Microtube strip heat exchanger
The purpose of this contract has been to explore the limits of miniaturization of heat exchangers with the goals of (1) improving the theoretical understanding of laminar heat exchangers, (2) evaluating various manufacturing difficulties, and (3) identifying major applications for the technology. A low-cost, ultra-compact heat exchanger could have an enormous impact on industry in the areas of cryocoolers and energy conversion. Compact cryocoolers based on the reverse Brayton cycle (RBC) would become practical with the availability of compact heat exchangers. Many experts believe that hardware advances in personal computer technology will rapidly slow down in four to six years unless lowcost, portable cryocoolers suitable for the desktop supercomputer can be developed. Compact refrigeration systems would permit dramatic advances in high-performance computer work stations with conventional'' microprocessors operating at 150 K, and especially with low-cost cryocoolers below 77 K. NASA has also expressed strong interest in our MTS exchanger for space-based RBC cryocoolers for sensor cooling. We have demonstrated feasibility of higher specific conductance by a factor of five than any other work in high-temperature gas-to-gas exchangers. These laminar-flow, microtube exchangers exhibit extremely low pressure drop compared to alternative compact designs under similar conditions because of their much shorter flow length and larger total flow area for lower flow velocities. The design appears to be amenable to mass production techniques, but considerable process development remains. The reduction in materials usage and the improved heat exchanger performance promise to be of enormous significance in advanced engine designs and in cryogenics.
- Research Organization:
- Doty Scientific, Inc., Columbia, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG01-90CE15440
- OSTI ID:
- 7295355
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/CE/15440-T5; ON: DE92018709
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Microtube strip heat exchanger
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Related Subjects
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
42 ENGINEERING
DIRECT CONTACT HEAT EXCHANGERS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
CRYOGENICS
ENCAPSULATION
ENERGY CONVERSION
HEAT TRANSFER
LAMINAR FLOW
PROGRESS REPORT
SIZE
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TUBES
WELDING
CONVERSION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY TRANSFER
FABRICATION
FLUID FLOW
HEAT EXCHANGERS
JOINING
320303* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes
990200 - Mathematics & Computers
420200 - Engineering- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
320201 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Transportation- Air & Aerospace