Heat exchanger having a three-dimensional lattice structure with circular unit cell inlets and method of forming circular unit cell inlets in a three-dimensional lattice structure of a heat exchanger

Abstract

Providing a heat exchanger (100) having a plurality of integrally formed continuous unit cells defining a three-dimensional lattice (104) of repeating unit cells, and reducing pressure drop in the three-dimensional lattice (104) structure of the heat exchanger (100) Methods. The plurality of integrally formed continuous unit cells include a plurality of path units (200) and a plurality of partial unit cells (304). A plurality of path elements (200) have solid domains (202) including inner and outer path element surfaces (210) that continuously define first and second bifurcated fluid domains (204), respectively , (206), respectively, for the first fluid (138) and the second fluid (144) to flow through the plurality of path units (200). The plurality of partial unit cells (304) can introduce partial phase shifts into the three-dimensional lattice (104) of repeating unit cells such that the first fluid (138) domain includes the first circular unit cell inlet (306), and the second fluid ( 144) The domain includes a second circular unit cell inlet (308).

Description

technical field [0001] The present disclosure generally relates to heat exchangers having a three-dimensional lattice structure with circular unit cell inlets and methods of forming circular unit cell inlets in a three-dimensional lattice structure of a heat exchanger. Background technique [0002] The heat exchanger may be coupled to the fluid flow at an inlet manifold defining an inlet plenum where the fluid enters the heat exchanger. A typical shell and tube heat exchanger includes tube sheets, which are panels at the interface between the inlet plenum and a tube bundle that directs fluid into the tubes of the heat exchanger. The fluid path from the inlet plenum into the tube bundle typically exhibits relatively abrupt transitions. This abrupt transition can lead to significant shear stress and corresponding pressure drop, which can affect process design considerations. Similar abrupt transitions may have occurred with previous heat exchangers that employed three-dimens...

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Problems solved by technology

However, the aforementioned disadvantages may become more pronounced when baffles are added to a three-dimensional lattice structure, which may have a more complex configuration compared to a typical tube bundle

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