Heat exchanger apparatus and methods for controlling the temperature of a high purity, re-circulating liquid

Abstract

A heat exchanger apparatus enables the temperature of a liquid located external to the apparatus in a recirculation loop to be controlled by heat transfer within the apparatus. The apparatus has heat transfer tubes which may be helically wound around a fluid directional component. A manifold fitting is also provided for distributing fluid from multiple conduits to a single conduit.

1 . A method to alter and control the temperature of a process liquid, without adversely affecting the quality thereof, comprising: 
 sensing the temperature of the process liquid,    controlling the delivery of a pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas,    changing the temperature of the pressurized gas,    delivering the gas, after its temperature has been changed, to contact at least one plastic heat transfer tube, and    circulating a liquid from a source of liquid such that the liquid flows and is in contact with the heat transfer tube to enable the heat transfer tube to heat or cool the liquid contacting the heat transfer tube to control the temperature of the liquid in the source.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the temperature of the source of liquid to enable the delivery of the pressurized gas to be controlled based on input received regarding the temperature of the source of liquid.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery of the pressurized gas is controlled by selectively delivering the pressurized gas.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery of the pressurized gas is controlled by selectively adjusting the pressure of the pressurized gas.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the pressurized gas is changed before it is delivered to the heat transfer tube as the pressurized gas passes through one of at least two temperature changing components.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the two temperature changing components are selectively utilized to deliver pressurized gas to the heat transfer component.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the pressurized gas is changed by heating the pressurized gas.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the pressurized gas is changed by separating the pressurized gas into a high temperature stream and a low temperature stream relative to the temperature of the pressurized gas before separation and wherein at least one of the gas streams is then delivered to the heat transfer tube.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ratio of the high temperature stream and the low temperature stream is selectively adjustable.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized gas is delivered, after its temperature has been changed, to a plurality of heat transfer tubes.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of the heat transfer tubes has an inlet to receive the pressurized gas and an outlet for delivery of the pressurized gas.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of the heat transfer tubes is a tube having an inlet end, wherein the inlet ends are positioned in a body of an inlet manifold fitting, wherein the outlet ends are positioned in the body of an outlet manifold fitting, wherein the inlet manifold fitting is adapted to be coupled with a single fluid communicator having only one conduit.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of the heat transfer tubes has a wall thickness which permits the pressurized gas to be contained by each tube while transferring heat to the liquid from a higher temperature gas or from the liquid to a lower temperature gas.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer tube is chemically inert to any liquid contacting the heat transfer tube.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the liquid in the source of liquid is maintained via the method in a range from 0° C. to 120° C.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for transferring heat to a process fluid, without adversely affecting the quality thereof, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing having a first end and a second end,    a fluid directional component situated longitudinally within the housing,    a plurality of plastic heat transfer tubes adapted to contain a first fluid, wherein the plurality of heat transfer tubes are within the housing and are outside of the fluid directional component,    wherein each of the heat transfer tubes has an inlet to receive the first fluid from a source outside of the housing and an outlet to deliver the first fluid out of the housing, wherein one end of each of the heat transfer tubes is fused into a fluid manifold fitting;    wherein the housing, the fluid directional component and the heat transfer tubes enable heat to be transferred between the first fluid and a second fluid as the first fluid travels in the heat transfer tubes and the second fluid travels in contact with the exterior of the heat transfer tubes around the fluid directional component and within the housing.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the ends of the plurality of heat transfer tubes fused into a fluid manifold fitting are adapted to be in fluid communication with a single fluid communicator.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said fluid manifold fitting and the ends of the plurality of heat transfer tubes have been fused together by placing the heat transfer tubes in holes in a manifold body, configuring the ends of the heat transfer tubes to be substantially flush to a face of the manifold body, and applying sufficient radiant heat to said tube ends to cause their outer walls to expand against and fuse with the walls of the holes in the manifold body to form a seal between the tubes and the manifold body.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first fluid is isolated to be within the inside of the heat transfer tubes and the fluid manifold fitting and another fluid manifold fitting.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for transferring heat to a process fluid, without adversely affecting the quality thereof, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing having a first end and a second end,    a fluid directional component within the housing,    a plurality of plastic heat transfer tubes adapted to contain a first fluid, wherein the plurality of heat transfer tubes are within the housing and are helically wound around the fluid directional component such that there are coils of heat transfer tubes along at least a portion of the length of the fluid directional component,    wherein each of the heat transfer tubes has an inlet to receive the first fluid from a source outside of the housing and an outlet to deliver the first fluid out of the housing, and    wherein the housing, the fluid directional component and the heat transfer tubes enable heat to be transferred between the first fluid and a second fluid as the first fluid travels around in the coils of the heat transfer tubes and the second fluid travels in contact with the exterior of the heat transfer tubes around the fluid directional component and within the housing.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the inlets of the heat transfer tubes are adapted to collectively receive the first fluid from a single fluid communicator.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the outlets of the heat transfer tubes are adapted to collectively deliver the first fluid to a single fluid communicator.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the coils have a plurality of diameters such that some coils are different distances from the exterior of the fluid directional component.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the coils are wrapped around each other in an offset configuration.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the heat transfer tubes are flexible enough to avoid buckling due to their helical configuration within the housing.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a plurality of tube support combs positioned within the housing, wherein the tube support combs have a plurality of holes and the tubes are positioned in the holes to enable the second fluid to flow around the tubes.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the holes are spaced apart to minimize contact between the tubes.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of heat transfer tubes are held with at least three points in each coil to maintain each coil in a generally circular configuration.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the apparatus has a length of about 12 inches.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the ratio of the length of the tubes to the length of the housing ranges from about 3:1 to about 100:1.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the volume of the space in the housing around the tubes ranges from about 5% to about 75% of the total volume between the housing and the fluid directional component.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the heat transfer tubes are chemically inert.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the fluid directional component is a temperature changing component.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the fluid directional component is a fluid passage component.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the fluid directional component is a blocking component.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a baffle positioned in the housing.  
   
   
       37 . An apparatus for transferring heat to a process fluid, without adversely affecting the quality thereof, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing having a first end and a second end,    a gas delivery component within the housing, wherein the gas delivery component has an at least one inlet to receive a fluid and an outlet to deliver the gas into the housing,    a plurality of heat transfer tubes adapted to contain a liquid, wherein the plurality of heat transfer tubes are within the housing and are helically wound around the gas delivery component along at least a portion of the length of the gas delivery component, wherein each of the heat transfer tubes has an inlet to receive a liquid from a source outside of the housing and an outlet to deliver the liquid out of the housing, and    wherein the housing and the gas delivery component enable gas to be delivered in the housing to contact the plurality of heat transfer tubes and then to pass out of the housing.    
   
   
       38 . An apparatus for transferring heat to a process fluid, without adversely affecting the quality thereof, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing having a first end and a second end,    at least one temperature changing component positioned in the housing, wherein the temperature changing component has an inlet to receive pressurized fluid and an outlet to deliver the fluid into the housing, and wherein the temperature changing component changes the temperature of the fluid before the fluid is delivered into the housing,    a plurality of heat transfer tubes adapted to contain a liquid, wherein the plurality of heat transfer tubes are within the housing and are helically wound around at least a portion of the length of the temperature changing component, wherein each of the heat transfer tubes has an inlet to receive a liquid from a source outside of the housing and an outlet to deliver the liquid back to the source to control the temperature of the liquid in the source, and    wherein the housing and the temperature changing component direct the fluid in the housing into contact with the plurality of heat transfer tubes and then out of the housing.    
   
   
       39 . A system for transferring heat to a process liquid, without adversely affecting the quality thereof, the system comprising: 
 a fluid temperature changing apparatus comprising    a case having an inlet and an outlet, and    at least one temperature changing component within the case, wherein temperature changing component receives pressurized gas via the inlet and then changes the temperature of gas before it is delivered to the outlet; and    a heat exchange apparatus comprising    a housing,    a fluid passage component within the housing, wherein the fluid passage component has an inlet to receive a fluid and an outlet to deliver the fluid out of the fluid passage component and into the housing, and    a plurality of heat transfer tubes adapted to receive the gas from the temperature changing component, wherein the plurality of heat transfer tubes are within the housing and are helically wound around the fluid passage component such that there are coils of heat transfer tubes along at least the majority of the length of the fluid passage component, and    wherein the housing, the fluid passage component and the heat transfer tubes enable heat to be transferred between the gas and the fluid as the gas travels around in the coils of the heat transfer tubes and the liquid contacts the heat transfer tubes as the liquid travels from the inlet of the fluid passage component to the outlet of the passage component.    
   
   
       40 . A system for transferring heat to a process fluid, without adversely affecting the quality thereof, the system comprising: 
 a fluid temperature changing apparatus comprising    a case having at least one inlet and two outlets, and    at least one gas separator positioned within the case, wherein the gas separator receives pressurized gas via the inlet and then separates the pressurized gas into a high temperature stream and a low temperature stream relative to the temperature of the pressurized gas received by the gas separator, wherein the gas separator is adapted to separately direct the gas streams out of the case via the outlets    a heat exchange apparatus comprising    a housing,    at least one heat transfer tubes adapted to receive one of the gas streams from the gas separator, wherein the heat transfer tube is positioned around a liquid passage component and within the housing, and 
 wherein the housing, the liquid passage component and the heat transfer tubes enable heat to be transferred between the gas and the liquid as the gas travels through the heat transfer tube and the liquid contacts the heat transfer tube as the liquid flows from the liquid passage component and within the housing.  
   
   
   
       41 . A system for transferring heat to a process fluid, without adversely affecting the quality thereof, the system comprising: 
 a controller;    a fluid temperature changing apparatus comprising at least one gas separator, wherein the gas separator receives pressurized gas and then separates the pressurized gas into a high temperature stream and a low temperature stream relative to the temperature of the pressurized gas received by the gas separator,    a heat exchange apparatus comprising    at least one heat transfer tube adapted to receive one of the gas streams from the gas separator, wherein the heat transfer tube is positioned in the flow of the process liquid in a liquid passage component, and 
 wherein the heat transfer tube enables heat to be transferred between the gas and the liquid as the gas travels through the heat transfer tubes and the liquid contacts the heat transfer tube.