Gravity fed heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger system having a fluid inlet member, a fluid outlet member, and a plurality of multi-port heat transfer members. Each of the multi-port heat transfer member extends between the fluid inlet member and the fluid outlet member to define a plurality of fluid paths between the fluid inlet member and the fluid outlet member for carrying a refrigerant or coolant. The plurality of multi-port heat transfer members are spaced apart from each other so as to maximize the product of the total air-side surface area and the heat transfer coefficient of the heat exchanger. If necessary for structural rigidity, at least one reinforcing member fixedly interconnects at least some of the plurality of multi-port heat transfer members in a woven pattern to provide both longitudinal and lateral reinforcement.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat exchanger system comprising: 
 a fluid inlet member;    a fluid outlet member; and    a plurality of hollow heat transfer members each extending between said fluid inlet member and said fluid outlet member to define a plurality of fluid paths between said fluid inlet member and said fluid outlet member, each of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members having at least two fluid ports extending therethrough, an adjacent pair of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members being spaced apart a distance equal to or greater than about 1.2 times a maximum boundary layer of one of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members.    
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 1  wherein a width of one of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members is between about 10 mm and about 40 mm.  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 1  wherein said adjacent pair of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members is spaced apart a distance between about 3.3 mm and about 6.2 mm.  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one reinforcing member fixedly interconnecting at least some of the plurality of hollow heat transfer members, said reinforcing member generally traversing at least some of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members to provide a general woven configuration.    
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 4  wherein said at least one reinforcing member generally traverses each of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members and said longitudinally extending support bracket in an alternating pattern to provide lateral structural reinforcement.  
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 4  wherein said at least one reinforcing member generally traverses each of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members in an alternating pattern to provide lateral structural reinforcement.  
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 4  wherein said at least one reinforcing member is further oriented in a diagonal position extending longitudinally along said plurality of hollow heat transfer members to provide longitudinal structural reinforcement.  
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 4  wherein said at least one reinforcing member is fixedly brazed to said plurality of hollow heat transfer members.  
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 4  wherein said at least one reinforcing member is an aluminum alloy band.  
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members is micro-multi-port extruded tubing.  
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a longitudinally extending support brackets fixedly coupling said fluid inlet member and said fluid outlet member.    
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger system comprising: 
 a fluid inlet header;    a fluid outlet header;    a plurality of hollow heat transfer members each extending generally parallel between said fluid inlet header and said fluid outlet header to define a plurality of fluid paths between said fluid inlet header and said fluid outlet header, a pair of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members being spaced apart a distance equal to or greater than about 1.2 times but less than about 2.0 times a maximum boundary layer of one of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members, each of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members having a plurality of distinct fluid paths extending therethrough, said plurality of hollow heat transfer members being capable of carrying a fluid along said plurality of fluid paths to promote heat transfer; and    at least one reinforcing band fixedly interconnecting at least some of the plurality of hollow heat transfer members, said reinforcing band generally traversing at least some of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members to provide a general alternating connection configuration.    
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a longitudinally extending support brackets fixedly coupling said fluid inlet header and said fluid outlet header.    
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 13  wherein said at least one reinforcing band generally traverses each of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members and said longitudinally extending support bracket in an alternating pattern to provide lateral structural reinforcement.  
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 12  wherein said at least one reinforcing band generally traverses each of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members in an alternating pattern to provide lateral structural reinforcement.  
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 12  wherein said at least one reinforcing band is further oriented in a diagonal position extending longitudinally along said plurality of hollow heat transfer members to provide longitudinal structural reinforcement.  
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 12 , wherein each of said plurality of hollow heat transfer members is micro-multi-port tubing.  
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 12  wherein said at least one reinforcing band is fixedly brazed to said plurality of hollow heat transfer members.  
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger system according to  claim 12  wherein said at least one reinforcing band is an aluminum alloy band.  
     
     
         20 . A heat exchanger system comprising: 
 a fluid inlet header;    a fluid outlet header;    a plurality of micro-multi-port members each extending generally parallel between said fluid inlet header and said fluid outlet header to define a plurality of fluid paths between said fluid inlet header and said fluid outlet header, said plurality of micro-multi-port members being capable of carrying a refrigerant along said plurality of fluid paths to promote heat transfer, said plurality of micro-multi-port members are spaced apart between about 1.2 times and 2.0 times the maximum external boundary layer surrounding one of said plurality of micro-multi-port members; and    at least one reinforcing band fixedly interconnecting said plurality of micro-multi-port members, said at least one reinforcing band generally traversing each of said plurality of micro-multi-port members in an alternating pattern to provide lateral structural reinforcement, said at least one reinforcing band being further oriented in a diagonal position extending longitudinally along said plurality of micro-multi-port members to provide longitudinal structural reinforcement.