Tube structures for heat exchanger

Abstract

A fluid-carrying tube for a heat exchanger includes an outer perimeter, an inner perimeter, and a plurality of ridges extending from the inner perimeter inwardly into an interior of the tube. Each ridge includes a ridge height, a base width and a tip width. A ratio of the ridge height to the base width is between about 0.2 and about 4.0, and a ratio of the tip width to the base width is between about 0.015 and about 0.965.

1 . A fluid-carrying tube for a heat exchanger comprising:
 an outer perimeter;   an inner perimeter; and   a plurality of ridges extending from the inner perimeter inwardly into an interior of the tube, each ridge having;
 a ridge height; 
 a base width; and 
 a tip width; 
   wherein a ratio of the ridge height to the base width is between about 0.2 and about 4.0; and   wherein a ratio of the tip width to the base width is between about 0.015 and about 0.965.   
     
     
         2 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ridges extend substantially axially along a length of the tube. 
     
     
         3 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ridges extend helically along a length of the tube. 
     
     
         4 . The tube of  claim 3 , wherein a helix angle of the plurality of ridges is between about 18 degrees and 35 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a number of ridges in the plurality of ridges to a maximum internal diameter of the tube expressed in millimeters is between about 5.4 and 10.1. 
     
     
         6 . The tube of  claim 5 , wherein the ratio of a number of ridges in the plurality of ridges to a maximum internal diameter of the tube expressed in millimeters is between about 5.5 and 9.25. 
     
     
         7 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the ridge height to a ridge pitch between adjacent ridges of the plurality of ridges is between about 0.17 and about 1.36. 
     
     
         8 . The tube of  claim 7 , wherein the ratio of the ridge height to the ridge pitch is between about 0.19 and about 1.22. 
     
     
         9 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the ridge height to a maximum internal diameter of the tube is between about 0.0008 and about 0.0870. 
     
     
         10 . The tube of  claim 9 , wherein the ratio of the ridge height to the maximum internal diameter of the tube is between about 0.021 and about 0.035. 
     
     
         11 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is formed from an aluminum or aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         12 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is of a substantially non-circular cross-section, including but not limited to oval, elliptical and race-track cross-sections. 
     
     
         13 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the tube has an effective diameter of between about 5 millimeters and about 13 millimeters. 
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of fins;   a plurality of tubes passing a fluid therethrough and extending through the plurality of fins, a least one tube of the plurality of tubes including:
 an outer perimeter; 
 an inner perimeter; and 
 a plurality of ridges extending from the inner perimeter inwardly into an interior of the tube, each ridge having:
 a ridge height; 
 a base width; and 
 a tip width; 
 
 wherein a ratio of the ridge height to the base width is between about 0.2 and about 4.0; and 
 wherein a ratio of the tip width to the base width is between about 0.015 and about 0.965. 
   
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of ridges extend substantially axially along a length of the at least one tube. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of ridges extend helically along a length of the at least one tube. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein a helix angle of the plurality of ridges is between about 18 degrees and 35 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein a ratio of a number of ridges in the plurality of ridges to a maximum internal diameter expressed in millimeters of the at least one tube is between about 5.4 and 10.1. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein the ratio of a number of ridges in the plurality of ridges to a maximum internal diameter expressed in millimeters of the at least one tube is between about 5.5 and 9.25. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein a ratio of the ridge height to a ridge pitch between adjacent ridges of the plurality of ridges is between about 0.17 and about 1.36. 
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein the ratio of the ridge height to the ridge pitch is between about 0.19 and about 1.22. 
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein a ratio of the ridge height to a maximum internal diameter of at least one tube of the plurality of tubes is between about 0.0008 and about 0.0870. 
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes is formed from an aluminum or aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         24 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes is of a substantially non-circular cross-section, including but not limited to oval, elliptical and race-track cross-sections. 
     
     
         25 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes has an effective diameter of between about 5 millimeters and about 13 millimeters.