Patent Application
20230151976
The present disclosure relates generally to an improved heat exchanger assembly, particularly an HVAC heat exchanger assembly.
Heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) systems may generally be used in residential and/or commercial areas for heating and/or cooling to create comfortable temperatures inside those areas. As part of these systems, heat exchanger(s) may be used to transfer heat between air and a working fluid, and typically, these heat exchangers include a coil assembly.
These coil assemblies attempt to maximize heat transfer between the various fluids while at the same time optimizing costs, efficiencies, and other factors. As part of these systems, a baffle may be used to cap a portion of the coil assembly, protecting the coils from condensate and directing air flow. Generally, the baffle is attached via screws by puncturing a portion of the baffle. However, puncturing the coil assembly walls may reduce the overall performance of the heat exchanger, particularly over time.
As a result, there exists a need for an improved heat exchanger assembly, which enables easy alignment of the baffle with the coil assembly, while also capping the coil assembly. The improved heat exchanger assembly should also reduce a number of parts needed to couple the baffle with the coil assembly.
The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger designed to overcome one or more of these existing issues. This assembly utilizes an improved baffle configured to utilize apertures that interact with tube sheets to address these deficiencies in the prior art.
The present disclosure thus includes, without limitation, the following example implementations.
Some example implementations provide an improved heat exchanger comprising a coil assembly comprising a pair of heat exchanger coil slabs, each slab comprising a first tube sheet and a second tube sheet, the first and second tube sheets each including a first end located proximate a first end of the coil assembly, the first end of each tube sheet having a hook; and a baffle comprising: a plurality of apertures located on the baffle, wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures is detachably engaged with the hook located on the first end of the first and second tube sheets such that the plurality of apertures couple the baffle to the first end of the first tube sheet and the first end of the second tube sheet of each coil slab, wherein the baffle caps the coil assembly to minimize airflow through the first end of the coil assembly.
In some example implementations of the heat exchanger of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, the baffle includes a v-shaped panel, wherein the v-shaped panel is shaped at a first angle.
In some example implementations of the heat exchanger of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, the first end of the coil assembly comprises a v-shaped end, wherein the v-shaped end is shaped at a second angle that is different from the first angle when the baffle is uncoupled from the coil assembly.
In some example implementations of the heat exchanger of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, a difference between the first angle and the second angle is at least five degrees.
In some example implementations of the heat exchanger of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, a force created when the v-shaped panel deforms to allow the first angle on the v-shaped panel to more closely align with the second angle on the v-shaped end helps secure the baffle to the coil assembly.
In some example implementations of the heat exchanger of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, the baffle includes two side flanges extending from the v-shaped panel on opposite sides, wherein the apertures are located on at least one of the side flanges.
In some example implementations of the heat exchanger of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, each of the side flanges includes two apertures of the plurality of apertures, such that when the v-shaped panel of the baffle is arranged over the coil assembly, each of the hooks engages a corresponding aperture.
In some example implementations of the heat exchanger of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, the baffle further comprises an outer flange extending outward from each of the side flanges for flexing the v-shaped panel during assembly.
In some example implementations of the heat exchanger of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, the hook comprises an inner engagement edge and an outer curved edge, wherein the inner engagement edge engages a respective one of the plurality of apertures, and the outer curved edge is configured to engage the outer flange for deflecting the respective side flange.
Some example implementations provide an HVAC system comprising a housing; and a blower arranged within the housing, wherein the heat exchanger of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding implementations, arranged within the housing to receive pressurized air from the blower.
In some example implementations of the HVAC system of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, the heat exchanger further including a fastener cap coupled to at least one aperture and configured to seal the aperture.
In some example implementations of the HVAC system of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, the first end of the coil assembly of the heat exchanger comprises a v-shaped end, wherein the v-shaped end is shaped at a second angle that is different from the first angle when the baffle is uncoupled from the coil assembly.
In some example implementations of the HVAC system of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, a force created when the v-shaped panel deforms to allow the first angle on the v-shaped panel to more closely align with the second angle on the v-shaped end helps secure the baffle to the coil assembly.
In some example implementations of the HVAC system of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, the HVAC system further comprises an auxiliary heat exchanger arranged within the housing.
Some example implementations provide a method for assembling a heat exchanger baffle with a coil assembly comprising a pair of heat exchanger coil slabs each including a first tube sheet and a second tube sheet, the method comprising: orienting the baffle comprising a plurality of apertures located on the baffle relative to a first end of the first tube sheet and the first end of the second tube sheet, the first ends of the first and second tube sheets being located proximate a first end of the coil assembly; and detachably engaging each aperture of the plurality of apertures with a hook located on the first end of one of the first tube sheet or the second tube sheet so as to couple the baffle to the first end of the first tube sheet and the first end of the second tube sheet and thereby cap the coil assembly to minimize airflow through the first end of the coil assembly.
In some example implementations of the method of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, the baffle includes a v-shaped panel defining a first angle and the first end of the coil assembly comprises a v-shaped end defining a second angle that is different from the first angle when the baffle is uncoupled from the coil assembly, and wherein orienting the baffle comprises orienting the baffle so the v-shaped panel is positioned within the v-shaped end of the coil assembly.
In some example implementations of method of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, detachably engaging each of the plurality of apertures comprises deforming the v-shaped panel to allow the first angle on the v-shaped panel to align more closely with the second angle on the v-shaped end when each aperture of the plurality of apertures is detachably engaged with the corresponding hook.
In some example implementations of the method of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, the baffle includes two side flanges extending from the v-shaped panel on opposite sides, and the apertures are located on at least one of the side flanges, and wherein orienting the baffle comprises orienting the side flanges so the apertures located on the at least one side flange is arranged proximate to the corresponding hook.
In some example implementations of the method of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, there are four hooks located on the first end of each of the first and second tube sheets and the plurality of apertures comprises four apertures, each of the side flanges including two of the four apertures, and wherein orienting the baffle comprises orienting the side flanges so that each of the four apertures is arranged proximate to the corresponding hook.
In some example implementations of the method of any example implementation, or any combination of any preceding example implementations, the hook comprises an inner engagement edge and an outer curved edge, and wherein detachably engaging each aperture comprises engaging the outer curved edge to an outer flange extending outward from each of the side flanges of the baffle to guide the at least one aperture to detachably engage with the inner engagement edge.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The disclosure includes any combination of two, three, four, or more of the above-noted embodiments as well as combinations of any two, three, four, or more features or elements set forth in this disclosure, regardless of whether such features or elements are expressly combined in a specific embodiment description herein. This disclosure is intended to be read holistically such that any separable features or elements of the disclosed disclosure, in any of its various aspects and embodiments, should be viewed as intended to be combinable unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
In order to assist the understanding of aspects of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the appended drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings are provided by way of example to assist in the understanding of aspects of the disclosure, and should not be construed as limiting the disclosure.
Some implementations of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which some, but not all implementations of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, various implementations of the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the implementations set forth herein; rather, these example implementations are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.
For example, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, references to first, second or the like should not be construed to imply a particular order. A feature described as being above another feature (unless specified otherwise or clear from context) may instead be below, and vice versa; and similarly, features described as being to the left of another feature may instead be to the right, and vice versa. Also, while reference may be made herein to quantitative measures, values, geometric relationships or the like, unless otherwise stated, any one or more if not all of these may be absolute or approximate to account for acceptable variations that may occur, such as those due to engineering tolerances or the like.
As used herein, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, the “or” of a set of operands is the “inclusive or” and thereby true if and only if one or more of the operands is true, as opposed to the “exclusive or” which is false when all of the operands are true. Thus, for example, “[A] or [B]” is true if [A] is true, or if [B] is true, or if both [A] and [B] are true. Further, the articles “a” and “an” mean “one or more,” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
As used herein, the terms “bottom,” “top,” “upper,” “lower,” “upward,” “downward,” “rightward,” “leftward,” “interior,” “exterior,” and/or similar terms are used for ease of explanation and refer generally to the position of certain components or portions of the components of embodiments of the described disclosure. It is understood that such terms are not used in any absolute sense.
Example implementations of the present disclosure relate generally to an improved heat exchanger for use in an HVAC device. Example implementations will be primarily described in conjunction with air handling units used in HVAC applications, but it should be understood that example implementations may be utilized in conjunction with a variety of other applications. For example, other HVAC devices include but are not limited to cased coils, uncased coils, indoor units, outdoor units, packaged units, furnaces, heaters (electric or otherwise) as well as other devices generally including water heaters, kitchen appliances, and the like may utilize the assembly described herein.
In other implementations, the air handling unit 10 may be located horizontally with heat exchanger 20 and/or the heating element 22 disposed on one side of the blower 18. The heating element 22 may be an electric heating element, and in some embodiments, potentially embodiments where the HVAC system is a heat pump, 22 could be an auxiliary heat exchanger arranged within the housing 15. In other examples, the blower is located down stream of either the heat exchanger or the heating element. In still other examples, the heat exchanger and/or the heating element may be disposed within a fluid duct of the air handling unit and may also be selectively removable from the air handling unit. It is appreciated that more or less of these components may be utilized, and that they may be arranged in different configurations provided they provide the functionality described herein. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger may be used in combination with a furnace (not shown). In these examples, the furnace may include some or all of the elements shown in
The slabs 104 may be arranged relative to one another so that the heat exchanger 100 forms an “A” shape (or an inverted “V” shape) when viewed from the front. Each of the slabs 104 may be arranged such that coils extend between the first and second tube sheets 106, 108. Although the slabs 104 of the coil assembly 102 are illustrated in an A-frame configuration in
In some example implementations, and as illustrated in
Based on an arrangement of the first and second tube sheets 106, 108 (such as, e.g., in the converging A-configuration), an interior angle θ is formed between the first ends 112 of adjacent tube sheets, i.e., such as between the first ends 112 of the first tube sheets 106 and between the first ends 112 of the second tube sheets 108. Thus, and as a result of the angle θ formed between the first ends 112 of adjacent tube sheets, the first end 114 of the coil assembly 102 comprises a v-shaped end, though the end may be of another shape.
Each of the first ends 112 of each tube sheet 106, 108 may also have at least one tab or hook 122 located on the first end 112 thereof. In some example embodiments, the first and second tube sheets 106, 108 each comprise one hook 122 located proximate the first end 112 (four hooks total), although two, three, four hooks may be arranged proximate the first end 112 of all of the tube sheets or just one, two, or three of the tube sheets. The hook 122 may be arranged at an outer corner of the first end 112, as shown in
The heat exchanger 100 may further comprise a baffle 116 comprising a panel 118 and two side flanges 130 extending from the panel 118 on opposite sides. The side flanges 130 may approximate a right angle with respect to the adjacent portion of the panel 118. Additionally, each side flange 130 may include an outer flange 128 extending outward from each of the side flanges 130 for flexing the v-shaped panel 118 during assembly. The outer flange 128 may be bent 45 degrees relative to the adjacent side flange 130. The baffle 116 may be shaped to complementarily couple to (e.g., combine or connect) or be received by the coil assembly 102. In the depicted embodiment, where the coil assembly 102 is in the A-configuration, with the angle θ at the apex thereof, the panel 118 of the baffle 116 may be or include a v-shaped panel, where the v-shaped panel is shaped at an angle α (referred to herein as the first angle). In other embodiments, the baffle 116 may comprise a panel 118 of a different shape or with a different curvature, such as, for example, a flat panel, a rounded panel, etc.
In some embodiments, the first angle α may correspond to the angle θ (hereinafter referred to the second angle) when the baffle 116 is coupled to the coil assembly 102. For example, where the second angle θ is 160 degrees, the first angle α may correspondingly be about 160 degrees when the baffle 116 is coupled to the coil assembly 102. In some embodiments, the v-shaped end may be shaped at the second angle θ, which may be different from the first angle α when the baffle 116 is uncoupled from the coil assembly 102. For example, the first angle α may be smaller than the second angle θ when the baffle 116 is uncoupled from the coil assembly 102. In one example, a difference between the first angle α and the second angle θ is at least five degrees. In this example, the first angle α may be an angle ranging from five to ten degrees less than the second angle θ. More particularly, the panel 118 may be formed of a material (e.g., carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, aluminum, a nonferrous material, etc.) that enables the baffle 116 to deflect from its original shape (for example expanding the first angle α) to couple to the coil assembly 102. The baffle 116 may then return to its original shape (and the first angle α) upon uncoupling of the baffle 116 from the coil assembly 102.
In some embodiments, the deformation of the baffle 116 is used to create a force between the baffle 116 and the coil assembly 102. The force created when the v-shaped panel 118 deforms to allow the first angle α to more closely align with the second angle θ on the v-shaped end helps secure the baffle 116 to the coil assembly 102. In some embodiments, this force is also used to secure other components (e.g., a gasket 132,
In some embodiments, the material associated with the baffle 116 and the angles α, θ are selected to encourage retention between the baffle 116 and the coil assembly 102. For example, the attributes of the baffle may be designed based on the power associated with the circulation fan (e.g., fan 18 in
In some example embodiments, the baffle 116 may also comprise a plurality of apertures 120 located on the baffle 116. Each aperture 120 of the plurality of apertures is configured to detachably engage with a hook 122 located on the first end 112 of the first and second tube sheets 106, 108. As illustrated in
One example embodiment of the detachable engagement of the apertures 120 with the tube sheets 106, 108, is shown in more detail in
In some embodiments, the outer flange(s) 128 are designed to engage with the outer curved edge 126 of the hook 122. For example, the outer flange 128 may be angled away from the side flange 130, and the curved edge 126 may include a curve that mirrors the angle of the outer flange, at least in some portions. In these examples, the shape of the outer flange 128 and the outer curved edge 126 may assist in assembly of the baffle 116 with the coil assembly 102. For example, the outer flange 128 may engage with the curved edge 126, directing the connectors on the side flange 130 onto the inner engagement edge 124 of the hook 122. Thus, the baffle 116 may be arranged to cap the coil assembly 102 when the plurality of apertures 120 are engaged (i.e., cooperates) with respective hooks 122.
Because the hook 122 and the aperture 120 are detachably engaged, this allows the baffle 116 to be easily separated and removed from the first ends 112 of the tube sheets 106, 108 so as to allow for access to the heat exchanger 100 during maintenance, and then recoupled once the maintenance is done. The baffle 116 may thus be configured to be secured to the coil assembly 102 when the plurality of apertures 120 is engaged with a corresponding hook 122. In particular, for example, the first angle α is smaller than the second angle θ when the baffle 116 is in its original shape. User manipulation of the baffle 116 to align the baffle 116 with the coil assembly 102 results in displacement of the edges E1 of the baffle so that the apertures 120 align with and engage the hooks 122. Conversely, to uncouple the baffle 116 from the coil assembly 102, a user may grasp one or both of the outer flanges 128 and pull outwardly to move the outer curved edge 126 of each aperture 120 into/out of engagement with its respective hook 122. In this manner, the baffle 116 is arranged to cap the coil assembly 102 when the plurality of apertures 120 are engaged.
A size and/or shape of the apertures 120 and the respective hooks 122 may be designed so as to simultaneously enable ease of assembly and secure retention of the baffle 116 to the coil assembly 102. For example, an inner engagement edge 124 of the hook 122 may be between about 0.12 inches and about 0.16 inches in length, while the outer curved edge 126 of the hook 122 may be between about 0.365 inches and about 0.385 inches in length. Additionally, a width of the apertures 120 (front-to-back) may be between about 0.26 inches and about 0.32 inches in length. As such, with hooks 122 and apertures 120 sized and shaped as contemplated herein, secure engagement of the hooks 122 with the apertures 120 may be enabled, despite manufacturing process variations.
In some other example embodiments (not shown), an ‘integrated’ connector may be utilized rather than the aperture 120 and hook 122 or in addition to the aperture 120 and hook 122. As used herein, an integrated connector is one that is so formed with the baffle 116 such that they are of one unit. Thus, the integrated connectors may be formed so that they do not require any additional hardware (e.g., screw fasteners) in order to detachably engage the tube sheets 106, 108. However, and as otherwise contemplated, the integrated connectors may be separate from, but fixedly coupled to, the baffle 116 such that they are considered integrated therewith. Regardless, the integrated connector(s) may configured to cap the coil assembly 102 when the plurality of apertures are engaged (i.e., interconnected or joined) with the first ends 112 of the tube sheets 106, 108.
In some example embodiments, and as shown for example in
In some example embodiments, and as shown in
Turning now to
The method 200 further comprises, in some example embodiments, that the baffle includes a v-shaped panel defining a first angle and the first end of the coil assembly comprises a v-shaped end defining a second angle that is different from the first angle when the baffle is uncoupled from the coil assembly, and wherein orienting the baffle comprises orienting the baffle so the v-shaped panel is positioned within the v-shaped end of the coil assembly. In some example embodiments, detachably engaging each of the plurality of apertures comprises deforming the v-shaped panel to allow the first angle on the v-shaped panel to align more closely with the second angle on the v-shaped end when each aperture of the plurality of apertures is detachably engaged with the corresponding hook. In some still further example embodiments, the baffle includes two side flanges extending from the v-shaped panel on opposite sides, and the apertures are located on at least one of the side flanges, and wherein orienting the baffle comprises orienting the side flanges so the apertures located on the at least one side flange is arranged proximate to the corresponding hook. In still further example embodiments, there are four hooks located on the first end of each of the first and second tube sheets and the plurality of apertures comprises four apertures, each of the side flanges including two of the four apertures, and wherein orienting the baffle comprises orienting the side flanges so that each of the four apertures is arranged proximate to the corresponding hook. In even further example embodiments, the hook comprises an inner engagement edge and an outer curved edge, and wherein detachably engaging each aperture comprises engaging the outer curved edge to an outer flange extending outward from each of the side flanges of the baffle to guide the at least one aperture to detachably engage with the inner engagement edge.
Accordingly, the heat exchanger assemblies discussed herein can be used in multiple different devices and for various purposes. In some embodiments, as discussed herein, the heat exchanger is a refrigerant coil heat exchanger. Otherwise, the heat exchanger discussed herein may be used with a furnace, and in these embodiments, the heat exchanger may allow for an improved process for manufacturing and conducting maintenance on HVAC units, by reducing the number of parts needed to secure the baffle to the coil assembly and thus streamlining the process for installing the air handling unit.
Many modifications and other implementations of the disclosure set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated figures. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific implementations disclosed and that modifications and other implementations are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and the associated figures describe example implementations in the context of certain example combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
