Heat exchanger and method for making
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsNatalie B. Levings, Nicholas J. Nagurny, Michael R. Eller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid plate-fin heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a first fluid and a second fluid is disclosed. The hybrid plate-fin heat exchanger comprises a plurality of plates, each of which comprises channels for conveying the first fluid. Fins are brazed onto each plate, wherein the fins define a plurality of flow channels for the second fluid. The plates are joined to one another via friction-stir welding in such a way that the brazed regions are fluidically isolated from the first fluid during operation. As a result, the heat exchanger is suitable for use in applications that use a first fluid, such as seawater or geothermal fluid, which is corrosive for the brazed regions.
Claims17
A heat exchanger comprising:
- a first core having a first end and a second end, wherein the first core comprises;
- a first layer comprising a first channel having a first channel inlet at the first end and a first channel outlet at the second end for conveying a first fluid from the first channel inlet to the first channel outlet;
- and
- a second layer comprising a plurality of fins that define a first plurality of second channels, wherein the second layer is brazed to the first layer;
- a first plate disposed at and surrounding the first channel inlet of the first layer of the first core, wherein the first plate and the first layer are joined via a first joint that is a galvanic-corrosion-resistant joint consisting of a same material as the first plate and the first layer;
- and
- a second plate disposed at and surrounding the first channel outlet of the first layer of the first core, wherein the second plate and the first layer are joined via a second joint that is a galvanic-corrosion-resistant joint consisting of a same material as the second plate and the second layer.
A heat exchanger comprising:
- a first core having a first end and a second end, comprising:
- a first plurality of first layers, wherein each of the first plurality of first layers comprises a first channel having a first channel inlet at the first end and a first channel outlet at the second end configured to convey a first fluid from the first channel inlet to the first channel outlet;
- a first plurality of second layers, wherein each of the first plurality of second layers comprises a plurality of fins that define a first plurality of second channels, and wherein each of the first plurality of second layers is brazed to at least one of the first plurality of first layers;
- wherein the first plurality of first layers and the first plurality of second layers are arranged in an alternating stack;
- a first port disposed at the first end of the first core, wherein the first port provides the first fluid to the first core;
- and
- a first plate disposed at and surrounding the first channel inlets of the first channels of the first plurality of layers, wherein the first plurality of first layers of the first core and the first plate are joined via a first joint that comprises a friction-stir weld devoid of brazing material, and wherein the first plate and first joint collectively define a barrier that fluidically isolates the first port and the first plurality of second layers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.