Shear flow condenser

Abstract

A plate-fin condenser includes a plate body defining an interior channel having a fluid inlet, a first interior channel section having a first cross-sectional area in fluid communication with the inlet, a second interior channel section downstream of the first interior channel section, and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the converging interior channel. The second interior channel section has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plate condenser, including:
 a plate body defining an interior channel including,
 an fluid inlet; 
 a first interior channel section having a first cross-sectional area in fluid communication with the inlet; 
 a second interior channel section downstream of the first interior channel section, wherein the second interior channel section has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area; and 
 a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second interior channel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The plate condenser of  claim 1 , wherein the plate body is in thermal communication with fin thermal transfer devices and channels laterally defined thereby. 
     
     
         3 . The plate condenser of  claim 1 , wherein the second interior channel is tapered in cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         4 . The plate condenser of  claim 1 , wherein the second interior channel is uniform in cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         5 . The plate condenser of  claim 1 , wherein the interior channel is connect together with one or more headers, wherein each header directs flow from one interior channel to another interior channel to change the direction of flow. 
     
     
         6 . The plate condenser of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate interior channel section between the first and second interior channel sections that converges, such that the intermediate and second channel sections successively reduce in cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         7 . The plate condenser of  claim 6 , wherein the first interior channel is defined by uniform shaped walls parallel with an axial direction of flow within the first interior channel. 
     
     
         8 . The plate condenser of  claim 7 , wherein the intermediate and second interior channel sections are defined by at least one wall that is angled relative to the axial direction of flow. 
     
     
         9 . The plate condenser of  claim 8 , wherein the intermediate and second interior channel sections are two tapered converging channel sections, wherein the at least one wall is a single angled wall defining the two tapered converging channels. 
     
     
         10 . A method of condensing a fluid, comprising:
 increasing a velocity of a working fluid within an interior channel of a plate condenser between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet thereof while condensing the working fluid within the interior channel.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein increasing the velocity of the working fluid routing the working fluid through a converging cross-sectional area of the interior channel of the plate condenser. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein increasing the velocity of the working fluid routing the working fluid through a uniformly converging cross-sectional area of the interior channel of the plate condenser. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein increasing the velocity of the working fluid routing the working fluid through a non-uniformly converging cross-sectional area of the interior channel of the plate condenser.