Swirling feed tube for heat exchanger

Abstract

In a featured embodiment, a heat exchanger assembly includes an inlet manifold defining an expanding area in a direction of flow; and an inlet in flow communication with the inlet manifold, the inlet including a wall for inducing a rotational inertia to flow entering the inlet manifold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 an inlet manifold defining an expanding area in a direction of flow; and   an inlet in flow communication with the inlet manifold, the inlet including a wall for inducing a rotational inertia to flow entering the inlet manifold.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the inlet comprises a constant cross-sectional area over an inlet length prior to the inlet manifold. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the inlet comprises a pipe and the wall comprises a plurality of walls spirally arranged within the inlet length. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the pipe is round and includes an inner surface and the plurality of walls are disposed transverse to the inner surface. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of walls include a height and the height is less than a width of the pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of walls extend across a width of the pipe and define separate channels. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of walls are continuous for the entire inlet length. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of walls are intermittently arranged for at least a portion of the inlet length. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein a density of walls is uniform for the entire inlet length. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein a density of walls varies within the inlet length. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 3 , including a distance between the plurality of walls in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis and an angle of the walls relative to the longitudinal axis and a swirl induced into the inlet flow is determined by a combination of the distance between the plurality of walls and the angle. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the distance between the plurality of walls and angle of the plurality of walls varies over a length of the inlet. 
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 an inlet manifold defining an increasing flow area;   a plate fin heat exchanger plate including a first end in flow communication with the inlet manifold and including a plurality of inlet openings arranged across an inlet width;   an inlet communicating flow to the inlet manifold including a means for inducing a spiral flow for spreading flow through the inlet manifold across the inlet width.   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the inlet includes a uniform cross-sectional flow area over an inlet length. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein inlet comprises a pipe and the means for introducing a spiral inertial comprises a plurality of walls spirally arranged and extending from an interior surface of the pipe within the inlet length. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of walls include a height from the inner surface and the height that is less than a width of the pipe. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger assembly as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of walls extend define separate channels within the inlet. 
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling a heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 forming an inlet manifold to include an expanding flow area;   attaching the inlet manifold to a plate fin heat exchanger that includes a plurality of openings disposed across an inlet width;   forming an inlet to include a constant flow area and a spiral flow inducing means; and   attaching the inlet to the inlet manifold for spreading flow entering the inlet manifold across inlet width.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the spiral flow inducing means comprises a plurality walls extending inward from an inner surface that are arranged in a spiral along an inlet length. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of a distance between the plurality of walls in a direction common with a longitudinal axis of the inlet and an angle of the plurality of walls relative to the longitudinal axis is defined to induce a defined swirl component into the flow entering the inlet manifold.