GB2512137A

GB2512137A - Header Unit for Heat Exchanger

Info

Publication number: GB2512137A
Application number: GB1305282.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean-Yves Tillier
Original assignee: Perkins Engines Co Ltd
Current assignee: Perkins Engines Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-03-22
Filing date: 2013-03-22
Publication date: 2014-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-22
Also published as: GB201305282D0; GB2512137B; CN203731925U

Abstract

A heat exchanger header 118 comprises a base 218 provided with a plurality of outlet openings 220 and a side wall 202 provided with an inlet opening 210 partway along a length of the side wall. At least one partition 214 is disposed inside the header and spaced from the side wall. The partition is configured to enable a liquid coolant to circulate therearound before draining through the plurality of outlet openings. A deflecting means 212 is disposed within the header and arranged in association with the inlet opening and the at least one partition, and the deflecting means is configured to promote circulation of the liquid coolant. A vent 404 on the header removes gases entrained in the liquid coolant. The deflecting means may be positioned opposite the inlet, and comprise a pair of curved transitions to re-direct the coolant. The partition may comprise a pair of planar partitions spaced apart from each other and arranged in the same plane. The inlet may be midway along the side wall and between the partitions. The vent may be in a top surface 402 and may comprise a pressure release device. The header may be made from a polymer or metal.

Description

HEADER UNIT FOR HEAT EXCHANGER

Technical Field

100011 The present disclosure relates to a header unit for a heat exchanger and more specifically to the header unit for separating gases entrained in a fluid associated with a power source.

Background

100021 Coolant flowing in a cooling circuit of a cooling system has a high flow rate and some degree of turbulence which may lead to air becoming entrained in the coolant. The entrainment of air in the coolant may affect the quality of the coolant, reduce heat eanying capacity of the coolant and limit the coolant flow rates. The entrained air may also cause cavitation and degradation in an overall performance of the cooling system. Additionally, entrained air in the coolant may result in a change in thermal properties of the coolant. During startup and/or shut down of the cooling system the change in thermal properties of the coolant may cause connecting hoses to collapse or joints to leak due to unexpected thermal expansion/contraction of the coolant. Moreover, air entrained in the coolant may have negative effects on the cooling system as the coolant may expand or contract in unwanted locations in the circuit instead of flowing.

100031 Systems are known in the art for separating air trapped in the cooling circuit of the cooling system. For example, U.S. Patent Number 6,019,171 discloses a down flow, two tank, two pass radiator which includes a flow division baffle in the center of an upper tank. The flow division baffle automatically vents any air trapped behind the baffle as an engine operates. Such systems, however, do not perform satisfactorily for cooling circuits having high coolant flow rates.

100041 Hence, there is a need for an improved design for cooling systems to separate the air entrained in the coolant flow.

Summary of the Disclosure

100051 In one aspect of the present disclosure, a header unit is provided. The header unit includes a base provided with a plurality of outlet openings and a side wall provided with an inlet opening defined partway along a length of the side wall. Further, the header unit includes at least one partition disposed inside the header unit and spaced from the side wall, the at least one partition being configured to enable a coolant to circulate therearound before draining through the plurality of outlet openings. The header unit also includes deflecting means disposed within the header unit and arranged in association with the inlet opening and the at least one partition, the deflecting means being configured to promote circulation of the coolant and a vent for gases entrained in the coolant to exit the header unit.

100061 Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

100071 Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary cooling system associated with a power source; 100081 Figure 2 is a perspective view of a header unit of a heat exchanger; 100091 Figure 3 is a top view of the header unit; and 100101 Figure 4 is another perspective view of the header unit.

Detailed Description

100111 Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Figure 1 shows a block diagram of an exemplary cooling system 100 for a power source 102. The power source 102 may include any source of power known in the art. For example, the power source 102 may be an internal combustion engine having an engine Mock 104 and a cylinder head 106. In this situation, the cooling system 100 may be utilized to lower a temperature of a coolant associated with the internal combustion engine. Alternatively, the power source 102 may include any one, but not limited to, a refrigeration unit, a heating-ventilation-air conditioning (HVAC) unit, a power storage device like a battery pack and so on. Further, the power source 102 may include a cooling jacket (not shown) through which the coolant may flow.

The coolant may receive excess heat generated by the power source 102. As shown in the accompanying figures, the coolant flow may be directed towards a headerunit 108 ofa heat exchanger 110 via a fluidpassageway 112.

100121 The prcscnt disclosure relates to the header unit 108. The header unit 108 may be provided in fluid communication with the power source 102 and the heat exchanger 110. The coolant entering into the header unit 108 may include entrained air. The header unit 108 is configured to separate the entrained air present in the coolant flow. The header unit 108 will be discussed in detail in connection with Figures 2, 3 and 4.

100131 Further, the separated coolant flow drains into the heat exchanger 110.

The heat exchanger 110 may include a radiator of any configuration such as, for example, a shell and tube type heat exchanger, a grommet tube heat exchanger and so on. The heat collected by the coolant after flowing through the cooling jacket of the power source 102 may be rejected to the atmosphere or some other fluid in the heat exchanger 110, hence lowering the temperature of the coolant to acceptable limits. A pump 114 may be present in a fluid passageway 116 connecting the heat exchanger 110 and the power source 102. After the coolant is cooled in the heat exchanger 110, the coolant may be pumped to the power source 102 by the pump 114. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the connections shown in the accompanying figures are of an exemplary nature.

100141 Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the header unit 108. The header unit 108 may include a first side wall 202 and a second side wall 204 arranged in a spaced apart anangement opposing each other. The first and second side walls 202, 204 may be connected to each other by additional side walls 206, 208 which may also be ananged in a spaced apart anangement from each other.

The first and second side walls 202, 204 and the additional side walls 206, 208 may be ananged so as to form a substantially rectangular configuration.

100151 Further, the first side wall 202 may be provided with an inlet opening 210. The inlet opening 210 may be provided partway along a length of the first side wall 202. The inlet opening 210 may be coupled to the power source 102 via the fluid passageway 112. In one exemplary embodiment, the inlet opening 210 may be located at the center of the first sidewall 202. The cross-section of the inlet opening 210 may be substantially circular. Location, number and dimensions of the inlet opening 210 may vary according to system design and requirements.

100161 The second side wall 204 may be provided with a deflecting means such as a deflector 212 positioned on an inner surface of the second side wall 204. The deflector 212 may have a substantially vertical orientation forming a pair of curved transitions between the deflector 212 and the second side wall 204.

Alternatively, the deflection may be provided by any other suitable construction.

The arrangement of the deflector 212 on the second side wall 204 may be provided in cooperation with the inlet opening 210. For example, the deflector 212 may be provided exactly opposite to the inlet opening 210. The defector 212 may be configured to divide and redirect the coolant flow entering the header unit 108 through the inlet opening 210.

100171 Additionally, the header unit 108 may be provided with at least one partition 214 which may be spaced apart from and possibly substantially parallel to the first and second side walls 202, 204. The partition 214 may have a substantially planar configuration. The distance between the partition 214 and the first and second side walls 202, 204 may vary. In the illustrated embodiment, two partitions 214 are provided in substantially the same plane. The partition 214 may be equidistant from the first and second side walls 202, 204, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In one example, the inlet opening 210 may be provided midway along the first side wall 202 and arranged substantially between the pair of partitions 214.

100181 It should be noted that the positioning of the partition 214 with respect to the first and second side walls 202, 204 may be adjusted based on volume of the coolant flow. The partition 214 may be configured to define a pathway for circulation of the coolant flow around the partition 214 within the header unit 108. The partition 214 may be positioned with the header unit 108 in such a manner that the partition 214 does not create an interference in a space between the inlet opening 210 and the deflector 212. Further, the partition 214 may be positioned such that space may be provided between the partition 214 and the most proximate additional side wall 206, 208 to allow the coolant to flow around the partition 214, within the header unit 108 as depicted by arrows 216. As the coolant flows around the partition 214, the entrained gases present in the coolant may be separated.

10019] The partition 214 may be fixedly attached to a base 218 of the header unit 108 by any known method including fastening, welding, adhering and so on.

For example, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the two partitions 214 are spaced apart from the first and second side walls 202, 204 and at varying distances. Moreover, the two partitions 214 may have different lengths.

10020] The base 218 of the header unit 108 may be provided in contact with the first and second side walls 202, 204 and the additional side walls 206, 208. The base 218 may be provided with a plurality of outlet openings 220 in the form of perforations or slots, in order to allow the coolant flow to exit the header unit 108, as depicted by arrows 222. It should be noted that the position of the partition 214 on the base 218 may be such that the partition 214 may not obstruct the coolant flow through the plurality of outlet openings 220. The outlet openings 220 formed in the base 218 may fluidly connect the header unit 108 with the heat exchanger 110. In one embodiment, the outlet openings 220 may be defined by a plurality of channels extending from the base 218 of the headerunit 108 so as to provide fluid communication with the heat exchanger 110.

10021] The coolant flow may drain out of the header unit 108 through the plurality of outlet openings 220. Further, as shown in Figure 4, the header unit 108 may be provided with a top surface 402. The top surface 402 may be provided with at least one vent 404 to allow the entrained gases separated from the coolant flow to escape the header unit 108. Optionally, the vent 404 may include any known pressure release device known in the art like a pressure cap, a 100221 It should be noted that the header unit 108 forces the coolant to flow along a horizontal plane and minimizes flow components in a vertical plane. This consequently prevents air-liquid mixing, promotes stratification and air-liquid separation. The header unit 108 may be made of any suitable metal or any suitable polymer known in the art. In one embodiment, the header unit 108 may be molded as a single piece component. In another embodiment, the header unit 108 may be formed as a multi piece component, the multiple pieces which may be fastened together by any known method of fastening such as welding. Further, the header unit 108 may be formed as a separate component which may be detachably coupled to the heat exchanger 110. Alternatively, the header unit 108 may be formed as an integral part of the heat exchanger 110.

Industrial Applicability

100231 The working of the header unit 108 will now be described in detail. The coolant flow may enter the header unit 108 through the inlet opening 210. The coolant flow may flow in a direction perpendicular to the first side wall 202. As the coolant flow may further flow towards the second side wall 204, the coolant flow may come in contact with the defector 212 provided on the second side wall 204. The deflector 212 may divide and redirect the coolant flow, causing the coolant flow to circulate around the partitions 214 provided within the header unit 108, as shown by the arrows 216 in Figure 2. The presence of the partitions 214 within the header unit 108 may provide an increased flow path for the coolant. Further, as the coolant circulates around the partition 214, the turbulence in the flow may be reduced. Reduced turbulence and increased path length may cause the gases to separate due to the effect of gravity from the coolant flow.

100241 The separated coolant flow may further flow through the plurality of outlet openings 220 into the heat exchanger 110, as shown by the arrows222 in Figure 2. Buoyancy forces may cause the separated gases from the coolant flow to rise up to the top surface 402 of the header unit 108. The gases may be vented to the atmosphere via the vent 404. In one embodiment, on reaching a designated pressure within the header unit 108, the vent 404 may open to release the separated gases from the header unit 108.

100251 While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those sld lied in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof

Claims

claims What is claimed is: 1. A header unit comprising: a base provided with a plurality of outlet openings; a side wall provided with an inlet opening defined partway along a length of the sidewall; at least one partition disposed inside the header unit and spaced from the side wall, the at least one partition being configured to enable a coolant to circulate therearound before draining through the plurality of outlet openings; deflecting means disposed within the header unit and arranged in association with thc inlet opening and thc at least one partition, the deflecting means being configured to promote circulation of the coolant; and a vent for gases entrained in the coolant to exit the header unit.
2. The header unit of claim 1, wherein the deflecting means is positioned within the header unit substantially opposing the inlet opening.
3. The header unit of claim 1, wherein the deflecting means further comprises a pair of curved transitions located on an inner surface of the header unit, the pair of curved transitions being configured to re-direct the circulation of the coolant within the header unit.
4. The header unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one partition comprises a pair of partitions positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from each other within the header unit.
5. The header unit of claim 4, wherein the pair ofpartitions are generally planar and arranged in substantially the same plane.
6. The header unit of claim 5, wherein the inlet opening is arranged substantially midway along the side wall and between the pair of partitions.
7. The header unit of claim!, further comprising a top surface in which the vent is located.
8. The header unit of claim I, wherein the plurality of outlet openings are defined by a plurality of channeLs extending from the base of the header unit.
9. The header unit of claim!, whercin thc header unit has a substantially rectangular configuration.
10. The header unit of claim!, wherein the header unit is made of a polymer.
11. The header unit of claim!, wherein the header unit is made of a metal.
12. The header unit of claim!, further comprising a pressure cap coupled to the vent.
13. A heat exchanger having the header unit of claim I mounted atop the heat exchanger.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows a Claims What is claimed is: 1. A header unit for a heat exchanger comprising: a base provided with a plurality of outlet openings; a side wall provided with an inlet opening defined partway along a length of the side wall; at least one partition disposed inside the header unit and spaced from the side wall, the at least one partition being configured to enable a liquid coolant to circulate therearound before draining through the plurality of outlet openings; deflecting means disposed within the header unit and arranged in association with the inlet opening and the at least one partition. the deflecting means being configured to promote circulation of the liquid coolant; and a vent for gases entrained in the liquid coolant to exit the header unit.CC) 2. The header unit of claim 1, wherein the deflecting means is positioned within the header unit substantially opposing the inlet opening.3. The header unit of claim 1, wherein the deflecting means further comprises a pair of curved transitions located on an inner surface of the header unit, the pair of curved transitions being configured to re-direct the circulation of the liquid coolant within the header unit.4. The header unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one partition comprises a pair of partitions positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from each other within the header unit.5. The header unit of claim 4, wherein the pair of partitions are generally planar and arranged in substantially the same plane.5. The header unit of claim 4, wherein the pair ofpartitions are generally planar and arranged in substantially the same plane.6. The header unit of claim 5, wherein the inlet opening is arranged substantially midway along the side wall and between the pair of partitions.7. The header unit of claim!, further comprising a top surface in which the vent is located.8. The header unit of claim I, wherein the plurality of outlet openings are defined by a plurality of channeLs extending from the base of the header unit.9. The header unit of claim!, whercin thc header unit has a substantially rectangular configuration.10. The header unit of claim!, wherein the header unit is made of a polymer.11. The header unit of claim!, wherein the header unit is made of a metal.12. The header unit of claim!, further comprising a pressure cap coupled to the vent.13. A heat exchanger having the header unit of claim I mounted atop the heat exchanger.