SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING HEAT EXCHANGER

• US 20100218930A1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Echogen Power Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Proeschel, Richard Alan
• Application Number:
  US12/716,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20100218930A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/185
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 53/04 of sheet metal
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 17/00 Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus in which a stationary intermediate heat-transfer medium or body is contacted successively by each heat-exchange medium, e.g. using granular particles
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 21/0003 the heat being recuperated from exhaust gases F28D21/0014 takes precedence
• 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: F28F 2215/06 Hollow fins; fins with internal circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2260/02 having microchannels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/048 in the form of ribs integral with the element or local variations in thickness of the element, e.g. grooves, microchannels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0221 Header boxes or end plates formed by stacked elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/26 Arrangements for connecting different sections of heat-exchange elements, e.g. of radiators connecting different sections in water heaters F24H9/14 , connecting headers with inlet or outlet fittings F28F9/0246
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 Heat exchanger or boiler making

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to various types and/or structures of heat exchangers and to methods of making and/or using such heat exchangers. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a system and method for constructing a microchannel gas-to-working fluid heat exchanger. In another embodiment, there is disclosed a power generation cycle that employs a heat exchanger that serves as a regenerative heat exchanger.

Claims

1. A gas-to-working fluid heat exchanger comprising:

(a) a plurality of fins designed to contain at least one working fluid, wherein each of the plurality of fins contain therein one or more microchannels, mesochannels, or minichannels designed to permit the movement of the at least one working fluid through the one or more microchannels, mesochannels, or minichannels;

(b) the plurality of fins being arranged in a horizontally and vertically spaced array or stages with an “

offset strip”

geometry so that heat transfer on the gas side of the heat exchanger is enhanced by frequent break-up of the fluid boundary layer, creating a turbulent boundary layer at the upper and lower heat transfer surfaces downstream of and/or adjacent to the microchannel fins; and

(c) a plurality of cross-flow and/or counter-flow working fluid paths designed to permit the progression of working fluid flow through adjacent sets and/or stages of fins in the heater core in order to create a counter-flow to the flow of the gas through the heat exchanger thereby resulting in a heat exchanger having a core effectiveness that is more effective than either a conventional counter-flow or cross-flow heat exchanger geometry.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the working fluid is at least one gas and/or supercritical gas or fluid.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the working fluid is selected from ambient air, hot air, cold air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium, combustion gases or waste heat exhaust.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the working fluid is selected from carbon dioxide, helium, nitrogen, air, ammonia, or combinations of two or more thereof.

5. A thermal management system as shown and described herein, wherein the thermal management system is based on, includes, or is a heat exchanger.

6. A method for constructing and/or producing a thermal management system as shown and described herein, wherein the thermal management system is based on, includes, or is a heat exchanger.