U.S. patent application number 15/973709 was filed with the patent office on 2019-11-14 for swirling feed tube for heat exchanger.
The applicant listed for this patent is United Technologies Corporation. Invention is credited to Corey D. Anderson, Lauryn M. Curtis, Jeremy Styborski.
Application Number | 20190346216 15/973709 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66448474 |
Filed Date | 2019-11-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190346216 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anderson; Corey D. ; et
al. |
November 14, 2019 |
SWIRLING FEED TUBE FOR HEAT EXCHANGER
Abstract
In a featured embodiment, a heat exchanger assembly includes an
inlet manifold defining an expanding area in a direction of flow;
and an inlet in flow communication with the inlet manifold, the
inlet including a wall for inducing a rotational inertia to flow
entering the inlet manifold.
Inventors: |
Anderson; Corey D.; (East
Hartford, CT) ; Styborski; Jeremy; (East Hartford,
CT) ; Curtis; Lauryn M.; (Manchester, CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
United Technologies Corporation |
Farmington |
CT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
66448474 |
Appl. No.: |
15/973709 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 9/0273 20130101;
F28F 9/0263 20130101; F28F 9/0265 20130101; F28F 13/06 20130101;
F28F 2009/029 20130101; F28F 13/12 20130101; F28F 9/0268
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28F 9/02 20060101
F28F009/02 |
Claims
1. A heat exchanger assembly comprising: an inlet manifold defining
an expanding area in a direction of flow; and an inlet in flow
communication with the inlet manifold, the inlet including a wall
for inducing a rotational inertia to flow entering the inlet
manifold.
2. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the
inlet comprises a constant cross-sectional area over an inlet
length prior to the inlet manifold.
3. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the
inlet comprises a pipe and the wall comprises a plurality of walls
spirally arranged within the inlet length.
4. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the
pipe is round and includes an inner surface and the plurality of
walls are disposed transverse to the inner surface.
5. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the
plurality of walls include a height and the height is less than a
width of the pipe.
6. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the
plurality of walls extend across a width of the pipe and define
separate channels.
7. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the
plurality of walls are continuous for the entire inlet length.
8. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the
plurality of walls are intermittently arranged for at least a
portion of the inlet length.
9. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein a
density of walls is uniform for the entire inlet length.
10. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein a
density of walls varies within the inlet length.
11. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 3, including a
distance between the plurality of walls in a direction parallel to
a longitudinal axis and an angle of the walls relative to the
longitudinal axis and a swirl induced into the inlet flow is
determined by a combination of the distance between the plurality
of walls and the angle.
12. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein at
least one of the distance between the plurality of walls and angle
of the plurality of walls varies over a length of the inlet.
13. A heat exchanger assembly comprising: an inlet manifold
defining an increasing flow area; a plate fin heat exchanger plate
including a first end in flow communication with the inlet manifold
and including a plurality of inlet openings arranged across an
inlet width; an inlet communicating flow to the inlet manifold
including a means for inducing a spiral flow for spreading flow
through the inlet manifold across the inlet width.
14. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the
inlet includes a uniform cross-sectional flow area over an inlet
length.
15. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein
inlet comprises a pipe and the means for introducing a spiral
inertial comprises a plurality of walls spirally arranged and
extending from an interior surface of the pipe within the inlet
length.
16. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the
plurality of walls include a height from the inner surface and the
height that is less than a width of the pipe.
17. The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the
plurality of walls extend define separate channels within the
inlet.
18. A method of assembling a heat exchanger assembly comprising:
forming an inlet manifold to include an expanding flow area;
attaching the inlet manifold to a plate fin heat exchanger that
includes a plurality of openings disposed across an inlet width;
forming an inlet to include a constant flow area and a spiral flow
inducing means; and attaching the inlet to the inlet manifold for
spreading flow entering the inlet manifold across inlet width.
19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the spiral flow
inducing means comprises a plurality walls extending inward from an
inner surface that are arranged in a spiral along an inlet
length.
20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one of a
distance between the plurality of walls in a direction common with
a longitudinal axis of the inlet and an angle of the plurality of
walls relative to the longitudinal axis is defined to induce a
defined swirl component into the flow entering the inlet manifold.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] A heat exchanger includes adjacent flow paths that transfer
heat from a hot flow to a cooling flow. The flow paths are defined
by a combination of plates and fins that are arranged to transfer
heat from one flow to another flow. Thermal gradients present in
the sheet material create stresses that can be very high in certain
locations. Increasing temperatures and pressures can result in
stresses on the structure that can exceed material and assembly
capabilities.
[0002] Turbine engine manufactures utilize heat exchangers
throughout the engine to cool and condition airflow for cooling and
other operational needs. Improvements to turbine engines have
enabled increases in operational temperatures and pressures. The
increases in temperatures and pressures improve engine efficiency
but also increase demands on all engine components including heat
exchangers.
[0003] Turbine engine manufacturers continue to seek further
improvements to engine performance including improvements to
thermal, transfer and propulsive efficiencies.
SUMMARY
[0004] In a featured embodiment, a heat exchanger assembly includes
an inlet manifold defining an expanding area in a direction of
flow; and an inlet in flow communication with the inlet manifold,
the inlet including a wall for inducing a rotational inertia to
flow entering the inlet manifold.
[0005] In another embodiment according to the previous embodiment,
the inlet comprises a constant cross-sectional area over an inlet
length prior to the inlet manifold.
[0006] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, the inlet comprises a pipe and the wall comprises a
plurality of walls spirally arranged within the inlet length.
[0007] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, the pipe is round and includes an inner surface and
the plurality of walls are disposed transverse to the inner
surface.
[0008] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, the plurality of walls include a height and the height
is less than a width of the pipe.
[0009] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, the plurality of walls extend across a width of the
pipe and define separate channels.
[0010] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, the plurality of walls are continuous for the entire
inlet length.
[0011] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, the plurality of walls are intermittently arranged for
at least a portion of the inlet length.
[0012] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, a density of walls is uniform for the entire inlet
length.
[0013] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, a density of walls varies within the inlet length.
[0014] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, a distance between the plurality of walls in a
direction parallel to a longitudinal axis and an angle of the walls
relative to the longitudinal axis and a swirl induced into the
inlet flow is determined by a combination of the distance between
the plurality of walls and the angle.
[0015] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, at least one of the distance between the plurality of
walls and angle of the plurality of walls varies over a length of
the inlet.
[0016] In another featured embodiment, a heat exchanger assembly
including an inlet manifold defining an increasing flow area. A
plate fin heat exchanger plate includes a first end in flow
communication with the inlet manifold and including a plurality of
inlet openings arranged across an inlet width. An inlet
communicating flow to the inlet manifold includes a means for
inducing a spiral flow for spreading flow through the inlet
manifold across the inlet width.
[0017] In another embodiment according to the previous embodiment,
the inlet includes a uniform cross-sectional flow area over an
inlet length.
[0018] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, inlet comprises a pipe and the means for introducing a
spiral inertial comprises a plurality of walls spirally arranged
and extending from an interior surface of the pipe within the inlet
length.
[0019] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, the plurality of walls include a height from the inner
surface and the height that is less than a width of the pipe.
[0020] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, the plurality of walls extend define separate channels
within the inlet.
[0021] In another featured embodiment, a method of assembling a
heat exchanger assembly includes forming an inlet manifold to
include an expanding flow area, attaching the inlet manifold to a
plate fin heat exchanger that includes a plurality of openings
disposed across an inlet width. Forming an inlet to include a
constant flow area and a spiral flow inducing means; and attaching
the inlet to the inlet manifold for spreading flow entering the
inlet manifold across inlet width.
[0022] In another embodiment according to the previous embodiment,
the spiral flow inducing means comprises a plurality walls
extending inward from an inner surface that are arranged in a
spiral along an inlet length.
[0023] In another embodiment according to any of the previous
embodiments, at least one of a distance between the plurality of
walls in a direction common with a longitudinal axis of the inlet
and an angle of the plurality of walls relative to the longitudinal
axis is defined to induce a defined swirl component into the flow
entering the inlet manifold.
[0024] Although the different examples have the specific components
shown in the illustrations, embodiments of this disclosure are not
limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use
some of the components or features from one of the examples in
combination with features or components from another one of the
examples.
[0025] These and other features disclosed herein can be best
understood from the following specification and drawings, the
following of which is a brief description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example heat exchanger.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a front view of an example plate fin heat
exchanger.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of prior art heat exchanger inlet
manifold.
[0029] FIG. 4 is schematic view of an example inlet manifold
embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 5a is a cross-section of a portion of an example inlet
pipe.
[0031] FIG. 5b is a cross-section of another portion of the example
inlet pipe.
[0032] FIG. 5c is a cross-section of another portion of the example
inlet pipe.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a side view of an interior of the example inlet
pipe.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of another example inlet pipe
embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of yet another inlet pipe
embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of still another example inlet
pipe embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 10a is a schematic view of another example inlet pipe
embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 10b is a schematic view of another example inlet pipe
embodiment.
[0039] FIG. 10c is a schematic view of another example inlet pipe
embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 11a is a cross-section through a portion of another
example inlet pipe embodiment.
[0041] FIG. 11b is a cross-section through another portion of the
example inlet pipe embodiment.
[0042] FIG. 11c is a cross-sectional of another portion of an
example inlet pipe embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an example heat exchanger 10
includes an inlet manifold 12 that feeds hot airflow 18 to a plate
fin heat exchanger 14. The plate fin heat exchanger 14 includes an
inlet end 32 attached to the inlet manifold 12 and an outlet end 34
attached to the outlet manifold 16. The hot flow 18 is communicated
through an opening 30 of an inlet pipe 22 to the inlet manifold 12
and thereby to the plate fin heat exchanger 14. A cooling airflow
20 flows over the plate fin heat exchanger 14 and accepts heat from
the hot flow 18. Outgoing hot flow 18 through the exhaust outlet
manifold 16 is of a cooler temperature than the hot flow 18 into
the inlet manifold 12.
[0044] The plate fin heat exchanger 14 includes a plurality of
internal passages schematically shown at 26 and an outer surface
including a plurality of fins 24. Each of the passages 26 is in
communication with the inlet end 32 that includes a plurality of
openings 36. The openings 36 are disposed across an inlet width 28
that is in communication with the inlet manifold 12.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 3, a typical inlet manifold 112 receives
flow from an inlet pipe 122. The flow projects into the manifold
112 and does not expand uniformly toward outer areas schematically
indicated at 125. Instead, the flow concentrates within a center
region 116 of the manifold and the corresponding center passages
126 within a heat exchanger 114. The non-uniform distribution of
flow in to the heat exchanger 114 reduces heat transfer
efficiency.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 4, with continued reference to FIGS. 1 and
2, the disclosed example inlet manifold 12 includes a first area 40
near the inlet pipe 22 and a second area 42 near the inlet end 32.
The first area 40 is much smaller than the second area 42.
Accordingly, the inlet manifold 12 includes an expanding
cross-sectional flow area in a direction towards the plate fin heat
exchanger 14 inlet end 32. The rapidly increasing flow area within
the inlet manifold 12 can cause distribution problems of flow
entering from the inlet pipe 22. Flow entering from the inlet pipe
22 will proceed towards the center most passages of the plate fin
heat exchanger 14 potentially leaving gaps of lower flow to areas
indicated schematically at 25 near the inlet end 32.
[0047] The example inlet pipe 22 includes a means for distributing
flow entering the inlet manifold 12 across the entire width 28 of
the inlet end 32. In one disclosed example illustrated in FIG. 4,
the means for distributing flow includes a plurality of walls 38 on
the inner surface of the inlet pipe 22 to induce a spiral flow to
the incoming flow to uniformly distribute flow along the inlet
width 28.
[0048] The example inlet pipe 22 includes an inlet length 44 with a
substantially constant flow area. A plurality of walls 38 that
define spiral channels 56 along the inner surface within the inlet
pipe 22 at least for the inlet length 44. The walls 38 are provided
within the inlet length 44, but may also extend throughout the
entire inlet pipe 22. The walls 38 may also be provided only within
the inlet length 44. The inlet length 44 is a length that is
predetermined to provide sufficient turns to induce the desired
spiral component to incoming hot flow 18. The walls 38 are twisted
within the inlet pipe 22 to induce a spiral flow component inlet
manifold 12. The induced spiral flow components drive flow towards
the extremes of the inlet width 28 schematically indicated at 25.
The mixing and distributions provided by the swirling flows provide
a more uniform distribution of the hot flow 18 into the plate fin
heat exchanger 14.
[0049] Referring to FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c, sections of the inlet pipe
22 are illustrated for the inlet length 44 and show the twist of
one wall section 46 at different positions about the circumference
of the inlet pipe 22. The wall section 46 spirally winds along the
inner surface of the inlet pipe 22.
[0050] Each of the walls 46 extends a height 54 from the internal
surface 48. In this example the height 54 is much less than a width
52 of the inlet pipe 22. The width 52 in the disclosed example
inlet 22 is a diameter of the inlet 22. The example inlet 22 is a
circular pipe including a circular inner surface 48. Each of the
walls 46 extend the height 54 towards the center portion of the
inlet 22. In this example each of the walls 46 are disposed
transversally at an angle 50 normal to the inner surface 48. It
should be appreciated that the walls 46 may be disposed at an angle
other than normal to provide a desired flow component into the
inlet manifold 12.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 6 with continued reference to FIGS. 5a,
5b, and 5c, circumferential spacing between the walls 46 define
channels 56 for the flow 18. The spiral round channels 56 induce a
spiral swirling component into the flow that carries forward
through the inlet manifold 12. The spiral component to the inlet
hot flow 18 drives portions of the flow toward the sides of the
inlet end 32 to more uniformly distribute flow into the heat
exchanger plate 14.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 7, an example inlet 22' includes the
example walls 46 are spaced apart to define channels 58. In this
example the walls 46 are spaced the distance 58 to provide a
defined density along the inlet length 44. The density of walls 46
within the inlet length 44 is provided to define a desired amount
of swirl into the inlet flow.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 8 another example inlet 60 is disclosed
includes spacing 64 that is greater than the spacing 58 described
in the previous embodiment. The increased spacing 64 illustrates a
different density of walls 62 within the inlet 22 to enable tuning
specific flow parameters designed to spread incoming flow across
the passages 36.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 9 another example inlet 68 is disclosed
and includes a plurality of walls 70 that are intermittent and
includes spaces 72 therebetween. The spaces 72 demonstrate that
walls 70 need not be uniform or constant throughout the entire
inlet length 44. The inlet pipe 68 includes intermittent walls 70
that provide the desired inducement of swirl into the incoming
flow.
[0055] Referring to FIGS. 10a, 10b and 10c, density is also be
changed by varying an angle 90 of the walls 92. The angle 90
defines the length that an individual wall 92 needs to rotate 360
degrees about the interior wall of the inlet pipe. The space 88
between the walls 92 is a function of the angle 90 and the number
of walls 92 within a length 95 of the inlet cross section. The
changing angle 90 enables tailoring a swirl rate of airflow through
the inlet. In the disclosed examples shown in FIGS. 10a-c, the
swirl rate is modified as function of the angle 90 and the number
of walls 92 within the length 95 of the inlet. The steeper the
angle 90, the more turns for the same length 95. Additionally,
increasing or reducing the number of walls 92 also can be tailored
to provide a desired swirl in the incoming flow.
[0056] An inlet 82 shown in FIG. 10a includes walls 92 that are a
distance 88a apart and disposed at an angle 90a relative to a
longitudinal axis A. The angle 90a and number of walls 92 for the
length 95 defines a density that is tailored to induce a predefined
swirl into the flow exiting the inlet 82. The example angle, in one
disclosed embodiment, is less than 90 degrees and more than 45
degrees. The distance 88a is a function of the angle 90a of the
walls 92 in the defined length 95.
[0057] Another inlet 84 shown in FIG. 10b includes walls 92 that
disposed at an angle 90b combined with a number of walls 92 that
provides a spacing 88b that is less than the spacing 88a shown in
FIG. 10a. The angle 90a remains the same, but increasing the number
of walls 92 decrease in the spacing 88b to provide increased swirl
for the same length 95.
[0058] A further inlet 86 shown in FIG. 10c includes an angle 90b
that is not as steep as the previous angle 90a. The number of walls
92 is reduced and therefore the distance 88c is greater than either
that shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b. The different angle 90b with a
reduced number of walls 92 provides a larger spacing 88c to induce
the desired defined swirl in the inlet flow. The swirl provided by
the walls 92 of the inlet 86 can have any number of variation of
the walls 92 and angles 90 to provide different spacings 88 to
induce different swirl in flows exiting the inlet tube.
[0059] Referring to FIGS. 11a, 11b, and 11c, another example inlet
76 is disclosed and includes a plurality walls 78 defining a
corresponding plurality of closed passages 80 that spirally wind
along the inlet length 44. The plurality of separate passages 80
induce swirl components into the incoming airflow to uniformly
spread and distribute airflow along the inlet end 32 of the plate
fin heat exchanger 14.
[0060] Accordingly, the disclosed inlet pipe induces flow
characteristics that aid in more uniformly distributing the hot
airflow throughout the passages of the heat exchanger.
[0061] Although an example embodiment has been disclosed, a worker
of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain
modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For
that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine
the scope and content of this disclosure.
* * * * *