Heat exchanger assembly with parting sheet support

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly is provided. The heat exchanger assembly may comprise a hot layer disposed between at least two cold layers. The hot layer may comprise a hot layer fin disposed within a hot layer closure bar. The hot layer closure bar may comprise a parting sheet support coupled to a frame. The parting sheet support may be configured to support a parting sheet while also allowing a fluid flow through the hot layer. The parting sheet support may comprise fluid channels configured to allow the fluid flow through the parting sheet support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hot layer closure bar for a heat exchanger, comprising:
 a frame defining an outer edge of a fin void; and   a parting sheet support coupled to the frame, wherein the parting sheet support and the frame define a fluid outlet, wherein the parting sheet support comprises a first support surface opposite a second support surface, and wherein the parting sheet support comprises a fluid channel defining a first channel on the first support surface, wherein the fluid channel is in fluid communication with the fin void and the fluid outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The hot layer closure bar of  claim 1 , wherein the parting sheet support comprises a bridge defining a portion of the first support surface proximate the fluid channel. 
     
     
         3 . The hot layer closure bar of  claim 1 , wherein the parting sheet support comprises a second fluid channel defining a second channel on the second support surface, wherein the second fluid channel is in fluid communication with the fin void and the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The hot layer closure bar of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid channel and the second fluid channel are shaped and sized to control a fluid flow from the fin void to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The hot layer closure bar of  claim 3 , wherein the parting sheet support comprises a second bridge defining a second portion of the second support surface proximate the second fluid channel. 
     
     
         6 . The hot layer closure bar of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid channel and the second fluid channel are at least partially aligned on the parting sheet support. 
     
     
         7 . The hot layer closure bar of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid channel and the second fluid channel are offset on the parting sheet support. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger assembly, comprising:
 a first cold layer having a first parting sheet;   a second cold layer having a second parting sheet; and   a hot layer disposed between the first cold layer and the second cold layer, wherein the hot layer is coupled to the first parting sheet and the second parting sheet, and wherein the hot layer comprises:
 a hot layer fin; and 
 a hot layer closure bar, wherein the hot layer fin is disposed within the hot layer closure bar, the hot layer closure bar comprising:
 a frame defining an outer edge of a fin void, wherein the fin void is configured to receive the hot layer fin; and 
 a parting sheet support coupled to the frame, wherein the parting sheet support and the frame define a fluid outlet, wherein the parting sheet support comprises a first support surface opposite a second support surface, and wherein the parting sheet support comprises a fluid channel defining a first channel on the first support surface, wherein the fluid channel is in fluid communication with the fin void and the fluid outlet. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the parting sheet support comprises a bridge defining a portion of the first support surface proximate the fluid channel, wherein the first parting sheet is configured to couple to the bridge. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first parting sheet comprises a braze alloy configured to melt during a brazing process to couple the first parting sheet to the bridge. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the parting sheet support comprises a second fluid channel defining a second channel on the second support surface, wherein the second fluid channel is in fluid communication with the fin void and the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid channel and the second fluid channel are shaped and sized to control a fluid flow from the fin void to the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the parting sheet support comprises a second bridge defining a second portion of the second support surface proximate the second fluid channel, wherein the second parting sheet is configured to couple to the second bridge. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second parting sheet comprises a braze alloy configured to melt during a brazing process to couple the second parting sheet to the second bridge. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid channel and the second fluid channel are at least partially aligned on the parting sheet support. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid channel and the second fluid channel are offset on the parting sheet support. 
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanger hot layer, comprising:
 a hot layer fin comprising corrugated fins; and   a hot layer closure bar, wherein the hot layer fin is disposed within the hot layer closure bar, the hot layer closure bar comprising:
 a frame defining an outer edge of a fin void, wherein the fin void is configured to receive the hot layer fin; and 
 a parting sheet support coupled to the frame, wherein the parting sheet support and the frame define a fluid outlet, wherein the parting sheet support comprises a first support surface opposite a second support surface, and wherein the parting sheet support comprises a first fluid channel defining a first channel on the first support surface and a second fluid channel defining a second channel on the second support surface, wherein the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel are in fluid communication with the fin void and the fluid outlet. 
   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger hot layer of  claim 17 , wherein the parting sheet support comprises a first bridge defining a first portion of the first support surface proximate the first fluid channel and a second bridge defining a second portion of the second support surface proximate the second fluid channel. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger hot layer of  claim 18 , wherein the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel are at least partially aligned on the parting sheet support. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger hot layer of  claim 18 , wherein the first fluid channel is configured to align with the second bridge and the second fluid channel is configured to align with the first bridge.