Ruffled heat exchanger fairing

Abstract

A heat exchanger fairing including a fairing wall comprising a flexible region configured to change at least one dimension responsive to thermal expansion or contraction of a heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger fairing comprising:
 a fairing wall comprising a flexible region configured to change at least one dimension responsive to thermal expansion or contraction of a heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger fairing according to  claim 1 , wherein the fairing is configured to maintain a predetermined interior pressure within a heat exchanger interior. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger fairing according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible region is configured to change dimensional shape within at least one of three dimensions. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger fairing according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible region is configured as a ruffle shape. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger fairing according to  claim 4 , wherein the ruffle shape comprises a periodic wave which defines a change in direction similar to a waveform. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger fairing according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible region comprises at least one ruffle shape per unit cell within the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger fairing according to  claim 1 , wherein the fairing wall is constructed from diverse materials to impart predetermined flexibility throughout the flexible region. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a fairing comprising a fairing wall defining a heat exchanger interior, the fairing configured to maintain a predetermined interior pressure within the heat exchanger interior;   a primary coil in operative communication with the fairing wall, the primary coil located within the heat exchanger interior; and   a flexible region formed within the fairing wall, the flexible region configured to change at least one dimension responsive to thermal expansion or contraction of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the fairing is configured as a pressure boundary for a secondary working fluid flowing through the heat exchanger interior across an exterior of the primary coil. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the flexible region is configured as a ruffle shape. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the ruffle shape comprises a periodic wave which defines a change in direction as a waveform. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the flexible region comprises at least one ruffle shape per unit cell within the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a mount connecting the primary coil with the fairing wall.   
     
     
         14 . A process for a heat exchanger comprising:
 forming a fairing comprising a fairing wall defining a heat exchanger interior;   configuring the fairing to maintain a predetermined interior pressure within the heat exchanger interior;   coupling a primary coil in operative communication with the fairing wall;   locating the primary coil within the heat exchanger interior; and   forming a flexible region within the fairing wall;   configuring the flexible region to change at least one dimension in an X-axis and Y-axis responsive to thermal/pressure expansion or contraction of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 configuring the fairing as a pressure boundary for a secondary working fluid flowing through the heat exchanger interior across an exterior of the primary coil.   
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 configuring the flexible region as a ruffle shape.   
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 forming the ruffle shape with a periodic wave which defines a change in direction as a waveform.   
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible region comprises at least one ruffle shape per unit cell within the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 configuring the flexible region compliant in a first axis X and/or a second axis Y less than the compliance of the primary coil.   
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 configuring the flexible region with the capacity to change dimensional shape in at least one of a first dimension and a second dimension.