Radial flow heat exchanger

Claim 2

A radial flow heat exchanger comprising: a. a longitudinal axis; b. a plurality of first passages for transporting a first fluid; c. a plurality of second passages for transporting said first fluid; d. a plurality of third passages for transporting a second fluid; e. a plurality of fourth passages for transporting said second fluid; f. wherein each of said first plurality of passages, said second plurality of passages, said third plurality of passages and said fourth plurality of passages surround said longitudinal axis and extend in a direction so as to have a radial change in direction, as measured along radii of said longitudinal axis, divided by a tangential change in direction, as measured tangentially to said radii, that is greater than 10%; and g. further wherein at least one passage in said first plurality of passages, said second plurality of passages, said third plurality of passages and said fourth plurality of passages is constructed such that a first interior portion in said at least one passage lying along a first axis within said at least one passage extending radially to said longitudinal axis is in fluid communication along a major portion of its length with a second interior portion in said at least one passage lying along a second axis within said at least one passage extending radially to said longitudinal axis, with said first axis and said second axis subtending an angle of at least 10°.

Claim 3

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further comprising: a. a plurality of fifth passages fluidly coupling said plurality of first passages with said plurality of second passages and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis; and b. a plurality of sixth passages fluidly coupling said plurality of third passages with said plurality of fourth passages and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 4

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further wherein said plurality of first passages and said plurality of second passages are fluidly coupled and are arranged so that said first fluid is transported, relative to said longitudinal axis, in a first direction in said plurality of first passages and in a second, opposite, direction in said plurality of second passages.

Claim 5

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 3 , wherein said plurality of third passages and said plurality of fourth passages are fluidly coupled and are arranged so that said second fluid is transported relative to said longitudinal axis, in a third direction in said plurality of third passages and in a fourth, opposite, direction in said plurality of fourth passages.

Claim 6

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein said plurality of first passages, said plurality of second passages, said plurality of third passages and said plurality of fourth passages are arranged so that said first direction and said third direction are identical and said second direction and said fourth direction are identical.

Claim 7

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein said plurality of first passages, said plurality of second passages, said plurality of third passages and said plurality of fourth passages are arranged so that said first direction and said fourth direction are identical and said second direction and said third direction are identical.

Claim 8

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of first passages and said plurality of fourth passages are interleaved so that each of said plurality of first passages is adjacent and in thermal communication with a corresponding respective one of said plurality of fourth passages, and wherein said plurality of second passages and said plurality of third passages are interleaved so that each of said plurality of second passages is adjacent and in thermal communication with a corresponding respective one of said plurality of third passages.

Claim 9

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further comprising: a. a first inlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of first passages through which said first fluid is introduced into said plurality of first passages, and a first outlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of second passages through which said first fluid is removed from said plurality of second passages; b. a second inlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of third passages through which said second fluid is introduced into said plurality of third passages, and a second outlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of fourth passages through which said second fluid is removed from said plurality of fourth passages; and c. wherein said first inlet and said first outlet are positioned radially inwardly of radially inner ends of said plurality of first passages and said second inlet and said second outlet are positioned radially inwardly of radially inner ends of said plurality of third passages.

Claim 10

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further comprising: a. a first inlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of first passages through which said first fluid is introduced into said plurality of first passages, and a first outlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of second passages through which said first fluid is removed from said plurality of second passages; b. a second inlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of third passages through which said second fluid is introduced into said plurality of third passages, and a second outlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of fourth passages through which said second fluid is removed from said plurality of fourth passages; and c. wherein said first inlet and said first outlet are positioned radially outwardly of radially outer ends of said plurality of first passages and said second inlet and said second outlet are positioned radially outwardly of radially outer ends of said plurality of third passages.

Claim 11

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of first passages, said plurality of second passages, said plurality of third passages or said plurality of fourth passages has a height δ that is no more than 0.5 mm±0.01 mm and is defined by two plates of material without any intervening plates of material.

Claim 12

A radial flow heat exchanger according claim 1 , wherein said plurality of first passages, said plurality of second passages, said plurality of third passages and said plurality of fourth passages have a height δ that is no more than 0.5 mm±0.01 mm and are each defined by two plates of material without any intervening plates of material.

Claim 13

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of first passages, said plurality of second passages, said plurality of third passages and said plurality of fourth passages, when designed to transport a first fluid having a first density ρ (kg/m 3 ) and a first viscosity μ (Pa-s) so that said first fluid has a local velocity u (m/s) and a first Reynolds number Re t that corresponds to the laminar/turbulent transition for said first fluid, has a height δ that satisfies the constraint δ < μ   Re 2   ρ   u .

Claim 14

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 12 , wherein: a. when said first plurality of passages is designed to transport a first fluid having a first density ρ (kg/m 3 ) and first viscosity μ (Pa-s) so that said first fluid has a first local velocity u (m/s) and a first Reynolds number Re t that corresponds to the laminar/turbulent transition for said first fluid, said plurality of first passages have a first height δ 1 that satisfies the constraint δ 1 < μ   Re t 2   ρ   u b. when said second plurality of passages is designed to transport a second fluid having a second density ρ (kg/m 3 ) and second viscosity μ (Pa-s) so that said second fluid has a second local velocity u (m/s) and a second Reynolds number Re t that corresponds to the laminar/turbulent transition for said second fluid, said plurality of second passages have a second height δ 2 that satisfies the constraint δ 2 < μ   Re t 2   ρ   u ; c. when said third plurality of passages is designed to transport a third fluid having a third density ρ (kg/m 3 ) and third viscosity μ (Pa-s) so that said third fluid has a third local velocity u (m/s) and a third Reynolds number Re t that corresponds to the laminar/turbulent transition for said third fluid, said plurality of third passages have a third height δ 3 that satisfies the constraint δ 3 < μ   Re t 2   ρ   u ; d. when said fourth plurality of passages is designed to transport a fourth fluid having a fourth density ρ (kg/m 3 ) and fourth viscosity μ (Pa-s) so that said fourth fluid has a fourth local velocity u (m/s) and a fourth Reynolds number Re t that corresponds to the laminar/turbulent transition for said fourth fluid, said plurality of fourth passages have a fourth height δ 4 that satisfies the constraint δ 4 < μ   Re t 2   ρ   u ;  and e. wherein any one of said first fluid, said second fluid, said third fluid and said fourth fluid may or may not be the same as other ones of said first fluid, said second fluid, said third fluid and said fourth fluid.

Claim 15

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of first passages and said plurality of second passages have a height δ′, and said plurality of third passages and said plurality of fourth passages have a height δ″, further wherein said height δ′ is not equal to said height δ″.

Claim 16

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of plates, pairs of which define each of said plurality of first passages, each of said plurality of second passages, each of said plurality of third passages and each of said plurality of fourth passages, wherein said plurality of plates are made from a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 20 Watts/meter-K.

Claim 17

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of plates, pairs of which define each of said plurality of first passages, each of said plurality of second passages, each of said plurality of third passages and each of said plurality of fourth passages, wherein each of said plurality of plates has a thickness ranging from 50 μm to 250 μm.

Claim 18

A modular heat exchange assembly comprising: a. a first radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 1 ; and b. a second radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 1 .

Claim 19

A modular heat exchange assembly according to claim 17 , further comprising: a. coupling means for fluidly coupling said plurality of first passages in said first radial flow heat exchanger with said plurality of second passages in said second radial flow heat exchanger and for fluidly coupling said plurality of third passages in said first radial flow heat exchanger with said plurality of fourth passages in said second radial flow heat exchanger, when said first radial flow heat exchanger and said second radial flow heat exchanger are positioned in mating relationship.

Claim 20

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 3 , wherein said first direction and said second direction extend radially relative to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 21

A heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein said radial change in direction divided by said tangential change in direction is substantially 100%.

Claim 22

A radial flow heat exchanger comprising: a. a longitudinal axis; b. a plurality of first passages surrounding said longitudinal axis for transporting a first fluid, wherein said first passages are configured to transport said first fluid in a first direction relative to said longitudinal axis, then substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, and then in a second direction relative to said longitudinal axis, wherein said second direction is opposite said first direction; c. a plurality of second passages surrounding said longitudinal axis for transporting a second fluid, wherein said second passages are configured to transport said second fluid in a third direction relative to said longitudinal axis, then substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, and then in a fourth direction relative to said longitudinal axis, wherein said fourth direction is opposite said third direction; and d. wherein each of said plurality of first passages is positioned immediately adjacent, and is in thermal communication with, a corresponding respective one of said plurality of second passages, each of said plurality of first and second passages includes a plurality of inlets and outlets surrounding said longitudinal axis, and (i) at least some of said plurality of inlets or (ii) at least some of said plurality of outlets, for at least some of said plurality of first passages, extend through at least one of said plurality of second passages, but are fluidly isolated from said at least one of said plurality of second passages.

Claim 23

A radial flow heat exchanger comprising: a. a longitudinal axis; b. a plurality of first passages surrounding said longitudinal axis for transporting a first fluid, wherein said first passages are configured to transport said first fluid in a first direction relative to said longitudinal axis, then substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, and then in a second direction relative to said longitudinal axis, wherein said second direction is opposite said first direction; c. a plurality of second passages surrounding said longitudinal axis for transporting a second fluid, wherein said second passages are configured to transport said second fluid in a third direction relative to said longitudinal axis, then substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, and then in a fourth direction relative to said longitudinal axis, wherein said fourth direction is opposite said third direction; and d. wherein each of said plurality of first passages is positioned immediately adjacent, and is in thermal communication with, a corresponding respective one of said plurality of second passages, each of said plurality of first and second passages includes a plurality of inlets and outlets surrounding said longitudinal axis, and (i) at least some of said plurality of inlets or (ii) at least some of said plurality of outlets, for at least some of said plurality of first passages, extend through at least one of said plurality of second passages, but are fluidly isolated from said at least one of said plurality of second passages.

Claim 24

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 21 , wherein said first direction and said third direction are identical and said second direction and said fourth direction are identical.

Claim 25

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 21 , wherein said plurality of first passages and said plurality of second passages are arranged so that said first direction and said fourth direction are identical and said second direction and said third direction are identical.

Claim 26

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 21 , wherein said plurality of first passages and said plurality of second passages are alternatingly interleaved so that each of said plurality of first passages is adjacent and in thermal communication with a corresponding respective one of said plurality of second passages.

Claim 27

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 21 , further comprising: a. a first inlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of first passages through which said first fluid is introduced into said plurality of first passages, and a first outlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of first passages through which said first fluid is removed from said plurality of first passages; b. a second inlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of second passages through which said second fluid is introduced into said plurality of second passages, and a second outlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of second passages through which said second fluid is removed from said plurality of second passages; and c. wherein said first inlet and said first outlet are positioned radially inwardly of radially inner ends of said plurality of first passages and said second inlet and said second outlet are positioned radially inwardly of radially inner ends of said plurality of second passages.

Claim 28

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 22 , further comprising: a. a first inlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of first passages through which said first fluid is introduced into said plurality of first passages, and a first outlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of first passages through which said first fluid is removed from said plurality of first passages; b. a second inlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of second passages through which said second fluid is introduced into said plurality of second passages, and a second outlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of second passages through which said second fluid is removed from said plurality of second passages; and c. wherein said first inlet and said first outlet are positioned radially outwardly of radially outer ends of said plurality of first passages and said second inlet and said second outlet are positioned radially outwardly of radially outer ends of said plurality of second passages.

Claim 29

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 21 , wherein at least one of said plurality of first passages and said plurality of second passages, have a height δ that is no more than 0.5 mm±0.01 mm and is defined by two plates of material without any intervening plates of material.

Claim 30

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 21 , wherein said plurality of first passages and said plurality of second passages have a height δ that is no more than 0.5 mm±0.01 mm and are each defined by two plates of material without any intervening plates of material.

Claim 31

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 21 , wherein at least one of said plurality of first passages and said plurality of second passages, when designed to transport a first fluid having a first density ρ (kg/m 3 ) and a first viscosity μ (Pa-s) so that said first fluid has a local velocity u (m/s) and a first Reynolds number Re t that corresponds to the laminar/turbulent transition for said first fluid, has a height δ that satisfies the constraint δ < μ   Re t 2   ρ   u

Claim 32

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 21 , further wherein each of said plurality of first passages and each of said plurality of second passages has a height δ that satisfies said constraint δ < μ   Re t 2   ρ   u .

Claim 33

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of plates, pairs of which define each of said plurality of first passages and each of said plurality of second passages, wherein said plurality of plates are made from a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 20 Watts/meter-K.

Claim 34

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 21 , wherein said plurality of first passages have a height δ′ and ones of said plurality of second passages immediately adjacent corresponding respective ones of said plurality of first passages and not separated by more than one layer of material from said corresponding respective ones of said plurality of first passages have a height δ″, further wherein said height δ′ is not equal to said height δ″.

Claim 37

A method according to claim 33 , wherein said first and second fluids are selected, and said transporting in steps a and b is performed at flow rates selected so that, said plurality of first fluid streams and said plurality of second fluid streams have substantially laminar flow.

Claim 38

A method according to claim 33 , wherein at least one of said plurality of streams of first fluid is separated from an adjacent one of and said plurality of streams of second fluid by no more than 250 μm.

Claim 39

A radial flow heat exchanger comprising: a. a longitudinal axis; b. a plurality of first passages for transporting a first fluid; c. a plurality of second passages for transporting a second fluid; d. wherein each of said first plurality of passages and said second plurality of passages surround said longitudinal axis and extend in a direction so as to have a radial change in direction, as measured along radii of said longitudinal axis, divided by a tangential change in direction, as measured tangentially to said radii, that is greater than 10%; and e. further wherein at least one passage in said first plurality of passages and said second plurality of passages is constructed such that a first interior portion in said at least one passage lying along a first axis within said at least one passage extending radially to said longitudinal axis is in fluid communication along a major portion of its length with a second interior portion in said at least one passage lying along a second axis within said at least one passage extending radially to said longitudinal axis, with said first axis and said second axis subtending an angle of at least 10°.

Claim 40

A radial flow heat exchanger comprising: a. a longitudinal axis; b. a plurality of first passages for transporting a first fluid; c. a plurality of second passages for transporting a second fluid; d. wherein each of said first plurality of passages and said second plurality of passages surround said longitudinal axis and extend in a direction so as to have a radial change in direction, as measured along radii of said longitudinal axis, divided by a tangential change in direction, as measured tangentially to said radii, that is greater than 10%; and e. further wherein at least one passage in said first plurality of passages and said second plurality of passages is constructed such that a first interior portion in said at least one passage lying along a first axis within said at least one passage extending radially to said longitudinal axis is in fluid communication along a major portion of its length with a second interior portion in said at least one passage lying along a second axis within said at least one passage extending radially to said longitudinal axis, with said first axis and said second axis subtending an angle of at least 10°.

Claim 41

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 36 , wherein said plurality of first passages and said plurality of second passages are interleaved so that each of said plurality of first passages is adjacent and in thermal communication with a corresponding respective one of said plurality of second passages.

Claim 42

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 36 , further comprising: a. a first inlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of first passages through which said first fluid is introduced into said plurality of first passages, and a first outlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of first passages through which said first fluid is removed from said plurality of first passages, wherein one of said first inlet and said first outlet is positioned radially inwardly of said plurality of first passages and the other one of said first inlet and first outlet is positioned radially outwardly of said plurality of first passages; and b. a second inlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of second passages through which said second fluid is introduced into said plurality of second passages, and a second outlet fluidly coupled with said plurality of second passages through which said second fluid is removed from said plurality of second passages, wherein one of said second inlet and said second outlet is positioned radially inwardly of said plurality of second passages and the other one of said second inlet and second outlet is positioned radially outwardly of said plurality of second passages.

Claim 43

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 36 , wherein at least one of said plurality of first passages and said plurality of second passages has a height δ that is less than 2 mm.

Claim 44

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 39 , wherein at least one of said plurality of first passages and said plurality of second passages has a height δ that is less than 0.5 mm.

Claim 45

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 36 , wherein at least one of said plurality of first passages and said plurality of second passages, when designed to transport a first fluid having a first density ρ (kg/m 3 ) and a first viscosity μ (Pa-s) so that said first fluid has a local velocity u (m/s) and a first Reynolds number Re t that corresponds to the laminar/turbulent transition for said first fluid, has a height δ that satisfies the constraint δ < μ   Re t 2   ρ   u

Claim 46

A radial flow heat exchanger according to claim 36 , further comprising a plurality of plates, pairs of which define each of said plurality of first passages and each of said plurality of second passages, wherein said plurality of plates are made from a material having a thermal conductivity of less than 20 Watts/meter-K.

Claim 47

A heat exchanger according to claim 36 , wherein said radial change in direction divided by said tangential change in direction is substantially 100%.