Heat exchanger assembly with vortex flow baffle

Abstract

A cooling system of an internal combustion engine system includes an engine cooling circuit for defining a flow path and direction for engine coolant fluid flowing through the internal combustion engine system. The cooling system also includes a heat exchanger assembly positioned along the engine cooling circuit. The heat exchanger assembly is structured to transfer heat from the engine coolant fluid to a working fluid and includes a shell defining an inner cavity, a core disposed within the inner cavity and structured to receive the working fluid, and a main flow path and a bypass flow path of the engine coolant fluid, the core comprising a baffle in the bypass flow path, the baffle including: a base portion coupled to an end of the core and a curved portion extending from the base portion such that the curved portion impedes a bypass flow of engine coolant fluid from continuing along the bypass flow path.

1 . A cooling system of an internal combustion engine system, the cooling system comprising:
 an engine cooling circuit for defining a flow path and direction for engine coolant fluid flowing through the internal combustion engine system; and   a heat exchanger assembly positioned along the engine cooling circuit and structured to transfer heat from the engine coolant fluid to a working fluid, the heat exchanger assembly including:
 a shell defining an inner cavity, 
 a core disposed within the inner cavity and structured to receive the working fluid, and 
 a main flow path and a bypass flow path of the engine coolant fluid, 
 the core comprising a baffle in the bypass flow path, the baffle including:
 a base portion coupled to an end of the core, and 
 a curved portion extending from the base portion such that the curved portion impedes a bypass flow of engine coolant fluid from continuing along the bypass flow path. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the curved portion extends into the bypass flow path of the engine coolant fluid and is concavely curved in a bypass flow direction. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling system according to  claim 2 , wherein the curved portion is structured to generate, in the bypass flow, a region of pressure higher than a pressure of a main flow of the engine coolant fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling system according to  claim 2 , wherein the curved portion is structured to generate a vortex in the bypass flow. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling system according to  claim 2 , wherein the curved portion is structured to reduce a size of the bypass flow downstream of the baffle. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling system according to  claim 2 , wherein the curved portion is structured to reduce a flow velocity of the bypass flow in the bypass flow direction. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is integrally formed with the core. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the base portion extends in a direction parallel to a surface of the end of the core. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet port fluidly coupled to the inner cavity and structured to provide the engine coolant fluid to the inner cavity, and
 an outlet port fluidly coupled to the inner cavity.   
     
     
         10 . An engine system, comprising:
 the cooling system according to any preceding claim; and   an engine including an engine block and an engine overhead positioned along the engine cooling circuit downstream of the heat exchanger assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The engine system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a pump structured to circulate the engine coolant fluid through the engine cooling circuit. 
     
     
         12 . The engine system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a turbocharger positioned on the engine cooling circuit downstream of the engine. 
     
     
         13 . The engine system according to  claim 12 , further comprising a coolant reservoir positioned on the cooling circuit downstream of the turbocharger and structured to receive and store the engine coolant fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The engine system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a valve positioned on the cooling circuit upstream of the heat exchanger assembly and configured to manage the engine coolant fluid provided to the heat exchanger assembly.