US 5,129,449 A · High performance heat exchanger

Abstract

A condenser (44) of a heated fluid which is condensed within a core of the condenser in response to heat exchange between the heated fluid and a coolant fluid flowing through the core in accordance with the invention includes a plurality of heat conductive laminates (70 and 72) having at least one first channel (12) through which the fluid being condensed flows and at least one second channel (14) through which the coolant flows. The cross-sectional area of at least one of the at least one first channel in the condenser decreases in a direction of fluid flow through the condenser producing increased velocity of the heated fluid flowing in the direction of fluid flow causing a shear force between a vapor phase of the heated fluid and liquid phase condensed on a perimeter of at least one first channel which causes the fluid phase to flow through the at least one channel.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A heat exchanger containing a heated fluid which is condensed within a core of the heat exchanger in response to heat exchange between the heated fluid and a coolant fluid flowing through the core comprising:

a desuperheater comprised of a first group of a plurality of heat conductive laminates forming at least one first channel through which the heated fluid flows and at least one second channel through the coolant fluid flows for changing the heated fluid within the at least one first channel from a superheated vapor into a saturated vapor;
a condenser comprised of a second group of a plurality of heat conductive laminates forming the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel for changing the saturated vapor within the at least one first channel into saturated liquid;
and
a subcooler comprised of a third group of a plurality of heat conductive laminates forming the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel for changing the saturated liquid within the at least one first channel into subcooled liquid;
and wherein
the first, second and third groups are joined together in a stack to form the core with heated fluid and coolant fluid each respectively flowing in the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel through the groups of laminates from one face of the core to another face of the core.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

High performance heat exchanger

Life of this patent

High performance heat exchanger

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20