COOLING APPARATUS FOR COOLING A FLUID BY MEANS OF SURFACE WATER

Abstract

A cooling apparatus (1) for cooling a fluid by means of surface water comprises a plurality of tubes (10) for containing and transporting the fluid to be cooled in their interior, the tubes (10) being intended to be at least partially exposed to the surface water during operation of the cooling apparatus (1). Furthermore, the cooling apparatus (1) comprises a plurality of light sources (21, 22) for producing light that hinders fouling of the exterior of the tubes (10), the light sources (21, 22) being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the tubes (10) so as to cast anti-fouling light over the exterior of the tubes (10), wherein the light sources (21, 22) have a generally elongated shape, and wherein the light sources (21, 22) are arranged in at least two mutually different orientations in the cooling apparatus (1).

Claims

1. A cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid by means of surface water, comprising: a plurality of tubes for containing and transporting the fluid to be cooled in their interior, the tubes being intended to be at least partially exposed to the surface water during operation of the cooling apparatus, and a plurality of light sources for producing light that hinders fouling of the exterior of the tubes, the light sources being dimensioned and positioned with respect to the tubes so as to cast anti-fouling light over the exterior of the tubes, wherein the light sources have a generally elongated shape, and wherein the light sources are arranged in at least two mutually different orientations in the cooling apparatus.

2. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the cooling apparatus has a layered structure in which the tubes are arranged in tube layers, each tube layer including at least one tube, wherein light sources of a first group of the light sources are arranged in an orientation for intersecting at least two adjacent tube layers, and wherein light sources of a second group of the light sources are arranged between at least one pair of two adjacent tube layers without intersecting those tube layers.

3. The cooling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the tubes of the respective tube layers a substantially straight part extending in a main tube direction, and wherein the light sources of the second group of the light sources have a substantially straight shape and are arranged in an orientation for extending in a direction which is different from the main tube direction.

4. The cooling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the light sources of the second group of the light sources are arranged in an orientation for extending in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the main tube direction.

5. The cooling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light sources of the second group of the light sources are arranged in an orientation for being substantially parallel to the tube layers.

6. The cooling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the light sources of the first group of the light sources have a substantially straight shape and are arranged in an orientation for extending in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to both the main tube direction and the direction of the orientation of the light sources of the second group of the light sources.

7. The cooling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light sources of the first group of the light sources extend substantially parallel to each other.

8. The cooling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light sources of the second group of the light sources extend substantially parallel to each other.

9. The cooling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the tubes of the respective tube layers have a curved shape, and wherein at least a number of the light sources of the first group of the light sources are arranged inside of the curved shape of at least a number of the tubes of the respective tube layers.

10. The cooling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a number of the light sources of the first group of the light sources are arranged outside of the curved shape of at least a number of the tubes of the respective tube layers.

11. The cooling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tube layers include a number of U-shaped tubes having a curved bottom portion and two substantially straight leg portions, wherein the tubes of a tube layer have mutually different sizes, ranging from a smallest tube to a largest tube, the smallest tube having a smallest radius of the bottom portion, and the largest tube having a largest radius of the bottom portion, wherein top sides of the leg portions of the tubes are at a similar level in the cooling apparatus, wherein the leg portions of the tubes extend substantially parallel to each other, and wherein at least one light source of the first group of the light sources is arranged inside of the U shape of the smallest tubes of at least a number of the respective tube layers.

12. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light sources comprise a tubular lamp for producing ultraviolet light.

13. The cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tubes are at least partially coated with an anti-fouling light reflective coating.

14. A ship, comprising: an engine for driving the ship, an engine cooling system including a cooling apparatus according to claim 1, and a compartment for accommodating the tubes and the light sources of the cooling apparatus, the compartment being provided with at least one entry opening for allowing water to enter the compartment and at least one exit opening for allowing water to exit the compartment.

15. The ship according to claim 14, wherein the interior of walls delimiting the compartment is at least partially coated with an anti-fouling light reflective coating.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures, in which equal or similar parts are indicated by the same reference signs, and in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows an embodiment of the cooling apparatus according to the invention, comprising a plurality of tubes for containing and transporting the fluid to be cooled in their interior and a plurality of light sources for casting anti-fouling light on the tubes, and furthermore diagrammatically shows a portion of walls for delimiting a compartment in which the cooling apparatus is accommodated; and

[0021] FIG. 2 provides an additional illustration of the positioning of the light sources in the cooling apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the cooling apparatus according to the invention, which will hereinafter be referred to as box cooler 1. The box cooler 1 comprises a plurality of tubes 10 for containing and transporting a fluid to be cooled in their interior. The box cooler 1 is intended to be used in an engine-driven ship, wherein the fluid to be cooled is fluid from an engine cooling system of the ship, and wherein the box cooler 1 is enabled to perform its function of cooling the fluid by exposing the tubes 10 of the box cooler 1 to water from the immediate outside environment of the ship, which will hereinafter be referred to as seawater. In particular, the tubes 10 of the box cooler 1 are accommodated inside a compartment 100 of the ship, the compartment being delimited by a portion of the ship's hull 101 and a number of partition plates 102, 103. In the ship's hull 101, a number of entry openings 104 are arranged for allowing seawater to enter the compartment 100 from the outside, and a number of exit openings 105 are arranged in the ship's hull 101 as well, for allowing seawater to exit the compartment 100 and to flow to the outside of the ship. Typically, the entry openings 104 and the exit openings 105 are arranged at different levels, wherein the level of the entry openings 104 is lower than the level of the exit openings 105, assuming a normal, upright orientation of the ship, the compartment 100 and the box cooler 1 in conformity with FIG. 1. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that indications of directions, both explicit and implicit, as used in the following description are to be understood such as to have the normal, upright orientation of the ship, the compartment 100 and the box cooler 1 as mentioned as underlying assumption.

[0023] The tubes 10 of the box cooler 1 have a curved shape, particularly a U shape, comprising a curved bottom portion 11 and two substantially straight leg portions 12 extending substantially parallel to each other, in an upward direction with respect to the bottom portion 11. During operation of the box cooler 1, fluid to be cooled, i.e. hot fluid, flows through the tubes 10, while seawater enters the compartment 100 through the entry openings 104. On the basis of the interaction of the seawater with the tubes 10 containing the hot fluid, it happens that the tubes 10 and the fluid are cooled, and that the seawater heats up. On the basis of the latter effect, a natural flow of rising seawater is obtained in the compartment 100, wherein cold seawater enters the compartment 100 through the entry openings 104, and wherein seawater at a higher temperature exits the compartment 100 through the exit openings 105. Also, motion of the ship may contribute to the flow of seawater through the compartment 100. Advantageously, the tubes 10 are made of a material having good heat transferring capabilities, such as copper.

[0024] The tubes 10 of the box cooler 1 are arranged in similar, substantially parallel tube layers 2, each of those tube layers 2 comprising a number of tubes 10 of different size arranged in a bundle, wherein a smaller tube 10 is arranged inside of the curved shape of a larger tube 10, so as to be encompassed by a larger tube 10 at a certain distance for leaving space between the tubes 10 in the tube layer 2 where seawater can flow. Hence, each tube layer comprises a number of hairpin-type tubes 10 comprising two straight leg portions 12 and one curved portion 11. The tubes 10 are disposed with their curved portions 11 in substantially concentric arrangement and their leg portions 12 in substantially parallel arrangement, so that the innermost curved portions 11 are of relatively small radius of curvature and the outermost curved portions 11 are of relatively large radius of curvature, with at least one remaining intermediate curved portion 11 disposed therebetween. In case there are at least two intermediate curved portions 11, those portions 11 are of progressively graduated radius of curvature.

[0025] Top sides of the leg portions 12 of the tubes 10 are at a similar level in view of the fact that the top sides of the leg portions 12 of the tubes 10 are connected to a common tube plate 13. The tube plate 13 is covered by a fluid header 14 comprising at least one inlet stub 15 and at least one outlet stub 16 for the entry and the exit of fluid to and from the tubes 10, respectively. Hence, the leg portions 12 of the tubes 10 which are at the side of the inlet stub 15 are at the highest temperature, while the leg portions 12 of the tubes 10 which are at the side of the outlet stub 16 are at a lower temperature, and the same is applicable to the fluid flowing through the tubes 10.

[0026] During the continuous cooling process of the tubes 10 and the fluid as present in the tubes 10, any microorganisms being present in the seawater tend to attach to the tubes 10, especially the portions of the tubes 10 which are at an ideal temperature for providing a suitable environment for the microorganisms to live in, the phenomenon being known as biofouling. In order to prevent this phenomenon, the box cooler 1 comprises a plurality of light sources 21, 22 arranged in the compartment 100 for casting anti-fouling light on the tubes 10. For example, the light may be UVC light, which is known to be effective for realizing anti-fouling.

[0027] In the shown example, the light sources 21, 22 comprise tubular lamps and thereby have a generally elongated shape. The light sources 21, 22 are arranged in a three-dimensional pattern intersecting the pattern of various tubes 10. In other words, the light sources 21, 22 are arranged in the same area as the tubes 10, extending through spaces as present between the tubes 10. In the shown example, the light sources 21, 22 can be classified in two main groups, wherein a first group comprises light sources 21 extending in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to both the tube layers 2 and a direction in which the leg portions 12 of the tubes 10 extend, wherein it is noted that the latter direction will be referred to as main tube direction in the following, and wherein a second group comprises light sources 22 extending in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to both the main tube direction and the direction in which the light sources 21 of the first group extend. In the following, for the sake of clarity, the light sources 21 of the first group will be referred to as first light sources 21, and the light sources 22 of the second group will be referred to as second light sources 22.

[0028] In the shown example, the main tube direction substantially coincides with the vertical direction. Hence, both the directions in which the first light sources 21 and the second light sources 22 extend are substantially horizontal directions. In particular, the substantially horizontal direction of the first light sources 21 and the substantially horizontal direction of the second light sources 22 are substantially perpendicular directions. The first light sources 21 intersect the tube layers 2, extending substantially perpendicular to the tube layers 2, and the second light sources 22 are present between the tube layers 2 without intersecting the tube layers 2. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that in the design of the box cooler 1 as shown, the necessary space for allowing for such positioning of the second light sources 22 is present between adjacent tube layers 2.

[0029] FIG. 2 serves to further illustrate the mutual arrangement of the various light sources 21, 22 and the tubes 10 of the box cooler 1. In the shown example, the length of each of the first light sources 21 is such that the light sources 21 extend all the way from a front tube layer 2 of the box cooler 1 to a back tube layer 2, and the length of each of the second light sources 22 corresponds to the maximum width of the largest tubes 10. That does not alter the fact that the light sources 21, 22 may have other lengths. For example, the first light sources 21 may be approximately as long as half of the distance between the front tube layer 2 and the back tube layer 2, wherein two first light sources 2 may be used for covering the entire distance as mentioned. In particular, the first light sources 21 may be somewhat longer than the entire distance as mentioned or half of the distance as mentioned, so that they may be positioned in the box cooler 1 such as to extend a small distance beyond the front tube layer 2 and the back tube layer 2, respectively. Furthermore, in the shown example, the first light sources 21 are arranged at various levels in the box cooler 1, a number of the first light sources 21 being positioned outside of the U shape of the largest tubes 10, and a number of the first light sources being positioned inside of the U shape of the smallest tubes 10. In that way, it is achieved that anti-fouling light is emitted towards both an inner side of the bundle of tubes 10 in a tube layer 2 and an outer side of such a bundle. The second light sources 22 are arranged at various levels between pairs of two adjacent tube layers 2. It is noted that more light sources 21, 22 may be used, or less, whatever the case may be, as long as the requirement of realizing anti-fouling is taken into account. For example, more first light sources 21 may be applied, wherein first light sources 21 are also arranged outside of the U shape of the smallest tubes 10 and inside of the U shape of the largest tubes 10. When the tube layers 2 comprise more than three tubes 10, it is furthermore possible for the first light sources 21 to be arranged such as to be present in all spaces between the tubes 10 of the various sizes. In any case, it is advantageous if the light sources 21, 22 are spaced equally throughout the box cooler 1.

[0030] According to the invention, the light sources 21, 22 are arranged in at least two mutually different orientations in the box cooler 1. Within the framework of the invention, numerous options exist for the size and shape of the light sources 21, 22, for the number of the light sources 21, 22, and also for the positioning of the light sources 21, 22 in the box cooler 1. Also, the size, shape, number and/or positioning of the tubes 10 of the box cooler 1 may be different from what is shown and described in respect of the embodiment of the invention. Hence, the design of the box cooler 1 as described in the foregoing and illustrated in the figures is representative of just one of numerous possible designs. The box cooler 1 should be understood such as to represent no more than an example of a cooling apparatus comprising at least two tubes for containing and transporting a fluid to be cooled in their interior.

[0031] It is possible for the box cooler 1 to comprise one or more plates (not shown) at appropriate positions for having an increasing effect on the heat transfer and for directing the light from the light sources 21, 22 towards sides of the tubes 10 which may otherwise remain (mainly) in the shadow. Another possible application of plates in the box cooler 1 may be maintaining the tubes 10 in a fixed spaced relationship with respect to each other throughout their lengths. To that end, plates having apertures for the leg portions 12 of the tubes 10 to pass therethrough may be used.

[0032] It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, but that several amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such amendments and modifications insofar they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalents thereof While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and the description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary only, and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The drawings are schematic, wherein details that are not required for understanding the invention may have been omitted, and not necessarily to scale.

[0033] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by a person skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the figures, the description and the attached claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. The phrase “a plurality of”as used in this text should be understood such as to mean “at least two”.

[0034] 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. Thus, the mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0035] The term “substantially” as used in this text will be understood by a person skilled in the art as being applicable to situations in which a certain effect is intended which can be fully realized in theory but which involves practical margins for its factual implementation. Example of such an effect include a parallel arrangement of objects and a perpendicular arrangement of objects. Where applicable, the term “substantially” may be understood such as to be an adjective which is indicative of a percentage of 90% or higher, such as 95% or higher, especially 99% or higher, even more especially 99.5% or higher, including 100%.

[0036] The term “comprise” as used in this text will be understood by a person skilled in the art as covering the term “consist of”. Hence, the term “comprise” may in respect of an embodiment mean “consist of”, but may in another embodiment mean “contain/include at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species”.

[0037] In view of the fact that biofouling does not only occur at sea, but also in rivers, lakes and the like, the invention is generally applicable to cooling by means of any kind of surface water. In this respect, it is noted that in general, the term “surface water” should be understood in the broad meaning of being water which is available on the surface of the Earth, contrary to ground water and atmospheric water.