Heat exchanger and method for manufacturing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12372306-B2
Application number	US-202318128656-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2023
Priority date	Mar 31, 2022
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

A heat exchanger, includes: a core portion; a first flow path which is provided in the core portion and through which a first fluid flows; and a second flow path which is provided in the core portion and through which a second fluid flows. The first fluid flowing through the first flow path and the second fluid flowing through the second flow path exchange heat through a partition in the core portion. The first flow path includes: a plurality of main flow paths; an introducing chamber; and a discharge chamber. The main flow path includes: an introducing side shape changing section in which a certain flow path is connected in a straight shape to the main flow path adjacent thereto; and a discharge side shape changing section in which the certain flow path is connected in a straight shape to the main flow path adjacent thereto.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger, comprising:
a core portion;
a first flow path which is provided in the core portion and through which a first fluid flows; and
a second flow path which is provided in the core portion and through which a second fluid flows, wherein:
the first fluid flowing through the first flow path and the second fluid flowing through the second flow path exchange heat through a partition in the core portion;
the first flow path and the second flow path are tubular flow paths aligned in regular fashion;
the first flow path includes:
a plurality of main flow paths extending in a first direction and aligned in a second direction;
an introducing chamber communicating with the plurality of main flow paths and extending in the second direction; and
a discharge chamber communicating with the plurality of main flow paths and extending in the second direction; and
the main flow path includes:
an introducing side shape changing section in which a certain flow path is gradually changed in a cross-sectional shape as approaching to the introducing chamber and connected in a straight shape to the main flow path adjacent thereto; and
a discharge side shape changing section in which the certain flow path is gradually changed in a cross-sectional shape as approaching to the discharge chamber and connected in a straight shape to the main flow path adjacent thereto.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein
the introducing side shape changing section and the discharge side shape changing section change the shapes of the cross sections of the flow paths while maintaining cross-sectional areas of the flow paths.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein
the cross section of the certain flow path has a shape of a cross.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first flow path includes a plurality of sets formed in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, in which each set includes the plurality of main flow paths, the introducing chamber, and the discharge chamber; and
the second flow path has a plurality of flow paths surrounded and formed by the partitions that form the plurality of main flow paths.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a region where the second flow paths are adjacent to each other with the partitions interposed therebetween.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a twisted ribbon provided in the second flow path.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein
the core portion is integrally formed by additive manufacturing.

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 7 , further comprising:
an introducing pipe communicating with the introducing chamber; and
a discharge pipe communicating with the discharge chamber, wherein
the core portion, the introducing pipe, and the discharge pipe are integrally formed by additive manufacturing.

9. A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger including:
a core portion,
a first flow path which is provided in the core portion and through which a first fluid flows, and
a second flow path which is provided in the core portion and through which a second fluid flows, wherein:
the first fluid flowing through the first flow path and the second fluid flowing through the second flow path exchange heat through a partition in the core portion;
the first flow path and the second flow path are tubular flow paths aligned in regular fashion;
the first flow path includes:
a plurality of main flow paths extending in a first direction and having a certain cross section of a flow path;
an introducing chamber extending in the second direction and communicating with a plurality of the main flow paths, of the plurality of main flow paths, aligned in the second direction; and
a discharge chamber extending in the second direction and communicating with a plurality of the main flow paths, of the plurality of main flow paths, aligned in the second direction;

the main flow path includes:
an introducing side shape changing section in which a certain flow path is gradually changed in a cross-sectional shape as approaching to the introducing chamber and connected in a straight shape to the main flow path adjacent thereto; and
a discharge side shape changing section in which the certain flow path is gradually changed in a cross-sectional shape as approaching to the discharge chamber and connected in a straight shape to the main flow path adjacent thereto; and

the method comprises integrally forming the core portion by additive manufacturing.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein
the heat exchanger includes:
an introducing pipe communicating with the introducing chamber; and
a discharge pipe communicating with the discharge chamber; and

the method further comprises integrally forming the core portion, the introducing pipe, and the discharge pipe by additive manufacturing.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Endo Tsuneo
• Kurosawa Yuta

Classifications

• F28F13/125

  by stirring · CPC title

• B33Y80/00 Primary

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• F28F2250/106

  with cross flow · CPC title

• F28F7/02

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

• F28D7/0066 Primary

  Multi-circuit heat-exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat-exchangers for more than two fluids (F28D7/103 takes precedence) · CPC title