Fin and tube heat exchanger

Abstract

The present application provides a fin and tube heat exchanger. The fin and tube heat exchanger may include a number of tubes with a number of substantially spirally wound circular fins positioned on each of the tubes. The tubes may include a first set of tubes including a plurality of tube pairs each including a tube in a first row of tubes and a tube in a second row of tubes of the first set of tubes. The tubes may further include a second set of tubes including a plurality of tube pairs including a tube in a third row of tubes and a tube in a fourth row of tubes of the second set of tubes. The first set of tubes further including a transverse offset position as compared to the second set of tubes.

1 . A fin and tube heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of tubes; and   a plurality of substantially spirally-wound circular fins positioned on each of the plurality of tubes;   the plurality of tubes comprising a first set of tubes comprising a plurality of tube groupings and a second set of tubes comprising a plurality of tube groupings;   wherein the first set of tubes comprises a transverse offset position as compared to the second set of tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of tubes comprises at least a first row of tubes and a second row of tubes and wherein each of the plurality of tube groupings of the first set of tubes comprises at least one tube in the first row of tubes and one tube in the second row of tubes. 
     
     
         3 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the first row of tubes and the second row of tubes comprise an inline position relative to a flow across the first row of tubes and the second row of tubes. 
     
     
         4 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the second set of tubes comprises at least a third row of tubes and a fourth row of tubes and wherein each of the plurality of tube groupings of the second set of tubes comprises at least one tube in the third row of tubes and one tube in the fourth row of tubes. 
     
     
         5 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the third row of tubes and the fourth row of tubes comprise an inline position relative to a flow across the third row of tubes and the fourth row of tubes. 
     
     
         6 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse offset position comprises about a half of a transversal tube spacing. 
     
     
         7 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tube groupings comprises a plurality of tube pairs. 
     
     
         8 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of tubes and the second set of tubes are longitudinally spaced apart to form a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         9 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of tubes and the second set of tubes are transversally spaced apart to form a gap therebetween each tube grouping. 
     
     
         10 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of tubes and the second set of tubes are longitudinally spaced apart to form a gap therebetween and the plurality of tubes groupings of the first set of tubes and the second set of tubes are transversally spaced apart to form a gap therebetween each tube grouping. 
     
     
         11 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a first plurality of substantially spirally-wound circular fins positioned on a first tube of one of the plurality of tube groupings and a second plurality of substantially spirally-wound circular fins positioned on a second tube of one of the plurality of tube groupings includes cut portions to provide close longitudinal spacing between the first tube and the second tube of each of the plurality of tube groupings. 
     
     
         12 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the fin and tube heat exchanger comprises an air-cooled condenser. 
     
     
         13 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the fin and tube heat exchanger comprises a heat recovery steam generator. 
     
     
         14 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tubes may include additional sets of tubes, comprised of additional rows of tubes with the same repeated pattern. 
     
     
         15 . A fin and tube heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of tubes; and   a plurality of substantially spirally-wound circular fins positioned on each of the plurality of tubes;   the plurality of tubes comprising:
 a first set of tubes comprising a first row of tubes and a second row of tubes, wherein a plurality of tube pairs are defined therein by a tube in the first row of tubes and an inline tube in the second row of tubes; and 
 a second set of tubes comprising a third row of tubes and a fourth row of tubes, wherein a plurality of tube pairs are defined therein by a tube in the third row of tubes and an inline tube in the fourth row of tubes, 
 wherein the first set of tubes comprises a transverse offset position as compared to the second set of tubes. 
   
     
     
         16 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the first row of tubes and the second row of tubes comprise an inline position relative to a flow across the first row of tubes and the second row of tubes. 
     
     
         17 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the third row of tubes and the fourth row of tubes comprise an inline position relative to a flow across the third row of tubes and the fourth row of tubes. 
     
     
         18 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of substantially spirally-wound circular fins comprises a substantially concentric position about each tube. 
     
     
         19 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the first set of tubes and the second set of tubes are longitudinally spaced apart to form a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         20 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of tubes pairs of the first set of tubes and the second set of tubes are transversally spaced apart to form a gap therebetween each tube pair. 
     
     
         21 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of tubes may include additional sets of tubes, comprised of additional rows of tubes with the same repeated pattern. 
     
     
         22 . A fin and tube heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of tubes; and   a plurality of substantially spirally-wound circular fins positioned on each of the plurality of tubes,   the plurality of tubes comprising:
 a first set of tubes comprising a first row of tubes and a second row of tubes, wherein the first row of tubes and the second row of tubes comprise an inline position relative to a flow across the first row of tubes and the second row of tubes, and wherein a plurality of tube pairs are defined therein, each of the plurality of tube pairs comprising a tube in the first row of tubes and a tube in the second row of tubes; and 
 a second set of tubes comprising a third row of tubes and a fourth row of tubes, wherein the third row of tubes and the fourth row of tubes comprise an inline position relative to a flow across the third row of tubes and the fourth row of tubes, and wherein a plurality of tube pairs are defined therein, each of the plurality of tube pairs comprising a tube in the third row of tubes and a tube in the fourth row of tubes, 
 wherein the first set of tubes comprises a transverse offset position as compared to the second set of tubes. 
   
     
     
         23 . The fin and tube heat exchanger of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of tubes may include additional sets of tubes, comprised of additional rows of tubes with the same repeated pattern.