General Electric Company
HEAT EXCHANGERS HAVING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL LATTICE STRUCTURE

Abstract:

A heat exchanger may include a three-dimensional lattice of integrally formed unit cells, a first furcated-pathway baffle integrally formed among the three-dimensional lattice, and/or a second furcated-pathway baffle integrally formed among the three-dimensional lattice. The three-dimensional lattice of integrally formed unit cells may include an interior pathway-cell surface contiguously defining a first furcated fluid domain, and an exterior pathway-cell surface contiguously defining a second furcated fluid domain. The first furcated-pathway baffle may contiguously define a first boundary to the first furcated fluid domain. The first furcated-pathway baffle may include an exterior baffle-cell surface contiguous with at least a portion of the exterior pathway-cell surface. The second furcated-pathway baffle may contiguously define a second boundary to the second furcated fluid domain. The second furcated-pathway baffle may include an interior baffle-cell surface contiguous with at least a portion of the interior pathway-cell surface.