Heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10837709-B2
Application number	US-201816182374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2018
Priority date	Nov 6, 2018
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

In some examples, a heat exchanger includes an outer shell defining an open cavity configured to receive heat exchanger core components. The heat exchanger core components may include a layer of hot passageway components configured to be separated from a layer of cold passageway components by a tube sheet. In some examples, the outer shell defines one or more alignment features on an inner wall of the open cavity, the one or more alignment features being configured to align the heat exchanger core components within the open cavity when inserted in the open cavity. The heat exchanger further comprises a cover configured to be attached to the outer shell via one or more braze joints to enclose the core components within the open cavity of the outer shell.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of assembling a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
inserting heat exchanger core components into an open cavity of a preformed outer shell, wherein the outer shell defines one or more alignment features on an inner wall of the open cavity configured to align the heat exchanger core components within the open cavity when inserted in the open cavity, the heat exchanger core components comprising a layer of hot passageway components configured to be separated from a layer of cold passageway components by a tube sheet, wherein the heat exchanger core components comprise a plurality enclosure bars, a plurality of fins, and a plurality of tube sheets, the plurality of tube sheets including the tube sheet; and
attaching a cover to the outer shell via one or more braze joints to enclose the heat exchanger core components within the open cavity of the outer shell,
wherein the one or more alignment features comprise one or more grooves in the inner wall of the preformed outer shell, wherein inserting the heat exchanger core components into the open cavity of the preformed outer shell comprises inserting an end portion of an enclosure bar of the plurality of enclosure bars into a respective groove of the one or more grooves in the inner wall of the preformed outer shell.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching the end portion of the enclosure bar to the outer shell within the respective groove via one or more braze joints.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger core components, when enclosed within the open cavity of the preformed outer shell, alternate between at least one tube sheet of the plurality of tube sheets and a layer including a respective enclosure bar of the plurality of enclosure bars and a respective fin of the plurality of fins.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising attaching, when enclosed within the open cavity of the preformed outer shell, the heat exchanger core components to each other and the heat exchanger core components to the inner wall of the preformed outer shell via one or more braze joints.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein attaching the cover to the preformed outer shell via the one or more braze joints and attaching the heat exchanger core components to each other and to the inner wall of the preformed outer shell via the one or more braze joints comprises heating the cover and the preformed outer shell with the heat exchanger core components enclosed in the open cavity to form a first braze joint between the cover and the preformed outer shell, a second braze joint between at least two of the heat exchanger core components, and a third braze joint between at least one of the heat exchanger core components and the inner wall of the open cavity upon cooling.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preformed outer shell defining the open cavity is formed of a unitary structure.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the preformed outer shell via an additive manufacturing process.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alignment features are configured to aid in retention of the core components within the open cavity during operation of the heat exchanger.

9. A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
an outer shell defining a cavity;
heat exchanger core components within the cavity of the outer shell, wherein the heat exchanger core components include a layer of hot passageway components configured to be separated from a layer of cold passageway components by a tube sheet, and wherein the heat exchanger core components comprise a plurality enclosure bars, a plurality of fins, and a plurality of tube sheets, the plurality of tube sheets comprising the tube sheet; and
a cover configured to be attached, via one or more braze joints, to the outer shell to enclose the heat exchanger core components within the cavity, wherein the outer shell defines one or more alignment features on an inner wall of the open cavity configured to align the heat exchanger core components within the open cavity when inserted in the open cavity, wherein the one or more alignment features comprise one or more grooves in the inner wall of the outer shell, and wherein an end portion of an enclosure bar of the plurality of enclosure bars is located within a respective groove of the one or more grooves in the inner wall of the outer shell.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger core components are attached to the outer shell via one or more braze joints at the alignment features defined by the outer shell.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 9 , further comprising a first braze joint between the cover and the outer shell, a second braze joint between at least two of the heat exchanger core components, and a third braze joint between at least one of the heat exchanger core components and the inner wall of the open cavity.

12. The heat exchanger of claim 9 , wherein the outer shell defining the open cavity is formed of a unitary structure.

13. The heat exchanger of claim 9 , wherein the one or more alignment features are configured to aid in retention of the core components within the open cavity during operation of the heat exchanger.

14. The heat exchanger of claim 9 , wherein the core components are attached to each other and to the outer shell via one or more braze joints.

15. The heat exchanger of claim 9 , wherein the layer of hot passageway components include a first enclosure bar of the plurality of enclosure bars and a first fin of the plurality of fins, and wherein the layer of cold passageway components include a second enclosure bar of the plurality of enclosure bars and a second fin of the plurality of fins.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the layer of hot passageway components include a first enclosure bar of the plurality of enclosure bars and a first fin of the plurality of fins, and wherein the layer of cold passageway components include a second enclosure bar of the plurality of enclosure bars and a second fin of the plurality of fins.

17. A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
an outer shell defining a cavity;
heat exchanger core components within the cavity of the outer shell, wherein the heat exchanger core components include a layer of hot passageway components configured to be separated from a layer of cold passageway components by a tube sheet, wherein the heat exchanger core components comprise a plurality enclosure bars, a plurality of fins, and a plurality of tube sheets, the plurality of tube sheets including the tube sheet; and
a cover configured to be attached, via one or more braze joints, to the outer shell to enclose the heat exchanger core components within the cavity, wherein the outer shell defines one or more alignment features on an inner wall of the open cavity configured to align the heat exchanger core components within the open cavity when inserted in the open cavity,
wherein the heat exchanger core components within the cavity of the outer shell alternate between at least one tube sheet of the plurality of tube sheets and a layer including a respective enclosure bar of the plurality of enclosure bars and a respective fin of the plurality of fins.

18. The heat exchanger of claim 17 , wherein the heat exchanger core components are attached to the outer shell via one or more braze joints at the alignment features defined by the outer shell.

19. The heat exchanger of claim 17 , wherein the one or more alignment features comprise one or more grooves in the inner wall of the outer shell, and wherein an end portion o

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Friestad Jr Ronald J
• Molina Raunlfo C

Classifications

• F28F9/00

  Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings · CPC title

• F28D9/0062 Primary

  the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements (F28D9/0012, F28D9/0025, F28D9/0081, F28D9/04 take precedence) · CPC title

• F28D9/0006 Primary

  the plate-like or laminated conduits being enclosed within a pressure vessel · CPC title

• F28F2280/04

  Means for preventing wrong assembling of parts · CPC title

• F28D2021/0021

  for aircrafts or cosmonautics · CPC title