MIXING BETWEEN FLOW CHANNELS OF CAST PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER

• US 20190323787A1
• Filed: 02/21/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Stillman, Wililam P., Disori, Michael A., Hyland, Dave J., Verner, Carl R.
• Granted Patent: US 11,209,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/05383 with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits F28D1/05391 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/022 with multiple channels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/26 the means being integral with the element F28F1/32 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 2250/04 Communication passages between channels
• 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

Abstract

A heat exchanger is disclosed and includes a plate portion including a plurality of internal passages extending between an inlet and an outlet and at least one means for providing fluid communication between at least two of the plurality of internal passages.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising:

a plate portion including a plurality of internal passages extending between an inlet and an outlet; and

at least one means for providing fluid communication between at least two of the plurality of internal passages.

2. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for providing fluid communication between at least two of the plurality of internal passages comprises at least one crossover passage.

3. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of internal passages are separated by internal walls and the at least one crossover passage extends through an internal wall.

4. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one crossover passage comprises a plurality of crossover passages spaced apart from each other between the inlet and the outlet.

5. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 4, wherein the plurality of crossover passages includes several crossover passages between adjacent ones of the plurality of passage between the inlet and the outlet.

6. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 4, wherein the plurality of crossover passages are disposed within a first length from the inlet that is no more than 15% of a total length between the inlet and the outlet.

7. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 6, wherein the first length is no more than 10% of the total length between the inlet and the outlet.

8. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 4, wherein the plurality of crossover passages include more crossover passages within a first length from the inlet that is no more than 15% of a total length between the inlet and the outlet than are disposed after the first length.

9. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one crossover passage is transverse to the plurality of internal passages.

10. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one crossover passage is disposed at an angle relative to the internal passages that is greater than 90 degrees.

11. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the plate portion includes a width with a first side and a second side and the plurality of internal passages are aligned across the width and the at least one means for providing fluid communication between at least two of the plurality of internal passages comprises a plurality of crossover passages that direct flow between the plurality of internal passages toward the first side and the second side.

12. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the plate portion includes a width with a first side and a second side and the plurality of internal passages are aligned across the width and the at least one means for providing fluid communication between at least two of the plurality of internal passages comprises a plurality of crossover passages that direct flow between the plurality of internal passages toward a center between the first side and the second side.

13. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one crossover passage includes a cross-sectional shape that is one of circle, oblong, stadium and elliptical.

14. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of internal passages includes at least two rows of passages spaced apart vertically and the at least one crossover passages extends between at least two internal passages in different rows.

15. The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the plate portion is a one piece cast part including a plurality of cast fins extending from an outer surface.

16. A cast heat exchanger plate comprising:

a one piece cast plate portion including a plurality of cooling fins extending from an outer surface;

at least one internal wall defining at least two internal passages extending between an inlet and an outlet within the cast plate portion; and

at least one crossover passage extending through the internal wall providing fluid communication between the at least two internal passages.

17. The cast heat exchanger plate as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one crossover passage comprises a plurality of crossover passages include more crossover passages within a first length from the inlet that is no more than 15% of a total length between the inlet and the outlet than are disposed after the first length.

18. The cast heat exchanger plate as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least two internal passages are spaced apart vertically within separate rows of internal passages and the at least one crossover passages extends between at least two internal passages in separate rows.

19. A core assembly for a heat exchanger comprising:

at least one core plate defining internal features of a heat exchanger plate portion, the core plate including passage defining features disposed between gaps defining at least one internal wall between at least two internal passages; and

at least one crossover feature between the passage defining features for defining a crossover passage through the internal wall providing fluid communication between the at least two internal passages.

20. The core assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the at least one crossover feature comprises a plurality of crossover features arranged between ends of the passage defining features and more of the plurality of crossover features are disposed within a first length from a first open end that is no more than 15% of a total length between open ends.