Method and system for radial tubular heat exchangers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016201989-A1
Application number	US-201514713363-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 15, 2015
Priority date	Jun 30, 2014
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and a system for a heat exchanger assembly are provided. The heat exchanger assembly includes one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments each including an inlet header configured to extend circumferentially about a circumference of an inner surface of a fluid flow duct, and an outlet header configured to extend circumferentially about the fluid flow duct. The heat exchanger assembly also includes a first serpentine heat exchanger tube extending between the inlet header and the outlet header and including a series of flow path segments having a gradually changing direction defined by a bend radius of the tube such that a direction of flow through the serpentine heat exchanger tube reverses between the inlet and the outlet headers and a second serpentine heat exchanger tube extending between the inlet header and the outlet header, the second serpentine heat exchanger tube co-planar with the first serpentine heat exchanger tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments, each of the one or more heat exchanger segments comprising: an inlet header configured to extend circumferentially about at least a portion of a circumference of an inner surface of a fluid flow duct; an outlet header configured to extend circumferentially about at least a portion of the circumference of the inner surface of the fluid flow duct and spaced axially apart from said inlet header in a direction of fluid flow through the fluid flow duct; a first serpentine heat exchanger tube extending between said inlet header and said outlet header, the serpentine heat exchanger tube comprising a series of flow path segments having a gradually changing direction defined by a bend radius of the tube such that a direction of flow through said serpentine heat exchanger tube reverses between said inlet and said outlet headers; and a second serpentine heat exchanger tube extending between said inlet header and said outlet header, said second serpentine heat exchanger tube co-planar with said first serpentine heat exchanger tube.

2 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first segment of said one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments is configured to be coupled to a second segment of said one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments.

3 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein an end of said inlet header of a first segment of said one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments is configured to be coupled to a complementary end of said inlet header of a second segment of said one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments.

4 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein an end of said outlet header of a first segment of said one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments is configured to be coupled to a complementary end of said outlet header of a second segment of said one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments.

5 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said inlet header and said outlet header comprises a generally circular manifold.

6 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said inlet header and said outlet header comprises a channel having a U-shaped cross-section, a first flange extending in a first axial direction, and a second flange extending in a second opposite axial direction.

7 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 6 , wherein the one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments are configured to couple to an inner surface of the fluid flow duct using said flanges.

8 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 6 , wherein the channel is configured to receive a flow of fluid from apertures extending through the fluid flow duct.

9 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bend radius of the first serpentine heat exchanger tube is a different radius than the bend radius of the second serpentine heat exchanger tube to permit the first and second heat exchanger tubes to be nested in co-planar alignment.

10 . A method of assembling a modular radial tubular heat exchanger, said method comprising:
forming one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments, each heat exchanger segment formed by: coupling first ends of a one or more serpentine heat exchanger tubes to a first header to partially form a heat exchanger segment assembly, the heat exchanger tubes arranged in groups of co-planar heat exchanger tubes; and coupling second ends of the one or more serpentine heat exchanger tubes to a second header to form the heat exchanger segment; and coupling each of the one or more heat exchanger segments to an inner surface of a fluid flow duct, each of the one or more heat exchanger segments axially aligned with two rows of apertures extending through the fluid flow duct, each row of apertures including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced apertures.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein coupling first ends of a plurality of serpentine heat exchanger tubes to a first header comprises coupling first ends of a plurality of serpentine heat exchanger tubes to a first U-shaped pocket plate, the pocket plate comprising a flange circumscribing the pocket plate.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein coupling first ends of a plurality of serpentine heat exchanger tubes to a first header comprises coupling first ends of a plurality of serpentine heat exchanger tubes to a first generally circular piping header.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising mounting each of the one or more heat exchanger segments individually to the inner surface of the fluid flow duct.

14 . A gas turbine engine comprising:
a core gas turbine engine having an axis of rotation; a fan casing substantially circumscribing said core gas turbine engine; and a heat exchanger assembly positioned within said fan casing, said heat exchanger assembly comprising:
one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments, each of the one or more heat exchanger segments comprising:
an inlet header configured to extend circumferentially about at least a portion of a circumference of an inner surface of a fluid flow duct;
an outlet header configured to extend circumferentially about the portion spaced axially apart from said inlet header in a direction of fluid flow through the fluid flow duct;
a first serpentine heat exchanger tube extending between said inlet header and said outlet header, the serpentine heat exchanger tube comprising a series of flow path segments having a gradually changing direction defined by a bend radius of the tube such that a direction of flow through said serpentine heat exchanger tube reverses between said inlet and said outlet headers; and
a second serpentine heat exchanger tube extending between said inlet header and said outlet header, said second serpentine heat exchanger tube co-planar with said first serpentine heat exchanger tube.

15 . The gas turbine engine of claim 14 , wherein a first segment of said one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments is configured to be coupled to a second segment of said one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments.

16 . The gas turbine engine of claim 14 , wherein at least one of said inlet header and said outlet header comprises a generally circular manifold.

17 . The gas turbine engine of claim 14 , wherein at least one of said inlet header and said outlet header comprises a channel having a U-shaped cross-section, a first flange extending in a first axial direction, and a second flange extending in a second opposite axial direction.

18 . The gas turbine engine of claim 17 , wherein the one or more arcuate heat exchanger segments are configured to couple to an inner surface of the fluid flow duct using said flanges.

19 . The gas turbine engine of claim 17 , wherein the channel is configured to receive a flow of fluid from apertures extending through the fluid flow duct.

20 . The gas turbine engine of claim 14 , wherein the bend radius of the first serpentine heat exchanger tube is a different radius than the bend radius of the second serpentine heat exchanger tube to permit the first and second heat exchanger tubes to be nested in co-planar alignment.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Martinez Ramon
• Breig Benjamin Paul
• Joerger Keith Alan
• Wilson Gregg Hunt
• Hunt Matthew John
• Corsmeier Donald Michael
• Johnson Paul Charles

Classifications

• B23P15/26

  heat exchangers {or the like (making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02)} · CPC title

• F02C7/18

  the medium being gaseous, e.g. air {(F02C7/125 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F28D1/0477 Primary

  the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag · CPC title

• F28F9/0224

  Header boxes formed by sealing end plates into covers (F28F9/0221 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y02T50/60

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