A heat exchanger which may be used in an engine, such as a vehicle engine for an aircraft or orbital launch vehicle. is provided. The heat exchanger may be configured as generally drum-shaped with a multitude of spiral sections, each containing numerous small diameter tubes. The spiral sections may spiral inside one another. The heat exchanger may include a support structure with a plurality of mutually axially spaced hoop supports, and may incorporate an intermediate header. The heat exchanger may incorporate recycling of methanol or other antifreeze used to prevent blocking of the heat exchanger due to frost or ice formation.

A heat exchanger which may be used in an engine, such as a vehicle engine for an aircraft or orbital launch vehicle. is provided. The heat exchanger may be configured as generally drum-shaped with a multitude of spiral sections, each containing numerous small diameter tubes. The spiral sections may spiral inside one another. The heat exchanger may include a support structure with a plurality of mutually axially spaced hoop supports, and may incorporate an intermediate header. The heat exchanger may incorporate recycling of methanol or other antifreeze used to prevent blocking of the heat exchanger due to frost or ice formation.

A spiral heat exchanger features first spiral channels configured to form rows and columns of coiled hot fluid pathways to receive hot fluid; and second spiral channels configured to form corresponding rows and columns of coiled cold fluid pathways to receive cold fluid having a temperature less than the hot fluid. The first spiral channels and the second spiral channels are configured to alternate every other row and column so as to form a matrix of alternating rows and columns of coiled hot and cold fluid pathways separated by alternating coiled walls that act as both fluid separators and conduits through which heat is transferred between the hot fluid and cold fluid.

A heat exchanger has arcuate inlet and outlet manifolds and a plurality of tube banks, each tube bank coupling one of the inlet manifold outlets to an associated one of the outlet manifold inlets. Each tube bank partially nests with one or more others of the tube banks and has: a first header coupled to the associated inlet manifold outlet and the associated the outlet manifold inlet; a second header; and a plurality of tube bundles each having a first end coupled to the associated first header and a second end coupled to the associated second header. A flowpath from the each inlet manifold outlet passes sequentially through flowpath legs formed by each of the tube bundles in the associated tube bank to exit the tube bank to the associated outlet manifold inlet.

A heat exchanger has arcuate inlet and outlet manifolds and a plurality of tube banks, each tube bank coupling one of the inlet manifold outlets to an associated one of the outlet manifold inlets. Each tube bank partially nests with one or more others of the tube banks and has: a first header coupled to the associated inlet manifold outlet and the associated the outlet manifold inlet; a second header; and a plurality of tube bundles each having a first end coupled to the associated first header and a second end coupled to the associated second header. A flowpath from the each inlet manifold outlet passes sequentially through flowpath legs formed by each of the tube bundles in the associated tube bank to exit the tube bank to the associated outlet manifold inlet.

A method for subcooling liquid cryogen that is used by a cutting tool uses the steps of dividing liquid phase cryogen between a subcooler feed line and tool feed line. The cryogen in the subcooler feed line is expanded to lower the pressure and decrease the temperature of the cryogen, and the expanded liquid cryogen from the subcooler feed line is added to the interior of a subcooler. A heat exchanger is positioned in the subcooler in contact with the expanded liquid cryogen. The cryogen in the tool feed line is subcooled below its saturation temperature by passing the cryogen through the heat exchanger, and the subcooled cryogen from the heat exchanger is supplied to the cutting tool. As a result, the subcooled cryogen supplied to the cutting tool is substantially 100% liquid cryogen without any vapor content.

A heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger is formed of a spiral wound flow body (70) having a plurality of passages (76) ending therethrough for passage of a first fluid. The flow body is positioned within a housing (42) and a cross-flow of a second fluid passes between or across successive layers of the spiral wound flow body. The intermixing of the thermal energy of the cross-flowing second fluid and the first fluid provide improved heat exchange.

A heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger is formed of a spiral wound flow body (70) having a plurality of passages (76) ending therethrough for passage of a first fluid. The flow body is positioned within a housing (42) and a cross-flow of a second fluid passes between or across successive layers of the spiral wound flow body. The intermixing of the thermal energy of the cross-flowing second fluid and the first fluid provide improved heat exchange.

An energy transfer unit for a geothermal system includes an outer housing. A heat exchanger is located within the housing. An inlet pipe extends from the housing to the heat exchanger to convey heat transfer fluid to the heat exchanger and an outlet pipe extends from the housing to the heat exchanger to convey heat transfer fluid from the heat exchanger.

A heat exchanger includes a thermal reservoir, a plurality of grooves formed in the thermal reservoir, and a plurality of fluid tubes. Each of the fluid tubes is disposed in a respective one of the grooves such that it is in thermal contact with the thermal reservoir. In a particular embodiment, the grooves form helices around the outer surface of the thermal reservoir. Additionally, each of the grooves can be formed parallel to the other groove(s) such that each of the process fluid tubes will be disposed in parallel to the other process fluid tube(s). The heat exchanger can also include a heating apparatus and/or a cooling apparatus.