Heat exchanger with embedded heater

Abstract

A heat exchanger having both heating and cooling functions includes a first container, a second container and at least one heater. The first container is adapted to hold a first fluid. The second container is adapted to hold a second fluid. Moreover, the second container is thermally coupled to the first container such that thermal energy transfer between the first and second container occurs. The at least one heater is embedded with the first and second container.

1 . A heat exchange system comprising: 
 a first container adapted to hold a first fluid;    a second container adapted to hold a second fluid, the second container thermally coupled to the first container such thermal energy transfer between the first and second container occurs; and    at least one heater embedded with the first and second container.    
   
   
       2 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heater is one of a solid plate heater, a rope heater, a wire heater and an immersion heater.  
   
   
       3 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the first container is a thermally conductive tube having one or more coils and the second container is also a thermally conductive tube having one or more coils.  
   
   
       4 . The heat exchange system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one heater is at least one wire heater positioned adjacent the one or more coils of the first and second containers.  
   
   
       5 . The heat exchange system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one heater is at least one wire heater wrapped around the one or more coils.  
   
   
       6 . The heat exchange system of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 conductive material encasing the one or more coils of the first and second containers and the wire heater.    
   
   
       7 . The heat exchange system of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 insulation material encasing the conductive material.    
   
   
       8 . A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger, the method comprising: 
 forming a first thermal container adapted to contain a first liquid;    forming a second thermal container adapted to contain a second liquid, the second thermal container being thermally coupled to the first thermal container; and    embedding at least one heater with the first and second thermal containers.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein forming the first thermal container further comprises: 
 forming one or more coils with the first thermal container; and wherein forming the second thermal container further comprises;    forming one of more coils with the first thermal container, wherein the one or more coils of the first and second thermal containers are in thermal contact with each other.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein embedding the at least one heater with the first and second thermal containers further comprises: 
 placing the at least one heater with the one or more coils of the first and second thermal containers.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 forming a layer of conductive material around the one or more coils of the first and second thermal conductors and the heater.    
   
   
       12 . A method of operating a heat exchange, the method comprising: 
 generating a flow of a first fluid in a first container;    generating a flow of a second fluid in a second container, wherein the second container is thermally coupled to the first container; and    adjusting the thermal energy in the first and second fluids with at least one heater that is integrated with the first and second container.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 thawing frozen first and second fluids in the first and second containers in a relatively rapid fashion with the at least one heater.    
   
   
       14 . A heat exchange system comprising: 
 a first means for containing a first fluid;    a second means for containing a second fluid, the first and second means being in thermal contact with each other; and    a means for heating the first and second fluids with a heater embedded with the first and second means for containing the first and second fluid.    
   
   
       15 . The heat exchange system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a means for enhancing thermal transfer between the first fluid, second fluid and the means for heating.    
   
   
       16 . The heat exchange system of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a means for insulting the heat exchange system from the environment it is located in.