Heat exchanger configured to be mounted in the sea box of a vessel

Abstract

The invention relates to a sea box cooling system and to a heat exchanger for use in such a system. According to the invention, the sea box or heat exchanger is provided with one or more dispenser pipes for dispensing outboard water inside the sea box, preferably for dispensing outboard water towards and between the cooling elements of the heat exchanger. The dispenser pipe is mounted to the base of the heat exchanger or to a wall of the sea box. The dispenser pipe enables, in addition to free flow outboard water cooling, a controlled flow of outboard water through the sea box, and thus provides a more controlled cooling system.

Description

[0001] Title: Heat exchanger configured to be mounted in the sea box of a vessel

[0002] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular a heat exchanger configured for placement in a sea box of a vessel to provide a box cooler system for cooling marine machinery.

[0003] A box cooler is a cooling system for vessels wherein surface water, such as seawater or fresh water, also referred to as outboard water, is used for indirect heat exchange with a cooling fluid using a heat exchanger. For example, an engine cooling fluid can be fed through the heat exchanger to be cooled by outboard water. These types of cooling systems are known in the prior art. A box cooler system is for example disclosed in publications W00125086, US2017 / 343305, and WO2015040096.

[0004] The box cooler comprises a sea box, also referred to as a sea chest, that is located adjacent the hull of the vessel, such that the hull of the vessel forms a wall of the sea box. The sea box is provided with inlet apertures and outlet apertures in the vessel’s hull to allow seawater to flow into and out of the sea box. The inlet apertures are typically located at a lower part of the sea box, e.g. in a bottom panel of the seabox, while the outlet apertures are located at an upper part of the sea box, e.g. at a top end of a side panel of the seabox. The relatively cool sea water can thus enter the sea box from below, and flow along the heat exchanger that is mounted in the sea box. The warmed up seawater can then exit the sea box at the upper part thereof. Thus, a natural circulation of seawater along the heat exchanger, also referred to as free flow cooling, is created.

[0005] The heat exchanger of a box cooler system preferably is removably mounted in a wall of the sea box. Thus, it can be removed from the sea box for inspection and maintenance. The heat exchanger comprises a base, also referred to as a pipeplate, that is mounted in an opening in the wall of the sea box, such that it seals that opening. The base thus has a wet side, located on the inside of the sea box, and a dry side, located on the outside of the sea box. The base supports the heat exchanging elements, in the form of tubes and / or lamellas, of the heat exchanger inside the sea box.

[0006] The inlet and outlet for the heat exchanging elements are provided in the base and are accessible from the dry side. Thus, the fluid to be cooled can be guided through the base and into heat exchanging elements that are located in the sea box, and, after being cooled by the seawater in the sea box, out of the heat exchanging elements and through the base to be returned to for example the engine.

[0007] It is the natural flow of seawater along the heat exchanger that differentiates box cooler systems from more traditional sea water cooling systems, wherein a pumps are used to force seawater through a conduit, with one or more heat exchangers mounted in that conduit. Although these forced sea water cooling systems allow for a highly controllable cooling process, they are typically large and complicated systems and require a considerable amount of energy to pump the water through the system.

[0008] The box cooler systems on the other hand are comparatively compact because there is no elaborate cooling trajectory consisting of conduits and pumps. Thus, a box cooler system takes up a comparatively small piece of the space within the hull. The drawback of box cooler systems is that their efficiency is comparatively low, in particular when the vessel is stationary.

[0009] It is furthermore submitted that to increase the cooling efficiency, the box cooler system and heat exchanger can not simply be increased in size. An increment in size of the sea box has as a consequence that the vessel hull loses buoyancy volume. Also, with an increased size, the sea boxes are more difficult to install.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient and reliable heat exchanger for a vessel, and that preferably allows for a box cooler system which remedies the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0011] The invention therefore provides a heat exchanger according to claim 1. Furthermore, the invention therefore provides a box cooler system according to claim 22.

[0012] A heat exchanger according to claim 1 is provided with at least one outboard water dispenser pipe, mounted to the base of the heat exchanger at the wet side thereof. The outboard water dispenser pipe is configured to guide outboard water from the dry side of the base to the wet side of the base, and for dispensing the outboard water via dispensing apertures into the sea box, towards, preferably towards and between, the heat exchanging elements. Thus, the heat exchanger according to the invention enables a box cooler system that, in addition to free flow cooling, allows for a controlled flow of outboard water through the sea box. For example in case the vessel is stationary, causing a reduced free flow through the sea-box, the water dispenser pipe can be used to generate a flow of outboard water through the sea .outboard water into the sea box via the outboard water inlet aperture of the sea box. Thus, a heat exchanger according to the invention allows for a more reliable and more efficient cooling process. Furthermore, the flow of outboard water dispensed via the dispenser pipe can be controlled, e.g. by controlling a pump and / or valves in a supply pipe that provides the dispenser pipe with outboard seawater. Therefore, the heat exchanger according to the invention allows for a more controlled cooling process, compared to a box cooling system that relies only on the free flow of outboard water through the sea box. For example, in case free flow cooling does not provide sufficient cooling, the flow of outboard water along the cooling elements can be increased using the dispenser pipe, thus enhancing the cooling capacity of the heat exchanger.

[0013] In an embodiment, the dispenser pipe comprises a single internal conduit connected to all the dispensing apertures of the dispenser pipe for guiding outboard water to the dispensing apertures. In an alternative embodiment the dispenser pipe comprises multiple internal conduits each connected to one or more dispensing apertures for guiding outboard water to the dispensing apertures.

[0014] The dispenser pipe is a tubular element provided with dispensing apertures that are in open communication with the interior of the seabox and thus allow for outboard water to flow from within the dispenser pipe into the interior of the seabox. The outboard water thus dispensed by the dispenser pipe into the seabox flows through the seabox and out of the seabox via apertures in the wall of the seabox. The water dispensed by the dispenser pipe preferably flows along with the flow of free flow outboard water, i.e. the flow of outboard water that enters the seabox via the inlet apertures in a wall of the seabox and that exits the seabox via the outlet apertures in a wall of the seabox.

[0015] The outboard water dispenser pipe is provided to dispense outboard water in the sea-box in addition to the outboard water that flows through the sea box because of the free flow system of the box cooler system. Therefore, a pump, for pumping the outboard water through the dispenser pipe into the sea-box, can be used that is significantly smaller than the pumps used in traditional forced sea water cooling systems. Also, by dispensing the flow of outboard water with the dispenser pipe, the flow of outboard water along the heat exchanging elements is increased and the cooling efficiency is increased. Therefore, the invention allows for providing the same cooling capacity using a smaller heat exchanger, c.q. a smaller sea box.

[0016] Furthermore, in an embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention, the dispenser pipe is mounted in the base of the heat exchanger, and is thus located close to the heat exchanging elements of the heat exchanger. In combination with the dispenser pipe being provided with multiple lateral dispensing apertures along a length of the dispenser pipe, this allows for an optimal distribution of the dispensed outboard water over the heat exchanging elements of the heat exchanger. In addition, the heat exchanger according to the invention can be used in a traditional sea box, i.e. a sea box that is configured for free flow cooling only. This furthermore allows for a box cooler system that still has a compact configuration compared to forced flow cooling systems.

[0017] In view of the above, it is submitted that the invention provides an efficient and reliable heat exchanger for a vessel, and that preferably allows for a box cooler system which remedies the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0018] A heat exchanger according to claim 1 is configured to be mounted in a sea box of a vessel for cooling a fluid. The heat exchanger comprises:

[0019] - a base, wherein the base is configured for mounting the heat exchanger in the sea box, wherein the base has a dry side that is outside the sea box and a wet side that is inside the sea box, when the heat exchanger is mounted in a sea box;

[0020] - multiple heat exchanging elements, e.g. tubes and / or lamellas, each heat exchanging element comprising a channel for guiding the fluid, wherein the heat exchanging elements are mounted to the base at the wet side thereof and are in the sea box when the heat exchanger is mounted in the sea box; wherein the base is provided with one inlet pipe and one outlet pipe for each heat exchanging element or is provided with one or more shared inlet pipes and one or more shared outlet pipes for the multiple heat exchanging elements, the inlet pipe or the one or more shared inlet pipes and the outlet pipe or the one or more shared outlet pipes extending through the base from the dry side to the wet side, and wherein the channels of the heat exchanging elements are with an inlet end connect to the inlet pipe or to one of the one or more shared inlet pipes, and with an outlet end to the outlet pipe or to one of the one or more shared outlet pipes, to enable exchanging heat between the fluid and outboard water in the sea box by guiding the fluid via the one or more inlet pipes into the channels of the heat exchanging elements, and thus into the sea box, and out of the channels of the heat exchanging elements, and thus out of the sea box, via the one or more outlet pipes, - at least one outboard water dispenser pipe, the at least one outboard water dispenser pipe having an inlet at an inlet end and multiple dispensing apertures, preferably lateral dispensing apertures, along a length of the dispenser pipe, wherein the dispenser pipe is mounted to the base at the wet side thereof, with the inlet mounted in a mounting aperture in the base, for guiding outboard water from the dry side of the base to the wet side of the base, and for dispensing the outboard water via the dispensing apertures into the sea box and preferably between the heat exchanging elements.

[0021] Thus, a heat exchanger according to the invention is provided with an outboard water dispenser tube to provide an additional flow, in addition to the natural free flow, in the sea box and thus provide an improved flow of outboard water along the heat exchanging elements of the heat exchanger.

[0022] In an embodiment, the fluid to be cooled by the heat exchanger, i.e. a cooling fluid for in a closed circuit cooling marine machinery, comprises fresh water and the outboard water comprises seawater.

[0023] The channels of the heat exchanging elements are with an inlet end connected to an inlet pipe or to a shared inlet pipe. The inlet pipe provides cooling fluid from a closed cooling circuit, for example a cooling circuit for cooling marine machinery, to the channels of the heat exchanging elements. Similar, the channels of the heat exchanging elements are with an outlet end connected to an outlet pipe or to a shared outlet pipe. The outlet pipe feeds the cooling fluid back into the cooling circuit. Thus, hot cooling fluid can be fed, via the heating elements, through the seabox, an cooled cooling fluid can be fed back ingot the cooling circuit. Thus, the heat exchanger comprises one or more inlet and outlet pipes that are each connected to one or more heating elements, more in particular to the fluid guiding channel of the one or more heating elements. The heat exchanger can therefore comprise a combination of inlet and outlet pipes connected to one channel and inlet and outlet pipes connected to multiple channels.

[0024] In an embodiment, the multiple heat exchanging elements are embodied as a bundle of tubes, each tube comprising one channel extending between an inlet and an outlet at respectively an inlet end and an outlet end of the tube, and the bundle of tubes is mounted to the base at the wet side thereof and the channels of the tubes are each with the inlet end connect to the inlet pipe or to one of the one or more shared inlet pipes, and with the outlet end to the outlet pipe or to one of the one or more shared outlet pipes. A shared inlet pipe or outlet pipe functions as a manifold, dividing a single flow in multiple sub flows or combining multiple sub flows into a single flow. Thus, a shared pipe can be an intermediate between multiple heat exchanging elements and a cooling channel, e.g. a fluid supply end or a fluid discharge end of a cooling channel, of a closed cooling circuit.

[0025] Thus, a shared inlet or outlet pipe, or inlet or outlet manifold, can be provided on the wet side, i.e. extend into the sea box when the heat exchanger is mounted. As an alternative, one or more shared inlet and / or outlet pipes, or manifolds, can be provided on the dry side of the base of the heat exchanger.

[0026] In a further embodiment, the tubes each extend along a U-shaped trajectory. In such an embodiment the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of hairpin type tubes, the tubes each having two straight tube portions and one semicircular portion so as to form a U-shaped tube. In an embodiment, the tubes are disposed with the U-shaped pipe portions concentrically arranged and with the straight pipe portions arranged in parallel, so that the innermost U- shaped pipe portions are of relatively small radius and the outermost U-shaped pipe portions are of relatively large radius, with the remaining intermediate U-shaped pipe portions are of progressively graduated radius of curvature.

[0027] In a further embodiment, the dispenser pipe is disposed between U-shaped tubes. In yet a further embodiment, the dispenser pip extends parallel to the straight tube portions, and is provided with dispensing apertures that are directed to dispense water in the direction of the straight pipe tubes. In an embodiment, the dispenser pipe is provided with dispensing aperture on opposite sides of the pipe, to dispense outboard water in opposite directions, and thus towards both legs of a U-shaped tube.

[0028] Thus, in such an embodiment, the tubes each form a channel for containing and transporting the fluid in its interior. In an embodiment, the tubes each comprises an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, that each have an outlet at an outlet end and an inlet at an inlet end. The inlet pipe is with its inlet end mounted to the base and with its outlet end to the inlet end of the outlet pipe. The outlet pipe is with its inlet end connected to the outlet end of the inlet pipe and with its outlet end to the base of the heat exchanger. Thus, the tube is configured for transporting the fluid from an inlet in the base of the heat exchanger into the inlet pipe, and from the inlet pipe into the outlet pipe, and from the outlet pipe into an outlet in the base of the heat exchanger.

[0029] In an embodiment, the tubes are provided with plate lamellas to enlarge the cooling area of the tubes. The lamellas may be provided in the form of ribs mounted on the tubes and extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubes, and / or in the form of plates that are mounted on the tubes and extend in directions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tubes.

[0030] In an embodiment, the multiple heat exchanging elements are embodied as a stack of cooling lamellas, wherein the stack of cooling lamellas is mounted to the base at the wet side thereof and wherein the lamellas are stacked in a stacking direction such that there is a cooling space between two adjacent lamellas, and wherein the lamellas each comprises at least one channel that is with an inlet end connect to one of the one or more shared inlet pipes and with an outlet end to one of the one or more shared outlet pipes.

[0031] Thus, in such an embodiment the heat exchanging elements are embodied as lamella’s that comprises one or more channels for guiding the fluid through the lamella. This in contrast with plate lamellas, which do not comprise such a channel.

[0032] Thus, in such an embodiment, the cooling lamellas each comprise at least one fluid channel extending between a channel inlet and a channel outlet.

[0033] In an embodiment, the lamellas are each with their channel inlet connected to the inlet pipe and with their channel outlet to the outlet pipe, for transporting the fluid from the inlet pipe into the channels of the lamellas and from the channels of the lamellas into the outlet pipe. In such an embodiment the lamellas are connected to a shared inlet pipe and an a shared outlet pipe. Optionally the lamellas are formed as an integral whole with the inlet pipe and / or the outlet pipe.

[0034] A shared inlet pipe or outlet pipe functions as a manifold, dividing a single flow in multiple sub flows or combining multiple sub flows into a single flow. Thus, a shared pipe can be an intermediate between the lamellas and a cooling channel, e.g. a fluid supply end and a fluid discharge end of a cooling channel, of a closed cooling circuit.

[0035] A shared tube can be provided on the wet side, i.e. extend into the sea box when the heat exchanger is mounted. As an alternative, one or more shared inlet and / or outlet pipes can be provided on the dry side of the base of the heat exchanger.

[0036] In addition or as an alternative, one or more lamellas may be connected to each other, thus together effectively forming a pipe for containing and transporting the fluid in its interior. In an embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises a single pipe comprising multiple lamellas, wherein the inlet pipe has an outlet at an outlet end thereof, and an inlet at an inlet end thereof, and wherein the pipe is with the inlet mounted in an inlet aperture in the base and with an outlet in an outlet aperture in the base, for connecting the pipe with a channel, i.e. a single fluid supply channel and a single fluid discharge channel, of a closed cooling circuit.

[0037] In an embodiment, the dispenser pipe is provided with dispensing apertures that are positioned to dispense outboard water in multiple directions, i.e. in multiple directions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the dispenser pipe. For example, in an embodiment, the dispenser pipe is provided with dispensing apertures on opposite sides of the pipe, to dispense outboard water in opposite directions. In a further embodiment, the dispenser pipe is provided with dispensing apertures at regular intervals of its circumference, for example at 30 degree intervals.

[0038] In an embodiment, the dispenser pipe is, in addition to the multiple lateral dispensing apertures along a length of the dispenser pipe, provided with one or more dispensing apertures at an end of the dispenser pipe opposite the inlet end. These dispensing apertures may be configured to dispense a flow of outboard water parallel to a longitudinal axis of the dispenser pipe. In yet another embodiment, the dispenser pipe is provided with one or more nozzles, the nozzles each comprising multiple dispensing apertures.

[0039] In an embodiment configured to enhance the natural flow of outboard water in the sea box, the dispenser pipe is, or the dispenser pipes are, provided only with dispensing apertures directed towards the wall with the outboard water outlet aperture provided in it. In an embodiment configured to provide a flow of outboard water out of the sea box in the absence of a natural flow, for example when the vessel is not moving, the dispenser pipe is, or dispenser pipes are, provided with dispensing apertures directed in multiple directions, i.e. also directed towards walls of the sea box without an outboard water outlet aperture. In a further embodiment, multiple dispenser pipes are provided, each with a particular outboard water dispensing direction. For example, in case the natural flow in the sea box is to be enhanced, only the dispenser pipes with only dispensing apertures directed towards the wall with the outboard water outlet are used, while in case of the absence of a natural flow also other dispenser pipes can be used.

[0040] In an embodiment, the cooling lamellas extend in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction.

[0041] In an embodiment, most, preferably all, of the stacked lamellas are provided with an aperture, the apertures preferably being aligned in a direction parallel to a stacking direction of the lamellas, and wherein the dispenser pipe extends through these apertures. In such an embodiment, the dispenser pipe can be optimally positioned for dispensing outboard water between the lamella’s. Therefore, even though the cooling area of the lamella’s is reduced, the cooling efficiency of the heat exchanger may be improved.

[0042] In an embodiment, the dispenser pipe extends in a direction perpendicular to the lamellas, or at least extends in a direction perpendicular to a part of the lamellas provided with an aperture via which the dispenser pipe passes through the lamella.

[0043] In an embodiment, the dispensing apertures of the at least one outboard water dispenser pipe are aligned with cooling spaces between the lamellas to direct outboard water into these cooling spaces and thus along the cooling lamellas to promote exchanging of heat between the fluid in the channels of the lamellas and the outboard water in the sea box.

[0044] In an embodiment, the lamellas each extend along a longitudinal axis between a first end and an opposite, second end, and wherein the at least one dispenser pipe is located at or near the first end, and wherein the dispensing apertures are directed towards the second end of the lamellas, such that outboard water dispensed from the dispensing apertures is directed along the lamellas in a direction towards the second end. Thus, the outboard water dispensed by the dispenser pipe is guided along the length of the lamella’s, which allows for an optimal cooling effect.

[0045] In an embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises an anti-fouling device that comprises at least one UV-light, wherein the at least one UV-light is mounted to the base at the wet side thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one UV-light has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the stacking direction of the lamellas, and thus to a longitudinal axis of the stack lamellas. Thus, the UV-light is positioned to cover a maximal surface area of multiple lamellas.

[0046] In an embodiment, the stacked lamellas are provided with an aperture, the apertures preferably being aligned in a direction parallel to a stacking direction of the lamellas, and wherein the UV-light extends through these apertures.

[0047] In an embodiment, the UV light extends in a direction perpendicular to the lamellas, or at least extends in a direction perpendicular to a part of the lamellas provided with an aperture where the UV light passes through the lamella.

[0048] In an embodiment, the dispenser pipe has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a stacking direction of the lamellas, and thus to a longitudinal axis of the stack lamellas. In an embodiment, the base of the heat exchanger, at the dry side thereof, is provided with connecting means for connecting the fluid channel or fluid channels of the heat exchanging elements of the heat exchanger to a cooling channel, e.g. to a fluid supply end and a fluid discharge end of a cooling channel of a fluid circuit, for incorporating the heat exchanger in a closed fluid circuit of a vessel, wherein the fluid circuit extends through marine machinery to be cooled by the heat exchanger.

[0049] The dispenser pipe is mounted to the base with its inlet mounted in the mounting aperture in the base.

[0050] In an embodiment, the dispenser pipe is releasable mounted in the mounting aperture such that the dispenser pipe can be removed from the base and be replaced with another dispenser pipe, and preferably can be replaced with an anti-fouling device, e.g. an elongate anti-fouling lighting device, arranged to reduce fouling of the heat exchanging elements.

[0051] It is submitted that a dispenser pipe according to the invention is configured for dispensing outboard water between and along the heat exchanging elements, more or less in the same way an elongate anti fouling light source is configured to distribute UV light between and along the heat exchanging elements. Therefore, by providing an a dispenser pipe that extends along a, preferably straight, longitudinal axis conform a UV light source the dispenser pipe can be mounted on the base in the same position as the UV light source. Thus, the base is provided with a mounting aperture that is configured to fit both a base end of the dispenser pipe and the base end of the anti-fouling device, preferably is provided with a connector that cooperates with a connector provided on the base end of the dispenser pipe and with a connector on the base end of the anti-fouling device, which allows for the dispenser pipe to replace the anti-fouling device, e.g. a UV-light source. In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser pipe is provided with a connector for mounting the dispenser pipe in the base that is similar to a connector of an UV light source that is configured to be mounted in the base as an anti-fouling device. Thus, the UV light source in an existing heat exchanger can be replaced with a dispenser pipe according to the invention to provide a heat exchanger according to the invention. It is noted that there are heat exchangers provided with multiple UV-light sources, that are each removable mounted in an aperture in the base. Thus, replacing only one of the UV light sources with a dispenser pipe, would still allow for the other UV light source or UV light sources to provide anti fouling.

[0052] In an embodiment, the dispenser pipe comprises a connecter for releasable mounting the dispenser pipe in the mounting aperture in the base of the heat exchanger. In a further embodiment, the dispenser pipe has a cross section that is smaller than a cross section of the mounting aperture, such that the dispenser pip can be inserted into the mounting aperture from the dry side, i.e. the dispenser pipe can pass through the mounting aperture. In such an embodiment, the connector for releasable mounting the dispenser pipe in the mounting aperture is configured for engaging with the mounting aperture from the dry side, thus enabling the dispenser pipe to be mounted in the mounting aperture form the dry side.

[0053] In an embodiment, the mounting aperture is configured such that it can also function as an UV-mount, i.e. is a mounting aperture suitable for mounting an UV-light on the wet side of the base.

[0054] In an embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises a stack of lamellas, which lamellas are provided with an aperture for receiving a dispenser pipe, and the apertures are aligned with the mounting aperture in which the dispenser pipe is mounted. In such an embodiment, the dispenser pipe passes through multiple lamellas via the aperture provided in the lamellas.

[0055] In an embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises an anti-fouling device, and the anti-fouling device preferably comprises at least one UV-light. In such an embodiment, the heat exchanger is adapted to receive at least one light source for producing light that hinders fouling. Preferably, the at least one light source is dimensioned and positioned with respect to the heat exchanging elements so as to cast anti-fouling light over the heat exchanging element. In a preferred embodiment, the UV light is a tubular lamp.

[0056] In an embodiment, the at least one UV-light is mounted to the base at the wet side thereof. In an alternative embodiment, an antifouling device is mounted in sea box, or at least not on the base of the heat exchanger.

[0057] In an embodiment, the at least one UV-light has a base, and is mounted with that base in a UV-mount in the base, and the dispenser pipe is at the inlet end configured to be mounted in the UV-mount and the UV-mount is configured to also function as an outboard water inlet.

[0058] In such an embodiment, the inlet end of the dispenser pipe is configured as a connector for mounting the dispenser pipe in the UV-mount in the base. That connector is therefore similar to a connector of the UV light, i.e. to a connector for mounting an UV light source in the UV mount.

[0059] In an embodiment, the base of the heat exchanger is provided with a pump, preferably mounted on the dry side of the base, that is configured to be connected to an outboard water supply pipe, and for pumping the outboard water into the mounting aperture and into the inlet of the dispenser pipe that is mounted in the mounting aperture in the base. In a further embodiment, the base is provided with an outboard water supply pipe for providing the pump with outboard water, the outboard water supply pipe having an inlet that is configured to be connected with an outboard water supply and / or with an outboard water inlet that is connected with the sea box.

[0060] In a further embodiment, the base is provided with an outboard water supply pipe for providing the pump with outboard water, the outboard water supply pipe having an inlet that is connected with the sea box.

[0061] Thus, with such an embodiment, the dispenser pipe is provided with outboard water from the sea box. The supply pipe for outboard water is part of the heat exchanger, and is not part of the sea box. Therefore, this embodiment allows for providing the heater with a dispenser pipe without requiring any changes of the sea box.

[0062] In a further preferred embodiment, the outboard water supply pipe has an inlet that is located near an outboard water inlet aperture of the sea box, when the heat exchanger is mounted in the sea box. Such an embodiment promotes the supply of outboard water from outside the sea box, instead of outboard water that already has been warmed up inside the sea box.

[0063] In a further embodiment, the outboard water supply pipe is fluid-connected to a body of outboard water via one or more apertures, e.g. slots of the sea box, in the vessel’s hull.

[0064] The invention furthermore provides a box cooler system comprising a sea box build, or configured to be build, in a vessel and a heat exchanger according to the invention mounted in the sea box, wherein the sea box is provided with an outboard water inlet aperture, for example multiple outboard water inlet slots, at a lower end of the sea box, preferably in a bottom wall of the sea box, and an outboard water outlet aperture, for example multiple outboard water outlet slots, in a wall of the sea box, preferably in a side wall of the sea box, at an upper end of the sea box.

[0065] In such a box cooler system, a heat exchanger according to the invention is mounted in one of the walls of the sea box. The box cooler system according to the invention provides an increased cooling capacity, in particular when the vessel is stationary.

[0066] The box cooler system, in addition to free flow cooling, allows for a controlled flow of outboard water through the sea box. For example in case the vessel is stationary, causing a reduced free flow through the sea-box, the water dispenser pipe can be used to generate a flow of outboard water through the sea .outboard water into the sea box via the outboard water inlet aperture of the sea box. Thus, a heat exchanger according to the invention allows for a more reliable and more efficient cooling process.

[0067] Providing the dispenser pipe of the heat exchanger on the base of the heat exchanger allows for positioning the dispenser pipe between the heat exchanging elements, and even allows for positioning the dispenser pipe such that it extends through apertures in one or more of the heat exchanging elements. Positioning the dispenser pipe so close to the heat exchanging elements enables an optimal distribution of the dispensed outboard water over the heat exchanging elements, which allows for a better controlled cooling process and / or improved cooling efficiency.

[0068] In an embodiment of the box cooler system, the at least one additional dispenser pipe is mounted to a wall of the sea box, preferably with the inlet of the additional dispenser pipe mounted in an mounting aperture in the wall, preferably the wall in which the base of the heat exchanger is mounted, and the dispenser preferably pipe is extending in a direction perpendicular to the wall, for guiding outboard water from the outside of the sea box to the inside of the sea box, and for dispensing the outboard water via dispensing apertures of the additional dispenser pipe into the sea box and preferably between the heat exchanging elements.

[0069] In such an embodiment, an additional dispenser pipe is provided that is not mounted to the base of the heat exchanger. The additional dispenser pipe allows for an additional flow of outboard water, preferably directed towards the heating elements. Furthermore, when this additional flow is directed towards the outboard water outlet aperture of the seabox, the additional flow may promote the flow of outboard water through the seabox, and thus may enhance the cooling efficiency of the box cooler system.

[0070] In an embodiment of the box cooler system, the dispensing apertures of the at least one dispenser pipe and / or the at least one additional dispenser pipe are directed towards a wall of the sea box provided with the outboard water outlet aperture, and preferably at least part of the heat exchanging elements is positioned between the dispensing apertures and the wall of the sea box provided with outboard water outlet aperture.

[0071] In such an embodiment, the flow of outboard water dispensed by the dispenser pipe, or dispenser pipes, is directed towards the outflow aperture, and along the heat exchanging elements. Thus, the flow of outboard water is promoted to, once warmed up by the heating exchanging elements, flow out of the sea box. Furthermore, this position of the dispenser pipe may stimulate the free flow of outboard water through the sea box. In an embodiment of the box cooler system, the at least one additional dispenser pipe is mounted to a wall of the sea box, and extends alongside the heat exchanging elements that are mounted on the base, such that the dispensing apertures of the additional dispenser pipe are directed towards a wall of the sea box provided with the outboard water outlet aperture, and preferably at least part of the heat exchanging elements is positioned between the dispensing apertures and the wall of the sea box provided with outboard water outlet aperture.

[0072] In an embodiment of the box cooler system, the heat exchanger comprises lamellas, and wherein the lamellas each extend along a longitudinal axis between a first end and an opposite, second end, and wherein outboard water that flows through the sea box from the outboard water inlet aperture towards the outboard water outlet aperture of the sea box, flows along the lamellas in a direction towards the second end of the lamellas.

[0073] The invention furthermore provides a vessel comprising a heat exchanger according to the invention for cooling of the vessel’s machinery. In an embodiment of the vessel, the heat exchanger is mounted in a sea box and forms a box cooler system according to the invention. Preferably the sea box is defined by a hull of the vessel and / or partition plates of the vessel and the outboard water inlet aperture and the outboard water outlet aperture are provided in the hull so that sea water can freely enter the sea box, flow over the heat exchanger and exit the sea box via natural flow. The invention thus allows for a box cooler system having a compact configuration that allows for a controlled flow of outboard water through the sea box.

[0074] The invention furthermore provides a box cooler system comprising a sea box build, or configured to be build, in a vessel and a heat exchanger mounted in the sea box, wherein the sea box is provided with an outboard water inlet aperture, for example multiple outboard water inlet slots, at a lower end of the sea box, preferably in a bottom wall of the sea box, and an outboard water outlet aperture, for example multiple outboard water outlet slots, in a wall of the sea box, preferably in a side wall of the sea box, at an upper end of the sea box, and wherein the heat exchanger comprises:

[0075] - a base, wherein the base is mounted in a mounting aperture in a wall of the sea box, preferably in a top wall of the sea box, and wherein the base has a dry side that is outside the sea box and a wet side that is inside the sea box; - multiple heat exchanging elements, e.g. tubes and / or lamellas, each heat exchanging element comprising one or more channels for guiding the fluid, wherein the heat exchanging elements are mounted to the base at the wet side thereof and are in the sea box; wherein the base is provided with one inlet pipe and one outlet pipe for each heat exchanging element or is provided with one or more shared inlet pipes and one or more shared outlet pipes, the inlet pipe or inlet pipes and outlet pipe or outlet pipes extending through the base from the dry side to the wet side, and wherein the channels of the heat exchanging elements are each with an inlet end connect to the inlet pipe or to one of the one or more shared inlet pipes, and with an outlet end to the outlet pipe or to one of the one or more shared outlet pipes, to enable exchanging heat between the fluid and outboard water in the sea box by guiding the fluid via the one or more inlet pipes into channels of the heat exchanging elements, and thus into the sea box, and out of the channels of the heat exchanging elements, and thus out of the sea box, via the one or more outlet pipes, characterized, in that at least one outboard water dispenser pipe is provided, wherein the at least one outboard dispenser pipe has an inlet at an inlet end and multiple dispensing apertures, preferably lateral dispensing apertures, along a length of the dispenser pipe, and wherein the at least one dispenser pipe is mounted to the base at the wet side thereof, and with the inlet mounted in an mounting aperture in the base, for guiding outboard water from the dry side of the base to the wet side of the base, and for dispensing the outboard water via the dispensing apertures into the sea box and preferably between the heat exchanging elements. and / or the at least one dispenser pipe is mounted to a wall of the sea box, and with the inlet mounted in an mounting aperture in the wall, for guiding outboard water from the outside of the sea box to the inside of the sea box, and for dispensing the outboard water via the dispensing apertures into the sea box and preferably between the heat exchanging elements.

[0076] In such a box cooler system, a heat exchanger according to the invention is mounted in one of the walls of the sea box. In an embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises multiple lamellas and is mounted in the sea box in such manner that the lamellas of the heat exchanger are located within the sea box and the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the heat exchanger are located outside the sea box, i.e. on the dry side of the base of the sea box. Thus, the heat exchanger can be incorporated in a closed cooling circuit for cooling marine machinery of a vessel.

[0077] In a further embodiment, the heat exchanging elements and the dispenser pipe are mounted on the base such that the dispensing apertures of the dispenser pipe are directed towards a wall of the sea box provided with the outboard water outlet aperture, and preferably at least part of the heat exchanging elements is positioned between the dispensing apertures and the wall of the sea box provided with outboard water outlet aperture.

[0078] In such an embodiment, the flow of outboard water dispensed by the dispenser pipe is directed towards the outflow aperture, and along the heat exchanging elements. Thus, the flow of outboard water is promoted to, once warmed up by the heating exchanging elements, flow out of the sea box. Furthermore, this position of the dispenser pipe may stimulate the free flow of outboard water through the sea box.

[0079] In an alternative embodiment, the at least one dispenser pipe is mounted to a wall of the sea box, and extends alongside or between the heat exchanging elements that are mounted on the base, such that the dispensing apertures of the dispenser pipe are directed towards a wall of the sea box provided with the outboard water outlet aperture, and preferably at least part of the heat exchanging elements is positioned between the dispensing apertures and the wall of the sea box provided with outboard water outlet aperture.

[0080] It is submitted that the area of the outboard water outlet aperture of the sea box preferably is larger than the area of the dispensing apertures of the dispenser pipe, to promote the outflow of outboard water dispensed by the dispenser pipe.

[0081] In an embodiment of the box cooler system according to the invention, the heat exchanger comprises lamellas, and the lamellas each extend along a longitudinal axis between a first end and an opposite, second end, and outboard water that flows through the sea box from the outboard water inlet aperture towards the outboard water outlet aperture of the sea box, flows along the lamellas in a direction towards the second end of the lamellas, when the heat exchanger is mounted in the sea box. This configuration of the sea box further promotes the free flow of outboard water through the sea box when dispensing outboard water with the dispenser pipe. The invention furthermore provides a vessel comprising a heat exchanger according to the invention for cooling of the vessel's machinery.

[0082] In an embodiment of a vessel according to the invention, the heat exchanger is mounted in a sea box and forms a box cooler system according to the invention, and the sea box is defined by the hull of the vessel and partition plates and the outboard water inlet aperture and the outboard water outlet aperture are provided in the hull so that sea water can freely enter the sea box, flow over the heat exchanger and exit the sea box via natural flow. Thus, in such an embodiment, the sea box is in fluid communication with the outboard water.

[0083] The invention furthermore provides a method for creating or for enhancing a flow of outboard water along heat exchanging elements, and preferably through cooling spaces between the heat exchanging elements, of a heat exchanger according to the invention, wherein the heat exchanger is mounted in a sea box, the method comprising:

[0084] - transporting outboard water into the sea box using the at least one dispenser pipe, and dispensing the outboard water out of the dispensing apertures of the dispenser pipe towards and / or into the cooling spaces between the heat exchanging elements.

[0085] In a further embodiment of the method for cooling a marine machinery in a vessel floating in a body of water, the vessel is provided with a box cooler according to the invention, in this method, the heat exchanger is fluid-connected to the marine machinery in a closed cooling circuit. The method comprises:

[0086] - allowing outboard water, i.e. water from the body of water, to flow into the sea box via the outboard water inlet aperture, along the heat exchanger elements of the heat exchanger, and out of the sea box via the outboard water outlet aperture;

[0087] - pumping outboard water into sea box via the dispenser pipe and dispensing the outboard water in a direction along the heat exchanging elements using the dispenser pipe, and allowing the dispensed outboard water to flow out of the sea box via the outlet aperture; and

[0088] - exchanging heat between the outboard water flowing through the sea box with a cooling fluid in the heat exchanger.

[0089] A further embodiment according to the invention comprises the step; adjusting the cooling capacity of the sea box by adjusting the volume of outboard water dispensed yia the dispenser pipe per time unit, e.g. per minute.

[0090] The invention furthermore provides a heat exchanger configured to be mounted in the sea box of a vessel for cooling a fluid, the heat exchanger comprising: - a base configured for mounting the heat exchanger in a sea box, wherein the base has a dry side that is outside the sea box and a wet side that is inside the sea box when the heat exchanger is mounted in the sea box

[0091] - at least one cooling pipe, the at least one cooling pipe having an inlet at an inlet end and an outlet at an outlet end, for transporting the fluid from an inlet at an inlet end of the cooling pipe to an outlet at an outlet end of the cooling pipe, wherein the cooling pipe is mounted to the base at the wet side thereof, and with the inlet end mounted to an inlet in the base and the outlet end is mounted to an outlet in the base, to enable transporting the fluid from the inlet through the at least one cooling pipe to the outlet for exchanging heat between said fluid and outboard water in the sea box,

[0092] - a stack of multiple lamellas, wherein the stack of lamella is mounted to the base at the wet side thereof, wherein the lamellas are at least partly in contact with the at least one cooling Pipe;

[0093] - at least one dispenser pipe, the at least one dispenser pipe having an inlet at an inlet end and multiple lateral dispensing apertures along a length of the dispenser pipe, wherein the dispenser pipe is mounted with the inlet to an inlet in the base and with each of the dispensing apertures located between two lamella of the stack of lamella to enable transporting the fluid from the inlet, out of the lateral apertures and between the lamellas to promote exchanging heat between said fluid and said outboard water in the sea box.

[0094] The invention will now be discussed with respect to the drawings. Whilst primarily presented for illustrative purposes with reference to one or more of the figures, any of the technical features addressed below may be combined with any of the independent claims of this application either alone or in any other technically possible combination with one or more other technical features.

[0095] In the drawings,

[0096] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a sea box with a mounted heat exchanger according to the invention, wherein the heat exchanger is provided with an outboard water dispenser pipe and two anti-fouling light sources;

[0097] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the sea box of Fig.1 ;

[0098] Fig. 3 shows a top view of the sea box of fig. 1 ;

[0099] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a sea box with a mounted heat exchanger according to the invention, wherein the heat exchanger is provided with an outboard water dispenser pipe and multiple anti fouling light sources; Fig. 5 shows a side view in cross section of a third exemplary embodiment of a sea box with a mounted heat exchanger according to the invention, wherein the heat exchanger is provided with an outboard water dispenser pipe and an anti fouling light source.

[0100] Figure 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger 1 according to the invention. The heat exchanger 1 is provided with an outboard water dispenser pipe 2, a first anti-fouling light source 3 and a second anti-fouling light source 4. The heat exchanger is mounted in a sea box 5 of a vessel 6 for cooling a fluid, e.g. to cool cooling liquid of an engine cooling circuit.

[0101] The heat exchanger 1 and the sea box 5 are shown in side view and in top view in respectively figure 2 and figure 3.

[0102] In the embodiment shown, the sea box 5 is defined by the hull 25 of the vessel 6 and by partition plates 26. An outboard water inlet aperture 27 and the outboard water outlet aperture 28 are provided in the hull so that sea water can freely enter the sea box, flow over the heat exchanger and exit the sea box via natural flow. Thus, in such an embodiment, the sea box is in fluid communication with the outboard water.

[0103] The heat exchanger 1 comprises a base 7 that is configured for mounting the heat exchanger in the sea box 5. A wall of the sea box 5 is provided with an aperture 10, and the base 7 of the heat exchanger fits that aperture. To mount the heat exchanger in the sea box, the base of the heat exchanger is fit, i.e. is releasably fixed, in the aperture.

[0104] The base 7 of the heat exchanger has a dry side 8 and a wet side 9. When the heat exchanger is mounted in the sea box, the dry side of the heat exchanger is outside the sea box 5, i.e. faces outward, and the wet side 9 is inside the sea box 5, i.e. faces inward.

[0105] The heat exchanger 1 comprises multiple heat exchanging elements, in the embodiment shown embodied as lamellas 10. Each lamella 10 comprises a channel for guiding the fluid to be cooled. The lamellas 10 are mounted to the base 7, in the exemplary embodiment shown via a shared inlet pipe 13 and a shared outlet pipe 14.

[0106] The base 7 is provided with the shared inlet pipe 13 and the shared outlet pipe 14. The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are therefore embodied as a manifold. The inlet pipe 13 and outlet pipe 14 extend through the base 7 from the dry side to the wet side. They furthermore connect to the channels of the a lamellas, and thus function as an inlet manifold 13 and an outlet manifold 14.

[0107] Thus, the channels of the lamellas 10 are each with an inlet end connected to the inlet manifold 13 and with an outlet end to the outlet manifold 14. The fluid to be cooled is guided via the inlet manifold 13 into the channels of the lamellas, and thus into the sea box, and is guided out of the channels of the lamellas, and thus out of the sea box, via the outlet manifold 14.

[0108] The inlet manifold 13 and the outlet manifold 14 form an intermediate between the lamellas 10 and a cooling channel, not shown, in the form of a fluid supply end and a fluid discharge end of a cooling channel, of a closed cooling circuit.

[0109] The outboard water dispenser pipe 2 of the heat exchanger 1 has an inlet at an inlet end 15 and multiple lateral dispensing apertures 16 along a length of the dispenser pipe. The dispenser pipe 2 has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a stacking direction of the lamellas, and thus to a longitudinal axis of the stack lamellas.

[0110] In the embodiment shown, the base 7 of the heat exchanger 1 is at the dry side provided with connecting means, not shown, for connecting the fluid inlet channel and the fluid outlet channel of the heat exchanger to respectively a fluid supply end and a fluid discharge end of a cooling channel, for incorporating the heat exchanger in a closed fluid circuit of a vessel, wherein the circuit extends through marine machinery to be cooled by the heat exchanger. A pump, not shown, for pumping the outboard water, i.e. seawater, through the dispenser pipe into the sea-box, is part of the closed fluid circuit.

[0111] The dispenser pipe 2 is mounted to the base 7 at the wet side thereof, with the inlet mounted in an mounting aperture 17 in the base, for guiding outboard water from the dry side of the base to the wet side of the base, and for dispensing the outboard water via the dispensing apertures 16 into the sea box and between the heat exchanging elements.

[0112] In the exemplary embodiment of the heat exchanger shown in figure 1 , the outboard water dispenser pipe 2 is mounted to the base 7 of the heat exchanger 1. The outboard water dispenser pipe is configured to guide outboard water from the dry side of the base to the wet side of the base, and for dispensing the outboard water via dispensing apertures into the sea box, towards, and in the embodiment shown between, the lamellas. Thus, the heat exchanger is provided with an outboard water dispenser tube that provides an additional flow, in addition to the natural free flow, in the sea box and thus provides an improved flow of outboard water along the heat exchanging elements of the heat exchanger.

[0113] The heat exchanger therefore enables a box cooler system that, in addition to free flow cooling, allows for a controlled flow of outboard water through the sea box. Thus, a heat exchanger according to the invention allows for a more reliable and more efficient cooling process. Furthermore, the flow of outboard water dispensed via the dispenser pipe can be controlled, Therefore, the heat exchanger according to the invention allows for a more controlled cooling process, compared to a box cooling system that relies only on the free flow of outboard water through the sea box.

[0114] In the embodiment shown, the dispenser pipe 15 is mounted in the base 7 of the heat exchanger 1 , and is thus located close to the heat exchanging elements, i.e. the lamellas 10, of the heat exchanger. In combination with the dispenser pipe being provided with multiple lateral dispensing apertures along a length of the dispenser pipe, this allows for an optimal distribution of the dispensed outboard water over the heat exchanging elements of the heat exchanger.

[0115] In the exemplary embodiment shown in figure 1, the lamellas 10 are stacked one above the other. Thus, the multiple heat exchanging elements, embodied as a stack of cooling lamellas 10, are mounted to the base 7 at the wet side thereof, and are stacked in a stacking direction that is perpendicular to the stacking direction.

[0116] Between the lamellas, there is a cooling space 18. In the embodiment shown, the dispensing apertures 16 are aligned with the cooling spaces 18 between the lamellas 10 to direct outboard water into these cooling spaces and thus along the cooling lamellas to promote exchanging of heat between the fluid and the outboard water in the sea box.

[0117] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the lamellas 10 each extend along a longitudinal axis between a first end 11 , on the left in figure 2, and an opposite, second end 12, on the right in figure 2. The dispenser pipe 2 is located near the first end, and the dispensing apertures are directed towards the second end of the lamellas, such that outboard water dispensed from the dispensing apertures is directed along the lamellas in a direction towards the second end. Thus, the outboard water dispensed by the dispenser pipe is guided along the length of the lamella’s, which allows for an optimal cooling effect. In the embodiment shown, all of the stacked lamellas 10 are provided with an aperture 19, the apertures being aligned in a direction parallel to the stacking direction of the lamellas, for the dispenser pipe 2 to extends through. The dispenser pipe 2 is thus optimally positioned for dispensing outboard water between the lamella’s, more in particular in the cooling spaces 10 between the lamellas.

[0118] The dispenser pipe 2 extends in a direction perpendicular to the lamellas, or at least extends in a direction perpendicular to a part of the lamellas provided with an aperture via which the dispenser pipe passes through the lamella.

[0119] In the embodiment shown, the heat exchanger 1 comprises an anti-fouling device that comprises two UV-lights. In addition to an aperture 19 for the dispenser pipe 2, in the embodiment shown the stacked lamellas are each provided with two additional apertures 22, 23 being aligned in a direction parallel to a stacking direction of the lamellas, through which a first UV-light and a second UV-light extends. The UV light extends in a direction perpendicular to the lamellas.

[0120] The UV-lights are each mounted to the base 7 at the wet side thereof. The UV-lights have a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the stacking direction of the lamellas, and thus to a longitudinal axis of the stack lamellas.

[0121] In the embodiment shown, the base 7 of the heat exchanger 1 is provided with three mounting apertures, UV mounts 17, for mounting an UV-light. The UV-lights each have a base, and are mounted with that base in an UV-mount in the base 7 of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the dispenser pipe 2 is at the inlet end thereof configured to be mounted in an UV-mount and the UV-mounts are configured to also function as an outboard water inlet. In such an embodiment, the inlet end of the dispenser pipe is configured as a connector for mounting the dispenser pipe in the UV-mount in the base. That connector is therefore similar to a connector of the UV light, i.e. to a connector for mounting an UV light source in the UV mount.

[0122] The dispenser pipe and the UV-lights are releasable mounted in the mounting apertures, i.e. the UV-mounts, such that they can be removed from the base and be replaced with another dispenser pipe or UV-light.

[0123] It is submitted that the dispenser pipe is configured for dispensing outboard water between and along the heat exchanging elements, more or less in the same way an elongate anti fouling light source is configured to distribute UV light between and along the heat exchanging elements. By providing a dispenser pipe that extends along a straight, longitudinal axis, conform a typical anti fouling UV light source, the dispenser pipe can be mounted on the base in the same position as the UV light source. The base is thus provided with a connector that cooperates with a connector provided on the base end of the dispenser pipe and with a connector on the base of the UV light source, which allows for the dispenser pipe to replace the anti-fouling UV-light source.

[0124] The heat exchanger 1 is mounted in the sea box 5 and is fluid-connected to marine machinery in a closed cooling circuit. This configuration enables a method for creating or for enhancing a flow of outboard water along the heat exchanging elements 10, and in the embodiment shown through cooling spaces 18 between the heat exchanging elements 10, of the heat exchanger.

[0125] The method comprises:

[0126] - allowing outboard water to flow into the sea box 5 via the outboard water inlet aperture 27, along the heat exchanger elements 10 of the heat exchanger 1 , and out of the sea box 5 via the outboard water outlet aperture 28;

[0127] - pumping outboard water into sea box 5 via the dispenser pipe 2 and dispensing the outboard water in a direction along the heat exchanging elements 10 using the dispenser pipe 2, and allowing the dispensed outboard water to flow out of the sea box via the outlet aperture; and

[0128] - exchanging heat between the outboard water flowing through the sea box 5 with a cooling fluid in the heat exchanger 1.

[0129] In the method, the step of transporting outboard water into the sea box 5 using the at least one dispenser pipe 2, furthermore comprises dispensing the outboard water out of the dispensing apertures of the dispenser pipe towards the lamellas 10 and into the cooling spaces 18 between the lamellas.

[0130] In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser pipe is provided with a connector for mounting the dispenser pipe in the base that is similar to a connector of an UV light source that is configured to be mounted in the base as an anti-fouling device. Thus, the UV light source in an existing heat exchanger van be replaced with a dispenser pipe according to the invention. It is noted that there are heat exchangers provided with multiple UV-light sources, that are each removable mounted in an aperture in the base. Thus, replacing only one of the UV light sources with a dispenser pipe, would still allow for the other UV light source or UV light sources to provide anti fouling.

[0131] In an embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises an anti-fouling device, and the anti-fouling device preferably comprises at least one UV-light. In such an embodiment, the heat exchanger is adapted to receive at least one light source for producing light that hinders fouling. Preferably, the at least one light source is dimensioned and positioned with respect to the heat exchanging elements so as to cast anti-fouling light over the heat exchanging element. In a preferred embodiment, the UV light is a tubular lamp.

[0132] In an embodiment, the at least one UV-light is mounted to the base at the wet side thereof. In an alternative embodiment, an antifouling device is mounted in sea box, or at least not on the base of the heat exchanger.

[0133] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a box cooler system comprising a sea box 105 build in a vessel 106 and a heat exchanger 101 mounted in the sea box 105. The sea box 105 is provided with an outboard water inlet aperture 127, embodied as multiple outboard water inlet slots, at a lower end of the sea box and in a bottom wall of the sea box, and an outboard water outlet aperture 128, also embodied as multiple outboard water outlet slots, in a side wall of the sea box and at an upper end of the sea box.

[0134] The heat exchanger comprises 101 base 107 and multiple heat exchanging elements 10.

[0135] The base 107 is mounted in a mounting aperture 124 in a top wall of the sea box 105. The base 107 has a dry side 108 that is outside the sea box 105 and a wet side 109 that is inside the sea box 105.

[0136] In the embodiment shown, the multiple heat exchanging elements 110 are embodied as a bundle of tubes 110. The multiple tubes 110 each comprise a channel for guiding the fluid to be cooled, and are mounted to the base 107 at the wet side 109 thereof, and are therefore located in the sea box 105.

[0137] The channels of the tubes 110 extend between an inlet and an outlet at respectively an inlet end and an outlet end of the tube. The channels of the tubes are each with the inlet end connect to a shared inlet pipe 113, and with the outlet end to shared outlet pipe 114. The shared inlet pipe 113 and shared outlet pipe 114 each extend through the base from the dry side to the wet side. The shared inlet pipe 113 and shared outlet pipe 114 functions as a manifold, dividing a single flow in multiple sub flows or combining multiple sub flows into a single flow. Thus, the shared pipes form an intermediate between multiple heat exchanging elements and a cooling channel, e.g. a fluid supply end and a fluid discharge end of a cooling channel, of a closed cooling circuit.

[0138] In the embodiment shown, the tubes 110 each extend along a U-shaped trajectory. The heat exchanger 101 thus comprises a plurality of hairpin type tubes 110, the tubes each having two straight tube portions and one semicircular portion so as to form a U-shaped tube.

[0139] The tubes are disposed with the U-shaped pipe portions concentrically arranged and with the straight pipe portions arranged in parallel, so that the innermost U-shaped pipe portions are of relatively small radius and the outermost U-shaped pipe portions are of relatively large radius, with the remaining intermediate U-shaped pipe portions are of progressively graduated radius of curvature.

[0140] The channels of the tubes 110 enable exchanging heat between the fluid to be cooled and the outboard water in the sea box 105 by guiding the fluid via the shared inlet pipe 113 into channels of the tubes 110, and thus into the sea box 105, and out of the channels of the tubes 110, and thus out of the sea box 105, via the outlet pipe 114.

[0141] The heat exchanger 101 is furthermore provided with multiple outboard water dispenser pipes 102. The dispenser pipes 102 each have an inlet at an inlet end and multiple lateral dispensing apertures 116 along a length of the dispenser pipe.

[0142] In the embodiment shown in figure 4, the dispenser pipes 102 are mounted to a wall of the sea box 105, with the inlet mounted in a mounting aperture in the wall, for guiding outboard water from the outside of the sea box to the inside of the sea box, and for dispensing the outboard water via the dispensing apertures into the sea box and between the heat exchanging elements.

[0143] In the shown embodiment, the heat exchanger is thus mounted in one of the walls of the sea box instead of on the base of the heat exchanger. The dispenser pipes are disposed between the U-shaped tubes, and extend perpendicular to the straight tube sections. In an alternative embodiment the dispenser tubes a remount in the base of the heat exchanger and extends parallel to the straight tube portions.

[0144] The dispenser pipes 102 are provided with dispensing apertures that are positioned to dispense outboard water in multiple directions, i.e. in multiple directions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the dispenser pipe. The dispensing apertures of the dispenser pipes are directed to dispense outboard water in the direction of the straight pipe tubes and the semicircular portions. The dispenser pipes are therefore provided with lateral dispensing apertures along the length and at regular intervals along the circumference of the dispenser pipe, to dispense outboard water in multiple directions, and thus towards both legs and the semicircular section of the U-shaped tube.

[0145] Thus, in the exemplary embodiment of the heat exchanger shown in figure 4, the outboard water dispenser pipes 102 are mounted to the wall of the sea box 105. The outboard water dispenser pipes 102 are configured to guide outboard water from the dry side of the sea box, i.e. inside the vessel, to the wet side of the base, i.e. inside the sea box, and for dispensing the outboard water via dispensing apertures into the sea box, towards, and in the embodiment shown between, the tubes 110.

[0146] The embodiment shown in figure 4 is configured to provide a flow of outboard water out of the sea box in the absence of a natural flow, for example when the vessel is not moving. The dispenser pipes are provided with dispensing apertures directed in multiple directions, i.e. are also directed towards walls of the sea box without an outboard water outlet aperture.

[0147] In a further embodiment, the multiple dispenser pipes are each provided with a particular outboard water dispensing direction. Such an embodiment allows for, in case the natural flow in the sea box is to be enhanced, to only use the dispenser pipes having only dispensing apertures directed towards the wall with the outboard water outlet. In case of the absence of a natural flow, all dispenser pipes can be used.

[0148] The heat exchanger therefore enables a box cooler system that allows for a controlled flow of outboard water through the sea box. Thus, a heat exchanger according to the invention allows for a more reliable and more efficient cooling process. The flow of outboard water dispensed via the dispenser pipe can be controlled. Therefore, the heat exchanger according to the invention allows for a more controlled cooling process, compared to a box cooling system that relies only on the free flow of outboard water through the sea box. In an alternative embodiment, configured to enhance the natural flow of outboard water in the sea box, the dispenser pipes are provided only with dispensing apertures directed towards the wall with the outboard water outlet aperture provided in it.

[0149] Such an embodiment is shown in figures 1-3. In that embodiment, the heat exchanging elements and the dispenser pipe are mounted on the base such that the dispensing apertures of the dispenser pipe are directed towards the wall of the sea box provided with the outboard water outlet aperture, and the main part of the heat exchanging elements is positioned between the dispensing apertures and the wall of the sea box provided with outboard water outlet aperture.

[0150] In such an embodiment, the flow of outboard water dispensed by the dispenser pipe is directed towards the outflow aperture, and along the heat exchanging elements. Thus, the flow of outboard water is promoted to, once warmed up by the heating exchanging elements, flow out of the sea box. Furthermore, this position of the dispenser pipe may stimulate the free flow of outboard water through the sea box.

[0151] It is noted that in the embodiment shown in figure 4, the dispenser pipes should be removed before the heat exchanger can be removed from the sea box because the dispense pipes extend between the U-shaped tubes.

[0152] It is submitted that in the embodiment shown, the area of the outboard water outlet aperture of the sea box preferably is larger than the area of the dispensing apertures of the dispenser pipe, to promote the outflow of outboard water dispensed by the dispenser pipe.

[0153] Figure 5 shows a side view in cross section of a third exemplary embodiment of a sea box 305 with a mounted heat exchanger 301 according to the invention, wherein the heat exchanger is provided with an outboard water dispenser pipe 302 and an anti fouling light source 303.

[0154] The heat exchanger 301 comprises a base 307. The outboard water dispenser pipe 302 and the anti-fouling light source 303 are mounted in the base 307.

[0155] The heat exchanger 301 is mounted in a sea box 305 of a vessel for cooling a fluid, e.g. to cool cooling liquid of an engine cooling circuit.

[0156] An outboard water inlet aperture 327 and the outboard water outlet aperture 328 are provided in the hull of the vessel that forms a wall of the sea box. Via these aperture, sea water can freely enter the sea box, flow over the heat exchanger and exit the sea box via natural flow.

[0157] Thus, the sea box is in fluid communication with the outboard water.

[0158] Another wall of the sea box 305 is provided with an aperture 310, wherein the base 307 of the heat exchanger is fitted. To mount the heat exchanger in the sea box, the base of the heat exchanger is fit, i.e. is releasably fixed, in the aperture.

[0159] The base 307 of the heat exchanger has a dry side 308 and a wet side 309. When the heat exchanger is mounted in the sea box, the dry side of the heat exchanger is outside the sea box 305, i.e. faces outward, and the wet side 309 is inside the sea box 305, i.e. faces inward.

[0160] The heat exchanger 301 comprises multiple heat exchanging elements, in the embodiment shown embodied as lamellas 310. Each lamella 310 comprises a channel 320 for guiding the fluid to be cooled. The lamellas 310 are mounted to the base 307, in the exemplary embodiment shown via a shared inlet pipe 313 and a shared outlet pipe 314.

[0161] The base 307 is provided with the shared inlet pipe 313 and the shared outlet pipe 314. The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are therefore embodied as a manifold. The inlet pipe 313 and outlet pipe 314 extend through the base 307 from the dry side to the wet side. They furthermore connect to the channels of the a lamellas, and thus function as an inlet manifold 313 and an outlet manifold 314.

[0162] Thus, the channels of the lamellas 310 are each with an inlet end connected to the inlet manifold 313 and with an outlet end to the outlet manifold 314. The fluid to be cooled is guided via the inlet manifold 313 into the channels of the lamellas, and thus into the sea box, and is guided out of the channels of the lamellas, and thus out of the sea box, via the outlet manifold 314.

[0163] The inlet manifold 313 and the outlet manifold 314 form an intermediate between the lamellas 310 and a cooling channel in the form of a fluid supply end and a fluid discharge end of a cooling channel, of a closed cooling circuit.

[0164] The outboard water dispenser pipe 302 of the heat exchanger 301 has an inlet at an inlet end 15 and multiple lateral dispensing apertures 316 along a length of the dispenser pipe. The dispenser pipe 302 has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a stacking direction of the lamellas, and thus to a longitudinal axis of the stack lamellas. In the embodiment shown, the base 307 of the heat exchanger 301 is at the dry side provided with connecting means, not shown, for connecting the fluid inlet channel and the fluid outlet channel of the heat exchanger to respectively a fluid supply end and a fluid discharge end of a cooling channel, for incorporating the heat exchanger in a closed fluid circuit of a vessel, wherein the circuit extends through marine machinery to be cooled by the heat exchanger. A pump, not shown, for pumping the outboard water, i.e. seawater, through the dispenser pipe into the sea-box, is part of the closed fluid circuit.

[0165] The dispenser pipe 302 is mounted to the base 307 at the wet side thereof, with the inlet mounted in an mounting aperture 317 in the base, for guiding outboard water from the dry side of the base to the wet side of the base, and for dispensing the outboard water via the dispensing apertures 316 into the sea box and between the heat exchanging elements.

[0166] In the exemplary embodiment of the heat exchanger shown in figure 305, the outboard water dispenser pipe 302 is mounted to the base 307 of the heat exchanger 301. The outboard water dispenser pipe is configured to guide outboard water from the dry side of the base to the wet side of the base, and for dispensing the outboard water via dispensing apertures into the sea box, towards, and in the embodiment shown between, the lamellas.

[0167] Thus, the heat exchanger is provided with an outboard water dispenser tube that provides an additional flow, in addition to the natural free flow, in the sea box and thus provides an improved flow of outboard water along the heat exchanging elements of the heat exchanger.

[0168] The heat exchanger therefore enables a box cooler system that, in addition to free flow cooling, allows for a controlled flow of outboard water through the sea box. Thus, a heat exchanger according to the invention allows for a more reliable and more efficient cooling process. Furthermore, the flow of outboard water dispensed via the dispenser pipe can be controlled, Therefore, the heat exchanger according to the invention allows for a more controlled cooling process, compared to a box cooling system that relies only on the free flow of outboard water through the sea box.

[0169] In the embodiment shown, the dispenser pipe 315 is mounted in the base 307 of the heat exchanger 301 , and is thus located close to the heat exchanging elements, i.e. the lamellas 310, of the heat exchanger. In combination with the dispenser pipe being provided with multiple lateral dispensing apertures along a length of the dispenser pipe, this allows for an optimal distribution of the dispensed outboard water over the heat exchanging elements of the heat exchanger. In the exemplary embodiment shown in figure 5, the lamellas 310 are stacked one above the other. Thus, the multiple heat exchanging elements, embodied as a stack of cooling lamellas 310, are mounted to the base 307 at the wet side thereof, and are stacked in a stacking direction that is perpendicular to the stacking direction.

[0170] Between the lamellas, there is a cooling space 318. In the embodiment shown, the dispensing apertures 316 are aligned with the cooling spaces 318 between the lamellas 310 to direct outboard water into these cooling spaces and thus along the cooling lamellas to promote exchanging of heat between the fluid and the outboard water in the sea box.

[0171] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the lamellas 310 each extend along a longitudinal axis between a first end 311, on the right in figure 5, and an opposite, second end 312, on the left in figure 5. The dispenser pipe 302 is located near the first end, and the dispensing apertures are directed towards the second end of the lamellas, such that outboard water dispensed from the dispensing apertures is directed along the lamellas in a direction towards the second end. Thus, the outboard water dispensed by the dispenser pipe is guided along the length of the lamella’s, which allows for an optimal cooling effect.

[0172] In the embodiment shown in figure 5, all of the stacked lamellas 310 are provided with a semicircular aperture 319, the apertures being aligned in a direction parallel to the stacking direction of the lamellas, for receiving the part of the dispenser pipe 302 with the dispensing apertures. The dispensing apertures are furthermore aligned with the cooling spaces between adjacent lamellas. The dispenser pipe 302 is thus optimally positioned for dispensing outboard water between the lamella’s, more in particular in the cooling spaces 310 between the lamellas.

[0173] The dispenser pipe 302 extends in a direction perpendicular to the lamellas, or at least extends in a direction perpendicular to a part of the lamellas provided with an aperture via which the dispenser pipe passes through the lamella.

[0174] In the embodiment shown, the heat exchanger 301 comprises an anti-fouling device that comprises one UV-light. In addition to an semicircular aperture 319 for the dispenser pipe, in the embodiment shown the stacked lamellas are each provided with a circular apertures 322 being aligned in a direction parallel to a stacking direction of the lamellas, through which the UV-light extends. The UV light extends in a direction perpendicular to the lamellas. The U V-lights is mounted to the base 307 at the wet side thereof. The UV-light has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the stacking direction of the lamellas, and thus to a longitudinal axis of the stack lamellas.

[0175] In the embodiment shown, the base 307 of the heat exchanger 301 is provided with two mounting apertures for mounting an UV-light. In one of the aperture the UV light is mounted, in the other aperture the outboard water dispenser pipe is mounted.

[0176] The UV-light has a base, and is mounted with that base in an UV-mount in the base 307 of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the dispenser pipe 302 is at the inlet end thereof configured to be mounted in an UV-mount and the two UV- mounts are configured to also function as an outboard water inlet. In such an embodiment, the inlet end of the dispenser pipe is configured as a connector for mounting the dispenser pipe in the UV-mount in the base. That connector is therefore similar to a connector of the UV light, i.e. to a connector for mounting an UV light source in the UV mount.

[0177] The dispenser pipe and the UV-light are releasable mounted in the mounting apertures, i.e. the UV-mounts, such that they can be removed from the base and be replaced with another dispenser pipe or UV-light.

[0178] It is submitted that the dispenser pipe is configured for dispensing outboard water between and along the heat exchanging elements, more or less in the same way an elongate anti fouling light source is configured to distribute UV light between and along the heat exchanging elements. By providing a dispenser pipe that extends along a straight, longitudinal axis, conform a typical anti fouling UV light source, the dispenser pipe can be mounted on the base in the same position as the UV light source.

[0179] The invention furthermore provides a box cooler system according to one or more of the following clauses:

[0180] 1. Box cooler system comprising a sea box build, or configured to be build, in a vessel and a heat exchanger mounted in the sea box, wherein the sea box is provided with an outboard water inlet aperture, for example multiple outboard water inlet slots, at a lower end of the sea box, preferably in a bottom wall of the sea box, and an outboard water outlet aperture, for example multiple outboard water outlet slots, in a wall of the sea box, preferably in a side wall of the sea box, at an upper end of the sea box, and wherein the heat exchanger comprises:

[0181] - a base, wherein the base is mounted in a mounting aperture in a wall of the sea box, preferably in a top wall of the sea box, and wherein the base has a dry side that is outside the sea box and a wet side that is inside the sea box;

[0182] - multiple heat exchanging elements, e.g. tubes and / or lamellas, each heat exchanging element comprising a channel for guiding the fluid, wherein the heat exchanging elements are mounted to the base at the wet side thereof and are in the sea box; wherein the base is provided with one inlet pipe and one outlet pipe for each heat exchanging element or is provided with one or more shared inlet pipes and one or more shared outlet pipes for multiple heat exchanging elements, the inlet pipe or the one or more shared inlet pipes and the outlet pipe or the one or more shared outlet pipes extending through the base from the dry side to the wet side, and wherein the channels of the heat exchanging elements are with an inlet end connect to the inlet pipe or to one of the one or more shared inlet pipes, and with an outlet end to the outlet pipe or to one of the one or more shared outlet pipes, to enable exchanging heat between the fluid and outboard water in the sea box by guiding the fluid via the one or more inlet pipes into the channels of the heat exchanging elements, and thus into the sea box, and out of the channels of the heat exchanging elements, and thus out of the sea box, via the one or more outlet pipes, characterized, in that at least one outboard water dispenser pipe is provided, wherein the at least one outboard water dispenser pipe has an inlet at an inlet end and multiple dispensing apertures, preferably lateral dispensing apertures, along a length of the dispenser pipe, and wherein: the at least one dispenser pipe is mounted to the base at the wet side thereof, with the inlet mounted in an mounting aperture in the base, for guiding outboard water from the dry side of the base to the wet side of the base, and for dispensing the outboard water via the dispensing apertures into the sea box and preferably between the heat exchanging elements, and / or the at least one dispenser pipe is mounted to a wall of the sea box, and with the inlet mounted in an mounting aperture in the wall, for guiding outboard water from the outside of the sea box to the inside of the sea box, and for dispensing the outboard water via the dispensing apertures into the sea box and preferably between the heat exchanging elements.

[0183] 2. Box cooler system according to clause 1 , wherein the at least one dispenser pipe is mounted to the base of the heat exchanger, and wherein the heat exchanging elements and the dispenser pipe are mounted on the base such that the dispensing apertures of the dispenser pipe are directed towards a wall of the sea box provided with the outboard water outlet aperture, and preferably at least part of the heat exchanging elements is positioned between the dispensing apertures and the wall of the sea box provided with outboard water outlet aperture.

[0184] 3. Box cooler system according to clause 1 , wherein the at least one dispenser pipe is mounted to a wall of the sea box, and extends alongside or between the heat exchanging elements that are mounted on the base, such that the dispensing apertures of the dispenser pipe are directed towards a wall of the sea box provided with the outboard water outlet aperture, and preferably at least part of the heat exchanging elements is positioned between the dispensing apertures and the wall of the sea box provided with outboard water outlet aperture.

[0185] 4. Box cooler system according to one or more of the clauses 1-3, wherein heat exchanger comprises lamellas, and wherein the lamellas each extend along a longitudinal axis between a first end and an opposite, second end, and wherein outboard water that flows through the sea box from the outboard water inlet aperture towards the outboard water outlet aperture of the sea box, flows along the lamellas in a direction towards the second end of the lamellas, when the heat exchanger is mounted in the sea box.

Claims

C L A I M S1. Heat exchanger (1 ; 101 ;301 ) configured to be mounted in a sea box of a vessel for cooling a fluid, the heat exchanger (1; 101 ;301) comprising:- a base (7;107;307), wherein the base (7;107;307) is configured for mounting the heat exchanger (1 ; 101 ;301) in the sea box, wherein the base (7;107;307) has a dry side (8;108;308) that is outside the sea box and a wet side (9;309) that is inside the sea box, when the heat exchanger is mounted in the sea box;- multiple heat exchanging elements (10;110;310), e.g. tubes and / or lamellas, each heat exchanging element (10; 110;310) comprising a channel (320) for guiding the fluid, wherein the heat exchanging elements (10; 110;310) are mounted to the base (7;107;307) at the wet side (9) thereof and are in the sea box when the heat exchanger (1 ; 101 ;301 ) is mounted in the sea box; wherein the base (7;107;307) is provided with one inlet pipe (13;113;313) and one outlet pipe (14;114;314) for each heat exchanging element (10; 110;310) or is provided with one or more shared inlet pipes and one or more shared outlet pipes for the multiple heat exchanging elements (10;110;310), the inlet pipe (13; 113;313) or the one or more shared inlet pipes and the outlet pipe (14;114;314) or the one or more shared outlet pipes extending through the base (7;107;307) from the dry side (8;108;308) to the wet side (9;309), and wherein the channels (320) of the heat exchanging elements (10;110;310) are with an inlet end connect to the inlet pipe (13;113;313) or to one of the one or more shared inlet pipes, and with an outlet end to the outlet pipe (14; 114;314) or to one of the one or more shared outlet pipes, to enable exchanging heat between the fluid and outboard water in the sea box by guiding the fluid via the one or more inlet pipes (13;113;313) into the channels (320) of the heat exchanging elements (10; 110;310), and thus into the sea box, and out of the channels (320) of the heat exchanging elements (10;110;310), and thus out of the sea box, via the one or more outlet pipes (14; 114;314), characterized, in that the heat exchanger furthermore comprises:- at least one outboard water dispenser pipe (2;102;302), the at least one outboard water dispenser pipe (2;102;302) having an inlet at an inlet end (15;315) and multiple dispensing apertures (16;316), preferably multiple lateral dispensing apertures, along a length of the dispenser pipe (2;102;302),wherein the dispenser pipe (2;102;302) is mounted to the base (7;107;307) at the wet side (9;309) thereof, with the inlet mounted in a mounting aperture (17;317) in the base, for guiding outboard water from the dry side (8;108;308) of the base (7;107;307) to the wet side (9;309) of the base (7;107;307), and for dispensing the outboard water via the dispensing apertures (16;316) into the sea box and preferably between the heat exchanging elements (10;110;310).

2. Heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the multiple heat exchanging elements (110) are embodied as a bundle of tubes, each tube (110) comprising one channel extending between an inlet and an outlet at respectively an inlet end and an outlet end of the tube (110), and wherein the bundle of tubes (110) is mounted to the base (107) at the wet side thereof and wherein the channels of the tubes are each with the inlet end connect to the inlet pipe(113) or to one of the one or more shared inlet pipes, and with the outlet end to the outlet pipe(114) or to one of the one or more shared outlet pipes.

3. Heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the tubes (110) each extend along a II- shaped trajectory.

4. Heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the multiple heat exchanging elements (10;310) are embodied as a stack of cooling lamellas (10;310), wherein the stack of cooling lamellas (10;310) is mounted to the base (107;307) at the wet side (9;309) thereof and wherein the lamellas (10;310) are stacked in a stacking direction such that there is a cooling space (18;318) between two adjacent lamellas (10;310), and preferably wherein the lamellas (10;310) each comprises at least one channel (320) that is with an inlet end connect to one of the one or more shared inlet pipes (113;313) and with an outlet end to one of the one or more shared outlet pipes (114; 134).

5. Heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the cooling lamellas (10;310) extend in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction.

6. Heat exchanger according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein most, preferably all, the stacked lamellas (10;310) are provided with an aperture (19;319), the apertures (19;319) preferably being aligned in a direction parallel to a stacking direction of the lamellas (10;310), and wherein the outboard water dispenser pipe (2;302) extends through these apertures (19;319).

7. Heat exchanger according to any of the claims 4-6, wherein the outboard water dispenser pipe (2;302) extends in a direction perpendicular to the lamellas (10;310), or at least extends in a direction perpendicular to a part of the lamellas (10;310) provided with an aperture (19;319) via which the dispenser pipe (2;302) passes through the lamellas (10;310).

8. Heat exchanger according to any of the claims 4-7, wherein the dispensing apertures of the outboard water dispenser pipe (2;320) are aligned with cooling spaces (18;318) between the lamellas (10;310) to direct outboard water into these cooling spaces (18;318) and thus along the cooling lamellas (10;310) to promote exchanging of heat between the fluid in the channels of the lamellas (10;310) and the outboard water in the sea box.

9. Heat exchanger according to any of the claims 4-8, wherein the lamellas (10;310) each extend along a longitudinal axis between a first end (11 ;311) and an opposite, second end(12;312), and wherein the at least one outboard water dispenser pipe (2;302) is located at or near the first end (11 ;311), and wherein the dispensing apertures (16;316) of the dispenser pipe (2;302) are directed towards the second end (12;312) of the lamellas (10;310), such that outboard water dispensed from the dispensing apertures (16;316) is directed along the lamellas (10;310) in a direction towards the second end (12;312).

10. Heat exchanger according to any of the claims 4-9, wherein the heat exchanger (1 ;301) comprises an anti-fouling device (3;303) that comprises at least one UV-light, wherein the at least one UV-light is mounted to the base (7;307) at the wet side (9;309) thereof, and preferably wherein the at least one UV-light has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the stacking direction of the lamellas (10;310), and thus to a longitudinal axis of the stack lamellas.

11. Heat exchanger according to any of the claims 4-10, wherein the stacked lamellas (10;310) are provided with an aperture (19;319), the apertures (19; 139) preferably being aligned in a direction parallel to a stacking direction of the lamellas (10;310), and wherein the UV-light extends through these apertures (19;319).

12. Heat exchanger according to any of the claims 4-11 , wherein the UV light extends in a direction perpendicular to the lamellas (10;310), or at least extends in a direction perpendicular to a part of the lamellas provided with an aperture (19;319) where the UV light passes through the lamella.

13. Heat exchanger according to claim any of the claims 4-12, wherein the outboard water dispenser pipe (2;302) has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a stacking direction of the lamellas (10;310), and thus parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stack lamellas (10;310).

14. Heat exchanger according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base (7;107;307) of the heat exchanger (1 ;101 ;301), at the dry side (8;108;308) thereof, is provided with connecting means for connecting the fluid channel or fluid channels of the heat exchanging elements (10; 110;310) of the heat exchanger (1 ; 101 ;301) to a cooling channel, e.g. to a fluid supply end and a fluid discharge end of a cooling channel of a fluid circuit, for incorporating the heat exchanger (1 ;101 ;301) in a closed fluid circuit of a vessel, wherein the fluid circuit extends through marine machinery to be cooled by the heat exchanger (1 ;101 ;301).

15. Heat exchanger according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outboard water dispenser pipe (2;302) is releasable mounted in the mounting aperture (17;317) such that the dispenser pipe (2;302) can be removed from the base (7;307) and be replaced with another outboard water dispenser pipe (2;302), and preferably can be replaced with an anti-fouling device (3;303), e.g. an elongate anti-fouling lighting device, arranged to reduce fouling of the heat exchanging elements (10;310).

16. Heat exchanger according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (1 ;301 ) comprises an anti-fouling device (3;303), and wherein the anti-fouling device preferably comprises at least one UV-light.

17. Heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the at least one UV-light is mounted to the base (7;307) at the wet side (9;309) thereof.

18. Heat exchanger according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the at least one UV-light has a base, and is mounted with that base in a UV-mount in the base, and the dispenser pipe is at the inlet end configured to be mounted in the UV-mount and the UV-mount is configured to also function as an outboard water inlet.

19. Heat exchanger according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base (7;307) is provided with a pump, preferably mounted on the dry side (8;308) of the base (7;107;307), that is configured to be connected to an outboard water supply pipe, and for pumping the outboard water into the mounting aperture (17; 317) and into the inlet of the dispenser pipe (2;302) that is mounted in the mounting aperture (17;317) in the base (7;307).

20. Heat exchanger according to claim 19, wherein the base (7;307) is provided with an outboard water supply pipe for providing the pump with outboard water, the outboard water supply pipe having an inlet that is configured to be connected with an outboard water supply and / or with an outboard water inlet that is connected with the sea box, preferably that is located near an inlet aperture of the sea box, when the heat exchanger (1 ;301 ) is mounted in the sea box.

21. Heat exchanger according to claim 20, wherein the outboard water supply pipe is fluid- connected to a body of outboard water via one or more apertures, e.g. slots of the sea box, in the vessel’s hull.

22. Box cooler system comprising a sea box (5;105;305) build, or configured to be build, in a vessel and a heat exchanger (1 ; 101 ;301) according to one or more of the preceding claims, mounted in the sea box (5;105;305), wherein the sea box (5;1015;305) is provided with an outboard water inlet aperture (27;127;327), for example multiple outboard water inlet slots, at a lower end of the sea box (5;105;305), preferably in a bottom wall of the sea box (5;105;305), and an outboard water outlet aperture (28;128;328), for example multiple outboard water outlet slots, in a wall of the sea box (5;105;305), preferably in a side wall of the sea box, at an upper end of the sea box.

23. Box cooler system according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein at least one additional dispenser pipe is mounted to a wall of the sea box, preferably with the inlet of the additional dispenser pipe mounted in an mounting aperture in the wall and the dispenser pipe extending in a direction perpendicular to the wall, for guiding outboard water from the outside of the sea box to the inside of the sea box, and for dispensing the outboard water via dispensing apertures of the additional dispenser pipe into the sea box and preferably between the heat exchanging elements.

24. Box cooler system according to one or more of the claims 21-23, wherein the dispensing apertures (16;316) of the at least one outboard water dispenser pipe (2;102;302) and / or the at least one additional dispenser pipe are directed towards a wall of the sea box (5;105;305) provided with the outboard water outlet aperture (28;128;328), and preferably at least part of the heat exchanging elements (10; 110;310) of the at least one outboard water dispenser pipe (2;102;302) and / or the at least one additional dispenser pipe is positioned between the dispensing apertures (16;316) and the wall of the sea box (5;105;305) provided with outboard water outlet aperture (28;128;328).

25. Box cooler system according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the at least one additional dispenser pipe is mounted to a wall of the sea box, and extends alongside the heat exchanging elements that are mounted on the base, such that the dispensing apertures of the additional dispenser pipe are directed towards a wall of the sea box provided with the outboard water outlet aperture, and preferably at least part of the heat exchanging elements is positioned between the dispensing apertures and the wall of the sea box provided with outboard water outlet aperture.

26. Box cooler system according to one or more of the claims 22-25, wherein heat exchanger (1 ; 101 ;301) comprises lamellas (10; 110;310), and wherein the lamellas (10; 110;310) each extend along a longitudinal axis between a first end (11 ;311) and an opposite, second end(12;312), and wherein outboard water that flows through the sea box (5;105;305) from the outboard water inlet aperture (27;127;327) towards the outboard water outlet aperture (28;128;328) of the sea box (5;105;305), flows along the lamellas (10;110;310) in a direction towards the second end (12;312) of the lamellas (10; 110;310).

27. Vessel comprising a heat exchanger according to any of the claims 1-21 for cooling of the vessel's machinery.

28. Vessel according to claim 27, wherein the heat exchanger (1 ,101 ;301) is mounted in a sea box (5;105;305) and forms a box cooler system according to any of the claims 22-26, and preferably wherein the sea box (5;105;305) is defined by a hull and / or partition plates (26) of the vessel and the outboard water inlet aperture (27;127;327) and the outboard water outlet aperture (28;128;328) are provided in the hull so that sea water can freely enter the sea box (5;105;305), flow over the heat exchanger (1 ; 101 ;301 ) and exit the sea box (5;105;305) via natural flow.

29. Method for cooling a marine machinery in a vessel floating in a body of water, wherein the vessel is provided with a box cooler according to one or more of the claims 22-28, the heat exchanger being fluid-connected to the marine machinery in a closed cooling circuit, wherein the method comprises:- allowing outboard water, i.e. water from the body of water, to flow into the sea box via the outboard water inlet aperture, along the heat exchanger elements of the heat exchanger, and out of the sea box via the outboard water outlet aperture;- pumping outboard water into sea box via the dispenser pipe and dispensing the outboard water in a direction along the heat exchanging elements using the dispenser pipe, and allowing the dispensed outboard water to flow out of the sea box via the outlet aperture; and- exchanging heat between the outboard water flowing through the sea box with a cooling fluid in the heat exchanger.

30. Method according to claim 29, comprising the step; adjusting the cooling capacity of the sea box by adjusting the volume of outboard water dispensed yia the dispenser pipe per time unit, e.g. per minute.

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