The present disclosure relates to heat exchangers, and in particular, to plate-fin heat exchangers.
Heat exchangers are often used to transfer heat between two fluids. For example, in aircraft environmental control systems, heat exchangers may be used to transfer heat between a relatively hot air source (e.g., bleed air from a gas turbine engine) and a relatively cool air source (e.g., ram air). Some heat exchangers, often referred to as plate-fin heat exchangers, include a plate-fin core having multiple heat transfer sheets arranged in layers to define air passages there between. Closure bars seal alternating inlets of hot air and cool air inlet sides of the core. Accordingly, hot air and cool air are directed through alternating passages to form alternating layers of hot and cool air within the core. Heat is transferred between the hot and cool air via the heat transfer sheets that separate the layers. In addition, to facilitate heat transfer between the layers, each of the passages can include heat transfer fins, often formed of a material with high thermal conductivity (e.g., aluminum), that are oriented in the direction of the flow within the passage. The heat transfer fins increase turbulence and a surface area that is exposed to the airflow, thereby enhancing heat transfer between the layers.
In some applications, heat exchangers can be exposed to extremely cold temperatures. When a heat exchanger is exposed to extremely cold temperatures ice accretion can occur. When there is ice accretion on a heat exchanger the ice accretion can result in restricting airflow into or out of the heat exchanger.
In one aspect of the disclosure, a heat exchanger includes a first end opposite a second end and a first side opposite a second side. The first side and the second side extend from the first end to the second end. The heat exchanger further includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer includes an inlet at the first end of the heat exchanger and an outlet at the second end of the heat exchanger. The second layer includes a first passage at the first end of the heat exchanger. The first passage extends from the first side to the second side. The second layer further includes a second passage adjacent to the first passage. The second passage extends from the first side to the second side. The second layer further includes a third passage extending from the second end toward the second passage. The first passage is fluidically connected to the third passage proximate the second end and the third passage is fluidically connected to the second passage.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a heat exchanger includes a first end opposite a second end, a first side opposite a second side, a first layer, and a second layer. The first side and the second side extend from the first end to the second end. The first layer includes an inlet at the first end of the heat exchanger and an outlet at the second end of the heat exchanger. The second layer includes a first passage at the first end of the heat exchanger. The first passage extends from the first side to the second side. The second layer further includes a second passage adjacent to the first passage. The second passage extends from the first side to the second side. The second layer further includes a third passage extending from the second end toward the second passage. The third passage is fluidically connected between the first passage and the second passage.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for guiding a hot flow and a cold flow through a heat exchanger. The method includes directing the cold flow through an inlet of a cold layer at a first end of the heat exchanger and out an outlet at a second end of the heat exchanger opposite the first end. The method further includes directing the hot flow through an inlet of a hot layer and into a melt pass passage of the hot layer at the first end. The melt pass passage extends from a first side of the heat exchanger to a second side of the heat exchanger. The first side and the second side both extend from the first end to the second end of the heat exchanger. The method further includes directing the hot flow out of the melt pass passage, to the second end, and into a counterflow passage. The counterflow passage extends from the second end toward the first end between the first side and the second side of the heat exchanger. The method further includes directing the hot flow from the second end toward the first end in the counterflow passage and directing the hot flow out of the counterflow passage and into a last pass passage. The last pass passage is between the melt pass passage and the counterflow passage and extends from the second side to the first side.
The present disclosure relates to a plate-fin heat exchanger. The plate-fin heat exchanger includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is configured for cold airflow while the second layer is configured for hot airflow. The second layer is further configured to direct hot air above or below the inlet for the first layer. The hot air above or below the inlet for the first layer helps prevent ice accretion on the inlet side of the first layer. The plate fin heat exchanger will be described below with reference to
In the aspect of the disclosure shown in
In operation, cold flow FC enters heat exchanger 10 at inlet 24 of first layer 20. Cold flow FC flows through plurality of passages 46 from first end 12 to second end 14. Then cold flow FC flows out of heat exchanger 10 through outlet 26 of first layer 20. As cold flow FC flows through plurality of passages 46 in first layer 20, cold flow FC absorbs heat from plurality of fins 44 and first closure bar 40 and second closure bar 42.
As shown in
First closure bar 60 is on first end 12 and extends from first side 16 to second side 18. Second closure bar 62 is between first passage 28 and second passage 30 and extends from first side 16 to second side 18 and separates first passage 28 and second passage 30. Third closure bar 64 is between second passage 30 and third portion 54 of third passage 32 and extends from first side 16 to second side 18. Third closure bar 64 separates second passage 30 and third portion 54 of third passage 32. Fourth closure bar 66 is on second end 14 and extends from first side 16 to second side 18. Fifth closure bar 68 is on first side 16 and extends from third closure bar 64 toward fourth closure bar 66. Sixth closure bar 70 is on second side 18 and extends from fourth closure bar 66 toward third closure bar 64. Fifth closure bar 68 and sixth closure bar 70 form the sides of second portion 52 of third passage 32. In the aspect of the disclosure depicted in
First plurality of fins 72 is in first passage 28 and extends in a direction parallel to second closure bar 62 and extend from first side 16 to second side 18. Second plurality of fins 74 is in second passage 30 and extends in a direction parallel to second closure bar 62 and extends from first side 16 to second side 18. Third plurality of fins 76 is in first portion 50 of third passage 32 and extends in a direction parallel to fourth closure bar 66. Fourth plurality of fins 78 is in the second portion 52 of third passage 32 and extends in a direction parallel to fifth closure bar 68 and sixth closure bar 70. Fifth plurality of fins 80 is in third portion 54 of third passage 32 and extends in a direction parallel to third closure bar 64.
In operation, hot flow FH enters heat exchanger 10 through inlet 34 of second layer 22 and first plurality of fins 72 guides hot flow FH through first passage 28. Hot flow FH travels in first passage 28 from first side 16 to second side 18. As hot flow FH travels in first passage 28, heat is transferred from hot flow FH into first plurality of fins 72 and parting sheet 23 to warm inlet 24 of first layer 20 and prevent ice accumulation at inlet 24 of first layer 20. Hot flow FH flows out of first passage 28 at second side 18 and is routed into first section 50 of third passage 32 at second end 14 of heat exchanger 10. An insulated manifold, tube, or passage, neither of which are shown in
As shown in
In the aspects of the disclosure as shown in
As discussed above in paragraphs [0020] and [0022] hot flow FH enters second layer 22 of heat exchanger 10 at inlet 34 of first passage 28. As hot flow FH enters second layer 22 of heat exchanger 10 at inlet 34, hot flow FH is the hottest air in heat exchanger 10. Therefore, the location of first passage 28, on first end 12 extending from first side 16 to second side 18 helps prevent ice accretion on the structure surrounding inlet 24 of first layer 20. Eliminating ice accretion on the structure surrounding inlet 24 of first layer 20 mitigates undesirable restrictions to both cold flow FC and hot flow FH throughout heat exchanger 10.
The location of last pass passage or second passage 30 is important as the location of second passage 30 enables first passage 28 to be proximate first end 12 to aid in preventing ice accretion on the structure surrounding inlet 24 of first layer 20. Furthermore, the location of second passage 30 enables an increased surface area for third passage 32 to encourage heat transfer between first layer 20 and second layer 22.
Counterflow passage or third passage 32 improves the heat transfer between cold flow FC in first layer 20 and hot flow FH in second layer 22 through parting sheet 37. Directing hot flow FH through third passage 32, in a direction opposite to the cold flow FC in first layer 20, improves the heat transfer between cold flow FC in first layer 20 and hot flow FH in second layer 22. Furthermore, the configuration of third passage 32 decreases the pressure drop through heat exchanger 10 as third passage 32 is wider than first passage 28 and third passage 32 and contains fewer turns than traditional heat exchangers.
The following are non-exclusive descriptions of possible embodiments of the present invention.
In one aspect of the disclosure, a heat exchanger includes a first end opposite a second end and a first side opposite a second side. The first side and the second side extend from the first end to the second end. The heat exchanger further includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer includes an inlet at the first end of the heat exchanger and an outlet at the second end of the heat exchanger. The second layer includes a first passage at the first end of the heat exchanger. The first passage extends from the first side to the second side. The second layer further includes a second passage adjacent to the first passage. The second passage extends from the first side to the second side. The second layer further includes a third passage extending from the second end toward the second passage. The first passage is fluidically connected to the third passage proximate the second end and the third passage is fluidically connected to the second passage.
The heat exchanger of the preceding paragraph can optionally include, additionally and/or alternatively, any one or more of the following features, configurations and/or additional components:
In another aspect of the disclosure, a heat exchanger includes a first end opposite a second end, a first side opposite a second side, a first layer, and a second layer. The first side and the second side extend from the first end to the second end. The first layer includes an inlet at the first end of the heat exchanger and an outlet at the second end of the heat exchanger. The second layer includes a first passage at the first end of the heat exchanger. The first passage extends from the first side to the second side. The second layer further includes a second passage adjacent to the first passage. The second passage extends from the first side to the second side. The second layer further includes a third passage extending from the second end toward the second passage. The third passage is fluidically connected between the first passage and the second passage.
The heat exchanger of the preceding paragraph can optionally include, additionally and/or alternatively, any one or more of the following features, configurations and/or additional components:
In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for guiding a hot flow and a cold flow through a heat exchanger. The method includes directing the cold flow through an inlet of a cold layer at a first end of the heat exchanger and out an outlet at a second end of the heat exchanger opposite the first end. The method further includes directing the hot flow through an inlet of a hot layer and into a melt pass passage of the hot layer at the first end. The melt pass passage extends from a first side of the heat exchanger to a second side of the heat exchanger. The first side and the second side both extend from the first end to the second end of the heat exchanger. The method further includes directing the hot flow out of the melt pass passage, to the second end, and into a counterflow passage. The counterflow passage extends from the second end toward the first end between the first side and the second side of the heat exchanger. The method further includes directing the hot flow from the second end toward the first end in the counterflow passage and directing the hot flow out of the counterflow passage and into a last pass passage. The last pass passage is between the melt pass passage and the counterflow passage and extends from the second side to the first side.
The method of the preceding paragraph can optionally include, additionally and/or alternatively, any one or more of the following features, configurations and/or additional components:
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims priority to provisional application No. 63/016,937 filed on Apr. 28, 2020.
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Extended European Search Report dated Sep. 24, 2021, received for corresponding European Application No. 21170981.1, eight pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210333052 A1 | Oct 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63016937 | Apr 2020 | US |