Fluid/liquid heat exchanger with variable pitch liquid passageways and engine system using same
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorSamuel C. Nechvatal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Engineers have learned that if the temperature of coolant within a heat exchanger is raised above the coolant's boiling point by the entering hot fluid, the boiling of the coolant can cause corrosion within the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger of the present invention includes a heat exchanger body that defines a plurality of fluid passages that are operable to exchange heat with a plurality of liquid passages. At least one of the liquid passages is re-sized to include a greater cross-sectional flow area than another liquid passage. Thus, a greater amount of liquid can flow through the coolant passage with the greater cross-sectional flow area, thereby reducing the risk of boiling coolant that may cause corrosion within the coolant passage.
Claims20
A method of cooling a fluid with a heat exchanger, comprising the steps of:
- dividing coolant liquid entering a liquid inlet of the heat exchanger among a plurality of liquid passages;
- dividing hot fluid entering a fluid inlet of the heat exchanger among a plurality of fluid passages;
- sequentially exchanging heat between the hot fluid and the coolant liquid at least in part by arranging the fluid passages so that fluid moving therein is sequentially adjacent different ones of the liquid passages, beginning with the initial liquid passage;
- and
- increasing a liquid flow through the initial liquid passage at least in part by sizing the initial liquid passage to have a larger flow area than an adjacent liquid passage.
A fluid/liquid heat exchanger comprising:
- a heat exchanger body defining a plurality of fluid passages connected at opposite ends to a fluid inlet manifold and fluid outlet manifold, respectively, and a plurality of liquid passages connected at opposite ends to a liquid inlet manifold and liquid outlet manifold, respectively, and the fluid passages being operable to exchange heat with the liquid passages;
- and
- an initial one of the liquid passages, which is adjacent the fluid inlet manifold, including a cross-sectional flow area greater than another liquid passage.
An engine system comprising:
- an engine including an engine housing defining an air inlet connected to an air line;
- a turbocharger in fluid communication with the air line;
- a charge air cooler in fluid communication with the air line and including charge air cooler body defining a plurality of air passages and a plurality of liquid passages, the air passages being operable to exchange heat with the liquid passages, and an initial one of the liquid passages having a cross-sectional flow area greater than another liquid passage;
- and
- the air passages and the liquid passages are arranged such that air in the air passages is sequentially adjacent different ones of the liquid passages, beginning with the initial liquid passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.