Modular heat-exchange apparatus

摘要

A heat exchanger module for thermally coupling a first fluid and second fluid is disclosed. The heat exchanger module comprises a plurality of heat exchangers, each of which is fluidically coupled to a common seawater inlet and a common seawater outlet. The heat exchanger module is dimensioned and arranged for integrating with an OTEC system located on an offshore platform that is deployed in a body of water. The heat exchanger module physically and fluidically couples with ports included in pontoons attached to the offshore platform. The ports are individually controllable so that the module can be added or removed from the OTEC system without interrupting operation of other heat exchanger modules integrated with the OTEC system.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a first module comprising:
a first frame,a first plurality of heat exchangers configured to transfer heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, each heat exchanger of the first plurality of heat exchangers being fixed with respect to one another and demountably attached to the first; frame, andan attachment mechanism on the first frame comprising a first connector configured to demountably attach to a first submerged pontoon and a second connector configured to demountably attach to a second submerged pontoon in a body of water to fix the first module with respect to the first submerged pontoon and the second submerged pontoon.