Interdigitated Plural First And Plural Second Fluid Passages Patents (Class 165/165)
  • Patent number: 7147036
    Abstract: Two passages adjacent to each other via walls are formed spirally, and heat is exchanged between fluids passing through the passages via the walls. Upper and lower end faces of the spiral passages are covered with end plates, and the spiral passages and the end plates are sealed air-tightly. The end plates have a first passage inlet opening only to the first passage, a first passage outlet opening only to the first passage, a second passage inlet opening only to the second passage and a second passage outlet opening only to the second passage. Each of the inlets and outlets is open to every turn of the spiral passage. A first fluid entering the passage from the first passage inlet passes through the first passage for less than one turn only and is discharged from the first passage outlet. A second fluid entering the passage through the second passage inlet passes through the second passage for less than one turn only and is discharged from the second passage outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Kankyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Ike
  • Patent number: 7143815
    Abstract: A liquid cooling device includes a casing (10) having a container (14) for accommodating liquid therein, and a liquid inlet port (18) in communication with the container (14). A funnel-shaped channel is defined in the liquid inlet port (18), and radiuses of the funnel-shaped channel are descended along a liquid flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsieh-Kun Lee, Cheng-Tien Lai, Zhi-Yong Zhou
  • Patent number: 7128310
    Abstract: A cooling tower having a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes at least one heat exchanger pack having a generally diamond shape. The heat exchanger pack includes a first set of passageways for receiving a stream of warm, water laden air and a second set of passageways for receiving ambient air. The first set of passageways and second set of passageways are separate. Cooling tower configurations including the heat exchanger pack are disclosed for achieving effluent plume abatement, and capture of a portion of the effluent for replacement back into the cooling tower reservoir or as a source of purified water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eldon F. Mockry, Jason Stratman, Jidong Yang
  • Patent number: 7121330
    Abstract: A heat exchange unit includes metallic heat transfer members combined with each other. Each heat transfer member has a heat transfer face having opposite surfaces with which first and second heat exchange fluids come into contact, respectively. Welded-together flat portions of the heat transfer members are inserted into a fitting hole of an end plate. The fitting hole substantially coincides with an end shape of the combined heat transfer members and is sized to slidably receive welded-together flat portions such that the end plate and the received, welded-together flat portions contact each other. After insertion, the heat transfer members are welded to the end plate along the fitting hole so that, at the welded region, the heat transfer members and the end plate form an integral construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Xenesys Inc.
    Inventor: Toyoaki Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 7111672
    Abstract: A compact heat exchanger and/or fluid mixing means comprises a bonded stack of plates, the stack comprising at least one group of plates, the group comprising one or more perforated plates (10) sandwiched between a pair of primary separator plates (40, 62, 64), characterised in that each perforated plate (10) has perforations (14) arranged in rows across the plate in a first direction, with a land (16) between each adjacent pair of perforations (14) in a row and with ribs (18) between adjacent rows, the lands (16) forming barriers to flow in a first direction across the plate and the ribs (18) forming barriers to flow in a second direction across the plate, the second direction being normal to the first direction, the ribs (18) having vents (20) through a portion of their thickness, the vents (20) extending from one side of a rib (18) to the other side in the second direction, whereby flow channels are provided through the vents (20) and the flow channels lying between each adjacent pair of lands (16) provide
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Chart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Thomas Symonds
  • Patent number: 7111671
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a container having an outlet and an entrance coupled to an inlet and an exit, a receptacle having an entering port and a discharging port for circulating a fluid medium and having an entering opening and a discharging opening. A casing is disposed between the container and the receptacle and includes a passage coupled between the outlet of the container and the entering opening of the receptacle, to allow a heat medium to flow from the container into the receptacle, and a chamber communicating with the discharging opening of the receptacle and the entrance of the container. An air filtering device may be disposed in the casing for air filtering purposes, and for collecting and discharging water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Kaori Heat Treatment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsien Sou Han
  • Patent number: 7108052
    Abstract: The efficiency of a heat exchanger is significantly improved by forming walls in an air flow structure, which has first grooves formed in the top surface of the structure and second grooves formed in the bottom surface of the structure, that block off alternating ends of the first and second grooves such that a first air source can only flow through the first grooves and a second air source can only flow through the second grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Tellabs Petaluma, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Giacoma, Jimmy D. Cummings
  • Patent number: 7104315
    Abstract: The invention refers to a heat exchanger plate (4) for a plate heat exchanger (1), a plate package (3) and a plate exchanger (1). The plate (4) includes at least a first area (31) with a corrugation of ridges and valleys, the plurality of which extends in a first direction (A), and at least a second area (32) with a corrugation of ridges and valleys, the plurality of which extends in a second direction (B). The plate (4) has a central rotary axis extending in parallel with a normal line of the plate. The areas (31, 32) have a respective contour coinciding with a respective imaginary contour in a first rotary position of the plate with regard to the rotary axis and after a rotation 90° to a second rotary position of the plate with regard to the rotary axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventor: Ralf Erik Blomgren
  • Patent number: 7069982
    Abstract: A heat transfer member for a heat exchanger, is press-formed of a metallic thin sheet material into a prescribed shape by means of molds of a press forming device so that the heat transfer member has on at least one portion thereof a heat transfer face having opposite surfaces, which are to be brought into contact with heat exchange fluids, respectively. The heat transfer face comprises at least one set of irregularity patterns arranged in a row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Xenesys, Inc.
    Inventor: Toyoaki Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 7069981
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (50) is provided for transferring heat between first and second fluids (52) and (54) having a maximum operating mass flow rate through the heat exchanger (50) and mass flow rates that are substantially proportional to each other. The heat exchanger (50) provides essentially constant outlet temperatures for the first and second fluids (52,54) for all of the flow rates within the operating spectrum of the heat exchanger (50) without the use of an active control system. The heat exchanger (50) is of particular use in the fuel processing system (36) of proton exchange membrane type fuel cell systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jeroen Valensa, Michael J. Reinke, Mark G. Voss
  • Patent number: 7055587
    Abstract: The invention refers to a heat exchanger plate (4) for a plate heat exchanger, a plate package, and a plate heat exchanger. The plate includes an edge, which extends around the plate, an edge area (6) which extends around the plate inside the edge, and a heat exchanging surface (5) with a corrugation of ridges and valleys which extend in at least a first direction (A, B) over the plate (4). Furthermore, the plate includes a support area (41), which extends around the heat exchanging surface (5) inside the edge area (6) and includes a corrugation of ridges (42) and valleys (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventors: Ralf Erik Blomgren, Erik Vännman
  • Patent number: 7036560
    Abstract: The invention concerns an independent heat exchange unit designed to be fixed inside a building comprising a box provided with walls defining two fluid passages with an undulating cross-section and means for circulating air capable of causing countercurrent circulation in the two fluid passages of a fresh air stream drawn from outside the building and a stale air stream drawn from inside the building. The walls defining the fluid passages comprise a flexible and thin foil forming undulations capable of being deformed depending on the respective pressure levels of the fresh air stream and the stale air stream. The invention is useful for ventilating and/or air-conditioning the inside of buildings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventor: Eugeniusz Rylewski
  • Patent number: 7032655
    Abstract: A tube support device comprises an elongated strip inserted in a tube lane between the tubes of the tube bundle. Raised-tube-engaging zones are disposed in transverse rows across the strip at successive longitudinal locations along its length; these tube-engaging zones extend laterally outwards from both faces of the strip to engage with tubes on opposite sides of the tube lane. The tube-engaging zones may be arranged so that they extend from the two faces of the strip in an alternate manner, with the tube-engaging zones in each row alternately extending from one face and then from the other along the row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Amar S. Wanni, Roberto C. Tomotaki, Thomas M. Rudy, Marciano M. Calanog
  • Patent number: 7025119
    Abstract: Two passages adjacent to each other via walls are formed spirally, and heat is exchanged between fluids passing through the passages via the walls. Upper and lower end faces of the spiral passages are covered with end plates, and the spiral passages and the end plates are sealed air-tightly. The end plates have a first passage inlet opening only to the first passage, a first passage outlet opening only to the first passage, a second passage inlet opening only to the second passage and a second passage outlet opening only to the second passage. Each of the inlets and outlets is open to every turn of the spiral passage. A first fluid entering the passage from the first passage inlet passes through the first passage for less than one turn only and is discharged from the first passage outlet. A second fluid entering the passage through the second passage inlet passes through the second passage for less than one turn only and is discharged from the second passage outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Kankyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Ike
  • Patent number: 7027725
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a heating system of floating floor structure including a heating panel with a circular or elliptical inner fluid pathway. The heating panel having the circular or elliptical inner fluid pathway overcomes limitation on pressure resistance, which is the problem of the convention heating panel having a hexagonal fluid pathway, thereby providing enhanced pressure resistance. Furthermore, a floating floor structure of the heating system enhances thermal efficiency, and effectively improves sound absorbing/dampening function in a floor of a building. Additionally, the floating floor structure is provided with inner spaces, which allow utility equipment, such as an electric wire or a pipe, to be easily established therein, thereby enabling an easy repair of the heating system and the utility equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: LG Chem. Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun-Sik Kim, Seong-Chan Park, Sung-Seock Hwang, Se-Chang Kang, Dong-Sik Jang, Jang-Seok Park
  • Patent number: 7011148
    Abstract: The efficiency of a heat exchanger is significantly improved by connecting walls to an air flow structure, which has first grooves formed in the top surface of the structure and second grooves formed in the bottom surface of the structure, that block off alternating ends of the first and second grooves such that a first air source can only flow through the first grooves and a second air source can only flow through the second grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Tellabs Petaluma, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Calanni, Lawrence M. Giacoma
  • Patent number: 7000427
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for cooling or liquefying a fluid product (e.g., natural gas) in a heat exchanger, the process comprising: flowing a fluid refrigerant through a set of refrigerant microchannels in the heat exchanger; and flowing the product through a set of product microchannels in the heat exchanger, the product flowing through the product microchannels exchanging heat with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant microchannels, the product exiting the set of product microchannels being cooler than the product entering the set of product microchannels. The process has a wide range of applications, including liquefying natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Velocys, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Mathias, Ravi Arora, Wayne W. Simmons, Jeffrey S. McDaniel, Anna Lee Tonkovich, William A. Krause, Laura J. Silva, Dongming Qiu
  • Patent number: 6997250
    Abstract: Heat exchangers, constructed in accordance with principles of this invention, comprise a plurality of first passages, for transporting a first fluid or gas therethrough, and one or more second passages for transporting a second fluid or gas therethrough. The second passages are positioned adjacent to the first passages to permit a desired transfer of thermal energy from the first passages to the second passages. At least one manifold is placed in communication with one of the first or second passages. The manifold includes an opening disposed therethrough for receiving or dispensing the first or second fluid or gas to or from the first or second passages. The heat exchanger includes a flow director disposed therein for diverting or distributing the flow of first or second fluid or gas in a manner different from a natural fluid or gas flow within the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Dilley, Richard Paul Beldam, Keith Agee
  • Patent number: 6994829
    Abstract: A fluid processing unit having first and second interleaved flow paths in a cross flow configuration is disclosed. The first flow paths are substantially longer than the second flow paths such that the pressure drop in the second flow paths can be maintained at a relatively low level and temperature variations across the second flow paths are reduced. One or more of the flow paths can be microchannels. When used as a vaporizer and/or superheater, the longer first flow paths include an upstream liquid flow portion and a downstream vapor flow portion of enlarged cross sectional area. A substantial pressure drop is maintained through the upstream liquid flow portion for which one or more tortuous flow channels can be utilized. The unit is a thin panel, having a width substantially less its length or height, and is manufactured together with other thin units in a bonded stack of thin metal sheets. The individual units are then separated from the stack after bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Greg A. Whyatt, James M. Davis
  • Patent number: 6994155
    Abstract: A heat transfer assembly is disclosed which comprises at least one wall (1, 2, 3) which is adapted to separate a first fluid at a first temperature from a second fluid at a second temperature, and at least one fiber member (6, 7, 8, 9) or plurality of them, each fibre member (6, 7, 8, 9) including at least one elongate fibre which extends substantially axially along the fiber member (6, 7, 8, 9) from the first fluid through the wall (1, 2, 3) and into the second fluid whereby in use heat is transferred from the first fluid to the second fluid or vice versa, and the entire heat transfer assembly or a part of it is assembled as a single unit by sewing/weaving/stitching technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Cheiros (Technology) Ltd.
    Inventors: Serguei Vassilievich Dessiatoun, Igor Ivakhnenko
  • Patent number: 6983788
    Abstract: The ventilating system includes evaporative cooling of the exhaust air before it enters a heat exchanger to cool incoming fresh outside air. A suction fan pulls exhaust air through the heat exchanger and, in combination with a flow restrictor, reduces the pressure on the exhaust air and augments the evaporative cooling. The use of a pusher fan to force outside air through the heat exchanger ensures that any leakage in the heat-exchanger results in outside air entering exhaust air and minimizing the chances of contamination by leaking exhaust air into the incoming fresh air. The heat exchanger is made economically by heat-forming cavities in relatively thick thermo-plastic sheets, interleaving them with other thermoplastic sheets having separate gas flow conduit structures, and securing the sheets together. Preferably, the heat-exchanger is an opposed-flow heat-exchanger giving improved heat-transfer efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Building Performance Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Klas C. Haglid
  • Patent number: 6968892
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved heat exchanger of the so-called “pin-fin” type. The heat exchanger comprises a stack of parallel perforated plates, each plate of the stack having perforations, characterized in that the perforations define an array of spaced column precursors, of thickness equal to the plate thickness, the column precursors being joined together by ligaments, each ligament extending between a pair of adjacent column precursors, the ligaments having a thickness less than the plate thickness, the column precursors of any one plate being coincident in the stack with the column precursors of any adjacent plate whereby the stack is provided with an array of individual columns, each column extending perpendicularly to the plane of the plates, whereby fluid flowing through the stack is forced to follow a tortuous flow path to flow around the columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Chart Heat Exchangers Limited
    Inventor: Keith Thomas Symonds
  • Patent number: 6959758
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) is provided to transfer heat between a first and second fluid flow. The heat exchanger 10 includes a flow path (20) provided in the form of one or more heat exchange tubes (40, 40A-C), and a second flow path (30) provided in the form of one or more serpentine heat exchange tubes (42, 42A-C). The tube(s) (40, 40A-C) is (are) “woven” together with the tube(s) (42, 42A-C) such that they are perpendicular to each other. The heat exchanger (10) can provide particular advantages when used as a suction line heat exchanger in a transcritical cooling system (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gregory Hughes, Stephen Memory
  • Patent number: 6949131
    Abstract: A compact ventilator with high efficiency thermal exchanger and a conveniently exchangeable air filter. The conveniently exchangeable filter enables a ventilator with thermal exchanger to be easily and regularly maintained and serviced, thereby enhancing its practical utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventor: Kui Wong Yeung
  • Patent number: 6946113
    Abstract: A method for processing separate fluid flows in a micro component system for the production of hydrogen gas used in fuel cells in which a first fluid flow is directed to micro channels formed on one side of a conductive separator maintained in an enclosure, a second fluid flow is directed to micro channels formed on the opposite side of the separator, and laminar flow is maintained in the fluids such that heat transfer between the fluids on the opposite sides of the micro channels is by conduction through the separator and heat transfer within the fluids on the opposite sides of the micro channels is predominantly by convection within the fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: James Seaba, Lea-Der Chen
  • Patent number: 6924983
    Abstract: A heat sink fan comprises a heat sink (2) including a base member (21) and a plurality of thin heat radiating fins (22) fixed thereto, and a fan case (1) for supporting an axial flow fan (18) that induces air flow for cooling the heat sink (2). The fan case (1) includes an upper wall portion (11), at least one pair of engaging portions (12) depending from side edges of the upper wall portion (11), and a protruding portion (13) formed at the substantial middle portion of both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the upper wall portion (11). A thickness of one or more heat radiating fins (2) facing to the protruding portion (13) is larger than a thickness of other heat radiating fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Takaya Otsuki, Hidenobu Takeshita, Hirokazu Kimura
  • Patent number: 6920920
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is made from a single piece of metal foil. The foil is coated with catalyst, corrugated with herringbone or skew corrugations, except along narrow flat areas near its edges, and folded back and forth upon itself. The folded metal structure is blocked off, except at regions near the flat areas, and enclosed in a container. A first gas stream flows into one set of folds, in a path which includes the flat areas and the channels formed by the corrugations. A second gas stream similarly flows into the other set of folds. The two streams are in thermal contact, but do not mix. The heat exchanger is especially useful in operating a catalytic fuel reformer, or in other applications involving catalytic processes. Alternative embodiments use straight corrugations to create straight channels that minimize the pressure drop through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Catacel Corporation
    Inventor: William A. Whittenberger
  • Patent number: 6917523
    Abstract: A bottom heat dissipating device may be attached to a bottom surface of a printed circuit board (PCB). A top surface of the bottom heat dissipating device may be thermally coupled with a backside surface of one or more electronic components mounted on the bottom surface of the PCB. A top heat dissipating device may be attached to a top surface of the PCB. The top heat dissipating device may be thermally coupled with the bottom heat dissipating device through a thermally conductive coupling member to provide a conductive path for heat transfer from the bottom heat dissipating device to the top heat dissipating device. An opening adjacent to an edge of the thermally conductive coupling member may allow air flow between the top and bottom heat dissipating devices. The PCB may be part of a mezzanine card, such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) mezzanine card (PMC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Summers, Javier Leija
  • Patent number: 6896043
    Abstract: An improved counterflow heat exchanger is described. The heat exchanger has one or more cold air intake passageways and one or more hot air intake passageways wherein the flow of cold air is opposite the flow of hot air. In addition, each cold air intake passageway contacts at least one hot air intake passage way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Telephonics Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew Dunn
  • Patent number: 6892802
    Abstract: An extremely high efficiency, cross flow, fluid-fluid, micro heat exchanger and novel method of fabrication using electrode-less deposition is disclosed. To concurrently achieve the goals of high mass flow rate, low pressure drop, and high heat transfer rates, the heat exchanger comprises numerous parallel, but relatively short microchannels. Typical channel heights are from a few hundred micrometers to about 2000 micrometers, and typical channel widths are from around 50 micrometers to a few hundred micrometers. The micro heat exchangers offer substantial advantages over conventional, larger heat exchangers in performance, weight, size, and cost. The heat exchangers are especially useful for enhancing gas-side heat exchange. The use of microchannels in a cross-flow micro-heat exchanger decreases the thermal diffusion lengths substantially, allowing substantially greater heat transfer per unit volume or per unit mass than has been achieved with prior heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventors: Kevin W. Kelly, Chad R. Harris, Mircea S. Despa
  • Patent number: 6892803
    Abstract: A heat exchanger including inlet and outlet header portions for a refrigerant (such as CO2), serpentine multiport tubes each with a plurality of aligned tube runs, and at least three plate assembly fluid paths. Each plate assembly fluid path includes a pair of spaced plates secured together at their edges to define an enclosed space with a fluid inlet and fluid outlet on opposite sides of the space. One plate of one fluid path is positioned against first aligned tube runs, one plate of a second of the fluid paths is positioned against second aligned tube runs, and a third fluid path is positioned between the first and second aligned tube runs. The plates may be substantially identical to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Stephen B. Memory, Jianmin Yin, Gregory G. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20040261985
    Abstract: The efficiency of a heat exchanger is significantly improved by forming walls in an air flow structure, which has first grooves formed in the top surface of the structure and second grooves formed in the bottom surface of the structure, that block off alternating ends of the first and second grooves such that a first air source can only flow through the first grooves and a second air source can only flow through the second grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Giacoma, Jimmy D. Cummings
  • Patent number: 6814132
    Abstract: Two passages adjacent to each other via walls are formed spirally, and heat is exchanged between fluids passing through the passages via the walls. Upper and lower end faces of the spiral passages are covered with end plates, and the spiral passages and the end plates are sealed air-tightly. The end plates have a first passage inlet opening only to the first passage, a first passage outlet opening only to the first passage, a second passage inlet opening only to the second passage and a second passage outlet opening only to the second passage. Each of the inlets and outlets is open to every turn of the spiral passage. A first fluid entering the passage from the first passage inlet passes through the first passage for less than one turn only and is discharged from the first passage outlet. A second fluid entering the passage through the second passage inlet passes through the second passage for less than one turn only and is discharged from the second passage outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Kankyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Ike
  • Publication number: 20040206486
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is made from a single piece of metal foil. The foil is coated with catalyst, corrugated with herringbone or skew corrugations, except along narrow flat areas near its edges, and folded back and forth upon itself. The folded metal structure is blocked off, except at regions near the flat areas, and enclosed in a container. A first gas stream flows into one set of folds, in a path which includes the flat areas and the channels formed by the corrugations. A second gas stream similarly flows into the other set of folds. The two streams are in thermal contact, but do not mix. The heat exchanger is especially useful in operating a catalytic fuel reformer, or in other applications involving catalytic processes. Alternative embodiments use straight corrugations to create straight channels that minimize the pressure drop through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Catacel Corp.
    Inventor: William A. Whittenberger
  • Publication number: 20040188075
    Abstract: A plate cooler for cooling a fluid made of a plurality of superposed pairs of spaced plates sealed at their margins by side and end plates to form fluid flow channels and connected by lateral plates. The spaced plates and lateral plates are provided with aligned fluid flow openings forming a fluid flow conduit connected to a fluid input and output. The cooler is preferably made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and is assembled by vacuum welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Werner Pustelnik, Philipp Pustelnik
  • Publication number: 20040188073
    Abstract: A cooling device for cooling an inner part of an approximately sealed box includes a casing and a heat exchanger disposed in the casing. Plural inside air passages through which air inside the box flows and plural outside air passages through which air outside the box flows are alternately adjacently arranged in the heat exchanger. In the cooling device, both outside air introduction port and outside air discharge port are provided in an outer side plate of the casing, and a drain space is provided between the heat exchanger and the outer side plate of the casing so that outside air passages communicate with the outside air discharge port through the drain space. Thus, even when rain water is introduced into the casing from the outside air discharge port, almost rain water flows downwardly through the drain space, and it can restrict rain water from being introduced into the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Okamoto, Kiyoshi Kawaguchi, Koji Kishita
  • Patent number: 6796402
    Abstract: An exhaust that has two isolated baffle systems in one container. This allows the exhaust from one manifold to be muffled and exhausted independently of the other manifold's exhaust. Moreover, the muffler is the same size as existing mufflers, so that it fits into the space of the prior art mufflers. Using two independent muffler elements (baffles and outer covering cans) eliminates all of the problems discussed above and increases the engine horsepower without reducing efficiency. An outer shroud covers the two muffler elements and is also designed to act as a heat exchanger. Fresh air can be pulled through the muffler to be heated for cabin heat and for carburetor heat. The shroud has space around the muffler cans, through which the fresh air passes. Inlet and outlet ports are provided to allow hoses to be connected as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventor: Dane Wagner
  • Patent number: 6789616
    Abstract: A cylinder-type heat exchanger including cells spirally wound between an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder which are concentrically arranged. Each cell includes a first plate and a second plate which are in contact with each other. The first and second plates each have several inlets and outlets arranged in parallel at opposed ends in the axial direction, with communication portions being arranged between the inlets and between the outlets. A first flow passage through which a first fluid flows is formed on the confronting sides of the first plate and the second plate, while a second flow passage through which a second fluid flows is formed on the non-confronting sides of the first plate and the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Toyo Radiator Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kimiaki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20040168791
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger includes a case assembly and a plurality of primary flow channel assemblies. The case assembly includes first and second side panels and first and second end plates mounted to the ends of the side plates. Each of the end plates has alternating slots, and ribs extending transversely between the laterally extending edges of the end plate, with the slots of the first end plate and corresponding slots of the second end plate defining multiple pairs of slots. Each primary flow channel assembly includes laterally spaced first and second heat exchange plates, with the inner surfaces of the heat exchange plates forming a longitudinally extending primary flow passage. One of the primary flow channel assemblies is associated with each pair of slots with a first end portion of the flow channel assembly mounted in the slot of the first end plate and the second end portion of the flow channel assembly mounted in the corresponding slot of the second end plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: ALSTOM (Switzerland) Ltd.
    Inventor: Paul J. Batt
  • Patent number: 6762939
    Abstract: A bottom heat dissipating device may be attached to a bottom surface of a printed circuit board (PCB). A top surface of the bottom heat dissipating device may be thermally coupled with a backside surface of one or more electronic components mounted on the bottom surface of the PCB. A top heat dissipating device may be attached to a top surface of the PCB. The top heat dissipating device may be thermally coupled with the bottom heat dissipating device through a thermally conductive coupling member to provide a conductive path for heat transfer from the bottom heat dissipating device to the top heat dissipating device. An opening adjacent to an edge of the thermally conductive coupling member may allow air flow between the top and bottom heat dissipating devices. The PCB may be part of a mezzanine card, such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) mezzanine card (PMC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Summers, Javíer Leija
  • Patent number: 6761213
    Abstract: A reboiler/condenser bath heat exchanger for heat exchange between a first fluid to be vaporized and a second fluid to be condensed includes a number of passages for heat exchange between the two fluids in order to make the second fluid flow, which fluid has a temperature of T2-2 at the outlet of the passages; a vessel containing the passages for making the first fluid flow between the passages by thermosiphon effect from the bottom upwards over a height h, the first fluid having an entry temperature T1-1 where T1-1<T2-2 and an exit pressure P1-2; elements for giving the entry pressure P1-1 of the first fluid a value such that the pressure P1-2 is greater than a minimum pressure Pm,ex and elements for ensuring that at least one of the following two conditions is fulfilled: the height h of the passages is at least equal to 2.5 m; and the temperature T2-2 of the second fluid is less than T1-1+1.2° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide—Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Benoît Davidian
  • Publication number: 20040112578
    Abstract: A corrugated fin for a composite heat exchanger for motor vehicles include a condenser portion and a radiator portion. The radiator portion is larger in fin width than the condenser portion. The condenser portion and the radiator portion have respectively first and second louvers formed corresponding to the fin widths. The first and second louvers respectively have first and second louver slats inclined in a direction which is different for each of the condenser portion and the radiator portion to oppose each other, and an inclination angle of the second louver slats is smaller than an inclination angle of the first louver slats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Mitsuru Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 6749817
    Abstract: An arrangement for a fluid distributor-contactor-type reactor uses perforated plates to circulate two reactants in alternate channels defined by spaces between parallel stacked plates to perform controlled distribution and mixing simultaneously with optional indirect heat transfer. One reactant enters one set of channels that serve as reaction channels. A set of second channels interleaved with the reaction channels serve as distribution channels that also provide a heat exchange function. Finely dispersed openings in the perforated plates distribute the reactant at low concentration from the distribution channels into the reaction channels. Dispersal of the reactant through the perforations will enhance the turbulence that is primarily introduced by the corrugated plates to insure good mixing of the reactants in the reaction channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Robert C. Mulvaney, III
  • Publication number: 20040104018
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) is provided to transfer heat between a first and second fluid flow. The heat exchanger 10 includes a flow path (20) provided in the form of one or more heat exchange tubes (40, 40A-C), and a second flow path (30) provided in the form of one or more serpentine heat exchange tubes (42, 42A-C). The tube(s) (40, 40A-C) is (are) “woven” together with the tube(s) (42, 42A-C) such that they are perpendicular to each other. The heat exchanger (10) can provide particular advantages when used as a suction line heat exchanger in a transcritical cooling system (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: Modine Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Gregory Hughes, Stephen Memory
  • Patent number: 6742578
    Abstract: Heat exchanger core including flat plate parts formed by alternately folding back a single belt-like metal plate in a zigzag fashion at a first fold-back edge and at a second fold-back edge; element parts formed by joining peripheral edges of a pair of adjoining flat plate parts which are integrally coupled to each other at the first fold-back edge and adjoining element parts are integrally coupled at a certain interval to each other at the second fold-back edge; and a pair of ports for a first fluid formed at positions apart from each other at the peripheral edge of each element part. A second fluid flows along the outer surface side of each element part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Toyo Radiator Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Youichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6729387
    Abstract: A double sided-double heat exchanger core includes a plurality of sets of fluid passageways separated by a plurality of “S” shaped thermally conductive walls. Each set includes a plurality of fluid passageways. Each thermally conductive wall is configured to separate fluid flow between adjacent sets and configured to separate fluid flow between fluid passageways of one of the adjacent sets. The heat exchanger core is configured to provide segregated fluid flow between adjacent sets of fluid passageways. This heat exchanger core is particularly applicable for cooling equipment cabinets, wherein the air used to cool the equipment is recirculated through a plurality of sets and ambient air flows through interlaced sets to cool the recirculated air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Avava Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kris K. Replogle, Quang Duong
  • Publication number: 20040069471
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger for indirect heat exchange of several fluid flows (30, 40, 50) with a heat transfer medium/cooling medium (10, 20) in a heat exchanger core (9) has a plurality of heat exchange passages within the core for the heat transfer medium/cooling medium (10, 20), a first fluid flow (30, 40, 50) and a second fluid flow (30, 40, 50). All heat exchange passages for the first fluid flow (40) are located In a first component area, and all heat exchange passages for the second fluid flow (30) are located in a second component area. The first and the second component areas do not intersect and each extend over the entire height of the heat exchanger core (9). The heat exchanger is particularly suitable for use in air-separation processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: LINDE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Horst Corduan, Dietrich Rottmann
  • Publication number: 20040069472
    Abstract: Outsides of flat tubes through which a first fluid flows are formed with wave-shaped surfaces, and fins form meandering passages for a second fluid. While the second fluid is flowing along the fins, it is made turbulent by striking the wave-shaped surfaces of the flat tubes due to the meandering passages. The turbulent flow contacts the outside surfaces of the flat tubes and the front and rear surfaces of the fins, so heat conduction is promoted without the formation of thick boundary layers at these surfaces. Therefore, the heat exchange efficiency is remarkably improved between the first fluid such as warm water flowing through the insides of the flat tubes and the second fluid such as air flowing at the outsides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventor: Masahiro Shimoya
  • Publication number: 20040040697
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of oil core plates, and a plurality of coolant core plates, with each plate having an oil inlet opening adjacent one end of the plate, an oil outlet opening spaced from the oil inlet opening towards an opposed end of the plate, a coolant inlet opening, and a coolant outlet opening, and with the coolant inlet and outlet openings being adjacent the opposed end of the plate. Each oil core plate has an inwardly inclined, upstanding flange surrounding the oil inlet opening in the plate except for a portion thereof adjacent the one end of the plate at which a gap is provided in the flange. The oil outlet opening in the plate extends to adjacent the opposed end of the plate, and a further inwardly inclined, upstanding flange surrounds the oil outlet opening in the plate except adjacent the opposed end of the plate at which a further gap or gaps are provided in the further flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Michel St. Pierre, Nicola Frederic Vecchiola, Joseph English, Kenneth Abels
  • Publication number: 20040035567
    Abstract: A double sided-double heat exchanger core includes a plurality of sets of fluid passageways separated by a plurality of “S” shaped thermally conductive walls. Each set includes a plurality of fluid passageways. Each thermally conductive wall is configured to separate fluid flow between adjacent sets and configured to separate fluid flow between fluid passageways of one of the adjacent sets. The heat exchanger core is configured to provide segregated fluid flow between adjacent sets of fluid passageways. This heat exchanger core is particularly applicable for cooling equipment cabinets, wherein the air used to cool the equipment is recirculated through a plurality of sets and ambient air flows through interlaced sets to cool the recirculated air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Quang Duong, Kriss K. Replogle