FLOW DISTRIBUTOR FOR A HEAT EXCHANGER ASSEMBLY
A heat exchanger including a pair of manifolds. An inlet is disposed on one of the ends of the first manifold. A core extends between the manifolds for conveying a coolant therebetween and for transferring heat between the coolant and a stream of air. A cross-over plate is disposed in one of the manifolds to divide the associated one of the manifolds into an upstream section and a downstream section. The cross-over plate presents a plurality of orifices defining a cross-over opening area for establishing fluid communication between the upstream and downstream sections of the associated manifold. The cross-over opening area continuously increases along an axis away from the inlet. The ratio of the total cross-over opening area to the upstream cross-sectional area of the tubes of the core is in the range of XXXXXXXX:XXXXXXX to XXXX:XXXXXX.
Latest DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Patents:
1. Field of the Invention
A heat exchanger assembly for transferring heat between a coolant and a stream of air.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,881, issued to Kuroyanago et al. on Aug. 14, 2001 (hereinafter referred to as Kuroyanago '881), shows first and second manifolds spaced from one another A cross-over plate is disposed in one of the manifolds for dividing the associated manifold into an upstream section on one side of the cross-over plate and a downstream section on the other side of the cross-over plate. The cross-over plate defines at least one orifice for establishing fluid communication between the upstream and downstream sections of the associated manifold. A core extends between the first and second manifolds for transferring heat between the stream of air and the coolant. The core includes a plurality of tubes defining a plurality of upstream flow paths and a plurality of downstream paths. The upstream flow paths of the tubes are in fluid communication with the upstream section of the one of the manifolds including the cross-over plate, and the downstream flow paths of the tubes are in fluid communication with the downstream section of the one of the manifolds including the cross-over plate. The upstream flow paths define an upstream cross-sectional area, and the downstream flow paths define a downstream cross-sectional area. The orifices of the cross-over plate define a cross-over opening area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention provides for such a heat exchanger assembly and wherein the ratio of the cross-over opening area of the cross-over plate to the upstream cross-sectional area of the upstream flow paths is in the range of XXXXX:XXXXX to XXXXX:XXXXX. This ratio maximizes the efficiency of the heat exchanger assembly by ensuring optimum fluid flow without creating a pressure drop in the coolant flowing through the cross-over plate. A large pressure drop often has the undesirable effect the effect of cooling and/or re-condensing the coolant.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a heat exchanger assembly 20 for transferring heat between a coolant and a stream of air is generally shown in
The heat exchanger assembly 20 includes a first manifold 22, generally indicated, extending along an axis A between first manifold ends 24. A second manifold 26, generally indicated, extends between second manifold ends 28 in spaced and parallel relationship with the first manifold 22.
A first partition 30 is disposed in the first manifold 22 and extends axially along the first manifold 22 between the first manifold ends 24 to define a first upstream section 32, 34 on one side of the first partition 30 and a first downstream section 36, 38 on the other side of the first partition 30. A second partition 40 is disposed in the second manifold 26 and extends axially along the second manifold 26 between the second manifold ends 28 to define a second upstream section 42 on one side of the second partition 40 and a second downstream section 44 on the other side of the second partition 40. The first upstream section 32, 34 of the first manifold 22 is aligned with the second upstream section 42 of the second manifold 26, and the first downstream section 36, 38 of the first manifold 22 is aligned with the second downstream section 44 of the second manifold 26.
The first manifold 22 includes an inlet 46 disposed on one of the first manifold ends 24 for receiving the coolant. In the exemplary embodiment, the inlet 46 is in fluid communication with the first downstream section 36, 38 of the first manifold 22. The first manifold 22 further includes an outlet 48 spaced from the inlet 46 in a transverse direction for dispensing the coolant. In the exemplary embodiment, the outlet 48 is in fluid communication with the first upstream section 32, 34 of the first manifold 22.
A core 50, generally indicated, is disposed between the first and second manifolds 22, 26 for conveying a coolant therebetween. The core 50 includes a plurality of tubes 52 extending in spaced and parallel relationship to one another between the first and second manifolds 22, 26 for receiving the stream of air in the transverse direction to transfer heat between the stream of air and the coolant in the tubes 52. In the exemplary embodiment, each of the tubes 52 has a cross-section presenting flat sides 54 extending in the transverse direction interconnected by round ends 56 with the flat sides 54 of adjacent tubes 52 spaced from one another by a fin space across the transverse direction.
A plurality of air fins 58 are disposed in the fin space between the flat sides 54 of the adjacent tubes 52 for transferring heat from the tubes 52 to the stream of air.
Each of the tubes 52 includes at least one tube divider 60, best seen in
One of the first and second partitions 30, 40 is further defined as a cross-over plate having at least one orifice 66, 68, 70 for establishing fluid communication between the upstream and downstream sections 42, 44 of the associated one of the first and second manifolds 22, 26. The sum of the cross-sectional areas of the orifices 66, 68, 70 of the cross-over plate defines a cross-over opening area for the flow of coolant between the upstream and downstream sections 34, 38, 42, 44 of the associated one of the first and second manifolds 22, 26. The heat exchanger assembly 20 of
In the four-pass heat exchanger assembly 20 of
In the two-pass heat exchanger assembly 20 of
As can be seen from
The sum of the cross-sectional areas of the upstream flow paths 62 adjacent to the orifices 66, 68, 70 of the cross-over plate is defined as an upstream cross-sectional area, and the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the downstream flow paths 64 adjacent to the orifices 66, 68, 70 of the cross-over plate is defined as a downstream cross-sectional area. In other words, in the four-pass heat exchanger assembly 20 of
The ratio of the cross-over opening area, described above, of the cross-over plate to the downstream cross-sectional area of the tubes 52 is XXXX:XXXX. This maximizes the efficiency of the heat exchanger assembly 20 without creating an undesirable pressure drop in the coolant flowing through the cross-over plate.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A heat exchanger assembly for transferring heat between a coolant and a stream of air, comprising:
- a first manifold;
- a second manifold spaced from said first manifold;
- a cross-over plate disposed in one of said first and second manifolds for dividing the associated manifold into an upstream section on one side of said cross-over plate and a downstream section on the other side of said cross-over plate;
- said cross-over plate defining at least one orifice for establishing fluid communication between said upstream and downstream sections of the associated manifold;
- a core extending between said first and second manifolds for transferring heat between the stream of air and the coolant;
- said core including a plurality of tubes defining a plurality of upstream flow paths in fluid communication with said upstream section and a plurality of downstream flow paths in fluid communication with said downstream section;
- said upstream flow paths defining an upstream cross-sectional area and said downstream flow paths defining a downstream cross-sectional area;
- said at least one orifice of said cross-over plate defining a cross-over opening area; and
- wherein the ratio of said cross-over opening area of said cross-over plate to said upstream cross-sectional area of said upstream flow paths is in the range of XXXX:XXXX to XXXXX:XXXXX.
2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cross-over plate includes a plurality of orifices.
3. The assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plurality of orifices are spaced axially from one another.
4. The assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first manifold extends along an axis between first manifold ends and said first manifold defines an inlet on one of said first manifold ends.
5. The assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said spaced orifices sequentially increase in area from a first orifice nearest said inlet to a middle orifice to define a continuously increasing cross-over opening area in said axial direction away from said inlet.
6. The assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spaced orifices sequentially decrease in area from said middle orifice to a last orifice being farthest from said inlet.
7. The assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plurality of orifices are disposed in a plurality of rows and each row includes a plurality of orifices spaced axially from one another by an orifice space.
8. The assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said orifice space sequentially decreases from a first orifice closest to said inlet to a middle orifice to define a continuously increasing cross-over opening area in said axial direction away from said inlet.
9. The assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said orifice space sequentially increases from said middle orifice to a last orifice farthest from said inlet.
10. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cross-over plate is disposed in said second manifold to define a second upstream section on one side of said cross-over plate and a second downstream section on the other side of said cross-over plate.
11. The assembly as set forth in claim 10 further including a first partition disposed in said first manifold and extending axially along said first manifold between said first manifold ends to define a first upstream section on one side of said first partition and a first downstream section on the other side of said first partition.
12. The assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said upstream flow paths of said tubes establish fluid communication between said first and second upstream sections of said first and second manifolds.
13. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cross-over plate is disposed in said first manifold to define a first upstream section on one side of said cross-over plate and a first downstream section on the other side of said cross-over plate.
14. The assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first manifold defines an inlet in fluid communication with said first downstream section for receiving the coolant.
15. The assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first manifold defines an outlet in fluid communication with said first upstream section.
16. The assembly as set forth in claim 13 further including a second partition disposed in said second manifold and extending axially along said second manifold between second manifold ends to define a second upstream section on one side of said second partition and a second downstream section on the other side of said second partition.
17. The assembly as set forth in claim 16 including a manifold divider disposed in each of said first upstream and downstream sections of said first manifold for partitioning said first upstream section into first and second upstream manifold passages and for partitioning said first downstream section into first and second downstream manifold passages to define said heat exchanger assembly as being a four-pass heat exchanger assembly.
18. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second manifolds extend in spaced and parallel relationship with one another.
19. A heat exchanger assembly for transferring heat between a coolant and a stream of air, comprising:
- a first manifold extending along an axis between first manifold ends;
- a second manifold spaced from said first manifold;
- a core extending between said spaced first and second manifolds for conveying the coolant therebetween and for receiving the stream of air to transfer heat between the air and the coolant;
- said first manifold including an inlet on one of said first manifold ends for receiving the coolant;
- a cross-over plate disposed in one of said first and second manifolds for dividing the associated one of said first and second manifolds into an upstream section on one side of said cross-over plate and a downstream section on the other side of said cross-over plate;
- said cross-over plate defining at least one orifice for establishing fluid communication between said upstream and downstream sections of the associated manifold;
- said at least one orifice of said cross-over plate defining a cross-over opening area for the flow of coolant between said upstream and downstream sections of the associated manifold; and
- said cross-over opening area continuously increasing along said axis toward the one of said manifold ends away from said inlet.
20. A heat exchanger assembly for transferring heat between a coolant and a stream of air comprising:
- a first manifold extending along an axis between first manifold ends;
- a second manifold extending between second manifold ends in spaced and parallel relationship with said first manifold;
- a core disposed between said first and second manifolds for conveying a coolant therebetween and for transferring heat between the coolant and the stream of air;
- said core including a plurality of tubes extending in spaced and parallel relationship with one another between said first and second manifolds;
- each of said tubes having a cross-section presenting flat sides interconnected by round ends;
- a plurality of air fins disposed in said fin space between said flat sides of said adjacent tubes for transferring heat from the coolant in said tubes to the stream of air;
- a first partition disposed in said first manifold and extending axially along said first manifold between said first manifold ends to define an first upstream section on one side of said first partition and a first downstream section on the other side of said first partition;
- a second partition disposed in said second manifold and extending axially along said second manifold between said second manifold ends to define a second upstream section on one side of said second partition and a second downstream section on the other side of said second partition;
- each of said tubes including a plurality of tube dividers for dividing each of said tubes into a plurality of upstream flow paths for establishing fluid communication between said first and second upstream sections and a plurality of downstream flow paths for establishing fluid communication between said first and second downstream sections;
- said upstream flow paths defining an upstream cross-sectional area and said downstream flow paths defining a downstream cross-sectional area;
- said first manifold defining an inlet on one of said first manifold ends for receiving the coolant;
- said inlet being in fluid communication with said first downstream section of said first manifold;
- said first manifold including an outlet paced from said inlet for dispensing the coolant out of said heat exchanger assembly;
- said outlet being in fluid communication with said first upstream section of said first manifold;
- one of said first and second partitions being further defined as a cross-over plate having at least one orifice for establishing fluid communication between said upstream and downstream sections of the associated manifold;
- said at least one orifice of said cross-over plate defining a cross-over opening area for the flow of coolant between said upstream and downstream sections of the associated one of said first and second manifolds;
- said cross-over opening area continuously increasing along said axis toward the one of said manifold ends away from said inlet; and
- wherein the ratio of said cross-over opening area to said upstream cross-sectional area is in the range of XXXXXXXXX:XXXXXXXXX.
21. The assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said at least one orifice further includes a plurality of orifices spaced axially from one another;
- said spaced orifices sequentially increasing in area from a first orifice nearest said inlet to a middle orifice to define said continuously increasing cross-over opening area in said axial direction away from said inlet; and
- said spaced orifices sequentially decreasing in area from said middle orifice to a last orifice farthest from said inlet.
22. The assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said at least one orifice further includes a plurality of orifices having the same area and disposed in a plurality of rows;
- each row including a plurality of orifices spaced axially from one another by an orifice space;
- said orifice space sequentially decreasing from a first orifice closest to said inlet to a middle orifice to define said continuously increasing cross-over opening area in said axial direction away from said inlet; and
- said orifice space sequentially increasing from said middle orifice to a last orifice farthest from said inlet.
23. The assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first partition in said first manifold is said cross-over plate and including a manifold divider disposed in each of said first upstream and downstream sections of said first manifold for partitioning said first upstream section into first and second upstream manifold passages and for partitioning said first downstream section into first and second downstream manifold passages to define said heat exchanger assembly as being a four-pass heat exchanger assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 15, 2009
Publication Date: Jun 16, 2011
Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (TROY, MI)
Inventors: BRIAN J. COYLE (ORCHARD PARK, NY), SOURAV CHOWDHURY (LOCKPORT, NY)
Application Number: 12/637,960
International Classification: F28F 9/02 (20060101);