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EP-4741649-A1 - HEAT EXCHANGER WITH WAVEFORM CHANNEL PROFILE

EP4741649A1EP 4741649 A1EP4741649 A1EP 4741649A1EP-4741649-A1

Abstract

A heat exchanger (20) includes a wall (22) that has a first end (22a), a second end (22b), a first side (22c) that bounds a chamber (24), and a second side (22d) opposite the first side (22c). The first side (22c) and the second side (22d) extend from the first end (22a) to the second end (22b). The wall (22) defines a length direction from the first end (22a) to the second end (22b). There is an array of cooling channels (26) embedded in the wall (22) to convey a cooling fluid. Each of the cooling channels (26) defines a flowpath (28) that has a varying circumferential curvature relative an axial direction.

Inventors

  • FUNG, Alan
  • HELALI, Joseph
  • ARADHEY, Yogesh
  • THUM, Erika Heather

Assignees

  • Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251106

Claims (15)

  1. A heat exchanger (20; 120) comprising: a wall (22; 122) disposed about a central axis (A) and having a first end (22a), a second end (22b), a first side (22c) bounding a chamber (24), and a second side (22d) opposite the first side (22c), the first side (22c) and the second side (22d) extending from the first end (22a) to the second end (22b); and an array of cooling channels (26; 126) embedded in the wall (22; 122) to convey a cooling fluid, each of the cooling channels (26; 126) defining a flowpath (28) that has a varying circumferential curvature relative an axial direction.
  2. The heat exchanger (20; 120) of claim 1 wherein the varying circumferential curvature has a periodic form.
  3. The heat exchanger (20; 120) as recited in claim 2, wherein: the periodic form is sinusoidal; or the periodic form is non-sinusoidal.
  4. The heat exchanger (20; 120) of any preceding claim, wherein the cooling channels (26; 126) define a flowpath (28) that have a varying radial curvature relative the axial direction.
  5. The heat exchanger (20; 120) as recited in any preceding claim, wherein each of the cooling channels (26; 126) includes a first section extending from the first end (22a) to the second end (22b), a second section extending from the second end (22b) to the first end (22a), and a turn section at the second end (22b) fluidly connecting the first section and the second section.
  6. The heat exchanger (20; 120) as recited in any preceding claim, wherein, in the wall (22; 122), the cooling channels (26; 126) are fluidly isolated from each other.
  7. The heat exchanger (20; 120) as recited in any preceding claim, wherein each of the cooling channels (26; 126) defines a channel width (W), the waveform channel profile (28) defines a period (P) and an amplitude (A1), and a ratio of the amplitude (A1) to the channel width (W) is 2:1 or more.
  8. The heat exchanger (20) as recited in any preceding claim, wherein: the wall (22) is cylindrical; or the wall (122) is frustoconical.
  9. The heat exchanger (20; 120) as recited in any preceding claim, wherein the cooling channels (26; 126) are of constant cross-section along the length direction from the first end (22a) to the second end (22b).
  10. An article (120) comprising: a nozzle formed of a wall (122) disposed about a central axis (A) and circumscribing a chamber (24), the wall (122) having a first axial end (22a), a second axial end (22b), an inner side (22c) bounding the chamber (24), and an outer side (22d) opposite the inner side (22c), an array of cooling channels (126) embedded in the wall (122) to convey a cooling fluid in the wall (122), each of the cooling channels (126) defining a flowpath (28) that has a varying circumferential curvature relative an axial direction.
  11. The article (120) as recited in claim 10, wherein the cooling channels (126) are circumferentially nested.
  12. The article (120) as recited in claim 10 or 11, wherein the nozzle is a converging-diverging nozzle.
  13. The article (120) as recited in any of claims 10 to 12, wherein each of the cooling channels (126) includes a first section extending from the first axial end (22a) to the second axial end (22b), a second section extending from the second axial end (22b) to the first axial end (22a), and a turn section at the second end (22b) fluidly connecting the first section and the second section.
  14. The article (120) as recited in claim any of claims 10 to 13, wherein: in the wall (122), the cooling channels (126) are fluidly isolated from each other; and/or the cooling channels (126) are of constant cross-section along the length direction from the first end (22a) to the second end (22b).
  15. The article (120) as recited in any of claims 10 to 15, wherein each of the cooling channels (126) defines a channel width (W), the waveform channel profile (28) defines a period (P) and an amplitude (A1), and a ratio of the amplitude (A1) to the channel width (W) is 2:1 or more.

Description

BACKGROUND Rocket motor operation involves very high temperatures that can damage and erode a thrust chamber or nozzle. As a result, a liquid coolant, such as a propellant, is used to cool the chamber and/or nozzle. For example, some or all of the propellant is passed through tubes or channels provided around the chamber and/or nozzle. These passages are created by brazing cooling tubes on the chamber/nozzle or by milling channels along the chamber/nozzle walls, for example. The propellant is often cryogenic and provides effective thermal load management. The heated propellant is then fed into a gas-generator or injected directly into the main combustion chamber. SUMMARY According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat exchanger including a wall disposed about a central axis and having a first end, a second end, a first side bounding a chamber, and a second side opposite the first side. The first side and the second side extend from the first end to the second end. An array of cooling channels is embedded in the wall to convey a cooling fluid. Each of the cooling channels defines a flowpath that has a varying circumferential curvature relative an axial direction. Optionally, and in accordance with the above, the varying circumferential curvature has a periodic form. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above" the periodic form is sinusoidal. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, the periodic form is non-sinusoidal. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, the cooling channels define a flowpath that have a varying radial curvature relative the axial direction. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, each of the cooling channels includes a first section extending from the first end to the second end, a second section extending from the second end to the first end, and a turn section at the second end fluidly connecting the first section and the second section. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above" in the wall, the cooling channels are fluidly isolated from each other. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, each of the cooling channels defines a channel width, the waveform channel profile defines a period and an amplitude, and a ratio of the amplitude to the channel width is 2:1 or more. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, the wall is cylindrical. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, the wall is frustoconical. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, each of the cooling channels includes a first section extending from the first end to the second end, a second section extending from the second end to the first end, and a turn section at the second end connecting the first section and the second section. The cooling channels are fluidly isolated from each other. The cooling channels are of constant cross-section along the length direction from the first end to the second end. Each of the cooling channels define a channel width. The waveform channel profile defines a period and an amplitude, and a ratio of the amplitude to the channel width is 2:1 or more. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article including a nozzle formed of a wall disposed about a central axis and circumscribing a chamber. The wall has a first axial end, a second axial end, an inner side bounding the chamber, and an outer side opposite the inner side. An array of cooling channels is embedded in the wall to convey a cooling fluid in the wall. Each of the cooling channels defines a flowpath that has a varying circumferential curvature relative an axial direction. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, the cooling channels are circumferentially nested. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, the nozzle is a converging-diverging nozzle. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, each of the cooling channels include a first section extending from the first axial end to the second axial end, a second section extending from the second axial end to the first axial end, and a turn section at the second end fluidly connecting the first section and the second section. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, in the wall, the cooling channels are fluidly isolated from each other. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, the cooling channels are of constant cross-section along the length direction from the first end to the second end. Optionally, and in accordance with any of the above,, each of the cooling channels define a channel width, the waveform channel profile defines a period and an amplitude, and a ratio of the amplitude to the channel width is 2:1 or more. The present invention may include any one or more of the individual features disclosed above and/or below alone or in any combination thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The various features and advantages of the present invention