High pressure water extraction device with shave off edge that feeds a low pressure chamber and internal helix feature to improve water collection and drainage

Abstract

A water extractor includes a plurality of layers of low pressure zones and a plurality of channels of high pressure zones. The low pressure zone layers alternate, in a radial direction, with the high pressure zone channels. At least one of the low pressure zones is configured to enable a flow to enter, from at least one high pressure zone, to at least one low pressure zone.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger system comprising:
 a reheater;   a condenser that is downstream of and directly interfaces the reheater;   a first water extractor that is downstream of and directly interfaces the condenser, wherein the first water extractor includes:
 a group of low pressure chambers; 
 wherein at least one chamber is configured to promote a high pressure flow to enter the at least one chamber; and 
   a second water extractor that is downstream of and directly interfaces the condenser, wherein the second water extractor is upstream of and directly interfaces the reheater.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 1 , wherein the reheater and the condenser are part of a common core of cross flow passages. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser shares a heat exchange passage with the reheater. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser includes a first pass directly downstream of the reheater. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 1 , wherein the condenser includes a second pass directly downstream of the first water extractor. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 1 , wherein the first water extractor includes a plurality of groups of chambers, and wherein the groups are configured in radially extending layers. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 1 , wherein the first water extractor comprises alternating layers of low pressure chambers and channels of flow. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 1 , wherein the first water extractor comprises:
 a plurality of layers of low pressure chambers, each layer of the plurality including a respective group of low pressure chambers, the plurality of layers including:
 a first layer comprising a first low pressure chamber; and 
 a second layer comprising a second low pressure chamber and a third low pressure chamber that is positioned downstream of the second low pressure chamber; and 
   a plurality of flow channels, each flow channel of the plurality of flow channels being configured to promote a higher pressure fluid flow relative to the first low pressure chamber or the second low pressure chamber,   wherein at least one flow channel of the plurality of flow channels is interposed between the first layer and the second layer in a radial direction,   wherein the plurality of layers of low pressure chambers and the plurality of flow channels are configured to enable a fluid flow to enter into the first low pressure chamber, the second low pressure chamber, and the third low pressure chamber via a plurality of chamber inlets.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 8 , wherein each layer of the plurality of layers of chambers has a twisted configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of flow channels comprise high pressure zones having twisted configurations. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 8 , wherein the first water extractor further comprises at least one other inlet, wherein the at least one other inlet is configured to form a ramp that extends into and in the same direction as the higher pressure fluid flow. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 8 , wherein the first chamber of the first layer is upstream of the third chamber of the second layer. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 12 , wherein the first chamber is upstream of the second chamber of the second layer. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of chamber inlets includes first and second chamber inlets configured to enable the fluid flow to enter the second chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 14 , wherein the first chamber inlet is disposed on a first side of the second layer and the second chamber inlet is disposed on a second side of the second layer, the second side being radially outwards of the first side. 
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger system comprising:
 a reheater;   a condenser downstream of the reheater;   a first water extractor that is downstream of and directly interfaces the condenser, the first water extractor including:
 a plurality of layers of chamber inlets, the plurality of layers including:
 a first layer comprising a first chamber inlet; and 
 a second layer comprising a second chamber inlet and a third chamber inlet, wherein the third chamber inlet extends in a direction towards the second chamber inlet; and 
 
 a plurality of channels of flow paths, 
 wherein at least one channel of the plurality of channels is interposed between the first layer and the second layer in a radial direction, 
 wherein the first chamber inlet is configured to promote a first fluid flow to enter into a first chamber, 
 wherein the second chamber inlet is configured to promote a second fluid flow to enter into a second chamber, and 
 wherein the third chamber inlet is configured to promote the second fluid flow to enter a third chamber; and 
   a second water extractor that is downstream of and directly interfaces the condenser, wherein the second water extractor is upstream of the reheater.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the plurality of layers comprise low pressure zones, and   wherein the plurality of channels comprise high pressure zones, wherein the high pressure zones and the low pressure zones are configured to provide a pressure differential between at least the first flow path and the first chamber.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 16 , wherein the first water extractor further comprises a plurality of interior walls twisted about a center of the first water extractor. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 16 , wherein the second layer further comprises a fourth chamber inlet configured to enable the second fluid flow to enter the second chamber, wherein the second chamber inlet is radially inwards of the fourth chamber inlet. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger system of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of layers include the first, second, and third chambers, wherein the second chamber includes a downstream end, and wherein the downstream end of the second chamber is upstream of the third chamber.