Heat transfer unit and method for prefabricated vessel
View Patent ↗Vessel assemblies, heat transfer units for prefabricated vessels, and methods for heat transfer prefabricated vessel are provided. A heat transfer unit includes a central rod, and a plurality of peripheral rods surrounding the central rod and connected to the central rod. The plurality of peripheral rods are movable between a first collapsed position and a second bowed position, wherein in the second bowed position a midpoint of each of the plurality of peripheral rods is spaced from the central rod relative to in the first position. The heat transfer unit further includes a heat transfer element connected to one of the plurality of peripheral rods.
1. A heat transfer unit for a prefabricated vessel, the heat transfer unit comprising:
a central rod extending along and defining a longitudinal axis;
a plurality of peripheral rods surrounding the central rod and connected to the central rod, the plurality of peripheral rods movable between a first collapsed position and a second bowed position, wherein in the second bowed position a midpoint of each of the plurality of peripheral rods is spaced from the central rod relative to in the first position and each of the plurality of peripheral rods extends helically about the longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the plurality of peripheral rods is biased towards the second position when in the first position such that each of the plurality of rods returns to the second position when not under the influence of an external biasing force or wherein each of the plurality of peripheral rods is biased towards the first position when in the second position such that each of the plurality of rods returns to the first position when not under the influence of an external biasing force; and
a heat transfer element connected to one of the plurality of peripheral rods.
2. The heat transfer unit of claim 1 , wherein in the first collapsed position each of the plurality of peripheral rods extends helically about the longitudinal axis.
3. The heat transfer unit of claim 1 , wherein the central rod comprises a male portion and a female portion, at least a portion of the male portion insertable into the female portion.
4. The heat transfer unit of claim 3 , wherein the male portion is inserted into the female portion as the plurality of peripheral rods are moved from the first collapsed position to the second bowed position.
5. The heat transfer unit of claim 3 , wherein the male portion comprises an outer thread and the female portion comprises a mating inner thread, and wherein twisting of one of the male portion or the female portion relative to the other of the male portion or the female portion inserts the male portion into the female portion.
6. The heat transfer unit of claim 1 , further comprising a first plate disposed between and connecting first ends of each of the plurality of rods and the central rod and a second plate disposed between and connecting second ends of each of the plurality of rods and the central rod, the first and second plates fixedly connected to the central rod.
7. The heat transfer unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of peripheral rods are in tension when in the first collapsed position.
8. The heat transfer unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of peripheral rods are in compression when in the second bowed position.
9. The heat transfer unit of claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer element is a plurality of heat transfer elements.
10. The heat transfer unit of claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer element extends between and is connected to the one of the plurality of peripheral rods and one of the central rod or another one of the plurality of peripheral rods.
11. The heat transfer unit of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge connecting the heat transfer element to the peripheral rod.
12. The heat transfer unit of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve connecting the heat transfer element to the peripheral rod.
13. The heat transfer unit of claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary device coupled to one of the plurality of peripheral rods.
14. A heat transfer unit for a prefabricated vessel, the heat transfer unit comprising:
a central rod extending along and defining a longitudinal axis, the central rod comprising a male portion and a female portion, at least a portion of the male portion insertable into the female portion, wherein the male portion comprises an outer thread and the female portion comprises a mating inner thread, and wherein twisting of one of the male portion or the female portion relative to the other of the male portion or the female portion inserts the male portion into the female portion;
a plurality of peripheral rods surrounding the central rod and connected to the central rod, the plurality of peripheral rods movable between a first collapsed position and a second bowed position, wherein insertion of the male portion into the female portion causes movement of the plurality of peripheral rods from the first collapsed position to the second bowed position, and wherein in the second bowed position a midpoint of each of the plurality of peripheral rods is spaced from the central rod relative to in the first position, and wherein each of the plurality of peripheral rods is biased towards the second position when in the first position such that each of the plurality of rods returns to the second position when not under the influence of an external biasing force or wherein each of the plurality of peripheral rods is biased towards the first position when in the second position such that each of the plurality of rods returns to the first position when not under the influence of an external biasing force;
a heat transfer element connected to one of the plurality of peripheral rods.
15. The heat transfer unit of claim 14 , wherein in the second bowed position each of the plurality of peripheral rods extends helically about the longitudinal axis.
16. The heat transfer unit of claim 14 , wherein in the first collapsed position each of the plurality of peripheral rods extends helically about the longitudinal axis.
17. The heat transfer unit of claim 14 , further comprising a first plate disposed between and connecting first ends of each of the plurality of rods and the central rod and a second plate disposed between and connecting second ends of each of the plurality of rods and the central rod, the first and second plates each fixedly connected to the central rod.
18. The heat transfer unit of claim 14 , further comprising an auxiliary device coupled to one of the plurality of peripheral rods.
19. A vessel assembly, comprising:
a prefabricated vessel comprising a shell, the shell defining an interior; and
a heat transfer unit insertable into the interior of the prefabricated vessel, the heat transfer unit comprising:
a central rod extending along and defining a longitudinal axis;
a plurality of peripheral rods surrounding the central rod and connected to the central rod, the plurality of peripheral rods movable between a first collapsed position and a second bowed position, wherein in the second bowed position a midpoint of each of the plurality of peripheral rods is spaced from the central rod relative to in the first position and each of the plurality of peripheral rods extends helically about the longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the plurality of peripheral rods is biased towards the second position when in the first position such that each of the plurality of rods returns to the second position when not under the influence of an external biasing force or wherein each of the plurality of peripheral rods is biased towards the first position when in the second position such that each of the plurality of rods returns to the first position when not under the influence of an external biasing force; and
a heat transfer element connected to one of the plurality of peripheral rods.
20. The vessel assembly of claim 19 , wherein in the first collapsed position each of the plurality of peripheral rods extends helically about the longitudinal axis.