Heat transfer system

Abstract

A dynamic heat transfer system enables heat transfer between a coolant and a hot fluid. The system pumps the coolant through a coolant tube portion that passes through the fluid, and also forcibly impels the fluid over and through the coolant tube portion to maximize contact necessary for heat transfer. Maximizing exposure of the fluid to the coolant tube portion expedites cooling of the fluid. The fluid resides in a fluid container, such as a frying vat, and enters through a supply line form a coolant reservoir. The heat transfers from the hot fluid to the coolant through a conductive medium, which is the coolant tube portion. An impeller, driven by a drive shaft and motor, agitates the fluid around the coolant tube portion to maximize contact. The impeller creates low and high pressure zones that are regulated by a shroud for maximizing heat transfer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a coolant reservoir configured to contain a coolant;   a fluid container configured to contain a fluid;   an encompassing coolant tube portion configured to carry said coolant between said coolant reservoir and said fluid container, said encompassing coolant tube portion further configured to transfer heat from said fluid to said coolant; and   an impeller configured to at least partially agitate said fluid, said impeller further configured to maximize contact between said fluid and said encompassing coolant tube portion for enhancing said transfer of heat from said fluid to said coolant.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , in which said coolant comprises ice water. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , in which said fluid comprises a hot cooking oil. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , in which said fluid container comprises a frying vat. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , in which said fluid container comprises a barrier portion configured to inhibit spillage of said fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , in which said fluid container comprises a stabilizing portion configured to at least partially stabilize said impeller during operation. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , in which said coolant reservoir comprises a pump configured to force said fluid through said encompassing coolant tube portion. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , in which said system comprises a supply line configured to carry said coolant from said coolant reservoir to a tube lower end of said encompassing coolant tube portion. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , in which said system comprises a return line configured to carry said coolant flows away from said fluid container through a tube upper end of said encompassing coolant tube portion. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , in which said coolant converts into a byproduct after said heat transfer, said byproduct comprising hot water. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , in which said encompassing coolant tube portion comprises a coil tubing, said coil tubing comprising a plurality of races configured to enable at least partial passage of said fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said impeller is configured to push said fluid over said tube lower end, and pull said fluid over said tube upper end. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said impeller is configured to create a low pressure and a high pressure with said fluid in said fluid container. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , in which said fluid container comprises a shroud, said shroud configured to separate said low pressure from said high pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , in which said impeller comprises a propeller. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , in which said system further comprises a drive shaft disposed to join with said impeller, said drive shaft comprising a motor configured to power said drive shaft and said impeller. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said system is configured to chill beer wort. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a coolant reservoir configured to contain a coolant;   a fluid container configured to contain a fluid;   a coolant tube portion configured to carry said coolant between said coolant reservoir and said fluid container, said encompassing coolant tube portion further configured to transfer heat from said fluid to said coolant; and   a heating container disposed to position in said fluid container, said heating container configured to join with said coolant tube portion for transferring heat from said heating container to said coolant.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , in which said coolant comprises cold water, said fluid comprises a hot cooking oil, said fluid container comprises a frying vat, said heating container comprises a frying basket, and said coolant tube portion comprises a coil tube. 
     
     
         20 . A system consisting of:
 a coolant reservoir configured to contain a coolant, said coolant comprising ice water;   a fluid container configured to contain a fluid, said fluid comprising a hot cooking oil;   an encompassing coolant tube portion configured to carry said coolant between said coolant reservoir and said fluid container, said encompassing coolant tube portion comprising a coil tube, said encompassing coolant tube portion further configured to transfer heat from said fluid to said coolant;   a supply line configured to carry said coolant from said coolant reservoir to a tube lower end of said encompassing coolant tube portion;   a return line configured to carry said coolant away from said fluid container through a tube upper end of said encompassing coolant tube portion;   a pump configured to force said coolant through said encompassing coolant tube portion;   an impeller configured to at least partially agitate said fluid, said impeller comprising a propeller, said impeller further configured to maximize contact between said fluid and said encompassing coolant tube portion for enhancing said transfer of heat from said fluid to said coolant, said impeller further configured to push said fluid over said tube lower end, and pull said fluid over said tube upper end, said impeller further configured to create a low pressure and a high pressure with said fluid in said fluid container;   a shroud configured to separate said low pressure from said high pressure; and   a drive shaft disposed to join with said impeller, said impeller further comprising a motor configured to power said drive shaft.