A flow heater is described that has a housing in which a flow channel extends from a liquid inlet to a liquid outlet. The heater has a metal plate along which the flow channel runs, and the metal plate carries a heating resistor. Provision is made for the metal plate to carry a corrugated sheet that protrudes into the flow channel and has openings through which the liquid that is to be heated can pass.

A heat exchanger is provided for a gas turbine engine. This heat exchanger includes a pair of heat exchanger manifolds and a stack of flow channel modules arranged and fluidly coupled between the heat exchanger manifolds. The flow channel modules include a first flow channel module that includes a first heat exchanger section and a second heat exchanger section. The first heat exchanger section includes a base plate, a plurality of flow channel walls and a plurality of heat transfer augmentors. The flow channel walls project out from the base plate to the second heat exchanger section thereby forming a plurality of flow channels between the first heat exchanger section and the second heat exchanger section. The heat transfer augmentors project partially into at least one of the flow channels. A first of the heat transfer augmentors is formed from a different material than the base plate.

A compact gas-gas heat exchange tube. The heat exchange tube includes a heat transfer tube which is configured to separate an in-tube fluid from an out-tube fluid, and achieve, through convection and heat conduction manners, heat transfer between the in-tube fluid and the out-tube fluid; an inner fin set which is configured to expand a heat exchange surface on an inner side of the heat transfer tube, form a micro-channel to separate the in-tube fluid to make the same to axially flow along the heat transfer tube, and produce a turbulence effect and enhance heat convection as well; an outer fin set which is configured to expand a heat exchange surface on an outer side of the heat transfer tube, form a micro-channel to restrict the out-tube fluid from axially and reversely flowing along the heat transfer tube, and produce a turbulence effect and enhance heat convection as well, wherein a hole is provided on each fin of the inner fin set or/and the outer fin set. The present invention further provides methods for manufacturing and using the compact gas-gas heat exchange tube. The present invention realizes complete reverse flow and efficient heat transfer in a limited space and under a heat exchange working condition of a small logarithmich mean temperature difference, saves a spatial dimension of the apparatus, and reduces a weight of each area as well so as to reduce a total weight and a manufacturing cost.

A metal heat exchanger tube has integral ribs formed on the outside of the tube. The ribs have a rib base, rib flanks, and a rib tip. The rib base protrudes substantially radially from the tube wall. A channel is formed between the ribs, in which channel additional structures spaced apart from each other are arranged. The additional structures divide the channel between the ribs into segments. The additional structures reduce the cross-sectional area in the channel between two ribs through which flow is possible by at least 60% locally and, at least thereby, limit a fluid flow in the channel during operation.

A heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between a first working fluid and a second working fluid. The heat exchanger has an outer shell that has a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port. A set of tubes each extend within the outer shell and between the first and second ports, such that the first working fluid can flow in parallel through the tubes. A plenum space extends within the outer shell and between the third and fourth ports, and surrounding the tubes. The second working fluid is to flow through the plenum space. The heat exchanger has a central core region, a first transition region that extends between the first port and the central core region, and a second transition region that extends between the second port and the central core region.

A method for fabricating heat exchangers using additive manufacturing technologies. Additive manufacturing enables the manufacture of heat exchangers with complex geometries and/or with internal and external integral surface features. Additive manufacture also facilitates the manufacture of heat exchangers with regional variations, such as changes in size, shape and surface features. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a heat exchanger with a helicoidal shape that provides axial elastic compliance. In one embodiment, the internal channel of the heat exchanger varies along its length. The internal channel may have a cross-sectional area that increases progressively from one end to the other. In one embodiment, the external shape of the tubular structure may be non-circular to optimize heat transfer with an external heat transfer fluid. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a heat pipe with an internal wicking structure formed as an integral part of the additive manufacturing process.

A heat exchanger tube includes a curved wall, a leg, and a joint. The leg extends orthogonal to an end of the curved wall. The joint connects the curved wall and leg. A plurality of dimples is aligned along the joint.

A heat exchange tube, a heat exchanger, and a manufacturing method for the heat exchange tube are provided. The heat exchange tube includes a tube wall and an outer fin, the tube wall is folded into a tube body, the tube body is provided with an inner fin therein, and the inner fin divides an inner chamber of the tube body into a plurality of flow channels. The outer fin is arranged outside the tube body. The outer fin is folded from a same plate with at least one of the tube wall and the inner fin.

A method includes forming an electronics housing defining a first flow path spaced apart from the second flow path for heat exchange through the housing between the first and second flow paths. The electronics housing is of a first material. The method includes depositing a heat exchange fin on the electronics housing. The heat exchange fin is of a second material different from the first material, wherein the heat exchange fin is grown into the second flow path to facilitate heat exchange between the first flow path and the second flow path.

In embodiments, a heat exchanger includes a tube configured to transfer a first fluid. The tube includes an outer surface configured to exchange heat with a second fluid as the second fluid flows over the outer surface of the tube. The tube also includes an inner surface defining an interior configured to contain and transfer the first fluid, and a plurality of surface features integrally formed as part of the inner surface. The surface features may extend radially inward toward the interior, and are configured to increase a surface area of the inner surface to improve heat exchange between the tube and the first fluid.