Embodiments of a surface heat exchanger for a vehicle are described. In one embodiment, a surface heat exchanger includes a plurality of fins on a first outer surface The surface heat exchanger is mounted within an interior of a duct of a vehicle. An inlet of the duct is located on a side of the vehicle forward of a rear axle of the vehicle and an outlet of the duct is located rearward of the inlet. The plurality of fins of the surface heat exchanger are exposed to the interior of the duct. The plurality of fins are configured to transfer heat to airflows interacting with the plurality of fins as the airflows pass through the duct.

An apparatus and method for melting snow and/or ice on a vehicle comprises a precipitation sensor, a surface temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a heater, and a programmable controller. The programmable controller comprises a memory unit to store a cut off surface temperature Tc, and a set of program modules. The programmable controller further comprises a processor to execute the set of program modules. A heater control module, executed by the processor, is configured to deactivate a heater based on a surface temperature being greater than the cut off surface temperature. Further, heater control module is configured to activate the heater based on an ambient temperature being lower than freezing point of water and precipitation being present outside the vehicle, thereby melting snow and/or ice on the vehicle. The snow melts off because of heat generated by the heater upon activation.

A cooling apparatus (1) for cooling a fluid by means of surface water, the cooling apparatus comprising at least one tube (8) for containing and transporting the fluid in its interior, the exterior of the tube (8) being in operation at least partially submerged in the surface water so as to cool the tube (8) to thereby also cool the fluid, characterized in that the cooling apparatus is adapted to receive at least one light source (9) for producing light that hinders fouling, wherein, after the cooling apparatus has received the light source, the at least one light source (9) is dimensioned and positioned with respect to the tube (8) so as to cast anti-fouling light over the tubes' (8) exterior.

A cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid by surface water includes more than one tubes for containing and transporting the fluid in its interior, the exterior of the tube being in operation at least partially submerged in the surface water so as to cool the tube to thereby also cool the fluid. The cooling apparatus also includes at least one light source for producing light that hinders fouling on at least part of the submerged exterior, and at least one optic unit for enhancing the distribution of anti-fouling light on the submerged exterior.

A cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid by surface water includes at least on tube for containing and transporting the fluid in its interior, the exterior of the tube being in operation at least partially submerged in the surface water so as to cool the tube to thereby also cool the fluid. The cooling apparatus also includes at least one light source for producing light that hinders fouling on at least part of the submerged exterior.

A vehicle heat exchange apparatus, including: a heat-exchanger provided rearward of a front-bumper formed with an air-intake-port, and having an air-inlet-member on a front-face of the heat-exchanger; and a passage-forming-member provided between the front-bumper and the heat-exchanger, and forming a passage for passing cooling-air from the air-intake-port of the front-bumper to the air-inlet-member of the heat-exchanger, wherein the heat-exchanger is provided inclined so that an upper-end-portion is positioned rearward of a lower-end-portion, the passage-forming-member has: a duct-member having: a top-member; a bottom-member facing the top-member; and a pair of side-members interconnecting the top-member and the bottom-member, and forming a part of the passage with a space enclosed by the top-member, the bottom-member and the pair of side-members; and a closing-member provided to close a gap between the top-member of the duct-member and the upper-end-portion of the heat-exchanger.

An electric vehicle having a heat exchanger formed in an aerodynamic airfoil shape comprising one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The heat exchanger is adapted to provide effective and highly efficient heat transfer, and also to provide substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag. The heat exchanger includes a supplemental heat exchange system wherein at least a portion of the heat exchange capacity is provided by an inner heat exchange surface of the heat exchanger exposed to an interstitial space within the vehicle. Airflow is forced, via a fan for example, from an aerodynamically-efficient inlet, over the inner heat exchange surface, and exhausted through an aerodynamically-efficient outlet, thereby providing a supplemental heat exchange system including substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag.