Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger is disclosed for condensing a vapour to a condensate. The exchanger comprises a first heat exchanging chamber, a second heat exchanging chamber and an array of heat pipes which are arranged to extend from within the first heat exchanging chamber to within the second heat exchanging chamber. The first heat exchanging chamber comprises an inlet for receiving a coolant into the chamber and an outlet through which the coolant can exit the first chamber, the coolant being arranged to pass over the portion of the heat pipes which extend within the first chamber. The second heat exchanging chamber comprises an inlet for receiving the vapour into the chamber and an outlet through which the condensate can exit the second chamber, the vapour being arranged to pass over the portion of the heat pipes which extend within the second chamber. The heat exchanger further comprises a fm arranged in contact with the portion of at least one of the heat pipes within the first heat exchanging chamber, which is arranged to increase thermal transfer between said portion of the heat pipe and the coolant.

1 . A heat exchanger for condensing a vapour to a condensate, the exchanger comprising a first heat exchanging chamber, a second heat exchanging chamber and an array of heat pipes which are arranged to extend from within the first heat exchanging chamber to within the second heat exchanging chamber;
 the first heat exchanging chamber comprising an inlet for receiving a coolant into the chamber and an outlet through which the coolant can exit the first chamber, the coolant being arranged to pass over the portion of the heat pipes which extend within the first chamber;   the second heat exchanging chamber comprising an inlet for receiving the vapour into the chamber and an outlet through which the condensate can exit the second chamber, the vapour being arranged to pass over the portion of the heat pipes which extend within the second chamber;   wherein the portion of at least one of the heat pipes within the first heat exchanging chamber comprises a fin arranged in contact therewith which is arranged to increase thermal transfer between said portion of the heat pipe and the coolant.   
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the portion of each of the heat pipes within the first heat exchanging chambers comprises a fin.   
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the fin is arranged to extend in a substantially helical path around the portion of the at least one or each heat pipe within the first heat exchanging chamber.   
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the portion of at least one of the heat pipes within the second heat exchanging portion comprises a fin arranged in contact therewith, which is arranged to increase thermal transfer between said portion of heat pipe and the coolant.   
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 each of the heat pipes within the second heat exchanging portion comprises a fin arranged in contact therewith which is arranged to increase thermal transfer between said portion of the heat pipe and the coolant.   
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the fin is arranged to extend in a substantially helical path around the portion of the at least one or each heat pipe within the second heat exchanging chamber.   
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the number of turns of the or each fin per unit length around the or each heat pipe in the first heat exchanging chamber is greater than the number of turns of the or each fin per unit length around the or each heat pipe in the second heat exchanging chamber.   
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first and second heat exchanging chambers are separated by a separation plate.   
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the plurality of heat pipes are supported within the heat exchanger by the separation plate which is coupled to the heat pipes intermediate opposite ends thereof.   
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first and second heat exchanging chambers further comprise at least one baffle for directing the flow of liquid and vapour, respectively, over the respective portions of the heat pipes.   
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inlet and outlet of the first heat exchanging chamber are arranged to pass the coolant into and out of the first chamber in a direction which is substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the heat pipes.   
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inlet and the outlet of the second heat exchanger are arranged to pass the coolant into and out of the second chamber in a direction which is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the heat pipes.