Heat exchanger employing flexible hoses - with metallic supports providing thermal contact and mechanical support

摘要

In a heat exchanger composed of materials having very different physical properties, one of the fluids flows through a highly elastic, very thin-walled hose made of a material having rubber-like properties. The hose is enclosed by flat metallic parts having a high thermal conductivity and provided with ribs or fins to provide a heat transfer path between the two fluids in the heat exchanger. The metallic parts also restrain the hose w.r.t. the press. of the fluid inside it, which is deliberately maintained at a value higher than that of the other fluide or of the atmosphere. This results in close contact between the hose and the metal to ensure, together with the thin wall of the hose, a high overall thermal conductivity without mixing of the fluids. Used e.g. for solar heating or as room heating panels.