Compact high efficiency air to air heat exchanger with integrated fan

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a sealed enclosure is disclosed that includes a separator plate and a motor secured to the separator plate. The motor rotates a shaft having opposed ends, an ambient air impeller is secured to one end of the shaft, and an enclosed air impeller is secured to an opposite end of the shaft. An ambient shell secured to the separator plate substantially encloses the ambient air impeller and an enclosed air shell secured to the separator plate substantially encloses the enclosed air impeller. Each shell has an axial opening and a radial opening and a plurality of curvilinear fins extending between the separator plate and the shells. Airflow through the enclosed air shell imparts heat to the fins which transfer the heat for rejection by the airflow through the ambient air shell.

1 . A heat exchanger for an enclosure, comprising:
 a separator plate;   a motor secured to said separator plate, said motor rotating a shaft having opposed ends;   an ambient air impeller secured to one end of said shaft and an enclosed air impeller secured to an opposite end of said shaft;   an ambient shell secured to said separator plate and substantially enclosing said ambient air impeller and an enclosed air shell secured to said separator plate and substantially enclosing said enclosed air impeller, each said shell having an axial opening and a radial opening; and   a plurality of curvilinear fins extending between said separator plate and said shells.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said separator plate is adapted to be secured to a housing wall of an enclosure, said enclosed air impeller moving heated air over said plurality of curvilinear fins and said ambient air impeller moving air over said plurality of curvilinear fins, said fins transferring heat from the heated air to the ambient air. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said shells are tapered. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein said axial openings are defined by a shell edge, each said impeller having a plurality of vanes each having a leading edge, said leading edges collectively forming a diameter substantially equivalent to said shell edge. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein said fins have a top edge contacting said adjacent shell along an entire length thereof and a bottom edge contacting said separator plate along an entire length thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said fins have a top edge contacting said adjacent shell along an entire length thereof and a bottom edge contacting said separator plate along an entire length thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plate;   a motor having a rotatable shaft with opposed ends, said motor carried by said plate;   an impeller carried by each said opposed end of said shaft;   a shell partially enclosing each said impeller and spaced apart from said plate to form a corresponding radial opening, each said shell having an axial opening; and   a plurality of fins extending between said plate and each said shell, wherein rotation of said impellers draws air in through said axial openings, over said plurality of fins and out said radial openings.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of fins integrally extend from either said plate or said shells. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of fins are curvilinear so as to form gaps therebetween that are used as passageways that expand laterally from said axial opening to said radial opening. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein each said shell is tapered so that said fins diminish in height from said axial opening to said radial opening. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , where each said impeller has a plurality of vanes wherein each said vane has a leading edge proximal said adjacent axial opening and a trailing edge proximal said fins. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , wherein said trailing edges and said fins form a circular chamber therebetween.