly wherein the shell is fluid tight to prevent leakage of the fluids utilized in the thermodynamic cycle.  
   
   
       32 . A hybrid heat exchanger adapted to heat a working fluid for use in a thermodynamic system utilizing a heat source fluid in counter current heat exchange with the working fluid, the hybrid heat exchanger comprising: 
 a plate core assembly comprising; 
 a plurality of plates positioned adjacent one another;  
 an interplate working fluid flow area positioned between at least two of the plurality of plates and allowing the passage of working fluid between the at least two of the plurality of plates;  
 an interplate heat source fluid flow area positioned between at least a different two of the plurality of plates and allowing the passage of heat source fluid between the at least two of the plurality of plates;  
 a seal positioned between one of the at least two of the plurality of plates forming the interplate heat source fluid flow area or the interplate working fluid flow area, the seal being configured to minimize leakage of at least one of the working fluid and the heat source fluid, wherein the seal comprises a weld configured to allow the passage of working fluid into the interplate working fluid flow area and the passage of heat source fluid into the interplate heat source fluid flow area, while minimizing the passage of working fluid into the interplate heat source fluid flow area and the passage of heat source fluid into the interplate working fluid area; and  
   a shell having a chamber adapted to accommodate the plate core assembly wherein the shell is fluid tight to prevent leakage of the working fluid and the heat source fluid in the event that one or more of the working fluid and the heat source fluid leaks from the plate core assembly.