Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6446715
-
Patent Number
6,446,715
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, December 27, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 10, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Armstrong, Westerman & Hattori, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 165 133
- 165 177
- 165 183
- 165 110
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A flat heat exchange tube comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, right and left side walls interconnecting right and left side edges of the upper and lower walls, and a plurality of reinforcing walls connected between the upper and lower walls, extending longitudinally of the tube and spaced apart from one another. The tube has parallel fluid passages formed inside thereof and extending forward or rearward. Each of the reinforcing walls has a plurality of communication holes arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof for holding the parallel fluid passages in communication with one another therethrough. The upper surface of the lower wall is provided at a portion thereof forming each of the fluid passages with a plurality of turbulence producing portions extending over the entire width of the fluid passage and arranged at a spacing longitudinally of the passage.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to flat heat exchange tubes for use in heat exchangers such as condensers for car air conditioners and condensers for room air conditioners.
In this specification, the direction of flow of a fluid through the flat heat exchange tube will be referred to as the forward or rearward direction, or longitudinal direction, the widthwise direction of the tube orthogonal to this direction as the leftward or rightward direction, or transverse direction, and the direction of thickness of the tube as the upward or downward direction. Stated with reference to some of the drawings, the upper and lower sides and the left-and right-hand sides of
FIGS. 1 and 7
will be referred to as “upper and lower” and “left and right,” respectively, the left-hand side of
FIGS. 3 and 9
(the upper side of
FIGS. 4
to
6
and
FIGS. 10
to
13
) as “front,” and the opposite side thereof as “rear.” Further the term “aluminum” as used herein includes aluminum alloys in addition to pure aluminum.
In recent years, widely used in car coolers in place of conventional serpentine condensers are condensers which comprise, as shown in
FIG. 14
, a pair of headers
70
,
71
arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other, parallel flat heat exchange tubes
72
each joined at its opposite ends to the two headers
70
,
71
, corrugated aluminum fins
73
arranged in an air flow clearance between the adjacent heat exchange tubes and brazed to the adjacent tubes, an inlet pipe
74
connected to the upper end of peripheral wall of the first
70
of the headers, an outlet pipe
75
connected to the lower end of peripheral wall of the second
71
of the headers, a first partition
76
provided inside the first header
70
and positioned above the midportion thereof, and a second partition
77
provided inside the second header
71
and positioned below the midportion thereof, the number of heat exchange tubes
72
between the inlet pipe
74
and the first partition
76
, the number of heat exchange tubes
72
between the first partition
76
and the second partition
77
and the number of heat exchange tubes
72
between the second partition
77
and the outlet pipe
75
decreasing from above downward. A refrigerant flowing into the inlet pipe
74
in a vapor phase flows zigzag through units of passage groups in the condenser before flowing out from the outlet pipe
75
in a liquid phase. The condensers of the construction described (see JP-B No. 45300/1991) are called multiflow condensers, and realize high efficiencies, lower pressure losses and supercompactness.
It is required that the flat heat exchange tube be excellent in heat exchange efficiency and have pressure resistance against the high-pressure gaseous refrigerant to be introduced thereinto. Moreover, the heat exchange tube needs to be small in tubular wall thickness and low in height so as to provide compacted condensers.
Such a flat heat exchange tube is known as disclosed in JP-A No. 328773/1998. This heat exchange tube comprises flat upper and lower walls, right and left side walls interconnecting the right and left side edges of the upper and lower walls, and a plurality of reinforcing walls connected between the upper and lower walls, extending longitudinally of the tube and spaced apart from one another, the tube having parallel fluid passages formed in its interior and extending forward or rearward. The tube is formed from a lower component member of aluminum providing the lower wall, opposite side walls and reinforcing walls, and an upper component member of aluminum providing the upper wall and opposite side walls. A plurality of small projections protruding upward and arranged at a spacing in the longitudinal direction are formed on the upper surface of the lower wall at the portion thereof defining each fluid passage, i.e., at the portion between each pair of adjacent reinforcing walls. The reinforcing wall has a plurality of communication holes arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof for holding the parallel fluid passages in communication with one another therethrough.
With the condenser comprising such flat heat exchange tubes, communication holes are formed in the reinforcing walls, so that the portions of refrigerant flowing through the respective parallel passages flow transversely of the heat exchange tubes through the communication holes, spreading over all the passages and becoming mixed together to eliminate the likelihood of a temperature difference occurring in the refrigerant between the fluid passages. This results in an improved heat exchange efficiency.
At the location where the refrigerant in the form of a liquid is present conjointly with the refrigerant in the form of a gas, the liquid refrigerant flows so as to form a liquid film over the upper surface portions of the lower wall defining the respective fluid passages, making it less likely that the gaseous refrigerant will come into contact with the upper surface of the lower wall, whereas the projections formed on the lower wall upper surface disturb the flow of the liquid refrigerant, thereby causing the gaseous refrigerant to come into direct contact with the lower wall upper surface to attain an improved heat exchange efficiency.
However, a still higher heat exchange efficiency is required of condensers in recent years, and the condensers comprising conventional heat exchange tubes fail to fully meet this requirement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to overcome the above problem and to provide a flat heat exchange tube for realizing a heat exchanger which is further improved in heat exchange efficiency.
The present invention provides a flat heat exchange tube which comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, right and left side walls interconnecting right and left side edges of the upper and lower walls, and a plurality of reinforcing walls connected between the upper and lower walls, extending longitudinally of the tube and spaced apart from one another, the tube having parallel fluid passages formed inside thereof and extending forward or rearward, each of the reinforcing walls having a plurality of communication holes arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof for holding the parallel fluid passages in communication with one another therethrough, an upper surface of the lower wall being provided at a portion thereof forming each of the fluid passages with a plurality of turbulence producing portions extending over the entire width of the fluid passage and arranged at a spacing longitudinally of the passage.
At the location where the refrigerant in the form of a liquid and the refrigerant in the form of a gas are present as mixed together in a condenser comprising such flat heat exchange tubes, the flow of liquid refrigerant forming a liquid film over the upper surface of the lower wall is greatly disturbed by the turbulence producing portions on the upper surface of the lower wall, consequently permitting the gaseous refrigerant to come into contact with the upper surface of the lower wall with greater ease than is the case with the conventional projections. This enables the condenser to achieve a higher heat exchange efficiency than those wherein conventional flat heat exchange tubes are used.
With the flat heat exchange tube according to the present invention, the communication holes in the reinforcing walls are in a staggered arrangement when seen from above, and the turbulence producing portions include those each having one end positioned in corresponding relation with a front end of the communication hole formed in one of the adjacent reinforcing walls and the other end positioned in corresponding relation with a rear end of the communication hole formed in the other reinforcing wall and positioned immediately to the front of the communication hole in said one reinforcing wall, and those each having one end positioned in corresponding relation with a rear end of the communication hole formed in said one reinforcing wall and the other end positioned in corresponding relation with a front end of the communication hole formed in said other reinforcing wall and positioned immediately to the rear of the communication hole in said one reinforcing wall.
In the case of the flat heat exchange tube according to the present invention, the communication holes in the reinforcing walls are in a staggered arrangement when seen from above, and the turbulence producing portions alternatively include those each having one end positioned in corresponding relation with a front end of the communication hole formed in one of the adjacent reinforcing walls and the other end positioned in corresponding relation with a front end of the communication hole formed in the other reinforcing wall and positioned immediately to the rear of the communication hole in said one reinforcing wall, and those each having one end positioned in corresponding relation with a rear end of the communication hole formed in said one reinforcing wall and the other end positioned in corresponding relation with a rear end of the communication hole formed in said other reinforcing wall and positioned immediately to the rear of the communication hole in said one reinforcing wall.
The present invention provides another flat heat exchange tube which comprises an upper wall, a lower wall, right and left side walls interconnecting right and left side edges of the upper and lower walls, and a plurality of reinforcing walls connected between the upper and lower walls, extending longitudinally of the tube and spaced apart from one another, the tube having parallel fluid passages formed inside thereof, an upper surface of the lower wall being provided at a portion thereof forming each of the fluid passages with a plurality of turbulence producing portions extending straight rearward as inclined leftward or rightward and arranged at a spacing longitudinally of the tube.
At the location where the refrigerant in the form of a liquid and the refrigerant in the form of a gas are present as mixed together in a condenser comprising such flat heat exchange tubes, the flow of liquid refrigerant forming a liquid film over the upper surface of the lower wall is greatly disturbed by the turbulence producing portions formed on the upper surface of the lower wall and extending straight rearwardly leftward or rightward, consequently permitting the gaseous refrigerant to come into contact with the lower wall upper surface with greater ease than is the case with the conventional projections. This enables the condenser to achieve a higher heat exchange efficiency than those wherein conventional flat heat exchange tubes are used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a view in cross section of a first embodiment of flat heat exchange tube of the invention:
FIG. 2
is an enlarge fragmentary view of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a view in section taken along the line A—A in
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 4
is a view in section taken along the line B—B in
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a view corresponding to FIG.
4
and showing modified turbulence producing portions according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 6
is a view corresponding to FIG.
4
and showing other modified turbulence producing portions according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 7
is a view in cross section of a second embodiment of flat heat exchange tube of the invention;
FIG. 8
is an enlarge fragmentary view of
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 9
is a view in section taken along the line C—C in
FIG. 8
;
FIG. 10
is a view in section taken along the line D—D in
FIG. 9
;
FIG. 11
is a view corresponding to FIG.
10
and showing modified turbulence producing portions according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 12
is a view corresponding to FIG.
10
and showing other modified turbulence producing portions according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 13
is a view corresponding to FIG.
10
and showing other modified turbulence producing portions according to the second embodiment; and
FIG. 14
is a side elevation showing an example of condenser for use in car air conditioners.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following description, like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the drawings.
FIG. 1
shows the overall construction of a first embodiment of flat heat exchange tube of the invention, and
FIGS. 2
to
4
are fragmentary views showing the construction.
With reference to
FIG. 1
, the flat heat exchange tube
1
comprises flat upper and lower walls
2
,
3
, left and right side walls
4
,
5
interconnecting the left and right side edges of the upper and lower walls
2
,
3
, and a plurality of reinforcing walls
6
connected between the upper and lower walls
2
,
3
, extending longitudinally of the tube and spaced apart from one another, the tube having parallel fluid passages
7
formed in its interior and extending forward or rearward. The tube is formed from a lower component member
8
in the form of an aluminum plate and providing the lower wall
3
, opposite side walls
4
,
5
and reinforcing walls
6
, and an upper component member
9
in the form of an aluminum plate and providing the upper wall
2
and opposite side walls
4
,
5
. The reinforcing wall
6
has a plurality of communication holes
10
arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof for holding the parallel fluid passages
7
in communication with one another therethrough. All the communication holes
10
are in a staggered arrangement when seen from above.
With reference to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the lower component member
8
comprises a lower wall forming portion
11
, side wall forming portions
12
protruding upward from the respective opposite side edges of the lower wall forming portion
11
integrally therewith, and reinforcing wall forming portions
13
protruding upward from the lower wall forming portion
11
integrally therewith. A plurality of cutouts
14
are formed in the upper edge of each reinforcing wall forming portion
13
at a spacing longitudinally thereof. The upper ends of the wall forming portions
13
are brazed to the upper wall
2
to close the openings of the cutouts
14
with the upper wall
2
, whereby the communication holes
10
are formed. The lower component member
8
has a slope
15
slanting upward leftwardly or rightwardly outward and formed at each of opposite side edges of its bottom surface.
The upper component member
9
comprises an upper wall forming portion
16
, and side wall forming portions
17
extending downward from the respective opposite side edges of the upper wall forming portion
16
integrally therewith. The upper wall forming portion
16
has pairs of left and right ridges
18
formed on its lower surface integrally therewith and extending forward or rearward, the pairs being arranged at a spacing transversely of the tube (see
FIG. 2
, chain lines).
The lower component member
8
is joined to the upper component member
9
by lapping the side wall forming portions
17
of the upper component member
9
over the respective side wall forming portions
12
of the lower component member
8
from outside, pressing the upper edges of the reinforcing wall forming portions
13
against the respective pairs of ridges
18
on the lower surface of the upper wall forming portion
16
to deform the ridges
18
, and bending the lower ends of the side wall forming portions
17
of the upper component member
9
leftwardly or rightwardly inward to provide inward bent parts
17
a
in intimate contact and engagement with the respective slopes
15
, whereby the two component members
8
,
9
are temporarily held together. In this state, the two side wall forming portions
12
,
17
are brazed to each other, the upper edge of each reinforcing wall forming portion
13
is brazed to a single ridge
19
formed by the deformation of each pair of ridges
18
, and the inward bent parts
17
a
are brazed to the slopes
15
to fabricate a flat heat exchange tube
1
.
As shown in
FIG. 4
, the upper surface of the lower wall
3
of the flat heat exchange tube
1
is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions
20
A,
20
B on the portion thereof forming each fluid passage
7
, the portions
20
A,
20
B extending straight over the entire width of the passage
7
transversely thereof and being arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof and each in the form of an upward projection. Stated more specifically, the fluid passage
7
is alternately provided with turbulence producing portions
20
A and
20
B, each of the portions
20
A having a left end positioned in corresponding relation with the front end of the communication hole
10
formed in the left reinforcing wall
6
and a right end positioned in corresponding relation with the rear end of the communication hole
10
formed in the right reinforcing wall
6
and positioned immediately to the front of the hole
10
in the left reinforcing wall
6
. Each of the portions
20
B has a left end positioned in corresponding relation with the rear end of the communication hole
10
formed in the left reinforcing wall
6
and a right end positioned in corresponding relation with the front end of the communication hole
10
formed in the right reinforcing wall
6
and positioned immediately to the rear of the hole
10
in the left reinforcing wall
6
. The turbulence producing portions
20
A,
20
B have a triangular cross section having an upwardly pointed apex.
The lower surface of the upper wall
2
of the flat heat exchange tube
1
is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions
21
on the portion thereof forming each fluid passage
7
, the portions
21
extending straight over the entire width of the passage
7
transversely thereof and being arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof and each in the form of an downward projection (see FIG.
3
). When seen from above, the portions
21
have the same shape as the turbulence producing portions
20
A,
20
B formed on the upper surface of the lower wall
3
. The turbulence producing portions
21
are forwardly or rearwardly away from the respective portions
20
A,
20
B by a distance corresponding to half of the forward or rearward length of the communication holes
10
. Stated more specifically, the left end of the portion
21
is positioned at the lengthwise midportion of the communication hole
10
formed in the left reinforcing wall
6
or at the midportion between two longitudinally adjacent communication holes
10
formed therein, and the right end of the portion
21
is positioned at the midportion between two longitudinally adjacent communication holes
10
in the right reinforcing wall
6
or at the lengthwise midportion of the communication hole
10
formed therein. The portion
21
has a triangular cross section pointed downward.
At the location where the refrigerant in the form of a liquid and the refrigerant in the form of a gas are present as mixed together in a condenser comprising such flat heat exchange tubes
1
, the flow of liquid refrigerant forming a liquid film over the upper surface of the lower wall
3
is greatly disturbed by the turbulence producing portions
20
A,
20
B on the upper surface of the lower wall
3
, while the flow of liquid refrigerant forming a liquid film over the lower surface of the upper wall
2
is greatly disturbed by the turbulence producing portions
21
on the lower surface of the upper wall
2
, consequently permitting the gaseous refrigerant to readily come into contact with the upper surface of the lower wall
3
and the lower surface of the upper wall
2
to thereby achieve an improved heat exchange efficiency.
FIG. 5
shows modified turbulence producing portions.
In this case, the upper surface of the lower wall
3
of the flat heat exchange tube is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions
25
A,
25
B on the portion thereof forming each fluid passage
7
, the portions
25
A,
25
B being each V-shaped to extend over the entire width of the passage
7
, with the lengthwise midportion thereof projecting forward, and being arranged at a spacing longitudinally of the passage and each in the form of an upward projection. Stated more specifically, the fluid passage
7
is alternately provided with turbulence producing portions
25
A and
25
B, each of the portions
25
A having a left end positioned in corresponding relation with the front end of the communication hole
10
formed in the left reinforcing wall
6
and a right end positioned in corresponding relation with the rear end of the communication hole
10
formed in the right reinforcing wall
6
and positioned immediately to the front of the hole
10
in the left reinforcing wall
6
. Each of the portions
25
B has a left end positioned in corresponding relation with the rear end of the communication hole
10
formed in the left reinforcing wall
6
and a right end positioned in corresponding relation with the front end of the communication hole
10
formed in the right reinforcing wall
6
and positioned immediately to the rear of the hole
10
in the left reinforcing wall
6
. The turbulence producing portions
25
A,
25
B have a triangular cross section having an upwardly pointed apex.
Although not shown, the lower surface of the upper wall
2
of the flat heat exchange tube is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions on the portion thereof forming each fluid passage
7
, the portions extending over the entire width of the passage
7
and being arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof and each in the form of an downward projection. When seen from above, these portions have the same shape as the turbulence producing portions
25
A,
25
B formed on the upper surface of the lower wall
3
. The turbulence producing portions are forwardly or rearwardly away from the respective portions
25
A,
25
B by a distance corresponding to half of the forward or rearward length of the communication holes
10
.
FIG. 6
shows other modified turbulence producing portions.
In this case, the upper surface of the lower wall
3
of the flat heat exchange tube is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions
30
A or
30
B on the portion thereof forming each fluid passage
7
. The portions
30
A,
30
B are each cranklike when seen from above, arranged at a spacing longitudinally of the passage and each in the form of an upward projection. The turbulence producing portions
30
A are formed in one of the adjacent two fluid passages
7
, and the turbulence producing portions
30
B in the other fluid passage
7
. Each of the portions
30
A has a left end positioned in corresponding relation with the front end of the communication hole
10
formed in the left reinforcing wall
6
and a right end positioned in corresponding relation with the front end of the communication hole
10
formed in the right reinforcing wall
6
and positioned immediately to the rear of the hole
10
in the left reinforcing wall
6
. Each of the other portions
30
B has a left end positioned in corresponding relation with the rear end of the communication hole
10
formed in the left reinforcing wall
6
and a right end positioned in corresponding relation with the rear end of the communication hole
10
formed in the right reinforcing wall
6
and positioned immediately to the rear of the hole
10
in the left reinforcing wall
6
. The turbulence producing portions
30
A,
30
B have a triangular cross section with an upwardly pointed apex.
Although not shown, the lower surface of the upper wall
2
of the flat heat exchange tube is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions on the portion thereof forming each fluid passage
7
, these portions extending over the entire width of the passage
7
and being arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof and each in the form of an downward projection. When seen from above, these portions have the same shape as the turbulence producing portions
30
A,
30
B formed on the upper surface of the lower wall
3
. The turbulence producing portions are forwardly or rearwardly away from the respective portions
30
A or
30
B by a distance corresponding to half of the forward or rearward length of the communication holes
10
.
FIGS. 7
to
10
show a second embodiment of flat heat exchange tube of the present invention.
With reference to
FIGS. 7
to
9
showing this embodiment, a lower component member
36
in the form of an aluminum plate and constituting a flat heat exchange tube
35
comprises a flat lower wall forming portion
37
, side wall forming portion
38
protruding upward from the respective left and right side edges of the portion
37
integrally therewith and extending longitudinally of the tube
35
, and a plurality of reinforcing wall forming portions
39
upwardly projecting from the lower wall forming portion
37
integrally therewith, spaced apart from one anther transversely thereof as positioned between the side wall forming portions
38
and extending longitudinally of the tube. The side wall forming portions
38
and the reinforcing wall forming portions
39
have the same height. The reinforcing wall forming portions
39
have cutouts
40
formed over the entire height thereof and positioned in a staggered arrangement. An upper component member
41
in the form of an aluminum plate comprises a flat upper wall forming portion
42
, side wall forming portions
43
projecting downward from the respective left and right side edges of the portion
42
integrally therewith and extending longitudinally of the tube
35
, and a plurality of reinforcing wall forming portions
44
downwardly projecting from the upper wall forming portion
42
integrally therewith, spaced apart from one anther transversely thereof as positioned between the side wall forming portions
43
and extending longitudinally of the tube. The side wall forming portions
43
and the reinforcing wall forming portions
44
have the same height. The reinforcing wall forming portions
44
have cutouts
45
formed over the entire height thereof and positioned in a staggered arrangement. The side wall forming portions
38
of the lower component member
36
are joined to the respective side wall forming portions
43
of the upper component member
41
other end-to-end, and the reinforcing wall forming portions
39
of the lower component member
36
are similarly joined to the respective reinforcing wall forming portions
44
of the upper component member
41
, whereby a flat heat exchange tube is fabricated. The cutouts
40
in the lower component member
36
and the cutouts
45
in the upper component member
41
form communication holes
10
.
With reference to
FIG. 10
, the upper surface of the lower wall
3
of the flat heat exchange tube
35
is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions
46
A on the portion thereof forming one fluid passage
7
A, the portions
46
A extending straight as inclined rearwardly rightward over the entire width of the passage
7
A and being arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof and each in the form of an upward projection. The lower wall upper surface is further integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions
46
B on the portion thereof forming a fluid passage
7
B adjacent to the passage
7
A. The portions
46
B extend straight as inclined rearwardly leftward over the entire width of the passage
7
B and are each in the form of an upward projection and arranged at a spacing longitudinally of the passage. Stated more specifically, the fluid passage
7
A has turbulence producing portions
46
A extending straight as inclined rearwardly rightward and each having a front end joined to the portion
6
a
of the left reinforcing wall
6
between longitudinally adjacent two communication holes
10
at a position closer to the front end of this portion
6
a
and a rear end joined to the portion
6
a
of the right reinforcing wall
6
between longitudinally adjacent two communication holes
10
at a position closer to the front end of this portion
6
a
. The communication hole
10
in the right reinforcing wall
6
defining the fluid passage
7
A is positioned at the midportion of length of the turbulence producing portion
46
A. The fluid passage
7
B adjacent to the passage
7
A has turbulence producing portions
46
B extending straight as inclined rearwardly leftward and each having a front end joined to the portion
6
a
of the right reinforcing wall
6
between longitudinally adjacent two communication holes
10
at a position closer to the rear end of this portion
6
a
and a rear end joined to the portion
6
a
of the left reinforcing wall
6
between longitudinally adjacent two communication holes
10
at a position closer to the rear end of this portion
6
a
. The communication hole
10
in the right reinforcing wall
6
defining the fluid passage
7
B is positioned at the midportion of length of the turbulence producing portion
46
B. All the turbulence producing portions
46
A,
46
B are in a staggered arrangement when seen from above. All of these portions
46
A,
46
B have a triangular cross section with an upwardly pointed apex.
The lower surface of the upper wall
2
of the flat heat exchange tube
35
is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions
47
A (
47
B) on the portion thereof forming each fluid passage
7
A (
7
B). The portions
47
A (
47
B) extend over the entire width of the fluid passage
7
A (
7
B), and are each in the form of a downward projection, joined at their opposite ends to the reinforcing walls
6
defining the passage and arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof. The turbulence producing portions
47
A (
47
B) formed on the upper wall lower surface forming the fluid passage
7
A (
7
B) are arranged in the same positions as the turbulence producing portions
46
A (
46
B) formed on the lower wall upper surface in the same passage
7
A (
7
B) with respect to the longitudinal direction but are inclined in the opposite direction to the portions
46
A (
46
B) as they extend rearward.
The fluid passage defined by each of opposite side walls
4
and the reinforcing wall
6
adjacent thereto is provided, on the upper surface of the lower wall
3
and the lower surface of the upper wall
2
, with the same turbulence producing portions as in the fluid passage
7
A or
7
B which is the third as counted from the above-mentioned side fluid passage.
At the location where the refrigerant in the form of a liquid and the refrigerant in the form of a gas are present as mixed together in a condenser comprising such flat heat exchange tubes
35
, the flow of liquid refrigerant forming a liquid film over the upper surface of the lower wall
3
is greatly disturbed by the turbulence producing portions
46
A,
46
B on the upper surface of the lower wall
3
, while the flow of liquid refrigerant forming a liquid film over the lower surface of the upper wall
2
is greatly disturbed by the turbulence producing portions
47
A,
47
B on the lower surface of the upper wall
2
, consequently permitting the gaseous refrigerant to readily come into contact with the upper surface of the lower wall
3
and the lower surface of the upper wall
2
to thereby achieve an improved heat exchange efficiency.
FIG. 11
shows modified turbulence producing portions according to the second embodiment.
In this case, the upper surface of the lower wall
3
of the flat heat exchange tube is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions
50
A on the portion thereof forming one fluid passage
7
A, the portions
50
A extending straight as inclined rearwardly rightward, each having opposite ends separated from the two adjacent reinforcing walls
6
defining the passage therebetween, and being arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof and each in the form of an upward projection. The lower wall upper surface is further integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions
50
B on the portion thereof forming a fluid passage
7
B adjacent to the passage
7
A. The portions
50
B extend straight as inclined rearwardly leftward, each have opposite ends separated from the two adjacent reinforcing walls
6
defining the passage
7
B therebetween, and are each in the form of an upward projection and arranged at a spacing longitudinally of the passage. All the turbulence producing portions
50
A,
50
B are in a staggered arrangement when seen from above. The forward or rearward length of all the turbulence producing portions
50
A,
50
B is approximately one-fourth of the corresponding length of the turbulence producing portions
46
A,
46
B shown in FIG.
10
. All of these portions
50
A,
50
B have a triangular cross section with an upwardly pointed apex.
Although not shown, the lower surface of the upper wall
2
of the flat heat exchange tube is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions on the portion thereof forming each fluid passage
7
A (
7
B). These portions extend straight as inclined rearwardly leftward or rightward, each have opposite ends separated from the two adjacent reinforcing walls
6
defining the passage therebetween, and are arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof and each in the form of a downward projection. The turbulence producing portions formed on the upper wall lower surface forming the fluid passage
7
A (
7
B) are arranged respectively in the same positions as the turbulence producing portions
50
A (
50
B) formed on the lower wall upper surface in the same passage
7
A (
7
B) with respect to the longitudinal direction but are inclined in the opposite direction to the portions
50
A (
50
B) as they extend rearward.
FIG. 12
shows other modified turbulence producing portions according to the second embodiment.
In this case, the upper surface of the lower wall
3
of the flat heat exchange tube is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions
55
A on the portion thereof forming one fluid passage
7
A, the portions
55
A extending straight as inclined rearwardly rightward, each having opposite ends separated from the two adjacent reinforcing walls
6
defining the passage therebetween, and being arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof and each in the form of an upward projection. The lower wall upper surface is further integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions
55
B on the portion thereof forming a fluid passage
7
B adjacent to the passage
7
A. The portions
55
B extend straight as inclined rearwardly leftward, each have opposite ends separated from the two adjacent reinforcing walls
6
defining the passage
7
B therebetween, and are each in the form of an upward projection and arranged at a spacing longitudinally of the passage. The turbulence producing portions
55
A formed in the fluid passage
7
A are arranged respectively in the same positions as the turbulence producing portions
55
B provided in the fluid passage
7
B adjacent to the passage
7
A, with respect to the longitudinal direction. The forward or rearward length of all the turbulence producing portions
55
A,
55
B is equal to the corresponding length of the turbulence producing portions
50
A,
50
B shown in FIG.
11
. The longitudinal spacing between all the turbulence producing portions
55
A,
55
B is smaller than the longitudinal spacing between the turbulence producing portions
50
A,
50
B shown in FIG.
11
. All of these portions
50
A,
50
B have a triangular cross section with an upwardly pointed apex.
Although not shown, the lower surface of the upper wall
2
of the flat heat exchange tube is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions on the portion thereof forming each fluid passage
7
A (
7
B). These portions extend straight as inclined rearwardly leftward or rightward, each have opposite ends separated from the two adjacent reinforcing walls
6
defining the passage therebetween, and are arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof and each in the form of a downward projection. The turbulence producing portions formed on the upper wall lower surface forming the fluid passage
7
A (
7
B) are arranged respectively in the same positions as the turbulence producing portions
55
A (
55
B) formed on the lower wall upper surface in the same passage
7
A (
7
B) with respect to the longitudinal direction but are inclined in the opposite direction to the portions
55
A (
55
B) as they extend rearward.
FIG. 13
shows other modified turbulence producing portions according to the second embodiment.
In this case, the upper surface of the lower wall
3
of the flat heat exchange tube is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions
60
A,
60
B on the portion thereof forming each of fluid passages
7
A,
7
B. The portions
60
A,
60
B extend straight over the entire width of the fluid passage
7
A or
7
B as inclined rearwardly rightward, and are arranged at a spacing longitudinally of the passage and each in the form of an upward projection. Stated more specifically, each of the fluid passages
7
A,
7
B, is provided with turbulence producing portions
60
A,
60
B which are arranged alternately. The portions
60
A each have a front end positioned in corresponding relation with the front end of the communication hole
10
formed in the left reinforcing wall
6
and a rear end positioned in corresponding relation with the front end of the communication hole
10
formed in the right reinforcing wall
6
and positioned immediately to the rear of the hole
10
in the left reinforcing wall
6
. The turbulence producing portions
60
B each have a front end positioned in corresponding relation with the rear end of the communication hole
10
formed in the left reinforcing wall
6
and a rear end positioned in corresponding relation with the rear end of the communication hole
10
formed in the right reinforcing wall
6
and positioned immediately to the rear of the hole
10
in the left reinforcing wall
6
. The turbulence producing portions
60
A,
60
B have a triangular cross section with an upwardly pointed apex.
Although not shown, the lower surface of the upper wall
2
of the flat heat exchange tube is integrally provided with a plurality of turbulence producing portions on the portion thereof forming each fluid passage
7
A (
7
B). These portions extend straight as inclined rearwardly leftward, each have opposite ends joined to the two adjacent reinforcing walls
6
defining the passage therebetween, and are arranged at a spacing longitudinally thereof and each in the form of a downward projection. The turbulence producing portions provided on the upper wall lower surface forming the fluid passage
7
A (
7
B) are arranged respectively in the same positions as the turbulence producing portions
60
A,
60
B formed on the lower wall upper surface in the same passage
7
A (
7
B) with respect to the longitudinal direction but are inclined in the opposite direction to the portions
60
A,
60
B as they extend rearward.
Claims
- 1. A flat heat exchange tube comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, right and left side walls interconnecting right and left side edges of the upper and lower walls, and a plurality of reinforcing walls connected between the upper and lower walls, extending longitudinally of the tube and spaced apart from one another, the tube having parallel fluid passages formed inside thereof and extending forward or rearward, each of the reinforcing walls having a plurality of communication holes longitudinally spaced along the passage for holding the parallel fluid passages in communication with one another therethrough, an upper surface of the lower wall being provided at a portion thereof forming each of the fluid passages with a plurality of turbulence producing portions extending over the entire width of the fluid passage and longitudinally spaced along the passage;wherein the communication holes in the reinforcing walls are in a staggered arrangement when seen from above, and the turbulence producing portions include those each having one end positioned in corresponding relation with a front end of the communication hole formed in one of the adjacent reinforcing walls and the other end positioned in corresponding relation with a rear end of the communication hole formed in the other reinforcing wall and positioned immediately to the front of the communication hole in said one reinforcing wall, and those each having one end positioned in corresponding relation with a rear end of the communication hole formed in said one reinforcing wall and the other end positioned in corresponding relation with a front end of the communication hole formed in said other reinforcing wall and positioned immediately to the rear of the communication hole in said one reinforcing wall.
- 2. A flat heat exchange tube according to claim 1, wherein the turbulence producing portions extend straight transversely of the tube.
- 3. A flat heat exchange tube according to claim 1, wherein the turbulence producing portions are each V-shaped and have a lengthwise midportion projecting forward or rearward.
- 4. A flat heat exchange tube comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, right and left side walls interconnecting right and left side edges of the upper and lower walls, and a plurality of reinforcing walls connected between the upper and lower walls, extending longitudinally of the tube and spaced apart from one another, the tube having parallel fluid passages formed inside thereof and extending forward or rearward, each of the reinforcing walls having a plurality of communication holes longitudinally spaced along the passage for holding the parallel fluid passages in communication with one another therethrough, an upper surface of the lower wall being provided at a portion thereof forming each of the fluid passages with a plurality of turbulence producing portions extending over the entire width of the fluid passage and longitudinally spaced along the passage;wherein the communication holes in the reinforcing walls are in a staggered arrangement when seen from above, and the turbulence producing portions include those each having one end positioned in corresponding relation with a front end of the communication hole formed in one of the adjacent reinforcing walls and the other end positioned in corresponding relation with a front end of the communication hole formed in the other reinforcing wall and positioned immediately to the rear of the communication hole in said one reinforcing wall, and those each having one end positioned in corresponding relation with a rear end of the communication hole formed in said one reinforcing wall and the other end positioned in corresponding relation with a rear end of the communication hole formed in said other reinforcing wall and positioned immediately to the rear of the communication hole in said one reinforcing wall.
- 5. A flat heat exchange tube according to claim 4 wherein the turbulence producing portions are each in the form of a crank.
- 6. A flat heat exchange tube according to claim 1 wherein a lower surface of the upper wall is provided at a portion thereof forming each of the fluid passages with a plurality of turbulence producing portions extending over the entire width of the fluid passage and arranged at a spacing longitudinally of the passage.
- 7. A flat heat exchange tube according to claim 6 wherein when seen from above, the turbulence producing portions on the lower surface of the upper wall have the same shape as the turbulence producing portions on the upper surface of the lower wall.
- 8. A flat heat exchange tube according to claim 4wherein a lower surface of the upper wall is provided at a portion thereof forming each of the fluid passages with a plurality of turbulence producing portions extending over the entire width of the fluid passage and arranged at a spacing longitudinally of the passage.
- 9. A flat heat exchange tube according to claim 8wherein when seen from above, the turbulence producing portions on the lower surface of the upper wall have the same shape as the turbulence producing portions on the upper surface of the lower wall.
- 10. A flat heat exchange tube comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, right and left side walls interconnecting right and left side edges of the upper and lower walls, and a plurality of reinforcing walls connected between the upper and lower walls, extending longitudinally of the tube and spaced apart from one another, the tube having parallel fluid passages formed inside thereof, an upper surface of the lower wall being provided at a portion thereof forming each of the fluid passages with a plurality of straight turbulence producing portions inclined leftward or rightward and longitudinally spaced along the tube;wherein the turbulence producing portions each have opposite ends joined respectively to the adjacent reinforcing walls defining the fluid passage.
- 11. A flat heat exchange tube according to claim 10 wherein the turbulence producing portions in all the fluid passages are inclined in the same direction.
- 12. A flat heat exchange tube according to claim 10 wherein all the turbulence producing portions in one of the fluid passages are inclined in the same direction, and all the turbulence producing portions in the fluid passage adjacent to said one fluid passage are inclined in a direction opposite to said direction.
- 13. A flat heat exchange tube according to claim 10 wherein all the turbulence producing portions are in a staggered arrangement when seen from above.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
11-368723 |
Dec 1999 |
JP |
|
2000-018189 |
Jan 2000 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (6)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2159265 |
Nov 1985 |
GB |
08121984 |
May 1996 |
JP |
10-328773 |
Dec 1998 |
JP |