Cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid by means of surface water

Abstract

A cooling apparatus (1) for cooling a fluid withsurface water, comprising at least one tube (8) for containing and transporting the fluid in its interior, the exterior of the tube (8) being in operation at least partially submerged in the surface water so as to cool the tube (8) to thereby also cool the fluid. The cooling apparatus (1) further comprises at least one light source (9) for producing light that hinders fouling on the submerged exterior, wherein the light source (9) is dimensioned and positioned with respect to the tube (8) so as to cast anti-fouling light over the tube's exterior. By this structure anti-fouling of the cooling apparatus (1) can be assured in an alternative and effective manner.

Claims

1. A cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid, the cooling apparatus comprising: at least one tube for containing and transporting the fluid, an exterior of the at least one tube being in operation at least partially submerged in surface water flowing through a cooling box through an entry opening via natural flow, so as to cool the fluid in the at least one tube; and at least one light source for producing anti-fouling light, wherein the at least one light source is dimensioned and positioned in the cooling box with respect to the at least one tube so as to cast the anti-fouling light over the exterior of the at least one tube.

2. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tube comprises at least two tube portions, and wherein the at least one light source is interposed between the at least two tube portions so that the anti-fouling light from the at least one light source is casted towards both of the at least two tube portions.

3. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is a tubular lamp.

4. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is arranged substantially perpendicular to an orientation of the at least one tube.

5. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources arranged substantially in parallel to each other.

6. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source extends along a full width of the cooling apparatus.

7. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tube comprises a plurality of tubes in a tube bundle, and wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one first light source arranged to emit the anti-fouling light towards an inner side of the tube bundle and at least one second light source arranged to emit anti-fouling light towards an outer side of the tube bundle.

8. The cooling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of tubes are U-shaped, such that each tube has a semicircular tube portion, and wherein the at least one first light source is arranged at an inner side center of the semicircular tube portion.

9. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tube comprises a plurality of tubes in a tube bundle conforming with a rectangular prism shape with a half cylinder shape connected to the rectangular prism shape at a bottom end, and wherein the at least one light source is arranged to lie on or in parallel to an axis line of the half cylinder shape.

10. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tube comprises a plurality of tubes in a tube bundle conforming to an elongated cylindrical shape with a hemispherical shape connected to the elongated cylindrical shape at a bottom end, and wherein the at least one light source is arranged to lie on or in parallel to an axis line of the elongated cylindrical shape.

11. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one lamella that is at least partly in contact with the at least one tube, wherein the at least one lamella is hollow, an interior space of the at least one lamella being in direct communication with the at least one tube.

12. The cooling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one light source and the at least one lamella are positioned relative to each other to have light from the at least one light source hit the at least one lamella under a sharp angle.

13. The cooling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one lamella comprises a plurality of transverse lamellas disposed in longitudinally spaced relation with each other and having straight tube portions of the at least one tube extending therethrough.

14. The cooling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of transverse lamellas are shaped like plates.

15. The cooling apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a sleeve to protect the at least one light source from outside effects.

16. The cooling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the sleeve is centrally positioned.

17. The cooling apparatus according to claim 16, comprising a tube plate on which the at least one tube is mounted, and connected to the tube plate a fluid header comprising one inlet stub and one outlet stub for entry and exit of the fluid to and from the at least one tube, respectively.

18. A ship comprising the cooling apparatus according to claim 1 for cooling of machinery of the ship, wherein the surface water comprises sea water.

19. The ship according to claim 18, wherein the cooling box is defined by a hull of the ship and partition plates, such that the entry opening and an exit opening are provided on the hull so that the sea water enters the entry opening, flows through the cooling box, and exits the exit opening, and wherein inner surfaces of the cooling box are at least partially coated with an anti-fouling light reflective coating.

20. The ship according to claim 18, wherein the cooling box is defined by a hull of the ship and partition plates, such that an entry opening and an exit opening are provided on the hull so that the sea water enters the entry opening, flows through the cooling box, and exits the exit opening, and wherein the at least one light source is part of or attached to an inner surface of the cooling box.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the cooling apparatus;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the cooling apparatus;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical cross section view of an embodiment of the cooling apparatus;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical cross section view of another embodiment of the cooling apparatus;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic horizontal cross section view of yet another embodiment of the cooling apparatus;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic horizontal cross section view of the embodiment of the cooling apparatus as shown in FIG. 2;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic horizontal cross section view of an alternative embodiment of the cooling apparatus as described herein;

(9) FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic representations of yet another alternative embodiment of the cooling apparatus as described herein;

(10) FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic representations of a portion of a further embodiment of the cooling apparatus as described herein; and

(11) FIG. 12 is a schematic vertical cross section view of the portion of the embodiment of the cooling apparatus as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

(12) The drawings are not necessarily on scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(13) While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is further noted that the drawings are schematic, not necessarily to scale and that details that are not required for understanding the present invention may have been omitted. The terms “inner”, “outer”, “along”, “longitudinal”, “bottom” and the like relate to the embodiments as oriented in the drawings, unless otherwise specified. Further, elements that are at least substantially identical or that perform an at least substantially identical function are denoted by the same numeral.

(14) FIG. 1 shows as a basic embodiment, a schematic view of a cooling apparatus 1 for the cooling of a ship's engine, placed in a box defined by the hull 3 of the ship and partition plates 4, 5 such that entry and exit openings 6, 7 are provided on the hull 3 so that sea water can freely enter the box volume, flow over the cooling apparatus 1 and exit via natural flow, comprising a bundle of tubes 8 through which a fluid to be cooled can be conducted, at least one light source 9 for generating an anti-fouling light, arranged by the tubes 8 so as to emit the anti-fouling light on the tubes 8. Hot fluid enters the tubes 8 from above and conducted all the way and exits once again, now cooled from the top side. Meanwhile sea water enters the box from the entry openings 6, flows over the tubes 8 and receives heat from the tubes 8 and thus the fluid conducted within. Taking the heat from the tubes 8 sea water warms up and rises. The sea water then exits the box from the exit openings 7 which are located at a higher point on the hull 3. During this cooling process any bio organisms existing in the sea water tend to attach to the tubes 8 which are warm and provide a suitable environment for the organisms to live in, the phenomena known as fouling. To avoid such attachment at least one light source 9 is arranged by the tubes 8. The light source 9 emits the anti-fouling light on the outer surface of the tubes 8. Accordingly fouling formation is avoided. As illustrated in FIG. 1 one or more tubular lamps can be used as a light source 9 to realize the aim of the invention.

(15) As shown in FIG. 1 in an embodiment of the invention the light sources 9 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the tubes 8.

(16) FIGS. 3 and 4 show alternative embodiments of the cooling apparatus 1 wherein at least one light source 9 is interposed between at least two tube portions 18, 28, 38, 118, 228, 338 so that the light from the light source 9 is casted towards both tube portions 18, 28, 38, 118, 228, 338. Further the light sources 9 are arranged in parallel to each other.

(17) FIG. 3 shows the embodiment where light sources 9 are arranged to emit light towards the inner side of the tube bundle and at least one light source 9 is arranged to emit light towards the outer side of the tube bundle.

(18) In an embodiment the cooling apparatus comprises a tube bundle comprising tube layers arranged in parallel along its width. Each tube layer comprises a plurality of hairpin type tubes 8 comprising two straight tube portions 18, 28 and one semicircular tube portion 38. The tubes 8 are disposed with their semicircular portions 38 concentrically arranged and their straight portions 18, 28 arranged in parallel, so that the innermost semicircular tube portions 38 are of relatively small radius and the outermost semicircular tube portions 38 are of relatively large radius, with the remaining intermediate semicircular tube portions 38 are of progressively graduated radius of curvature disposed therebetween.

(19) In one variation of the above embodiment the tube bundle conforms with a rectangular prism shape with a half cylinder shape connected to the rectangular prism portion at the bottom end, as shown in FIG. 1.

(20) In an embodiment the cooling apparatus 1 is further provided with at least one lamella 16 that is at least partly in contact with the tubes 8 so as to increase the heat transfer. In appropriate cases, especially cases in which a plurality of tubes 8 are present in a tube layer, it is preferred for the lamella 16 to be positioned so as to direct the light from the light source 9 towards the sides of the tube portions 18, 28, 38, 118, 228, 338 which otherwise remain in the shadow.

(21) In a version of the above embodiment as shown in FIG. 7, the cooling apparatus 1 is provided with a plurality of vertical plate-shaped lamellas 16. Lamellas 16 are positioned such that multiple tubes 8 are arranged in between two lamellas 16 and the light source 9 is positioned on either side of the lamellas 16 in a direction perpendicular to both the tubes 8 and the lamellas 16.

(22) In another variation of the above embodiment the tube bundle conforms with an elongated cylindrical shape with a hemispherical shape connected to the cylindrical portion 38 at the bottom end. Accordingly more tubes 8 are provided in the central layers and the layers above and below the central layers have a gradually decreasing number of tubes 8, as shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the outermost U-shaped tube portions 38 jointly define a generally hemispherical shape.

(23) In an embodiment the tube bundle is provided with a plurality of transverse plate-shaped lamellas 16 disposed in longitudinally spaced relation with each other and having the straight tube portions 18, 28, 118, 228 extending therethrough as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, thereby to maintain the tubes 8 in fixed spaced relationship with each other throughout their lengths. The lamellas 16 are provided with apertures for the straight tube portions 18, 28, 118, 228 to pass therethrough.

(24) In an embodiment the cooling apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 2 comprises a tube plate 10 on which the tubes 8 are mounted and a fluid header 11 connected to the tube plate 10 which comprises at least one inlet stub 12 and one outlet stub 13 for the entry and the exit of the fluid to and from the tubes 8 respectively. In this embodiment the cooling apparatus 1 further comprises a sleeve 14 within which the light source 9 is placed so as to protect the light source 9 from outside effects. One end of the sleeve 14 is attached to the fluid header 11 so as to provide ease of access for serviceability purposes. In particular, when installed in a final usage location the light source 9 will be accessible from the outside as well as the inlet stub 12 and the outlet stub 13, without a need for demounting the cooling apparatus 1 from the installed position.

(25) FIGS. 8 and 9 relate to an embodiment of the cooling apparatus 1 in which one centrally positioned light source 9 is used, extending in a vertical direction down from the fluid header 11, inside a protective sleeve 14. In this embodiment the cooling apparatus 1 is furthermore equipped with a plurality of transverse plate-shaped lamellas 16 disposed in longitudinally spaced relation with each other and having the straight tube portions 18, 28 extending therethrough. The lamellas 16 have various functions. In the first place the lamellas 16 serve to maintain the tubes 8 in fixed spaced relationship with each other throughout their lengths. To that end the lamellas 16 are provided with apertures for the straight tube portions 18, 28 to pass therethrough. In the second place the lamellas 16 serve for enhancing heat transfer from the tubes 8 to the sea water. To that end the lamellas 16 are at least partly in contact with the tubes 8. Preferably both the tubes 8 and the lamellas 16 comprise material having excellent thermal conductivity. In the third place the lamellas 16 are positioned so as to direct the light from the light source 9 towards the tube portions 18, 28, which is especially the case when the lamellas 16 are at least partially coated with an antifouling light reflective coating. The tubes 8 may be at least partially coated with such a coating as well.

(26) In comparison with the transverse lamellas 16 as shown in FIG. 2, adjacent transverse lamellas 16 of the cooling apparatus 1 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are arranged at a relatively short distance with respect to each other. In order for the flow of sea water through the cooling apparatus 1 not to be hindered too much, the lamellas 16 are not only provided with apertures for allowing the tubes 8 and the sleeve 14 containing the light source 9 to pass therethrough, but also with apertures 17 for allowing the sea water to pass therethrough.

(27) In the configuration of the cooling apparatus 1 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the tubes 8, the light source 9 and the lamellas 16 are positioned relative to each other in such a way as to have minimal shadow effects in the cooling apparatus 1, which means that light from the light source 9 is capable of reaching almost every surface. The light may hit the lamellas 16 under a sharp angle, but it is still ensured that some of the light reaches the outer corners of the lamellas 16, i.e. the area of the lamellas 16 near the tubes 8. Hence, the lamellas 16 are also kept free from bio-fouling under the influence of the light source 9.

(28) The assembly of the light source 9 and the protective sleeve 14 extends through the fluid header 11. In the shown example the protective sleeve 14 has a circular periphery. A portion of the protective sleeve 14 as present in the fluid header 11 may be incorporated in an internal construction 111 of the fluid header 11 which serves for separating the relatively hot fluid to be supplied to the tubes 8 from the relatively cool fluid discharged from the tubes 8. In particular, such a construction 111 may have a cylinder-shaped portion 112 for constituting the portion of the protective sleeve 14, as can be seen in FIG. 8 in which the fluid header 11 is shown with an open side for the sake of illustration. When it is necessary to remove the light source 9 from the cooling apparatus 1, it is possible to do so by removing a central cap 20 from the fluid header 11 and then pulling out the light source 9 in an upward vertical direction, wherein there is no need for taking the cooling apparatus 1 further apart, which is an important advantage of the arrangement of the sleeve 14 for accommodating the light source 9 according to which the sleeve 14 is vertically oriented while extending both through the fluid header 11 and between the various tubes 8. Also, putting the light source 9 back in place after having been removed is a process which can easily be performed. Within the framework of the invention, it is also possible for the sleeve 14 to be removably arranged in the cooling apparatus 1. In such a case, it is advantageous if the cylinder-shaped portion 112 of the internal construction 111 of the fluid header 11 is arranged so as to encompass the portion of the sleeve 14 as present inside the fluid header 11.

(29) It is noted that the lamellas 16 may have apertures for allowing the tubes 8 to pass therethrough, as mentioned in the foregoing, but as an alternative, it is possible for the lamellas 16 to be formed as an integral whole with sections of the straight tube portions 18, 28 extending through the lamellas 16, which whole will hereinafter be referred to as lamella element. In that case, during assembly of the cooling apparatus 1, the tubes 8 are realized by connecting a number of lamella elements to a portion of the tubes 8 extending down from the fluid header 11, wherein a first lamella element is attached to the portion of the tubes 8 as mentioned, a second lamella element is attached to the first lamella element, a third lamella element is attached to the second lamella element, etc. A U-shaped portion 38 of the tubes 8 is attached to the last lamella element of the thus obtained stack of lamella elements in order to complete the tubes 8. Hence, when lamella elements as mentioned are applied, a segmented appearance of the tubes 8 is obtained. The application of the lamella elements may contribute to facilitation of the manufacturing process of the cooling apparatus 1.

(30) FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 serve to illustrate the fact that as an alternative, hollow lamellas 16 may be used in the cooling apparatus 1. In that case, the interior space 116 of the hollow lamellas 16 is in direct communication with the tubes 8. Thus, during operation of the cooling apparatus 1, the fluid to be cooled is not only transported through the tubes 8, but also through the lamellas 16. In that way, very effective transfer of heat to the sea water is obtained, which allows for a design of the cooling apparatus 1 with a decreased number of tubes 8, for example, which may be beneficial to the anti-fouling effect of the light source 9 due to the fact that less obstacles are present in the path followed by the light that shines from the light source 9 during operation thereof. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that the hollow lamellas 16 are provided with a central aperture 117 for allowing the assembly of the light source 9 and the sleeve 14 to pass therethrough.

(31) FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a number of hollow lamellas 16, portions of tubes 8 as present in the area of the cooling apparatus 1 where the lamellas 16 are located, and a portion of the assembly of the light source 9 and the sleeve 14. FIG. 11 shows a similar view, with a section at one side for illustrating the fact that the interior space 116 of the lamellas 16 is open to the tubes 8. Also, structural lines which are hidden from sight in the representation of FIG. 10 are indicated by means of dotted lines in the representation of FIG. 11. FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of the lamellas 16, and furthermore shows the portions of tubes 8 and the portion of the assembly of the light source 9 and the sleeve 14 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. It is practical for the hollow lamellas 16 to be formed as an integral whole with sections of the straight tube portions 18, 28 extending through the lamellas 16 so that a portion of the cooling apparatus 1 having the lamellas 16 can be assembled by stacking lamella elements 115 comprising a combination of a lamella 16 and sections of the straight tube portions 18, 28 and interconnecting those lamella elements 115.

(32) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the cooling apparatus 1. In this embodiment the cooling apparatus 1 comprises longitudinal lamellas 16 extending in between two tube portions 18, 28, 118, 228 or between a tube portion 18, 28, 118, 228 and a light source 9 so as to enhance the heat transfer and/or the antifouling effect of the light source 9.

(33) In a preferred version of this embodiment the light source 9 is positioned at the center, the tubes 8 are positioned in a cylindrical configuration around the light source 9 and the lamellas 16 are extending from each tube portion 18, 28, 118, 228 towards the central light source 9 as shown in FIG. 5.

(34) Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise. The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. As fouling may also happen in rivers or lakes or any other area where the cooling apparatus is in contact with water, the invention is generally applicable to cooling by means of water.