Plate fin heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016369698-A1
Application number	US-201514743778-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 18, 2015
Priority date	Jun 18, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A plate fin heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of plates defining a set of hot fluid passages between adjacent plates of the plurality of plates and a set of cold fluid passages between adjacent plates of the plurality of plates. A hot fluid inlet and outlet are located at a first face of the heat exchanger. A barrier is located between adjacent plates defining the hot fluid passages. The barrier extends between the adjacent plates and extends from the first face of the heat exchanger at a location between the hot fluid inlet and the hot fluid outlet in a direction perpendicular to the first face, and defines a first pass of hot fluid passages on a first side of the barrier and a second pass of hot fluid passages on a second side of the barrier.

First claim

1 . A plate fin heat exchanger, comprising
a plurality of plates defining a set of hot fluid passages between adjacent plates of the plurality of plates and a set of cold fluid passages between adjacent plates of the plurality of plates; a hot fluid inlet and a hot fluid outlet located at a first face of the heat exchanger; and a fluid flow barrier between adjacent plates defining the hot fluid passages, said barrier extending between the adjacent plates and extending from the first face of the heat exchanger at a location between the hot fluid inlet and the hot fluid outlet in a direction perpendicular to the first face, said barrier defining a first pass of hot fluid passages on a first side of the barrier and a second pass of hot fluid passages on a second side of the barrier, said fluid flow barrier comprising a void space isolated from the first and second passes of hot fluid passages.

2 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a sealed enclosure.

3 . The heat exchanger of claim 2 , wherein the barrier is sealed at the adjacent plates and at the first face of the heat exchanger between the hot fluid inlet and the hot fluid outlet.

4 . The heat exchanger of claim 3 , wherein the barrier is sealed at the opposite end of the barrier from the first face.

5 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a set of barrier fins extending between adjacent plates and extending from the first face of the heat exchanger.

6 . The heat exchanger of claim 5 , further comprising an end cap on the set of barrier fins at first face to isolate space between the barrier fins from the hot fluid inlet and the hot fluid outlet.

7 . The heat exchanger of claim 5 , wherein the fin or fins comprise machined slots therein.

8 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the barrier provides a distance between the first pass of hot air passages and the second pass of hot air passages of 0.2 to 3.0 inches.

9 . An environmental conditioning system comprising a gas turbine engine, a precooler that receives and cools a bleed flow of compressed air from the gas turbine engine, and an air cycle machine that conditions air received from the precooler, wherein the precooler comprises
a plurality of plates defining a set of hot air passages between adjacent plates of the plurality of plates and a set of cold air passages between adjacent plates of the plurality of plates; a hot air inlet in fluid communication with the bleed flow from engine, and a hot air outlet in fluid communication with the air cycle machine, the hot air inlet and hot air outlet located at a first face of the heat exchanger; and a barrier in the space between adjacent plates defining the hot air passages, said barrier extending between the adjacent plates and extending from the first face of the heat exchanger at a location between the hot air inlet and the hot air outlet in a direction perpendicular to the first face, said barrier defining a first pass of hot air passages on a first side of the barrier and a second pass of hot air passages on a second side of the barrier; said barrier comprising a void space isolated from the first and second passes of hot air passages.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the barrier comprises a sealed enclosure.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the barrier is sealed at the adjacent plates and at the first face of the heat exchanger between the hot air inlet and the hot air outlet.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the barrier is sealed at the opposite end of the barrier from the first face.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the barrier comprises a set of barrier fins extending between adjacent plates and extending from the first face of the heat exchanger.

14 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising an end cap on the set of barrier fins at first face to isolate space between the barrier fins from the hot air inlet and the hot air outlet.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the fin or fins comprise machined slots therein.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the barrier provides a distance between the first pass of hot air passages and the second pass of hot air passages of 0.2 to 3.0 inches.

17 . A method of cooling a fluid, comprising passing the fluid through a heat rejection side of a plate fin heat exchanger comprising
a plurality of plates defining a set of hot fluid passages between adjacent plates of the plurality of plates and a set of cold fluid passages between adjacent plates of the plurality of plates; a hot fluid inlet and a hot fluid outlet located at a first face of the heat exchanger; and a barrier between adjacent plates defining the hot fluid passages, said barrier extending between the adjacent plates and extending from the first face of the heat exchanger at a location between the hot fluid inlet and the hot fluid outlet in a direction perpendicular to the first face, said barrier defining a first pass of hot fluid passages on a first side of the barrier and a second pass of hot fluid passages on a second side of the barrier, said comprising a void space isolated from the first and second passes of hot fluid passages.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the temperature at the hot fluid inlet from 400° F. to 1400° F.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the temperature at the hot fluid outlet from 100° F. to 400° F.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the temperature differential between the hot air inlet and the hot air outlet is greater than 200° F.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Army Jr Donald E
• Doe Jr Michael
• Stephens Kurt L

Classifications

• F28D9/0062

  the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements (F28D9/0012, F28D9/0025, F28D9/0081, F28D9/04 take precedence) · CPC title

• F28D1/0383

  with U-flow or serpentine-flow inside the conduits · CPC title

• F28D2021/0021

  for aircrafts or cosmonautics · CPC title

• F28D9/0068

  with means for changing flow direction of one heat exchange medium, e.g. using deflecting zones · CPC title

• F02C7/185 Primary

  Cooling means for reducing the temperature of the cooling air or gas · CPC title