US2013312451A1PendingUtilityA1

Multiple Panel Heat Exchanger

55
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 24, 2012Filed: May 24, 2012Published: Nov 28, 2013
Est. expiryMay 24, 2032(~5.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Michael D. Max
F28D 1/05333F28D 1/05383Y02A20/00F28D 2021/0038F25B 39/02E03B 3/28B01D 5/0015F28D 2021/0071
55
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Claims

Abstract

A multiple panel heat exchanger and atmospheric water harvester using the same is provided. The multiple panel heat exchanger includes two or more heat exchange panels arranged in side-by-side series with their major cross sectional areas normal to airflow across the heat exchanger. The heat exchange panels are fluidically connected in series and with a first heat exchange panel in the series having a heat exchange fluid inlet into the heat exchanger and a last heat exchange panel in the series having a heat exchange fluid outlet from the heat exchanger. The multiple panel heat exchanger is suited for a heat exchanger in a refrigeration circuit, such as an evaporator in a vapor-compression refrigeration circuit. An atmospheric water harvester including the multiple panel heat exchanger is also provided.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 at least two heat exchange panels, each heat exchange panel having a major cross sectional area about normal to an airflow across said heat exchange panel, each of said at least two heat exchange panels arranged in series with their major cross-sectional areas parallel and overlapping, each of said two heat exchange panels fluidically connected in series; and wherein a first heat exchange panel in said series includes a heat exchange fluid inlet, and a last heat exchange panel in said series includes a heat exchange fluid outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein there is gap between adjacent heat exchange panels. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger unit is fluidically connected to a refrigeration circuit and is operative as an evaporator. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein said refrigeration circuit is a vapor-compression refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein said vapor-compression refrigeration circuit is in an atmospheric water harvester. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein said heat exchanger unit is connected to said vapor-compression refrigeration circuit such that said first heat exchange panel is arranged upstream from said last heat exchange panel in relation to the direction of refrigerant flow in said vapor-compression refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein said last heat exchange panel has a major cross-sectional area that is less than the major cross-section area of said first heat exchange panel. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a valve, and wherein said valve fluidically connects two successive heat exchange panels, and is operative to control a flow of heat exchange fluid between said two successive heat exchange panels.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein there is gap between adjacent heat exchange panels. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein said heat exchanger unit is fluidically connected to a refrigeration circuit and is operative as an evaporator. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein said refrigeration circuit is a vapor-compression refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein said vapor-compression refrigeration circuit is in an atmospheric water harvester. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein said heat exchanger unit is connected to said vapor-compression refrigeration circuit such that said first heat exchange panel is arranged upstream from said last heat exchange panel in relation to the direction of refrigerate flow in said vapor-compression refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein said last heat exchange panel has a major cross-sectional area that is less than the major cross-section area of said first heat exchange panel. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein one heat exchange panel of said at least two heat exchange panels has a thickness that is less than the thickness of another heat exchange panel of said at least two heat exchange panels. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein said one heat exchange panel is said last heat exchange panel in said series. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein there is gap between adjacent heat exchange panels. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein said heat exchanger unit is fluidically connected to a refrigeration circuit and is operative as an evaporator. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein said refrigeration circuit is a vapor-compression refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein said vapor-compression refrigeration circuit is in an atmospheric water harvester. 
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein said heat exchanger unit is connected to said vapor-compression refrigeration circuit such that said first heat exchange panel is arranged upstream from said last heat exchange panel in relation to the direction of refrigerate flow in said vapor-compression refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         22 . An atmospheric water harvester, comprising:
 a refrigeration circuit including an evaporator, said evaporator positioned in a single direction airflow through said atmospheric water harvester; and   said evaporator comprising at least two heat exchange panels, each heat exchange panel having a major cross sectional area normal to an airflow across said heat exchange panel, each of said at least two heat exchange panels arranged in series with their major cross-sectional areas parallel and overlapping, each of said two heat exchange panels fluidically connected in series; and wherein a first heat exchange panel in said series includes a heat exchange fluid inlet, and a last heat exchange panel in said series includes a heat exchange fluid outlet.   
     
     
         23 . The atmospheric water harvester of  claim 22 , wherein said second heat exchange panel is disposed upstream from said first heat exchange in relation to a flow of refrigerant in said refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         24 . The atmospheric water harvester of  claim 23 , wherein said last heat exchange panel has a major cross-sectional area that is less than the major cross-section area of said first heat exchange panel. 
     
     
         25 . The atmospheric water harvester of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a valve, and wherein said valve fluidically connects two successive heat exchange panels, and is operative to control a flow of heat exchange fluid between said two successive heat exchange panels.   
     
     
         26 . The atmospheric water harvester of  claim 22 , wherein said last heat exchange panel has a major cross-sectional area that is less than the major cross-section area of said first heat exchange panel. 
     
     
         27 . The atmospheric water harvester of  claim 22 , wherein one heat exchange panel of said at least two heat exchange panels has a thickness that is less than the thickness of another heat exchange panel of said at least two heat exchange panels.

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