초록 ▼

Cylindrical heat exchangers are typically constructed of a plurality of spiral passageways created by multiple concentric annuluses, with increasing diameters, overlaying one another. Each passageway, however, typically includes a corrugated sheet between such circular layers, and the corrugated she

Cylindrical heat exchangers are typically constructed of a plurality of spiral passageways created by multiple concentric annuluses, with increasing diameters, overlaying one another. Each passageway, however, typically includes a corrugated sheet between such circular layers, and the corrugated sheet acts as an obstruction, thereby decreasing the pressure of an air stream as it passes therethough. The present invention is a cylindrical heat exchanger having a plurality of spiral passageways created by a spirally wound rectangular sheet, wherein the overlapping spiral layers, that are formed by the winding the rectangular sheet, are spaced apart by a plurality of radially aligned dividers. The dividers, along with an open interface layer that is interposed between the spiral layers, maintain the constant gap between the spirals. Therefore, manufacturing the cylindrical heat exchanger with spiral rather than concentric layers improves the process of manufacturing such devices. Additionally, replacing the corrugated sheet with an open interface layer decreases the pressure drop of the air streams passing through the cylindrical heat exchanger, which, in turn, reduces the power consumption of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) that would include the cylindrical heat exchanger.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A cylindrical heat exchanger, comprising:(a) a spirally wound rectangular sheet forming a cylindrically shaped structure having a plurality of overlapping spirally wound layers, wherein said cylindrically shaped structure has a length and a radius; and(b) a plurality of

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A cylindrical heat exchanger, comprising:(a) a spirally wound rectangular sheet forming a cylindrically shaped structure having a plurality of overlapping spirally wound layers, wherein said cylindrically shaped structure has a length and a radius; and(b) a plurality of dividers interposed between said spirally wound layers such that said dividers are radially aligned and extend along the length of said cylindrically shaped structure, whereby said dividers space apart said spirally wound layers and create overlapping substantially spiral passageways therebetween. [30.]30. A method of manufacturing a cylindrical heat exchanger from a rectangular sheet having a width and a length, comprising the steps of:(a) positioning a plurality of parallel dividers across the width of a rectangular sheet;(b) situating the dividers aperiodically along the length of the rectangular sheet such that when the rectangular sheet is spirally wound in a lengthwise direction, the dividers are aligned in a radial direction; and(c) winding the sheet in the lengthwise direction and forming a plurality of spirally wound layers that in conjunction with the dividers, which space apart the spirally wound layers, form a plurality of overlapping substantially spiral passageways.