19-05-2010, 09:32 PM
ABSTRACT
MICRO-SCALE REGENERATIVE HEAT EXCHANGER
A micro-scale regenerative heat exchanger has been designed, optimized and fabricated for use in a micro-Stirling device. Novel design and fabrication techniques enabled the minimization of axial heat conduction losses and pressure drop, while maximizing thermal regenerative performance. The fabricated prototype is comprised of ten separate assembled layers of alternating metal-dielectric composite. Each layer is offset to minimize conduction losses and maximize heat transfer by boundary layer disruption. A grating pattern of 100 micron square non-contiguous flow passages were formed with a nominal 20 micron wall thickness, and an overall assembled ten layer thickness of 900 microns. Application of the micro heat exchanger is envisioned in the areas of micro-refrigerators/coolers,micro-power, and devices micro-fluidic devices.
Meso and/or micro-scale devices operating on the Stirling cycle are an attractive concept based on the high efficiencies realized for Stirling machines at traditional scales. A further attraction of micro-scale Stirling devices is the ability of the Stirling cycle to be used for generating power where a temperature difference is maintained; or, in the