Improvements to heat exchange

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger with inter-connecting cells in a row or block which evenly distribute and transfer heat to a fluid within a cell. Voids between rows or blocks of cells and the heat transfer medium comprise additional means of transferring heat from a heat-transfer medium to the fluid within the cells. The heat exchanger may be used but not limited to applications such as a condenser in an air conditioning unit, a wall heater or an indirect evaporative cooler.

1 . A heat exchanger ( 60 ) comprising:
 at least a first and a second conduit ( 1 ) of at least a first row ( 2 );   each conduit ( 1 ) comprising at least eight sides ( 4 );   wherein the internal angles of the conduits ( 1 ) are obtuse;   each conduit ( 1 ) comprising a first fluid flowing within the conduit ( 1 );   a first means of heat transfer comprising one or more protrusions ( 3 ) extending longitudinally along the inside periphery of the conduit ( 1 );   the first and second conduits ( 1 ) characterized by:   a first side ( 4 ) of the first conduit ( 1 ) substantially opposite a second side ( 4 ) of the first conduit;   wherein the first side of the first conduit ( 1 ) of conduit  1  is in substantially continuous contact with the second side ( 4 ) of a second conduit ( 1 ) for at least substantially an eighth of the perimeter of the conduit ( 1 );   wherein the shared heat transfer length along both heat transfer lengths of the first and second conduits( 1 ) is constant;   a third side of the first conduit ( 1 ) adjacent to the first side of the first conduit and a fourth side of the second conduit adjacent to the third side of the first conduit;   a heat transfer medium ( 61 );   wherein when forming a row of at least two conduits ( 1 ), the external surfaces of the third, fourth or more adjacent sides to the third or fourth side and a tangent to the external surface of the conduit ( 1 ), the tangent being perpendicular to the first or second side, create a void ( 8 ) in thermal contact with the heat transfer medium ( 61 );   a second means of heat transfer ( 5 ) within void ( 8 );   wherein the second means of heat transfer ( 5 ) is one or more fins, or thermal mass extending from, or In contact with, the external surfaces of the third, fourth or more sides excluding the first and second sides of conduit ( 1 );   wherein the void ( 8 ) is blocked from the first fluid.   
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger ( 60 ) as claimed in  claim 1  for use in a heater ( 64 ) in a building ( 62 ), comprising:
 at least one row ( 2 ) of the conduits ( 1 ) comprising: 
 a first end ( 45 ) and a second end ( 46 ); 
 wherein the at least one row ( 2 ) is fastened to a first end plate ( 44 ) at the first end ( 45 ); 
 wherein the void ( 8 ) is blocked from the first fluid by at least the first end plate ( 44 ) or an end cap ( 25 ) 
 wherein the conduit ( 1 ) comprises eight sides wherein a fifth and a sixth sides ( 4 ) are substantially perpendicular to the first side of the conduit ( 1 ); 
 wherein the fifth side is opposite the sixth side; 
 wherein at least one of the fifth or the sixth sides ( 4 ) are In thermal communication with the heat transfer medium ( 61 ); 
 and wherein the first end portion ( 49 ) comprises: 
 a first air entry conduit fluidly connecting the first end ( 45 ) of the at least one row ( 2 ) to the outside air; 
 a first interior air conduit fluidly connecting the second end ( 46 ) of the at least one row ( 2 ) to the inside of the building ( 62 ). 
 
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger ( 60 ) as claimed in  claim 1  for use in an Indirect evaporative cooler ( 94 )
 wherein the indirect evaporative cooler ( 94 ) comprises: 
 the one or more conduits ( 1 ) arranged substantially horizontally; 
 wherein at least the first and second conduits ( 1 ) are vertically aligned in row ( 2 ); 
 wherein the sides of the one or more conduits ( 1 ), excluding the first and second sides, define a substantially cylindrically shaped side ( 91 ) to one side of the first and second sides of the conduit ( 1 ) in contact with the heat transfer medium ( 61 ); 
 wherein the heat transfer medium ( 61 ) is water; 
 one or more rows ( 2 ) of the conduits ( 1 ); 
 and wherein one or more rows ( 2 ) are positioned below one or more water pipes ( 85 ) and above a sump ( 81 ); 
 the sump ( 81 ) comprising one or more air vents ( 97 ) extending above the water line of the sump ( 81 ); 
 a second void ( 98 ) between rows ( 2 ) of the conduits ( 1 ) and the first void ( 8 ); 
 a first air supply ( 84 ) fluidly connecting the one of more air vents ( 97 ) and the second void ( 98 ) between rows ( 2 ) to a means of heating air; 
 a first exhaust air conduit ( 83 ) fluidly connecting the second void ( 98 ) to the exterior above the indirect evaporative cooler ( 94 ); 
 a second air supply ( 75 ) fluidly connecting the interior ( 77 ) of the conduits ( 1 ) to the exterior; 
 a second exhaust duct ( 78 ) fluidly connecting the interior ( 77 ) of the conduits ( 1 ) to the building interior.