Heat exchange system with inclined heat exchanger device

Abstract

A technique for cooling an air flow through a heat exchanger device involves a controlled change of direction from an air input direction to cooling fins in the heat exchanger device. The heat exchanger device is angled relative to the air stream input direction. The heat exchanger device may include a fluid-carrying conduit, a plurality of sets of cooling fins coupled along the fluid-carrying conduit, and a plurality of air stream deflectors, coupled to the fluid-carrying conduit, that form dividers between the sets of cooling fins. In operation, the air stream deflectors may change in a controlled manner air stream direction from the air stream input direction into a direction approximately parallel with the cooling fins and, after passing out of the cooling fins, change in a controlled manner air stream direction to an air stream output direction.

1 . A system comprising: 
 a duct;    a fan, in communication with the duct, wherein, in operation, the fan directs an air stream through the duct in an air stream input direction;    a heat exchanger device, coupled to the duct and angled relative to the air stream input direction, the heat exchanger device including: 
 a fluid-carrying conduit;  
 a plurality of sets of cooling fins coupled along the fluid-carrying conduit;  
 a plurality of air stream deflectors, coupled to the fluid-carrying conduit, that form dividers between the sets of cooling fins, wherein, in operation, the air stream deflectors change in a controlled manner air stream direction from the air stream input direction into a direction approximately parallel with the cooling fins and, after passing out of the cooling fins, change in a controlled manner air stream direction to an air stream output direction.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air stream output direction is approximately parallel to the air stream input direction.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in operation, the air stream deflectors produce less turbulent and more uniform input velocity in an air stream passing through the duct in the air stream input direction.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in operation, the air stream deflectors produce less turbulent and more uniform output velocity in an air stream passing through the duct in the air stream output direction.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of air stream deflectors also act as cooling fins.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the duct has a vertical height of less than about 8.75 inches.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger device is longer than the height of the duct.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink, wherein fluid passes through the fluid-carrying conduit, absorbs heat through the cooling fins, and is directed to the heat sink.  
     
     
         9 . A device comprising: 
 heat exchanger coils;    a plurality of director vanes coupled to the heat exchanger coils;    a plurality of fins coupled to the heat exchanger coils in subpluralities that are arranged substantially in parallel between the director vanes, wherein, in operation, conditioned cooling fluid passing through the heat exchanger coils absorbs and carries away heat from the fins;    wherein, in operation, air flows in an air input direction against a first director vane, the first director vane changes the direction of the air flow to approximately parallel to a subplurality of fins, the air flow passes between the subplurality of fins, the subplurality of fins absorb heat from the air flow, the air flows against a second director vane, and the second director vane changes the direction of the air flow to an air output direction that is approximately parallel to the air input direction and approximately perpendicular to the subplurality of fins.    
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the subplurality of fins includes at least two fins arranged in parallel between the first director vane and the second director vane.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the subplurality of fins includes no more than 70 fins arranged in parallel between the first director vane and the second director vane.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the subplurality of fins includes a number of fins, and wherein the number of fins depends upon the angle between the air flow and fin faces.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein two subpluralities of fins and the first director vane extend approximately one inch along the heat exchanger coils.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein a liquid coolant or direct expansion gas passes through the heat exchanger coils and cools the air when the air flow contacts the heat exchanger coils.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first director vane gradually changes the air flow direction.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first director vane changes the air flow direction incrementally.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first director vane reduces back pressure by gradually changing the air flow direction.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the director vanes also act as cooling fins.  
     
     
         19 . A method comprising: 
 providing a tube;    stacking a plurality of fins onto the tube, wherein the tube is passed through an opening in each of the plurality of fins;    interspersing a plurality of director vanes between subpluralities of fins, wherein the tube is passed through an opening in each of the plurality of director vanes;    pressurizing the tube to tighten the tube against the fins and director vanes at the openings.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising spacing the fins by providing embossing around the hole of each of the plurality of fins.