Monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290738-A1
Application number	US-201415037432-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 17, 2014
Priority date	Nov 18, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cross-flow heat exchanger for gas turbine engines which may be utilized to transfer heat from one fluid flow to a second independent fluid flow wherein one of the fluid flows has a high differential inlet pressure and temperature. The heat exchanger has robust construction to inhibit mixing of the fluid flows during a single burst duct event.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger, comprising:
a monolithic body having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet; said monolithic body having a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet; a first plurality of first fluid tubes formed in said monolithic body and extending between said first fluid inlet and said first fluid outlet; a second plurality of second fluid tubes formed in said monolithic body and extending between said second fluid inlet and said second fluid outlet; said monolithic body being formed of a highly conductive metal material which is coated by an oxidation-resistant coating; at least one diffusion barrier coat on an exterior of said first plurality of first fluid tubes and an exterior of said second plurality of second fluid tubes; wherein said first plurality of first fluid tubes form a first array which is transverse to said second plurality of second fluid tubes which forms a second array.

2 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein said first and second fluid inlets and said first and second fluid outlets are at opposed faces of said monolithic body.

3 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 2 , wherein said first and second fluid inlets and said first and second fluid outlets are at non-opposed faces of said monolithic body.

4 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein said monolithic body is a polygonal body of at least six sides.

5 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein said highly conductive metal is a casting alloy.

6 . (canceled)

7 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein said highly conductive material is high temperature-resistant alloy.

8 . (canceled)

9 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein said first and second plurality of fluid tubes are circular in cross-sectional shape.

10 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein said first and second plurality of fluid tubes are non-circular in cross-sectional shape.

11 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 10 , wherein said first and second plurality of fluid tubes are one of flat oval or lobed star shaped cross-section.

12 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 11 , wherein at least one tube of lobed star shaped cross-section is helically twisted along a portion of its length.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , in which at least one tube of flat oval shape cross-section is helically twisted along a portion of its length.

15 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 in which at least one tube cross-section has a non-circular exterior perimeter with a circular interior perimeter.

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second plurality of fluid tubes have at least one internal flow turbulation feature to increase convection heat transfer.

19 . (canceled)

20 . (canceled)

21 . (canceled)

22 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of plenums extending from a face of said body.

23 . (canceled)

24 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , further comprising at least one plenum physically separated and cantilevered from four faces of said body.

25 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , further comprising at least one plenum extending from four faces of said body.

26 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein a single row of said first fluid tubes are disposed between transverse rows of second fluid tubes.

27 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein at least two rows of said first fluid tubes are disposed between transverse rows of said second fluid tubes.

28 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein an electrical circuit is used to detect at least one of a crack formation or growth in said matrix heat exchanger.

29 . (canceled)

30 . (canceled)

31 . The monolithic tube-in matrix heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein an electrical circuit is used to detect fluid leakage from one of a said first plurality of tubes and said second plurality of fluid tubes to the other of said first plurality of fluid tubes and said second plurality of fluid tubes.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Kupiszewski Thomas
• Baladi Mehdi Milani
• Kemme John Andrew
• Glynn Christopher Charles
• Johnson Steven Douglas
• Epstein Michael Jay

Classifications

• F28F21/08

  of metal · CPC title

• F28F2265/00

  Safety or protection arrangements; Arrangements for preventing malfunction · CPC title

• F28F1/40 Primary

  the means being only inside the tubular element · CPC title

• F28D2021/0021

  for aircrafts or cosmonautics · CPC title

• F28F7/02 Primary

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