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 wherein each cell includes inlet and outlet manifold rings which define inlet and outlet manifolds, respectively. Adjace

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 wherein each cell includes inlet and outlet manifold rings which define inlet and outlet manifolds, respectively. Adjacent heat exchange cells are bonded to one another via metallurgical bonds between the contacting surfaces of the manifold rings. In a further aspect, a method for the manufacture of a heat exchange device is provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A heat exchange device for transferring 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 an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, each of said heat exchange cells co

1. A heat exchange device for transferring 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 an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, 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 an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, a central upper cell plate portion extending between the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture, and an upper peripheral edge bounding said inlet aperture, outlet aperture, and said central upper cell plate portion;a lower cell plate having an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface opposite the exterior facing surface;said lower cell plate having an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, a central lower cell plate portion, and a lower peripheral edge bounding said inlet aperture, outlet aperture, and said central lower cell plate portion;said lower cell plate juxtaposed with said upper cell plate so that the inlet aperture of the lower cell plate is aligned with the inlet aperture of the upper cell plate, the outlet aperture of the lower cell plate is aligned with the outlet aperture of the upper cell plate, and the central lower cell plate portion is aligned with the central upper cell plate portion;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 an interior volume therebetween;said interior volume having a cell inlet and a cell outlet and defining a fluid passageway for the second fluid between the cell inlet and the cell outlet, wherein said cell inlet is adjacent the inlet aperture of the upper cell plate and the inlet aperture of the lower cell plate, and said cell outlet is adjacent the outlet aperture of the upper cell plate and the outlet aperture of the lower cell plate;a first heat transfer matrix positioned within said interior volume, a second heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of said upper cell plate, and a third heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of the lower cell plate;an upper inlet manifold ring bonded to the exterior surface of the upper plate and circumscribing the inlet aperture of said upper cell plate;an upper outlet manifold ring bonded to the exterior surface of the upper plate and circumscribing the outlet aperture of said upper cell plate;a lower inlet manifold ring bonded to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the inlet aperture of said lower cell plate; anda lower outlet manifold ring bonded to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the outlet aperture of said lower cell plate;wherein the upper inlet manifold ring of one of said heat exchange cells is bonded to the lower inlet manifold ring of an adjacent one of said heat exchange cells and the upper outlet manifold ring of one of said heat exchange cells is bonded to the lower outlet manifold ring of an adjacent one of said heat exchange cells. 2. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said plurality of heat exchange cells including at least first and second heat exchange cells;the upper inlet manifold ring of the first heat exchange cell attached to the lower inlet manifold ring of the second heat exchange cell via a first bond to define the inlet manifold; andthe upper outlet manifold ring of the first heat exchange cell attached to the lower outlet manifold ring of the second heat exchange cell via a second bond to define the outlet manifold. 3. The heat exchange device of claim 2, wherein the first and second bonds are formed by welding, brazing, diffusion bonding, soldering, cementing, adhesive bonding, and sintering. 4. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said plurality of heat exchange cells including at least first, second, and third heat exchange cells;the lower inlet manifold ring of the first heat exchange cell attached to the upper inlet manifold ring of the second heat exchange cell, and the lower inlet manifold ring of the second heat exchanger attached to the upper inlet manifold ring of the third heat exchange cell; andthe lower outlet manifold ring of the first heat exchange cell attached to the upper outlet manifold ring of the second heat exchange cell, and the lower outlet manifold ring of the second heat exchanger attached to the upper outlet manifold ring of the third heat exchange cell. 5. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said second and third heat transfer matrices defining a flow passageway for the first fluid. 6. The heat exchange device of claim 5, wherein said heat exchange device is configured to transfer heat from the first fluid to the second fluid. 7. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said first heat transfer matrix having a first side bonded to the interior facing surface of the upper cell plate and a second side opposite the first side bonded to the interior facing surface of the lower cell plate. 8. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said second heat transfer matrix having a thickness which is equal to a thickness of said upper inlet manifold ring and a thickness of said upper outlet manifold ring; andsaid third heat transfer matrix having a thickness which is equal to a thickness of said lower inlet manifold ring and a thickness of said lower outlet manifold ring. 9. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: the second and third heat transfer matrices of each heat exchange cell are not bonded to any other heat exchange cell of said plurality of heat exchange cells. 10. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: each heat exchange cell having a first structural matrix for structurally enhancing the pressure containing potential of said heat exchange cell, the first structural matrix located within said interior volume, said first structural matrix having first, second, and third edges;the first edge of the first structural matrix aligned with a first edge of the first heat transfer matrix;the second edge of the first structural matrix intercepting one of said cell inlet and said cell outlet;the third edge of the first structural matrix aligned with a portion of the peripheral edge of said upper cell plate and a portion of the peripheral edge of said lower cell plate. 11. The heat exchange device of claim 10, further comprising: each heat exchange cell having a second structural matrix for structurally enhancing the pressure containing potential of said heat exchange cell, the second structural matrix located within said interior volume, said second structural matrix having first, second, and third edges;the first edge of the second structural matrix aligned with a second edge of the first heat transfer matrix which is opposite the second edge of the first heat transfer matrix;the second edge of the second structural matrix intercepting the other of said cell inlet and said cell outlet;the third edge of the second structural matrix aligned with a portion of the peripheral edge of said upper cell plate and a portion of the peripheral edge of said lower cell plate. 12. The heat exchange device of claim 11, further comprising: said first and second structural matrices are metallurgically bonded to the interior surface of the first plate and the interior surface of the second plate. 13. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said upper inlet manifold ring and said upper outlet manifold ring metallurgically bonded to the exterior surface of the upper plate;said lower inlet manifold ring and said lower outlet manifold ring metallurgically bonded to the exterior surface of the lower plate. 14. The heat exchange device of claim 1, each heat exchange cell further comprising: said upper peripheral edge being generally dish-shaped and defining an upper contact flange; andsaid lower peripheral edge being generally dish-shaped and defining a lower contact flange bonded to the upper contacting flange. 15. The heat exchange device of claim 1, each heat exchange cell further comprising: a peripheral ring having an upper joining surface and a lower joining surface opposite the upper joining surface, the upper joining surface bonded to the upper peripheral edge and the lower joining surface bonded to the lower peripheral edge. 16. The heat exchange device of claim 1, wherein one or more of said upper inlet manifold ring, upper outlet manifold ring; lower inlet manifold ring; and, lower outlet manifold ring are formed of hollow rectangular tubing. 17. The heat exchange device of claim 1, each heat exchange cell further comprising: one or both of a first reinforcing ring segment and a second reinforcing ring segment;said first reinforcing ring segment disposed between the upper cell plate and the lower cell plate and partially circumscribing each of the upper inlet aperture and the lower inlet aperture, said first reinforcing ring segment having an opening aligned with said cell inlet to allow the second fluid to flow from the inlet manifold to the interior volume, the first reinforcing ring segment having an upper contact surface metallurgically bonded to the interior surface of the upper cell plate and a lower contact surface metallurgically bonded to the interior surface of the lower cell plate; andsaid second reinforcing ring segment disposed between the upper cell plate and the lower cell plate and partially circumscribing each of the upper outlet aperture and the lower outlet aperture, said second reinforcing ring segment having an opening aligned with said cell outlet to allow the second fluid to flow from the interior volume to the outlet manifold, the second reinforcing ring segment having an upper contact surface bonded to the interior surface of the upper cell plate and a lower contact surface bonded to the interior surface of the lower cell plate. 18. The heat exchange device of claim 1, each heat exchange cell further comprising: one or both of a first annular reinforcing ring and a second annular reinforcing ring;said first annular reinforcing ring disposed between the upper cell plate and the lower cell plate and circumscribing each of the upper inlet aperture and the lower inlet aperture, said first annular reinforcing ring formed of a porous material which, during operation, allows the second fluid to permeate through said first annular reinforcing ring from the inlet manifold to the interior volume, said first annular reinforcing ring having an upper contact surface metallurgically bonded to the interior surface of the upper cell plate and a lower contact surface metallurgically bonded to the interior surface of the lower cell plate; andsaid second annular reinforcing ring disposed between the upper cell plate and the lower cell plate and circumscribing each of the upper outlet aperture and the lower outlet aperture, said second annular reinforcing ring formed of a porous material which, during operation, allows the second fluid to permeate through said second annular reinforcing ring from interior volume to the outlet manifold, said second annular reinforcing ring having an upper contact surface bonded to the interior surface of the upper cell plate and a lower contact surface bonded to the interior surface of the lower cell plate. 19. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said first heat transfer matrix including an upper heat transfer matrix layer and a lower heat transfer matrix layer;said upper heat transfer matrix layer having a first surface bonded to the interior facing surface of the upper cell plate and a second surface opposite the first surface;said lower heat transfer matrix layer having a first surface bonded to the interior facing surface of the lower cell plate and a second surface opposite the first surface. 20. The heat exchange device of claim 19, further comprising: the second surface of the upper heat transfer matrix layer and the second surface of the lower heat transfer matrix layer being in facing relation, wherein the second surface of the upper heat transfer matrix layer is not bonded to the second surface of the lower heat transfer matrix layer. 21. The heat exchange device of claim 1, further comprising: said first heat transfer matrix having a first pair of opposing edges and a second pair of opposing edges, wherein said first pair of opposing edges are substantially parallel to a pair of opposing edges of the upper and lower cell plates; andone opposing edge of the second pair of opposing edges of the first heat transfer matrix being aligned with the cell inlet and having a shape which conforms to a shape of the inlet manifold at an intersection of the inlet manifold and the cell inlet; andthe other opposing edge of the second pair of opposing edges of the first heat transfer matrix being aligned with the cell outlet and having a shape which conforms to a shape of the outlet manifold at an intersection of the outlet manifold and the cell outlet. 22. The heat exchange device of claim 21, wherein each of the second pair of opposing edges of the first heat transfer matrix has a transverse dimension which is equal to or slightly larger than a diameter of said inlet and outlet manifolds, thereby allowing the second fluid to flow directly from the cell inlet to the cell outlet. 23. The heat exchange device of claim 1, wherein each of the upper cell plate inlet aperture, the upper cell plate outlet aperture, the lower cell plate inlet aperture, the lower cell plate outlet aperture, the upper inlet manifold ring, the upper outlet manifold ring the lower inlet manifold ring and the lower outlet manifold ring have a shape selected from circular and D-shaped. 24. The heat exchange device of claim 1, wherein: said first heat transfer matrix is elongate and has a longitudinal axis;said inlet and outlet manifolds are axially spaced apart from each other along said longitudinal axis; andeach of said inlet and outlet manifolds are aligned with said longitudinal axis. 25. The heat exchange device of claim 1, wherein: said first heat transfer matrix is elongate and has a longitudinal axis;said inlet and outlet manifolds are axially spaced apart from each other along said longitudinal axis; andsaid inlet and outlet manifolds are transversely displaced from the longitudinal axis and are positioned on opposite transverse sides of said longitudinal axis. 26. A method of manufacturing a heat exchange device of a type for transferring heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, said method comprising: assembling a plurality of heat exchange cells, each heat exchange cell including: an upper cell plate having an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface opposite the exterior facing surface;said upper cell plate having an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, a central upper cell plate portion extending between the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture, and an upper peripheral edge bounding said inlet aperture, outlet aperture, and said central upper cell plate portion;a lower cell plate having an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface opposite the exterior facing surface;said lower cell plate having an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, a central lower cell plate portion, and a peripheral edge bounding said inlet aperture, outlet aperture, and said central lower cell plate portion;said lower cell plate juxtaposed with said upper cell plate so that the inlet aperture of the lower cell plate is aligned with the inlet aperture of the upper cell plate, the outlet aperture of the lower cell plate is aligned with the outlet aperture of the upper cell plate, and the central lower cell plate portion is aligned with the central upper cell plate portion;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 an interior volume therebetween;said interior volume having a cell inlet and a cell outlet and defining a fluid passageway for the second fluid between the cell inlet and the cell outlet, wherein said cell inlet is adjacent the inlet aperture of the upper cell plate and the inlet aperture of the lower cell plate, and said cell outlet is adjacent the outlet aperture of the upper cell plate and the outlet aperture of the lower cell plate;a first heat transfer matrix positioned within said interior volume, a second heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of said upper cell plate, and a third heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of the lower cell plate;an upper inlet manifold ring bonded to the exterior surface of the upper plate and circumscribing the inlet aperture of said upper cell plate;an upper outlet manifold ring bonded to the exterior surface of the upper plate and circumscribing the outlet aperture of said upper cell plate;a lower inlet manifold ring bonded to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the inlet aperture of said lower cell plate; anda lower outlet manifold ring bonded to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the outlet aperture of said lower cell plate;stacking said plurality of heat exchange cells such that a contacting surface of the lower inlet manifold ring of one of said plurality of said heat exchange cells contacts a contacting surface of the upper inlet manifold ring of an adjacent one of said plurality of heat exchange cells and a contacting surface of the lower outlet manifold ring of said one of said plurality of said heat exchange cells contacts a contacting surface of the upper outlet manifold ring of said adjacent one of said plurality of heat exchange cells; andmetallurgically joining the plurality of heat exchange cells at the contacting surfaces of the upper and lower inlet manifold rings and the contacting surfaces of the upper and lower outlet manifold rings.