Conical heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10107556-B2
Application number	US-201414576286-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2014
Priority date	Dec 19, 2013
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A heat exchanger having a conical-shaped core is disclosed. A first set of flow passages is formed between mating conical-shaped core plates, the mating plates forming plate pairs that are spaced apart from each other forming a second set of flow passages therebetween. A pair of oppositely disposed fluid openings are provided for inletting/discharging a fluid to/from the heat exchanger in a co-axial manner, the fluid openings being interconnected by a pair of fluid manifolds formed in the outer perimeter of the core, the second set of flow passages and a fluid manifold formed centrally through the heat exchanger. A second set of inlet/outlet manifolds formed within the perimeter of the core are interconnected by the first set of flow passages. Flow through the first set flow passages is peripheral around the perimeter of the conically-shaped core plates while flow through the second set of flow passages is along the angle defined by the conical-shaped plates.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger comprising:
a heat exchanger core comprising a plurality of alternatingly stacked conically-shaped core plates defining a first set of flow passages between adjacent plates in a plate pair and a second set of flow passages between adjacent plate pairs forming the heat exchanger core, the first set of flow passages and the second set of flow passages being in alternating order through the heat exchanger core;
a pair of first inlet manifolds in fluid communication with said second set of flow passages, wherein the pair of first inlet manifolds are disposed circumferentially opposite to each other at the perimeter of the heat exchanger core;
a first outlet manifold in fluid communication with said second set of flow passages, the outlet manifold being formed centrally through the heat exchanger core;
a second inlet manifold in fluid communication with said first set flow passages, said second inlet manifold formed within the perimeter of the heat exchanger core;
a second outlet manifold in fluid communication with said first set of flow passages, said second outlet manifold formed within the perimeter of the heat exchanger core;
wherein the first set flow passages extend circumferentially around the perimeter of the conically-shaped core plates forming the plate pairs, and the second set of flow passages extend at an angle, with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger, that is parallel to the angle defined by the conically-shaped core plates between said plate pairs.

2. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pair of first inlet manifolds are formed within the perimeter of the heat exchanger core such that the heat exchanger core is self-enclosed.

3. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger core is arranged within an outer housing, the pair of first inlet manifolds being formed between the heat exchanger core and an inner surface of the outer housing.

4. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an inlet end defining a first fluid inlet in fluid communication with said pair of first inlet manifolds and an outlet end defining a first fluid outlet in fluid communication with said first outlet manifold, wherein said inlet end and said outlet end are longitudinally opposite to each other, said first fluid inlet and said first fluid outlet being axially in-line with each other.

5. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising a second fluid inlet in communication with said second inlet manifold and a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with said second outlet manifold, wherein said second fluid inlet and outlet are arranged proximal said outlet end of said heat exchanger.

6. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising a diffuser plate arranged at said inlet end of the heat exchanger in sealing contact with said heat exchanger core, the diffuser plate directing incoming flow to said pair of inlet manifolds.

7. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said diffuser plate is in the form of an inverted cone.

8. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said diffuser plate has an upper, domed surface formed with a pair of sloping regions for directing incoming flow to said pair of inlet manifolds and a pair of protruding regions for directing incoming flow away from areas associated with said second inlet and second outlet manifolds.

9. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said pair of first inlet manifolds are formed by a pair of circumferentially opposed fluid openings formed in said conically-shaped core plates, the fluid openings in one core plate being aligned with the fluid openings in an adjacent core plate forming said pair of first inlet manifolds.

10. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said circumferentially opposed fluid openings are elongated and occupy 50%-75% of the perimeter of the conically-shaped heat exchanger core.

11. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a heat transfer enhancement device arranged in said second set of flow passages, wherein said heat transfer enhancement device is in the form of a conically-shaped corrugated fin comprised of a series of spaced-apart ridges interconnected by sidewalls extending from a first end having a first diameter to a second end having a second diameter, wherein said second diameter is smaller than said first diameter, and said spaced-apart ridges converge towards each other between said first and second ends.

12. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first set of flow passages are formed by spaced-apart walls of adjacent core plates, said spaced-apart walls being formed with flow enhancement features extending into said first set of flow passages.

13. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said flow enhancement features are in the form of dimples.

14. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first set of flow passages define a two-pass fluid path, said second fluid inlet and said second fluid outlet being arranged generally adjacent to each other and being separated from each other by a fluid barrier formed in said core plates forming said first set of flow passages.

15. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 3 , wherein, said heat exchanger is a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger, wherein said first fluid is a liquid coolant and said second fluid is one of the following alternatives: engine oil or transmission oil.

16. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a valve mechanism arranged within said first outlet manifold, the valve mechanism having a closed position for sealing said first outlet manifold and directing incoming fluid away from said first inlet manifold, and an open position allowing fluid to flow freely through said first inlet and outlet manifolds.

17. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 6 , wherein an interior cavity is defined between said diffuser plate and said heat exchanger core.

18. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said interior cavity is adapted for housing an electric heater for pre-heating an incoming fluid.

19. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said interior cavity is adapted for housing a phase change material, the phase change material being in heat transfer relationship with an incoming fluid.

20. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first fluid is air and said second fluid is a liquid.

21. A heat exchanger comprising:
a heat exchanger core comprising a plurality of alternatingly stacked conically-shaped core plates defining a first set of flow passages between adjacent plates in a plate pair and a second set of flow passages between adjacent plate pairs forming the heat exchanger core, the first set of flow passages and the second set of flow passages being in alternating order through the heat exchanger core;
a pair of first inlet manifolds in fluid communication with said second set of flow passages, wherein the pair of first inlet manifolds are disposed opposite to each other at the perimeter of the heat exchanger core;
a first outlet manifold in fluid communication with said second set of flow passages, the outlet manifold being formed centrally through the heat exchanger core;
a second inlet manifold in fluid communication with said first set flow passages, said second inlet manifold formed within the perimeter of the heat exchanger core;
a second outlet manifold i

Assignees

• Dana Canada Corp

Inventors

• Buckrell Andrew J M
• Shore Colin A
• Bardeleben Michael J R
• Stewart Nikolas S
• Kenney Benjamin A

Classifications

• F28F2009/029

  with increasing or decreasing cross-section, e.g. having conical shape · CPC title

• F28F13/06

  by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media {(F28F13/003 takes precedence; static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026)} · CPC title

• F28F9/0265

  by using guiding means or impingement means inside the header box · CPC title

• F28F3/025

  the means being corrugated, plate-like elements · CPC title

• F28D21/0003

  the heat being recuperated from exhaust gases (F28D21/0014 takes precedence) · CPC title