Heat Exchanger With Parallel Fluid Channels

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a thermal reservoir, a plurality of grooves formed in the thermal reservoir, and a plurality of fluid tubes. Each of the fluid tubes is disposed in a respective one of the grooves such that it is in thermal contact with the thermal reservoir. In a particular embodiment, the grooves form helices around the outer surface of the thermal reservoir. Additionally, each of the grooves can be formed parallel to the other groove(s) such that each of the process fluid tubes will be disposed in parallel to the other process fluid tube(s). The heat exchanger can also include a heating apparatus and/or a cooling apparatus.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a generally cylindrical thermal reservoir;   a plurality of grooves provided on said thermal reservoir; and   a plurality of process fluid tubes adapted to be disposed in respective ones of said plurality of grooves and in thermal contact with said thermal reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of said grooves defines a helix around an outer surface of said thermal reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of grooves are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein a first one of said plurality of grooves is formed contiguously with a second one of said plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of process fluid tubes are adapted to be coupled to a process fluid supply. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein said process fluid supply includes a pump. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the number of grooves is at least two. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the number of grooves is at least three. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a heating apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein said cooling apparatus comprises:
 a second thermal reservoir adapted to be coupled to said thermal reservoir, said second thermal reservoir being generally cylindrical in shape;   a plurality of cooling tube grooves formed on said second thermal reservoir; and   a plurality of cooling fluid tubes adapted to be disposed in respective ones of said plurality of cooling tube grooves.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein each of said cooling tube grooves defines a helix around an outer surface of said second thermal reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein a first one of said plurality of cooling tube grooves is formed in parallel with a second one of said plurality of cooling tube grooves. 
     
     
         14 . A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger, said method comprising:
 providing a generally-cylindrical thermal reservoir;   providing a plurality of grooves on said thermal reservoir; and   providing a plurality of process fluid tubes in respective ones of said plurality of grooves, said plurality of process fluid tubes being in thermal contact with said thermal reservoir.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said step of providing said plurality of grooves includes forming a plurality of parallel helical grooves around said thermal reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of providing said plurality of process fluid tubes includes wrapping each of said plurality of process fluid tubes around said thermal reservoir in a respective one of said plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing a heating apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing a cooling apparatus.