Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning a 3D printed article, in particular a 3D printed heat exchanger. After 3D printing, an article may have internal passages formed from bonded powder and said passages may contain unbonded powder that needs to be removed before further use of/processing of the article. To remove this unbonded powder, the article is filled with a cleaning fluid and vibrated. The cleaning fluid is then pumped out of the article and past a sensor that generates a magnetic field. The sensor detects the presence of powder particles in the fluid by detecting a perturbation of the magnetic field caused by said particles. The fluid is then filtered and returned to a reservoir for use. The sensor may indicate the article is sufficiently clean when a detected concentration of particles in the fluid drops below a threshold.

Abstract: A method for thermographic analysis of a heat exchanger comprises: applying vibrations to the heat exchanger as a part of a vibration testing process; capturing a thermographic image of at least a portion of the heat exchanger whilst the heat exchanger is undergoing vibrations; analysing the thermographic image; and determining a status of the heat exchanger based on the analysis of the image.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a joint of a heat exchanger comprises: scanning the heat exchanger 10 with an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) sensor 110 by scanning the EMAT sensor 110 over an area of the heat exchanger 10 in a scanning pattern; collecting data from the EMAT sensor 110; analysing the data; and determining a status of the joint based on the analysed data.

Abstract: There is provided a fuel tank inerting system for an aircraft which comprises a catalytic heat exchanger. The catalytic heat exchanger comprises a first flow path and a second flow path for heat exchange with the first flow path. The system also comprises a refrigerant circuit comprising at least the second flow path so that during use refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is in heat exchange with the first flow path.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and a method for manufacturing a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising: a first plurality of layers, each of the first plurality of layers including: a corrugated sheet comprising a series of regular corrugations across its width for flow of liquid therethrough, the series of corrugations having a predetermined period; and a de-congealing channel for flow of liquid across the width of the corrugated sheet in parallel with the corrugations, the de-congealing channel formed at least in part by two adjacent corrugations, that are separated by greater than the predetermined period.

Abstract: A curved cross-flow heat exchanger including a first flow path for a first fluid stream which is arranged substantially at right angles to a second flow path for a second fluid stream, wherein: the first flow path is confined within one or more heat exchanger sections that bridge between opposite sides of the heat exchanger, the one or more heat exchanger sections having a leading edge positioned in the second flow path, wherein each of the one or more heat exchanger sections is a curved laminated heat exchanger section and comprises a leading edge that is curved in a direction normal to the second flow path.