Nested heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly includes at least first and second coils adapted to contain a fluid therein and at least two support members securing the coils. Each of the first and second coils are individually formed of at least one tube including an inlet at an uppermost extent thereof and an outlet at a lowermost extent thereof and include a vertical column containing a plurality of horizontal rows and a plurality of bends at opposite ends of the horizontal rows and fluidically interconnecting the horizontal rows thereof in series to define a serpentine configuration. The first and second coils are adjacent each other and nested so that the horizontal rows of the first coil are parallel to the horizontal rows of the second coil and at least some of the horizontal rows of the first coil are disposed between adjacent pairs of the horizontal rows of the second coil.

1 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 at least first and second coils adapted to contain a fluid therein, each of the first and second coils being individually formed of at least one tube comprising an inlet at an uppermost extent thereof and an outlet at a lowermost extent thereof, each of the first and second coils comprising a vertical column containing a plurality of horizontal rows and a plurality of bends at opposite ends of the horizontal rows and fluidically interconnecting the horizontal rows thereof in series to define a serpentine configuration, the first and second coils being adjacent each other and nested so that the horizontal rows of the first coil are parallel to the horizontal rows of the second coil and at least some of the horizontal rows of the first coil are disposed between adjacent pairs of the horizontal rows of the second coil; and   at least two support members securing the coils to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support members comprise extrusions adapted to increase a contact area between the support members and the first and second coils. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fin attached to the first and second coils of the heat exchanger assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the fin comprises extrusions adapted to increase a contact area between the fin and the first and second coils. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly causes the fluid therein to simultaneously flow through the first and second coils fluidically in parallel. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly is adapted to cause the fluid therein to flow through the first and second coils fluidically in series. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 6 , further comprising at least one vertical section fluidically connecting the outlet of the first coil to the inlet of the second coil, wherein the fluid flowing within the heat exchanger assembly travels from the outlet of the first coil, up through the vertical section, and into the inlet of the second coil. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bends at oppositely-disposed ends of each of the horizontal rows of the first and second coils are disposed in planes that are not horizontal and not parallel to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is CO 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly is adapted to operate at a pressure of up to about 15.2 Mpa. 
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 at least first and second coils adapted to contain a fluid therein, each of the first and second coils being individually formed of at least one tube comprising an inlet at an uppermost extent thereof and an outlet at a lowermost extent thereof, each of the first and second coils comprising a vertical column containing a plurality of horizontal rows and a plurality of bends at opposite ends of the horizontal rows and fluidically interconnecting the horizontal rows thereof in series to define a serpentine configuration through which the fluid flows downward from the inlet thereof to the outlet thereof, the first and second coils being adjacent each other and nested so that the horizontal rows of the first coil are parallel to the horizontal rows of the second coil and at least some of the horizontal rows of the first and second coils are interdigitated with each other; and   at least two support members securing the first and second coils together.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly causes the fluid therein to simultaneously flow through the first and second coils fluidically in parallel. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly is adapted to cause the fluid therein to flow through the first and second coils fluidically in series. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 13 , further comprising at least one vertical section fluidically connecting the outlet of the first coil to the inlet of the second coil, wherein the fluid flowing within the heat exchanger assembly travels from the outlet of the first coil, up through the vertical section, and into the inlet of the second coil. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the fluid is CO 2 . 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly is adapted to operate at a pressure of up to about 15.2 Mpa. 
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 at least first and second coils adapted to contain a fluid therein, each of the first and second coils being individually formed of at least one tube comprising an inlet at an uppermost extent thereof and an outlet at a lowermost extent thereof, each of the first and second coils comprising a vertical column containing a plurality of horizontal rows and a plurality of bends at opposite ends of the horizontal rows and fluidically interconnecting the horizontal rows thereof in series to define a serpentine configuration through which the fluid flows downward from the inlet thereof to the outlet thereof, the first and second coils being adjacent each other and nested so that the horizontal rows of the first coil are parallel to the horizontal rows of the second coil and at least some of the horizontal rows of the first and second coils are interdigitated with each other;   at least one vertical section fluidically connecting the outlet of the first coil to the inlet of the second coil, wherein the fluid flowing within the heat exchanger assembly travels from the outlet of the first coil, up through the vertical section, and into the inlet of the second coil; and   at least two support members securing the first and second coils to each other.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly causes the fluid therein to flow through the first and second coils fluidically in series. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the fluid is CO 2 . 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the heat exchanger assembly is adapted to operate at a pressure of up to about 15.2 Mpa.