Combined multi-stream heat exchanger and conditioner/control unit

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for heating and cooling portions of a fluid are provided. The method may include flowing a stream of a fluid through a heat exchanger, separating a liquid component from the stream of the fluid, flowing the liquid component through the heat exchanger, and redirecting the flow of the stream back through the heat exchanger, thereby cooling the initial stream of fluid flowing through the heat exchanger and heating the liquid component flowing through the heat exchanger. The apparatus may include a housing, a heat exchanger disposed within the housing, a refrigeration system in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, and a control system in fluid communication with the heat exchanger.

1 . An apparatus for treating a fluid stream comprising:
 a housing;   a heat exchanger disposed within the housing and having a first zone configured to direct a first fluid stream through the heat exchanger, a second zone configured to direct a second fluid stream through the heat exchanger, and a third zone configured to direct a third fluid stream through the heat exchanger; and   a refrigeration system in fluid communication with heat exchanger and configured to flow a refrigerant stream through at least one of the second and third zones to exchange heat with the first fluid stream.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant stream is isolated from mixing with the second and third fluid streams while flowing through the at least one second and third zones. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third zones are in a stacked configuration such that the first zone is disposed above the second zone and the second zone is disposed above the third zone. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second zone is located relative to the first and third zones so that the second fluid stream exchanges heat with the first and third fluid streams. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein first, second, and third zones are located relative to each other so that the first fluid stream and the third fluid stream simultaneously cool the second fluid stream. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first zone is located adjacent to the third zone so that the first fluid stream exchanges heat with the third fluid stream. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the refrigeration system is configured to direct the refrigeration stream through the third zone such that the refrigerant stream exchanges heat with the first fluid stream. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of first zones, a plurality of second zones, and a plurality of third zones located relative to each other so that at least one of the third fluid streams cools at least one first fluid stream and heats at least one second fluid stream. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second zones are located relative to each other so that the first fluid stream exchanges heat with the second fluid stream and then exchanges heat with the refrigerant stream flowing through the second zone. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and third zones are located relative to each other so that the first fluid stream exchanges heat with the third fluid stream and then exchanges heat with the refrigerant stream flowing through the third zone. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third zones include a plurality of plates and fins. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a cylindrical vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a brazed aluminum heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . A method of treating a fluid, comprising:
 flowing a fluid stream through a first zone of a heat exchanger;   flowing a refrigerant stream through the heat exchanger to cool the fluid stream flowing through the first zone and separate the fluid stream into a liquid stream and a gas stream;   flowing the liquid stream through a second zone of the heat exchanger;   flowing the gas stream through a third zone of the heat exchanger; and   exchanging heat between the liquid and gas streams to heat the liquid stream and cool the gas stream.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising exchanging heat between the fluid stream and the liquid stream to cool the fluid stream and heat the liquid stream. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising exchanging heat between the fluid stream and the gas stream to cool the fluid stream and heat the gas stream. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising exchanging heat between the fluid stream and the refrigerant stream to cool the fluid stream and heat the refrigerant stream, after the fluid stream exchanges heat with at least one of the liquid and gas streams. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising flowing the refrigerant stream through a portion of at least one of the second and third zones that is separate from a portion of the zones through which the liquid and gas streams flow to cool the fluid stream flowing through the first zone. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the gas stream cools the fluid stream flowing through the first zone and heats the liquid stream flowing through the second zone. 
     
     
         20 . A method of treating a fluid, comprising:
 flowing a fluid stream through a first zone of a heat exchanger;   flowing a first portion of the fluid stream from the first zone to a second zone of the heat exchanger;   flowing a second portion of the fluid stream from the first zone to a third zone of the heat exchanger;   flowing a refrigerant stream through at least one of the second and third zones while isolating the refrigerant stream from the portions of the fluid stream flowing through the second and third zones;   cooling the fluid stream as it flows through the first zone with at least one of the first and second portions of the fluid stream flowing through the second and third zones; and   cooling the fluid stream as it flows through the first zone with the refrigerant stream after it is cooled by the at least one first and second portions of the fluid stream.