Heat exchanger coil with tube insert

Abstract

Provided herein is a heat exchanger configured to heat or cool a liquid, vapor or other medium. The heat exchanger includes a coil of piping comprising a refrigerant from a chiller with the coil of piping defining a cylindrical space in a center portion of the coil of tubing. A return pipe receives the refrigerant from the coil of piping and returns to the chiller via a path through a central axis of the cylindrical space. An insert tube that has at least two connection points to the return pipe substantially fills the cylindrical space inside of the coil of piping and surrounding the return pipe. The coil of piping and the insert tube contact a fluid to be cooled or heated. The increased surface area for the heat exchanger provided by the insert tube causes additional heat to be exchanged with the fluid than a heat exchanger alone.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The presently disclosed subject matter relates to heat exchanger apparatuses, devices and systems. The presently disclosed subject matter also relates to heat exchanger coils with a tube insert to increase the contacting surface area of the heat exchanger.BACKGROUND

[0002] Chilling or cooling devices are used in laboratories and industries throughout the world, such as for cooling semiconductor equipment, medical equipment, medical and industrial lasers, electron microscopes, analytical instrumentation, and printing equipment. Other applications include plastics processing and testing, cryogenic testing, biological applications, pharmaceutical synthesis, and chemical synthesis. Additionally, chillers are used to provide cooling for rotary evaporators, a device used in chemical laboratories to remove solvents from samples by evaporation and in molecular cooking for the preparation of distillates and extracts.

[0003] Condenser surface area of a chiller plays an important role is condensing vapors. More surface area on the heat exchanger coils condenses more vapors. Conventional chillers are typically able to provide a greater heat exchange capacity by adding additional coils or larger coils to contact with the medium to be heated or cooled. This larger footprint of the heat exchanger coils affects the overall size, weight and price of varying chiller models. Chiller operators often desire to provide additional heat exchange capacity but are limited in the space available and the cost required to use a larger heat exchanger.

[0004] Chillers have proven valuable for use in laboratories and industries. They are generally considered environmentally friendly and water saving laboratory devices to cool, for example, a rotary evaporator. However, what is needed is a heat exchanger design and system that provides improved cooling capabilities that are cost effective, easy to use, and do not require additional space. It would be advantageous to reduce size, weight, and complexity of the coils, while improving the cooling capacity of chillers. Laboratory space is a premium and chiller designs that are compact and have a small footprint are needed. Compact and lighter-weight chiller designs that can provide greater heat exchange capacity solve the persistent issue of limited bench space, and the frequent movement of chillers within a laboratory, or from laboratory to laboratory.

[0005] In addition to chiller and condenser applications, heat exchangers may provide either heating or cooling to any suitable fluid, such as liquids or gases. For example, the heat exchanger may be submerged in a vessel of liquid to provide contact between the heat exchanger and a fluid to heat the fluid to a desired temperature. The system will have greater heat exchanged when the surface area of the coils contacting the fluid is larger. Improved heat exchanger designs would improve the heat exchange capacity without increasing the size of the heat exchanger coils.

[0006] Such advantages, and others disclosed herein, are provided by the instant disclosure.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0007] The presently disclosed subject matter provides compact chiller and cooler apparatuses, devices and systems configured to increase heat exchange capacity without increasing the space required for the heat exchanger coils.

[0008] In examples herein, heat exchangers composed of coils that contact a fluid are described. In some embodiments, the heat exchangers are described as part of a chiller system for condensing vapors as part of a rotary evaporator or other system. However, any other type of heat exchange process may be considered. For example, the heat exchanger may be submerged in a liquid vessel, heat a gas stream, or perform any other heat exchange process. For rotary evaporators and other heat exchanger applications, condenser surface area plays a critical role in condensing vapors. For example, a greater surface area in contact with the fluid condenses more vapors.

[0009] In conventional heat exchanger coils, an empty or hollow space exists in the central region enclosed by the cylindrical coils of the heat exchanger. To create additional heat transfer while maintaining the same refrigeration system, the present technology employs a metallic insert tube that inserts into the hollow space between the coils. The return pipe from the coils of the heat exchanger is passed through a metallic tube and affixed at least at two points of intersection. The insert tube is cooled (or heated) via the contact with the return pipe. The cooled insert tube provides additional cooled surface area that acts as an efficient cooling surface to condense vapors.

[0010] In one aspect, a heat exchanger configured to cool a liquid, vapor or other medium, includes a coil of piping configured to receive a refrigerant from a chiller, the coil of piping defining a cylindrical space in a center portion of the coil of tubing, a return pipe configured to receive the refrigerant from the coil of piping and return to the chiller via a path through a central axis of the cylindrical space, and an insert tube that has at least two connection points to the return pipe. The insert tube substantially fills the cylindrical space inside of the coil of piping and surrounding the return pipe, where the coil of piping and the insert tube contact a fluid to be cooled. In some embodiments, the insert tube is cooled via the connection points to the return pipe.

[0011] In some embodiments, the coil of piping and the insert tube are configured to cool the fluid. In some embodiments, a chiller is provided that supplies cooled refrigerant to the coil of piping. In some embodiments, the refrigerant from the chiller is at a temperature below a temperature of the fluid. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger includes a vessel that surrounds the coil of piping, where the vessel contains the fluid to be cooled.

[0012] In some embodiments, the transfer of heat to the coils occurring at the connection points is substantially via conduction. In some embodiments, the fluid contacting the coil of piping and the insert tube is condensed to a liquid. In some embodiments, the insert tube is constructed of a thermally conductive metal. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger is placed into a vessel of liquid to cool the liquid.

[0013] In one aspect, a method is provided to cool a fluid that includes providing refrigerant to a coil of piping from a chiller, returning the refrigerant via a return pipe that receives the refrigerant from the coil of piping and returns to the chiller via path through a central axis of the cylindrical space, and contacting an insert tube to the return pipe via at least two connection points, and contacting the coil of piping and the insert tube with a fluid to be cooled. In some embodiments, the coil of piping defines a cylindrical space in a center portion of the coil of tubing. In some embodiments, the insert tube substantially fills the cylindrical space inside of the coil of piping and surrounds the return pipe,

[0014] In some embodiments of the method, the insert tube is cooled via the connection points to the return pipe. In some embodiments, the method includes cooling the fluid from contact with the coil of piping and the insert tube. In some embodiments of the method, the refrigerant from the chiller is at a temperature below a temperature of the fluid. In some embodiments, the method includes collecting a liquid condensate created when the fluid contacts the coil of piping and the insert tube.

[0015] In one aspect, a heat exchanger is configured to heat a liquid, vapor or other medium. The heat exchanger includes a coil of piping configured to receive a heating medium from a heating source. The coil of piping defines a cylindrical space in a center portion of the coil of tubing. The heat exchanger includes a return pipe configured to receive the heating medium from the coil of piping and returns to the heating source via a path through a central axis of the cylindrical space. The heat exchanger includes an insert tube that has at least two connection points to the return pipe, wherein the insert tube substantially fills the cylindrical space inside of the coil of piping and surrounds the return pipe. The coil of piping and the insert tube contact a fluid to be heated.

[0016] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger is placed into a vessel of liquid to heat the liquid. In some embodiments, the insert tube is heated via the connection points to the return pipe. In some embodiments, the fluid is heated by the coil of piping and the insert tube. In some embodiments, the heating medium from the heating source is at a temperature above a temperature of the fluid.

[0017] Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The presently disclosed subject matter can be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the presently disclosed subject matter (often schematically). In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. A further understanding of the presently disclosed subject matter can be obtained by reference to an embodiment set forth in the illustrations of the accompanying drawings. Although the illustrated embodiment is merely exemplary of systems for carrying out the presently disclosed subject matter, both the organization and method of operation of the presently disclosed subject matter, in general, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, may be more easily understood by reference to the drawings and the following description. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of this presently disclosed subject matter, which is set forth with particularity in the claims as appended or as subsequently amended, but merely to clarify and exemplify the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0019] For a more complete understanding of the presently disclosed subject matter, reference is now made to the following drawings in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a heat exchanger coil as disclosed herein;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a heat exchanger as disclosed herein;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a top view of one embodiment of a heat exchanger as disclosed herein;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view of one embodiment of a chiller apparatus as disclosed herein; and

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a condensate recovery apparatus as disclosed herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The heat exchanger technology described herein may be used in a chiller system. Chillers are refrigerated cooling systems that generally include a compressor, condenser, evaporator, pump, reservoir, and temperature controller. Chillers cool down samples or processes by removing heat from one element and transferring it to another. Chillers are often referred to as recirculating chillers or coolers, which describe cooling liquid or medium (coolant) that is pumped through the system to be cooled and returned to the chiller.

[0026] Other types of heat exchangers are used to heat or cool any type of fluids, such as liquids or gases. For example, the heat exchanger may be submerged in a vessel of liquid to provide contact between the heat exchanger and a fluid. In an example, the heat exchanger may provide heat to warm a vessel of chemicals to promote a reaction. In another example, the heat exchanger may remove heat from a vessel of water to provide chilled water for an industrial process.

[0027] In some embodiments, chillers may comprise a compressor, condenser, heat exchanger (or evaporator), and / or temperature controller. In some embodiments described herein, chiller designs are illustrated with the heat exchanger outside the main housing. In the examples, chillers are configured with the heat exchanger on the outside of the housing to allow the heat exchanger to be used directly as a condenser in rotary evaporators, and / or to cool centrifugal concentrators, vacuum ovens, freeze dryers, gel dryers, DNA sample concentration applications, acid sample concentrations, and the like. In the case of rotary evaporators, for example, no coolant or circulating water is required. Vapors can be condensed directly on the heat exchanger. In some embodiments refrigerant inside the heat exchanger pipes or cooling lines can be configured to cool the pipes or cooling lines which in turn removes heat from the environment surrounding the heat exchanger, e.g. the evaporate.

[0028] In examples herein, heat exchangers composed of coils that contact a fluid are described. The heat exchangers are described in the examples as part of a chiller system for condensing vapors as part of a rotary evaporator or other system. However, any other type of heat exchange process may be considered. For example, the heat exchanger may be submerged in a liquid vessel, heat a gas stream, or perform any other heat exchange operation.

[0029] For rotary evaporators and other heat exchanger applications, condenser surface area plays a critical role in condensing vapors. A greater surface area in contact with the fluid condenses more vapors. However, a small footprint is desirable for many uses and applications, such as in a laboratory environment. The technology described herein creates greater heat exchanger surface area without increasing the footprint of the heat exchanger.

[0030] In conventional heat exchanger coils, an empty or hollow space exists in the central region enclosed by the cylindrical coils of the heat exchanger. The empty space allows fluids to collect but does not provide any contact with the surface of the heat exchanger. If fluids in the hollow space were contacting additional heat exchanger surface area, then the heat exchanged would be increased, the efficiency of the heat exchanger would be improved, and additional vapors would be condensed.

[0031] Further, in conventional system when the surface area of the condenser coils is increased, such as by increasing the number coils exposed to the fluid, a larger refrigeration systems (compressor) is required. To create additional heat transfer while maintaining the same refrigeration system, the present technology employs a metallic insert tube that inserts into the hollow space between the coils.

[0032] The return pipe from the coils of the heat exchanger is passed through this metallic tube and welded together at two points of intersection. The insert tube is cooled (or heated) via the contact with the return pipe and not via additional refrigerant. If the return coil pipe were to open into the tube, more refrigerant (freon) will be required, which would have meant larger refrigeration system is also required. The return pipe passes through the center of the insert tube and cools the insert tube via the connection points. The cooled insert tube provides additional cooled surface area that acts as an efficient cooling surface to condense vapors.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a heat exchanger 101 as disclosed herein.

[0034] The heat exchanger 101 is illustrated with coils 106 that are filled with refrigerant, such as refrigerant that is pumped through the coils 106 by a chiller. The coils 106 are created by bending a single tube into a coil to increase the surface area contacting a fluid. As illustrated, and only as an example, the pipe is coiled to create 21.5 coils in a space of 390 mm. In other examples, different sizes of pipe may be used, such as pipe that has a larger or smaller diameter. Different lengths of piping may be coiled to create additional or fewer coils 106, such as 15, 20, 25, or 30 coils, or more. The diameter of the region encompassed by the coils may be greater or smaller (e.g. 200 mm, 250 mm, 300 mm, 350 mm, 400 mm, 450 mm, etc.) depending on the size of the coils 106, and the desired application.

[0035] The inlet pipe 104 is the section of the refrigerant pipe 406 that delivers the refrigerant to the coils 106 from the chiller 402. The refrigerant pipe 406 and the chiller 402 are described in greater detail with respect to FIG. 4. As described herein, the term “refrigerant” may used to describe the heat exchange medium inside the coil 106. The refrigerant may represent any suitable medium that is provided in the coils 106, such as a heated or cooled gas or liquid. In an example, the medium is a chlorofluorocarbon.

[0036] The inlet pipe 104 feeds into the first coil 106. The coils 106 begin to wrap in a circular manner to create a cylindrical space in the center of the coils 106. After completing the coils 106, the refrigerant is fed into the return pipe 103. The return pipe 103 delivers the refrigerant back to a refrigerant pipe 406 that returns the refrigerant to the chiller 402.

[0037] Unlike in conventional heat exchangers, the heat exchanger 101 provides an insert tube 102 in the cylindrical space inside the coils 106. The insert tube 102 may be a metallic cylinder that is thermally conductive. In the example, the insert tube 102 does not touch the coils 106 but is connected to the return pipe 103.

[0038] The heat exchanger 101 may be exposed to a fluid that is at a different temperature than the medium in the coil 106, such as hotter or colder. For example, the heat exchanger 101 may be placed in a vessel that contains vapors or other gases. The heat exchanger 101 may be placed in a vessel that contains a liquid. The heat exchanger 101 either imparts heat to a colder fluid or extracts heat from a warmer fluid.

[0039] Additional features of the insert tube 102 are described herein with respect to FIG. 2.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a heat exchanger 101 as disclosed herein.

[0041] The heat exchanger 101 is illustrated with the coils 106, the inlet pipe 104, the return pipe 103, and the insert tube 102 as described in FIG. 1. The cross-sectional view illustrates the contact points 202 where the insert tube 102 is affixed to the return pipe 103.

[0042] The return pipe 103 receives the refrigerant from the last coil 106 and proceeds up the center of the cylindrical space defined by the coils 106. The insert tube 102 is placed around the return pipe 103 such that the return pipe 103 is in the center of the cylindrical insert tube 102. The insert tube 102 is connected to the return pipe 103 at the contact point 202 at the bottom of the insert tube 102 and the contact point 202 at the top of the insert tube 102. In some embodiments, further contact points between insert tube 102 and return pipe 103 are provided, such that contact points 202 can number 2, 3, 4, 5 or more. The insert tube 102 may be sealed against the return pipe 103 at the contact points 202 such that the fluid does not intrude into the insert tube 102. That is, the insert tube 102 may a sealed unit that has a void of air inside the body of the insert tube 102. The portion of the return pipe 103 between the two illustrated contact points 202 is encased in the void.

[0043] The contact point 202 may represent any suitable mechanism to affix the insert tube 102 to the return pipe 103. For example, the insert tube 102 may be welded to the return pipe 103. Sufficient contact is made at the contact point 202 to ensure that heat may be exchanged between the return pipe 103 and the insert tube 102. In a condenser application, the return pipe 103 is colder than the fluid in which the heat exchanger 101 is placed. The return pipe 103 extracts heat from the insert tube 102 via the contact points 202. The insert tube 102 is thus cooled. The cooled insert tube 102 provides additional cooling surface area for contact with the vapors to be condensed.

[0044] When the heat exchanger 101 is immersed in the fluid to be cooled or heated, the fluid enters each void or open space in the coils 106. For example, the fluid flows between the coils to enter the cylindrical space inside the coils 106 and the space between each coil 106. When the fluid enters the cylindrical space inside the coils 106, the fluid comes into contact with the outside walls of the insert tube 102. This contact increases the surface area of the heat exchanger 101 that contacts the fluid.

[0045] FIG. 3 is a top view of one embodiment of a heat exchanger 101 as disclosed herein.

[0046] As described with respect to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the inlet pipe 104 delivers refrigerant to the coils 106. The coils 106 are wound in a circular manner around a cylindrical space. The insert tube 102 is inside of the cylindrical space created by the coils 106. The insert tube 102 is connected to the return pipe 103 at the contact point 202.

[0047] As illustrated the diameter of the cylinder created by the coils 106 is 80 mm, but any other suitable diameter may be used, such as 60, 70, or 90 mm. However, increasing the diameter of the coils 106 increases the footprint of the heat exchanger 101 and / or increases the refrigerant required for an application.

[0048] The fluid enters an annular space 302 between the coils 106 and the insert tube 102. The fluid contacts the insert tube 102 and exchanges heat with the insert tube 102.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view of one embodiment of a chiller apparatus as disclosed herein.

[0050] As depicted in FIG. 1, chiller 402 can comprise a housing 404 with a heat exchanger 101 connected to but extending from housing 404. Chiller 402, and internal components discussed below, can be configured in such as way as to be integrated into a single device or apparatus that is configured to compactly arrange the elements in such a way that provides for an effective and efficient cooling / chilling system while minimizing the operational area and / or footprint.

[0051] Chiller 402 can comprise an integrated refrigeration system housed within housing 404 and continuing through heat exchanger arm 414 to provide a cooled refrigerant to heat exchanger 101. As shown in the cut-away views, chiller 402 can comprise a compressor 408, refrigeration refrigerant condenser 410 and fan 412. In some embodiments a refrigeration dryer may also be included. In some embodiments compressor 408, refrigeration refrigerant condenser 410 and heat exchanger coil 106 (and optionally dryer) can be connected by refrigerant pipes 406 by feeding the refrigerant pipes 406 through heat exchanger arm 414. The refrigerant pipes 406 may be copper tubing or any other suitable tubing or pipes to deliver the refrigerant. In the example, one of the refrigerant pipes 406 may deliver refrigerant to the heat exchanger 101 while another returns refrigerant to the chiller. Another refrigerant pipe 406 is illustrated as delivering refrigerant to the refrigerant condenser 410.

[0052] Heat exchanger 101 can include any suitable number of coils 106 connected to the inlet pipe 104 that is fed by the refrigerant pipe 406 through heat exchanger arm 414. Returned refrigeration coolant can pass through the refrigeration system (e.g. compressor 408, refrigeration refrigerant condenser 410) and into the coils 106 of heat exchanger 101 in a closed or continuous circuit such that heat absorbed by heat exchanger 101 from a surrounding media, e.g. cooling liquid or vapors, can be removed by the refrigeration system to thereby cool the surrounding media.

[0053] The heat exchanger 101 that is outside of the housing 404 of the chiller may be placed into any suitable vessel, container, vat, reactor, condenser, or other structure that contains a fluid to be heated or cooled.

[0054] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a condensate recovery apparatus as disclosed herein.

[0055] By way of example and not limitation, heat exchanger 101, as depicted in FIG. 5, can include a single walled vessel design comprising heat exchanger coils 106, a single-walled enclosure 508 surrounding and enclosing coils 106. Single walled enclosure 508 can in some embodiments be a glass canister configured to slide over the heat exchanger coils 106 and securely attach to heat exchange heat exchanger arm 414 to create a sealed enclosure by way of a securing element, such as collar 506. The collar 506 may be substantially airtight to allow the refrigerant pipes 406 to enter and leave the enclosure 508 without allowing any fluid inside the enclosure 508 to escape. The collar may attach the enclosure 508 to the heat exchanger arm 414 by a clamp or other attachment mechanism, such as via threads, screws, bolts, pressure fitting, or any other suitable mechanism.

[0056] One or more ports 520 can be provided to allow attachment of one or more conduits or additional instruments / vessels to act as inlets / outlets for compounds / fluids to be cooled and / or condensed. Compounds, vapors or fluids entering single-walled enclosure 260 can come into contact with heat exchange coils 106 and the insert tube 102. Via the contact, the fluid is cooled. In the example, the cooling of the fluids causes vapors in the fluid to condense. The condensate may be collected via the drain port 514. For example, the drain port 514 may drain into a collection vessel (not shown) that is affixed to the drain port 514.

[0057] In some embodiments the chillers, heaters, cooling devices, and related apparatuses provided herein can be used in methods of cooling or heating materials, liquids, vapors, evaporates and other mediums. By way of example and not limitation, methods are provided for condensing an evaporate, such as from a rotary evaporator, including providing a chiller, providing a rotary evaporator, evaporating a sample via the rotatory evaporator, and condensing the evaporate using a chiller and / or cooling system / apparatus as disclosed herein. As another example, a tankless chiller as provided herein can be used in a method of cooling a sample or reaction, including providing a tankless chiller, providing a separate water bath of a desired size and configuration suitable for the reaction cooling, and aligning the chiller (with external heat exchanger) and water bath such that the water bath is cooled by the chiller to thereby cool the sample / reaction. Similar methods using the disclosed cooling systems and accompanying laboratory / research equipment, as would be appreciated and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, are provided herein.

[0058] While the following terms are believed to be well understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the following definitions are set forth to facilitate explanation of the presently disclosed subject matter. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter belongs. Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, and materials are now described. Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a,”“an,” and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in this application, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a cell” includes a plurality of such cells, and so forth.

[0059] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about. ” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set 5 forth in this specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0060] As used herein, the term “about,” when referring to a value or to an amount of a composition, dose, sequence identity (e.g., when comparing two or more nucleotide or amino acid sequences), mass, weight, temperature, time, volume, concentration, percentage, etc., is meant to encompass variations of in some embodiments ±20%, in some embodiments ±10%, in some embodiments ±5%, in some embodiments ±1%, in some embodiments ±0.5%, and in some embodiments ±0.1% from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate to perform the disclosed methods or employ the disclosed compositions.

[0061] The term “comprising,” which is synonymous with “including,”“containing,” or “characterized by,” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. “Comprising” is a term of art used in claim language which means that the named elements are essential, but other elements can be added and still form a construct within the scope of the claim.

[0062] As used herein, the phrase “consisting of” excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim. When the phrase “consists of” appears in a clause of the body of a claim, rather than immediately following the preamble, the term limits only the element set forth in that clause; other elements are not excluded from the claim as a whole. As used herein, the phrase “consisting essentially of” limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps, plus those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed subject matter. With respect to the terms “comprising,”“consisting of,” and “consisting essentially of,” where one of these three terms is used herein, the presently disclosed and claimed subject matter can include the use of either of the other two terms. As used herein, the term “and / or” when used in the context of a listing of entities, refers to the entities being present singly or in combination. Thus, for example, the phrase “A, B, C, and / or D” includes A, B, C, and D individually, but also includes any and all combinations and sub-combinations of A, B, C, and D.

[0063] It will be understood that various details of the presently disclosed subject matter may be changed without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter. Furthermore, the foregoing description is for the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose of limitation.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger configured to cool a liquid, vapor or other medium, comprising:a coil of piping configured to receive a refrigerant from a chiller, the coil of piping defining a cylindrical space in a center portion of the coil of tubing;a return pipe configured to receive the refrigerant from the coil of piping and return to the chiller via a path through a central axis of the cylindrical space; andan insert tube that has at least two connection points to the return pipe, the insert tube substantially filling the cylindrical space inside of the coil of piping and surrounding the return pipe,wherein the coil of piping and the insert tube are configured to contact a fluid to be cooled.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the at least two connection points are configured to transfer heat from the return pipe to the insert tube.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the coil of piping and the insert tube are configured to be placed in contact with the fluid to extract heat from the fluid.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising a chiller that supplies cooled refrigerant to the coil of piping.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the refrigerant from the chiller is at a temperature below a temperature of the fluid.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising a vessel that surrounds the coil of piping, wherein the vessel contains the fluid to be cooled.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the transfer of heat at the connection points is substantially via conduction.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the coil of piping and the insert tube are configured to cause the fluid contacting the coil of piping and the insert tube to be condensed to a liquid.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the insert tube is constructed of a thermally conductive metal.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to be placed into a vessel of liquid to cool the liquid.

11. A method to cool a fluid, comprising:providing refrigerant to a coil of piping from a chiller, the coil of piping defining a cylindrical space in a center portion of the coil of tubing;returning the refrigerant via a return pipe that receives the refrigerant from the coil of piping and returns to the chiller via path through a central axis of the cylindrical space; andcontacting an insert tube to the return pipe via at least two connection points, wherein the insert tube substantially fills the cylindrical space inside of the coil of piping and surrounds the return pipe,contacting the coil of piping and the insert tube with the fluid to be cooled.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the insert tube is cooled via the connection points to the return pipe.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising cooling the fluid from contact with the coil of piping and the insert tube.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the refrigerant from the chiller is at a temperature below a temperature of the fluid.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising collected a liquid condensate created when the fluid contacts the coil of piping and the insert tube.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the insert tube is constructed of a thermally conductive metal.

17. A heat exchanger configured to heat a liquid, vapor or other medium, comprising:a coil of piping configured to receive a heating medium from a heating source, the coil of piping defining a cylindrical space in a center portion of the coil of tubing;a return pipe configured to receive the heating medium from the coil of piping and return to the heating source via a path through a central axis of the cylindrical space; andan insert tube that has at least two connection points to the return pipe, the insert tube substantially filling the cylindrical space inside of the coil of piping and surrounding the return pipe,wherein the coil of piping and the insert tube are configured to contact a fluid to be heated.

18. The heat exchanger of claim 17, wherein the at least two connection points are configured to transfer heat via conduction from the return pipe to the insert tube.

19. The heat exchanger of claim 17, wherein the coil of piping and the insert tube are configured to be placed in contact with the fluid to transfer heat to the fluid.

20. The heat exchanger of claim 17, wherein the insert tube is constructed of a thermally conductive metal.

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