Heat transfer surface

• US 4,129,181 A
• Filed: 02/16/1977
• Issued: 12/12/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wolverine Tube Incorporated
• Original Assignee: UOP Llc (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Bradley, Steven A., Shum, Ming S., Janowski, Kenneth R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richter, Sheldon
• Application Number:
  US05/769,623
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 165/105, 165/133, 165/180, 165/DIG. 8, 62/467 R
• US Class Current: 165/133
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2998/00 Supplementary information concerning processes or compositions relating to powder metallurgy
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2998/10 Processes characterised by the sequence of their steps
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/1137 by coating porous removable preforms
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 7/006 the porous part being obtained by foaming
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/04 cellular or porous
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2705/10 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/003 comprising a metal layer
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 7/00 Electroplating characterised by the article coated
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/187 especially adapted for evaporator surfaces or condenser surfaces, e.g. with nucleation sites

Abstract

The invention relates to improving the heat transfer properties in boiling liquids of tubes and other surfaces by applying a very porous reticulated organic foam layer in contact with the tube surface, and then plating a thin metal coating on the foam substrate. Preferably, the tube is copper and the plating consists of a first electrolessly applied layer of copper and a second electroplated layer. The foam is preferably in the form of a thin tape which is spirally wound about the tube. Pyrolization of the foam after plating improves the heat transfer performance of the tube.

Claims

1. A metal heat transfer member having at least one nucleate boiling surface which is adapted to be exposed to a boiling medium, said at least one surface being coated with a layer of a non-particulate reticulated metal structure which is in intimately bonded thermally conducting relationship to said at least one surface, said reticulated metal structure being shell-like and skeletal with all the metal therein surrounding a complementary reticulated non-metallic core portion contained within said layer.

2. The heat transfer member of claim 1 wherein said reticulated non-metallic core portion comprises an organic foam.

3. The heat transfer member of claim 2 wherein said reticulated non-metal core portion is hollow.

4. The heat transfer member of claim 3 wherein said reticulated metal structure includes a plurality of small openings in its surface in communication with its hollow core portion.

5. The heat transfer member of claim 4 wherein said reticulated metal structure has a pore size of approximately 100 pores per inch, pore openings of approximately 0.005 inches and small openings in its surface of approximately 0.001 inches or less.