Vascular composite heat exchanger
A vascular composite heat exchanger includes a first fluid network sandwiched between upper and central plies; and a second fluid network fluidly isolated from the first fluid network sandwiched between the central and lower plies.
1 . A method of making a vascular composite heat exchanger, the method comprising the steps of:
identifying an overall heat transfer coefficient requirement for the vascular composite heat exchanger;
selecting working fluid, mass flow rate, and operating temperature ranges for the vascular composite heat exchanger based on total heat load required of the heat exchanger;
determining material and network geometries of the vascular composite heat exchanger based on operation of the vascular composite heat exchanger in a proper temperature regime associated with the selecting and to provide the identified overall heat transfer coefficient requirement; and
based on the determining:
sandwiching a first fluid network between upper plies comprising a composite material having fibers and central plies; and
sandwiching a second fluid network fluidly isolated from the first fluid network between the central plies and lower plies,
wherein a thickness of each of the upper plies is between a height of a tow of the fibers and a diameter of one of the fibers,
wherein the first fluid network and the second fluid network are each configured to receive a respective working fluid and to operate at a respective flow rate,
wherein the first fluid network and the second fluid network each have a respective inlet fluid interface and a respective outlet fluid interface, for a total of four fluid interfaces for the first fluid network and the second fluid network,
wherein the thickness is based on a bend radius associated with observed fiber breakage during an observation, wherein a minimum value for the bend radius (r min ) is determined according to r min ≈r lib +0.22×(r cons −r lib ),
wherein r lib is a liberal value for the bend radius determined based on the observed fiber breakage during the observation and is based on an expectation that each of the fibers in a tow of the fibers acts individually,
wherein r cons is a conservative value for the bend radius determined based on the observed fiber breakage during the observation and is based on an expectation that each of the fibers in a tow of the fibers acts together as one.
2 . The method of claim 1 , where the step of sandwiching a first fluid network includes the steps of:
laying up a first set of plies on a first tool having desired network geometry;
laying up a second set of plies on a second tool having final part geometry;
gluing together the first and second set of plies using either a wet layup or a film adhesive.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fibers are carbon fibers.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the composite material further comprises an epoxy.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an orientation of the first fluid network substantially aligns with an orientation of the second fluid network.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a working fluid of the first fluid network comprises a cold working fluid, and a working fluid of the second fluid network comprises a hot working fluid.