Microchannel heat exchanger fin

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes ( 12 ), each tube configured for a flow of fluid therethrough and one or more fins located between adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes. The one or more fins are spaced by a fin pitch (Fp, 18 ) and are configured to improve thermal energy transfer between the plurality of tubes and ambient air. Each fin includes a fin face extending between the adjacent tubes, a substantially planar fin cap ( 22 ) connected to the fin face secured to one or the tubes, and a fin radius (Rc, 26 ) connecting the fin face to the fin cap such that the fin radius is reduced to promote condensate removal from the heat exchanger.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of tubes, each tube configured for a flow of fluid therethrough;   one or more fins disposed between adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes, the one or more fins spaced by a fin pitch (F P ) and configured to improve thermal energy transfer between the plurality of tubes and ambient air, each fin including:
 a fin face extending between the adjacent tubes; 
 a substantially planar fin cap connected to the fin face secured to one or the tubes; and 
 a fin radius (R C ) connecting the fin face to the fin cap such R C  is reduced to promote condensate flow from the heat exchanger. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  such that a ratio of the fin radius to the fin pitch, R C /F P , is between about 0.1 and about 0.4. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the ratio of the fin radius to the fin pitch, R C /F P , is between about 0.2 and about 0.3. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each fin face includes one or more louvers. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein a ratio of a louver height (L H ) to a fin height (F H ), L H /F H , is between about 0.8 and about 0.95. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein L H /F H , is between about 0.85 and about 0.92. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each fin includes a fin extension extending beyond a tube width. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the fin extension extends laterally beyond the tube width and transversely at least partially across a tube thickness. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the fin extension is configured to direct moisture accumulated in the fin structure away from the tubes. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein a ratio of an extension width (E W ) to a fin width (F W ), E W /F W  is between about 0.02 and about 0.1. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein E W /F W  is between about 0.02 and about  0.04. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein a ratio of a transverse component (E T ) of the fin extension to a tube thickness (T T ), E T /T T , is between about 0.05 and about 0.4. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein E T /T T  is between about 0.05 and about 0.15. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein a ratio of a transverse component (E T ) of the fin extension to a fin thickness (F T ), E T /F T , is between about 1 and about 3. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein E T /F T , is between about 1.75 and about 2.5. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein a ratio of a transverse component (E T ) of the fin extension to the fin radius, E T /R C , is between about 0.2 and about 2. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each fin of the one or more fins spans two or more tubes along a fin width. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein each fin includes a fin notch in the fin face disposed substantially aligned with a tube gap between two tubes of the two or more tubes. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein a ratio of a notch height (N H ) to a tube pitch (T P ), N H /T P , is between about 0.15 and about 0.3. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein N H /T P , is between about 0.1 and about 0.2. 
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each tube of the plurality of tubes, includes a through slot extending along a length of the tube. 
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger of  claim 21 , wherein a ratio of a slot width (S W ) to a tube width (T W ), S W /T W , is between about 0.05 and about 0.2. 
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger of  claim 21 , wherein a ratio of slot length (S L ) to a tube length (T L ), S L /T L , is between about 0.8 and about 0.95. 
     
     
         24 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of tubes, each tube configured for a flow of fluid therethrough;   one or more fins disposed between adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes, the one or more fins spaced by a fin pitch (Fp) and configured to improve thermal energy transfer between the plurality of tubes and ambient air, each fin including a fin extension extending beyond a tube width.   
     
     
         25 . The heat exchanger of  claim 24 , wherein the fin extension is configured to direct moisture accumulated in the fin structure away from the tubes. 
     
     
         26 . The heat exchanger of  claim 24 , wherein a ratio of an extension width (E W ) to a fin width (F W ), E W /F W  is between about 0.02 and about 0.1. 
     
     
         27 . The heat exchanger of  claim 26 , wherein E W /F W  is between about 0.02 and about 0.04. 
     
     
         28 . The heat exchanger of  claim 24 , wherein a ratio of a transverse component (E T ) of the fin extension to a tube thickness (T T ), E T /T T , is between about 0.05 and about 0.4. 
     
     
         29 . The heat exchanger of  claim 28 , wherein E T /T T  is between about 0.05 and about 0.15. 
     
     
         30 . The heat exchanger of  claim 24 , wherein a ratio of a transverse component (E T ) of the fin extension to a fin thickness (F T ), E T /F T , is between about 1 and about 3. 
     
     
         31 . The heat exchanger of  claim 30 , wherein E T /F T , is between about 1.75 and about 2.5. 
     
     
         32 . The heat exchanger of  claim 24 , wherein each fin includes:
 a fin face extending between the adjacent tubes and;   a substantially planar fin cap connected to the fin face secured to one or the tubes; and   a fin radius (R C ) connecting the fin face to the fin cap such that a ratio of the fin radius to the fin pitch, R C /F P , is between about 0.1 and about 0.4.   
     
     
         33 . The heat exchanger of  claim 32 , wherein the ratio of the fin radius to the fin pitch, R C /F P , is between about 0.2 and about 0.3. 
     
     
         34 . The heat exchanger of  claim 32 , wherein each fin face includes one or more louvers. 
     
     
         35 . The heat exchanger of  claim 34 , wherein a ratio of a louver height (L H ) to a fin height (F H ), L H /F H , is between about 0.8 and about 0.95. 
     
     
         36 . The heat exchanger of  claim 35 , wherein L H /F H , is between about 0.85 and about 0.92.