Aerodynamic heat exchanger for a vehicle
AssigneeAptera Motors Corp.
InventorsDaniel MORRIS, Steve FAMBRO, Eric BYERS, Chris ANTHONY, Jason HILL, John KLOPP, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aerodynamic vehicle includes an aerodynamic heat exchanger formed as one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The aerodynamic heat exchanger is adapted to provide effective and highly efficient heat transfer, and also to provide substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag. The aerodynamic heat exchanger may provide adequate heat rejection capacity throughout vehicle operating conditions that advantageously results in increased fuel economy and overall vehicle performance.
Claims4
A heat exchanger comprising:
- an aerodynamic panel, said aerodynamic panel having a body with upper and lower body portions extending from a front end to a trailing end, said front end forming a tapered profile, said lower body portion being exposed to an ambient environment;
- a heat exchanger formed in said aerodynamic panel between said upper and lower body portions extending from proximate said front end to proximate said trailing end, said aerodynamic heat exchanger comprising:
- a chamber including an inner chamber portion and an outer chamber portion, said inner chamber portion having an inlet and an outlet disposed proximate a first end, at least one indentation, a fluid channel, and a channel divider, at least a portion of said outer chamber forming said lower body portion,
- wherein in an assembled configuration, said inner and outer chamber portions form said chamber adapted to receive a fluid at said inlet, to expel said fluid at said outlet, said fluid passing along said fluid channel, said channel divider extending from said first end to proximate a second end, said channel divider providing a fluid separation within said chamber such that said fluid passes from said inlet, proximate said second end, and then through to said outlet, and wherein said at least one indentation is disposed along said fluid channel configured to promote turbulence of said fluid in said chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.