Smart additively manufactured heat exchanger with adaptive profile and turbulator

1 . A heat exchanger element, comprising:

a body comprising an outer body surface surrounding an inner body surface; and

a first tail fin and a second tail fin each comprising:

a base attached to the outer body surface; and

a tip extending from the base and away from the body;

wherein each of the body, the first tail fin, and the second tail fin is configured to selectively deform in response to respective temperature changes to alter fluid flow about the heat exchanger element; and

wherein the first tail fin and the second tail fin are configured to selectively deform to move away from one another in response to the respective temperature changes.

2 . The heat exchanger element of claim 1 , wherein:

the heat exchanger element comprises a first material and a second material;

the first material has a first thermal expansion coefficient; and

the second material has a second thermal expansion coefficient which is different than the first thermal expansion coefficient.

3 . The heat exchanger element of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the first tail fin and of the second tail fin comprises an outer fin surface and an inner fin surface, wherein each outer fin surface is continuous with the outer body surface such that the plurality of outer fin surfaces is located away from the plurality of inner fin surfaces;

each outer fin surface has a first thermal expansion coefficient; and

each inner fin surface has a second thermal expansion coefficient which is greater than the first thermal expansion coefficient.

4 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of surface features.

5 . The heat exchanger element of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of surface features is configured to change the surface roughness of the heat exchanger element in response to another temperature change.

6 . The heat exchanger element of claim 5 , wherein:

each of the plurality of surface features has a fin shape;

each of the plurality of surface features comprises a first end and a second end;

each first end is attached to the body of the heat exchanger element; and

each second end is not attached to the body of the heat exchanger element.

7 . The heat exchanger element of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of surface features is configured to change surface area in response to the another temperature change.

8 . The heat exchanger element of claim 7 , wherein:

each of the plurality of surface features has a curved shape;

each of the plurality of surface features comprises a first end and a second end;

each first end is attached to the body of the heat exchanger element; and

each second end is configured to slidingly engage with the body of the heat exchanger element.

9 . The heat exchanger element of claim 1 , wherein the inner body surface and the outer body surface are each formed from the first material and the second material.

10 . The heat exchanger element of claim 1 , wherein selective deformation results in a physical characteristic selected from the group consisting of: a shape of the heat exchanger element, a surface area of the heat exchanger element, a surface roughness of the heat exchanger element, and combinations thereof.

11 . A heat exchanger element for an aircraft comprising:

a body comprising:

an inner body surface formed from the first material and the second material; and

an outer body surface formed from the first material and the second material and surrounding the inner body surface; and

at least one surface feature disposed at the outer body surface of the body, wherein the at least one surface feature is deformable; and

wherein at least one of the body and the at least one surface feature is configured to selectively respond to respective temperature changes such that a physical characteristic of the heat exchanger element changes in response to the respective temperature changes, the physical characteristic selected from the group consisting of: a shape of the heat exchanger element, a surface area of the heat exchanger element, a surface roughness of the heat exchanger element, and combinations thereof.

12 . The heat exchanger element of claim 11 , wherein the first material has a first thermal expansion coefficient, and wherein the second material has a second thermal expansion coefficient different from the first thermal expansion coefficient.

13 . The heat exchanger element of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of tail fins, wherein each fin of the plurality of tail fins comprises a base attached to the outer body surface and a tip extending away from the body.

14 . The heat exchanger element of claim 13 , wherein:

each fin of the plurality of tail fins comprises an outer fin surface and an inner fin surface, wherein each outer fin surface is continuous with the outer body surface such that the outer fin surface is located away from the plurality of inner fin surfaces;

each outer fin surface has a first thermal expansion coefficient; and

each inner fin surface has a second thermal expansion coefficient which is greater than the first thermal expansion coefficient.

15 . The heat exchanger element of claim 11 , wherein the heat exchanger element is configured to change shape in response to the respective temperature changes.

16 . The heat exchanger element of claim 11 , wherein the heat exchanger element is configured to change surface area in response to the respective temperature changes.

17 . The heat exchanger element of claim 11 , wherein the at least one surface feature comprises a plurality of surface features.

18 . The heat exchanger element of claim 17 , wherein:

each of the plurality of surface features has a curved shape;

each of the plurality of surface features comprises a first end and a second end;

each first end is attached to the body of the heat exchanger element; and

each second end is configured to slidingly engage with the body of the heat exchanger element.

19 . The heat exchanger element of claim 17 , wherein:

each of the plurality of surface features has a fin shape;

each of the plurality of surface features comprises a first end and a second end;

each first end is attached to the body of the heat exchanger element; and

each second end is located away from the heat exchange element.