Microchannel Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A microchannel heat exchanger of an HVAC system may include a plurality of microchannel tubes having fins disposed between at least one pair of adjacent microchannel tubes. The pair of adjacent microchannel tubes may connect a header on each end of the microchannel tubes in fluid communication, and at least one of the microchannel tubes and the fins are oriented substantially parallel with respect to a primary airflow direction of an airflow across the microchannel heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A microchannel heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of microchannel tubes; and   fins disposed between at least one pair of adjacent microchannel tubes;   wherein at least one of a microchannel tube and a fin is oriented substantially parallel to a primary airflow direction of the microchannel heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the microchannel tubes is substantially flat. 
     
     
         3 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fins is substantially corrugated. 
     
     
         4 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the microchannel tubes is oriented to carry refrigerant in a direction generally transverse relative to the primary airflow direction and further oriented to present a minimal footprint area when viewed in a direction parallel to the primary airflow direction while maintaining the orientation of refrigerant travel. 
     
     
         5 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a footprint of the microchannel tubes is maximized when viewed in a direction substantially transverse relative to the primary airflow direction. 
     
     
         6 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a footprint of the microchannel tubes is minimized when viewed in direction parallel to a direction in which the microchannel tubes carry refrigerant. 
     
     
         7 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising headers that extend generally orthogonal relative to the primary airflow direction. 
     
     
         8 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a gap between two headers located furthest in the direction of the primary airflow direction. 
     
     
         9 . The microchannel heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein no gap exists between to headers located furthest in the direction of the primary airflow direction. 
     
     
         10 . An air handling unit, comprising:
 a primary airflow direction; and   a microchannel heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of microchannel tubes; and 
 fins disposed between at least one pair of adjacent microchannel tubes; 
 wherein at least one of a microchannel tube and a fin is oriented substantially parallel to the primary airflow direction. 
   
     
     
         11 . The air handling unit of  claim 10 , wherein the air handling unit is a blow-through type air handling unit. 
     
     
         12 . The air handling unit of  claim 10 , wherein the air handling unit is a pull-through type air handling unit. 
     
     
         13 . The air handling unit of  claim 10 , wherein the microchannel heat exchanger is oriented as an A-coil. 
     
     
         14 . The air handling unit of  claim 10 , wherein the microchannel heat exchanger is oriented as a V-coil. 
     
     
         15 . The air handling unit of  claim 10 , wherein the microchannel heat exchanger further comprises a header extending generally orthogonal relative to the primary airflow direction. 
     
     
         16 . The air handling unit of  claim 10 , wherein the microchannel heat exchanger further comprises a header extending generally at angle between orthogonal and parallel relative to the primary airflow direction. 
     
     
         17 . The air handling unit of  claim 10 , both the microchannel tubes and the fins are oriented substantially parallel to the primary airflow direction. 
     
     
         18 . The air handling unit of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the microchannel tubes is oriented to carry refrigerant in a direction generally transverse relative to the primary airflow direction and further oriented to present a minimal footprint area when viewed in a direction parallel to the primary airflow direction while maintaining the orientation of refrigerant travel. 
     
     
         19 . The air handling unit of  claim 10 , wherein a footprint of the microchannel tubes is maximized when viewed in a direction substantially transverse relative to the primary airflow direction. 
     
     
         20 . The air handling unit of  claim 10 , wherein a footprint of the microchannel tubes is minimized when viewed in direction parallel to a direction in which the microchannel tubes carry refrigerant.