Polymer tube heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a plurality of polymer tubes extending between and fluidly connecting an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, thereby providing a flow path inside said tubes for a first fluid between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold. The tubes are configured to have space between the exterior surfaces thereof, thereby providing a fluid flow path for a second fluid through the space between the exterior surfaces of the tubes.

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of polymer tubes extending between and fluidly connecting an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, thereby providing a flow path inside said tubes for a first fluid between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold;   said plurality of tubes configured to have space between the exterior surfaces thereof, thereby providing a fluid flow path for a second fluid through the space between the exterior surfaces of the tubes;   said polymer tubes comprising polyarylene sulfide, polyarylether ketone, aromatic polysulfone, aromatic polyetherimide, or blends thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer tubes have a diameter of 1 mm to 10 mm and a wall thickness of 0.1 mm to 1 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer tubes further comprise a nanoparticle thermal conductivity enhancing additive. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer tubes consist essentially of polyarylene sulfide, polyarylether ketone, aromatic polysulfone, aromatic polyetherimide, or blends thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer tubes comprise a plurality of co-extruded polymer layers wherein at least one of the polymer layers comprises polyarylene sulfide, polyarylether ketone, aromatic polysulfone, aromatic polyetherimide, or blends thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the polymer layers comprises a fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one of the polymer layers consists essentially of polyarylene sulfide. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer tubes have a diameter of 2 mm to 5 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer tubes have a thickness of 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the tubes have a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the tubes have an ovular or elliptical cross-section having an aspect ratio of greater than 1 and less than or equal to 5. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the tubes have a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the tubes include an integrated support. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein the integrated support is external. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the tubes comprise polyarylene sulfide or polyarylether ketone having a crystallinity of 10% to 85%. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a module wherein the tubes and the inlet and outlet manifolds are all injection molded in a single injection molding shot. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , comprising a plurality of said heat exchanger modules stacked together. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein adjacent modules are connected with a gasket to produce a fluid-tight seal, and are fastened together mechanically or adhesively. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein modules on each end of the stack include a solid end-wall as part of their injection molded structure. 
     
     
         20 . A method of making a heat exchanger tube, comprising extruding a thermoplastic composition comprising polyarylene sulfide or polyarylether ketone, and heating the extruded tube with radiant or convective heating under tension to increase crystallinity of the polyarylene sulfide or polyarylether ketone to 10% to 85%.