There is disclosed a heat exchanger extending along a longitudinal axis, including a first conduit configured for circulating a first fluid; a second conduit configured for circulating a second fluid; and a heat transferring layer disposed between the first conduit and the second conduit. The heat transferring layer is monolithic with the second conduit. An abutting side of the heat transferring layer is in contact with the first conduit to define a surface contact interface therebetween. The abutting side is shaped to correspond to a shape of a surface of the first conduit in contact with the heat transferring layer. A thermal resistance defined between the second conduit and the heat transferring layer being less than that across the surface contact interface. The first conduit is in heat exchange relationship with the second conduit via the heat transferring layer.

The invention provides a method for storing heat and continuously generating electricity, the method comprising a phase change material; first fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material wherein the first conduit is adapted to receive a first fluid; a second fluid conduit in thermal communication with the phase change material, wherein the second conduit is adapted to receive a second fluid; and a turbine in thermal communication with the second fluid. Also provided is a method for continuously charging the energy power block portion of a combined thermal energy storage and heat exchanger unit with heated fluid generated by concentrated solar power, the method comprising intermittently storing heat in a phase change material; and continually directing the heat from the phase change material to a turbine such that the phase change material buffers the turbine against inconsistent solar heat inputs.

A heat exchanger and heat exchanger core are provided. The heat exchanger core includes a plurality of columnar passages extending between an inlet plenum of the heat exchanger core and an outlet plenum of the heat exchanger core, the columnar passages formed monolithically in a single fabrication process.

A two-start helical heat exchanger comprises a helical baffle extending along a length of the heat exchanger and having first and second surfaces, wherein: the first surface of the baffle is arranged to provide a first helical fluid flow path for a first fluid; and the second surface of the baffle is arranged to provide a second helical fluid flow path for a second fluid, wherein the second fluid flow path is arranged in counter-flow with the first fluid flow path and a casing within which the baffle is mounted. The baffle is arranged such that first and second fluid flow paths are in thermal contact with each other through the baffle, and in thermal contact with the casing. The heat exchanger may be incorporated into a power converter, for example to cool the power converter. The heat exchanger may be used on an aircraft.

A heat exchanger includes a peripheral wall having a polygonal tube shape and partition walls that divide an inside of the peripheral wall into first cells and second cells, the first cells and the second cells extending in an axial direction of the peripheral wall. Ends of each of the first cells in the axial direction are sealed and adjacent ones of the first cells are in communication with one another so that the first cells constitute a first passage having a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the axial direction. The first passage includes an inflow port and an outflow port that are open in the same surface of the peripheral wall. Each of the second cells constitutes a second passage including an inflow port and an outflow port provided respectively at ends of each of the second cells in the axial direction.

The invention is directed to a system for energy storage including a heat transfer fluid (HTF) tank containing a HTF such as water; a chemical combustion reactor that is at least partially filled with a metal and/or an oxide thereof, and that includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet; wherein the chemical combustion reactor is at least partially submerged in the HTF within the HTF tank.

A heat exchanger is disclosed herein that includes three walls that are each shaped in a wave pattern with the waves that extend in both a first lateral direction and a second lateral direction. A second wall is adjacent to and in contact with a first wall with the waves of the second wall being offset from the waves of the first wall by one-half wavelength in the first direction. The third wall is adjacent to and in contact with the second wall with the waves of the third wall being offset from the waves to the second wall by one-half wavelength in the second direction. The first wall and second wall form a first plurality of flow paths extending in the second direction, and the second wall and the third wall for a second plurality of flow paths extending in the first direction.

A counter-flow heat exchanger is provided that includes: a first fluid path having a first supply tube connected to a first transition area separating the first fluid path into a first array of first passageways, with the first array of first passageways merging at a first converging area into a first discharge tube; and a second fluid path having a second supply tube connected to a second transition area separating the second fluid path into a second array of second passageways, with the second array of second passageways merge at a second converging area into a second discharge tube. The first passageways and the second passageways have a substantially helical path around the centerline of the counter-flow heat exchanger. Additionally, the first array and the second array are arranged together such that each first passageway is adjacent to at least one second passageway.

A counter-flow heat exchanger including: a primary flow passageway comprising a primary flow inlet, a primary flow outlet, and a plurality of primary flow subset passageways therebetween; a secondary flow passageway comprising a secondary flow inlet, a secondary flow outlet, and a plurality of secondary flow subset passageways therebetween; and a heat exchanger core comprising portions of the plurality of primary flow subset passageways and the plurality of secondary flow subset passageways, the secondary flow passageway being in thermal communication with the primary flow passageway in the heat exchanger core, wherein the primary flow subset passageways in the heat exchanger core and the secondary flow subset passageways in the heat exchanger core are oriented such that primary fluid flow through the primary flow subset passageways flows opposite secondary fluid flow through the secondary flow subset passageways.

A heat exchanger header includes a plurality of first flow channels and second flow channels, each flow channel including a fluid circuit opening for fluid communication with a fluid circuit of a heat source and a core opening for communication with a heat exchanger core, wherein at least the first flow channels include a lobe section defining a non-uniform cross-sectional flow area that changes along a flow direction.