Title:
SHELL-AND-TUBE HEAT EXCHANGERS WITH FOAM HEAT TRANSFER UNITS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2012/106603
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
Shell-and-tube heat exchangers that utilize one or more foam heat transfer units engaged with the tubes to enhance the heat transfer between first and second fluids. The foam of the heat transfer units can be any thermally conductive foam material that enhances heat transfer, for example graphite foam. These shell-and-tube heat exchangers are highly efficient, inexpensive to build, and corrosion resistant. The described heat exchangers can be used in a variety of applications, including but not limited to, low thermal driving force applications, power generation applications, and non-power generation applications such as refrigeration and cryogenics. The foam heat transfer units can be made from any thermally conductive foam material including, but not limited to, graphite foam or metal foam. In an embodiment, the heat exchanger utilizes tubes that are twisted around a central foam heat transfer unit.
Inventors:
MAURER SCOTT M (US)
NAGURNY NICHOLAS J (US)
ELLER MICHAEL R (US)
KLETT JAMES W (US)
NAGURNY NICHOLAS J (US)
ELLER MICHAEL R (US)
KLETT JAMES W (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2012/023783
Publication Date:
November 08, 2012
Filing Date:
February 03, 2012
Export Citation:
Assignee:
LOCKHEED CORP (US)
MAURER SCOTT M (US)
NAGURNY NICHOLAS J (US)
ELLER MICHAEL R (US)
KLETT JAMES W (US)
MAURER SCOTT M (US)
NAGURNY NICHOLAS J (US)
ELLER MICHAEL R (US)
KLETT JAMES W (US)
International Classes:
F28D7/16; F28F13/00; F28F21/02
Domestic Patent References:
| WO2009137653A2 | 2009-11-12 |
Foreign References:
| DE1117148B | 1961-11-16 | |||
| US20070144500A1 | 2007-06-28 | |||
| US20100181054A1 | 2010-07-22 | |||
| US7762101B1 | 2010-07-27 | |||
| US20070284095A1 | 2007-12-13 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
LARSON, James, A. (Schumann Mueller & Larson, P.C.,P.O. Box 290, Minneapolis MN, US)
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