(360e) Multi-Material, Microchannel Heat Exchanger Design for Enhanced Heat Exchange Processes By Anisotropic Conduction

Recent advances in rapid prototyping techniques, namely laser powder bed fusion, present an opportunity for intensification of heat exchange processes through anisotropic conductive heat flow. Multi-material microchannel heat exchangers – which exploit highly conductive, micro-pillar architecture – are explored here for enhanced rates of heat transfer in the direction of interest only. By reducing heat flow in undesired directions and decreasing the characteristic time for heat transfer between the fluids, it is shown that a reduction of residence times and heat-exchanger volume can be achieved. For a variety of cases, volumetric heat transfer coefficients for systems with and without conductive micro-pillars are evaluated numerically and compared. A 3D printed prototype is also built and tested to demonstrate the functionality of multi-material heat exchangers and to verify numerical results.