General Electric Company
Monolithic heat-exchanger bodies

Abstract:

A monolithic heat exchanger body includes a plurality of heating walls and a plurality of combustion fins. The plurality of heating walls are configured and arranged in an array of spirals or spiral arcs relative to a longitudinal axis. Adjacent portions of the plurality of heating walls respectively define a corresponding plurality of heating fluid pathways therebetween. The plurality of combustion fins are circumferentially spaced about a perimeter of an inlet plenum. The inlet plenum includes or fluidly communicates with a combustion chamber. The plurality of heating fluid pathways fluidly communicate with the inlet plenum. The plurality of combustion fins occupy a radially or concentrically inward portion of the monolithic heat exchanger body. The plurality of heating fluid pathways have a heat transfer relationship with a heat sink disposed about a radially or concentrically outward portion of the monolithic heat exchanger body. A plurality of conduction breaks disposed radially or concentrically outward relative to the plurality of combustion fins at least partially inhibit heat conduction from the plurality of combustion fins to the plurality of heating walls.