HEAT EXCHANGER

• US 20090056916A1
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: YESIN, Berk, Agostini, Bruno
• Granted Patent: US 9,897,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/104.210
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/05383 with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits F28D1/05391 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0233 the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0266 with separate evaporating and condensing chambers connected by at least one conduit; Loop-type heat pipes; with multiple or common evaporating or condensing chambers F28D15/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0029 Heat sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0031 Radiators for recooling a coolant of cooling systems
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/126 consisting of zig-zag shaped fins F28F1/105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2013/005 Thermal joints
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49364 Tube joined to flat sheet longitudinally, i.e., tube sheet

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a heat exchanger for removing heat energy from a heat generator, comprising at least one conduit for a working fluid, which is arranged in an upright position of at least 45°, each conduit having an exterior wall and at least one interior wall for forming at least one evaporator channel and at least one condenser channel within the conduit. Furthermore, the heat exchanger comprises a first heat transfer element for transferring heat into the evaporator channel and a second heat transfer element for transferring heat out of the condenser channel.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger for removing heat energy from a heat generator, comprising:

a) at least one conduit for a working fluid, which is arranged in an upright position of at least 45°

, each conduit having;

a1) an exterior wall and

a2) at least one interior wall for forming at least one evaporator channel and at least one condenser channel within the conduit;

b) a first heat transfer element for transferring heat into the evaporator channel; and

c) a second heat transfer element for transferring heat out of the condenser channel.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the at least one conduit is arranged in vertical position.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the at least one evaporator channel and at least one condenser channel are aligned in parallel in the at least one conduit.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first heat transfer element comprises a mounting element, having:

b1) a mounting surface for mounting the heat generator, and

b2) a contact surface for establishing a thermal contact to a portion of the exterior wall of the conduit associated with the evaporator channel.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the second heat transfer element comprises cooling fins provided on a portion of the exterior wall of the conduit associated with the condenser channel.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein a distribution manifold is connected to at least one end of the at least one conduit.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the mounting element comprises a base plate having a planar mounting surface for mounting the heat generator and a contact surface opposite to the mounting surface comprising at least one groove conforming with a portion of the exterior wall of the conduit.

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the conduit is flat tube having planar exterior sidewalls and/or the conduit is made of Aluminum.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the evaporator channel has a larger cross-sectional area than the condenser channel and/or wherein the condenser channel has a larger inner surface than the evaporator channel.

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a separation element for separating a first environment from a second environment, whereby the temperature of the first environment is higher than the temperature of the second environment.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first heat transfer element comprises heating fins provided on a portion of the exterior wall of the conduit associated with the evaporator channel.

16. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the at least one evaporator channel and at least one condenser channel are aligned in parallel in the at least one conduit.

17. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the first heat transfer element comprises a mounting element, having:

b1) a mounting surface for mounting the heat generator, and

b2) a contact surface for establishing a thermal contact to a portion of the exterior wall of the conduit associated with the evaporator channel.

18. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the second heat transfer element comprises cooling fins provided on a portion of the exterior wall of the conduit associated with the condenser channel.

19. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein a distribution manifold is connected to at least one end of the at least one conduit.

20. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the mounting element comprises a base plate having a planar mounting surface for mounting the heat generator and a contact surface opposite to the mounting surface having at least one groove conforming with a portion of the exterior wall of the conduit.

21. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the conduit is flat tube having planar exterior sidewalls and/or the conduit is made of Aluminum.

22. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the evaporator channel has a larger cross-sectional area than the condenser channel and/or wherein the condenser channel has a larger inner surface than the evaporator channel.

23. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a separation element for separating a first environment from a second environment, whereby the temperature of the first environment is higher than the temperature of the second environment.

24. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the first heat transfer element comprises heating fins provided on a portion of the exterior wall of the conduit associated with the evaporator channel.

12. A method of producing a heat exchanger for removing heat energy from a heat generator, comprising:

a) providing at least one conduit for a working fluid, each having an exterior wall and at least one interior wall for forming at least one evaporator channel and at least one condenser channel within the at least one conduit; and

b) connecting to the at least one conduit a first heat transfer element for transferring heat into the evaporator channel and a second heat transfer element for transferring heat out of the condenser channel.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein components of the heat exchanger are joined together in a one-shot oven brazing process and/or wherein the components of the heat exchanger are covered with at least one of a brazing alloy and an AlSi brazing alloy, before the brazing process.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein a flux material is applied to the components of the heat exchanger before the brazing process and/or wherein the brazing process is conducted in non-oxidizing atmosphere.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein all components other than the mounting element are joined in a one-shot oven brazing process and the mounting element is pressed onto the exterior wall of the conduit with thermally conductive gap filling material in between.

25. The method according to claim 13, wherein all components other than the mounting element are joined in a one-shot oven brazing process and the mounting element is pressed onto the exterior wall of the conduit with thermally conductive gap filling material in between.

26. A heat-exchange arrangement comprising:

at least one conduit for a working fluid, each having an exterior wall and at least one interior wall for forming at least one evaporator channel and at least one condenser channel within the at least one conduit;

a first heat transfer element connected to the at least one conduit for transferring heat into the evaporator channel; and

a second heat transfer element connected to the at least one conduit for transferring heat out of the condenser channel.

27. The heat-exchange arrangement according to claim 26, wherein the arrangement removes heat energy from a heat generator.