WEB, WEB MATRIX, AND ROTOR FOR HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

A web for a rotary heat exchanger is configured for transfer of thermal energy and/or moisture to and/or from a fluid. The web includes first profiled sections and second profiled sections configured to protrude in opposite directions, each a fluid passage. The first and second profiled sections form a plurality of fluid flow channels, each fluid flow channel having a main fluid flow axis and being configured to allow fluid flow at least partially along the main fluid flow axis. Each fluid flow channel is formed by alternating at least one first profiled section and at least one second profiled section along the main fluid flow axis and by aligning the fluid passages of the alternatingly arranged first profiled section(s) and second profiled section(s). Each fluid flow channel has at least one lateral opening allowing fluid flow to at least partially travel between adjacent fluid flow channels.

Claims

1. A web for a rotary heat exchanger, said web being configured for transfer of thermal energy and/or moisture to and/or from a fluid, said web comprising a plurality of first profiled sections and a plurality of second profiled sections, said first profiled sections and said second profiled sections being configured to protrude in opposite directions from a main plane (P1) of said web, each protrusion comprising a fluid passage, said first profiled sections and said second profiled sections forming a plurality of fluid flow channels, each fluid flow channel having a main fluid flow axis (A1) and being configured to allow fluid flow at least partially along said main fluid flow axis (A1), each fluid flow channel being formed by alternating at least one first profiled section and at least one second profiled section along said main fluid flow axis (A1) and by aligning said fluid passages of said alternatingly arranged first profiled section(s) and second profiled section(s), each fluid flow channel comprising at least one lateral opening allowing said fluid flow to at least partially travel between adjacent fluid flow channels.

2. The web according to claim 1, wherein a fluid outlet end of said first profiled section is arranged adjacent a fluid inlet end of an adjacent second profiled section, and/or wherein a fluid inlet end (of said first profiled section is arranged adjacent a fluid outlet end of an adjacent second profiled section, said fluid passage of said first profiled section extending from said fluid inlet end to said fluid outlet end along said main fluid flow axis (A1), and said fluid passage of said second profiled section extending from said fluid inlet end to said fluid outlet end along said main fluid flow axis (A1).

3. The web according to claim 2, wherein said fluid flow can deviate from said main fluid flow axis (A1) as it exits said fluid outlet end of said first profiled section of said fluid flow channel, and travel into said fluid passage of said second profiled section of an adjacent fluid flow channel, and/or said fluid flow can deviate from said main fluid flow axis (A1) as it exits said fluid outlet end of said second profiled section of said fluid flow channel, and travel into said fluid passage of said first profiled section of an adjacent fluid flow channel.

4. The web according to claim 1, wherein said first profiled section(s) and said second profiled section(s) of each fluid flow channel have identical shape, an axis of symmetry (A2) of said first profiled section(s) extending coaxially with an axis of symmetry (A3) of said second profiled section(s), and extending in parallel with said main fluid flow axis (A1) of said fluid flow channel.

5. The web according to claim 3, wherein said first profiled section and said second profiled section each comprise an apex and a base, said apex of said first profiled section and said base of said second profiled section being arranged at one side of said main plane (P1), and said base of said first profiled section and said apex of said second profiled section being arranged at an opposite side of said main plane (P1).

6. The web according to claim 5, wherein said apex of said first profiled section and said base of said second profiled section are arranged in a first common plane, and said base of said first profiled section and said apex of said second profiled section are arranged in a second common plane (P4).

7. The web according to claim 1, wherein said first profiled section and said second profiled section each comprise at least one stepped part, said stepped part of said first profiled section extending adjacent said stepped part of an adjacent second profiled section.

8. The web according to claim 7, wherein said stepped part(s) of said first profiled section(s) extend coplanarly with said stepped part(s) of said second profiled section(s).

9. The web according to claim 1, wherein said web comprises a web material such as polymer, steel, or aluminum foil, and, optionally, a hygroscopic or epoxy coating.

10. A web matrix for transfer of thermal energy and/or moisture to and/or from a fluid, said web matrix comprising a plurality of webs according to claim 1, said webs being superimposed onto each other such that the main fluid flow axes (A1) of said webs extend in parallel.

11. The web matrix according to claim 10, further comprising at least one integral sheet material, each sheet material being arranged between two adjacent webs.

12. The web matrix according to claim 10, wherein the apex and/or the base of the first profiled sections and/or the second profiled sections of said webs are fixedly attached to said sheet material.

13. A rotor for a heat exchanger comprising the web matrix according to claim 10, a rotation axis (A4) of said rotor extending in parallel with the main fluid flow axes (A1) of the webs of said web matrix.

14. The rotor according to claim 13, wherein each fluid flow channel of said webs is configured to accommodate bidirectional fluid flow at least partially along said main fluid flow axis (A1), said fluid flowing in a first direction (D3), along said main fluid flow axis (A1), within a rotor section when said rotor section is in a first angular position (R1), said fluid flowing in a second, opposite direction (D4), along said main fluid flow axis (A1), within said rotor section when said rotor section is in a second angular position (R2).

15. The rotor according to claim 13, wherein said rotor is configured for air-to-air heat transfer.

16. A rotary heat exchanger comprising the rotor according to claim 13.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] In the following detailed portion of the present disclosure, the aspects, embodiments, and implementations will be explained in more detail with reference to the example embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a web in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a partial perspective view of a web in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] FIGS. 4a to 4c show cross-sectional side views of webs in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] FIG. 5. shows a cross-sectional side view of a profiled section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4c;

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a partial perspective view of a heat exchanger comprising a rotor and a matrix in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a rotary heat exchanger 13 comprising a rotor 12, which rotary heat exchanger 13 may be configured for use in e.g. ventilation systems where there is no need for separating the inlet fluid flows and the outlet fluid flows. The rotor 12 may be

[0046] configured for air-to-air heat transfer, air-to-liquid heat transfer, or liquid-to-liquid heat transfer. Furthermore, the rotor 12 may be configured for moisture transfer. The rotor 12 may have a temperature efficiency of 70-90% with a pressure drop of between 50 and 300 Pa.

[0047] The rotor 12 comprises a web matrix 10 comprising a plurality of webs 1, or foils, described in more detail further below. The rotation axis A4 of the rotor 12 extends in parallel with the main fluid flow axes A1 of the webs 1 of the web matrix 10, as indicated in FIG. 6. The web matrix 10 may be either one integral piece or segmented, segmented rotors being divided into sectors, i.e. pie-shaped parts, that are assembled when the rotor is installed.

[0048] The webs 1 comprise a plurality of fluid flow channels 5 which are configured to accommodate bidirectional fluid flow at least partially along the main fluid flow axis A1, which reduces the buildup of laminar flow. By bidirectional is meant that the fluid flows in a first direction D3 along the main fluid flow axis A1 of a fluid flow channel 5 arranged within a specific rotor section, when the rotor section is momentarily in a first angular position R1. Correspondingly, the fluid flows in a second, opposite direction D4 along the same main fluid flow axis A1, when the same rotor section is momentarily in a second angular position R2. The first angular position R1 may for example be any position in the upper 180° of one revolution of the rotor 12 around the rotation axis A4, and the second angular position R2 may be any position in the lower 180° of the revolution.

[0049] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the above-mentioned web 1, the web 1 being configured for transfer of thermal energy and/or moisture to and/or from the fluid passing therethrough. The fluid may be air, water, or any suitable gas.

[0050] The web 1 comprises a plurality of first profiled sections 2 and a plurality of second profiled sections 3. The first profiled sections 2 and the second profiled sections 3 are configured such that they protrude in opposite directions from the main plane P1 of the web 1. Each protrusion forms a fluid passage 4, in other words, the first profiled sections 2 and the second profiled sections 3 are shaped such that they extend in opposite directions, and a fluid passage 4 being created by and within this protrusion. Furthermore, the plurality of first profiled sections 2 and the plurality of second profiled sections 3, since they protrude in opposite directions from the main plane P1, form distances between adjacent, i.e. stacked, webs 1.

[0051] The first profiled sections 2 and the second profiled sections 3 together form a plurality of fluid flow channels 5. Each fluid flow channel 5 has a main fluid flow axis A1 and is configured to allow fluid flow at least partially along the main fluid flow axis A1, in first direction D3 and second direction D4. The plurality of fluid flow channels 5 within one web 1 is arranged such that they extend substantially in parallel, i.e. the main fluid flow axes A1 of the fluid flow channels 5 are parallel with each other, within the main plane P1. The main plane P1 may be is curved, e.g. when the web 1 is used in the matrix of a rotary heat exchanger 13. This curvature or arching requires the plurality of webs 1 of the web matrix 10 to be stacked or wound such that each layer of web 1 is correctly arched as well as distanced from each other.

[0052] Each fluid flow channel 5 is formed by alternating at least one first profiled section 2 and at least one second profiled section 3 along the main fluid flow axis A1, such that every second section is a first profiled section 2 and every second profile is a second profiled section 3. The first profiled sections 2 protrude in a first direction D1 which is perpendicular to the main plane P1, and the second profiled sections 3, correspondingly, protrudes in a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The fluid passages 4 of the alternatingly arranged first profiled sections 2 and second profiled sections 3 are aligned such that a fluid flow channel 5 is formed by this plurality of aligned fluid passages 4.

[0053] The size of the fluid passages 4 and, hence, fluid flow channels 5 in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 is usually called well height. Different well heights and rotor diameters give different efficiencies, pressure drops, and airflow rates.

[0054] By alternating first profiled sections 2 and second profiled sections 3, a fluid outlet end 2b of a first profiled section 2 may be arranged adjacent a fluid inlet end 3a of an adjacent second profiled section 3, and/or a fluid inlet end 2a of a first profiled section 2 may be arranged adjacent a fluid outlet end 3b of an adjacent second profiled section 3. The fluid passage 4 of the first profiled section 2 extends from the fluid inlet end 2a to the fluid outlet end 2b, of the first profiled section 2, along main fluid flow axis A1. The fluid passage 4 of the second profiled section 3 extends from the fluid inlet end 3a to the fluid outlet end 3b, of the second profiled section 3, along main fluid flow axis A1.

[0055] The use of two alternating first profiled sections 2 and second profiled sections 3 not only provides fluid flow channels but also distancing between directly adjacent webs 1, as well as facilitates arching of the webs and a stable yet efficient web matrix 10. An increased number of profiled sections would complicate manufacture as well as arching.

[0056] Each fluid flow channel 5 comprises at least one lateral opening 6 allowing the fluid flow to at least partially travel between adjacent fluid flow channels 5, and not only along the main fluid flow axis A1. A lateral opening 6 may be formed at each transition between a first profiled section 2 and a second profiled section 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, i.e. the lateral opening 6 may be air gaps formed between adjacent profiled sections 2, 3.

[0057] The fluid flow may deviate from the main fluid flow axis A1, i.e. travel through a lateral opening 6, as it exits the fluid outlet end 2b of a first profiled section 2 of a fluid flow channel 5a, and travel into the fluid passage 4 of a second profiled section 3 of an adjacent fluid flow channel 5b. Correspondingly, the fluid flow may deviate from the main fluid flow axis A1, i.e. travel through a lateral opening 6, as it exits a fluid outlet end 3b of a second profiled section 3 of a fluid flow channel 5a, and travel into the fluid passage 4 of a first profiled section 2 of an adjacent fluid flow channel 5b.

[0058] The first profiled sections 2 and the second profiled sections 3 of each fluid flow channel 5 may have identical shapes, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 4a and 4c. In this case, the axis of symmetry A2 of the first profiled sections 2 may extend coaxially with the axis of symmetry A3 of the second profiled sections 3. The axes of symmetry A2, A3 extend in parallel with the main fluid flow axis A1 of the fluid flow channel 5. Nevertheless, the first profiled sections 2 and the second profiled sections 3 may also be offset relative to each other, in the first or second directions D1, D2 (vertically or radially) or in a direction within the main plane P1 (horizontally or circumferentially).

[0059] Furthermore, the first profiled sections 2 and the second profiled sections 3 may have different cross-sectional shapes as seen in a plane P2 perpendicular to the main fluid flow axis A1 and to the main plane P1. The axes of symmetry A2, A3 may, in this case, extend either coaxially or in parallel.

[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first profiled section 2 and the second profiled section 3 may each comprise an apex 7 and a base 8. The apex 7 of the first profiled section 2 and the base 8 of the second profiled section 3 are arranged at one side of the main plane P1, and [0061] the base 8 of the first profiled section 2 and the apex 7 of the second profiled section 3 are arranged at the opposite side of the main plane P1. The apex 7 of the first profiled section 2 and the base 8 of the second profiled section 3 may be arranged in a first common plane P3, and the base 8 of the first profiled section 2 and the apex 7 of the second profiled section 3 may be arranged in a second common plane P4. One or several of the apexes 7 and the bases 8 may also be arranged with some vertical offset, such that they do not extend in a common plane.

[0062] The cross-sectional shapes of the first profiled section 2 and the second profiled section 3 may substantially correspond to a period of a sine wave. The apex 7 may correspond to a crest of the sine wave, and the base 8 may correspond to two troughs of the sine wave. The cross-sectional shapes of the first profiled section 2 and the second profiled section 3 may also substantially correspond to a period of a square wave, a triangular wave, a sawtooth wave or any other suitable periodic wave.

[0063] The first profiled section 2 and the second profiled section 3 may be shaped such that they have substantially identical apexes 7 and bases 8. This is illustrated in FIGS. 4a to 4c, which show different embodiments of the first profiled section 2 and the second profiled section 3. The cross-sectional shapes of the first profiled section 2 and the second profiled section 3 may correspond to a period of a sine wave, wherein every second apex 7 of each profile 2, 3 corresponds to a crest of the sine wave, and every second apex 7 corresponds to the trough of the sine wave, as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4bc.

[0064] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4a to 4c, the apexes 7 and bases 8 may be shaped such that they have an as small surface as possible in contact with any adjacent element such as a sheet material 11, described in more detail below, or an adjacent web 1.

[0065] The first profiled section 2 and the second profiled section 3 may also have complex periods as shown in FIGS. 4c and 5. For example, the first profiled section 2 and the second profiled section 3 may be shaped such that they have a wave-shape which is not purely sinusoidal, but which e.g. may comprise flat areas such as flat apexes 7 and flat bases 8.

[0066] The first profiled section 2 and the second profiled section 3 may each comprise at least one stepped part 9. As shown in FIG. 2, each first profiled section 2 and each second profiled section 3 may comprise two preferably coplanar stepped parts 9. As shown in FIG. 5, each first profiled section 2 and each second profiled section 3 may comprise one stepped part 9. The stepped part 9 of the first profiled section 2 may extend adjacent the stepped part 9 of an adjacent second profiled section 3. The stepped parts 9 may be arranged coplanar with, or at an angle to, the main plane P1. The stepped parts 9 of the first profiled section 2 may extend coplanar with the stepped parts 9 of the second profiled section 3. Furthermore, the stepped part 9 may be arranged equidistantly between the apex 7 and the base 8 of a section, i.e. at a vertical center point of the fluid flow channel 5.

[0067] The first profiled section 2 and the second profiled section 3 may each comprise a strip of web material. The web material may be one integral piece of sheet material, into which parallel, throughgoing slits are cut and strips are formed by the material located between two such adjacent slits. A number of profiled sections may be formed by one such integral piece of material, as suggested in FIGS. 4a to 5. A profiled section is formed by allowing the strip to protrude in direction D1 or direction D2. The slits preferably extend in parallel with each other and perpendicular to the main fluid flow axis A1.

[0068] The web 1 may comprise a web material such as polymer, steel, or aluminum foil, and, optionally, be covered by a hygroscopic or epoxy coating.

[0069] The present invention also relates to a web matrix 10 for transfer of thermal energy and/or moisture to and/or from a fluid. The web matrix 10 comprises a plurality of webs 1 which are superimposed onto each other such that the main fluid flow axes A1 of the webs 1 extend in parallel. This is illustrated schematically in FIG. 6. The plurality of webs 1 may be superimposed onto each other by stacking and curving individual webs or rolling one or several webs onto each other, forming a spiral. The web(s) is/are configured such that curing of the web(s) is possible without affecting the configuration of the first profiled section 2 and the second profiled section 3, and hence, without affecting the efficiency of the web matrix 10.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 3, the web matrix 10 may further comprise at least one integral sheet material 11, each sheet material 11 being arranged between two adjacent webs 1 such that they together create fluid flow channels 5 for the fluid to pass through. Each sheet material 11 may be configured to support the apexes 7 of the first profiled sections 2 and the bases 8 of the second profiled sections 3, or alternately, support the apexes 7 of the second profiled sections 3 and the apexes 7 of the second profiled sections 3.

[0071] The apex 7 and/or the base 8 of the first profiled sections 2 and/or the second profiled sections 3 of the webs 1 may be fixedly attached to the sheet material 11, e.g. by means of adhesive such as glue, or may be non-fixed in relation to the sheet material 11. The apex 7 and/or the base 8 of the first profiled sections 2 may also be in fixed, or non-fixed, contact with adjacent and a corresponding apex 7 and/or base 8 of the second profiled sections 3.

[0072] The various aspects and implementations have been described in conjunction with various embodiments herein. However, other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed subject-matter, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.

[0073] The reference signs used in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this disclosure. As used in the description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.