A fluid flow distribution device (10) is provided for use in a heat exchanger
(12) having multiple heat exchange units (14) that receive a fluid
flow (18) from an fluid inlet (16). The device includes a plurality
of tortuous flow paths (31) to direct distributed portions of the fluid
flow (18) from the inlet (16) to the heat exchange units (14).
Each tortuous flow path (31) is defined by a pair of flow chamber plates
(24,26), and an orifice plate (28) sandwiched between the flow chamber
plates (24,26). Each tortuous flow path (31) includes a series (34)
of orifices (36) extending through the orifice plate (28), a first
pattern (38) of first flow chambers (40) formed in one of the flow
chamber plates (24,26) and aligned with sequential pairs of the orifices
(36), and a second pattern (42) of second flow chambers (44)
formed in the other of the flow chamber plates (24,26) and offset with respect
to the first pattern (38) and the pairs of orifices (36).
