Heat exchanger

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a heat exchanger for altering the temperature of water from a fluid circulation line of a recreational body of water. The heat exchanger includes a helical tube-in-tube assembly adapted for flow therethrough of a plurality of fluids for heat transfer therebetween, and the heat exchanger further includes a tank defining a chamber in which said helical tube-in-tube assembly is positioned. In an exemplary embodiment, the chamber is an annular chamber, and the tank includes a cylindrical wall defining an external cavity extending through said tank.

1 . A heat exchanger for altering the temperature of water from a fluid circulation line of a recreational body of water, comprising: a helical tube-in-tube assembly adapted for flow therethrough of a plurality of fluids for heat transfer therebetween; and a tank defining therein an annular chamber in which said helical tube-in-tube assembly is positioned. 
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said tank includes at least one inner wall defining an external cavity extending through said tank. 
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one inner wall is a cylindrical wall. 
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2  in combination with a compressor positioned within said external cavity, said compressor being in fluid communication with said helical tube-in-tube assembly for sending thereto and receiving therefrom one of said plurality of fluids. 
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 4  in further combination with a base and a cover, said base and said cover cooperating with said at least one inner wall to at least partially enclose said compressor, thereby inhibiting the escape of sound from said external cavity. 
   
   
       6 . The combination of  claim 4 , wherein said one of said plurality of fluids is refrigerant. 
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said helical tube-in-tube assembly includes a water hose and a refrigerant tube at least partially extending through said water hose, said refrigerant tube and said water hose defining a primary water passage therebetween adapted for flow of water therethrough. 
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein said helical tube-in-tube assembly is provided with centering means for centering said refrigerant tube within said water hose. 
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , further including a sealing assembly releasably secured to said tank so as to permit refrigerant flow between said refrigerant tube and a tube external of said tank and so as to inhibit water flow out of said tank at said sealing assembly. 
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein said sealing assembly includes: a compression nut having an annular wall opposite said tank and an internally-threaded wall extending from said annular wall to said tank in engagement with external threads thereof; a cap positioned within said compression nut and abutting against said annular wall; a piston positioned adjacent said tank; and a grommet positioned between said cap and said piston; said compression nut, said cap, said grommet, and said piston defining a continuous cylindrical opening through which said refrigerant tube extends. 
   
   
       11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein said grommet is compressed between said piston and said cap, thereby being deformed radially outward to form a seal with said refrigerant tube. 
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , further including a diverter positioned within said annular chamber to direct a primary inflow of water into said primary water passage. 
   
   
       13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein said diverter forms a loose seal with said tank to allow a leakage flow of water into said annular chamber external to said diverter. 
   
   
       14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein said tank defines a convergence area where said primary inflow of water and said leakage flow of water converge for flow out of said tank. 
   
   
       15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further including a first leg having a first elevation and a second leg having a second elevation greater than said first elevation, said first leg and said second leg being releasably securable to said tank. 
   
   
       16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein said tank includes a first post and a second post, said first leg including a first depression adapted to securingly receive said first post, said second leg including a second depression adapted to securingly receive said second post, wherein said second depression is shaped to inhibit insertion of said first post therein and said first depression is shaped to inhibit insertion of said second post therein. 
   
   
       17 . A heat exchanger for altering the temperature of water flowing through a fluid circulation line of a recreational body of water, comprising: a helical tube-in-tube assembly adapted for flow therethrough of a plurality of fluids for heat transfer therebetween; and a tank in which said helical tube-in-tube assembly is positioned, said tank defining an external cavity extending axially therethrough. 
   
   
       18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one inner wall is a cylindrical wall. 
   
   
       19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17  in combination with a compressor positioned within said external cavity, said compressor being in fluid communication with said helical tube-in-tube assembly for sending thereto and receiving therefrom one of said plurality of fluids. 
   
   
       20 . The combination of  claim 19  in further combination with a base and a cover, said base and said cover cooperating with said at least one inner wall to at least partially enclose said compressor, thereby inhibiting the escape of sound from said external cavity. 
   
   
       21 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein said helical tube-in-tube assembly includes a water hose and a refrigerant tube at least partially extending through said water hose, said refrigerant tube and said water hose defining a primary water passage therebetween adapted for flow of water therethrough. 
   
   
       22 . The heat exchanger of  claim 21 , further including a sealing assembly releasably secured to said tank so as to permit refrigerant flow between said refrigerant tube and a tube external of said tank and so as to inhibit water flow out of said tank at said sealing assembly. 
   
   
       23 . The heat exchanger of  claim 22 , wherein said sealing assembly includes: a compression nut having an annular wall opposite said tank and an internally-threaded wall extending from said annular wall to said tank in engagement with external threads thereof; a cap positioned within said compression nut and abutting against said annular wall; a piston positioned adjacent said tank; and a grommet positioned between said cap and said piston; said compression nut, said cap, said grommet, and said piston defining a continuous cylindrical opening through which said refrigerant tube extends. 
   
   
       24 . The heat exchanger of  claim 23 , wherein said grommet is compressed between said piston and said cap, thereby being deformed radially outward to form a seal with said refrigerant tube. 
   
   
       25 . The heat exchanger of  claim 21 , further including a diverter positioned within a chamber defined by said tank to direct a primary inflow of water into said primary water passage. 
   
   
       26 . The heat exchanger of  claim 25 , wherein said diverter forms a loose seal with said tank to allow a leakage flow of water into said chamber external of said diverter. 
   
   
       27 . The heat exchanger of  claim 26 , wherein said tank defines a convergence area where said primary inflow of water and said leakage flow of water converge for flow out of said tank. 
   
   
       28 . A heat exchanger for altering the temperature of water from a fluid circulation line of a recreational body of water, comprising: a helical tube-in-tube assembly adapted for flow therethrough of a plurality of fluids for heat transfer therebetween, said helical tube-in-tube assembly including a water hose and a refrigerant tube at least partially extending through said water hose, and said refrigerant tube and said water hose defining a primary water passage therebetween adapted for flow of water therethrough; a tank defining therein a chamber in which said helical tube-in-tube assembly is positioned; and a sealing assembly releasably secured to said tank so as to permit refrigerant flow between said refrigerant tube and a tube external of said tank and so as to inhibit water flow out of said tank at said sealing assembly. 
   
   
       29 . The heat exchanger of  claim 28 , wherein said sealing assembly includes: a compression nut having an annular wall opposite said tank and an internally-threaded wall extending from said annular wall to said tank in engagement with external threads thereof; a cap positioned within said compression nut and abutting against said annular wall; a piston positioned adjacent said tank; and a grommet positioned between said cap and said piston; said compression nut, said cap, said grommet, and said piston defining a continuous cylindrical opening through which said refrigerant tube extends. 
   
   
       30 . The heat exchanger of  claim 29 , wherein said grommet is compressed between said piston and said cap, thereby being deformed radially outward to form a seal with said refrigerant tube.