Compact heat exchanger

Abstract

A compact heat exchanger for providing coolant gas flow through a part is provided. The compact heat exchanger reduces internal pressure losses through the compact heat exchanger. The compact heat exchanger has at least one inlet through which a coolant gas may enter, a circuit channel in fluid communication with the at least one inlet, and at least one outlet in fluid communication with the circuit channel through which the coolant gas may exit the circuit channel. The circuit channel is formed from superimposition of a plurality of alternating serpentine circuits, where at least one crossover of the circuit channel has a flow stabilizer that is formed in the channel and reduces internal pressure losses in the circuit channel.

1 . A compact heat exchanger for providing coolant gas flow through a part, comprising: 
 at least one inlet through which a coolant gas may enter;    a circuit channel in fluid communication with said at least one inlet, wherein said circuit channel is formed from superimposition of a plurality of alternating serpentine circuits; and    at least one outlet in fluid communication with said circuit channel through which said coolant gas may exit said circuit channel, wherein at least one crossover of said circuit channel has a flow stabilizer that is formed in said circuit channel, and wherein said flow stabilizer reduces internal pressure losses in said circuit channel.    
   
   
       2 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said flow stabilizer directs the flow along a non-orthogonal path.  
   
   
       3 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one crossover is adjacent to said at least one inlet.  
   
   
       4 . The compact heat exchanger  claim 1 , wherein said flow stabilizer is positioned along a downstream portion of said at least one crossover, and wherein said flow stabilizer reduces a cross-sectional area of said at least one crossover.  
   
   
       5 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one crossover is positioned along a portion of the part that is in proximity to a low-pressure ratio area.  
   
   
       6 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a downstream portion of said at least one crossover is substantially convex.  
   
   
       7 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein an upstream portion of said at least one crossover is substantially convex.  
   
   
       8 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein said upstream and downstream portions of said at least one crossover are substantially symmetrical.  
   
   
       9 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said circuit channel has a first-cross-sectional area, and wherein said at least one crossover has a second cross-sectional area that is twice as large as said first cross-sectional area.  
   
   
       10 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one crossover is adjacent to said at least one inlet.  
   
   
       11 . A compact heat exchanger for providing coolant gas flow through a part, comprising: 
 at least one inlet through which a coolant gas may enter;    a circuit channel in fluid communication with said at least one inlet, wherein said circuit channel is formed from superimposition of a plurality of alternating serpentine circuits; and    at least one outlet in fluid communication with said circuit channel through which said coolant gas may exit said circuit channel, wherein said circuit channel has a first crossover positioned at a portion of the part in proximity to a low-pressure ratio area and a second crossover positioned at a portion of the part in proximity to a high-pressure ratio area, wherein a first cross-sectional area of said first crossover is smaller than a second cross-sectional area of said second crossover.    
   
   
       12 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein said circuit channel has a third cross-sectional area, and where said first cross-sectional area is twice as large as said third cross-sectional area.  
   
   
       13 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein said first crossover is adjacent to said at least one inlet.  
   
   
       14 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein an inner geometry of said first crossover directs flow in a non-orthogonal path.  
   
   
       15 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein a downstream portion of said first crossover is convex.  
   
   
       16 . The compact heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein a downstream portion of said second crossover is planar.  
   
   
       17 . A method of dispensing heat in a part comprising: 
 providing a compact heat exchanger in thermal communication with the part, said compact heat exchanger being formed from superimposition of a plurality of alternating serpentine circuits that provide adjacent flow paths of fluid that converge and/or diverge at crossovers; and    directing at least two of said adjacent flow paths to converge or diverge at an angle with respect to each other at one or more of said crossovers.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising directing one or more of said flow paths to eliminate 90° turns along a portion of the compact heat exchanger that is in proximity to a low-pressure ratio area.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising directing at least two of said adjacent flow paths to converge or diverge at substantially opposite directions at one or more of said crossovers.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising reducing expansion of said fluid at said one or more crossovers.