Automated thermal exchange system

Abstract

A system for condensing steam is provided that includes a cooling tank and a condensing coil extending into the cooling tank. Coolant from a source of coolant flows into the tank to cool the condensing coil when the temperature of the coolant in the cooling tank exceeds a predetermined value. A drain is in fluid communication with the cooling tank. An air gap assembly is located between the tank and the source of coolant. The air gap assembly includes an opening to atmospheric air and is constructed and arranged to allow coolant to flow out of the opening air vent when there is a predetermined amount of coolant back flowing into the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for condensing steam comprising:
 a cooling tank;   a condensing coil extending into the cooling tank;   a source of coolant in fluid communication with the cooling tank, wherein coolant from the source of coolant flows into the tank to cool the condensing coil when the temperature of the coolant in the cooling tank exceeds a predetermined value;   an air gap assembly located between the tank and the source of coolant, wherein the air gap assembly includes an opening to atmospheric air, wherein the air gap assembly is constructed and arranged to allow coolant to flow out of the opening when there is a predetermined amount of coolant back flowing into the device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  including a thermal actuator operatively connected to the cooling tank and a valve, wherein the valve is located between the source of coolant and the cooling tank, wherein the valve is operative to be in a closed position blocking the flow of coolant from the source of coolant into the cooling tank and an open position allowing the flow of coolant from the source of coolant into the cooling tank, wherein the thermal actuator causes the valve to be placed from the closed position to the open position in response to the temperature of the coolant in the cooling tank being above the predetermined value. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the thermal actuator comprises an expandable part, wherein the expandable part is in contact with the coolant in the cooling tank and in operative connection with the valve, wherein the expandable part is operative to expand in response to the temperature of the coolant exceeding the predetermined value and cause the valve to be placed in the open position. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  including a drain in fluid communication with the cooling tank, a condensate line fluidly connected between the drain and an outlet of the condensing coil, a coolant overflow line fluidly connected between the cooling tank and the drain, a steam line fluidly connected to an inlet of the condensing coil, a thermal actuator operatively connected in-line in one of the condensate line, the coolant overflow line, and the steam line, wherein the valve is located between the source of coolant and the cooling tank, wherein the valve is operative to be in a closed position blocking the flow of coolant from the source of coolant into the cooling tank and an open position allowing the flow of coolant from the source of coolant into the cooling tank, wherein the thermal actuator is operatively connected to the valve and causes the valve to be placed from the closed position to the open position in response to the temperature of a fluid in the one of the condensate line, coolant overflow line, and steam line exceeding a predetermined value. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the thermal actuator includes an actuating part that is movable between an actuating position that causes the valve to be placed in the open position and a nonactuating position that allows the valve to be placed in the closed position, wherein the thermal actuator includes an opening for viewing the position of the actuating part. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2  including a drain in fluid communication with the cooling tank, a drain adaptor in operative connection with the drain, wherein the drain adaptor includes a first input port in fluid communication with condensate flowing from the condensing coil and a second input port in fluid communication with coolant flowing from the cooling tank. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the drain adaptor is configured to be received by a slip joint tee. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  including a drain in fluid communication with the cooling tank, wherein the drain is in fluid communication with an outlet of the condensing coil, a thermal valve assembly fluidly connected between the outlet of the condensing coil and the drain, wherein the thermal valve assembly is operative to prevent fluid from the condensing coil to flow into the drain in response to the temperature of the fluid exceeding a predetermined value. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  including an indicator, wherein said indicator is operative to indicate that the fluid flowing out of the outlet of the condensing coil exceeds a predetermined temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the air gap assembly includes at least one barbed end, wherein the barbed end is securely received by a tubular adapter, wherein the tubular adapter is configured to be securely received by a fitting. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  including a drain in fluid communication with the cooling tank, a manifold fitting operatively mounted to the tank, wherein the manifold includes first and second inlet ports and first and second outlet ports, wherein the first inlet port is in fluid communication with steam to be condensed and the first outlet port is in fluid communication with the condensing coil, wherein the second inlet port is in fluid communication with the condensing coil and the second outlet port is in fluid communication with the drain, wherein the manifold is configured such that steam to be condensed enters the first inlet port into the manifold and exits the manifold through the first outlet port and into the condensing coil, wherein the manifold is configured such that condensate from the condensing coil enters the second inlet port into the manifold and exits the manifold through the second outlet port to the drain. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  including a drain in fluid communication with the cooling tank, wherein the cooling tank includes a coolant overflow outlet in fluid communication with the drain, wherein the coolant overflow outlet allows coolant to flow out of the cooling tank to the drain when the coolant in the cooling tank is at a predetermined level. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2  including a drain in fluid communication with the cooling tank, wherein the cooling tank is triangular in shape and includes a coolant inlet port for receiving coolant from the source of coolant, wherein the cooling tank includes a coolant overflow outlet in fluid communication with the drain, wherein the coolant overflow outlet allows coolant to flow out of the cooling tank to the drain when the coolant in the cooling tank is at a predetermined level, wherein the thermal actuator is positioned in the cooling tank between the coolant inlet port and coolant overflow outlet at a location in which temperature of the coolant is substantially at the average coolant temperature of the cooling tank. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2  including a drain in fluid communication with the cooling tank, wherein the drain is in fluid communication with an outlet of the condensing coil, a thermal valve assembly fluidly connected between the outlet of the condensing coil and the drain, wherein the thermal valve assembly is operative to prevent fluid from the condensing coil to flow into the drain in response to the temperature of the fluid exceeding a predetermined value. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  including a flow control device operatively connected between the cooling tank and the source of coolant, wherein the flow control device is operative to control the flow of coolant into the tank at a predetermined rate. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the thermal actuator includes a wax portion and a piston, wherein the wax portion is operatively connected to the piston, wherein the wax portion is operative to expand and move the piston a predetermined distance that causes the valve to be placed in the open position in response to the temperature of the coolant in the cooling tank increasing above a predetermined value. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 6 , including a drain in fluid communication with the cooling tank, wherein the first input port includes a first check valve and the second input port includes a second check valve, wherein the first check valve is operative to prevent the back flow of fluid from the drain to the condensing coil, wherein the second check valve is operative to prevent the back flow of fluid from the drain to the cooling tank. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the check valve is a ball check valve. 
     
     
         19 . A system for changing the temperature of a fluid comprising:
 a container;   a thermal exchange device extending into the container;   a source of thermal exchange fluid in fluid communication with the container, wherein the thermal exchange fluid from the source of thermal exchange fluid flows into the container to change the temperature of the thermal exchange device when the temperature of the thermal exchange fluid in the container reaches a predetermined value;   a thermal actuator operatively connected to a valve, wherein the valve is located between the source of thermal exchange fluid and the container, wherein the valve is operative to be in a closed position blocking the flow of thermal exchange fluid from the source of thermal exchange fluid into the container and an open position allowing the flow of thermal exchange fluid from the source of thermal exchange fluid into the container, wherein the thermal actuator causes the valve to be placed from the closed position to the open position in response to the temperature of the thermal exchange fluid reaching the predetermined value.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the thermal exchange device includes a condensing coil, wherein the container includes a cooling tank, wherein the thermal exchange fluid includes coolant, wherein the coolant from the source of thermal exchange fluid flows into the cooling tank to cool the condensing coil when the temperature of the coolant in the cooling tank exceeds the predetermined value. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the thermal actuator comprises an expandable part, wherein the expandable part is in contact with the coolant in the cooling tank and in operative connection with the valve, wherein the expandable part is operative to expand in response to the temperature of the coolant in the coolant tank exceeding the predetermined value and cause the valve to be placed in the open position. 
     
     
         22 . A system for condensing steam comprising:
 a cooling tank;   a condensing coil extending into the cooling tank;   a drain in fluid communication with the cooling tank;   a condensate line fluidly connected between the drain and an outlet of the condensing coil;   a coolant overflow line fluidly connected between the cooling tank and the drain;   a steam line fluidly connected to an inlet of the condensing coil;   a source of coolant in fluid communication with the cooling tank;   a thermal actuator operatively connected to a valve, wherein the valve is located between the source of coolant and the cooling tank, wherein the valve is operative to be in a closed position blocking the flow of coolant from the source of coolant into the cooling tank and an open position allowing the flow of coolant from the source of coolant into the cooling tank, wherein the thermal actuator is operatively connected to one of the condensate line, coolant overflow line, and steam line, wherein the thermal actuator causes the valve to be placed from the closed position to the open position in response to the temperature of a fluid in the one of the condensate line, coolant overflow line, and steam line exceeding a predetermined value.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the thermal actuator includes an actuating part that is movable between an actuating position that causes the valve to be placed in the open position and a nonactuating position that allows the valve to be placed in the closed position, wherein the thermal actuator includes an opening for viewing the position of the actuating part. 
     
     
         24 . A system for changing the temperature of a fluid comprising:
 a container;   a thermal exchange device extending into the container;   a source of thermal exchange fluid in fluid communication with the container, wherein the thermal exchange fluid from the source of thermal exchange fluid flows into the container to change the temperature of the thermal exchange device when the temperature of the thermal exchange fluid in the container reaches a predetermined value;   an air gap assembly located between the container and the source of thermal exchange fluid, wherein the air gap assembly includes an opening to atmospheric air, wherein the air gap assembly is constructed and arranged to allow thermal exchange fluid to flow out of the opening when there is a predetermined amount of thermal exchange fluid back flowing into the device.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the thermal exchange fluid includes coolant, wherein the coolant from the source of thermal exchange fluid flows into the container to lower the temperature of the thermal exchange device when the temperature of the thermal exchange fluid in the container reaches a predetermined value.