The Garrett Corporation

Kenneth O Parker

Clarence L Marksberry

In the apparatus of the present invention, air flow control inserts are disposed within the formed tube air outlet manifolds of a heat exchanger of the counterflow type wherein the manifolds have openings communicating with air passages of the heat exchanger core. Each insert is generally tubular in shape, having an intermediate cylindrical tube portion, and larger diameter, end portions, which are substantially equal to the diameter of an outlet manifold. Each intermediate insert portion is initially provided with a plurality of peripheral, longitudinally equally spaced slots, equal in number to the number of openings in a manifold, and of such circumferential lengths as to subtend angles substantially equal to the angles subtended by the manifold openings. Tube material adjacent the slots is then urged inwardly of the tube to form apertures, and adjacent louvers. The tube inserts are positioned within the air outlet manifolds with their longitudinal axes coinciding with the longitudinal axes of the manifolds to define air chambers therebetween, while the louvers are each disposed opposite a manifold opening. The louvers gradually direct air from the air chambers into the apertures to subtantially reduce the pressure drop the air would ordinarily experience merely abruptly dumping into the manifolds from the openings. The size of each aperture is adjustable, and determined by the extent to which each adjacent louver is inwardly urged within the insert. Adjustment of the individual aperture sizes with the louvers regulates air flow through the apertures and adjacent manifold openings, and can be utilized to provide for a more uniform air flow distribution throughout the heat exchanger core air passages. According to another aspect of the invention, inserts are provided which are positionable within the air outlet manifolds, and provide for rapid movement of air flowing from the manifold openings in a circular direction within, and then axially out of the manifolds to distribute temperature more uniformly throughout the manifolds, thus reducing core thermal stresses.

Heat exchanger method and apparatus

In the apparatus of the present invention, air flow control inserts are disposed within the formed tube air outlet manifolds of a heat exchanger of the counterflow type wherein the manifolds have openings communicating with air passages of the heat exchanger core. Each insert is generally tubular in shape, having an intermediate cylindrical tube portion, and larger diameter end portions, which are substantially equal to the diameter of an outlet manifold. Each intermediate insert portion is initially provided with a plurality of peripheral, longitudinally equally spaced slots, equal in number to the number of openings in a manifold, and of such circumferential lengths as to subtend angles substantially equal to the angles subtended by the manifold openings. Tube material adjacent the slots is then urged inwardly of the tube to form apertures and adjacent louvers. The tube inserts are positioned within the air outlet manifolds with their longitudinal axes coinciding with the longitudinal axes of the manifolds to define air chambers therebetween, while the louvers are each disposed opposite a manifold opening. The louvers gradually direct air flow from the air chambers into the apertures to substantially reduce the pressure drop the air would ordinarily experience merely abruptly dumping into the manifolds from the openings. The size of each aperture is adjustable, and determined by the extent to which each adjacent louver is inwardly urged within the insert. Adjustment of the individual aperture sizes with the louvers regulates air flow through the apertures and adjacent manifold openings, and can be utilized to provide for a more uniform air flow distribution throughout the heat exchanger core air passages. According to another aspect of the invention, inserts are provided which are positionable within the air outlet manifolds, and provide for rapid movement of air flowing from the manifold openings in a circular direction within, and then axially out of the manifolds to distribute temperature more uniformly throughout the manifolds, thus reducing core thermal stresses.

Heat exchanger method

A heat exchanger of the formed plate type with a stack of relatively thin material, spaced heat transfer plates. The plates of the heat exchanger are arranged to define sets of multiple counterflow fluid passages for two separate fluid media alternating with each other. Passages of one set communicate with opposed manifold ports on opposite sides of the core matrix. Passages of the other set pass through the stack past the manifolds in counterflow arrangement and connect with inlet and outlet portions of an enclosing housing. An assembly of two plates oppositely disposed establishes integral manifolds for one of the fluid media through the ports and the fluid passage defined between the plates. A third plate joined thereto further defines a passage for the second fluid media to flow between the inlet and outlet portions of the housing. The various fluid passages may be provided with flow resistance elements, such as fins, to improve the efficiency of heat transfer between adjacent counterflow fluids. In each set of aligned ports, collars alternately large and small, are formed in nested arrangement so that the ports formed by adjacent plates bridge the inner spaces between the plates. Such construction permits communication with the aligned ports of alternate fluid channels which are closed to the outside between the heat exchanger plates.In fabrication of a core matrix, the parts are formed and cleaned and the braze alloy is deposited thereon along the surfaces to be joined. The parts are then stacked in the natural nesting configuration followed by brazing in a controlled-atmosphere furnace. The brazing is readily carried out by reason of the sealing construction of the described nesting arrangement.

Method of fabrication of a formed plate, counterflow fluid heat

A heat exchanger of the formed plate type with a stack of relatively thin material, spaced heat transfer plates. The plates of the heat exchanger are arranged to define sets of multiple counterflow fluid passages for two separate fluid media alternating with each other. Passages of one set communicate with opposed manifold ports on opposite sides of the core matrix. Passages of the other set pass through the stack past the manifolds in counterflow arrangement and connect with inlet and outlet portions of an enclosing housing. An assembly of two plates oppositely disposed establishes integral manifolds for one of the fluid media through the ports and the fluid passage defined between the plates. A third plate joined thereto further defines a passage for the second fluid media to flow between the inlet and outlet portions of the housing. The various fluid passages may be provided with flow resistance elements, such as fins, to improve the efficiency of heat transfer between adjacent counterflow fluids. In each set of aligned ports, collars alternately large and small, are formed in nested arrangement so that the ports formed by adjacent plates bridge the inner spaces between the plates. Such construction permits communication with the aligned ports of alternate fluid channels which are closed to the outside between the heat exchanger plates. In fabrication of a core matrix, the parts are formed and cleaned and the braze alloy is deposited thereon along the surfaces to be joined. The parts are then stacked in the natural nesting configuration followed by brazing in a controlled-atmosphere furnace. The brazing is readily carried out by reason of the sealing construction of the described nesting arrangement.

Formed plate type heat exchanger

A formed plate heat exchanger of the air and hot gas counterflow type for gas turbines with provision for thermal response zones of different heat transfer capability in the hot gas passages of the core, each succeeding zone in the gas flow direction having greater heat transfer capability than a preceding zone to reduce temperature gradients and core thermal fatigue, with elimination of core cracking and splitting.

Heat exchanger with variable thermal response core

Heat exchanger apparatus for a gas turbine which is provided with a heat exchanger of the formed plate counterflow type including a core having a gas turbine exhaust gas inlet surface with integral air outlet manifolds, and an inlet gas temperature controller which controls the temperature of the gas impinging on the manifolds and core surface. The temperature controller consists of a housing defining a gas flow path to the heat exchanger core surface, fluid passages within the housing which direct the gas at substantially full gas temperature onto the manifolds, and heat absorber structure within the housing which absorbs heat from the gas to reduce the temperature to less than full gas temperature during transient conditions, such as turbine start-up, and directs the gas onto the core surface.

Growing community of inventors

Rolling Hills Estates, CA, United States of America

Kenneth O Parker