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 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.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , 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.