Intercooler heat exchanger for evaporative air conditioner system

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly includes a hollow housing having a first horizontally-extending section and a second vertically-extending section. A perforated support tube is positioned in the first section and has an inlet for receiving water and air from an intermixing assembly and a series of holes for expelling the water and air. A heat transfer coil is wound around the perforated support tube for carrying a cooling medium. A vacuum source is coupled with the second housing section for drawing the water and air from the inlet in the perforated support tube, through and out the support tube, over the heat transfer coil, and toward the outlet in the second housing section to cool the heat transfer coil through evaporative cooling.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger assembly for an evaporative air conditioner, the heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 an elongated generally hollow housing having a first section with an inlet for receiving water and air from a source thereof and a second section extending upwardly from the first section and having an outlet for discharging air from the housing;   a heat transfer coil positioned primarily in the first section of the housing for carrying a medium to be cooled by the heat exchanger assembly; and   an air mover for drawing the water and air from the inlet, over the heat transfer coil, and toward the outlet to cool the heat transfer coil through evaporative cooling.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the housing includes an inner wall for enclosing the heat transfer coil and an outer wall spaced from and encircling the inner wall to provide an insulative air gap between the inner wall and the outer wall. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of moisture extractors positioned primarily in the second section of the housing and operable to extract water from the air as it passes through the second section of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the inner and outer walls of the first section of the housing are generally circular in cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sections of the housing are generally perpendicular relative to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first section of the housing is generally-horizontally extending and the second section of the housing is generally vertically-extending. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer coil is in the shape of a cylindrical helix. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the heat transfer coil is wound around a perforated support tube. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 8 , wherein an opening in the perforated support tube defines the inlet for receiving the water and air and wherein the perforated support tube directs the water and air between windings of the heat transfer coil to cool the heat transfer coil through evaporative cooling. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger assembly for an evaporative air conditioner, the heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 an elongated, generally hollow, generally horizontally-extending first housing section;   a perforated support tube positioned primarily in the first section and having an inlet for receiving water and air from a source thereof and a series of holes for expelling the water and air therefrom;   a heat transfer coil wound around the perforated support tube for carrying a medium to be cooled by the water and air discharged from the perforated support tube;   a generally vertically-extending second housing section connected to the first housing section and having an outlet for discharging air therefrom; and   a vacuum source or air blower for drawing the water and air from the inlet in the support tube, through and out the support tube, over the heat transfer coil, and toward the outlet in the second housing section to cool the heat transfer coil through evaporative cooling.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first housing section includes an inner wall for enclosing the perforated support tube and the heat transfer coil and an outer wall spaced from and encircling the inner wall to provide an insulative air gap between the inner wall and outer wall. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of moisture extractors positioned primarily in the second section of the housing and operable to extract water from the air before it is discharged from the outlet in the second housing section. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the inner and outer walls of the first housing section are generally circular in cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the heat transfer coil is in the shape of a cylindrical helix. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising an elbow housing section joining the first housing section and the second housing section. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a condensation reservoir positioned in the elbow for collecting water that condenses from the air and for delivering the water back to the water source. 
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanger assembly for an evaporative air conditioner, the heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 an elongated, generally hollow housing having a first generally horizontally-extending section and a second generally vertically-extending section;   a perforated support tube positioned primarily in the first section and having an inlet for receiving water and air from a source thereof and a series of holes for expelling the water and air therefrom;   a heat transfer coil wound around the perforated support tube for carrying a medium to be cooled by the water and air discharged from the perforated support tube;   a vacuum source coupled with an outlet in the second housing section for drawing the water and air from the inlet in the perforated support tube, through and out the support tube, over the heat transfer coil, and toward the outlet in the second housing section to cool the heat transfer coil through evaporative cooling; and   a plurality of moisture extractors positioned primarily in the second section of the housing and operable to extract water from the air before it is discharged from the outlet in the second housing section.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first housing section includes an inner wall for enclosing the perforated support tube and the heat transfer coil and an outer wall spaced from and encircling the inner wall to provide an insulative air gap between the inner wall and outer wall. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising an elbow housing section joining the first housing section and the second housing section and a condensation reservoir positioned in the elbow for collecting water that condenses from the air and for delivering the water back to the water source. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the heat transfer coil is in the shape of a cylindrical helix.