Heat exchanger with integral anti-icing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11035624-B2
Application number	US-201916567683-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2019
Priority date	Oct 24, 2016
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a plurality of first and second fluid passages. The first fluid passages are defined by a pair of opposing first fluid passage walls and a plurality of first fluid diverters disposed between the first fluid passages walls. The second fluid passages are defined by a pair of opposing second fluid passage walls and a plurality of second fluid diverters disposed between the second fluid passage walls. The second fluid diverters include a body portion and a leading edge portion. The first fluid passage walls form a first fluid leading edge that extends upstream of the leading edge portion of the second fluid diverters. The second fluid passages extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the first fluid passages.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger comprising:
a plurality of first fluid passages, the plurality of first fluid passages defined by:
a pair of opposing first fluid passage walls; and
a plurality of first fluid diverters disposed between the first fluid passage walls; and

a plurality of second fluid passages, the plurality of second fluid passages defined by:
a pair of opposing second fluid passage walls; and a plurality of second fluid diverters disposed between the second fluid passage walls;
wherein each of the plurality of second fluid diverters comprises a body portion and a leading edge portion;

wherein the first fluid passage walls of at least one of the plurality of first fluid passages form a first fluid passage leading edge that extends upstream of the leading edge portions of the second fluid diverters, the first fluid passage leading edge having a leading edge ice-melt feature;
wherein the plurality of first fluid passages extend in a first direction; and
wherein the plurality of second fluid passages extend in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the second fluid diverters are selected from the group consisting of fins, pins, and combinations thereof.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the body portion of the second fluid diverter has a first thickness, and the leading edge portion of the second fluid diverter has a second thickness.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 3 , wherein the second thickness ranges from about 110% to about 500% of the first thickness.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid passage walls have a first wall thickness, and wherein the first fluid passage leading edge ice-melt feature is a second wall thickness greater than the first wall thickness.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid passage leading edge has an inner surface, and wherein the leading edge ice-melt feature comprises fins on the inner surface.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first and second fluid passage walls and diverters are formed from aluminum.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first and second fluid passage walls and diverters are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of steel, nickel alloys, titanium, non-metal materials, and combinations thereof.

9. A method of making a heat exchanger comprising:
forming a plurality of opposing first fluid passage walls, and a plurality of first fluid diverters disposed between the first fluid passage walls;
wherein the plurality of first fluid passage walls and the plurality of first fluid diverters define a plurality of first fluid passages; and

forming a plurality of opposing second fluid passage walls, and a plurality of second fluid diverters disposed between the second fluid passage walls;
wherein the plurality of second fluid passage walls and the plurality of second fluid diverters define a plurality of second fluid passages; and
wherein each of the plurality of second fluid diverters comprises a body portion and a leading edge portion;

wherein the first fluid passage walls of at least one of the plurality of first fluid passages form a first fluid passage leading edge that extends upstream of the leading edge portions of the second fluid diverters, the first fluid passage leading edge having a leading edge ice-melt feature;
wherein the plurality of first fluid passages extend in a first direction; and
wherein the plurality of second fluid passages extend in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: forming the leading edge portion of the second fluid diverter such that is has a thickness about 110% to about 500% relative to a thickness of the body portion of the second fluid diverter.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: forming the first fluid passage leading edge such that the leading edge ice-melt feature is a wall thickness greater than a thickness of the first fluid passage walls downstream of the first fluid passage leading edge.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: forming the leading edge ice-melt feature by forming fins on an inner surface of the first fluid passage leading edge.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: forming the heat exchanger by additive manufacturing.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: forming the heat exchanger from aluminum.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: forming the heat exchanger from a material selected from the group consisting of steel, nickel alloys, titanium, non-metal materials, and combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Zager Michael
• Doe Michael

Classifications

• F28F1/022 Primary

  with multiple channels · CPC title

• F28F2225/04

  for conduits · CPC title

• F28F21/086

  from titanium or titanium alloys · CPC title

• F28F21/082

  from steel or ferrous alloys · CPC title

• F28F1/126

  consisting of zig-zag shaped fins (F28F1/105 takes precedence) · CPC title