Patent ID: 6349761
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: F28F,Y10S

Abstract:
A heat exchanger comprising:a plurality of fins spaced from each other in parallel and allowing an air flow to pass through a gap therebetween; a plurality of heat transfer tubes extending through the fins; and a plurality of vortex generators respectively formed on the plurality of fins and corresponding to each of the plurality of heat transfer tubes, each of the vortex generators comprising a plurality of protuberance ribs formed on a corresponding fin around a respective centrally disposed heat transfer tube, each of the protuberance ribs having an arcuate contour in a plane normal to the respective heat transfer tube, the plurality of arcuate protuberance ribs together forming a circular pattern concentrically spaced from the respective heat transfer tube, an air flow inlet being defined between an adjacent two of the protuberance ribs and an air flow outlet being defined between another adjacent two of the protuberance ribs; wherein the air flow is guided from the air flow inlet, through channels defined between the plurality of protuberance ribs and the heat transfer tube, and passes out of the air flow outlet, thereby speeding the air flow, and generating vortexes at the protuberance ribs and the air flow outlet for drawing outer air to the heat exchanger for air mixing.