Heat exchanger
View Patent ↗Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed, including a heat exchanger having a manifold with a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet and a plurality of tubes with interiors fluidly connected to the manifold. In some embodiments, the plurality of tubes and the manifold are configured to fit within a bonnet of a compressor.
1. A heat exchanger comprising:
a manifold having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet; and
a plurality of tubes configured to extend at least partially about a circumference of a main air pipe of a compressor bonnet, wherein an interior of each tube is fluidly connected to the manifold, and wherein the plurality of tubes is configured to receive coolant from the manifold, flow the coolant about the circumference of the main air pipe, and return the coolant to the manifold;
wherein the heat exchanger is configured to be disposed within a downstream chamber of the compressor bonnet directly adjacent to the main air pipe, such that fluid received through the main air pipe along a first axial direction is directed through the heat exchanger along a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction.
2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises:
a baffle;
an upstream volume on one side of the baffle and in direct fluid communication with the coolant inlet; and
a downstream volume on another side of the baffle and in direct fluid communication with the coolant outlet.
3. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the manifold generally has the shape of a right prism with a generally trapezoid base.
4. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein each tube among the plurality of tubes has a longitudinal axis that is generally curved along a substantial portion of its length.
5. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein each tube among the plurality of tubes is generally concentric about the main air pipe.
6. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tubes comprises:
a first tube set generally curved along a first C-shaped path and coupled at one end to the manifold; and
a second tube set generally curved along a second C-shaped path and coupled at one end to the manifold, wherein a header couples another end of the first tube set to another end of the second tube set.
7. A system comprising:
a compressor comprising:
an impeller;
a main air pipe that flows fluid to the impeller along a first axial direction;
a downstream chamber disposed about the main air pipe, wherein the downstream chamber receives the fluid from the impeller along a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction;
a heat exchanger disposed within the downstream chamber, and comprising:
a tube set comprising a plurality of tubes, wherein each tube extends at least partially about a circumference of the main air pipe, and the tube set flows coolant about the circumference of the main air pipe; and
a manifold fluidly coupled to the tube set, and coupled to a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet.
8. The system of claim 7 , comprising a header coupled to the tube set.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the header comprises a plurality of holes generally arranged in a hexagonal lattice.
10. The system of claim 7 , comprising:
a fluid source fluidly coupled to an inlet of the compressor, wherein the inlet is fluidly coupled to the main air pipe;
a motor mechanically coupled via a shaft to the impeller; and
a fluid destination fluidly coupled to a downstream side of the heat exchanger.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the fluid source, the fluid destination, or both are another compressor.
12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the tube set and the manifold substantially circumscribe the main air pipe.
13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the tube set generally has a U shape.