Passive hex flow regulation
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsNaison E. Mastrocola, William E. Villano
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Abstract
A heat exchanger is configured to adjust a flow restriction of flow passages through the heat exchanger in response to changes in temperature of elements that define at least a portion of the flow passages. The elements include a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion.
Claims20
A heat exchanger configured to automatically adjust a flow restriction of flow passages through the heat exchanger in response to changes in temperature of elements that define at least a portion of the flow passages, the elements comprising:
- a first material comprising a first coefficient of thermal expansion;
- and
- a second material comprising a second coefficient of thermal expansion different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion.
A heat exchanger comprising:
- a base;
- and
- a plurality of fins extending from the base, wherein each fin of the plurality of fins comprises:
- a base end connected to the base;
- a distal end opposite the base end;
- a first section comprising a first material, wherein the first section extends from the base end to the distal end;
- and
- a second section comprising a second material, wherein the second section extends from the base end to the distal end, and wherein the first material and the second material have different coefficients of thermal expansion.
A method of altering a flow area of flow passages in a heat exchanger comprising:
- altering temperatures of a plurality of elements that define at least portions of flow passages of the heat exchanger;
- altering shapes of the plurality of elements in response to the altering of temperatures;
- and
- altering flow area of the flow passages via the altering of the shapes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.