Heat exchanger

• US 7,040,386 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Shimoya, Masahiro, Torigoe, Eiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Application Number:
  US10/649,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 165151-153, 165/DIG.505
• US Class Current: 165/153
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/022 with multiple channels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/126 consisting of zig-zag shaped fins F28F1/105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/32 the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/02 Streamline-shaped elements

Abstract

Fins such as corrugated fins or plate fins are formed with meandering projections. A fluid such as air strikes bent parts of the meandering projections or grooves at the back sides while flowing along the fins and becomes turbulent and therefore flows while meandering so as to be directed toward the surfaces of tubes, so flows not only contacting the front and back surfaces of the fins without leaving any dead space, but also striking the surfaces of the tubes. Due to this, no boundary layers are formed at the surfaces of the fins or tubes, so heat conduction is promoted and therefore the heat exchange efficiency between a first fluid such as a refrigerant flowing through the insides of the tubes and a second fluid such as air flowing outside is remarkably improved.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising:

a plurality of tubes arranged in parallel with each other;

sheet-like fins attached to the plurality of tubes to bridge intervals between facing tubes, the sheet-like fins performing heat exchange between a first fluid flowing inside of the plurality of tubes and a second fluid flowing in contact with outer surfaces of the tubes and the fins;

wherein

a meandering projection is formed in each of said fins, the meandering projection extending over an entire width of the fin in a direction generally parallel with a flow direction of the second fluid to form a generally rectangular flow passage which extends through a respective interval between facing tubes in the direction generally parallel to the flow direction of the second fluid.

2. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said projections meander centered about the flow direction of said second fluid so as to be directed toward said tubes.

3. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein top surfaces of the meandering projections are formed with louver-shaped pieces cut and raised, the louver-shaped pieces disturbing the flow of said second fluid.

4. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein top surfaces of the meandering projections are formed with relief shapes disturbing the flow of said second fluid.

5. A heat exchanger as forth in claim 4, wherein said relief shapes formed on the top surfaces of the meandering projections are arranged along wave shapes disposed in a longitudinal direction of said tubes about the flow direction of said second fluid.

6. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fins are corrugated fins bent into wave shapes between facing tubes.

7. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fins are plate fins of plate shapes connecting the plurality of said tubes.

8. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tubes have outer surfaces with flat sectional shapes.

9. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tubes have outer surfaces with wedge-shaped sectional shapes.

10. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 8, wherein said tubes form a plurality of fluid passages.

11. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 8, wherein said tubes form single fluid passages.

12. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 9, wherein said tubes form a plurality of fluid passages.

13. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 9, wherein said tubes form single fluid passages.

14. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tubes have outer surfaces with substantially circular sectional shapes.

15. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 14, wherein a first plurality of said tubes are arranged on a first identical virtual plane and a second plurality of said tubes are arranged on a second virtual plane facing the first virtual plane.

16. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the flow passage comprises a single generally rectangular passage.

17. A heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the meandering projection includes a first wall directing the second fluid towards one of the facing tubes and a second wall directing the second fluid towards the other of the facing tubes.

18. A heat exchanger, comprising:

a plurality of flat tubes arranged in parallel with each other; and

a plurality of corrugated fins disposed between adjacent pairs of the flat tubes so as to provide parallel arranged fin plates bridging the flat tubes, wherein

each of the fin plates are formed with a first flat surface adjacent to and perpendicular to the flat tube, a second flat surface perpendicular to the flat tube, and a side surface between the first and second flat surfaces, the side surface facing a respective flat tube and continuously extending from an upstream edge to a downstream edge of the fin plate along a stream direction and smoothly meandering in wave-shape along the stream direction so that the side surface and the flat tube define a stream passage that repeats narrowing toward the flat tube and widening from the flat tube.