Convection towers for air cooled heat exchangers

Abstract

An exemplary heat exchange system includes a first stage including a first stage heat exchanger and a tower wherein the first stage heat exchanger exchanges heat between a fluid and air to thereby heat the air and generate air convection in the tower; and a second stage including a second stage heat exchanger and a powerable convection unit wherein the second stage heat exchanger receives the fluid from the first stage and exchanges heat between the fluid and air. An exemplary method includes transferring heat energy from a fluid to air using a first heat exchanger to cause air convection in a tower; and transferring heat energy from the fluid to air using a second heat exchanger and a fan. Various other exemplary systems and methods are also disclosed.

1 . A heat exchange system comprising: 
 a first stage including a first stage heat exchanger and a tower wherein    the first stage heat exchanger exchanges heat between a fluid and air to thereby heat the air and generate air convection in the tower; and    a second stage including a second stage heat exchanger and a powerable convection unit wherein the second stage heat exchanger receives the fluid from the first stage and exchanges heat between the fluid and air.    
     
     
         2 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises a zeotrope.  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the fluid enters the first stage as a vapor.  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid has a temperature glide for a vapor to liquid phase transition.  
     
     
         5 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the air enters the first stage at ambient conditions.  
     
     
         6 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the air exits the tower at a temperature greater than the ambient air temperature.  
     
     
         7 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises ammonia and water.  
     
     
         8 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid exits a turbine prior to entering the first stage.  
     
     
         9 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the first stage and the second stage condense the fluid as part of a Kalina cycle.  
     
     
         10 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the first stage and the second stage condense the fluid as part of a cycle selected from the group consisting of Lorenz cycles, Uehara cycle, Rankine cycles, Carnot cycles and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the tower has an air inlet located at least at the periphery of a cylindrical section.  
     
     
         12 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the first stage heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchangers.  
     
     
         13 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the first stage heat exchanger is located near an air inlet.  
     
     
         14 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the first stage heat exchanger is located near a periphery of a cylindrical section of the tower.  
     
     
         15 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the first stage includes a powerable convection unit.  
     
     
         16 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the second stage includes a tower.  
     
     
         17 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the tower depends on one or more parameters associated with the second stage.  
     
     
         18 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the height of the tower depends on a pinch point.  
     
     
         19 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein air enters the tower substantially horizontally and exits the tower substantially vertically.  
     
     
         20 . The heat exchange system of  claim 1 , wherein the convection in the tower comprises natural convection.  
     
     
         21 . A method comprising: 
 transferring heat energy from a fluid to air using a first heat exchanger to cause air convection in a tower; and    transferring heat energy from the fluid to air using a second heat exchanger and a fan.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the fluid comprises a zeotrope.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the fluid comprises ammonia and water.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first heat exchanger relies on the air convection in the tower.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the fluid condenses from a vapor to a liquid.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the fluid has a temperature glide for a vapor to liquid phase transition.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a controller controls the fan.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the air enters the first heat exchanger at ambient conditions.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the air exits the tower at a temperature greater than the ambient air temperature.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the height of the tower depends on a pinch point.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  21 , wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger condense the fluid as part of a Kalina cycle.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger condense the fluid as part of a cycle selected from the group consisting of Lorenz cycles, Uehara cycles, Rankine cycles, Carnot cycles and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the air convection in the tower comprises natural convection.  
     
     
         34 . A heat exchange system comprising: 
 means for transferring heat energy from a fluid to air using only natural convection of the air; and    means for further transferring heat energy from the fluid to air using a fan.    
     
     
         35 . The heat exchange system of  claim 34 , wherein the means for transferring heat energy comprises a heat exchanger.  
     
     
         36 . The heat exchange system of  claim 34 , wherein the means for further transferring heat energy comprises a heat exchanger.  
     
     
         37 . A heat exchange system comprising: 
 a first stage including a first stage heat exchanger and a structural passageway wherein the first stage heat exchanger exchanges heat between a fluid and air to thereby heat the air and generate air convection in the structural passageway; and    a second stage including a second stage heat exchanger and a powerable convection unit wherein the second stage heat exchanger receives the fluid from the first stage and exchanges heat between the fluid and air.    
     
     
         38 . The heat exchange system of  claim 37 , wherein the structural passageway comprises a stairway.  
     
     
         39 . The heat exchange system of  claim 37 , wherein the structural passageway is located at least partially within a building.  
     
     
         40 . The heat exchange system of  claim 37 , wherein the air convection in the structural passageway comprises natural convection.