Heat exchanger channel

Abstract

A fluid flow channel for a heat exchanger, the channel comprising an elongate tubular channel body extending along an axis A from a first end to a second end, the channel body having walls, the interior surface of which define an interior channel through which heat exchanger fluid flows from the first end to the second end, and wherein the channel body comprises two or more straight sections having a constant cross section in which the interior channel has a rectangular, square or triangular cross-section, and a twisted section between the or each pair of adjacent straight sections, in the axial direction, the twisted section being a section resulting from one of the straight sections twisted about the axis A with respect to an adjacent straight section.

1 . A fluid flow channel for a heat exchanger, the channel comprising:
 an elongate tubular channel body extending along an axis A from a first end to a second end, the channel body having walls, the interior surface of which define an interior channel through which heat exchanger fluid flows from the first end to the second end, and wherein the channel body comprises:
 two or more straight sections having a constant cross section in which the interior channel has a rectangular, square or triangular cross-section, and a twisted section between the or each pair of adjacent straight sections, in the axial direction, the twisted section being a section resulting from one of the straight sections twisted about the axis A with respect to an adjacent straight section, 
 wherein at the twisted section the interior channel has a cross-section different from the cross section at the adjacent straight section, thus creating a swirl effect on fluid flowing through the interior channel. 
   
     
     
         2 . A fluid flow channel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the two or more straight sections have a constant rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . flow channel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the two or more straight sections have a constant triangular cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . A fluid flow channel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the two or more straight sections have a constant square cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . A fluid flow channel as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each straight section is twisted at the twist section by 90 degrees with respect to its adjacent straight section. 
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger core comprising:
 one or more fluid flow channels as claimed in  claim 1 .   
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger core as claimed in  claim 6 , comprising a plurality of fluid channels arranged adjacent each other to form a block. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a heat exchanger core as claimed in  claim 6 .   
     
     
         9 . A method of forming a fluid flow channel for a heat exchanger using additive manufacture, the method comprising:
 forming a first straight section of am elongate tubular channel body having a channel therethrough with a constant cross-section;   creating a twisted section being twisted relative to the first straight section, the twisted section having a cross section different from that of the first straight section; and   creating a second straight section axially aligned with the first straight section and having a constant cross-section, the twist creating a swirl effect on fluid flowing through the channel.   
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each twisted section creates a twist of 90 degrees between a straight section and an adjacent straight section. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a heat exchanger core, comprising:
 forming a plurality of fluid flow channels according to the method of  claim 9 ; and   arranging the plurality of fluid flow channels adjacent each other to form a block.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a first fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet, a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet connected, respectively, to first and second ends of a first set of the plurality of fluid flow channels and the second fluid inlet and the second fluid outlet connected, respectively, to first and second ends of a second set of the plurality of fluid flow channels.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising assembling the first plurality of flow channels adjacent each other in a first layer and the second plurality of fluid flow channels adjacent each other in a second layer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising assembling the first and second plurality of flow channels adjacent each other in a first layer such that each one of the first plurality of fluid flow channels is located between two of the second plurality of fluid flow channels.