US 11,988,471 B2
Devices and methods for fabrication of components of a multiscale porous high-temperature heat exchanger
Evelyn N. Wang, Cambridge, MA (US); Lin Zhao, Revere, MA (US); Bikram Bhatia, Cambridge, MA (US); Xiangyu Li, Cambridge, MA (US); Arny Leroy, Montreal (CA); Kyle Wilke, Boston, MA (US); Lenan Zhang, Cambridge, MA (US); Jeffrey Youngblood, Crawfordsville, IN (US); Rodney Trice, Xenia, OH (US); Chad T. Wilson, Cambridge, MA (US); Olivia Brandt, West Lafayette, IN (US); and Rodrigo Orta Guerra, West Lafayette, IN (US)
Assigned to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US); and Purdue Research Foundation, West Lafayette, IN (US)
Filed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US); and Purdue Research Foundation, West Lafayette, IN (US)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/705,693.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/166,973, filed on Mar. 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0307778 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. F28F 9/02 (2006.01); F28D 9/00 (2006.01); F28F 21/04 (2006.01)
CPC F28F 9/02 (2013.01) [F28D 9/0062 (2013.01); F28F 21/04 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat exchanger, comprising:
a plurality of macrochannels;
a two-dimensional microchannel array disposed within each macrochannel of the plurality of macrochannels, the two-dimensional microchannel array being configured to allow a first working fluid to flow therethrough and through the respective macrochannel, and
a header comprising:
a first header component having at least a first inlet and a first outlet;
a second header component having at least a second inlet and a second outlet;
a flow distribution component configured to mount to the heat exchanger, the flow distribution component including a plurality of openings configured to receive at least one of the first working fluid or the second working fluid therethrough;
a blocker plate configured to selectively block a first portion of the plurality of openings of the flow distribution component while selectively allowing fluid to flow through a second portion of the plurality of openings of the flow distribution component;
a plurality of connectors coupled to the blocker plate, the blocker plate being disposed between the plurality of connectors; and
at least one cycle adaptor coupled to a connector of the plurality of connectors, the at least one cycle adaptor being in a fluid communication with the flow distribution component via the blocker plate and the connector of the plurality of connectors,
wherein each macrochannel of the plurality of macrochannels has one or more adjacent macrochannels of the plurality of macrochannels, each of which has the respective two-dimensional microchannel array disposed in it, and the respective two-dimensional microchannel array being configured to allow a second working fluid to flow therethrough in an equal and opposite direction to the first working fluid,
wherein the heat exchanger is configured such that a temperature of the first working fluid is higher than a temperature of the second working fluid,
wherein the first inlet is configured to receive the first working fluid and pass the first working fluid through the at least one cycle adaptor to the first portion of the plurality of openings and the first outlet,
wherein the second inlet is configured to receive the second working fluid and pass the second working fluid through the at least one cycle adaptor to the second portion of the plurality of openings and the second outlet, and
wherein each of the flow distribution component, the blocker plate, the plurality of connectors, and the at least one cycle adaptor comprise a high-thermal conductivity ceramic.