Patent ID: 7854131

Claim:
A phase change heat exchanger (PCHEX) cell for a thermal buffer, comprising: a plurality of generally parallel first and second conduits extending through a sealed housing and arranged in an alternating manner, each conduit having opposite inlet and outlet ends, the inlet ends of the first conduits being disposed at an opposite end of the housing from the inlet ends of the second conduits; first and second headers respectively coupled to the respective inlet ends of the first and second conduits, each header having a fluid inlet and being disposed at an opposite end of the housing from the other header; first and second collectors respectively coupled to the respective outlet ends of the first and second conduits, each collector having a fluid outlet and being disposed at an opposite end of the housing from the other header; a thermally conductive matrix disposed within the housing and between the conduits, the matrix being thermally coupled to exterior walls of the conduits and defining a plurality of interstitial voids therein; and, a phase change material (PCM) disposed within and substantially filling the interstitial voids of the matrix.