Multi-channel heat exchanger
View Patent ↗A combustion gas furnace includes a plurality of primary heat exchangers for passage of combustion gases therethrough. A plurality of secondary heat exchangers receive the combustion gases from the primary heat exchanger. Each of the secondary heat exchangers includes a heat conductive element defining a plurality of elongate passageways for the flow of combustion gas therethrough. The passageways include aligned ports at either end thereof. The passageways are generally aligned and separated by longitudinal walls extending between the ends. The walls are positioned for heat conductive contact with the combustion gases flowing through passageways.
1. A combustion gas furnace comprising:
a plurality of primary heat exchangers for passage of combustion gases therethrough; and
a plurality of secondary heat exchangers for receiving said combustion gases from said primary heat exchangers and for passing said combustion gases therethrough;
each said secondary heat exchanger including a heat conductive element having first and second opposed ends and a plurality of aligned, side-by-side channels therebetween;
each said channel having an inlet port and an outlet port at said ends;
said channels being separated by channel walls therebetween;
each heat conductive element is an elongate integrally formed metal member;
wherein said secondary heat exchangers are supported in a vertically stacked arrangement between spaced apart support elements at opposite ends thereof, wherein each of said support elements includes a fluid chamber for providing fluid communication between said secondary heat exchangers, wherein a first of said fluid chambers encompasses the first ends of less than all of said secondary heat exchangers so as to place said first ends of less than all of said secondary heat exchangers in fluid communication, and a second of said fluid chambers encompasses the second ends of all of said secondary heat exchangers to place all of said second ends in fluid communication; and
an exhaust chamber which is disposed over exhaust ports of the primary heat exchangers, over the first ends of said secondary heat exchangers which are not encompassed by said first fluid chambers, and over the first fluid chamber, to place each of the exhaust ports of the primary heat exchangers in fluid communication with each of the first ends of the secondary heat exchangers which are not encompassed by said first fluid chamber;
wherein said exhaust chamber includes an exhaust opening and said first fluid chamber includes an opening aligned with said exhaust opening.
2. A furnace of claim 1 wherein said channel walls of said secondary heat exchangers are generally parallel.
3. A furnace of claim 2 wherein said end walls of said secondary heat exchanger are curved.