WO2012059735A2 - Method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block, spacer means therefor, and heat exchanger block - Google Patents
Method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block, spacer means therefor, and heat exchanger block Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2012059735A2 WO2012059735A2 PCT/GB2011/052054 GB2011052054W WO2012059735A2 WO 2012059735 A2 WO2012059735 A2 WO 2012059735A2 GB 2011052054 W GB2011052054 W GB 2011052054W WO 2012059735 A2 WO2012059735 A2 WO 2012059735A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- heat exchanger
- fins
- tubes
- spacer means
- exchanger block
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
- F28F1/10—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses
- F28F1/12—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
- F28F1/10—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses
- F28F1/12—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element
- F28F1/24—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending transversely
- F28F1/32—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending transversely the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F2215/00—Fins
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F2215/00—Fins
- F28F2215/04—Assemblies of fins having different features, e.g. with different fin densities
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F2240/00—Spacing means
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/4935—Heat exchanger or boiler making
- Y10T29/49377—Tube with heat transfer means
- Y10T29/49378—Finned tube
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
- Y10T29/53113—Heat exchanger
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block, to a spacer means for use in the method, and to a heat exchanger block.
- Heat exchangers are made in many different sizes, are used with many different working fluids, and utilise many different fluids as the coolant.
- the present invention is directed primarily at heat exchangers in which the working fluid is a liquid, typically water or oil, and in which the coolant is a gas, typically air.
- Such heat exchangers are widely used on industrial compressors for example, but the invention is also expected to have utility for other air-cooled heat exchangers.
- the use of the invention for other heat exchangers, including those for which the coolant is another fluid such as water, is not excluded.
- Heat exchangers in which the working fluid is a liquid usually comprise a number of tubes suspended between two tube plates, though it is known to use U-shaped tubes with each tube connected at opposite ends to a single tube plate.
- the working fluid flows through the tubes, whilst the coolant passes around and between the tubes, the working fluid giving up latent heat (by way of the tubes) to the coolant flowing around the tubes.
- Each tube will typically carry a number of external fins (mechanically coupled to or integral with the respective tube). The fins increase the available surface area for heat transfer, but also cause an increase in the pressure drop as the coolant passes between and around the tubes.
- the heat exchanger designer will typically seek to increase the density of the fins so as to increase the heat exchange, without exceeding a maximum permissible pressure drop.
- each fin will engage more than one tube, with the fins substantially filling the space between the tubes.
- the manufacturer will often make sub-assemblies comprising a chosen number of tubes fitted with a chosen number of fins. These sub-assemblies are referred to herein as heat exchanger blocks, and are sometimes called fin blocks.
- the heat exchanger is assembled by securing the desired number of heat exchanger blocks to the tube plates.
- Another requirement for industrial heat exchangers is to minimise their size and weight without compromising their heat exchange performance. Whilst a larger heat exchanger will typically provide a greater rate of heat exchange from the working fluid to the coolant, heat exchanger designers typically seek to minimise the size and weight of the heat exchanger so as to increase the portability of the heat exchanger, and to make it easier to package the heat exchanger alongside its related componentry.
- Heat exchangers are most often constructed from metallic materials, i.e. metallic fins fitted to metallic tubes. Metals are commonly used because of their good thermal transfer properties. To secure a fin to the tube it is known to provide an aperture in the fin and to weld or braze the fin onto the tube. This method of manufacture suffers from several significant disadvantages. Firstly, the materials which can be used for the tubes and the fins are limited to those which can be welded or brazed. Secondly, the grade of the materials used, such as for example the minimum wall thickness of the tube, is determined by the requirement to withstand the welding or brazing operation (so that a relatively thick tube may need to be used, whereas a thinner tube would enhance the heat exchange performance).
- the welding or brazing operation raises the temperature of the tubes and fins sufficiently to heat treat the materials, the final product being softer than the starting materials - the starting materials must therefore be chosen so that the final product meets the desired material requirements.
- the requirement for a welding or brazing operation adds time and cost to the manufacture of the heat exchanger.
- the fins are initially located as a loose fit upon the tubes and the tubes are thereafter mechanically expanded by a specialised expanding machine into thermal engagement with the fins.
- This method of manufacture also has a number of significant disadvantages.
- the first disadvantage is shared with the first method stated above, namely that the material of the tube in particular is limited to those which can be mechanically expanded.
- the second disadvantage is also shared with the first method as stated above, namely that the minimum thickness of the tubes is determined by the requirement for expansion - very thin tubes, which might be particularly suitable for heat exchangers, cannot be used if there is a possibility that they would split during the expansion process, or be sufficiently weakened by the expansion process to fail in service.
- the third disadvantage is that the fins are sometimes pushed along the tubes during the expansion process, so that the resulting fin spacing or density is not always consistent along the length of the tubes - this can have a significant effect upon both the heat exchanger performance and the pressure drop of the coolant.
- the apertures in the fins described in WO96/35093 are closely-sized to match the outside diameter of the tubes.
- the apertures in many embodiments are formed with collars to enhance the heat exchange performance. Whilst it is primarily intended that the linear motor will determine the position of each of the fins, it is often desired that the collar of one fin engage the collar of the adjacent fin, and it is disclosed that in some heat exchangers the fin spacing can be determined by the engagement of adjacent fins. Since the fin spacing is usually predetermined by the heat exchange and pressure drop required, in such embodiments the length of the collars is designed to provide the desired fin spacing.
- the present invention seeks to provide a method of mounting fins upon heat exchanger tubes which improves further on the efficiencies afforded by the disclosures of WO96/35093 and WO02/30591 .
- the invention also provides a fin and spacer means suitable for use in the method, and a heat exchanger block.
- a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block comprising a number of tubes and a number of fins, the fins having a predetermined spacing, the method including the steps of locating the fins in a carrier and pressing the fins onto the tubes, the method also including the step of providing spacer means for the fins, whereby the spacer means supports a fin during the pressing step and determines the spacing between the fins in the assembled heat exchanger.
- the present invention shares the benefits of the prior art disclosures of WO96/35093 and WO02/30591 in not requiring a welding, brazing or expansion step, and therefore enables the use of a greater range of materials for the fins and tubes.
- a spacer means which supports a fin during the pressing step the present invention allows a large number of fins to be pressed onto the tubes together, each fin being supported by a spacer means (and consequently by the other fins) during the pressing step.
- the spacer means maintains the desired separation between adjacent fins during the pressing step, and also when the pressing step has been completed, i.e. in the assembled heat exchanger block.
- the spacer means since the fin spacing or density in the assembled heat exchanger block is determined by the spacer means, there is no requirement to use a linear motor or other machine which can precisely position each fin. Instead, less precise means can be used to press the fins and spacer means onto the tubes. Hydraulic means in particular are suitable for delivering the large forces required to press a large number of fins onto a number of tubes at the same time, whilst being sufficiently accurate in the positioning of those fins.
- the spacer means may be integral with a fin, or may be provided as a separate spacer component for location between adjacent fins.
- the spacer means is left in place in the finished heat exchanger block, and can therefore surround the tubes, providing greater support for the fins adjacent to their apertures (and adjacent to the collars surrounding the respective apertures if present) as the fins are slid along the tubes during assembly.
- the spacer means comprises a separate corrugated sheet of metallic material.
- the spacer By making the spacer of a suitable metallic material it can help to transfer heat from the working fluid to the coolant.
- the spacer means By making the spacer means corrugated the spacer means can substantially span the area of a fin, and therefore substantially fill the space between adjacent fins, whilst still permitting coolant to flow between the fins and around the tubes.
- the spacer means has openings corresponding to each tube, the openings being adapted to surround a respective tube. Desirably, the opening is larger than the tube in the direction of the corrugations so that there is an area adjacent to each tube which is free of spacer. This is desirable so that in an assembled heat exchanger the coolant can flow along all of the corrugations, and none of the corrugations are partly or fully closed off by the tube(s) and/or collars of the fins.
- a number of heat exchanger blocks are assembled into a heat exchanger by securing the heat exchanger blocks to respective tube plates.
- the heat exchanger blocks preferably comprise a single row of tubes interconnected by a number of fins. Making a heat exchanger block from a single row of tubes and their respective fins is particularly cost effective, and heat exchanger blocks can be made in standard dimensions, from standard materials and having standard heat exchange performance, so that a heat exchanger designer can utilise a chosen number of standard heat exchanger blocks to achieve the performance required of the assembled heat exchanger.
- the spacer means comprises a number of spacers which are separate from the fins they are preferably designed to substantially match the size and shape of the fins.
- the fins and spacers will have a height corresponding to the spacing between adjacent heat exchanger blocks in the assembled heat exchanger, and a length corresponding to the width of the heat exchanger block.
- the axis of the corrugations is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spacer, i.e. parallel to the minor axis of the spacer.
- the fins will be pressed together and it is necessary to counter the tendency to flatten the corrugations.
- the spacer is sufficiently rigid to withstand the forces involved without distortion of the corrugations, and the carrier can be provided with side walls which engage the ends of the spacers and help resist the flattening (and consequential lengthening) of the spacers during the pressing step.
- the invention places no restriction upon the direction of movement of the fins during the pressing step, i.e. it places no restriction upon the orientation of the pressing machine.
- the machine may be arranged to move the fins in a substantially horizontal direction during the pressing step, or in a substantially vertical direction, or in any intermediate direction, as desired.
- a heat exchanger block comprising a number of tubes and a number of fins, each fin having a number of apertures which surround the respective tubes, the fins being separated by spacer means, each spacer means having a number of openings which surround the respective tubes, the openings being larger than the apertures.
- the corrugations of the spacer which provide the separation between adjacent fins are added to parts of the fins, the partially corrugated fins being used without separate spacers.
- the combination spacer means and fin comprises an alternating series of substantially flat portions and corrugated portions.
- each flat portion has an aperture to receive a tube.
- each corrugated portion has an opening to receive a tube, the opening being larger than the tube so that the corrugated portion does not engage the tube.
- a forming machine for making a combination spacer means and fin for a heat exchanger, the combination spacer means and fin comprising an alternating sequence of corrugated portions and non-corrugated portions, the machine having cooperating rollers, the rollers having peripheral regions adapted to press a metal sheet into a corrugated form, the rollers having additional regions between the peripheral regions, the additional regions being adapted to maintain a substantially flat form of the sheet.
- a flat sheet of metal is passed between the rollers it is formed into a series of corrugated portions (by the complementary forms of the peripheral regions) separated by substantially flat portions (formed by the additional regions).
- the combination spacer means and fin is passed through the forming machine as the final manufacturing step, i.e. after the formation of the apertures and openings. If the combination spacer means and fin has collars surrounding the apertures the additional regions must include recesses to accommodate the collars.
- the opening in the spacer means is oval rather than circular.
- a corrugation does not terminate at a tube, i.e. that there is a flow path along each corrugation, and around the tube, and then along another corrugation.
- the opening must therefore be larger than the diameter of the tube in the direction parallel with the axis of the corrugations, but can be of a smaller dimension (and perhaps can be of a dimension substantially identical to the diameter of the tube) in the direction perpendicular with the axis of the corrugations.
- the invention also provides a combination spacer means and fin for a heat exchanger, the combination spacer means and fin having a number of openings and a number of apertures adapted to receive respective tubes in the assembled heat exchanger, the combination spacer means and fin comprising corrugated sections separated by substantially planar sections, a respective aperture being located in a substantially planar portion and being sized to closely fit the tube, a respective opening being located in a corrugated portion, the opening being larger than the aperture.
- each of the fins (and each of the spacers, if separate spacers are used) is secured in position relative to the other fins (and spacers) prior to insertion of the tubes, and is supported during the pressing step.
- a first mounting plate is located to one side of the fins (and spacers)
- a second mounting plate is located to the opposed side of the fins (and spacers)
- the mounting plates engaging the long sides of the fins (and spacers).
- the mounting plates have grooves or depressions formed therein, each groove or depression being adapted to locate a long side of a fin (or spacer).
- the mounting plates therefore serve to maintain the relative position of each of the fins (and spacers) during insertion of the tubes, and provide additional support the fins (and spacers) during that assembly step.
- the fins (and spacers) are packed together with a solid material which maintains the relative positions of the fins (and spacers) during insertion of the tubes.
- the solid material is preferably a flowable material such as a fine silicon sand, or could be a material such as ice for example which can readily be converted to and from a fluid.
- the solid material could fill the gaps between the adjacent fins (and spacers, if separate spacers are used) so as to maintain the desired separation, and to support the fins (and spacers) whilst the tubes are inserted.
- the solid material should be flowable (or readily made flowable) so that it can readily be removed from the assembled heat exchanger block. If a solid material is used the fins would preferably be fitted with a series of dowels or the like passing through the aligned apertures and openings before the solid material is introduced, the dowel ensuring that the solid material does not enter the tubes as they are subsequently passed through the apertures and openings as the dowels are removed.
- the manufacturer of a heat exchanger block can decide to weld or braze (or solder) the fins to the tubes as an additional manufacturing step if desired for the particular application, or the particular materials being used.
- the manufacturer may not need to provide an annular joint surrounding the tube, but may instead provide only a spot joint so as to permanently secure the fin(s) to the tube(s).
- the manufacturer may use a bead of glue upon the tubes so as to secure the fins in position, the glue being chosen for suitability at the temperatures which will be experienced by the heat exchanger.
- Fig.1 shows a representation of a heat exchanger block manufactured according to the present invention and components used in the method, the spacer means comprising a set of separate spacers;
- Fig.2 shows a plan view of part of an assembled heat exchanger block constructed from the components of Fig.1 ;
- Fig.3 shows a front view of part of a spacer of Fig.1 ;
- Fig.4 shows a plan view of the part of the spacer of Fig.1 ;
- Fig.5 shows a front view of part of a fin of Fig.1
- Fig.6 shows a plan view of the part of the fin of Fig .1 ;
- Fig.7 shows a perspective view of a partially-assembled heat exchanger block utilising combination spacer means and fins
- Fig.8 shows a view of an alternative embodiment to that of Fig.7;
- Fig.9 shows a front view of an alternative combination spacer means and fin
- Fig.10 shows a plan view of the fin of Fig.9
- Fig.1 1 shows a side view of a set of corrugating rollers of a forming machine for making a combination spacer means and fin.
- Fig.1 shows a representation of a heat exchanger block 10 in perspective view.
- Fig.1 is a representation since the heat exchanger block 10 is shown with only one tube 12, whereas in practice a tube 12 would be located in each of the rows of fin apertures.
- Mounted upon the tube(s) 12 are a number of fins 14 and spacer means.
- the spacer means comprises a number of separate spacers 16.
- the fins 14 are formed with a row of apertures 20, each aperture being surrounded by a collar 22 which is a close sliding fit upon the tube 12 (see the separate fin 14 shown in Fig.1 ).
- the tubes are of circular cross-section and the apertures 20 and collars 22 are similarly circular, but it will be understood that other shapes could be used if desired.
- the spacers 16 have corresponding openings 24, the openings 24 being aligned with the apertures 20, but being of greater diameter, as explained in more detail below (see the separate spacer 16 shown in Fig.1 ).
- a carrier 26 Prior to assembly into a heat exchanger block such as 10, the desired number of fins 14 and spacers 16 are loaded into a carrier 26, only part is shown in Fig.1 .
- the carrier 26 comprises a ledge 30 and a side wall 32, the carrier 26 being at least as long as the heat exchanger block 10, and therefore being adapted to carry all of the fins 14 and spacers 16 for the heat exchanger block.
- the heat exchanger block 10 is manufactured by pressing all of the fins 14 and spacers 16 onto all of the tubes 12 in a single pressing step, although it is recognised that this might not always be possible, and two or more separate pressing steps might be required for a particular heat exchanger block.
- the fins 14 and spacers 16 are loaded alternately into the carrier 26, the edge 34 of each spacer being close to, or engaging, the side wall 32 of the carrier 26. It is also desirable that the corresponding edge of each fin is also close to, or engaging, the side wall 32 of the carrier 26, so that the carrier 26 acts to locate each of the fins 14 and spacers 16 relative to one another, and can thereby act to locate the fins 14 and spacers 16 as they approach the tubes during the pressing step.
- each of the fins 14 are preferably of identical length and height (even if they are not all of identical materials and thickness), and since each of the spacers 16 are preferably of identical length and height, the positioning of the fins and spacers into the carrier 26 will ensure that the apertures 20 and openings 24 are aligned. Additional alignment could be provided in certain embodiments by a former or guide rod positioned within the apertures 20 and openings 24.
- the array of fins 14 and spacers 16 mounted onto the carrier 26 is desirably closely- packed, i.e. each fin engages the adjacent spacers. If desired, the fins and spacers can be secured together by adhesive or other means, prior to mounting onto the tubes 12.
- the carrier 26 When the desired number of fins 14 and spacers 16 has been loaded onto the carrier 26, the carrier 26 is moved until the apertures 20 and openings 24 are aligned with the tubes 12, and a pressing machine (not shown), presses the array of fins and spacers onto the tubes.
- a pressing machine (not shown) presses the array of fins and spacers onto the tubes.
- the pressing machine can be arranged to move the carrier and fins relative to stationary tubes, an alternative pressing machine could be used in which the carrier and fins are clamped in position and the tubes are driven therethrough, or a machine in which both the carrier and tubes move together during the finning process.
- Fig.1 therefore represents an artificial situation which is presented for the purposes of understanding.
- the fins and spacers will be pressed onto the single tube 10 shown in Fig.1 , but rather all of the tubes which are to be assembled into a heat exchange block are mounted onto the pressing machine and the fins 14 and spacers 16 pressed onto all of the tubes 10 together.
- the separate fin 14 and the separate spacer 16 are shown for the purposes of understanding, since these components are not pressed separately onto the tubes.
- the desired array of fins 14 and spacers 16 can be loaded onto the carrier 26 as a separate manufacturing step. Such manufacturing step does not delay the pressing machine, and since it is expected that the loading of the desired number of fins and spacers will be the slowest manufacturing step several loading stations can be operating simultaneously, so that the overall rate of loading the fins and spacers substantially matches the rate of the pressing machine and the manufacturing procedure is optimised. It will also be understood that since each of the collars 20 is in sliding engagement with a respective tube 12, the force required to press the fins 14 and spacers 16 onto the tubes 10 is considerable.
- the pressing machine will therefore typically incorporate a hydraulic drive means. A hydraulic drive means will be sufficiently accurate to press the array of fins 14 and spacers 16 to the required position along the tubes 12.
- the spacers 16 are of substantially identical overall size to the fins 14, the spacers provide almost complete support for the fins during the pressing step, the spacers 16 maintaining the required separation between the fins 14 both during the pressing step and in the assembled heat exchanger block 10.
- the tube 12 is shown projecting beyond the fins 14; this is required so as to permit the heat exchanger block to be mounted into a tube plate during the subsequent manufacturing step of assembling the heat exchanger.
- the subsequent manufacturing steps are outside the scope of the present invention, and can be identical to the steps of prior art heat exchanger assembly methods.
- the heat exchanger manufacturer will typically manufacture a desired number of heat exchanger blocks (each block typically comprising a single row of tubes 12 carrying the chosen number of fins 14 and spacers 16) and mount the projecting tubes into respective tube plates, the tube plates having openings to accept each of the tubes in each of the heat exchanger blocks.
- the heat exchanger blocks will typically be stacked together, and one heat exchanger block may rest upon its neighbour, or there may be a small gap between the fins of one heat exchanger block and its neighbours.
- the stack of heat exchanger blocks will be arranged so that adjacent blocks are offset so as to form a triangular tube array, i.e. the heat exchanger blocks will be offset by around half of the tube spacing from the neighbouring heat exchanger blocks.
- the spacer 16 comprises a corrugated sheet, in this embodiment of metallic material so that the spacer contributes also to heat exchange.
- the axis A-A along the corrugations 36 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L-L of the fins 14. This means that in the assembled heat exchanger the coolant must pass along the corrugations 36 of the spacer 16 of one heat exchanger block 10, and then along the corrugations 36 of the spacer 16 of a neighbouring heat exchanger block 10.
- the corrugations of neighbouring heat exchanger blocks are substantially aligned so as to minimise the pressure drop, but it will be observed from Fig.2 in particular that the area occupied by the fins 14 and spacers 16 is only a small proportion of the total area of the heat exchanger block surrounding the tubes 12, and the coolant can readily flow from one heat exchanger block to its neighbours, even if the corrugations 36 (and also the fins 14) of neighbouring heat exchanger blocks are misaligned. Any misalignment between adjacent heat exchanger blocks will induce turbulence into the working fluid, which turbulence will increase the pressure drop but can also increase the heat exchange.
- the form of the corrugations 36 is substantially sinusoidal in this embodiment. It will be understood, however, that the corrugations could have a triangular, square or other form, as desired.
- the different forms of corrugations will provide different heat exchange and pressure drop performances, and the heat exchanger designer can utilise a corrugation profile which matches the performance characteristics required.
- the spacers 16 provide support across substantially the full area of the fins 14 during the pressing step. In many heat exchanger blocks it will not be necessary to provide any additional support for the fins 14. It will also be understood that the spacer 16 must be sufficiently rigid to withstand the loads applied by the pressing machine, which loads can be considerable if a large number of fins 14 and spacers 16 are pressed together onto the tubes 12. As shown in Fig.2, the material from which the spacers 16 are made can be thicker than the material of the fins 14.
- Fig. 2 shows the corrugations 36 of the spacers being aligned, i.e. the corrugation peaks of one spacer 16 are aligned with the corrugation peaks of the other spacers.
- alternate spacers are reversed, so that the peaks of one spacer face the troughs of the adjacent spacers. Such an arrangement will make it less likely that the fins 14 become deformed during the pressing step.
- stainless steel fins 14 and stainless steel spacers 16 would be sufficiently rigid to permit 460 fins (and 459 spacers) to be pressed together onto an array of tubes 12.
- a fin spacing of 3mm would produce a heat exchanger block approximately 1 .4m long which is a standard length used in the heat exchangers of industrial compressors.
- Other materials and material combinations can, however, be used, for example aluminium fins with copper spacers, the material (or materials) from which the tubes and fins are made ideally being chosen dependent upon the heat exchanger application.
- the invention is not limited to the manufacture of standard-size heat exchanger blocks, and a heat exchanger block of any practical dimensions can be made according to the present invention.
- the invention can be utilised to press more (or fewer) than 460 fins and 459 spacers at a time, it being desirable that all of the fins and spacers of a heat exchanger block are pressed together in a single pressing step, regardless of the length of the heat exchanger block.
- an oscillator can be provided to vibrate the tubes and/or fins, and perhaps to make the tubes and/or fins resonate, it being understood that the force required to press the fins onto the tubes will be reduced if the tubes and/or fins are vibrating as the fins are pressed along the tubes.
- the separation between the fins 14 is determined by the spacers 16.
- the spacers 16 can if desired ensure that the collar 22 of one fin does not engage the collar of the adjacent fin, which engagement is known to increase the force required to press the fins 14 along the tubes 12.
- Spacers of different profile can be used at different parts of the heat exchanger block, so that the spacing between chosen fins can differ from the spacing between other fins, dependent upon their position within the heat exchanger block.
- the heat exchanger block 1 10 shown in Fig.7 comprises a number of tubes 12 and a plurality of combination spacer means and fins 1 14.
- the fins 1 14 in this embodiment therefore have integral spacers in the form of corrugated portions 1 16, each fin 1 14 comprising an alternating sequence of corrugated portions 1 16 and substantially flat portions 40.
- the corrugated portions 1 16 of adjacent fins 1 14 are offset so that each corrugated portion 1 16 lies between a substantially flat portion 40 of the adjacent fins, and vice versa. In this way, the adjacent fins 1 14 are separated by the chosen distance corresponding to the height of the corrugations, as in the earlier embodiments, but without requiring separate spacers.
- the heat exchanger block has twenty one tubes 12, so that two types of fin 1 14 are required.
- the first type of fin 1 14a has eleven flat portions 40 and ten corrugated portions 1 16, and the second type of fin 1 14b has eleven corrugated portions 1 16 and ten flat portions 40.
- the fins 1 14 could be identical, with an equal number of corrugated portions and flat portions, with alternating fins reversed.
- the fins 1 14 having integral spacers are alternated with substantially planar fins 14.
- the choice of whether the heat exchanger block comprises solely combination spacer means and fins as in Fig.7, an alternating sequence of combination spacer means and fins with substantially planar fins as in Fig.8, or a mixture of those arrangements, can be made by the heat exchanger designer in accordance with the heat exchange requirements.
- the heat exchanger designer utilising an embodiment such as that of Fig.8 can take advantage of the fact that the fin 14 can be of different material and/or different thickness to the fin 1 14, as desired.
- the apertures 120 in the flat portions 40 should preferably closely match the diameter of the tubes 12 (and the apertures 120 can include collars if desired), whereas the openings 124 in the corrugated portions 1 16 are larger than the diameter of the tubes 12 so that fluid can flow along all of the corrugations and around the tubes.
- the openings in the corrugated portions 216 of the fin 214 be substantially circular, and the openings 224 in this embodiment are oval, having a larger dimension D (in the direction of the axis of the corrugations) which exceeds the diameter of the tube 12 and a smaller dimension d (in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the corrugations) which closely matches the diameter of the tube 12.
- D in the direction of the axis of the corrugations
- d in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the corrugations
- Fig.9 shows the first additional feature of a number of raised ribs 42 upon each of the substantially flat portions 240, and the second additional feature of a raised portion 44, which ribs 42 and portions 44 act as turbulators to induce turbulence into the coolant as it flows between and around the tubes 12.
- Fig.10 is a plan view of the fin 214, and shows the (optional) collar 222 which is formed around each of the apertures 220.
- Fig.1 1 shows a part of the forming machine for making the combination spacer means and fins 1 14, 214, i.e. the fins with alternating substantially flat portions and corrugated portions.
- the corrugating rollers 46 of this embodiment have peripheral regions 48 with complementary formations, whereby as the rollers 46 rotate the peripheral regions 48 together press a substantially flat metallic sheet 50 into the desired corrugated form.
- the peripheral regions 48 are discontinuous, and separated by additional regions 52 which have no corrugating formations.
- the rollers 46 rotate the additional regions 52 of the respective rollers 46 engage opposed surfaces of the flat metallic sheet 50 and maintain the substantially flat form of the sheet, thereby forming the substantially flat portions 40, 240.
- each of the additional regions 52 of the upper roller 48 as drawn includes a recess 54 to accommodate the collar 222 and ribs 42 of the fin, so that the corrugated portions 48 can be formed after the aperture and openings have been cut from the sheet 50 and the collar 222 and ribs 42 have been formed therein.
- the corrugated portions are formed first, so that the recesses 54 are not required.
- the embodiments of the present application can all be used in preferred methods in which all of the tubes 12 of a heat exchanger block are inserted into the apertures and openings of the fins (and spacers) together, or in less preferred methods in which only one or some of the tubes of the heat exchanger block are inserted at a time.
- the fins (and/or spacers if separate) of the embodiments of Figs. 1 -6, 7 and 8 can include vortex generators similar to those of the embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10, i.e. projections which are intended to induce turbulence into the coolant.
- the resulting form of the heat exchanger block 10 shown in Fig.1 resembles to some extent the air-to-air heat exchanger used in a domestic boiler, which comprises sets of corrugated sheets separated by flat sheets, the corrugations of adjacent sheets being perpendicular. Hot air flows in one direction (for example vertically) through certain of the corrugations, and cold air flows in another direction (for example horizontally) through other corrugations.
- the present invention differs from those arrangements in using tubes to transport the working fluid, as is typical of heat exchangers in which the working fluid is a liquid.
- one or both of the end-most fins, i.e. the first and last fins loaded into the carrier 26, can be of harder material than the remaining fins, for the purpose of reducing the likelihood of damage to the heat exchanger block during subsequent transportation and the assembly procedure.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geometry (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1306759.0A GB2498663A (en) | 2010-11-03 | 2011-10-21 | Method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block,spacer means therefor and heat exchanger block |
US13/879,266 US20130240193A1 (en) | 2010-11-03 | 2011-10-21 | Method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block, spacer means therefor, and heat exchanger block |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1018554.4 | 2010-11-03 | ||
GBGB1018554.4A GB201018554D0 (en) | 2010-11-03 | 2010-11-03 | Method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block and heat exchanger block made thereby |
GBGB1102372.8A GB201102372D0 (en) | 2011-02-10 | 2011-02-10 | Method of making a heat exchanger block and heat exchanger block made thereby |
GB1102372.8 | 2011-02-10 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2012059735A2 true WO2012059735A2 (en) | 2012-05-10 |
WO2012059735A3 WO2012059735A3 (en) | 2012-08-23 |
Family
ID=44903269
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2011/052054 WO2012059735A2 (en) | 2010-11-03 | 2011-10-21 | Method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block, spacer means therefor, and heat exchanger block |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20130240193A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2498663A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2012059735A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2013204855A (en) * | 2012-03-27 | 2013-10-07 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Heat exchanger |
CN106659059B (en) * | 2016-09-11 | 2023-04-07 | 奇鋐科技股份有限公司 | Fin structure of heat sink |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1996035093A1 (en) | 1995-05-02 | 1996-11-07 | David Bland Pierce | Tube finning machine and method and product |
WO2002030591A1 (en) | 2000-10-07 | 2002-04-18 | Applied Systems Management Limited | Tube finning machine and method of use |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR962473A (en) * | 1950-06-10 | |||
GB382098A (en) * | 1930-11-28 | 1932-10-20 | Manuf Generale Metallurg Sa | Improvements in tubular heat exchange apparatus with corrugated fins |
JPS578975Y2 (en) * | 1975-10-01 | 1982-02-20 | ||
FR2350167A1 (en) * | 1976-05-06 | 1977-12-02 | Chausson Usines Sa | PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF HEAT EXCHANGERS OF THE TYPE WITH PIPES AND DISSIPATORS AND EXCHANGER OBTAINED BY THIS PROCESS |
GB2080178B (en) * | 1980-07-26 | 1984-05-16 | Covrad Ltd | Apparatus for forming heat exchanger fins |
EP0469150A4 (en) * | 1990-02-20 | 1993-03-31 | Nauchno-Proidsvodstevennoe Obiedinenie Po Traktorostroeniju | Package of plates for tube-plate heat exchanger with diffuser-confuser channels and a rotor die for making the plates of said package |
IT1314398B1 (en) * | 2000-04-19 | 2002-12-13 | Cosmotec S P A | HEAT EXCHANGER WITH HIGH THERMAL EFFICIENCY, SHEET PARALLEL CORRUGATED FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS, SYSTEM AND |
GB0307465D0 (en) * | 2003-04-01 | 2003-05-07 | Pierce David B | Tube finning machine and method |
JP3815491B2 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2006-08-30 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Heat exchanger and air conditioner |
FR2890731A1 (en) * | 2005-09-09 | 2007-03-16 | Edestec Sarl | Motor vehicle heat exchanger has flat primary fins with tubes passing through them and corrugated secondary fins between flat ones |
-
2011
- 2011-10-21 GB GB1306759.0A patent/GB2498663A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2011-10-21 US US13/879,266 patent/US20130240193A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2011-10-21 WO PCT/GB2011/052054 patent/WO2012059735A2/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1996035093A1 (en) | 1995-05-02 | 1996-11-07 | David Bland Pierce | Tube finning machine and method and product |
WO2002030591A1 (en) | 2000-10-07 | 2002-04-18 | Applied Systems Management Limited | Tube finning machine and method of use |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2012059735A3 (en) | 2012-08-23 |
GB201306759D0 (en) | 2013-05-29 |
US20130240193A1 (en) | 2013-09-19 |
GB2498663A (en) | 2013-07-24 |
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