Patent attributes
Heat exchangers, heat exchanger systems, and hypersonic vehicles are provided. For example, a heat exchanger is provided that comprises a first chamber for receipt of a flow of cool fluid and a second chamber for receipt of a flow of hot fluid. The heat exchanger further comprises a buffer fluid flowpath for circulation of a buffer fluid therethrough. The buffer fluid circulates within the buffer fluid flowpath disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber to transfer heat from the hot fluid to the cool fluid. In certain embodiments, a hypersonic vehicle comprises such a heat exchanger, and the cool fluid is cryogenic or near-cryogenic fuel of the hypersonic vehicle and the hot fluid is engine bleed air from a hypersonic propulsion engine of the vehicle.
