Heat exchangers

Abstract

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of heat exchangers that may be capable of cooling multiple process loops with a single primary or shell-side fluid and/or have combined liquid-to-liquid and liquid-to-air heat exchange capability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a shell defining an interior;   one or more tubes extending through the interior of the shell;   at least one shell-side fluid inlet;   at least one shell-side fluid outlet;   at least one shell-side gas inlet; and   at least one shell-side gas outlet;   at least one tube-side fluid inlet for allowing at least one tube-side fluid to enter the heat exchanger and flow into the one or more tubes;   at least one tube-side fluid outlet for allowing the at least one tube-side fluid to exit the heat exchanger after flowing through the one or more tubes;   wherein:
 the at least one shell-side fluid inlet and the at least one shell-side fluid outlet are configured to allow a shell-side fluid to respectively enter and exit an area of the heat exchanger such that the shell-side fluid flows around portions of the tubes within the area thereby allowing heat transfer between the at least one tube-side fluid within the one or more tubes and the shell-side fluid within the area; and 
 the at least one shell-side gas inlet and the at least one shell-side gas outlet are configured to allow a shell-side gas to respectively enter and exit the interior of the shell such that the shell-side gas flows around portions of the one or more tubes within the interior thereby allowing heat transfer between the shell-side gas and the at least one tube-side fluid within the one or more tubes within the interior of the shell. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second headers at opposite end portions of the shell, and wherein:
 the one or more tubes extend between the first and second headers through the interior of the shell;   the first header includes the at least one tube-side fluid inlet; and   the second header includes the at least one tube-side fluid outlet.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first header includes one or more first tube sheets having one or more openings in which are positioned corresponding inlet end portions of the one or more tubes; and   the second header includes one or more second tube sheets having one or more openings in which are positioned corresponding outlet end portions of the one or more tubes;   whereby the first and second tube sheets are operable for helping retain the positioning of the one or more tubes.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one tube-side fluid is at least one tube-side liquid;   the shell-side fluid is a shell-side liquid;   the shell-side gas is air; and   the heat exchanger is selectively operable for providing either or both of:
 liquid-to-liquid heat exchange between the at least one tube-side liquid and the shell-side liquid within the area; and 
 liquid-to-air heat exchange between the air within the interior of the shell and the at least one tube-side liquid. 
   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more divider plates that separate the shell into separate sections such that the heat exchanger is operable for cooling multiple process loops with a single shell-side fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the heat exchanger is operable for cooling at least three process loops with a single shell-side fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the heat exchanger is operable for cooling three process loops of a medical imaging system with facility water flow as the single shell-side fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the one or more tubes comprise at least two sets of tubes separated by the one or more divider plates; and   each set of tubes is configured to receive a different tube-side fluid than the other sets of tubes.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is selectively operable for providing either or both of liquid-to-liquid heat exchange and/or liquid-to-air heat exchange. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a shell defining an interior;   one or more divider plates that separate the shell into separate sections;   at least two sets of one or more tubes extending through the interior of the shell and separated by the one or more divider plates, each set of one or more tubes configured to receive a different tube-side fluid than each other set of tubes;   whereby the heat exchanger is operable for cooling multiple process loops with a single shell-side fluid.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger is operable for cooling at least three process loops with a single shell-side fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger is operable for cooling three process loops of a medical imaging system with facility water flow as the single shell-side fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger includes at least one shell-side fluid inlet and at least one shell-side fluid outlet configured to allow a shell-side fluid to respectively enter and exit an area of the heat exchanger such that the shell-side fluid flows around portions of the at least two sets of one or more tubes within the area. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger includes at least one tube-side fluid inlet and at least one tube-side fluid outlet configured to allow at least one tube-side fluid to respectively enter and exit the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger includes at least one shell-side gas inlet and at least one shell-side gas outlet configured to allow a shell-side gas to respectively enter and exit the interior of the shell such that the shell-side gas flows around portions of the at least two sets of one or more tubes within the interior of the shell. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , further comprising first and second headers at opposite end portions of the shell, and wherein:
 the at least two sets of one or more tubes extend between the first and second headers through the interior of the shell;   the first header includes at least one tube-side fluid inlet configured to allow at least one tube-side fluid to enter the heat exchanger; and   the second header includes at least one tube-side fluid outlet configured to allow the at least one tube-side fluid to exit the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first header includes one or more first tube sheets having one or more openings in which are positioned corresponding inlet end portions of the at least two sets of one or more tubes; and   the second header includes one or more second tube sheets having one or more openings in which are positioned corresponding outlet end portions of the at least two sets of one or more tubes;   whereby the first and second tube sheets are operable for helping retain the positioning of the at least two sets of one or more tubes.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger is selectively operable for providing either or both of liquid-to-liquid heat exchange and/or liquid-to-air heat exchange.