Heat Exchanger and Method of Exchanging Heat

Abstract

A heat exchanger module includes a curved inner surface adapted to enclose at least a portion of an outside surface of a conduit. The heat exchanger module further includes a curved outer surface at least partially enclosing the curved inner surface. The heat exchanger module further includes a first port adapted to receive heat exchanger fluid and a second port spaced from the first port and adapted to exhaust heat exchanger fluid. The heat exchanger module further comprises a plurality of curved flow guides disposed between the curved inner surface and the curved outer surface. The curved flow guides are disposed between the first and second ports and they define a closed flow path between the first port and the second port.

1 . A heat exchanger module, comprising:
 a curved inner surface adapted to enclose at least a portion of an outside surface of a conduit;   a curved outer surface at least partially enclosing the curved inner surface;   a first port adapted to receive heat exchanger fluid;   a second port spaced from the first port and adapted to exhaust heat exchanger fluid; and   a plurality of curved flow guides disposed between the curved inner surface and the curved outer surface and disposed between the first and second ports, the flow guides defining a closed flow path between the first port and the second port, wherein each of the plurality of flow guides extends circumferentially with respect to the outside surface of the conduit, wherein each curved flow guide has an arcuate length short of a semi-circle such that a gap is created to define the closed flow path, wherein the plurality of flow guides are arranged such that the gap is disposed at alternate circumferential ends of the heat exchanger module for each successive flow guide to define a serpentine shape of the closed flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 1 , wherein the closed flow path defined by the flow guides is serpentine in one dimension and has a semi-circular shape adapted to conform to the outside surface of the conduit in a second dimension. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 1  in combination with at least one other substantially identical and separate heat exchanger module to form a band of a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 1  in combination with at least one other substantially identical and separate heat exchanger module, wherein the heat exchanger module and the at least one other heat exchanger module are in fluid communication with one another. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 1 , wherein the curved inner surface and the curved outer surface each have a semi-circular shape. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of curved flow guides are a first plurality of curved flow guides, the heat exchanger module further comprising:
 a second plurality of curved flow guides;   a divider disposed transverse to the curved inner surface, wherein the first plurality of curved flow guides are disposed on a first side of the divider and wherein a second plurality of curved flow guides are disposed on a second side of the divider.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 8 , wherein the closed flow path is a first closed flow path, the heat exchanger module further comprising:
 a third port adapted to receive heat exchanger fluid; and   a fourth port spaced from the third port and adapted to exhaust heat exchanger fluid, wherein the second plurality of curved flow guides are disposed between the curved inner surface and the curved outer surface and disposed between the third and fourth ports, the second plurality of curved flow guides defining a second closed flow path between the third port and the fourth port.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 9 , wherein each curved flow guide of the first and second pluralities of flow guides has an arcuate length short of a quarter-circle. 
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of substantially identical and separate heat exchanger modules wherein each heat exchanger module includes at least one surface defining at least one thermally conductive closed flow path extending between an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the at least one thermally conductive flow path has a serpentine shape in a first dimension along a length of a conduit and extends circumferentially in a second dimension adapted to conform at least substantially to a particular shape of an outer surface of the conduit; and   connection elements adapted to couple the plurality of heat exchanger modules to one another in fluid communication, wherein the connection elements are further adapted to couple the plurality of heat exchanger modules about and in heat transfer relationship with the outer surface of the conduit of the particular shape.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one surface of each heat exchanger module is a surface of a tube-like structure that forms each heat exchanger module. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the shape of the flow path in the second dimension is semi-circular. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the connection elements include a securement ring. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , further comprising a sheath of insulation wrapped around the plurality of heat exchanger modules. 
     
     
         16 . A method of exchanging heat, the method comprising the steps of:
 arranging a first heat exchanger module around an outside surface of a conduit;   arranging a second heat exchanger module adjacent the first heat exchanger module to form a first band that substantially surrounds the outside surface of the conduit; and   arranging a second band substantially identical to the first band along a length of the conduit, wherein each of the first and second heat exchanger modules includes a plurality of curved flow guides disposed therein defining a closed flow path between a first port and a second port, wherein each of the plurality of curved flow guides extends circumferentially with respect to the outside surface of the conduit, wherein each curved flow guide has an arcuate length short of a semi-circle such that a gap is created to define the closed flow path, wherein the plurality of flow guides are arranged such that the gap is disposed at alternate circumferential ends of each heat exchanger module for each successive flow guide to define a serpentine shape of the closed flow path.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of connecting the first port of the first heat exchanger module with the second port of a third heat exchanger module, wherein the third heat exchanger module is disposed upstream or downstream of the first heat exchanger module along the length of the conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second heat exchanger modules each include two flow paths. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second heat exchanger modules are each tube-like. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of coupling the first heat exchanger module to a fluid circuit that includes a pump.