U.S. patent application number 13/227790 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-14 for system and method for exchanging heat.
This patent application is currently assigned to Thermo-Pur Technologies, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Alexander Belokon, Vladimir Beschastnykh, Victor Kent, Mykhaylo Sinkevych. Invention is credited to Alexander Belokon, Vladimir Beschastnykh, Victor Kent, Mykhaylo Sinkevych.
Application Number | 20130062039 13/227790 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47828776 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130062039 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kent; Victor ; et
al. |
March 14, 2013 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXCHANGING HEAT
Abstract
A system for exchanging heat includes a plurality of adjacent
envelopes, wherein each envelope defines a plurality of volumes. A
connection between adjacent envelopes provides fluid communication
between the volumes in adjacent envelopes, and a fluid passage
outside of the envelopes and defined by adjacent envelopes extends
across a dimension of the system. A method for exchanging heat
includes flowing a plurality of secondary fluids through a
plurality of volumes in adjacent envelopes, wherein each secondary
fluid flows through a separate volume in each envelope. The method
further includes flowing a primary fluid through a plurality of
channels outside of the adjacent envelopes and defined by the
adjacent envelopes.
Inventors: |
Kent; Victor; (Spartanburg,
SC) ; Sinkevych; Mykhaylo; (Moscow, RU) ;
Belokon; Alexander; (Moscow, RU) ; Beschastnykh;
Vladimir; (Moscow, RU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kent; Victor
Sinkevych; Mykhaylo
Belokon; Alexander
Beschastnykh; Vladimir |
Spartanburg
Moscow
Moscow
Moscow |
SC |
US
RU
RU
RU |
|
|
Assignee: |
Thermo-Pur Technologies,
LLC
Greenville
SC
|
Family ID: |
47828776 |
Appl. No.: |
13/227790 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/109.1 ;
165/164 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 1/0333 20130101;
F28F 3/046 20130101; F28D 1/0435 20130101; F28D 1/05358 20130101;
F28D 2021/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/109.1 ;
165/164 |
International
Class: |
F28F 13/12 20060101
F28F013/12 |
Claims
1. A system for exchanging heat, comprising: a. a plurality of
adjacent envelopes, wherein each envelope defines a plurality of
volumes; b. a connection between adjacent envelopes that provides
fluid communication between the volumes in adjacent envelopes; and
c. a fluid passage outside of the envelopes and defined by adjacent
envelopes, wherein the fluid passage extends across a dimension of
the system.
2. The system as in claim 1, wherein each envelope includes a first
section joined to a second section to define each volume in each
envelope.
3. The system as in claim 1, wherein adjacent volumes in each
envelope are arranged parallel to flow through the fluid
passage.
4. The system as in claim 1, wherein adjacent volumes in each
envelope are arranged perpendicular to flow through the fluid
passage.
5. The system as in claim 1, wherein a first volume in each
envelope is substantially surrounded by a second volume in each
envelope.
6. The system as in claim 1, wherein each envelope includes a
corrugated surface.
7. The system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of adjacent
envelopes defines a supply header and an exhaust header for each
volume.
8. A system for exchanging heat, comprising: a. a plurality of
envelopes arranged in layers, wherein each envelope defines a
plurality of volumes; and b. a channel between adjacent envelopes,
wherein the channel provides fluid communication across a dimension
of the system.
9. The system as in claim 8, further comprising a connection
between adjacent envelopes that provides fluid communication
between the volumes in adjacent envelopes.
10. The system as in claim 8, wherein each envelope includes a
first section joined to a second section and a seal between the
first and second sections defines each volume in each envelope.
11. The system as in claim 8, wherein the plurality of volumes in
each envelope is arranged parallel to flow through the plurality of
channels.
12. The system as in claim 8, wherein the plurality of volumes in
each envelope is arranged perpendicular to flow through the
plurality of channels.
13. The system as in claim 8, wherein a first volume in each
envelope is substantially surrounded by a second volume in each
envelope.
14. The system as in claim 8, wherein each envelope includes a
turbulator.
15. The system as in claim 8, wherein the plurality of envelopes
defines a supply header and an exhaust header for each volume.
16. A method for exchanging heat, comprising: a. flowing a
plurality of secondary fluids through a plurality of volumes in
adjacent envelopes, wherein each secondary fluid flows through a
separate volume in each envelope; and b. flowing a primary fluid
through a plurality of channels outside of the adjacent envelopes
and defined by the adjacent envelopes.
17. The method as in claim 16, further comprising flowing the
plurality of secondary fluids through the plurality of volumes,
wherein the plurality of volumes in each envelope is arranged
parallel to flow through the channels.
18. The method as in claim 16, further comprising flowing the
plurality of secondary fluids through the plurality of volumes,
wherein the plurality of volumes in each envelope is arranged
perpendicular to flow through the channels.
19. The method as in claim 16, further comprising flowing a first
secondary fluid through a first volume, wherein the first volume is
surrounded by a second volume containing a second secondary fluid.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally involves a system and method
for exchanging heat. In particular embodiments, the system and
method will enable an ambient fluid to simultaneously exchange heat
with multiple system fluids flowing through a single heat
exchanger.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many types of heat exchangers exist for transferring heat
between fluid systems. For example, a heat exchanger of some type
is included in almost every power generation device, ventilation,
and water system used in the developed world, and virtually every
automobile, truck, boat, aircraft, or other machine having a
combustion engine, a pneumatic system, a hydraulic system, or other
heat generating component includes at least one heat exchanger. In
some applications, multiple heat exchangers may be used to exchange
heat with multiple fluids, including air and gases. For example, an
engine compartment of an automobile may include one heat exchanger
to cool radiator fluid, a second heat exchanger to cool
transmission fluid, and a third heat exchanger to cool refrigerant
associated with an air conditioner. As another example, turbo
diesel engine vehicles may include heat exchangers to cool and/or
heat exhaust gases for better gas mileage or generation of electric
power with a separate heat exchanger for an intercooler, exhaust
gas recirculator, and/or turbo-electric generator. Larger vehicles
may include additional heat exchangers to cool other hydraulic
fluids, compressed air, or auxiliary systems. Each separate heat
exchanger requires a separate footprint that occupies the finite
available space in the engine compartment, increases manufacturing
and maintenance costs, and adds to the overall weight of the
vehicle. In addition, many heat exchangers have a generally
accepted best location identified where this cooling and/or heating
should take place based on the general design considerations and/or
velocity of the air flow for heat exchange.
[0003] Various attempts have been made to reduce the costs
associated with multiple heat exchangers by developing a single
heat exchanger capable of exchanging heat with multiple fluids. For
example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,462,113 and 5,964,114 describe
multi-fluid heat exchangers that include a series of stacked
plates. The stacked plates are arranged and sealed to produce
multiple fluid passages inside the stacked assembly, and a
different fluid may be supplied through each fluid passage to
exchange heat with the other fluids flowing inside the stacked
assembly. Although suitable for exchanging heat between the
multiple fluids, these stacked assemblies do not allow or severely
limit the surface area of the heat exchanger that is exposed to
ambient fluids, such as air or water. As a result, these
multi-fluid heat exchangers are unable to take full advantage of
the relatively unlimited ambient heat removal that is generally
available. Therefore, an improved heat exchanger that can more
effectively utilize ambient fluids to remove heat from multiple
system fluids would be useful.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Aspects and advantages of the invention are circuit forth
below in the following description, or may be obvious from the
description, or may be learned through practice of the
invention.
[0005] One embodiment of the present invention is a system for
exchanging heat. The system includes a plurality of adjacent
envelopes, wherein each envelope defines a plurality of volumes. A
connection between adjacent envelopes provides fluid communication
between the volumes in adjacent envelopes, and a fluid passage
outside of the envelopes and defined by adjacent envelopes extends
across a dimension of the system.
[0006] Another embodiment of the present invention is a system for
exchanging heat that includes a plurality of envelopes arranged in
layers, wherein each envelope defines a plurality of volumes. A
channel between adjacent envelopes provides fluid communication
across a dimension of the system.
[0007] The present invention may also include a method for
exchanging heat that includes flowing a plurality of secondary
fluids through a plurality of volumes in adjacent envelopes,
wherein each secondary fluid flows through a separate volume in
each envelope. The method further includes flowing a primary fluid
through a plurality of channels outside of the adjacent envelopes
and defined by the adjacent envelopes.
[0008] Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate
the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon
review of the specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set
forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification,
including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system according to one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary envelope shown in
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a single envelope according
to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and
[0013] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of multiple envelopes
stacked according to an alternate embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Reference will now be made in detail to present embodiments
of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. The detailed description uses numerical
and letter designations to refer to features in the drawings. Like
or similar designations in the drawings and description have been
used to refer to like or similar parts of the invention.
[0015] Each example is provided by way of explanation of the
invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention without departing
from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on
another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention covers such modifications and
variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
[0016] Various embodiments of the present invention provide a
system and method that allows an ambient fluid to simultaneously
exchange heat with multiple system fluids flowing through a single
heat exchanger. The systems and methods described herein may
transfer heat to or from the ambient fluid. In particular
embodiments, each system fluid flows through a dedicated volume or
chamber inside the heat exchanger, and each dedicated volume or
chamber has a surface exposed to the ambient fluid to exchange heat
with the ambient fluid. Although particular embodiments of the
present invention may be described in the context of an automobile,
truck, or other vehicle, one of ordinary skill in the art will
readily appreciate that the present invention is not limited to any
particular application and may be suitably adapted for use in any
application requiring the transfer of heat between fluids.
[0017] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a system 10 according
to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the system 10
generally includes a plurality of envelopes 12 stacked on top of
one another or arranged in layers to form a heat exchanger core 14.
Each envelope 12 defines a plurality of volumes or cavities, and
each volume or cavity includes an inlet and an outlet. For example,
in the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 1, each envelope 12
defines five separate volumes 16, 18, 20, 22, 24. Each volume has
an associated inlet and outlet, indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1,
to provide five separate pathways for five separate system fluids
to flow into and through the heat exchanger core 14.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the layers of envelopes 12 define a
fluid passage or channel 26 outside of and between adjacent
envelopes 12. The multiple fluid passages or channels 26 extend
across a dimension of the system 10. In this manner, a flow of
ambient fluid 28, such as air or water, may flow through the fluid
passages or channels 26 and around the layers of envelopes 12 to
exchange heat with the system fluids flowing through the envelopes
12.
[0019] FIG. 2 provides an exploded view of an exemplary envelope 12
shown in FIG. 1. As shown, each envelope 12 generally includes a
first section 30 joined to a second section 32 to define each
volume in the envelope 12. For example, one or more weld beads,
braze joints, or other impermeable barriers between the first and
second sections 30, 32 may provide a seal 34 that defines each
volume in each envelope 12. As shown in FIG. 2, adjacent volumes in
each envelope 12 (e.g., volumes 18, 20, and 22) may be arranged
parallel to the flow of ambient fluid 28 through the fluid passages
or channels 26. Alternately, or in addition, adjacent volumes in
each envelope 12 (e.g., volumes 16 and 18 or 22 and 24) may be
arranged perpendicular to the flow of ambient fluid 28 through the
fluid passages or channels 26. As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the first and/or second sections 30, 32 may include a corrugated
surface 36 and/or turbulators to disrupt the laminar fluid flow
inside the envelopes 12 and/or through the fluid passages 26.
[0020] The particular materials, dimensions, shapes, and number of
envelopes 12, corrugations, and turbulators will vary according to
the particular application. For example, aluminum, copper,
stainless steel, nickel, titanium, and other conductive metals,
alloys, and superalloys provide suitable materials for the first
and second sections 30, 32. The first and second sections 30, 32
may have a thickness of approximately 0.05-0.3 millimeters, and the
corrugations or turbulators (if present) may have a height of
approximately 2.5-10 millimeters. Alternately, the height of the
corrugations or turbulators may be approximately 1/2 of the total
thickness of an individual envelope 12. In still further
embodiments, the height of the corrugations or turbulators may be
less than 1/2 of the total thickness of an individual envelope 12
to produce larger fluid passages or channels 26 between adjacent
envelopes 12. Each heat exchanger core 14 may include 100-500
layers of envelopes 12, or more or fewer layers of envelopes 12 if
desired. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate
that the particular materials, dimensions, shapes, and number of
envelopes 12, corrugations, and turbulators are not limitations of
the present invention unless specifically recited in the
claims.
[0021] FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of an exemplary envelope
12 according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
In this particular embodiment, the envelope 12 includes two
distinct volumes 16, 18, and one volume (i.e., volume 16)
substantially surrounds the second volume (i.e., volume 18). This
particular arrangement may be used, for example, to regulate the
exit temperatures of the system fluids flowing through the first
and second volumes 16, 18.
[0022] FIG. 4 provides a partial perspective view of multiple
envelopes 12 stacked together according to an alternate embodiment.
As shown, a flange 40, lip, or other suitable structure coincident
with the respective inlets and outlets for each volume may provide
a connection between adjacent envelopes 12 that provides fluid
communication between the volumes in adjacent envelopes 12. The
adjacent and connected inlets and outlets may thus define a supply
header 42 and an exhaust header 44, respectively, for each volume.
Each system fluid may thus flow into a separate supply header 42,
through the associated volume, and out the associated exhaust
header 44. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 4, one or
more of the corrugated surfaces 36 may be formed from substantially
circular corrugations, and in some applications a weld seam placed
at the troughs of corrugations, to increase the pressure capability
of the associated volume. As a result, separate fluids having
various system pressures may flow through the various volumes, and
the flow of ambient fluid 28 through the fluid passages or channels
26 outside of and between the adjacent envelopes 12 exchanges heat
with the system fluids flowing through the envelopes 12.
[0023] The various embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 may also provide
a method for exchanging heat that includes flowing multiple
secondary fluids through multiple volumes in adjacent envelopes 12,
wherein each secondary fluid flows through a separate volume in
each envelope 12. The method may further include flowing a primary
fluid, such as ambient air or water, through multiple fluid
passages or channels 26 outside of the adjacent envelopes 12 and
defined by the adjacent envelopes 12. In particular embodiments,
the method may include flowing the secondary fluids through the
volumes parallel to and/or perpendicular to flow through the fluid
passages or channels 26. In other particular embodiments, the
method may include flowing a first secondary fluid through a first
volume, wherein the first volume is surrounded by a second volume
containing a second secondary fluid.
[0024] The various systems and methods described herein thus enable
heat transfer to or from the ambient fluid to multiple secondary or
system fluids in a single heat exchanger core 14. As a result, the
single heat exchanger core 14 may replace multiple heat exchangers
to reduce the footprint and/or weight of the multiple heat
exchangers, change the location of the heat exchangers, and/or
reduce manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance costs associated
with the multiple heat exchangers.
[0025] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated
methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope
of the claims if they include structural elements that do not
differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from
the literal languages of the claims.
* * * * *