Cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid by means of surface water

Abstract

A cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid by means of surface water, the cooling apparatus comprising more than one tubes for containing and transporting the fluid in its interior, the exterior of the tube being in operation at least partially submerged in the surface water so as to cool the tube to thereby also cool the fluid and hence different tube portions contain fluid at different temperatures. The cooling apparatus further comprises at least one light source for producing light that hinders fouling on the submerged exterior, wherein the at least one light source is arranged so that the intensity of the anti-fouling light, cast over the exterior of the tube portions whose exterior temperature or the temperature of the fluid they contain is below 80° C., is higher than the intensity of the anti-fouling light cast over the other tube portions. By this structure anti-fouling of the cooling apparatus can be assured in an effective manner.

Claims

1. A cooling apparatus comprising: at least two tubes, wherein each of the at least two tubes has an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the at least two tubes are arranged to contain and transport a fluid, wherein a first tube portion of the at least two tubes contains a first portion of fluid which is above 80° C. and a second tube portion of the at least two tubes contains fluid which is below or equal to 80° C.; and at least one light source, wherein the at least one light source produces a light, wherein the light hinders fouling on at least a portion of the exterior surface, wherein the at least one light source is arranged such that an intensity of the light cast over the exterior of the first tube portion is substantially lower than the intensity of the light cast over the exterior of the second tube portion.

2. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a third portion of the at least two tubes contains a third portion of fluid which is above 90° C., wherein the at least one light source arranged with respect to the at least two tubes so that substantially none of the light is cast over the exterior of the third tube portion.

3. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources, wherein the plurality of light sources are positioned in an asymmetric manner with respect to the at least two tubes.

4. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a tube plate, wherein the at least two tubes are mounted to the tube plate; and a fluid header comprising one inlet stub and one outlet stub, wherein the fluid header is connected to the tube plate, wherein the inlet stub is arranged for entry of the fluid and the outlet stub is arranged for exit of the fluid, wherein a fourth portion of the at least two tubes is connected to the outlet stub, wherein the at least one light source is positioned close to the fourth portion of the at least two tubes.

5. A cooling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least two tubes comprise a tube bundle, the tube bundle having an innermost portion and an outermost portion, wherein the tube bundle comprises tube layers arranged in parallel such that each tube layer comprises a plurality of hairpin turns, wherein the hairpin turn are formed with at least two tubes having two straight tube portions and one semicircular portion thus forming a U-shaped portion, wherein the U-shaped tube portions are arranged concentrically, wherein the straight tube portions are arranged in parallel such that the innermost U-shaped tube portions have a relatively small radius and the outermost U-shaped tube portions have a relatively large radius, wherein at least one light source is arranged at the innermost portion, wherein at least one light source is arranged only at one of the outermost portions.

6. A cooling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein that at least one light source comprises at least five light sources, wherein the at least three lights sources are arranged at the innermost portion, wherein at least two light sources are arranged at the outermost portion.

7. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a tube plate, wherein the at least two tubes are mounted to the tube plate; and a fluid header comprising one inlet stub and one outlet stub, wherein the fluid header is connected to the tube plate, wherein the inlet stub is arranged for entry of the fluid and the outlet stub is arranged for exit of the fluid, wherein a fourth portion of the at least two tubes is connected to the outlet stub, wherein the at least one light source is positioned close to the fourth portion of the at least two tubes.

8. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is arranged to sense a temperature of the fluid, wherein the at least one light source is coupled to the at least one sensor; and a control circuit, wherein the control circuit controls an activity and an intensity of the light source based on the temperature sensed by the sensor.

9. A cooling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control circuit switches the light source on when the temperature sensed by the sensor is below 80° C.

10. A cooling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control circuit switches the light source off when the temperature sensed by the sensor is above 80° C.

11. A cooling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control circuit increases the intensity of the light source when the temperature sensed by the sensor is below 80° C.

12. A cooling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control circuit decreases the intensity of the light source when the temperature sensed by the sensor is above 80° C.

13. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two tubes are at least partially coated with a light reflective coating.

14. A ship comprising a cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged to cool the ship's engine.

15. A ship according to claim 14, wherein the ship comprises a hull, wherein the cooling apparatus is placed in a chamber, wherein the chamber is defined by the hull and a plurality of partition plates, wherein the chamber comprises entry and exit openings within the hull such that sea water can freely enter the interior of the chamber, flow over the cooling apparatus and exit via natural flow, wherein the chamber has an inner surface, wherein the inner surface of the chamber is at least partially coated with a light reflective coating.

16. A cooling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources, wherein the plurality of light sources are positioned in an asymmetric manner with respect to the at least two tubes.

17. A cooling apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a tube plate, wherein the at least two tubes are mounted to the tube plate; and a fluid header comprising one inlet stub and one outlet stub, wherein the fluid header is connected to the tube plate, wherein the inlet stub is arranged for entry of the fluid and the outlet stub is arranged for exit of the fluid, wherein a fourth portion of the at least two tubes is connected to the outlet stub, wherein the at least one light source is positioned close to the fourth portion of the at least two tubes.

18. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is arranged to sense a temperature of a portion of the exterior surface, wherein the at least one light source is coupled to the at least one sensor; and a control circuit, wherein the control circuit controls an activity and an intensity of the light source based on the temperature sensed by the sensor.

19. A cooling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control circuit switches the light source off when the temperature sensed by the sensor is above 80° C.

20. A cooling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control circuit decreases the intensity of the light source when the temperature sensed by the sensor is above 80° C.

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 vertical cross section view of an embodiment of the cooling apparatus;

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

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

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

(7) The drawings are not necessarily on scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(8) 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.

(9) 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 closed 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 so that sea water can freely enter the box volume, flow over the cooling apparatus 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). 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.

(10) FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the cooling unit (1). In this embodiment the cooling unit (1) comprises a tube plate (10) on which the tubes (8) are mounted. A fluid header (11) is 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 at least one light source (9) is positioned close to the tube portions (28, 228) connected to the outlet stub (13). In this embodiment the cooling unit (1) comprises a tube bundle having tube layers arranged in parallel along its width such that each tube layer comprises a plurality of hairpin type tubes (8) having two straight tube portions (18, 28) and one semicircular portion (38) so as to form a U-shaped tube (8). The tubes (8) are disposed with U-shaped tube portions (38) concentrically arranged and straight tube portions (18, 28) arranged in parallel. In this embodiment three light sources (9) are arranged at the inner side of the tube bundle and two light sources (119) are arranged at the outer sides of the tube bundle which corresponds to the straight tube portions (28, 228) connected to the outlet stub (13). Obviously other configurations are also possible.

(11) In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the cooling apparatus (1) comprises a tube plate (10) on which the tubes (8) are mounted and a fluid header (11) connected to the tube plate (10). In this embodiment said header (11) comprises at least two inlet stubs (12, 112) through which fluid at different temperatures enter and at least one outlet stub (13) for the entry and the exit of the fluid to and from the tubes (8) respectively. At least one light source (9) is positioned close to the tube portion (118) connected to the inlet stub (112) through which fluid below 80° C. enters. In this embodiment light sources (9) are arranged in between the tubes (8) as well as on the outer and the inner side of the tube bundle.

(12) In another embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 the cooling apparatus (1) comprises at least one sensor (16) for sensing the temperature of the fluid contained in the interior of the tube portions (18, 28, 38, 118, 228, 338) and/or the temperature of the exterior of the tube portions (18, 28, 38, 118, 228, 338). In this embodiment the cooling apparatus (1) further comprises at least one light source (9) coupled the sensor (16) and a control unit (17) that controls the activity and the intensity of the light source (9) based on the temperature sensed by the sensor (16) that the light source (9) is coupled to. In the different embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 the sensors (16) are arranged in contact with the fluid contained in the interior tube portions (18, 28, 38, 118, 228, 338) or with the exterior of the tube portions (18, 28, 38, 118, 228, 338) respectively. The control unit (17) controls the power and the intensity of the light source (9) so that the anti-fouling light casted on the exterior of the tube portions (28, 228) for which the coupled sensor (16) senses a temperature below 80° C. is higher than the tube portions (18, 38, 118, 338) for which the coupled sensor (16) senses a temperature above 80° C.

(13) 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, the invention is generally applicable to cooling by means of any kind of surface water.