Heat exchanger with sacrificial turbulator

Abstract

A heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a hollow tube extending from a tube inlet to a tube outlet. The hollow tube includes a wall inner surface comprising a copper alloy or a first aluminum alloy. A first fluid flow path is disposed along the wall inner surface from the tube inlet to the tube outlet. A turbulator is disposed within the hollow tube along the first fluid flow path, and the turbulator comprises a second aluminum alloy that is less noble than the copper or first aluminum alloy. A second fluid flow path is disposed across an outer surface of the wall.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a hollow tube extending from a tube inlet to a tube outlet, said hollow tube including a wall inner surface comprising a copper alloy or a first aluminum alloy;   a first fluid flow path along the wall inner surface from the tube inlet to the tube outlet;   a turbulator disposed within the hollow tube along the first fluid flow path, said turbulator comprising a second aluminum alloy that is less noble than the copper or first aluminum alloy;   a second fluid flow path across an outer surface of the wall.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a shell around the second flow path and the hollow tube, the shell including an inlet and an outlet in operative fluid communication with the second fluid flow path. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the wall inner surface comprises the copper alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the wall inner surface comprises the first aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the second aluminum alloy includes zinc or magnesium. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the second aluminum alloy includes an alloying element selected from tin, indium, gallium, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tube wall is arranged as a hollow cylinder around the first fluid flow path. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fins comprising a third aluminum alloy extending outwardly from an outer surface of the wall. 
     
     
         9 . A heat transfer system comprising a heat transfer fluid circulation loop in operative thermal communication with a heat source and a heat sink, wherein the heat exchanger of  claim 1  is disposed as a thermal transfer link between the heat transfer fluid and the heat sink or heat source. 
     
     
         10 . The heat transfer system of  claim 9 , wherein the heat transfer fluid circulation loop is in operative fluid communication with the first fluid flow path. 
     
     
         11 . The heat transfer system of  claim 9 , wherein the heat transfer fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         12 . The heat transfer system of  claim 9 , wherein the heat transfer fluid comprises alcohols, glycols, chlorides, formats/acetates, or ammonia. 
     
     
         13 . The heat transfer system of  claim 12 , wherein the alcohol comprises ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. 
     
     
         14 . A heat transfer system comprising:
 a first heat transfer fluid circulation loop in thermal communication with a heat sink, comprising a refrigerant in operative fluid communication with a heat absorption side of a cross-over heat exchanger;   a second heat transfer fluid circulation loop in thermal communication with a heat source, comprising an aqueous heat transfer liquid in operative fluid communication through a hollow tube including a wall inner surface that comprises a copper alloy or a first aluminum alloy on a heat rejection side of the cross-over heat exchanger, said hollow tube further including a turbulator disposed within the hollow tube comprising a second aluminum alloy that is less noble than the copper or first aluminum alloy.   
     
     
         15 . The heat transfer system of  claim 14 , wherein the first heat transfer fluid circulation loop includes a compressor, a heat rejection heat exchanger in thermal communication with the heat sink, an expansion device, and the heat absorption side of the cross-over heat exchanger, connected together in order by conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The heat transfer system of  claim 14 , wherein the system is configured to reduce the aqueous heat transfer liquid below 0° C. 
     
     
         17 . The heat transfer system of  claim 14 , wherein the aqueous heat transfer liquid comprises alcohols, glycols, chlorides, formats/acetates, or ammonia. 
     
     
         18 . The heat transfer system of  claim 14 , wherein the wall inner surface comprises the copper alloy. 
     
     
         19 . The heat transfer system of  claim 14 , wherein the second aluminum alloy includes zinc or magnesium. 
     
     
         20 . The heat transfer system of  claim 14 , wherein the second aluminum alloy includes an alloying element selected from tin, indium, gallium, or combinations thereof.