Transferring heat between fluids

Abstract

Heat exchangers can include heat exchange plates with: front and back exterior surfaces exposed to a non-working fluid; an interior working fluid flow channel between the front and back exterior surfaces, comprising a first plurality of parallel flow paths in a first direction and a second plurality of parallel flow paths in a second direction.

1 . A heat exchange plate comprising:
 front and back exterior surfaces exposed to a non-working fluid; and   an interior working fluid flow channel between the front and back exterior surfaces, comprising a first plurality of parallel flow paths in a first direction and a second plurality of parallel flow paths in a second direction.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first direction is opposite and parallel to the second direction. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1  wherein the first and second directions of the first and second flow paths are perpendicular to the direction of flow of the non-working fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1  wherein the plate further comprises a first region of relatively high working fluid mass flux when a working fluid has a low vapor quality and a second region of relatively low working fluid mass flux when the working fluid has a high vapor quality. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1  wherein the interior flow channel has an area of varying space in fluid contact with the first plurality of parallel flow paths and the second plurality of parallel flow paths. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 5  further comprising one or more structural walls within the first and second plurality of flow paths, the one or more walls being generally parallel to the flow path and terminating in the area of varying space. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 6  wherein the one or more structural walls comprises directional vane at the terminal end and oriented in the direction of flow. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 6  wherein the one or more structural walls comprises a directional vane at the proximal end of the structural wall. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1  wherein a flow path of the first and second plurality of flow paths comprises a void having a cross sectional area of between 155 mm and 60 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1  wherein the heat exchange plate is a composite blow molded plate. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1  wherein the heat exchange plate is aluminum. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1  wherein the working fluid pressure drop across the plate is about 0.2 psi/ft. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1  wherein the non-working fluid heat transfer coefficient ranges from 900 to 1400 Btu/ft2 Rhr. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1  wherein the pattern of a first plurality of parallel flow paths in a first direction and a second plurality of parallel flow paths in a second direction repeats across the length of the heat exchange plate. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 14  wherein the number of flow paths in the first and second plurality of flow paths increases as the pattern repeats across the length of the heat exchange plate. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 14  wherein the number of flow paths in the first plurality of flow paths increases from four flow paths per first direction to six flow paths per first direction. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 14  wherein the number of flow paths in the first plurality of flow paths increases from two flow paths per first direction to four flow paths per first direction. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1  wherein the non-working fluid is sea water. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1  wherein the working fluid is ammonia. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 1  wherein the plate is an OTEC heat exchange plate.