초록 ▼

Engineers have learned that if the temperature of coolant within a heat exchanger is raised above the coolant's boiling point by the entering hot fluid, the boiling of the coolant can cause corrosion within the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger of the present invention includes a heat exchanger bod

Engineers have learned that if the temperature of coolant within a heat exchanger is raised above the coolant's boiling point by the entering hot fluid, the boiling of the coolant can cause corrosion within the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger of the present invention includes a heat exchanger body that defines a plurality of fluid passages that are operable to exchange heat with a plurality of liquid passages. At least one of the liquid passages is re-sized to include a greater cross-sectional flow area than another liquid passage. Thus, a greater amount of liquid can flow through the coolant passage with the greater cross-sectional flow area, thereby reducing the risk of boiling coolant that may cause corrosion within the coolant passage.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of cooling a fluid with a heat exchanger, comprising the steps of:dividing coolant liquid entering a liquid inlet of the heat exchanger among a plurality of liquid passages; dividing hot fluid entering a fluid inlet of the heat exchanger among a plurality of fluid passages; sequentially

1. A method of cooling a fluid with a heat exchanger, comprising the steps of:dividing coolant liquid entering a liquid inlet of the heat exchanger among a plurality of liquid passages; dividing hot fluid entering a fluid inlet of the heat exchanger among a plurality of fluid passages; sequentially exchanging heat between the hot fluid and the coolant liquid at least in part by arranging the fluid passages so that fluid moving therein is sequentially adjacent different ones of the liquid passages, beginning with the initial liquid passage; and increasing a liquid flow through the initial liquid passage at least in part by sizing the initial liquid passage to have a larger flow area than an adjacent liquid passage. 2. A fluid/liquid heat exchanger comprising:a heat exchanger body defining a plurality of fluid passages connected at opposite ends to a fluid inlet manifold and fluid outlet manifold, respectively, and a plurality of liquid passages connected at opposite ends to a liquid inlet manifold and liquid outlet manifold, respectively, and the fluid passages being operable to exchange heat with the liquid passages; and an initial one of the liquid passages, which is adjacent the fluid inlet manifold, including a cross-sectional flow area greater than another liquid passage. 3. The fluid/liquid heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein the plurality of liquid passages have a uniform length.4. The fluid/liquid heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein the initial liquid passage has a greater pitch than a majority of the other liquid passages.5. The fluid/liquid heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein the heat exchanger body includes at least one separator sheet separating the liquid passages from the fluid passages; andat least one liquid fin separating the liquid passages from one another. 6. The fluid/liquid heat exchanger of claim 5 wherein the liquid fin includes sheet metal bent to include alternative grooves with rectangular cross sections.7. The fluid/liquid heat exchanger of claim 6 wherein the heat exchanger body includes at least one fluid fin separating the fluid passages from one another; andthe fluid fin being serpentine in shape and oriented perpendicular to the liquid fin. 8. The fluid/liquid heat exchanger of claim 7 wherein the heat exchanger body includes more than one separator sheet; andthe separator sheets being planar, parallel to one another and alternatively separated by the liquid fin and the fluid fin. 9. The fluid/liquid heat exchanger of claim 8 wherein segments of the liquid fin being oriented perpendicular to the separator sheets.10. The fluid/liquid heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein the heat exchanger body defines a relatively hot fluid inlet and a relatively cool fluid outlet being fluidly connected via the plurality of fluid passages; andthe initial liquid passage being adjacent to the relatively hot fluid inlet. 11. The fluid/liquid heat exchanger of claim 10 wherein the plurality of liquid passages have a uniform length; andthe liquid passage including the greater cross-sectional flow area includes a greater pitch than the other liquid passages. 12. The fluid/liquid heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein the fluid passages and the liquid passages are arranged such that fluid in the fluid passages is sequentially adjacent different ones of the liquid passages, beginning with the initial liquid passage.13. An engine system comprising:an engine including an engine housing defining an air inlet connected to an air line; a turbocharger in fluid communication with the air line; a charge air cooler in fluid communication with the air line and including charge air cooler body defining a plurality of air passages and a plurality of liquid passages, the air passages being operable to exchange heat with the liquid passages, and an initial one of the liquid passages having a cross-sectional flow area greater than another liquid passage; and the air passages and the liquid passages are arranged such that air in the air passages is sequentially adjacent different ones of the liquid passages, beginning with the initial liquid passage. 14. The engine system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of liquid passages have a uniform length.15. The engine system of claim 14 wherein the initial one of the liquid passages has greater pitch than a majority of the other liquid passages.16. The engine system of claim 15 wherein the charge air cooler body includes at least one separator sheet separating the liquid passages from the air passages, and at least one liquid fin separating the liquid passages from one another.17. The engine system of claim 16 wherein the liquid fin includes sheet metal bent to include alternative grooves with rectangular cross sections.18. The engine system of claim 17 wherein the charge air cooler body includes at least one air fin separating each air passage from one another; andthe air fin being serpentine in shape and oriented perpendicular to the liquid fin. 19. The engine system of claim 18 wherein the charge air cooler body includes more than one separator sheet; andthe separator sheets being planar, parallel to one another, alternatively separated by the liquid fin and the air fin, and perpendicular to segments of the liquid fin. 20. The engine system of claim 19 wherein the charge air cooler body defines a relatively hot air inlet and a relatively cool air outlet being fluidly connected via the plurality of air passages; andthe initial one of the liquid passages being adjacent to the relatively hot air inlet.