Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger 302 comprising: an inlet manifold 304 ; an outlet manifold 306 ; and a tube matrix 310 comprising a plurality of tubes 308 , each tube 308 being connected at one end to the inlet manifold 304 and at the other end to the outlet manifold 306 ; wherein each tube extends generally along a longitudinal axis defined between the connection of the tube 308 with the inlet manifold 304 and the connection of the tube 308 with the outlet manifold 306 ; and wherein a single portion 314 of each tube 308 is offset to one side of the longitudinal axis.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 an inlet manifold;   an outlet manifold; and   a tube matrix comprising a plurality of tubes, each tube being fixedly connected at one end to the inlet manifold and at the other end to the outlet manifold;   wherein each tube extends generally along a longitudinal axis defined between the connection of the tube with the inlet manifold and the connection of the tube with the outlet manifold, wherein a single portion of each tube is offset to one side of the longitudinal axis; and wherein the tubes are arranged in one or more rows in a plane defined by a longitudinal axis of the inlet and outlet manifolds and a plurality of rows are disposed side-by-side to form columns.   
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger matrix as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tubes are fixedly connected between the inlet manifold and outlet manifold independently from each other. 
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger matrix as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tubes are each separated from an adjacent tube by a substantially similar gap at corresponding portions along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tubes are generally C-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the offset portion comprises a curved portion which curves away from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the curved portion has a constant curvature. 
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the offset portion comprises a straight portion and pair of angled portions which offset the straight portion from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the offset portion is offset in a plane defined by a longitudinal axis of the inlet and outlet manifolds. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a minimum gap between adjacent tubes over the offset portion is greater than ⅔ of the maximum gap between adjacent tubes at the inlet and outlet manifolds. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the offset portion is 30-70% of the total length of the tube.