High convective heat transfer immersion heater/cooler

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a long, thin-shelled heat transfer tube closed at one end and secured at the other end to a manifold collar which has an exhaust tube extending from the center thereof and a manifold housing extending from the collar side opposite that from which the heat transfer tube extends. A plurality of longitudinally extending distributor tubes extend from the heat transfer tube through the collar in fluid communication with a sealed manifold chamber and a plurality of orifices spaced at longitudinal increments along the length of each distributor tube permits the wind mass in the manifold chamber to exit the orifices as high speed, free-standing gas jets for impingement against the interior of the heat transfer tube so that the heat transfer tube acts either as a heat source or as a heat sink. An annular manifold plate spaced slightly from the collar defines a cooling space between the manifold plate and collar and orifices within the manifold plate permit a small portion of the wind mass to enter into the cooling space for heat transfer cooling of the collar while the collar also shields the manifold plate from heat within the heat transfer tube. A bleed path between exhaust tube and collar allows the gas in the cooling space to flow through the exhaust tube to maintain the manifold collar at an even temperature gradient.