Egr cooler and method

Abstract

A device and method for enhancing the flow of coolant through an EGR cooler, are described. The device includes a housing or tank having an interior space with a fluid inlet for receiving coolant and a fluid outlet for releasing coolant from the interior space. A series of angled baffles in a parallel arrangement are positioned within the interior of the housing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. The baffles extend into a flow path of the coolant redirecting a portion of the flow path above and below the baffles as the coolant passes through the housing. A plurality of tubes or conduit are positioned adjacent the baffles, defining an exhaust gas flow pathway through the housing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat exchanger for use in reducing the production of NO x  in an exhaust stream, the exchanger comprising:
 a tank having an interior space;   an inlet for receiving a cooling fluid into the interior space;   an outlet for releasing the cooling fluid from the interior space;   a plurality of angled baffles having a parallel arrangement and disposed in a longitudinal direction within the interior space from the inlet to the outlet; and,   a conduit for directing the flow of the exhaust stream through the interior space, wherein the conduit is positioned in close proximity to the baffles.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fluid creates a fluid flow path through the interior space from the inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the baffles are positioned within the fluid flow path for directing the fluid flow path around and between the baffles. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the baffles have a series of graduated heights. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein baffles decrease in height from the inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the baffles angle in the direction of the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid flow path travels above and below the baffles. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one vertical baffle is positioned in the interior space near the inlet and separate and apart from the angled baffles. 
     
     
         9 . An EGR cooler apparatus comprising;
 a housing having an interior space, the housing further including a fluid inlet for receiving a coolant into the interior space and a fluid outlet for releasing the coolant from the interior space;   a series of angled baffles having a parallel arrangement within the interior of the housing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, wherein the baffles extend into a flow path of the cooling fluid redirecting a portion of the flow path above and below the baffles as the cooling fluid passes through the housing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; and,   a plurality of tubes positioned adjacent the baffles and defining a exhaust gas flow pathway through the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the baffles graduate downward in height from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the baffles include a deflecting surface which angles in the direction of the flow path of the cooling fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the deflecting surfaces of the baffles direct the flow path of the coolant around and between the baffles. 
     
     
         13 . A method for directing coolant fluid flow distribution through an EGR cooler apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a housing having an interior space with a fluid inlet and an opposing fluid outlet;   positioning in a parallel arrangement a plurality of angled baffles within the interior space of the housing from the inlet to the outlet;   creating an exhaust flow path within the interior of the housing and in close proximity to the baffles; and,   flowing a coolant through the interior of the housing from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the coolant cools the exhaust flow through the exhaust flow path.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of positioning the angled baffles further includes placing the baffles longitudinally within the interior space in decreasing height from the inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of flowing the coolant further includes creating a flow pattern around and over the angled baffles.