Heat exchanger and method of manufacturing

Abstract

A heat exchanger including at least one collecting tank for input and output of a first heat transfer medium, a plurality of plastic tubes receiving the first heat transfer medium from the at least one collecting tank and outputting the first heat transfer medium to the at least one collecting tank, and a plurality of metal heat exchange elements between the tubes and in heat exchange contact with the tubes and a second heat transfer medium. At least some of the heat exchange elements are incorporated in the tube walls, with wave crests and troughs embedded in furrows of the walls. The heat exchanger is manufactured by heating the heat exchange element to plasticize the tubes at least at the contact sites between the tubes and the heat exchange elements, and then producing intimate contact between the tube and the heat exchange element.

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising: 
 at least one collecting tank for input and output of a first heat transfer medium;    a plurality of plastic tubes receiving said first heat transfer medium from said at least one collecting tank and outputting said first heat transfer medium to said at least one collecting tank; and    a plurality of metal heat exchange elements between said tubes and in heat exchange contact with said tubes and a second heat transfer medium.    
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said tubes have walls, and at least some of said heat exchange elements are incorporated in said tube walls.  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein said corrugated ribs have wave crests and wave troughs, and said crests and troughs are embedded in said tube walls whereby the crests and troughs lie in furrows of the walls.  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein said wave crests and wave troughs have protrusions which penetrate into the tube walls.  
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein said protrusions pass through the tube walls.  
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said tubes are extruded flat tubes.  
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein said tubes are multi-chamber tubes.  
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchange elements are corrugated ribs.  
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein said ribs are produced from one of the group consisting of an aluminum sheet and a non-ferrous heavy-metal sheet.  
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchange elements are flat ribs having protruding fins with the ends of said fins incorporated in walls of the tubes.  
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising metal internal inserts in the plastic tubes.  
     
     
         12 . A method of producing a heat exchanger according to  claim 1  with said tubes and heat exchange elements assembled in a heat exchanger block, comprising the steps of: 
 heating the heat exchange element to plasticize the tubes at least at the contact sites between the tubes and the heat exchange elements; and    producing intimate contact between the tube and the heat exchange element.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said heating step is accomplished by an electrical induction current.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said heat exchange elements are corrugated ribs with wave crests and wave troughs and, during said heating step, heat input is concentrated on said wave crests and wave troughs.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising cooling within the tubes during said heating step.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said cooling is accomplished by compressed air in said tubes.