Heat exchanger

• US 9,897,383 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Yesin, Berk, Agostini, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Len
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alvare, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/196,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20090056916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,469 Days
• Field of Search: 165 802- 804, 16510421, 165153
• 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

An exemplary heat exchanger is configured for removing heat energy from a heat generator. The heat exchanger including 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 includes 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) a plurality of conduits for a working fluid arranged in an upright position of at least 45°

, each conduit having;

a1) an exterior wall and

a2) at least one interior wall forming at least one evaporator channel and at least one condenser channel within the conduit, such that the at least one evaporator channel is structurally separated from the at least one condenser channel within the conduit by the at least one interior wall;

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

c) a second heat transfer element for transferring heat out of the at least one condenser channel, the second heat transfer element being disposed only on a portion of the exterior wall, said portion of the exterior wall directly contacting the at least one condenser channel;

wherein the at least one condenser channel of each conduit extends from a first distribution manifold located on one end of the heat exchanger to a second distribution manifold located on an opposing end of the heat exchanger; and

wherein the first heat transfer element is spaced apart from the portion of the exterior wall that directly contacts the at least one condenser channel; and

the plurality of conduits are in fluid connection with one another at each end of the heat exchanger via the first and second distribution manifolds, wherein the at least one evaporator channel and at least one condenser channel are aligned in parallel in the plurality of conduits.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of conduits are arranged in a vertical position.

3. 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 at least one evaporator channel.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, 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 the portion of the exterior wall of the conduit associated with the at least one evaporator channel.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein each conduit is at least one of a flat tube having planar exterior sidewalls and is made of Aluminum.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the evaporator channel has a larger cross-sectional area than the at least one condenser channel and the at least one condenser channel has more inner surface area than the at least one evaporator channel.

7. 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.

8. 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 at least one evaporator channel.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the second heat transfer element comprises cooling fins provided on a portion of the exterior wall of the conduit associated with the at least one condenser channel.

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein each conduit is at least one of a flat tube having planar exterior sidewalls and is made of Aluminum.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the at least one of the evaporator channel has a larger cross-sectional area than the at least one condenser channel and the at least one condenser channel has more inner surface area than the at least one evaporator channel.

12. 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.

13. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the first heat transfer element comprises heating fins provided on a portion of the exterior wall of the conduit associated with the at least one evaporator channel.

14. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, comprising:

wherein the first and the second distribution manifolds comprises a round header tube.

15. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the at least one evaporator channel is provided for guiding the working fluid towards an upper one of the distribution manifolds, and wherein the at least one condenser channel is provided for guiding the working fluid towards a lower one of the first and the second distribution manifolds.

16. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the conduits are arranged such that a stream of cooling air flowing through the heat exchanger contacts the at least one condenser channel prior to the at least one evaporator channel.

17. A heat-exchange arrangement comprising:

a plurality of conduits for a working fluid, each conduit having an exterior wall and at least one interior wall forming at least one evaporator channel and at least one condenser channel within the conduit, such that the at least one evaporator channel is structurally separated from the at least one condenser channel within the conduit by the at least one interior wall;

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

a second heat transfer element connected to the each conduit for transferring heat out of the at least one condenser channel, the second heat transfer element being disposed only on a portion of the exterior wall, said portion of the exterior wall directly contacting the at least one condenser channel;

wherein the at least one condenser channel of each conduit extends from a first distribution manifold located on one end of the heat exchanger to a second distribution manifold located on an opposing end of the heat exchanger; and

wherein the first heat transfer element is spaced apart from the portion of the exterior wall that directly contacts the at least one condenser channel; and

the plurality of conduits are in fluid connection with one another at each end of the heat exchanger via the first and second distribution manifolds,

wherein the at least one evaporator channel and at least one condenser channel are aligned in parallel in the plurality of conduits.

18. The heat-exchange arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the arrangement removes heat energy from a heat generator.

19. The heat-exchange arrangement according to claim 17, comprising:

wherein the first and the second distribution manifolds comprises a round header tube.