Patent ID: 8122946

Claim:
A heat exchanger comprising: at least one first plate having a first channel defined therein having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the first channel is defined by a first section for carrying a cooling fluid, a second section where the fluid is expanded, and a third section carrying the expanded fluid, wherein the first and third section of the first channel are in a heat exchange region and the second section of the first channel is in an expansion region, a first thermally insulating channel, wherein the first insulating channel follows a path substantially parallel to the second section of the first channel, the first insulating channel is disposed between the second section of the first channel and the heat exchange region, and a second insulating channel following a path substantially parallel to the second section of the first channel and on the opposite side of the first channel from the first insulating channel, wherein the expansion region of the first channel is the segment of the first channel that is disposed substantially parallel to the thermally insulating channel, and wherein the heat exchange region includes the first section of the first channel before the expansion region and the third section of the first channel after the expansion region, and wherein the first section is before the expansion region and located in the heat exchange region, and the third section is after the expansion region and located in the heat exchange region; an expansion device disposed within the second section of the first channel; a cover plate; and at least one manifold having a manifold inlet channel in fluid communication with each first channel inlet, and a manifold outlet channel in fluid communication with each first channel outlet.