Micro-architected materials for heat exchanger applications
AssigneeHRL Laboratories, LLC
InventorsChristopher S. Roper, William B. Carter, Alan J. Jacobsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A Heat Exchanger comprising a three-dimensional ordered microstructure material within a shell. The three-dimensional ordered microstructure material has dimensions that allow for large surface area to volume ratios, between 300 and 15000 m2/m3. Alternatively the three-dimensional ordered microstructure may have an open volume fraction between 0.4 and 0.6. The three-dimensional ordered microstructure may be comprised of hollow truss elements and partially filled with a thermally conductive material or a fluid. The Heat Exchanger has a heat transfer coefficient multiplied by the surface area to volume ratio between 3.7*107 and 7*109 Watts per M3K.
Claims12
A Heat Exchanger device comprising:
- a shell;
- and
- a three-dimensional ordered microstructure material comprising a plurality of intersecting truss elements within the shell;
- wherein said truss elements comprise;
- a plurality of first truss elements defined by a plurality of first self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a first direction;
- a plurality of second truss elements defined by a plurality of second self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a second direction;
- and
- a plurality of third truss elements defined by a plurality of third self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a third direction;
- wherein said truss elements interpenetrate each other at a plurality of nodes to form a continuous material;
- wherein the three-dimensional ordered microstructure material has a node to node spacing between 10 micrometers and 5 millimeters;
- and
- said plurality of truss elements have a diameter between 1 micrometer and 5 millimeters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.