Angled Fin Base Frictional Indentation Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-cooled heat exchanger tubes with fins suffer from inefficient heat transfer due to a small point of contact between the fin and tube, leading to limited and unreliable heat transmission, and are prone to corrosion, especially when not made of expensive corrosion-resistant materials.
Innovation Solution
The development of air-cooled heat exchanger tubes with axially extending indentations and fins featuring a main element with heat transfer-promoting patterns and an angled base that is frictionally secured within the indentations, covering the entire tube surface to enhance heat transfer and prevent corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fins are brazed, galvanized, soldered or welded to the tube, then heat transfer between fin and tube is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the fin base and tube surface by providing an inclined base on the fin that fits into a corresponding inclined indentation on the tube. This geometric parameter change enables mechanical interlocking and frictional engagement without requiring brazing, welding, or other complex joining processes, thereby maintaining heat transfer reliability while simplifying manufacturing.
2Ease of manufacture
If tube diameter is increased to facilitate fastening of fin onto tube, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device dimensions and material consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of solving the fastening problem by increasing the tube diameter (one-dimensional solution), the invention introduces a radial dimension solution by providing an inclined indentation that receives the inclined fin base. This allows secure fin attachment without changing the overall tube diameter, thereby maintaining compact device dimensions while improving ease of manufacture.
3Area of stationary object
If fins are spaced apart on the tube, then heat transfer area is increased, but tube surface becomes exposed to corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the fin base with the tube surface by providing an inclined base that fits into an inclined indentation, creating a continuous coverage over the tube surface. This merging eliminates exposed bare tube surfaces between fins, preventing corrosion while maintaining adequate spacing between fins for heat transfer, thus resolving the contradiction between increasing heat transfer area and preventing corrosion.
4Device complexity
If point contact between fin and tube is used, then device complexity is reduced, but heat transfer reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies a curved surface solution by providing an inclined base on the fin that fits into a corresponding inclined indentation on the tube. This curved surface contact creates a large area frictional engagement between the fin and tube, significantly improving heat transfer reliability compared to point contact, while maintaining relative simplicity in the connection structure through the inclined geometric design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly increases the tube-fin heat transfer coefficient, provides a large area connection for fins that is not labor-intensive, and allows the use of inexpensive materials without risk of corrosion, ensuring effective heat dissipation and protection against corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
a base angled with respect to said main element, wherein said base is frictionally and irremovably secured within said indentations
Implementation Method 2
heat is transferred from the hot fluid that flows inside the tubes to the ambient air by passive or forced air flow on the external side of the heat exchanger tubes
Implementation Method 3
heat is transferred from the hot fluid that flows inside the tubes to the ambient air by passive or forced air flow on the external side of the heat exchanger tubes
Data Source
AI summary
An air cooled, finned heat exchanger tube includes a metallic tube through which fluid to be cooled is flowable. The tube has an outer surface on which axially spaced axial indentations are formed over its circumference, and a plurality of axially spaced fins each of which has a main element formed with heat transfer promoting patterns and a base angled with respect to said main element. The base is frictionally and irremovably secured within a corresponding indentation so that said tube outer surface is completely covered.