Abstract: A radial flow turbine heat engine includes a compressor, a recuperator, a combustor and a turbine. A compressor outlet manifold collects compressed gas from the compressor through a plurality of compressor outlets. A turbine inlet manifold supplies combustion gas to the turbine through a plurality of turbine inlets. The compressor outlet manifold comprises a plurality of compressor outlet manifold ducts and the turbine inlet manifold comprises a plurality of turbine inlet manifold ducts. These manifold ducts are circumferentially interdigitated with respect of each other around the shaft of the turbine to provide a flow path for compressed gas through the recuperator located radially inwardly with respect to the rotation axis of the shaft compared to the flow path for the combustion gas in the hot side portion of the heat engine.

Abstract: A pin fin heat exchanger including a pin fin heat pipe. A main tube of the heat pipe may divide at the evaporator end into a number of pin fin evaporators, each having fluid entrances and exits to the main tube; and at the condenser end into a number of pin fin condensers, each having fluid entrances and exits to the main tube.

Abstract: A radial flow turbine heat engine includes a compressor, a recuperator, a combustor and a turbine. A compressor outlet manifold collects compressed gas from the compressor through a plurality of compressor outlets. A turbine inlet manifold supplies combustion gas to the turbine through a plurality of turbine inlets. The compressor outlet manifold comprises a plurality of compressor outlet manifold ducts and the turbine inlet manifold comprises a plurality of turbine inlet manifold ducts. These manifold ducts are circumferentially interdigitated with respect of each other around the shaft of the turbine to provide a flow path for compressed gas through the recuperator located radially inwardly with respect to the rotation axis of the shaft compared to the flow path for the combustion gas in the hot side portion of the heat engine.

Abstract: A pin fin heat exchanger including a pin fin heat pipe. A main tube of the heat pipe may divide at the evaporator end into a number of pin fin evaporators, each having fluid entrances and exits to the main tube; and at the condenser end into a number of pin fin condensers, each having fluid entrances and exits to the main tube.

Abstract: An apparatus having a wall configured to serve as at least part of a chamber for containing a charge fluid is provided. The wall includes a heat exchanger portion integrally formed with the wall. The heat exchanger portion includes an array of conduits passing therethrough and providing fluid communication with outside of the heat exchange portion. The heat exchange portion is configured to contribute strength to the wall to provide containment of the charge fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus having a wall configured to serve as at least part of a chamber for containing a charge fluid is provided. The wall includes a heat exchanger portion integrally formed with the wall. The heat exchanger portion includes an array of conduits passing therethrough and providing fluid communication with outside of the heat exchange portion. The heat exchange portion is configured to contribute strength to the wall to provide containment of the charge fluid.

Abstract: A heat exchanger may be manufactured using a number of different methods, each having their own benefits and deficiencies. A method of making a monolithic heat exchanger having a plurality of conduits passing through it is provided and comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of successive layers of a material to be remelted and energy beam remelting predetermined regions of each layer in accordance with a predetermined design. The energy beam remelting of each layer is performed prior to the addition of a successive layer. The regions of each layer which are subjected to energy beam remelting form solid structures within the layer, and the energy beam remelting of each layer fuses the remelted regions of each layer to the remelted regions of the preceding layer. This results in the manufacture of a three-dimensional monolithic unit. The heat exchanger is manufactured to have a surface area density of at least 5000 m2/m3 and a mean average porosity of at least 0.6.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is formed with tessellating conduits 4 passing therethrough. The tessellating conduits having transverse cross-sectional shapes which together substantially completely cover the transverse plane to the heat exchange 2. The tessellating conduits may be the outer conduits 18 within conduit pairs formed of an outer conduit 18 and an inner conduit 22. The outer conduits may have a cross-section that is a regular hexagon and the inner conduits may have a cross-section that is a circle. The heat exchanger can advantageously be formed by selective remelting of material with an energy beam.

Abstract: A heat exchanger may be manufactured using a number of different methods, each having their own benefits and deficiencies. A method of making a monolithic heat exchanger having a plurality of conduits passing through it is provided and comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of successive layers of a material to be remelted and energy beam remelting predetermined regions of each layer in accordance with a predetermined design. The energy beam remelting of each layer is performed prior to the addition of a successive layer. The regions of each layer which are subjected to energy beam remelting form solid structures within the layer, and the energy beam remelting of each layer fuses the remelted regions of each layer to the remelted regions of the preceding layer. This results in the manufacture of a three-dimensional monolithic unit. The heat exchanger is manufactured to have a surface area density of at least 5000 m2/m3 and a mean average porosity of at least 0.6.