Counter-flow heat exchanger with helical passages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10495384-B2
Application number	US-201514813272-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2015
Priority date	Jul 30, 2015
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A counter-flow heat exchanger is provided that includes: a first fluid path having a first supply tube connected to a first transition area separating the first fluid path into a first array of first passageways, with the first array of first passageways merging at a first converging area into a first discharge tube; and a second fluid path having a second supply tube connected to a second transition area separating the second fluid path into a second array of second passageways, with the second array of second passageways merge at a second converging area into a second discharge tube. The first passageways and the second passageways have a substantially helical path around the centerline of the counter-flow heat exchanger. Additionally, the first array and the second array are arranged together such that each first passageway is adjacent to at least one second passageway.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A counter-flow heat exchanger defining a centerline, the counter-flow heat exchanger comprising:
a first fluid path, wherein the first fluid path comprises a first supply tube connected to a first transition area separating the first fluid path into a first array of first passageways, wherein the first transition area comprises a series of forks separating the first fluid path into a first array of first passageways, and wherein the first array of first passageways merge at a first converging area into a first discharge tube; and
a second fluid path, wherein the second fluid path comprises a second supply tube connected to a second transition area separating the second fluid path into a second array of second passageways, and wherein the second array of second passageways merge at a second converging area into a second discharge tube; and
an outer wall encasing the first fluid path and the second fluid path,
wherein the first array of first passageways and the second array of second passageways have a substantially helical path around the centerline of the counter-flow heat exchanger, and wherein the first array of first passageways and the second array of second passageways are arranged together such that each first passageway of the first array of first passageways is adjacent to, and alternates with, at least one second passageway of the second array of second passageways, relative to a radial direction of the counter-flow heat exchanger.

2. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 1 , wherein the first transition area is positioned at one end of the substantially helical path to supply a first fluid stream into the first array of first passageways, and wherein the second transition area is configured at an opposite end of the substantially helical path to supply a second fluid stream into the second array of second passageways such that the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream circulate the substantially helical path in opposite directions.

3. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 2 , wherein the second discharge tube passes through a core defined by the substantially helical path around the centerline of the counter-flow heat exchanger.

4. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 1 , wherein each passageway of the first array of first passageways is separated from an adjacent passageway of the second array of second passageways by a dividing wall.

5. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 4 , wherein each dividing wall has a first surface that defines a side surface of a passageway of the first array of first passageways and a second surface that defines a side surface of a passageway of the second array of second passageways.

6. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 5 , wherein the first surface defines a series of waves, and wherein the second surface defines a series of waves.

7. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 5 , wherein the first surface has a constantly varying distance in a radial direction from the centerline of the counter-flow heat exchanger.

8. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 1 , wherein the first array of first passageways have an elongated shape.

9. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 1 , wherein the first array of first passageways define a cross-section having a length in an axial direction and a width in a perpendicular radial direction, with the length being at least twice the width.

10. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 1 , wherein the second array of second passageways have an elongated shape.

11. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 6 , wherein the second array of second passageways define a cross-section having a length in an axial direction and a width in a perpendicular radial direction, with the length being at least twice the width.

12. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 1 , wherein the second transition area comprises a series of forks separating the second fluid path into a second array of second passageways.

13. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 1 , wherein the counter-flow heat exchanger comprises a metal material, and wherein the first fluid path and the second fluid path are not in fluid communication.

14. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 13 , wherein the metal material comprises a nickel alloy, a chrome alloy, a titanium alloy, an aluminum alloy, an aluminide, or mixtures thereof.

15. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 1 ,
wherein the second array of second passageways define a cross-section having a length in an axial direction and a width in a perpendicular radial direction, with the length being 3 to 25 times the width.

16. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 15 , further comprising:
a hot inlet extending through the outer wall and attached to the first supply tube;
a first exit extending through the outer wall and attached to the first discharge tube;
a cold inlet extending through the outer wall and attached to the second supply tube; and
a second exit extending through the outer wall and attached to the second discharge tube.

17. The counter-flow heat exchanger as in claim 11 , wherein a first fluid flowing through the first fluid path has an initial temperature and a discharge temperature, and wherein the discharge temperature is about 90% of the initial temperature or lower, wherein the first array of first passageways define a cross-section having a length in an axial direction and a width in a perpendicular radial direction, with the length being 3 to 10 times the width.

18. A counter-flow heat exchanger defining a centerline, the counter-flow heat exchanger comprising:
a first fluid path, wherein the first fluid path comprises a first supply tube connected to a first transition area separating the first fluid path into a first array of first passageways, wherein the first transition area comprises a series of forks separating the first fluid path into a first array of first passageways, and wherein the first array of first passageways merge at a first converging area into a first discharge tube; and
a second fluid path, wherein the second fluid path comprises a second supply tube connected to a second transition area separating the second fluid path into a second array of second passageways, and wherein the second array of second passageways merge at a second converging area into a second discharge tube,
wherein the first array of first passageways and the second array of second passageways have a substantially helical path around the centerline of the counter-flow heat exchanger, and wherein the first array of first passageways and the second array of second passageways are arranged together such that each first passageway of the first array of first passageways is adjacent to at least one second passageway of the second array of second passageways, and
wherein the first array of first passageways and the second array of second passageways are arranged together such that they alternate moving outwardly in the radial direction from the centerline.

19. A counter-flow heat exchanger defining a centerline, the counter-flow heat exchanger comprising:
a first fluid path, wherein the first fluid path comprises a first supply tube connected to a first transition area separating the first fluid path into a first array of first passageways, wherein the first transition area comprises a series of forks separating the first fluid path into a first array of first passageways, and wherein the first array of first passageways merge at a first convergin

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Rock Jr Peter Joseph
• Goldenberg Matthew
• Henning Lauren Ashley
• Prescott Jeffrey Miles Mcmillen
• Shannon Kevin Robert

Classifications

• F28F1/06

  crimped or corrugated in cross-section · CPC title

• F28D7/08 Primary

  the conduits being otherwise bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag (F28D7/10 takes precedence){(F28D7/0016 and F28D7/0033 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F28D7/0033

  the conduits for one medium or the conduits for both media being bent · CPC title

• F28D7/022 Primary

  the conduits of two or more media in heat-exchange relationship being helically coiled, the coils having a cylindrical configuration · CPC title

• F28F7/02

  Blocks traversed by passages for heat-exchange media {(F28D7/0008 takes precedence)} · CPC title