Method of producing a micro-core heat exchanger for a compact indirect evaporative cooler

• Main Authors: Chen, Nan, Mahoney, Shaun, Swindon, David Mark, Gilbert, Robert William
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.12.2018
• Subjects: AIR-CONDITIONING, AIR-HUMIDIFICATION, VENTILATION, USE OF AIRCURRENTS FOR SCREENING; BLASTING; DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OFGENERAL APPLICATION; HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL; HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS,IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; RANGES; VENTILATING; WEAPONS

An indirect evaporative cooler core is manufactured from a continuous sheet of hydrophobic material. Flocking is provided on at least a partial surface area of at least one side of the sheet, to render the flocked surface area wettable. Air flow guiding structures are formed upon at least one of the first side and the second side of the sheet. Fold lines are defined in the sheet defining plates extending between adjacent fold lines. Slits are formed along the fold lines. Accordion pleating the sheet at the fold lines forms alternating wet and dry passages between the plates, the wet passages formed between opposing wettable surfaces, the dry passages formed between non-flocked surfaces, and the accordion pleating causes the slits in the folds to open and form air inlets and outlets in communication with the air flow passages.