Multiple Tube Bank Flattened Tube Finned Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A multiple tube bank heat exchanger includes a first tube bank ( 100 ) including at least a first and a second flattened tube segments extending longitudinally in spaced parallel relationship and a second tube bank ( 200 ) including at least a first and a second flattened tube segments extending longitudinally in spaced parallel relationship. The second tube bank ( 200 ) is disposed behind the first tube bank ( 100 ) with a leading edge of the second tube bank spaced from a trailing edge of the first tube bank. A continuous folded plate fin extends between the first and second flattened tube segments of both of said first tube bank and said second tube bank.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first tube bank including at least a first and a second flattened tube segments extending longitudinally in spaced parallel relationship;   a second tube bank including at least a first and a second flattened tube segments extending longitudinally in spaced parallel relationship, said second tube bank disposed downstream with respect to airflow over said first tube bank with a leading edge of the second tube bank spaced from a trailing edge of the first tube bank; and   a continuous folded plate fin extending between the first and second flattened tube segments of both of said first tube bank and said second tube bank;   wherein the air flow passes first transversely across the flattened tube segments of said first tube bank and then passes transversely across the flattened tube segments of said second tube bank, and the refrigerant flows first through the flattened heat exchange tube segments of said second tube bank and then through the flattened heat exchange tube segments of said first tube bank.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 19  wherein said continuous folded plate fin comprises a louvered plate having a first louvered section extending between the first and second flattened tube segments of the first tube bank and a second louvered section extending between the first and second flattened tube segments of the second tube bank. 
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 20  wherein said continuous folded plate fin further comprises a transition section between the first louvered section and the second louvered section, the transition section positioned between a trailing edge of said first tube bank and a leading edge of said second tube bank. 
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 21  wherein said transition section includes condensate drainage apertures. 
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 21  wherein the first louvered section and second louvered section are symmetrical. 
     
     
         24 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 21  wherein the first louvered section and the second louvered section are asymmetrical. 
     
     
         25 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 20  wherein the louvers of the first louvered section are oriented at a forward angle and the louvers of the second louvered section are oriented at a back angle. 
     
     
         26 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 19  wherein said first tube bank and said second tube bank comprise tube banks having an equal number of flattened tube segments. 
     
     
         27 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 19  wherein one of said first tube bank and said second tube bank comprises a tube bank having a lesser number of flattened tube segments than the tube bank of the other of said first tube bank and said second tube bank. 
     
     
         28 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 19  wherein the flattened tube segments of said first tube bank have a first tube width and the flattened tube segments of said second tube bank have a second tube width being different from the first tube width. 
     
     
         29 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 19  wherein each flattened tube segment of said first tube bank comprises a multi-channel tube segment having a first plurality of parallel flow channels and each flattened tube segment of said second tube bank comprises a multi-channel tube segment having a second plurality of parallel flow channels, the second plurality of parallel flow channels being different in number from the first plurality of parallel flow channels. 
     
     
         30 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 19  wherein the heat exchange tube segments of said second tube bank are arranged in a staggered arrangement with the heat exchange tube segments of said first tube bank. 
     
     
         31 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 19  wherein:
 the refrigerant flows first through the first pass of the first tube bank, then through the first pass of the second tube bank, then through the second pass of the second tube bank, and then through the second pass of the first tube bank. 
 
     
     
         32 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 31  wherein the first plurality of heat exchange tube segments of the first pass of the first tube bank collectively define a first refrigerant flow area, the first plurality of heat exchange tube segments of the first pass of the second tube bank collectively define a second refrigerant flow area; the second plurality of heat exchange tube segments of the second pass of the second tube bank collectively define a third refrigerant flow area, and the second plurality of heat exchange tube segments of the second pass of the first tube bank collectively define a fourth refrigerant flow area, the respective refrigerant flow areas becoming progressively larger from the first refrigerant flow area to the second refrigerant flow area to the third refrigerant flow area to the fourth refrigerant flow area.