Heat exchanger with improved condensate removal

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes an arrangement of refrigerant conveying heat exchange tubes and associated heat transfer fins and has an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. A plurality of inlet guide vanes is disposed slightly upstream of the airflow inlet to the heat exchange tube arrangement so as to route incoming airflow through the heat exchange tube arrangement along a desired direction, in relation to the heat exchange tubes and associated fins, so as to improve drainage of accumulated condensate from the external surfaces of the heat exchange tubes and to enhance shedding of condensate from the surfaces of the heat transfer fins. Also, a plurality of outlet guide vanes can be disposed slightly downstream of the airflow outlet from the heat exchange tube arrangement.

1 . A heat exchanger for cooling a flow of air passed therethrough comprising:
 a tube and fin heat exchanger arrangement including a plurality of heat exchange tubes conveying cooling media, a plurality of heat transfer fins in heat conduction relationship with said heat exchange tubes; and   at least one array of a plurality of airflow guide vanes disposed in association with an airflow to said heat exchange tube and heat transfer fin arrangement to enhance condensate drainage from the surfaces of said heat exchange tubes and heat transfer fins.   
   
   
       2 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one array of a plurality of airflow guide vanes is disposed at the inlet to said tube and fin heat exchanger arrangement. 
   
   
       3 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one array of a plurality of airflow guide vanes is disposed at the outlet from said tube and fin heat exchanger arrangement. 
   
   
       4 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one array of plurality of airflow guide vanes comprises a vertical array of parallel spaced airflow guide vanes, each vane extending longitudinally in a horizontal direction across the airflow passing through said heat exchange tube and heat transfer fin arrangement. 
   
   
       5 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein each guide vane of said at least one array of plurality of airflow guide vanes has one of a profile selected from one of a flat plate, a flat plate with rounded edges, a flat plate of reducing thickness in the airflow direction, and an airfoil profile. 
   
   
       6 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein each airflow guide vane of said at least one array of plurality of airflow guide vanes extends at an acute angle in a downward direction, relative to a horizontal direction, from an upstream edge of the guide vane to a downstream edge of the guide vane, in relation to the airflow. 
   
   
       7 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said heat exchanger comprises an air cooling evaporator in a refrigerant vapor compression system. 
   
   
       8 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said heat exchanger comprises an air cooling heat exchanger of an air handler. 
   
   
       9 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said heat exchange tubes in said heat exchange tube and heat transfer fin arrangement of said heat exchanger convey a refrigerant fluid. 
   
   
       10 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said heat exchange tubes in said heat exchange tube and heat transfer fin arrangement of said heat exchanger convey water or glycol solution. 
   
   
       11 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said heat exchange tube and heat transfer fin arrangement of said heat exchanger comprises a round tube and plate fin heat exchanger. 
   
   
       12 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said heat exchange tube and heat transfer fin arrangement of said heat exchanger comprises a flattened, multi-channel tube and serpentine fin heat exchanger. 
   
   
       13 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  further comprising at least one partition disposed in operative association with at least one of said at least one airflow guide vane array and said tube and fin heat exchanger arrangement for accelerating the air flowing through said local region to improve accumulated condensate shedding. 
   
   
       14 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 13  wherein said at least one partition disposed in at least one local region associate with condensate drainage problems. 
   
   
       15 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one array of a plurality of airflow guide vanes can pivot relative to a horizontal position. 
   
   
       16 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 14  wherein said at least one array of a plurality of airflow guide vanes has a horizontal position and at least one angled, in relation to incoming airflow, position. 
   
   
       17 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 16  wherein there are a plurality of angled positions for said at least one array of a plurality of airflow guide vanes, in relation to incoming airflow. 
   
   
       18 . A heat exchanger as recited in  claim 1  wherein a tube and fin heat exchanger arrangement is positioned such that heat transfer tubes are aligned vertically, horizontally or inclined.