Heat exchangers and methods of manufacturing the same
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorJeffrey Douglas Rambo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger is provided. The method includes forming a first substrate by additively manufacturing a body defining a first outer surface and a second outer surface opposite the first outer surface, a first partial fluid flow channel formed within the first outer surface, a second partial fluid flow channel formed within the second outer surface, and at least one internal fluid flow channel completely formed within the body, and coupling the first substrate to a second substrate including a partial fluid flow channel formed within a surface of the second substrate such that the first partial fluid flow channel of the first substrate and the partial fluid flow channel of the second substrate combine to form a combined fluid flow channel.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger, comprising:
- forming a first substrate by additively manufacturing a body defining a first outer surface and a second outer surface opposite the first outer surface, a first partial fluid flow channel formed within the first outer surface, a second partial fluid flow channel formed within the second outer surface, and at least one internal fluid flow channel completely formed within the body;
- and
- coupling the first substrate to a second substrate comprising a partial fluid flow channel formed within a surface of the second substrate such that the first partial fluid flow channel of the first substrate and the partial fluid flow channel of the second substrate combine to form a combined fluid flow channel.
A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger comprising:
- forming a supporting substrate layer comprising a body defining a first outer surface and a second outer surface opposite the first outer surface;
- forming a first plurality of erect fins extending from the first outer surface of the supporting substrate layer;
- forming two or more attachment walls extending from the first outer surface of the supporting substrate layer a distance greater than the first plurality of erect fins;
- forming a non-supporting substrate layer comprising a body defining a first outer surface and a second outer surface opposite the first outer surface;
- forming a second plurality of erect fins extending from the first outer surface of the non-supporting substrate layer;
- and
- mounting the non-supporting substrate layer to the supporting substrate layer such that the two or more attachment walls engage the first outer surface of the non-supporting substrate layer and each adjacent fin of the first plurality of erect fins are separated by a fin of the second plurality of erect fins.
A heat exchanger comprising:
- a supporting substrate layer comprising a body defining:
- a first outer surface and a second outer surface opposite the first outer surface;
- a first plurality of erect fins extending from the first outer surface of the supporting substrate layer;
- and
- two or more attachment walls extending from the first outer surface of the supporting substrate layer a distance greater than the first plurality of erect fins;
- and
- a non-supporting substrate layer comprising a body defining:
- a first outer surface and a second outer surface opposite the first outer surface;
- and
- a second plurality of erect fins extending from the first outer surface of the non-supporting substrate layer;
- wherein the first outer surface of the non-supporting substrate layer is bonded to the two or more attachment walls of the supporting substrate layer and each adjacent fin of the first plurality of erect fins are separated by a fin of the second plurality of erect fins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.