Patent · US Expired

Heat exchanger systems

US5697435A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
3References
67Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 26, 1996
Grant dateDec 16, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 26, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S165/91
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Heat is transferred from a first fluid to a cooler second fluid with a heat exchanger having heat exchanger tubes in which the cooler second fluid flows, preferably in a counterflow to the first fluid. The heat exchanger tubes are arranged in more than three rows of heat exchanger tubes. The first fluid proceeds successively downstream through such rows in heat-transfer relationship with the heat exchanger tubes. Each downstream row of heat exchanger tubes has less throughput area for the first fluid than an adjacent upstream row of heat exchanger tubes as among at least the first three rows of heat exchanger tubes in the direction of flow of the first fluid. Each downstream row of heat exchanger tubes may have less heat exchanger tubes than an adjacent upstream row of heat exchanger tubes as among at least the first three of the rows of heat exchanger tubes in the direction of flow of the first fluid. The heat exchanger tubes preferably are arranged in triangular or Y-shaped patterns in heat exchangers presenting a flow area of diminishing width for the first fluid.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.