Double heat exchanger radiator assembly

• US 8,579,060 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2011
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Demmer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Demmer Corporation
• Inventors: George, Joseph M., Cooper, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEYER, JACOB B
• Application Number:
  US12/930,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20110168470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 622/41, 165/41, 165/42, 165/44
• US Class Current: 180/68.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/02 with liquid cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/24 Military vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0435 Combination of units extending one behind the other F28D1/0452 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0094 for recooling the engine coolant arrangements of liquid-to-air heat exchangers on vehicles F01P3/18
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/126 consisting of zig-zag shaped fins F28F1/105 takes precedence

Abstract

The disclosure generally relates to a heat exchanger apparatus having first and second heat exchangers arranged in a parallel configuration to receive a first fluid (e.g., a hot fluid) to be subjected to a heat exchange operation (e.g., cooling of the hot fluid). The first and second heat exchangers are further configured in a series configuration with respect to the flow of a second fluid to be used as a heat exchange medium (e.g., a cold fluid to be heated by the first, hot fluid). The heat exchanger apparatus can be used as a radiator (e.g., engine coolant heat exchanger) for a motorized vehicle, in particular a heavy vehicle intended for use in relatively hot ambient environments (e.g., an armored fighting vehicle adapted for desert use at ambient temperatures above about 100° F.). The disclosure also relates to methods of using the heat exchanger apparatus, for example in the motorized vehicle setting.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger apparatus comprising:

(a) a first heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between a fluid and a gas, the first heat exchanger comprising;

(i) a plurality of first tubes through which the fluid can flow,

(ii) a plurality of first fins disposed between adjacent first tubes,

(iii) a first inlet header in fluid communication with the first tubes at first longitudinal ends of the first tubes, and

(iv) a first outlet header in fluid communication with the first tubes at second longitudinal ends of the first tubes;

(b) a second heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between the fluid and the gas, the second heat exchanger being mounted adjacent to the first heat exchanger and comprising;

(i) a plurality of second tubes through which the fluid can flow,

(ii) a plurality of second fins disposed between adjacent second tubes,

(iii) a second inlet header in fluid communication with (A) the second tubes at first longitudinal ends of the second tubes and optionally (B) the first inlet header, and

(iv) a second outlet header in fluid communication with (A) the second tubes at second longitudinal ends of the second tubes and optionally (B) the first outlet header;

wherein;

(i) the second heat exchanger is disposed on an upstream gas side of the first heat exchanger;

(ii) the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are configured to permit a gas flow in a direction from (A) the second heat exchanger and over the second tubes and the second fins thereof to (B) the first heat exchanger and over the first tubes and the first fins thereof in use to provide heat exchange between the fluid and the gas; and

(iii) the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are arranged in a parallel configuration to allow a stream of fluid to be separated into two discrete streams of fluid, each of which passes through only one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger before recombining with the other discrete stream of fluid and exiting the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

(i) the second inlet header is in fluid communication with the first inlet header; and

(ii) the second outlet header is in fluid communication with the first outlet header.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

(c) a bypass conduit between the first inlet header and the second inlet header, the bypass conduit placing the first inlet header in fluid communication with the second inlet header, thereby (i) permitting a portion of the fluid in the first inlet header to enter the second inlet header and (ii) permitting a portion of the fluid in the first inlet header to enter the first tubes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an interior wall of the first outlet header and an interior wall of the second outlet header together define an opening placing the first outlet header in fluid communication with the second outlet header, thereby permitting a portion of the fluid in the first outlet header to mix with a portion of the fluid in the second outlet header prior to exiting the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second inlet or outlet headers comprises at least one internal baffle, the baffle partitioning the header into two or more portions that are internally isolated from each other but which remain in fluid communication via the opposing header and the intervening tubes, thereby creating a multi-pass fluid flow path through the tubes of the first or second heat exchanger.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

(i) the first inlet header comprises a first inlet internal baffle that partitions the first inlet header into two portions that are internally isolated from each other but which remain in fluid communication via the first outlet header and the first tubes;

(ii) the first outlet header comprises a first outlet internal baffle that partitions the first outlet header into two portions that are internally isolated from each other but which remain in fluid communication via the first inlet header and the first tubes; and

(iii) the first inlet internal baffle and the first outlet internal baffle form a multi-pass flowpath for the fluid flowing through the first tubes of the first heat exchanger.

7. A heat exchanger apparatus comprising:

(a) a first heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between a fluid and a gas, the first heat exchanger comprising;

(i) a plurality of first tubes through which the fluid can flow,

(ii) a plurality of first fins disposed between adjacent first tubes,

(iii) a first inlet header in fluid communication with the first tubes at first longitudinal ends of the first tubes, and

(iv) a first outlet header in fluid communication with the first tubes at second longitudinal ends of the first tubes;

(b) a second heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between the fluid and the gas, the second heat exchanger being mounted adjacent to the first heat exchanger and comprising;

(i) a plurality of second tubes through which the fluid can flow,

(ii) a plurality of second fins disposed between adjacent second tubes,

(iii) a second inlet header in fluid communication with (A) the second tubes at first longitudinal ends of the second tubes and optionally (B) the first inlet header, and

(iv) a second outlet header in fluid communication with (A) the second tubes at second longitudinal ends of the second tubes and optionally (B) the first outlet header;

wherein;

(i) the second heat exchanger is disposed on an upstream gas side of the first heat exchanger; and

(ii) the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are configured to permit a gas flow in a direction from (A) the second heat exchanger and over the second tubes and the second fins thereof to (B) the first heat exchanger and over the first tubes and the first fins thereof in use to provide heat exchange between the fluid and the gas;

wherein at least one of the first or second inlet or outlet headers comprises at least one internal baffle, the baffle partitioning the header into two or more portions that are internally isolated from each other but which remain in fluid communication via the opposing header and the intervening tubes, thereby creating a multi-pass fluid flow path through the tubes of the first or second heat exchanger;

wherein;

(i) the first inlet header comprises a first inlet internal baffle that partitions the first inlet header into two portions that are internally isolated from each other but which remain in fluid communication via the first outlet header and the first tubes;

(ii) the first outlet header comprises a first outlet internal baffle that partitions the first outlet header into two portions that are internally isolated from each other but which remain in fluid communication via the first inlet header and the first tubes; and

(iii) the first inlet internal baffle and the first outlet internal baffle form a multi-pass flowpath for the fluid flowing through the first tubes of the first heat exchanger; and

wherein the second heat exchanger has a single-pass flow path for the fluid flowing through the second tubes of the second heat exchanger.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

(i) the first inlet internal baffle partitions the first inlet header into a first inlet header portion and a second inlet header portion;

(ii) the first outlet internal baffle partitions the first outlet header into a first outlet header portion and a second outlet header portion;

(iii) the first inlet header portion is in fluid communication with the second inlet header portion via the first outlet header portion and the first tubes;

(iv) the first outlet header portion is in fluid communication with the second outlet header portion via the second inlet header portion and the first tubes; and

(v) the first heat exchanger has a three-pass flow path for the fluid flowing through the first tubes of the first heat exchanger.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second fins and the second tubes of the second heat exchanger are substantially aligned with corresponding first fins and first tubes in the first heat exchanger.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

(i) the first inlet header and the first outlet header extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction defined by the first tubes; and

(ii) the second inlet header and the second outlet header extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction defined by the second tubes.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

(i) the first inlet header comprises an inlet port;

(ii) the first outlet header comprises an outlet port; and

(iii) the inlet port and outlet port are located at opposing ends of their respective headers, thereby permitting gravity-assisted flow of the fluid through the first and second heat exchangers.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

(c) a fan assembly disposed on an upstream gas side of the first heat exchanger, the fan assembly being capable of delivering a gas flow in a direction from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction defined by the first tubes and the second tubes.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

(d) a third heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between a second fluid and the gas, the third heat exchanger being interposed between the second heat exchanger and the fan assembly.

14. A method for exchanging heat between a fluid and a gas, the method comprising:

(a) providing a heat exchanger apparatus according to claim 7;

(b) feeding a fluid at a first temperature to the first inlet header and the second inlet header, thereby causing fluid to flow through the first inlet header, the second inlet header, the first tubes, the second tubes, the first outlet header, and the second outlet header;

(c) delivering a gas flow in a direction from the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction defined by the first tubes and the second tubes, thereby exchanging heat between the gas and the fluid in the first tubes and the second tubes; and

(d) recovering the fluid at a second temperature from the first outlet header and the second outlet header.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

(i) the fluid is an engine coolant fluid comprising water and a glycol;

(ii) the gas is air; and

(iii) the first temperature of the fluid is higher than the second temperature of the fluid.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

(i) the heat exchanger apparatus is mounted in an engine compartment of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a vehicle engine mounted in the engine compartment and an engine cooling system in fluid communication with the vehicle engine;

(ii) the first and second heat exchangers of the heat exchanger apparatus are in fluid communication with the engine cooling system; and

(iii) part (d) further comprises cooling the vehicle engine with the fluid recovered at the second temperature.

17. A motorized vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle body having (i) a front end, (ii) a rear end, and (iii) an engine compartment disposed toward the front end;

(b) a vehicle engine mounted in the engine compartment;

(c) an engine cooling system mounted to the vehicle body and in fluid communication with the vehicle engine;

(d) optionally, an air conditioning system mounted to the vehicle body;

(e) a heat exchanger apparatus according to claim 7 mounted in the engine compartment and located to receive an external convective cooling air flow when the motorized vehicle moves in a forward direction;

wherein;

(i) the first and second heat exchangers of the heat exchanger apparatus are in fluid communication with the engine cooling system; and

(ii) the third heat exchanger of the heat exchanger apparatus, when present, is in fluid communication with the air conditioning system.

18. The motorized vehicle of claim 17, wherein the motorized vehicle is an armored fighting vehicle (AFV).

19. The motorized vehicle of claim 17, wherein the motorized vehicle is a wheeled armored fighting vehicle (AFV).

20. The motorized vehicle of claim 17, wherein the motorized vehicle has a vehicle weight of at least 5,000 lb.

21. The motorized vehicle of claim 17, wherein the heat exchanger apparatus is capable of maintaining the vehicle engine at an engine temperature less than 250°

F. when external cooling air has an ambient temperature up to 130°

F.

22. The motorized vehicle of claim 17, wherein the heat exchanger apparatus is capable of maintaining the vehicle engine at an engine temperature less than 195°

F. when external cooling air has an ambient temperature up to 130°

F. and the motorized vehicle has a test weight of about 10,000 lb.

23. The motorized vehicle of claim 17, wherein the heat exchanger apparatus has a cooling capacity for engine coolant fluid ranging from about 100,000 BTU/hr to about 500,000 BTU/hr.

24. The motorized vehicle of claim 17, wherein the heat exchanger apparatus has a specific cooling capacity for engine coolant fluid ranging from about 200 BTU/(hr·

in²) to about 2,000 BTU/(hr·

in²) relative to a cross-sectional area available for cooling air flow and substantially perpendicular to the cooling air flow direction during use.

25. The motorized vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a shroud mounted on a downstream air side of the heat exchanger apparatus.