Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus, thermal storage system and method for heat exchange using a tube-type heat exchanger. A rod (24) or rods (24, 24') are propelled to move over the inner surface (7) of the tube (1). The moving rod (24) is in contact with a first process liquid which is adjacent the inner surface (7) as a falling film or by flooding the interior of the tube (1). The flooded mode is particularly useful where the tube (24) is non-vertical or the heat exchanger is used to make an ice slurry for HVAC systems serving high-rise buildings. Multiple such rod (24) and tube (1) assemblies are operated simultaneously using a drive plate (22) powered to execute an orbital motion in a plane generally orthogonal to the rods (24, 24'). In one form the plate (22) is coupled via a crank (40) to equiangularly spaced rods (24, 24') in each tube (1). The rods (24, 24') are preferably mounted to be movable radially, for example suspended through holes (23) in, and driven by, a plate (22) to execute an orbital motion or at recesses (49, 49') in the rod (24) in radially directed slots (48, 48') in an arm (46) rotated by a tube-mounted crank (40).

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First Claim