Heat exchanger including cross channel communication
In some examples, a heat exchanger includes a first flow channel having a first flow channel inlet and a first flow channel outlet. The heat exchanger also includes a second flow channel having a second flow channel inlet and a second flow channel outlet. A fin may separate the first flow channel from the second flow channel. The fin may define at least one aperture configured to allow fluid to flow between the first flow channel and the second flow channel if one of the first flow channel inlet or second flow channel inlet becomes constricted through a buildup of foreign object debris.
1. A heat exchanger comprising:
a first flow channel having a first flow channel inlet and a first flow channel outlet;
a second flow channel having a second flow channel inlet and a second flow channel outlet; and
a fin separating the first flow channel from the second flow channel, wherein the fin is a wavy fin defining a series of peaks and valleys along a length of the fin, the peaks and valleys configured to change a direction of flow through the first flow channel or the second flow channel, wherein:
a first portion of the length of the fin defines a first solid fin portion that does not define any apertures, and
a second portion of the length of the fin defines a first porous fin portion defining a plurality of randomly distributed apertures,
the first porous fin portion is configured to allow fluid to flow between the first flow channel and the second flow channel if one of the first flow channel inlet or second flow channel inlet becomes constricted through a buildup of foreign object debris,
wherein the first porous fin portion is located such that a vector defined by a momentum of fluid flowing in the first flow channel or the second flow channel intersects with the wavy fin at a location at a center of the first porous fin portion,
the first porous fin portion extends downstream along a length of the wavy fin from a first end of the first porous fin portion to a second end of the first porous fin portion, wherein the center of the first porous fin portion is downstream of a local peak or valley of the wavy fin,
the first end of the first porous fin portion is aligned with a peak or a valley of the wavy fin,
the first solid fin portion is disposed along a relatively straight length of the fin, and
a second porous fin portion is displaced from the first porous fin portion by a second solid fin portion.
2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first porous fin portion is between 0% and 20% of the length of the fin away from a first end of the fin, and the first porous fin portion is configured to reduce a pressure drop across a core of the heat exchanger.
3. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the fin defines a porous fin portion that corresponds to each peak and a porous fin portion that corresponds to each valley defined by the fin.
4. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a component of an aircraft.
5. A method, the method comprising:
forming a first flow channel of a heat exchanger, the first flow channel having a first flow channel inlet and a first flow channel outlet;
forming a second flow channel of the heat exchanger, the second flow channel having a second flow channel inlet and a second flow channel outlet; and
separating the first flow channel from the second flow channel with a fin, wherein the fin is a wavy fin defining a series of peaks and valleys along a length of the fin, the peaks and valleys configured to change the direction of flow through the first flow channel or the second flow channel, wherein:
a first portion of the length of the fin defines a first solid fin portion that does not define any apertures,
a second portion of the length of the fin defines a first porous fin portion defining a plurality of randomly distributed apertures,
the first porous fin portion allows a fluid to flow between the first flow channel and the second flow channel if one of the first flow channel inlet or second flow channel inlet becomes constricted through a buildup of foreign object debris,
the first porous fin portion is located such that a vector defined by a momentum of fluid flowing in the first flow channel or the second flow channel intersects with the wavy fin at a center of the first porous fin portion,
the first porous fin portion extends downstream along a length of the wavy fin from a first end of the first porous fin portion to a second end of the first porous fin portion, wherein the center of the first porous fin portion is downstream of a local peak or valley of the wavy fin,
the first end of the first porous fin portion is aligned with a peak or a valley of the wavy fin,
the first solid fin portion is disposed along a relatively straight length of the fin, and
a second porous fin portion is displaced from the first porous fin portion by a second solid fin portion.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first end of the first porous fin portion is between 0% and 20% of the length of the fin away from a first end of the fin, and the first porous fin portion is configured to reduce a pressure drop across a core of the heat exchanger.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the fin defines a porous fin portion that corresponds to each peak and a porous fin portion that corresponds to each valley defined by the fin.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the heat exchanger is a component of an aircraft.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of randomly distributed apertures define between 0.5% and 5% of a total surface area of the wavy fin.