PLATE-LIKE AIR-COOLED ENGINE SURFACE COOLER WITH FLUID CHANNEL AND VARYING FIN GEOMETRY

• US 20170108291A1
• Filed: 01/05/2017
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Antel, Jr., William Joseph, Diaz, Carlos Enrique, Benignos, Jorge Alejandro Carretero
• Application Number:
  US15/399,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20170108291A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/26 heat exchangers or the like making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 3/04 having a turbine driving a compressor power transmission arrangements F02C7/36; control of working fluid flow F02C9/16
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/18 the medium being gaseous, e.g. air F02C7/125 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 3/115 by means of indirect heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/323 for aircraft propulsion, e.g. jet engines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/213 by the provision of a heat exchanger within the cooling circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/2212 by creating turbulence
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/22141 using fins or ribs
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0246 heat-exchange elements having several adjacent conduits forming a whole, e.g. blocks
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/06 with the heat-exchange conduits forming part of, or being attached to, the tank containing the body of fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/16 the means being integral with the element, e.g. formed by extrusion F28F1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/003 by using permeable mass, perforated or porous materials F28F13/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/12 by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation F28F13/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 21/084 from aluminium or aluminium alloys
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2215/04 Assemblies of fins having different features, e.g. with different fin densities
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/02 Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations F28F3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/04 the means being integral with the element
• 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 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4935 : Heat exchanger or boiler making

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.

Claims

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.