US-12624897-B2 - Tubular membrane heat exchanger

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a tubular membrane beat exchanger module is provided that includes an inlet header and an outlet header. The inlet header is configured to connect to an adjacent upstream tubular membrane heat exchanger module and form an upstream wetted compartment therewith. The outlet header is configured to connect to an adjacent downstream tubular membrane heat exchanger module and form a downstream wetted compartment therewith. The tubular membrane heat exchanger module further includes tubular membranes connecting the inlet header and the outlet header. The tubular membranes facilitate flow of process fluid from the upstream wetted compartment to the downstream wetted compartment. Further, the tubular membranes permit mass transfer between the process fluid in the tubular membranes and a fluid contacting outer surfaces of the tubular membranes.

Inventors

• Yohann Lilian Rousselet
• Kevin Ellsworth Egolf
• Ellie M. Litwack

Assignees

• BALTIMORE AIRCOIL COMPANY, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20211203

Claims (17)

1. 1 . A membrane tube heat exchanger module comprising: an inlet header having an inlet body with an inlet recess to receive a first fluid, the inlet body having an inlet body wall portion and at least one wall portion extending upstream from the inlet body wall portion that define at least a portion of the inlet recess, the inlet body having an inlet opening opposite the inlet body wall portion that opens to the inlet recess; an outlet header having an outlet body with an outlet recess to receive the first fluid, the outlet body having an outlet body wall portion and at least one side wall portion extending downstream from the outlet body wall portion that define at least a portion of the outlet recess, the outlet body having an outlet opening opposite the outlet body wall portion that opens to the outlet recess; openings of the inlet body wall portion and the outlet body wall portion; membrane tubes connecting the openings of the inlet body wall portion and the outlet body wall portion, the membrane tubes facilitating flow of the first fluid from the inlet recess of the inlet header to the outlet recess of the outlet header; the inlet body configured to direct all of the first fluid received at the inlet opening downstream toward the inlet body wall portion and into the membrane tubes; the outlet body configured to direct all of the first fluid received at the outlet recess from the membrane tubes downstream toward the outlet opening; the membrane tubes permitting mass transfer between the first fluid in the membrane tubes and a second fluid contacting outer surfaces of the membranes tubes; and the membrane tubes are permeable to water vapor and are impermeable to liquid water.
2. 2 . A membrane tube heat exchanger module comprising: an inlet header having an inlet body with an inlet recess to receive a first fluid, the inlet body having an inlet body wall portion and at least one wall portion extending upstream from the inlet body wall portion that define at least a portion of the inlet recess, the inlet body having an inlet opening opposite the inlet body wall portion that opens to the inlet recess; an outlet header having an outlet body with an outlet recess to receive the first fluid, the outlet body having an outlet body wall portion and at least one side wall portion extending downstream from the outlet body wall portion that define at least a portion of the outlet recess, the outlet body having an outlet opening opposite the outlet body wall portion that opens to the outlet recess; openings of the inlet body wall portion and the outlet body wall portion; membrane tubes connecting the openings of the inlet body wall portion and the outlet body wall portion, the membrane tubes facilitating flow of the first fluid from the inlet recess of the inlet header to the outlet recess of the outlet header; the inlet body configured to direct all of the first fluid received at the inlet opening downstream toward the inlet body wall portion and into the membrane tubes; the outlet body configured to direct all of the first fluid received at the outlet recess from the membrane tubes downstream toward the outlet opening; and the membrane tubes permitting mass transfer between the first fluid in the membrane tubes and a second fluid contacting outer surfaces of the membranes tubes; wherein the inlet body includes a flange extending about the inlet opening for connecting to an adjacent upstream membrane tube heat exchanger module.
3. 3 . A membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 comprising: an inlet header having an inlet body with an inlet recess to receive a first fluid, the inlet body having an inlet body wall portion and at least one wall portion extending upstream from the inlet body wall portion that define at least a portion of the inlet recess, the inlet body having an inlet opening opposite the inlet body wall portion that opens to the inlet recess; an outlet header having an outlet body with an outlet recess to receive the first fluid, the outlet body having an outlet body wall portion and at least one side wall portion extending downstream from the outlet body wall portion that define at least a portion of the outlet recess, the outlet body having an outlet opening opposite the outlet body wall portion that opens to the outlet recess; openings of the inlet body wall portion and the outlet body wall portion; membrane tubes connecting the openings of the inlet body wall portion and the outlet body wall portion, the membrane tubes facilitating flow of the first fluid from the inlet recess of the inlet header to the outlet recess of the outlet header; the inlet body configured to direct all of the first fluid received at the inlet opening downstream toward the inlet body wall portion and into the membrane tubes; the outlet body configured to direct all of the first fluid received at the outlet recess from the membrane tubes downstream toward the outlet opening; and the membrane tubes permitting mass transfer between the first fluid in the membrane tubes and a second fluid contacting outer surfaces of the membranes tubes; wherein the outlet body includes a flange extending about the outlet opening for connecting to an adjacent downstream membrane tube heat exchanger module.
4. 4 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet header and the outlet header include connecting portions configured to form snap-fit connections with adjacent upstream and downstream membrane tube heat exchanger modules.
5. 5 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet header and the outlet header include a projection and a recess configured to engage a corresponding recess and projection of adjacent upstream and downstream membrane tube heat exchanger modules.
6. 6 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet header and the outlet header have identical connecting portions configured to be connected to adjacent tubular membrane heat exchanger modules.
7. 7 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet body wall portion includes an inlet plate; wherein the outlet body wall portion includes an outlet plate; and wherein the inlet and outlet plates include the openings therein.
8. 8 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet and outlet headers each include at least one of: a snap-fit member; a snap-fit member receiving recess; a flange; and a fastener.
9. 9 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein at least one of the membrane tubes each have a lumen to receive the first fluid and a pressure vessel in the lumen to receive a secondary fluid.
10. 10 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein at least one of the membrane tubes has a lumen to receive the first fluid, a side wall extending about the lumen, and a support in the lumen to resist deformation of the side wall.
11. 11 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the membrane tubes have side walls with openings having diameters in a range of 1 nanometer to 20 nanometers.
12. 12 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet header includes potting securing the membrane tubes to the inlet body and wherein the outlet header includes potting securing the membrane tubes to the outlet body of the outlet header.
13. 13 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the inlet and outlet headers include: fittings connecting the membrane tubes to the inlet and outlet bodies; and potting securing the membrane tubes, fittings, and inlet and outlet bodies.
14. 14 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the membrane tubes include at least one of: polypropylene; polydimethylsiloxane; polytetrafluoroethylene; hydrophobic polysulfone; and graphene oxide.
15. 15 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 wherein the membrane tubes are gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable.
16. 16 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 further comprising a screen to protect the membrane tubes.
17. 17 . The membrane tube heat exchanger module of claim 1 further comprising a support maintaining spacings between the membrane tubes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent No. 63/121,063, filed Dec. 3, 2020, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD This disclosure relates to heat exchangers and, more specifically, to heat exchangers having tubular membranes that facilitate heat transfer between two fluids. BACKGROUND Heat exchangers come in a wide variety of configurations and are used in a wide variety of applications. One type of heat exchanger is a hollow fiber membrane heat exchanger. Hollow fiber membrane heat exchangers have hollow fibers with an inner diameter of less than 1 mm through which a process fluid is directed. Another fluid, such as air, is directed over the exterior of the hollow fiber membranes. The hollow fiber membranes have sidewalls that facilitate heat transfer between the fluid streams on the interior and the exterior of the hollow fiber membranes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A is a schematic view of a heat exchanger system including tubular membrane heat exchanger assemblies; FIG. 1B is a perspective, partial cross-sectional view of a cooling tower having tubular membrane heat exchanger modules including stacked upper and lower tubular membrane heat exchanger modules; FIG. 1C is an elevational view of a connection between an inlet manifold and an upper tubular membrane heat exchanger module of the cooling tower of FIG. 1B; FIG. 1D is a perspective, cross-sectional view of a connection between upper and lower tubular membrane heat exchanger modules of the cooling tower of FIG. 1B; FIG. 1E is a perspective, cross-sectional view of a portion of one of the tubular membrane heat exchanger modules of the cooling tower of FIG. 1B; FIG. 2 is a perspective, cross-sectional view of a second cooling tower having tubular membrane heat exchanger modules; FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a third cooling tower having tubular membrane heat exchanger modules; FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a fourth cooling tower including an adiabatic heat rejection system having tubular membrane heat exchanger modules as pre-cooling media; FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a fifth cooling tower that may be operated in wet, dry, or adiabatic modes and includes tubular membrane heat exchanger modules as pre-cooling media; FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an evaporative heat rejection system having tubular membrane heat exchanger modules in a forced draft, cross flow configuration; FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a tubular membrane assembly including a tubular membrane, fitting, and header plate portion assembled and having plotting applied to opposite sides of the header plate portion; FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of a tubular membrane, a fitting, a header plate portion, and a tubular pressure vessel extending in a lumen of the tubular membrane; FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an evaporative heat rejection system including tubular membrane heat exchanger modules in a forced draft, cross flow configuration and a closed plate and shell heat exchanger; FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an evaporative air cooling system having tubular membrane heat exchanger modules in an induced draft, cross flow configuration; FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of a connection between lower and upper headers of upper and lower tubular membrane heat exchanger modules; FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of a connection between a distribution header of an inlet manifold and an upper header of a tubular membrane heat exchanger module; FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view of a connection between a lower header of an upper tubular membrane heat exchanger module and an upper header of a lower tubular membrane heat exchanger module; FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of a connection between a distribution header of an inlet manifold and an upper header of an upper tubular membrane heat exchanger module; FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of a snap-fit connection between a lower header of an upper tubular membrane heat exchanger module and an upper header of a lower tubular membrane heat exchanger module; FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of a snap-fit connection between a distribution header of an inlet manifold and an upper header of an upper tubular membrane heat exchanger module; FIG. 13A is a cross-sectional view of a slide connection between a lower header of an upper tubular membrane heat exchanger module and an upper header of a lower tubular membrane heat exchanger module; FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of a slide connection between a distribution header of an inlet manifold and an upper header of a tubular membrane heat exchanger module; FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a tubular membrane assembly including a rod extending in a lumen of a tubular membrane to resist movement of the tubular membrane; FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a tubular membrane assembly including a rod and rings in a lumen of a tubular membrane to resist movement of the tubular membra