Integrated heat exchanger and diffuser

Abstract

The present invention discloses an apparatus including: a blower fan, the blower fan having multiple blades; a diffuser attached to a housing of the blower fan; diffuser vanes located in the diffuser, wherein the diffuser vanes are also fins for a heat exchanger.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a blower fan, said blower fan having multiple blades;   a diffuser attached to a housing of said blower fan;   diffuser vanes disposed in said diffuser, wherein said diffuser vanes comprise fins for a heat exchanger.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said diffuser has a cross-sectional area that is smaller at an entrance than at an exit. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein spacings between said diffuser vanes increase as said diffuser vanes become farther away from said blower fan. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said diffuser vanes include a combination of straight segments and curved segments. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein one end of said diffuser vanes extend towards a scroll area of said blower fan. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein other diffuser vanes that are not fins of said heat exchanger are also disposed in said diffuser. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said heat exchanger comprises other fins that are not diffuser vanes. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein no more than one blade will line up with said diffuser vanes at any given time. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said diffuser vanes are made from a material with a high thermal conductivity. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a heat exchanger;   a diffuser integrated with said heat exchanger;   fins disposed on said heat exchanger, wherein said fins are also diffuser vanes disposed on said diffuser.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a blower fan, said blower fan having a housing attached to said diffuser. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said diffuser vanes are made from a material with a high thermal conductivity. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said diffuser vanes include a combination of straight segments and curved segments.