Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes positioned substantially transverse to a direction of airflow through the heat exchanger and arranged in a plurality of tube rows extending substantially along the direction of airflow. The heat exchanger further includes a plurality of webs substantially integral to two or more tubes of the plurality of tubes, each web extending between and connected to adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes. At least one tube of the plurality of tubes has a cross section with an aspect ratio greater than 1:1, relative to a substantially horizontal web.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of tubes disposed substantially transverse to a direction of airflow through the heat exchanger and arranged in a plurality of tube rows extending substantially along the direction of airflow; and   a plurality of webs integral to at least two or more tubes of the plurality of tubes, each web extending between and connected to adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes;   wherein at least one web of the plurality of webs includes one or more of a louver, or a tab extending into the airflow from the web.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes has an oval or airfoil-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising two or more louvers disposed in two or more louver rows at a web between adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the louver has a louver face aligned substantially parallel to the direction of airflow. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the louver has a louver face at an angle to the direction of airflow. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes comprises two or more fluid-conveying pathways. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein the number or fluid-conveying pathways of the at least one tube is in the range of two to four. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is substantially transverse to the airflow to generate vortices in the airflow. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of webs form a ruffled or wavy surface. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tubes in a first tube row of the plurality of tube rows are substantially staggered in position relative to the plurality of tubes in an adjacent second tube row of the plurality of tube rows. 
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of tubes disposed substantially transverse to a direction of airflow through the heat exchanger and arranged in a plurality of tube rows extending substantially along the direction of airflow, at least one tube of the plurality of tubes including two or more fluid-conveying pathways; and
 a plurality of webs substantially integral to two or more tubes of the plurality of tubes, each web extending between and connected to adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes. 
   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes has a cross section with an aspect ratio greater than 1:1, relative to a substantially horizontal web. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes has an oval or airfoil-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the number or fluid-conveying pathways of the at least one tube is in the range of two to four. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more louvers disposed in the plurality of webs. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , further comprising two or more louvers disposed in two or more louver rows at a web between adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more louvers have a louver face aligned substantially parallel to the direction of airflow. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of tabs disposed at the plurality of webs substantially transverse to the airflow to generate vortices in the airflow. 
     
     
         19 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of tubes disposed substantially transverse to a direction of airflow through the heat exchanger and arranged in a plurality of tube rows extending substantially along the direction of airflow;   a plurality of webs substantially integral to at least two tubes of the plurality of tubes, each web extending between and connected to adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes; and   a plurality of tabs disposed at the plurality of webs substantially transverse to the airflow to generate vortices in the airflow.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of tabs are substantially triangular or trapezoidal. 
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein a first group of tabs between a first pair of adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes extend in a first direction and a second group of tabs between a second pair of adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes extend in a second direction different than the first direction. 
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes has a cross section with an aspect ratio greater than 1:1, relative to a substantially horizontal web. 
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes has an oval or airfoil-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         24 . The heat exchanger of  claim 22 , wherein at least one tube of the plurality of tubes comprises two or more fluid-conveying pathways. 
     
     
         25 . The heat exchanger of  claim 23 , wherein the number or fluid-conveying pathways of the at least one tube is in the range of two to four. 
     
     
         26 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , further comprising one or more louvers disposed in the plurality of webs. 
     
     
         27 . The heat exchanger of  claim 25 , further comprising two or more louvers disposed in two or more louver rows at a web between adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         28 . The heat exchanger of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more louvers have a louver face aligned substantially parallel to the direction of airflow.