Heat transfer component and het transfer process

Abstract

A heat transfer component and heat transfer process are disclosed. The heat transfer component includes thermally-responsive features positioned along a surface of the heat transfer component. The thermally-responsive features deploy from or retract toward the surface in response to a predetermined temperature change. The deploying from or the retracting toward of the thermally-responsive features increases or decreases a rate of heat transfer between a flow along the surface and the surface. The heat transfer process includes providing a heat transfer component having thermally-responsive features positioned along a surface of the heat transfer component; and increasing or decreasing a heat transfer rate between the surface and a flow by deploying the thermally-responsive features from or the retracting the thermally-responsive features toward the surface in response to a predetermined temperature change.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat transfer component, comprising:
 thermally-responsive features positioned along a surface of the heat transfer component;   wherein the thermally-responsive features deploy from or retract toward the surface in response to a predetermined temperature change;   wherein the deploying from or the retracting toward of the thermally-responsive features increases or decreases a rate of heat transfer between a flow along the surface and the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the deploying of the thermally-responsive features increases or decreases turbulation of the flow. 
     
     
         3 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer component is a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer component is a condenser. 
     
     
         5 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer component is a heat pipe, a regenerator, or an evaporative cooler. 
     
     
         6 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer component is a personal temperature control suit. 
     
     
         7 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein a deployment length of one or more of the thermally-responsive features is between about 0.01 inches and about 0.125 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally-responsive features include a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer. 
     
     
         9 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first metallic layer and the second metallic layer include material selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, cobalt, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, magnesium, gold, platinum MCrAlY, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the deploying of the thermally-responsive features increases or decreases depth of a boundary layer adjacent the surface. 
     
     
         11 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the increase or the decrease in the rate of heat transfer is predominantly based upon an increase or decrease in a proportion of convective heat transfer. 
     
     
         12 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the deploying of the thermally-responsive features increases or decreases the velocity of the flow. 
     
     
         13 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the deploying of the thermally-responsive features increases or decreases the acceleration of the flow. 
     
     
         14 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the deploying of the thermally-responsive features increases or decreases a proportion of turbulent flow within the flow. 
     
     
         15 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the deploying of the thermally-responsive features increases or decreases a proportion of laminar flow within the flow. 
     
     
         16 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the deploying of the thermally-responsive features increases or decreases a proportion of transitional flow within the flow. 
     
     
         17 . The heat transfer component of  claim 1 , wherein the deploying of the thermally-responsive features increases or decreases mixing of components of the flow. 
     
     
         18 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 thermally-responsive features positioned along a surface of the heat exchanger, the thermally-responsive features having a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer;   wherein the thermally-responsive features deploy from or retract toward the surface in response to a predetermined temperature change;   wherein the deploying from or the retracting toward of the thermally-responsive features increases or decreases turbulation of a flow along the surface, thereby increasing or the decreasing velocity of the flow, acceleration of the flow, a proportion of turbulent flow within the flow, a proportion of laminar flow within the flow, a proportion of transitional flow within the flow, depth of a boundary layer adjacent to the surface, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         19 . A heat transfer process, comprising:
 providing a heat transfer component having thermally-responsive features positioned along a surface of the heat transfer component; and   increasing or decreasing a rate of heat transfer between the surface and a flow by deploying the thermally-responsive features from or the retracting the thermally-responsive features toward the surface in response to a predetermined temperature change.   
     
     
         20 . The heat transfer process of  claim 1 , further comprising increasing or decreasing depth of a boundary layer adjacent to the surface.