Patent ID: 7686070
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: F28D,F28F

Abstract:
1. A heat exchanger comprising: (a) at least one heat exchange tube defining a hollow fluid flow passage, wherein the flow passage has a height and a width and extends longitudinally along a fluid flow axis, wherein the height of the flow passage varies across its width, wherein the flow passage comprises at least one full-height area in which the height of the flow passage is at a maximum and at least one reduced-height area in which the height of the flow passage is less than the maximum height of the flow passage, and wherein the full-height and reduced-height areas are located adjacent to one another; (b) a turbulizer received inside the fluid flow passage, wherein the turbulizer comprises a plurality of rows of convolutions, wherein adjacent ones of said rows are connected in side-by-side parallel relation to one another, wherein the convolutions of each said row comprise a series of top surface portions and bottom surface portions interconnected by side portions, and wherein the rows extend parallel to the fluid flow axis; wherein at least two adjacent rows are comprised of convolutions of different heights, including at least one row of full-height convolutions positioned in the full-height area of the fluid flow passage and having a height substantially the same as the maximum height of the flow passage, and including at least one row of reduced-height convolutions positioned in the reduced-height area of the fluid flow passage and having a maximum height which is less than the maximum height of the flow passage and less than the height of the full-height convolutions; and wherein the top and bottom surface portions of the full-height convolutions are rounded and the top and bottom surface portions of the reduced-height convolutions are flat.