Extruded Microchannel-Structured Heat Exchangers

Abstract

In the search for more compact air/liquid heat exchangers, one possibility is to increase the heat transfer coefficient and surface area by a decrease of the size of the fluid channels. A practical example could be seen in the air/water cross-flow heat exchangers used in cars. For such exchangers, minimization of the total volume leads to a very thin structure, with a lot of small and short air channels. We have designed and patented a cross-flow heat transfer surface with microchannels that has such a structure and can be manufactured industrially at a reasonable cost by extrusion either in aluminum or in polymers. The thermo-hydraulic performance of the structure has been simulated using standard correlations and CFD codes, and prototypic structures are under investigation to validate simulations. Compared to classical heat exchangers, our design is superior in flexibility and compactness for air/liquid applications.