Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of heat transfer tubes adapted to transport heat transfer fluid from an inlet to an outlet, the heat transfer tubes comprising elongate hollow members adapted to receive the heat transfer fluid therein, the heat exchanger adapted to receive a flow of heat removal fluid flow between the heat transfer tubes, wherein the heat transfer tubes are arranged such that the heat removal fluid is caused to follow a substantially undulating path through the heat exchanger.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 61 / 315,559 filed 19 Mar. 2010, entitled “Heat Exchanger” and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to a heat exchanger. In particular, it relates to a radiator for cooling a power plant or engine, such as a train engine, and more particularly to a finless radiator for cooling an engine.BACKGROUND[0003]A heat exchanger that is used to cool a vehicle engine is typically called a radiator. A heat transfer fluid is passed through the engine to absorb the heat generated by the engine. The heated transfer fluid is then passed through radiator tubes within the radiator, which transfers the heat of the heat transfer fluid to a heat removal fluid. The heat removal fluid is usually atmospheric air, which flows over the radiator tubes and absorbs the heat from the heat transfer fluid flowing therein and dissipates...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]This is advantageous as the arrangement of heat transfer tubes promotes efficient heat transfer to the heat removal fluid without the need for fins. The undulating path followed by the heat removal fluid results in increased contact between the fluid and the heat transfer tubes and also promotes turbulence within the heat exchanger. It has been found that this arrangement is sufficiently efficient to obviate the need for fins. The heat transfer tubes can be substantially smooth and shaped to cause the heat removal fluid to follow the undulating path. As the undulating path is provided by the shape or arrangement of the walls of the heat transfer tubes rather than by any fins or projections, the heat transfer tubes gather little dirt and debris and are easily cleaned.

[0010]Thus, the director surfaces of each stack or row are arranged to change the direction of the flow of the heat removal fluid, which promotes heat transfer to the heat removal fluid. This is thought to be due to the creation of turbulence between the heat transfer tubes and between the stacks or rows, which improves the contact of the heat removal fluid with the heat transfer tubes and therefore enhances the transfer of heat between the heat transfer fluid and the heat removal fluid. As the heat exchanger does not require fins, it is significantly more reliable, as debris cannot collect within the radiator thus maintaining a good flow of heat removal fluid. It is also easy to clean.

[0014]In particular, the inclination of the director surfaces and the arrangement of the stacks are preferably such that a tangent to the director surface of a tube in the first stack falls upon the director surface of a tube in an adjacent stack. This helps promote the undulating flow path through the heat exchanger and therefore the turbulance.

Problems solved by technology

The undulating path followed by the heat removal fluid results in increased contact between the fluid and the heat transfer tubes and also promotes turbulence within the heat exchanger.

Images