Heat exchanger with variable density feature arrays

Abstract

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided of heat exchangers and applications. In an exemplary embodiment, a heat exchanger can include at least a first feature array and a second feature array, a channel in an interior of the heat exchanger, through which a fluid can flov, an inlet for the fluid to enter the channel, an outlet for the fluid to exit the channel. The channel may include at least one surface and said first feature array and said second feature array are positioned on the at least one surface of the channel, the fluid configured to flow from said inlet, through said channel to said outlet, and the first and second feature arrays have different densities.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 at least a first feature array and a second feature array,   a channel in an interior of the heat exchanger, through which a fluid can flow,   an inlet for the fluid to enter the channel,   an outlet for the fluid to exit the channel,   wherein said channel includes at least one surface and said first feature array and said second feature array are positioned on the at least one surface of the channel,   wherein said fluid configured to flow from said inlet, through said channel to said outlet, and   wherein said first and second feature arrays have different densities.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the at least one surface of said channel defines an edge and wherein at least one feature of at least one of said first and second feature arrays is positioned on said edge. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein said first feature array is less dense than said second feature array. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3  wherein said second feature array is downstream of said first feature array. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  further comprising an exterior surface wherein a first heat source and a second heat source is positioned on said exterior surface, and wherein said first feature array is adjacent to said first heat source and said second feature array is adjacent to said second heat source. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5  further comprising a third feature array and a fourth feature array, wherein the third feature array and the fourth feature array are positioned on a second surface in the channel. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 6  further comprising at least a second exterior surface, wherein a third and a fourth heat source positioned on the at least a second exterior surface, and wherein said third feature array is adjacent to said third heat source and said fourth feature array is adjacent to said fourth heat source. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first feature array and said second feature array is staggered. 
     
     
         9 . A multi-phase inverter comprising:
 a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises,   at least a first feature array, a second feature array, and a third feature array, the first, second, and third feature arrays positioned along a surface of a channel defined in an interior of said heat exchanger, said first, second, and third feature arrays having different densities,   an exterior surface,   inlet for a fluid to enter the channel,   an outlet for a fluid to exit the channel,   wherein said fluid configured to flow from said inlet, through said channel to said outlet, and   at least a first phase, a second phase, and a third phase, each of said at least first phase, second phase, and third phase having at least one switch,   said at least first, second, and third phases positioned along said exterior surface,   wherein said first phase is positioned adjacent to said first feature array, said second phase is positioned adjacent to said second feature array, and said third phase is positioned adjacent to said third feature array.   
     
     
         10 . The multi-phase inverter of  claim 9  wherein the features of at least one of said first, second, and third feature arrays have a cross-sectional shape of a hydrofoil. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-phase inverter of  claim 9  wherein the second feature array is downstream of the first feature array and the third feature array is downstream of the second feature array. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-phase inverter of  claim 11  wherein the second feature array is denser than the first feature array and the third feature array is denser than the second feature array. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-phase inverter of  claim 9  wherein said at least one switch of at least one of said first, second and third phases comprises at least one transistor. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-phase inverter of  claim 9  wherein said at least one surface of said channel defines an edge and wherein at least one feature of at least one of said first, second, and third feature arrays is positioned on said edge. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-phase inverter of  claim 9  further comprising a fourth feature array, a fifth feature array, and a sixth feature array, wherein the fourth feature array, the fifth feature array, and a sixth feature array are positioned on a second surface in the channel. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-phase inverter of  claim 15  further comprising a second exterior surface, wherein a fourth phase, a fifth phase, and a sixth phase is positioned on said second exterior surface, each of said fourth phase, fifth phase, and sixth phase having at least one switch. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-phase inverter of  claim 16  wherein said fourth feature array is adjacent to said fourth phase, said fifth feature array is adjacent to said fifth phase, and said sixth feature array is adjacent to said sixth phase. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-phase inverter of  claim 9  wherein at least one of said first feature array and said second feature array is staggered. 
     
     
         19 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 at least a first feature array and a second feature array,   a channel in an interior of the heat exchanger, through which a fluid can flow,   an inlet for the fluid to enter the channel,   an outlet for the fluid to exit the channel,   wherein said channel includes at least one surface and said first feature array and said second feature array are positioned on the at least one surface of the channel,   wherein said fluid configured to flow from said inlet, through said channel to said outlet, and   wherein the features of said first array and the features of said second feature arrays have different cross-sectional shapes.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19  wherein said heat exchanger forms part of a multi-phase inverter.