US 12,111,111 B2
Method of draining and filling multi-pass heat exchanger
Alfred Erhard, Achberg (DE); and Hansjorg Brentrop, Oberhofen am Thunersee (CH)
Assigned to Gunter GmbH & Co. KG, Furstenfeldbruck (DE)
Filed by Guntner GmbH & Co. KG, Furstenfeldbruck (DE)
Filed on Oct. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/502,231.
Application 17/502,231 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2020/057986, filed on Mar. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 102019110236.7 (DE), filed on Apr. 18, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0136776 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. F28D 1/00 (2006.01); F28D 1/02 (2006.01); F28D 1/04 (2006.01); F28D 1/053 (2006.01); F28F 27/02 (2006.01)
CPC F28D 1/0417 (2013.01) [F28D 1/0233 (2013.01); F28D 1/0426 (2013.01); F28D 1/0443 (2013.01); F28D 1/05325 (2013.01); F28D 1/05333 (2013.01); F28D 1/05366 (2013.01); F28F 27/02 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a heat exchanger assembly having at least one heat exchanger comprising:
a first distributor formed as a tubular manifold and having a first connection piece for connecting to a first fluid line,
a second distributor formed as a tubular manifold and having a second connection piece for connecting to a second fluid line,
at least one first deflection distributor formed as a tubular manifold and having a vent opening,
a plurality of pipelines adapted for a fluid to flow therethrough, the plurality of pipelines is comprising a first group of pipelines serving as supply lines and a second group of pipelines serving as recirculating lines, wherein at least some of the pipelines of the first group of pipelines is connecting the first distributor with the first deflection distributor,
wherein the first distributor and the second distributor are arranged at a first end of the heat exchanger assembly and the deflection distributor is arranged at a second end thereof and the pipelines extend in a longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger from the first end to the second end and run at least essentially parallel to one another and are inclined to a horizontal plane with an angle of inclination between 0.5° and 5°,
wherein the first connection piece is arranged at a lowest point or at least near the lowest point of the first distributor and the second connection piece is arranged at a lowest point or at least near the lowest point of the second distributor,
selecting an operating mode for the heat exchanger assembly depending on ambient parameters, the operating mode being selected from the group consisting of a recooling mode, an emptying mode, a filling mode and a standby mode, wherein when the emptying mode is selected, the fluid flows by gravity out of all of the pipelines into the first distributor and the second distributor and thereafter from the first distributor and the second distributor via the first and the second connection piece into the first fluid line and the second fluid line, and wherein when the filling mode is selected, the fluid flows against gravity out of the first distributor and the second distributor into the pipelines.