Corrugated Micro Tube Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger device having a plurality of substantially parallel tubes. Each tube has an outer diameter which is less than or equal to one millimeter and further includes a first end portion and a second end portion. A first manifold forms an inlet for the first fluid and further forms a plurality of first openings, whereby each of the first end portions of the parallel tubes is attached in a sealed manner to the first manifold so that each tube is in fluid communication with a respective one of the first openings. A second manifold spaced from and opposing the first manifold forms an outlet for the first fluid and further forms a plurality of second openings, whereby each of the second end portions of the parallel tubes is attached in a sealed manner to the second manifold so that each tube is in fluid communication with a respective one of the second openings. The plurality of substantially parallel tubes are laterally disposed relative to one another so that they form at least one corrugated pattern when viewed in an imaginary plane which intersects and is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the tubes.

1 . A device for transferring heat from a first fluid to a second fluid, the device comprising:
 a plurality of substantially parallel tubes, each tube having an outer diameter which is less than or equal to one millimeter, each parallel tube comprising a first end portion and a second end portion;   a first manifold forming an inlet for the first fluid, the first manifold further forming a plurality of first openings, each of the first end portions of the parallel tubes being in sealing relation to the first manifold so that each tube is in fluid communication with a respective one of the first openings; and   a second manifold spaced from and opposing the first manifold, the second manifold forming an outlet for the first fluid, the second manifold further forming a plurality of second openings, each of the second end portions of the parallel tubes being in sealing relation to the second manifold so that each tube is in fluid communication with a respective one of the second openings;   
     wherein the plurality of substantially parallel tubes are laterally disposed relative to one another so that they form at least one corrugated pattern when viewed in an imaginary plane which intersects and is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the tubes, the corrugated pattern having a thickness, and wherein the device is adapted so that the first fluid exchanges heat with the second fluid as the first fluid passes through the parallel tubes and the second fluid passes between the first and second manifolds and between but outside of the parallel tubes in a direction of flow which is generally perpendicular to the direction of flow of the first fluid through the tubes. 
   
   
       2 . A device of  claim 1  wherein the spacing between each adjacent pair of first openings of the plurality of first openings is substantially equal to the spacing between each adjacent pair of second openings of the plurality of second openings. 
   
   
       3 . A device of  claim 1  wherein the spacing between the centers of each adjacent pair of parallel tubes of the plurality of parallel tubes is less than three times an outer diameter of each parallel tube and the outer diameter of each parallel tube is less than or equal to one millimeter. 
   
   
       4 . A device of  claim 1  wherein the corrugated pattern has a length and the thickness of the corrugated pattern varies along the length. 
   
   
       5 . A device of claim I wherein the spacings between each adjacent pair of parallel tubes of the plurality of parallel tubes are substantially uniform and each tube of the plurality of tubes has substantially the same outer diameter. 
   
   
       6 . A device of  claim 1  wherein the spacings between each adjacent pair of parallel tubes of the plurality of parallel tubes is not uniform. 
   
   
       7 . A device of  claim 1  further comprising one or more support plates disposed between the first and second manifold, the plurality of parallel tubes extending through the support plates and being supported thereby. 
   
   
       8 . A method of exchanging heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, the method comprising
 providing a housing which defines a passageway through which the second fluid may flow and across which extends a plurality of substantially parallel tubes arranged in a corrugated pattern, when viewed along their longitudinal axes, and spaced apart from one another so that the plurality of tubes is substantially porous from any fluid flow direction nonparallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubes;   feeding the first fluid through the tubes; and   feeding the second fluid between and through the corrugated pattern of parallel tubes, so that heat is transferred between the first fluid and the second fluid.   
   
   
       9 . A method of  claim 8 , the method further comprising disposing the parallel tubes relative to one another so that the corrugated pattern has a thickness and a length, and the thickness varies along the length.