Abstract: The cooling of components (26) of a vehicle (10) carrying a turbine engine (12) and a fuel supply (24) for the engine (12) without the excessive consumption of bleed air is achieved in an apparatus which includes a fuel recirculating system (34), a first heat exchanger (60) for rejecting heat from selected components (26) of the vehicle (10) to fuel flowing through the fuel recirculating system (34), and a cooling device (32) including a second heat exchanger (100, 202) for rejecting heat from the fuel to the cooling device (32) as the fuel flows through the fuel recirculating system (34).

Abstract: A rotating flood cooled machine having reduced windage losses comprises a stator having an inner periphery and a rotor rotatably positioned within the stator separated from the stator by a gap which is filled with fluid. A film divider is rotatably positioned within this gap and is allowed to rotate freely. In such a machine, when the rotor rotates at a speed .omega., the film divider is caused to rotate at a speed of approximately .omega./2. At this speed, the film divider obtains a radial position during rotation of approximately midway between the outer periphery of the rotor and the inner periphery of the stator. This radial position is preferably maintained by the hydrodynamic bearing action of the fluid within the gap, or alternatively through the use of radial positioning or retaining mechanisms. The use of axial constraint mechanisms to maintain the film divider within the air gap under the shear forces of the fluid during operation is also contemplated.

Abstract: The problem of designing an impingement plate type heat exchanger (10) for exchanging heat between a pair of fluids wherein one of the fluid is a gas, such as air, is solved by providing a stack of plates (12) including impingement orifice plates (14), spacer plates (16) and manifold plates (18, 20). The impingement orifice plates and the spacer plates cooperate to define first and second flow paths (F and E) generally parallel to each other and perpendicularly through the plates for the liquid and the gas, respectively. The first flow path (F) for the liquid is tortuous through orifices (56) of the plates. The manifold plates define flow passages (24) for distributing the liquid to the first tortuous flow path. The flow passages in the manifold plates extend generally parallel to the plates.

Abstract: A heat exchanger in accordance with the present invention transfers heat between first and second fluids (36 and 60) flowing transversely with respect to each other through a heat exchanger core (30) which is formed from a stack of a plurality of heat conductive first and second plates (32 and 34) with at least one first plate partially defining at least one first channel (55) and at least two plates each having at least one fluid orifice within each second channel (58). Each first plate comprises first and second slots which each extend through the first plate to form a passage, each first slot (52) extending across the first plate to opposed peripheral sides of the first plate and each second slot (59) extending across the first plate and not to the opposed peripheral sides. Each first slot is contained in a different first channel with the opposed peripheral sides respectively being disposed on different faces of the core and each second slot is disposed within a different second channel.

Abstract: A laminated spiral heat exchanger (10) in accordance with the invention includes a heat conductive top laminate (30); a heat conductive bottom laminate (36), at least one spiral heat conductive laminate (42), the laminates being joined together to form a heat exchanger core; at least one spiral channel (18) disposed within at least one spiral laminate; a first fluid port (20) coupled to each spiral channel at a first radius with respect to a center of the spiral heat exchanger; and a second fluid port (24) coupled to each spiral channel at a second radius with respect to the center point of the spiral heat exchanger which is greater than the first radius.

Abstract: The problem is dissipating heat from electronic circuit components is solved by a cold plane system which includes a generally flat housing (10) having a closed interior cavity and a generally flat exterior surface (16a) on which the electronic circuit components (12) are mountable. A pool (32) of liquid coolant fills a portion of the closed interior cavity in thermal communication with the exterior surface. An edge (42) of the housing remote from the pool of liquid coolant is adapted for thermal coupling to a cold chassis (36) to define a condenser means. The liquid is caused to boil from heat generated by the electronic circuit components. The resulting vapor is condensed by the condenser means, and the liquid condensate flows back to the pool of liquid coolant in a reflux manner. The housing is defined by a sandwich of a plurality of stacked plates (16a, 16b, 18a, 18b), with inner plates (18a, 18b) defining a porous core structure for the interior cavity.

Abstract: The problem of providing a compact high intensity cooling system for use with a cold chassis (42) for an electronic board (18) in a modular electronic system is solved by providing a frame (44) having a plurality of projecting ribs (46) defining grooves (48) for receiving edges of electronic boards. The ribs each include a plurality of impingement orifice plates (66a, 66b), spacer plates (68) and manifold plates (70a, 70b). The impingement orifice plates and the spacer plates cooperate to define first and second tortuous flow paths generally parallel to each other and perpendicularly to the plates for dual cooling fluid circuits. The manifold plates are disposed at opposite ends of the stack and define flow passages for distributing the cooling fluid to the tortuous flow paths.

Abstract: An apparatus for flow control of a fluid in a two-phase thermal management system including an evaporator connected in series following a cavitating venturi. The vapor pressure of a vaporous cavitation bubble formed in the venturi upon passage of a fluid therethrough is regulated to the pressure of the wet vapor exhaust from the evaporator by joining the wet vapor exhaust of the evaporator to the cavitation bubble of the venturi.

Abstract: An impingement plate type heat exchanger for exchanging heat between first and second fluids in different paths. A stack of plates include impingement orifice plates and heat exchange orifice plates defining first and second tortuous flow paths generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicularly through the plates for the first and second fluids, respectively. The heat exchange orifice plates span both flow paths, and there are more impingement orifice plates in one flow path than the other to provide a more tortuous flow path for one fluid than the other. Partition plates have relatively large openings surrounding arrays of orifices in the impingement orifice plates and the heat exchange orifice plates to define the boundaries of the flow paths.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided with a first conduit which utilizes a reverse spiral concept and a second fluid conduit which directs a fluid in thermal communication with the first conduit. One of the fluid conduits of the heat exchanger is formed with a generally S-shaped portion which creates a reverse spiral configuration and which permits a heat exchanger to take advantage of the spiral conduit design while avoiding the typical disadvantages that are generally experienced with spiral conduit configurations. The reverse spiral concept permits both ends of the reverse spiral tube to be easily accessible from a radially outward direction relative to the spiral configuration.

Abstract: The problem of providing a lightweight, efficient and compact impingement plate type heat exchanger for exchanging heat between at least two fluids is solved by providing a stack of generally parallel plates (36) which include end plates (38, 48), intermediate impingement orifice plates (98, 99) and intermediate manifold plates (96). Inlets (40, 54) and outlets (50, 42) for the two fluids are provided in the end plates. The impingement orifice plates have orifice areas (110) defining two tortious flow paths (68, 86) generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicularly through the plates for the two fluids. The manifold plates and portions of the impingement orifice plates have slots (102, 106) and openings (112, 114, 118) for distributing the two fluids parallel and perpendicularly through the stack of plates to their respective tortious flow paths. Therefore, all extraneous headers, manifolds and housing components are completely obviated.

Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus for electrical components submerged in a dielectric liquid includes a closed main chamber for holding the liquid and a non-condensible gas above the liquid. A closed blockage chamber is positioned within the main chamber in contact with the dielectric. The blockage chamber holds non-condensible gas and segregates the gas and vapors of the liquid formed during operation of the heat exchanger. The side walls of the chambers are spaced from each other to form a narrow condensation and segregating duct within which the vapors of the liquid rise and condense. An orifice is provided in the closed blockage chamber near the top thereof. The orifice is sized to allow entry into the blockage chamber of the non-condensible gas as the gas is swept up the duct but to inhibit entry of the liquid should the apparatus be inverted or experience zero gravity forces.

Abstract: In order to dissipate aerodynamic heating in hypersonic aircraft, while at the same time providing structural support for the leading edge of an airfoil or the nose cone in a manner that avoids transmittal of thermal bending loads into the aircraft, a structural cooling unit is formed of a load bearing structure. The load bearing structure is of hollow construction defining a fluid flow path therethrough and has a fluid inlet at one end of the fluid flow path and a fluid outlet at the other end of the fluid flow path which comprises a tortuous path through the load bearing structure. Additionally, for purposes of forming a structural load path, the load bearing structure is formed into an elongated tubular configuration having at least one substantially continuous heat exchanging surface for aerodynamic heat dissipation.

Abstract: Low efficiency heat transfer in evaporators subject to unusual gravitational conditions is avoided through the use of a spiral evaporator conduit 12 receiving at an inlet 14 a vaporizable coolant at least partly in the liquid phase. Flow of the coolant through the conduit 12 demists the coolant by centrifuging the liquid phase against a pressurre wall 44 of the conduit 12. Vapor flow 40 induces counterrotating vortices 46, 48 which circulate the liquid phase coolant around the interior of the conduit 12 to wet all surfaces thereof.

Abstract: To provide a cooling arrangement utilizing liquid coolant, and capable of operating at or near the freeze point of the liquid coolant so as not to freeze solid, a steady state heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger includes a liquid impingement plate having a liquid carrying channel therein, a liquid supply tube for spraying liquid into the liquid carrying channel, and a liquid containment plate disposed in spaced relation to the liquid carrying channel which, together with the liquid impingement plate, defines a liquid flow chamber therebetween. Additionally, the heat exchanger includes a liquid inlet in communication with the liquid supply tube and a liquid outlet in communication with the liquid flow chamber, and utilizes a central thermal bus in heat exchange relation to the liquid impingement plate.

Abstract: A heat management system especially adapted for spacecraft including a first heat exchanger in heat exchange relation with a sink having a widely varying temperature and a second heat exchanger in heat exchange relation with a variable heat load. An equilibrator is provided to maintain respective bodies of heat exchange fluid in the liquid state and in the gaseous state. A first flow path is provided for circulating a mixture of liquid phase fluid and gaseous phase fluid from the equilibrator to the first heat exchanger and return fluid from the first heat exchanger to the equilibrator. A second flow path circulates liquid phase fluid from the equilibrator to the second heat exchanger and returns fluid therefrom to the equilibrator.

Abstract: Catastrophic failure of a solar boiler or energy storage device adapted for use in space is avoided in a structure including a housing having a generally cylindrical interior wall with a solar energy admitting aperture at one end. A plurality of elongated, axially extending individual heat pipes are disposed in proximity to the wall and are disposed about the periphery thereof while a plurality of circumferentially extending, individual second heat pipes are wrapped about the radially outer surfaces of the axial heat pipes. Heat exchangers are interposed between ones of the circumferential heat pipes. The failure of any single one of the heat pipes is insufficient to cause total failure of the system.

Abstract: A direct contact water heater for heating water by the hot exhaust gases from a torpedo propulsion engine by imparting a swirl velocity to the exhaust gases and injecting water into the swirling exhaust gases to form the water into droplets which by the swirl velocity are centrifuged into a liquid annulus in a mixing chamber and with the exhaust gases flowing centrally thereof to an outlet. Structure at an end of the mixing chamber withdraws water from the liquid annulus for use.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing air and other gases entrained in water or other liquid and, more particularly from water delivered from a steam condenser and used in a steam-generating system for powering a prime mover of a torpedo. The apparatus includes a rotatable drum for centrifuging a volume of water and air to separate the water from the air, a pitot probe for drawing water from the container under pressure, a water-driven air jet pump within the rotatable drum and communicating with the separated air to pump the air into a collection chamber and build up the pressure thereof, a nozzle for directing a portion of the water drawn through the pitot probe to the air jet pump for operation thereof and a relief valve for controlling the discharge of air under pressure from the collection chamber to an exhaust area which may be a pressurized area within the torpedo.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an impingement cooling apparatus for use in the removal of heat from a heat liberating device. The apparatus includes a housing on which the device is secured and a stack of plates fitted within the housing. One of the plates is an impingement orifice plate adjacent the housing where the device is located. The orifice plate has a region that is characterized by coolant flow impingement orifices passing therethrough. The orifice plate also has a coolant drainage return adjacent the impingement orifice region.