摘要：
Methods and apparatus for producing a heat exchanger 4, the method comprising producing a digital model of the heat exchanger by producing a digital model of a first conduit 10 having a first end portion 26 and an opposite second end portion 30, and an intermediate portion 34 between the first and second end portions. The intermediate portion comprises a plurality of capillary tubes 36. A digital model of a second conduit 12 is produced and the digital models of the first and second conduits arranged such that the intermediate portion is within the second conduit. Using the digital model of the heat exchanger, an Additive Manufacturing (AM) apparatus or 3D printing apparatus is controlled to perform an AM process to produce the first and second conduits as specified by the digital model, thereby producing the heat exchanger.
权利要求：
CLAIMS
1. A method of producing a heat exchanger (4), the method comprising:
producing a digital model (76) of the heat exchanger (4), the step of producing the digital model (76) of the heat exchanger (4) comprising:
producing digital model of a first conduit (10), the first conduit (10)
comprising.
a first end portion (26) at a first end of the first conduit (10);
a second end portion (30) at a second end of the first
conduit (10) opposite the first end; and
an intermediate portion (34) between the first end portion
(26) and the second end portion (30), the intermediate portion (34)
comprising a plurality of capillary tubes (36) connecting the first
end portion (26) to the second end portion (30);
producing a digital model of a second conduit (12); and
arranging the digital models of the first and second conduits (10,
12) such that the intermediate portion (34) is at least partially within the
second conduit (12), thereby producing the digital model (76) of the heat
exchanger (4); and
using the digital model of the heat exchanger (4), controlling an Additive Manufacturing apparatus (44) to perform an Additive Manufacturing process to produce the first and second conduits (10, 12) as specified by the digital model (76), thereby producing the heat exchanger (4).
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the capillary tubes (36) are non- contiguous capillary tubes.
3. A method according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the heat exchanger (4) is produced as a single item.
4. A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the capillary tubes (36) follows a meandering path.
S. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the intermediate portion (34) further comprises one or more further capillary tubes, each further capillary tube being arranged to connect together two capillary tubes (36) in such a way that a fluid may flow between those two capillary tubes (36).
6. A method according any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sum of the internal cross sectional areas of the capillary tubes (36) is less than or equal to the internal cross sectional area of the first end portion (26) and/or the internal cross sectional area of the second end portion (30).
f. A method according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the intermediate portion (34) further comprises one or more support struts (38), each support strut (38) being arranged to fixedly connect a conduit wall of the second conduit (12) to one or more of the capillary tubes (36).
8. A method according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein
the intermediate portion (34) is wholly located within the second conduit (12);
the first end portion (26) is at least partially located outside the second conduit (12); and
the second end portion (30) is at least partially located outside the second conduit (12).
9. A method according to any of claims 1 to 8, the method further comprising, after production of the heat exchanger (4):
causing a first fluid to flow through the first conduit (10) in a first direction (22); and
causing a second fluid to flow through the second conduit (12) in a second direction (24); wherein
the first direction (22) is opposite to the second direction (24).
10. A method according to any of claims 1 to 8, the method further comprising, after production of the heat exchanger (4):
along each capillary tube (36), running a respective electrical wire; and
causing a fluid to flow through the second conduit (12).
11. A method according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the steps of producing the digital models of the first and second conduits (10, 12) comprise:
providing specification of a volume; and
designing the first and second conduits such that heat exchanger fits into the specified volume.
12. A method according to claim 11, the method further comprising providing an aircraft (2) comprising a cavity having the dimensions of the specified volume, and installing the produced heat exchanger (4) into the aircraft cavity.
13. Apparatus for producing a heat exchanger (4), the apparatus comprising:
one or more processors for:
producing a digital model of a first conduit (10), the first conduit
(10) comprising:
a first end portion (26) at a first end of the first conduit (10);
a second end portion (30) at a second end of the first
conduit (10) opposite the first end; and
an intermediate portion (34) between the first end portion
(26) and the second end portion (30), the intermediate portion (34)
comprising a plurality of capillary tubes (36) connecting the first
end portion (26) to the second end portion (30);
producing a digital model of a second conduit (12); and
arranging the digital models of the first and second conduits (10,
12) such that the intermediate portion (34) is at least partially within the
second conduit (12), thereby producing a digital model (76) of the heat
exchanger (4); and
an Additive Manufacturing apparatus (44) configured to perform an Additive Manufacturing process to produce the first and second conduits (10, 12) as specified by the digital model (76), thereby producing the heat exchanger (4).
14. A heat exchanger (4), the heat exchanger (4) being a single item produced by performing an Additive Manufacturing process, the heat exchanger (4) comprising:
a first conduit (10) comprising:
a first end portion (26) at a first end of the first conduit (10);
a second end portion (30) at a second end of the first conduit (10)
opposite the first end; and
an intermediate portion (34) between the first end portion (26) and
the second end portion (30), the intermediate portion (34) comprising a
plurality of capillary tubes (36) connecting the first end portion (26) to the
second end portion (30); and
a second conduit (12); wherein
the first and second conduits (10, 12) are arranged such that the intermediate portion (34) is at least partially within the second conduit (12). 15. An aircraft (2) comprising a heat exchanger (4) in accordance with claim 14.