Patent ID: 6802364
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: F25B,F28D,F28F

Abstract:
A binary-fluid heat and mass exchanger, comprising,a support structure wherein the support structure comprises two separate fluid supply masts, a plurality of vertically spaced elongated horizontal header members are secured by one end thereof to each of the masts in cantilever fashion so that for each header on one mast, an opposite parallel header is located on the other mast with the coolant tubes extending therebetween to form a coolant group, such that the two separate fluid supply masts are fluidly connected to one another, a plurality of horizontal vertically spaced coolant groups on the support structure, each coolant group comprises a hollow header assembly with a pair of horizontal spaced hollow headers with a plurality of small diameter coolant tubes fluidly extending between the headers in fluid communications with the headers wherein the headers have opposite ends and the horizontal cross section thereof uniformly decreases from one end to the other, fluid conduits fluidly connecting the header assembly and the coolant groups so that all of the coolant groups will be fluidly connected with each other, an inlet port for coolant fluid on a lower coolant group, and an exit port for coolant fluid is connected to a higher coolant group to permit coolant fluid to flow through the coolant tubes; the coolant tubes of each group being at right angles to each other, the coolant tubes being spaced approximately 3.175 mm apart, the coolant tubes having a diameter of about 1.587 mm or less, a second inlet port for introducing a dilute solution of fluid downwardly over the coolant tubes in all of the coolant groups; a third inlet port for introducing a vapor to move upwardly through the coolant groups to cause the vapor to combine with the dilute solution and condense on the coolant tubes of the coolant groups to create a concentrated fluid; a fluid exit port for allowing the concentrated solution of fluid to flow outwardly of the support structure.