Abstract: A temperature control system in an aircraft passenger service unit is disclosed. In embodiments, the system includes a swirl chamber configured to receive an inlet air stream, and a vortex tube configured to receive the inlet air stream from the swirl chamber and separate the inlet air stream into a warmer air stream and a cooler air stream. In embodiments, the system further includes a nozzle configured to direct a temperature-controlled air stream into a passenger space of an aircraft; wherein the nozzle is configured to be selectably adjusted in order to selectively blend the warmer air stream and the cooler air stream in order to generate the temperature-controlled air stream.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system includes, an environmental control system (ECS) having a plurality of ducts configured to convey a flow of air into an interior space through the plurality of ducts, a plurality of valves disposed in the plurality of ducts to control the flow of air through a respective duct into the interior space, an overhead bin mounted in the interior space below the plurality of ducts relative to the direction of airflow, and a diffuser disposed at an outlet of the plurality of duct configured to induce the airflow to flow along a convex outer surface of the overhead bin.

Abstract: An annular water removal system (AWRS) for an air cycle environmental control system (ECS) includes a line replaceable unit (LRU) configured to output air flow, and a water collector coupled to the LRU. The water collector includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes a coalescing unit having a collector inlet to receive the air flow and configured to coalesce moisture from the air flow output from the LRU. The lower portion includes a collection unit in fluid communication with the coalescing unit. The collection unit is configured to collect the moisture coalesced by the coalescing unit.

Abstract: A heat recovery wheel for a heat exchanger includes a wheel rim defining an outer perimeter of the heat recovery wheel, and a plurality of wheel passages located between the wheel rim and the wheel axis. The plurality of wheel passages are arranged in a plurality of radial layers relative to a wheel central axis. Each layer is defined by a first shaped material having a first cross-sectional shape and a second shaped material assembled to the first shaped material, the second shaped material having a second cross-sectional shape. Radially adjacent layers of the plurality of layers are secured directly to one another, and the plurality of wheel passages are configured for flow of a first airflow and a second airflow therethrough for thermal energy exchange between the first airflow and the second airflow.

Abstract: An oscillating heat pipe device can include a body formed to be at least partially flexible, one or more channels within the body and defined by the body, an evaporator portion within the body at a first end of the one or more channels and in fluid communication with the one or more channels, and a condenser portion within the body at a second end of the one or more channels and in fluid communication with the one or more channels. The body can be configured to flex between the evaporator portion and the condenser portion. The device can include a heat transfer fluid trapped within the channels to transfer heat between the evaporator portion and the condenser portion.

Abstract: A combustor for use in a gas turbine engine including a heat shield panel having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface of the heat shield panel and a combustor shell having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The inner surface of the combustor shell and the second surface of the heat shield panel being in a facing spaced relationship defining an impingement cavity therebetween. The combustor shell further includes an impingement aperture that has a nonaxisymmetric shape. The impingement aperture extending from the outer surface to the inner surface through the combustor shell.

Abstract: A heat recovery wheel for a heat exchanger includes a wheel rim defining an outer perimeter of the heat recovery wheel, and a plurality of wheel passages located between the wheel rim and the wheel axis, the plurality of wheel passages arranged in a plurality of layers relative to a wheel central axis. One or more parting elements are located between adjacent layers of the plurality of layers, each of parting elements a strip having a strip width less than an axial length of the plurality of layers. The plurality of wheel passages are configured for flow of a first airflow and a second airflow therethrough for thermal energy exchange between the first airflow and the second airflow.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an oscillating heat pipe includes building the oscillating heat pipe with a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process such that the oscillating heat pipe includes a body of solid material, an array of channels, an evaporator portion, and a condenser portion. The array of channels are disposed in the body and define a continuous loop through which a fluid flows. The array of channels is formed by cavities in the body as the body is formed with layer-by-layer additive manufacturing. An inner surface of a channel includes a flow directing feature that is configured to promote a first direction of flow and that is configured to provide resistance against a second direction of flow that is opposite the first direction of flow.

Abstract: A temperature control system in an aircraft passenger service unit is disclosed. In embodiments, the system includes a swirl chamber configured to receive an inlet air stream, and a vortex tube configured to receive the inlet air stream from the swirl chamber and separate the inlet air stream into a warmer air stream and a cooler air stream. In embodiments, the system further includes a nozzle configured to direct a temperature-controlled air stream into a passenger space of an aircraft; wherein the nozzle is configured to be selectably adjusted in order to selectively blend the warmer air stream and the cooler air stream in order to generate the temperature-controlled air stream.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided including an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold arranged generally parallel to the inlet manifold and being spaced therefrom by a distance. A plurality of rows of microtubes is aligned in a substantially parallel relationship. The plurality of rows of microtubes is configured to fluidly couple the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold. Each of the plurality of rows includes a plurality of microtubes.

Abstract: A method of making a heat exchanger with a net shape moldable highly thermally conductive polymer composite includes mixing a polymer and a thermally conductive filler material and molding the polymer composite into heat exchanger components. The heat exchanger can be tailored to varying heating and cooling needs with moldable geometries.

Abstract: A heat recovery wheel for a heat exchanger includes a wheel rim defining an outer perimeter of the heat recovery wheel, and a plurality of wheel passages located between the wheel rim and the wheel axis. The plurality of wheel passages are at least partially defined by one or more passage fins. At least a portion of a passage fin of the plurality of passage fins extends non-parallel to the wheel axis between a first wheel end and a second wheel end. The plurality of wheel passages are configured for flow of a first airflow and a second airflow therethrough for thermal energy exchange between the first airflow and the second airflow.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an oscillating heat pipe includes building the oscillating heat pipe with a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process such that the oscillating heat pipe includes a body of solid material, an array of channels, an evaporator portion, and a condenser portion. The array of channels are disposed in the body and define a continuous loop through which a fluid flows. The array of channels is formed by cavities in the body as the body is formed with layer-by-layer additive manufacturing. An inner surface of a channel includes a flow directing feature that is configured to promote a first direction of flow and that is configured to provide resistance against a second direction of flow that is opposite the first direction of flow.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to heat exchangers and heat exchange systems such heat exchangers. The heat exchangers include a shell having an inlet and an outlet and heat exchange tube bundles arranged therein. The shell includes a first region communicating with the inlet configured to accommodate the heat exchange tube bundles and a refrigerant input from the inlet. The refrigerant performs heat exchange with a fluid in the heat exchange tube bundles. A second region is arranged between the first region and the outlet and communicates with the first region and the outlet. A heating device is disposed in the second region. Embodiments may optimize spatial layout of the heat exchanger tube bundles, effectively improving the utilization of shell space of the heat exchanger the heat transfer efficiency of the heat exchanger at the same material cost, and enhance the overall performance, safety and reliability of the system.

Abstract: A shell-and-tube heat exchanger and an air conditioning system. The shell-and-tube heat exchanger includes: a shell provided with a liquid inlet and an vapor outlet, the vapor outlet being disposed at an top portion of the shell; and a heat exchange tube bundle disposed in the shell in an axial direction of the shell; wherein the heat exchange tube bundle includes: a plurality of first heat exchange tubes located at an upper portion, the first heat exchange tubes having a first spacing therebetween; and a plurality of second heat exchange tubes located at a lower portion, the second heat exchange tubes having a second spacing therebetween; the first spacing is different from the second spacing.

Abstract: A thermal energy exchange tube for a heat exchanger includes a tube inner surface and a tube outer surface radially offset from the tube inner surface. The tube outer surface includes patterned porosity with a plurality of high porosity regions of the tube outer surface having relatively high porosity to promote flow of fluid radially inwardly via capillary flow, and a plurality of low porosity regions of the tube outer surface having relatively low porosity to facilitate vapor departure from the tube outer surface.

Abstract: A thermally enhanced heating system and a method for thermally enhancing a HVAC system are provided. The thermally enhanced heating system preferably includes an outdoor HVAC unit and an indoor HVAC unit. The indoor HVAC unit includes a first heat exchanger for transferring heat from a refrigerant, a second heat exchanger for transferring heat from a fuel source, and a third heat exchanger for transferring heat to the refrigerant. The outdoor HVAC unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger for transferring heat from an outdoor air to the refrigerant, a pump configured to circulate the refrigerant, and an ejector configured to combine the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger. Preferably the outdoor HVAC unit is operated to circulate the refrigerant through a first refrigerant circuit and a second refrigerant circuit, and combine refrigerant in the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit.

Abstract: A method of making a heat exchanger with a net shape moldable highly thermally conductive polymer composite includes mixing a polymer and a thermally conductive filler material and molding the polymer composite into heat exchanger components. The heat exchanger can be tailored to varying heating and cooling needs with moldable geometries.

Abstract: A nonlinear coolant tube adapted for use in a heat exchanger core that is configured to port a hot fluid therethrough and a cold fluid therethrough while maintaining isolation of the hot fluid from the cold fluid, and including a hot circuit defining a hot circuit inlet, a hot circuit outlet, a first edge, and a second edge, the first edge distal the second edge, the first edge proximate the hot circuit inlet and the second edge proximate the hot circuit outlet. The nonlinear coolant tube is configured to provide a non-uniform heat transfer profile between the hot fluid and the cold fluid from the first edge to the second edge, such that a thermal resistance of the nonlinear coolant tube near the first edge is greater than the thermal resistance of the nonlinear coolant tube near the second edge.

Abstract: A refrigeration system can include a main flow circuit configured to flow a refrigerant therethrough and a heat input disposed in the main flow circuit and configured to receive heat and transfer the heat to the refrigerant in the main flow circuit to output heated refrigerant flow. The system can include a passive pump disposed in the main flow circuit downstream of the heat input configured to receive the heated refrigerant flow from the heat input and to use the heated refrigerant flow to generate a vacuum at a pump port and a condenser disposed in the main flow circuit downstream of the passive pump for receiving flow from the passive pump. The condenser can be configured to receive heat from the heated refrigerant flow and reject heat to cool the heated refrigerant flow to output partially cooled refrigerant flow. An outlet of the condenser can be upstream of the heat input.