Heat exchange system and method of use

Abstract

A heat exchange system and method of use are provided. The system may include an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of tubes in communication with the inlet and the outlet. The plurality of tubes may include a first tube located adjacent to a second tube. A first drain conduit may be in communication with the first tube at a location between the inlet and the outlet, and a second drain conduit may be in communication with the second tube at a location between the inlet and the outlet, such that the first and second drain conduits are operable to drain fluid from the plurality of tubes. The method may include supplying fluid to the inlet, flowing fluid through the plurality of tubes, returning fluid to the outlet, and removing a portion of the fluid from the plurality of tubes via a drainage manifold that is in fluid communication with the plurality of tubes at a location between the inlet and outlet.

1 . A heat exchange system, comprising:
 an inlet manifold;   an outlet manifold;   a plurality of tubes in communication with the inlet and outlet manifolds, wherein the plurality of tubes includes a first tube located adjacent to a second tube;   a first conduit in communication with the first tube at a location between the inlet and outlet manifolds; and   a second conduit in communication with the second tube at a location between the inlet and outlet manifolds, wherein the first and second conduits are configured to drain fluid from the plurality of tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second conduits are in communication with a bend portion of the first and second tubes, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second tubes include at least first and second bend portions, and wherein the first and second conduits are connected to the first bend portions of the first and second tubes, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a third conduit in communication with the first tube at a location between the inlet and outlet manifolds, and a fourth conduit in communication with the second tube at a location between the inlet and outlet manifolds, wherein the third and fourth conduits are configured to drain fluid from the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the third and fourth conduits are connected to the second bend portions of the first and second tubes, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a fifth conduit operable to collect fluid from the first, second, third, and fourth conduits. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a sixth conduit operable to direct the collected fluid from the fifth conduit from to a location remote from the heat exchange system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tubes form a plurality of rows of tubing, wherein the first and second conduits are in communication with each row of tubing. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing to support the plurality of tubes, wherein the plurality of tubes are supported by the housing so that they are substantially horizontal relative to a horizontal axis of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing to support the plurality of tubes, wherein the plurality of tubes are supported by the housing so that they are tilted toward the outlet manifold. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tubes commence at the inlet manifold. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second tubes terminate at the outlet manifold. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tubes include unitary cylindrical members that each forms a fluid path from the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first tube includes at least one bend portion having a shape different than at least one bend portion of the second tube. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third conduit operable to collect fluid from the first and second conduits, wherein the first and second conduits are connected to different sides of the third conduit. 
     
     
         16 . A heat exchange system, comprising:
 a housing;   an inlet manifold;   an outlet manifold;   a first tube in communication with the inlet and outlet manifolds, wherein the first tube repeatedly extends from a first end to a second end of the housing, thereby forming at least a first bend portion; and   a first conduit in communication with the first bend portion at a location between the inlet and outlet manifolds, wherein the first conduit is operable to drain fluid from the first tube.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a second conduit in communication with a second bend portion of the first tube at a location between the inlet and outlet manifolds, wherein the second conduit is configured to drain fluid from the first tube. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a third conduit in communication with the first and second conduits to collect fluid drained from the first tube. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of first tubes forming a stacked configuration, wherein the first conduit is in communication with the first bend portion of each first tube within the stacked configuration at a location between the inlet and outlet manifolds. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first bend portion includes at least one of the following configurations: U-shaped, V-shaped, square-shaped, triangular-shaped, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A heat exchange system, comprising:
 a plurality of rows of tubes in communication with a supply manifold and a return manifold; and   a drain conduit in communication with a tube of each row at a location between the supply and return manifolds to drain fluid from the heat exchange system.   
     
     
         22 . A heat exchange system, comprising:
 a drainage conduit in communication with one or more tubes of the heat exchange system at a location between an inlet and an outlet of the one or more tubes; and   a plug coupled to the drainage conduit to allow drainage of fluid from the one or more tubes.   
     
     
         23 . A method of draining fluid from a heat exchange system, comprising:
 providing the heat exchange system of at least one of  claims 1 ,  16 ,  21 , and  22 ; and   draining fluid from the heat exchange system when not in use.   
     
     
         24 . A method of draining fluid from a heat exchange system, comprising:
 supplying fluid to an inlet manifold;   flowing fluid from the inlet manifold through a plurality of tubes;   returning fluid to an outlet manifold from the plurality of tubes; and   removing a portion of the fluid from the plurality of tubes via a drainage manifold that is in fluid communication with the plurality of tubes at a location between the inlet and outlet manifolds.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the drainage manifold includes a single drain conduit. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the drainage manifold includes a plurality of drain conduits. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the drainage manifold includes at least one drain conduit in fluid communication with a bend portion of at least one tube. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the drainage manifold includes a first drain conduit connected to a bend portion of a first tube, and a second drain conduit connected to a bend portion of a second tube. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the drainage manifold includes a first drain conduit connected to a first bend portion of first and second tubes, and a second drain conduit connected to a second bend portion of the first and second tubes. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the drainage manifold includes a first drain conduit connected to a first bend portion of a first tube, a second drain conduit connected to a second bend portion of the first tube, a third drain conduit connected to a first bend portion of a second tube, and a fourth drain conduit connected to a second bend portion of the second tube, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth drain conduits are in fluid communication with a fifth drain conduit.