Plate-like air-cooled engine surface cooler with fluid channel and varying fin geometry

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017108291-A1
Application number	US-201715399439-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 5, 2017
Priority date	Jul 27, 2012
Publication date	Apr 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A surface cooler includes a plate-like layer and a plurality of spaced-apart fins extending substantially perpendicular from an uppermost layer of the plate-like layer. The plurality of fins defining a plurality of air flow paths. The plurality of spaced-apart fins are configured to augment heat transfer of the surface cooler by increasing the turbulence levels of a fluid flowing through the airflow paths by promoting increased mixing with a resulting increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the surface cooler. A method of forming the surface cooler and an engine including the surface cooler.

First claim

1 . A surface cooler comprising:
a plate-like layer comprising a thermally conductive material; and a plurality of spaced-apart fins extending substantially perpendicular from an uppermost layer of the plate-like layer, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins is configured in a plurality of rows, wherein the plurality of rows are configured one of offset one from another by an amount up to one-half a transverse fin spacing or oriented at alternating angles to one another with respect to an axial direction of the surface cooler, the plurality of fins comprising a thermally conductive material and defining a plurality of air flow paths, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins are configured to augment heat transfer of the surface cooler by increasing the turbulence levels of a fluid flowing through the airflow paths by promoting increased mixing with a resulting increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the surface cooler.

2 . The surface cooler of claim 1 , further comprising at least one fluidic conduit disposed in the plate-like layer, wherein the at least one fluidic conduit is configured to carry fluid to be cooled.

3 . The surface cooler of claim 1 , wherein the plate-like layer comprises one of a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof.

4 . The surface cooler of claim 3 , wherein the solid metal is aluminum.

5 . The surface cooler of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins comprises a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof.

6 . The surface cooler of claim 5 , wherein the solid metal is aluminum.

7 . The surface cooler of claim 1 , further comprising a trailing edge, a leading edge, or a combination thereof, configured on one or more ends of the plurality of spaced-apart fins.

8 . A surface cooler comprising:
a plate-like layer comprising one of a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof; at least one fluidic conduit disposed in the plate-like layer, wherein the at least one fluidic conduit is configured to carry fluid to be cooled; and a plurality of spaced-apart fins extending substantially perpendicular from an uppermost layer of the plate-like layer, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins is configured in a plurality of rows, wherein the plurality of rows are configured one of offset one from another by an amount up to one-half a transverse fin spacing or oriented at alternating angles to one another with respect to an axial direction of the surface cooler, the plurality of fins comprising a thermally conductive material and defining a plurality of air flow paths, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins are configured to augment heat transfer of the surface cooler by increasing the turbulence levels of a fluid flowing through the airflow paths by promoting increased mixing with a resulting increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the surface cooler.

9 . The surface cooler of claim 8 , wherein the solid metal is aluminum.

10 . The surface cooler of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins comprises a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof.

11 . The surface cooler of claim 10 , wherein the solid metal is aluminum.

12 . A method of forming a surface cooler, comprising:
forming a plate-like layer; disposing at least one fluidic conduit in the plate-like layer, wherein the at least one fluidic conduit is configured to carry fluid to be cooled; and machining the plate-like layer to form a plurality of spaced-apart fins, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins is configured in a plurality of rows, wherein the plurality of rows are configured one of offset one from another by an amount up to one-half a transverse fin spacing or oriented at alternating angles to one another with respect to an axial direction of the surface cooler, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins are configured to augment heat transfer of the surface cooler by increasing the turbulence levels of a fluid flowing through the airflow paths by promoting increased mixing with a resulting increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the surface cooler.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising disposing the surface cooler along an outer wall of a turbomachine.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plate-like layer comprises one of a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the solid metal is aluminum.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins comprises a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof.

17 . The surface cooler of claim 16 , wherein the solid metal is aluminum.

18 . An engine comprising:
a core engine; and a surface cooler comprising:
a plate-like layer comprising one of a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof;
at least one fluidic conduit disposed in the plate-like layer, wherein the at least one fluidic conduit is configured to carry fluid to be cooled; and
a plurality of spaced-apart fins extending substantially perpendicular from an uppermost layer of the plate-like layer, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins is configured in a plurality of rows, wherein the plurality of rows are configured one of offset one from another by an amount up to one-half a transverse fin spacing or oriented at alternating angles to one another with respect to an axial direction of the surface cooler, the plurality of fins comprising a thermally conductive material and defining a plurality of air flow paths,
wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins are configured to augment heat transfer of the surface cooler by increasing the turbulence levels of a fluid flowing through the airflow paths by promoting increased mixing with a resulting increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the surface cooler.

19 . The engine of claim 18 , wherein the surface cooler is disposed adjacent to a nacelle wall of the engine.

20 . The engine of claim 18 , wherein the surface cooler is disposed adjacent to an inner wall of the engine.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Antel Jr William Joseph
• Diaz Carlos Enrique
• Benignos Jorge Alejandro Carretero

Classifications

• F28F3/048

  in the form of ribs integral with the element or local variations in thickness of the element, e.g. grooves, microchannels · CPC title

• F28F3/04 Primary

  the means being integral with the element · CPC title

• F28F13/12

  by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation (F28F13/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F13/003

  by using permeable mass, perforated or porous materials (F28F13/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F21/084

  from aluminium or aluminium alloys · CPC title