Heat exchanger with dimpled tube surfaces

Abstract

A heat exchanger including a shell having an inner chamber defined by an inside wall surface, and a tube stack disposed within the inner chamber. The shell is formed of a single piece of material. The tube stack includes a plurality of flat elongated tubes arranged in a stack. Each of the tubes is formed of a single piece of material that is joined along a seam. A first fluid flow path is defined within the tubes. The tubes each include a plurality of projections projecting outwardly therefrom. The projections on adjacent tubes contact one another, thereby forming a second fluid flow path.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to the field of heat exchangers and, more particularly, to heat exchangers that include a plurality of dimpled, one-piece tubes that are stacked within a surrounding shell. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to heat exchangers that are generally configured comprising a number of internal fluid or gas passages disposed within a surrounding body. In an example embodiment, the internal passages are designed to accommodate passage of a particular fluid or gas in need of cooling, and the body is configured to accommodate passage of a particular cooling fluid or gas used to reduce the temperature of the fluid or gas in the internal passages by heat transfer through the structure of the internal passages. A specific example of such a heat exchanger is one referred to as a shell and tube exchanger, which can be used in such applications as exhaust gas cooling for internal combustion engines. [0003] Refe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] Heat exchangers constructed in this manner, comprising projections along the outside surface of the tubes in the tube stack, provide pressure containment, operating to lower the gas and coolant pressure stresses in the exchanger. Further, they operate to provide spacing between the tubes, allowing for the passage of a desired fluid or coolant therebetween. Further, the use of such projections provide turbulence within the second gas or fluid flow path to increase the heat transfer coefficient on the coolant side of the tubes. Finally, they operate to provide structural support among the number of tubes within the heat exchanger to eliminate vibration of the tubes relative to one another, thereby operating to help reduce vibration induced heat exchanger failures.

Problems solved by technology

Further, the use of such projections provide turbulence within the second gas or fluid flow path to increase the heat transfer coefficient on the coolant side of the tubes.

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