Heat exchange apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus ( 10 ) for transferring heat from a coolant to a fluid in a coolant recycling system, the apparatus including; a heat exchange region ( 9 ) through which the fluid flows such that heat is transferred from the coolant to the fluid and a recycling loop ( 13 ) for recycling the fluid flowing from the heat exchange region, whereby the fluid is cooled in the recycling loop before being returned to the heat exchange region.

1 . An apparatus for transferring heat from a coolant to a fluid in a coolant recycling system, the apparatus including;
 a heat exchange region through which the fluid flows such that heat is transferred from the coolant to the fluid and   a recycling loop for recycling the fluid flowing from the heat exchange region, whereby the fluid is cooled in the recycling loop before being returned to the heat exchange region.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the coolant is water and the fluid is air. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the air is cooled to a temperature less than ambient. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the air is cooled to a temperature below about 20° C. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein any evaporated water in the air condenses as the air is cooled in the recycling loop. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the heat exchange region is located within the housing and the recycling loop is fluidly connected between the outlet and the inlet. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which includes housing and both the heat exchange region and the recycling loop are located within the housing. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  which includes a refrigeration unit in the recycling loop. 
   
   
       9 . A method of modifying a heat transfer apparatus having a fluid inlet, a heat exchange region where heat is transferred from a coolant to the fluid and an outlet for exhausting heated fluid to the atmosphere;
 the method including providing a recycling loop between the outlet and the inlet, whereby fluid is cooled in the recycling loop before being returned to the heat exchange region through the inlet.   
   
   
       10 . A cooling tower for transferring heat from heated coolant water to air, the apparatus including;
 a heat exchange region through which air and water flow and heat is transferred from the water to the air;   a recycling loop for cooling air flowing from the heat exchange region and returning cooled air to the heat exchange region the air being cooled sufficiently so as to condense at least some of any water that evaporated into the air in the heat exchange region.   
   
   
       11 . A method of transferring heat from a coolant to a fluid, the method comprising directing a flow of fluid into a heat exchange region such that heat is transferred from the coolant to the fluid, cooling the fluid after said heat transfer and recycling the cooled fluid back to the heat exchange region.