Heat exchanger with modified tube surface feature
US7322403B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 28, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jan 29, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 5, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF28F2240/00
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A heat exchanger includes a shell that has an inner chamber defined by an inside wall surface. A tube stack disposed within the inner chamber and includes a plurality of flat elongated tubes that define a first fluid flow path. The tubes each include a wire that is wound around a tube outside surface and that extends in a helical manner along a tube length. When stacked together, the wires of adjacent tubes connect with one another to form an “X” pattern connection that operates to both distance the adjacent tubes and form a second fluid flow path along the outside surfaces of the tubes. The connection between the wires causes turbulent flow in the coolant that improves the heat transfer characteristic of the coolant, and the connection between the wires provides structural support to the tubes in the tube stack to help reduce vibration induced heat exchanger failures.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.