Heat exchange – Flow passages for two confined fluids – Interdigitated plural first and plural second fluid passages
Patent
1996-06-11
1998-11-10
Flanigan, Allen J.
Heat exchange
Flow passages for two confined fluids
Interdigitated plural first and plural second fluid passages
165164, 165 88, 62281, F28F 700
Patent
active
058329927
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a heat exchanger including:
a first space through which a first medium can flow along a first path;
a second space through which a second medium can flow along a second path; and
heat conducting means which are in thermal contact with the first medium in the first space and the second medium in the second space for transferring heat therebetween,
in which heat conducting means includes heat conducting wires which extend from the first space and the second space with mutual interspacing and in mutually parallel relation in a direction differing from the directions of the first and second path over at least a part of both transverse dimensions, relative to the said paths.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Such a heat exchanger is known from the French patent specification FR-A-1 183 990.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger which enables a high flow rate per unit of volume, causes a small pressure fall, has a high efficiency and allows of simple mass production at low cost.
With a view hereto the invention generally provides a heat exchanger of the type which has the feature that the wires are arranged in flat strips or mats which are placed such that at least one of the media flows first between the strips or mats and then through the strips or mats and between the wires with heat exchange between that medium and the wires; and
the pitch of the heat conducting wires amounts to 1,5-2,5 times the wire diameter.
In preference the pitch of the heat conducting wires amounts to substantially twice the wire diameter.
The heat exchanger is preferably embodied such that the free length of the wires corresponding with the transverse dimension of the path of at least one of the media amounts to (6.+-.2) mm.
Economically the most attractive is a heat exchanger which has the special feature that the diameter of the heat conducting wires is chosen such that the product of the price of the wires per kg and the wire diameter to the power 1.5 is not larger than 3 times the minimum value of that product.
The heat exchanger can have the feature that the heat conducting wires at least substantially consist of copper, aluminium, graphitized carbon fibres or another material conducting the heat well at least in lengthwise direction of the wires. Graphitized carbon fibres have a high thermal conduction coefficient in longitudinal direction but have the drawback of being relatively brittle and expensive. For the time being at any rate the use of copper or aluminium is in all probability to be preferred from economic considerations.
In this latter context an embodiment is recommended wherein the heat conducting wires substantially consist of copper or aluminium and have a diameter which is smaller than 0.25 mm, preferably 0.1 mm or smaller.
One of the types of heat exchanger has the feature that the two media flow through the heat-exchanger in counterflow;
the two spaces are separated by a dividing wall including a number of spacer wires which hold the heat conducting wires at mutual distances and which are joined mutually and to the heat conducting wires by an adhesive and filler mass and are arranged such that they do not obstruct through-flow of medium or do so only to a negligible extent;
the first space and the second space respectively include a number of first compartments ordered with mutual interspaces and a number of second compartments filling the said interspaces between the first compartments, wherein the heat conducting wires extend over the whole of the relevant dimension of the heat exchanger,
the heat conducting wires are grouped with the spacer wires to an elongate mat and extend in longitudinal direction thereof,
the first compartments occupy a first position relative to the main plane of the mat such that the first path extends transversely of the heat conducting wires;
the second compartments occupy a second position relative to the main plane of the mat such that the second path extend
REFERENCES:
patent: 1648511 (1927-11-01), Solomiac
patent: 2893702 (1959-07-01), Richardson
patent: 3046639 (1962-07-01), Freyholdt
patent: 3103971 (1963-09-01), Freyholdt
patent: 4098852 (1978-07-01), Christen et al.
patent: 4116271 (1978-09-01), De Lepeleire
patent: 4513577 (1985-04-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 4840228 (1989-06-01), Shaner
patent: 5271459 (1993-12-01), Daschmann
patent: 5655600 (1997-08-01), Dewar et al.
Japanese Publication No. JP 61-225585, published Oct. 7, 1986. Patent Abstracts of Japan, 1 page.
Fiwihex
Flanigan Allen J.
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