Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger is disclosed for exchanging heat between a first gas and a second gas. The heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchanging chamber, a second heat exchanging chamber and an array of heat pipes which are arranged to extend between the first and second heat exchanging chambers. The first heat exchanging chamber comprising an inlet for receiving the first gas into the chamber and an outlet through which the first gas can exit the first chamber, the flow of first gas being substantially along the array of heat pipes. The second heat exchanging chamber comprising an inlet for receiving a second gas into the chamber and an outlet through which the second gas can exit the second chamber, the flow of second gas being substantially across the array of heat pipes. The flow of second gas is split into two subsidiary flow paths, with each subsidiary flow path comprising a substantially identical array of heat pipes. This ensures that each heat pipe receives a similar rate of heat exchange.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a first gas and a second gas, the exchanger comprising a first heat exchanging chamber, a second heat exchanging chamber and an array of heat pipes which are arranged to extend between the first and second heat exchanging chambers;
 the first heat exchanging chamber comprising an inlet for receiving the first gas into the chamber and an outlet through which the first gas can exit the first chamber, the flow of first gas being substantially along the array of heat pipes;   the second heat exchanging chamber comprising an inlet for receiving a second gas into the chamber and an outlet through which the second gas can exit the second chamber, the flow of second gas being substantially across the array of heat pipes; wherein,   the flow of second gas is split into two subsidiary flow paths, with each subsidiary flow path comprising a substantially identical array of heat pipes.   
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow of second gas is split into the two subsidiary flow paths by the outlet of the first heat exchanging chamber. 
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet and outlet of the first heat exchanging chamber are disposed on a longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the flow of first gas is arranged to pass substantially across the array of heat pipes in moving along the first chamber, by at least one baffle which extends across the first chamber substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the baffle comprises a valve, can be selectively opened and closed to enable the rate of flow of gas along the first chamber to be controlled. 
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second heat exchanging chambers comprise a substantially cylindrical housing. 
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein the first heat exchanging chamber comprises an internal wall arrangement which is arranged to substantially conform to an outer periphery of the array of heat pipes. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the wall arrangement comprises a first and second pair of walls which extend along the length of the first chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the walls of the first and second pair of walls separately converge from the housing of the first chamber to an apex positioned proximate a longitudinal axis of the first chamber. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the first and second pair of walls are positioned diametrically opposite each other within the first chamber, such that the apex of each wall extends within a common plane which also comprises the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein the housing of the first and/or second chambers comprise at least one panel which is removably coupled to the respective housing. 
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat pipes are configured to an array of arcuate rows. 
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein the flow of gas along a particular arcuate row within the first and second chambers is substantially uniform so that each heat pipe in the particular arcuate row provides a similar rate of heat exchange. 
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first gas is hotter that the second gas. 
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the second heat exchanging chamber comprises a cover that is removably coupled thereto. 
     
     
         16 . A gas processing system, the processing system comprising the heat exchanger according to  claim 1 .