Plate-like air-cooled engine surface cooler with fluid channel and varying fin geometry

Abstract

A surface cooler includes a plate-like layer and a plurality of spaced-apart fins extending substantially perpendicular from an uppermost layer of the plate-like layer. The plurality of fins defining a plurality of air flow paths. The plurality of spaced-apart fins are configured to augment heat transfer of the surface cooler by increasing the turbulence levels of a fluid flowing through the airflow paths by promoting increased mixing with a resulting increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the surface cooler. A method of forming the surface cooler and an engine including the surface cooler.

1 . A surface cooler comprising:
 a plate-like layer comprising a thermally conductive material; and   a plurality of spaced-apart fins extending substantially perpendicular from an uppermost layer of the plate-like layer, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins is configured in a plurality of rows, wherein the plurality of rows are configured one of offset one from another by an amount up to one-half a transverse fin spacing or oriented at alternating angles to one another with respect to an axial direction of the surface cooler, the plurality of fins comprising a thermally conductive material and defining a plurality of air flow paths,   wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins are configured to augment heat transfer of the surface cooler by increasing the turbulence levels of a fluid flowing through the airflow paths by promoting increased mixing with a resulting increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the surface cooler.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fluidic conduit disposed in the plate-like layer, wherein the at least one fluidic conduit is configured to carry fluid to be cooled. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the plate-like layer comprises one of a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cooler of  claim 3 , wherein the solid metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins comprises a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cooler of  claim 5 , wherein the solid metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a trailing edge, a leading edge, or a combination thereof, configured on one or more ends of the plurality of spaced-apart fins. 
     
     
         8 . A surface cooler comprising:
 a plate-like layer comprising one of a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof;   at least one fluidic conduit disposed in the plate-like layer, wherein the at least one fluidic conduit is configured to carry fluid to be cooled; and   a plurality of spaced-apart fins extending substantially perpendicular from an uppermost layer of the plate-like layer, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins is configured in a plurality of rows, wherein the plurality of rows are configured one of offset one from another by an amount up to one-half a transverse fin spacing or oriented at alternating angles to one another with respect to an axial direction of the surface cooler, the plurality of fins comprising a thermally conductive material and defining a plurality of air flow paths,   wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins are configured to augment heat transfer of the surface cooler by increasing the turbulence levels of a fluid flowing through the airflow paths by promoting increased mixing with a resulting increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the surface cooler.   
     
     
         9 . The surface cooler of  claim 8 , wherein the solid metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cooler of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins comprises a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cooler of  claim 10 , wherein the solid metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a surface cooler, comprising:
 forming a plate-like layer;   disposing at least one fluidic conduit in the plate-like layer, wherein the at least one fluidic conduit is configured to carry fluid to be cooled; and   machining the plate-like layer to form a plurality of spaced-apart fins, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins is configured in a plurality of rows, wherein the plurality of rows are configured one of offset one from another by an amount up to one-half a transverse fin spacing or oriented at alternating angles to one another with respect to an axial direction of the surface cooler,   wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins are configured to augment heat transfer of the surface cooler by increasing the turbulence levels of a fluid flowing through the airflow paths by promoting increased mixing with a resulting increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the surface cooler.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising disposing the surface cooler along an outer wall of a turbomachine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plate-like layer comprises one of a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the solid metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins comprises a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cooler of  claim 16 , wherein the solid metal is aluminum. 
     
     
         18 . An engine comprising:
 a core engine; and   a surface cooler comprising:
 a plate-like layer comprising one of a solid metal, a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof; 
 at least one fluidic conduit disposed in the plate-like layer, wherein the at least one fluidic conduit is configured to carry fluid to be cooled; and 
 a plurality of spaced-apart fins extending substantially perpendicular from an uppermost layer of the plate-like layer, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins is configured in a plurality of rows, wherein the plurality of rows are configured one of offset one from another by an amount up to one-half a transverse fin spacing or oriented at alternating angles to one another with respect to an axial direction of the surface cooler, the plurality of fins comprising a thermally conductive material and defining a plurality of air flow paths, 
 wherein the plurality of spaced-apart fins are configured to augment heat transfer of the surface cooler by increasing the turbulence levels of a fluid flowing through the airflow paths by promoting increased mixing with a resulting increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the surface cooler. 
   
     
     
         19 . The engine of  claim 18 , wherein the surface cooler is disposed adjacent to a nacelle wall of the engine. 
     
     
         20 . The engine of  claim 18 , wherein the surface cooler is disposed adjacent to an inner wall of the engine.