Duct mounted heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11650018-B2
Application number	US-202016784630-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2020
Priority date	Feb 7, 2020
Publication date	May 16, 2023
Grant date	May 16, 2023

Abstract

A heat exchanger duct includes a wall having ends spaced along a central axis. An inlet manifold is positioned within a downstream portion of the duct at a radially outward location. An outlet manifold is positioned within an upstream portion of the duct at a radially outward location. At least one of the inlet and outlet manifolds extend at least 10 degrees around the circumference of the duct. A central manifold is disposed between the inlet and outlet manifolds, and radially inwardly of the inlet and outlet manifolds. Heat exchanger entrance elements extend radially inward from the inlet manifold to the central manifold, and heat exchanger exit elements extend radially outward from the central manifold to the outlet manifold. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger comprising:
a duct comprising:
a wall having a first and a second end spaced along a central axis, the first end to be in fluid communication with an upstream first fluid source, and the second end being connected with a downstream destination for the first fluid source;
an inlet manifold positioned within a downstream portion of the duct at a radially outward location, the inlet manifold to be connected to a second fluid source;
an outlet manifold positioned within an upstream portion of the duct at a radially outward location;
the duct being enclosed, and having a circumference, wherein at least one of the inlet and outlet manifolds extend at least 10 degrees around the circumference of the duct;
a central manifold disposed between the inlet and outlet manifolds, and radially inwardly of the inlet and outlet manifolds;
wherein heat exchanger entrance elements extend radially inward from the inlet manifold to the central manifold, and heat exchanger exit elements extend radially outward from the central manifold to the outlet manifold, the heat exchanger entrance and exit elements extending over the circumference of the duct;
wherein the heat exchanger entrance elements and the heat exchanger exit elements extend on an arc from the central manifold to the inlet and outlet manifolds, respectively; and
wherein one of the heat exchanger entrance and exit elements extend from the central manifold to one of the inlet and outlet manifolds to form a clockwise arc-shape and the other of the heat exchanger entrance and exit elements extend from the central manifold to one of the inlet and outlet manifolds to form a counterclockwise arc-shape.

2. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 , wherein the central manifold includes a plurality of individual passages.

3. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger entrance elements and the heat exchanger exit elements are axially aligned relative to the other of the heat exchanger entrance elements and the heat exchanger exit elements.

4. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 , wherein one of the heat exchanger entrance elements and the heat exchanger exit elements is offset relative to the other of the heat exchanger entrance elements and the heat exchanger exit elements.

5. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger entrance and exit elements are angled with respect to the central axis of the duct.

6. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger entrance and exit elements are angled with respect to the central axis of the duct, and one the heat exchanger entrance elements and the heat exchanger exit elements is offset relative to the other of the heat exchanger entrance elements and the heat exchanger exit elements.

7. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heat exchanger elements include heat exchanger enhancement elements.

8. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 , wherein a first transition manifold is positioned in the duct intermediate the inlet and outlet manifolds, and a second transition manifold is positioned in the duct upstream of the first transition manifold, and downstream of the outlet manifold.

9. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 8 , wherein a first flow divider is positioned between the inlet manifold and the first transition manifold, and a second flow divider is positioned between the outlet manifold and the second transition manifold.

10. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first and second transition manifolds extend at least 10 degrees around the circumference of the duct.

11. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 , wherein the duct is circular in cross-section.

12. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 11 , wherein the inlet and outlet manifolds extend about 360 degrees of the circumference of the duct.

13. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger entrance elements are each passages formed into a solid element and said heat exchanger exit elements are each passages formed into a solid element.

14. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1 , wherein the arc-shape of the one of the heat exchanger entrance and exit elements and the other of the heat exchanger entrance and exit element are each evaluated from a common location.

15. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a fan;
a bypass duct;
a compressor;
a heat exchanger comprising:
a duct comprising:
a wall having a first and a second end spaced along a central axis, the first end to be in fluid communication with the bypass duct, and the second end being connected with a downstream destination for the first fluid source;
an inlet manifold positioned within a downstream portion of the duct at a radially outward location, the inlet manifold to be connected to a second fluid source;
an outlet manifold positioned within an upstream portion of the duct at a radially outward location;
the duct being enclosed, and having a circumference, wherein both the inlet and outlet manifolds extend over the circumference of the duct;
a central manifold disposed between each of the inlet and outlet manifolds, and radially inwardly of the inlet and outlet manifold;
wherein heat exchanger entrance elements extend radially inward from the inlet manifold to the central manifold, and heat exchanger exit elements extend radially outward from the central manifold to the outlet manifold, the heat exchanger entrance and exit elements extending over the circumference of the duct

wherein the heat exchanger entrance elements and the heat exchanger exit elements extend on an arc from the central manifold to the inlet and outlet manifolds, respectively; and
wherein one of the heat exchanger entrance and exit elements extend from the central manifold to one of the inlet and outlet manifolds to form a clockwise arc-shape and the other of the heat exchanger entrance and exit elements extend from the central manifold to one of the inlet and outlet manifolds to form a counterclockwise arc-shape.

16. The gas turbine as recited in claim 15 , wherein the second fluid source is air from the compressor.

17. The gas turbine as recited in claim 16 , wherein the outlet manifold is connected to an air cycle machine.

18. The gas turbine as recited in claim 15 ,
wherein a first transition manifold is positioned in the duct intermediate the inlet and outlet manifolds, and a second transition manifold is positioned in the duct upstream of the first transition manifold, and downstream of the outlet manifold.

19. The gas turbine as recited in claim 15 , wherein the duct is circular in cross-section, and the inlet and outlet manifolds extend about 360 degrees of the circumference.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp
• Raytheon Tech Corp

Inventors

• Roberge Gary D

Classifications

• F28F1/022

  with multiple channels · CPC title

• Y02T50/60

  Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft · CPC title

• F28D7/0058

  the conduits for only one medium being tubes having different orientations to each other or crossing the conduit for the other heat exchange medium (F28D7/0008 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F9/0268

  in the form of multiple deflectors for channeling the heat exchange medium · CPC title

• F28D7/1638

  with particular pattern of flow or the heat exchange medium flowing inside the conduits assemblies, e.g. change of flow direction from one conduit assembly to another one (F28D7/1661, F28D7/1676 take precedence) · CPC title