Heat exchangers

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a body and a plurality of elliptical flow channels defined in the body, the elliptical flow channels defining an elliptical cross-sectional flow area, and a plurality of non-elliptical flow channels defined in the body and interspersed between the elliptical flow channels, the non-elliptical flow channels having a non-elliptical cross-sectional flow area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a body; and   a plurality of elliptical flow channels defined in the body, the elliptical flow channels defining an elliptical cross-sectional flow area; and   a plurality of non-elliptical flow channels defined in the body and interspersed between the elliptical flow channels, the non-elliptical flow channels having a non-elliptical cross-sectional flow area.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of elliptical flow channels includes a circular cross-sectional flow area. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of non-elliptical flow channels includes a cross-shaped or rounded-cross shaped cross-sectional flow area. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of non-elliptical flow channels includes a rectilinear shaped cross-sectional flow area. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the rectilinear shaped cross-sectional area includes a hexagonal shape. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the elliptical flow channels and the non-elliptical flow channels are uniformly defined in the body such that the elliptical flow channels and non-elliptical flow channels form an evenly spaced pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the elliptical flow channels are configured allow a hot flow to travel through the body in a first direction. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the non-elliptical flow channels are configured to allow a cold flow to travel through the body in a second direction. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second directions are opposite. 
     
     
         10 . A method of exchanging heat from a hot flow to a cold flow, comprising:
 flowing the hot flow through a plurality of elliptical flow channels defined in a body of a heat exchanger, the elliptical flow channels defining an elliptical cross-sectional flow area; and   flowing the cold flow through a plurality of non-elliptical flow channels defined in the body and interspersed between the elliptical flow channels, the non-elliptical flow channels having a non-elliptical cross-sectional flow area.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein flowing the hot flow through the elliptical channels includes flowing the hot flow in a first direction, wherein flowing the cold flow through the non-elliptical channels includes flowing the cold flow in a second direction, wherein the first direction and second direction are opposite.