Heat exchanger with increased heat transfer efficiency and a low-cost method of forming the heat exchanger

Abstract

The efficiency of a heat exchanger is significantly improved by connecting walls to an air flow structure, which has first grooves formed in the top surface of the structure and second grooves formed in the bottom surface of the structure, that block off alternating ends of the first and second grooves such that a first air source can only flow through the first grooves and a second air source can only flow through the second grooves.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to heat exchangers and, more particularly, to a heat exchanger with an increased heat transfer efficiency and a low-cost method of forming the heat exchanger. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Telecommunications equipment is commonly housed in electronics cabinets that sit outside in residential and commercial neighborhoods. The cabinets are water tight and air tight to prevent water and dust from entering the cabinets and reducing the useful life of the equipment inside the cabinets. [0005] When operating as intended, the telecommunications equipment produces heat which can damage the equipment when the heat inside the cabinet exceeds a predetermined temperature. To maintain an air tight enclosure and prevent the temperature from exceeding the predetermined temperature, electronics cabinets often use air-to-air heat exchangers. [0006]FIGS. 1A-1C show views that illustrate...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023] The present invention provides a more efficient heat exchanger that is less costly to fabricate. In accordance with the present invention, a heat exchanger includes an air flow structure that has a top surface, a bottom surface, a width, a length, a first edge that runs along the width, a second edge that runs along the width. In addition, the air flow structure includes a plurality of first grooves in the top surface, and a plurality of second grooves in the bottom surface. The first and second grooves extend along the length between the first and second edges. Further, the heat exchanger also includes a first wall and a second wall that are connected to the air flow structure.

Problems solved by technology

The cabinets are water tight and air tight to prevent water and dust from entering the cabinets and reducing the useful life of the equipment inside the cabinets.

When operating as intended, the telecommunications equipment produces heat which can damage the equipment when the heat inside the cabinet exceeds a predetermined temperature.

Replacement cards which provide more than basic POTS service, however, tend to generate more heat than basic POTS cards.

One problem with heat exchanger 100 is that it is difficult to increase the efficiency by which heat is transferred out of the cabinet.

Thus, when a telecommunications cabinet is at or near its maximum heat capacity, it is difficult to replace basic POTS cards with cards that provide a wider variety of services without exceeding the maximum heat capacity of the cabinet.

However, to apply the caulking material, a significant amount of space is required to provide the access needed by the caulking gun.

Heat exchanger 100 is also relatively expensive to fabricate.

This, in turn, is a time consuming and expensive process.

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