US 2013/0153182 A1 · HEAT AND ENERGY EXCHANGE

Abstract

Materials, components, and methods are provided that are directed to the fabrication and use of micro-scale channels with a fluid for a heat exchange system, where the temperature and flow of the fluid is controlled, in part, through the macroscopic geometry of the micro-scale channel and the configuration of at least a portion of the wall of the micro-scale channel and the constituent particles that make up the fluid. Moreover, the wall of the micro-scale channel and the constituent particles are configured such that collisions between the constituent particles and the wall are substantially specular. Accelerating and decelerating elements provided herein can be configured with micro-scale channels which can trace out a generally spiral path.

Claims21

Dependent claims

1-70. (canceled)

An apparatus for heat exchange comprising:

a micro channel comprising a wall portion;
and
a gas comprising a constituent particle;
wherein the micro channel is configured to accommodate a flow of the gas in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a cross section of the micro channel;
and
wherein the wall portion and the constituent particle are configured such that collisions between the constituent particle and the wall portion are substantially specular;
and
wherein the wall portion comprises at least a first wall portion, a second wall portion, a third wall portion, a first intermediate wall portion, and a second intermediate wall portion;
wherein a boundary of the first wall portion is contiguous with a first boundary of the first intermediate wall portion, a first boundary of the second wall portion is contiguous with a second boundary of the first intermediate wall portion, a second boundary of the second wall portion is contiguous with a first boundary of the second intermediate wall portion, and a boundary of the third wall portion is contiguous with a second boundary of the second intermediate wall portion, such that the first wall portion, the first intermediate wall portion, the second wall portion, the second intermediate wall portion, and the third wall portion form a contiguous portion of the wall of the micro channel;
wherein a first normal to the first wall portion is not parallel to a second normal to the second wall portion, and is also not parallel to a third normal to the third wall portion, and where the second normal is also not parallel to the third normal;
wherein an angle offset between the first normal and the second normal is less than 90 degrees, and is approximately the same as an angle offset between the second normal and the third normal;
wherein a separation between the first wall portion and the second wall portion is at least an integer N times a largest width of the micro channel over that separation;
and
wherein the angle offset between the first normal and the second normal is less than M degrees where M equals N/10.

11 more elements

A method for heat exchange, comprising:

providing a micro channel comprising a wall portion;
providing a gas comprising a constituent particle;
and
inducing a flow of the gas adjacent to the wall portion;
wherein the micro channel is configured to accommodate the flow of the gas in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a cross section of the micro channel;
and
wherein the wall portion and the constituent particle are configured such that collisions between the constituent particle and the wall portion are substantially specular;
and
wherein the wall portion comprises at least a first wall portion, a second wall portion, a third wall portion, a first intermediate wall portion, and a second intermediate wall portion;
wherein a boundary of the first wall portion is contiguous with a first boundary of the first intermediate wall portion, a first boundary of the second wall portion is contiguous with a second boundary of the first intermediate wall portion, a second boundary of the second wall portion is contiguous with a first boundary of the second intermediate wall portion, and a boundary of the third wall portion is contiguous with a second boundary of the second intermediate wall portion, such that the first wall portion, the first intermediate wall portion, the second wall portion, the second intermediate wall portion, and the third wall portion form a contiguous portion of the wall of the micro channel;
wherein a first normal to the first wall portion is not parallel to a second normal to the second wall portion, and is also not parallel to a third normal to the third wall portion, and where the second normal is also not parallel to the third normal;
wherein an angle offset between the first normal and the second normal is less than 90 degrees, and is approximately the same as an angle offset between the second normal and the third normal;
wherein a separation between the first wall portion and the second wall portion is at least an integer N times a largest width of the micro channel over that separation;
and
wherein the angle offset between the first normal and the second normal is less than M degrees where M equals N/10.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

13/699,461Filed 20 May 2011

Priority

23 May 2010

Published

20 Jun 2013

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F28F 13/18
Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing: by applying coatings, e.g. radiation-absorbing, radiation-reflecting; by…
F28D 15/00
Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into
F28F 1/00
Tubular elements
F28D 2015/0225
In which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes: microheat pipes

Heat and energy exchange

Life of this patent

Heat and energy exchange

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21