Heat exchanger with an integrated temperature manipulation element

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a plurality of plates in stacked relation forming a plurality of fluid channels therebetween. Ports formed in each of the plates are arranged and substantially align to form an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold for receiving a working fluid therein, wherein the inlet manifold is in fluid communication with an inlet conduit and the outlet manifold is in fluid communication with an outlet conduit. A temperature manipulation element is disposed in at least one of the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit to manipulate a temperature of the working fluid flowing therethrough.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of plates in stacked relation forming a plurality of first fluid flow channels and a plurality of second fluid flow channels therebetween, the plates having at least one first port formed therein in fluid communication with the first fluid flow channels and at least one second port formed therein in fluid communication with the second fluid flow channels, wherein the at least one first port of one of the plates substantially aligns with the at least one first port of another of the plates to form a first manifold for receiving a first working fluid therein and the at least one second port of one of the plates substantially aligns with the at least one second port of another of the plates to form a second manifold for receiving a second working fluid therein;   a first conduit in fluid communication with the first manifold for receiving the first working fluid therein;   a second conduit in fluid communication with the second manifold for receiving the second working fluid therein; and   a temperature manipulation element disposed in at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit to manipulate a temperature of the respective working fluid flowing through the at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit is one of an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature manipulation element is disposed in the at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit at a position substantially perpendicular to the flow of the respective working fluid through the at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature manipulation element is disposed in the at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit at a position substantially parallel to the flow of the respective working fluid through the at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature manipulation element is disposed in the at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit at an intermediate position between substantially perpendicular and substantially parallel to the flow of the respective working fluid through the at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature manipulation element is coupled to the at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit by a threaded engagement forming a substantially fluid-tight connection between the at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit and the temperature manipulation element. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature manipulation element is one of a heating element for heating the respective working fluid flowing through the at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit to a desired temperature and a cooling element for cooling the respective working fluid flowing through the at least one of the first conduit and the second conduit to a desired temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective working fluid is at least one of a refrigerant, an engine fluid, a battery coolant, and a transmission oil. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of end plates, wherein at least one of the end plates includes a plurality of first ports formed therein and a plurality of second ports formed therein;   a plurality of interior plates disposed between the end plates in stacked relation forming a plurality of first fluid flow channels and a plurality of second fluid flow channels therebetween, the interior plates having a plurality of first ports formed therein in fluid communication with the first fluid flow channels and a plurality of second ports formed therein in fluid communication with the second fluid flow channels, wherein the first ports of each of the plates substantially align to form an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold for receiving the first working fluid therein, and wherein the second ports of each of the plates substantially align to form an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold for receiving the second working fluid therein;   a first inlet conduit in fluid communication with the inlet manifold for receiving the first working fluid therein;   a first outlet conduit in fluid communication with the outlet manifold for receiving the first working fluid therein;   a second inlet conduit in fluid communication with the inlet manifold for receiving the second working fluid therein;   a second outlet conduit in fluid communication with the outlet manifold for receiving the second working fluid therein; and   a temperature manipulation element disposed in at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit to manipulate a temperature of the respective working fluid flowing through the at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the temperature manipulation element is disposed in the at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit at a position substantially perpendicular to the flow of the respective working fluid through the at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the temperature manipulation element is disposed in the at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit at a position substantially parallel to the flow of the respective working fluid through the at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the temperature manipulation element is disposed in the at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit at an intermediate position between substantially perpendicular and substantially parallel to the flow of the respective working fluid through the at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the temperature manipulation element is coupled to the at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit by a threaded engagement forming a substantially fluid-tight connection between the at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit and the temperature manipulation element. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the temperature manipulation element is one of a heating element for heating the respective working fluid flowing through the at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit to a desired temperature and a cooling element for cooling the respective working fluid flowing through the at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit to a desired temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the respective working fluid flowing through the at least one of the first inlet conduit, the first outlet conduit, the second inlet conduit, and the second outlet conduit is at least one of a refrigerant, an engine fluid, a battery coolant, and a transmission oil. 
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of first plates including a pair of first ports and a pair of second ports formed therein;   a plurality of second plates disposed adjacent the first plates in an alternating pattern to form a plurality of first fluid flow channels and a plurality of second fluid flow channels therebetween, wherein each of the first fluid flow channels receives a first working fluid therein and each of the second fluid flow channels receives a second working fluid therein, and wherein each of the second plates includes a pair of first ports and a pair of second ports formed therein, and wherein the first ports of each of the plates substantially align to form an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold for receiving the first working fluid therein, and wherein the second ports of each of the plates substantially align to form an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold for receiving the second working fluid therein;   a first inlet conduit in fluid communication with the inlet manifold for receiving the first working fluid therein;   a first outlet conduit in fluid communication with the outlet manifold for receiving the first working fluid therein;   a second inlet conduit in fluid communication with the inlet manifold for receiving the second working fluid therein;   a second outlet conduit in fluid communication with the outlet manifold for receiving the second working fluid therein; and   at least one temperature manipulation element disposed in the second inlet conduit and the second outlet conduit to manipulate a temperature of the second working fluid flowing through the conduits.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one temperature manipulation element is disposed in the second inlet conduit at one of a position substantially perpendicular to the flow of the second working fluid through the conduit, a position substantially parallel to the flow of the second working fluid through the conduit, and an intermediate position between substantially perpendicular and substantially parallel to the flow of the second working fluid through the conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one temperature manipulation element is disposed in the second outlet conduit at one of a position substantially perpendicular to the flow of the second working fluid through the conduit, a position substantially parallel to the flow of the second working fluid through the conduit, and an intermediate position between substantially perpendicular and substantially parallel to the flow of the second working fluid through the conduit. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one temperature manipulation element is at least one of a heating element for heating the second working fluid to a desired temperature and a cooling element for cooling the second working fluid to a desired temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the first working fluid is a refrigerant and the second working fluid is one of an engine fluid and a battery coolant.