Heat exchanger fins, assemblies and methods

Abstract

A bladed heat exchanger fin, tube assemblies in which the fin is installed, and methods of using the fin. The bladed fin includes a collar and a radial portion extending radially from an axis of the collar. The radial portion has a base region adjacent the collar and first and second sets of blades that radially extend therefrom. Each blade has a span-wise axis that is transverse to the axis of the collar. Each of the first set of blades is revolved about the span-wise axis thereof so as to have radial edges that are axially spaced from each other, and each of the second set of blades is not revolved about the span-wise axis thereof. At least some of the blades of the first set are between at least some of the blades of the second set.

1 . A bladed heat exchanger fin comprising:
 a collar having a tubular-shape so as to define an axis and inner and outer surfaces;   a radial portion extending radially from the axis of the collar, the radial portion comprising a base region adjacent the collar and blades that are attached to and radially extend from the base region, the base region defining a base plane that is transverse to the axis of the collar, the blades defining an annular array comprising first and second sets of the blades that define a discontinuous perimeter of the bladed heat exchanger fin that is interrupted by gaps between the first and second sets of blades, each blade of the first and second set of blades having a span-wise axis that is transverse to the axis of the collar;   each blade of the first set of blades being revolved about the span-wise axis thereof so as to have oppositely-disposed radial edges that are axially spaced from each other;   each blade of the second set of blades not being revolved about the span-wise axis thereof so as to have oppositely-disposed radial edges that are not axially spaced from each other; and   at least some of the blades of the first set of blades being between at least some of the blades of the second set of blades.   
     
     
         2 . The bladed heat exchanger fin according to  claim 1 , wherein the base plane is perpendicular to the axis of the collar. 
     
     
         3 . The bladed heat exchanger fin according to  claim 1 , wherein the span-wise axis of each blade of the first and second sets of blades is perpendicular to the axis of the collar and coincides with a radial of the radial portion. 
     
     
         4 . The bladed heat exchanger fin according to  claim 1 , wherein the radial edges of the first set of blades are located on opposite sides of the base plane. 
     
     
         5 . The bladed heat exchanger fin according to  claim 1 , wherein the radial edges of the second set of blades are located within the base plane. 
     
     
         6 . The bladed heat exchanger fin according to  claim 1 , wherein the span-wise axis of each blade of the first set of blades lies within the base plane. 
     
     
         7 . The bladed heat exchanger fin according to  claim 1 , wherein each blade of the second set of blades lies entirely within the base plane. 
     
     
         8 . The bladed heat exchanger fin according to  claim 1 , wherein each blade of the first set of blades adjoins the base region to define a linear crease that is transverse but not perpendicular to a radial of the radial portion. 
     
     
         9 . The bladed heat exchanger fin according to  claim 1 , wherein each blade of the first set of blades is between a pair of the blades of the second set of blades. 
     
     
         10 . The bladed heat exchanger fin according to  claim 1 , wherein the bladed heat exchanger fin is one of a plurality of bladed heat exchanger fins according to  claim 1  that are installed on a heat exchanger tube to define a heat exchanger tube assembly, the collar of each of the bladed heat exchanger fins contacts and surrounds an exterior surface of the heat exchanger tube. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger tube assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger tube assembly further comprises a bladeless heat exchanger fin comprising a collar that contacts and surrounds the exterior surface of the heat exchanger tube, an axis that coincides with the axis of the heat exchanger tube, and a radial portion that extends radially from the collar to define a continuous perimeter of the bladeless heat exchanger fin, the bladeless heat exchanger fin being disposed between a pair of the bladed heat exchanger fins. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger tube assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger tube is assembled with a pair of manifolds and opposite ends of the heat exchanger tube are received in ports in the manifolds. 
     
     
         13 . A method of using a plurality of bladed heat exchanger fins each according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 installing the bladed heat exchanger fins on a heat exchanger tube so that the collar of each of the bladed heat exchanger fins contacts and surrounds an exterior surface of the heat exchanger tube;   flowing a first fluid through an interior passage defined within the heat exchanger tube; and   flowing a second fluid through the blades of the bladed heat exchanger fins on the heat exchanger tube.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , the method further comprising installing a plurality of bladeless heat exchanger fins on the heat exchanger tube, each of the bladeless heat exchanger fins comprising a collar that contacts and surrounds the exterior surface of the heat exchanger tube, an axis that coincides with the axis of the heat exchanger tube, and a radial portion that extends radially from the collar to define a continuous perimeter of the bladeless heat exchanger fin, at least some of the bladeless heat exchanger fins being disposed between pairs of the bladed heat exchanger fins. 
     
     
         15 . A bladed heat exchanger fin comprising:
 a collar having a tubular-shape so as to define an axis and inner and outer surfaces;   a radial portion extending radially from the axis of the collar, the radial portion comprising a base region adjacent the collar and blades that are attached to and radially extend from the base region, the base region defining a base plane that is perpendicular to the axis of the collar, the blades defining an annular array comprising first and second sets of the blades that define a discontinuous perimeter of the bladed heat exchanger fin that is interrupted by gaps between the first and second sets of blades, each blade of the first and second sets of blades having a span-wise axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the collar and coincides with a radial of the radial portion;   each blade of the first set of blades being revolved about the span-wise axis thereof so that the span-wise axis of each blade of the first set of blades lies within the base plane and each blade of the first set of blades has oppositely-disposed radial edges that are axially spaced from each other and located on opposite sides of the base plane;   each blade of the second set of blades not being revolved about the span-wise axis thereof and each blade of the second set of blades lying entirely within the base plane; and   each blade of the first set of blades being between a pair of the blades of the second set of blades.   
     
     
         16 . The bladed heat exchanger fin according to  claim 15 , wherein each blade of the first set of blades adjoins the base region to define a linear crease that is transverse but not perpendicular to a radial of the radial portion. 
     
     
         17 . The bladed heat exchanger fin according to  claim 15 , wherein the bladed heat exchanger fin is one of a plurality of bladed heat exchanger fins according to  claim 15  that are installed on a heat exchanger tube to define a heat exchanger tube assembly, the collar of each of the bladed heat exchanger fins contacts and surrounds an exterior surface of the heat exchanger tube, and the axis of each of the collars coincides with an axis of the heat exchanger tube. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger tube assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the heat exchanger tube assembly further comprises a plurality of bladeless heat exchanger fins, each of the bladeless heat exchanger fins comprising a collar that contacts and surrounds the exterior surface of the heat exchanger tube, an axis that coincides with the axis of the heat exchanger tube, and a radial portion that extends radially from the collar to define a continuous perimeter of the bladeless heat exchanger fin, at least some of the bladeless heat exchanger fins being disposed between pairs of the bladed heat exchanger fins. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger tube assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the heat exchanger tube is assembled with a pair of manifolds and opposite ends of the heat exchanger tube are received in ports in the manifolds. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using a plurality of bladed heat exchanger fins each according to  claim 15 , the method comprising:
 installing the bladed heat exchanger fins on a heat exchanger tube so that the collar of each of the bladed heat exchanger fins contacts and surrounds an exterior surface of the heat exchanger tube and the axes of the collars coincide with an axis of the heat exchanger tube;   flowing a first fluid through an interior passage defined within the heat exchanger tube; and   flowing a second fluid through the blades of the bladed heat exchanger fins on the heat exchanger tube.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , the method further comprising installing a plurality of bladeless heat exchanger fins on the heat exchanger tube, each of the bladeless heat exchanger fins comprising a collar that contacts and surrounds the exterior surface of the heat exchanger tube, an axis that coincides with the axis of the heat exchanger tube, and a radial portion that extends radially from the collar to define a continuous perimeter of the bladeless heat exchanger fin, at least some of the bladeless heat exchanger fins being disposed between pairs of the bladed heat exchanger fins.