Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11112188-B1
Publication Date
2021-09-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
A process heat exchange rod for cooling or heating liquids in a process vessel. The rod may have a linear form and extend downward through an upper wall of the process vessel into proximity with the lower floor. The rod internally defines a circulatory flow path for the heat exchange medium, including an outer jacket and a flow diverter having a central through bore and external helical flutes. Heat exchange medium travels down through the central through bore and then back up through helical grooves formed between the flow diverter and the outer jacket, or vice versa. Accurate heating or cooling of the process fluid is attained by modification of the configuration of the heat exchange rod as well as the flow rate and temperature of the heat exchange medium. The components may be injection molded of a polymer, often transparent, having a high heat transfer coefficient.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a device comprising a fluid process cooling rod for cooling liquid in a process vessel. The process vessel has an upper wall, and the cooling rod includes an elongated polymer outer jacket extending along an axis with a closed distal end and an open proximal end, defining an inner cavity. A manifold attached to the proximal end provides two connectors providing fluid communication with the inner cavity.
An elongated polymer flow diverter is positioned within the inner cavity and extends from the manifold to a point short of the closed distal end, thereby forming a distal space between the flow diverter and the closed distal end. The flow diverter includes a central inner bore extending in fluid communication with the second connector to connect the second connector to the distal space, and an outer surface defined by at least one helical flute forming at least one helical groove spaced inward from the inner diameter of the outer jacket to form at least one helical flow passage between the flow diverter and the outer jacket.
The cooling rod mounts through a hole formed in the upper wall so that the closed distal end of the outer jacket extends downward toward a bottom portion of the process vessel and is submerged in liquid. Fluid flowing into the second connector passes distally through the inner bore to the distal space and returns proximally through the at least one helical flow passage to the first connector, and fluid flowing into the first connector passes distally through the at least one helical flow passage to the distal space and returns proximally through the inner bore to the second connector to cool the liquid.
At least the outer jacket and the flow diverter are injection molded of a transparent polymer having a heat transfer coefficient of at least 0.50 W/mK @23 C. The rod geometry provides increased cooling accuracy through the helical flow passages and maximized heat-exchange surface area.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. Across them, the inventive features cover a submerged linear polymer cooling rod mounted through the upper wall, internal manifolding with two connectors, a flow diverter that forms a distal space and alternates flow between an inner bore and helical-flow-passage structures, and injection-molded transparent polymer components with heat transfer coefficient thresholds.
Linear polymer process cooling rod with manifold and diverter-defined flow path
A fluid process cooling rod for cooling liquid in a process vessel, comprising an elongated polymer outer jacket with a closed distal end and an open proximal end defining an inner cavity, a manifold attached to the proximal end with two connectors providing fluid communication with the inner cavity, and an elongated polymer flow diverter positioned within the inner cavity and extending from the manifold to a point short of the closed distal end to form a distal space.
Alternating distal inner bore and proximal helical flow passages
A flow diverter having a central inner bore extending the length of the flow diverter and fluidly connecting the second connector to the distal space, and an outer surface defined by at least one helical flute forming at least one helical groove spaced inward from the inner diameter of the outer jacket to form at least one helical flow passage between the flow diverter and the outer jacket fluidly connecting the first connector and the distal space.
Injection molded transparent polymer with heat transfer coefficient threshold
At least the outer jacket and the flow diverter are injection molded of a transparent polymer having a heat transfer coefficient of at least 0.50 W/mK @23 C, with an associated dependent refinement requiring at least 0.90 W/mK @23 C.
Submerged mounting through upper wall to near the vessel bottom
The cooling rod mounts through a hole formed in the upper wall such that the closed distal end of the outer jacket extends downward toward a bottom portion of the process vessel so as to be submerged in liquid within the process vessel, and the cooling configuration routes fluid distally through one of the inner bore or helical flow passages to the distal space and returns proximally through the other to cool the liquid.
Ribs or helical grooves on diverter to define flow passages
In the alternate independent claim, the flow diverter has an outer surface defined by ribs extending along the length of the flow diverter, the ribs defining at least one flow passage between the flow diverter and the outer jacket.
Both independent claims cover a submerged linear polymer cooling rod mounted through the process vessel upper wall, with an injection-molded transparent outer jacket and an internal flow diverter that creates a distal space connected by a central inner bore to one connector and returned to the other connector through helical-flow-passage structures defined by helical flutes or ribs.
Stated Advantages
Improved cooling accuracy.
Maximized heat-exchange surface area using the helical structure.
Plastic construction enables optical observation of flow.
Documented Applications
Cooling liquid in a process vessel, including use with bioreactors and other process vessels.
Interested in licensing this patent?