Patent ID: 8061413

Claim:
A heat exchanger, comprising: a casing; at least one porous member positioned within the casing, the at least one porous member comprising: a porous wall comprising an inner wall defining an interior of the at least one porous member, the interior of the at least one porous member surrounded by the inner wall, and an outer wall, the outer wall of the porous wall and an inner wall of the casing defining a chamber therebetween, the porous wall further comprising a plurality of pores exhibiting interconnected porosity therethrough providing fluid communication between the interior of the at least one porous member and the chamber; an inlet comprising a first opening into the interior of the at least one porous member, the first opening substantially larger than each of the plurality of pores; and an outlet comprising a second opening into the interior of the at least one porous member, the second opening substantially larger than each of the plurality of pores and positioned such that fluid may flow from the inlet to the outlet through the interior of the at least one porous member without passing through the plurality of pores of the porous wall; and an inlet through the casing into the chamber.