Heat exchanger for embedded engine applications: curvilinear plate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11002290-B2
Application number	US-201614990864-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2016
Priority date	Jan 8, 2016
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A curvilinear plate for a heat exchanger is provided. The curvilinear plate can include an inner plate defining a plurality of first grooves and an outer plate defining a plurality of second grooves. The outer plate is attached to the inner plate with the plurality of first grooves and the plurality of second grooves substantially aligned to define a plurality of channels therebetween. Each channel extends from a first opening on a first portion of a first end of the curvilinear plate to a second opening on a second portion of the first end. A method is also generally provided for forming a curvilinear plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A curvilinear plate, comprising: an inner plate having opposed inner and outer curved surfaces, the inner plate defining a plurality of first grooves in the outer curved surface; and an outer plate having opposed inner and outer curved surfaces, the outer plate defining a plurality of second grooves in the inner curved surface, wherein the outer plate is attached to the inner plate to form the curvilinear plate with the plurality of first grooves in the outer curved surface of the inner plate and the plurality of second grooves in the inner curved surface of the outer plate substantially aligned to define a plurality of channels there between, the outer curved surface of the outer plate facing away from the inner plate, wherein each channel extends from a first opening on a first portion of a first end of the curvilinear plate to a second opening on a second portion of the first end, wherein the outer plate defines a chord length measured as a shortest distance from a first point on the first end to a second point on a second end, and wherein the outer plate defines an arc length measured across the outer curved surface of the outer plate from the first point on the first end to the second point the second end, and further wherein the arc length is greater than the chord length.

2. The curvilinear plate of claim 1 , wherein the channels define a nonlinear path having at least one curve extending from the first opening through the curvilinear plate to the second opening.

3. The curvilinear plate of claim 1 , wherein the arc length is about 105% to about 150% of the chord length.

4. The curvilinear plate of claim 1 , wherein a slot is defined in the curvilinear plate in the first end between the first portion and the second portion.

5. The curvilinear plate of claim 4 , wherein the slot has a substantially U-shape, and wherein each channel extends in a substantially U-shape from the first opening on the first portion of the first end of the curvilinear plate, around the slot defined in the curvilinear plate, and to the second opening on the second portion of the first end.

6. The curvilinear plate of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner plate and the outer plate comprises a tab extending from a second end opposite of the first end.

7. The curvilinear plate of claim 6 , wherein the tab defines an aperture.

8. The curvilinear plate of claim 1 , further comprising:
an integral wall positioned between the inner plate and the outer plate such that each channel defines a first passageway and a second passageway therein.

9. The curvilinear plate of claim 8 , wherein the integral wall defines a plurality of holes such that fluid flow is allowed between the first passageway and the second passageway within a channel.

10. The curvilinear plate of claim 8 , wherein the integral wall defines a plurality of dimples such that fluid flow is agitated within the first passageway and the second passageway within a channel.

11. The curvilinear plate of claim 8 , wherein the integral wall is constructed from copper, silver, titanium, a titanium alloy, aluminum, or an aluminum alloy.

12. The curvilinear plate of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner plate and the outer plate has a thickness of about 400 μm to about 800 μm.

13. The curvilinear plate of claim 1 , wherein the inner plate and the outer plate are constructed from titanium, aluminum, or austenite alloys.

14. The curvilinear plate of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of dimples are defined by the inner plate along the plurality of first grooves.

15. The curvilinear plate of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of dimples are defined by the outer plate along the plurality of second grooves.

16. The curvilinear plate of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first grooves has a maximum cross-sectional arc length that is about 1.5 to about 20 times its maximum chord length, wherein each of the plurality of second grooves has a maximum cross-sectional arc length that is about 1.5 to about 20 times its maximum chord length.

17. The curvilinear plate of claim 16 , wherein each of the first grooves and each of the second grooves have a semi-ellipsoid shape.

18. A method for forming the curvilinear plate of claim 1 , the method comprising: stamping a first sheet of metal to form a first plate having opposed inner and outer curved surfaces, the first plate defining a plurality of first grooves in the outer curved surface; stamping a second sheet of metal to form a second plate having opposed inner and outer curved surfaces, the second plate defining a plurality of second grooves in the inner curved surface; and thereafter, laminating the first plate to the second plate to form the curvilinear plate such that the plurality of first grooves in the outer curved surface of the inner plate and the plurality of second grooves in the inner curved surface of the outer plate are substantially aligned to define a plurality of channels therebetween, and wherein each channel extends from a first opening on a first portion of a first end of the curvilinear plate, through a curve defined in each channel, and to a second opening on a second portion of the first end.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
prior to laminating, positioning an integral wall between the first plate and the second plate such that each channel defines a first passageway and a second passageway therein.

20. A curvilinear plate, comprising: an inner plate having opposed inner and outer curved surfaces, the inner plate defining a plurality of first grooves in the outer curved surface; and an outer plate having opposed inner and outer curved surfaces, the outer plate defining a plurality of second grooves in the inner curved surface, with the outer curved surface of the outer plate opposite the plurality of second grooves, wherein the outer plate is attached to the inner plate to form the curvilinear plate with the plurality of first grooves in the outer curved surface of the inner plate and the plurality of second grooves in the inner curved surface of the outer plate substantially aligned to define a plurality of channels therebetween, wherein at least one channel extends from a first opening on a first portion of a first end of the curvilinear plate to a second opening on a second portion of the first end, and wherein the outer plate defines an arc length measured across the outer curved surface of the outer plate from a first point on the first end to a second point on the second end, wherein the outer plate defines a chord length measured as a shortest distance from the first point on the first end to the second point on a second end, wherein the arc length is greater than the chord length, and further wherein the arc is nonplanar.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Cerny Matthew Robert
• Menard Jeffrey Raymond
• Kupiszewski Thomas
• Pegram Johnathen

Classifications

• F28F21/084

  from aluminium or aluminium alloys · CPC title

• B21D39/02

  of sheet metal by folding, e.g. connecting edges of a sheet to form a cylinder · CPC title

• F05B2260/20

  Heat transfer, e.g. cooling · CPC title

• F28D9/04

  the conduits being formed by spirally-wound plates or laminae · CPC title

• F28F3/12

  Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels {(F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence)} · CPC title