Abstract: A heat exchanger includes first and second plates joined together with portions of the inner surfaces spaced apart to define a plurality of fluid flow passages for flow of a heat transfer fluid. A dividing rib separates the heat exchanger into an inlet section and an outlet section, each of which includes a plurality of fluid flow passages. Inlet and outlet ports are located near a first end of the heat exchanger, on opposite sides of the dividing rib. The heat transfer surface area of the inlet section is less than that of the outlet section due to the presence of one or more flow obstructions between the inlet port and first ends of the fluid flow passages in the inlet section. Each flow obstruction may be a dead channel including a continuous outer rib completely surrounding a depressed middle region.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a cooling plate with at least one outer heat transfer surface adapted for thermal contact with one or more heat-generating substrates. A fluid flow path extends from an inlet port to an outlet port, with a plurality of cooling zones spaced apart along the fluid flow path, each cooling zone including a heat transfer element such as a corrugated fin sheet in contact with the inner surface of the first plate wall. Manifold spaces are defined proximate to the inlet and outlet ports, and between adjacent cooling zones. One or more bypass flow passages are provided between upstream and downstream ends of at least one cooling zone, to divert a portion of the heat transfer fluid from flowing through the cooling zone. The volume of fluid flow bypassing one or more cooling zones is calibrated to improve temperature uniformity of the heat-generating substrates.

Abstract: Designs of redox flow battery arrays and methods for balancing state of charge within the arrays are disclosed. Flow battery unit strings in the arrays which comprise strings of flow battery units (in which units share a common electrolyte pair) are balanced by measuring the states of charge of the common electrolyte pairs and appropriately regulating flow in one or more of the associated anolyte and catholyte circuits so as to balance the state-of charge in the flow battery unit strings. The apparatus required, i.e. state-of-charge measuring device, flow regulator, and controller, represents a substantial simplification to state of the art approaches.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a fluid flow passage having an inlet and an outlet, and with a first plate and a second plate in opposed facing relation to one another. The fluid flow passage is defined by a space between the inner surfaces of the first and second plates. An electrical heating element is outside the fluid flow passage and adjacent to the outer surface of the first plate, such that heat produced by the electrical heating element is transferred through the first plate to the fluid in the fluid flow passage during use of the heat exchanger. In an embodiment, the first plate has an opening to receive a heater plate component including a first plate portion having an inner surface bonded to a turbulence-enhancing insert and an outer surface bonded to the electrical heating element.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having an integrated support structure particularly suited for thermal management of heat generating components such as battery thermal management applications or thermal management of other electronic components is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a top plate and a base tray defining a plurality of fluid channels that extend between an inlet manifold area and an outlet manifold area. The top plate has a first side defining a primary heat transfer area and a second side for effecting a sealing relationship between the top plate and the base tray. In some instances, the top plate includes a thermally conductive material while the base tray includes a non-thermally conductive material. In some instances the base tray cooperates with a cover portion to define an enclosure for housing the heat generating components.

Abstract: A device charger is provided. The device charger includes: a faceplate having an electrical outlet-sized aperture therethrough, the faceplate comprising an electrical circuit; a first body extending from a rear side of the faceplate, the first body comprising an AC-to-DC power supply; a second body extending from the rear side of the faceplate, the first body and the second body including respective electrical contacts located to electrically contact one or more respective electrical outlet terminals, the respective electrical contacts configured to provide alternating current from the terminals to an AC input of the power supply at least partially via the electrical circuit of the faceplate; and at least one electrical connector, located at a front side of the faceplate, connected to a DC output of the power supply, the at least one electrical connector for providing DC power to an external device connected thereto.

Abstract: A heat exchanger may include a perforated plate having a plurality of openings sandwiched between a first plate and a second plate. The first plate may have a first plate central planar surface, a first plate peripheral wall extending from an internal face of the first plate central planar surface towards the second plate, and an inlet permitting fluid flow on to the internal face of the central planar surface. The second plate may have a second plate central planar surface, a second plate peripheral wall extending from an internal face of the second plate central planar surface towards the first plate, and an outlet permitting fluid to exit the heat exchanger. The first plate, the second plate and the perforated may be coupled and define a fluid passage for flow of a heat exchanger fluid from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for thermal management of battery units made-up of a plurality of battery cells or battery cell containers housing one or more battery cells. The heat exchanger has a main body portion defining at least one primary heat transfer surface for surface-to-surface contact with a corresponding surface of at least one of the battery cells or containers. A plurality of alternating first and second fluid flow passages are formed within the main body portion each defining a flow direction, the flow direction through the first fluid flow passages being generally opposite to the flow direction through the second fluid flow passages. In some embodiments the heat exchanger has two pairs of inlet and outlet manifolds, providing a single-pass, counter-flow arrangement. In other embodiments the first and second fluid flow passages are interconnected by turn portions forming a U-flow, counter-flow heat exchanger.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for a flow battery is disclosed comprising a porous electrode material, a frame surrounding the porous electrode material, at least a distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an inlet for supplying electrolyte to the porous electrode material and at least another distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an outlet for discharging electrolyte out of the porous material. The walls of the distributor tubes are preferably provided with holes or pores for allowing a uniform distribution of the electrolyte within the electrode material. The distributor tubes provide the required electrolyte flow path length within the electrode material to minimize shunt current flowing between the flow cells in the battery stack.

Abstract: A modular heat exchanger for battery thermal management having a plurality of similarly constructed heat exchange elements affixed to a cover plate and fluidly coupled with one another via a single external manifold structure that functions as both an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold for each of the heat exchange elements. Rigidity is improved with alternating tabs or overlapping tabs between adjacent elements, and/or side edges between adjacent elements having cutouts for receiving stiffening ribs formed in the cover plate. The external manifold structure provides additional stiffening for the interconnected heat exchange elements.

Abstract: Communications systems and methods for communicating data are provided. In one example, the communications system includes an outer ring having an inner surface and an inner ring having an outer surface. The inner surface and the outer surface are separated by a gap that extends around the inner ring to define a loop. A modulating light arrangement receives data and produces modulated light. A first light diffusing optical fiber and a second light diffusing optical fiber are disposed on a first side of the gap and extend in the loop to define an optical data ring. The first light diffusing optical fiber and the second light diffusing optical fiber cooperate to diffuse the modulated light along the optical data ring. A detector is disposed on the second side of the gap and detects the diffuse modulated light.

Abstract: A two-pass heat exchanger with calibrated bypass is disclosed for cooling heat-generating substrates and/or for heating a heat transfer fluid. The heat exchanger has first and second outer plate walls and an intermediate plate wall located between and spaced from the outer plate walls in the thickness dimension of the heat exchanger, and with inlet and outlet ports at the same end. An input flow passage is defined between the first outer plate wall and the intermediate plate wall, and a return flow passage is defined between the second outer plate wall and the intermediate plate wall. The first and second fluid flow passages are in a U-flow, stacked arrangement. At least one bypass opening extends through the intermediate plate wall between the input and return flow passages, and configured to permit a portion of the heat transfer fluid to bypass portions of the input and return flow passages.

Abstract: A circuit is disclosed having a component having repeatable distortion characteristics; and a drive circuit for providing a drive signal and comprising a non-linear filter for pre-compensating for distortion introduced by the component having repeatable distortion characteristics in response to the drive signal, the distortion having a non-linear response to the drive signal.

Abstract: A circuit is disclosed having a component having repeatable distortion characteristics; and a drive circuit for providing a drive signal and comprising a non-linear filter for pre-compensating for distortion introduced by the component having repeatable distortion characteristics in response to the drive signal, the distortion having a non-linear response to the drive signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat exchangers including a first outer plate, a second outer plate, and an intermediate plate. The intermediate plate is positioned between the outer plates. Fluid flow passages are formed between the intermediate plate and each of the outer plates.

Abstract: An aluminum heat exchanger includes first and second plates with inner and outer surfaces, which are joined by brazing and define at least one fluid flow passage. The first and second plates each comprise a core layer of aluminum or an aluminum alloy having a melting temperature greater than an aluminum brazing temperature. The first plate also includes a first outer clad layer defining the outer surface of the first plate. The first outer clad layer is solderable to a metal layer of an object to be cooled and includes nickel or copper. A second outer clad layer is located between the first outer clad layer and the core layer and is roll bonded to at least the second outer clad layer. A manufacturing method includes brazing first and second plates, where the layers of the first plate are roll bonded and the first plate is optionally formed before brazing.

Abstract: Methods and system are provided for a heat exchanger. In one example, a system, comprises a mobile electronic device comprising a front cover and a rear cover, a heat exchanger arranged between the front cover and the rear cover, the heat exchanger comprising a fluid chamber arranged between an inner surface of a first plate and an inner surface of a second plate, and a wick material arranged within the fluid chamber, the wick material comprising a sintered material configured to allow a plurality of fluid passages to extend therethrough.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for a flow battery is disclosed comprising a porous electrode material, a frame surrounding the porous electrode material, at least a distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an inlet for supplying electrolyte to the porous electrode material and at least another distributor tube embedded in the porous electrode material having an outlet for discharging electrolyte out of the porous material. The walls of the distributor tubes are preferably provided with holes or pores for allowing a uniform distribution of the electrolyte within the electrode material. The distributor tubes provide the required electrolyte flow path length within the electrode material to minimize shunt current flowing between the flow cells in the battery stack.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a cooling plate with at least one outer heat transfer surface adapted for thermal contact with one or more heat-generating substrates. A fluid flow path extends from an inlet port to an outlet port, with a plurality of cooling zones spaced apart along the fluid flow path, each cooling zone including a heat transfer element such as a corrugated fin sheet in contact with the inner surface of the first plate wall. Manifold spaces are defined proximate to the inlet and outlet ports, and between adjacent cooling zones. One or more bypass flow passages are provided between upstream and downstream ends of at least one cooling zone, to divert a portion of the heat transfer fluid from flowing through the cooling zone. The volume of fluid flow bypassing one or more cooling zones is calibrated to improve temperature uniformity of the heat-generating substrates.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a heat exchanger. In one example, the heat exchanger may dissipate energy generated by a battery module and may include a first plate and a second plate arranged in opposed facing relation to one another. A plurality of flow passages may be formed between the first and second plates, the plurality of flow passages including at least one multipass fluid flow passage with at least three longitudinally-extending legs.