Patent ID: 8118086

Claim:
A heat exchanger comprising: at least one plate having a first channel defined therein having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the first channel passes through a heat exchange region and an expansion region and a second channel defined therein having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the first channel has a first section in the heat exchange region, a second section in the expansion region, and a third section in the heat exchange region, wherein the second channel is substantially parallel to the third section of the first channel in the heat exchange region; an expansion device disposed in the second section of the first channel located in the expansion region, wherein the expansion region is separated from the heat exchange region by a region of conductivity, and wherein the region of thermal insulation is a section in the plate having an open space, between the heat exchange region and the expansion region, and the second section of the first channel traverses across the expansion region along a path substantially following the open space and where one end of the second section of the first channel is in fluid communication with the first section of the first channel across the region of thermal insulation and the other end of the second section of the first channel is in fluid communication with the third section of the first channel across the region of thermal insulation; 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.