Heat exchanger apparatus for the removal of heat from electronic components

Abstract

A heat exchanger apparatus and a method of operating the heat exchanger apparatus include a convergent interface separating two counterflows, and at least two concentric conduits including an inner conduit and an outer conduit, wherein the outer conduit comprises an outer conduit radius that is maintained as invariant, and the inner conduit comprises an inner conduit radius that is adjustable to form the convergent interface separating the two counterflows, wherein heat transfer with respect to the two counterflows occurs at the convergent interface.

1 . A heat exchanger apparatus, comprising:
 a convergent interface separating two counterflows; and   at least two concentric conduits including an inner conduit and an outer conduit, wherein the outer conduit comprises an outer conduit radius that is maintained as invariant, and the inner conduit comprises an inner conduit radius that is adjustable to form the convergent interface separating the two counterflows, wherein heat transfer with respect to the two counterflows occurs at the convergent interface.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a double conduit heat exchanger comprising the at least two concentric conduits including the inner conduit and the outer conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 2  wherein an overall heat transfer coefficient and a pressure drop increase as a contraction ratio, a Reynolds number, and a Prandtl number increase in the double conduit heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the convergent interface is controllable independent of a length of the at least two concentric conduits. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the at least two concentric conduits comprises a pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a microchannel comprising the at least two concentric conduits. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 5  comprising a double pipe heat exchanger that includes the convergent interface and the at least two concentric conduits. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a compact heat exchanger comprising the at least two concentric conduits. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a radiator that includes the convergent interface and the at least two concentric conduits. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1  comprising an electronic cooling device that includes the convergent interface and the at least two concentric conduits. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a solar collector that includes the convergent interface and the at least two concentric conduits. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the convergent interface comprises: a straight wall profile, a concave wall profile, or a convex wall profile of the at least two concentric conduits. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1  comprising at least one of: a fluid or a nanofluid, wherein the fluid or the nanofluid flow through the at least two counterflow concentric conduits. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the heat exchanger apparatus is operable at Reynolds numbers including low Reynolds numbers as well as high Reynolds numbers and operable at Prandtl numbers including low Prandtl numbers and high Prandtl numbers. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14  wherein the Reynolds numbers include a Reynolds number range from 200 to 2100 and the Prandtl numbers include a Prandtl number range from 0.7 to 7. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the heat exchanger apparatus is operable with a heat transfer performance of up to 32% and a thermal-hydraulic performance of up to 20% compared to a plain heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanger apparatus, comprising:
 a convergent interface separating two counterflows; and   a double conduit heat exchanger comprising at least two concentric conduits including an inner conduit and an outer conduit, wherein the outer conduit comprises an outer conduit radius that is maintained as invariant, and the inner conduit comprises an inner conduit radius that is adjustable to form the convergent interface separating the two counterflows, wherein heat transfer with respect to the two counterflows occurs at the convergent interface, and wherein the convergent interface is controllable independent of a length of the at least two concentric conduits.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 17  wherein an overall heat transfer coefficient and a pressure drop increase as a contraction ratio, a Reynolds number, and a Prandtl number increase in the double conduit heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the heat exchanger apparatus is operable at Reynolds numbers including low Reynolds numbers as well as high Reynolds numbers and operable at Prandtl numbers including low Prandtl numbers and high Prandtl numbers. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)