Hybrid heat exchanger

1. A heat exchanger system comprising:

an inlet header to receive a process fluid;

an outlet header;

a plurality of fluid conduits of a first thermally conductive material, the fluid conduits each having an inlet end portion connected to the inlet header, an outlet end portion connected to the outlet header, and an intermediate portion between the inlet and outlet end portions along the fluid conduits, the fluid conduits configured to permit process fluid to flow from the inlet header to the outlet header;

wherein the intermediate portion of each of the fluid conduits includes a series of runs and return bends, each run having a length between two of the bends of the fluid conduit

at least one body of a thermally conductive polymer different than the first thermally conductive material and having an outer surface; and

the at least one thermally conductive polymer body in thermal contact with the at least one of the runs of each of the fluid conduits for a majority of the length of the at least one of the runs, the at least one thermally conductive polymer body configured to facilitate heat transfer between the process fluid as the process fluid travels through the intermediate portions of the fluid conduits and a fluid at the outer surface of the at least one thermally conductive polymer body.

2. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body is secured to the intermediate portions of the fluid conduit and is spaced from the inlet and outlet header.

3. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the fluid conduits each have a length; and

at least one of the fluid conduits is embedded in the at least one thermally conductive polymer body for at least a portion of the length of the at least one fluid conduit.

4. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the fluid conduits each have a length; and

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body is in thermal contact with the fluid conduits for at least a majority of the lengths of the fluid conduits.

5. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the runs of the fluid conduits each have an outer surface and a cross-section normal to the length thereof; and

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body is in thermal contact with the outer surface of the at least one run of each of the fluid conduits about at least a majority of the cross-section of the at least one run.

6. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 further comprising:

a fan operable to generate airflow relative to the at least one thermally conductive polymer body;

an evaporative liquid distribution system configured to distribute the fluid onto the outer surface of the at least one thermally conductive polymer body; and

a sump to collect the fluid from the outer surface of the at least one thermally conductive polymer body.

7. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body comprises a polymer material and at least one of:

graphite particles;

metallic particles;

a metallic wire; and

a phase change material.

8. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit comprises at least one of:

a stainless steel tube;

an aluminum tube;

a copper tube; and

a carbon steel tube.

9. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the fluid conduits are micro channels.

10. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the at least one body comprises a plurality of bodies.

11. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the at least one body comprises a plurality of sheets of the thermally conductive polymer.

12. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the intermediate portions of the fluid conduits include runs and bends connecting the runs; and

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body comprises:

a sheet; and

covers connected to the sheet and extending about the runs.

13. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body comprises a polymer material and a phase change material.

14. The heat exchanger system of claim 13 wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body includes at least one thermally conductive wire.

15. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body comprises a matrix phase of a polymer material and a particulate phase of a different material having a higher thermal conductivity than the polymer material.

16. The heat exchanger system of claim 1 wherein the runs of the fluid conduits each have an outer surface and a cross-section normal to the length of the run;

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body is in thermal contact with the outer surface of the at least one run of each of the fluid conduits about the entire cross-section of the at least one run for at least a majority of the length of the at least one run.

17. A heat exchanger system comprising:

an inlet header to receive a process fluid;

an outlet header;

a plurality of fluid conduits of a first thermally conductive material, the fluid conduits each having an inlet end portion connected to the inlet header, an outlet end portion connected to the outlet header, and an intermediate portion between the inlet and outlet end portions along the fluid conduits, the fluid conduits configured to permit process fluid to flow from the inlet header to the outlet header;

at least one body of a thermally conductive polymer different than the first thermally conductive material and having an outer surface;

the at least one thermally conductive polymer body in thermal contact with the intermediate portions of the fluid conduits and configured to facilitate heat transfer between the process fluid as the process fluid travels through the intermediate portions of the fluid conduits and a fluid at the outer surface of the at least one thermally conductive polymer body; and

a thermally conductive paste thermally connecting the at least one thermally conductive polymer body and the fluid conduits.

18. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body is secured to the intermediate portions of the fluid conduit and is spaced from the inlet and outlet header.

19. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 wherein the fluid conduits each have a length; and

at least one of the fluid conduits is embedded in the at least one thermally conductive polymer body for at least a portion of the length of the at least one fluid conduit.

20. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 wherein the fluid conduits each have a length; and

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body is in thermal contact with the fluid conduits for at least a majority of the lengths of the fluid conduits.

21. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 wherein the intermediate portion of each of the fluid conduits includes a series of runs and return bends;

wherein the runs of the fluid conduits each have an outer surface, a length, and a cross-section normal to the length; and

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body is in thermal contact with the outer surface of at least one run of each of the fluid conduits about at least a majority of the cross-section of the at least one run.

22. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body has a thermal conductivity of at least two Watts per meter-Kelvin.

23. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 further comprising:

a fan operable to generate airflow relative to the at least one thermally conductive polymer body;

an evaporative liquid distribution system configured to distribute the fluid onto the outer surface of the at least one thermally conductive polymer body; and

a sump to collect the fluid from the outer surface of the at least one thermally conductive polymer body.

24. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body comprises a polymer material and at least one of:

graphite particles;

metallic particles;

a metallic wire; and

a phase change material.

25. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 wherein the fluid conduit comprises at least one of:

a stainless steel tube;

an aluminum tube;

a copper tube; and

a carbon steel tube.

26. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 wherein the fluid conduits are micro channels.

27. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 wherein the at least one body comprises a plurality of bodies.

28. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 wherein the at least one body comprises a plurality of sheets of the thermally conductive polymer.

29. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 wherein the intermediate portions of the fluid conduits include runs and bends connecting the runs; and

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body comprises:

a sheet; and

covers connected to the sheet and extending about the runs.

30. The heat exchanger system of claim 17 wherein the intermediate portion of each of the fluid conduits includes a series of runs and return bends;

wherein the runs of the fluid conduits each have an outer surface, a length, and a cross-section normal to the length; and

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body is in thermal contact with the outer surface of at least one run of each of the fluid conduits about the entire cross-section of the at least one run for at least a majority of the length of the at least one run.

31. A heat exchanger system comprising:

an inlet header to receive a process fluid;

an outlet header;

a plurality of fluid conduits of a first thermally conductive material, the fluid conduits each having an inlet end portion connected to the inlet header, an outlet end portion connected to the outlet header, and an intermediate portion between the inlet and outlet end portions along the fluid conduits, the fluid conduits configured to permit process fluid to flow from the inlet header to the outlet header;

at least one body of a thermally conductive polymer different than the first thermally conductive material and having an outer surface;

the at least one thermally conductive polymer body in thermal contact with the intermediate portions of the fluid conduits and configured to facilitate heat transfer between the process fluid as the process fluid travels through the intermediate portions of the fluid conduits and a fluid at the outer surface of the at least one thermally conductive polymer body; and

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body has a thermal conductivity of at least two Watts per meter-Kelvin.

32. The heat exchanger system of claim 31 wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body is secured to the intermediate portions of the fluid conduit and is spaced from the inlet and outlet header.

33. The heat exchanger system of claim 31 wherein the fluid conduits each have a length; and

at least one of the fluid conduits is embedded in the at least one thermally conductive polymer body for at least a portion of the length of the at least one fluid conduit.

34. The heat exchanger system of claim 31 wherein the fluid conduits each have a length; and

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body is in thermal contact with the fluid conduits for at least a majority of the lengths of the fluid conduits.

35. The heat exchanger system of claim 31 wherein the intermediate portion of each of the fluid conduits includes a series of runs and return bends;

wherein the runs of the fluid conduits each have an outer surface, a length, and a cross-section normal to the length; and

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body is in thermal contact with the outer surface of at least one run of each of the fluid conduits about at least a majority of the cross-section of the at least one run.

36. The heat exchanger system of claim 31 further comprising:

a fan operable to generate airflow relative to the at least one thermally conductive polymer body;

an evaporative liquid distribution system configured to distribute the fluid onto the outer surface of the at least one thermally conductive polymer body; and

a sump to collect the fluid from the outer surface of the at least one thermally conductive polymer body.

37. The heat exchanger system of claim 31 wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body comprises a polymer material and at least one of:

graphite particles;

metallic particles;

a metallic wire; and

a phase change material.

38. The heat exchanger system of claim 31 wherein the fluid conduit comprises at least one of:

a stainless steel tube;

an aluminum tube;

a copper tube; and

a carbon steel tube.

39. The heat exchanger system of claim 31 wherein the fluid conduits are micro channels.

40. The heat exchanger system of claim 31 wherein the at least one body comprises a plurality of bodies.

41. The heat exchanger system of claim 31 wherein the at least one body comprises a plurality of sheets of the thermally conductive polymer.

42. The heat exchanger system of claim 31 wherein the intermediate portions of the fluid conduits include runs and bends connecting the runs; and

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body comprises:

a sheet; and

covers connected to the sheet and extending about the runs.

43. The heat exchanger system of claim 31 wherein the intermediate portion of each of the fluid conduits includes a series of runs and return bends;

wherein the runs of the fluid conduits each have an outer surface, a length, and a cross-section normal to the length; and

wherein the at least one thermally conductive polymer body is in thermal contact with the outer surface of at least one run of each of the fluid conduits about the entire cross-section of the at least one run for at least a majority of the length of the at least one run.