Heat exchanger with radially converging manifold
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsGabriel Ruiz, Ahmet T. Becene, Thomas J. Ocken
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat exchanger manifold configured to receive or discharge a first fluid includes a primary fluid channel and a plurality of secondary fluid channels. The primary fluid channel includes a fluid port and a first branched region distal to the fluid port. The plurality of secondary fluid channels are fluidly connected to the primary fluid channel at the first branched region. Each of the plurality of secondary fluid channels includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end. Each of the plurality of secondary fluid channels extends radially from the first branched region at the first end and has an equal length from a center of the first branched region to the second end.
Claims20
A heat exchanger manifold configured to receive or discharge a first fluid, the manifold comprising:
- a primary fluid channel, the primary fluid channel comprising:
- a fluid port;
- and
- a first branched region distal to the fluid port;
- and
- secondary fluid channels fluidly connected to the primary fluid channel at the first branched region, each of the secondary fluid channels comprising:
- a first end connected to the primary fluid channel;
- and
- a second end opposite the first end;
- wherein the primary fluid channel is symmetric about a first axis and an arrangement of secondary fluid channels is symmetric about a second common axis that forms a non-zero angle with the first axis.
A heat exchanger comprising:
- an inlet manifold configured to receive a first fluid, the inlet manifold comprising:
- a primary fluid channel, the primary fluid channel comprising:
- a fluid inlet;
- and
- a first branched region distal to the fluid inlet;
- and
- secondary fluid channels fluidly connected to the primary fluid channel at the first branched region, each of the secondary fluid channels comprising:
- a first end connected to the primary fluid channel;
- and
- a second end opposite the first end;
- a core in fluid communication with the inlet manifold;
- and
- an outlet manifold in fluid communication with the core, the outlet manifold comprising:
- a primary fluid channel, the primary fluid channel comprising:
- a fluid outlet;
- and
- a first branched region distal to the fluid outlet;
- and
- secondary fluid channels fluidly connected to the primary fluid channel at the first branched region, each of the secondary fluid channels comprising:
- a first end connected to the primary fluid channel;
- and
- a second end opposite the first end;
- wherein the primary fluid channel of the inlet manifold and of the outlet manifold are each symmetric about a respective first axis and arrangements of secondary fluid channels of the inlet manifold and of the outlet manifold are each symmetric about a respective second common axis that forms a non-zero angle with the corresponding first axis.
A method of additively manufacturing a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- forming a core of the heat exchanger;
- additively building a branching tubular network of a first manifold of the heat exchanger, the branching tubular network comprising:
- a primary fluid channel connected to a first branched region;
- secondary fluid channels fluidly connected to the primary fluid channel at the first branched region, each of the secondary fluid channels comprising:
- a first end connected to the primary fluid channel;
- and
- a second end opposite the first end;
- and
- tertiary fluid channels fluidly connected to each of the secondary channels at a respective second branched region that is adjacent to the second end of a respective one of the secondary fluid channels;
- wherein the primary fluid channel is symmetric about a first axis, an arrangement of secondary fluid channels is symmetric about a second common axis, and the second common axis forms a non-zero angle with the first axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.