Evaporator Protection

Abstract

A heat exchange device and a method of compensating for increases in pressure in tubes within the heat exchange device is provided. The heat exchange devices includes a plurality of the tubes for carrying a first medium and a compressible feature insertable into at least one of the tubes. Expansion of the medium causes said compressible feature to compress. The compressible feature can be inert resilient material.

1 . A heat exchange device comprising:
 a plurality of tubes for carrying a first medium; and   a compressible feature insertable into at least one of the tubes, wherein expansion of the first medium causes said compressible feature to compress.   
   
   
       2 . The heat exchange device of  claim 1 , wherein the first medium comprises water. 
   
   
       3 . The heat exchange device of  claim 1 , wherein the first medium expands when an ambient temperature of the device falls below 0 degrees Centigrade. 
   
   
       4 . The heat exchange device of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible feature comprises inert resilient material. 
   
   
       5 . The heat exchange device of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible feature comprises rubber. 
   
   
       6 . The heat exchange device of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible feature comprises closed cell foam. 
   
   
       7 . The heat exchange device of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible feature is substantially the same length as a length of the tubes of the heat exchange device. 
   
   
       8 . The heat exchange device of  claim 7 , wherein a first end of the compressible feature is attached at a first end of the tubes and a second end of the compressible feature is attached at a second end of the tubes. 
   
   
       9 . The heat exchange device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tubes are substantially cylindrical, and   the compressible feature is substantially cylindrical.   
   
   
       10 . The heat exchange device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubes and the compressible feature each have a substantially circular cross-section. 
   
   
       11 . The heat exchange device of  claim 10 , wherein the tubes have an internal diameter and the compressible feature has an external diameter when uncompressed of about 10 to 25% of the internal diameter of the tubes. 
   
   
       12 . The heat exchange device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tubes have a substantially oval cross-section,   the compressible feature has a substantially oval cross-section,   the tubes have a maximum internal diameter and a minimum internal diameter, and   the compressible feature has a maximum outer diameter when uncompressed of about 10 to 25% of the maximum internal diameter of the tubes and a minimum outer diameter when uncompressed of about 10 to 25% of the minimum internal diameter of the tubes.   
   
   
       13 . The heat exchange device of  claim 9 , wherein the tubes and the compressible features are substantially coaxially aligned. 
   
   
       14 . The heat exchange device of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet operably connected to a first end of the tubes and an outlet operably connected to a second end of the tubes, wherein the inlet is for supplying the first medium to the tubes and to the outlet. 
   
   
       15 . The heat exchange device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing, wherein the plurality of tubes are located within the housing; and   a second medium in the housing, surrounding the tubes.   
   
   
       16 . The heat exchange device of  claim 15 , wherein the second medium comprises a refrigerant. 
   
   
       17 . A method of compensating for increases in pressure in a tube of a heat exchange device, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of tubes; and   providing a compressible features within each of the tubes, said compressible features being compressible by expansion of a medium as the medium freezes within the tubes.   
   
   
       18 . The heat exchange device of any preceding  claim 1 , wherein the compressible feature is elongate and is inserted into at least a part of at least one of the tubes. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the compressible feature is elongate, and further including the step of inserting the elongate compressible member into at least a part of a length of the tubes.