Heat exchanger channels

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger body having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end along a flow axis. A plurality of flow channels is defined in the heat exchanger body extending axially with respect to the flow axis. A first set of the flow channels forms a first flow circuit and a second set of the flow channels forms a second flow circuit that is in fluid isolation from the first flow circuit. Each flow channel is fluidly isolated from the other flow channels. The flow channels all conform to a curvilinear profile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a heat exchanger body having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end along a flow axis;   a plurality of flow channels defined in the heat exchanger body extending axially with respect to the flow axis, wherein a first set of the flow channels forms a first flow circuit, wherein a second set of the flow channels forms a second flow circuit that is in fluid isolation from the first flow circuit,   wherein each flow channel is fluidly isolated from the other flow channels, wherein each flow channel of the first flow circuit includes a respective inlet on the first end of the heat exchanger body and a respective outlet on the second end of the heat exchanger body, and   wherein each flow channel of the second flow circuit includes a respective inlet on one of the first and second ends of the heat exchanger body and a respective outlet on the other of the first and second ends of the heat exchanger body, and   wherein the flow channels all conform to a curvilinear profile, wherein the curvilinear profile includes a coil, wherein the flow passages define a constant cross-section that spirals around and is in plane with a longitudinal axis defined by the coil.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein cross-sectional area and/or shape of the flow channels varies along the flow path. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flow channels of the first flow circuit and the flow channels of the second flow circuit are arranged to define a two-dimensional cross-sectional checkerboard pattern with one another. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the curvilinear profile is a common curvilinear profile for the flow channels and includes a coil wherein the flow passages coil around a central cylindrical void. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each flow channel of the first flow circuit includes a respective inlet on the first end of the heat exchanger body and a respective outlet on the second end of the heat exchanger body, and wherein each flow channel of the second flow circuit includes a respective inlet on the second end of the heat exchanger body and a respective outlet on the first end of the heat exchanger body. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each flow channel includes a single respective inlet and a single respective outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flow channels of the first flow circuit have cross-sections of a first shape, and wherein the flow channels of the second flow circuit have cross-sections of a second shape different from the first shape. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchangers as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each flow channel of the first flow circuit has a diamond or hexagonal cross-sectional shape, and wherein each flow channel of the second flow circuit has a circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each adjacent pair of the flow channels is separated from one another by a heat exchanger wall, wherein the heat exchanger wall is constant in cross-section from the first end of the heat exchanger body to the second end of the heat exchanger body. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flow channels and heat exchanger body are additively manufactured as a unitary structure.