CA3161281A1

CA3161281A1 - Device for transferring heat and/or materials

Info

Publication number: CA3161281A1
Application number: CA3161281A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Thomas Weimer
Original assignee: Spiraltec GmbH
Current assignee: Spiraltec GmbH
Priority date: 2019-12-20
Filing date: 2020-12-17
Publication date: 2021-06-24
Also published as: DE202019107205U1; JP2023507822A; EP4078059A1; KR20220117253A; WO2021123052A1; CN115003977A; AU2020408169A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for transferring heat and/or materials, having n primary modules (2) for at least one first flowable medium, at least one secondary module (40) for at least one second flowable medium, a central body (32) with a central axis, 2*n sections (10a, 10b) which are made of at least one flat elastic film, and 2*n primary interfaces (4a, 4b, 78, 106, 108) as passages for the at least one first flowable medium, wherein n is a whole number. The inner ends of all of the sections (10a, 10b) of the at least one film are secured to the central body (32), and an intermediate space is provided between each pair of directly adjacent sections (10a, 10b). In total, 2*n intermediate spaces are provided which are arranged in a circular manner about the central body (32). An inner primary interface (4a), which faces the central axis, and an outer primary interface (4b), which faces away from the central axis, are arranged about the central body (32) in the circumferential direction in every other intermediate space between two directly adjacent sections (10a, 10b) of the at least one film, said sections being secured to the central body (32) in a circular manner, and a respective spacer (12, 36, 60) is arranged in each intermediate space between the sections (10a, 10b) secured to the central body (32) in a circular manner.

Description

Device for transferring heat and/or materials The invention relates to a coiled device for transferring heat and/or materials, a method of producing a device for transferring heat and/or materials, and a method for transferring heat and/or materials.
Devices for transferring heat, on the one hand, and devices for transferring materials, on the other hand, are known. Until now, a coiled device that, on the one hand, could be used for transferring heat and, on the other hand, also for the simultaneous transfer of materials also for more than two flowable media is not known.
Against this background, a device and a method having the features of the dependent claims are presented. Embodiments of the device and method are apparent from the dependent claims and the description.
The device according to the invention is designed for transferring heat and/or materials and has a plurality of or n primary modules for at least one first flowable medium, at least one secondary module for at least one second flowable medium, a central body with a central axis, 2*n sections or n pairs of sections or two times n sections, which have been or are each made of at least one flat, elastic film, and n primary interfaces or passages as inlets and n primary interfaces as outlets, i.e. one inlet and one outlet in each primary module, for the at least one first flowable medium, where n is a whole number. It is provided that inner ends or coiling ends of all the sections of the at least one film have been or are secured to the central body, wherein, when coiled about the central body, an intermediate space has been or is provided between each pair of directly adjacent sections, and a total of 2*n intermediate spaces has been or is provided and/or formed, which are arranged in a circular manner about the central body. A primary module having an inner primary interface or passage, which has been faced or faces toward the central axis, and an outer primary interface or passage, which has been faced or faces away from the central axis, are arranged about the central body in the circumferential direction only in every other intermediate space between two directly adjacent sections of the at least one film, said sections being secured to the central body in a circular manner. In addition, spacers are arranged in each intermediate space between all or in each case two directly adjacent sections of the at least one film, which are secured to the central body in a circular manner, wherein all sections have been or are coiled, for example, spirally about the central body at least in one partial revolution or in one full revolution or in a plurality of full revolutions, wherein a flow channel, for example, in the form of a spiral, has been or is formed and/or provided in each intermediate space by the spacer arranged therein. A channel formed as a primary channel, for example, a spiral-shaped channel, has been or is formed and/or provided between two directly adjacent sections of the at least one film by respectively one spacer in every other intermediate space in the circumferential direction about the central body, in which respectively one primary module with two primary interfaces is arranged. A flow channel formed as a secondary channel, for example, a spiral-shaped flow channel, has been or is formed and/or provided respectively by a spacer in the remaining intermediate spaces between two directly adjacent sections of the at least one film and thus between respectively two primary modules, wherein each section of the at least one film separates a primary channel and a secondary channel which are directly adjacent.
By providing a plurality of primary modules or a plurality of primary channels as well as a plurality of secondary channels, a parallel connection, and thus a parallel or synchronous transport of the at least one first flowable, for example, fluid medium through a plurality of primary channels, possibly also of a plurality of different first flowable media through different channels of the plurality of primary channels, and of the at least one second flowable, for example, fluid medium through the intermediate secondary channels is possible, wherein the transfer of heat and/or material or material components or particles is carried out between the various media which flow in primary channels and secondary channels and are separated by the films located therebetween, wherein during the transfer of material at least one chemical component is transferred from the at least one medium through a respective film to the at least one other medium. The at least one first flowable medium flows through the primary channels and the at least one second flowable medium flows simultaneously through the secondary channels. It is possible that the at least one first flowable medium in the primary channels and the at least one second flowable medium in the secondary channels flow parallel or in the same direction or flow in counterflow or in opposite directions.
The device has an outer shell as a jacket surface, which encloses or envelopes the primary channels and the secondary channels, and two covers, wherein respectively one cover covers respectively one end face of the device. The end faces and covers are arranged at ends of the central body opposite each other in parallel axial fashion.
Accordingly, primary channels and secondary channels separated from each other by the sections of the at least one film alternate in a circular manner about the central body or the central axis. In total, the device has n primary channels and n secondary channels and thus 2*n channels or intermediate spaces.
In a circular manner around the central axis, depending on the definition, every second and thus even-numbered intermediate space is provided for a primary channel and every further odd-numbered intermediate space for a secondary channel. An exact shape of the coiled primary and secondary channels depends on a shape of the central body, which may be round or angular, or polygonal, for example, quadrangular, especially square. If the central body is round, the primary and secondary channels are spiral-shaped, for example, in the case of a plurality of coiled full revolutions.
For each primary channel, two primary interfaces or passages are provided, i.e. a first primary interface as inlet and a second primary interface as outlet for the at least one first flowable medium at the inner coiling start or at the inner start of the coiled sections of the at least one film at the central body and at the outer coiling end or at the outer end of the coiled sections of the at least one film, which remain open either during potting of the end faces for sealing the device and/or by providing an end-face cover on at least one end face or which are opened after potting at at least one end face.
A respective inlet and a respective outlet of each primary module may be arranged at opposite end faces.
In one embodiment, the, for example, cylindrically coiled device for transferring heat and/or materials consists of the oblong central body, the outer shell as jacket surface as well as the elastic flat sections of the at least one film, which are secured to the central body and coiled about its central or longitudinal axis. The coiling of the flat sections of the at least one film results in the, for example, spiral-shaped primary channels for the at least one first flowable medium, which are enveloped by the flat sections of the at least one film in the radial direction of the device, wherein additional, for example, spiral-shaped secondary channels for the at least one second flowable medium have been or are respectively formed between the primary channels.
A flow of the flowable media between the sections of the at least one film within the primary channels and the secondary channels is ensured by suitable spacers, which are formed, for example, as a lattice or by a non-planar structuring of the sections of the at least one film.

2 For the respective secondary channels between the primary channels, at least one secondary interface is provided as an inlet and at least one secondary interface is provided as an outlet for the at least one second flowable medium at the coiling start on the central body and at the outer coiling end, wherein, after potting of the end faces for sealing the device, the at least one secondary interface on the central body has been or is opened at at least one end face, and the at least one secondary interface at the outer coiling end either has been or is opened at at least one end face and/or has at least one opening on the jacket surface which is connected to the secondary channels.
Being a tight jacket surface, the outer shell can be formed either elastically or as a rigid shell.
For sealing the coiled device, the end faces may be sealed with a potting compound, with the exception of the interfaces which serve as end face inlets and/or outlets.
Each primary module has an inner primary interface, an outer primary interface and at least one flexible, elastically deformable film, wherein at least the outer primary interface, in one embodiment both primary interfaces, has been arranged between two sections of the at least one film or is arranged therebetween when producing of the device, wherein the channel designed as or to be designated as primary channel is located between the two sections of the at least one film and the two interfaces or has been arranged therebetween or is arranged therebetween when producing the device.
Depending on the definition, the n inner primary interfaces have been or are arranged in a first inner cylindrical round or circular main shell or layer about the central axis, in one embodiment also about an outer wall, of the central body. Depending on the definition, the n outer primary interfaces have been or are arranged in a second outer cylindrical round or circular main shell about the first inner main shell and spaced therefrom, wherein the outer cylindrical main shell has been or is enclosed by the outer shell, wherein both main shells have been or are radially spaced from each other, wherein an intermediate shell has been or is arranged between the two main shells.
In each primary module, the two sections of the at least one film, for example, in the intermediate shell, have been or are coiled between the two main shells, starting from the inner primary interface in the first inner main shell toward the outer primary interface in the second outer main shell, depending on the shape of the central body in radial direction, for example, in an Archimedean spiral shape, from the inside to the outside, wherein the spacer between the sections ensures that the space for the primary channel between the two sections of the at least one film is maintained, wherein between two directly adjacent sections of respectively at least one film of two directly adjacent primary modules the channel designed as or to be designated as secondary channel also has been or is formed or provided and/or maintained during the coiling of the films due to the spacer between the sections, which channel extends from the inner main shell to the outer main shell.
The device may have at least one inner secondary interface and at least one outer secondary interface.
The at least one inner secondary interface has been or is arranged within the first main shell. All n secondary channels between the n primary modules or primary channels must be connected to the at least one inner secondary interface. The at least one outer secondary interface has been or is arranged within the second outer primary shell, wherein the at least one outer secondary interface may be located between two outer primary interfaces of two directly adjacent primary modules or in the outer shell and

3 may further be connected to each of the n secondary channels between the n primary modules, i.e. each of the n secondary channels is connected to the at least one secondary outer interface. The at least one inner secondary interface, the at least one outer secondary interface, and the n secondary channels form the at least one secondary module, wherein the n primary modules are designed to transmit the at least one first medium and the at least one secondary module is designed to transmit the at least one second medium.
In one embodiment it is provided that each secondary channel has a connection with the at least one inner secondary interface and the at least one outer secondary interface.
Thus, it is possible that each secondary channel has at least one inner and at least one outer secondary interface and thus at least one inlet and at least one outlet as a passage. With regard to the primary interfaces, it is provided that each primary interface of a respective primary module is completely enclosed by the at least one section of the at least one film and possibly also by a region of the central body.
The at least one film is designed either as a tight, media-tight, for example, substance- and/or fluid-tight film.
Alternatively, the at least one film is designed or to be designated as a partially substance- and/or fluid-permeable film, for example, as a semi-permeable or selectively permeable membrane, which is designed to allow a transfer of at least one chemical component between a primary channel and a secondary channel and/or vice versa.
It is also possible that the at least one film is formed at least partially, possibly completely, from at least one highly thermally conductive material, for example, a metal, such as copper, aluminum and/or silver.
The at least one film may be formed at least partially, possibly completely, from at least one plastic, for example, a polymer. The device has a plurality of or n primary modules and primary channels, which respectively are enveloped by the two sections of the at least one film. All sections of the at least one film may be made of the same material. However, films made of different materials may also be used. Thus at least one of the n primary channels may be enveloped by two sections of a film of at least one first material and at least one other primary channel may be enveloped by two sections of a film of at least one second material.
In one embodiment, the inner primary interfaces have been or are arranged on the central body, wherein respectively one inner primary interface of a primary module has been or is bounded by at least one boundary wall, which has been or is arranged on a or the outer wall of the central body, wherein the at least one boundary wall defines at least one in particular hollow body with at least one opening toward the primary channel of the respective primary module, wherein the at least one inner primary interface forms a closed, for example, tubular or angular, in particular hollow body with the boundary wall, wherein this, for example, closed body is permeable for the flowable medium and encloses the primary interface.
Furthermore, the outer wall of the central body may have at least one primary chamber, for example, n primary chambers or at least one primary slot, wherein at least one primary chamber forms a first boundary wall and a planar, for example, flat and/or curved body forms a second boundary wall for the at least one primary interface, wherein the primary chamber and the planar body enclose the inner primary interface.

4 At least one primary module may have only a closed tubular film with, according to the definition, two sections which enclose the two primary interfaces, the spacer, and the at least one primary channel and which have been or are attached to the central body.
It is also possible that at least one primary module has only one open originally rectangular flat film with two sections and with two opposite outer sides, wherein respectively a first outer side and second outer side of both sections have been or are connected to each other in a substance-and/or fluid-tight manner, wherein the two sections of the film enclose both primary interfaces, the spacer and the primary channel, wherein the two outer sides have been or are secured and/or anchored to/on the central body along a line, i.e. a common line.
Furthermore, at least one primary module may have only one open originally rectangular flat film with two sections and with two opposite outer sides, wherein respectively one outer side has been or is secured and/or anchored along respectively one line to/on the central body in a substance- and/or fluid-tight manner, wherein the two lines are spaced from each other by a region at/on the outer wall of the central body, wherein the two sections of the film and the region at/on the outer wall of the central body enclose both primary interfaces, the spacer and the primary channel.
Alternatively, the outer sides may be secured along only one line at/on the central body in a substance- and/or fluid-tight manner.
It is also conceivable that at least one primary module has two open sections of at least one film, each formed from an originally rectangular flat section, with respectively two opposite outer sides, wherein respectively only first outer sides of the two films have been or are connected to one another in a substance- and/or fluid-tight manner, wherein respectively one second outer side of respectively the at least one film has been or is secured along respectively one line at/on the central body in a substance-and/or fluid-tight manner, wherein the two lines are spaced from each other by a region at/on the outer wall of the central body, wherein the two sections and the region at/on the outer wall of the central body enclose both primary interfaces, the spacer and the primary channel.
A respective section of the at least one film may be provided as piece goods and typically cut to length, i.e., corresponding to a respective required length. The respective section has an axial length substantially corresponding to an axial length of the central body. A radial length of the respective section depends on how often it has been or is coiled about the central axis, i.e. how much transfer area is to be provided for the heat and/or materials transfer. In one embodiment of the device, the sections of film and the spacers may be coiled about the center body only partially or only part of a complete revolution, i.e., in the form of a partial revolution. In a further embodiment, the sections of the film and the spacers may be coiled about the central body at least once, for example, also a plurality of times, with any number of coils depending on a length of the sections of the at least one film.
The device may have only one inner secondary interface as an inlet and/or outlet which has been or is enclosed by one or the outer wall of the central body, which interface has at least one opening toward each of the secondary channels respectively between two directly adjacent primary modules, wherein the only one inner secondary interface, the n secondary channels and the at least one outer secondary interface according to the definition then only form one secondary module.
Alternatively, the device may have a plurality of or n inner secondary interfaces which have been or are arranged within the first inner main shell, wherein respectively one opening to an inner secondary interface has been or is arranged between two inner primary interfaces of two directly adjacent primary

5 modules, wherein the n inner secondary interfaces, the n secondary channels, and the n outer secondary interfaces form a plurality of or n secondary modules according to the definition, wherein at least one inner secondary interface has been or is arranged on the central body, wherein the at least one inner secondary interface of a respective secondary module has been or is bounded by at least one boundary wall which has been or is arranged on the outer wall of the central body, wherein the at least one boundary wall has at least one body with at least one opening toward the secondary channel of the respective secondary module. Accordingly, each inner secondary interface has at least one opening toward a respective secondary channel.
At least one inner secondary interface may have been or be bounded only by one axially extending, for example, tubular or angular, body, for example, a lattice tube, which forms only a boundary wall, wherein this body encloses the at least one inner secondary interface.
Alternatively, the outer wall of the central body may have n secondary chambers, wherein respectively one secondary chamber forms a first boundary wall and a planar, for example, flat and/or curved body forms a second boundary wall, wherein the secondary chamber and the planar body enclose the secondary interface.
At least one channel, i.e. a primary channel for a primary module and/or a secondary channel for the at least one secondary module, may have been or be formed by a spacer between two directly adjacent, for example, smooth, sections of the at least one film, wherein respectively one spacer has been or is connected to the at least one interface of a respective module, i.e. the two primary interfaces of a respective primary module and/or the at least one inner secondary interface and respectively one outer secondary interface of the at least one secondary module, wherein at least one spacer is formed as a lattice, for example, of metal or plastic. Such a film-external spacer is designed as an additional component between two sections of the at least one film.
In one embodiment, two films arranged directly adjacent to each other have been or are structured, wherein the films are uneven and/or usually irregularly shaped, for example, corrugated and/or jagged, for example, have indentations and/or bulges and due to their shape, even and especially if they have been or are arranged directly adjacent to each other, are designed to form the channel, i.e. the primary channel for a primary module or the secondary channel for the at least one secondary module, since the two directly adjacent sections of the at least one film form cavities between adjacent sections due to their irregular shape, wherein the channel is formed by the cavities between the two sections of the at least one film. Based on such a structure of a respective film, a film-internal spacer is provided, which is provided on at least one surface of the film based on the three-dimensional structure, for example, by nubs, whereas a smooth film has only a two-dimensional structure, depending on the definition.
Furthermore, at least one outer secondary interface may have been or be formed between two adjacently arranged outer primary interfaces, wherein in one embodiment the primary interfaces may be connected to the outer shell either in a substance- and/or fluid-tight manner or in a substance- and/or fluid-permeable manner. Typically, the outer primary interfaces are spaced from the outer shell. Depending on the definition, all secondary channels may have an outer secondary interface formed in the outer shell, wherein the secondary channels are interconnected by this spacing of the outer primary interface from the outer shell.

6 The outer shell may have been or be enclosed by at least one additional outer shell, wherein at least one enclosing space has been or is formed between the outer shell and the at least one additional outer shell, or respectively one enclosing space has been or is formed between the outer shell and a respective additional outer shell, wherein the outer shell has at least one opening connecting such an outer secondary interface to the at least one and/or respective enclosing space outside the outer shell.
The central body may have at least one extrusion profile and may have been or be designed as an extrusion profile. It is possible for the central body to be formed from a single extrusion profile, for example, an extrusion profile designed as one piece, which has a compact or coherent body. Alternatively, it is also possible that the central body has been or is composed of a plurality of extrusion profiles, wherein at first individual extrusion profiles are provided and then further joined together and thus assembled to form the central body.
The outer shell and/or the additional outer shell are designed to be fluid-tight.
A substance- and/or fluid-tight cover, for example, a substance- and/or fluid-tight lid, may have been or be arranged at both axial ends or end faces of the device and thus also at respectively both axial ends of the primary modules and of the at least one secondary module, wherein the device has a lid at each of the two axial ends, wherein covers, for example, the lids, have been cast, for example, from a resin, or are cast when producing the device and may have been designed or be designated correspondingly as potting.
In one embodiment, a first lid may have n primary openings and n secondary openings, wherein respectively a primary opening is assigned to an inner inlet and/or outlet or to an inner primary interface and connects this inlet and/or outlet or this interface with the environment, wherein respectively a secondary opening is assigned to an outer secondary interface or to an inlet and/or outlet and connects this interface or this inlet and/or outlet with the environment, wherein a second lid has n primary openings and at least one secondary opening, wherein respectively a primary opening is assigned to an outer inlet and/or outlet or an outer primary interface, and connects this inlet and/or outlet or this interface with the environment, wherein the at least one secondary opening is assigned to the at least one inner secondary interface and connects it with the environment.
Alternatively, a first lid may have n primary openings and n secondary openings, wherein respectively a primary opening is assigned to an inner primary interface and connects it with the environment, wherein respectively a secondary opening is assigned to the at least one inner secondary interface and connects it with the environment, wherein a second lid has n primary openings and n secondary openings, wherein respectively a primary opening is assigned to a primary outer interface and connects it with the environment, and wherein respectively a secondary opening is assigned to an outer secondary interface and connects it with the environment.
The respective openings of the lid may have been or be drilled into the lid when producing the device.
The method according to the invention is provided for producing an embodiment of the presented device for transferring heat and/or materials. Provided are n primary modules for at least one first flowable medium, at least one secondary module for at least one second flowable medium, a central body having a central axis, 2*n sections made of at least one flat elastic film, wherein 2*n primary interfaces are provided as passages for the at least one first flowable medium, where n is a whole number. Inner ends of all sections of the at least one film are secured to the central body, wherein an intermediate space is

7 provided between respectively two directly adjacent sections, and a total of 2*n intermediate spaces arranged in a circular manner about the central body are provided. An inner primary interface, which is faced toward the central axis, and an outer primary interface, which faces away from the central axis, are arranged about the central body in the circumferential direction in every other intermediate space between two directly adjacent sections of the at least one film, said sections being secured to the central body in a circular manner. Spacers are respectively arranged in each intermediate space between sections which are secured to the central body in a circular manner. All sections are coiled about the central body at least in one partial revolution or in at least one revolution, wherein a flow channel is provided in each intermediate space by the spacer arranged therein. By respectively one spacer, a flow channel designed as a primary channel is provided in each, in the circumferential direction about the central body, second of the intermediate spaces between two directly adjacent sections of the at least one film. By means of respectively one spacer, a flow channel designed as a secondary channel is provided in respectively one remaining intermediate space between two directly adjacent sections of the at least one film. Each section of the at least one film separates a primary channel and a secondary channel which are directly adjacent.
The second method according to the invention is provided for transferring heat and/or materials with an embodiment of the presented device, wherein the device has n primary modules for at least one first flowable medium, at least one secondary module for at least one second flowable medium, a central body having a central axis, 2*n sections made of at least one flat elastic film, and 2*n primary interfaces as passages for the at least one first flowable medium, where n is a whole number. Inner ends of all sections of the at least one film are secured to the central body, wherein an intermediate space is provided between respectively two directly adjacent sections, and a total of 2*n intermediate spaces arranged in a circular manner about the central body are provided. An inner primary interface, which faces toward the central axis, and an outer primary interface, which faces away from the central axis, are arranged about the central body in the circumferential direction in every other intermediate space between two directly adjacent sections of the at least one film, said sections being secured to the central body in a circular manner. Spacers have been respectively arranged in each intermediate space between sections which are secured to the central body in a circular manner. All sections have been coiled about the central body at least in one partial revolution or in at least one revolution, wherein a flow channel has been provided in each intermediate space by the spacer arranged therein. By means of respectively one spacer, a flow channel designed as a primary channel has been provided in each, in the circumferential direction about the central body, second of the intermediate spaces between two directly adjacent sections of the at least one film. By means of respectively one spacer, a flow channel designed as a secondary channel has been provided in respectively one remaining intermediate space between two directly adjacent sections of the at least one film. Each section of the at least one film separates a primary channel and a secondary channel which are directly adjacent.
In one embodiment of the method, the at least one first flowable medium is conveyed in at least one first direction by the primary modules. In addition, the at least one second flowable medium is conveyed in a second direction by the at least one secondary module.
In a further embodiment, the device is used to convey flowable media having different temperatures, wherein heat is transferred by at least one section of the at least one film separating the flowable media.
In a further embodiment, at least one film is used to allow a transfer of at least one chemical component between at least one primary channel and at least one secondary channel.

8 During operation of the device, the at least one primary flowable, for example, fluid, medium flows through the primary channels and the at least one second flowable, for example, fluid, medium flows through the secondary channels.
If the at least one first flowable medium within a respective primary channel has a first temperature and the at least one second flowable medium in a respective secondary channel has a second temperature, these two temperatures being different, heat and thus thermal energy is transferred between respectively one primary channel and one secondary channel via the film and/or through the film, said channels being separated from each other by a film. However, it is also possible that alternatively or in addition to their respective temperatures, the two media differ from each other with respect to a concentration and/or with respect to a chemical potential of at least one chemical component, wherein, in this case, it is possible for at least one chemical component to be exchanged or transferred through the film between the at least one first flowable medium and the at least one second flowable medium, and thus for material to be transferred. In an optional embodiment it is conceivable to supply the at least one first flowable medium to the primary interfaces and thus to the device in a warmed or heated state, so that it flows through the primary channels warmer or hotter than the at least one second flowable medium flows through the secondary channels. Conversely, the at least one second flowable medium may also be warmed or heated before being supplied to the at least one secondary interface. In an alternative optional embodiment, it is conceivable to supply the at least one first flowable medium to the primary interfaces and thus to the device in a cooled state, so that it flows through the primary channels colder or cooler than the at least one second flowable medium flows through the secondary channels. Conversely, the at least one second flowable medium may also be cooled before being supplied to the at least one secondary interface.
Here, a respective flowable or fluid medium has as chemical component at least one liquid, at least one gas and/or at least one solid.
The device is designed to convey the media in a coiling direction about the central body, wherein the at least one first flowable medium flows radially and spirally with respect to the central body through the primary channels and the at least one second flowable medium flows radially and spirally through the secondary channels when performing a function of the device. The media are supplied, for example, in the axial direction relative to the respective secondary interfaces of the device, i.e., the primary channels and the secondary channels, and are provided, for example, axially, so that the media are conveyed simultaneously radially, i.e., inwardly and/or outwardly, for example, spirally during operation of the device.
In one embodiment, the primary modules may be designed to convey the at least one first fluid medium in at least one first direction, wherein the at least one secondary module is configured to convey the at least one second fluid medium in a second direction, wherein, during operation of the device, the at least one first fluid medium is conveyed by the primary modules, in particular by the primary channels, in a first direction and the at least one second fluid medium is conveyed by the at least one secondary module, in particular by the secondary channels, in a second direction.
Thus, during operation of the device, it is possible for both or a plurality of media to be supplied to and discharged from the device in the same direction or from opposite directions.
Correspondingly, during operation of the device, it is possible for the media to be conveyed in the same radial direction, for example, clockwise from the inside to the outside or from the outside to the inside, or in opposite radial directions, wherein one of the two media is conveyed inward in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction

9 and the other of the two media is conveyed outward. Since the primary channels not only run from the inside to the outside due to the coiling but are also at least partially bent about the central body, for example, spirally, a direction of flow of the media has at least a radial portion and also a portion oriented circumferentially about the central body.
During operation of the device, the at least one first fluid medium is conveyed by or in the n primary modules and the at least one second fluid medium is conveyed by or in the at least one secondary module, wherein, for providing the media for the device, optionally at least one pump is designed or used in each case for acting upon the different media, wherein the at least one first fluid medium is acted upon by at least one first pump, for example, and is conveyed through the primary modules, and wherein the at least one second fluid medium is acted upon, for example, by at least one second pump and is conveyed through the at least one secondary module. The at least one first pump is assigned to the primary openings in only one of the two lids and is connected to these primary openings.
Furthermore, the at least one second pump is assigned to the at least one secondary opening in only one of the two lids and is connected to this at least one secondary opening.
The device is also designed to convey media having different temperatures, wherein at least one substance-tight film separating the media has been or is designed to transfer heat from a medium having a higher temperature to a medium having a lower temperature.
The device may have at least one film, for example, membrane, which has been or is designed to allow a transfer, for example, diffusion, of at least one chemical component of at least one medium between the at least one primary module and the at least one secondary module, i.e., from a primary channel to a secondary channel or from a secondary channel to a primary channel.
Furthermore, the device is designed, among other things, to transport different chemical components, for example, at least one chemically neutral component, at least one chemically acidic component, and/or at least one chemically basic, usually ionized, component.
With the presented device, a transfer of materials and heat between more than two different media is possible.
According to the definition, promising applications for the new coiled device for transferring heat and/or materials are processes involving heat and/or material transfer, for example, in thermal process engineering. With the possibility of using parallel connections, processes can be implemented in one embodiment of the device, even with large material flows or flows of the flowable media, as is the case in plate heat exchangers. However, the separate inlets and outlets for the individual channels, i.e. primary channels and secondary channels, in the coiled device additionally allow several flowable media to be processed simultaneously, which in particular enables simultaneous heat and material transfer in one device. In addition, a large surface area for transferring materials between the flowable media is also realized by a film formed as a membrane. If required, special membranes can also be used to realize a preferential material transfer of a desired chemical component between the flowable media. For simultaneous heat and material transport, it is also possible to select a layer thickness of the flowable medium between the heated or cooled side and the membrane side to be very thin, so that thin film evaporation with low layer resistance can be easily realized.

A first example is the membrane distillation of a liquid mixture of heavy and light boilers or heavy and light boiling chemical components. Here, the device achieves significant savings compared to conventional distillation columns, since heat is supplied simultaneously during the evaporation process in a mixture of chemical components. An exemplary application for such a membrane distillation is alcohol evaporation for reducing the alcohol content of alcoholic beverages or for producing spirits. In this case, for a film designed as a membrane, for example, a hydrophobic pore membrane or a solution diffusion membrane with low transport resistance for ethanol can be used, and a material-tight film can be used for heat transfer. The mixture flows in the secondary channels. Alcohol and a heating medium flow alternately through the primary channels.
The new coiled device can also be used to implement desorption processes with simultaneous heat and material transfer at low cost. One interesting application is air humidification by partial water evaporation with simultaneous heating, also from a mixture, for example, for setting a desired humidity level, for example, in buildings. In this case, for a film formed as a membrane, for example, a hydrophobic pore membrane or a solution diffusion membrane with low transport resistance for water can be used, and a material-tight film can be used for heat transfer.
The advantages of thin film evaporation can be realized with the new device, for example, in the concentration of acids, alkalis or salt solutions by water evaporation. Again, for a membrane, for example, a hydrophobic pore membrane or a solution diffusion membrane with low transport resistance for water can be used, and a material-tight film can be used for heat transfer.
Another application is absorption processes with high material transfer rates from a gas to a liquid phase, in which simultaneous cooling significantly increases the absorption capacity of a wash solution. For example, one promising application is the absorption of ammonia in ammonia-water mixtures in absorption cooling machines. For a membrane, a hydrophobic pore membrane or a solution diffusion membrane with low transport resistance for ammonia can be used, and a material-tight film can be used for heat transfer.
For simple absorption processes that do not require simultaneous cooling, the main advantage of the coiled device is that it can be easily adapted to the respective gas and liquid volumes, providing large phase boundary interfaces in a compact space and allowing countercurrent flow of the flowable media.
In this case, for example, the absorption of small amounts of pollutants from gas mixtures in a coiled membrane contactor is a promising embodiment of the device. Again, for a membrane, a hydrophobic pore membrane or a solution diffusion membrane with low transport resistance specifically for the contaminant component may be used.
A promising application as a membrane contactor with gases as flowable media is the humidification or dehumidification of supply air with an exhaust air flow in a membrane contactor with an H20- or water-conducting membrane. Compactness and low weight with good performance are required particularly for humidification of the supply air in fuel cells and, in this context, to an even greater extent in mobile applications.
One promising application of the coiled device as a membrane contactor with fluids is Donnan dialysis using ion-conducting membranes as films. In this case, a countercurrent flow of the flowable media is mandatory. By using anion exchange membranes as films, large amounts of acid can be selectively recovered from inorganic mixtures in an apparatus having the coiled device. In addition, by using anion exchange membranes as films, large amounts of alkali can be selectively recovered from inorganic mixtures in an apparatus having the coiled device. It is also possible to exchange salts in inorganic mixtures as media. For example, one interesting application in this context is water softening by replacing alkaline earth ions, especially calcium ions, with other cations in the device using ion-conducting membranes as films.
There are also interesting heat transfer applications for the coiled device.
In particular, the possible parallel connection of channels, i.e. primary and secondary channels, for each flowable medium allows heat transfer between flowable media, even at large volume flows in a compact and low-cost apparatus having the device. Since metals can be dispensed with completely if necessary, the advantages are particularly significant when using the coiled device for heat transfer with corrosive flowable media.
Corrosive gases are, for example, exhaust gases from waste incineration, or corrosive liquids, for example, acids, alkalis or seawater.
Further advantages and embodiments of the invention follow from the description and the accompanying drawings.
It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination indicated in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without leaving the scope of the present invention.
The invention is illustrated schematically in the drawings using embodiment examples and is described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of two examples of primary conveying modules.
Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention.
Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of details of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.
Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a detail of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention.
Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a detail of a fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention.
Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of a detail of a fifth embodiment of the device according to the invention.
Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of a sixth embodiment of the device according to the invention.
The figures are described in a coherent and interrelated manner. The same reference numbers are assigned to the same components.
The first example of a primary module 2 for an embodiment of the device according to the invention, as shown schematically in Figure la, has a first primary interface 4a and a second primary interface 4b, which are each enclosed by a lattice tube 6. In addition, both lattice tubes 6 and thus both primary interfaces 4a, 4b or passages are enclosed by a film 8 designed as an endless hose, wherein the two interfaces 4a, 4b and thus the lattice tubes 6 are arranged at opposite ends within the film 8, wherein a respective lattice tube 6 spaces the adjacent sections 10a, 10b of the film 8, thereby forming a respective interface 4a, 4b or space for a respective interface 4a, 4b. It is provided that the film 8 is divided into two opposite sections 10a, 10b, with a spacer 12 between these two sections 10a, 10b.
The second example of the primary module 14, as shown schematically in Figure lb, differs from the first example shown in Figure la in that a film 16 enveloping or enclosing the two primary interfaces 4a, 4b and the spacer 12 is originally opened. To produce this primary module 14, two opposite sections 18a, 18b of the film 16 are welded together at their ends or outer edges and sealed by a sealant 20.
To produce one embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is provided that a plurality of primary modules 2, 14 are secured at one end to a central body. Thus, it is possible that, for example, a plurality of primary interfaces 4a face the central body. In addition, the films 8, 16 or their sections 10a, 10b, 18a, 18b are also secured to the central body in a fluid-tight manner. It is also provided that additional spacers are arranged between the sections 10a, 10b, 18a, 18b of the films 8, 16 of directly adjacent primary modules 2, 14. Then, all the primary modules 2, 14 and the additional spacers located therebetween are coiled about the central body. In the case of a round central body, a spiral-shaped primary channel 22, 24 is formed respectively within a primary module 2, 14.
In addition, due to the spacers, a secondary channel is respectively formed between two directly adjacent primary modules 2, 14.
In a respective primary module 2, 14, it is provided that one of the two interfaces 4a is used, for example, as an inlet for a fluid and the other primary interface 4b is used as an outlet for the fluid. Thus, it is possible during operation of the device that at least one first fluid medium is transported through a first primary interface 4a as an inlet and then transported through the spiral primary channel 22, 24 to the second primary interface 4b as an outlet for the at least one fluid medium. In addition, at least one second fluid medium is transported in a respective secondary channel between two primary channels 22, 24. During operation of the device, heat and/or material is transferred between the respectively conveyed fluid media between the primary channels 22, 24 and the secondary channels located therebetween. If the film 8, 16 is fluid-tight, for example, heat is transferred between the fluid media during operation of the device.
If the films 8, 16 are semi-permeable, for example, a material and thus at least one chemical component is exchanged between the respective fluid media between the primary channels 22, 24 and the secondary channels during operation of the device.
The first embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in schematically simplified form in Figure 2. Here, this device 30 comprises four primary modules 2, as already known from Figure la.
These four primary modules 2 are secured to a square central body 32 of the device 30. Between the ends of directly adjacent primary modules 2, which ends are secured to the central body 32, between the respective primary interfaces 4a, with the inner primary interfaces 4a inner secondary interfaces 34a are also circumferentially alternately secured to the central body 32. In addition, an outer secondary interface 34b is assigned to a respective inner secondary interface 34a. Furthermore, another spacer 36 is arranged between these two secondary interfaces 34a, 34b assigned to each other, but also between respectively two directly adjacent sections 10a, 10b of the film 8 of a respective primary module 2. In addition, all of the primary modules 2 and all of the secondary modules 40 are enclosed by a fluid-tight outer shell 42.
To produce the device 30, all the films 8, i.e. their respective sections 10a, 10b with the spacers 12 located therebetween, but also the spacers 36 located between the directly adjacent primary modules 2, are coiled about the central body 32, for example, at least once or a plurality of times, in at least a portion of a single complete revolution or partial revolution, wherein a coiled primary channel 22 is formed which is maintained by the spacer 12 arranged between the sections 10a, 10b of the respective film 8, even when the primary modules 2 are coiled. During coiling of the primary modules 2 and the spacers 36 arranged therebetween, a secondary channel 38 is formed between respectively two directly adjacent primary modules 2 due to the spacers 12 arranged therebetween, which secondary channel 38 is bounded by the sections 10a, 10b of the films 8 of directly adjacent primary modules 2 and is maintained during coiling by a respective spacer 36. It is provided that a respective secondary channel 38 and the two secondary interfaces 34a, 34b form a secondary module 40, wherein the device 30 has four such secondary modules 40.
Regardless of a specific embodiment of primary modules 2 and secondary modules 40, such a device 30 always has the same number of primary channels 22 and secondary channels 38.
In the embodiment presented here, respectively an inner primary interface 4a arranged at the central body 32 is used as inlet for at least one first fluid medium and the primary interface 4b arranged outside or facing away from the central body 32 is used as outlet for the at least one first fluid medium. The at least one first fluid medium is transported within a respective primary module 2 in an optional flow direction shown here, starting from the primary interface 4a designed as an inlet along the indicated arrows through a respective primary channel 22 outward to the outer primary interface 4b designed as an outlet.
In addition, during operation of the device 30, it is provided that at least one second fluid medium is transferred within a respective secondary module 40, wherein the at least one second fluid medium, starting from the outer secondary interface 34b of a respective secondary module 40 designed as an inlet, is transported in an optional flow direction according to the indicated arrows through a respective secondary channel 38 inward to the inwardly arranged secondary interface 34a designed as an outlet of the at least one second fluid medium.
Thus, the at least one first fluid medium and the at least one second fluid medium are conveyed or transported simultaneously within the device 30, wherein the transported fluid media are separated from each other by the sections 10a, 10b of the films 8 of the primary modules 2, wherein the at least one first fluid medium is conveyed or transported within a primary channel 22 from the inside to the outside and the at least one second fluid medium is conveyed or transported within a secondary channel 38 simultaneously from the outside to the inside, wherein it is possible to transfer heat and/or material between the respective fluid media via or through the sections 10a, 10b of the film 8. In this case, the at least one first fluid medium flows in parallel in four primary channels 22 in the direction of the arrows radially from the inside to the outside, and in counterflow or opposite direction thereto, the at least one second fluid medium flows in parallel in four secondary channels 38 from the outside to the inside.
Figure 3a shows a central body 46 of the second embodiment of the device 44 according to the invention, to which ends of a total of eight primary modules 2 according to Figure la are secured. Furthermore, a spacer 36 is arranged between respectively two directly adjacent primary modules 2, i.e. between the sections 10a, 10b of their films 8, and is secured to the central body 46. The round central body 46 having a central axis has only one secondary interface 48 and primary chambers 33, for example, slots and openings 35, which connect the secondary interface 48 of the central body 46 with an environment of the central body 46. Spacers 36 are arranged, for example, secured, in the openings 35. Two directly adjacent spacers 36, guided through two directly adjacent openings 35, may be interconnected within the secondary interface 48 in the central body 46. To produce the device 44, the outer shells 10a, 10b of the primary modules 2 and the spacers 12 arranged therebetween as well as also the spacers 36 located between the primary modules 2 are coiled spirally, generally a plurality of times, about the round central body 46. A total of eight spiral-shaped primary channels 22 are provided via the eight primary modules 2, wherein, on the inside, a primary interface 4a designed as an inlet and, on the outside, a primary interface 4b designed as an outlet is assigned to each primary channel 22. In each case, a primary interface 4a, is enveloped by sections 10a, 10b of the film. The spacers 36 between the sections 10a, 10b of the films 8 of directly adjacent primary modules 2 respectively form a spiral-shaped secondary channel 38 between two primary modules 2 during coiling, wherein it is provided that the device 44 has eight secondary channels 38, wherein the number of primary channels 22 and the number of secondary channels 38 is also identical. However, in addition to the total of eight primary modules 2, this second embodiment of the device 44 has only one secondary module with a total of eight secondary channels 38, which has one common internal secondary interface 48 in the central body 46 for all secondary channels 38. An outer secondary interface is respectively arranged as an inlet at the outer ends of the eight secondary channels 38.
Correspondingly, within a respective primary module 2, a second primary interface 4b is also arranged as an outlet on the outside.
Another detail of the second embodiment of the device 44 is indicated in Figure 3b as a section through the central body 46 parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. Here, Figure 3b shows how the primary chambers 33 for the primary interfaces 4a and the openings 35 for the spacers 36 are arranged in an alternating manner or alternately on an outer side of the central body 46. The primary chambers 33 extend along a complete axial length of the central body 46 along the central body 46, for example, an outer wall of the central body 46. In contrast, the openings 35 extend only partially along the central body 46 or its outer wall. An opening 35 respectively starts at a first axial end face of the central body 46, but still ends at a point along the central body 46 before an opposite second axial end face of the central body 46, so that a respective opening 35 axially extends only partially or incompletely along the central body 46, thereby ensuring stability of the central body 46.
During operation of the device 44, it is provided that at least one first fluid medium is conveyed at one end face via the inner primary interfaces 4a formed as inlets and through the primary channels 22 of the primary modules 2 to their outer primary interfaces 4b and is discharged out of the device 44 from an axially opposite end face. At the same time, on an end face of the device 44, at least one second fluid medium is provided to the secondary interfaces arranged on the outside, which are used as inlets, conveyed inward through the respective secondary channels 38 and the openings 35 to the common central inner secondary interface 48 and conducted out of the device 44 via this secondary interface 48, which is designed as an outlet, on an axially opposite end face of the device 44, wherein here, too, heat and/or at least one chemical component is transferred between the at least one fluid conveyed from the inside to the outside through the primary channels 22 and the at least one second fluid conveyed synchronously from the outside to the inside through the secondary channels 38.
Of the third embodiment of the device 50 according to the invention, Figure 4 shows a round central body 52 having a central axis, on the outer wall 54 of which a total of 16 chambers, namely eight primary chambers 56 and eight secondary chambers 58, are arranged and/or inserted.
Each chamber, i.e., each primary chamber 56 and each secondary chamber 58, has an opening to its environment, wherein starting from an inner space enclosed by a primary chamber 56, a spacer 60 is guided to the outside through the opening. Correspondingly, starting from an inner space enclosed by a respective secondary chamber 58, a spacer 62 is guided to the outside through the opening of the respective secondary chamber 58.
Furthermore, a section 64 of an elastic film is arranged between respectively a primary chamber 56 and a secondary chamber 58. In this third embodiment of the device 44, it is provided that the device 44 has a total of eight primary modules 66 and also eight secondary modules 68.
It is provided that a respective primary module 66 has an inner primary interface, provided here by the respective primary chamber 56, the spacer 60, and an outer primary interface, which is not shown here.
A primary channel 70 is provided between the two sections 64 of the two films within a respective primary module 66. Furthermore, it is provided that in addition to the secondary chamber 58, which provides and/or forms a respective inner secondary interface, and the spacer 62, each secondary module 68 also has an outer secondary interface, wherein a secondary channel 72 is formed between respectively two directly adjacent sections 64 of the film for a respective secondary module 68. In one embodiment, to produce the device 50, all sections 64 of the films and the spacers 60, 62 arranged therebetween are coiled spirally about the central body 52, for example, a plurality of times, wherein spiral-shaped primary channels 70 and likewise spiral-shaped secondary channels 72 are formed circumferentially alternately about the central body 52, due to the spacers 60, 62.
During operation of this device 50, it is provided that at least one second fluid medium is provided to the secondary chambers 58, and thus to the inner secondary interfaces of the secondary modules 68, through an end face of the device 50, and is further transported through the respective secondary channels 72 to the respective secondary interface of a respective secondary module 68, said secondary interface being arranged on the outside, and is discharged from the device 50 through an axially opposite end face. At the same time, at least one first fluid medium is provided through a respective end face of the device 50 to a primary interface of a respective primary module 66, said primary interface being arranged on the outside, and is transported inward through a respective primary channel 70 to the inner primary interface within a respective primary chamber 56 and is discharged from the device 50 through the interfaces on an opposite end face. Here, too, it is possible that between the different media separated from each other by the sections 64 of the films heat and/or material, for example, at least one chemical component, is transferred via and/or through these sections 64.
Of the fourth embodiment of the device 74 according to the invention, Figure 5 shows an outer shell 76 and outer primary interfaces 78 of a total of eight primary modules 80, wherein each primary module 80 further has a film of two sections 82a, 82b, which are connected to each other in fluid-tight manner, and a spacer 84 arranged between the sections 82a, 82b. Furthermore, each primary module 80 has another primary interface on the inside, which is secured to a round central body of the device 74, which primary interface and central body are not shown here. It is provided that both primary interfaces 78 of a respective primary module 80 are completely enclosed by the two sections 82a, 82b of the film, wherein the two sections 82a, 82b are spaced from each other by the spacer 84 arranged therebetween.
Furthermore, Figure 5 also shows outer secondary interfaces 86 of a total of eight secondary modules 90, wherein respectively one secondary interface 86 of such a secondary module 90 is arranged between two sections 82a, 82b of films of directly adjacent primary modules 80. In addition to the outer secondary interface 86, each secondary module 90 also has a spacer 88 and another secondary interface, which is not further shown here, which is also arranged on the central body of the device 74 like a respective inner primary interface of a respective primary module 80 and is not further shown in Figure 5.

In the presented embodiment of the device 74, it is provided that both the inner primary or secondary interfaces, which are not shown here, of the primary modules 80 and the secondary modules 90 are alternately circumferentially arranged on the central body, wherein the inner primary interfaces of the primary modules 80 are enclosed in a fluid-tight manner by the two sections 82a, 82b of the respective films. It is provided that both the inner primary interfaces of the primary modules 80 and the inner secondary interfaces of the secondary modules 90 are formed. Accordingly, the respective outer primary interfaces 78, 86 of the primary modules 80 and the secondary modules 90 are also designed as lattice tubes and/or enclosed by lattice tubes.
To produce the device 74, the sections 82a, 82b of the films and the spacers 84 arranged therebetween, as well as the spacers 88 of the secondary modules 90, which spacers are arranged between the sections 82a, 82b of the films of adjacent primary modules 80, are coiled spirally about the central body, for example, a plurality of times, resulting in the arrangement shown in Figure 5 for the outer primary and secondary interfaces 78, 86. A spiral-shaped primary channel, not shown here, is formed by the spacer 84 between respectively two sections 82a, 82b of a film of a respective primary module 80. In addition, a secondary channel, not shown here, is formed at the same time between the sections 82a, 82b of films of adjacent primary modules 80.
During operation of the device 74, the inner primary interfaces of the primary modules 80 may be used as inlets for at least one first fluid medium that is spirally conveyed through the primary channels to the outer primary interfaces 78 and conveyed out of the device 74 via these primary interfaces 78 used as outlets. Correspondingly, at least one second fluid medium is spirally transported through the outer secondary interfaces 86 of the secondary modules 90, used as inlets, through the secondary channels between two adjacent primary modules 80 to the inner secondary interfaces of the secondary modules 90, wherein the inner secondary interfaces are used as outlets for the at least one second fluid medium.
Of the fifth embodiment of the device 92 according to the invention, Figure 6 shows an outer shell 94 and outer primary interfaces 78 of a total of eight primary modules 80, wherein each primary module 80 further has a film of two sections 82a, 82b, which are connected to each other, and a spacer 84 arranged between the sections 82a, 82b. Furthermore, each primary module 80 has another inner primary interface on the inside, which is secured to a central body of the device 92, which primary interface and central body are not shown here. It is provided that both primary interfaces 78 of a respective primary module 80 are completely enclosed by the two sections 82a, 82b of the film, wherein the two sections 82a, 82b are spaced from each other by the spacer 84 arranged therebetween. In addition, the outer primary interfaces 78 enveloped by the sections 82a, 82b of the film are also separated from the outer shell 94, in this case from an inner wall of the outer shell 94, and thus spaced therefrom.
To this end, at least one spacer 95 is arranged between each outer primary interface 78 and the outer shell 94, wherein a common spacer 95 is used for all primary interfaces 78.
Furthermore, Figure 6 also shows eight spacers 88 arranged on the central body of the device 92, and intermediate spaces between the ends of the primary modules 80 provided for a common secondary module. Furthermore, the outer shell 94 has two diametrically arranged openings 96, through which the intermediate spaces of the secondary module between the ends of the primary modules 80 are connected with an environment of the outer shell 94. In the presented embodiment of the device 74, it is provided that both the inner primary interfaces, which are not shown here, of the primary modules 80 and the inner secondary interfaces of the secondary module are alternately circumferentially arranged on the central body, wherein the inner primary interfaces of the primary modules 80 are enclosed in a fluid-tight manner by the two sections 82a, 82b of the respective films. It is provided that both the inner primary interfaces of the primary modules 80 and the inner secondary interfaces of the secondary module 90 are designed, for example, as lattice tubes. Correspondingly, the respective outer primary interfaces 78 of the primary module 80 are also designed as lattice tubes and/or enclosed by lattice tubes. In contrast, the intermediate spaces between the ends of the primary modules 80 and the outer shell 94, together with the openings 96, form an outer secondary interface of the one secondary module.
To produce the device 74, the sections 82a, 82b of the films and the spacers 84 arranged therebetween, as well as the spacers 88 of the secondary module, which spacers are arranged between the sections 82a, 82b of the films of adjacent primary modules 80, are coiled spirally about the round central body, for example, a plurality of times, resulting in the arrangement shown in Figure 6 for the outer primary interfaces 78 and the secondary interface. A spiral-shaped primary channel is formed by the spacer 84 between respectively two sections 82a, 82b of a film of a respective primary module 80. In addition, a secondary channel is formed respectively at the same time between the sections 82a, 82b of films of adjacent primary modules 80.
During operation of the device 92, the inner primary interfaces of the primary modules 80 may be used as inlets for at least one first fluid medium that is spirally conveyed through the primary channels to the outer primary interfaces 78 and conveyed out of the device 92 via these primary interfaces 78 used as outlets. Correspondingly, at least one second fluid medium is spirally transported from the environment outside the outer shell 94 through the openings 96 through the outer secondary interface of the secondary module, used here as an inlet, through the secondary channels between two adjacent primary modules 80 to the inner secondary interfaces of the secondary module, wherein the inner secondary interfaces are used as outlets for the at least one second fluid medium. Due to the at least one spacer 95, a passage is provided between all of the secondary channels and the openings 96 of the outer shell 94 so that the second fluid medium can flow from the environment through the openings 96 and through passages between the inner wall of the outer shell 94 and the primary interfaces 78.
The sixth embodiment of the device 100 according to the invention, as shown schematically in Figure 7, has a round central body 102 and three primary modules 104. Each primary module 104 has an inner primary interface 106 or inner primary passage, an outer primary interface 108 or outer primary passage, a spacer 110, and a closed film divided into two sections 112a, 112b. The two primary interfaces 106, 108 and the spacer 110 arranged therebetween are completely enclosed by the two sections 112a, 112b of the film. It is further provided that ends of the two sections 112a, 112b of the film, each enclosing an inner primary interface, are secured to the central body 102.
In addition, three secondary modules 114 are provided for this embodiment of the device 100, wherein a respective secondary module 114 has an inner secondary interface 116 or inner secondary inlet, an outer secondary interface 118 or outer secondary passage, and a spacer 120 arranged therebetween. The primary modules 104 and the secondary modules 114 are arranged circumferentially alternately about the central body 102, wherein in the circumferential direction, depending on the definition, in every second or even-numbered region between the sections 112a, 112b, a primary module 104, and therebetween in every odd-numbered region in the circumferential direction between the sections 112a, 112b, secondary modules 114 have been or are provided.

To produce this embodiment of the device 100, the sections 112a, 112b of the films of the primary modules 104 and the spacers 110 arranged therebetween, but also the spacers 120 for the secondary modules 114, are coiled about the central body 102 starting from the central body 102, i.e., starting from the respective inner primary and secondary interfaces 106, 116. Due to the spacers 110 between the sections 112a, 112b of the film of a respective primary module 104, spiral-shaped primary channels 122 are provided, which connect the respective primary interfaces 106, 108 or the corresponding passages of a respective primary module 104. Furthermore, due to the spacers 120 between the sections 112a, 112b of films of directly adjacent primary modules 104, corresponding spiral-shaped secondary channels 124 are provided during coiling, which connect the respective inner secondary interfaces 116 to the outer secondary interfaces 118. In addition, all of the primary modules 104 and secondary modules 114 are enclosed by an outer shell 126 of the device 100. The sections 112a, 112b of the films and the spacers 110, 120 are coiled about the central body 102 for at least a fraction of a complete revolution, forming the structure schematically shown in Figure 7. If the sections 112a, 112b of the films and the spacers 110, 120 are coiled about the central body 102 a plurality of times, i.e., with a plurality of revolutions, a multi-coiled spiral-shaped structure is formed.
During operation of this device 100, respectively one of the two interfaces 106, 108 or one of the two passages of a respective primary module 104 is used as an inlet for at least one first flowable or fluid medium, which is further transported through the primary channel 122 to the respective other primary interface 106, 108 or to the other primary passage, wherein the respectively other primary interface 106, 108 or the respectively other primary passage is used as an outlet for the at least one first fluid medium.
Synchronously, one of the two secondary interfaces 116, 118 or one of the two secondary passages is used as an inlet for at least one second flowable or fluid medium that is transported or conveyed through a respective secondary channel 124 to the respective other secondary interface 116, 118 or to the respective other secondary passage which is used as an outlet for the at least one second fluid medium.
It is possible to convey the different flowable, for example, fluid, media to be conveyed or transported in parallel flow or in counterflow. When conveying in parallel flow, the at least one first fluid medium flows through the primary channels 122 either from the inside to the outside or from the outside to the inside.
Correspondingly, the at least one second fluid medium flows through the secondary channels 124 correspondingly either from the inside to the outside or from the outside to the inside. When conveying the fluid media in countercurrent flow, the at least one first fluid medium flows through a respective primary channel 122 either from the inside to the outside or from the outside to the inside, whereas the at least one second fluid medium flows either from the outside to the inside or from the inside to the outside. When conveying the fluid media in either parallel or countercurrent flow within the respective primary channels 122 and secondary channels 124, material and/or heat is transferred between the flowable or fluid media via or through the sections 112a, 112b, which fluid media are separated from each other by the sections 112a, 112b of the films of the primary modules 104.
Since the primary channels 122 and secondary channels 124 about the central body 102 are at least partially curved and thus at least partially spiral-shaped, a direction of a flow of the media has a circumferentially oriented portion in addition to a radially oriented portion.

Reference numbers:
2 primary module 4a, 4b interface 6 lattice tube 8 film 10a, 10b section 12 spacer 14 primary module 16 film 18a, 18b section sealant 22, 24 primary channel device 32 central body 15 33 primary chamber 34a, 34b interface slot 36 spacer 38 secondary channel 20 40 secondary module 42 outer shell 44 device 46 central body 48 interface 25 50 device 52 central body 54 outer wall 56 primary chamber 58 secondary chamber 30 60 spacer 62 spacer 64 section 66 primary module 68 secondary module 35 70 primary channel 72 secondary channel 74 device 76 outer shell 78 interface 80 primary module 82a, 82b section 84 spacer 86 interface 88 spacer 90 secondary module 92 device 94 outer shell 95 spacer 96 opening 100 device 102 central body 104 primary module 106, 108 interface 110 spacer 112a, 112b section 114 secondary module 116,118 interface 120 spacer 122 primary channel 124 secondary channel 126 outer shell

Claims

1. A device for transferring heat and/or materials, which has n primary modules (2, 14, 66, 80, 104) for at least one first flowable medium, at least one secondary module (40, 68, 90, 114) for at least one second flowable medium, a central body (32, 46, 52, 102) having a central axis, 2*n sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) made of at least one flat elastic film, and 2*n primary interfaces (4a, 4b, 78, 106, 108) as passages for the at least one first flowable medium, wherein n is a whole number, wherein inner ends of all sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) of the at least one film are secured to the central body (32, 46, 52, 102), wherein an intermediate space is provided between respectively two directly adjacent sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b), and a total of 2*n intermediate spaces arranged in a circular manner about the central body (32, 46, 52, 102) are provided, wherein an inner primary interface (4a, 106) facing toward the central axis, and an outer primary interface (4b, 78, 108) facing away from the central axis, are arranged about the central body (32, 46, 52, 102) in the circumferential direction in every other intermediate space between two directly adjacent sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) of the at least one film, said sections being secured to the central body (32, 46, 52, 102) in a circular manner, wherein spacers (12, 36, 60, 62, 84, 88, 110, 120) are respectively arranged in each intermediate space between sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) secured to the central body (32, 46, 52, 102) in a circular manner, wherein all sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) are coiled about the central body (32, 46, 52, 102) at least in one partial revolution or in at least one revolution, wherein a flow channel is provided in each intermediate space by a spacer (12, 36, 60, 62, 84, 88, 110, 120) arranged therein, wherein, by respectively one spacer (12, 60, 84, 110), a flow channel designed as a primary channel (22, 24, 70, 122) is provided in each, in the circumferential direction about the central body (32, 46, 52, 102), second of the intermediate spaces between two directly adjacent sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) of the at least one film, wherein by means of respectively one spacer (36, 62, 88 120), a flow channel designed as a secondary channel (38, 72, 124) is provided in respectively one remaining intermediate space between two directly adjacent sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) of the at least one film, wherein each section (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) of the at least one film separates a primary channel (22, 24, 70, 122) and a secondary channel (38, 72, 124) which are directly adjacent.

2. The device according to claim 1, in which at least one film is designed as a tight, in particular a substance- and/or fluid-tight film, and/or as a semi-permeable film, in particular as a membrane, and/or in which the at least one film is formed at least partially from at least one thermally conductive material, in particular a metal, and/or in which the at least one film is formed at least partially from at least one plastic.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, in which primary inner interfaces (4a, 106) are arranged on the central body (32, 46, 52, 102), wherein respectively one primary inner interface (4a, 106) of a primary module (2, 14, 66, 80, 104) is bounded by at least one boundary wall which is arranged on the central body (32, 46, 52, 102), wherein the at least one boundary wall has at least one body having at least one opening toward the primary channel (22, 24, 70, 122) of the respective primary module (2, 14, 66, 80, 104), wherein the at least one inner primary interface (4a, 106) is bounded only by one body, wherein this closed body encloses the primary interface (4a, 106), and/or wherein the outer wall of the central body (52) has at least one primary chamber (56), wherein at least one primary chamber (56) forms at least one boundary wall for the at least one inner primary interface (4a, 106).

4. The device according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one primary module (2, 14, 66, 80, 104) has only one closed film which encloses the two primary interfaces (4a, 4b, 78, 106, 108) and the at least one primary channel (22, 24, 70, 122) and is secured to the central body (32, 46, 52, 102), and/or in which at least one primary module (2, 14, 66, 80, 104) has only one open film with two opposite outer sides, which are connected to each other, wherein the one film encloses both primary interfaces (4a, 4b, 78, 106, 108) and the primary channel (22, 24, 70, 122), wherein the two outer sides are secured along one line to the central body (32, 46, 52, 102), and/or wherein at least one primary module (2, 14, 66, 80, 104) has only one open film with two opposite outer sides, wherein respectively one outer side is secured along respectively one line to the central body (32, 46, 52, 102), wherein the two lines are spaced from each other by a region on the central body (32, 46, 52, 102), wherein the film and the region on the central body (32, 46, 52, 102) enclose both primary interfaces (4a, 4b, 78, 106, 108) and the primary channel (22, 24, 70, 122), and/or in which at least one primary module (2, 14, 66, 80, 104) has two open films with respectively two opposite outer sides, wherein respective first outer sides and respective second outer sides of the two films are connected to each other, wherein both films enclose both primary interfaces (4a, 4b, 78, 106, 108) and the primary channel (22, 24, 70, 122), wherein at least one film is secured along only one line to the central body, and/or in which at least one primary module has two open films with respectively two opposite outer sides, wherein respectively only first outer sides of the two films are connected to each other, wherein respectively one second outer side of respectively one film is secured along respectively one line to the central body, wherein the two lines are spaced from each other by a region on the central body (32, 46, 52, 102), wherein the two films and the region on the central body (32, 46, 52, 102) enclose both primary interfaces (4a, 4b, 78, 106, 108) and the primary channel (22, 24, 70, 122).

5. The device according to one of the preceding claims, having only one inner secondary interface (48) which is enclosed by the central body (46), having at least one opening toward the secondary channel (38) between two directly adjacent primary modules (66).

6. The device according to one of claims 1 to 4, having n inner secondary interfaces (34a, 106), wherein respectively one inner secondary interface (34a, 106) is arranged between two inner primary interfaces (4a, 106) of two directly adjacent primary modules (2, 104), wherein at least one inner secondary interface (34a, 106) is arranged on the central body (32, 102), wherein the at least one inner secondary interface (34a, 106) of a respective secondary module (40, 114) is bounded by at least one boundary wall which is arranged on the central body (32, 102), wherein the at least one boundary wall has at least one body having at least one opening toward the secondary channel (38, 124) of the respective secondary module (40, 104), wherein at least one inner secondary interface (34a, 106) is bounded by only one body, which forms only one boundary wall, wherein this body encloses the inner secondary interface (34a, 106), and/or wherein the outer wall of the central body (52) has n secondary chambers (58), wherein respectively one secondary chamber (58) forms at least one boundary wall for one inner secondary interface (34a, 106).

7. The device according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one channel, i.e. a primary channel (22, 24, 70, 122) and/or a secondary channel (38, 72, 124), is formed by a spacer (12, 36, 60, 62, 84, 88, 110, 120) between two directly adjacently arranged sections of the at least one film, wherein two directly adjacently arranged sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) of the at least one film are structured and form film-internal spacers.

8. The device according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one outer secondary interface (34b, 118) between two adjacently arranged outer primary interfaces (4b, 78, 108) is enclosed by a body, wherein the body has at least one opening toward the secondary channel (38, 124) of the respective secondary module (40, 90, 114).

9. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the central body has at least one extrusion profile.

10. The device according to one of the preceding claims, in which a cover is arranged at axial ends of the primary modules (2, 14, 66, 80, 104) and the at least one secondary module (40, 68, 90, 114), wherein the covers have been cast, wherein at least one lid has at least one primary opening for at least one primary interface (4a, 4b, 78, 106, 108) and at least one secondary opening for at least one secondary interface (34a, 34b, 48, 86, 118).

11. A method of producing a device for transferring heat and/or materials according to one of the preceding claims, in which n primary modules (2, 14, 66, 80, 104) for at least one first flowable medium, at least one secondary module (40, 68, 90, 114) for at least one second flowable medium, a central body (32, 46, 52, 102) having a central axis, 2*n sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) made of at least one flat elastic film are provided, wherein 2*n primary interfaces (4a, 4b, 78, 106, 108) are provided as passages for the at least one first flowable medium, wherein n is a whole number, wherein inner ends of all sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) of the at least one film are secured to the central body (32, 46, 52, 102), wherein an intermediate space is provided between respectively two directly adjacent sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b), and a total of 2*n intermediate spaces arranged in a circular manner about the central body (32, 46, 52, 102) are provided, wherein an inner primary interface (4a, 106), which is being faced toward the central axis, and an outer primary interface (4b, 78, 108), which faces away from the central axis, are arranged about the central body (32, 46, 52, 102) in the circumferential direction in every other intermediate space between two directly adjacent sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) of the at least one film, said sections being secured to the central body (32, 46, 52, 102) in a circular manner, wherein spacers (12, 36, 60, 62, 84, 88, 110, 120) are respectively arranged in each intermediate space between sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) secured to the central body (32, 46, 52, 102) in a circular manner, wherein all sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) are coiled about the central body (32, 46, 52, 102) at least in one partial revolution or in at least one revolution, wherein a flow channel is provided in each intermediate space by the spacer (12, 36, 60, 62, 84, 88, 110, 120) arranged therein, wherein, by respectively one spacer (12, 60, 84, 110), a flow channel designed as a primary channel (22, 24, 70, 122) is provided in each, in the circumferential direction about the central body (32, 46, 52, 102), second of the intermediate spaces between two directly adjacent sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) of the at least one film, wherein, by respectively one spacer (36, 62, 88 120), a flow channel designed as a secondary channel (38, 72, 124) is provided in respectively one remaining intermediate space between two directly adjacent sections (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) of the at least one film, wherein each section (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) of the at least one film separates a primary channel (22, 24, 70, 122) and a secondary channel (38, 72, 124) which are directly adjacent.

12. The method for transferring heat and/or materials with a device according to one of claims 1 to 10.

13. The method according to claim 12, in which the at least one first flowable medium is conveyed in at least one first direction by the primary modules (2, 14, 66, 80, 104), and in which the at least one second flowable medium is conveyed in a second direction by the at least one secondary module (40, 68, 90, 114).

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, in which flowable media having different temperatures are conveyed with the device, wherein heat is transferred with at least one section (10a, 10b, 18a, 18b, 64, 82a, 82b, 112a, 112b) of the at least one film which separates the flowable media.

15. The method according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein at least one film is used to allow transfer of at least one chemical component between at least one primary channel (22, 24, 70, 122) and at least one secondary channel (38, 72, 124).