Heat exchanger fin with efficient material utilization
US5660230A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 1995 |
| Grant date | Aug 26, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF28F1/325
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A heat exchanger including a heat exchanger conduit and fins arranged on the conduit tubes to further heat transfer between the external fluid flowing over the fins and the fluid flowing within the conduit. The fins include a row of apertures through which tubes of the heat exchanger conduit extend. The leading and trailing edges of the fins are contoured to substantially conform to isotherms around the circulating fluid flowing within the tubes. To achieve this edge configuration while also allowing for a dense packing of fins and tubes in a multi-row heat exchanger, the leading and trailing edges are wave shaped such that adjacent fins can interfit together. Suitable wave shapes include a sinusoidal wave as well as a trapezoidal wave. The isothermally contoured leading and trailing edges result in a fin configuration which efficiently utilizes the materials of its construction as well as results in minimal wastage during construction with a minimal impact on heat transfer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.