System and method for using a flexible composite surface for pressure-drop free heat transfer enhancement and flow drag reduction

A heat spreader comprising:

• a heat pipe;
• a plurality of fins coupled to the heat pipe;
• and
• a flexible composite sheet coupled to at least one of the fins of the plurality of fins,
• wherein heat is transferred from the fin to a fluid without incurring a pressure drop in the fluid.

A method for transferring heat, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a membrane coupled to a substrate and a plurality of ridges coupled between the membrane and the substrate;
• (b) inducing a vibratory motion from fluctuations in the flow velocity U through the flow pressure gradient to at least one segment of a membrane spanning a distance s;
• and
• (c) reflecting the vibratory motion from at least one segment of the membrane to the flow pressure gradient to sustain pressure fluctuations in the flow pressure gradient at a frequency f, where f≈U/s, wherein heat transfer from a solid surface downstream of the membrane segment to the fluid is enhanced while attenuating the flow pressure drop.