A constant density heat exchanger is provided. The constant density heat exchanger includes a housing extending between a first end and a second end and defining a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. A first flow control device is positioned at the inlet of the chamber and movable between an open position in which a working fluid is permitted into the chamber and a closed position in which the working fluid is prevented from entering the chamber. A second flow control device is positioned at the outlet of the chamber and movable between an open position in which the working fluid is permitted to exit the chamber and a closed position in which the working fluid is prevented from exiting the chamber. A heat exchange fluid imparts thermal energy to the volume of working fluid held at constant density within the chamber by the first and second control devices.

A heat exchange module, a heat exchanger and a method for additively manufacturing the heat exchanger are provided. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of stacked heat exchange modules defining a flow passageway. Each heat exchange module defining a substantially curved closed geometry defining a central axis that extends along the axial direction. Each heat exchange module includes a first heat exchanging fluid inlet, a first heat exchanging fluid outlet and a plurality of heat exchange tubes fluidly coupling the first heat exchanging fluid inlet and the first heat exchanging fluid outlet. The plurality of heat exchange tubes defining a plurality of first heat exchanging fluid flow passages of equal length and a plurality of second heat exchanging fluid flow passages of equal hydraulic diameter.

A combined heat and power system comprises a shaft (4), a compressor (6) coupled to the shaft to compress intake gas to form compressed gas; a recuperator (10) to heat the compressed gas to form heated compressed gas; a combustor (12) to combust a fuel and the heated compressed gas to form combustion gas; a turbine (8) coupled to the shaft to expand the combustion gas to form exhaust gas; a load (24) coupled to the shaft; an exhaust outlet (18) to expel the exhaust gas to a heater for heating a fluid based on heat from the exhaust gas; a recuperator channel (28) providing a path for the exhaust gas to flow from the turbine to the exhaust outlet through the recuperator; and a bypass channel (22) providing a path for the exhaust gas to flow from the turbine to the exhaust outlet bypassing the recuperator.

A monolithic heater body may include a combustor body, a hot-side heat exchanger body, and an eductor body. The combustor body may define a combustion chamber and a conditioning conduit circumferentially surrounding the combustion chamber. The conditioning conduit may fluidly communicate with the combustion chamber at a distal portion of the combustion chamber. The hot-side heat exchanger body may define a hot-side heat exchanger that includes a heating fluid pathway fluidly communicating with a proximal portion of the combustion chamber. The eductor body may define an eduction pathway fluidly communicating with a downstream portion of the heating fluid pathway and a proximal portion of the conditioning conduit.

A monolithic heater body may include a combustor body, a hot-side heat exchanger body, and an eductor body. The combustor body may define a combustion chamber and a conditioning conduit circumferentially surrounding the combustion chamber. The conditioning conduit may fluidly communicate with the combustion chamber at a distal portion of the combustion chamber. The hot-side heat exchanger body may define a hot-side heat exchanger that includes a heating fluid pathway fluidly communicating with a proximal portion of the combustion chamber. The eductor body may define an eduction pathway fluidly communicating with a downstream portion of the heating fluid pathway and a proximal portion of the conditioning conduit.

A curvilinear plate for a heat exchanger is provided. The curvilinear plate can include an inner plate defining a plurality of first grooves and an outer plate defining a plurality of second grooves. The outer plate is attached to the inner plate with the plurality of first grooves and the plurality of second grooves substantially aligned to define a plurality of channels therebetween. Each channel extends from a first opening on a first portion of a first end of the curvilinear plate to a second opening on a second portion of the first end. A method is also generally provided for forming a curvilinear plate.

A curvilinear plate for a heat exchanger is provided. The curvilinear plate can include an inner plate defining a plurality of first grooves and an outer plate defining a plurality of second grooves. The outer plate is attached to the inner plate with the plurality of first grooves and the plurality of second grooves substantially aligned to define a plurality of channels therebetween. Each channel extends from a first opening on a first portion of a first end of the curvilinear plate to a second opening on a second portion of the first end. A method is also generally provided for forming a curvilinear plate.

The present invention relate to a spiral heat exchanger formed of at least two sheets extending along a spiral-shaped path around a common centre body and separated to form at least a first and a second spiral-shaped substantially parallel flow channels extending and enabling flow communication between a radially outer orifice and a radially inner orifice, characterized in that the centre body comprises a wall body with an first conduit at the inner surface of the wall body being in fluid connection to the first flow channel, and an second conduit formed at the outer surface of the wall body and being in fluid connection to the second flow channel.

A monolithic heat exchanger body for inputting heat to a closed-cycle engine may include a plurality of heating walls and heat sink, such as a plurality of heat transfer regions. The plurality of heating walls may be configured and arranged in an array of spirals or spiral arcs relative to a longitudinal axis of an inlet plenum. Adjacent portions of the plurality of heating walls may respectively define a corresponding plurality of heating fluid pathways therebetween, for example, fluidly communicating with the inlet plenum. At least a portion of the heat sink may be disposed about at least a portion of the monolithic heat exchanger body. The heat sink may include a plurality of working-fluid bodies, for example, including a plurality of working-fluid pathways that have a heat transfer relationship with the plurality of heating fluid pathways. Respective ones of the plurality of heat transfer regions may have a heat transfer relationship with a corresponding semiannular portion of the plurality of heating fluid pathways. Respective ones of the plurality of heat transfer regions may include a plurality of working-fluid pathways fluidly communicating between a heat input region and a heat extraction region.

A monolithic heat exchanger body for inputting heat to a closed-cycle engine may include a plurality of heating walls and heat sink, such as a plurality of heat transfer regions. The plurality of heating walls may be configured and arranged in an array of spirals or spiral arcs relative to a longitudinal axis of an inlet plenum. Adjacent portions of the plurality of heating walls may respectively define a corresponding plurality of heating fluid pathways therebetween, for example, fluidly communicating with the inlet plenum. At least a portion of the heat sink may be disposed about at least a portion of the monolithic heat exchanger body. The heat sink may include a plurality of working-fluid bodies, for example, including a plurality of working-fluid pathways that have a heat transfer relationship with the plurality of heating fluid pathways. Respective ones of the plurality of heat transfer regions may have a heat transfer relationship with a corresponding semiannular portion of the plurality of heating fluid pathways. Respective ones of the plurality of heat transfer regions may include a plurality of working-fluid pathways fluidly communicating between a heat input region and a heat extraction region.