Header for Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A header for a heat exchanger orients the position of an inlet port at an angle offset from the position of the outlet port on the header body in order to simplify the plumbing of the header within a system. In one implementation of a header for a heat exchanger, the header forms a header cavity defined by an external wall and which is separated into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber by a dividing wall. An inlet port is defined within the external wall and is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber. Similarly, an outlet port is defined within the external wall and is in fluid communication with the outlet chamber. The inlet port is oriented on the external wall at an offset angle with respect to a position of the outlet port.

1 . A header for a heat exchanger comprising
 a header cavity defined by an external wall and separated into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber by a dividing wall;   an inlet port defined within the external wall in fluid communication with the inlet chamber; and   an outlet port defined within the external wall in fluid communication with the outlet chamber; wherein   the inlet port is oriented on the external wall at an offset angle with respect to a position of the outlet port.   
     
     
         2 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the offset angle is 90 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the offset angle is 180 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 1  further comprising
 one or more heater outlet ports in fluid communication with the inlet chamber; and   one or more heater inlet ports in fluid communication with the outlet chamber.   
     
     
         5 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the heater outlet ports are positioned at a second offset angle with respect to a position of the heater inlet ports. 
     
     
         6 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the heater outlet ports are positioned in a common plane with the heater inlet ports. 
     
     
         7 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein the heater outlet ports and the heater inlet ports are positioned at a second offset angle with respect to a position of the inlet port and a third offset angle with respect to the position of the outlet port. 
     
     
         8 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein
 the dividing wall further defines an aperture; and   the header further comprises a bypass valve operably associated with the aperture to allow water to flow directly from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber upon actuation of the bypass valve.   
     
     
         9 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the bypass valve is actuated by one or more of fluid pressure, fluid temperature, fluid flow speed, manual actuation, or control system actuation. 
     
     
         10 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the offset angle is dependent upon a diameter of each of the inlet port, the outlet port, and the header cavity and is selected to prevent overlap in position between the inlet port and the outlet port on the external wall. 
     
     
         11 . A header for a heat exchanger comprising
 a tubular body defining a header cavity;   a dividing wall separating the header cavity into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber;   a first end cap removably attached to a first end of the tubular body to seal the inlet chamber;   a second end cap removably attached to a second end of the tubular body to seal the outlet chamber;   an inlet port defined within the tubular body in fluid communication with the inlet chamber;   an outlet port defined within the tubular body in fluid communication with the outlet chamber; wherein
 the inlet port is oriented at a first offset angle with respect to a position of the outlet port; 
   one or more heater outlet ports in fluid communication with the inlet chamber; and   one or more heater inlet ports in fluid communication with the outlet chamber, wherein
 the heater outlet ports are positioned in a common plane with the heater inlet ports; and 
 the heater outlet ports and the heater inlet ports are positioned at a second offset angle with respect to a position of the inlet port and a third offset angle with respect to the position of the outlet port. 
   
     
     
         12 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the first offset angle is 90 degrees, the second offset angle is 180 degrees, and the third offset angle is 90 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein
 the dividing wall further defines an aperture; and   the header further comprises a bypass valve operably associated with the aperture to allow water to flow directly from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber upon actuation of the bypass valve.   
     
     
         14 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein the bypass valve is actuated by one or more of fluid pressure, fluid temperature, fluid flow speed, manual actuation, or control system actuation. 
     
     
         15 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the first offset angle is dependent upon dimensions of each of the inlet port, the outlet port, and the header cavity and is selected to prevent overlap in position between the inlet port and the outlet port on the tubular body. 
     
     
         16 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein one or both of the first end cap and the second end cap further comprises one or more sensors to monitor a condition of a fluid within one or both of the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber, respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 11  further comprising one of more drain apertures defined in the tubular body in fluid communication with either or both of the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The header for the heat exchanger of  claim 11  further comprising a pressure release aperture in the tubular body in fluid communication with the outlet chamber.