Methods and apparatus to generate oscillating fluid flows in heat exchangers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10429138-B2
Application number	US-201615242937-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2016
Priority date	Aug 22, 2016
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to generate oscillating fluid flows in heat exchangers are disclosed. A disclosed fluid flow apparatus includes a repeating pattern of fins arranged in rows, where fins of each row are separated from one another by channels, where the fins have respective sub-channels extending therethrough to facilitate oscillation of fluid moving through the channels, and where each of the sub-channels defines a sub-channel inlet and a sub-channel outlet of a respective fin of the pattern.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid flow apparatus comprising:
a repeating pattern of fins arranged in rows, wherein fins of each row are separated from one another by channels, the fins having respective sub-channels extending therethrough to facilitate oscillation of fluid moving through the channels, wherein each of the sub-channels defines a sub-channel inlet and a sub-channel outlet of a respective fin of the pattern.

2. The fluid flow apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of the fins has an oblong shape extending along a direction of flow of the fluid.

3. The fluid flow apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of the sub-channel outlets is proximate a middle portion of a respective fin of the pattern.

4. The fluid flow apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of the sub-channel inlets is proximate a trailing edge of a respective fin of the pattern.

5. The fluid flow apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein adjacent rows of the pattern are staggered relative to one another.

6. The fluid flow apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further including a branching pattern of sweep jets upstream of the pattern.

7. The fluid flow apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the fins further include an opposing sub-channel on an opposite side of the sub-channel.

8. A method for operating a fluid flow apparatus including a substrate and a repeating pattern of fins separated from one another by channels, the method comprising:
directing a fluid towards the fins, wherein ones of the fins have respective sub-channels extending therethrough to facilitate oscillation of fluid moving through the channels, wherein each of the sub-channels defines a sub-channel inlet and a sub-channel outlet of a respective fin of the pattern; and
transferring heat between the fins and the fluid as the fluid flows into the sub-channels to define an oscillating fluid flow that increases surface wetting between the fins and the fluid.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 , further comprising discharging the fluid from a fluid outlet opening downstream of the fins.

10. The method as defined in claim 8 , further comprising operating a flow sweeper upstream of the fins.

11. Transferring heat between the fluid and a heat generating device, using the method as defined in claim 8 .

12. Transferring heat between the fluid and an additional fluid, using the method as defined in claim 8 .

13. A fluid flow apparatus comprising:
means for generating a recirculating fluid flow across a tessellated pattern of fins arranged in rows, the means for generating the recirculating flow having fluid flow direction oscillation means.

14. The fluid flow apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the tessellated pattern of fins is disposed in a microchannel heat exchanger.

15. The fluid flow apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the flow direction oscillation means are disposed between the rows.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Gissen Abraham Naroll
• Woszidlo Rene

Classifications

• F28F13/08

  by varying the cross-section of the flow channels · CPC title

• F28F3/02

  Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations (F28F3/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F3/048

  in the form of ribs integral with the element or local variations in thickness of the element, e.g. grooves, microchannels · CPC title

• F28F13/06 Primary

  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

• F28F13/12

  by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation (F28F13/08 takes precedence) · CPC title