Dual passage concentric tube heat exchanger for cooling/heating of fluid in a low pressure system

Abstract

Disclosed is a heat exchanger that includes a first, second, and third tube. The first tube may have a first cooling/heating medium inlet at a first end and a first cooling/heating medium outlet at a second end and the second tube is disposed about and concentric with the first tube. The second tube may have a fluid inlet on the same first end as the first tube and a fluid outlet on the same second end as the first tube. The third tube is disposed about and concentric with the second tube, and may have a second cooling/heating medium inlet on the same first end as the first tube and a second cooling/heating medium outlet on the same second end as the first tube. A clamping mechanism may be utilized to secure the tubes in their respective positions and allow the tubes to receive fluid and cooling/heating medium respectively.

1 . A heat exchanger for cooling/heating fluid at a low pressure, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a first tube receiving a cooling/heating medium through a first cooling/heating medium inlet at a first end and discharging the cooling/heating medium through a first cooling/heating medium outlet at a second end;   a second tube disposed about and concentric with the first tube, the second tube receiving fluid from a fluid inlet on the same first end as the first tube and a fluid outlet on the same second end as the first tube;   a third tube disposed about and concentric with the second tube, the third tube receiving the cooling/heating medium through at least one second cooling/heating medium inlet on the same first end as the first tube and discharging the cooling/heating medium through at least one second cooling/heating medium outlet on the same second end as the first tube; and   a clamping mechanism including a first receiving piece, a second receiving piece and a plurality of connecting pieces, wherein the first receiving piece is formed to receive on one side thereof the first end of the first tube, second tube and third tube respectively and the second receiving piece is formed to receive the on one side thereof the second end of the first tube, the second tube and the third tube, respectively,   wherein the plurality of connecting pieces are configured to removeably connect the first receiving piece to the second receiving piece and provide and release pressure to the first receiving piece and the second receiving piece to clamp the first tube, the second tube and third tube together concentrically therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first receiving piece and the second receiving piece include:
 first circular recessed portions having first O-rings disposed therein and each configured to receive the first and second ends of the first tube respectively;   second circular recessed portions having second O-rings disposed therein and configured to receive the first and second ends of the second tube respectively; and   third circular recessed portions having third O-rings disposed therein and each configured to receive the first and second ends of the third tube respectively.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the first circular recessed portions have the same circumference as the first tube, the second circular recessed portions have the same circumference as the second tube, and the third circular recessed portions have the same circumference as the third tube. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one second cooling/heating medium inlet is formed between the second recessed portion and the third recessed portion of the first receiving piece, the first cooling/heating medium inlet is formed in the center of the first receiving piece within a perimeter of the first circular recessed portion of the first receiving piece. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one second cooling/heating medium outlet is formed between the second recessed portion and the third recessed portion of the second receiving piece, and the first cooling/heating medium outlet is formed in the center of the second receiving piece within a perimeter of the first circular recessed portion of the second receiving piece. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid inlet is concentrically formed between the second recessed portion and the first recessed portion of the first receiving piece, and the fluid outlet is formed concentrically between the second recessed portion and the first recessed portion of the second receiving piece. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein the fluid inlet is concentrically formed into two divided semicircular shapes between the second recessed portion and the first recessed portion of the first receiving piece, and the fluid outlet are formed concentrically into two divided semicircular shapes between the second recessed portion and the first recessed portion of the second receiving piece. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of connection pieces are configured to receive a bolt on each end thereof to clamp the first tube, second tube and third tube concentrically between the first receiving piece and the second receiving piece when each bolt is tightened. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein one or more spiral structures are disposed around the outer perimeter along a longitudinal axis of the first tube to create turbulence within fluid passing between the outer surface of the first tube and the inner surface of the second tube. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a low pressure ink and wherein a first temperature of the ink at the first end of the second tube is different than a second temperature of the ink at the second end of the second tube. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first tube, the second tube and the third tube are made of stainless steel. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first receiving piece and the second receiving piece are formed out of a hard resin material. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling/heating medium is water. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of the  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is mounted vertically or otherwise between a collapsible arm assembly wherein the collapsible arm assembly includes:
 a mounting plate; and   two rotatable arms hingedly mounted to the mounting plate and extending outward in a perpendicular direction from the mounting plate,   wherein the two rotatable arms are configured to be rotated toward each other to be connected at an end distal from the mounting plate via a securing mechanism.   
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first tube receives a cooling medium and the third tube receives a heating medium, the cooling medium controlled by a first valve and the heating medium controlled by a second valve.