Thin Cavity Fluidic Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a spacer configured to maintain a cavity between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the cavity has a thickness less than or equal to about 20 thousands of an inch (mils) and has a width-to-thickness ratio greater than or equal to about 8:1, and wherein the cavity allows any fluid in the cavity to exchange heat with the first surface, the second surface, or both is disclosed. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising a thermal load and a heat exchanger substantially adjacent to or integrated with the thermal load, wherein any fluid flowing through the heat exchanger has a velocity greater than or equal to about 20 feet per second (fps).

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first surface;   a second surface; and   a spacer configured to maintain a cavity between the first surface and the second surface,   wherein the cavity has a thickness less than or equal to about 20 thousands of an inch (mils) and has a width-to-thickness ratio greater than or equal to about 8:1, and   wherein the cavity allows any fluid in the cavity to exchange heat with the first surface, the second surface, or both.   
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity has a thickness of less than or equal to about three mils. 
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface comprises a cover plate and the second surface comprises a heat transfer plate. 
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface comprises a cover plate and the second surface comprises a thermal load. 
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanged of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer defines a plurality of cavities. 
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid distribution plate. 
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an inlet port coupled to the first surface, the second surface, the spacer, or combinations thereof; and   an outlet port coupled to the first surface, the second surface, the spacer, or combinations thereof,   wherein the inlet port, the cavity, and the outlet port allow any fluid to flow into the inlet port, through the cavity, and out of the outlet port.   
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7  further comprising:
 an inlet manifold connected to the inlet port and located on the first surface, the second surface, the spacer, or combinations thereof; and   an outlet manifold connected to the outlet port and located on the first surface, the second surface, the spacer, or combinations thereof.   
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  further comprising an alternating pressure source coupled to the first surface and in fluid communication with the cavity, and wherein the inlet port, the cavity, and the outlet port allow the fluid to reverse directions as the alternating pressure source alternates. 
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface and the second surface are substantially concentric cylinders, and wherein the spacer is a ring. 
   
   
       11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger does not comprise any fins. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus comprising:
 a thermal load; and   a heat exchanger substantially adjacent to or integrated with the thermal load,   wherein any fluid flowing through the heat exchanger has a velocity greater than or equal to about 20 feet per second (fps).   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid has a velocity greater than or equal to about 300 fps. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising:
 an exhaust tubing having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end coupled to the heat exchanger; and   a vent coupled to the distal end,   wherein the exhaust tubing is configured to transport heat away from the thermal load.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a compressor or a pump; and   an inlet tubing coupled to the compressor or pump and the heat exchanger.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a fluid cavity having a volume less than or equal to about 0.01 cubic inches. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger has a thermal resistance less than or equal to about 2° Celsius per Watt (° C./W). 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is a building, a room, a computer, a vehicle, a ship, a submarine, an aircraft, or a spacecraft. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 11  comprising a printed circuit board coupled to the thermal load. 
   
   
       20 . A heat exchanger configured to implement a method comprising:
 passing a fluid having a first temperature through a cavity a least partially defined by a surface having a second temperature,   wherein the cavity substantially reduces or eliminates the heat transfer boundary layer of the fluid.   
   
   
       21 . The heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein the cavity has a thickness less than or equal to about 10 thousands of an inch (mils). 
   
   
       22 . The heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein the fluid has a residence time in the cavity less than or equal to about five milliseconds (ms).