Microtube heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018164045-A1
Application number	US-201615580221-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 28, 2016
Priority date	Jun 29, 2015
Publication date	Jun 14, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heat exchanger is provided including an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold arranged generally parallel to the inlet manifold and being spaced therefrom by a distance. A plurality of rows of microtubes is aligned in a substantially parallel relationship. The plurality of rows of microtubes is configured to fluidly couple the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold. Each of the plurality of rows includes a plurality of microtubes.

First claim

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
an inlet manifold; an outlet manifold arranged generally parallel to the inlet manifold, the outlet manifold being separated from the inlet manifold by a distance; and a plurality of rows of microtubes aligned in substantially parallel relationship, the plurality of rows of microtubes being configured to fluidly couple the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold, wherein each of the plurality of rows includes a plurality of microtubes.

2 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one microtube includes a first flattened surface and a second flattened surface.

3 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein a gap exists between at least a portion of adjacent microtubes within a row.

4 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein adjacent microtubes within one of the plurality of rows are not connected to one another.

5 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein adjacent microtubes within one of the plurality of rows are coupled to one another by at least one rib.

6 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rows has a same number of microtubes.

7 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein a flow passage of the microtube has a hydraulic diameter between about 0.2 mm and 1.4 mm.

8 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of one or more of the plurality of microtubes is generally airfoil shaped.

9 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the plurality of microtubes is generally rectangular having rounded corners.

10 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein at least one heat transfer fin is arranged within an opening formed between adjacent rows of the plurality of rows of microtubes.

11 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microtubes includes a flattened surface, and a plurality of heat exchanger fins is configured to attach to the flattened surface of each of the plurality of microtubes within a row.

12 . The heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of heat exchanger fins configured to attach to each of the plurality of microtubes within a row is formed from a sheet such that the plurality of heat exchanger fins is connected.

13 . The heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein the heat transfer fin is coupled to at least one microtube within a first row of the plurality of rows and at least one microtube within a second row of the plurality of rows.

14 . The heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one heat transfer fin is serrated.

15 . The heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one heat transfer fin is louvered.

16 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rows of microtubes are formed in a first tube bank and a second tube bank, the first tube bank and the second tube bank being disposed behind one another relative to a direction of flow of a second heat transfer fluid through the heat exchanger.

17 . A heat exchanger system comprising:
a parallel flow heat exchanger including a plurality of microtubes aligned in substantially parallel relationship and fluidly connected by a manifold system, each of the plurality of microtubes defines a flow passage, wherein the plurality of microtubes are arranged in rows and at least a portion of the plurality of microtubes within a row are separated from one another by a distance such that a gap exists there between.

18 . The heat exchanger system according to claim 17 , wherein a gap exists between each of the plurality of microtubes.

19 . The heat exchanger system according to claim 18 , wherein adjacent microtubes are connected by at least one rib extending there between.

20 . The heat exchanger system according to claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of microtubes within a row is arranged in multiple groups such that the gap exists between adjacent groups of microtubes.

21 . The heat exchanger system according to claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of microtubes arranged within a group is integrally formed.

Assignees

• Carrier Corp

Inventors

• Alahyari Abbas A
• Whiton John H
• Pearson Matthew Robert
• Esformes Jack Leon

Classifications

• F28F1/022 Primary

  with multiple channels · CPC title

• F28D1/05383

  with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits (F28D1/05391 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F2250/02

  Streamline-shaped elements · CPC title

• F28F2260/02

  having microchannels · CPC title