Modular heat exchangers

Abstract

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a heat exchanger module that includes a tubular housing, a first fluid conduit, a second fluid conduit, fluidically isolated from the first fluid conduit, a thermal conductor configured to convey heat energy between the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit, a first fluid connector assembly, the first fluid connector assembly having a first fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit, and a second fluid port fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit, and a second fluid connector assembly, the second fluid connector assembly having a third fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit, and a fourth fluid port fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger module comprising:
 a tubular housing;   a first fluid conduit;   a second fluid conduit, fluidically isolated from the first fluid conduit;   a thermal conductor configured to convey heat energy between the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit;   a first fluid connector assembly, the first fluid connector assembly comprising:
 a first fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit; and 
 a second fluid port fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit; and 
   a second fluid connector assembly, the second fluid connector assembly comprising:
 a third fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit; and 
 a fourth fluid port fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid conduit is a first tubular conduit defined within the tubular housing, and the second fluid conduit is a second tubular conduit defined concentrically within the first fluid conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid conduit comprises:
 one or more supply channels;   a plurality of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor; and   one or more drain channels configured to direct fluid flow away from the thermal conductor and toward a subsequent supply channel or to the third fluid port.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 1 , wherein the second fluid conduit comprises:
 one or more supply channels;   a plurality of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor; and   one or more drain channels configured to direct fluid flow away from the thermal conductor and toward a subsequent supply channel or to the fourth fluid port.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fluid connector assembly comprising:
 a first fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit;   a second fluid port configured fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit; and   a seal assembly comprising an interface defining a first fluid seal arranged between the first fluid port and the second fluid port.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 5 , further comprising a second fluid seal defined between the first fluid port and the second fluid port, wherein:
 a first fluid connector assembly is configured to removably connect to a first fluid coupler of a first manifold assembly, to fluidically connect the first fluid conduit to a first fluid manifold of the first manifold assembly and to connect the second fluid conduit to a second fluid manifold of the first manifold assembly; and   a second fluid connector assembly is configured to removably connect to a second fluid coupler of a second manifold assembly, to fluidically connect the first fluid conduit to a third fluid manifold of the second manifold assembly and fluidically connect the second fluid conduit to a fourth fluid manifold of the second manifold assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 6 , wherein the first manifold assembly defines an overboard fluid path fluidically connecting a cavity between the first fluid seal and the second fluid seal of the first fluid connector assembly to a fluid drain. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger module of  claim 6 , wherein the second manifold assembly defines an overboard fluid path fluidically connecting a cavity between the first fluid seal and the second fluid seal of the second fluid connector assembly to a fluid drain. 
     
     
         9 . A modular heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 a first manifold assembly comprising a first manifold and a second manifold;   a second manifold assembly comprising a third manifold and a fourth manifold; and   at least one heat exchanger module configured to removably engage the first manifold assembly and the second manifold assembly and comprising:
 a tubular housing; 
 a first fluid conduit; 
 a second fluid conduit, fluidically isolated from the first fluid conduit; and 
 a thermal conductor configured to convey heat energy between the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit. 
   
     
     
         10 . The modular heat exchanger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first manifold assembly comprises a first manifold fluid port fluidically connected to the first manifold and a second manifold fluid port fluidically connected to the second manifold. 
     
     
         11 . The modular heat exchanger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger module further comprises a fluid connector assembly, the fluid connector assembly comprising:
 a first fluid connector assembly, the first fluid connector assembly comprising:
 a first fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit and configured to fluidically connect the first fluid conduit to the first manifold assembly; and 
 a second fluid port fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit configured to fluidically connect the second fluid conduit to the second manifold assembly; and 
   a second fluid connector assembly, the second fluid connector assembly comprising:
 a third fluid port fluidically connected to the first fluid conduit and configured to fluidically connect the first fluid conduit to the third manifold; and 
 a fourth fluid port fluidically connected to the second fluid conduit configured to fluidically connect the second fluid conduit to the fourth manifold. 
   
     
     
         12 . The modular heat exchanger assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first fluid connector assembly defines a first seal defined between the first fluid port and the second fluid port, and the first manifold assembly defines a first overboard fluid path fluidically connecting a first cavity defined between the first seal, the second fluid conduit, and the first manifold assembly to a first drain. 
     
     
         13 . The modular heat exchanger assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a second seal defined between the first fluid port and the second fluid port, wherein the second fluid connector assembly defines a third seal and a fourth seal arranged between the third fluid port and the fourth fluid port, and the second manifold assembly defines a second overboard fluid path fluidically connecting a second cavity defined between the third seal, the fourth seal, the second fluid conduit, and the second manifold assembly to a second drain. 
     
     
         14 . The modular heat exchanger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first fluid conduit is a first tubular conduit defined within the tubular housing, and the second fluid conduit is a second tubular conduit defined concentrically within the first fluid conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The modular heat exchanger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first fluid conduit comprises:
 one or more supply channels;   a plurality of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor; and   a plurality of drain channels configured to direct fluid flow away from the thermal conductor and toward a subsequent supply channel or to the third manifold.   
     
     
         16 . The modular heat exchanger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second fluid conduit comprises:
 one or more supply channels;   a plurality of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor; and   a plurality of drain channels configured to direct fluid flow away from the thermal conductor and toward a subsequent supply channel or to the fourth manifold.   
     
     
         17 . A method of heat exchange, the method comprising:
 flowing a first flow of a first fluid to a first manifold assembly;   directing, by the first manifold assembly, the first flow to at least one modular heat exchanger assembly coupled to the first manifold assembly;   flowing a second flow of a second fluid to a second manifold assembly removably coupled to the at least one modular heat exchanger assembly;   directing, by the second manifold assembly, the second flow to the at least one modular heat exchanger assembly;   flowing, through a first fluid conduit of the modular heat exchanger assembly, the first flow from the first manifold assembly to the second manifold assembly;   flowing, through a second fluid conduit of the modular heat exchanger assembly, the second flow from the second manifold assembly to the first manifold assembly; and   conveying, by a thermal conductor, heat energy between the first fluid and the second fluid.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein flowing, through the first fluid conduit of the modular heat exchanger assembly, the first flow from the first manifold assembly to the second manifold assembly further comprises:
 flowing the first flow through one or more supply channels of the first fluid conduit;   flowing the first flow through a plurality of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor; and   flowing the first flow through a plurality of drain channels of the first fluid conduit, away from the thermal conductor.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein flowing, through the second fluid conduit of the modular heat exchanger assembly, the second flow from the second manifold assembly to the first manifold assembly further comprises:
 flowing the second flow through one or more supply channels of the second fluid conduit;   flowing the second flow through a plurality of impingement jets configured to direct fluid flow to impinge upon the thermal conductor; and   flowing the second flow through a plurality of drain channels of the second fluid conduit, away from the thermal conductor.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 assembling the modular heat exchanger assembly to the first manifold assembly;   fluidically connecting, based on the assembling, the first fluid conduit to a first manifold of the first manifold assembly;   fluidically connecting, based on the assembling, the second fluid conduit to a second manifold of the first manifold assembly;   assembling the modular heat exchanger assembly to the second manifold assembly;   fluidically connecting, based on the assembling, the first fluid conduit to a third manifold of the second manifold assembly; and   fluidically connecting, based on the assembling, the second fluid conduit to a fourth manifold of the second manifold assembly.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising directing, by a plurality of seals configured to separate the first flow from the second flow, leakage of one of the first flow or the second flow past at least one of the plurality of seals away from the other of the first flow or the second flow and toward a drain.