Heat Exchanger for Outdoor Enclosures

• US 20090052132A1
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asymblix LLC
• Original Assignee: Asymblix LLC
• Inventors: Fernandez, Pedro A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,590,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/696
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/00 Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall F28F3/083, F28F3/086 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/206 Air circulating in closed loop within cabinets wherein heat is removed through air-to-air heat-exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger having a wet side separate from a dry side for an equipment cabinet is provided. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger enclosure having a wet side fan and a dry side fan. The wet side fan draws air in from the external environment and routes the air through a heat exchanger core and out the heat exchanger enclosure. The dry side fan draws air in from within the equipment cabinet and routes the air through the heat exchanger core and out back into the equipment cabinet. The air from the outside acts to cool the heat exchanger core, which in turn acts to cool the air from the dry side as the air is routed through the heat exchanger core.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising:

a heat exchanger core;

a first fan directing air from outside through the heat exchanger core; and

a second fan directing air from inside through the heat exchanger core, the first fan and the second fan rotating about a common axis.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the first fan and the second fan have a common shaft.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger enclosure, the heat exchanger enclosure having a wet side input port and a dry side input port, the wet side input port and the dry side input port being located on an upper region of the heat exchanger enclosure.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger enclosure adapted to attach to an equipment cabinet.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanger enclosure having a wet side input port and a vent hood covering the wet side input port.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein air flow from the first fan is completely separated from air flow from the second fan.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger core comprises a plurality of thermally conductive plates.

8. A heat exchanger comprising:

a heat exchanger enclosure having a top region and a bottom region;

a first fan mounted in the top region of the heat exchanger enclosure;

a second fan mounted in the top region of the heat exchanger enclosure;

a heat exchanger core mounted in the heat exchanger enclosure;

a first air flow path defined from the first fan through the heat exchanger core and out the heat exchanger enclosure through a first output vent; and

a second air flow path defined from the second fan through the heat exchanger core and out the heat exchanger enclosure through a second output vent, the first air flow path being isolated from the second air flow path.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein the first fan and the second fan rotate about a common axis.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein the first fan and the second fan rotate about a common shaft.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger enclosure is adapted to attach to an equipment cabinet.

12. The heat exchanger of claim 8, further comprising a vent hood covering an input opening for the first fan.

13. The heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger core comprises a plurality of thermally conductive plates.

14. A method of providing a heat exchanger, the method comprising:

providing a heat exchanger enclosure, the heat exchanger enclosure having a first air intake and a second air intake on an upper portion of the heat exchanger enclosure, the first air intake being on an opposing side of the heat exchanger enclosure from the second air intake, the heat exchanger enclosure having a first air output and a second air output along a bottom portion of the heat exchanger enclosure;

providing a heat exchanger core attached to the heat exchanger enclosure;

providing a first fan attached to the heat exchanger enclosure such that the first fan draws air through the first air intake and out the first air output through the heat exchanger core; and

providing a second fan attached to the heat exchanger enclosure such that the second fan draws air through the second air intake and out the second air output through the heat exchanger core, the first fan and the second fan being located in the upper portion of the heat exchanger enclosure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first fan and the second fan rotate about a common axis.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first fan and the second fan rotate about a common shaft.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the heat exchanger enclosure is adapted to attach to an equipment cabinet.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a vent hood covering the first air intake.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the heat exchanger core comprises a plurality of thermally conductive plates.