| abstract |
A microminiature laminated heat exchanger for use in a cryogenic probe, and a method of manufacture. The heat exchanger has high and low pressure flow patterns (46, 48) etched into oxygen free copper sheets (42), with the flow patterns being tortuous paths promoting turbulent flow. The sheets (42) containing the flow patterns are bonded into a laminated assembly in the shape of a cylinder (28), with a high pressure inlet and a low pressure outlet in a first end, and a high pressure outlet and a low pressure inlet in a second end. The high pressure flow path lies alongside the low pressure flow path, with flow in the two paths being in opposite directions, to accomplish counterflow heat exchange. Substantial portions of the flow paths are either parallel to, or transverse to, the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger, with the resuulting heat flow being essentially radial or axial, respectively. |