Flow guide for heat exchanger

Abstract

There is provided a flow guide for a heat exchanger structure, comprising one or more aerofoils configured to distribute a fluid across an inlet face of a heat exchanger structure.

1 . A flow guide for a heat exchanger structure, comprising one or more aerofoils configured to distribute a fluid across an inlet face of a heat exchanger structure. 
     
     
         2 . A flow guide as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger structure is configured to transfer heat from one fluid to another using a first set of ducts that are intermixed with a second set of ducts. 
     
     
         3 . A flow guide as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said inlet face corresponds to a plane formed by duct inlets of one of said sets of ducts. 
     
     
         4 . A flow guide as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said one or more aerofoils comprise a plurality of aerofoils configured to direct a fluid in a common direction. 
     
     
         5 . A flow guide as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said common direction corresponds to a specific portion of said inlet face of a heat exchanger structure. 
     
     
         6 . A flow guide as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said one or more aerofoils comprise a first set of aerofoils, each of said first set of aerofoils configured to direct fluid in a first direction, and a second set of aerofoils, each of said second set of aerofoils configured to direct fluid in a second, different direction. 
     
     
         7 . A flow guide as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said first direction corresponds to a bottom portion of said inlet face of said heat exchanger structure, and said second direction corresponds to a top portion of said inlet face of a heat exchanger structure. 
     
     
         8 . A flow guide as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising one or more flow restrictors configured to impede fluid flowing through one or more portions of said flow guide. 
     
     
         9 . A flow guide as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said one or more portions of said flow guide comprise a portion corresponding to a central portion of said inlet face of a heat exchanger structure. 
     
     
         10 . A flow guide as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said one or more flow restrictors comprise cylindrical bars extending horizontally across the flow guide. 
     
     
         11 . A flow guide as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said one or more aerofoils extend horizontally across said flow guide. 
     
     
         12 . A flow guide as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more support structures configured to support said one or more aerofoils in position. 
     
     
         13 . A flow guide as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said one or more support structures are struts extending vertically across said flow guide. 
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger, comprising a flow guide as claimed in  claim 1  and a heat exchanger structure, wherein said aerofoils are configured on said flow guide in a manner that provides a more uniform flow rate of fluid across said inlet face as compared to a heat exchanger not employing said flow guide. 
     
     
         15 . A method of configuring a flow guide for a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger structure configured to transfer heat from one fluid to another using a first set of ducts that are intermixed with a second set of ducts, and comprises an inlet face corresponding to a plane formed by duct inlets of one of said sets of ducts, the method comprising:
 configuring one or more aerofoils on said flow guide in a manner that provides a more uniform flow rate of fluid across said inlet face as compared to a heat exchanger not employing said flow guide.