Methods and apparatus for cooling fluid

Abstract

A fluid cooler, fluid cooler core and method of condensing gas is disclosed. The fluid cooler includes a container for a liquid transfer medium. The container includes first and second hot fluid inlets, first and second cooled liquid outlets, a cooling liquid inlet, and a cooling liquid outlet. A first conduit extends within the container and fluidly couples the first hot fluid inlet to the first cooled liquid outlet. A second conduit extends within the container and fluidly couples the second hot fluid inlet to the second cooled liquid outlet. A third conduit extends within the container and fluidly couples the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet. The first, second, and third conduits are positioned to be at least partially submerged in the liquid transfer medium when the container contains the liquid transfer medium.

1 . A fluid cooler comprising:
 a container for a liquid transfer medium,
 the container including first and second hot fluid inlets, first and second cooled liquid outlets, a cooling liquid inlet, and a cooling liquid outlet; 
   a first conduit extending within the container and fluidly coupling the first hot fluid inlet to the first cooled liquid outlet;   a second conduit extending within the container and fluidly coupling the second hot fluid inlet to the second cooled liquid outlet; and   a third conduit extending within the container and fluidly coupling the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet;   wherein the first, second, and third conduits are positioned to be at least partially submerged in the liquid transfer medium when the container contains the liquid transfer medium.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid cooler of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the container includes a removable lid, and   at least one of the first and second hot fluid inlets, the first and second cooled liquid outlets, the cooling liquid inlet, and the cooling liquid outlet is located in the removable lid.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a thermally sensitive flow regulator fluidly coupled to the third conduit.   
     
     
         4 . The fluid cooler of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the flow regulator includes a valve operated by a thermally sensitive actuator.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid cooler of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the flow regulator is positioned within the container such that the flow regulator is at least partially submerged when the container contains the liquid transfer medium.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid cooler of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the first, second and third conduits is at least partially coiled.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid cooler of  claim 1 , wherein:
 one conduit of the first, second, and third conduits includes a coiled portion defining an interior volume; and   at least one other of the first, second and third conduits extends through the interior volume.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid cooler of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the container has a top, and a bottom;   each of the first, second, and third conduits includes a coiled portion; and   the coiled portion of the third conduit is closer to the top of the container than the coiled portions of the first and second conduits.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a discharge conduit extending exterior the container and having a first end fluidly coupled to the cooling liquid outlet.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid cooler of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the discharge conduit includes a second end exposed to open air.   
     
     
         11 . A fluid cooler core comprising:
 a container lid having an inward facing side, a hot fluid inlet, a cooled liquid outlet, a cooling liquid inlet, and a cooling liquid outlet;   a first conduit extending from the inward facing side and fluid ly coupling the hot fluid inlet to the cooled liquid outlet; and   a second conduit extending from the inward facing side and fluidly coupling the cooling liquid inlet to the cooling liquid outlet;   when the container lid closes an opening to a container, the first and second conduits extend into the container.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid cooler core of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a thermally sensitive flow regulator fluidly coupled to the second conduit.   
     
     
         13 . The fluid cooler core of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the flow regulator includes a valve operated by a thermally sensitive actuator.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid cooler core of  claim 11 , wherein:
 at least one of the first and second conduits is at least partially coiled.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid cooler core of  claim 11 , wherein:
 one conduit of the first and second conduits includes a coiled portion defining an interior volume; and   the other of the first and second conduits extends through the interior volume.   
     
     
         16 . The fluid cooler core of  claim 11 , wherein:
 each of the first and second conduits includes a coiled portion; and   the coiled portion of the second conduit is closer to the lid than the coiled portion of the first conduit.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid cooler core of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the container lid includes a second hot fluid inlet, and a second cooled liquid outlet; and   a third conduit extends from the inward facing side and fluidly couples the second hot fluid inlet to the second cooled liquid outlet.   
     
     
         18 . A method of condensing gas, the method comprising:
 directing a flow of cold liquid through a first conduit, the first conduit being at least partially submerged in a liquid transfer medium, to cool the liquid transfer medium; and   directing a flow of hot gas through a second conduit, the second conduit being at least partially submerged in the liquid transfer medium, to condense the flow of steam into a flow of cold liquid condensate.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 directing a flow of cold liquid comprises directing a flow of cold water from a municipal supply line through the first conduit, and   the method further comprises
 discharging the flow of cold liquid into a municipal drain through open air. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 directing a flow of cold liquid comprises directing a flow of cold water from a municipal supply line through the first conduit, and   the method further comprises
 discharging the flow of cold liquid into a municipal drain through one or more of a double check-valve and a reduced pressure zone assembly. 
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 regulating the flow rate of cold liquid with a thermally sensitive flow regulator at least partially submerged in the liquid transfer medium.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 directing the flow of steam comprises directing a flow of steam discharged from a sterilizer through the second conduit.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 directing a second flow of steam through a third conduit, the third conduit being at least partially submerged in the liquid transfer medium, to condense the second flow of steam into a second flow of cold liquid condensate.