Outlet Manifold Mixing Chambers for Low-Pressure Air Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current heat exchanger assemblies face challenges in efficiently directing bleed air from multiple heat exchanger cores to engine external ducting while maintaining minimal pressure drops and accommodating various operating pressures and temperatures.

Innovation Solution

An outlet manifold with internal surfaces and curvatures that accept inlet air flows from multiple paths, featuring tubular members and mixing chambers to guide air efficiently to engine ducting, minimizing pressure drops and accommodating spatial and operational constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If air flows through multiple heat exchanger cores to engine ducting, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but pressure drops increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidpressure drops
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet manifold is segmented into multiple separate inlet ports, each corresponding to a different heat exchanger core. This segmentation allows air from multiple cores to be collected and directed through separate flow paths, preventing interference between streams and reducing overall pressure drops while maintaining efficient heat transfer from all cores.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The manifold utilizes three-dimensional spatial arrangement with inlet ports positioned at different locations and angles around the housing. This dimensional approach allows multiple air streams to be accommodated without significant interference, reducing pressure losses while maintaining high heat transfer efficiency from all heat exchanger cores.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If manifold accommodates various operating pressures and temperatures, then system adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating pressure and temperature rangeVSAvoidmanifold structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet manifold is designed with material and dimensional parameters that allow it to accommodate varying operating conditions. The housing and internal passages are sized and positioned to handle different air flow rates, pressures, and temperatures without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, thus achieving adaptability while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If tubular members extend laterally from mixing chambers, then air flow direction is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow directionVSAvoidtubular member positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The tubular members are pre-formed with their curvature and orientation during manufacturing, and their positions are predetermined relative to the mixing chambers. This preliminary positioning allows the air flow to be directed efficiently from the heat exchanger cores through the manifold to the outlet, while the manufacturing process itself ensures the required precision without needing complex post-manufacturing alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The outlet manifold effectively directs air from multiple heat exchanger cores to engine ducting with minimal pressure loss, enhancing system performance across varying conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The outlet manifold includes an inlet portion having first and second circumferential sides corresponding to the first and second circumferential sides of the outlet portion and each of the first and second circumferential sides of the inlet portion includes the one or more tubular members and a mixing chamber fluidly interposed between each of the one or more tubular members and the outlet portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3680597B1Outlet manifold
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORP
  • EP3680597B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3680597B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3680597B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An outlet manifold (140) is provided and includes an outlet portion (141) having first and second sides and an inlet portion (142) to which the outlet portion (141) is fluidly coupled. The inlet portion (142) has first and second sides corresponding to the first and second sides of the outlet portion (141). Each of the first and second sides of the inlet portion (142) includes one or more tubular members (151) connectable with corresponding tube joints (131) and a mixing chamber (161) fluidly interposed between each of the one or more tubular members (151) and the outlet portion (141).