Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises: (a) at least one plate pair comprising a first plate and a second plate and having a first end and a second end; (b) a fluid flow passage for flow of a first fluid defined between the first plate and the second plate of each of said plate pairs; (c) an inlet opening and an outlet opening provided in each of said plate pairs, wherein the fluid flow passage extends between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, and wherein the inlet opening and the outlet opening in each said plate pair are proximate to the first end; (d) an elongate flow barrier separating the fluid flow passage of each said plate pair into an inlet portion in which the inlet is located, and an outlet portion in which the outlet is located, wherein the flow barrier extends from the first end to a terminal end proximate to the second end of the plate pair, and wherein the flow barrier includes a gap through which fluid flow communication is provided between the inlet portion and the outlet portion of the fluid f

Abstract: A fluid channel formed with generally triangular-shaped performance enhancement features is disclosed. The fluid channels may be incorporated into heat exchanger or humidifier devices, the performance enhancement features generally having heat transfer and/or mass transfer performance enhancement applications. The heat transfer or mass transfer enhancement features are formed along the inner surfaces of the fluid flow passages of either the heat exchanger or humidifier plates and generally have sharp leading edges that create vortices in the fluid flowing through the passages. The heat or mass transfer enhancements protrude out of the inner surface of the fluid flow passages while leaving the outer surface of the fluid channel free of perforations. Alternatively, heat or mass transfer enhancements may be formed on separate inserts that are affixed to the inner surface of the fluid flow passages.

Abstract: An elongate heat exchanger for cooling hot gas includes an arrangement for reducing thermal stresses when mounted in a housing. A pair of planar extensions project from opposite sides of the core. A mounting bracket has a central portion adapted to extend across the top of the core, and a pair of edge portions projecting outwardly from the central portion. The edge portions are substantially parallel to the planar extensions, and each has a top layer at least partially covering one of the planar extensions, wherein each of the edge portions is adapted to be secured to the housing, for example by a bolt. Each planar extension may be slidably received in a slot between the top and bottom layers of the edge portion, or may be slidably received between the top layer and the housing, to permit longitudinal thermal expansion of the core.

Abstract: A device for recovering heat from a hot gas stream comprises a gas diverter valve and a gas/liquid heat exchanger. The diverter valve comprises a valve body; a valve element movable between a bypass position and a heat exchange position; and a gas inlet and a gas outlet formed in the valve body. The heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger core comprised of a stack of core plates arranged parallel to the exhaust gas flow path, and the heat exchanger is located outside the exhaust gas flow path and may be spaced therefrom so as to avoid unwanted heat transfer with the valve in bypass mode. The heat exchanger may include a bottom-most gas flow path adjacent to the bottom plate, and may include a mounting plate which is mechanically secured to the valve body, with a thermally insulating gasket provided between the mounting plate and the valve body.

Abstract: An integrated gas management device (GMD) for a fuel cell comprises a gas-to-gas humidifier for transferring water from a second gas to a first gas; a heat exchanger attached to a first end of the humidifier core for cooling the first gas; and/or a water separator attached to a second end of the humidifier core for removing liquid water from the second gas. The GMD may optionally comprise a thermal isolation plate between the heat exchanger and the first end of the humidifier core. The GMD further comprises a bypass line to allow the first gas to bypass the humidifier. The first gas may comprise cathode charge air and the second gas may comprise cathode exhaust.

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 transfer surface and a heat exchanger comprising the heat transfer surface are disclosed, the heat transfer surface comprising a corrugated member having parallel spaced apart ridges and planar fin surfaces extending therebetween. The planar fins surfaces comprise tabs formed in the surface thereof for forming counter-rotating vortices in the fluid flowing over the heat transfer surface, the tabs being lifted out of the surface of the planar fin surface and extending into or nesting within the openings formed by the corresponding tabs in the adjacent planar fin surface so as to achieve high fin density.

Abstract: A device for recovering heat from a hot gas stream comprises a gas diverter valve and a gas/liquid heat exchanger. The diverter valve comprises a valve body; a valve element movable between a bypass position and a heat exchange position; and a gas inlet and a gas outlet formed in the valve body. The heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger core comprised of a stack of core plates arranged parallel to the exhaust gas flow path, and the heat exchanger is located outside the exhaust gas flow path and may be spaced therefrom so as to avoid unwanted heat transfer with the valve in bypass mode. The heat exchanger may include a bottom-most gas flow path adjacent to the bottom plate, and may include a mounting plate which is mechanically secured to the valve body, with a thermally insulating gasket provided between the mounting plate and the valve body.

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 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.