Heat exchanger utilizing tubular structures having internal flow altering members and external chamber assemblies

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes at least one cylindrical tubular member formed from a tubular structure and chamber assemblies. A plurality of flow altering members are coupled at predetermined intervals within the tubular structure. The flow altering members have an angled surface on their respective sides facing the flow of a heat exchange medium. Pairs of inlet orifices and outlet orifices are formed on the wall of the tubular structure at the same intervals as the flow altering members. Chamber assemblies are coupled as a full or partial collar on the exterior of the tubular structure. Each chamber assembly is hollow, permitting fluid flow within, and is in fluid communication with a corresponding inlet orifice, outlet orifice pair so that the heat exchange medium repeatedly flows out of the tubular structure into a chamber assembly and back into the tubular structure. Multiple cylindrical tubular members may be coupled between manifolds.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA[0001]This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 677,953, filed Nov. 15, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to heat exchanger tubes and heat exchangers and, more specifically, to heat exchanger tubes and heat exchangers with a cylindrical tubular member having a plurality of flow altering members within each tubular member. The flow altering members are each paired with a chamber assembly attached to the external surface of the cylindrical tubular member.[0004]2. Discussion of Related Art[0005]Heat exchangers are commonly utilized in systems where it is desired for heat to be removed. Typical basic heat exchangers are made of generally straight pipes, which channel heat exchanging medium within. Headers or manifolds are typically attached to each end of the pipes. These headers and manifolds act as r...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The enhanced heat exchanger achieves improved heat transfer efficiency, reduced material and packaging needs, and cost-effectiveness, with increased structural rigidity for high-pressure applications and a smaller footprint.

Problems solved by technology

The efficiency of pipe heat exchangers is limited by the amount of surface area available for the transfer of heat.

However, the pressure resistance is reduced, and the thinner tubes are more prone to damage.

Also, the assembly process is complicated due to the fragile nature of the parts.

In addition, extruded tubes are prone to plugging during the manufacturing process, particularly if a brazing process is utilized.

The complexity of the extruding process results in higher costs and higher defect rates.

Furthermore, as flat tubes are generally extruded into shape utilizing metal extrusion processes, only material that can be easily extruded into shape is typically made into flat tubes, restricting the available materials for flat tubes generally to aluminum and various aluminum alloys known in the art.

The overall cost for the flat tube heat exchanging system is higher because a powerful compressor is necessary to move the heat exchanging medium through the smaller openings of the tubes.

The addition of tubes increase the overall cost for the heat exchanging system.

This is detrimental to the performance of a heat exchanger, especially in an application such as an evaporator, wherein pressure drop significantly diminishes the performance of the compressor, for example.

Shell-and-tube heat exchangers typically bundle together generally straight tubes with no surface enhancements either to the inside or the outside of the tubes, resulting in limited heat exchanging performance characteristics.

This causes shell-and-tube heat exchanger to be larger in size to meet a desired heat exchanging performance, thus requiring a large footprint for installation purposes.

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