Exchanger for cooling fluids

Claim 2

In an exchanger for cooling fluids of the type in which heat is transferred from the fluid to be cooled to an intermediate refrigerating fluid and then to a cooling fluid, said exchanger including an enclosure, first and second pipe systems arranged within said enclosure, each pipe system comprising a multiplicity of pipes, means for passing a cooling fluid through said first system, said first system having connector means for coupling to a refrigerating machine, means for passing a fluid to be cooled through said second system, and an intermediate refrigerating liquid within the enclosure, the improvement wherein said pipes of both said first and second systems are distributed within said enclosure and submerged in said refrigerating liquid, said pipes of said first and second pipe systems being interspersed respectively with each other throughout such liquid.

Claim 3

A cooling exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said pipes of said second system are regularly spaced over the cross-section of the enclosure and said pipes of said first system are arranged horizontally or at an incline relative to a horizontal longitudinal plane of symmetry of the enclosure.

Claim 4

A cooling exchanger according to claim 1, comprising transverse partitions spaced apart in said enclosure and forming a baffle passage, apertures in said partitions through which pass the pipes of said first and second pipe systems, and pump means for circulating said refrigerating liquid through said baffle passage.

Claim 5

A cooling exchanger according to claim 1, in which said enclosure includes a substantially cylindrical container, first and second transverse plates adjacent respective ends of the container, apertures in said first and second plates for receiving ends of pipes of said second pipe system, apertures in said second plate for receiving ends of pipes of said first pipe system, first and second cap members closing the ends of the cylindrical container, first and second chambers defined between said cap members and said first and second transverse plates, a longitudinal partition in said first chamber defining first and second compartments, inlet and outlet ports in said first and second compartments respectively for said fluid to be cooled, means for feeding said cooling fluid to the ends of said pipes of said first system at said second chamber, a collector in said second chamber for receiving vaporized cooling fluid from ends of pipes of said first system, and a refrigerating machine connected to said connector means of said first pipe system through said feeding means and said collector.

Claim 6

A cooling exchanger according to claim 4, wherein pump means for circulating said refrigerating liquid is connected to said enclosure adjacent the inlet and outlet for the fluid to be cooled.

Claim 7

A cooling exchanger according to claim 5, wherein the volume of the refrigerating liquid in circulation is selected so as not to completely fill the enclosure.