Method and apparatus for transferring heat, mass, and momentum between a fluid and a surface

An apparatus for transferring heat, mass, and momentum between at least one fluid and a target surface using a multiplicity of tiny fluid jets comprising:

• at least one plate spaced a predetermined distance from a target surface;
• said plate having a first plurality of adjacent closely spaced outlet perforations extending to an exterior surface and interconnected by at least one fluid supply channel to cause fluid passing therethrough to be discharged as a series of small separate outlet jets and a second plurality of adjacent closely spaced return perforations extending to an exterior surface and interconnected by at least one fluid return channel to draw fluid therethrough as a series of small separate return jets;
• pump means connected with said at least one outlet and return channels to force said fluid at a predetermined volumetric flow rate through said outlet perforations and to draw said fluid from said target surface into said at least one return channel through said return perforations;
• said fluid being pumped through said outlet perforations and discharged as a series of small separate outlet jets from said at least one plate to impinge on said target surface and flow a predetermined distance thereon sufficiently short to coalesce and form a thin laminar boundary layer, and upon formation of said thin laminar boundary layer, said coalesced fluid being drawn from said target surface through said inlet perforations as a series of small separate return jets which travel in a direction away from said target surface;
• and
• said return perforations being spaced apart relative to said outlet perforations a distance sufficiently short to draw said impinged fluid flowing on said target surface before it forms a thick laminar boundary layer thereon and thereby create a very thin laminar boundary layer which will transfer heat, mass, and momentum between said fluid and said target surface at a high transfer rate relative to that achieved by a thicker laminar boundary layer.