Heat Exchanger Comprising a Tubular Element and a Heat Transfer Element

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger ( 1 ) comprising a first flow passage ( 6 ) comprising a tubular element ( 2 ) comprising at least two tubular flow channels ( 4 ) separated by region ( 5 ) extending along a longitudinal Y-axis, for passage of a first medium, and a second flow passage ( 8 ) for passage of a second medium between tubular element and a heat transfer element ( 3 ). The tubular element comprises a first surface (A) comprising at least region and two bulging sections ( 7 ). The heat transfer element comprises a second surface (B) comprising at least region 5 ′ and two indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ). The first surface and the second surface are adapted to contact each other and have a complementary shape such that the bulging sections of the first surface are in continuous contact with the indentation, cavity or nest sections of the second surface.

1 . A heat exchanger ( 1 ) configured to exchange heat between a first and a second medium, comprising:
 a first flow passage ( 6 ) comprising a tubular element ( 2 ) comprising at least two internal tubular flow channels ( 4 ) separated by a region ( 5 ) and extending along a longitudinal Y-axis, for the passage of a first medium through the internal flow channels ( 4 ), and   a second flow passage ( 8 ) for the passage of a second medium between the tubular element ( 2 ) and a heat transfer element ( 3 ),   wherein the tubular element ( 2 ) comprises a first surface (A) comprising at least a region ( 5 ) and at least two bulging sections ( 7 ), and the heat transfer element ( 3 ) comprises a second surface (B) comprising at least a region ( 5 ′) and at least two indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ), wherein the first surface (A) and the second surface (B) are adapted to contact each other,   characterised in that the first and second surfaces (A, B) have a complementary shape such that the bulging sections ( 7 ) of the first surface (A) are in continuous contact with the indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ) of the second surface (B).   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the shape of the bulging sections ( 7 ) of the first surface (A) and the shape of the indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ) of the second surface (B) are defined by the shape of the internal tubular flow channels ( 4 ) of the tubular element ( 2 ). 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the distance between the bulging sections ( 7 ) of the first surface (A) and the distance between the indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ) of the second surface (B) is the same and defined by the regions ( 5 ,  5 ′). 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that a portion of the second surface (B) of the heat transfer element ( 3 ) is open. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the second surface (B) has an opening at least one of the indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ). 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that at least two internal tubular flow channels ( 4 ) are connected by a region ( 5 ), or the channels ( 4 ) are not connected to each other, or the channels ( 4 ) are connected in a hairpin structure (HP) or in a serpentine (SP) structure. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the flow direction of the second medium is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal Y-axis. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the heat exchanger ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of parallel tubular elements ( 2 ) separated by a space along a vertical Z-axis, and a plurality of heat transfer elements ( 3 ) provided in the spaces. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the heat exchange element ( 3 ) comprises corrugated fins comprising:
 a plurality of side walls ( 9 ) interconnected to a plurality of top walls ( 10 ) and bottom walls ( 11 ), whereby each side wall ( 9 ) extends between an adjacent top wall ( 10 ) and an adjacent bottom wall ( 11 ) and joint to said top and bottom wall ( 10 ,  11 ) by a bend ( 12 ) extending along a horizontal X-axis parallel to the side wall ( 9 ) such that spaces ( 13 ) are defined between adjacent pairs of side walls ( 9 ), and whereby,   the side wall ( 9 ) comprises at least one group of louvers ( 14 ), comprising a plurality of parallel slits ( 15 ) formed in the side wall ( 9 ) and extending substantially between the top wall ( 10 ) and bottom wall ( 11 ).   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the top and bottom walls ( 10 ,  11 ) of the corrugated fins comprise at least two indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ) separated by a region ( 5 ′), whereby the indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ) have a complementary shape to the tubular flow channels ( 4 ) of said tubular element ( 2 ). 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the tubular element ( 2 ) comprises copper, or alloys thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the heat transfer element ( 3 ) comprises aluminium, copper. brass, stainless steel, steel inocnel, hastoloy, titanium, or mixtures or alloys thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the tubular element ( 2 ) and/or the heat transfer element ( 3 ) are coated or partly coated with a tin-based solder material. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the tubular element ( 2 ) and the heat transfer element ( 3 ) are joined together by welding, bracing, rolling or Cuprobrazing®. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the first medium is liquid or gas. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the second medium is gas. 
     
     
         17 . A process for the manufacture of a heat exchanger ( 1 ) configured to exchange heat between a first and a second medium, comprising:
 a first flow passage ( 6 ) comprising a tubular element ( 2 ) comprising at least two internal tubular flow channels ( 4 ) separated by a region ( 5 ) and extending along a longitudinal Y-axis, for the passage of a first medium through the internal flow channels ( 4 ), and   a second flow passage ( 8 ) for the passage of a second medium between the tubular element ( 2 ) and a heat transfer element ( 3 ),   wherein the tubular element ( 2 ) comprises a first surface (A) comprising at least a region ( 5 ) and at least two bulging sections ( 7 ), and the heat transfer element ( 3 ) comprises a second surface (B) comprising at least a region ( 5 ′) and at least two indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ), wherein the first surface (A) and the second surface (B) are adapted to contact each other, and characterised in that the first and second surfaces (A, B) have a complementary shape such that the bulging sections ( 7 ) of the first surface (A) are in continuous contact with the indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ) of the second surface (B), whereby the process is, characterised in that a shape of the heat transfer element ( 3 ) is formed by pressing and high speed folding the metal of the second surface (B) into the shape, whereby the second surface (B) comprises at least a region ( 5 ′) and at least two indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ).   
     
     
         18 . A process for the manufacture of a heat exchanger ( 1 ) configured to exchange heat between a first and a second medium, comprising:
 a first flow passage ( 6 ) comprising a tubular element ( 2 ) comprising at least two internal tubular flow channels ( 4 ) separated by a region ( 5 ) and extending along a longitudinal Y-axis, for the passage of a first medium through the internal flow channels ( 4 ), and   a second flow passage ( 8 ) for the passage of a second medium between the tubular element ( 2 ) and a heat transfer element ( 3 ),   wherein the tubular element ( 2 ) comprises a first surface (A) comprising at least a region ( 5 ) and at least two bulging sections ( 7 ), and the heat transfer element ( 3 ) comprises a second surface (B) comprising at least a region ( 5 ′) and at least two indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ), wherein the first surface (A) and the second surface (B) are adapted to contact each other, and characterised in that the first and second surfaces (A, B) have a complementary shape such that the bulging sections ( 7 ) of the first surface (A) are in continuous contact with the indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ) of the second surface (B), whereby the process is, characterised in that a shape of the heat transfer element ( 3 ) is formed by punching through at least a portion of the metal of the second surface (B), whereby the second surface (B) comprises at least a region ( 5 ′) and at least one open sections ( 17 ).   
     
     
         19 . A method for using a heat exchanger ( 1 ) configured to exchange heat between a first and a second medium, comprising:
 a first flow passage ( 6 ) comprising a tubular element ( 2 ) comprising at least two internal tubular flow channels ( 4 ) separated by a region ( 5 ) and extending along a longitudinal Y-axis, for the passage of a first medium through the internal flow channels ( 4 ), and   a second flow passage ( 8 ) for the passage of a second medium between the tubular element ( 2 ) and a heat transfer element ( 3 ),   wherein the tubular element ( 2 ) comprises a first surface (A) comprising at least a region ( 5 ) and at least two bulging sections ( 7 ), and the heat transfer element ( 3 ) comprises a second surface (B) comprising at least a region ( 5 ′) and at least two indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ), wherein the first surface (A) and the second surface (B) are adapted to contact each other, and characterised in that the first and second surfaces (A, B) have a complementary shape such that the bulging sections ( 7 ) of the first surface (A) are in continuous contact with the indentation, cavity or nest sections ( 17 ) of the second surface (B), for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning in buildings, heat radiators in engines, computers, heat absorbers and/or industrial coolers.