Multi-passage heat exchange element which includes an elongated central first fluid passage for passage of a first fluid of a heat exchanger, a plurality of substantially helically convoluted second fluid passages for a second fluid of a heat exchanger, the second fluid passages substantially helically surrounding at least a portion of the elongated central passage, and a plurality of substantially helically convoluted first fluid passages for passage of the first fluid of a heat exchanger, the first fluid passages substantially surrounding at least a portion of the second fluid passages.
A heat exchanger has a first thermally conductive tube for conducting a fluid and a second thermal conductive tube for conducting a fluid. The first thermally conductive tube forms a first loop while the second thermally conductive tube forms a second loop. The first loop neighbors the second loop.
A corrugated heat exchanger element may have grooves and ribs on the interior and exterior surfaces of the tube. The corrugations on the tube may be linear corrugations or helical corrugations. The texturing of the interior and exterior surfaces of the tube, and the corrugations in the tube may provide a heat exchanger element that has a large surface area. The surface texturing and corrugations may also provide a heat exchanger element that promotes internal mixing of fluids that flow by and through the element. Increased internal mixing and increased surface area of an element may allow the heat exchanger element to have a high heat transfer coefficient. A heat exchanger element or heat exchanger elements may be assembled into a heat exchanger that has a high overall heat transfer coefficient. Ends of the heat exchanger element may be pointed to facilitate attachment of the element to a support structure.
A machine may produce a tube having textured internal and external surfaces in a single operation. Inner and outer knurling tools may form the textured surfaces. The texturing of the internal and external surfaces may be helical patterns of ribs and grooves. The height of the ribs formed in the internal and external surfaces may be less than about 35 mils. The angles of the patterns relative to a longitudinal axis of the tube may be less than about 45.degree.. The angle of the helical pattern allows textured tubes to be used as heat exchanger elements wherein flow is directed substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axes of the tubes. The helical pattern formed in the external surface may be oriented in a right hand or left hand helical orientation. Similarly, the helical pattern formed in the internal surface may be oriented in a right hand or left hand orientation.
A static device and method of making is disclosed for mixing matter flowing therethrough. The invention comprises a tube having a polygonic cross section defining a plurality of corners. The tube is spirally twisted with the plurality of corners forming a plurality of helixes for causing the matter flowing through the tube to rotate in accordance with the plurality of helixes. In a first embodiment of the invention, the static device provides a static mixing device. In a second embodiment of the invention, the static device includes a plurality of apertures defined in the helix for providing a static separating device.
A machine may produce a tube having textured internal and external surfaces in a single operation. Inner and outer knurling tools may form the textured surfaces. The texturing of the internal and external surfaces may be helical patterns of ribs and grooves. The height of the ribs formed in the internal and external surfaces may be less than about 35 mils. The angles of the patterns relative to a longitudinal axis of the tube may be less than about 45.degree.. The angle of the helical pattern allows textured tubes to be used as heat exchanger elements wherein flow is directed substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axes of the tubes. The helical pattern formed in the external surface may be oriented in a right hand or left hand helical orientation. Similarly, the helical pattern formed in the internal surface may be oriented in a right hand or left hand orientation.
