Heat exchanger tank with flow elements

Abstract

A heat exchanger configured to condition a flow of fluid therein. The heat exchanger includes a first tank, a second tank, and a conditioning assembly having a plurality of tubular elements extending between the first tank and the second tank. The first tank includes a hollow interior, an inlet, and a flow element formed in the hollow interior, wherein a plane generally defined by the flow element is substantially orthogonal to a plane generally defined by inlet openings of the tubular elements, and wherein the flow element includes a first end which curves away from the inlet in respect to a general direction of flow of the fluid entering the tank to manipulate the direction of flow of the fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a conditioning assembly including a plurality of tubular elements configured to receive a flow of a fluid therein; and   a tank coupled to the conditioning assembly, the tank including a hollow interior and at least one flow element formed in the hollow interior, wherein at least one plane generally defined by the at least one flow element is substantially orthogonal to a plane generally defined by inlet openings of the tubular elements.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the at least one flow element one of extends into an inlet of the tank, abuts an inner surface which defines an opening of the inlet of the tank, and is spaced apart from the inlet of the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the tank includes a plurality of the flow elements extending from an inlet of the tank into the hollow interior towards at least one of a first end and a second end of the tank. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the flow elements are uniformly spaced apart. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein a ratio of a distance between the flow elements to a chord length of at least one of the flow elements is less than about 0.2. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein a chord length of one of the flow elements is substantially equal to a chord length of another one of the flow elements. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein a chord length of one of the flow elements adjacent a wall of the tank is greater than a chord length of another one of the flow elements adjacent an opposing wall of the tank. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a conditioning assembly configured to condition a fluid flowing therethrough; and   a tank coupled to the conditioning assembly, the tank including a hollow interior, an inlet, and at least one flow element formed therein, wherein the at least one flow element includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end curves away from the inlet in respect of a general direction of flow of the fluid entering the tank to manipulate the direction of flow of the fluid.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the first end of the at least one flow element one of extends into the inlet of the tank, abuts an inner surface which defines an opening of the inlet of the tank, and is spaced apart from the inlet of the tank. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the tank includes a plurality of the flow elements extending from the inlet of the tank into the hollow interior towards at least one of a first end and a second end of the tank. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the flow elements are uniformly spaced apart. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein a ratio of a distance between the flow elements to a chord length of at least one of the flow elements is less than about 0.2. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein a chord length of one of the flow elements is substantially equal to a chord length of another one of the flow elements. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein a chord length of one of the flow elements adjacent a wall of the tank is greater than a chord length of another one of the flow elements adjacent an opposing wall of the tank. 
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a conditioning assembly configured to condition a fluid flowing therethrough; and   a tank coupled to the conditioning assembly, the tank including an inlet, a first end, a second end, and a plurality of flow elements formed therein, wherein one of the flow elements extends from the inlet towards the first end of the tank and another one of the flow elements extends from the inlet towards the second end of the tank.   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein an end of at least one of the flow elements one of extends into the inlet of the tank, abuts an inner surface which defines an opening of the inlet of the tank, and is spaced apart from the inlet of the tank. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the flow elements are uniformly spaced apart. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein a ratio of a distance between the flow elements to a chord length of at least one of the flow elements is less than about 0.2. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein a chord length of one of the flow elements is substantially equal to a chord length of another one of the flow elements. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein a chord length of one of the flow elements adjacent a wall of the tank is greater than a chord length of another one of the flow elements adjacent an opposing wall of the tank.