Patent Application
20250189232
The disclosed subject matter relates generally to a heat transfer system. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to a heat exchanger having a serpentine tube configuration.
Existing heat exchangers include a plurality of tubes extending between an inlet header and an outlet header, with each tube carrying a fraction of a fluid from the inlet header to the outlet header to facilitate heat transfer from the fluid. However, these type of heat exchangers has a lesser flow area which results in diminishing efficiency.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a first header, a second header, and at least one tube extending from the first header to the second header in a serpentine configuration and including a plurality of bent tube portions arranged coaxially to each other. Each of the plurality of bent tube portions is connected to adjacently arranged one or more bent tube portions of the plurality of bent tube portions to enable a flow of fluid to an adjacently arranged bent tube portion.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a heat transfer system is disclosed. The heat transfer system includes a fan and a heat exchanger arranged upstream or downstream of the fan relative to a direction of air flow generated by the fan. The heat exchanger includes a first header, a second header, and at least one tube extending from the first header to the second header in a serpentine configuration and including a plurality of bent tube portions arranged coaxially to each other. Each of the plurality of bent tube portions is connected to adjacently arranged one or more bent tube portions of the plurality of bent tube portions to enable a flow of fluid to an adjacently arranged bent tube portion.
In accordance with yet a further embodiment of the present disclosure a heat transfer system is disclosed. The heat transfer system includes a fan having a plurality of blades and a motor operatively coupled to the plurality of blades and configured to rotate the plurality of blades, and a heat exchanger coupled to the motor and including a first header, a second header, and at least one tube extending from the first header to the second header in a serpentine configuration and including a plurality of bent tube portions arranged coaxially to each other with at least one of the plurality of bent tube portions attached to the motor. Each of the plurality of bent tube portions is connected to adjacently arranged one or more bent tube portions of the plurality of bent tube portions to enable a flow of fluid to an adjacently arranged bent tube portion.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
A few inventive aspects of the disclosed embodiments are explained in detail below with reference to the various figures. Exemplary embodiments are described to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description that follows. Embodiments are hereinafter described in detail in connection with the views and examples of
As shown in
Moreover, the heat exchanger 106 includes at least one tube, for example, a first tube 120 and a second tube 122, extending from the first header 112 to the second header 114 and connected to the first header 112 and the second header 114 to allow a flow of fluid between the first header 112 and the second header 114. As shown, the first tube 120 is arranged on a first side of the first header 112 and the second header 114, while the second tube 122 is arranged on a second side of the first header 112 and the second header 114.
As shown in
Between the inlet header 112 and the outlet header 114, the first tube 120 extends in a serpentine configuration having a plurality of bent tube portions 132, for example, a plurality of first bent tube portions 132, and one or more connecting tube portions 134 i.e., one or more first connecting tube portions 134, connecting the plurality of first bent tube portions 132. In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of first bent tube portions 132 is arranged coplanar to each other and therefore are disposed coaxially and concentrically to each other. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, each of the first bent tube portions 132 is in the form of an arc of a circle. Further, each of the first bent tube portions 132 is connected to an adjacently arranged first bent tube portion 132 via a first connecting tube portion 134. The first connecting tube portions 134 facilitates a flow of fluid from one first bent tube portion 132 to the adjacently arranged first bent tube portion 132. Accordingly, the first connecting tube portions 134 may extend in a radial direction, specifically when the first bent tube portions 132 and the first connecting tube portions 134 are coplanar to each other. Moreover, as shown, an inner most first bent tube portion 132a is connected to the motor 106, and therefore, the heat exchanger 102 is mounted to the motor 106 and is arranged coaxial to the fan 104. Although the heat exchanger 102 mounted to the motor 106 of the fan 104 is shown and contemplated, it may be envisioned that the heat exchanger 102 may be separate from the fan 104 and may be arranged downstream or upstream of the fan 104 in a direction of the flow of the air.
Although, the first bent tube portions 132 are shown to be coplanar with each other, it may be envisioned that the first bent tube portions 132 may be non-coplanar to each other. Accordingly, at least one of the first bent tube portions 132 may be arranged in a plane different from the plane of the one or more remaining first bent tube portions 132. In some embodiments, each of the bent first bent tube portions 132 are arranged in different planes that may be parallel to each other. In some embodiments, for non-coplanar configuration, distances of the first bent tube portions 132 from a central axis 140 of the heat exchanger 102 are different and may decrease or increase in the direction of air flow. In some embodiments, distances of the first bent tube portions 132 from the central axis 140 are identical. Also, as the first bent tube portions 132 are non-coplanar to each other, the inlet header 112 and the outlet header 114 extend in a direction of the extension of the central axis 140.
Further, as illustrated in
It may be appreciated that the second tube 122 is identical in structure, construction, function, and assembly to the first tube 120 and includes an inlet end 154, an inlet port 156, an outlet end 158, an outlet port 160, a plurality of second tube portions 162 including an innermost second tube portion 162a and outermost second tube portion 162b, and one or more second connecting tube portions 164 similar to the elements/features of the first tube 120.
The foregoing description of embodiments and examples has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the forms described. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. Some of those modifications have been discussed and others will be understood by those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best illustrate certain principles and various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The scope of the invention is, of course, not limited to the examples or embodiments set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather it is hereby intended the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.
