Compact high performance condenser

Abstract

A thermal management system includes an evaporator and a fluid circuit that directs a cooling medium through a condenser. The example condenser provides improved heat transfer coefficients and stable operation by reducing condensate thickness and films that build up within fluid passages of the condenser to provide improved thermal communication between the cooling medium and a cold plate. Each of the fluid passages defined by the condenser is tapered such that an ever-decreasing flow area in a direction of flow from the inlet toward the outlet is provided. The ever-decreasing area maintains a high shear velocity of the vapor such that the liquid film formed on the walls of the passages remains thin.

1 . A condenser assembly comprising:
 a stacked plurality of plates that define a plurality of flow passages; and   an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with the flow passages, wherein the plurality of flow passages defined by the stacked plurality of plates includes a decreasing flow area in a direction of flow.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of flow passages includes a width that decreases in a direction away from the inlet and toward the outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the stacked plurality of plates include open slots in fluid communication with open slots within another of the stacked plurality of plates such that each of the plurality of flow passages is defined by open slots within at least two of the stacked plurality of plates. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein each of the stacked plurality of plates include a first plate with a first pattern of open slots and a second plate with a second pattern of open slots that are in fluid communication with the first pattern of open slots. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein each of the slots include a decreasing area in a direction toward the outlet and away from the inlet. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flow passages extend radially inward from an outer periphery of the stacked plurality of plates and the inlet is in fluid communication with the outer periphery of the stacked plurality of plates and the outlet is disposed radially inward of the inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the stacked plurality of plates are mounted to a cold plate. 
     
     
         8 . A thermal management system comprising:
 a flow path for a cooling medium;   an evaporator for transferring heat into the cooling medium; and   a condenser for transferring heat from the cooling medium, the condenser comprising a stacked plurality of plates that define a plurality of flow passages, an inlet and outlet in fluid communication with the flow passages, wherein the plurality of flow passages defined by the stacked plurality of plates includes an ever decreasing flow area in a direction from the inlet toward the outlet.   
     
     
         9 . The thermal management system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of flow passages includes a width that decreases radially in a direction away from the inlet and toward the outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal management system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of the stacked plurality of plates include open slots in fluid communication with open slots within another of the stacked plurality of plates such that each of the plurality of flow passages is defined by open slots within at least two of the stacked plurality of plates. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal management system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein each of the slots include a decreasing area in a direction toward the outlet and away from the inlet. 
     
     
         12 . The thermal management system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of flow passages extend radially inward from an outer periphery of the stacked plurality of plates and the inlet is in fluid communication with the outer periphery of the stacked plurality of plates and the outlet is disposed radially inward of the inlet. 
     
     
         13 . The thermal management system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the stacked plurality of plates are mounted to a cold plate. 
     
     
         14 . A method of assembling a condenser comprising:
 providing at least one first plate having a first slot structure;   providing at least one second plate having a second slot structure that corresponds with the first slot structure; and   alternating stacking of the first plate onto the second plate to define a flow passage from an inlet toward an outlet, wherein the first slot structure and the second slot structure define flow areas that decrease in the direction of flow, such that the defined flow passage includes a decreasing flow area in the direction of flow.   
     
     
         15 . The method of assembling a condenser as recited in  claim 14 , including bonding the first plate to the second plate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of assembling a condenser as recited in  claim 14 , including a bottom plate on which the stacked first and second plates are mounted and a top plate that is disposed on the stacked first and second plates. 
     
     
         17 . The method of assembling a condenser as recited in  claim 14 , including forming the first slot structure and the second slot structure to define flow passages that decrease in a direction radially inward of an outer periphery.