Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F13/00—Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing
  • F28F13/06—Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media
  • F28F13/12—Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
  • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
  • F28D1/03—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with plate-like or laminated conduits
  • F28D1/0308—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with plate-like or laminated conduits the conduits being formed by paired plates touching each other
  • F28D1/0325—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with plate-like or laminated conduits the conduits being formed by paired plates touching each other the plates having lateral openings therein for circulation of the heat-exchange medium from one conduit to another
  • F28D1/0333—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with plate-like or laminated conduits the conduits being formed by paired plates touching each other the plates having lateral openings therein for circulation of the heat-exchange medium from one conduit to another the plates having integrated connecting members
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F2255/00—Heat exchanger elements made of materials having special features or resulting from particular manufacturing processes
  • F28F2255/12—Heat exchanger elements made of materials having special features or resulting from particular manufacturing processes expanded or perforated metal plate

Definitions

• the present invention relates to heat exchangers, and in particular, to turbulizers used in heat exchangers.
• turbulizers located in the tubes or between the plates inside the plate pairs to enhance heat transfer, especially where a liquid, such as oil, passes through these flow passages.
• turbulizers are commonly in the form of expanded metal inserts and they have undulations or convolutions formed therein to create turbulence in the flow and in this way increase heat transfer in the heat exchanger.
• the present invention periodically interrupts the convolutions in the turbulizer to form non-convoluted pressure recovery zones located between the convolutions. Surprisingly, this substantially reduces the pressure drop caused by the turbulizer without appreciably reducing heat transfer.
• a turbulizer for a heat exchanger comprising a planar member having a plurality of parallel rows of convolutions formed therein.
• the convolutions are interrupted periodically to form non-convoluted pressure recovery zones located between the convolutions.
• a heat exchanger comprising a pair of back-to-back plates having joined peripheral edges and raised central portions defining a flow passage therebetween.
• the central portions define spaced-apart inlet and outlet openings.
• a turbulizer as described next above is located in the flow passage between the inlet and outlet openings.
• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a plate type heat exchanger according to the present invention
• FIG 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the turbulizer used in the heat exchanger of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is an elevational view of a portion of the turbulizer of Figure 2 taken in the direction of arrow 3 in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a plan view of the turbulizer of Figures 2 and 3;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a turbulizer according to the present invention.
• Figure 6 is an elevational view of a portion of the turbulizer of Figure 5 taken in the direction of arrow 6 in Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a plan view of the turbulizer shown in Figures 5 and 6;
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a turbulizer according to the present invention.
• Figure 9 is an elevational view of a portion of the turbulizer of Figure 8 taken in the direction of arrow 9 in Figure 8;
• Figure 10 is a plan view of the turbulizer shown in Figures 8 and 9;
• Figure 11 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a turbulizer according to the present invention.
• Figure 12 is an elevational view of a portion of the turbulizer of Figure 11 taken in the direction of arrow 12 in Figure 11;
• Figure 13 is a plan view of the turbulizer shown in Figures 11 and 12;
• Figure 14 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a turbulizer according to the present invention.
• Figure 15 is a side elevational view of the turbulizer shown in Figure 14; and
• Figure 16 is a plan view of the turbulizer shown in Figures 14 and 15.
• Heat exchanger 10 is formed of a plurality of spaced-apart tube members or plate pairs 12, each having an upper plate 14, a lower plate 16 and a turbulizer 18 located therebetween. Plates 14, 16 are arranged back-to-back and have joined peripheral edges 20. Plates 14, 16 also have raised central portions 22 which define a flow passage therebetween in which turbulizers 18 are located. Raised central portions 22 also define spaced-apart inlet and outlet openings 24, 26 for the flow of fluid, such as oil, through the plate pairs.
• the plates 14, 16 and the fins 28 can be any shape and configuration desired and are not, per se .considered to be part of the present invention.
• plates 14, 16 can be formed with outwardly disposed dimples which mate in adjacent plate pairs in which case, fins 28 would not be used.
• a preferred embodiment of a turbulizer 30 is shown which could be used as the turbulizer 18 in Figure 1.
• Figures 5, 8, 11 and 14 show other preferred embodiments of turbulizers. Any one of these could be used as the turbulizer 18 in the heat exchanger 10 shown in Figure 1.
• the turbulizers shown in Figures 2, 5, 8, 11 and 14 are just illustrations of sections or portions of the turbulizers. It will be appreciated that these turbulizers can be made in any length or width desired depending upon the manufacturing method.
• the turbulizers usually are stamped or roll-formed out of aluminum about 0.01 inches (0.25 mm) thick. However, other materials and heavier or thinner materials can be used for the turbulizers as well.
• Turbulizer 30 is a planar member having a plurality of convolutions 32, 34 formed therein. Convolutions 32, 34 are arranged in parallel rows. Where turbulizer 30 is elongate in shape, convolutions 32, 34 are arranged in parallel, longitudinal rows 36, and also in parallel transverse rows 38.
• Convolutions 32, 34 are interrupted periodically to form non-convoluted pressure recovery zones 40 located between or downstream of the convolutions 32, 34 in each row of convolutions 36.
• the convolutions 32, 34 in each row are spaced-apart by pressure recovery zones 40, rather than being located contiguous to one another as is the case in conventional turbulizers.
• Turbulizer 30 has a central plane containing pressure recovery zones 40 as indicated by arrow 41 in Figure 3, and convolutions 32, 34 extend alternately above (convolutions
• Convolutions 32, 34 are in the form of bridges, and turbulizer 30 has a high pressure drop orientation in the direction of the bridges, or in the longitudinal direction, and a low pressure drop orientation in the direction passing under the bridges or the transverse direction.
• the convolutions 32, 34 are interrupted in the high pressure drop direction by pressure recovery zones 40 located between or downstream of the convolutions. As seen best in Figure 4, the pressure recovery zones 40 are located in transverse rows or neutral channels 41 themselves.
• turbulizer 30 When turbulizer 30 is used as the turbulizer 18 in heat exchanger 10 of Figure 1, fluid flows in the high pressure drop orientation or direction parallel to longitudinal rows 36 from inlet openings 24 to outlet openings 26. The fluid flows around and under or through convolutions 32, 34. This causes turbulence and reduces boundary layer growth increasing the heat transfer co- efficient.
• pressure recovery zones 40 allow for a pressure recovery to reduce flow resistance or pressure drop in the fluid passing from inlet openings 24 to outlet openings 26.
• convolutions 32, 34 are aligned in the low pressure drop or transverse direction.
• pressure recovery zones 40 are aligned in the low pressure drop or transverse direction to form neutral channels 41. Pressure recovery zones 40 thus form continuous neutral channels 41 in the low pressure drop direction. These neutral channels 41 also provide areas that can be used to eject the turbulizer from the dies used to produce the turbulizer.
• the width of the convoluted longitudinal rows 36 is preferably as narrow as is practical for tool design and maintenance purposes. For automotive cooling purposes, a preferred minimum width would be about 0.02 inches (0.5 mm) . The maximum width should not exceed ten times the minimum. Typically, the maximum width would be about 0.2 inches (5 mm).
• the longitudinal length of pressure recovery zones 40 ranges from about 5% of the longitudinal or centerline to centerline spacing between convolutions 32, 34 to about 75% of the spacing between any two consecutive convolutions 32, 34. A preferable range would be between 0.02 inches (0.5 mm) to about 0.5 inches (1.25 cm), or about 40% to 50% of the centerline to centerline distance between longitudinally consecutive convolutions 32, 34.
• the height of convolutions 32, 34 above or below the central plane 41 containing pressure recovery zones 40 depends upon the thickness of the material used for turbulizer 30. This height should not be less than the material thickness and typically ranges from this minimum to about 10 times the material thickness where aluminum is used for turbulizer 30. A good range is from 0.01 inches (0.25 mm) to 0.5 inches (1.25 cm).
• the longitudinal length of convolutions 32, 34 is normally about 2 times the height of the convolutions.
• the height normally ranges from about 2 times the material thickness to about 20 times the material thickness.
• a good range is from 0.02 inches (0.5 mm) to about 1.0 inch (2.5 cm) .
• a turbulizer 45 is shown which is substantially similar to turbulizer 30 except as follows.
• the convolutions 32, 34 are staggered in the low pressure drop or transverse direction.
• the convolutions 32 which extend above the central plane do not line up transversely with the convolutions 34 that extend below the central plane in the adjacent longitudinal rows 36.
• Convolutions 32, 34 in every other row of convolutions do line up, but they could be staggered as well if desired.
• the material thickness and dimensions of convolutions 32, 34 and pressure recovery zone 40 are similar to those of turbulizer 30 of Figure 2.
• turbulizer 50 yet another embodiment of turbulizer 50 is shown wherein the convolutions are staggered in the low pressure drop or transverse direction.
• all of the pressure recovery zones 40 are contained in a common reference plane 52 (see Figure 9) and all of the convolutions 54 extend in the same direction relative to this reference plane 52.
• turbulizer 50 is similar to turbulizers 30 and 45.
• a turbulizer 55 is shown that is most similar to turbulizer 30 of Figure 2, except the convolutions 32, 34 are also interrupted in the low pressure drop direction to form further pressure recovery zones 56 located between some of the rows of convolutions 36.
• pressure recovery zones 56 extend longitudinally the full length of turbulizer 55 to form longitudinal neutral channels 58 in the high pressure drop or longitudinal direction of turbulizer 55.
• the width of neutral channels 58 preferably is about the same as the width of the rows of convolutions 36.
• the convolutions 32, 34 are aligned in the low pressure drop or transverse direction, but they could be staggered as well.
• turbulizer 55 is similar to turbulizers 30, 45 and 50. Referring next to Figures 14, 15 and 16, a turbulizer 60 is shown where the convolutions 32, 34 are interrupted only in the low pressure drop or transverse direction and only between some of the rows of convolutions 36. These interruptions make pressure recovery zones 61 in the form of longitudinal neutral channels 62.
• turbulizer 60 is similar to turbulizers 30, 45, 50 and 55.
• turbulizer 60 is shown cut to length in the middle of convolutions 32, 34. This has been done for the purposes of illustration. In practice, the turbulizers would normally be cut to length between the convolutions, as is the case in Figures 1 to 13.
• turbulizers 18 would be inserted lengthwise into one end of the tubes.
• the convolutions 32, 34 have been shown to be rounded with various curvatures. These convolutions can be any configuration, such as semi-circular, sinusoidal, trapezoidal or even V-shaped, if desired.
• turbulizer 18 is shown to be orientated such that the flow is in the high pressure drop or longitudinal direction.
• the turbulizer could be rotated 90 degrees so that the flow from inlet 24 to outlet 26 is in the low pressure drop direction if desired. It will also be appreciated that the various features of turbulizers 30, 45, 50, 55 and 60 could be mixed and matched, or a combination of these features could be employed in the same turbulizer. Also, any given heat exchanger could have any one or a combination of the turbulizers described above. Other modifications to the structure described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

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Citations (6)

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• 1997
  • 1997-08-29 CA CA002214255A patent/CA2214255C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1998
  • 1998-08-28 DE DE1998620880 patent/DE69820880T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-08-28 AT AT0911198A patent/AT411397B/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-08-28 AT AT98941187T patent/ATE257238T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-08-28 BR BR9811403-4A patent/BR9811403A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-08-28 EP EP98941187A patent/EP1007893B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-08-28 JP JP2000508954A patent/JP3749436B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-08-28 WO PCT/CA1998/000826 patent/WO1999011995A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1998-08-28 KR KR10-2000-7001976A patent/KR100370487B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-08-28 DE DE19882638T patent/DE19882638T1/de not_active Ceased
  • 1998-08-28 AU AU89688/98A patent/AU738890B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-08-28 ES ES200050017A patent/ES2191524A1/es active Pending
  • 1998-08-28 ES ES98941187T patent/ES2212332T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-08-28 GB GB0003877A patent/GB2345336B/en not_active Revoked
• 2000
  • 2000-02-17 SE SE0000511A patent/SE517362C2/sv unknown

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