Method and device for transferring heat

Abstract

A method and corresponding device for transferring heat between a discharge fluid ( 3 ) of a first system ( 5 ) and a second system ( 7 ). The discharge fluid ( 3 ) from the first system ( 5 ) is received and conveyed to a given location ( 9 ). There is provided at least one non-vertical elongated member ( 11 ) being positioned, shaped and sized so as to define an array of stacked cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ) extending within at least one wall segment ( 15 ), said at least one wall segment ( 15 ) being operatively connectable to the second system ( 7 ). The discharge fluid ( 3 ) is allowed to free-flow (ex. free-fall, cascade, etc.) over said at least one wall segment ( 15 ) of stacked cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ) so as to allow a heat exchange between the discharge fluid ( 3 ) and the array of stacked cross-sectional profiles.

1 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . A device ( 1 ) for transferring heat between a discharge fluid ( 3 ) of a first system ( 5 ) and a second system ( 7 ), the device ( 1 ) including:
 a housing ( 37 );   a conveying assembly ( 55 ) for conveying the discharge fluid ( 3 ) from the first system ( 5 ) to a given location ( 9 );   a heat exchanger assembly ( 57 ) operatively connectable to the conveying assembly, the heat exchanger assembly ( 57 ) including at least one non-vertical elongated member ( 11 ) being positioned, shaped and sized so as to define an array of stacked cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ) extending within at least one wall segment ( 15 ), said at least one wall segment ( 15 ) being operatively connectable to the second system ( 7 ); and   a distributing assembly ( 59 ) for allowing discharge fluid ( 3 ) provided by the conveying assembly ( 55 ) to free-flow over a part of the array of cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ) so as to allow a heat exchange between the discharge fluid ( 3 ) and the array of cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ).   
     
     
         63 - 74 . (canceled) 
     
     
         75 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 62 , wherein the distributing assembly ( 59 ) includes a flow equalizer ( 61 ) for repartitioning a flow of discharge fluid ( 3 ) to free-fall over the array of cross-sectional profiles ( 3 ). 
     
     
         76 - 82 . (canceled) 
     
     
         83 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 75 , wherein the device ( 1 ) includes at least one fluid intake ( 71 ). 
     
     
         84 - 86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 83 , wherein the housing ( 37 ) includes a fluid receptacle ( 75 ) for collecting discharge fluid ( 3 ) from the first system ( 5 ). 
     
     
         88 . (canceled) 
     
     
         89 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 87 , wherein the device ( 1 ) includes at least one pump ( 19 ) for use with the conveying assembly ( 55 ). 
     
     
         90 . (canceled) 
     
     
         91 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 89 , wherein the device ( 1 ) includes a filtering apparatus ( 77 ) for filtering debris ( 47 ) from the discharge fluid ( 3 ). 
     
     
         92 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 91 , wherein the device ( 1 ) includes a tank ( 79 ) for storing the discharge fluid ( 3 ) prior to heat exchange with a second fluid of the second system ( 7 ). 
     
     
         93 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 92 , wherein the device ( 1 ) includes a detector ( 81 ) for detecting a presence of fluid in a given location. 
     
     
         94 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 93 , wherein the conveying assembly ( 55 ) includes an upwardly extending fluid circuit ( 17 ). 
     
     
         95 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 94 , wherein the array of stacked cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ) includes at least one hollow tube ( 21 ) so as to define a fluid path ( 23 ) along which a working fluid ( 25 ) of the second system ( 7 ) is allowed to travel. 
     
     
         96 . The device ( 1 ) according  claim 95 , wherein the array of stacked cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ) includes a plurality of hollow tubes ( 21 ) being interconnectable to one another so as to define a fluid path ( 23 ) along which a working fluid ( 25 ) of the second system ( 7 ) is allowed to travel. 
     
     
         97 - 104 . (canceled) 
     
     
         105 . The device ( 1 ) according  claim 96 , wherein the device ( 1 ) includes a controller ( 53 ) for adjusting flow rate parameters to ensure that the discharge fluid ( 3 ) free-falling directly over outer peripheral surfaces ( 13   c ) of stacked cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ) creates a falling-fluid-film ( 3   f ) which coats said stacked cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ) via a capillary action of the discharge fluid ( 3 ) travelling over said stacked cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ). 
     
     
         106 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 105 , wherein the controller ( 53 ) is further configured for controlling at least one of the following: i) an energy exchange between the discharge fluid ( 3 ) and the least one wall segment ( 15 ) of cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ), ii) a pumping rate of the discharge fluid ( 3 ) free-falling over said at least one wall segment ( 15 ) of stacked cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ), and iii) a temperature difference between two different points of the at least one non-vertical elongated member ( 11 ). 
     
     
         107 - 109 . (canceled) 
     
     
         110 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 105 , wherein the device includes internal sprayers ( 85 ) for spraying cleaning product ( 49 ) within the housing ( 37 ) and onto the stacked cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ) of the at least one wall segment ( 15 ) of stacked cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ) so as to remove discharge fluid debris ( 47 ) from said stacked cross-sectional profiles ( 13 ). 
     
     
         111 - 113 . (canceled) 
     
     
         114 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 110 , wherein the device ( 1 ) includes a hot water make-up assembly ( 91 ). 
     
     
         115 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 114 , wherein the hot water make-up assembly ( 91 ) includes a storage tank ( 91   a ), a pair of control valves ( 91   b ), a circulation pump ( 91   c ) and a control module ( 91   d ) with temperature sensors ( 91   e ). 
     
     
         116 - 119 . (canceled) 
     
     
         120 . A kit with corresponding components for assembling a device ( 1 ) according to  claim 62 . 
     
     
         121 . An assembly being provided with a device ( 1 ) according to  claim 62 . 
     
     
         122 . The assembly according to  claim 121 , wherein the assembly is an assembly selected from the group consisting of a dishwasher, a washing machine, a system for processing discharge fluid from an industrial process, a system for processing discharge fluid from a cooling process, a system for processing residential discharge fluid, a system for processing commercial discharge fluid, a system for processing sewer discharge fluid, and a system conveying a natural water stream. 
     
     
         123 . The assembly according to  claim 122 , wherein the assembly is a dishwasher, wherein the discharge fluid ( 3 ) is hot discharge fluid from the dishwasher, and wherein the device ( 1 ) is used for recuperating heat from the hot discharge fluid of the dishwasher.