Heat fins and related systems and methods

Abstract

A heat fin includes first and second halves, each half including a curved portion configured to partially surround a pipe, and a plurality of planar portions spaced generally evenly from one another. Each of the planar portions extends outwardly from the curved portion and generally runs along the entire length of the respective half it is part of. The first and second halves are configured to be bolted to one another around a pipe. A system includes a large scale container having product contained therein, an internal coil within the large scale container having a heating medium flowing therethrough, and a heat fin secured to the internal coil. The heat fin increases heat transfer from the heating medium flowing through the internal coil into the product contained in the large scale container.

1 . A heat fin, comprising:
 (a) first and second halves, each half comprising
 (i) a curved portion configured to partially surround a pipe, and 
 (ii) a plurality of planar portions spaced generally evenly from one another, each planar portion extending outwardly from the curved portion, 
 (iii) wherein each of the plurality of planar portions generally runs along the entire length of the respective half it is part of; 
   (b) wherein the first and second halves are configured to be bolted to one another around a pipe.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A system, comprising:
 (a) an internal coil having a heating medium flowing therethrough;   (b) a heat fin secured to the internal coil, the heat fin comprising:
 (i) first and second halves, each half comprising
 (A) a curved portion configured to partially surround the internal coil, and 
 (B) a plurality of planar portions spaced generally evenly from one another, each planar portion extending outwardly from the curved portion, 
 (C) wherein each of the plurality of planar portions generally runs along the entire length of the respective half it is part of; 
 
 (ii) wherein the first and second halves are bolted to one another around the internal coil; 
   (c) wherein the heat fin is configured to increase heat transfer from the heating medium flowing through the internal coil into product contained in a large scale container.   
     
     
         4 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The heat fin of  claim 1 , wherein the heat fin was extruded. 
     
     
         8 . The heat fin of  claim 1 , wherein the heat fin comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         9 . The heat fin of  claim 1 , wherein the heat fin comprises carbon steel. 
     
     
         10 . The heat fin of  claim 1 , wherein the heat fin comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         11 . The heat fin of  claim 1 , wherein the heat fin comprises a silicon-based compound. 
     
     
         12 . The heat fin of  claim 1 , wherein the heat fin comprises a graphite-based compound. 
     
     
         13 . The heat fin of  claim 1 , wherein the heat fin is forty feet long. 
     
     
         14 . The heat fin of  claim 1 , wherein the heat fin is nine feet and six inches long. 
     
     
         15 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A system, comprising:
 (a) a first pipe,   (b) a heat fin secured to the first pipe, the heat fin comprising:
 (i) first and second halves, each half comprising
 (A) a curved portion configured to partially surround the pipe, and 
 (B) a plurality of planar portions spaced generally evenly from one another, each planar portion extending outwardly from the curved portion, 
 (C) wherein each of the plurality of planar portions generally runs along the entire length of the respective half it is part of; 
 
 (ii) wherein the first and second halves are secured to one another around the pipe; and 
   (c) a second pipe secured around the outside of the first pipe and heat fin secured therearound;   (d) wherein the heat fin is configured to increase heat transfer from one of the pipes to the other of the pipes;   whereby the system functions as a heat exchanger.   
     
     
         26 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The heat fin of  claim 1 , wherein each planar portion extends outwardly from the curved portion in a direction generally perpendicular to a line tangential to the curved portion at the point that planar portion joins the curved portion. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein, with respect to the heat fin, each planar portion extends outwardly from the curved portion in a direction generally perpendicular to a line tangential to the curved portion at the point that planar portion joins the curved portion. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system further includes a large scale container having product contained therein, and wherein the internal coil is disposed within the large scale container. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system further includes a heat transfer compound disposed in one or more gaps between the internal coil and the heat fin. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the heat fin comprises aluminum. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the heat fin comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the heat fin is forty feet long. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the heat fin is nine feet and six inches long. 
     
     
         50 . The system of claim  24 , wherein the securement of the second pipe was effected by welding.