Wind Tunnel Turning Vane Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A cooling system for a wind tunnel is disclosed. The heat exchanger of the present disclosure is formed as a turning vane in an airflow duct of a re-circulating wind tunnels. The individual vanes are formed from extruded aluminum with coolant fluid channels running continually down the length of the vane. One or more channels can be used, depending on the application of vane and the cooling capacity needed. The exterior of the vanes are formed in an airfoil shape to efficiently turn the air flow the desired amount in a manner well known in the art. The turning vanes are connected to a fluid supply with single piece connectors that removably attach to the turning vanes. In the depicted embodiment the connectors are attached with screws. In the depicted embodiment the connectors are formed as a single piece in a two-piece injection mold.

1 . A heat exchanger turning vane for a re-circulating wind tunnel comprising:
 a rack;   a plurality of hollow turning vanes formed to allow a fluid to flow through the vanes, said hollow turning vanes mounted in the rack;   connection pieces at each end of the hollow turning vanes to connect the turning vanes to a fluid pipe system; and   said connection pieces being formed of a single piece and connecting in a fluid tight manner to the hollow turning vanes without heat or chemical bonding.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the connection pieces connect to the turning vane at connection points that are within the hollow area of the turning vane. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the connection points are screw bosses. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the turning vanes have internal cross bracing and the connection pieces connect to the internal cross bracing with a removable mechanical connector. 
     
     
         5 . A turning vane array comprising:
 a plurality of hollow turning vanes, each having substantially constant cross section, the turning vanes disposed substantially parallel to each other;   each turning vane having a first end and a second end;   the array having a first edge defined by first ends of the plurality of turning vanes;   the array having a second edge defined by second ends of the plurality of turning vanes;   each turning vane's cross section defining at least two screw bosses formed therein;   each turning vane having at its first end a first respective connection piece, first respective connection piece secured fluid tight thereto by means of screws, each screw threadingly engaged with a respective screw boss;   each vane having at its second end a second respective connection piece, second respective connection piece secured fluid tight thereto by means of screws,   each screw threadingly engaged with a respective screw boss;   a first manifold disposed along the first edge;   a second manifold disposed along one of the first edge and the second edge; and   pipes connecting the first manifold, the connection pieces, and the second manifold, thereby defining a plurality of fluid flow paths, each fluid flow path passing from the first manifold and through at least one of the vanes to the second manifold.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the pipe connection to each connection piece defines an opening thereinto;
 the screw bosses formed into each vane's cross section including at least one screw boss positioned such that the screw threadingly engaged therewith has an axis passing through the opening.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the number of screw bosses is at least four, and wherein the number of screw bosses positioned such that the screw threadingly engaged therewith has an axis passing through the opening is at least two. 
     
     
         8 . A method for use with a plurality of hollow turning vanes, the method comprising the steps of:
 flowing a working fluid at a first temperature through a pipe system to a first heat exchange unit;
 the heat exchange unit formed of at least one turning vane having single unit connections pieces at each end of the hollow turning vane, the connection pieces being removably attached fluid tight to the turning vane wherein the connections are fluid tight; 
 the connection pieces having been removably connected to the hollow turning vanes with mechanical connectors; 
 the heat exchange unit connected to the pipe system such that fluid can flow from the pipe system into the heat exchange unit; 
 passing the working fluid from the first heat exchange unit into a second heat exchange unit; and 
 the method further comprising the steps, performed contemporaneously with the passing steps, of turning air as the air passes past the hollow turning vanes, and cooling the air as the air passes past the hollow turning vanes by transferring heat to the working fluid and thereby raising the temperature of the working fluid from the first temperature to a second temperature. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claims 8  further comprising the steps of flowing the working fluid through a second turning vane. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the steps of transporting the heated working fluid to a second location and transferring the heat to another fluid through a heat exchange system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the steps of transporting the heated working fluid to a second location and utilizing the heated working fluid at the second location. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the steps of transporting the now cooled working fluid from the second location back to the first hollow turning vane once the fluid has returned to the first working temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the working fluid is a liquid or a gas. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the working fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, Freon®, gas, salt water, or compressed gas. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the working fluid at the second temperature is used to heat the environment at the second location.