Heat Exchanger with Pressure and Thermal Stain Management
AssigneeBrayton Energy, LLC
InventorsJames S. Nash, James B. Kesseli, Antoine H. Corbeil
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Abstract
A heat exchange device of a type for affecting an exchange of heat between a first and second fluid is characterized by a plurality of heat exchange cells in a stacked arrangement and defining first, second and third manifolds. In certain aspects, an apparatus and method for reinforcing the heat exchange device against pressure loads while accommodating thermal expansion of the outlet manifold are provided.
Claims20
A heat exchange device for effecting a transfer of heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, said heat exchange device comprising a plurality of heat exchange cells in a stacked arrangement, said heat exchange device defining a first manifold, a second manifold, and a third manifold disposed intermediate the first and second manifolds, each of said heat exchange cells comprising:
- an upper cell plate having an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface opposite the exterior facing surface, said upper cell plate having a first upper manifold aperture, a second upper manifold aperture, a third upper manifold aperture, and an upper peripheral edge bounding said upper cell plate;
- a lower cell plate having an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface opposite the exterior facing surface, said lower cell plate having a first lower manifold aperture, a second lower manifold aperture, a third lower manifold aperture, and a lower peripheral edge bounding said lower cell plate;
- said lower cell plate juxtaposed with said upper cell plate so that the first lower manifold aperture is aligned with the first upper manifold aperture, the second lower manifold aperture is aligned with the second upper manifold aperture, and the third lower manifold aperture is aligned with the third upper manifold aperture;
- the upper peripheral edge joined to the lower peripheral edge to define a cell peripheral edge;
- the interior facing surface of the upper cell plate facing and spaced apart from the interior facing surface of the lower cell plate to define a first interior volume extending between the first manifold the third manifold and a second interior volume extending between the second manifold and the third manifold;
- said first interior volume having a first cell inlet and a first cell outlet and defining a first fluid passageway for the first fluid between the first cell inlet and the first cell outlet;
- said second interior volume having a second cell inlet and a second cell outlet and defining a second fluid passageway for the first fluid between the second cell inlet and the second cell outlet;
- a first heat transfer matrix positioned within said first interior volume, a second heat transfer matrix positioned within said second interior volume, a third heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of said upper cell plate between said first upper manifold aperture and said third upper manifold aperture, a fourth heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of said upper cell plate between said second upper manifold aperture and said third upper manifold aperture, a fifth heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of the lower cell plate between said first lower manifold aperture and said third lower manifold aperture, and a sixth heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of the lower cell plate between said second lower manifold aperture and said third lower manifold aperture;
- a first upper manifold ring on the exterior surface of the upper cell plate and circumscribing the first upper manifold aperture;
- a second upper manifold ring on the exterior surface of the upper cell plate and circumscribing the second upper manifold aperture;
- a third outlet manifold ring attached to the exterior surface of the upper plate and circumscribing the third upper manifold aperture;
- a first lower manifold ring attached to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the first lower manifold aperture;
- a second lower manifold ring attached to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the second lower manifold aperture;
- and
- a third lower manifold ring attached to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the third lower manifold aperture.
A method of reinforcing a heat exchange device of a type comprising a plurality of heat exchange cells in a stacked arrangement and defining first and second manifolds and a third manifold intermediate the first and second manifolds, each of said manifolds having a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end, said method comprising:
- reinforcing the first and second manifolds to prevent gross distortion of the first and second manifolds when the first and second manifolds are subjected to a pressure load;
- coupling a first end of a lateral beam to the closed end of the first manifold and coupling a second end of the lateral beam to the closed end of the second manifold, such that the closed end bears against the lateral beam at a position intermediate the first and second ends of the lateral beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.