HEAT EXCHANGER MANIFOLD

Abstract

A manifold for a heat exchanger includes a manifold body configured to house heat exchanger components including a blower for circulating air and means for performing heat exchange between the air and a heat exchange fluid. The manifold also includes an opening (A) via which air enters the blower, an inlet for receiving air from the heat exchanger and an outlet for outputting air from the manifold. The manifold also includes a flow channel extending between the inlet and the outlet. The channel defines a helical flow path from the inlet to the outlet.

Claims

1. A manifold for a heat exchanger, comprising: a manifold body configured to house heat exchanger components including a blower for circulating air and means for performing heat exchange between the air and a heat exchange fluid; an opening via which air enters the blower; an inlet for receiving air from the heat exchanger; an outlet for outputting air from the manifold; and a flow channel extending between the inlet and the outlet, the channel defining a helical flow path from the inlet to the outlet.

2. The manifold of claim 1, further comprising: a guide fin located in the channel configured to guide the air along the helical flow path.

3. The manifold of claim 2, wherein the channel extends more than one full turn around the heat exchanger components to define the helical flow path.

4. The manifold of claim 1, further comprising: a guide fin located in the channel configured to guide the air along the helical flow path.

5. A heat exchange unit comprising: a heat exchanger; and a manifold as claimed in claim 1 housing the heat exchanger.

6. The heat exchange unit of claim 5, wherein the heat exchanger comprises: the blower; and wherein the means for performing heat exchange are a plurality of heat exchange fins through which air is directed by the blower and where heat exchange takes place.

7. The heat exchange unit of claim 6, having a substantially circular cross-section.

8. The heat exchange unit of claim 5, for installation under a seat.

9. The heat exchange unit of claim 8, for installation under a seat of an aircraft.

10. The heat exchange unit of claim 9, wherein the heat exchange unit receives recirculated air from the aircraft cabin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger unit having a manifold in accordance with this disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a top view of the unit of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a side view of the unit of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a partially exposed perspective view of the unit of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIGS. 5A and 5B are side sectional view of the unit of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective exposed view of the unit of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 7 is an alternative perspective exposed view of the unit of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The examples shown in the drawings and described in detail herein comprise a manifold 1 for a heat exchanger 2 having a blower 3 that has a substantially circular form, and a plurality of heat exchanger fins 4. Air indicated by arrow A is drawn into the blower 3 at an input 9 and is directed from the blower into the fins 4. This may be e.g. fresh air or, in an aircraft, may be recirculated cabin air. Heat exchange fluid (not shown) may be passed through the fins. As the air is directed by the blower across the fins 4, heat exchange takes place between the heat exchange fluid and the air. Depending on the direction of heat exchange, the air is warmed or cooled by the heat exchange process. The warmed or cooled air then exits the heat exchange components via one or more outlets as indicated by arrow B. The present disclosure is, however, not limited to such heat exchanger structures and the manifold described further herein may house different heat exchange components that take in air, perform a heat exchange process on the air, and output cooled or heated air.

[0029] The heat exchanger components are housed in the manifold 1. The manifold is designed to minimise the area taken up by the heat exchanger unit 10. In order to achieve required flow and power, there is little flexibility in the design of the size of the components required to perform the heat exchange e.g. the blower and fins. The present disclosure therefore aims to minimise the area of the unit 10 by appropriate design of the manifold 1. The manifold surrounds the heat exchanger 2 components and defines a channel 5 having an inlet 6 arranged to receive air from the heat exchanger components after the heat exchange process and an outlet 7 via which the heated or cooled air is expelled into the environment e.g. the aircraft cabin around an individual seat. The channel has a helical configuration from the inlet 6 to the outlet 7 such that with respect to an axis X defined through the centre of the blower from top to bottom, the inlet is axially offset with respect to the outlet, as best seen in FIG. 5B.

[0030] The channel 5 may be of such a length that it extends by more than 360 deg. around the blower 3. Because the channel is helical, the additional turns will not, or will to a lesser extent that a circular arrangement, add to the radial dimension R of the manifold, but rather to its height or axial dimension H.

[0031] The helical structure allows the manifold to have only a single outlet 7 which allows easier installation of the unit 10 where the outlet air is required such as under a seat in an aircraft.

[0032] In a preferred arrangement, in order to prevent inlet and outlet air mixing in the manifold, e.g. due to air recirculating at the lower part of the manifold, a special fin 8 separates the part of the manifold driving air to the outlet. An example of the fin can be best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5B where it can be seen that the fin separates the channel 5 and guides the outlet air up through the helix to the outlet 7.

[0033] The manifold having a three dimensional helical structure with a single outlet can be manufactured as a plastic component using additive manufacturing which substantially decreases the cost and time to manufacture.

[0034] Because the channel forms a helical path rather than a circular path, the radial dimension of the manifold and hence the unit is smaller than a conventional arrangement providing the same flow parameters. Instead, the flow path has an increased dimension in the axial direction (i.e. is higher) than a convention arrangement providing the same flow parameters. Such a manifold allows the unit to be used in locations where the available surface area is restricted but where more height might be available such as under the seats of an aircraft in economy class.

[0035] Whilst the manifold has been described in the context of a heat exchange unit for an aircraft, the disclosure is not so limited. The advantages provided by the manifold structure of this disclosure will be useful anywhere where a heat exchanger is to be installed in a space where the axial dimension is limited. The scope of the disclosure is limited only by the claims.