Method and apparatus for flow maldistribution control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10359242-B2
Application number	US-201514959717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2015
Priority date	Dec 4, 2015
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

A flow control system in an inlet duct to a heat exchanger includes a door having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end rotates about an axis and the second end moves between an open position and a closed position to respectively allow and prevent flow into the heat exchanger. The second end has a rounded configuration. A plurality of mixing elements are downstream of the door. At least one mixing element has a base portion and a distal portion, and the base portion has a base width and the distal portion has a distal width. The base width is wider that the distal width.

First claim

We claim:

1. A flow control system in an inlet duct to a heat exchanger, wherein the inlet duct has an interior surface, the system comprising:
a door having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
wherein the first end rotates about an axis;
wherein the second end moves between an open position and a closed position to respectively allow and prevent flow into the heat exchanger;
wherein the second end has a rounded configuration;
a mixer having a curved inlet facing surface that extends, in a height-wise direction, away from the interior surface of the inlet duct;
wherein the inlet facing surface is disposed so that the second end of the door moves opposite to and along an entire height of the inlet facing surface;
wherein the mixer includes a plurality of mixing elements downstream of the door;
wherein each of the mixing elements is disposed in a single linear row;
wherein at least one mixing element has a base portion and a distal portion;
wherein the base portion has a base width and the distal portion has a distal width; and
wherein the base width is wider that the distal width.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second end includes a smooth rounded surface.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mixing elements include a plurality of teeth.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mixing elements include a plurality of non-parallel walls.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of mixing openings among the plurality of mixing elements.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mixing elements provide a non-constant flow area as the second end moves from the closed position and towards the open position.

7. A flow control system in an inlet duct to a heat exchanger, wherein the inlet duct has an interior surface, the system comprising:
a door having a downstream end where a flow in the inlet duct enters the heat exchanger;
wherein the downstream end moves between an open position and a closed position to respectively allow and prevent flow into the heat exchanger;
wherein the downstream end has a smooth, rounded surface;
wherein the downstream end decreases separation of the flow from the door;
wherein the downstream end increases diffusion of the flow past the door; and
a mixer downstream of the door; and
wherein the mixer includes a non-linearly increasing flow area having mixing openings that are disposed outside of, and not in, the interior surface of the inlet duct;
wherein the mixer includes a curved inlet facing surface that extends away from the interior surface of the inlet duct;
wherein the inlet facing surface is disposed so that the downstream end of the door moves opposite to and along an entire height of the inlet facing surface;
wherein the mixer includes a plurality of mixing elements downstream of the door;
wherein each of the mixing elements is disposed in a single linear row.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the downstream end includes a flat surface.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
the door includes an upstream surface and a downstream surface; and
the rounded surface extends towards and contacts the downstream surface.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
the door includes an upstream surface and a downstream surface; and
the rounded surface extends towards but does not contact the downstream surface.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the downstream end is in the form of a J-hook.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the downstream end is in the form of a partial J-hook.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the mixer includes alternating mixing elements and mixing openings.

14. The system of claim 7 , wherein the flow area is continuously increasing as the downstream end moves from the closed position and towards the open position.

15. A flow control system in an inlet duct to a heat exchanger, comprising:
a door having a downstream end where a flow in the inlet duct enters the heat exchanger;
wherein the downstream end moves between an open position and a closed position to respectively allow and prevent flow into the heat exchanger;
a mixer downstream of the door;
wherein the mixer includes a curved inlet facing surface that extends away from an interior surface of the inlet duct;
wherein the inlet facing surface is disposed so that the downstream end of the door moves opposite to and along an entire height of the inlet facing surface;
wherein the mixer has a plurality of alternating mixing elements and mixing openings;
wherein each of the mixing elements is disposed in a single linear row;
wherein the flow passes through the mixing openings;
wherein the mixing elements are disposed outside of, and not in, the interior surface of the inlet duct;
wherein at least one mixing opening has a base portion and a distal portion;
wherein the at least one mixing opening:
provides a non-linearly increase in flow area from the base portion to the distal portion;
decreases temporal flow gradients when the door is near the closed position; and
decreases spatial flow gradients at an inlet of the heat exchanger.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the mixer includes a plurality of teeth.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the mixer includes a plurality of sub-flow areas.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the flow area is a quadratically increasing flow area.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Trizila Patrick
• Sheoran Yogendra Yogi
• Lin Frank

Classifications

• F24F11/84

  using valves · CPC title

• F16K47/08

  for decreasing pressure {or noise level} and having a throttling member separate from the closure member {, e.g. screens, slots, labyrinths} · CPC title

• F28F2220/00

  Closure means, e.g. end caps on header boxes or plugs on conduits · CPC title

• F28F27/02 Primary

  for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels ({static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026}; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12) · CPC title

• F28F27/00 Primary

  Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus (control arrangements in general G05) · CPC title