Patent ID: 8256503
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: F28D,F28F

Abstract:
1. A plastic heat exchanger for transferring heat between a primary fluid coolant and a secondary fluid coolant, supplied by a primary fluid coolant system and a secondary fluid coolant system respectively, the coolants being carried by external conduits, the plastic heat exchanger comprising: a shell, the shell extending between opposite upper and lower ends, the shell having a plurality of tanks, the tanks each having a cylindrical cross-section, the tanks being disposed side-by-side in an array, a first tank in the array being a first distribution tank, a last tank in the array being a last distribution tank, at least one tank intermediate the first and last tanks being a heat transfer tank, the tanks each being attached to adjacent tanks along opposite front and rear webs, the front and rear webs extending from a lower end adjacent the shell lower end to an upper end adjacent the shell upper end, the shell having a plurality of flow gaps, each flow gap being disposed between a respective front and rear web, the tanks each being in communication with adjacent tanks through the flow gaps, the distribution tanks being connected to the primary fluid coolant system; an upper flange and a lower flange, the upper flange being disposed against the shell upper end, the lower flange being disposed against the shell lower end, each flange extending between opposite first and second ends, and between opposite front and rear edges, each flange having an outer surface facing away from the shell, each flange having an inner surface facing toward the shell, each flange having a plurality of flange holes, each flange hole being in alignment with one of the tanks and extending through the flange from the outer surface to the inner surface, each flange hole having an annular wall extending away from the inner surface, each upper flange annular wall being adapted to encircle one of the tanks at the shell upper end, each lower flange annular wall being adapted to encircle one of the tanks at the shell lower end, so as to preclude the shell from expanding outward under internal pressure; an upper manifold and a lower manifold, the upper manifold being disposed adjacent the upper flange, the lower manifold being disposed adjacent the lower flange, the upper and lower manifolds each having a front wall, a rear wall, a first end wall, and a second end wall, the walls extending between inner and outer edges, the upper and lower manifolds each having an outer plate extending between the front and rear walls and between the first and second end walls along the outer edges thereof, the upper and lower manifolds each having a rim extending around the inner edges of the walls, the upper and lower manifolds each having at least one chamber enclosed within the front and rear walls, the first and second end walls, and the outer plate, the upper and lower manifolds each being connected to the secondary fluid coolant system, so as to convey the secondary fluid coolant between the secondary fluid coolant system and the heat transfer tank; an upper tube header having an outer periphery, and a lower tube header having an outer periphery, the upper and lower tube headers being spaced apart and generally parallel; a plurality of generally straight and parallel tubes extending between the upper and lower tube headers, the tubes each having an outer surface and a bore, the tubes each having a tube wall extending between the outer surface and the bore, the tubes each having upper and lower open ends attached to and penetrating the upper and lower tube headers, respectively; wherein the upper tube header, the lower tube header, and the tubes comprise a tube bundle, the tube bundle being removably received within the heat transfer tank with the upper tube header being juxtaposed with the upper flange, and the lower tube header being juxtaposed with the lower flange; header sealing means for sealing the upper and lower tube headers against leakage; and manifold sealing means for sealing the upper and lower manifolds against leakage; so that the primary fluid coolant will flow from the primary fluid coolant system into the first distribution tank, the primary fluid coolant will pass through one of the flow gaps into the heat transfer tank, the primary fluid coolant will pass transversely across the outer surface of each of the tubes in the tube bundle, the primary fluid coolant will pass through another one of the flow gaps into the last distribution tank, and the primary fluid coolant will then flow from the last distribution tank into the primary fluid coolant system, and the secondary fluid coolant will flow from the secondary fluid coolant system into one of the upper and lower manifolds, the secondary fluid coolant will pass through the flange hole in the respective one of the upper and lower flanges, the secondary fluid coolant will pass through the bore of each of the tubes in the tube bundle, the secondary fluid coolant will pass through the flange hole in the other one of the upper and lower flanges, the secondary fluid coolant will flow into the other one of the upper and lower manifolds, and the secondary fluid coolant will then flow from the respective manifold into the secondary fluid coolant system, so as to allow heat to flow between the primary fluid coolant and the secondary fluid coolant through the tube walls.