Heat exchanger

Abstract

An improved heat exchanger for an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The heat exchanger typically includes at least one end tank; and a plurality of spaced apart tubes with fins between the spaced tubes. The heat exchanger may be combined with single or multi-fluid heat exchanger. In preferred embodiments, the heat exchanger is arranged to have tubes or tube arrangements that improve heat transfer efficiency.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first end tank;    a second end tank opposite the first end tank;    a first tube in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the first tube adapted to have a first fluid flow therethrough,    a second tube in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the second tubes adapted to have the first fluid flow therethrough after the first fluid flows through the first tube,    wherein the hydraulic diameter of the second tube is greater than the first tube.    
   
   
       2 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the first tube has a hydraulic diameter less than about 1.00 mm and the second tube has a hydraulic diameter greater than about 1.00 mm.  
   
   
       3 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 2  wherein at least one fin contacts the first tube and the second tube, with the first and second tubes and the fins being generally co-planar relative to each other.  
   
   
       4 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 3  wherein the hydraulic diameter of the first tube is less than about 0.8 mm.  
   
   
       5 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 4  wherein the hydraulic diameter of the second tube is greater than about 1.2 mm.  
   
   
       6 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 1  wherein the first tube defines a plurality of sub-passageways extending along a length of the first tube wherein each of the sub-passageways of the first tube has a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the length of the first tube that is between about 0.02 mm 2  and about 1.00 mm 2 .  
   
   
       7 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 6  wherein the second tube defines a plurality of sub-passageways extending along a length of the second tube wherein each of the sub-passageways of the second tube have a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the length of the second tube that is between about 0.11 mm 2  and about 4.0 mm 2 .  
   
   
       8 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 3  wherein the first tube defines a plurality of sub-passageways extending along a length of the first tube wherein each of the sub-passageways of the first tube have a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the length of the first tube that is between about 0.02 mm 2  and about 1.00 mm 2 .  
   
   
       9 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 8  wherein the second tube defines a plurality of sub-passageways extending along a length of the second tube wherein each of the sub-passageways of the second tube have a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the length of the second tube that is between about 1.1 mm 2  and about 2.2 mm 2 .  
   
   
       10 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 3  wherein the first fluid is a refrigerant.  
   
   
       11 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 8  further comprising a receiver in fluid communication with the second end tank for receiving fluid from the first tube and providing fluid to the second tube.  
   
   
       12 . A heat exchanger as in claim 11  wherein the receiver at least partially separates a portion of the first fluid in a liquid state from a portion of the first fluid in a gas state.  
   
   
       13 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first end tank;    a second end tank opposite the first end tank;    a plurality of first tubes in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the plurality of first tubes adapted to have a first fluid flow therethrough, the plurality of first tubes each having a hydraulic diameter less than about 1.00 mm;    a plurality of second tubes in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the plurality of second tubes adapted to have the first fluid flow therethrough after the first fluid flows through the plurality of first tubes, the plurality of second tubes each having a hydraulic diameter greater than about 1.00 mm;    at least one fin contacting the one or the plurality of first tubes and at least one of the plurality of second tubes, with the first and second tubes and the fins being generally co-planar relative to each other.    
   
   
       14 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 13  wherein the hydraulic diameter of each first tube is less than about 0.6 mm.  
   
   
       15 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 14  wherein the hydraulic diameter of each second tube is greater than about 1.2 mm.  
   
   
       16 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 13  wherein each first tube defines a plurality of sub-passageways extending along a length of each first tube wherein each of the sub-passageways of each first tube has a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the length of each first tube that is between about 0.02 mm 2  and about 1.00 mm 2 .  
   
   
       17 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 16  wherein each second tube defines a plurality of sub-passageways extending along a length of each second tube wherein each of the sub-passageways of each second tube has a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the length of each second tube that is between about 1.1 mm 2  and about 2.2 mm 2 .  
   
   
       18 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 13  wherein the first fluid is a refrigerant.  
   
   
       19 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 13  further comprising a receiver in fluid communication with the second end tank for receiving fluid from the plurality of first tubes and providing fluid to the plurality of second tubes.  
   
   
       20 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 19  wherein the receiver at least partially separates a portion of the first fluid in a liquid state from a portion of the first fluid in a gas state.  
   
   
       21 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first end tank;    a second end tank opposite the first end tank;    a plurality of first tubes in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the plurality of first tubes adapted to have a first fluid flow therethrough, the plurality of first tubes having a hydraulic diameter less than about 1.00 mm;    a plurality of second tubes in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the plurality of second tubes adapted to have the first fluid flow therethrough after the first fluid flows through the plurality of first tubes, the plurality of second tubes each having a hydraulic diameter greater than about 1.00 mm;    a plurality of third tubes in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the plurality of third tubes adapted to have a second fluid, different from the first fluid, flow therethrough; and    a plurality of fins disposed between the pluralities of first, second and third tubes, with the pluralities of first, second and third tubes and the plurality of fins being generally co-planar relative to each other.    
   
   
       22 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 21  wherein the first fluid is a refrigerant such that the first and second plurality of tubes are part of a condenser.  
   
   
       23 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 22  further comprising a third plurality of tubes are above the first and second plurality of tubes.  
   
   
       24 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 22  wherein the inlet supported by the first end tank is below an outlet that is also supported by the first end tank.  
   
   
       25 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 22  wherein the condenser is a single pass condenser with a lower tube, a higher tube and an inlet located nearer the lower tube than the higher tube.  
   
   
       26 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 22  further comprising a receiver having a bottom portion located below a lowest tube of the first plurality of tubes.  
   
   
       27 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first end tank;    a second end tank opposite the first end tank;    a first tube in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the first tube adapted to have a first fluid flow therethrough;    a second tube in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks and the first tube wherein the second tube has a larger hydraulic diameter than the first tube;    at least one fin contacting the first tube and the second tube, with the first and second tubes and the fins being generally co-planar relative to each other.    
   
   
       28 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 27 , wherein the second tube is adapted to have the first fluid flow therethrough after the first fluid flows through the first tube.  
   
   
       29 . A heat exchanger as in claims  27  wherein the second tube has an opening and the first tube has an opening and wherein the opening of the second tube has a larger fluid-cross-sectional area than that of the first tube.  
   
   
       30 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 27  wherein the first tube has an hydraulic diameter of less than about 1.00 mm and the second tube has an hydraulic diameter of greater than about 1.00 mm.  
   
   
       31 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first end tank;    a second end tank opposite the first end tank;    a first tube in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the first tube adapted to have a first fluid flow therethrough;    a second tube in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks and the first tube wherein the second tube has fluid cross section larger than that of the first tube;    at least one fin contacting the first tube and the second tube, with the first and second tubes and the fins being generally co-planar relative to each other.    
   
   
       32 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 31 , wherein the second tube is adapted to have the first fluid flow therethrough after the first fluid flows through the first tube.  
   
   
       33 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 32  wherein the first tube has an hydraulic diameter of less than about 1.00 mm and the second tube has an hydraulic diameter of greater than about 1.00 mm  
   
   
       34 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first end tank;    a second end tank opposite the first end tank;    at least one first tube in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the first tube adopted to have a first fluid flow there-through;    at least one second tube in communication with the first and second end tanks, the second tube adapted to have a first fluid flow there-through;    at least one fin contacting the first or second tubes, with the first and second tubes and the fins being generally co-planar relative to each other;    a first end tube defining a first end of the heat exchanger; and    a second end tube defining a second end of the heat exchanger;    wherein the second tube is larger than the first tube and wherein the first tube end tube or the second end tube is respectively restricted from fluid communication with the first fluid.    
   
   
       35 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first end tank;    a second end tank opposite the first end tank;    at least one first tube in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the first tube adopted to have a first fluid flow there-through;    at least one second tube in communication with the first and second end tanks, the at least one second tube adapted to have a first fluid flow there-through;    at least one fin contacting the first and second tubes, with the first and second tubes and the fins being generally co-planar relative to each other;    a first end tube defining a first end of the heat exchanger; and    a second end tube defining a second end of the heat exchanger;    wherein the at least one second tube is larger than the first tube and wherein the first end tube and the second end tube are respectively restricted from fluid communication with the first fluid.    
   
   
       36 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 34  wherein the first end tube and the second end tube are substantially identical to each other.  
   
   
       37 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 36  wherein the first end tube and the second end tube are substantially identical to at least one of the plurality of first tubes.  
   
   
       38 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 34  wherein the first end tube and the second end tube are different from each other.  
   
   
       39 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first end tank;    a second end tank opposite the first end tank;    a first tube of thickness (T 1 ) of width (W 1 ) and of length (L 1 ) in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the first tube adapted to have a first fluid flow there-through;    a second tube of thickness (T 2 ), of width (W 2 ) and of length (L 2 ) in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the second tubes adapted to have the first fluid flow therethrough after the first fluid flows through the first tube;    wherein the first tube has a hydraulic diameter less than about 1.00 mm and the second tube has a hydraulic diameter greater than about 1.00 mm.    
   
   
       40 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 39 , wherein T 1  is between about 0.5 to about 1.5 mm, W 1  is between about 10 to about 14 mm, and L 1  is between about 15 cm and about 90 cm.  
   
   
       41 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 40  wherein T 2  is between about 0.5-2 mm, W 2  is between about 10-14 mm, and L 2  is between about 15 cm-90 cm.  
   
   
       42 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 41  wherein the first tube defines a plurality of sub-passageways extending along a length of the first tube wherein each of the sub-passageways of the first tube has a cross sectional area perpendicular to the length of the first tube that is between about 0.02 mm 2  and about 1.00 mm 2    
   
   
       43 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 42  wherein the second tube defines a plurality of sub-passageways extending along a length of the second tube wherein each of the sub-passageways of the second tube have a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the length of the second tube that is between about 1.0 mm 2  and about 4.0 mm 2 .  
   
   
       44 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 43  wherein the number of passageways of the first tube is between about 10 to 16.  
   
   
       45 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 43  wherein the number of passageways of the first tube is between about 10 to14.  
   
   
       46 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 44  wherein the number of passageways of the second tube is between about 2 to about 6.  
   
   
       47 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising the heat exchanger of  claim 1  and at least one other single fluid heat exchanger.  
   
   
       48 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising the heat exchanger of  claim 5  and at least one other single fluid heat exchanger.  
   
   
       49 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising the heat exchanger of  claim 1  and at least one multi fluid heat exchanger.  
   
   
       50 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising the heat exchanger of  claim 5  and at least one multi fluid heat exchanger.