Heat exchanger incorporating out-of-plane features

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards a heat exchanger incorporating integral fin and turbulence enhancement features which are designed to improve hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer rates. The heat exchanger device comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, a back surface, and two opposing side surfaces to define a main body unit. The heat exchanger device further comprises a plurality of laminar elements, or plates, having surface configurations to provide for to fluid flow therein. In order to increase heat transfer rates through the mixing of fluid, the heat exchanger device in accordance with the present invention contains features which enhance and increase flow turbulence and heat transfer surface area, referred to as out-of-plane structures. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger device contains features which form vertical out-of-plane structures. Alternatively, the heat exchanger device contains features which form horizontal out-of-plane structures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer properties comprising:
 a main body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an interior portion therebetween, said interior portion adapted to provide at least one fluid to flow therein;   a plurality of individual laminar elements, said individual laminar elements having surface configurations adapted to allow fluid flow, each said individual laminar elements stacked against adjacent laminar elements, wherein said surface configurations of each individual laminar elements are arranged relative to adjacent surface configurations of each said adjacent laminar elements to form a three dimensional structure; and   at least one out-of-plane structure, said at least one out-of-plane structure adapted to alter fluid flow path within said interior region to increase turbulence   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer properties according to  claim 1  wherein said out-of-plane structure includes at least one vertical out-of-plane structure, at least one horizontal out-of-plane structure, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer properties according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one out-of-plane feature is integrally formed from at least one adjacent laminar element. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer properties according to  claim 2  wherein said vertical out-of-plane feature includes at least one finger like protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer properties according to  claim 4  wherein said at least one finger like protrusion has a twisted configuration, a bent configuration, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer properties according to  claim 2  wherein said vertical out-of-plane structure includes a plurality of vertically stacked laminar elements having platelets which when aligned with adjacent laminar elements platelets form a vertical out-of-plane structure having a predetermined shape. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer properties according to  claim 6  wherein said predetermined shape is generally rectangular shape. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer properties according to  claim 6  wherein said shape is a wedge shape. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer properties according to  claim 6  wherein said shape is a diamond shape. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer properties according to  claim 6  wherein at least one said platelet has a width that differs from at least one adjacent platelet. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer properties according  claim 6  wherein said shape includes at least laminar elements having a concave surface and at least one laminar element having a convex surface. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and heat transfer properties according to  claim 11  wherein
 said cut out portions of said vertically stacked laminar elements are shifted relative to cut out portions of said adjacent laminar elements, said shifting forming a horizontal out-of-plane structure. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method of removing heat from a system comprising the steps of:
 providing a heat exchanging unit having structures adapted to provide hydraulic efficiency and desirable heat transfer properties to a system, said heat exchanging unit comprising a main body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an interior portion therebetween, said interior portion adapted to provide at least one fluid to flow therein; a plurality of individual laminar elements, said individual laminar elements having surface configurations adapted to allow fluid flow, each said individual laminar elements stacked against adjacent laminar elements, wherein said surface configurations of each individual laminar elements are arranged relative to adjacent surface configurations of each said adjacent laminar elements to form a three dimensional structure; at least one out-of-plane structure, said at least one out-of-plane structure adapted to alter fluid flow path within said interior region to increase turbulence; at least one fluid inlet, and at least one fluid outlet;   arranging said out-of-plane structures to allow fluid flow directed therein to flow in a particular manner;   whereby said out-of-plane structures enhance turbulence through the introduction of obstacles in the laminar flow path of a fluid flowing therein.   
     
     
         14 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 13  wherein said out-of-plane structures create areas of laminar flow, turbulent flow, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 13  wherein said areas of localized turbulent flow is created. 
     
     
         16 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 13  wherein said out-of-plane structures promote eddy transport. 
     
     
         17 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 13  wherein said out-of-plane structure includes at least one vertical out-of-plane structure, at least one horizontal out-of-plane structure, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 17  wherein said at least one out-of-plane feature is integrally formed from at least one adjacent laminar element. 
     
     
         19 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 13  wherein said vertical out-of-plane feature includes at least one finger like protrusion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 19  wherein said at least one finger like protrusion has a twisted configuration, a bent configuration, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 20  wherein said twisted configuration is a left handed twist or a right handed twist. 
     
     
         22 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 20  wherein said bent configuration is an upward bend or a downward bend. 
     
     
         23 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 13  wherein said vertical out-of-plane structure includes a plurality of vertically stacked laminar elements having a platelets which when aligned with adjacent laminar elements form vertical out-of-plane structures having a predetermined shape. 
     
     
         24 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 23  wherein said platelets have a generally rectangular shape. 
     
     
         25 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 24  wherein said platelets have a wedge shape. 
     
     
         26 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 24  wherein said platelets have a diamond shape. 
     
     
         27 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 24  wherein said platelets include at least one end having a rounded surface. 
     
     
         28 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 24  wherein said least one platelet includes at least one concave surface and at least one independent platelet has at least one convex surface. 
     
     
         29 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 24  wherein said platelets are shifted relative to said platelets formed by adjacent laminar elements, said shifting forming a horizontal out-of-plane structure. 
     
     
         30 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 24  wherein said widths of adjacent platelets are variable. 
     
     
         31 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 24  wherein said platelets further include at least one spike protrusion. 
     
     
         32 . The method of removing heat from a system according to  claim 24  wherein said platelets further include a finger like protrusion.