Abstract: A gas/liquid heat exchanger for cooling a hot gas has a plastic housing at least partly surrounding a metal core. The housing has separately formed inlet and outlet segments which may be formed from plastic materials having different heat resistance, and which are joined together along a sealed joint. One or both of the inlet and outlet segments are provided with bypass blocking element to at least partially blocks any gaps between the irregularly shaped sides of the core and the sides of the housing. Where the sides of the core include indentations, the bypass blocking elements may comprise a comb structure having fingers extending into the indentations. The housing is constructed to permit the core to be slidingly received into one or both of the inlet segment and the outlet segment of the housing.

Abstract: A valve apparatus for controlling the flow of two sources of a first fluid while preventing mixing of the two fluid sources is disclosed along with a system incorporating the same. The valve apparatus has a first valve chamber with a first valve mechanism for controlling the flow of a first fluid, such as a heated coolant, from a first source. A second valve chamber with a second valve mechanism controls the flow of a first fluid, such as a cooled coolant, from a second source, the first and second valve chambers being fluidly isolated from each other. At least one thermal actuator arranged within a control chamber or control manifold controls operation of the first and second valve mechanisms, the thermal actuator having a first activation temperature for controlling the first valve mechanism and a second activation temperature for controlling the second valve mechanism.

Abstract: A humidifier for transferring water vapour from a first gas stream to a second gas stream in a fuel cell system comprises a stack of thin plates having planar sealing surfaces at their edges, along which they are sealed together. A water permeable membranes is provided between each pair of plates in the stack. Each plate defines a gas flow passage along its top and bottom surfaces, with an inlet and outlet defined along edges of the plate, and a flow field extending between the inlet and outlet openings. Inlet and outlet passages connect the inlet and outlet openings to the flow field, and the planar sealing surfaces on both sides of the plate include bridging portions which extend across the inlet and outlet passages. Support structures such as ribs are provided throughout the flow field and the inlet and outlet passages to support the membrane and diffusion medium layer(s).

Abstract: A valve apparatus having a co-axial fluid inlet and outlet is disclosed. The valve apparatus comprises a housing having a generally tapering main cavity. The valve apparatus further comprises a first fluid inlet formed therein for receiving fluid from a source, a first fluid outlet for returning the fluid to the source, a second fluid outlet for discharging fluid from the housing and a second fluid inlet for receiving fluid and returning the fluid to the fluid source. A valve mechanism is slidingly mounted within a first valve chamber for controlling flow from the first fluid inlet to the second fluid outlet, the valve mechanism having a first position wherein a second valve chamber is in communication with the first valve chamber and the first fluid outlet, and a second position wherein a third valve chamber is in fluid communication with the first valve chamber and the second fluid outlet.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises an end mounting arrangement including a mounting bracket having a first portion for attachment to a support structure and a second portion attached to the heat exchanger. A projection rigidly attached to the end of the heat exchanger is resiliently received in an aperture in the second portion of the mounting bracket. The projection may comprise a pin extending from a plate pair of the heat exchanger, and one end of the pin may be secured between the plates of the plate pair. The mounting bracket may be metal with a resilient element such as a rubber grommet provided in each aperture, or the bracket may comprise plastic in which case a grommet may not be required.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for a battery has fluid-carrying panels and defines a multi-sided enclosure for enclosing at least two sides of the battery. The heat exchanger has first and second fluid-carrying panels defining first and second flow channels, where the first and second fluid-carrying panels are arranged at an angle to another. The heat exchanger may also include a third fluid-carrying panel defining a third flow channel, and being arranged at an angle to the second fluid-carrying panel. The heat exchanger has first and second plates sealingly joined together along their peripheries and defining a fluid flow passageway between their central fluid flow areas. The second plate may be compliant, its central fluid flow area being deformable away from the central fluid flow area of the first plate in response to a pressure of a fluid inside the fluid flow passageway.

Abstract: A heat exchanger system containing a heat exchanger coupled to a fitting. The fitting contains a tube having a heat exchanger attachment end and an opposing end. The fitting further having a sleeve, having a sleeve body connecting a first end of the sleeve to an overlapping end. The first end of the sleeve being coupled to an outer surface of the tube and the sleeve body and the second end of the sleeve being spaced from the outer surface of the tube defining a space for receiving a conduit and adapted for coupling the fitting to the conduit. Also described is a fitting that can be attached to a conduit.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a core comprising flat tubes with corrugated fins provided in spaces between tubes. An end mounting arrangement includes a mounting bracket for attachment to a housing. A fin support structure comprises a plurality of support walls and a plurality of axial walls, wherein each of the support walls is integrally joined to at least one of the axial walls, each of the support walls is in contact with the endmost corrugation of one of the fins, and each of the axial walls is in contact with one of the plate pairs. The fin support structure may have a corrugated structure, and is mounted at the end of the core at which the mounting bracket is provided, so as to support and minimize damage to the corrugated fins caused by bypass air flowing between the mounting bracket and the core.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and battery unit structure is provided for cooling battery units (or cells) where the thermally conductive nature of the battery forms a cooling path. The heat exchanger is in the form of a cooling element provided with an engaging device formed on or attached to an outer surface of the cooling plate for receiving and/or engaging with a corresponding engaging portion on a battery unit (or cell). The interconnection between the battery unit (or cell) and heat exchanger creates a mechanical interlock between the two components that results in improved heat transfer properties between the two components.

Abstract: A method for constructing a heat exchanger having a pair of headers and a plurality of tubes extending between and fluidly connecting the headers is described. For each header, a pair of body elements is provided each formed of brazing clad material. A tubular assembly is formed of brazing clad material for each tube. The tubular assembly, for each tube, is fitted into apertures. The body elements and the tubular assemblies are brazed together to form the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for cooling batteries in hybrid or electric vehicles comprises a plurality of spaced apart, discrete heat exchanger panels, each having a coolant inlet manifold section, a coolant outlet manifold section, and a plurality of coolant flow passages extending between the inlet and outlet manifold sections. The inlet and outlet manifold sections of the discrete panels are connected by tubes to define continuous coolant inlet and outlet manifolds, each having a coolant opening. The flow of coolant through discrete panels may be balanced by providing the fluid flow passages of the panels with various cross-sectional areas and/or hydraulic diameters, depending partly on the proximity of each panel to the coolant opening. In an embodiment, where the panels are formed from pairs of stamped plates, variation of the cross-sectional area and/or hydraulic diameter of the coolant flow passages may be achieved by deliberately offsetting the plates during assembly.

Abstract: A valve can be incorporated as an integral part of the heat exchanger as a plug-in item that can be located anywhere desired between the inlet and outlet flow manifolds of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is comprised of two heat exchanger sections, at least one of which is provided with a floating header to accommodate differential thermal expansion. The two heat exchanger sections are enclosed by an inner shell wall, and an external connecting passage is provided outside the inner shell wall, through which one of the fluids flows between the two heat exchanger sections. The external connecting passage is enclosed by an outer shell. The inner wall is provided with openings which communicate with the external connecting passage. The openings may be in the form of a substantially continuous gap or discrete openings. Specific examples of heat exchangers with this construction include a steam generator, a steam generator and combined catalytic converter, and a water gas shift reactor.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for cooling battery cell containers in a battery unit is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes individual heat exchanger modules that are fluidly interconnected and spaced apart from each other so as to accommodate individual battery cell containers arranged between adjacent heat exchanger modules to form a battery unit. Each heat exchanger module is formed by a pair generally planar first and second heat exchanger plates having a main section and flexible inlet and outlet panels extending therefrom. The heat exchanger is formed by a stack of alternating first and second plates that are brazed together to form heat exchanger modules, the heat exchanger modules formed in the stack being interconnected by their inlet and outlet panels and expanded post-brazing by bending/flexing the inlet and outlet panels to provide adequate spacing or gaps between the modules to accommodate battery cell containers.

Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus containing a heat exchanger, a fitting at the fluid inlet and a thermally actuated bypass valve positioned in a fluid inlet manifold of the heat exchanger. The valve contains a sleeve having first and second slots, that permit fluid flow from a fluid inlet to a bypass or fluid inlet manifold. A drum positioned within the sleeve is movable from a first to a second position, and has an aperture that permits fluid flow to the first or second slot. An actuator engages the drum and actuates it to move from the first to the second position. The sleeve further contains a lip positioned between the fitting and a bypass channel cover plate for affixing the sleeve in position.

Abstract: A co-axial gas-liquid heat exchanger such as a charge air cooler comprises at least three concentric tubes forming at least two annular flow passageways. One end of the inner tube is rigidly attached to the middle tube by a thermal expansion connector including an inner connecting portion secured to the first end of the inner tube, an outer connecting portion secured to an inner surface of the middle tube; and one or more webs connecting the inner connecting portion to the outer connecting portion. The webs extend across the annular gas flow passageway but permit the hot gas to flow therethrough. The other end of the inner tube is free to expand in the longitudinal direction, relative to the middle and outer tubes. In some embodiments, the inner connecting portion forms part of a central plug portion which blocks an end of the inner tube.

Abstract: A multi-pass heat exchanger is provided wherein the heat exchanger is comprised of a plurality of stacked heat exchange plates defining a plurality of alternating first and second fluid channels interconnecting respective pairs of manifolds. At least one of the manifolds in the pairs of manifolds is in the form of an annular manifold structure which divides the heat exchanger into at least a first part and a second part thereby forming at least a two-pass flow path. The annular manifold structure is provided by a generally tubular manifold insert having one end embedded within the manifold. A first annular manifold flow passage communicates with one of the sets of fluid channels in the first part of the heat exchanger and a second, central manifold flow passage communicates with the corresponding set of fluid channels in the second part of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention relates to valve system configurations for an active warm-up (AWU) system for an automobile to improve warm-up conditions without delaying cabin warm-up or defrost times. More specifically, the invention relates to a system for heating/cooling transmission fluid of an automobile by controlling the source of the heat exchange fluid for transferring heat to/from the transmission fluid during different start-up conditions using a series of various valves arranged in series intermediate a first heat exchanger associated with cabin warm-up/defrost of the passenger compartment and a second heat exchanger for transferring heat to/from the transmission fluid.

Abstract: A plate-type heat exchanger comprising a plurality of spaced-apart stacked plate pairs, the plate pairs each comprised of first and second plates. The first and second plates each having an elongated central, planar portion surrounded by peripheral edge portions, the peripheral edge portions of the first and second plates being sealably joined together to form a first set of fluid passages in the heat exchanger. The first and second plates are provided with boss portions at respective ends of the plates, one of the boss portions being an elongated boss portion having a first position and a second position for the location of a fluid opening. The first and second heat exchanger plates are identical in structure and can be used to form various heat exchangers using the single plate design.

Abstract: A valve apparatus having a first housing coupled to a second housing. The first housing having a first chamber in fluid communication with a first inlet and a first outlet. The first chamber adapted for receiving a thermal actuator moveable from a first position to a second position in response to temperature of a first fluid in the first chamber. The second housing having a second chamber in fluid communication with a first and a second ports, the second chamber being fluidly sealed from the first chamber. The second chamber adapted for receiving a valve mechanism, which is operatively coupled to the thermal actuator and moveable from a first valve position preventing flow of a second fluid from the first port to the second port to a second valve position permitting flow of the second fluid from the first port to the second port upon actuation by the thermal actuator.