Abstract: A heat pipe housing assembly (22) includes a pair of silicon housing pieces (24, 26) and a bond joint (42) between the housings (24, 26), with the bond joint (42) preferably including a eutectic layer (43).

Abstract: A diesel engine system (10) includes a diesel combustion engine (12), an exhaust gas driven turbine (14), an exhaust gas recirculation loop (16), an intake gas compressor (18), a corrosion resistant charge air cooler (CAC) (20), and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) (22). The intake gas flow path (50) in the charge air cooler (20) is defined by a multi-layer material (64, 68) having an inner surface that is wetted by the intake gas flow (30). The multi-layer material (64, 68) has a core layer (80) of corrosion resistant aluminum and at least one layer (82) of high purity aluminum.

Abstract: A coolant system includes a heat exchange circuit capable of being in a heat exchange relationship with a heat generating component, such as an engine, to remove thermal energy from the engine and transfer the thermal energy to a coolant, and an insulated tank in fluid communication with the heat exchange circuit. The system also includes a control and associated conduits and valves for passing coolant through the heat exchange circuit and the insulated tank so as to fill the tank with a first volume of coolant in a first operational state, for passing an additional amount of coolant from the heat exchange circuit into the insulated tank so as to fill the insulated tank with a second volume of coolant which is greater than the first volume of coolant in a second operational state, and for passing the additional amount of coolant from the insulated tank to the heat exchange circuit in a third operational state. A method of operating the coolant system to store thermal energy is also provided.

Abstract: Heat exchange inefficiencies found in round tube plate fin heat exchangers are eliminated in an aluminum heat exchanger that includes first and second headers (20), (22) and at least one flattened tube (24), (70) extending between the headers (20), (22). A plurality of generally parallel tube runs are defined and each has opposite edges. A plurality of plate fins (26), (50) are arranged in a stack and each has a plurality of open ended slots (34), one for each run of the tubes (24), (70). Each of the tube runs (24), (70) is nested within corresponding slots (26) and the fins (26), (50) with one of the edges (40) of the tube runs extending outwardly of the corresponding fin (26). The assembly is brazed together.

Abstract: Heat exchange inefficiencies found in round tube plate fin heat exchangers are eliminated in an aluminum heat exchanger that includes first and second headers (20), (22) and at least one flattened tube (24), (70) extending between the headers (20), (22). A plurality of generally parallel tube runs are defined and each has opposite edges. A plurality of plate fins (26), (50) are arranged in a stack and each has a plurality of open ended slots (34), one for each run of the tubes (24), (70). Each of the tube runs (24), (70) is nested within corresponding slots (26) and the fins (26), (50) with one of the edges (40) of the tube runs extending outwardly of the corresponding fin (34). The assembly is brazed together.

Abstract: A low volume, high capacity latent heat storage device is achieved in a construction including a salt case (12) with an optional outer jacket (10) surrounding the salt case (12) in spaced relation thereto to define an insulating space (14) between the two. Inlet and outlet conduits (38), (42), (44), (46), extend from the exterior of the outer jacket (10) to the interior of the salt case (12) and at least one tube (20) is located within the salt case and has a plurality of straight, parallel runs (21) defining a matrix with an exterior and a phase change material is sealed within the tube (20). The tube runs (21) inwardly of the matrix exterior are in a regular or equilateral polygonal pattern with each run (21) abutting a plurality of adjacent runs (21) and each run (21) at the exterior of the matrix additionally engaging the salt jacket (12).

Abstract: A modular cooling system (10) is provided for use in an electronics enclosure (12) mounting a plurality of heat generating electronic components (14). The cooling system (10) includes a cooling liquid supply manifold (16), a cooling liquid return manifold (18), and a plurality of cooling modules (20) that are selectively mountable into the electronic enclosure (12). The cooling system (10) also includes a wall (64) fixed in the enclosure to separate the electronic components (14) from the manifolds (16,18) to shield the electronic components (14) from any of the cooling liquid (52) should it leak from the system (10).

Abstract: Heat exchange inefficiencies found in round tube plate fin heat exchangers are eliminated in an aluminum heat exchanger that includes first and second headers (20), (22) and at least one flattened tube (24), (70) extending between the headers (20), (22). A plurality of generally parallel tube runs are defined and each has opposite edges. A plurality of plate fins (26), (50) are arranged in a stack and each has a plurality of open ended slots (34), one for each run of the tubes (24), (70). Each of the tube runs (24), (70) is nested within corresponding slots (26) and the fins (26), (50) with one of the edges (40) of the tube runs extending outwardly of the corresponding fin (26). The assembly is brazed together.

Abstract: A method of providing volume production of highly pressure resistant headers (10), (12) is provided and allows the headers (10), (12) to be formed of a header structure (10), (12) with a relatively thin wall portion (32) and a relatively thick wall portion (30). A strip (40) is utilized to provide the desired thickness at the thin wall portion (32) while allowing both the thin wall portion (32) and the strip (40) to have tube slots (34), (42) formed therein by a one step punching operation.

Abstract: A serpentine, slit fin (26) is provided for a heat sink device (10) used for cooling a electronic component (12) having a surface (14) that rejects heat. The heat sink (10) includes a plate (16) having first and second surfaces (18, 20), with the first surface (18) configured to receive heat from the surface (14) of the electronic component (12). The fin (26) is bonded to the second surface and includes a plurality of offset sidewall portions (48). In one form, a fan (22) is spaced above the second surface (20) to direct an impingement airflow (24) towards the second surface (20) substantially perpendicular to the second surface (20), and the serpentine, slit fin (26) underlies the fan (22) and is bonded to the second surface (20).

Abstract: The efficiency of a heat exchanger used in applications where heat conduction between rows of conduits located from front to back of the heat exchanger and provided with common fins (42) is increased where the fins (42) are abutted to adjacent tube runs (22,24,26) in each row and extend from the front (28) to the back (30) of the heat exchanger so each fin (42) is common to each of the rows (22,24,26). Heat flow interrupters (56,58) are located in each fin (42) at locations aligned with spaces (27) between the runs (22,24,26). Each heat flow interrupter (56,58) is defined by a slit (62) extending completely through the fin 42 which is characterized by the absence of the removal of any material of which the fin (42) is made at the slit (62).

Abstract: A method of providing volume production of highly pressure resistant headers (10), (12) is provided and allows the headers (10), (12) to be formed of a header structure (10), (12) with a relatively thin wall portion (32) and a relatively thick wall portion (30). A strip (40) is utilized to provide the desired thickness at the thin wall portion (32) while allowing both the thin wall portion (32) and the strip (40) to have tube slots (34), (42) formed therein by a one step punching operation.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) preferably provides supercritical cooling to the refrigerant of a transcritical cooling system (12). The heat exchanger (10) includes a pair of elongated headers (20, 22) having longitudinal axes (24, 26) disposed substantially parallel to each other, a plurality of elongated tubes (28) spaced in side-by-side relation along the longitudinal axes (24, 26) of the headers (20, 22), and serpentine fins (30) extending between adjacent pairs of the tubes. Each of the tubes (28) has a first end (31) connected to the header (20) and a second end (32) connected to the other header (22) to the headers (20, 22).

Abstract: A modular cooling system (10) is provided for use in an electronics enclosure (12) mounting a plurality of heat generating electronic components (14). The cooling system (10) includes a cooling liquid supply manifold (16), a cooling liquid return manifold (18), and a plurality of cooling modules (20) that are selectively mountable into the electronic enclosure (12). The cooling system (10) also includes a wall (64) fixed in the enclosure to separate the electronic components (14) from the manifolds (16,18) to shield the electronic components (14) from any of the cooling liquid (52) should it leak from the system (10).

Abstract: Heat exchange inefficiencies found in round tube plate fin heat exchangers are eliminated in an aluminum heat exchanger that includes first and second headers (20), (22) and at least one flattened tube (24), (70) extending between the headers (20), (22). A plurality of generally parallel tube runs are defined and each has opposite edges. A plurality of plate fins (26), (50) are arranged in a stack and each has a plurality of open ended slots (34), one for each run of the tubes (24), (70). Each of the tube runs (24), (70) is nested within corresponding slots (26) and the fins (26), (50) with one of the edges (40) of the tube runs extending outwardly of the corresponding fin (26). The assembly is brazed together.

Abstract: Venting difficulties in a heat battery including a first container (10) for housing a heat storage salt that may be in the solid phase or in the liquid phase, a heat exchanger (22) within the container (10) and a second container (12) surrounding the first container (10) in generally spaced relation to provide an insulating space (14) about the first container (10) along with coolant inlet and outlet connections (40, 42) to the heat exchanger (22) are avoided in a vent system (52) including a vent inlet (66) generally centrally located in the top wall (56) of the first container (10) generally centrally of the ends thereof. A vent passage includes a check valve (106) located in close proximity to the vent opening (66) and the vent opening is surrounded by a cup shaped baffle (60) having an opening (62) facing the interior of the container (10). A filter (78) is located between the check valve (106) and the opening (62) to the baffle (60).

Abstract: Improved condensate drainage is achieved while compact size is retained in a condenser/evaporator for use in a heat pump system in a construction having first and second, curved, generally congruent tubular headers (10), (14) with one of the headers (10) being an upper header and the other of the headers (14) being a lower header. A first row of elongated tube slots (18) is located in the upper header (10) while a second row of elongated tube slots (20) is located in the lower header (14). Each tube slot (18) in the first row has a corresponding tube slot (20) in the second row and corresponding tube slots (18), (20) in the rows are aligned with one another. Elongated, straight, flattened tubes (22) extend between the headers (10), (14), in parallel with each other and a first port (32) is provided for refrigerant in one of the headers (10) and a second port (36) is provided for refrigerant in the other of the headers (14).

Abstract: An improved evaporator or evaporator/condenser for use in refrigeration or heat pump systems including first and second spaced, pressure resistant headers (10, 12); a plurality of elongated tubes (20) of flattened cross-section extending in parallel, spaced relation between and in fluid communication with the headers (10, 12) and serpentine fins (34) extending between and bonded to adjacent ones of the tubes (20). The tubes (20) and fins (34), between the headers (10, 12), define a non-planar configuration having an apex (80). A condensate trough (82) is aligned with and opens towards the apex (80) to receive condensate dripping therefrom.

Abstract: An improved evaporator or evaporator/condenser for use in refrigeration or heat pump systems including first and second spaced, pressure resistant headers (10, 12); a plurality of elongated tubes (20) of flattened cross-section extending in parallel, spaced relation between and in fluid communication with the headers (10, 12) and serpentine fins (34) extending between and bonded to adjacent ones of the tubes (20). The tubes (20) and fins (34), between the headers (10, 12), define a non-planar configuration having a laterally directed apex (80). A condensate trough (82) is aligned with and opens towards one of the headers (12) to receive condensate dripping therefrom.

Abstract: An improved evaporator or evaporator/condenser for use in refrigeration or heat pump systems including first and second spaced, pressure resistant headers (10, 12) ; a plurality of elongated tubes (20) of flattened cross-section extending in parallel, spaced relation between and in fluid communication with the headers (10, 12) and serpentine fins (34) extending between and bonded to adjacent ones of the tubes (20). The tubes (20) and fins (34), between the headers (10, 12), define a nonplanar configuration having an apex (80). A condensate trough (82) is aligned with and opens towards the apex (80) to receive condensate dripping therefrom.