Heat transfer devices and methods for facilitating convective heat transfer with a heat source or a cold source

A heat transfer device for enclosing a heat source and facilitating convective heat transfer from the heat source, comprising:

• an outer wall having an outer surface exposed to an environment of the heat transfer device and defining an outer shape of the heat transfer device;
• and
• an inner wall defining a flow passage through the heat transfer device, wherein the outer wall and the inner wall collectively define an internal volume that is configured to house or otherwise affix to the heat source, and wherein the flow passage comprises:
• an inlet configured to receive a fluid from the environment;
• an outlet configured to exhaust the fluid from the flow passage;
• and
• a core region extending between the inlet and the outlet and configured to deliver the fluid from the inlet to the outlet and allow heat to exchange between the fluid within the core region and the internal volume.

A method for cooling a heat source, comprising:

• receiving a fluid from an environment of a heat transfer device into an inlet of the heat transfer device, the heat transfer device comprising an outer wall exposed to the environment and an inner wall, wherein the inner wall defines a flow passage through the heat transfer device that comprises the inlet, a core region, and an outlet, and wherein an internal volume is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall;
• flowing the fluid from the inlet and into the core region of the heat transfer device;
• flowing the fluid within the core region of the heat transfer device;
• exchanging heat between the heat source and the fluid within the core region, wherein the heat source is at least partially located within the internal volume;
• and
• flowing the fluid and the heat from the core region and out of the heat transfer device via the outlet.