HEAT EXCHANGER MANIFOLD WITH A FLUID FLOW DISTRIBUTION FEATURE
A heat exchanger configured to condition a flow of fluid therein. The heat exchanger includes a first manifold, a second manifold, and a conditioning assembly having a plurality of tubular elements extending between the first manifold and the second manifold. The first manifold includes a first end having an inlet formed therein and a second end formed opposite the first end. The first manifold is formed by at least one wall having at least one fluid flow distribution feature integrally formed therein. The at least one fluid flow distribution feature includes a channel extending substantially parallel to a general direction of flow of the fluid through the first manifold.
1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
a conditioning assembly including a plurality of tubular elements configured to receive a flow of a fluid therein, each of the tubular elements having an inlet opening and an outlet opening formed therein; and
a manifold coupled to the conditioning assembly, the manifold including a first end having an inlet formed therein and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the manifold is formed by at least one wall having at least one fluid flow distribution feature integrally formed therein, the at least one fluid flow distribution feature including a channel extending substantially parallel to a general direction of flow of the fluid through the manifold.
2 . The heat exchanger of claims 1 , wherein the fluid flow distribution feature is formed in at least one of a wall of the manifold opposite the inlet and a wall of the manifold opposite the inlet openings of the tubular elements.
3 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the manifold is substantially uniform from the first end of the manifold to the second end thereof.
4 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the manifold gradually decreases from the first end of the manifold to the second end thereof.
5 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein a distance from an inner surface of the at least one wall of the manifold and a plane generally defined by the inlet openings of the tubular elements gradually decreases as a distance from the inlet in the general direction of the flow of the fluid through the manifold increases.
6 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein a distance from an inner surface of the at least one wall of the manifold and a plane generally defined by the inlet openings of the tubular elements is substantially uniform as a distance from the inlet in the general direction of the flow of the fluid through the manifold increases.
7 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the channel of the at least one fluid flow distribution feature has a cross-sectional flow area in a range of about 10% to about 20% of a cross-sectional flow area of the manifold.
8 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the channel extends in a range of about 20% to about 100% of a length of the manifold.
9 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow distribution feature has a first end adjacent the first end of the manifold and a second end adjacent the second end of the manifold.
10 . The heat exchanger of claim 9 , wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the channel is substantially uniform from the first end of the fluid flow distribution feature to the second end thereof.
11 . The heat exchanger of claim 9 , wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the channel gradually decreases from the first end of the fluid flow distribution feature to the second end thereof.
12 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the channel is formed by at least one wall of the fluid flow distribution feature.
13 . The heat exchanger of claim 12 , wherein a distance from an inner surface of the at least one wall of the fluid flow distribution feature and a plane generally defined by the inlet openings of the tubular elements gradually decreases as a distance from the inlet in the general direction of the flow of the fluid through the manifold increases.
14 . The heat exchanger of claim 12 , wherein a distance from an inner surface of the at least one wall of the fluid flow distribution feature and a plane generally defined by the inlet openings of the tubular elements is substantially uniform as a distance from the inlet in the general direction of the flow of the fluid through the manifold increases.
15 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
a conditioning assembly including a plurality of tubular elements configured to receive a flow of a fluid therein, each of the tubular elements having an inlet opening and an outlet opening formed therein; and
a manifold coupled to the conditioning assembly, the manifold including a first end having an inlet formed therein and a second end opposite the first end, wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the manifold gradually decreases from the first end to the second end thereof, and wherein the manifold is formed by at least one wall having at least one fluid flow distribution feature integrally formed therein, the at least one fluid flow distribution feature including a first end adjacent the first end of the manifold, a second end adjacent the second end of the manifold, and a channel extending substantially parallel to a general direction of flow of the fluid through the manifold from the first end of the fluid flow distribution feature to the second end thereof.
16 . The heat exchanger of claims 15 , wherein the fluid flow distribution feature is formed in at least one of a wall of the manifold opposite the inlet and a wall of the manifold opposite the inlet openings of the tubular elements.
17 . The heat exchanger of claim 15 , wherein the channel of the at least one fluid flow distribution feature has a cross-sectional flow area in a range of about 10% to about 20% of a cross-sectional flow area of the manifold.
18 . The heat exchanger of claim 15 , wherein the channel extends in a range of about 20% to about 100% of a length of the manifold.
19 . A method of forming a heat exchanger, comprising the step of:
injection molding a manifold having a first end provided with an inlet, a second end opposite the first end, an opening configured to receive a conditioning assembly of the heat exchanger therein, and at least one fluid flow distribution feature formed therein, wherein the at least one fluid flow distribution feature extends from adjacent the first end of the manifold to adjacent the second end thereof.
20 . The method of claims 19 , wherein the fluid flow distribution feature is formed in at least one of a wall of the manifold opposite the inlet and a wall of the manifold opposite the opening.