Heat Exchanger, Method for Operating a Heat Exchanger, Method for Manufacturing a Heat Exchanger, Gas Refrigerating Machine Having a Heat Exchanger as Recuperator, Apparatus for Treating Gas and Air-Conditioning Device

Abstract

A heat exchanger having: a first number of channels for a first fluid extending along a first flow direction and in a first transverse direction, wherein the first transverse direction varies along the first flow direction; a second number of channels for a second fluid extending along a second flow direction and in a second transverse direction wherein the second transverse direction varies along the second flow direction; a wall structure configured such that the first number of channels and the second number of channels in thermal interaction, and such that, at a first location of the heat exchanger with respect to the first or second flow direction, the first transverse direction or the second transverse direction are different than a first or second transverse direction at the second location of the heat exchanger with respect to the first or second flow direction.

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a first number of channels for a first fluid extending along a first flow direction of the first fluid and in a first transverse direction, wherein the first transverse direction varies along the first flow direction;   a second number of channels for a second fluid extending along a second flow direction of the second fluid and in a second transverse direction, wherein the second transverse direction varies along the second flow direction;   a wall structure configured such that the first number of channels and the second number of channels are in thermal interaction, and such that, at a first location of the heat exchanger with respect to the first or second flow direction, the first transverse direction or the second transverse direction differ from a first or second transverse direction at a second location of the heat exchanger with respect to the first or second flow direction.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first number of channels are interleaved with the second number of channels, such that one channel of the second number of channels is arranged between two channels of the first number of channels, or   wherein the wall structure is configured such that the first transverse direction and the second transverse direction at the first location of the heat exchanger are the same, and such that the first transverse direction and the second transverse direction at the second location of the heat exchanger are the same and are different to the first transverse direction and the second transverse direction at the first location of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1  configured as counter-flow heat exchanger, wherein the first number of channels and the second number of channels are configured such that the first flow direction is opposite to the second flow direction. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 ,
 comprising a volume in which at least 5 first channels and at least 5 second channels are arranged,   wherein the wall structure is configured to fluidically connect the first number of channels to each other and to fluidically connect the second number of channels to each other, and to fluidically separate the channels of the first number of channels from the channels of the second number of channels and   wherein the wall structure is configured such that the first number of channels and the second number of channels extend completely through the volume at the first location in the first and second transverse directions, and such that the first number of channels and the second number of channels extend completely through the volume at the second location in the first and second transverse directions, wherein the first and second transverse directions at the first location differ from the first and second transverse directions at the second location.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure is configured such that the first transverse direction at the first location is at an angle between 60° and 120° to the first transverse direction at the second location, or such that the second transverse direction at the first location is at an angle between 60° and 120° to the second transverse direction at the second location, and such that the first location is spaced apart from the second location by a distance of between 0.5 mm and 2 cm. 
     
     
         6 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure comprises parallel areas at the first location, which separate the first number of channels and the second number of channels along the first or second transverse direction, and wherein the wall structure comprises parallel areas at the second location, which separate the first number of channels and the second number of channels along the other first or second transverse direction. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure comprises flow dividing portions for the first number of channels along the first transverse direction to divide a first channel of the first number of channels into several first partial channels and to divide a second channel of the first number of channels into several second partial channels. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure comprises flow joining portions to join a partial channel with one or several other partial channels, in which either the first or the second fluid flows, to form a channel of the first or second number of channels at the first or second location. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the wall structure is configured such that the flow dividing portions for dividing the first number of channels represent the flow joining portions for joining partial channels into a channel of the second number of channels. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure is configured such that between the first location, where the channels of the first number of channels and the second number of channels have a horizontal transverse direction and the second location, where the channels of the first number of channels and the second number of channels have a vertical transverse direction, the wall structure is configured in a rhombus shape, such that a partial channel formed by a flow dividing portion is adjacent to another partial channel, both in vertical direction and in horizontal direction, through which the same fluid flows as through the partial channel. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the wall structure is configured to divide a channel of the first number of channels or the second number of channels into several partial channels, each comprising a square shape or a rhombus shape with sides of different lengths. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein a flow dividing portion or a flow joining portion in flow direction comprises gradually increasing elevations of a bottom wall of a channel of the first or second number of channels or a gradually increasing depression of a top wall of the channel of the first or second number of channels, wherein an elevation and a depression meet at a central area between start points of the elevation or depression in order to cut the channel into the partial channels. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the flow dividing portions of the first number of channels are offset to flow dividing portions of the second number of channels, such that, with respect to the first transverse direction, a flow dividing portion of a channel of the first number of channels is arranged between two flow dividing portions of a channel of the second number of channels. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the flow joining portions of the first number of channels are offset to flow joining portions of the second number of channels, such that, with respect to the first transverse direction, a flow joining portion of a channel of the first number of channels is arranged between two flow joining portions of a channel of the second number of channels. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first collecting area;   a second collecting area,   wherein inputs of the first number of channels are connected to the first collecting area, and inputs of the second number of channels are connected to the second collecting area, and wherein the first collecting area is fluidically separated from the second collecting area.   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a third collecting area connected to outputs of the first number of channels and a fourth collecting area connected to outputs of the second number of channels, wherein the third collecting area and the fourth collecting area are fluidically separated from each other.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first number of channels and the second number of channels represent a first stage comprising a first volume,   wherein the heat exchanger comprises a second stage with a further first number of channels and a further second number of channels comprising a second volume,   wherein the first volume is the same as the second volume and the further first number of the second stage is greater than the first number of the first stage, or the further second number of channels of the second stage is greater than the second number of channels of the second stage, or   wherein the first volume is greater than the second volume and the further second number is greater than the first number and the further second number is equal to the first number.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure is configured such that the first number of channels extends from outside to the inside into a volume and the second number of channels extends from the inside to the outside in the volume, wherein the first direction is bent to be parallel to a circumference of the volume, and wherein, at an interface between a first portion with the first number of channels and the second number of channels and the second portion with a further first number of channels and a further second number of channels, the further second number is smaller than the first number and a dimension of the channel of the further first number at the interface is greater than a dimension of a channel of the first number at the interface. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the channels of the first number of channels taper in the first flow direction from the outside to the inside and the channels of the second number of channels increase in the flow direction from the inside to the outside. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure is configured to comprise a thickness between 0.01 mm and 1 mm between a channel of the first number of channels and an adjacent channel of the second number of channels, or wherein the wall structure is configured to comprise a portion of 5 to 40 percent of the volume of the heat exchanger and advantageously a portion of 15 to 20% of the volume of the heat exchanger, or wherein the wall structure is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         21 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure is configured such that the first number of channels or the second number of channels comprise one or several areas that are vertical in operating direction of the heat exchanger, which extend through the heat exchanger from the top to the bottom, and wherein a condensed liquid dissipation unit is configured below one or several vertical areas to dissipate condensed liquid existing in the one or several vertical areas. 
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure is configured to comprise a full period along the first or second flow direction such that, at a location after a full period, the wall structure is configured the same way as at the start of the period. 
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 22  that is configured to have at least 2 periods. 
     
     
         24 . A gas refrigerating machine comprising:
 an input for gas to be cooled;   a recuperator comprising a heat exchanger according to  claim 1 ;   a compressor comprising a compressor input, wherein the compressor input is coupled to a first recuperator output;   a further heat exchanger;   a turbine; and   a gas output,   wherein the compressor input is connected to a suction area, which is limited by a suction wall and extends away from the compressor, and wherein the recuperator extends at least partly around the suction area and is limited by the suction wall.   
     
     
         25 . The gas refrigerating machine according to  claim 24 , wherein the recuperator comprises a first recuperator input, the first recuperator output, a second recuperator input and a second recuperator output,
 wherein the channels of the first number of channels for the first fluid extend between the first recuperator input and the first recuperator output, and   wherein the channels of the second number of channels for the second fluid extend between the second recuperator input and the second recuperator output, and wherein the first recuperator output leads into the suction area.   
     
     
         26 . An apparatus for treating gas, comprising:
 a compressor with a compressor input and a compressor output;   a heat exchanger according to  claim 1  comprising a first heat exchanger input, a first heat exchanger output, a second heat exchanger input and a second heat exchanger output; and   a turbine with a turbine input and a turbine output, wherein the compressor output is connected to the second heat exchanger input and wherein the second heat exchanger output is connected to the turbine input.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , further comprising an input interface for coupling the compressor input and the first heat exchanger input to a gas supply, or an output interface for coupling the turbine output and the first heat exchanger output to a gas exhaust. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the input interface comprises, on an input side, an outlet air input and a fresh air input and, on an output side, a first input interface output and a second input interface output,
 wherein the input interface is configured to couple the input side of the input interface to the output side of the input interface or   wherein the output interface comprises, on an input side, a first output interface input and a second output interface input and, on an output side of the output interface, an inlet air channel and an exhaust air channel, wherein the output interface is configured to couple the input side of the output interface to the output side of the output interface.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , configured for a cooling operation, wherein an input interface is configured to connect the compressor input to a fresh gas channel of the gas supply, and to connect the first heat exchanger input to an outlet gas channel of the gas supply or
 wherein an output interface is configured to connect the turbine output to an inlet gas channel of the gas exhaust and to connect the first heat exchanger output to an exhaust gas channel of the gas exhaust.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , configured for a heating operation, wherein an input interface is configured to connect the compressor input to an outlet gas channel of the gas supply, and to connect the first heat exchanger input to a fresh gas channel of the gas supply or
 wherein an output interface is configured to connect the turbine output to an exhaust gas channel of the gas exhaust and to connect the first heat exchanger output to an inlet gas channel of the gas exhaust.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 ,
 wherein the channels of the first number of channels for the first fluid extend between the first heat exchanger input and the first heat exchanger output and   wherein the channels of the second number of channels for the second fluid extend between the second heat exchanger input and the second heat exchanger output.   
     
     
         32 . An air-conditioning device, comprising:
 a room outlet air terminal;   a room inlet air terminal; and   an apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the room outlet air terminal is coupled to the gas supply and the room inlet air terminal is coupled to the gas exhaust.   
     
     
         33 . A method for producing a heat exchanger with a first number of channels for a first fluid extending along a first flow direction of the first fluid and in a first transverse direction, wherein the first transverse direction varies along the first flow direction; and a second number of channels for a second fluid extending along a second flow direction of the second fluid and in a second transverse direction, wherein the second transverse direction varies along the second flow direction, comprising:
 forming a wall structure, such that the first number of channels and the second number of channels are in thermal interaction, and such that, at a first location of the heat exchanger with respect to the first or second flow direction, the first transverse direction or the second transverse direction differ from a first or second transverse direction at a second location of the heat exchanger with respect to the first or second flow direction.   
     
     
         34 . A method for operating a heat exchanger with a first number of channels for a first fluid extending along a first flow direction of the first fluid and in a first transverse direction, wherein the first transverse direction varies along the first flow direction; and a second number of channels for a second fluid extending along a second flow direction of the second fluid and in a second transverse direction, wherein the second transverse direction varies along the second flow direction; and a wall structure configured such that the first number of channels and the second number of channels are in thermal interaction, and such that, at a first location of the heat exchanger with respect to the first or second flow direction, the first transverse direction or the second transverse direction differ from a first or second transverse direction at a second location of the heat exchanger with respect to the first or second flow direction, comprising:
 guiding the first fluid through the first channels of the first number of channels along the first flow direction; and   guiding the second fluid through the first channels of the second number of channels along the second flow direction.