Heat shrink assembly heat exchangers

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly includes a first member defining fluid passages therein for a first heat exchanger fluid. A second member defines fluid passages therein for a second heat exchanger fluid. The second member is engaged to the second member with an interference fit. A method of assembling a heat exchanger includes thermally resizing at least one of a first heat exchanger member and a second heat exchanger member and assembling the second heat exchanger member to the first heat exchanger member. The method includes thermally equalizing the first and second heat exchanger members to engage the second heat exchanger member to the first heat exchanger member with an interference fit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 a first member defining fluid passages therein for a first heat exchanger fluid; and   a second member defining fluid passages therein for a second heat exchanger fluid, 
wherein the second member is engaged to the first member with an interference fit. 
     
     
         2 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passages of first member are sealed against the second member by the interference fit. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second members are cylindrical, wherein the second member is engaged inside the first member. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the first member defines a first circumferential groove in an inner surface thereof at a first axial end thereof, wherein the first member defines a second circumferential groove in an inner surface thereof at a second axial end thereof opposite the first axial end, and wherein the first circumferential groove is in fluid communication with the second circumferential groove through the fluid passages of the first member. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising an inlet header and an outlet header, wherein the inlet header is in fluid communication with the first circumferential groove to supply fluid to the fluid passages of the first member, and wherein the outlet header is in fluid communication with the second circumferential groove to provide an outlet for fluid from the fluid passages of the first member. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein each fluid passage of the second member includes a respective inlet at a first axial end of the second member, and a respective outlet at a second axial end of the second member opposite the first axial end of the second member. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the fluid passages of the first and second members are helical. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the first and second members are a first heat exchanger pair, and further comprising additional heat exchanger pairs that are nested within the first heat exchanger pair. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an outer cylindrical shell engaged to the first member with an interference fit; and   an inner cylindrical shell engaged inside an innermost member of the additional heat exchanger pairs with an interference fit.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the additional heat exchanger pairs nested within the first heat exchanger pair form a circular duct housed within an outer shell. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passages of the second member are sealed against the first member by the interference fit. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at an end of the first and second members, the first and second members are sealed by a weld joint, a braze joint, and/or an O-ring. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passages of at least one of the first and second members are sealed by the interference fit, and at least partially by a braze joint. 
     
     
         14 . A method of assembling a heat exchanger comprising:
 thermally resizing at least one of a first heat exchanger member and a second heat exchanger member;   assembling the second heat exchanger member to the first heat exchanger member; and   thermally equalizing the first and second heat exchanger members to engage the second heat exchanger member to the first heat exchanger member with an interference fit.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein thermally resizing includes heating the first heat exchanger member. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein thermally resizing includes cooling the second heat exchanger member. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the first heat exchanger member is cylindrical, wherein the second heat exchanger member is cylindrical, and wherein assembling the second heat exchanger member to the first heat exchanger member includes placing the second heat exchanger member within the first heat exchanger member.