초록 ▼

A heat exchange device of a type for affecting an exchange of heat between a first and second fluid is characterized by a plurality of heat exchange cells in a stacked arrangement and defining first, second and third manifolds. In certain aspects, an apparatus and method for reinforcing the heat exc

A heat exchange device of a type for affecting an exchange of heat between a first and second fluid is characterized by a plurality of heat exchange cells in a stacked arrangement and defining first, second and third manifolds. In certain aspects, an apparatus and method for reinforcing the heat exchange device against pressure loads while accommodating thermal expansion of the outlet manifold are provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A heat exchange device for effecting a transfer of heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, said heat exchange device comprising a plurality of heat exchange cells in a stacked arrangement, said heat exchange device defining a first manifold, a second manifold, and a third manifold disposed

1. A heat exchange device for effecting a transfer of heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, said heat exchange device comprising a plurality of heat exchange cells in a stacked arrangement, said heat exchange device defining a first manifold, a second manifold, and a third manifold disposed intermediate the first and second manifolds, each of said heat exchange cells comprising: an upper cell plate having an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface opposite the exterior facing surface, said upper cell plate having a first upper manifold aperture, a second upper manifold aperture, a third upper manifold aperture, and an upper peripheral edge bounding said upper cell plate;a lower cell plate having an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface opposite the exterior facing surface, said lower cell plate having a first lower manifold aperture, a second lower manifold aperture, a third lower manifold aperture, and a lower peripheral edge bounding said lower cell plate;said lower cell plate juxtaposed with said upper cell plate so that the first lower manifold aperture is aligned with the first upper manifold aperture, the second lower manifold aperture is aligned with the second upper manifold aperture, and the third lower manifold aperture is aligned with the third upper manifold aperture;the upper peripheral edge joined to the lower peripheral edge to define a cell peripheral edge;the interior facing surface of the upper cell plate facing and spaced apart from the interior facing surface of the lower cell plate to define a first interior volume extending between the first manifold the third manifold and a second interior volume extending between the second manifold and the third manifold;said first interior volume having a first cell inlet and a first cell outlet and defining a first fluid passageway for the first fluid between the first cell inlet and the first cell outlet;said second interior volume having a second cell inlet and a second cell outlet and defining a second fluid passageway for the first fluid between the second cell inlet and the second cell outlet;a first heat transfer matrix positioned within said first interior volume, a second heat transfer matrix positioned within said second interior volume, a third heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of said upper cell plate between said first upper manifold aperture and said third upper manifold aperture, a fourth heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of said upper cell plate between said second upper manifold aperture and said third upper manifold aperture, a fifth heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of the lower cell plate between said first lower manifold aperture and said third lower manifold aperture, and a sixth heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of the lower cell plate between said second lower manifold aperture and said third lower manifold aperture;a first upper manifold ring on the exterior surface of the upper cell plate and circumscribing the first upper manifold aperture;a second upper manifold ring on the exterior surface of the upper cell plate and circumscribing the second upper manifold aperture;a third upper manifold ring attached to the exterior surface of the upper plate and circumscribing the third upper manifold aperture;a first lower manifold ring attached to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the first lower manifold aperture;a second lower manifold ring attached to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the second lower manifold aperture;a third lower manifold ring attached to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the third lower manifold aperture;during operation, the first fluid, contained within said first, second, and third manifolds, having a higher pressure than the second fluid, and each of said first, second, and third manifolds having a closure member closing a first end thereof, said first, second, and third manifolds being open at a second end thereof;a first tension member for preventing gross distortion of the first manifold when the first manifold is subjected to a pressure load;a second tension member for preventing gross distortion of the second manifold when the second manifold is subjected to a pressure load;a lateral beam having a first end coupled to the closure of said first manifold and a second end coupled to the closure of said second manifold; andsaid closure of said third manifold bearing against said lateral beam at a position intermediate the first and second ends of the lateral beam. 2. The heat exchange device of claim 1, wherein each of said first upper manifold ring, said second upper manifold ring, said third upper manifold ring, said first lower manifold ring, said second lower manifold ring, and said third lower manifold ring is selected from the group consisting a separately formed ring and an integrally formed ring. 3. The heat exchange device of claim 1, wherein said third manifold is centrally positioned between said first and second manifolds. 4. The heat exchange device of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, and third manifolds have a cross-sectional shape independently selected from the group consisting of circular, rectangular, polygonal, and D-shaped. 5. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said first tension member is selected from the group consisting of a tie-rod disposed within the first manifold and a rigid case disposed exteriorly about the first manifold; andsaid second tension member is selected from the group consisting of a tie-rod disposed within the first manifold and a rigid case disposed exteriorly about the second manifold. 6. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said lateral beam having a rigidity which is sufficient to prevent gross displacement of the third manifold when the third manifold is subjected to a pressure load. 7. The heat exchange device of claim 6, further comprising: a resilient member disposed between the third manifold and said lateral beam, said resilient member compressible to accommodate axial expansion of said third manifold. 8. The heat exchange device of claim 7, further comprising: said resilient member selected from the group consisting of: a spring member; and, a pressure activated bellows fluidically coupled to said third manifold. 9. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said lateral beam having a flexibility which is sufficient to accommodate axial expansion of said third manifold. 10. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said first and second manifolds are each inlet manifolds and said third manifold is an outlet manifold, wherein during operation of said heat exchange device the first fluid is substantially heated as it flows from said first and second manifolds to said third manifold. 11. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: a first land adjacent the first manifold;a second land adjacent the second manifold; andthird and fourth lands for receiving the second fluid, the first and second lands adjacent to the third manifold. 12. The heat exchange device of claim 11, further comprising: said first and second lands on a transverse side of the heat exchange device and the third and fourth lands on a second transverse side of the heat exchange device opposite the first transverse side. 13. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said first cell inlet is defined between the first upper manifold aperture and the first lower manifold aperture;said first cell outlet is defined between the third upper manifold aperture and the third lower manifold aperture;said second cell inlet is defined between the second upper manifold aperture and the second lower manifold aperturesaid second cell outlet is defined between the third upper manifold aperture and the third lower manifold aperture.