Heat exchanger utilizing tubular structures having internal flow altering members and external chamber assemblies

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes at least one cylindrical tubular member formed from a tubular structure and chamber assemblies. A plurality of flow altering members are coupled at predetermined intervals within the tubular structure. The flow altering members have an angled surface on their respective sides facing the flow of a heat exchange medium. Pairs of inlet orifices and outlet orifices are formed on the wall of the tubular structure at the same intervals as the flow altering members. Chamber assemblies are coupled as a full or partial collar on the exterior of the tubular structure. Each chamber assembly is hollow, permitting fluid flow within, and is in fluid communication with a corresponding inlet orifice, outlet orifice pair so that the heat exchange medium repeatedly flows out of the tubular structure into a chamber assembly and back into the tubular structure. Multiple cylindrical tubular members may be coupled between manifolds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger having at least one cylindrical tubular member, the cylindrical tubular member including:
 a tubular structure with an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end and having a plurality of inlet orifices and outlet orifices, the plurality of inlet and outlet orifices being spaced along respective sides of the tubular structure such that for each inlet orifice there is a paired outlet orifice disposed on the generally opposite side of the tubular structure;   a plurality of generally semi-cylindrical chamber assemblies attached to the exterior surface of the tubular structure, each chamber assembly having first and second generally planar walls, the first and second generally planar walls surrounding a portion of the tubular structure to at least partially define a generally semi-cylindrical chamber external to and partially surrounding the tubular structure, a first set of chamber assemblies being positioned on the tubular structure such that each of its respective chambers is in fluid communication with a corresponding inlet and outlet orifice pair and a second set of chamber assemblies being positioned on the tubular structure such that each of its respective chambers is in fluid communication with a corresponding inlet and outlet orifice pair, the chamber assemblies in the first and second sets being spaced along the tubular structure such that for each chamber assembly in the first set, there is an associated chamber assembly in the second set which is disposed on the generally opposite side of the tubular structure; and   a plurality of flow altering members disposed within the tubular structure, each flow altering member having a first side which has an angled surface facing two corresponding inlet orifices and a second side which has an angled surface facing the two outlet orifices respectively paired with the two corresponding inlet orifices.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each chamber assembly further includes a lateral wall joining the first planar wall to the second planar wall to further define the respective generally semi-cylindrical chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further including tubular sections which surround the tubular structure between consecutive chamber assemblies to interconnect the consecutive chamber assemblies. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further including attachment members which interconnect adjacent flow altering members. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each flow altering member has a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall which together with the first side of the flow altering member define a first channel disposed in fluid communication with the corresponding inlet orifices. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein each flow altering member has a third lateral wall and a fourth lateral wall which together with the second side of the flow altering member define a second channel disposed in fluid communication with the corresponding outlet orifices. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein the first lateral wall of a first flow altering member engages the third lateral wall of an adjacent flow altering member, and the second lateral wall of the first flow altering member engages the fourth lateral wall of the adjacent flow altering member to maintain a spaced relation between the adjacent flow altering members. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein each flow altering member includes a first base wall and a second base wall, the first base wall being disposed between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall to further define the first channel, and the second base wall being disposed between the third lateral wall and the fourth lateral wall to further define the second channel. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , including a plurality of the cylindrical tubular members disposed between a first manifold and a second manifold, with the inlet of each tubular structure being in fluid communication with either the first manifold or the second manifold, and the outlet of each tubular structure being in fluid communication with either the first manifold or the second manifold. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the first manifold and the second manifold are joined by a vessel in which the plurality of cylindrical tubular members are disposed. 
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger having at least one cylindrical tubular member, the cylindrical tubular member including:
 a tubular structure with an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end and having a plurality of inlet orifices and outlet orifices, the plurality of inlet and outlet orifices being spaced along respective sides of the tubular structure such that for each inlet orifice there is a paired outlet orifice disposed on the generally opposite side of the tubular structure;   a plurality of generally semi-cylindrical chamber assemblies attached to the exterior surface of the tubular structure, each chamber assembly having first and second generally planar walls, the first and second generally planar walls surrounding a portion of the tubular structure to at least partially define a generally semi-cylindrical chamber external to and partially surrounding the tubular structure, each chamber assembly being positioned on the tubular structure such that its chamber is in fluid communication with a corresponding inlet and outlet orifice pair; and   a plurality of flow altering members disposed within the tubular structure, each flow altering member having a first side which has an angled surface facing a corresponding inlet orifice and a second side which has an angled surface facing the outlet orifice respectively paired with the corresponding inlet orifice.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , wherein each chamber assembly further includes a lateral wall joining the first planar wall to the second planar wall to further define the respective generally semi-cylindrical chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , further including tubular sections which surround the tubular structure between adjacent chamber assemblies to interconnect the adjacent chamber assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , further including attachment members which interconnect adjacent flow altering members. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , wherein each flow altering member has a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall which together with the first side of the flow altering member define a first channel disposed in fluid communication with the corresponding inlet orifice. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , wherein each flow altering member has a third lateral wall and a fourth lateral wall which together with the second side of the flow altering member define a second channel disposed in fluid communication with the corresponding outlet orifice. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the first lateral wall of a first flow altering member engages the third lateral wall of an adjacent flow altering member, and the second lateral wall of the first flow altering member engages the fourth lateral wall of the adjacent flow altering member to maintain a spaced relation between the adjacent flow altering members. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein each flow altering member includes a first base wall and a second base wall, the first base wall being disposed between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall to further define the first channel, and the second base wall being disposed between the third lateral wall and the fourth lateral wall to further define the second channel. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , including a plurality of the cylindrical tubular members disposed between a first manifold and a second manifold, with the inlet of each tubular structure being in fluid communication with either the first manifold or the second manifold, and the outlet of each tubular structure being in fluid communication with either the first manifold or the second manifold. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 19 , wherein the first manifold and the second manifold are joined by a vessel in which the plurality of cylindrical tubular members are disposed.