Abstract: An aluminum heat exchanger includes first and second plates with inner and outer surfaces, which are joined by brazing and define at least one fluid flow passage. The first and second plates each comprise a core layer of aluminum or an aluminum alloy having a melting temperature greater than an aluminum brazing temperature. The first plate also includes a first outer clad layer defining the outer surface of the first plate. The first outer clad layer is solderable to a metal layer of an object to be cooled and includes nickel or copper. A second outer clad layer is located between the first outer clad layer and the core layer and is roll bonded to at least the second outer clad layer. A manufacturing method includes brazing first and second plates, where the layers of the first plate are roll bonded and the first plate is optionally formed before brazing.

Abstract: An aluminum heat exchanger includes first and second plates with inner and outer surfaces, which are joined by brazing and define at least one fluid flow passage. The first and second plates each comprise a core layer of aluminum or an aluminum alloy having a melting temperature greater than an aluminum brazing temperature. The first plate also includes a first outer clad layer defining the outer surface of the first plate. The first outer clad layer is solderable to a metal layer of an object to be cooled and includes nickel or copper. A second outer clad layer is located between the first outer clad layer and the core layer and is roll bonded to at least the second outer clad layer. A manufacturing method includes brazing first and second plates, where the layers of the first plate are roll bonded and the first plate is optionally formed before brazing.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a thermally conductive first plate with a flat first surface for thermal contact with a heat transfer fluid, and a flat second surface for thermal contact with an object to be heated or cooled, such as an electronic component. The first surface is provided with a first surface pattern having a plurality of first grooves, and the second surface is provided with a second surface pattern with a plurality of second grooves. The surface patterns may be configured and applied such that the amount of elongation along the first surface produced by application of the first surface pattern substantially corresponds to or offsets the amount of elongation along the second surface produced by application of the second surface pattern, such that the degree of flatness of the first plate prior to formation of the first and second surface patterns will be preserved, maintained or improved.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly has first and second heat sink elements enclosing fluid flow passages, and a clamping assembly. The heat sink elements are separated by a space in which at least one heat-generating electronic component is located, with outer side surfaces of each electronic component being in thermal contact with the heat sink elements. The clamping assembly has first and second spring elements arranged in contact with an outer surfaces of the heat sink elements. The spring elements are joined together to apply compressive forces to the heat sink elements and to cause the electronic components to be clamped between the heat sink elements. Each spring element has discrete force application regions for applying force to a heat sink element, and a plurality of fastening regions for compressing and maintaining the positions of the spring elements relative to the outer surfaces of the heat sink elements.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for cooling a plurality of heat-generating components with flat surfaces arranged in spaced parallel relation to one another has at least three flat, fluid-carrying panels, including a first end panel, a second end panel, and at least one middle panel. The middle panels have both of their opposed surfaces in thermal contact with a surface of a heat generating component. The end panels each have one surface in thermal contact with a surface of a heat-generating component. Inlet and outlet manifolds of the heat exchanger are in communication with the inlet and outlet openings of the middle panels. The inlet manifold communicates with the inlet opening of the first end panel, the outlet manifold communicates with the outlet opening of the second end panel, and the outlet opening of the first end panel communicates with the inlet opening of the second end panel.

Abstract: A heat exchanger panel has a heat transfer surface with first and second heat transfer zones of different cooling capacities. Each zone has a subgroup of fluid flow passages having a flow capacity, each extending between a fluid inlet passage and a fluid outlet passage. Where one of the zones is adapted for cooling the tabs of a battery cell, the heat exchanger panel comprises at least one first header located at an end of the panel, including a fluid inlet header and/or a fluid outlet header, a second header at the opposite end of the panel, and a plurality of flow passages extending between the headers. At least one header has a height which is greater than the height of the flow passages, and is substantially the same as a spacing between tabs of adjacent batteries when separated by one of said heat exchanger panels.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for cooling a plurality of heat-generating components with flat surfaces arranged in spaced parallel relation to one another has at least three flat, fluid-carrying panels, including a first end panel, a second end panel, and at least one middle panel. The middle panels have both of their opposed surfaces in thermal contact with a surface of a heat generating component. The end panels each have one surface in thermal contact with a surface of a heat-generating component. Inlet and outlet manifolds of the heat exchanger are in communication with the inlet and outlet openings of the middle panels. The inlet manifold communicates with the inlet opening of the first end panel, the outlet manifold communicates with the outlet opening of the second end panel, and the outlet opening of the first end panel communicates with the inlet opening of the second end panel.

Abstract: A stacked-plate heat exchanger for cooling a plurality of heat-generating electronic components arranged in a plurality of layers comprises a stack of flat tubes defining a plurality of parallel fluid flow passages, the tubes being separated by spaces for receiving the electronic components. One or more flow-restricting ribs is arranged within at least some of the fluid flow passages to partially block fluid flow between at least one the manifolds and the heat transfer area by reducing the height of the fluid flow passage outside the heat transfer area, along at least a portion of the width of the fluid flow passage, in order to improve the flow distribution of a heat transfer fluid between and within the fluid flow passages of the heat exchanger, and to minimize bypass flow at the outer edges of the fluid flow passage.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly has first and second heat sink elements enclosing fluid flow passages, and a clamping assembly. The heat sink elements are separated by a space in which at least one heat-generating electronic component is located, with outer side surfaces of each electronic component being in thermal contact with the heat sink elements. The clamping assembly has first and second spring elements arranged in contact with an outer surfaces of the heat sink elements. The spring elements are joined together to apply compressive forces to the heat sink elements and to cause the electronic components to be clamped between the heat sink elements. Each spring element has discrete force application regions for applying force to a heat sink element, and a plurality of fastening regions for compressing and maintaining the positions of the spring elements relative to the outer surfaces of the heat sink elements.

Abstract: A heat exchanger panel has a heat transfer surface with first and second heat transfer zones of different cooling capacities. Each zone has a subgroup of fluid flow passages having a flow capacity, each extending between a fluid inlet passage and a fluid outlet passage. Where one of the zones is adapted for cooling the tabs of a battery cell, the heat exchanger panel comprises at least one first header located at an end of the panel, including a fluid inlet header and/or a fluid outlet header, a second header at the opposite end of the panel, and a plurality of flow passages extending between the headers. At least one header has a height which is greater than the height of the flow passages, and is substantially the same as a spacing between tabs of adjacent batteries when separated by one of said heat exchanger panels.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a thermally conductive first plate with a flat first surface for thermal contact with a heat transfer fluid, and a flat second surface for thermal contact with an object to be heated or cooled, such as an electronic component. The first surface is provided with a first surface pattern having a plurality of first grooves, and the second surface is provided with a second surface pattern with a plurality of second grooves. The surface patterns may be configured and applied such that the amount of elongation along the first surface produced by application of the first surface pattern substantially corresponds to or offsets the amount of elongation along the second surface produced by application of the second surface pattern, such that the degree of flatness of the first plate prior to formation of the first and second surface patterns will be preserved, maintained or improved.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has inlet and outlet fittings, each having a base portion and a top portion, and having a circumferential groove provided with a resilient sealing element for sealing within a bore of a coolant manifold. Each fitting also has a base fitting with an annular sealing surface sealed to a surface of the heat exchanger. In an embodiment, the base portion has a larger diameter than the top portion, and the groove and sealing element are provided in the bottom portion, with a chamfer or sloped surface separating the base and top portions. In another embodiment, the top portion has a larger diameter than the base portion, and the groove and sealing element are provided in the top portion.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has inlet and outlet fittings, each having a base portion and a top portion, and having a circumferential groove provided with a resilient sealing element for sealing within a bore of a coolant manifold. Each fitting also has a base fitting with an annular sealing surface sealed to a surface of the heat exchanger. In an embodiment, the base portion has a larger diameter than the top portion, and the groove and sealing element are provided in the bottom portion, with a chamfer or sloped surface separating the base and top portions. In another embodiment, the top portion has a larger diameter than the base portion, and the groove and sealing element are provided in the top portion.