Heat exchanger device

Abstract

A multilayer heat exchanger device a frame constructed of multiple laminate layers that are bonded together. The device has a first fluid inlet manifold and a first fluid outlet manifold for connection to a supply and a return for the first fluid, the first fluid inlet manifold and the first fluid outlet manifold extending through the laminate layers of the frame; a second fluid inlet manifold and a second fluid outlet manifold for connection to a supply and a return for the second fluid, the second fluid inlet manifold and the second fluid outlet manifold extending through the laminate layers of the frame.

1 . A multilayer heat exchanger device for heat exchange between at least a first fluid and a second fluid, the device comprising:
 a frame constructed of multiple laminate layers that are bonded together;   a first fluid inlet manifold and a first fluid outlet manifold for connection to a supply and a return for the first fluid, the first fluid inlet manifold and the first fluid outlet manifold extending through the laminate layers of the frame;   a second fluid inlet manifold and a second fluid outlet manifold for connection to a supply and a return for the second fluid, the second fluid inlet manifold and the second fluid outlet manifold extending through the laminate layers of the frame;   a plurality of first fluid flow paths for flow of the first fluid from the first fluid inlet manifold to the first fluid outlet manifold;   a plurality of second fluid flow paths for flow of the second fluid from the second fluid inlet manifold to the second fluid outlet manifold; and   a heat transfer region where the first fluid path and the second fluid path are in heat exchange relationship such that, in use, heat will be exchanged between the first fluid and the second fluid;   wherein the multiple laminate layers comprise multiple first layers and multiple second layers in a repeating arrangement;   wherein each of the first layers includes a first fluid flow path that passes through a cavity, the cavity being located at the heat exchanger region and being for receiving heat exchanger finstock, the cavity opening into the first fluid inlet manifold and the first fluid outlet manifold and being closed to the second fluid inlet manifold and the second fluid outlet manifold; and   wherein each of the second layers includes a second fluid flow path that passes through a cavity, the cavity being located at the heat exchanger region and being for receiving heat exchanger finstock, the cavity opening into the second fluid inlet manifold and the second fluid outlet manifold and being closed to the first fluid inlet manifold and the first fluid outlet manifold.   
     
     
         2 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inlet and outlet manifolds each pass through the layers of the frame, which hence form all of or a part of the manifolds. 
     
     
         3 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the manifolds are located about the outside of the heat exchange region, and hence about the outside of the cavities in the layers, with each at a side of the cavities and the number of sides of the cavities corresponding to the number of manifolds. 
     
     
         4 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cavities of the layers are open to the relevant inlet and outlet manifolds via openings extending through the depth of the layer and across the width of the manifold, and the cavities of the layers are closed to the other inlet and outlet manifolds by having no opening adjacent those manifolds. 
     
     
         5 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow paths for the different fluids are separated by parting sheets. 
     
     
         6 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the parting sheets are integrated with the layers. 
     
     
         7 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the parting sheets are separate from both the layers and the finstock. 
     
     
         8 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising finstock in the cavities, the finstock being separate to the layers and held within the cavity of each layer. 
     
     
         9 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the finstock has been formed by etching, stamping, moulding, punching and/or cutting, such as laser cutting, EBM cutting or EB cutting. 
     
     
         10 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the manufacturing technique used for the finstock is different to that used for the layers of the frame and/or the finstock is manufactured from a different material than the material(s) of the layers. 
     
     
         11 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the frame layers are layers of a laminate structure that provides all of or the majority of the structural strength for the heat exchanger device. 
     
     
         12 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the finstock is not exposed to structural loads. 
     
     
         13 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the layers are be bonded together by brazing, diffusion bonding, welding or adhesives. 
     
     
         14 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there is no mechanical interconnection of the layers aside from the bonding between the layers. 
     
     
         15 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the layers are formed by etching, stamping, moulding, punching, cutting, laser cutting, electron beam machining (EBM) cutting or electron beam (EB) cutting. 
     
     
         16 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the each of the layers is less 5 mm, optionally less than 1 mm. 
     
     
         17 . A multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger device includes at least 40 layers. 
     
     
         18 . An aircraft including a multilayer heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A method for manufacturing a multilayer heat exchanger device for heat exchange between at least a first fluid and a second fluid, the device comprising:
 a frame constructed of multiple laminate layers; a first fluid inlet manifold and a first fluid outlet manifold for connection to a supply and a return for the first fluid, the first fluid inlet manifold and the first fluid outlet manifold extending through the laminate layers of the frame; a second fluid inlet manifold and a second fluid outlet manifold for connection to a supply and a return for the second fluid, the second fluid inlet manifold and the second fluid outlet manifold extending through the laminate layers of the frame; a plurality of first fluid flow paths for flow of the first fluid from the first fluid inlet manifold to the first fluid outlet manifold; a plurality of second fluid flow paths for flow of the second fluid from the second fluid inlet manifold to the second fluid outlet manifold; and a heat transfer region where the first fluid path and the second fluid path are in heat exchange relationship such that, in use, heat will be exchanged between the first fluid and the second fluid;   the method comprising:   assembling the frame from the multiple laminate layers using multiple first layers and multiple second layers in a repeating arrangement; wherein each of the first layers includes a first fluid flow path that passes through a cavity located at the heat exchanger region, the cavity opening into the first fluid inlet manifold and the first fluid outlet manifold and being closed to the second fluid inlet manifold and the second fluid outlet manifold; and wherein each of the second layers includes a second fluid flow path that passes through a cavity located at the heat exchanger region, the cavity opening into the second fluid inlet manifold and the second fluid outlet manifold and being closed to the first fluid inlet manifold and the first fluid outlet manifold;   wherein the assembling includes inserting finstock in each of the cavities and bonding the multiple laminate layers together to form the frame.   
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , comprising providing features of the heat exchanger device as claimed in  claim 1 .