Swimming Pool Heat Exchangers And Associated Systems And Methods

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to swimming pool heat exchangers including a housing and one or more tube assemblies disposed within the housing. Each of the tube assemblies includes an elongated titanium tube and at least one fin welded to an outer surface of the elongated titanium tube. The elongated titanium tube and the at least one welded fin allow for corrosion resistance to swimming pool water while simultaneously allowing for improved heat transfer from the heat exchanger to the swimming pool water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger for a swimming pool or spa, comprising:
 a housing; and   a water heating system of one or more tube assemblies disposed within the housing, each of the tube assemblies including an elongated titanium tube and at least one fin welded to an outer surface of the elongated titanium tube, wherein the water heating system is configured for fluid communication with a fluid circulation line of said swimming pool or spa.   
     
     
         2 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fin is a copper fin. 
     
     
         3 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated titanium tube defines a cylindrical configuration with an inner passage. 
     
     
         4 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fin defines a circular configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , comprising at least one tube sheet secured to ends of the one or more tube assemblies. 
     
     
         6 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , comprising a column of the tube assemblies aligned along a central axis. 
     
     
         7 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the tube assemblies staggered relative to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tube assemblies are of the same outer diameter. 
     
     
         9 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tube assemblies are of different outer diameters. 
     
     
         10 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tube assemblies are arranged in a U-shaped or cylindrical configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tube assemblies are arranged into a flat configuration defining a single column of tube assemblies. 
     
     
         12 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tube assemblies are bent into a spiral configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tube assemblies are arranged in a cylindrical configuration including a passage extending between the tube assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tube assemblies are arranged in an A-shaped or a V-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The swimming pool heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tube assemblies are arranged in a solid block configuration including multiple rows and columns of tube assemblies. 
     
     
         16 . A method of heating swimming pool water, comprising:
 introducing heated gas into a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger including (i) a housing, and (ii) one or more tube assemblies disposed within the housing, each of the tube assemblies including an elongated titanium tube and at least one fin welded to an outer surface of the elongated titanium tube, the heated gas being introduced into an area surrounding the one or more tube assemblies; and   introducing swimming pool water to the one or more tube assemblies to allow for heat transfer between the heated gas and the swimming pool water.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising adjusting a configuration of the one or more tube assemblies within the housing to adjust a heat transfer rate to the swimming pool water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one fin is a copper fin. 
     
     
         19 . A heat exchanger system, comprising:
 a heat exchanger including (i) housing, and (ii) one or more tube assemblies disposed within the housing, each of the tube assemblies including an elongated titanium tube and at least one fin welded to an outer surface of the elongated titanium tube;   a gas source fluidly connected to the heat exchanger and configured to supply heated gas to an area surrounding the one or more tube assemblies; and   a swimming pool water source fluidly connected to the heat exchanger and configured to supply swimming pool water to the one or more tube assemblies.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one fin is a copper fin.