Heat exchange tube with integral restricting and turbulating structure

Abstract

A heat exchanger apparatus includes at least one single piece tubular member that has a normal radius and a generally circular cross section and a restricting and turbulating structure. The structure includes at least one opposing pair of obstructions that are exposed to one another and have a generally parabolic dimple shape disposed within the tubular member. The tubular member extends along a longitudinal axis. The length of each obstruction extends parallel to the longitudinal axis such that the obstructions extend parallel to one another. At least one of the obstructions projects into the tubular member to form a dead flow area between the obstructions through which fluid flow is negligible. A pair of adjacent converging, diverging nozzles is separated by the dead flow area, each having an aperture through which a fluid may flow and maintain the normal radius of the tubular member.

1 . A heat exchanger apparatus comprising:
 at least one single piece tubular member having a normal radius and a generally circular cross section, the tubular member further comprising a restricting and turbulating structure, the structure comprising at least one opposing pair of obstructions being exposed to one another and having a generally parabolic dimple shape disposed within the tubular member,   wherein the tubular member extends along a longitudinal axis and the length of each obstruction in each pair of obstructions extends parallel to the longitudinal axis such that the obstructions in each pair of obstructions extend parallel to one another, at least one of the obstructions in each pair of obstructions projects into the tubular member to form a dead flow area between the obstructions through which fluid flow is negligible and a pair of adjacent converging, diverging nozzles separated by the dead flow area each having an aperture through which a fluid may flow and maintain the normal radius of the tubular member within the circular cross section along the entire tubular member.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the obstructions in each pair of obstructions project into the tubular member until they contact one another. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the entire obstruction of each pair of obstructions are aligned with respect to each other and project into the tubular member until they confront one another to form the pair of converging, diverging nozzles. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the obstructions in each pair of obstructions projects halfway into the tubular member. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the obstructions are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined distance is between 0-12% of a diameter of the tubular member. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the opposing pairs of obstructions are located along the sides of the tubular member such that when the tubular member is viewed from one end, the pairs of opposing obstructions are disposed at an angle relative to the vertical axis of the tubular member. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the obstructions are located at a 45° angle relative to the vertical axis of the tubular member. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the obstructions are located on an axis oriented at an angle of between 0° and 45° relative to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger apparatus comprising:
 an inshot burner; and   at least one single piece tubular member having a normal radius and a generally circular cross section, the tubular member further comprising a restricting and turbulating structure integral to the tubular member and disposed within the tubular member, the restricting and turbulating structure comprising at least one pair of opposing indentations being exposed to one another and having a generally parabolic dimple shape extending into the tubular member until the indentations confront one another,   wherein the indentations in each pair of indentations extend parallel to one another and are substantially aligned with one another, the indentations in each pair of indentations projecting into the tubular member to form a dead flow area between the indentations through which fluid flow is negligible and a pair of adjacent converging, diverging nozzles separated by the dead flow area, each nozzle having an aperture through which fluid may flow and maintain the normal radius of the tubular member within the circular cross section along the entire tubular member.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the entire indentation of each pair of indentation are aligned with respect to each other and project into the tubular member until they confront one another to form the pair of converging, diverging nozzles. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the indentations project into the tubular member until they contact one another. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the indentations are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined distance is less than 13% of a diameter of the tubular member. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the opposing indentations are disposed within the tubular member at an angle with respect to a vertical axis of the tubular member. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the indentations are located at a 45° angle relative to the vertical axis of the tubular member. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the indentations are located on an axis oriented at an angle of between 0° and 45° relative to a vertical axis of the tubular member. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the tubular member is bent into a serpentine shape. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a plurality of the tubular members. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger apparatus recited in  claim 10 , wherein the tubular member extends along a longitudinal axis and the length of each indentation in each pair of indentations extends parallel to the longitudinal axis.